First Things First - Rams vs. Seahawks, Lamar misses practice, Burrow’s cryptic comments, Joel Klatt joins, BUD List

Episode Date: December 19, 2025

(0:00) Lamar Jackson misses practice with flu, Sam Darnold good game or a bad game?  (25:55) Should Bengals fans be concerned about Joe Burrow? (38:23) Will Caleb Williams have a great game vs. the Packers? (45:44) BUD List (01:05:19) Has criticism of Jalen Hurts been overblown? (01:16:03) Joel Klatt joins the show (01:28:39) Patriots bounce back vs. Ravens, Bears a Super Bowl threat if they beat the Packers?  (01:49:49) Frenemies (02:03:10) Joe Burrow says “you think about a lot of things” regarding not being Bengals QB (02:10:39) Rams vs. Seahawks picks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a show that put some specific things in the script just to make Dusty laugh. That's not a good strategy. But might annoy everyone else. I know, but when I was doing the readthrough, he loved it. You do a readthrough? Of course. Oh, he does a read through. He doesn't look through where he stands in the mirror for about 30 minutes.

Yes, guys. Brew and I are delivering his tapes. Brew and I are just out here improvise. You're not improvising. You've done his show on the What's Right podcast this morning. No, that's not the show. You guys are the show. Buffle up for this stuff.

First hour, first things first. Today, Rams in Seattle, after a nightmare first game. Will Sam Darnel play like a stud? Or will Sam Darnel play like a dud? That's a Dund. Oh, man. Or will he play like a stud? You already said that.

Out there with suspenders on, no shirt. That's a dustyism right there. What's that? This is what I think of my cowboy hat, huh? Just looking like a stud, man. Meanwhile, this game. The latest comments from Joe Burrow. Is he ready for a new football home?

Perhaps. And finally, the most motivational segment in all sports. It's the Bud List. Oh, look at Drake May alongside Nick Wright. I'm Kevin Wild's Brew. Anybody on the bubble of the Bud List? Anthony Joshua. Oh, I wanted you to do that.

I've got it covered. Sports Media on Buzzman's got it covered. I almost put him on, but I'm glad you did it in that fight. He better knock him. Hold on, don't. There's a lot to unpack there. Sports Media on Buzzman, ready for up to the test. No way to tell, but I'm here to tell you.

I don't know where it is. You'd be able to watch it. Turn on your TV, ask, talk to it. Be like, give me the Paul Joshua fight. It's going to be on at three in the morning. No, it's in Miami. I never know where it is. Well, it's not.

The only fights on a three in the morning are in Saudi Arabia. The last fight was on at like 30 in the morning. That was in Saudi Arabia. This is in Miami, bro. I don't know where it is. There was one fight. What was that? Let's start the show.

That wasn't Crawford. Yes, it was on at four in the morning. Proffert was very late. That was in Vegas. They're walking at one day. Yeah, it was crazy. We start with another absence for Lamar, and first things, first bowl, four,

the door destiny and the battle for the left side of the desk. Or right side, depending on where you are if you're in the studio. FTF four. Lamar missed practice yet again. This makes six straight weeks, Brew, that the two-time MVP has missed a practice since coming back from his handstring injury. Each week, a new reason.

Here's Harbaugh with the latest. Lamar had an illness. He was kept home with a flu deal. The doc kept him home today, away from the guys. So that was what happened with that. Okay, that was yesterday. Today, he practiced. So, Drew, perhaps all your concerns are alleviated.

Oh, yeah, I was shaking in my boots. I was just, oh, I was a mess yesterday. Why, he's missed practice and hasn't played well. He played well last week. He played fine last week. That was 114 pass already? Brew. It was like 150 yards.

And he had 150 yards passes in 12 attempts. One was a dime to Zay Flowers. The interception was off the hands and chest of his receiver. I mean, he played well. He ran the ball. well, he wasn't vintage Lamar, but he was very, he was good. I had no issue without he played. He was effective in a limited capacity.

Through eight passes. Oddly, I am less concerned about Lamar and the Ravens in this game than you are. You got the team that's on the rise, the team that's going to win the Super Bowl, the team that's got the MVP for quarterback. Second place, MVP, silver medalist, for sure. And I am not worried in the least bit at all. How can you not be? I mean, my standards have lowered a little bit.

A little bit. They're not in the playoffs yet. When they get to the playoffs or get to the point where that last game against Pittsburgh means something, winning you're in, losing you're out, that's when I'll be like, okay, on the edge of my seat. Do you think the Ravens are going to win this game? Yes. And I think Lamar is fine. So he's been, he doesn't miss practice the last six weeks.

And five. And didn't play well, but he played well last week. He said last week his hamstrings feeling better. And I also think your boys are vulnerable to the run. And I think Lamar will be fine. But last week they didn't throw it as much. They ran it a lot. And I'm here for that.

With Derek Henry and my man Keaton Mitchell, look at what your run defense, your vaunted run defense, wild. Yeah, first nine games, they were stellar. This was Danny's stat yesterday. That's true. Last five games, I liked it. It was a cool stat.

19th. 19th. So we're running up and down the field on y'all. Lamar some, but Derek Henry and Mitchell a lot. And you'll throw it well. So you viewed this question maybe a little differently than I did because you viewed it more as like a game previewish, which I know we're going to. If he has to play with the flu Sunday, then okay, I'm concerned.

But it's fine. So I'm looking at this. You're looking at it. You're looking at it like Agatha Christie. Yeah. That's how you're looking at it. You got a whole mystery. A whole mystery.

Not a mystery. You're at all novelist. Is there any reporting that's going to back up your theories? Yeah. Yes. It's called the injury report. Let's hear it. Oh, really?

You can't be injured? Hold on. Brew, I haven't even said anything. I'm just asking. Brew, you don't think, I honestly don't think you know what I'm going to say. That's the mystery. Go ahead. And maybe I thought you'd like this take, you might hate it.

Wilde, I gave a stink preview of it. This is going to be unpopular. I know I'm right. Lamar can't get sick in mispractice every single year. He's the most important person in that franchise. He's an adult. He's a professional athlete. And he is the only, forget star, just starting quarterback in this league,

that every single year, he can't manage to figure out how to not get the seasonal flu and miss his practice. That's a problem. And so, and it is to me, in line with, and this is maybe more of the Agatha Christie stuff, but it's not, I don't need reporting for this because it is just what we know. It is in line with a lot of pieces of Lamar's relationship with his team, health history, all of it, are one of one as far as franchise quarterbacks in this league, Lamar's in one category, everyone else seems to be. another one. He's the only franchise quarterback in this league that the team seems to have

no line on his week-to-week day-to-day health status. He's the only franchise quarterback in this league that we expect every winter to get sick and have it show up on an injury report. It's been five, no, six, six winters in a row that this has happened. The only one it did, was when he missed winter with an injury. And I know it sounds ridiculous to bang on a guy for getting sick. I don't think, I think that in our field, if every year during like our most important time of the year, you're like, oh, Nick's going to be out four days because he's going to get sick. You'd be like at some point, A man, take care of yourself.

Figure out what's going on. And then you add to it, he's not the only franchise quarterback that seems to have a weird. relationship with his head coach, but he has one. He's the only franchise quarterback that is at any given week, any given day, might be barking back at critics on social media in the media. And for some reason with Lamar, we just don't seem to care. Like, it's just like it's, because it's not a big deal. It's weird.

There's a lot of stuff about this stage, Lamar Jackson, that flags as odd, given his stature in the league, his stature with his team. and how good of a player he is. And that I was not, that yesterday I said to the group, guess who mispractice with the flu, and two of the three people at the desk, first guest said, Lamar, that's a problem. And so I just...

I'm wondering what your conclusion is. I think there are a lot of... I think there are a lot of signs of immaturity with Lamar Jackson. Okay. I think the way that he, within the game, doesn't face much adversity, but when he does, I think we see some immaturity. I think the way he uses social media

speaks to maturity. I think the fact that he does not seem to have, I can't put the relationship with him in Harbaugh on immaturity. It's just weird. But I think being damn near 30 and not figuring out how to not get sick every winter when your job demands you be at your best every winter speaks to immaturity.

And I know people are going to clip this and say I'm being unfair. I don't think it's unfair. I think it's, I think you hold your, your face of the franchise star player to a high standard. And this is, and I think this is one area where Lamar is lacking. And I don't think that's unfair. Here's the injury. Yeah, you're frightened to death.

I'm not. Here's the injury report for that Lamar's had since going back to week five. So we had the hamstring, the knee, the end. ankle, the toe, we're back to the ankle, some rest, and then illness. So it's been a collection of reasons that he's been out. At the same time, he hasn't looked like himself in a long time, although his completion percentage against the Bengals was the highest in the last few weeks at yards per pass. The Bengals game, he was very good in the passes he threw, but it's a weird game. He didn't throw a lot and he got sacked a bunch. The couple of runs, he looked fine.

He did get sat. So if he does put it together, yes. I'm, I'm nervous. about the two-time MVP and our run defense. Look, Nick, you might be, I don't know what, I mean, it is a little odd, but a lot of the time, and you weren't the only one, but there was a point a few years ago, everybody thought he was done with the Ravens. He is out of here. Well, he asked for a trade, right? And people thought it couldn't be fixed.

Well, it was fixed. And he won what, two MVP since then. So he won an MVP, maybe sure, one another. Because he won the first one. his first is a starter. So one since then. No, he's played his best football since then. But don't you?

Just real quick, and I don't want to belabor, then we move on. Does the fact that he gets sick enough to miss practice every single winter? You can tell me, Nick, you're being crazy right now. Or does it flag to you? If he missed games, it would hit me. But the practice, but he's missing a practice every time. But what about what coach reminded us of last week, which is, when you're starting quarterback misses practice, That practice for the offense is basically not thrown away, but it is, it damages what everyone can get done in a real way.

And so. I think to your point, I would be very worried. I was going to save this take about leading up to first things first bowl four. I would be very stressed if Lamar had a full week of practice. And it seems like everybody's working towards a full week of practice. And I was waiting for why he was going to miss. But I guess I also think you would be stressed if Drake made today missed practice because you feel like it's, we would feel like it's important.

Like, oh, something must be a miss. Like, oh, he's missing practice. And the fact that it's been six weeks in a row where Lamar's mispractice first four for injury last week for rest and this week for sickness, like I don't, None of that to me screams a team that's about to flip the switch in a wide open AFC. All right, Drake May lost to Josh Allen on Sunday and saw the Buffalo QB slide behind him in the MVP odds, which are currently Stafford, Drake, Josh Bo Nix. Drake was asked about winning MVP and he focused instead on team goals.

What a guy. Take a listen. It's an honor as a player to, you know, earn their award and I respect to me all the past MVP's. But I think at the end of the day, you know, winning the Super Bowl is the biggest thing. And I think it's what kind of makes this league go is winning the big one. And that's what you work towards. And that's what this game's about. You know, I love winning. And, you know, the personal athletes come with all that.

But I'd rather win than win, than win, you know, personal awards. Exactly, Drake. Well done. Nick, do you still view the Patriots as Super Bowl contenders? Yes, but I won't if they lose this game. They're out. Yeah. As, yeah, the, I will put them in the same bucket that right now mentally all have the winner of the AFC North and the Chargers.

In the AFC is just like a, you're in the playoffs. You're in a different tier. But I, before we even get into this conversation, there are a lot of ways this show works. Here we go. There's only one real way. Like, Brew and I can go at it. It will work. Wilds can get literally red in the face and literally smoke coming out his ears.

We've shown you the video. No, literally. Angry with me. And the show can work. We can also all be friendly and laughing. That works as well. What doesn't really work I've noticed is Wilde getting upset with Brew. It's very rare that it happens.

But it's not, but it does not work. I'm telling you right now, that side of the table needs to be on the same side. We've been a team. At least have a detente or whatever it is. And Kevin Wilde's demanding to have his cake and eat it too is going to break brew. Brew's not going to tolerate it. And I'm telling you, so just tread carefully with your Pat's answer here. because he's ready to hammer you for 10 days ago,

demanding we acknowledge the Patriots of the best team in the NFL. I didn't. You did. Every time Bruce said it's a wide open AFC, every team has a flaw. You either under your breath or loudly, like, well, not one team. What is it? Experience.

Right, exactly. That's a flaw. Exactly. That's a flaw. Like the OKC Thunder. You were adamant about all of this. And then they play one bad half of football. football.

Exactly. And you're out here saying the Texans are the best team. They have a great defense. And Brew is ready to kill you. Well, I just have a question. Because this has become a big deal. This is a problem, Gianna. The doorstep of destiny has become used.

Is destiny making the playoffs? Great question. It's purposely amorphous. You and I both know destiny, not New England, is making the player. In Tennessee, sure. Sure, yes. You know, in New Orleans for now, sure. Yes.

Making the point, oh, the destiny. Carolina. Carolina, yeah. With Bryce. But New England? Yes, we'd like to win the Super Bowl. Yeah, so that's what destiny is. Well, it seems to be our destiny. We're the team of the Central.

Okay, okay. We have Drake May. We have a nice little path. I saw one of the ESPN computer simulations. Now you moved off the athletic, the athletic cooled on your team. And so now you've moved over here. 10,000. Yeah, that's where the athletic does.

And one of them was Rams Patriots. Ooh. Yeah. Oh, that's a more than one in 10,000 shot. No, I think they just picked a random one out of 10. Oh, okay. The methodology I didn't argue with. Oh, okay.

Rams Patriots is a legit Super Bowl possibility. Exactly. Assuming the Patriots are actually legit good, which if they are, they win this game. Yes. How about you, bro? Are they legit contenders still? this is reverse for me. I have not believed in them all, for the most part, most of the year.

Yes. Now, sure, they're Super Bowl contenders. Okay. I mean, I think the field is open. What changed for you is the chiefs being out of it? Are the Ravens legit Super Bowl? I mean, they still got to get in. If they got to win this game and then beat the Packers pretty much.

If the Patriots lose against a legit Super Bowl contender like the Ravens. Are they still Super Bowl? I think they are because there's no world beater in the AFC. Yes. Like Denver, are they going to score? Houston, are they going to score?

Jacksonville. Okay, good team. Buffalo, the defense can, you know, get run on, get scored on. Like, I mean, I get it, Nick. And if you want to have the Patriots second tier, I guess. But I think it's wide open and I think you guys are right there. Thank you.

I appreciate that. See, that works. I mean, I think Buffalo, Denver, and Houston, I probably take over you guys. Well, that's not close. But it's close. But it's not like Chiefs, Bill,

Ravens last year. Sure. You know, so I think it's open. You guys are there. I'll do a pop quiz segment for you. And I kind of mentioned it on the call. I was trying to break down teams that could win the Super Bowl, which I said the Patriots belong in a group of could win the Super Bowl,

and should win the Super Bowl, maybe a tweak on S-Bob. To me, there were three teams that should win the Super Bowl with Mahomes out in a wide open field, and it was just Rams, Bill, Ravens. Why are the Ravens? Right now? Just because the Ravens, no, but. Like those guys should.

You're saying that was your thought this morning? Yes, this morning. So the Ravens should win the Super Bowl. Lamar should. The path is open for Lamar. He should. I understand it. For the Ravens, it's about pedigree and history more than quality of play this year.

Yes. Got it. Go ahead. That's it. Who are your should team? Oh, I don't need. I guess I don't view it that way. I didn't know that was the pop quiz, so I wasn't preparing a answer.

What's the same of pop quiz? I think the only team in the AFC that right now should feel like we should get to the Super Bowl is Buffalo. Yes. And the NFC, I think it's too. Even though there's only three weeks left, the fact that there are that sit, is it, no, five teams have a super viable path to the number one overall seat in the NFC with three weeks left, makes that feel like it is. It feels like, to me, it feels almost as open as the AFC. And you got the Rams, if you want to put the Rams number one, like the bills are number one. But the thing for the Rams is

tonight's game will determine a ton of that for me because if the Rams lose tonight, they're staring at likely being on the road the whole playoffs. Would you still have them in your mind as the favorite in the NBA? I got to see if they play a very

tightly contested close game and lose, I will still think they are the highest quality team. But I also think they're the Rams path being through SOFI versus having to go on the road in Chicago than to Philly and too, like those things, that changes it a lot.

I think I can, the, all I think, so much of this becomes easier for you and for all of us. If you just say, I might have gotten a little over my skis with the Pats for a couple weeks. I might have been a little, a little too, I mean, again, I don't want to misquote you, but the dynasty is back, and I now have to carry the show for Nick and Brew, maybe a little, and the Bill Sting.

Elements of a dynasty. Like, it might have been. Now it's element. Now it might have. It was always elements of a dynasty. It was a whole pizza thing. It wasn't pizza, it was OSHA. I did also do pizza.

It was OSHA inspector. The Peroni guy. Uh-huh. Tonight's game. Rams are the best team in the league, according to the tiers committee. But they are underdogs in Seattle. Sam Darnell threw four interceptions in their first matchup.

Game was still close. Here was Darnell. excited about this challenge. Obviously, it's a divisional game. You know, playing these guys last time. Obviously, wasn't my best effort. This team's a very good, very good defense, you know, just with the pressures. And, you know, I think I said it last time. And it held true just, you know, matching the pressure with the coverage and, you know, smart dbs, guys that know what they're doing. And obviously a really good scheme. So we're excited about the challenge. Okay, what's more likely for Sam Darnold? He has a huge game, plays like a stud, or it just has a bad game, plays like a dud. Sam Darnold cannot have an awful game tonight. So last year, Darnold was unbelievable,

except for against the only team they were competing with for the division and in the playoff game. And if we show it to you what he was last year against Detroit, which was the team they were commute with the playoffs and in the playoff game versus everything else. It's not just two different players. It's the left-hand column would be the worst starting quarterback in football and the right-hand column would be the best starting quarterback in football.

Thus, up to this point this year, and again, the sample sizes are small against the two teams they are competing with for the division and then everything else. It is once the splits are even more stark, which is to say, If tonight he's bad again, then it will not be unfair, it will not be simplistic analysis to be like, man, this guy's about to get cooked in the playoffs. I don't care how good the team is.

That will be what everyone thinks, and they will be right to think it. If he can just have a solid game, just be solid, be fine, then you can say last year was, you know, a bad stretch at the wrong time. He's been now a really high-level quarterback for two years. This team might be overall more talented than last year's Vikings team. Anyway, you like the coach. You can really believe in the Seahawks as long as Sam Darnold avoids awful game. But if he's awful tonight, Brew, they're damn near a cross-off.

And so that, I know that doesn't really answer them more likely. It's more about what it would mean. It's hard for me to believe he's going to be awful once again. again. It will be such an indictment if he is, Drew. I'm pulling for him. Me too.

Because it's a great story, great comeback. But my answer is bad guy. He's got to prove it. All right? Until I see it. And this is what happens. Some people, like you said,

might think it's unfair. This is what happens when your first six years in the league, you're bad and you're in year eight. You're six bad years. you don't get the benefit of the doubt. It's like Daniel Jones. No matter how well Indy looked with him early in the season, we still had our doubts because of what happened with the Giants.

That's your issue and some other people's issue, I think, with Brock Purdy. You were the last dude in the draft. So you're not getting the benefit of the doubt. Your standard is higher than others for you to prove to me that you're the guy. So that's where Donald is. And Nick, you said it. I mean, it's not only that year I've shown the graphic before. Here's the graphic, him against winning teams this year, him against 500 or below.

The numbers are incredibly different. But those numbers against winning teams, Brew, don't speak to me to, like, horrific play. It's not as bad, but 9 TD's eight picks. Yeah. compared to how well he's played, because he is great against the bad teams or the pretty decent teams. And so I agree.

Look, he's the one question mark about this team. The run game isn't great, but it's adequate. Obviously, great receivers, very good coach, great defense. He's the one question mark. A note from Josh, in the last two years, every game has been either pass-a-rating over 100 or less than 90. So he never just has a game in the 90s. Oh, just like a solid game.

Oh, that's interesting. Pretty good is hard for Sam Darlin. So I guess that means huge game. Is Burrow? That is, should Burrow leave the Bengals? That's next on FS1. The Fox Sports Channel on Sirius XM. Hey, we're 37 million, oh, 34 million?

Wow. Two. 36 million away from a billion views. We're averaging about a million. a day. So thank you for the millions of people that watch once. Welcome back to the show. Ping pong champion Greg Jennings is here. Joe Burrow was shut out for the first time. That's actually true.

First time in his career. Alex, like the floor. Crush them. Alex is really good. Joe Broh shut down any speculation about the team shutting him down. No. Since the Bengals are mathematically eliminated. Did he shut down the thought of leaving the Bengals? Not necessarily.

Here's his answer to a report. reporter asking if he could see himself not being the Bengals QB next year. Take a listen. I could I couldn't I can't see that no. Did you ever both thought about the possibility of not being the quarterback here during your career? You think about a lot of things. Oh Sound the alarm. How worried should the Bengals be? It should be really worried. Yeah. Now hold on. Brew, I don't I don't want to step on your trademark. I listen to the whole thing. Of course. It's 20 minutes. I listen to the whole thing.

And one thing he made very clear was that press conference last week was not about retirement. He talked about how much he fought to be able to come back this year, how much seemingly, and it's not clear who he's talking about. He's fighting to keep playing the rest of this year, about talks about quarterbacks being able to play. There was kind of an odd question about, do you think you're in your prime? with having to do with the age of quarterbacks. I think it was phrased a little weird, but I know what they were getting at. And he was like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

And then he mentioned Philip Rivers and Rogers. He talks about guys playing Flacco late into their careers. And he said he wanted to do that. And he wanted that he wanted to do that. Thank you, bro. Because you listen to the whole thing as well. Of course, obviously. So it wasn't about retirement.

It was about the Bengals. and if I were an executive at any other team, I would start stirring stuff up. I would call, and if they didn't answer, I'd leak to somebody that I called. And I would be like, I'm going to tell you a truth fact you can report. The Cincinnati Bengals today took a call regarding a Joe Burrow trade. It's true.

It's true. Now if the Bengals told you're like, what the heck. If the Bengals call you back and they're like, what do you mean? We didn't entertain it. Did you end the phone? You took the call. Not my business. I would try to stir that up as much as possible because I, now we can talk about,

and he did also brew in this say some of this has been on me for not being available, for being hurt. He has owned it. Right. So he's owned that. That's fine. But I think he is rightfully nonplussed about being a Bengal. And I think the rest of the league should seize on that.

discontent. If I was the Bengals GM owner, whatever, I'm not the least bit worried. Why? Because we have these things while it's called contracts, which determine where you can

go play, where you can't go play. They got him locked up, Nick. The first out is, and I don't even know if it's his out or the team. No, he doesn't have any. He's locked up through 2029. So why Unless he's about, and he didn't say anything in that press conference

that makes me think he's going to go to the Bengals and say, I won out. Getting close. No, he's not. I don't think he is. I watched the press conference too. And he just said, we watched it. I don't have any reason to believe I won't be the Bengals starting quarterback next year. But then he was asked about what about after that, and he was like, you think about a lot of things.

I mean, he might be a little too honest, open, transparent with his words. Yeah, I've thought about a lot of things. If there's, can I I mean, there's four quarterbacks on the quarterback Mount Rushmore, Lamar, Josh, Joe Burrow, Patrick.

Right. If Patrick Mahomes was like, no, no, next year, no, next year we're good. Like, what? I'm a man of protocol. This is why when everybody else was like, Lamar's out of here,

Lamar asked for a trade. Asked for a trade. And I said, guess what? He will be. with the Raven. And you were right, but, Brew, that was something that was ended up, and you were correct about this, could be solved by money.

That was a contract dispute. This has already been solved by money. Which is why it's a problem. If he was in the last year, if he doesn't go to them and say, I won out, and I don't think he will, not within the next year. I think he's going to play

there next year for sure. And if it goes badly again, maybe. But if he doesn't ask, Then they should be worried. No, let's put a good football. You know what I'm saying? What I'm worried about if I'm the Bengals is my quarterback healthy. Because when he's healthy, we can be a good team.

That's one year. But, okay, that one year, the year before that he wasn't good. He wasn't healthy then when he was healthy wasn't good. Two years ago, you're right. It was the defense or last year. This year he hasn't been healthy again. I'm sorry. You are under contract.

This is not the NBA. And even in the NBA, If you got less than two years left, you can kind of force your way out. He's locked up through 2029. It's not the NBA. I mean, sorry. If he come into my office and ask for a trade,

I'm like, I'll talk to him about what can we do less we can build this team around. He's from Ohio. He grew up two and a half hours away from the Bengals. I don't think he's trying. No, I'm not worried. I'm sorry. There has to be a healthy level of concern, period, because you mentioned it earlier in the week talking about Andrew Luck,

reminding us of what took place over an indie with Andrew Luck. In the prime of his career, just was over it, the injuries, all the things walked away from the game. When a player has made statements like, the entirety of my career is wide open. Like, we're always in it. Oh, yeah. The window is my whole.

The window is the entirety of my career. alluding to that organization and then talk start to be about man I you know if I'm not having fun why am I doing it? That's indicative of the environment that you're walking into every single day. I don't care how much the contract is worth

he clearly is frustrated with what's taking place and what's not happening in order for them to win games. He understands he's been hurt. We listen to it. And not just hurt. We'd have been buffalo. if you didn't throw these two crazy interceptions. I'm serious. Look in

the mirror, Joe. He meant to. It's not about just, it's not about him not looking in the mirror. He looks in the mirror but he also, sometimes when you look in the mirror and you get tired of only seeing yourself. And it's not just about yours. I see Jemar Chase, T. Higgins. I see other players that I

wanted and they gave me. I'm just saying, I'm just saying like, don't run away. You're not that you, you are part of the problem too. And I'm sure he understands that, which is why he alluded to being injured and not being available and all those things. But to your point, Nick, when players start talking like this, this is why I say you got to be somewhat of worried and have a healthy concern is because naturally, if I'm any of the other organizations, I'm going to do it. If I'm the Minnesota Vikings and I'm dealing with what I'm dealing with and they have all these assets, I'm figuring out whatever I can.

to see what I can put together to see if they'll bite on Joe Burrow because there is, we found this out. Everybody has a price. Everybody has a price. So as good as you feel like they should feel right now because he's locked up and he's under contract. If they put together a ridiculous offer, knowing how cheap the Bengals are,

they might look at that. I mean, where are we, where we've been going with Joe since 2022? So, Brew, I think you're agreeing with us actually. No, I'm not because I don't think they should be worried. I think they are in total control of the situation. They could be in control of the situation and they can not be panicked. And Ram, give us a couple of short minutes here if we could.

While also acknowledging to I think Wild's point, should the Bengals be more worried about their relationship with their quarterback than the bills with Josh Allen? Yes. The Chiefs with Mahomes. Yes. The Patriots with Drake May, yes. Like, go down the list. Now, I think Ravens with Lamar, they have a different type of worry because it seems to me, at least, he and the head coach are not on the same page, even if he and the organization are. The Eagles and Jalen Hertz, I think organizationally, it's fine, but it just seems like Jalen and his teammates.

I'm not saying everything is perfect everywhere. But they are certainly on shakier ground than most teams with their star quarterback. Do you, even though they have control, bro. Do you expect, what do you expect them to say? They are, they have lost 10 games this year. He didn't play obviously all of them. But they're 4 and 10. He shouldn't be happy.

I'm glad he's not happy. If he's up there giggling and having, I'm just happy to be playing football, then I'm like, do we have the guy? I want him to be a bit upset. And the fact that I have his name on this contract for several more years means the other teams can call all they want. And unless they blow me away with an offer, I don't have to do a thing.

Have we ever, like, do we really think that if Joe Burrow said publicly, and he is not there yet, but if he said publicly, I would like to continue my career elsewhere, the Bengals want their quarterback to be a hostage? Or do we think that he can de facto? But he hasn't said that. No, but don't you think. We are closer to that.

Look, if he says that, then I'll revisit. But right now, he didn't say that. He didn't even come close to saying that. In fact, he was asked, do you, can you see a scenario when you are not here next year? And he said no. I can't see that no. Have you ever thought about playing elsewhere? Think about a lot of things.

I mean, that's a guy. I mean, don't you feel like the answer for every, all these other starts? our quarterbacks, that follow-up question is, no. You know, everybody wants to be on. You know what I'm thinking about the dolphins in winning this game? Yeah. Or I want to be there for life. Like, I just think that's what they would say.

I also don't think he's wrong. I would not be concerned. I don't, Brew, I think you're being too hard on. Just like everybody thought he was crazy. People thought he shouldn't go there in the first. And it looks like they were right. Really? Because they got to the Super Bowl when he was healthy.

Yeah, they did get to the Super Bowl, Brew. They've been one of the better teams than the one of the scariest teams in the league. When he's healthy. When he's healthy, they're scary. You know that. And if he was healthy all of last year, they would be a scary team in the AFC.

We know that. Brew, I don't know that I agree with you. They weren't last year, Brew. This year they would have. Why? The defense is better. I don't, Bruce. Wilds is falling.

That is fine. That is true. They got bad. I'm not saying it's good. No, pretty good though. Pretty good. It's good. They're dead last in the NFL.

Two weeks. Look at this. Look at this AFC. That's all the walls needed right there. Last year of 43 touchdowns. This year, eight. Well, he's playing what? Five games?

They haven't been good with him. That's part of the problem. Passer rating 84 completion percentage. 60%. He's not having a great year. No, he's not. And he didn't two years ago. Do the Rams deserve to be underdogs?

That's what I said, look in the mirror. Packers in Chicago, a Saturday night on Fox. News today, Luther Burdon and Romadunze out. That's not good. Caleb, fresh off of cooking a Brown's defense, said he could make any throw after the throw of the year that Parkins said was Montana to Dwight Clark-esque. Does anyone here expect another great Caleb game? Greg, we'll start with you.

Great Caleb game? I'm not sure about a great Caleb game, but I do expect Caleb Williams to play well. Look, he's coming off a really good, impressive performance against the Cleveland Browns. So his level of confidence is going to be. high and largely because of what he was able to do in that second half against the Green Bay Packers. Like when you play that type of a game and obviously it didn't end the way that he would have hoped, but when you watch that tape and you're the player that performed and through that interception, you don't necessarily look at it as, man, I threw interception.

I let my team down solely. You look at it as, man, I got this team. Oh. I blew it. If I make this throw, like they didn't stop us in the second half pretty much. I was able to do whatever I wanted to do as a pass thrower. We as an offense. And when you look at what he doesn't have, obviously Romo Duzze and Luther Burden,

I don't think that's a mate, obviously, really good, impactful players for what they've been doing all year. Because the burden was big in that game. Colton Loveland, his emergence, Cole Commet is getting back reacclimated and involved in what they do offensively. And then DJ Moore as well. So they still have weapons. And we got to understand he's going to be protected by that run game. And he has a level of confidence where now the operation looks good, pre-snap. He's seeing things better.

He's anticipating throws. I still think he's going to play well. And this has nothing to do with what the Packers won't have. I just think his confidence is at that point. Look, that makes sense. I think this is the most intriguing part of this game. And both quarterbacks, really. What does love do?

Can he carry him without Michael Parsons? but yeah, I really want to see does Caleb build on what he did last week and like you said the second half against Green Bay. He's had three outstanding games outside of last week against Cleveland. Dallas, he threw four touchdowns. And then Cincinnati and Pittsburgh,

he threw three, no interceptions in those games. The game after, though, he has it. He fizzled out in two of them. One of them, he was okay. But you see his numbers. the game after a great game, he hasn't been able to play well. So if he can string together two great games,

you know, it'll be the first time he's done. Giants and Eagles, not like. Those aren't great. The Eagles, obviously, but the Raiders and Giants, yeah, those aren't even good teams you're facing. So it'll be interesting. I think he's fully capable. He has these last few weeks, I think, play really well.

And just you're seeing him when he rolls out, That's when he's like at his best. So I think you can kind of look at it as if you can get over the mistake at the end of the Packer game. Which again, I'm not trying to gloss over, but to me that wasn't like indicative of anything other than guy, you saw it late and under threw it. You know what I like? The process was fine. The play was fine. It was the right read, all of it.

But he saw it a little late and then under threw it. He has a chance to have now strong. strung together if he has an excellent game, like 10 really high-level quarters, right? Because the second half against Green Bay to your point, the whole game against Cleveland, and then this game, and if he does that, they are a very real threat. Yeah. Because this team, when Caleb's played well, they've been one of the best teams in football. He has had five games this year with a passer rating, 95 or better.

They're 5-0. They're five and four in the games he hasn't, which is a testament to the defense forcing turnovers in the running game. When he is thrown for just more than 210 yards, they're 7 and 1. They're 3 and 4 when he doesn't, which again shows you to Ben Johnson's credit and the running game's credit, they're a 500 team when the quarterback plays poorly,

which most teams would kill for that, like it would be 500 when our quarterback plays bad. But the fact that they're damn near unbeatable when he plays well, is what if we get another great Caleb game, then all of a sudden you start being surprised by his bad games rather than pleasantly surprised by his good games, which that would then make them an 11 and 4 team with a young number one pick quarterback ascending at the right time

and super dangerous. And it would put them in great shape to at least win the division. You know what I mean? To get a home playoff game and have, have the best path imagine. Can I give you the opposite side of the interception wasn't a big deal point? And there are two kind of conflicting stats, so I want to get your take on it. He is not an accurate thrower of the ball, right?

So his completion percentage of Cleveland was good, according to in Caleb's status. 61. Last four days before that, 54, 47, 54, 50, 55, 59, 69, 65 was the highest in Baltimore. before. And they lost that game. So at the same time, this stat was floating around, 12 interceptions in his first 1,000 passes is the fewest ever. Yep.

So it's this weird thing like, all right, I know some Bears fans like, well, he throws the ball away, but Josh ran those numbers, the completion percentage, is still low. So is that one where, you know what, I'm going to have to take a shot? I don't have another option. I'm going to go for it.

And it wasn't, oh, I just under through it. Like, I'm actually not an accurate quarterback. And I think if I have to put it there. To the next point, when you watch that play, he definitely saw it late. He saw it too late and he probably if he could take that throwback, he takes it back. But when you have a guy that has a big arm and a live arm and believes he can make every throw, you typically see errant passes when they're younger, but you also see the interceptions when they're younger. And we don't see that with him.

And so if he's not turning the ball over, we don't appreciate him enough because he's had these struggles. And we've seen the Jaden Daniels and the Drake Mays and these guys throw with great accuracy and have success. And he hasn't had that. His process has been a little slower. However, he doesn't turn the ball over. No. And that's the number one thing you harp on when you are playing quarterback. We got to protect the football.

And he said that when he was asked about. about the great play, the play in the back of the end zone, he said he was like, well, I knew he was like, that was either getting completed or incompleteed. That sounds, he, and not intercepted. Right, not intercepted. That it was that he. Which is that because it could have been intercepted. I mean, he said where he thought where he threw it, and then he went on to say he was like,

basically, when I released the ball, either my guy's catching or nobody's catching it. Live from New York, the show is reminding you there. You're not allowed to bring your own food into the restaurants, usually. Nope. Because Greg is going to be here for the dinner, brou-oes, everyone, because he bet on Shador over kale. I mean, talking. He can have a salad, he'll have a salad.

Nothing. At most, then, appetizer. Greg was already texting me. He was like how I like my steak cook, because we were looking at the tomahawk. Oh, yeah. Can't wait. You eat steak.

You had a steak. I eat, definitely eat steak. Steaks good. That's good camaraderie. That's a part of my approach. Yeah, absolutely. And the seafood tower? Yeah.

Oh, yeah. A little dessert. Do they have those at McDonald's? The seafood towers? Second hour, first things first. Today, has criticism of Jalen Hertz gone too far? Is it overblown? And Dusty cleared a great clip that changed this question around.

Shout out to Dusty. Wow. Good job. NFL films. Meanwhile, Joel Clout joins us. Talk about the college football playoff. What's going on with Kaylon DeBoar? Caleb Cahlin DeBoer.

Anybody know? Joel Clatho. We're going to find out. Good. But right now, of course, it's time for the most motivational segment in all its sports. It's also time where we read some viewer mail, as always, the year of 2025. We got a ton of actual physical mail right up there with Santa's letters. Dear Wilds, Bob the Show.

Why? Thanks. What's considered a win for the butt list? For example, Jaylon Hertz and Lamar Jackson both won in shutouts, but Shador threw threw three interceptions and scored only three points. Was that an overall W for the Bud list? Cheers, Ryan and Brian, Happy Holidays. Well, I was two and one.

Yeah, that's what. So is it just like Nick's? Nick throws a party if he's two and one. It's rare, but he throws a party if he's true at all. Nick's picks? I'm doing great. But you were living in perfection. I was in perfection for a while, but it wasn't bad.

But Shadour cost me some money. He didn't. I'm going to have to, he's going to be. costly to take y'all out. You know what? I'm going to pay for the appetizer. No. Yeah. No. No, because it has like, it has like a rookie dinner feel to it. No. You're too much money. A bet was a bet. Yep. I'm going to pay for the other. No. You get the advertisers. You get the drinks. No, I'm not going to. I think that's fair. Nick will get the tip. No, just real quick in all seriousness.

Brew pays for all food, but because brews a man of the cloth, let's not make him pay for the liquor. That's fine. But I also, I'll pay for the soup. No, he has to make for the food. We can bake for the drinks. Wine is very popular in the Bible, for the record. That's very popular. That is very true. That is very true.

All right. Let's get to it. At number three, we just got done talking about it. Caleb. Caleb Williams. All right. This is a huge week. And I'm just going to cut to the chase, Caleb,

because we talked about the situation. Great chance to prove that you and the Bears are Super Bowl contender. Yeah. All right. You beat the Packers, even without Micah, because I think they're still alive. You beat them. You've already beaten the Eagles. Then you guys have a legit chance to get to the Super Bowl.

And that leads me to this. Don't be like wilds. Oh, my God. Don't take the stair step approach to winning, all right? Where you would be like, let's just get to the playoffs this year. then next year, let's win a game. That's how it works. Then the year after that, let's just get to the NFC championship game.

Then we set our sights on the Super Bowl, not winning, just getting there. And then after that, we'll win the Super Bowl. That makes sense. That's what Wilds is. Don't be like that, Caleb. It is wide open. We talk about the AFC being wide open without the Chiefs. The NFC is wide open, too.

All right, the L.A. Rams are not world beaters. All right, they're good, but so are you guys. So take the approach that you are going to seize the day and try to win this year's Super Bowl, and you can prove that you're live by beating the Packers. Caleb, I'm starting to believe in. Wow, I'm starting to believe. And I think he's open as far as the first two hours of the show.

I know he's Danny's guy, but I'm not sure about Nick. All right. Speaking of Nick, number two, Trevor Lawrence. What did he do? He's been nothing but great. Trevor has been great in these last three weeks. And how does it feel, Trevor?

Fingerprints. Let me, let me paint the scenario, the picture that's going on. Trevor entered school as the next big thing. Oh, yeah. As a freshman, you're supposed to start varsity. He did. Sophomore year, you're supposed to win the state title. junior year you're the best team in the nation senior year i mean it's you're just taking over you're so

hot entering school that the school hottie oh here we go this is always risk the school hotie was really going after you oh i mean she she nicknamed you the prince she called you the prince all right and then you get on camera poor Trevor you struck a little bit. You don't live up to the height. You don't start as a freshman. Oh, you start, but you're bad. You're bad. Your sophomore year. Bad. Seventh and MVP? Bad. Junior year, bad. That's what happened? But as a senior, you start to put it all together.

And guess who's coming around again? The school fox. The school fox. The honey. Now she's trying to call you the prince again. I never left you. Don't worry about those other guys I was dating. It was all about you, Trevor, Prince. Take me off camera. Are you going to, are you actually going to go for this? That's what happened.

Are you actually going for that? Trevor, I think you're better than that. It's a good metaphor. So, look, I'm going to say the same thing to Trevor I said. It's okay, why not you? Well. Why not you in the Jags? Right?

It's open. Why not? You pounded the, I actually have a, high level of respect for the Chargers and y'all pounded them. You beat the Chiefs. And I know it's now everybody wants to act like that's not a big win. That's a big win. You beat the Chiefs.

All right. So Trevor, I'm starting to believe in you too. Wow. All right. At number one. We've been talking about this guy all day. All right, Sam Darnold. I mean, it's pretty simple.

Can you deliver in a big game, Sam? Because there's no easy way to say this. But right now, your view as the weakling. coach is very good defense is great receivers are great running game is adequate it's on you and you're great

versus you know bad mediocre teams maybe a good team here or there but can you consistently play well against great teams in the league and I will admit if you deliver against the Rams

tonight there's still be questions we'll still go into the playoffs like, darn it's still a little bit of a question. But this is a big one as Wiles just said. This is a big one for you. So Sam, I said it yesterday. Prove me wrong.

Prove me wrong. Right now I have to see it to believe it. So I'm telling you, prove me wrong and go have a great game. Y'all lost about two points against the Rams last time and you had four interceptions. So that would suggest you guys are better than them and can beat them. So if you have a good game. So Sam, I'm rooting for you. That was a great budd list.

That was. I like that Trevor Lawrence. I mean, it's the scenario. It's exact. It's right on the money to me. I'm adding Aaron Rogers to the buttlist. Wow. Yes, Aaron Rogers.

Look, if the playoffs were to start today, I don't think many of us would be pointing to this Pittsburgh Steelers team, believing that they're going to get in advance of the second round. However, you got the Detroit Lions up in front of you. And you've talked about playing meaningful football games, being a part of something special, and the last couple weeks, you have been special. You have been exactly why and what they were hoping you were when they brought you on. When the games are on the line, when the season is in the balance,

when we need a quarterback to start making plays, and we can ride their coattails. Aaron Rogers got us. You've been that. However, none of us really still find that has been that impressive because of the opponents. Now you've got a Detroit Lions team,

regardless of their schedule or their record and them being out right now, they're fighting for everything. They've been in a lot of shootouts. The last time we saw you in a shootout, guess what? You were special.

Week one, against your former team, the New York Jets. These were the numbers that you put up. They were pretty impressive. We were like, man, if they can get this version of Baron Rogers for the duration of the season, the likelihood, not likely, but guess what? You're right here.

Now, going into this week, you got the Detroit Lions, you got an opportunity to clinch another winning season for your head coach, play some meaningful football, and be the reason why, but you're going to have to possibly win a shootout. Can you do it? Can you turn back the clock and be something that we've become accustomed to sing,

but do it today? Can you do it? I actually do believe you have it in you. Let's see if you can get it done. Ann Rogers, you're on the blood list. It's good. I mean, again, lying. up for him. If they make the

playoffs, you couldn't ask for a better scenario if you were him. Right? Even I don't think they'll win it. If he plays really well against the Lions and they win this game and it's in a shootout, something that we haven't seen them do, we would start to really look at this game. If they beat

Detroit, yeah. Oh, they can win some players. Well, it's 4-11 on a Thursday, which means you're in for a real treat. It's a special holiday edition of one of America's most beloved segments. The sports media on Budzman. Wow. What an info. I thought the bet was over. Thank you so much. Wasn't a bet it was a trade. So this is once again where I am going to Sports Beyond Buzzman this week is going to ask a favor, if you will, of some of America's top sports journalists.

Real journalists. Most notably people who cover the fight game. Here's what I want to know. And it's very simple. this Jake Paul Anthony Joshua fight is it rigged or not? Yeah, I'm not sure. Because if it's not rigged, folks, I'm telling you, walk outside, that's a money tree, just pluck some dollar bills off it.

I can't believe. This is, right now this moment, you can bet Anthony Joshua to win. It's minus 800. That might sound like a lot. It's not. That's a 12.5% return on your, money. People kill free. People paying stockbrokers and market hedge fund guys.

Tons of points to try to get 10% is 12 and a half percent in 15 minutes. Right now, you can bet Anthony Joshua to win via stoppage. TKO, knockout, stuff, anything at minus 400. That's a 25% return on your money. You can bet Anthony Joshua, again, if you're not familiar to the fight game, Anthony Joshua, one of the best professional heavy of his generation, Jake Paul, internet clown, who's been boxing for about two years. You can bet Anthony Joshua to win by knockout in rounds one, two or three, just in the first three rounds,

at minus 1.30. That's a 77% return on your money, to which again, I say, is this rigged? Because if not, I feel like it is financially irresponsible to not hit all my very big. Vegas contacts. My buddy, not your wife talk about. Nick Shulman, one of the greatest poker players and boxing fanatics alive at Helmute, everybody out there. I can get a lot of money down on this fight.

But if it's rigged, I'm gonna feel like an idiot. But if it's not rigged, again, you're setting real lines and taking real bets on professional box, who by the way, you might be like, oh, well, does Joshua want to take a fall? He's staring at around a hundred million dollar payday from the, the Saudis after this for some fights. I don't think they're necessarily gonna pay him that if he gets beat by a YouTuber. Right.

So again, can somebody please let me know if this fight is rigged before around 10 PM tomorrow? Cause if not, I owe it to my children. To bet the fight in every way imaginable. So do I. Right, all of us. Oh, that's, no, that don't even gamble. I just, you're right.

Is it rigged or not? If it's not rigged, why is it? Why is it not minus 50,000? Why is it only minus 800? That's a great point. Why is Anthony Joshua a smaller favorite over Jake Paul than the Houston Texans are this weekend? That doesn't make sense. I just want to know.

Jake Paul was going to fight like a 135. He's fighting Anthony Joshua. Before it is. Tank Davis. Can't fight. Yeah. That was off. He was wondering.

And now Anthony, he was like, well, what was his training? Yeah. Look, that's a legitimate. question, Nick, because please tell me. Right. Like, it could be look, I have no idea. Is that not? But if it's

texting with them, I texted with him already. Hold on. Hold on. Read the bottom texting green to Nacho what I texted right before the show. I'm curious if you can get real money down the Joshua Paul boxing match. What props in you have? This might be the bed of the year. Yeah, might be the bed of the year.

But is it reed? Again, I don't understand like, but can they rig something as gambled? Like I said, this is where fake news hat can't work. I'm not a real. I just need someone in boxing media. But it's not a sanction. You just want to know.

Fight. I just want to know. It's not a, here's, but it is being, you can bet on it as if it's not, as if it, as if it's a real fight. And they're taking real money. And I'm going to feel really dumb if I bet on the wrong side of a rigged fight. But I'm also going to feel really dumb if I turn this thing on Friday night and 18, seconds in the professional boxer has annihilated the cloud.

And I'm like, wait a minute. Could have paid for Christmas. I don't. College. I got to tell you right now, I'm betting. The question is how much I'm betting. Do not bet it. I have no idea.

That's a great one though. Split. Split decision. Split decision. Yeah. This thing is not going eight rounds. If it's rigged, I think it'll be the distance. I don't know about a draw, maybe a slight win for Josh.

If it's rig. If that happens this week. You think Josh was just enough? I mean, him and Tyson weren't even the Harley's going to punch. They were dancing. All right. I'm putting Travis Kelsey on the bud list.

Oh. Kelsey soft launched his retirement when he was asked about Patrick Mahomes. And he said a bunch of nice things about Patrick Mahomes. And then he ended it with saying, I hope the chiefs can get him back next year. And everybody's like, oh, man, that's kind of sad. You guys like breaking up. So he obviously needs a break.

And Jason Kelsey was telling him take some time away from the game. and sort of let your mind clear. So I would also like to add to the sort of chorus of advice, get married, eat some desserts, you know, get out of shape a little bit, see what life is like outside of the training regimen of football, settle your mind, settle your body, go for a nice walk on the beach, right? Like, oh, maybe somebody spots you. Water coming up, like, oh, hey, Travis, look at this,

washed just like you. What? What'd you say to me, random tourists in St. Barnes? Because here's the thing. He's actually not washed, not even close, and he's not the Travis Kelsey that he used to be. But here are the numbers this season. 67 catches, almost 800 yards. He's going to have more as he's going to keep playing.

He's fourth in yards per reception, and he's got five touchdowns. He's got one more catch than Justin Jefferson. He's doing just fine. He's got the same amount of touchdowns as Hunter Henry for the Patriots, Who I love, it is like our go-to guy. So then, as you just look at this, hold on, I'm not washed. I'm not washed, but it's crazy for a tight end to just take a year off, get a little chubby and happy, and then come back. Nope, it's actually par for the course.

I have great news for you, Travis. Here's a bunch of tight ends that retired for a full year, came back and loved the game. Jason Witt did it. Gromk did it. Jimi Graham did. Darren Waller did it this year. All those guys, it's not easy to get four touchdowns in the NFL. So you're not washed.

And there's a precedent for tight ends coming back. Let me say Jimmy Graham had 39 yards but four touchdowns? Yeah, that's weird. The guy who just is just putting him into the goal line. I'm there. It's a goal line back. Steeves out. No one guards here.

Catch a touchdown. See how Mahomes is. Maybe the chiefs are, let's say. say five and four. Let's say six and four. Oh, you're talking about mid year. Mid year's on the board. I'm putting mid year on the board too. Oh, hey, remember how I kind of laughed and I hit my ACL and then you know, Gardner Minshue through an interception. It's kind of last meaningful moment, the NFL that he just played out the string. Why don't we come back and have a little run at it? Travis Culles is going to say, okay. I love that. That's not bad at it. Actually,

I'm almost willing to guarantee that happens. Soft guarantee. What if the, the, the, the, Noah Gray be there? Yeah, Noah Gray, they drafted Kename Jared Wiley. They need to address the position no matter what. But I love. You don't think Gray could have a good, really good. No, I don't think he's a, I don't think he's, if they want to still have the tight end be a major feature of their passing offense, they need, that player's not on the

team, right? I kind of need one more, Mahomes to Kelsey. Moment? Yeah, it's a little selfish of me, but when we're watching injury, like, oh, that's it for. That's the thing. It just felt like we were robbed of something. All right.

So that's the Budlist. Excellent job. Jalen Hertz. Is he being over-criticized? We see the third down graphic yet again. Somebody wants to trade him. Who wants to trade him? I do.

Super Saturday. Eagles, Commanders. Coverage begins at four. Then it's Packers against the Bears. Coverage begins at 8 o'clock. As always, only on Fox. Welcome back to First things first. Eagles almost touched down.

favorites in DC against a Jaden Danielist commander squad. If the Eagles win, they would be the first NFC East repeat champ since 04. Lots of criticism around the play calling for the offense. Here's a happy clip from the Raiders game. Take a listen. He fires and it is complete. Hey, I know. You better say great fucking design.

Nick's Raiders. Everybody, everybody, cooling ball. Everybody's homecoming. Has criticism of Jalen Hurts been overblown? Yes. Yes. All right. He is about to win the NFC East for the second straight year for the first time in 21 years.

Dak hasn't done it. Romo never did it. Michael Vic, when he had his great years in Philly, didn't do it. Eli Manning. Carson Wentz, I mean, Nick Foles when they had a. little hot street. Nobody's since McNabb. Nobody's done it. Yes, in McNabb. And so he's about to do that.

He has beaten the Chiefs, the Rams, the Buccaneers, the Packers, the Lions. In a loss to Denver, he throws for 280 yards and two touchdowns. In a loss to Brian, or I'm sorry, a victory of Brian Flores, who's a great defensive coordinator in the Minnesota Vikings, threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns.

Now, I think, The reason he's criticized are two things. One, he is not your typical, you know, quarterback just be in the pocket, six, five, throwing the ball all over the place like a Joe Burrow or somebody like that. He's different. He runs. He's not, and he doesn't run like Lamar or Josh, but running is a big part of his game. He used to run a little more like Josh.

He doesn't run as much. He's not as big. But yeah. Yeah, he's not. And he's a leader. And in big moments. he's at his best. I think that's one that he does it differently.

Again, I've used this before, but like a Tyrese Halliburton. He scores 14 points. People think, oh, he had a bad game. And not necessarily. He had the offense humming. He's passing the ball. So that's kind of how Jayland Hertz is, a different type of player. And the second problem and why this happens, I think, is A.J. Brown.

If A.J. Brown had never said anything a year ago and wasn't reading books, on the sideline. We haven't heard anything negative from AJ since he's been getting the ball. Even when they were losing. And so I think if AJ had never said anything like that, I don't even think we'd be looking at Jaden like that. Jalen like that.

So I think it has been harsh. And I think they're live in the NFC that's wide open. Yeah, I'm with you. I think it's a little overblown. I'm not going to put it. I'm not going to say we wouldn't be saying anything because of A.J. Brown, if A.J. Brown hadn't said anything. because I do believe we would still be talking about Jalen Hertz.

It's simple. In a passing league, when you have a quarterback that doesn't have the running game that we were accustomed to seeing last year, the expectation is you're going to supplement what we don't have. And that's just not Jalen Hertz. And everyone wants to knock it and say, well, you're knocking Jalen Hurts. And that's just not who he is. Can he be that in moments? Absolutely.

We've seen it. at the highest level in the most important game of this career in the Super Bowl, in the brightest spots. We've seen him be that. It's just the level of consistency to expect him to do it every single week, that's never been who he is. And so if we're saying we want you to see that, we want to see that, and that's our expectation, criticism, yes, warrant it.

You got to get on them. It comes apart, it's a part of the territory when you're playing that quarterback position. But for a team that is a run first team and has struggled, he has to wear some of it because of the struggles that they've had offensively. Yeah, I don't think it's overblown at all. Listen, I think the very brief moment, it seemed like the local Philly media was like, should we bench him? That was overblown.

That's ridiculous. Like that, right. But I think we're not, we recognize that was ridiculous and an outlier thing. Before I answer this, though, can I react to that sound? Because I do not have the reaction to that sound you do. That I did. You thought it was awesome. I thought it was, think about that.

It's a moment of celebration. And the first thing out of Siriani's mouth is, see, the stuff we were getting criticized for, scheme, it was good. And the first word out of Jalen's mouth is the stuff I was getting criticized for, it was like. It was a telling piece of doubt. Right. It was a telling because he's like the coach says that to me the the positive spin would have been if those quotes had been reversed. If Sir, if the first, Jailing comes over to Siriani and Sirianni is like, man, you put ripped it up the seam. And Hertz is like, man, you schemed it wide open. Instead, Siriani's like, you like that scheme, buddy.

And he says you like that throw. I think some of that might be because then Siriani's got more involved in the play in a, in a. offense the last two weeks and there so I think that might be you know what I mean might have something to do with sure I don't think it's a huge thing but I do think it's a telling it's it's an interesting look in I do not

this is again getting back to my I think sometimes a lack of criticism is patronizing and I've talked about this with other things Jalen Hertz has finished in the top five in MVP voting we did a whole thing this year about how he's one of

seven guys to be in the top 20 each of the last three years in that NFL top 100. It's like him, Mahomes, Josh Allen, I think Miles Garrett, like the best players in the league. He is paid like he's a superstar. He's a franchise quarterback for one of the highest profile teams in the league. And the offense has greatly and drastically underachieved this year. Now, they have been able to overcome it record-wise, but when we show you their offensive numbers, you say this is a team that is greatly underachieving its talent level. So of course, the quarterback is going to wear it.

And it is, he is the only star quarterback or quarterback that is paid like a star that we just bake in to pros and cons. like, well, we all know he's not a super great reliable passer. And you just have to accept it. And so, like, if that, and by the way, because he is good at the other things and he at least used to be such a threat with his legs, which to me, if we show you the running stats, that's the other sneaky part of this is Jalen Hertz. they don't call designed runs for him like they used to.

Again, that's a four-year stretch, but that's per year. That's an average, so it's not total. You know, so they don't call designed runs even half as much as they used to or right about half as much because they got some of the year left. He scrambles, not as much. He breaks off long runs less. So all of those things are going to lead to a level of criticism that I think is fair, bro. But here, look at his.

numbers, you showed the teams, the offenses numbers, which were all in the 20s, essentially. One was 18th. Look at his numbers. Ninth in passer rating, 12 yards per attempt. Fifth touchdown to interception ratio, really one game where he had four. And then total TDs, he's third. Yeah.

And I think, you can't blame all that offensive dysfunction on him. How about Saquan Barkley, who's not having a good year and the offensive line, which isn't having a good year? Or how about the fact that we can't include? on that graphic passing yards because he doesn't throw for a lot of yards Lamar even at his height doesn't throw for a ton of yards and I

we have started saying on this show like past like that passing yards are not the end all be all and they're not the end all they're not the end all but there's only two ways to move the football you run for yards you pass for yards and if your team last

year he got the benefit of the 2,000 yard rushing season this year they can't do it They asked him to pick up that slack. Have they? I mean, it's a lot of games they don't overthrow the football. This is what I would argue. Yes, do you ask him to pick up the slack?

You do ask him to pick up the slack, but you're asking him to pick up the slack when you don't have the same type of personnel in front of me to solidify that I'm protected and then give me the time that's needed that I did have last year because of what I did have in the running game and the guys up front. So it matters.

The way that this team has been built, it was not built solely because of, okay, Jalen Hertz is this awesome thrower. He doesn't need much. No, they knew. Let's support him with a great running game and some skill guys around him. And we can use his number one attribute, which is his, you mentioned it, the leadership, the steadiness, the unwavering ability to rise to the occasion and the highest of my name. moments when we need you to. That's who he is. And can he be great throwing the ball? He can. Is he going to be Joe Burrell throwing the ball or Patrick Mahomes every time? No, he's not. That's not who he is. I wonder how his game changes in the playoffs.

Let me start like takes a page out of Mahomes book, starts running a little bit more. Start calling more design runs. They were they were on a three game losing streak and he threw five picks. Like that was that four. Welcome back to first things first. Let's welcome And Joel Klat for the latest on the college football playoff. Joel, welcome. Hope everything is well and happy holidays. I want to start off. Everything's great.

The internet loves me. That's true. Joel, don't read mentions, man. Get out, be out here, give takes, let people take them the wrong way. Who cares? You're Joel freaking Klat. You know me well enough to know. Like, I really don't care.

And my point stands. I might have been sloppy in my point. The NCAA tournament is not a joke and it's not stupid and it's not dumb. But it's not a tournament that is set up to identify the best overall team of the year. That point stands. If the objective is to have like an entertaining made for TV event, it's incredible. And the approval rating is off the charts. And I even love it.

But if the point or objective is to identify the best team, well, it's not set up to do that. That's obvious. On that note, can I ask him a question about the college playoff before we move into Michigan? Just real quick. So in that vein, what is the purpose of the tournament? I would argue the purpose of expanding the college football playoff field from 4 to 12 was for a year just like this year where there is one team in Indiana that under any system would be in there. And then six teams that all have one loss and have an argument we should be in the mix to be able to play for it.

that the purpose of this playoff is to make sure that a team like A&M or a team like Oregon or Ole Miss can prove it. And it is not to make sure Miami or Notre Dame get in. And so therefore, if you're not in the clear cut top six or seven, you don't get to complain. The tournament wasn't made for you. You're just lucky that maybe you could get one of the extra spots. Do you think that's fair? I don't disagree with that. I think that that's fair.

And like, listen, Notre Dame does not really have a leg to stand on. It's like they were being pitted against a team that beat them. Every tiebreak in the history of sports on the planet, the first tiebreaker is what? Head to head. Right? So it's like, you know, that's the way it is. And then people started yelling about Alabama. And yeah, I don't really care about the back end.

I think that you're right. This would have been a mess. It's like, well, who goes and plays into? in the old, you know, playoff. Is it Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Ole Miss, and we leave Texas A&M out? So I think the intent of the college football playoff expanding 12 was for a year like this. And I think we're going to have a better playoff because of it. I really believe that we could have an incredible playoff.

Outside of the two games, like, you know, I don't think Tulane's going to be all that competitive with Ole Miss. I don't think JMU is going to be all that competitive with Oregon. Outside of that, I think it's going to be a pretty remarkable playoff. Can we stay with the playoffice, Alabama, Oklahoma? I've heard Kalin DeBore might be coaching for his job. Do you buy that? And if he is, what's the domino effect that some theories have him ending up in Michigan?

Well, I don't think it's that he's coaching for his job. I think it's that Michigan would clearly target him. And if they were to lose on Friday, it would make it at least tenable from a structure standpoint before the transfer portal opens up January 2nd to potentially go after him. I think that he is on a very short list for Michigan. I think a guy like Jeff Brom at Louisville is on a very short list for Michigan right now. But they would only go after and try to achieve Kalin DeBore as their head coach if they were to lose on Friday night because if he's coaching all the way until the first and the

transfer portal opens up on January 2nd, then that's not a very advantageous position. for Michigan to be in. So I think that they would pivot because of that. So that's why the result on Friday night, as Alabama plays Oklahoma in Norman, I think is going to be important on a lot of different fronts and not just who wins and moves on in the playoff, but also if Alabama were to lose,

I think there would be a strong push from Michigan to try to hire him in Ann Arbor. Do you think DeBore should consider Ann Arbor under that scenario? I mean, that's up to him. I think that it's really tough to coach at Alabama following Nick Sabin. And I think he's found that out. I think that you've got to have the right fit. We talk about fit for quarterbacks in the NFL all the time.

I think that the same conversation can take place in the college game surrounding your coach. Is your coach a good fit for your program and the fan base and everything that goes on with your program? I don't think it's a bad fit at Alabama because Kaelin is a terrific head football coach. I think that the verdict is out of whether it's a good fit because that fan base is very accustomed to winning at the highest level. And let's face it, in the last two years with him, they haven't done that. And in particular, the performance against Georgia in the SEC championship game, I think was problematic. The loss against Florida State to open the year, problematic. So their fan base can be edgy at times.

And I would be interested to see if Kalin would at least look at a place like Michigan. And remember, he's from South Dakota. So he's, you know, from that region, if you will. And he's not really an SEC guy. And those fans down there, they like their people to be SEC people. Wow. You think the Internet was mad at you before. Wait until the Michiganders here that you think Michigan and South Dakota are the same part of the country.

I mean, like, region. You know, in college football, here's the thing. It's not the South. There's basically two regions in college. well, maybe three. There's like west of the Rockies, that's one. Yeah. And then there's north of the Mason Dixon,

south of the Mason Dixon. And that's it. That's college football, right? So that's where I'm going with that. All right. So listen, you made it, and you made it clear understandably, you don't have a ton of faith in 17 point underdog two lane

or 21 point underdog James Madison. So that removes two of the possible upsets from the weekend. The other two games, though, I mean, Oklahoma, a point and a half favorite at home, which means that's shifted. Bamma was originally favored point a half, so that's gone the other way. And also that also means Vegas thinks Bama's on a neutral site the better team. And then Texas A&M three and a half point favorite at home, so they think that game on a neutral site's close to a coin flip. Which of those two games do you think is most likely to result in an upset?

and really would you consider either one of those road teams winning an actual upset? I think Miami winning on the road would be an upset. I think that even though that's a pretty evenly matched game, but the one that I would expect more, even though, listen, truth be told, I picked Oklahoma in this game against Alabama on Friday night. I think that the environment at home, in particular for a fan base that has been frothing for this,

stage since Lincoln Riley left and went to USC. You know, like that fan base believes that they belong on this stage. And I think that that environment's going to be incredible. And that's very difficult to face as a road team, in particular, a team that has to throw the football. And you're facing a pass rush, which has 41 sacks, which leads college football. So Oklahoma can get after the passer. The problem with the OU team is that they just don't score the football. Like, their offense is not very good. They're worse than the Eagles. You know, you know what I mean? offensively. And they've got to build themselves into points, short fields, turnovers, special teams. It's a version of Iowa. Oklahoma plays a version of the way that Iowa plays right now.

And I think that's where this line is so close. That's why Vegas has Bama, you know, on a neutral, maybe even favored, even though Oklahoma has beaten Alabama twice in the last, what is it, 14 months. So it should be an interesting game and a heck of a matchup. But I would just, key in on that crowd noise and pass rush for Oklahoma. Because what we've seen for BAMAs, they can lose their minds a little bit in terms of protection. They did it against Florida State. They did it against Georgia. Georgia blitzed over 50% of the time in the SEC championship game.

Well, guess what Brent Vinnibles does. He's top five in the country bringing pressure. And I think that he's going to try to light up Ty Simpson with a lot of pressure on Friday. All right, Joel, two-part question based on the Heisman trophy. we saw Indiana's Fernando Mendoza won it. Should he be the first quarterback taken in the draft? And we saw Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt who didn't win it. He spewed some vulgarities at the voters.

Do you think that'll hurt his draft stock? Maybe help. I like that. I like that tenacity. Wild? You like that tenacity, Wild? A little bit. Yeah, you do?

Oh, wow. Do your pats need a little tenacity? No, we're good. That's a lot. I didn't know if we put it up there. It's a family for life. I like that part. I do.

I love the family for life. Maybe, yeah. The owners are going to be like, all right, this guy's a loyal guy. Yeah, you know. I don't know if that's going to hurt. Listen, let's face facts. Shador Sanders would have been drafted much higher last year if it weren't for off-field concerns, attitude concerns. Wouldn't you guys

all agree with that? Seems like that's the reporting on it. Okay. So this isn't going to help. Now, whether it hurts or not, I don't know. But this certainly isn't going to help his transition into the National Football League. Sure. Makes him seem like a raider to me.

They need all the help they can get on their offense. Oh, my gosh. But the voters got it right. Fernando Mendoza beat every team he played and played his best football in the fourth quarter against the best opponents that he faced. And remember, guys, he was tied with Iowa late, drove him down, scored a touchdown. He's tied with Oregon on the road in Otson, drives him down, gets a late touchdown. He's behind, has to score a touchdown, sacked second and 18, drives the length of the field, no timeouts against Penn State.

Gus and I lose our minds when Omar Cooper touches his foot down in the back of the end zone. Then against Ohio State, which is what I think clearly the best defense in college football, with four first round draft picks right down the middle of that defense, he puts on a show in the fourth quarter, throws a touchdown pass, third down, he converts. You know, like he plays great when greatness is needed. Therefore, absolutely he should have won the Heisman trophy. And yes, he will be the first quarterback taken. I don't think that there's much of a doubt.

I think the more interesting part of this draft from a quarterback perspective is all the guys that look like they're going to come back to college. Guys, they can make between three and four million dollars coming back to school. These guys that are proven commodities in college football. Well, if you get drafted late in the first round, or maybe even more specifically early in the second round, yeah, you might make a little bit more next year.

But the overall life of that contract is, you know, it's not more than you're making your last year at college football. Meanwhile, if you stay in college, you can develop more, get more starts under your, belt and potentially get into the top 15 of the first round. And that's where that contract not only comes with more value, but it also comes with more investment from the franchise and they're going to want you to succeed. Because what's the ultimate goal here? Is it to make the most money next year? Or is it to make the most money in your second contract in the NFL in a good

situation? I would argue it's the latter. You know, for a guy who hates one shining moment in March, an excellent interview. Wilds. Wiles, do you come around on Josh Allen? You know what? Turns out. Good football. He can play.

Joel, thank you very much. I just wanted one more thing. Just really quickly. In the AFC, do we really think that anyone other than Josh Allen's going to the Super Bowl? Wilds does. He doesn't think they're very good. They're fine. They're fine.

They're fine. He's down on the paper. They can't stop the run, Jules. No. Try again. Airball. Playing the drums. Yeah, that wasn't.

That wasn't it. It's first thing first over time. Just a little bit awesome. Well, it does have to be different though. Yeah, I think something new. No. No. No.

No. No. A triangle. God, you're such a little. Like, yeah, like a dinner thing and it's like a little bit of that. Like, come and get it. You're from the Midwest. Out there on the porch.

They're on the porch. B'bibh, come and get it. This is what they think of us Midwestern folk. We're awful. Wilds, I don't think, consider Chicago the Midwest. I do. You're the Midwest. The monsters of the Midwest.

Three of us are three of the four are Midwestern. Exactly. And you're from everywhere. You're from a shipbuilding town in Rhode Island. What did you call it? He's from a ship building town in Rhode Island. Oh, you're welcome for the freedom. First thing's first overtime.

Today, how do the Patriots bounce back against the Ravens? Don't give up five consecutive touchdown drives. Isn't that how you guys lost the playoff game to the bills too? But that was seven consecutive? Great point. I brought that up and it wasn't, I used that because this was a good loss. That was a bad loss. Got it.

Meanwhile, fresh episode of Frenemies. One part, friends, one part, enemies. And they discuss what the expectations for Stafford tonight. And Sam Darnold. Darnold. It's gonna be a stutter or a dud. But right now, we're headed to Chicago. The Bears get another shot at the Packer.

Saturday night on Fox. A lot of scar tissue here for Danny's squad. Via the athletic, Danny. Last 35 matchups, which was the start of Aaron's tenure. The Bears are six and 29. Ouch. I didn't realize it was that bad. Ouch.

Here's Ben Johnson. Obviously, I know our guys have been, looking for another opportunity to compete against this team. They're hot right now. I want to say last five weeks, they're scoring points and bunches. You know, he got after us pretty good. They had eight possessions and they scored four touchdowns, you know, and had multiple explosive plays.

And so we're going to have to look to contain that passing game better than what we did that first go around if we want a chance to win this ball game. A lot of signature win talk around here. or the Bears a legit Super Bowl threat if they win this game? They already are. Oh, wow. Yeah. Now, maybe I have a, you call it like a bucket of teams that can win it,

grouping, whatever it is. About 16? I think it's wide. I think it is wide open. I think there are very few teams that, like, I obviously make the case for the Bears, but if I'm just doing the negative case for these teams, outside of the Rams, basically everyone has a flaw that I think everyone at this table would agree with.

And so if that's the case, now some teams might have two or three flaws, and you might say, well, this team's flaw is bigger than another teams or whatever. But like, the Bears have a great coach who's a great play caller with the number one takeaway defense in the NFL and the number one rushing offense since week four in the NFL and a quarterback who was peaking. They blew out. They won by 9.

but they were a seven-point underdog. So they bullied the champs, the Eagles, on Black Friday. They played the Packers, who everybody thinks is a Super Bowl contender, down to the last play of the game. And statistically, that game was very even. I don't, if they're not a contender, then who is? Because if I, the Seahawks, their quarterback Sam Darnold, he doesn't win big games.

The Eagles, they got blown out by the bears. The Bucks, they're seven. and seven. The Panthers. It feels like the Bucks and Panthers are the easiest teams to Neg because they have legitimately not been very good. I mean, I would take the Bears defense over the Niners defense. I'm not sure. Really? I know.

It feels like that should be the case given the names, but do you think that is effectively the case given the play this year? I think I think that the Niners early with their wins over the Rams in Seattle, like their resume on paper is better than what it's been recently. a lot of close games against bad teams. So I personally, and we're going to see it. Like, we're going to, next week, the Bears play the Niners. So we're going to get to see if I'm right about that.

But I just think there's a huge group of teams that are largely the same. And there's a real path for the Bears to be the one or the two seat in the NFC, which means you're playing January games outdoors in Chicago. Yeah, they're a threat. No, I agree with you in that. When you look at the NFC, the only quarterback, you can, you'll definitively say he's going to outplay Caleb is Stafford. Even though Jalen's been great in big games and all that,

you don't know if he's going to put up huge numbers in that game. And then you go down the line. In a playoff game, you wouldn't give Jaylen the nod? I would feel more comfortable. I mean, he's obviously got the great resume. Right. He doesn't throw it a lot. I would give him the,

no, I give him the, but I'm just saying you're not going in that game like, oh, Jal is about to go crazy and we're not sure about Caleb. He doesn't, Nick's right, if there's a Super Bowl, maybe, but a regular player. I'm not saying you don't give him a slight edge, but I'm just saying like, KW, if you went and looked at his playoff game log leading into those, like the, the playoffs, the playoffs, and also last year, hold on, last year in the first round in the second round, I think he threw for a combined 260 yards in those first two games. And then the commanders game,

The commander's game, he played well in the Super Bowl. He played well in those games. I'm just telling you. But the Rams game, he outplayed Stafford. Did he know? No, that was the Saquan game, bro. I think he threw for 120 yards. I mean, again, Josh can fact check me on it.

That was the, I'm not. I remember feeling like he was outplaying. Maybe the numbers don't add up to it. The Super Bowl, obviously, but I think that overrise everything. But the Eagles have played a bunch of playoff games that they have won where Jalen didn't put up. He's not bad in those cases. He just doesn't, like, have huge numbers. But I tend to agree.

Look, but the question was if they beat the Packers, if they beat the Packers, you absolutely, for those that don't, that think we're off, if they beat the Packers, you absolutely have to consider, give them a shot. I'm just glad you're on my side on this one. I don't, look, I wouldn't pick them. You know, I like the Rams better. I like Philadelphia still. I like better than them.

I assume you like the Packers better. I like the Packers. still better than them even without Micah. But it's close. Then you got Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco. Those teams are close. So I'm going to turn this a bit because I

think definitively, if they win this game, particularly if they win this game with Caleb playing really well, they're a legit threat. You guys down to do a show on Sunday if that happens? No. And so I agree with that.

But The other piece of it is this. If they lose, and again, it's a point and a half spread. They're at home, and this is a thing Danny knows but doesn't want to speak about. What's the next topic? If they lose, it's very on the board. They just don't make the playoffs. And that's the thing if we, pardon me, if we show you the NFC North

and how congested these teams are, only two of these teams. I don't know if we can throw it up there. I should have told you guys ahead of time. No, not that. The three NFC North themed with their schedules remaining. So, because it's less about this and it's more about the divisional race. Because if they lose, here's the situation we find ourselves in, where their next game is San Francisco and their final game is Detroit.

A Detroit team that has the Steelers, who they're huge favorites over, and I believe the Vikings are their next game. By losing this game, the Packers, here we go. This is what I was trying to get to. If they lose this game, they're now 10 and 5. Dogs in San Francisco. Chicago, on the other hand, will get to 10, 4 and 1 and have a game against Minnesota late. Green Bay.

I'm sorry, Green Bay will. And Detroit is a touchdown favorite against Pittsburgh. They're in Minnesota. And then they are, in my opinion, if the Bears lose this game, week 18, Sunday night football, is going to be. Bears hosting the Lions for the final playoff spot. And so I, that is, I think it speaks to your point of how open it is, but it also speaks to unless you are the Philadelphia Eagles, the winner of Bucks Panthers this weekend or the

NFC West teams, meaning if you're in the NFC North, you might feel like, man, we can win the Super Bowl and also feel like we are this close to missing the playoffs outright. And so that is, that's why this game is such a unique spot where whoever wins it's going to feel like we can win the Super Bowl and whoever loses it is going to feel like we might just miss the playoffs. You think that if the Packers win, you think the Packers can, you'll think the Packers can. I personally think the Packers are too injured. But I don't think Vegas thinks that. I don't think the betting public thinks that. I feel like the Micah injury is too devastating.

I totally. That's what I was going to ask you, Danny. if the Bears win, will there be a part of you that thinks would be different without Micah? No. I mean, even if it's true, I don't care. Okay. The amount of anticipation for this game in Soldier Field, the idea that the Bears might have a quarterback equal or superior to what the Packers... I mean, you gave the number since the start of Rogers.

Since the start of Favre, first time I remember watching football, I'm six years old, 1992. The Bears are 16 and 52 against the Packers in my lifetime. So it's really... I wonder if that shouldn't have any effect on Saturdays. It definitely has an effect. I know, it shouldn't. It makes no sense that it should. I don't even agree that it should.

You think 16. You think that should have an effect? I think it does. I think that, I think that. The Bears hear about this. Yeah, I think that the overall feel of a stadium and a fan base and the players who have been a part of it and the coaches who have or at least heard about it, I do think that big brother, little brother thing,

can go on for generations even when there are no players from when Farve was on the Packers, obviously. But it could motivate. It can motivate and it can turn. But I think that I feel like you can feel dread in a stadium when you're in it. And I think when the home team is the team that has always lost to the team on the road, sometimes that can have, maybe this is idiotic, but I just believe it, that it can have an impact on actual games.

are so out of whack that bears by double digits soldier field's going to be rocking let's go wow bears by double package pack let's go winning this guy wow okay oh well better bat yeah yeah patriots in Baltimore Drake May taking the lessons from a good loss and moving sport he did take a list loss in three decades well take a listen to it yeah obviously it stings you know stings when you don't come up on the winning side but What I try to learn in this league is on to the next week. The next week's, you know, just as important as the last week and the week before that. And it's every week's important and it matters.

And just trying to play to my best ability and fix the things that I can fix and make plays and try to fix plays that I wish I had back and try to let it not happen again. Are you expecting a bounce back game from Drake May? He did have two touchdowns by the, in Drake May World. No, it was his worst passing game of the year by a wide margin, right? Yeah. Not a terrible game, though. He ran the ball well, but the second half is really bad.

And it was his worst game of the year. Yeah, I expect Drake May to bounce back and it may be not be enough. I think Drake May is awesome. I think he is on a path to superstardom and being in the conversation for top five quarterbacks. Like, I do not think this is a Jaden Daniels, C.J. Stroud situation. I think he's just good and arrived and he's going to be good for a long time because the things around him are only going to get better.

So I think his present is bright and his future is really bright. but Baltimore's good. He's on the road and they can lose because of their rushy. What evidence is that do we have that Baltimore is good? I think in this game, their matchup actually suggests that Baltimore will run all over New England and it might not matter. I got a little support for you. Oh, true.

The graphic. Oh, this is Danny's. I would love this graph. Is this the graphic? This is Danny's graphic. You can't stop the run anymore, Wild. That's a cool graphic. That is fair.

You just can. And they got a guy in Baltimore named Derek Henry. And God only knows the Ravens, if they can just run Derek Henry in a big spot, they'd never be, only give him six carries for the game. And then we all pull our hair out. I, Drew, I don't. I mean, I don't look. I feel like the Ravens will win. I am not as confident in them winning as I was that Buffalo was going to beat you guys.

I just had no doubt Buffalo was going to beat you until I saw the first, you know, two quarters of the game. I'm like, oh, my gosh, the Patriots are incredible. But I feel like Baltimore will win, but this is a game that's, they haven't, we've talked about it. They've put together one or two good games, complete games the whole year. Yeah, that's. It's on the table that they disappointed. I'm shocked you like the Ravens in this spot. At what point is a team what they've been?

How late into. But I think you would have to give them like looking at the players on that team. Lamar, there's always the possibility that he just explodes and is the early season, Lamar. Okay, but then there's also the possibility that the defense goes back to being awful. I don't think so. Yeah, I don't think so. I'm worried about that. Because their defense had, one, again, you guys like, it is their culture to play good defense.

And the second half of the season, they have played good defense. So I don't think that's on the board. I think Lamar and that offense could explode. the Ravens, okay. The Ravens offense was not good last week. It scored 17 points against Cincinnati. They scored 24 because of the pick six, but the offense scored 17.

Lamar, when he threw, was effective, but he also, they called 16 passes. He was sacked on a quarter of them. That's like an insane rate. That's similar to Darnold in the playoffs last year, as far as being sacked on 25% of your dropbacks. The Patriots, our whole argument on this show is, are they a good team on the rise or a Super Bowl contender

or the hands-down best team in the league? And that argument is held between Wilds and himself internally throughout every single show. That's true. Right. I mean, I come out on a good team on the rise. So in this spot, on the- But the Ravens aren't good.

the Ravens we are 14 games in the thing that they do well directly exploits the thing that the Patriots do poorly The Ravens are a great Russian team Did you ever say the Chiefs weren't good until they were eliminated? You always felt it's there. Let's just see if it popped. Because the Chiefs had been the defining team of this era and been to five of the last six Super Bowls. The Chiefs showed us last year and the year before they have an extra gear when the chips are down. The Ravens.

They've been quite simply the opposite of that. No, okay, the Chiefs have obviously been better, you know, the last eight years, whatever. But it's not like the Ravens haven't been good. No. The Ravens have been great, actually, these last few years. I get it, they haven't been the Chiefs. Nobody has. But to act like you just totally writing them off, like, they're not a good team when you see the names on that roster?

No, again, you know that I have felt the names on the roster are a touch overrated. I accept, like, I think not Henry and Lamar, but I, think that I don't love the receivers much to you. I haven't loved the defensive players. What makes the Ravens a great regular season team, in my opinion is they have one of the

greatest regular season quarterbacks ever and that's been the difference for them. The biggest difference. I don't think he has been good since September. Correct. Since he... I thought he was good last year. Okay. So you're

So let me rephrase it. I don't think he had, since he came back from injury, he had a bunch of, all right. He had the first game was good, then a stretch of bad football. And then yesterday, which was the first signs of him being back, but still was not like, to me, hands down Lamar's back. And the fact that he mispractice, the fact that it is still,

there's still to me, the team just, it did not give me any reason to believe they are back rolling. I just think the Patriots are better. I think Lamar, your argument, Lamar was good. Sure. He didn't look like Lamar Jackson. No, I agree with that. I don't think a Lamar Jackson, 60% of Lamar Jackson can beat this Patriots team.

The real Lamar Jackson, I'd be very worried about. But I'm thinking that, whatever that was, 60, 65%, I think could be 80, 85% this week. Did he play all the practices? I mean, he's a vet. He's a vet. But if the Patriots are a team on the rise, which is where I come out on them, like the three different levels of it. And even if the Ravens are a team coming down or whatever,

they could still be on the same. They're not. You don't think any part of what's happened to the Patriots this year is a product of, they've beaten bad teams, easy schedule. Much tougher schedule for the Ravens. You know that. Listen, this is not really about my take on, the Patriots as much as it is

I am totally convinced the Ravens are mediocre. I am fully and totally convinced they're mediocre. I think That's not even a hot take. No. There are 500 team that by the way lost

A lot of their love Buffalo Kansas City Cincinnati Cincinnati and Pittsburgh is a right now a playoff team. Detroit They're a playoff team because you because they beat you. They're a playoff team because they.

They've had a way tougher schedule than you guys. I agree with that. The reason they started one in five, the defense was horrific. But if they didn't have that killer schedule, they wouldn't have been one and five. But since Lamar's been back and since the defense has been good. But they were winning. He didn't play well, but they win. But then they lost a game they had to have to Pittsburgh. Then they followed that up or I don't know, vice versa.

They lost on. Thanksgiving to a Bengals team with its first game back with Joe Burrow. Like, I just don't, I don't think the Ravens are all of a sudden a good team. And why are you so frightened, wow? Because he's worried about the real Lamar. I'm very worried about the real Lamar. You know what? You know, it's like, as you should be.

I would be. If we get the Lamar at a passer rating, here is one, two, three, four, five, last five games, bro. You know, what's his regular season pastor rating? It was the greatest in NFL history. Last year was $1.19. No, but it was. Prior to this stretch, it was the greatest in NFL history. Was it 120s or one?

No, no, no. For his career is like 104. 0.04. 47, 77, 65, 71, and then 114. Now, if it trends up. The most recent 114. I'd be nervous. I'd be nervous.

If the real Lamar shows up, I'm nervous. So preview, this is a Knicks pick for you tomorrow. A thousand percent. And this is an upset alert for you? He usually doesn't. I'm not, no, there's no, I'm rooting for the Patriots. No, I, listen, I can't. Little fear.

I'm a little bit nervous. Lamar Jackson. I respect Lamar Jackson. Even when he's got the sniffles, it is December. He's still Lamar Jackson, man. I'm nervous. It's a big game for truth. I also did read he's never lost a single regular season,

December or January game, but he's missed a lot of them. But still, that is something. That's true. You know what? I didn't fact check it. Josh, fact check that for me, please. Happy Frenememones Thursday. We're just about three hours to kick off between what I would say,

the first and second ranked teams on top 10 Tuesday, which I know is what everyone cares about, but also in the NFC. Rams are traveling to Seattle. Both teams, of course, coming off a win. Matt Stafford was asked about the biggest challenge of the short week. Take a listen. Physically, I mean, I think that's the most difficult part, especially this late in the season. You know, going into our, what is it, our 15th game we'll be playing.

And you got 14 under the belt and then trying to turn around and play in a couple of days. tough, especially for somebody as old as I am. So that's the biggest thing. Obviously, you've got a great opponent that we're playing in a tough environment as well, not to be discounted. So obviously a lot of talk about Darnold's four interception game the last time, understandably. But Stafford's the MVP favorite.

What are your expectations for Stafford tonight? I think another excellent game. I mean, I just think he's been the best player in the league this year. He's having the best season. And I think that he has earned the rare distinction of where you now assume somewhere from very good to excellent weekend, week out, and you are surprised when you get anything other than that. Like the Carolina game to me was surprising.

Now, I understand this last game against Seattle, because Darnold was so bad, it papered over a bit that Seattle defense really did a nice job against the Rams. And the Rams almost scored like the minimum possible points given how many bad positions Darnold put the Seahawks defense in. But I also think Stafford understands what's at stake here. Like they, for a guy his age and the wear and tear on his body, the difference between having a smooth shot to just through Atlanta and Arizona to being the, the one seed if you win tonight versus and a buy and zero cold weather games the rest of the year versus losing this game potentially starting the playoffs you know on the road in Chicago or Philadelphia possibly or Green Bay or Philadelphia and no buy I think he'll

understand what's at stake here and play his best ball. Yeah I think he certainly understands what's at stake, and they virtually do lock up the division in the one seed if they win tonight. But you alluded to it, and I just think it's worth remembering, because this is not a Sam Donald is on the same level as Matt Stafford point. Obviously, that is not true. Stafford would get my vote for MVP if I had one. But we remember the four interceptions. If we just go back and look at what Stafford actually, like, it was his worst game of the year against Seattle. And Mike McDonald might be the coach of the year. This was Stafford in that game, his fewest completions, post-completion percentage and you can see the rest of the stats there.

And that's not an outlier for what Mike McDonald's Seattle's defense has been doing to quarterbacks. They have been in the last two months holding, they've just been making quarterbacks lives miserable. This is every quarterback that Seattle's played since that game week 11, or like including that week 11 game, excuse me, against the Rams. No one has eaten on them. And you go back and you look at that game.

It's like, all right, it was 21, 19. one of the Rams touchdowns was a three-yard touchdown drive. The other was a 25-yard touchdown drive. Darnold threw four interceptions, and Seattle still had a field goal attempt at the end, albeit a long one, to win the game. I just think these two teams are very, very, very close. And yes, the quarterback edge goes to the Rams, but tonight's game is in Seattle. I think this easily could be an NFC championship preview tonight. So I think these are teams that are the caliber of an NFC championship preview.

But I would be very nervous about Seattle if I have to go on the road in the playoffs. And that's, and so this is why. And I know. They're favored tonight. They easily could win this. Like they win this game. They could get the one seed in the NFC. Absolutely.

But if, I understand. The point I'm making is, I think the Rams losing obviously would be damaging, but would not be, would not end their ability to make the Super Bowl. I think Seattle has to win in order for me to believe they can make the Super Bowl. And just as importantly, Sam Darnold cannot play poorly. So last year, he was so great all year, except for against the one team they were competing within the division and in the playoff game.

And if we show it to you that the splits are so incredibly stark between Darnold against the team they're competing with for the division and in the playoff game and everything else. It's worst quarterback in the league, best quarterback in the league. This year against the two teams they're competing with for the division and then everyone else, it's worst quarterback of the decade, best quarterback in the league. if he adds another checkmark to the left-hand column there,

you flatly have to believe he's about to crumble in their first playoff game, particularly because it would likely be on the road. Flipside, if he plays well. I mean, I would pick them against the NFC South winner in a 5-4 game on the road. By the way, but if they lose, they're not by any means guaranteed the five. They're not guaranteed it. No, they're not guaranteed. And San Francisco sitting here saying,

we're still alive for all of this as well, by the way. If Seattle wins, San Francisco, oddly, controls its own destiny to be the one seed because they play Seattle in Week 18. And so I just, the sample size of Darnold in big spots, this is another data point on that. This is a massive spot tonight. Yeah, and if he loses, and more importantly than if he loses, if he plays poorly, then I am just simply taking as a given, he's going to play poorly in their playoff game,

which will be on the road if they lose this game. And that, to me, would suck for Seattle fans, obviously. But this is an excellent team with a very good coach, a great defense, and the best receiver in football. So I hope, what I hope happens tonight is the Rams win in a shootout that Darnold plays great in. You know what I mean? It doesn't have to be super high scoring, but like 27, 24, Darnold plays well, Rams win. That, to me, would make me feel like we have two legitimate contenders on the field tonight.

I'm rooting for Seattle, and that's a little bit of a Bears thing because I'd just rather, if the Bears have to play the Rams for that game to be in Chicago and all of that. But also, I just, I think you said it during tears this week that, like, Seattle just feels far away. And I think they're a great team that's being a little underdiscust. They got outgained by the Niners in week one. And then they have outgains their opponent, including the Rams, in every game since. They have three losses this year.

By a total of nine points. I get all that. They're just, they're excellent. They are an excellent football team. But that, I agree with that. But this team, it wouldn't matter if they play on the moon or in New York City. there would be a level of skepticism around them because of their quarterback. And if he plays well tonight and meets the moment, that gets chipped away.

And that to me is that it can be erased, like just chipped away or like? Well, no, I don't think he can fully erase it. But I think he can take a big step towards, hey, yeah, I played poorly against the Rams once this year. I played well against them the other time. last year's last year with a different team in a different situation, you know, and I'm a better player at this point. All right, to Kansas City, Travis Kelsey went on his New Heights podcast to talk, of course, Mahomes' injury, and what's next for him,

what's next for the Chiefs? Here he is, take a listen. We got three games left. I know we're still talking about this game, but the integrity of who you are as a professional as a player, you've got to love this, man. And Chief's Canaan, we're going to give you everything we got, There's no question about that.

There's only one way I do things. This guy's played through everything, battled through everything, has been crowned champion because he's battled through everything. And he's going to battle through this. It's the only way this guy is wired, man. He's a fearless, fearless warrior when it comes to this football thing, and he's going to make sure that he comes back stronger than ever.

And, you know, hopefully the chiefs can get him back as soon as possible. So there's been a lot of discussion. I'm just curious, you follow them closer than anybody, about what the futures, is the retool or rebuild? What's going to happen with Kelsey? What's going to happen with Mahomes? And I think almost all of them are good questions, except the Kelsey piece of it. I have felt like it has been telegraphed from before training camp that this was Travis

Kelsey's last season. And I have been surprised that people haven't, he hasn't like, explicitly said, I'm retired. If he knew it, why wouldn't he have said it before the year? Doesn't want to the questions every week, distraction. I don't know, but I went back just to be sure I had the quote right and we could put it up. This was from back in March, well before the season started. I feel like there's a responsibility in me to play out the contract that I initially signed

to give Kansas City and the chiefs organization everything that I got, and that's what I'm going to do. if he thought he was going to play, he could have signed a contract extension before the year and not gone into the year with any sort of like lame-duck contract status or any sort of questions hanging over all of it. I just, I fully expect him to retire, even though he also very clearly can still be a productive piece of an NFL team. Yeah, listen, I mean, he's having an underrated year. He's been one of the three or four best tight ends in football this year by almost any metric.

I have felt he was leaning towards retirement but undecided. His comments in this pod made me feel like he is going to retire. The fact that he talked about how important these last three games are, him saying when talking about Mahomes being back for week one, where he says the chiefs get them back. Now, Wilde's talking about the long list of tight ends who have retired and then come back, Witten, drunk, Jimmy Graham held Darren Waller this year.

I think that's noteworthy. And do I, could I see a scenario where week 10 next year? There's rumblings. Could Travis come back? Yeah, I could see that. But I at this point now expect him to retire. And it's just, them, you know, not competing for a championship this year

was going to make his final season after seven straight conference championship games and basically his entire career, they win the division and go to the playoffs, a down note. The fact that he didn't, had no reason to think his last pass from Mahomes was his last pass from Mahomes is sports cruel, but that's sports, man. Like, there's no, I mean, that, that, All things ends poorly or else they wouldn't end? You don't get the John Elway sendoff.

Like every player doesn't get it. No, I agree with that, but there is a distinction between, you know, this team. It's all going the way it was going. But Patrick, not tearing his ACL and they go into the Denver game in week 17, those two guys knowing this is our last home game together. They go into the week 18 against the week 18 game against the Raiders. Like, this is our last game together as opposed to snap. injury like that. And so I don't know how much that will impact his decision. And I don't

know that we are going to hear his decision the moment the season ends, but it certainly feels like he's leaning towards retirement. Do you want him back? Of course. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, because he is still a really, I mean, he's still a really good player. And I feel about him the same way I feel about Andy. Like as long as they want to be there. As long as they want to be there, they should be there. Successful edition of frenemies. Yeah. You didn't argue with me.

Yeah, so the audience probably didn't like it. Easier for me. I got smoked in trivia this week. That was, oh, well, I mean, that was an obvious. It was not for me. Gianna set you up for fail. She really, really did. Joe Burrow, he keeps talking, and it's fascinating.

All right, Joe Burroughs speaking and we're listening. After a couple of instances of, we'll say, cryptic, confusing. Open to interpretation comments by Joe Burrow. He was asked at a press conference for more clarification on where he stands with all things football, the Bengals and his career. Take a listen. Is there any world in your mind where you're not the quarterback of the Bengals next year? I couldn't, I can't see that, no? Have you ever both thought about the possibility of not being the quarterback here during your career? You think about a lot of things.

A lot of crazy things happen every year. Michael Parsons got traded right before the season, I think, this year. That is something I hadn't seen in a long time in the NFL, so crazy things can happen. All right, Willie, what's your reaction? You want to hear this from your franchise quarterback. You want to? Yeah, because you can't mistake his honesty for portrayal. And for me, this is an alarm.

This isn't a panic button. This is a man right now who hasn't been to the playoffs in three years, just got smoked by the Ravens, and right now he's looking at a roster that can't compete with anybody, even with him healthy. So for me, when I look at everything he's saying right now, he's like, listen, he's already come out and said, hey, I want to be here, I expect to be here, but we can't win with what we have right now. So what are we going to do? So those are shots at the organization. I don't think it's about his commitment because you can't question his commitment

because he could easily take into everything. rehab process and say, you know what, I'm ready when I'm ready, and we'll see what happens. But he didn't do that. He fought his way back time after time to be here for the team and be a spark. So I respect Joe Burrow. I think he's committed to the long-term future of the organization, but the organization needs to step up and be better for Joe Burrow. See, I don't doubt that he's committed to the long-term future of the organization.

However, when you start listening to your franchise players speak in this regard, it start others who are listening. just like us, but owners of other teams, general managers, they pick up on that and they're like, you know what, let me start throwing in a couple bid options. Let me, let me ring their phone a couple of times. Jackson Darden, two first round picks. What do they say?

It's time serious. I think you make the call, yeah. You have to. CJ Stroud in two first round picks. If you're in Minnesota Vikings and you're struggling and you know you have a guy that he's played with that can bring him like some level of excitement, and comfort. Like, you make those types of calls.

So I get it, him being honest and frustrated at the organization. But I don't know if I care for this publicly. You can say it to us, you know, in your exit interviews and all those things. Those are the platforms and the windows that we create and carve out for these types of moments. Look, I'm not knocking him. Yeah. But I don't like that he's saying it. And he hasn't been available, albeit totally.

totally get it. Injuries are a part of the game. But if he had been available like last year and then he's making these statements and they struggled the same way they did last year, this year, and he was available for all the games, then okay. Well, I feel like the organization forced his hand. He shouldn't have to say anything. He's forced to say anything because they haven't been successful.

And he's playing in a division right now. When you look at the Steelers with an old man, Aaron Rogers, their stability there. You look at Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, their stability there. There's no stability in Cincinnati to the point where people don't even look at the look at Cincinnati as a destination. So he's saying, hey, how can we get better? How can we draw more talent where we can all rise if we're constantly losing year after year?

So if he doesn't say anything, who steps up and says something? I hear you. He has come down with a really incredible and compelling case of honesty. Because he is a very smart, media savvy person. He is. And so you can give answers that are less interesting than that. And he's done it before. Yeah. And so he is choosing not to. Have you thought about it?

I thought about a lot of things. You could you could say no. Correct. You know, but that doesn't get the job done. No, fair enough. Fair enough. But so there is just there's meaning behind it and we are now all going to guess at the meeting of it. But you guys have played. I obviously haven't. But I have done the media thing for a long time. This will be the biggest story in the NFL. this off season. Because if they do not fire Zach Taylor and most reports about Cincinnati are they don't pay coaches to go away and he is still under contract. So the

prevailing wisdom is going to be. Trey Hendrickson is going to leave. Joe Burrow is going to stay. And Zach Taylor is going to stay. And they're not an organization that spends like crazy. So then we're going to be like, well, so what's going to be different next year? A new OC. Oh,

okay. But does it does that say she a, does that satiate Joe Burrow? Does that solve the defense? So my point is, we are going to do a lot of conversations from March to August about, is Joe Burrow happy? What would you give up to get Joe Burrow? How can you win in Cincinnati there? How do you fix it? And so he is whether, and I agree with you that it's intentional because he's a very smart guy. Of course. But this is going to be the biggest story in the NFL this off season because Joe Burrow is clearly unhappy with something. Yeah, and I think that something is that he doesn't have a talented

roster that he can travel with and beat the elites with. And I think if you talk about this defense right now who's been a gaping hole for the last three years, at some point in the organization, like, all right, I get that we paid you and we got you Higgins and we got you Jamar Chase. We have a fairly decent office line

and a running back, but defensively, we can't do anything. You need a defense this time a year. Look, all the teams we talk about. Rams, Seahawks, what's the one thing that pops up to tape? Their defense. You need a defense to back a good quarterback up. So he's saying at what point do we acknowledge that we're in trouble in that department so we can travel and beat teams on the road, let alone at home?

And a lot of people are going to always allude to the fact that, well, he wanted Jamar Chase paid. He wanted T. Higgins paid. And I would argue there are so many other teams that are in this type of a situation where they have a number one and number two that is making a lot of money and they still have found ways to curate a sound defense and put money in other areas on their team to make them a formidable team and roster. And so there's no excuse.

I understand the frustration. This is also coming from a guy, and rightfully so, that did take the bag, but it's also said in the media, you know, the window is my entire career. That's one of my favorite things I've ever heard of professional athletes say. It's so brutally honest. And it says a lot to where he feels like he is as a player, who he feels he is as a player. And so when you have a player say something like that, on a player.

platform, for all of us to hear and take in, and now he's talking like this, like he hasn't lost confidence and faith in his own ability. He's lost faith and confidence in the people who are running the organization. 100%. Tonight, gentlemen, I will say the game of the year. I cannot wait for tonight's game. I think it's fascinating on a number of levels. We're going to get on the record on it, talk quarterbacks, and make some picks before we get out of here. We're just over two hours to kick off Rams in Seattle tonight, a coin flip game. There's Matt Stafford walking in. backwards hat. He's the MVP favorite.

Yeah, that's my guy. Sam Donald. It's been mentioned. He threw four interceptions of the last meeting. I'm going to say it. Donald's going to be better tonight than he was last night. Jump out there. Yeah, out on that limb, all by myself. Winner of the game, of course, one seat in the driver's seat in the NFC, NFC West, a ton of things on the line, NFC playoff picture, very up in the air. Willie, who you got. I got the Rams. Wendy and Reni conditions, I'm going with the team with the better office line and run game.

I got a graphic to show you. Pop it up for me right there. Please. Boo-ya. They go to the Rams, right? They're just simply better when he comes to running the ball and rushing yards and touchdowns. I think considering that Seattle's off, left tackles at Charles Cross, he's down for the game. I think you get a heavy dose of Puka, heavy dose of Kairn Williams,

and I see big Kobe Parkinson finishing in the red zone. I just see the Rams rolling the Seahawks tonight. I like the Seahawks. The Seahawks really dominated that first matchup in week 11. They didn't play, they didn't perform great in the red zone, and obviously the giveaways, the turnover. if they eliminate that and they execute in the red zone, they beat this team. I'm with you.

Listen, I think the Rams are the team that should be considered the best team. But if Sam Darnold merely threw two interceptions in that first game, they win. He threw four. They still had a field goal attempt at the end to win. It was like 60, but still, they had a shot at it. This game is at home. They outgained him in the first game. I think Seattle gets him tonight.

but it's a true coin flip game. And the NFC playoff picture is so crazy. Yeah, it's wide open. I love it. See Hawks barely beat the Colts. I saw the Rams roll. Yeah, that is true. Roll the Lions.

That is true. We're all over tomorrow. And I got to pay off a bet for Bears Packers to Greg Jennings tomorrow. Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.