KSR - NFL Cover Zero: Impactful Injuries and Remaining Schedules

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

Matt Jones and Drew Franklin dive into Week 15 with the Bills comeback victory over the Patriots. What does the AFC and NFC Playoff picture look like now? The Chiefs are eliminated from the postseason, but what is the future of the franchise with the injury of Patrick Mahomes? Philip Rivers kept the Colts close against the Seahawks.  The Ravens get past the Bengals in the cold.  Trevor Lawrence has a career day against the Jets, should Liam Coen be the front runner for Coach of the Year? The Texans stay the course against the Cardinals. The Eagles shut out the Raiders. Matt may be ready to jump on the Bo Nix bandwagon.  Micah Parsons injury could change the Packers season.  The Bears and Caleb Williams have another impressive outing but have a tough remaining schedule.  Will the Browns be looking for a QB again in the offseason? The Saints get past the Panthers. Drew tries to explain what's happening with the Bucs.  The Rams had a few injury scares against the Lions.  What is the most likely Super Bowl matchup? We wrap up with Matt's preparations for calling the New Orleans Bowl, which will be his first football assignment!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. It is Cover Zero. NFL Cover Zero, Week 15. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, and Billy R. Sports, ready to rock after another good Sunday of football. Actually, maybe the most complete Sunday we'll have. More games.

A lot of exciting. finishes and an old man on our screen. I really enjoyed it. Yeah, an old man. Lots of comebacks. Lots of, I think there are five different games that had a 10-point comeback. So some exciting finishes on top of the fun schedule. I watched all of these games at my parents' house in Middlesboro where they keep their

house at a 79 degree temperature. Couldn't do it. Why do older people, why is it so hot? And what's interesting is the colder it gets outside, the higher my parents turn the temperature up, which doesn't make sense to me. I'm like, Mom, whatever the temperature is outside, if you put it at 71, it will be 71 in here. Nope. Which makes it stifling hot, the colder it is outside, Drew. It's like a reverse world.

I know what you mean. You think they would just have the temperature they like inside, but no, they have to counter whatever is going on. Yeah, it's a counter. Even if they don't even go outside. It's like, we've got to warm it up even more here. 79's rough. I couldn't have done it. I would have gone outside.

The problem is when it gets that hot, you know, if I was in my house, I would just start shedding clothing. Can't really do that with your parents. You know, I can't walk around. You know, they're already bundled up too, right? Like, they're undercovers. Got their mittens on on the couch. They've got space heaters on. And I'm just like, can we please?

Turn the heat down. Did you pass out at any point watching football today? I feel like I went through a workout. I have a friend who owns Asana, who closed it this weekend, and she was selling all of the equipment. And I just was going to take it to my parents and go, lay in this rather than make the house like it is on a daily basis. Well, it's not just your parents.

I think my parents do that. It's just older people. They crank up the heat when it's wintertime. What is the age? What is the age that you decide our house will be stifling? It kind of goes together. There's like a scale that goes with how early you eat. So as you start eating earlier.

It's a reverse scale. Yeah, yeah. As you start eating earlier, the temperature on your thermostat starts going up. So that happened Saturday night. Kentucky was playing basketball at 7.30. So I knew we need to be back home by 7.30. My mom literally asked me at 3.30 what time I wanted to eat. And I was like, not any time close to now.

And then I looked over at 5 o'clock, and they both had to look like, come on. You're starving. Can we get to it? And then we ended up going at 6. And my dad literally looked at me and said, no, we don't normally eat this late. I was like, it's 6. You're holding them back. We also don't normally keep it that low on 79.

We did that for you. So, yeah, you're right. I don't know what the age is, but there just becomes a temperature rise and a dinner early. Well, I'm glad you got to watch football all day with them. What's the earliest you're going to eat dinner when you get old? I don't know. I can see myself jumping right in with the 4 o'clock crowd. You know when you're there and you like watch them open the door?

Like the hostess, she's just still cleaning the menus and like opens the door to let you in. I'll probably do that. I'm big on that though with like Saturday lunch at 11 a.m. I kind of walk into the Mexican restaurant as they're opening the door. They're still cleaning the menu. I'm kind of an 11 o'clock lunch to the person, though, to be fair. Well, I don't know which of these games you want to go first. I guess we start with the Bills Patriots because I think that's probably the most important game.

Patriots up 21-0 early. Patriots fans who are, are they the most obnoxious fans when they're good in sports in the NFL? I think so, and they were good for so long. We just had to hear from them for so long, too. And then they've been dormant for a few years. But I think they are the most obnoxious. And at the end of half time, they all were already proclaiming themselves division winners. And so I really enjoyed watching the comeback.

And the second half was Josh Allen at his absolute best. Yeah, I mean, you get that after the comeback they made last week. We're already talking about the bills. They're hitting their stride at the right time. Allen looked like an MVP. Bill's going to get back in the play. off mix and be that contender we want them to be, and then they go and do it again today,

scoring on like every possession to end the game. I genuinely thought, here we go with the Patriots when that game started the way it did. So I'm already a Bill's fan, as you know, from our Buffalo trip, but just shutting them up especially in the way it happened. It felt extra special today. I agree. And I also still think,

I still am going to believe in Josh. Even if they had lost today, I was going to be like, well, if they play in the playoffs, Josh Allen will get them. But you saw why in the second half? I mean, the Patriots offense died in the second half. Not necessarily because of Drake May, but guys couldn't make catches. They couldn't get open.

I mean, you kind of saw the difference. Both teams have won on each other's home field. If they played tomorrow next week, who would you take? I'm going with the bills. I'm saying. They're hitting their stride. And today, as you said, it was pretty complete. Their defense stepped up and shut the Patriots down the second half when they've been

scoring early. Our guy, Ray Davis, had a huge kick return that helped set it up. So it was really all aspects of the game, the bills flipped a switch there in the second half. Treviant to find a way to do it from the beginning. It's two weeks in a row. They've waited to get started. If Henderson doesn't get that run, which is kind of a just like messed up play. It has a nice cutback on his part.

They would have had like 10 yards of offense in the second half. Like that was really the only good play they had the entire second half. And in the bills interviews after, they're all mentioning they had heard that the Patriots had the shirts and the hats, all that ready to celebrate. Oh, did that? You know, they have that set aside. So not that they didn't win one of the first. win already. They all were talking about how that added some extra juice to the game.

Know it that could have been a celebratory game on the other end. It's interesting. This game sort of confirmed we kind of already know the playoff teams. You know, they're still playing for seating but like in the wild cards, Buffalo's going to have a wild card.

The Chargers are going to have a wild card. And then it's very likely Houston could be Indianapolis, but either Houston or Indianapolis will be the other one. Like you kind of know, And then Pittsburgh and Baltimore will be deciding who wins the division. But like those, and then in the NFC, it's probably going to be Seattle, the 49ers, and then either the Bears, Packers, and Troy, two of those three will get in and one of them will not. That's kind of, we already kind of know who the playoffs are.

Yeah, no, in the AFC, you know, if the pads hold on and win that division, I would not want to run into a like six-seat buffalo. I really think the way they've turned. in a corner, even though they might not be one of those top seeds and having home field. They are a scary team right now that can be on the lower end of the seeds. Who is the, who gets the tie break if they tie

each up? Because they would have the same, they've won and one against each other. Patriots have a one game lead. But do you know who would get the tie break? Patriots still play the Ravens, the Jets, and the Dolphins. And so, you know, they probably just need to win two. If they beat the Ravens next week, they're probably fine. Yeah, and I think

they'll hold on. But I had to hold off on that celebration just a little bit longer today. Yeah. And then the Chiefs are, they were done, but now they're completely done and Mahomes is hurt. That was just unnecessary. It was already

enough that the Chiefs were out this early in the year. As you said, last week we already knew, but being mathematically eliminated today, having the ACLA, that was kind of on the last play. It was. So late in the game. It was the play that essentially was going to eliminate

them and he had to get hurt on that play. Now, apparently tore his ACL. He'll be ready by, you know, first game next year. But that really stinks. It's like, can it be enough that they're out? Yeah. And you kind of wanted, I'm not a Chiefs Hater. I actually like the Chiefs.

But if you're a Chiefs Hater, you want to be able to mock them. And I don't think you can mock them now that he's hurt. Yeah, even the biggest Chiefs Hater that was just going to dance all over and from being out of the playoffs. You can't win Pat Mahomes, tears an ACL at the very end of the game. I mean, Pat. Patrick? Yeah.

Pat Mahomes. I mean, well, I feel like most people call him Patrick. I don't know. I feel like people calling Pat. I've never talked to him personally. Have you ever Billy heard anybody calling Pat? I might go to Pat. Yeah, I've heard it once or twice.

I mean, it's like DG. It just kind of rolls off. I feel like you got to be a pretty good friend of his to call him Pat. I'm pat him on the back right now. Oh, there is. There is. It did stink, though. I've never, you've heard of people saying Pat.

I've heard it once or twice. Yeah. I've heard it once or twice. Okay. Yeah. You must not. You must not get out enough in Kansas City. I go to the 1587 Steakhouse.

To be fair, I don't know him as well as you do. Yeah. Got to see him inshue. I was glad to see he was still in the league. I didn't know. I didn't want to see him, but it was nice seeing him. Why didn't you want to see him? I mean, the way, the circumstances.

Oh, okay. Well, I was glad to know he was around. Because I've a great backup. I feel like he should be, he's a good backup. I mean, if I were the Colts, I guess the trade deadlines already happened. I would have traded for him for him. I think they've already had him as the backup too many times. He's bounced around quite a bit.

I think he's though, if you're going to have a backup, Minchu, and he gives the best Chris Berman nickname. That's right. Yeah. You want to do it? I mean, you know I want to. Gardner. Me!

Me! That's why I brought him up. Wanted to hear that. Did you want to hear that? Honestly, it's what I wanted to do. It's my favorite. Do you think this is the end of Kelsey? Is this?

I would think so. I would think so, don't you? I mean, he's been okay this year, maybe even better than last year, but he is kind of winding down. And he seemed frustrated a lot this year. He's been on the wrong in a few bloopers. Plus you're about to do a $2 billion.

You know, he's about to become first man. This is like the royal wedding. First man a pop. Who is more of a powerful male second in command? than him in the world seriously who is more of a first man than him

anyone first of how many women out there are more powerful than Taylor Swift in the world I'm being dead serious I'm not even kidding I might go zero it might be zero okay so world leaders I'm trying to think of

of big world leaders so like the woman in Germany is not in charge anymore the woman in England's not I don't think is anymore. I'd still say she's bigger than them. She has more power. I don't, I would have argued maybe when Angela Merkel was head of Germany. Who did she date?

Did she date the star, the star of the... Steve Merkel. He was Merkel. Stefan Merkel. Who she dated. Merkel, that's right. You're right. No, I think she's the,

powerful woman in the world. That seems ridiculous. But give me a woman more powerful than Taylor. Forbes has the most powerful women of 2025. Well, but that's, okay. Taylor Swift is 21st. All right, who's number one? Number one is the president of the European Commission.

That's Ursula von der Leyen. First of her name is not Ursula von der Leyen. Like, if I were to create, she is from Belgium. If I were to create the name of the woman that runs the European Commission, would create Ursula von der Leyen. That's her.

It's like she'd be in a Bond movie. Okay. All right, I'll give her a maybe. Who's number two? Christine Lagarde is the president of European Central Bank location in Germany. No. Who's number three? How many fans does she have?

Saneh Takachee is the prime minister of Japan. Okay. Now, I'll take that. I'll give, all right. That's a debate we can have. I'll give the prime minister of Japan. She's a maybe. I'll give her a yes.

All right, that's two. I'm not going to make you do all 20, but who's number four? Georgia Maloney, who is the prime minister of Italy. Yeah, I'll give her. All right, one more. Who's five? Claudia Shinebaum, who is the president of Mexico. She also shows the show on the SEC Network, right?

On the shine bomb show. President of Mexico, you said? Call Claudia. So far, I'm still going tailor over all these. people. President of Mexico. All right, the presidents. Is there anyone on the list ahead of her that we would have heard of?

No, I've not heard of anybody until it got down to Taylor Swift. All right. Last one, because I just, who's number 17? 17. Cristolina, Georgia, Via is the managing director of IMF in the United States. Stop it. Come on. They still make computers?

Taylor should be much higher on that list. Yeah. Well, 21, though, is still pretty impressive when you're talking about. So my point is, we didn't know those women. We certainly don't know their husbands. So Travis Kelsey has no reason to play football next year. He is going to be married to the, even by Forbes's fake news account, the 21st most powerful woman. Oprah, number 30.

Taylor, she should be ahead of Oprah. There would have been a tie-in of Oprah would have been higher. So does he just follow her around? Does he even podcast anymore? What would you do? I would do absolutely nothing. Would you do nothing? I would be a whatever tour she's on.

But isn't part of why she's attracted to you in theory because you're doing something? Like, I mean, I can't imagine she just wants a slub. No, no. I'm getting fad playing video games in the living room. I can't imagine, though. That's why she's interested in Travis Kelsey. She's stepping over my tennis shoes in front of the door. Yeah, I'm just sitting there just riding her coattels all the way, wherever she's going.

And you won't have any ego? No, not at all. Have you seen the Netflix show The Diplat? I've actually wanted to start it. I don't know what you're talking about. It's pretty good. But one of the kind of themes is... Carrie Russell?

Carrie Russell is that her husband is also like a former dip in that. I actually watched the first episode. So like part of the thing is he's like second, but he also has, you know, that's a constant interplay. He can't help himself sometimes to jump. But Travis Kelsey is probably dumber than her. Yeah. And he strikes me as somebody who would be okay being like a slub. Yeah.

I mean, you don't have to be a slub. I mean, she's going all over the world. I feel like you can still be very culture. What do you think he does when he's done? You think he does? Like, I don't see him going and sit and, like, you wouldn't go sit on the set of FS1 if you were him. Right? Like, he's hanging out with the most famous people in the world.

He doesn't want to go, you know. No, he'll be relevant regardless. What do you think he'll do? I think he'll have his own music career. Oh, music. I can see him trying. You know, he's going to put out a bad rap album. Yeah.

We just got a Pat Mackey. I think everyone remember this. Oh, that was bad. Yeah, it was. Why didn't people act like that? First of all, he named that song, Dookie, right? Yes. Wasn't there already a song named Dookie?

That's not my area of best for teens. That was the name of Green Day's album. Yeah, DOKI, Dokey. I actually didn't hear the song. Is it good? It's not. Shocker. I really think we're on to something with Kelsey.

When's Rich Eisen putting out his song? Yeah. I think that's a good call. First reporter here. He's going to make a rap album. They lost to the Chargers. I can't. I saw Justin Herbert's about to break the record for most passing yards in under six years.

Would you have had any idea? No, I know it's been a good year and it's been quiet because he plays for the Chargers and they've had such a bad line this year, but I did not know that it was to that extent that he's making history. But it is weird. The Chargers are good. Mm-hmm. under, like, no one talks about them. And they're also in L.A.

Like, they should be known. They have a quarterback. The charges have to be like, we did everything you were supposed to do. We are in Los Angeles. We have a handsome quarterback who dates a pop star. Why doesn't anyone care about it? Michigan wins a national championship.

They go get a coach. They're doing everything, right? We follow them. We did exactly. what you all said. And no one cares. Nobody knows. Beat the Chiefs twice. Went to the international game.

They're doing everything they possibly. We've done everything you can do. Yeah, that was their home game they gave up for week one. There's nothing they can do. Maybe they'll get a Super Bowl this year and no one will care. They have cool uniforms. They do the throwbacks a lot too. They do the powders.

There's nothing the chargers can do to make us care. Should we be a pro-chargers podcast so someone likes them? Well, I talked about it. this. I've never met a Chargers fan. Ever. Well, they have that one woman fan that just keeps popping up. Well, at the draft. She's become like a mascot. She was at the, something big happened a week or two ago, and the TV cuts to her. Seriously, in your life, have you met a Chargers man? No.

Have you? No, not at all. Just the one that I see on TV, that woman. Never met her, though. There's not a famous one. I met a former Charger, but never like a fan. Yeah. There are always. I didn't even like them. He still preferred the Rams. Well,

congrats for them, but still no one's going to care. All right, Philip Rivers. I loved it. I loved it so much. I want to go through the various things I liked about it. I know they lost,

but you know what? Who cares? Right? I love how fatty is. Now, I said to my mom watching it, look, he's old. And she said, how old is he?

And I was like, how old do you think she is? And he said, she said, 57. I was like, no. No, he's not 57. Roos your story. That would be a little bit. Yeah, because then he's like, 44. I was like, but he didn't play in five years.

And she said, oh, how does that happen? I said, I don't know. And then she said, and there anybody else they could have found? Cam Newton, not a bad question. But I like that he's kind of fat, or at least barrel chest. You know, I hate calling him fat, but as an athlete that's about to start a football game, that was a fat person.

Yeah, he's not fat for life. Yeah, he's fat for a quarterback that's starting in the NFL. He looked like a high school coach whose New Year's resolution is to get back in the gym. I was watching him early, too, and he's like on the field two and a half hours before in that windbreaker that wasn't doing him any favors. By the way, that wasn't helping him. Not a good fit. No, someone should be like, hey, throw this hoodie on, get a little more. Give his face.

Need some space. He's like really slow. I mean, it's nice to have him out there. I used to always have a theory. I'd like in every Olympic event just to have one regular person. To have a basis of comparison, right? 100 meter dash. Just put a regular guy in there too.

Yeah, with everyone else. So I can see, like, I can really see how fast they are. We'd appreciate it much more. The winners. Without question. Because, like, in, you can see. see the eighth fastest person in the world and they look like they're barely moving. But if they're racing against Billy, think about it.

Usain Bolt, another sprinter. Do you know another one? Yeah, and there's all kinds of them. What are their names? You know, the others. Okay. I mean, I don't want to get into it. You don't want to leave me out.

Well, I don't want to get off topic on this show, honestly. I like when we just stick to football. I don't think Hussein Bolt has run for a decade. He's also looking a little bit like Philip Rivers, actually. But I'd like to have a regular person. Philip Rivers is that guy. Because watching him scrambling today, you were like, oh. Did you see a clip where he fell down, backpedaling,

and then just kind of like, you know, you have to get on all fours to get up. You can't just like hop right up. You can't just like hop right up. You can't have to roll over and then get up. He did that. He's like when I hurt my back and you have to put one elbow down. Yeah. And kind of, yeah.

I'm a Colts hater. I got to admit, I woke up excited to watch the holds play football today. So his first few passes were kind of wobbly. Needed a little time. But then I actually thought once he got going, he wasn't bad, right? I was watching live for that touchdown pass. You know, sure, it was just a little short dump off, but he hit him right in stride,

and that little Phillip River sidearm. I was happy for him to get that one TD. And even he threw a pass late, which I think was incomplete, but I was like, well, that's got some good lift on it. Still has the arm. It was so clear I mean, even more than the Rogers Flacco game This was our true

40-year-old washed-up man out there trying to do it And he still let a comeback Well, first of all They should have won The Seahawks are 10 and 4 And they almost won on the row Great defense too that he was playing against I mean that's

I don't know I feel like that's worth something isn't Just going on the road in general just him traveling to Seattle Had to have worn him out And then you're playing this tough defense In his age changing time zones Can you imagine the pretzel his brain was in?

Got to I mean fly commercial But when he got the ball and they were down One or two, whatever it was There was kind of like a here we go Philip Rivers time And they go and get the field goal But then the Seahawks turn around

And get them right back These field goals now like Boring They're going to make them They make it to wait You only need like 20 yards to get a field goal. I don't like that. The Colts should have had the game winner.

Well, I mean, the Colts did the same thing, though. I mean, they made a 60-yard field goal. But it was the Rivers comeback. That was the poetic ending. It should just ended there. It should have ended there. I do like it. I thought the video of his players cheering for him in the restaurant. I thought that was really cool. I thought his speech at the end was really cool. hopefully you know certainly i think of my sons and those ball players you know that i'm in charge of at the school uh that they'll say like crap coach wasn't scared you know i mean it's like shoot sometimes you uh there is doubt and it's real and um you uh again you can you can you can the guaranteed safe bet is to is to go home or to not go for it and the other one is shoot let's see what

happens uh you know and so uh yeah i hope that in that sense that it can it can it can can be a positive. Because if you think about it, the biggest reason for him not to do it would have been embarrassment, right? People calling him fat on a podcast. Well, not me, but like, we're for him.

I meant fat PHAD. Yeah. We're just even acknowledging what he looks like. We're pro Philip Rivers. Yeah, but it could have been a disaster. Right. Oh, yeah. Could have been embarrassing,

career mocking. But it wasn't. and I actually think that is a good message. Like, you have to have the courage to go out there and fail. Yeah, what's better thing in a high school coach do than be like, you know what? Watch this kids. I'm going to get off the couch and go play the NFL game real quick and actually hold my own. Sure, there were a few moments.

But overall, you had a minute to win. I can throw it over the mountain. What a big game for the Colts line, too. You know the pressure they have. We can't let this guy get killed. Obviously, he's not going to be running around out there being a mobile QB. but they protected him and gave him time. You're right.

And they seemed to call plays that were pretty good for him. So does they get him in the playoffs? I have a controversial opinion. Now he needs to quit. Step away. Because I don't want it. Like, I have a good memory. This would be a great story.

But if he goes out next week and loses 40 to nothing and just gets, you know, sacked after sack. You know, completely beat up. Who do they play in their last three games? Do we know who they have? They've already played the Titans twice, so I know they're not in. The 49ers, the Jags, and the Texans for their last three games. Good night.

And they're on the outside looking in right now in the playoffs. 49ers, the Jags and the Texans. So, like, the Texans is the best defense in the league. 49ers blitz a lot. Jacksonville's leading the division. That Texans game could be for the final wild card spot. He could lead the Colts back to win the AFCC. south in the playoffs.

I think that's good. This is enough. He specifically said, I'm not trying to be the star. We need to run and play defense and then ended up with the ball on his hands late in the game. And he did it. And I enjoyed it. And I've never been a Philip Rivers fan.

He's always kind of come off as a little condescending. But how could you not root for it? It's perfect proof of what I've said for years. If you stick around long enough, everyone cheers for you. Right? And that's what he had. Just saying out loud, a grandfather. threw a touchdown pass today in the NFL.

That was outrageous. Well, he doesn't cuss. He was fired up on the sideline. Dagnamet. Yeah. Oh, he doesn't cuss? No. Why not?

Big dad, is it a dad gumut? And he said to that crap. Is he like a big religious guy? I don't know if it's religion, but he's never cuss. Like, that's his thing. Like, he doesn't cuss. But he's a big trash talker. You don't think he's ever cussed?

You think that man has played sports his entire life in this era? and hasn't cost. Probably not. If you're going to make your personality about it. My dad hasn't cost ever. So, but he's old. But do you believe? Back then they didn't cuss.

No, okay. You know, I believe him. So maybe I believe Philip Rivers, but. Maybe one slipped once or twice, but that's his thing is, daggummit. Larry played the bass violin. He wasn't in professional sports locker. That is different.

That's a little different. You touch his thermostat. He might get it from 79. You might get something. That's true. Well, we wish you, we've been at wishing the best. And what was the name of the Seattle kicker that made all the kicks? Mays.

Myers. Myers. Okay. Yeah, they didn't score a touchdown. Yeah. Well, I enjoyed that game. Ravens shut out the Bengals, 24-0. I think the story of this game was how cold it was.

They said it was, what, three, four degrees at kickoff or whatever? Coldest game ever in that stadium. Really? Ever. Mm-hmm. That's cold. Would you have gone and said it? if you were a bingles man.

I like the cold weather stuff, and I always say if I'm going to Lamb or Buffalo, I want it cold. But to watch the bingles and the condition they're in now, no, it's like different. It's not like historically where I think of a cold venue where I want to be, yeah, the frozen tundra. No, not in a bingles game, I don't.

The frozen tundra of Joe Brown Stadium. Right across the messy Ohio from Covington. Yeah, this doesn't fit my formula. when I want to be cold at a game. Yeah. But there were a lot of people there. Trying to enjoy their last burrow moments. I like the people seeing how much of people's bodies they can cover with cloth.

The coach seemed to only have like the area between his eyes covered. He looked like an owl. The Bengals coach. Yeah. I think he looked really cold. What do you think about the guys that come out with their shirts off? in conditions like that. Well, Mac Hollins in this game walked into the stadium barefoot with his shirt off.

That's, that's too much. I know that's his thing. He's done that before. I feel like you're just trying too hard. No one believes you in it. No one cares that you're tough enough. Like put a jacket on, you're going to catch a cold. But yeah, what does that prove?

Nothing. Nothing. You're tough. I know, I know that the moment that camera gets off of you, you're running over there in the tunnel and covering up as quickly as possible. Yeah. You're not that tough. And Matt Collins today walking barefoot on concrete where it was so cold. I mean, you're going to get frostbite.

Yeah. Maybe not, but nobody needs to see you do that. The people I feel sorry for are the referees. And they look so cold. And they look sad. And this is controversial. I don't think they should have to wear those little hats. The NFL hat?

Those little white hats. Like, we don't make other. We don't make other people run around in their little hats. Well, you got to know who the umpire is, the main guy who's going to talk. It's the guy dressed as a referee. Well, yeah, the one with the white hat is the one that talks. Oh, the other guys don't wear hats? And they don't talk.

Well, they have black hats, white hats. Wait a minute. I didn't realize that. You're telling me, I don't know if I've ever noticed this. The only referee that wears a hat is the guy that talks. No, no, no. The one with the white hat is the one that talks. The other ones have a black hat on.

With white pinstripes. You know what? I've never noticed that. So they only have the main guy where's the white hat. Right. Huh. You know who's in charge. Calling the white cap.

Don't mess with him. If you're going to mess with the ref, pick one of the ones with the black hat and the white stripes. I never noticed that. Can I tell you? The other thing that's scary are when the referees get knocked down or the large cameramen and women that get knocked down. Feel bad for those people.

Sometimes they get rolled up from behind because they're not even looking. Players never seem to care. They'll run right over them. Sometimes players look like they're proud of it. They'll get a good hit on. Yeah. Well. It's a tough game out there.

It was very cold. By the way, if you're wondering, what are you going to say about the game? I don't know. That game, I mean, the Bengals didn't score. First time they've been shut out offensively in the borough era. After the game, did you see the question the guy asked Joe Burrow? I just, I don't know what you're talking about. I know he seems to hate life.

Yeah, he asked him a question. He said, in the last two years, the team's professional. has been slipping, do you ever think you yourself as a player are slipping? Burrow was like, no. He was like, I'm good. But it was, you don't see, like, reporters just go, you're not good anymore. You call him out a little bit. He seems unhappy.

I know that was a big story coming into the game. He had some comments up there. Well, he was having, like, an existential. Yeah, there was some Andrew Luck comparisons. And then today he got knocked on his behind. pretty bad and his teammates didn't really run over. People were speculating like it seemed by even like Burrow. Like is he just miserable

right now with all he's been through? So there's... What else he been through? Like people, it's not like he's had to go to war. Well, he has had an insane amount of injuries for somebody his age. What, two? He's played a lot less games and had a lot more sacks than Andrew Luck did at the same time period.

So there was like these comparisons. But Andrew Luck, everybody always compares when guys are like that. But here's the thing. No one ever retired. No one retires early, except Andrew Luck. He was the one guy. But he was like a 4-0 student from Stanford. Joe Burrow went to LSU and smoked a cigar in the locker room.

Like, I don't think that's the same thing. I think they're just seeing his sadness, wondering if he could pull on Andrew Luck. Yeah. Because he just seems to be down. I just thought they're the same guy. No matter how much money of these guys. I mean, Phil Pryor's got $150 million and he came back. I heard somebody with a straight face say, well, he gets five more years of health.

insurance. I'm like, you didn't think he could afford five more years of health insurance? I don't know how many kids are on that. Maybe he actually did need the health insurance. Yeah. All these guys, like, no one quits volunteer. They quit because they're not good anymore. Well, I'm getting shut out like that. I could add to it. They're just sad around Cincinnati. Jaguars beat the Jets.

Trevor Lawrence had an insane day. Six touchdowns. It's six. Five passing, one rushing, 50 yards rushing. That's the first. player ever in NFL history to do that. Yeah, I know it was the Jets, but he had like a truly historical day today. That's awesome. Another one for Cohen's coach of the year resume.

Do you believe in them? I do because they seem to get better and better. And then him having a guy, I know, like said, the Jets, but I mean, to have six touchdowns, I don't care who you are. Cohen has just been great for them in his first season. Who is the favorite to get coach? Is it him or is there? was it could be like Vrebel?

Yeah, I mean, Vrable's going to be I don't mean, it could be like The best record has 10 wins Sean Payton's got the best record That's true. I mean The whole standings have been flipped upside down from what we thought they'd be. I wouldn't be in see what the odds are for those.

I would think the favorite is Vrable. Am I right about that? Hmm, I don't have it here yet, so let me keep looking. I did see Red Zone went straight from that Baltimore Sincey game to a cut of people in the hot tub in the Jacksonville game. And it was 70 degrees at that game. I saw that too. Does anyone attractive ever getting that hot tub?

Like, I'm not, I'm not being judgmental. It's just it feels like, I mean, well, I should be. I just, every time I see that, again, I think about like, I would not feel comfortable being in national television in a hot tub. these people don't seem to have that self-awareness. No. As soon as they came on, like I know what Billy's talking about, they cut right to it. My wife was like, oh, who would get in that?

Like, that was her instant reaction. Well, and part of it is the people. Yeah. And they showed a lot of leg in that cut today, too. It was like a lower angle. I'm like, I don't need all this leg. There's a lot of thigh. Liam is third in Coach of the Year Oggs right now.

So Brayble first? Brayble first. Mike McDonald, the Seahawks coach, second. William Cohen, third. Where's Ben Johnson? This. Tiles Shanahan, fourth, Ben Johnson, fifth. Sean Payton.

There's actually a lot of good candidates this year when you consider how many teams have made a reversal. But Brable's probably going to win. Jacksonville's got an easy schedule to end the year. I mean, they could end up like 13 wins. I mean, that's insane for what we thought they'd be this season. And the next year, play a really hard schedule. You know, same with the Patriots. So they both have had pretty easy.

Yeah, tough to knock off variable right now. Texans win 40 to 20. I didn't see a lot of this game, to be honest with you. Like when you're sitting with your parents and they're trying to tell you stories about like tomatoes and stuff, and you're watching Red Zone, you're trying to figure out when I tended to like start listening. I'd ask them to start the story when the Texans Cardinals game was on. So I don't really know a lot. I caught some of it.

I can just, it's more of, you know, the, Texas are just taking what Davis Mills set them up for. CJ Stroud. Yeah, CJ Stroud had a big game, but this all goes back to Davis Mills, just keeping it together for a couple weeks. One of the three bests and quarterbacks of all time. Yeah, Collins had two touchdowns today and Stroud was great. And that defense surprisingly gave up 20 points.

I mean, they're quietly 9 and 5. The AFC South has got three playoff contenders in it. No other division does. Who saw that coming? I didn't think any of those teams, maybe the Texans, but of the four of the AFC South, I didn't think anyone would be good this year. Yeah. Well, they are. The other two early games, commanders, giants, again, I don't think a lot of people cared about it.

It was cold. Eagles beat the Raiders in a game that I don't think Red Zone showed one second of. It was one of the fastest games over the last 20 years. It was like in two hours and 30 minutes or something? Yeah, I'm not sure on the time. but I think it was the Raiders only had 75 yards. Yeah. Is Pete Carroll coming back?

I don't know how he can or why he would. Well, he would because, again, no one quits. That's true. But, I mean, they've been terrible. And there's like no hope for them to be better, right? No, and like, they had like 40 rushing yards. Kenny Pickett completed maybe half of his passes. It was just bad all the way around.

Eagles did whatever they wanted offensively, clearly in a 31-0 game. Broncos beat the Packers in a sort of mini, maybe Super Bowl preview. I am going to probably have to just submit to Bo Nicks. I mean, I've held out on him being good all year. I watched him play those games at Auburn. I was like, this is the worst player that's ever existed. Then he went to Oregon and had success, but I dismissed it. Went high in the draft.

I mocked it. was good. I'm just, I got to submit to Bob Nix. And I don't want to, but I think I have to, right? I mean, this was a great win for them today. I mean, he had four touchdowns against the Packers. It's hard to call them like a game manager, just keep saying it's fluky when they just keep winning

and winning and winning. So, yeah, I mean, he's for real and they're for real. You can't argue it at this point. Couldn't argue it weeks ago, even though we tried. I still tried. I, you know, they are now best record in the NFL. Okay. one seed currently in the AFC.

Normally that resume would make you a Super Bowl favorite. Are they? I think they have to be, especially getting a big win today. I had to come back a little bit to get it. I know one of the big stories today was Michael Parsons got hurt. He had been playing a great game up until that point. But, I mean, that was late in the game. The Broncos were still the way Bo Nicks played against a good defense.

I mean, they're just beating every team you put in front of them. Is Mike out? Do we know? they think it's an ACL. It's likely out for the year. There was a lot of injuries in the late series of games. Starche Adams. His looks like a hamstring.

Yeah. Hukinuku was hurt for a little bit, but he bounced back. And then, of course, my homes and Parsons are about two of the biggest names you can have. Parsons ones is big. I think that actually knocks them out at contention a little bit. He's been such a difference maker on defense for them. And it knocked them out of first place. Yeah, I think that's a big one because they were.

kind of one player away. Romo did a good job of like pointing out when they would move him to different places on the field. And wherever they put him, it's like, dude is so good. I hate to lose him and my homes in the same day is just, that's tough at least. And it can take three people to stop him.

I mean, I just, I think that might be it for the Packers and the big time goal. He skipped over the Bears. 31-0. An absolutely dominating performance. frigid cold. What if I told you that Caleb Williams has thrown fewer interceptions in his first 1,000 passes than anyone in history? Wouldn't have believed it. Because I can think of some bad interceptions he's had.

Isn't that impressive, though? Yeah, it's very impressive. Yeah, he had a throw today to DJ Moore. He really... But, I mean, that, I feel like that doesn't... I don't think I had any clue that was true until I saw it today. No, because I... Viewest interceptions ever for a quarterback at with a thousand passes. So you're a believer. Oh, he's all in. It's been a big year for Matt.

I mean, this has been, like, he's been great. I mean, what can you... The next step for a good team is you play a team like this on your home field and they're never in it. And that's what happened, right? So I don't know how you couldn't be happy. Defense is really good. Caleb doesn't make as many bad decisions. and Ben Johnson is fun.

And you've got several weapons. It's not like you just got one standout target you're going to. I mean, they're using everybody. We've got multiple running backs now. Can I give you my worry, though? What's that? Look at their schedule. All right.

They are 10 and 4, but they are not guaranteed a playoff spot. Because the Packers are 9-4-1. Detroit is 8 and 6. Detroit has two easy games. So they're probably going to come into. the final game 10 and 6. The Bears have to play the Packers next week and then

the 49ers. So they, if they don't win one of those games, they'll be 10 and 6 and they will play the Lions the last week of the year. Winner goes to playoffs. So the Bears are even at 10 and 4 and in first place in the division

and the number two seed in the playoffs, they're not assured of getting in. And we knew when the Packers just got them last week, the Bears went from second to seventh. But we knew with this game coming up, they could flip it right back. Already got a little help today. That's where I think, you know, you don't want to...

They have three games. I think to make the playoffs for sure, they're going to need to win one of them. But none of them are assured. Well, I don't want to, you don't want to celebrate an injury. But I think the Parsons thing today was so big to the Packers future. I think you feel better about finishing the job now because that head-to-head coming up is so big for what happens in that division. It's also just big for the psyche of the Chicago big. The Packers have been our nemesis for 15 years.

And you play them at home. And if you beat them, you have a very good chance of winning the division. I would say it's the biggest game in the history of organized sports. Organized sports, you're going to say for the Bears. Biggest game in all of sports? Give me a bigger one. You make a good point. Especially with there only being three weeks left in the season.

That shows very important. No, it is a, it's a huge game for them, and it's a chance to really, it would be a massive win for the franchise. But again, they are not assured to make the playoffs. I don't mean to be like Debbie Downer, but it is true. Packers 49ers, Lions, even though the Lions have been pretty inconsistent. That's not three teams you want to see when you're trying to win out and get this done. We do need to say, Chador.

Yee. Yeah. Might not be the future. Those interceptions today, those were bad. I mean, not that there's a good interception, but he looked pretty terrible. He was. Let's see a start. 18 of 35 for 177 yards.

But his QBR was only 8.2. Yeah. The picks were ugly. I mean, 8.2, unless it's a scale of 10. Felt like he got sacked a lot, too. Seems like y'all were living in the back field when I was watching. You had five sacks. Yeah, sounds about right.

You know, the Shadour thing, like, it's feast or famine with him. What would you do if you were the Browns? I mean, do you draft the quarterback? I think you got to keep going back to that well. I mean, I don't think he was ever going to be the answer, especially when they waited so long to get him. But I don't know that, sorry, Billy, your boy, DG or Shadour are going to be the future of your franchise.

Yeah, what about Deshawn? Is Deshawn still on the team? Yeah, I don't know. I don't think you can come back. Well, first of all, one of those two guys is not going to be on the roster next year. So which one are you getting rid of? Well, you don't really have a big financial commitment to Shadur. But you're probably not going to bring back both Gabriel and Shador.

So which one are you going to bring back? Gabriel, it's pretty easy. Shadur, you had your shot. It's fun. It was fun. And then why aren't they playing Gabriel right now? Couldn't tell you. I mean, neither one of them are the answer.

They're going to have to draft somebody. But of the two. He got hurt initially and then Shadur had that big game versus the Titans. But they've already said he's going to play the rest of the year. Right. But neither are the answer. All right. Well, go get Gardner or Minchu.

It's very pessimistic of you. Your Titans. We're taking some steps forward. Big Jeff Simmons caught a touchdown today. So that was exciting. We're getting some points. Cam Ward, still looking a little better. Our rookie receivers, we didn't win, which is good.

I didn't love that we lost the number one pick by winning a few weeks ago. But, you know, they're not getting their teeth kicked in anymore. So that's been fun. But they were never in it. I guess they're in it until about half time. But third quarter was a disaster. No. Yeah.

They just have overall organ, like nothing is good. I watched the entire game. And not until the fourth quarter did I know whether it was Brought Purdy or Mac Jones. Start calling the name a little more in the second half. I still couldn't figure out which one, because I think they're the same person. But I will note, remember what I said about the 49ers, they're 10 and 4, and I don't even think they're good. You said that, I think on our first podcast. I said they would go 13 and 4 and not be good.

Let's see who they have left because they are 10 and 4 right now. They got your bears. We just mentioned that. Okay, so that's a big one. That bears ended up better. and they play the Colts and they play the Seahawks. Now, Seahawks are good. So maybe they don't finish 13-4, but I think they got a good shot at it.

Yeah, and I really thought they'd look even better. I mean, I know they won by two touchdowns and scored 30-something points today, but playing my Titans, I always expect a team to look perfect and didn't have that today. Tyler Shuck. What the, you know? He's got them excited down there. I think he might be decent. I still think you're probably going to draft someone.

But what if he plays really well the next three weeks? I mean, this was a bit, the first thing, you never pick a panthers. When you think they're going to win, they're going to lose. And you think they're going to lose. They're going to win. By the way, Carolina Mike just called my ESPN show just a regular. Just a regular caller. He just called and asked if we wanted them to sing a song, like in the middle of the show.

Of course we do, Mike. I think I really like Carolina even more. As you should. But back to Shuck, maybe. I mean, the last two weeks, I mean, he had that big run where he lowered his shoulder last week for a touchdown. He had some big plays.

He also just plays with a little bit of fire that even if maybe you don't believe him in him, he at least has the confidence and looks like a guy who could lead your team. He's got some. He's got a little moxie to him that I didn't think he had coming out of college. He's got like 10 pieces of flare. He's got a few pieces of flare. I never thought he would have worked out. But now back-to-back weeks, he's looked good against, you know.

No, that's it. It's a great team. In this division, it's hard to get a good read on how good these teams are. But, I mean, to be fair, they've been competitive for a few weeks. There have been a few weeks this year. They have been competitive. Okay, so let's go through here real quick. Before you start being a snot, they beat the bucks, they lost the dolphins by four.

they won today. They beat the Panthers a couple weeks ago. Played the Bears pretty competitive. Played the Patriots 2519. And I think that was the first game Shuck played. So, you know. I'm not hating like Billy. I think Billy's just mad.

It's his division and the Bucks aren't winning games in it. I'm seeing a little bit of Shuck magic in there. Oh, I'm very happy for Shuck. I mean, that was a big win for the Bucks. I mean, that's... So are you, the Panthers have left in the year, the Bucks, Seahawks, and the Bucks again. So the Bucks are going to go two out of three with the Panthers.

How do you feel about it? Not great. No, Tampa's reeling right now. The locker room is falling apart. It's falling apart. I should have went in the locker room at. How do you know the locker room's falling? Well, the beat riders that text with them.

What do they say? They're saying it's not great right now. What are they upset about? I mean, Baker. They're mad at guys. Mike Evans. We didn't really get to mention Thursday. Did you see Mike Evans coming off the field on Thursday?

I haven't heard what the, what is the issue? I didn't know about any of the off. I knew they weren't playing well, but what's the off the field? Well, they've just lost like six of their last eight games. They've completely collapsed. That doesn't mean the locker rooms in turmoil. Oh, well, they've been yelling at each other. That's all I really know about it.

Bad loss on Thursday, nine football. That was. Had it won. That was primetime buccaneers. Kirk Cousins. Kirk is really good against the Bucks. That you like that game was against Tampa. I don't understand how you all were so fun for the first six weeks of the season.

It looked like a real contender in the FACC, and now you can't beat the Falcons or the Saints. They got to win two of their last three games. I know when they play the Panthers twice. Right. So it's what happened? It's like he looks so good. I really couldn't tell you besides the injuries in Baker. Baker's not been good, but he's got to be hurt.

If they said he's hurt, he has to be hurt. he has to be hurt. No, but there were three games where he just didn't run at all. It was completely out of character for him, and he just hasn't been the same since the beginning of the year. Yeah. All right. Well, the Rams.

Rams beat the Lions. Matthew Stafford is the MVP now, right? Yeah, yeah. Both of his guys got hurt today, as we mentioned, Pook ended up being okay, but Devante had a little hamstring injury, but yeah, that offense seems to be unstoppable. And he looks so good.

I think I actually said on the ESPN show today that I thought today would decide the MVP, between Stafford and Drake May and I think it did. Drake May lost. Stafford was great. Lions are eight and six, but they have three very winnable games

down the stretch. So I don't think they're out of it yet either. And the golf Stafford here. Stafford won the game, but golf had a pretty big game for the Lions in the head-to-head in that old storyline from that trade. They've played each other a lot since that trade.

A couple times in the playoffs and just in general. Your boy, Hutchinson, had a big interception on Stafford, almost took it back to the house. That was a great play. Are the Rams, if you were to say, what is the team most likely to win the Super Bowl? Are you saying them? I think so, because out of the AFC, I could list several. I think roll the dice in the AFC, but it's looking like they're the NFC team to beat.

So I would, yeah, I'd give them the best odds overall. I said Rams bills at the beginning. I said Rams bills at the beginning of the year. I still like that one. I still think that's the most likely Super Bowl today. is Rams Bills. I think they're the two teams the most well-rounded. Well, not well-rounded.

They've got the two best quarterbacks. Usually the best quarterbacks are going to win the playoffs. Ramsbills. And we've been saying for years, you know, Allen just keeps knocking on that door and knocking on that door. Eventually you think he's going to get over the home and get through it. Vikings beat the Cowboys. What happened to Dallas?

That's a terrible loss for Dallas. Yeah, they were already probably out of the playoffs, but you can't take a loss of the Vikings when you're still in the mix. and have the conversation. You can't give up 34 points to J.J. McCarthy. Yeah, nine. He was nine today, Billy. But, you know, for a team that had a chance to dream

and needed to do a few things to even be in the conversation, losing the Vikings at home like that in prime time shows you weren't for real. Yeah, I agree with you. That's it. Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals too. Well, that, he showed he was human. Yeah. Can I tell you what I did during this game?

Yeah. So, you know, I'm calling. the Western Kentucky Southern Miss New Orleans Bowl 25th anniversary. Can't wait. December 23rd, right? December 23rd on ESPN radio. I've never called a football game. That's not good.

But think every great broadcaster had to have a first game. Usually it doesn't start on national radio, though, in front of the entire country. It's true. And usually it's not the 25th anniversary of the New Orleans. Good point. So not one rep of play by play, not a high school game. Never done one game. Wow.

So that's 10 days away. So it's starting to like, I'm starting to realize what's in front of me. Starting tomorrow, I'm dedicating two to three hours a day for prep just to get rid. So on the drive here, I had to drive from my, parents' house here to Kentucky. I listened to the NFL radio broadcast. It was someone and Mike Golick. Mike Golick, you know, I knew who that.

I don't know who the other guy was. But I will tell you, he will forever live through me because I learned how to call the game because I listened only to him. I don't even know what Mike Golick said. But I was listening to like his cadence, right? Like third nine, you know, it was, what was the game? It was cowboys.

He'd be like, third and nine, Dak under center, you know, Johnson in the back field, too wide. I'm like, okay, yeah, Dak. Say under center. Under center. Okay. Got in the back field.

Too wide. You can see him. There's two. They're wide. Man in motion. Okay. And then he would come out and he goes back to pass. Short little dump off to Rulidge.

Four yards. It four yards. Second six with 236 to go. And then he would wait for Mike Gullick to talk. So I got the, I started to get the, I couldn't see the game, but I was kind of figuring out just what are the things he says. And you're going to start to see his difference. There's going to be parts of him and you. Because I listen to an hour and a half of that game, only listening to him.

And what did he say? What kind of things did he say on the kickoff? What kind of things did he say? What details is the audience need? Yeah, because I can do all the. transitions in and out of breaks, I can feel time. But literally calling the game.

I'm a little nervous about, but I did focus a lot during Sunday night football, the Westwood one bracket. Which of all the pieces of info do you worry about the most? Because to me, this sounds like it shouldn't be hard, but just knowing three yards, four yards, five yards,

on the fly. Not worried about the yards. Was that four yards? Was that six yards? Not worried about that. Okay. I'll guess. If it ends up not correct

You'll round up to the nearest Who's going to know? That's true Right You can make up for it and correct that When they spot the ball Exactly not worried about that I've been

They keep staying in my head Repeat the time and the score Gotcha Scoreboard does that for you We're on the radio 1131 left 107s other miss I meant you can turn

And actually look at the scoreboard That's true I don't have to keep in my mind Yeah I am nervous about the mechanics of literally calling the plays. Like knowing the formations, I'm not going to know that. Paining the picture.

Yeah. I could do it in basketball. I know it well enough. Keep it simple. Like, don't try to get too into it. Just be like three receivers or two tight ends. But football, like, if you listen, if you get a chance between now and the 23rd, listen to a football guy call the game.

They tend to constantly flow you with information, or at least this guy did. Ryan Radke. Ryan Radke. He's talking a lot. He says a lot of words. And I don't know if I have that many words about the plays. Okay. So I may go to a more minimalist simplistic sound.

Second down, my home's under center. Snap, pass, four yards. There you go. Back to you, Meyer. I'm going to defend you because I know the exact amount of things that I need to know is if he'd said it. I know it was a four-yard pass. But do you need to know all the colors? I don't need to know that somebody was in motion.

Did 84 catch the pass? Maybe. Here's the other. I'd like to know who caught it. You could be like, oh, by the way, he had been in motion before that. If you feel like it was a big part of the play. You were wondering who was in motion. Or what if he doesn't catch it?

84 caught it. But just so you know, 81 was in motion. And it was nice. It's a good motion. Yes. No, you need to know who caught it, but that's the spotter. Sprott will go catch by, they say in your ear catch by burr. And so I just go catch by burr.

So you just repeat this. Everything the spotter says, you're just going to keep repeating that. I'm going to tell the spotter. You just need to tell me what. I hope he knows the pronunciation. of the players. That's another tough one. Pronunciation.

I'm not worried about that. I'll just call them. If I can't pronounce it. A number. See? You can go 83. Great catch 83. 83.

83's bringing it, Bob. Or give him nicknags. Go gone, Bob. So yeah, I'm not worried about anything except actually the job that I'm doing, which is calling it because I've never done it. And I would argue this is going to be a good check. challenge for me because I've never done. Are you going to stick with Ryan Radke as your influencer?

You're going to try to watch some other people, maybe combine some styles, maybe a hybrid. I'm going to have a little Iron Eagle. I'm going to have a little Radke in me. God's have Radke. You can't use the television, though, because they're doing something different. That's true. You can see the game. I need to do the radio.

So the other thing I'm going to do is I'm going to listen to some of the other bowl games. like what are they saying you know what are they doing got to get a feel from there you need some examples yeah and then I'm going to call some games

at my house that'll be fun are you going to actually record them or are you just going to sit there and say it out loud I'm going to start with Monday night football the morning I'm going to call but the problem is I don't know everybody's name

and I haven't done the research. So I'm going to give all the players pet names. Well, how about this? Billy and I will sit at home on our couches with our TVs off and then you call us and call Monday Night Football and we'll tell you like if we're getting the visuals. No, I don't want anybody to know. Okay.

We're just going to give you a little trial run. Literally the first time I will have ever called a play in my life is going to be on ESPN radio. my boss at ESPN has all but told me he thinks I'm going to fail, which gives you a lot of confidence. Yeah, thanks boss. They're putting you in that spot for a reason. I was like, so are you excited to hear this?

He's like, I promise you I will be listening. Like, are you sure there's nothing else you can be doing that day? And he even said there's a lot of people around here who are. I think this is their moment to get revenge on. They're trying to set you up for failure. Well, no, no, no. I think they want me to succeed, but I also think like, you know, I have very definite beliefs in how radio should be. And I think sometimes they're a little tired of hearing them.

I think they're going to be like, somebody's going to have his moment here. They want you to be uncomfortable a little bit. That's exactly right. I don't think they want me to fail, but they want me to experience some nervous. I think that's probably fair. Well, you're going to show them. I'm going to be past four yards. Number 34.

Time and score are important. People will say something if you don't say time and score enough. And then besides that, just have a good time. What a great crutch to lean on, though. I brought up the idea of taking calls today. And they didn't say no. They just said, not if the game's close. So I'm kind of rooting for a route.

You blow out. I need to blow out. We'll start taking calls. do pranks on the air Carolina Mike I could call in Tradyo Tradio

I got a lawnmower No it's gonna be like the jerky boys called businesses Be careful you don't do too well Where they're gonna expect you Put you in the playoff next year This year I don't think that's gonna happen

So anyway We'll probably talk more about this next week As I continue to get this All right so did you Did you get your game right? I survived both of them The Bears beat the Brow And the Eagles beat the Raiders.

Easiest week of the year. So we move on. And then when it comes to the touchdown parlay, Drew hit CMC. He's up to three. Wondell Robinson scored a touchdown. So I'm up to five. And Dak did not score. So you remain at five.

Five, five, three. So the touchdown battle is getting close. Getting down to the final few weeks. And it should be good. We'll go to that one through the playoffs, too. Yeah. Well, absolutely. Well, thank you all very much.

for listening. I enjoyed this week. And Drew, we will be back middle of the week. Looking forward to it. Getting close to playoff time. That's exactly right. Don't forget to when you cover, cover zero. We'll see you. NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. For more podcasts from IHeart Radio, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.