Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - AFC Squad: Cincinnati Bengals Still Alive in AFC Playoff Picture

Starting point is 00:00:00 Are the Kansas City Chiefs lucky or great we all debate and discuss on today's AFC squad show? You are talking ball with the AFC squad. From the Chiefs to the Bills, the Ravens to the Texans and everyone else around the AFC, it's the local experts of the locked on podcast network bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming weekend for hard-hitting AFC football with our harder hitting takes. Buckle up, it's the AFC squad and we have to be.

Starting point is 00:00:30 a seat for you. No hurt feelings allowed. Squad up. You're part of the AFC squad. What's happening everyone? Welcome into another AFC squad edition here on the Lockdown Podcast Network where you know it's your team every single day. Make sure you grab your favorite beverage snack, sit down, relax as we break down the entire AFC conference and some of the biggest storylines with all the great hosts here on the Lockdown podcast network. I'm Cody Roark. Host of lockdown Broncos, unfortunately, that's a, you know, a rough week here for Broncos country. Sarah Bedenger, another host, Lockdown Brock is joining. Joe Marino of Lockdown Bill is joining us. Kevin Ostriker of Lockdown Ravens, Tyler Rowland of Lockedon Titans and also Locked on NFL, the Madman makes his first appearance.

Starting point is 00:01:10 And Mike DeBate host of Lockdown Patriots and also on the benefactor of sending Chicago Bears fans into a frenzy this week. We don't have the Kansas City Chiefs here represented today, but they're going to be a big subject of the show. Today's show is brought to our friends over there at Fandu. Get a big return this season on Fandu where new customers can place a $5 bet and you'll get started with $150. and bonus bets if you win your first $5 bet. Check it out today, fanduil.com. All right, folks, I mean, let's break it down. The AFC has kind of been a little chaotic this season. The NFC certainly has teams with better records.

Starting point is 00:01:41 They're playing a lot better. It's a little bit of chaotic right now. But overall, the number one story seems to reign true that the Kansas City Chiefs remain at the top of the conference, undefeated, surviving a nail-biter against the Denver Broncos this past weekend. Joe Marino had to bounce out for a quick second because of that because he's going to make a special appearance here once again. Let's open it up because the theme for this segment here is Kansas City lucky or are they great?

Starting point is 00:02:07 I think there's arguments for a little bit of both here. Let's throw it to Tyler Rowland to set things off here on today's show. Tyler, you kick us off and then we'll go in order. Listen, I think their greatness allows them to be lucky. Like they win a lot of situational situations, I guess. I want to say like in situational football, they are fantastic. You look at their third down performances in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that went to overtime. They weren't very good for a lot of that game, but in third down, they were money.

Starting point is 00:02:34 Like they've just done this so many times. I think there's a monotony of going through the regular season. So, yes, they've been a little bit lucky, but their greatness in situational football, which is what really matters. I don't know my guy Mike from Locked on Patriots, he's heard all about situational football for decades and decades over there with the Patriots. Like the Chiefs have been a little bit lucky, but their greatness in situations.

Starting point is 00:02:56 allows them to take advantage of that luck because what's the old saying? Luck is where opportunity and hard work meets and the chiefs have put in the work. And when the opportunities are there, they take advantage. So yes, they have been lucky, but I think the luck is a byproduct of the greatness. Kevin Ostriker, Lockdown Ravens, your thoughts here. Obviously, those two teams met week one as a thriller of a game, potentially something we could see down the road. Yeah, literally by a toe, the Ravens lost to the chiefs after a comeback there.

Starting point is 00:03:24 But is this just the Taylor Swift text? I mean, does Taylor Swift bring in the money for the NFL and the tax is that the chiefs get these wins? Now, look, I agree with Tyler. I think that great teams find ways to win. But in certain situations, we have seen the chiefs with maybe a call goes their way or maybe something happens. The chiefs, they're so interesting because all the years with Mahomes early, it was this offense is so high powered and so great. Obviously, Tyreek was there and they were just putting up 50s on teams like with ease. But the identity is shifted to almost defense with Kansas City, where you see guys like Chris Jones and Carl Laptis and Trent McDuffie and everybody coming in.

Starting point is 00:04:05 So look, you have to give Kansas City credit for finding ways to win. But I think what's getting everybody a little route up is that week after week, it's just like a different thing happens. And I think obviously with the Denver game, it seems like Denver has a chip in to win. And then, you know, the Taylor Swift tax comes and takes away from Denver and gives the Kansas City there. Guys, isn't that the way the NFL is going, though? Like, think, yes, at first, the Chiefs were this high-powered 50 points that Rams Chiefs game. But the entire NFL has changed in a cyclical way where defense and run game, especially

Starting point is 00:04:40 this year is like come back to the forefront forefront defenses have caught up. So I kind of give, it doesn't look the same, but Kansas City is kind of just going with where the NFL is going right now and they're still at the top of the game. Which is good teams find ways to adapt. I hate to admit that here. Joe Marino, locked on bills. His team is the only team right now that's standing in the way of an undefeated record on paper for Kansas City. Your thoughts here.

Starting point is 00:05:03 Chiefs lucky are great. Obviously, Mahomes, Allen, they've had some great duels over the last couple of years. We're going to see it again here on Sunday. Yeah, the Chiefs are great. There's no question about it. They're the best team in football, and they're 9 and 0 for a reason. It's because they're awesome. And their defense has been better than their offense the last couple of years.

Starting point is 00:05:21 And to the point that was made already, they have been ahead of league trends. with even the evolution of Patrick Mahomes from a big play machine searching for those big throws down the field to know we're just going to get yards after catch, get the ball out of his hands and when he's got to put the cape on a couple times a game, he puts the cape on a couple times of game and they keep winning. Here's the thing that you're forgetting about the Kansas City Chiefs and maybe you're really not forgetting it, but you're not applying it to what's actually happening. They've won the last two Super Bowls. They've won three of the last five. They've been to a million AFC championship games in a row. This is the measuring stick for the

Starting point is 00:05:52 NFL. Every team shows up to play Kansas City and gives them their very very best shot. They empty the tank. It's what they want. They want to beat the Chiefs. And guess what? Nine times in a row this year was not good enough. And so, yeah, they're winning tight margin games. Everything's tight. Everything's close. They're maybe not playing their best football. Well, they get everyone's best shot every single game and it's not good enough. The Chiefs are awesome. They're 9 and oh. Don't do it to yourself. Don't sit there and convince yourself that they're not that good. I've fallen into this. Last year, I'm like, oh, they're the 15th ranked scoring offense. they lost to like the Colts down the stretch and the Raiders.

Starting point is 00:06:27 You're like, oh, yeah, you can beat these team. No, they know how to win because they're a great football team. Man, I did that too. I did that too with the Ravens. And, you know, we saw the bills, you know, be able to run all over Kansas City in that divisional game. And then Baltimore, you know, Baltimore goes and falls flat on their face. I mean, they're a team that's incredible.

Starting point is 00:06:45 And, man, it's been crazy to watch this. But the Patriots, Mike, I know, as you know, they know a thing or two about it. Yeah, I was just going to say, gentlemen, I feel like old Biff from Back to the Future part, too. There's something really familiar about all of this. And it really is. I mean, you look at it, and I know Joe knows this as well as anyone,

Starting point is 00:07:03 just when you think that dynasty is dead, they will find a way to come back and win, simply because they're one of the best coach teams in the league in the Kansas City Chiefs and Andy Reed. The Wengland Patriots had that for 20 years with Bill Belichick. They've got the best quarterback in the league. And Patrick Mahomes, and Wengland Patriots had that for 20 years with Tom Brady.

Starting point is 00:07:21 Those guys found a way to win. they adapted the game, they adapted to the game when the game changed a little bit, and the New England Patriots could no longer be a game management team on offense and win with dominant defense. You needed a dominant offense to be able to win in the NFL. What did they do? They went out and started dominating the offense on the field. That's what the Kansas City Chiefs are doing right now. I think Joe put that perfectly. Kevin Tyler, you guys also put that perfectly. This is a team right now that is finding ways to win. And look, I'll throw it back to a Bronx tale where, you know, it's better to be loved and feared, you know, which one do you want?

Starting point is 00:07:55 You know, sunny told, Sunny told Kolojado, look, it's bottom line, it's nice to be both, but it's very difficult, but the great teams find a way to be able to do both. Are they lucky? Are they great? Yeah, I think it's definitely a little bit of both. I watched the New England Patriots win games. They had no business of winning here for 20 years. They found a way to do it.

Starting point is 00:08:14 But at the end of the day, I think Joe is absolutely right, because they find ways to win, that is a byproduct of their greatness. Tyler, I steal a phrase that you just used. Yeah, I think absolutely the great teams find a way to harness that luck and to use it to their advantage. That's what you're seeing in Kansas City. It's frustrating at times. I get it. You're tired of seeing them pull these out. But ultimately, you've got to give them there just due because they're winning for a reason.

Starting point is 00:08:41 Sarah Bedinger, Lockdown Broncos, we've seen the rise of Mahomes really since he came on in his, well, his second year. But the year he finally was a full starter there. it was Monday night against the Broncos, the left-handed pass with Von Miller wrapped around his leg. It's like, no, who's this guy? Okay. And all of a sudden, that's been the storyline so far. Your thoughts here from a Broncos perspective. Oh, thanks for that reminder.

Starting point is 00:09:01 Cody, didn't need any more nightmare fuel. But now we've got it. So, yeah, I think the Kansas City Chiefs, they're historically great, obviously. I also think they are lucky, but, you know, fortune favors the bold or whatever you want to say. Everybody said all the right things here. The question is, is how does this Chief's team respond when that luck, luck runs out, right? When they finally do lose a regular season game, because they probably aren't going 17 and 0, right? And when that happens, when they do lose a game, when this team gets

Starting point is 00:09:28 refocused, when they get all their guys back healthy, you know, what's that going to look like? Because that's probably the scarier thing is this team like having an actual chip on its shoulder, right? Instead of having to make up stuff and reasons why, oh, we're being overlooked because we had six losses this year. It's like last year ain't nobody overlooking the chiefs. Like Joe said, everybody's giving them their best. Nobody's overlooking them. What happens when they actually have a reason to be ticked off? That's what's going to be interesting to see because right now it's like, yeah,

Starting point is 00:09:58 it's us against the world type of thing. But when they finally do lose the game and people start calling, you know, overreacting to that one loss, how do the chiefs respond to that? I think that's going to be kind of a scary thing for the rest of the league. Everybody's hoping that this week and maybe that undefeated streak comes to an end. Buffalo Bills, Kansas Chiefs the matchup. We'll highlight a little bit later on here in the show. but we're also going to take a look at some teams right now in the

Starting point is 00:10:20 AFC between the dolphins, Bengals, Colts, which AFC teams are we eliminating from playoff contention on the back end? We'll break that down here on today's AFC squad show, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's AFC squad show is brought to you by friends over there at Fanduil Sportsbook. And as you all know, a Fandu, they are America's number one sportsbook, and they want you to get involved with all the NFL action approaching week 11.

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Starting point is 00:12:49 As we continue our discussion here on today's AFC squad show, we're going to go through AFC teams right now that are on the back end. Whose season is actually over, even though they're still a little bit in the hunt. We'll break all the down. This is, I think, would have been perfect if we would have had whiteboards, right? We could turn this into a whiteboard Wednesday because there are a handful of teams right now. Obviously, the Broncos are the seventh seed in the AFC with a five and five record. They actually make this list according to our network, as we're going to discuss it here today.

Starting point is 00:13:19 But between the Cincinnati Bengals, the Indianapolis Colts, the day. Denver Broncos, the Miami Dolphins, and the New York Jets, which teams are actually out of playoff contention? Who are we eliminating, essentially, here today? I'm going to start things off here with Joe Marino, and then we'll work our way through. I'll kick it to you guys, but give your thoughts on that as the AFC playoff picture starts to take a little bit more shape here in week 11 of the NFL season. Well, you can bury the Jets.

Starting point is 00:13:43 It's over. Three and seven, they stink. They're not good. There's nothing that's going to happen here. Their defense, everyone's talking about Aaron Rogers in the offense. That's bad, but their defense is the real problem. them. They used to be 10 deep with dudes on the defensive line. They got three. You know what I mean? That's the problem there. And obviously the vibes are bad.

Starting point is 00:13:59 And I don't buy in anything that Aaron Rogers is selling. I think you can stick a knife into Colts. They're four and six and they're just goofy right now with their decision to play Joe Flacco. It's completely pointless for them to go into and have the offensive performances that they've had the last two weeks. Joe Flacco's turning over the ball like crazy, which is to surprise of nobody that watched them last year. Even in the four and one stretch that they had down the stretch, the guy was just throwing yolo balls. Got a lot of luck, right? And then they play a real team in the playoffs and goodbye. Thanks for everything.

Starting point is 00:14:27 So I think they're goofy. And you listen to Kenny Moore talking about, hey, we got effort issues. People aren't putting in the work. Goodbye. You don't have it. So I think you can, all those other teams are alive.

Starting point is 00:14:37 And I think the Bengals are absolutely alive. But you could put a fork in a Colts of the Dolph, or excuse me, the Colts of the Jets. Kevin Ostriker, what your thoughts here out of those teams that we listed? Who do you have your arm? Because your team just survived a little bit of a thriller on Thursday night football against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Look, Joe Burroughs playing MVP level football,

Starting point is 00:14:54 but probably isn't going to get it because of their record. Which teams do you mark off here? Yeah, I'm not sure I can survive the third Ravens-Bengals matchup based off how the first two win. It's just two crazy games. And I agree. Smash the over. Yeah, yeah, I agree completely with Joe.

Starting point is 00:15:07 I think that the Jets, you can't buy anything right now with them. I just think it's a disaster over there. And then for the Colts, look, I love Joe Flacko, obviously, you know, being a Baltimore guy. He did so much for Baltimore. We're long past then. and it even seems like we're long past the Cleveland days, even though it was last year for Joe Flack, though.

Starting point is 00:15:25 And for me, the Bengals are definitely, I just, their defense, I just, I can't get over how bad their defense is at times. They just, they look poor there. But Joe Burrow makes up for a lot of that as well as Jamar Chase. And, you know, T. Higgins gets back, Rolinda Brown gets back. That offense is very dangerous. I think for Miami, they have a, they have a path.

Starting point is 00:15:45 Obviously, that started with a win on Monday night, but then you have a couple of games against those jets. You have a game against Cleveland. you know, Mike, if the Patriots can pull it upset on the dolphins in a couple weeks, hey, maybe that sinks their hopes. But I think that they have a path in them. I think the Broncos, I think the Broncos make the playoffs. I think they do.

Starting point is 00:16:02 I've seen enough from that defense. I mean, again, the Baltimore game wasn't great for that defense. But other than that, I think that the Broncos have shown me enough. And even though, you know, are they going to win the Super Bowl? I probably wouldn't say that. But I think as a wildcard team, Bo Nicks could lead them there. I'd say that. Tyler Roland.

Starting point is 00:16:20 I got to ask Kevin a question here. I'd love for the Broncos to be the fun story here in the AFC. But let's be real about this. Whoever's number two in the AFC North is getting in. And then you got to think that the Bengals and the Chargers are the other two teams. Like who are you bumping to make space for Denver? I'd probably say Miami. I'd say Miami.

Starting point is 00:16:39 Miami's not in. It's number two in the north. You've got the Chargers and you got the Bengals. Oh, I see. I think it's going to come down. to that week, what is a week 17 between Cincinnati and Denver? Is that when they play? You think that's going to be that close?

Starting point is 00:16:57 I think it's going to be that close. Okay, all right. I'm going to piggyback off Kevin right there. The Broncos, as much as I hate to say it is, say or Cody, no, I am Broncos public enemy number one. I take shots at the Broncos as much as I can, you know, even though I should be thanking the Broncos for getting Tannahill in for the Titans in 2019.

Starting point is 00:17:17 But look at the Broncos. schedule here. Like they play the Falcons this week. I am absolutely picking the Broncos to beat the Atlanta Falcons. They're a much tougher football team. Then they get the Raiders. Then they get the Browns. Then they get the Broncos.

Starting point is 00:17:30 Then they get the Chargers. Then the Bengals. And they get to play the Chiefs in week 18. And unless the Chiefs are going for an undefeated season, the odds are the Chiefs are going to be resting people there. I absolutely don't believe that the Bengals are 100% going to beat the Denver Broncos here. They have a one game advantage already. I think the Broncos have a great.

Starting point is 00:17:47 have a great situation. And honestly, I don't think that we can call the Colts dead either. They play the Jets this weekend, could absolutely win that game over the Jets. Then they play the Lions on Thanksgiving or the Thanksgiving week. They'll probably lose that. But after that, Patriots, Broncos, Titans, Giants, Jags, like, the Colts could absolutely reel off a win

Starting point is 00:18:09 in every single one of those games except the Colts. The only teams that I'm truly willing to pronounce dead that we've mentioned are the Jets and the Dolphins. Like those, I think that the Colts and the Bengals obviously with the talent and certainly the Broncos, they are all absolutely still alive. And I would, I would go with the Broncos and feel pretty good about it over the Bengals, even though the Bengals are the more quote unquote talented team. Why are we given the Broncos the benefit of the doubt?

Starting point is 00:18:35 And I know that we have two Broncos people here, but like what, what have they told us? And they're pretty good on defense. They got a rookie quarterback. That's high variance. I like Bo Nix. Like I'm in on that. I've defended Sean Payton. But this isn't a team that I'm ready to say.

Starting point is 00:18:47 is going to get in there over, let's call it what it is, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow and whoever's number two in the north. That's what it comes down to me. It's a rookie quarterback against those established vets. I'll say this. I'll argue it. I agree about the chargers, but like they're in. We're talking about one spot in the AFC. And I think the Broncos have a much better defense and a much better special teams unit than the Bengals. They are a better coached football team than any of the other teams. What I would say if the Bengals defense was even a little better than they are, I'd feel much more

Starting point is 00:19:21 confident picking that. Evan McPherson fell off the face of the planet. The Bengals passed up on a 50-yard field goal with Evan McPherson in that game against the Ravens that a year ago, two years ago, no question, they're sending McPherson out there and he's draining it. Something has happened with McPherson. He's not

Starting point is 00:19:37 the player that he was a couple of years ago. So I give a massive advantage on defense and special teams to Denver. And with Sean Payton, I just think there are a much better coach football team and have an easier schedule than Cincinnati. I'm going to throw it to Sarah here and then we'll kick at the mic debate to wrap us up here and obviously our second portion of today show. Sarah, your thoughts here because, you know, Denver, right now, they've kind of held onto

Starting point is 00:19:58 that seventh spot right now, clearly Colts behind them, Bengals on the rise a little bit. Those are the two teams we've been talking about on our show as hanging like, hey, you need to hope that those teams lose going forward. Cincinnati obviously playing the Chargers this week. This is a situation where you have to root for the charges who are already ahead, right now in the standings, you can still catch them theoretically. It's only a two-game difference. But your thoughts here.

Starting point is 00:20:20 Yeah, I think as far as the teams that are still alive, I think Joe nailed it. I would definitely be burying the Colts and the Jets at this point. But for the reason that he's burying the jets, or one of the reasons in terms of the defensive front being only three guys deep, where they used to be maybe 10 guys deep, that's where I would put the Broncos above most of these other teams, is their defensive front, best pass rush in the NFL right now.

Starting point is 00:20:42 And I think it's just going to continue to get better. as long as those guys stay healthy. I mean, we've seen Zach Allen have the best year of his career. John Franklin Myers playing. Speaking of the Jets, John Franklin Myers having a career year, Nick Benito playing as well as any edge rusher in league almost. I mean, at least in terms of second year guys or, you know, guys in their first two or three years. So that Broncos pass rush and the defensive front is going to be one of the biggest difference makers over the course of the year. It gives you a bit of a margin for error later in the season, even when you have a rookie quarterback, but Bo Nix, he's not making a ton of mistakes with the ball. I know he took a

Starting point is 00:21:17 couple of sacks people didn't like against Kansas City, but look, you could throw the ball up into harm's way and people would be criticizing him for doing that. So I think he's taking care of the ball exceptionally well since week two and that defense in the pass rush is the reason why this team could back into the play. And maybe not even, I mean, we'll see what happens with the chargers. I don't think the chargers, we've seen them lose some, some rough games this year as well. So I don't think the chargers are a sharp at this point either. We'll see. There's a little bit of a trap game situation in Tennessee this past week. But Herbert, they're doing some things there, despite not having a lot of weapons for him or star power weapons for him to throw to.

Starting point is 00:21:53 Mike DeBate, are you going to be the Jamie Lannister here and dig the dagger a little bit deeper into, obviously, the Jets and the Jets? I definitely are digging the dagger into the Jets. There's no question about it for all the reasons why Joe Spah, you know, talked about. And I think Tyler, Kevin Sayer, all of us have really kind of agreed. That's an implosion right now. There is no cohesion. There is no camaraderie in that locker room. The Jets defense has definitely trailed off,

Starting point is 00:22:18 and that offense is just the poster child for dysfunction right now. So they are definitely down. But I'm not ready to dig the dagger deeply into the Miami Dolphins just yet. I've seen too much out of the talent on that team to lead them to believe that. They're in games that they're going to be playing. Are they a playoff team? I think the jury's still out on that, but they are competitive and they can make things happen in the games that they play.

Starting point is 00:22:41 So I'm not ready to write them on. yet. I agree with Joe. I'm writing off right now that the Indianapolis Colts and it's frustrating because you look at the last part of that schedule and those are all winnable games with the exception of the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, which I think probably will go to Detroit. But it is very frustrating right now for Colts fans looking at the way they're playing. And again, I go back to what Joe said and Kenny Moore and saying guys aren't giving the top effort. Those types of things can derail teams, teams that should be winning games that aren't. That's a difficulty right now. But Bengals, the Broncos, I think there are absolutely good arguments that are made all around this table right now. Yeah, I'm not ready to kind of boot any of these teams out the door with the exception of the Jets for sure. And it hurts me to say, but I think the Colts are done based on the way that they're playing. Can I just say, I think it's crazy that we're willing to keep the dolphins alive and not the Colts. Think about the Dolph, the dolphins right now would literally have to run the table the rest of the way or maybe just lose one. They have the Packers in Green Bay. They have the Texans in Houston.

Starting point is 00:23:42 It's hard about that. What's hard about the Texans? I mean, the dolphins are not beating the Texans in. Start with their next two. What's their next two at home? Give it to us. Raiders and Patriots. Right, of course.

Starting point is 00:23:55 But they got to win. They got to win every single game except one the rest of the way. And that means that they have to beat two of these three games. And get some help at Green Bay, at Houston against the 49ers. There is no way the Miami Dolphins are winning two of those three games. I refuse to believe it. So I will push back. say the dolphins are dead.

Starting point is 00:24:15 Kyle Crabs, we want you on the show next week, Kay. We're extending the invitation. Hey, if they win, you might get a chance, right? Come on. Yeah, Kyle, we need you, my man. But, you know, in terms of that, obviously some interesting thoughts in our AFC roundtable here. But you know what, the moment everyone's been waiting for the AFC matchup

Starting point is 00:24:30 where Chiefs haters and NFL fans alike have been waiting for. Can the Bills knockoff Kansas City will highlight some of the biggest matchups around the conference here on today's AFC squad show, part of the locked on podcast network. Today's AFC Squatjo is brought to you of our friends over there at Ultimate Pro Football GM. And listen up, AFC fans, remember our great partner, Ultimate Pro Football GM, while they're back and they've added an amazing new game mode that I need to tell you about to get you back into the game. If you're not already in it right now, the game that has you step into the shoes of a football franchise general manager and lead it to glory, they now have a new head coach career mode.

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Starting point is 00:26:12 off with Josh Allen and the Buffalo bills in. In Buffalo, we've seen this match up before for the Bills, are the NFL's last hope of ending that streak, especially as they look to try to repeat there in Kansas City. We'll break it down here on today's AFC squad show. I mean, folks, let's take a look at some of the bigger games right now around the conference, kicking off, obviously, with the biggest story, the main event, Kansas City traveling to Buffalo to take on the bills. The bills, Joe, obviously, I'll start things off with you because you cover the team. You've seen what this Bills team can be.

Starting point is 00:26:41 When the bills are locked in, we've talked about those. They're one of the scariest teams in the league, but then they have some highs and lows where, hey, they're in a competitive matchup against the dolphins. Was that a divisional byproduct of that? Or is like, are the bills still trying to find their stride right now? I know, you know, they got Murray Cooper for his one game. There he caught a touchdown.

Starting point is 00:26:58 They didn't have it for the last game. What's going on in Buffalo in terms of this game? I know you said before the show, you're going to save everything for this show specifically. Yeah, obviously it's a big one for the NFL. Everyone's all excited, what the CBS is bringing all their guys. There's going to be there. whatever it is college game day version of CBS is going to be in Buffalo.

Starting point is 00:27:18 I get the hype. I mean, they've played exciting games. There's no question about it. The bills have beat this team the last three years in the regular season and it hasn't mattered. You know what I mean? So wake me up in January when they play again and that's the one the bills need. It feels so empty to me that the bills are three and oh literally the last three years against Kansas City in the regular season. One of them a pretty convincing win.

Starting point is 00:27:39 And then the others winning the tight games, right? The things that everyone says the chiefs get all the good luck well and happened to bills the other two times. So it's it's like a game of high magnitude. And maybe if Denver makes that field goal, it's a little bit different because then it's literally for the number one seed. But I mean, for as much hype as there is, I mean, I'm so indifferent on this game because it just literally hasn't mattered the last three years. Now, I think the big problem for the bills is going to be the health of the weapons around Josh Allen. Keon Coleman's already ruled out. Dalton Kincaid injured his knee last game and we'll see how he goes. I would guess you won't play

Starting point is 00:28:12 with the buy week on the other side of it. They'll probably want to be cautious there. And Amari Cooper, if he does play, it's going to be with a cast on his wrist. So, like, I don't know, those are your top three guys outside of Kalil Shakir. That's going to make things very, very difficult. So do the bills have the capacity to win the game? Yeah, does it matter? I'm not sure it does because the bills won this game the last three years.

Starting point is 00:28:32 Kevin, your thoughts on this. I mean, obviously, this is a big game. There's also some other games. We'll talk about your team's playing. And when Baltimore versus Pittsburgh, we're really, you're kind of playing for that third spot right now in the seating in the A, see conference. And look, the Pittsburgh Steelers, I know we don't have Chris Carter here this week. They're playing well enough. They obviously had a little bit of a thriller win against the Washington

Starting point is 00:28:50 commanders and Jaden Daniels. He Russell Wilson's playing some really good football right now. Your thoughts on this matchup in particular. Yeah. I mean, I think it is a big one, but I understand what Joe is saying because the Ravens have kind of, they had the issue, the same issue last year where, you know, Mahomes, the difference is that the Ravens do not have a good record against Mahomes and in the Chiefs. But it's almost like you build the game up in the regular season and it's this season where they play in week one and they lose by a toe. And everyone's all like, oh, okay, this game, why the Ravens lose?

Starting point is 00:29:20 They needed this win. And I'm sitting there and I'm like, this is really matter in the grand scheme of things when you're talking about January. Like go get them in the, I mean, we can kind of talk about how the AFC top seating could look, right? The way it's looking and maybe, you know, if Buffalo wins this game against Kansas City, they have a better shot to surpass Kansas City for the one seat down the road. But as it stands right now, it'll be some version of Kansas City at one or Buffalo, potentially. And then you have whoever between the Ravens and the Steelers.

Starting point is 00:29:46 And then I think Houston's kind of already locked into that four. I don't really expect them to move up or down in the standings at this point. We'll see. We'll see. But I think that this Chiefs and Bill's game does have implications, but the real implications do come in January. So I get Joe's, I guess, lack of daysable approach on this game, because it's like, okay, what really?

Starting point is 00:30:05 What are you really playing for besides maybe the one seed? But that doesn't even matter this. So January is the big one. But I guess if you want to establish good habits, you can always do that. Can you beat them twice? That's what it comes down to. Can you beat them twice? Tom Brady did it, right?

Starting point is 00:30:21 Tom Brady and Joe Burrow in 2021. That's the only time it's ever happened where they lost the same scene twice. So does it maybe help you if you lose the game? I don't know. Man, it's crazy. It's tough. I mean, the margin for error for Kansas City is we've kind of built, even on the show, we even said it in our crossover leading up, is that they have a built-in margin for error that even if they make mistakes,

Starting point is 00:30:41 they're not going to be as impactful as the mistakes other teams make against them. And that's, you know, obviously a mark of a good team there. Kind of a little bit of a sidebar here, turning it. Obviously, we know, Cs 1 through 4 is based on division. The NFL change at at some point there, because I'm even looking at like the AFC South and Tyler, I want your thoughts on this. Like Houston, they've kind of fallen a little bit. They obviously competed with Detroit, almost had the upset victory against them on Sunday night. football, but should it just be based on your record in terms of seedings one through seven

Starting point is 00:31:09 versus it just being, you know, by default one division? No, absolutely not. Win your division, get a home playoff game. Look, when in the division has to matter. You're in your group. You should matter. I don't care if someone be honest. For a team like Baltimore and Pittsburgh who's got really good record, like we'll end up having

Starting point is 00:31:26 better records probably than, you know, a team like Houston, shouldn't they have a better credence in terms of seating? No, no, they shouldn't win your division. That's what you get. Play your competition, play your schedule. And I just want to say, to hell with Joe and to hell with Kevin, worrying about what goes on in January. This is going to be an awesome football game.

Starting point is 00:31:45 It must be nice to have a team where you're so worried about what happens in the playoffs. Maybe it's because my team is trash. I don't care about any of that. I'm so hype for this football game. This is like two of the top five teams in the entire NFL. They always have good games against each other. Yes, it may not matter for your teams in the play. and that's what your mindset is.

Starting point is 00:32:06 But for me, I'm just so excited to watch a great football game between two excellent teams. And my final point on this, this is a Josh Allen MVP showcase. Like Joe said, no key on Coleman. Dalton Kincaid banged up. Amari Cooper, who knows, if Josh Allen can go out and win this,

Starting point is 00:32:24 and yeah, it doesn't matter in January. But Josh Allen, the type of player he is, deserves one MVP on his ledger. He deserves one to showcase how great of a player he is. And if he can go out there and end the Kansas City Chief's undefeated season and do it without a lot of his weapons at full strength, that is where Josh Allen becomes the favorite for MVP in my mind. And I'm so hyped to watch this football game to heck with you guys in your

Starting point is 00:32:51 playoff aspirations. Kevin, would you give both of those Lamar MVP's for a playoff win over Kansas City? You'd give them up in a heartbeat. You wouldn't think twice about it. For a win but not Super Bowl, you just whatever it results. a playoff win over Kansas City. Would you give away both of the MVP's? Yes.

Starting point is 00:33:09 Yeah. Okay. And you know what? I know Lamar would too. I know Lamar would. Of course he would. I remember I interviewed Lamar when he was at Louisville and he was on pace to break. Every record imaginable.

Starting point is 00:33:20 And I asked him about, you know, like, hey, how important is this? He had just set some crazy record. He's like, it's like, I'm just trying to win an ACC championship in a national title. He didn't care, man. And that was just him and I one on one in the corner of the end zone. He could have said anything he wanted to in that moment. He wants to win, man. Yeah, that's the thing with him, too, where it's like, you know,

Starting point is 00:33:37 and I know with Heather, you were talking about, does this, if Josh Allen beats Buffalo without the weapons, does that propel him into first place in the MVP favorite conversation? I wouldn't go that far personally. But where's the MVP right now? He is. Yes, yes. Right.

Starting point is 00:33:50 But I do think that he would trade five MVPs for a playoff wood against kid. He doesn't care about, I mean, obviously it's nice for him, right? It's nice. But I remember you're going to win the Super Bowl. There's no way that you would trade MVP's. Like these guys could say whatever they want. There's no way someone's trading two MVPs to win a divisional game against Kansas City with no guarantee that they win the next two games and win the Super Bowl. But it gives them a shot, he'll take it.

Starting point is 00:34:15 If it gives them a shot, he'll take it. I think that's what matters to him. I don't buy it. We got a couple of games left here on the schedule. Obviously, the Cincinnati Bengals who are on the outside looking and still in a position to claw their way back into the playoff race here, putting up terrific numbers. Offensively, I mean, between Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, my goodness, it's been fun to watch. defensively. They've been given up a lot of plays. They're running into Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, who Herbert doesn't have a lot of big time playmaking weapons around him, but he's making plays to guys and guys are stepping up.

Starting point is 00:34:43 They got a good run game there. Obviously, with J.K. Dobbins are playing Harbaugh. They got the NFL's best scoring defense right now. Bengals Chargers, question here. Is this the final shot for the Bengals if they lose against the Chargers? Sarah, kicking it off with you. I mean, I don't know that it's their final shot, but I feel like the Bengals are going to run away with this game. I mean, look at who the Chargers have beat this year. No disrespect to beating the Denver Broncos, but the Broncos are the only team 500 or better that the Chargers have beaten. Broncos caught a lot of crap last week for not beating anybody good or two weeks ago. And I don't understand why the Chargers aren't getting the same flack because they haven't beaten anybody good. And certainly not lately. I'm sorry, Tyler. I love Will Levis. I love the

Starting point is 00:35:25 memes. Nobody hates the Titans more than me. So you're good. There we go. There we go. So I just, I feel like the Bengals are going to run away with this game. I mean, I do. And I know that Jim Harbaugh has helped change the culture there. The Chargers fans were really complimentary of the way that they've been, you know, operating games, finishing, doing all these things differently than we're done with Brandon Staley, this, that, and the other. I just think the Chargers, to me, they're pretenders right now.

Starting point is 00:35:50 And I think we're going to see that on Sunday night. Mike DeBate Colts Jets. Is this an elimination game for either team? Oh, I'm given my statement. I think the Jets are gone. Yeah, I mean, given my statement, last segment, I don't think really, I don't think you can put the Jets in that category. But, you know, I think Tyler makes an interesting point about these being winnable games for the Indianapolis Colts down the stretch. Look, I mean, I may have a little more faith in the Miami Dolphins knowing what that team is capable of seeing them twice per year and knowing that that defense and that offense are capable of exploding at any moment.

Starting point is 00:36:20 But yeah, it's an absolute must win, I think, for the Indianapolis Colts. Right now you've got the Jets down. You've got them down, wriggling on the ground, step on their throat, eliminate them. sure they're not in the conversation anymore. And then you can start to make your argument for the playoffs. But yeah, Indianapolis, it's going to be interesting to see now. Can Joe Flacco rebound and lead this team back? I think I, in my opinion, the jury is still out on this one.

Starting point is 00:36:44 So I'm looking at this game for an absolute must win for Indianapolis. They don't come away with a win against the lowly jets. Their season's done. It's going to set things up very interesting for week 12. And obviously, we hope you all join us here for week 12 around the AFC for next week's. squad show. That'll do it here for this week. But make sure you check out all of these respective shows, locked on Broncos, locked on Patriots, locked on bills, locked on Ravens, and locked on Titans. And as always, we encourage you. If you want your team talked about a little bit more in-depth,

Starting point is 00:37:12 you want reposition from your team. We encourage you. How'd your host a little bit, have them get on here. Kyle Crabs, we want to see you next week, my friend. If the Miami Dolphins win, we miss you here. And obviously getting you and Joe Marine on the same show again, as always appointment viewing. I want to thank Tyler, Kevin, Joe, Mike, and Sarah for joining us here on today's AFC. Squat show. Make sure you subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcast so you don't miss a moment of coverage. You're on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

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