NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2018 Week 13 Recap!

Episode Date: December 3, 2018

In a room filled with heroes – Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler and Chris Wesseling – react to Green Bay parting ways with long time head coach Mike McCarthy following Sunday’s loss to Arizona (1:00). After, the heroes explore the NFC North playoff picture following Chicago’s grizzly loss to the Giants (7:20), TB12 eclipses 1k rushing (!!!)…and also muzzles Minnesota (13:15), Kansas City fends off a pesky Raiders bunch (25:00), Lamar’s lissome running style was enough to overcome the Dirty Birds, but will he and Flacco share snaps in the near future (30:40), Houston’s defense flusters Baker (36:00) and the race for the AFC South crown becomes wider with Indy’s loss to division foe Jags (42:30). Lastly, the heroes illuminate the keys to the Chargers victory in Pittsburgh on SNF (1:11:30)!Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Vote today at NFL.com slash Pro Bowl vote. The Around the NFL podcast is having second thoughts about hashtag scam for sales. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Anzis, and I'm joined in a room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosethall. What is up, boys? Hey, Dan. I have, for the record, I have a zero.

Right, where did that come from? Second thoughts or whatever that even means. But the jets suck. And I have to deal with that reality for another year. And we're going to get to them a little bit later. Maybe longer. Probably many years longer, would be my guess. We have a lot to get to today.

This is going to be one of the busiest Sunday shows of the year because not only do we have to talk about all the teams, no buys, Greg. It's nice. That means we're in the stretch run. We are on the stretch run. There's also some big NFL news in a couple different locations, including where we will start today. to Green Bay.

Here's the snap, placement, kick, end over end, to the uprights, and it is no good. Oh, no. And the Arizona Cardinals have defeated the Green Bay Packers, 20 to 17. There is the voice of Wayne Larvey and Larry McCarran Packers Radio Network. The disappointment in their voices matches the disappointment of the 2018 Green Bay Packers who lose again, this time at home to the Arizona Cardinals, 20 to 17, the final. This was as low as it gets for the Packers, and it led to some hashtag breaking news. There it is.

That Mike McCarthy is no longer the head coach of the Green Bay Packers in a move that shocked a lot of people. The Packers decide to do away. with the farce of just letting the season play out. They knew McCarthy was no longer their guy, so they make the decision Greg Rosenthal to move on. McCarthy had a fantastic start in Green Bay, but a really tough finish. And now Joe Feldman takes over for the rest of the season.

It's an offseason of change coming in Greenback. It's a head start to find the next coach. So why go on with the charade of making Mike McCarthy go through what would inevitably be a painful month? Because if you can't beat the Cardinals at home, you've probably got to lose some more games and it would just be miserable for a guy who has won a lot of games there. Since he got hired,

only the Patriots have had more 10-win seasons than McCarthy and the Packers. And so I think that was the frustrating part of the McCarthy era is that they were always in the mix, but his game management, his inability I think to evolve with the time. At the time he was hired, he was kind of

thought of as a forward thinker, a guy who was very pass-happy, people thought too pass-happy, a Sean Payton disciple, but it worked for a while, but It has not worked for the last few years. It feels like this was bound to happen, but if you look over the course of the season, there was some bad luck and some poor football in key situations, but this team, it wasn't bound to happen.

Clay Matthews had those plays in the Vikings and Redskins games that turned against the Packers. Crosby missed some big kicks. You had the fumbles in the Rams and Patriots game that were big. Aaron Jones wasn't playing enough. You had the injuries at wide receiver and defense. It was a lot of events that conspired against the Packers. who were in most of the games issue. Well, I also think that last year's team revealed that as soon as Aaron Rogers is not in the mix

and capable, the Green Bay Packers were not a very good football team. And they continued to not be a very good team around Aaron Rogers this year. And Aaron Rogers turned 35 today. And Mike McCarthy, for all his wins, and he did do overall, if you could have known that you would have had that many intriguing winning seasons and a Super Bowl title, it's not just on Mike McCarthy, but you now have a 35. year old Aaron Rogers and a coach that spent his entire career in Green Bay with Brett Favre and Rodgers and won one Super Bowl. I view that as a disappointing result with the

end game being winning Super Bowl. Make no mistake. This is going to be probably the top job. I think a lot of people are going to say in the offseason because you get to go to a historic franchise with an all-time quarterback and you get to be the guy that potentially turns things around. But the other thing, don't mistake this to be a situation. They're going to go bring in a new guy and all of a sudden of the Packers are going to be okay because this has not been just about Mike McCarthy or just about Aaron Rogers not having his greatest season this year. There's a lot of rot in the foundation in Green Bay and there's a lot of work that needs to be done. I don't think this is a bad roster though.

At least going into the- It's okay, but it's not-in-to-the-year. I thought it could be a Super Bowl-type winning roster. And you saw it with Sean McPa- if you have the right person with the right vision and Aaron Rogers, I mean, there's certainly no worries about rebuilding or anything. they should be a team that can contend. I've already seen Josh McDaniels thrown out as a possibility. The next coach cannot wait four years to make it happen.

Aaron Rogers is 35 years old. We had this similar discussion a couple of years ago. What's wrong with Aaron Rogers? What's wrong with Mike McCarthy? And to me, it always comes down to trust. I think the trust between the two of them has dissolved over the last two years. I think Aaron Rogers didn't like it that Alex Van Pelt was replaced by Frank Sinetti PI as the quarterback's coach.

he didn't like it when Jordy Nelson was sent packing. And this offense, because of the style in which he plays, that improv style, he doesn't always execute Mike McCarthy's offense, which means he has to have a lot of chemistry and trust with the offensive line, the running game, and the wide receivers. And when Jordy Nelson's gone, Randall Cobb's out, Geronimo Allison's out, you're mixing in all these rookie quarterbacks. There's not that trust level when the play breaks down.

He needs a new voice. It'll be exciting to see, I think, for football fans to see a new voice. They just did it a year too late. I mean, you're not celebrating a guy getting fired, but I think the end of last season was the logical time to do it. They wasted this year. And this stuff is always kind of funny to me the way sports works, but Mason Crosby misses a 49-yarder that would have put the game in overtime.

So he makes that kick, you don't fire Mike McCarthy. So I guess have the team internally decided we're going to keep this guy around until we lose one more game? Is that what we thought of last? I think to Greg's point that it had gotten negative enough. and in ways we don't even know. Losing at home to the Cardinals is different than a normal. 4.4 yards per play against the Cardinals.

We have a very good defense, but you're an offensive team. You can't do that. Outside of that Bears win, when we were in London and week one, the opener, I mean, they have the wins over the Bills, Niners, and Dolphins. There's nothing to point to to keep Mike McCarthy around beyond this season. So make it happen and get the search going. And this is probably a B or even a C story connected to this game. but Steve Wilkes, who there were reports entering Sunday's play,

that his seat is very hot, even though he just took the job. This is a pretty nice win for Steve Wilkes. So perhaps the game that gets McCarthy fired buys Wilkes another year, we'll have to see. Is that a good thing if you're a Cardinals game? I wonder. That's an interesting report because it makes you wonder about Steve Kime, too. Is he going to be allowed to fire and hire another coach?

Well, Rapsheet reported Sunday morning that both of those guys are on the hot seat. Right. And Kime, they actually, it looks like the draft class isn't bad. It's more an issue. that's not good. Off the field with Kime and that was a stain. I don't think the Cardinals' draft class is that good. It's wild, though, that the Cardinals have won three games

and the Packers have won four. I don't think it's that wild, but you keep telling me how wild that is. The Buccaneers have won more games than the Packers. Let's move on. Like the Packers did. Giants bring pressure. Daniel slides left out,

throws a deep ball down the middle of the field. Pass batted away incomplete. Genorish Jenkins knocked it away and the Giants will win the ball game. 30 to 27 in overtime. One last fun fact. The first Cardinals win in Lambo since 1949. Wow.

Who was the president, Wes? Taft. Taffed. I don't know. Truman? Harry Truman. No, you Taft. It's ridiculous.

They would have been to Chicago Cardinals then. Are you a Russian operative model? No, I, you know what? George Washington. I just threw out the first old president that came to mind, and Taft was an absurd answer. I will be leaving early. Janoris Jenkins. broke up a Chase Daniels pass on fourth and long.

The final play in a wild 33 to 30 win for the D-Avon over the Bears at the Meadowlands. The Bears wiped out a 10-point deficit with less than two minutes to play in regulation. They kicked a field goal. Then they recovered an on-side kick. Only the fourth on-side kick recovered all season, by the way. Streets are talking about outside kicks. Not by the Bears. By anybody.

Is that any higher or lower than any other? It's lower. The new rules people believe has made it. it more difficult. Okay. I don't feverishly track that stat typically during the season. So thank you. Wake up, seepal.

Then the Bears scored on a trick-play throw as time expired from Tariq Cohen to Anthony Miller, but it wasn't meant to be for the team of around the NFL. And they'll be fine. They're eight and four. And the Vikings and the Packers and the Lions. Everyone in the NFC North lost, in fact, this week. So the Bears don't lose. lose any ground, but still, this is not a great day for Chicago, but it's a reminder that

it's time, West, for Mitch Trubisky to get back onto the field because Chase Daniel, ultimately, even though he made some plays and kept this game in the mix, he's a limited quarterback, and the sooner you can get Trubisky back, the better you can feel about the team of ATN. Absolutely. I think Trubisky's a little underrated, and Chase Daniel became a little overrated last week after that game against the Lions. And Trabiski, from all reports, looked really good throwing the ball before the game on Sunday. And he's fully expected to play next week in a big game against the Rams. You need offense.

I mean, you can't count on your defense to win games on their own. And you look at the final score and you think, well, the bear's defense, maybe not their best game. But then you look, it's like the Giants had seven drives in the first half, you know, seven or eight more in the second. When you have an offense with the bears that are having these short drives that are turning the ball over, they did it three times. There's only so many times you can stop a team in 2017. Like they had 16 drives. They only 18.

What year is it? They only had 300 yards in this game. This podcast does not have a grasp over basic facts. That's what you're learning about 12 minutes in. Greg, you're right, by the way. You said this a couple times, and I agree with you. The Giants who've showed some life, they blew that game against the Eagles last week. But the only thing really separating Big Blue from these other NFC East teams is a couple

games that they blew. I mean, the Cowboys are playing better now. My point on the Giants is, I think when you look at them on bounds, they're more of a six and ten team. They're not like, they don't look like a three or a four-win team. They're a six or seven-win team. And they'll probably end up there. They're not good. I'm just saying they're like the 20-second. No, they've got the two most talented players on the field every time they take the field. Exactly. And that helps. And even in a quiet game, Saquan Barclay went well over 100 yards from scrimmage. he is getting closer and closer to just locking up that Rookie of the Year award and one last note from the Giants that you brought up Beckham.

He caught a lot of heat and even the owner kind of came after him a little bit in the press. But week after week, this guy is producing. In this game, he had a really fun touchdown pass to another shepherd, which I'm way down on two of the same, two shepherds on the same team. Oh, you can't do that. They even spell it the same. Yeah, and with the spelling too, can we calm down a little bit, with that and he also had a receiving

touchdown on fourth down. Calm down on spelling. Yeah. If the, Wes, you are very lucky. You're very fortunate that the Giants blew that game last week. Can you imagine what would be going on in New York?

Well, there's already, one last week. There's already talked Ralph Fakiano had a report last week. Hey, Ralphy Vatch. A source close to the team saying that, you know, they certainly haven't ruled out Eli Manning starting again next year. And that doesn't, I mean, that actually makes sense, right? Until you have somebody better than him. You can't roll them out?

One quick thing on the Bears, like I know we can just look past us and say they'll be fine, everything's okay. This division, number one, is the most underwhelming division around. I mean, does anyone want to make a statement? Go on the road and be... They've been great.

The NFC North? I mean, the Bears, just the Bears. I said this division. Just the Bay. Yeah, I was like... Have they been great? You have the Rams, Packers, and Vikings left. I'm not going to kill them.

My one concern is if the Cowboys are going down some sort of road where they're peaking, you're not assured a home playoff game necessarily. How about Tyree? We'll see. I'll just say, They split games with their backup quarterback. Tariq Cohen's out there catching 186 yards.

I get it, endless hype videos, but I'm telling you this. I said the division is an underwhelming piece of junk. Mark, you've had some of these teams that you didn't like, and a lot of them have fallen off the radar. You should be happy. Is the team of ATN now in your sights? No, but I do think that you need to show you can go on the road and beat the Giants. It's concerning.

You have your backup quarterback, though. I'll give you that. I got you, though. But it's just, hey, they're fine. Everything is great. They don't get a pass? I give them a pass. I don't give him a pass.

I don't know. Let's move out. Brady takes the snap, drops back, under pressure, slides up. throws down the middle, pissed by Gordon at the five. Speaking of the team's on Mark Radar. Oh, yeah. Touchdown Patriots. And number 5, 79 in the career of Palm Brady.

Feed it, man. They're there. I'm telling it. The outside place are there. Credit Brady for hanging in the pocket. There's a little pressure. This is too much of this. It's cut, I don't like.

On the back side, that's enough. That's enough of you, Zolak. It's on the outside, like as if Tom Brady doesn't see it, but Scotty Z sees it. I mean, he proved in New England that he did not see a whole lot on the field. Bob Sochi and Zolak of the Patriots Radio Network with a call. Tom Brady passed for 311 and a touch. The Pat's defense tightened up in the crunch.

And New England kept on, kept churning to that inevitable 13 and 3. 24-10 win over the Vikings at Gillette. Greg, disapproving glare at me. Greg, it took the pet some time to figure it out on offense, but they did. A nice win here. Really good win. I mean, it didn't feel inevitable a couple weeks ago.

This studio thought this year felt different. We get it both ways for the point. Right, I know. It's like when they win, it's, of course they won. When they lose, the dynasty is officially over. The burden that you bear, the burden that you bear is hard to put words to. One lot. But I've tried to save and keel.

Oh. Oh, well, this is precious. I got to be a Patriots fan for a week, and I love it. Double do it. I lock. Oh, we do. Oh. No.

What? There's two locks. That's all. No, I know, but you said double do it. I'll accept that. All right. I lose the lock this week just for saying. Wait, let's get this for posterity, Greg.

Yes, good win for the Pats. Oh, this just feels wrong. Yeah, it does. It was, you know, you can't argue it. It was really funny. It was really funny, having bad root for them. It's despicable. It's ugly.

But now that Wes and Mark has turned against them, it's good to have them. I'll give them credit. They are certainly, they're 6 and 0 at home, and they look like when they play at home, they are one of the best teams in the NFL. You guys went out on a limb with that lock. They're not the best Patriots team, but they're getting healthy at the right time. And what I really noticed last few weeks, the coaching has done an incredible job. McDaniels came in with a very set game plan today of what he wanted to do, had a lot of tricky

plays adjusted well, I would say, during the game. But more importantly, Brian Flores, their defensive coordinator, is dialing up a lot of blitzes. They confused Kirk Cousins. They made him check the ball down again and again. He ended up below five yards per attempt in this game. They seem to confuse him. A lot of free rushers getting at him. I like what they're doing on defense.

Good analysis, Greg, but you totally buried the lead. Erica, what really happened in this game? Oh, no. A thousand words on Brady's 1,000 rushing yard. Not a thousand words. Cool. Awesome. Fun, stupid people on Twitter, jealousy, hard, magical, titillating, exciting, masterful, precise, exact, hot, lanky, slow, timing, Gillette, Cannons, Patriots, Execute, Play Calling, Appealing, Appealing, Appellate the rest of the show. Astonishing, breathtaking, dangerous, dramatic, flashy, hectic, impressive, interesting, intriguing, lively. Oh, we got it. We got it. Wait till the end, okay.

able-bodied brawny fit able-bodied lusty strapping sturdy incredible sexy thank you next 1,000 dab times 10 it was 100 words well done very I like very precise I like lanky not one of my favorite Twitter subplots of the even though I was a Pats fan for a day Greg and felt great and it was so rewarding it was just it was easy it just felt inevitable all of it but all the all the bits both from Twitter and the major publications of the New England era area, having fun with a thousand rush yards of Tom Brady. I'm going to make a real football point on it. That was a great play that points out why Tom Brady is Tom Brady. That three-yard gain, he had a hard count before the snap that got the Vikings to show their blitz. He realized it was going to be a free rusher right at him

and it was going to ruin the play. He decided to run the ball the second he got it, which you almost never see. It was basically a quarterback sneak. So he knew what the play was going to be before it, and he picked up a key first down because of it. Look, I mean, the thing is also from a Viking side, this, another NFC North team that I do not, I cannot buy them in the playoffs. There's no way they're going to roll at home. They're going to have to go on the road, and this is what you're going to get.

They need to be more of an offensive team, and they just aren't getting it done. The Patriots were able to shut down Diggs and Thielen. They've gotten worse under Cousins and DiPhilippo on offense for whatever reason. It's just the fact. have to go to Seattle next week. You might be after paying a King's ransom for Kirk Cousins, six, six, and one heading into your final three games. And, you know, everyone wants, I get why everyone wants the Patriots to take a dirt nap

and everything. But you look at the four teams that made the conference championship, or the divisional, the conference championship last weekend. Like, where are they right now? You know, the Eagles are probably not going to make the playoffs. The Vikings, we just saw this. The Jaguars are not going to make the playoffs. So even in a down year, it's like, I appreciate how that they can stay in the mix.

And you can lock up New England against Miami next week and continue your honor. I might. They're in the mix every year. That's what I'm saying. But it's like that hard to do that the final four teams, they're the only one that's back in it. And all we're talking about this year or a lot of it

is that they're not at the same level. They're not, but they're figuring out with it. That's something I brought up on this podcast, and the scientists, you guys have kind of shot me down on it. Kirk Cousins, I guess he's having a great year. But in this game, in this game. Getting worse. I'm getting ready to see them steal a game in New England.

and he doesn't show up. This was not an impressive showing. He's had a couple of his worst games in the last few weeks. I would agree. Kirk Cousins, Chris, and cracks me up. It's like only what happens when you're watching the game matters. And last week, because we're recording a podcast while he's out playing Aaron Rogers, like nobody pays attention to it.

He had a great game last week. Yeah, two of the last three weeks he struggled. Mark's right about the record. It is what it is. It's not just on Cousins either. But Rex Burkhead returning helps this team. The backfield of White, Michelle, and Burk is really strong. They've kind of become a run-first team that wants to play a little heavy,

and I think that... Well, we know they like the whites, so... They're looking strong. A lot of James Delvillan. They're looking strong. They're looking healthy. They got big wins when Atrition had set in a month or two ago, and now they're rolling. 18 straight winning seasons for the Patriots. The only team that has had more, this surprised me a little bit. The Dallas Cowboys went 20 straight, 66 to 85.

Let's move on. No, Brad. His way. Hilt that Gail Brad. Respective. He's hit as he closed the ball. It's intercepted. Taked off at the 12-yard line.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers have four today. What an interception diving for it. It's Adams again. And Andrew Adams has a hand-trick today. That is his third of the ball game. Now that's folksie. That's Gene Decker. Buccaneers Radio Network, Cam Newton's fourth interception of the afternoon.

the Panthers who continue their surprise free fall, a 24-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That is four straight losses for the Panthers. James Winston was the better quarterback in this one, thrown for 249 and two touchdowns, and that's two straight wins since Winston got his starting job back. Greg, they're hanging around at five and seven, but let's start with the Panthers. What happened to this team? This was the Bizarro Panthers game, and it does not bode well for the rest of the season. And Greg Olson announced after the game that he injured his foot again.

He's done for the year. Cam Newton had to be taken out on the final play of the game because Tyler Henke now has, Heineke has a stronger arm than him and can actually reach the end zone on the hamillaries, which Cam Newton could not on the play before. You could see he wound up. He only threw it about 45 yards. And it was just a bizarre game where the Panthers actually got the ball

four times in the fourth quarter down by a touchdown. It was the Buccaneers defense. kept stopping them over and over. So we've said that this is an offense first team, but it was really the offense of the Panthers that had chance after chance when their defense finally stood up late in the game and they couldn't get it done.

Four sacks, four picks, nine hits on Cam Newton. Since I decried against this Panthers team, they are 0 and 4. And I was dumb enough on Thursday to say that I was wrong about that. Well, I was not wrong. That was the most Sessler. No, because I watched that. I have no idea how it ended up, but in the end, you looked kind of good, but then kind of bad.

I watched that Seahawks game and thought that they had. Nobody would remember the Thursday comedy. I don't even know what you were, what happened. Well, I hold myself to a higher standard. I admit when I'm wrong. Apparently. But you're saying you're not wrong. Huh?

You're saying you're not wrong. I was wrong, but I was not wrong initially. So I'm, I'll use one of your words. I'm recusing or taking away the little comment I made on the other show and ignore it. I don't know. By the way, sources. I have some sources within the television industry. Oh, do you?

Yeah, let's say the In the Hunt graphics next week. They might have to put the bucks back in there. Oh, no. You love this. I'm sorry. You have a great point, though. I'm sorry. In The Hunt, these producers should not feel compelled to put it in the team.

They were three and seven now. They've won two straight. They're five and seven. And that wild card keeps getting, you know, the floor for it gets lower and the hunt for what? The idea of what the playoff picture looked like three or four weeks ago and what it does now in the NFC, because the Green Bay and Carolina Free Fall has opened up some wild possibilities for teams that, yes, Mark, no one of these teams are going to win the Super Bowl,

but, you know, it's a successful season for a lot of franchise just to get to the playoffs and be playing relevant games in January. Can I add a little perspective? Please do. The Buccaneers next opponent is a pissed off New Orleans Saints team. Okay. And then they go at Baltimore, at Dallas. Okay.

Well, I'm not saying the bucks are the team, but there are other teams like the defending champion Eagles, who all of a sudden are feeling a lot better about themselves. It is funny, though, James Winston is almost like he's playing. Now he's playing the role of like the quiet leader where he's trying to turn down the rah-rah. He's definitely playing more conservative, which seems to be working for him.

Chris Godwin went Godmode today, one of my favorite young guys in the league. They were fun to watch. Can't wait until James Winston is right back where he belongs the 19th best quarterback in the NFL. That's my second favorite, like, humble, like story that I've heard today that while watching the radio, I was told by the announcers that, you know,

in the quarterback room, he's not RG3 anymore. He's Rob. Right. What? Right. No. They're, they're. He's stripped away all the bumper sticker?

They're Sally. He stripped it all away. He's robbed now. The bigger story for me out of this game is there is some whispered there was before a national report that Ron Rivera could be on the hot seat. And if you think about the fact that they have a new owner, that's a lot of times when coaches and GMs get, you know, picking out. And they're six and,

and six, and if it doesn't go well down the stretch, it is disarming to see a defense this bad week after. It was that the owner wanted to make massive sweeping changes, so... This fan base has had enough of Ron Rivera for the past few weeks. I'm a little surprised by that, but... Me too. Let's move on.

Mahomes with the snap. Fires a bullet wide open in the back of the end zone. Touchdown. Kansas City, Chris Conley. On the catch as Mahomes fires a strike right over home plate and into the heart of the Raiders. Nice wordplay, Mitch Holtus,

from the Chiefs Radio Network, playing in their first game without Cream Hunt. We'll get to that in a little bit. The Chiefs got four more touchdown passes from Patrick Mahomes, including that game icer to Chris Connman. The Chiefs hold off a stubborn Raiders team, 4033, the final. The win improves the Chiefs record of 10 and 2, keeping them atop the AFC for another week.

And now we welcome back, Nick Shook, after a few weeks away from the studio. Hey, Shooki, this one was not as easy as we thought it would be for the Chiefs. No, surprisingly, because this is a Chief's team that has been explosive all season, and this is a Raiders team that has been one of the worst in the entire NFL all season. And for a moment in this game, it looked like it, but the Raiders fought back, and I've got to give them a lot of credit. They played their butts off today. I know this is a longtime divisional rival.

This is a team that they do not like. So, of course, they're going to get up for this game. But they really played above their heads. And for a moment there, it looked like they might have tied this game. But they couldn't finish it off, of course. But the Chiefs, their main problem being they can't run the football. Uh-oh. No surprise there, considering what happened this week.

Yeah, so Kareem Hunt had an incident last February in Cleveland's staying. He was living, I guess, in a hotel in Cleveland. Was that the background? Was he living there? He's from that area. It's from that area. Okay. So he was at a hotel.

in Cleveland there was an incident involving a woman and it turns out TMZ once again just like with Ray Rice years ago unveils the video of the incident which shows Cream Hunt physically assaulting the woman which leads to his release by the chiefs one day after being put on the commissioner's exempt list so a massive massive situation unfolding in Kansas City in a big void in that backfield you know Spencer where only 14 attempts for 40 seven yards. And it was a situation where the chiefs had a lead in this game. And they couldn't sit on it because they just couldn't keep the ball on the ground. And yeah, granted, there was a lot of time left. But they went to the air a lot considering how much of a lead they had. And a lot of

them ended up being Mahomes missiles down the field where he's just taking shots to Tyreek Hill and to other guys and not completing those passes. One of them Tyreek Hill dropped. But it was just kind of an uncharacteristic game offensively for the chiefs who still put up 40 points. But for about two and a half quarters didn't quite look like that team. Well, they still had plenty of yards rushing in the end. They had 174 yards. They gave up, you know, scoring drive on six of the last seven drives the Raiders had. So the defense seems to be the bigger issue.

But the decision to cut hunt, I think, surprised a lot of people in the moment just because of the swiftness of, okay, this story pops up and he's no longer on the team. And it just kind of caps a pretty rough couple of weeks here. for the NFL between Ruben Foster and Kareem Hunt, and for the Chiefs to make that decision and the questions of how did you not get the video at the time? It just feels like it's four years ago all over again. And the last thing kind of that the NFL wants to be dealing with

or that the Chiefs were dealing with, I thought Hunt in his interview today on ESPN was pretty, I don't know. You don't want to give him a pat on the back for how he was in the interview, but the way he spoke on that interview, I think he'll wind up being in the NFL again and the chiefs just move on. The one thing I'd say is that I know there's the commissioner's exempt list and he's probably not going to see the field this year,

but the idea that someone can pick you up on Monday and jump right back into a new opening in your career after this, where at least... What sounds like he'll be suspended for a long time because this is multiple incidents that he had, and in theory it's six games for the first incident, And so you would think that the suspension would be longer. But it just raises a million questions that are not easy to solve for the NFL

or for anyone else for society of like when this popped up in February. It's not like this is a secret. We wrote stories about this in February. But there was an element of dishonesty on his part. There was an element of not going farther enough to get the tape to find it out. So you're right that it sets the NFL back. And if anything else, it shouldn't be a surprise to us, hopefully down the road when a team like the Chiefs cuts the point.

player, no matter who it is, because there needs to be consequences in a zero tolerance policy, not how can we wiggle around this depending on who the player is and how much he means to our team as we're practicing to play the Raiders. And I don't think you'll see a shift in that. And I don't know if you'll ever see this kind of shift in professional sports until a team values, I think, maybe, I don't even know if it's its image or just honesty and being morally right in a situation like this, overwinning, which I don't think is going to back. Right, because, I mean, you want to have the same standard across the league and every team and

every player, but that's easy to say. It gets a little complicated. I mean, you think of Tyree Kill, who's on this team. You think of Joe Mixen. You think of a lot of people that are playing in the league. And so how do you kind of make that standard that all the teams follow? The NFL clearly hasn't figured it out. Yeah, there's no book on something like this.

Any other thoughts on the game, sure. Derek Carr probably had his best game that he's had as a part of the John Gruden Raiders. And that was an encouraging side to see spread the ball around really well. And, yeah, like I said before, you know, they really played their bots off. And you've got to give them credit. It's a game that they'll feel good about, even though they lost. If you're a Chiefs fan just football-wise, the defense coming out with a stinker like that after the by-week has to be kind of concerning. You thought you were trending up a little bit.

In the race for the number one overall pick, now it's the two Bay Area teams with two wins. So keep a track, keep an eye on that as we head down the stretch. Let's move on. Matt Ryan hit and sacked on first down. Ball is loose. Ravens recover. Tavon Young. Takes it in touchdown Raven.

All-out blitz. Wink Martindel Smell, blood in the water. He's bringing the house first play. Got a free runner. Got the ball out, touchdown Ravens. Jerry Sandusky and Rick McEwen of WBAL with the call. Hey, remember that dominating Ravens defense? It was back on Sunday, holding an anemic falcons offense to 131 total yards.

Wow! In a 26 to 16 win in Atlanta, right, Chuck? Yeah. In A-Town. Lamar Jackson ran for a score in this game, but Nick, this game was all about what Baltimore's D did to that once Pearson Atlanta attack. Yeah, held Atlanta to under 200 yards of total offense, 131 total, which is mind-blowing to think of in today's age of the NFL and how they can move the ball. And this is Matt Ryan, who's thrown for a decent amount of yards this year. I mean, this is not some slouch back there at quarterback, but they can't protect him.

They couldn't protect him today, and they couldn't really utilize any of their weapons they had offensive. They have no running game. They cannot run the ball. It's such a one-dimensional offense now. And to think where we were the beginning of the season, where it looked like same issues as last year. And then they seem to find it, the Falcons, and now they're right back and maybe even worse than ever

under their offense coordinator, who you wonder if Sarkeesian's going to have a job after January 1st. I feel like these are the last final weeks of Steve Sarkegonautian in Atlanta. Man, their offensive line, I think, has struggled. And I think, personnel-wise, I think they have to look at the, you know, the decisions that they've made there, certainly. And you can't, like, okay, I looked at that number and I got, and I thought, 131 yards.

Like, what is the defense doing? Because that has to be a team effort. I mean, the Ravens might have had the best nine-point offensive half in NFL history. Four drives that took five minutes, eight minutes, six and a half minutes, four minutes. It ends up with three field goals and a clock-killing drive to end the game. I mean, that just means the Falcons basically didn't have the ball in the second half. And the greater problem, too, is when they did have the ball, all it became was Matt Ryan running for his life or heaving the ball to Julio Jones, who was covered by multiple guys.

I mean, there were multiple times where he'd just roll out and chuck it high because, well, if there's somebody on my team who's going to have a better chance to catch the ball than anybody else, it's going to be Julio. And a lot of those ended up in incompletions.

It's a huge win for Baltimore because you are isolated in that sixth spot in the AFC playoff chase, and, you know, you have the Rams next week. So, or do you not? They go to Kansas City. I believe the Chiefs, I believe. Kansas City, the Chiefs.

And that's a good sign for your defense playing that way with that matchup on the horizon and Rapsheet reported that there's a sense in Baltimore, Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson will be splitting snaps in that game. I have a hard time. Really? Co-signing anything like that. Now, Lamar has got a long way to go with throwing the football,

and his strength is running, obviously. Third time in his career, you know, in his career in starts, that he's had 11 or more rushes, and he had, you know, 17 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. That's his greatest threat. He runs the speed option better than anybody else have ever seen in the NFL, primarily because it's not running the NFL. So what do we learn from Bull Durham?

You don't mess with a winning streak. That's true. I mean, what did we learn from Friday Night Lights? You can't be splitting the snaps between Vince Howard and J.D. McCoy. You got to just put it from necessary roughness. I'm just naming football shows. What do we learn from Rudy? Or is that just a report that's utter nonsense that they're continuing to try to play this soft PR game with Joe Flacco?

There is something. Harba is like playing two different games right now. He's playing the like, we're going to win. He said he believes he has the best quarterback situation in the league. And he's playing this weird media game, too. He's loving it. He's a bad liar. I mean, he's obviously right.

They're doing, they're on a, I wouldn't put a, I'm fascinated by that game, though. Lamar Jackson and Kansas City, the way the Ravens are playing. Yeah, you can't, I think with the Flacco thing, and we all have some fun with the Flucco, but he's kind of the most decorated, uh, important quarterback in Ravens history, which stretches in 1936. Right, which, which goes. remember how hardball's talked about him in the past too like he has said even when it was laughable at the time that he'd rather have flacko than any other quarterback in the NFL right well and the owner felt that the owner either feel or felt that way or felt the way as well and sometimes yeah sometimes and the same thing with the with the mess with the giants and Eli last year from the outside it might all seem so silly but on the inside these quarterbacks are the face of the franchise and it's really a tricky balancing act when you're trying to move on from them it's good point dan the mix the wildest thing in this situation was this team is I don't think he I don't think either makes the team significantly better or worse they just makes them different right really yes I want to see Jackson the schedule that Lamar Jackson

I guess compared to the but you also can't totally hold that against them just that they're executing they're doing kind of their their plan you're right I'd like to see it against a better defense but how could you go away from it is my quest I mean they're winning games so I can't disagree until they lose a game and don't forget when he says John Harbaugh that he's got the best quarterback situation in the league. Rob Griffin the third as well. Rob. Of course, please. Two for four. I was always a fan of five. We branded. Let's move on.

Watson Undersetter, one back. Deshaun with a mini boot looking, firing right side of the end zone. And it got a man, Jordan Thomas. Touchdown, Houston. They made it look easy. Mark Van Damir, Texans radio with the call. So yes, the Ravens win. The Browns have flicked. ring playoff oaths. They go into Houston and it goes sideways.

The Sean Watson threw one touchdown pass. Baker Mayfield intercepted three times in the first half. A 29-13 win for the Texans who have now won nine straight. They're nine and three. Remember, they started 0-3. Pretty wild. They're in commanding the AFC South with four weeks to play. Mark, Texans were unable to sack Mayfield in this one, but they still managed to make his life difficult. They did. I mean, I know everyone wants to come out of this game.

talking about the interceptions, but the tone was set in a very ugly way for Cleveland and a very positive one for Houston. By the Brown's playing, this deep safety scenario, two deep safeties that allowed Houston just to gash them with the run out of the gate. Watson through the air hit his first 11 passes, and it was that the Browns right away were put on their heels, and then Mayfield came out. I think the one thing about Maker Mayfield is that he, no matter what happens, he'll throw the ball down field with aggressiveness, and he's not going to

shy away from that. But the first pick was a bad throw. The second one kind of felt a little bit like trying to make something happen when it wasn't there. And then on the third pick, and this is how you go down 23-0 at the half, he threw a deep shot into the end zone that was taken away, obviously, interception. But it was a play where he could have probably ran for like 20, 25 yards and kept the drive alive, which I looked at not at, it's not a rookie mistake because I like the aggressiveness, but at the same time, a better decision could have been made there. He did come back in the second half and throw it for 351 yards, and the offense looked like it had in recent weeks.

I put this one on the defense. I think the Texans are, I think three weeks ago, the Texans, I was like, I get it, this nice little winning streak, but it's like I need to see more. They, with what they did on prime time and what they did today, they are rounding into shape, they're peeking at the right time. You're getting Lamar Miller, who I had completely written off as a real force on the ground. He's not the only person that can run the ball in Houston right now,

and Deshawn Watson is making plays, and their defense, you know, we can spend all our previews show because every previous shows were like, oh, JJ Watt and Jadevi and Clowny. They were not even in the box score today. They found a way to do it without those guys. So I'm very impressive performance by the Texans. To me, the most important aspect of their winning streak has been, for the most part, they've gotten better every week,

that I was skeptical all along that they hadn't really played good teams and they hadn't played a complete game, and now they're starting to get the running game together. Their defense is legit. Deshawn Watson's, playing well. It seems like it's all coming together for them down the stretch. When they can get, because they're not a team that's turned the ball over, gotten takeaways. The last four weeks, I think they haven't had a single game other

than maybe one in four or five weeks where they had two. To do what they did today when you can force mistakes, they're pretty unbeatable. I think back to the last time when I saw them get multiple takeaways and it was the final Nate Peterman game against the bill. Right. And that turned that game around immediately. But they've recognized they are not a good pass blocking team and they are a really good run blocking team. I think going back to about week five or so, you see holes for this guy. I mean, Albert Blue isn't running 13 for 54 unless you're opening up some holes. He's kind of the get what you're blocked for type of running back. So is Lamar Miller. I think he's a solid starter, but he's a get what you block for. And so some of these teams,

if you look at who's playing well right now, have kind of zagged while the rest of the NFL is zigging and establish a little bit of a running identity between the Patriots I would include in that mix. The Ravens, the Seahawks. You have to do a lot more than that, but I think it's those teams at least seeing that's what they do well and they're leaning on it. A running identity and something that the Jaguars built on last year, especially with their defense. And this is a Houston team that if they play good defense and they do that, then they don't get behind, they can beat anybody. Right. West, this is why it's, you know, good times for the team of Zeus T.L. That's not a thing. Wow, so you're not allowing Dan to jump on. So the team

of Westiel for a long time, that's kind of like your own little thing. Actually, you didn't like that initially, the team of West. Now you're, now you have an IP on it or something? Well, that's because you guys refused to take my advice on the Chargers thing when you unilaterally made them the team of A.D. You know, it was boring to watch. It's like, 4 years ago. Let's make this boring Chargers team, the team of ATIA.

I would have thought that like a bout with cancer would let you let go of that, but you're still. You're the one who brought up the team of Westiel? How does that happen, by the way? How do you decide this? Oh, you don't even want to know. We have a lot of them to know. Hey, Shook. It was great having you here.

Thanks for having me. And maybe come back next week. Yeah. And you're really filling out that shirt. Almost made it the whole show without you saying something. I mean, look at him. I'm surprised you haven't asked if I'm going to go to the gym after this. You're getting a pump in?

No, I got to get ready to watch Garth Brooks. Got a rock at the house that Rock. You're a Garth guy? No. That's tonight? What is that? You actually had me for a second. Does anybody watch the telecast during the commercials?

Garth Brooks about 400 times came up. came up and a big investment in garth brooks in 2018 what year is this i don't know but garth is filling out the notre dame stadium if you'd believe that hey guess what uh candid oh yeah candid makes a convenient affordable and easy to straighten your teeth candid's clear aligners are sent directly to your home and customized specifically for you to fix and straighten your teeth use their at-home modeling kit and then send back your impressions and some photos. Candid's network of highly trained orthodontists will then review your specific case and provide you with a 3D preview.

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Four receivers into the game. Two to each side. Ball in the far hash. Takes a shotgun snap. Again, he'll throw. Fires right side. The ball is caught. And the receiver for the Colts goes out of bounds. No, they're going to say he stays inbound. It was caught by Eric Swolp, and they're going to say Swamp stays inbound, and the game clock runs out, and the Colts lose.

How is he not out of bounds right now? That was a terrible call by the side judge. His whole body landed on the chalk, the white, of the out-of-bounds line, and he called him inbound. That's bad. That's bad. Matt Taylor and Jim Sorgy of the Colts Radio Network with the call. Jalen Ramsey stacked up, tight-end Eric's swoop on the sideline

with eight seconds to play. And they ruled that swoops forward progress. Swopes forward progress had stopped. He was moving backward enough that even though he was pushed out of bounds, you run the clock in that scenario when he's going backwards, and that explains it. It was the decisive play in the Jaguar. Stunning 6 to Zip win over Andrew Luck at the big chlorine tank.

The Colts entered Sunday averaging more than 33 points per game over their previous eight outings. Wes, how did the Jags, pull it off. Well, first of all, the Colts didn't deserve to win. And even if that call had gone their way at the end, they still would have needed a prayer to tie the game or to take the lead. Right.

It would have been around the 30-yard line, 25, something like that. Yeah, with not much time left, a time enough for one throw. You know, credit to you and your Texans love, because the Texans look like a better team than the Colts. And if you were of the opinion all along, hey, Wes is too high on the Colts. They've been building this record against bad teams. Frank Reich's scheming and Andrew Luck's talent are covering up a lack of skill position talent. You would be right in this game.

They missed starting center Ryan Kelly. They missed Jack Doyle at tight end. Eric Ebron is really good in the red zone at jumping and boxing out, as we said Thursday. He's not good at beating Telvin Smith and Miles Jack in the middle of the field or their safeties. He's not that kind of speed. And Ryan Grant is one of the worst starters in the NFL at wide receiver. Don Trail Inman would not be a second or third. receiver for most teams in the NFL.

The Jaguar's cornerbacks and safeties just put the clamps on these guys and did not let them get open. Yannick and Gokwe and Clayus Campbell controlled the trenches. And this was similar to what the Cowboys did to the Saints the other night. They basically imposed their will and made everything difficult for the Colts offense. And Colts have to go into Houston next week. Another good defense. And I think you might see their skill position talent doesn't match.

match up all that well against them either. Are you jumping off the Colts? I'm conceding that the AFC South is the Texans. It goes to Houston. Do you think the Colts are a playoff team? I would not roll them out for the playoffs, but I do think... They have the tiebreaker over Denver. I do think this game exposed some things,

and the Jaguars defense from 2017 showed up. Look, they've won a lot of close games. I mean, the Jaguars game was down to the last play when it was in Indianapolis. The last week's game against the Dolphins, I think the Colts have been a great story, and I think they have a chance to make the playoffs, but they're playing because of what Wes said at a talent deficiency. They're playing with small margins here. This is not a team that has necessarily been building, at least the last few weeks,

it feels like they've flatlined a little bit, and it's because of the talent. Credit the Jacksonville defense. I mean, when you guys watch this game, you're going to say this is the 2017 Jaguars, and I think it has a lot to do with Blake Bortles being on the bench. And like they were, though, for three plus quarters against the Steelers. the last home game that Jacksonville had. I mean, they looked incredible. That was about as good of three quarters as we've seen from a defense all year.

Their offense couldn't do anything for them. This time, they didn't need it from Cody Kessler. So, congrats, Cody. I would just say that-first NFL win. In the journey of being a fan, though, if you're a close win. How long has he been in this league? Well, he had that long losing streak with the Browns. What's up, Bob Marr?

I mean, if you were continuing a thought, that's all. That's fine. You got upset. Don't get upset. Just asking you about the Cody Kasselor thing. Go ahead. I'm absolutely fine. Okay.

Okay, go ahead. I think my point has completely passed. Move on to your next chatterbox topic. What just happened? I don't know. What was your point going to be? I honestly have forgotten. Nine career starts for Cody Kessler.

So he finally gets on. If you ask him to score six points, I think he can do it. That's basically the kind of game that Cody Kessler had. I don't know if he threw beyond five or six yards more than a handful of times. I mean, it was just, it was a lot of dump-offs to T.J. Yeld. yelled it, and the Colts defense played almost as well as it. Colts defense was on fire. Danico Autry controlled the line of scrimmage there.

Let us move on. They tossed it left to Lindsay, Lindsay with behind Garrett Bowles, and Lindsay is losing. Here we go. Fed Race 40, 3530. Philip Lindsay down the sideline. 15, 10, 5. Touchdown, Denver. The longest play from scrimmage this year by the Broncos.

And wouldn't you know who did it? Philip Lindsay. Dave Logan and Friends of K-O-A with the call. Oh, one of Wes's boys dating back to the summer. Rookie, Philip Lindsay, ran for a career, 157 and two scores, including that 65-yard sexy jaunt. The Broncos continue their playoff push, a 24-10 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati. Wes, everyone wants to play the bongles these days,

especially when AJ Green's got carted off the field, which is what happened today. But credit where credits do, the Broncos, they're ball. falling out right now. I hate myself. This game was close for a while, and the Bengals defense was healthy for a while. Nick Vigil returned. Dracert Patrick returned.

Vantes Burfect was there until he concussed himself with a hard hit on another player and knocked himself out of the game. I think it's happened like 14 times. Yeah. Well, that's the way he plays. But the Broncos, in the end, it's the rookies again.

Philip Lindsay, who's now on pace for about 1,250 rushing yards, which would shatter Dominic Rhodes' mark for most by an undrafted rookie running back. So Lindsey Cortland Sutton had a great 30-yard touchdown catch. And then the defense, I think, the one takeaway from the Broncos is this is a costly victory because Chris Harris is easily their top cornerback. He fractured his fibula, or it's believed that he fractured his fibula, will be at least a month. And that's a big loss.

Derek Wolf also injured the defensive end and Josie Joel, a linebacker injured in this game. I know the Bengals have a backup quarterback in there and that's fine, but I do not know and I know that they are change averse from the top down. What is the argument to keep this regime around? It is, every year there's an argument to move on and they continue to stick with Marvin Lewis.

They are one and six in their last seven games and look like one of the worst teams in the league. and if you possibly think about drifting into another off-season and keeping the band together, I don't know what you're telling your fan base or Cincinnati as a city. It was a balmy 63 degrees. Well, Marvin Lewis is an idiot.

In Cincinnati today, and about 44,000 people showed up for a $65,000, or $65,000. Will that get the ownership's attention? To me, like, not only is it a lost season, but if you're a Bengals fan, you have to be frustrated at hearing Hugh Jackson might have a chance to take over this team.

We joke around a lot on this podcast about the Bengals and how they're, they're averse to change. But this is Marvin Lewis's 16th season, and they've never won a playoff game. It's unbelievable. You need to make a move. What is going on? What are the photos that Marvin Lewis has? I really think they will.

On ownership. I think they will. This is another, rap sheet was busy this morning. He reported that it's believed Marvin Lewis's second year on his contract next year is not guaranteed and the Bengals can part ways with him. I like that the fact that whether his contract is guaranteed or not, would, like, decide whether he's the coach. Well, with the Bengals, it might.

It really might. Philip Lindsay, by the way, 6.1 yards per carry on the season. I mean, we're deep. We're going into week 14. That's Jamal Charles. That is a wild number to have this late season. Does this, do we give John Oliver credit for this pickup? Well, I believe.

You don't have to, right? I believe another team wanted him. Maybe it was the Dolphins, and his mom convinced him to stay home because he's a Colorado. He's a local guy. Oh, no. The answer is no, no credit to Illinois. He was actually a little miffed at the Broncos for not drafting him. I'm disappointed for Harris.

He's a great player that he broke his like. And it's disappointing for this defense because I would have liked to see what this team could do down the stretch. They were interesting. Well, you're writing them off now? That's a tough loss. But they won the game and they still have an easy schedule. I'm surprised, Greg, because you like to move around these low-level teams. I'm not saying they're done.

I'm just saying losing Chris Harrison, we'll see on Derek Wolf. lowers the bar of how good they can be. Let's check in with another wild card contender in the AFC. Mario takes the snap, looking, firing, caught Davis towards the end zone. He goes. He gets in. Touchdown.

Titans. CD makes the catch. He uses that big body to angle his way between two defenders. And hit Peter for the Titans. First lead of the day with 36 seconds to go. Mike Keith, Titans Radio with the call. Marcus Marietta threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Cory Davis. That's CD with 36 seconds to play.

Josh McCown picked off a couple of minutes after that. The Tennessee Titans rally back from a 16-point deficit to beat my New York Jets, 2622 in Nashville. That snaps a two-game losing streak for the Titans. and the Jets have lost six straight a game in which, yes, they scored the first 16 points. They had a pick six. They had a blocked punt. But because they have a washed up, a very nice man.

And I keep hearing week after week because I'm probably the only person, me and my dad, watching Jets games at this point, what a competitor, Josh McCown is. Oh, you know, the one thing you got to know about Josh McCown is he's a competitor. Oh, really? The professional quarterback playing is a competitor? Okay, thank you, announcers. but he can't play.

He can't move this team. And it's not even if it was... You hate to see Dan Turner. You also like softly retired at one point. You hate to see that. It's like it's not Josh McCown's fault. But the idea they had the ball inside the Titans in the red zone time after time and they're settling for all these field goals.

And every Jets fan knows it. Every Jets fan knows it. That once you get to halftime, as long as you're not down about 30 points to the Jets of the half, which doesn't happen, you're going to come back because that's what happens on Todd Bowles' teams. How lucky are the Titans to still be in the playoff hunt? In this game, I had an eye on it at the end there. And Marcus Mariotta, not only does he have a really questionable sense

for how close the pass rush is to him when he tries to flee the pocket. He tries to flee when it's too late. He also failed to get down at the end of a run, kept fighting for yards, fumbled the ball, and got really lucky that it landed in the Titans' hands on that game-winning drive. There was fumble luck. Marcus Mariotta credit where it's due. He led them on three touchdown drives, including the one late in the fourth quarter because the Jets were going three and out repeatedly, and he took advantage of that.

But I just don't buy in. At one point, the same announcing team, I wish I could tell you who it was because I'm blanking on it right now. But they said that the Titans have to take the training wheels off Marcus Mariotto. Well, he's wrapping up his fourth year in the NFL for a while. I mean, what are we doing with that? But Mariotta... You had Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon. There you go.

Well, they always look like the toddler version of a real offense. They're a tough watch. They're six and six, though. These six and six teams, there's a lot of them. Broncos, dolphins. Nukes them, take them out, every one of them. They're in there. And, yeah, and spare me, Titans fans coming after me after the game.

You want a lollipop because you were able to hold off the New York Jets in your own building. It wasn't there some sort of, there was something going on before the game. They wanted you to agree to call to, I don't know what. You didn't agree to that. And nor is that a measuring stick. are terrible. The Jets stink. You want a lollipop? I'm not even going to give you one. One guy came to me on Twitter over the weekend and said, how about this, man? If the Jets lose, then you'll never call them the Titans again. Are you kidding me?

That's where your bar is. Come back to me, Titans fans. Come back to me. Nice. Keith Hansis. Let's hear from you. I'm sure you're happy. His name is Keith. He's dad's dad. No doubt about it. He's a big Jets fan. What is he going to say about the game today? What is he going to say about the game today? Today's loss was the worst this year. A 16-0-0 lead that was fading away slowly and painfully that we sort of knew what was going to happen at the end.

An offense that cannot close and a defense that keeps fading game after game in the third and fourth quarters. The coaching and the players don't seem to be on the same page. It was, again, another terrible game by the Jets and another very disappointing game to any Jet fan. Oh, no. That's the voice when Danny, you know, came back with some homework reports. You used to send homework reports in middle school if you didn't do your homework,

and I'd get home, and if I wasn't able to intercept a homework report in the mailbox before mom or dad saw it, that would be the voice that I would get from Keith. That was such a rough time in childhood when you knew that a heat seeker was heading towards your house and I'd have to try to intercept. Our mailbox was like a mile up the street. Don't ask. I had to like try to get that thing three or four days in a row.

And one time I did and buried it in my yard. What? Well, then they get you though, because this happened to me once. Not that time, but you're right. Where you intercept them, but then you get about a month later, this is Danny's 17th homework report of the year, of the year, and they're like, wait, we only got three. Well, you can always, you know, listen, Mom and Dad, you guys are busy.

I'll go pick up the mail today. Let me go get the mail. You guys do too much around here, and then it doesn't show up. Gert! I got to come back tomorrow and do the same thing. Let's move on. It was tough. Be the kid's tough.

Back to throw, Allen. Be a jet fence. Steps around the pocket. Now he goes loop to loop. Now the other ways don't are greasy. Look it down. Field throws it. It's.

Oh, no, he'd go for it, couldn't come up with it. Charles Clay was as wide open as you can possibly be in the end zone. I feel like we need to explain that play because broadcast. Yeah, they didn't quite pull it off. Is that the Dolphins call? Yeah, because they were so disappointed. Jimmy Seffalo and Bob Greasy with the call. Josh Allen nearly pulled off the greatest play of his young career.

Why would they be upset? Well, they were anticipating Josh Allen making that. They saw the wide open guy. Someone shouted, oh, no. I mean, it seems like you'd think. Yeah, he saw the wide open Charles Clay. He saw the play develop and he thought, we're going to lose. But no, we won because we're-

Ideally, we don't need to unpack these calls to this extent. But here we are. Bortle scrambles, buys a little bit of time. Josh Allen. Sorry, yeah, keep it going. That's funny Freudian. We're still getting to it. Yeah, seriously.

Let's get that music back. Josh Allen scrambles, buys time. Actually, a nice job buying time. But because of his positioning, did not get enough on the throw. So he put it down about 30, 40 yards down field. And Charles Clay, let's be fair. Big time players make that play.

He dove for it and couldn't corral it. That was fourth down. That was the last chance for the bills. That was a game. Dolphins escape with a 2117 win in Orchard Park. Greg, the bills had multiple chances to take care of business and win this game, but bad teams find a way. And the dolphins find a way to six and six somehow in a game.

In a game. Thank God. This was a, this was like the classic 2008. They are nothing, if not consistent, the 2018 dolphins. They're kind of the same every week. They got outgained 415 to 175 against the bills. Shame on you. And they somehow won because of some big plays, some special teams.

It was more special teams gaffs by the bill. And there was a big personal foul involved. Right. There was a penalty. There was some penalty. I got to say, though, I've learned this was the perfect game to be your backup game. You know how we each have two games in the morning we're watching?

And Josh Allen is kind of the perfect guy to be your backup game QB that I've now watched two games in a row. Because you don't see every single drive, but you look up at, you know, you miss some plays and you look up every once in a while. And he's doing some crazy fun stuff. He's, you know, rushing for 135 yards in this game. What? He had a couple.

Just 240 yards rushing in the last two weeks. He had a couple nice throws. Like, they were somehow moving the ball with plays. like that last one that seemed completely improbable and not really repeatable but just kind of fun to watch so i like i'm i'm i'm reserving josh allen as my backup uh second game 10 a m quarterback that's smart i had that i had because i don't want to i use that i know you wouldn't like this because you love this player but i i enjoyed having lamar jackson as my backup guy today oh he's a he's a primary guy but i see where you're checking in on him i was enjoying it

at different points you know any other thoughts on this game zavian howard put him in the Pro Bowl, another insane interception. It really, it struck me, though, kind of they went back and forth where Allen threw an interception and Tannahill threw an interception. And I just thought like this off, this passing attack with Tannahills, is no more advanced than the bills right now. So that really, just the contrast of it. He threw the ball 24 times for 137 yards.

There's nothing down the field. And it struck me just in year, what is it, five for Tannehill. They're not any more advanced passing the ball than the bills with Josh Allen. Four picks in two weeks for Xavier and Howard. Got to wonder. the Dolphins coaching staff might be feeling a little hot seat action. They won the game, though. I mean, they won the game.

They're going to find. Henry said it. Well, what's the direction? No, they definitely won. My one thing about the Dolphins is just they feel directionless to me. And I know Dolphins fans are going to go crazy. I think they agree. Had some Hank upstairs.

He called eight and eight like seven weeks ago, and it is lining up for that. One last thing is, was Jerry Hughes yelling and threatening an official who he says called him. A big censored during the game. And then Hughes told the official. The ref called him that. That's what Jerry Hughes said. And there's video of Hughes yelling at the official that he's going to find him in the streets

and take care of him. That seems like some discipline probably heading. I feel like it's coming his way. Interesting move for a ref. A kill over. He said wait until he sees him in the streets. Feels like a threat. Let's move on.

That's the single bat. They will run him through the right side. The 10, the 5. Untouched to the end zone. Touchdown Todd Gurley, puts down L.A. With 6.53 to go in regulation, the Rams are out to a 22-13 league. Wes, it's that voice you sometimes hear in your backyard. J.B. Long.

KSPN. with the call, jaunty. Todd Gurley had a quiet night in the Rams' epic shootout with the Chiefs a couple of weeks back. But the Gurley of old was back on Sunday. The running back went for a buck 32 and two touchdowns. And the Rams is 3016 win over the lines. Mark, this was not a vintage day for the Rams' offense, but they still crack 30. They looked like a team that had not played since nearly mid-November. I mean, that Chiefs game is a long time ago, and they, I give the Lions, the Lions, there's

two things happening with the Lions. One, their defense today, because every once in a while, they pop up with an effort where you kind of can see where they're going on defense. They played a nice game today and kept, they coaxed Jared Gough into a bad interception, into a fumble, and they hung around. My problem with the Lions, and there are fans agree that if you go watch this, and I suggest you sit down and watch,

not the condensed mode of this game, but the three-and-a-half-hour version to really get the nuance. Every game. Every one of them. But the crowds was going. Please, but Coach's film is silent, though, because this is an audio note,

where the stadium was going literally nuts with booze at this offense that is a field goal offense in a league that needs to score. They could not get out of their own way. One example, with an opportunity to put points on the board before the end of the first half, this is their version of a two-minute offense, which is you're deep in your own territory, and for the 80th drive in a row, it's run, run, your third and long. Oh, look at this.

Here comes an unchecked defender coming right through the line and dropping Matthew Stafford to the ground. I get that they don't have a lot of weapons right now, but it is an unwatchable. attack for the most part. They tried to use an on-sides kick early in the second half. That didn't work. They had a tackle-eligible play where they threw the touchdown to Taylor Decker, but it's like these. Save it for the Detroit Lions podcast.

No, these little trinkets that they attempt to do. And then the thing is, the Rams just get it done by the end. You did not succeed in selling me on the idea of spending three hours alone. No, because I would suggest that you never, ever do that with this game. This was the anti-backup game. Lions are four and eight. They've lost five of six. How about the Rams, 11 and one?

After all that, I didn't even hear about Aaron Donald with really cementing his defensive player of the year and maybe even getting into the MVP convo with a key strip. Well, I mean, I did mention that they could not protect Stafford, and he's part of the story there. I know, I'm just saying it's amazing how Donald has, he does seem to have a knack for timing those strip sacks that it always feels like it's at the biggest part of the game.

Don't you feel like ever since you heard Von Mnman? Miller say that stop hitting quarterbacks just go for the strip sack? Like there's way more strip sacks in the NFL now? Good strategy. It feels like other pass rushers have taken that lesson. But what are you saying? I feel like there are fewer hits on the quarterback and more hits on the arm and the ball.

Vaughn't you change the game? Yeah, Von Miller changed the game. But shouldn't that have been conventional wisdom years ago? All sacks are not created equal, and the ones that end up with a fumble are worth a lot more than the ones that aren't. Good point, Wes. I don't know.

Next week, in Chicago, a battle of the past and current team of ATN. That's hubba. Hubba. And now a word from our sponsor. You may or not have heard from Wes on our last show, but Lowe's is the new home of Craftsman. I'm not in every show. Not of folksy as Wes.

I've never owned a toolbox, but that means that I should go to Lowe's, find an ever-growing selection of mechanics, tools, tool storage, more, in-store, online, whatever you want. You can check out the 100. hundred-tooth ratchet we've been telling you about it all year it's got a three-degree arc swing it's a lot of fun and the key is like you can do it I think three degree three degrees I think it's a lot of fun drop 20 teeth hundred and twenty two you got to get all that ratchet and you the key is you can do it at home you can do it for your DIY project just go shop

the new home of craftsman today at loz.com slash around that's loz.com slash around and who knows Maybe you'll buy so many when you go Lowe's.com slash around. They'll give us some ratchets for the old Christmas. You know what? I may be folksy, but don't underestimate your improbability. The old Christmas. And I did like, it's kind of a giveaway for a guy that doesn't use tools when you throw fun in there. That's like a made-up attitude.

Greg, honest question. If you're not having fun with your tools, then why are you using him? Honest question, Greg. When is, and I'm not, I will not. make fun of you, no matter what the answer is. When is the last time you held a hammer? I've held hammers for some stuff.

I get that, but when? That's not using how a hammers used. You got just told it. Certainly in the last month. That should be your... You held hammers for your wife? Well, putting, yeah, putting some photos out on the wall. I'm going to check, fact check this.

On the wall. With other people in your family. This is... In the last month... She won't answer your... Oh, yes, she will. Trust me. Yes, she will.

Let's finish out the NFC West. I'm laughing so hard. I can't even press the button. That was such a long ad. Yeah, she will. Yes, she will. That was amazing. Seattle rushes three.

Mullins throws to the middle. It's intercepted. Going the other way. He's out across the 30 to 40. Midfield, down the far sidelines. Is he going to outrun everybody? He is. It's Bobby Wagner from the goal line.

99 yards he lays down in the end zone somebody bring him oxygen next ball from steve rival seahawks broadcasting bobby wagner's 98 yard pick six put the finishing touches on a dominant effort by the seahawks who cruised past the nineers 4316 at the clink russell wilson threw four touchdowns without a pick seattle cruise despite surrendering 400 and 52 yards of total offense I presume a lot of that was a garbage time. Mark, the Seahawks look as dangerous as any team in the wildcard race right now. Right.

For all the teams, I'm sure there's some people that get wildly annoyed that it seems like I've knocked down every team we discussed left and right. But there's only like five or six you can really buy into. The Seahawks, though, are climbing into that world where I wouldn't want to play them down the stretch and they have, who is it next week? Let's take a left. They have Minnesota at home. That's the game.

Minnesota, I think Minnesota is in hot water with that one. Seattle is playing just so well right now. And, you know, I don't know what to take too much of this affair on the fact that they dropped an epic bomb on a Niners team that really is directionless completely. And the whole Nick Mullins thing was a very nice evening on television a couple weeks ago. Should have traded him while they was value and die.

It is utterly over at this point. They could not get out of their own way with a couple really bad. They had a punt return fumble when they were up 13, when they were down 13-0. and then they proceed to have a Malcolm Smith helmet hit on Wilson. They have a P.I. at the goal line, and the Seahawks go up 20-0. There's still more than half the game left, and you know it's over. And you knew it was over about 10 minutes in.

And I feel a little bit for Kyle Shanahan, because 20 of 28 games that he's coached have been with total no-name Hammond Eggers under center. You know, the Jimmy G injury, obviously, but it's like all of last season, and then all of last, this season, he's trying to maximize these nobodies, and they're really just a lost team right now. You talk about the number one pick. They are absolutely in contention for that. Two and ten with the Raiders, the worst record in the league.

I mean, Wagner had a pick six, a sack, a force fumble, a fumble recovery, a couple tackles for loss, a couple passes defense. He is insane. I mean, Aaron Donald's going to win defensive player of the year, but I feel like Tony Dundee's probably already voted for Bobby Wagner for MVP. You get these games from him. If Wagner's getting MVP three years ago, he's getting the vote from dodgy this year.

So the Seahawks keep ticking off wins. They beat the Packers, the Panthers, the 49ers. And in my mind, in the NFC, they have moved, during that time, you move ahead of the Vikings, the Panthers, the Redskins, the Eagles, all those teams in the pecking order. And now you'd be surprised if they don't make the playoffs, and they should be the favorite from the number five seed. They are the five seed right now. And yeah, there's no reason to think they'll lose it.

After that Vikings game, they do have the Chiefs, but you also have another 49ers contest. and the Cardinals. Yeah, you close out the year with the Cardinals when some other teams have tougher competition in Week 17. That's a big boost for the Seahawks. I mean, the game was over, and Russell Wilson had three touchdowns on four completions. That's like Brian Schottenheimer Nirvana right there. Is he getting some love for assistant coach a year?

It's like Marty Schottenheimer's vision of football back. I mean, and this room and maybe not you, Greg, you did a pretty nice job with the Seahawks this year. but a lot of people had a lot of fun at the expense of the Seahawks and the direction of the team including the hiring of Shottie who does not have a great track record in this league but they are proving people wrong

but one thing and I should say this he Carroll's a good coach out of respect for the former team of ATN Seattle can win the rest of their games this year and they still would not win the NFC West because the Rams clenched that title for the second straight year with their win today. It's impressive.

First back-to-back in 30 years for them. Mark, this is your corner. Does Schottenheimer have a chance to win assistant coach of the year? I don't think so. To Sunday night football. 39 yards. Mike Wint is the snapper. Donnie Jones is the holder to win the game in Pittsburgh. And he does it.

That was unbelievable. He had a block. Yeah, Ardy Burns was offside again. Penalies declined. He'll go. good they were offside three straight times there it is mike badgely with the game winner from 29 yards out uh three consecutive off sides calls on the steelers the first two resulted in blocks that got waved off the third time he makes the kick badgely penalty declined in the los angeles chargers

and one of the biggest wins regular season wins in many many years for this chargers team 33 to 30 over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, if you would believe it. Greg Rosenthal, my goodness, this game looked well in hand for the Steelers, who were up 23-7 at the half, but the Chargers, led by Phil Rivers, kept charging. Sometimes you've got to have an incredible event happen to shock some people out of their doldrums and let them know that this is not every other Chargers season, that it's not the same old Chargers, the same things need to happen to them, just because it's happened before.

They come into this game without Melvin Gordon. They get a great effort from Justin Jackson in the second half of that game. A huge reason why they won. And they get some breaks and they take advantage of it. The play where the Steelers should have intercepted Philip Rivers in the end zone, it pops up. They get a touchdown out of it was where this game really changed for me. They get a big break, but you know what good teams do?

They take advantage of their break. After that, they hit a two-point conversion. Joey Bosa gets after Ben Rathosperger. They go right down the field for two more touchdowns, including the two-point conversion to gate. So, yeah, you get a little break, but they were by far the better team in the second half. And when they got that ball at the end,

I felt good that they were going to go down in the field and score, and that's what they did. This is what you wanted to see from a Chargers team that at halftime had me very much in despair, that they were simply one of these. Another one of these ghost ships, they're going to surprise you until December and then fade away. That Justin Jackson Drive, a 17-yard huge run,

followed by a 19-yard catch, a great catch by Keenan Allen, and then the 18-yard touchdown. That is, I think, a psychic shift for the Chargers in this game. Two more breaks, the missed block in the back call on Desmond King's punt return touchdown. That was a minor one, but okay. I mean, it was obvious he pushed him right in the back. It was a mild call, and it was at, like, the 25-yard line.

That was one of the most obvious pushes in the back. It happened right there right when he was avoiding him. Okay, give him the ball at the 35 and I'll take you. I am in the middle of making a football point. Yes, yes. Also, the other break was after they get done playing Renegate in the stadium and everybody's hyped up, the defense comes out with energy, they lay the wood on Austin Neckler,

and he doesn't get the third foot down for a football move, so it's not a fumble. It's just an incomplete pass. That was a big play in the game, too. Wes locked up the Steelers. That was that sound that you heard, and if you were following our Periscope account, a heart-wrenching loss for the leader in the picks, Wes.

but you'll be okay. Well, I'm a little disturbed because ever since I said, I'll take the Colts and me and the locks against you and the Texans, Dan, and then since then the Texans have won twice in seven days. Colts have lost, and you won in the locks, and I lost in the locks.

Wait, but he didn't even take the Texans and he ended up making a wrong choice. But we're way off topic, right? Back to the game. This is the topic. Yeah, exactly. Hey, but the catch, Keenan Allen, that changed the game.

That was a great point, Greg. And Keenan Allen, who started this season a little bit slow out of the gate, and he's been able to stay healthy all season, which has been another issue in his career. But this was a huge, huge career highlight game for him, 14 for 148 and a touchdown and the two-point conversion on 19 targets. This game, as great as Phil Rivers is, Keenan Allen seems to get lost in the shuffle a lot

when talking about the best wide receivers. he had a money game when the team needed in the most. Desmond King's made a lot of plays. It's just if you're going to be a team that's trying to get a buy like the Chargers are, and now I think you have to look at them as a serious contender for the AFC West and a buy. Because this was kind of that game, and they have another tough one against the Ravens, but this was that game they needed to get before they go to Kansas City to stay in the mix where they have a chance. You've got to get contributions from a lot of different players like Jackson, like Desmond King.

And if you're the Steelers, not only do you lose the game, but you lose James Connor to what looked like could be a significant injury. And you have a tough stretch coming up with the Saints and the Patriots coming up. And Rathlisberger, like he has all season, plays really well overall, but just has that one throw that you can't forget about at the end of the game. And this was the first half throw where Derwin James picked him off on a pop fly when they could have really put that game away. I mean, your hope would be, we don't know exactly what's going on with James Connor,

right now. You do have the Raiders in Oakland next week. Maybe James Connor, depending on the situation, gets right for that stretch, that evil stretch against the Patriots and then into New Orleans. Well, yeah, if you're looking at the buy picture, I mean, the Texans move up a slot for sure, because even in the Patriots are an even better position. If the Patriots win out in the AFC East, the Steelers can pass them. That would never happen. Even if Pittsburgh beats New England, they are now two games behind, a game and a half behind the Patriots. So they need to beat New England and hope the Patriots stubbed their toe another game like next week in Miami. I mean, I can't imagine a script.

I don't know. I feel like I've experienced it before where the Steelers have a nice hot season and then have to go deal with the Patriots and suddenly they're starting running back gets hurt. Does that happen like three or four times? And it did just give me the thought when you think about this great AFC West race, the 10 and 2 chiefs, the 9 and 3 chargers. Some AFC teams reward for winning their division. is going to have going to be one of these two teams coming to their building in the wild card round.

I mean, it's, it's probably, yeah. Could be the Steelers. It's either the Steelers, Texans, or Patriots. I mean, we know five teams are in the playoffs. We don't need, we don't need to do a bunch of playoff picture or whatever. The Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers, Steelers, and Texans are in. It's not official, but they're all getting in. They're all 95 to 96 plus percent chance to get in.

And we're just playing the rest of the AFC for seating and to figure out who number six is. You haven't even mentioned this yet, but the Ravens are only a half game. behind the Steelers. That's another one. Well, it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out, but a big win for the Los Angeles Chargers who have lost tough games throughout their history in the regular season and got a big spotlight tonight

and they come through. How about what's the opposite of the, you know, whatever the opposite of a curse of Matt Money Smith and DJ Daniel Jeremiah's, that's what the Chargers got going on. You put them as your radio broadcast crew, suddenly you're flying. Greg's all fired up about that.

I'm excited to see a Chargers win. All right. That's it. This is Dan Hansis signing up for Quiet Storm, the mailman, the old boss. And Ricky Hollywood behind the glass. We'll be back next on Tuesday afternoon, 1.30 Pacific with our Twitter show. Do not miss it. Till then.

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