NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2018 Week 15 Recap!

Episode Date: December 17, 2018

In a room filled with heroes – Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler and Chris Wesseling – react to Week 15’s entertaining offerings, including – Big Ben’s battle with TB12 (3:00), Da Bears baffle A-Rod and clinch the North (9:00), is Kevin Stefanski the answer to the Vikings inconsistent offense (15:10), do the Ravens have the advantage in the AFC North after running wild against Tampa (21:30), how hot is Vance Joseph’s hot seat after Baker belted Denver (30:20), is Indy the most dangerous wild card team (42:15), Nick at Nite silences Seattle in a divisional showdown (56:00) and lastly, the Eagles edged the Rams on SNF, but is Dallas still the NFC East favorite despite their rival's marquee win (1:06:30)?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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That's nautica.com code football. Also, Navy Federal. They got a mission to put members first by making their financial goals the priority, receive a lifetime of membership benefits to help you and your family accomplish your life missions like a full suite of financial products designed to fit your needs, 24-7 life support, and access to over 300 branches on or near military bases. Visit NavyFederal.org for more info call 1-888-8-4-2-6328 or download the Navy Federal Credit Union app message and data rates may apply. the NFL podcast, Mrs. Gary Barnage. All right, welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis, and I am joined in a room filled with heroes, Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal.

What is up, boys? Hey, Dan. Oh. Happy Sunday, week 15. A lot of bangers. Always like a happier kind of less tense student. when, you know, the Browns and Jets don't play, and then the Patriots lose. It's like a – not behind the glass, but, you know, on this side, people are just –

The perfect delixir. I think that's fair. It's – especially when you think about it – was it one year ago this week? Was it week 14 or 15 that the Steelers and Pat's played last year? 15. With a highly controversial Jesse James overthrow touchdown, and I remember being angry that day, my friends. Today, I'm not as angry, but Greg, I'm not looking for a lot of credit, but I wasn't – I kept it down. in the cubicles because I know you are rooting hard for the pets even if you play it off I didn't want to gloat I'm definitely rooting for him I'm not trying to say that I'm not I could definitely hear the the murmuring though when when certain things were going well for the Patriots in the second half and you're just like oh here we go again oh my god it's like oh this again what the ball is just going to bounce right to him with that call give me a well there's a reason for that by the way and it's called like the last five or six years of our existence together at this this this big

business entity, the NFL. I feel you. So a lot to get to. Wes, how are you, buddy? Doing well. Yeah? Got some good news at the doctor recently. Everything's going well.

Oh, Sherret. Beautiful. You're pregnant. Well, I had some acid reflux issues, and any time that happens, you know, you start to get a little worried that cancer could possibly come back. Everything is good. It's just sometimes I'm eating too close to bedtime, and that's the issue. but my doctor assured me that I am very low risk for cancer coming back, so that is good.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Let's get to the game starting, yes, at Hinesfield. Four down linemen for the Steelers. Everybody else is back. Shepka, stab to Brady, gaffing in the pocket. Throw into the end zone. Four and a ball's tipped, and it lands incomplete. Worst part about it, two gross losses in the month of December as you're closing out a year

with two layups left at the end of the year. Does that count on the look? And he's shade in Sam Darnold. He'll come back to get you too. That was Bob Sochi and Scott Zolak, WBZ. With the call, Tom Brady's fourth and long prayer went unanswered in the Pittsburgh Steelers. So the first time since October 2011 have defeated the New England Patriots final score 1410 at a rowdy Heinzfield. And the win is a potential season saver for the Steelers who end a three game skid.

Greg, the Steelers showed an iron will in this game, a trait not always on display in recent years come money time. They made the big plays when it mattered because I think their players were better up front on both sides of the line. I don't know if they showed a great will. I think they let the Patriots stick around in this game too long, and ultimately their pass rush and their offensive line's ability to protect Ben Rathesberger

were so awesome in the key moments, but really throughout the game, that it was going to be hard for them to lose. And I think the Patriots, which managed to put themselves in position there at the end, the holding penalty that moved the Patriots back when they had the ball, it was first and I think it would have been second and four inside the 10. That was so emblematic of the whole game because they were holding all the time because the Steelers linemen were winning.

And it's been a sloppy couple of weeks for the Patriots of pre-snap penalties, not taking advantage of red zone situations. And it's a trend. And that's why Zolok's concerned. They're not closing strong. I think you nailed it with sloppy because their 14 penalties for 106 yard are the most they've had since 2014, and it was very unpatriots-like. And they are at times they're a team.

You know, they had a chance to do what Tom Brady has done so many times before, which is go down the field with two minutes and a two-minute drill, tie the game up, and you wouldn't have been surprised. But I just don't really trust this version of the Patriots to do that. And even against some of these other teams in the AFC, I just don't see them as this team that's automatically going to even win a playoff game at this point. They are, I've mentioned this several different times. They are a much better team at home than they are on the road.

And I think if Tom Brady and Rob Gruncowski were in their primes, you don't score only 10 points in a big game like this. I agree. And to the point I was trying to make, Greg, when I was setting you up, was that what we've seen in December and especially January with a lot of these post-Super Bowl teams for the Steelers since they won seven or eight years ago, is they don't get the big interception that Joe Hayden got in that spot.

That big third and down when Ben scrambles, maybe he makes a mistake or he airmails a throw. Instead, this time he picked up the first down to keep that final drive going. And then their defense wilted a little bit and they got into the red zone, the Patriots, but then Pittsburgh, with the help of penalties, of course. They got the stop they needed.

That hasn't always happened with this team. No, you're right. And I can think of a third and seven to start that drive, the final Steelers drive, which went 13 plays, 61 yards, that they get it to Vance McDonald, a couple, a few plays later, they had a third and six. Those are money downs where they protected, where the receivers made tough plays, and they were the better team.

But they also took advantage, I think, of what's been another aspect of the Patriots that's very unpatriot. Like, they're terrible at defensive tackle, and they don't have a good run defense. And I think this matchup, and I know it's the Steelers and people think, you know, the Patriots own the Steelers, almost the biggest reason this game frustrates me is I would not want to see the Steelers again. I think this is a tough matchup for them because of the differences in the lines. And when Jalen Samuel is running 142 yards on you, you got a major run defense problem. And I think if they went up against the Ravens, let's say, in the playoffs,

like a lot of these teams have good running games. I think that's something I'd be really worried. Pittsburgh also, you know, they came out of this because they came out, they got over their own mistakes too. There were two picks by Duran Harmon and Chris Boswell, who looks like a nuclear meltdown scenario, like, found a way to nail that big kick at the end and kind of changed that narrative too. But three, this was a game where it came down to so many key moments because it went by so fast. There's only nine drives for the Patriots.

Three of those drives ended on bad drops. And I'm hearing a lot of like Tom Brady past his prime. It's like this looked like a normal Tom Brady 2018 game for me. There was some, a lot of good and definitely some bad. And you can't have three. They're just a, they need to be a precision offense. You can't have drives ending on Julian Edelman or Josh Gordon drops. It can be past his prime and still play good enough to win.

I mean, they still can be Super Bowl contenders, even if Brady's not 2016 or 2017 Brady. To your point, Greg, you don't want to see the Steelers again. But there's a lot of teams you could throw out there in the AFC, and we talked about this on our Sky Sports hit, that they've come back to the pack to the point now, I think the Patriots, where it used to be there was one or two teams, maybe at top of the conference that you think could pick them off.

This is going to be a wide open ASC, and I think any of these teams could beat the Patriots, and it wouldn't be a crazy opinion. I think that's right. I think if the Ravens or the Colts get in, and that's the way I expect it to go, I really feel like all six teams in the AFC have some shot to make the Super Bowl. And I would include the Patriots in that

because they can come up with a game plan in a given week and figure out how to win these close games. I'd normally battle you on that, but it's the Colts and Ravens that are two of the more exciting entries right now and probably more mysterious and tough to deal with. This is so big, though, for the Steelers, who I think are Super Bowl contenders. Well, they've got to make the playoffs first.

Right, they need to, they're a half game ahead of the Ravens. If they don't beat the Saints in New Orleans, they're going to need help. Right. But the Ravens play Saturday night in Los Angeles against the Chargers. That would be candidate number one to get some help for the Steelers if the Chargers could take out the Ravens there. One other reason, Greg, maybe I had a little skip in my step. I locked up them Steelers.

Oh, that's right. Oh, nice. And that's why you legit forgot that. You always have to keep your eye on the wounded animal. Because the Steelers were a wounded, cornered beast, and they stepped up. That is, we don't need this sound clip in our lives for much longer. Let us move on. Rogers, end zone throw, and it's intercepted.

And it's Eddie Jackson. Revenge was on his mind. He said we had something special plan for him, and the interception string comes to an end for Aaron Rogers. Chris Myers of Fox with the call. Yes, the end of Aaron Rogers is much Ballyhoo, maybe overly Ballyhooed interception free streak. Served as a fitting end for the Packers who had nothing left after a 2417 loss to the Bears at Soldier Field. The loss combined with a Vikings win, ensured the Packers would miss the playoff for the second straight year.

As for the Bears, they are the NFC North champions for the first time since 2010, which was also boys, their last playoff appearance. Greg Rosethal, this was a special day for the team of around the NFL. It was, and to beat Aaron Rogers in that way was perfect. Like a tipped pass where Eddie Jackson closes it out. I feel like the whole season has been Eddie Jackson picking off tipped passes to close out games. And Jackson appeared to hurt his ankle on that play sliding down. That was the only downside on a day where the Bears got a lot of things right, including a clean game, kind of stayed out of the way

and stayed conservative out of Mitchell Trebisky and beating an inferior team is what we've become accustomed to with this Bears team of ATIA. Oh, another lock. That's why I locked him up. Oh, Gregie's hot. By the way, sneaky streak for Greg here, right? I mean, I think I'm on at 500 or so.

What are we, Troy Aikman in 99? Is that who it? French. I wouldn't get you carried away. I mean, that four-game win streak, just as a side note, is the shortest streak of any one of us in the history of the game. So a little bit more work to do, Greg. Is it a one-game streak shorter?

Well, your longest, like your longest win streak. That is your longest streak. Who the hell knows if it's your longest or not? You know, who does lock it up the Twitter account, who noted that last night. There's a misguided notion out there. What are we talking about here? It's a misguided notion that we don't really care about the team of ATL. I love this Bears team.

They're one of my favorite people. Yeah, last three. A nice job today. And you know what? This is a predictable if you've been tracking this downfall of the Packers. By now it should have been predictable that they wouldn't be able to move the ball against the bears. And the only the last touchdown of their season, it was fitting that it wasn't even an earned touchdown in my mind on some levels. Because Chicago made one mistake I thought tactically in this game, which was going for that fake punt near midfield.

It didn't work out. All they really should have done was punt the ball away. and dare the Packers with their limited offensive powers to beat the Bears, which they would never be able to do. And they ultimately did it anyway. Packers also lost Aaron Jones. It's at that time of year when they've been eliminated from the playoffs. Start shutting people.

Aaron Rogers heard his growing at the end of the first half of this game and did not look the same afterwards. He said he would not be happy if they chose to shut him down. You mentioned, though, West White, you know, you enjoy watching them. And one of the joys of this team, which is different in 2018, is they're very complimentary. Like, I'm thinking of the sequence in the first half where they punt the ball, pin the Packers back,

they get a three and out, they get great field position, they score the touchdown. Then just at the moment of the game where you're wondering, wow, the Bears have been sloppy here. It's a tie game. Tariq Cohen fumbles the ball at a mesh point on kind of a trick play. It's tied, like, you know, it's late third quarter.

What do they do? They get a three and out against the Packers. They get the special team. to put them in great field position, and they go score the touchdown right there. And the three units have played really well together all year. And it's not just Khalil Mack. Leonard Floyd had a great game.

Rob Juan Smith as well. And, you know, when that week one lost to Green Bay, where I thought Chubisky, one of the issues was he could not find a way to steal the deal at the end and give Chicago a chance to win. They didn't score touchdowns at the end, but he led two late field goal drives that just continue to squeeze life out of the package.

This was a nice building game, but I think the next two weeks are really important. for the Bears' offense in Trubisky. Because some of the quotes that Trubisky told the CBS broadcast crew about last week, he seemed a little spooked and the game plan was spooked. They were not as aggressive. They didn't need to be. But I think you want, I wasn't impressed by their offense going up against a very wounded Packers team.

I think you want to see a little more out of your passing game in the last few. That's fair. Tariq Cohen, whose numbers maybe don't jump out of you at the box score. But I feel like he makes big plays and important plays every week for this team. He's really emerged as a key member of this offense. taste their most important skill position player and I don't think it's close it is a huge offseason for the Packers because I want officially eliminated by the way they're out and like a team from like

offense and a defense from like 2009 just the rest of the league is moving on and growing and evolving and they are not there are those little playoffs scenarios you know last week Packers and Giants waste of time Spoiler alert by the way a listener I mean we have to talk about something last week no we can't talk about anything that spoils A listener said, I do not know any results of games until they get to the games in our recap. All right. I have a retort, though.

How about follow football? What's more important? Like, those four people or just like a natural conversation for the rest of the 100. That's an ugly assumption on your part, but it's only four. The world does not need to cater to people who don't pay attention. Listen, you guys are making a lot of assumptions about these people's schedule. I think they're waking up. I think he's in Europe and they're waking up and they listen to our show first, which I get.

The games are happening at like two in the morning. You can reorganize everything around three people. Hey, my bad. Another assumption of how many people are at that boat. My bad, Stellan. The 2018 Giants are a joke. Hey, there's an internet. Wow.

Ugly guys. Now you're like going after random Scandinavians. Let me just, please. Let's move out. Cousins from under center hands it to down. He spins away from the Dolphin at the 15th. And is loose inside the five touchdown. Two Russian.

in touchdowns today from the Miami native Dalvin Cook. Spoiler alert. Paul Allen, Vikings Radio Network, one of my favorites in the business, right near the top of the list. Dalvin Cook, a career high, buck 36 and two scores, also a season high and carries 19. And the Vikings, the new run-conscious Vikings with the new offensive coordinator, take care of business. 4117 win over the Dolphins. Minnesota will enter week 16 in position, possession of the NFC's sixth and final playoff spot. Mark, is that correct?

Yes, my name is Mark. No, do the sixth and final spot? They do right now. Okay, good. Mark, free from the glare of primetime football, the Vikings did damage. Yeah, it's like there was a lot to figure out about this team coming off of the firing of John D. Philippo because it's nice to say, hey, I'm Mike Zimmer and I just want us to run the ball more. Well, there were a lot of reasons to think that might not be possible, but, They came out early on and set the tone right away on the first drive and just ran it down Miami's throat.

And this was not a perfect offensive game by the Vikings. They really kind of fell asleep for about a full quarter in the middle of the game. But then woke up with some big plays. They did it through the air as well. There was a Kirk Cousins interception. They got up 21-0, and you kind of felt like they were just going to run over a dolphins team that was still, you know, swimming in their own juices from the Miami Miracle situation. Well, they were.

And the dolphins, we'll get to them in a second. But they worked the way out of their own issues. Kirk Cousins threw a terrible pick six that made a 21-7. And then, and Dan was fascinated by this play. Rookie, Dolphins rookie, Cail and Ballage, like, ran for a 75-yard score. And it started to think, like, the dolphins are climbing back into this thing. And can the Vikings handle it? But they got back to the ground game and started to punish Miami.

And it was soon, soon, very quickly out of control for the dolphins. and their season is on thin ice. Seven and seven. Come on. Are they eliminated, Greg? They are still alive. Rev up the calculator, Greg. That beautiful mind of you.

I don't think you need a calculator for this one, but. Or you do. I thought we were getting a new calculator. I thought so, too. That is a new one. That's what you sent me, Dan. Oh. Hey now.

Listen, just because the Patriots lost, don't come after me. I'm not coming after you. That's what you sent me. It seems like a slightly more like. We'll take it off line. Okay. Okay. I can play the old one if we want.

And Kevin Stefanski's play-calling debut, the Vikings had more yards in the first quarter than any team this year. I think you have to credit, you have to credit Mike Zimmer. He saw a problem, and the early returns say he fixed it. Yeah. Well, they were playing one of the worst rush defense in the league, and they attacked it, and this is one of many games this year. Well, they trounced it.

They weren't just competent. They destroyed them. Right. I saw a stat that Dolphins averaged, 1.2 yards per dropback pass today. You do not see that in the NFL too much. That is unbelievable. It's unbelievable what happened to Ryan Tannehill.

We cannot play. They had nine sacks. They destroyed them. He takes too many hits. And big part of that is the offensive line, which is missing some starters. It's also plagued Tannahill throughout his career. He holds the ball too long, and he takes too many hits. That's just what he does.

Yep. They lost Frank Gore, which I think there was a scoring opportunity that had Frank Gore been on the field. They probably would have been able to punch it in. They didn't have a single receiver. Sieve or go over 30 yards. And, you know, Dolphins fans are often frustrated with us for a variety of reasons. But this is why, because you cannot trust them to build their own momentum. Coming off a big win over New England, they laid a massive egg.

But did they lay an egg or are they just no good, really? Well, but that's the other side of the argument. They're not that good. They're not that good. They shouldn't be dominated like this. But it is a, if you're a Vikings fan, you start feeling something here. Because I think you look at the yards and the score and everything and you say this is the best game the Vikings have had all year.

Yep, and on defense too. And so you think, okay, can we build on that? Dalvin Cook, I think, looked explosive for about six weeks. They just haven't been able to totally take advantage of it and now look at him. All right. Let's listen to, let's hear from a sponsor. Why don't we? First of all, Erica, apologies.

I just want to say, I want to apologize to you. Oh, no, it's okay. I'm sorry if I... I know it's a bad day with the Patriots, but you're right. That was the drop that I asked for. Yeah. Thank you. Sorry that it wasn't what you originally expected.

It's a nice little moment. I know. This is like, tenderness is not usually something we have on this show too often. So I really... Bumaya. You're a wonderful producer, and I appreciate you. Aw, thanks, Dan. I appreciate you as a host.

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So as many more facts as you want to provide. He was a good orthodontist. Candidcoe.com slash around. Lamar Jackson, a quick pitch to Chris Moore on the misdirection. Moore is in for the touchdown. Brilliant play design and execution, and the Ravens are back in it. Rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson annoyed the Ravens starter earlier this week, rewarded his bosses with another winning performance.

Eljax ran for 95 yards, threw for 131 more. The Ravens, 20 to 12 victors over the bucks. and now welcome back our good buddy looking yoked Nick Shook hey buddy how are you the Ravens inch closer to the playoffs

technological apocalypse happening right here everything's fine the Ravens inch closer to the playoffs with a now reliable formula trust your D and run the damn football yeah this is a team that

doesn't necessarily pass the ball well but runs it really well because their quarterback is a serious running threat. Exhibit A this week. He rushed 18 times for 95 yards. Gus Edwards outdid him a little bit more. 19 carries 104 yards in a touchdown. But the point being

on a wet, rainy kind of muddy day in Baltimore, they were suited for this. And this is kind of a formula that a lot of other teams in the division have done in the past, which is let's run the crap out of the ball and let's play good defense. And it worked not to perfection, but it worked well enough. They're good counterbalance to a lot of teams in the

NFL right now. They're the team that likes to get down and dirty and do some grunt work and pound, ground and pound, baby. Yeah, but they became that once they made the quarterback change because that's not who they were early in the end. And people kind of been pointing out, okay, this can't last, you know, this style or whatever. And yes, they're a great running team with Jackson. That's a good identity.

It's not just that they're great running. They're one of the last five weeks is one of the best stretches that any NFL team has ever had running the football, period. Right. they've gone 267, 247, 207, 194, 242. Whoa. So they were only six yards off last week from being the first team since the 78 Patriots to go 205 straight, and then they went back to 240s.

So this isn't just, okay, like we have an identity. It is like we are one of the best running teams, at least for this stretch, that we've seen. And oh, by the way, we limited Dirk Cutters bucks to have 12 first downs, which was the lowest in his entire. time running the team. It's a formula that makes sense. It's kind of out of necessity, but it works. And if it works, like you said, why change it? And it works because you have two guys who are able to run the ball at any time.

Even when he's dropping back to throw, a lot of times he's pulling it down and running. And it's not a bad thing. Long term, we'll see. But right now, they're on the edge of the playoffs. And it's because of that. They held the ball for more than 37 minutes. They had two drives that lasted more than seven minutes. And that final drive that closed out the game, 708. This is. is an interesting way to play football in 2018, and it's working. I also think, because, you know, there were whispers about John Harbaugh being one of the guys that might be, you know, on the bread line after this season.

Well, forget all that because I think he's done a really nice job in terms of the transitioning the quarterbacks in a drama-free way and showing that, you know, if you think all the Ravens are the same thing year after year, we can completely change our philosophy, you know, midway through the season and become a much more intriguing, potent team. And it's kind of like what we just talk about with the Vikings, where it's like you're going to try to change their identity. Not easy to do, but they've handled it really well.

And it's been, they're one of the almost unusual NFL teams around right now. Huge game at the Chargers next week. If they lose and miss the playoffs, what do you think of John Harbaugh's job security? Here's the thing. If there's five or six or seven teams looking for a coach, how do you figure out that you're going to go get a better coach than John Harbaugh? I agree. I feel like what he's done by changing this team and his philosophy has saved his job. I think he'll keep the job.

I mean, barring them losing the last two games, they would have to lose to the Ravens, too. I mean, to the Browns, too. And I think Don Martindale's done a really good job as their coordinator, too, as a first year hire. And Harbaugh's done, I think you can look at who he's hired for his staffs for the most part and done a really good job doing that.

You got a chance to say wink and you pass. Yeah. I mean, Don doesn't get a lot of pop on this show for the coordinator of, you know, statistically the number one defense. Is he the coordinator of ATL? No. Is he even the coordinator of the year on his own team?

Look what the offensive side's done. Conversation over next. A lot of Marty morning, I love there. Any other thoughts on this game, Nick? Any other thoughts on this? Yeah. Tough day for the Buccaneers overall, but they do have some, you know, things to be excited. I kind of like Peyton Barber.

He's a little bit of an interesting running back. He rushed for 85 yards against one of the league's best rush defense. You don't love him as much as Tom Brennaman loves him. No. Bob? Tom loves Peyton Barber. Let us move on. The snap high, the subop, the kick is up.

The kick is good. Bullseye. Bullseye Hopkins hits it, and the Redskins win. Is that Patrick Claymont? No, it's Larry Michael of the Redskins Radio Network. Yes, Dustin Hopkins made a 36-yard field goal on the final play of the game. That won it for the Redskins who went. finished with a 16-13 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.

It snaps a four-game losing streak for Washington. Somehow keeps them on the fringe of the playoff picture. I mean, how do the Jaguars lose this game? Let's dive into this one. Let's go deep. For our starters, Cody Kessler ran for more yards than he threw. What? If you went an indicator.

57 yards passing. We're not talking about Josh Allen here. Oh, no. 68 yards rushing on six attempts. Oh, no. It was one of those days for the Jaguars. This is pretty much what this team is at this point. They lack skill up front because of injuries.

And it kind of trickles down from there where the rest of their offense is just pretty inept. And, you know, credit their defense for holding the wonderful world-beating Josh Johnson to, you know, 16 total points in this offense. What? You're crediting the Jaguars defense? No. It was a joke. That's dry humor being employed.

really ugly game to watch. I mean, you know, I know that David Ely, your supervisor, is at a wedding this week, and I'm glad that he could take essentially a bye week to enjoy whatever the friend is that got married. That's nice. It's weird, because it was it a Sunday wedding? It was a cousin. It was a Sunday wedding. Well, that's very nice that someone got married.

But the fact that he, as a parting gift, handed this to you as an assignment, I think you need to sort of circle back and say a little more respect, bro. Listen, I have paid some dues in my days. I watched a lot of 49ers games in the Chip Kelly. and year before that, and this is nowhere near as bad. It's crazy because the Redskins aren't really even on the fringes. I mean, they're half a game out. We've all written them off, and I'm going to continue to write them off. But the fact of the matter is, they're half a game out of the playoffs.

And that, you know, they could have been in it. It might as well be 20 games out of the playoffs. They play at Tennessee and then home against the Eagles. Could they win one of those games with Josh Johnson? Tennessee could have a stick. I don't know. I feel like you maybe could. It kind of, it spells up the Kaepernick issue.

I feel like even a little stronger, the fact that they were able to win a game with Josh Johnson. They beat a team whose quarterback threw for 57 yards. They beat a team who's... Let's calm down on acting like the Redskins are relevant. They beat a team also who their best player, perhaps Jalen Ramsey, said after the game, when asked about their Doug Marone's future, I ain't worried about nobody but by myself.

Uh-oh. Not a surprising quote coming from Jalen Ramsey. And Tom Coffin might be the head coach by week 17 at this rate. That's that's that's the new working theory on my end. All right, let's move on. Enough of that. Denver has to have this or the ball game is over. Low snap, Keenham takes it.

Pressure comes he's sacked. He is taken down to the ground by the safety. Jabrille Peppers and Cleveland is going to snap their 11 game losing streak to the Denver Broncos. Brandon Gowden of Westwood, one with the call. It's moved to Saturday football on fourth down. And with the season on the line, Brown Safety, Jibrill Pepper, shot through the line, took down Case Keenham. The decisive play in Cleveland's 1716 win over the Broncos at mile high.

Mark Sessler was not pretty, but the Browns came through with a huge road win, ending the season of an old nemesis in the process. Eat it, L.A.? Yeah, I mean, for Nick and I, long-time, long-suffering, fans, this was a long time coming because I can remember they had not beaten Denver since 1990. In 1992, when I was at the University of Miami, Miami University, I took a Saturday car trip with some friends up to go watch the Browns play the John L. Wade-led Broncos. The Browns had Mike Tomzac as a quarterback, so you knew it was going to be a tough ask. But they lost 12-0,

and on the way up, our car that we were in burned to the ground on the highway. And I I did not realize. Yeah, at that moment, that was a microcosm of what would be not just Cleveland's situation with Denver, but their situation as a football team for many, many years to come. So last night, because when they beat Denver and things have changed now, it's highly unlikely outside of some sort of national crisis that they're not going to make playoffs. But when you went to bed last night, there was a chance. I don't even think the national crisis is.

Well, how does a national crisis make the Colts and Titans tie a game in week 17? I mean, Indianapolis would need to, like, sink into the earth. I mean, something like that. And that would be a world crisis. But it's not going to happen. But you cannot feel anything. But satisfaction with the way that they've turned. It's another team that transformed their season by making coaching changes.

And it was not a pretty game. And Greg Williams is lucky that a horrible timeout call, as Denver was being flagged for a neutral zone infraction, did not cost Cleveland in that game. But luckily, they played a coach in Vance Joseph, who's pretty good at hurting his own team with decisions. So it was messy, but I like watching them. They don't win a lot of messy games.

This was a completely unique type of Brown's win. This actually had the feel of a textbook Brown's loss because of the aforementioned timeout that erased what would have been an encroachment penalty that would have given a first down. You know, going forward on fourth down, not getting the field goal in that situation, not getting the yard that you need.

And then watching Case Keenham of all quarterbacks lead them down the field for a game winning field goal, which didn't happen, for a long time, I had a feeling it was going to happen. I mean, it felt like Joseph, Vance Joseph, the Broncos coach, like had bet on the Browns or something when he decided to kick a field goal.

A slight accusation. When he decided to kick the field goal on fourth and one inside the 10 midway through the fourth quarter, I thought, like, what is happening here? In what situation, is that a good idea? And his players and Brown's players both talked about it after the game,

how stunned they were by the decision. You don't want to stun your players in a bad way. That decision was not, I mean, credit to Greg Williams for turning the season around, but Vance Joseph's decision was not nearly as bad as Greg Williams' decision. Greg Williams has felt like bad luck. In a one-point game that would have given him a four-point lead, that was an indefensible decision. I would agree. I think he narrowly avoided being crucified in Cleveland and losing any shot and maybe hanging on it.

He looked agitated at himself after he made it. But he always looked agitated. No, I know. I mean, I don't know if he was thinking, here's what I'm going to do. do, I'm going to nullify like this penalty. I think it just was bad timing and a bad idea and it came together to be, you know, near disaster. One of our big takeaways, both Vance Joseph and Greg Williams, maybe not the future of the head

coaching position. No, but the future is right in Cleveland. What do you do with Vance Joseph, too? Because on one hand, it's and Kiskeenum, who served up two awful interceptions and was pretty poor for the second straight week. He's playing without, like, his top players, they're missing offensive linemen. And on some level, it made me realize, like, the Browns would be a fun six-seed, but they're not ready.

I don't think they go on the road and win a playoff game by any means if you can't do better against this Broncos team. But it's like, does anyone think Vance Joseph's going to be a better coach next year? No. No, I think he's probably one of those guys who could slide on the list of firing watch late and end up losing his job. Well, there's four or five games that stand out where Vance Joseph decisions hurt his team. And you can't be one.

Not everyone can be Bill Belichick, you can't be one of those coaches that's costing your team. every other week or every week sometimes. And the Browns are 6, 7, and 1. No playoffs, but this is... Mathematically still alive. Season of progress. Oh. There you go.

Oh, that's right. Oh. How many in a row, Mark? Don't want to sleep on this. Eight in a row. Eight straight. And how are you... I know that you and Dan got to a local watering hole

to watch the Jets Browns double header a day that Lakeisha, the paramour described as, what a cute date for them, right? It was a cute day, but by the end, that's a long day. So I'm just curious, how are you doing by the end of that day?

Oh, we were, we were in great spirits. And I can assess that, you know, the royal way being used. Well, we actually, it wasn't just a date. It was we had a, it was Henry, handsome Hank showed up too, and he helped grease. And young Jack, Jack Hansus was in a...

We had a child there, which seemed like a responsible move for what we were up to. Yeah. It was fun. It was a glorious day. You know, speaking... Watch the game with my children at the end.

Speaking of children, as your car burned down to the ground, about four hours away across the state of Ohio, I was struggling to hold my head up as a newborn. Yeah, I get it. I'm not claiming to be... I feel 21 inside, but I am not 21. Nick? At all.

Nick, as a Browns fan, I know you're feeling good, too. So get to that gym and use the 2019 season when you go 12 and 4 as motivation. The slim playoff hope endorphins will power this right now. As for Mark, well done. You really tiptoed around the events of last night. Yeah. I mean, there's also like some Instagram stories that would suggest exactly what was happening. We have some missing clothing items, a pair of bifocals.

Oh, I lost my, yeah, I lost my glasses, which I lost previously on a road trip to Houston with John Gonzalez. And so, again, you know, I cannot go to the Super Bowl. I won't even be able to see the field without these. So called Rockos this place, and the guy is like, Do they have them? Hey, we're too busy. We've got a full slate of games here. Call back tomorrow during, like, Monday afternoon.

It's like, I. As he crushes your glasses and his hands. All right, let's check in with another other Saturday game. Fakes the handoff, throwing left side wants, DeAndre Hopkins, and Newk with the TD catch. Oh, my goodness. He hauls it in. Shake it up as he hits the ground.

What a grab by Hopkins. Another. Masterpiece. Mark Vandemir, Kilt with the call. DeAndre Hopkins was the entire Texans' offense. At least that's what it felt like on Saturday at the Meadowlands. Going off for 10-170 and two TDs, including that go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. 2922, the Texans hold off the Jets.

The Texans can clinch the AFC South with a win next week in Philly or some losses with other teams in the mix in the AFC South. the Titans and Colts. This was a game when Houston jumped out to a 16-3 lead. And like I said on Thursday, I was excited to watch a jet game and, you know, have a couple Tidos and enjoy myself. And then it's 16-3 and it's like, oh, so is this going to be a 34 to 6 loss? And Sam Darnold gets his ass handed to him. But then a very exciting thing happened.

Darnold got hot and I thought this was one of Sam Darnold's best games. not his best game as a jet, and he led the team on multiple scoring drives and just looked like a guy that's just begging for a better surrounding talent. And if he gets that, I really feel confident that this guy is going to be a legit franchise starter. So this, the foot injury that cost him three weeks, he's come back with two back-to-back, really quality games. And I'm feeling good that he comes out and finishes strong, Wes. I know you, you like the way he played as well. I did, and it feels like he's got a lot on his shoulders. It almost feels like the play breaks down, and he's running the offense,

not the offensive coordinator, which I give him a lot of credit for that. And I know you want to see the Jets win, but this is best case scenario that Darnold plays enough two straight weeks that you really confident in him, and the Jets move ahead of the 49ers in the draft order because they lost in the 49ers won. That time off for him might have been a positive to take a kind of a blow in the middle of the season,

figure out some things that have gone wrong because he looked awesome yesterday. I mean, I know a lot of it was second reaction plays and you can't count on that every week. But for it to be pulling out, I thought that was his best game of the year by a decent amount, and it was really fun to watch. And there is, there is no doubt

that the S. darn nickname has taken off officially. There was a lot of heat around that. And I think it's playfully, it's just the right kind of nickname for him because it's so versatile. and I would say let's continue to I'm with you. I love Eston.

We'd be remiss not to mention Newk going 10 for 170 and 2. To me he, if a receiver should, he's the most valuable receiver. I'm putting him in my top five of the MVP candidacy. To me, their whole team falls apart without DeAndre Hopkins and this was another reason why.

You watched this game and you didn't think these two teams were that different. The Texans just have these superstars kind of propping them up and Newk to me is at the top of that list. That's a good way to put it because Deshawn Watson made big plays when it mattered. Hopkins is such a valuable, studly playmaker. J.J. Watt had two and a half sacks.

Clownie made some big plays in this game. But you also, you know, you kind of expect them to take care of business against the Jets team with a half-empty Meadowland Stadium. So I was kind of all in on the Texans earlier in the season. They're 10 and 4, and that's great. But do I think they're at the level of some of these other teams in the league? I don't think these other double-digit teams, I don't think so. that's fair they got a number two seed right now so if they can finish off that they're in philly

and then home to the jaguars it's a pretty good slate there win those two games and you're hosting a game in houston that's a tough place to play i think that they're a team i think home field advantage does mean a lot and all all credit given to nuke hopkins but he got a helpful assist from todd bolz who refused to ever double team the texans number one threat and tremay johnson who they gave a trillion dollars didn't even cover him for the large majority of snaps. They had Mo Claiborne on an island, and Mo Claiborne's a nice number two cornerback, but on an island against one of the top wide receivers in the game. Todd Bowles, please, please, go away.

How do you have a weak to scheme for this game? And that's what you come up with as your best plan for covering this dangerous wide receiver. I want Todd Bowles to have a happy life and to continue his professional career. But I'm just, I'm all set with Todd Bowles in my sphere of hand. I think you're getting your wish here. And I, if I had to guess, I think they're going to go full house clean. And there's got to be a new personnel guy there in New York.

We shall see. Yeah, it feels 50-50 to me, but I would not be shocked. Let us move back to the Sunday action. Let's go. Luck out of the gun. Matt, too, is left as the running back. And they'll hand it off to Mack. He's at the five.

He's in the end zone. Touchdown. Marlon Mack, his second rushing touchdown today. That one from six yards away into pay dirt. And the Colts now lead it 16 to nothing. There you go. Matt Taylor with the call. So the Texans win.

The Colts trying to keep pace, trying to make it a race in the AFC South. Marlon Mack goes off for a career high. Buck 39, two touchdowns. And the Colts defense shut down the previously rolling Dallas Cowboys. Final score, 23 Zip in Lucas Oil Stadium. And the Colts have all the looks of the team you do not want to see on Wild Card Weekend, West. You're loving it. This Colts team, the defense has improved throughout the year.

I think the last five weeks, you should credit their cornerback trio for shutting wide receivers down. The last three weeks, they've been a downright dominant defense. Over the last past eight games, they are seven and one, allowing only 15 points per game and scoring 27.5 per game. This is a good team. And this was not your typical shutout. This is not what you think of about a shutout. The Cowboys came out their first three drives went 10 plays, 15 plays, 14 plays. first one, blocked field goal, second one, fullback Oluwale, dropped a touchdown.

Oh, terrible drop. And then Margus Hunt, Stonewalled Elliott in the backfield on fourth down. And then the third drive, Tyquan Lewis, rookie second round picks, Sack, Doc Prescott, forced him out of field goal range. And really, the Cowboys dominated time of possession in the first half, more than two to one. And the Colts just put it in the bank from there. They just, they leaned on the ball and took over from there.

But this, Danico Autry, another big game. Darius Leonard outplayed Leighton Vanderesh and the defensive rookie of the year battle. This Colts team is rolling pretty well right now. There was also a moment when they were down 17-0, trying to climb back in where Prescott hit Cole Beasley on a third down pass that would have been, it was second or third-down pass, would have been a first down, and it's called back by flag at end of that drive. It's like they could not get out of their own way,

despite being able to move the ball. Go ahead. I was just going to say the Cowboys made mistakes, and the Colts really didn't. The Colts played a very clean game, and they got big defensive efforts in key situations. I think they're just really well coached. I mean, I'm so impressed with Matt Iber Fluse,

just because he has... Talk about your assistant coach of the year, candidate. I think he should be one of them, because you looked at this roster going into the season, you said, who's an above-average starter on this defense? Maybe there's two. You know, Clayton Gether. and Jabal Sheard were maybe two that stuck out.

Very generous to Clayton. I guess. I mean, or whatever, Malik, I don't know. Like, when you were talking about their secondaries playing really well, that has stood out. Here's their secondary. It's Clayton Gathers, Malik Hooker, Kenny Moore, George Odom, and Pierre Desir. I mean, that's... Quincy Wilson.

Quincy Wilson, I think, yeah, Quincy Wilson as well. It's ridiculous that group, and then you have Sheard and Marguesson and Danico Atry, and then Anthony Walker's played pretty well next to Darius. I mean, it's just like a bunch of guys kind of... playing as one, very similar to the Cowboys, where they're not going to do much, not going to do a lot of blitzing, not going to show you too much, it's just like fundamental, let's tackle them, let's make plays in the red zone. One note, there is someone in the room that wrote an article in a July or so about why the

Indianapolis Colts will make the playoffs. Now I wrote one for every single team in the league along with Adam Rank, but nailed this one, nailed it and felt confident about it. What of my favorite running features in the history of this website? I mean, the thing is, I essentially predicted all 12. 12 playoff teams. Well, the great thing about it. You missed what, whatever the match.

We don't need to worry about that side of it, though. You can market it any way you want. 12-4-32 is not bad. You did such a good job with it, though. Adam Rect. I know you split it with RANK. Next year, do you go all 32 teams? You know, I feel like I did the Lord's Work with that series,

and I'm going to let someone else take that on next year, maybe Dan. I would love like a, no thanks. I would love like an analytics breakdown of you versus Rank who got more right. I mean, we were essentially just assigned them. So it wasn't even that we can't, you know, 12 for 12, baby. Go out on a limb and say the site does not need that article. Well, you take that up with someone else. That's not my call.

So that Jags Titans game could be a winning in Sunday night football, which is not what NBC wants probably. Jags Titans? I mean, Titans called, sorry. I will end it all. I think there's a better chance than not that that game is going to get flexed because it's really hard to see the Steelers and Ravens both winning. against the Saints and Chargers next week.

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Control Center by Kavo, one remote that does it all. Gives it to Henry to the right. Nice cut. He goes in standing up. Touchdown. Titans. Derek Henry, with two on the day, 11 on the campaign. Another one of my favorites.

Mike Keith with the call, Titans Radio. Derek Henry had a second straight big game. Career high, 33 carries. That's big boy work for buck 70 and two touchdowns. The surging titoons ended the Giants' playoff hopes with a 17 to nil win at the rainy, generally miserable medal ends. which they pulled off a nice feet there, that facility in North Jersey.

They played host to two home teams that lost this weekend in the NFL. Tough year for New York football. It's hard to do that. Yeah. Anyway, how did the Titans win? Like the two New York teams combined don't have the wins that either L.A. team have.

Yeah. Eat it East Coast. Okay. We're the home of football. Okay. Slightly aggressive. And you're not true West Coaster. Don't try to, you know, say.

I say home is where you are. You're a no bad. I feel like... Home is where you are, and I'm at home in L.A. after five years. What if you're kidnapped by Russians, Greg? I love the West Coast. It's like central Moscow.

I chose them up here. So did you guys. So how did the Titans win? I don't know. Greg, turning into a different conversation. I love it out here as well. That is not what the question is. It's about loyalty.

It's home. I mean, what agenda are you driving? driving here. It's undetectable. I cannot figure out what the point here is. How did the Titans win? They shut down Saquan Barkley, who did nothing. They benefited, obviously, from the absence of Odell Beckham. The Giants passing offense did nothing. And in fact, the Giants, on the day where we got a report, I believe from Rapsheet, that the Giants were leaning toward Roland with Eli in 2019. They just had 260 yards of total offense. So the dream is over for Big Blue. West can sleep easily tonight.

I was sleeping just fine and dandy. And the Titans, they won three straight. So they are once again, it's been a topsy-turvy season for them, but they once again have themselves in good position if they could close strong. All they have to do, Wes, is avoid those pitfalls that haunt this franchise where they suck people in and then lay a stinker, and it's always possible. Well, despite Greg's best efforts to prop up the Redskins as some kind of dangerous team. What?

How I said was there half a game out of that way to come back? Why does it even matter if they're half a game? They're not a real team. Well, you told me the Titan season was over, too, three weeks ago, and we pointed at the schedule, and sometimes the schedule matters. And you don't have to be a great team to beat the Giants or beat bad team. Okay, so in order to satisfy Greg, yes, there is a mathematical chance that the Redskins pull off and upset next week.

But really, as far as analysis goes, the Titans are a much better team than the Redskins with their third string quarterback. So this should be an easy victory for the Titans next week. I think that they're doing what works for them right now. And I don't know if it can last. I don't know how much I trust them, but you've won a game 17-0-0 on a day when your quarterback threw for 88 yards.

It was, I cannot, I can't stress this enough. The weather. One of those awful Northeast December games where it was a constant, and imagine you went to that game as a Giants fan. There was a constant downpour with swirling wins. And the way to win this game was to get on Derek Henry's back because, I mean, I know this guy's kind of been hit and miss in his career, but for the second straight week he looked like a guy that you could win playoff games with

and with his ability to run through arm tackles to chew up yardage to get first downs to control the clock and this game wasn't as outrageous we went for 238 and four last week but this one was the game that they really needed in these conditions and that's a guy that you can get behind I mean he's think how much money he has made fantasy league owners I mean going 170 and 2 if you went into your, you know, semi-final today, you got Derek Henry, the other guy got Sequin Barkley, you just put a hammer on him. And nobody feels bad for you if you left Henry on the bench last week, and that was understandable.

But if you then left him on the bench again against a bad Giants team, we do not care. In fact, we don't care either way, but I really don't have sympathy. I absolutely don't know. And I'm usually not the anti-fantasy guy, and maybe because my season's already over in my fantasy league. But all the millennials in the newsroom today jumping up. You mentioned that three separate times. I was like, that's normally coming out of my mouth.

Yeah, very rarely does it kind of get on my grid. But, like, there's a big football game going on between the Steelers and Patriots, and people are going nuts about whatever... Doug Baldwin. Yeah, Doug Baldwin found the end zone. Are the Giants officially eliminated? Yes, they are.

So their percentage went from, like, 0.7 to 0. It did very quickly. You can't mock the Giants. The Packers are in the same situation virtually. Sure, but they're 5 and 9, and they were lucky. Not lucky, but they didn't look like a team. that was going to go on a run, did they? Hey, it's a sad day.

Same amount of wins as Green Bay. I'm looking forward to reading how the New York media handles this devastating loss to their playoff chances. I guess the weather was rough, but they've got to get some sort of passing game. The Marioada and the passing game is going in the wrong direction. Keep this game out of January football. Please.

Colts will take care of them. Let's move up. Here's a toss sweep. Mixing with blockers in front. Go, Joe. The 10. The 5 to the pylon. Touchdown.

Down, Bengals, as Joe Mixon sprints 15 yards for what could be a clinching touchdown. Dan Hort, Bengals Radio Network with the call. Joe Mixon continues to get the job done. He went for 27 for 129 and two touchdowns, and that was all you needed. Even with Jeff Driscoll at quarterback, they take care of business, 30 to. 16 over the Raiders with fall for 3 and 11 and they continue to surge toward the number one overall pick. Wes, Mixing, it's been a quiet breakout season for that gentleman. I'm not saying he's Zeke Elliott, Todd Gurley, or Sequin Barclay, but he's in the next tier

down from them. It's been a legitimate breakout year. We've been saying it since week one. He looks explosive. He's cutting well. He's taking 30 touches today for 130 yards and a couple of scores, and he is the focal point of their offense, I think, going forward into next year. Tyler Boyd is the other breakout guy this year, and he left with a knee injury, didn't play the rest of the game, but did say afterwards that he should be okay for next week. They're really banged up. I would ask you this, like, because maybe not everyone's monitoring the Bengals heavily at this point.

Jeff Driscoll, Andy Dalton, do you see a major falloff from one to the other? Yes. Andy Dalton's a much better court. I mean, we don't. I'm just asking us I don't have a lot of respect in this room, but he's about the 18th or 20th best quarterback in the NFL. We have covered that, actually. If not a little bit better.

And Jeff Driscoll's just not even close to him. Last week, my scouting evaluation was I. Driscoll, though, going sub-50% completion 3.9 yards per attempt against the Raiders. It was a bad performance by Driscoll. And that ends a five-game losing streak for the Bengals and Marvin Lewis, who maybe coached his final home game in Cincinnati, but we'll believe it when we say. Their defense is a little bit better.

Two weeks in a row, they've played pretty good, but the Raiders aren't really a stiff test either. Gino Atkins had three more sacks, so he's back in double digits again. Raiders are just seeing if they can mess up to one seat at this point. If you're a Raiders fan, you've got to feel a mixed feelings with these games. Let's move up. There's a snap, balled out by Pinyon, kick on the way by Robbie Gold. It is good, and the 49ers beat the Seahawks.

Yes, it's about time. Ted Robinson. Ooh, jaunty. KNBR with the call. You love these guys that have been calling the games forever. And even though these teams might not matter, the games matter when you're this close to the team. That's what you heard in Ted Robinson's voice there.

Robbie Gold kicked a 36-yarder with 306 to play in overtime. And the Niners snap a 10-game losing streak against the Seahawks. A 26-23 win on Sunday. And, Wes, we've talked about how the Seahawks seem pretty locked in. where they're going to be in the playoffs. But still, you do not want to go to San Francisco and lose this game. It, like, deflates you a little bit. Seattle's done this, I think, in four of the past five years in December,

where they lay an egg against a division opponent that's not really good. And that happened again today. I think Nick Mollins is probably a little bit better than we thought at first. I think he's all right. Like, when I first watched him, I thought, okay, if he stays with a Shanahan, And if he stays with some kind of Shanahan offense, he can be pretty good, but I didn't think he had the size or the arm strength. And now I think he has total control of this offense.

He grasps it very well. He's a very accurate quarterback. He took a ton of hits, and I worry how many hits he can take because he's not a big guy. And he also missed a couple. He probably left 100 yards and a touchdown on the field on two throws to George Kittle that he missed. But he had this team moving up and down the field. and a lot of that is Kyle Shanahan

just being one of the best schemers out there. And, you know, obviously this has not been a very good season for San Francisco and the Garoppolo injury was devastating and you hope he's back to full strength next year. But Mullins gives you, if nothing else, you learn this year that you have a very good solid backup quarterback. In a year where they've played their second and third string quarterbacks most of the year, they entered this game sixth in the NFL in big plays.

I think you can see his improvement too, Mullins, over the last few weeks that he's getting better. He's like earned himself a lot of years in the league as a back. I mean, as long as Kyle Shanahan's around, he can just. He's pulling a Colt McCoy. Just hang out. Have a big game every couple of years. At worst, who knows, he's a rookie.

I mean, you have CJ Beth or two. Could you ever see someone falling for the Nick Mullins mystique and trading? I'm not saying you're trading much for him, but they try to get him out of the nineer system onto your own roster? I think it would have to be somebody who runs a similar offense to Kyle Shanahan. Allens for Mayfield, straight up. Who says no? Do it.

It's a tough loss, though, because the Seahawks play the Chiefs next week, and they still want to clinch that five spot, which in theory will go against the Cowboys instead of the Bears. And you just want to get in. I mean, you can't count on anything necessarily if you're the Seahawks. You get Doug Baldwin back today who looked good. But it's kind of like the Cowboys, and the first half of the Cowboys game reminded me of this,

the style that they play invites these close games sometimes. They don't necessarily score as much as you feel like they should based on how well they move the ball, and that's what happened. I think it's a big deal if you have to face the Bears in Chicago instead of the Cowboys in Dallas. If they don't have a franchise record for penalty yards in a game, they probably win this game. But they had 148 yards in penalties. And they lost because of it. Let us move on. Here's the snap. Alan takes a look, standing in the pocket, fires it downfield, looking for Foster makes a catch at the

Heading into the end zone, and he is in. Touchdown! Touchdown! 42 yards! Robert Foster makes the catch at the five and scoots into the end zone. Touchdown Buffalo. That's what I'm talking about. John Murphy of WGR.

He doesn't care if the bills stink. That's an exciting football play, and he called it. Josh Allen, 42-yard touchdown pass to Robert Foster. Early in the fourth quarter, the Bills rally back. 14-13 win. Over the Lions, Detroit. Well, not this isn't going to surprise anybody, but they're not going to the playoffs.

They're officially eliminated with his defeat. Greg, this sounds like a positive performance for Josh Allen, who made some big plays and did not turn the ball over. Yeah, more of the same, where he made enough really nice throws, or at least a sprinkling of them, to get them a win on a day where their defense played well, where they were on their fourth string running back. Keith Ford, who also was in and out of the game,

himself with injuries after they lost their starter. And his leading three receivers are Robert Foster, Isaiah McKenzie, and Jason Kroom. And you just won an NFL game. I don't know. I almost feel like Sean McDermen is trying to... How that happens, but it happens. It's almost like McDermis trying to tell everyone I can field

essentially a vastly no-name offense and still win games. It's like this is one of the most no-name offenses I've ever seen in my entire line. Right, an injury play. Robert Foster, though, I do think you're hoping if you're the bills. find some things at the end of this year. Robert Foster, to me, has popped the last few weeks and the big plays that he makes. He's an undrafted rookie from Alabama who now has more yards this season in the NFL than he had in all four years at Alabama combined.

He was like a huge five-star recruit that was all hyped up, couldn't get his act together in college, but I don't know. He looks like they found something. I'd love to know how many guys in the history of the league got promoted off the practice squad and then had three 100-yard games in their first. five games played. That's pretty good. Yep, and part of its opportunity, you're not buried behind anyone because there's no one,

there's no one else there. Anybody pops like that touchdown play, he's explosive and you can see it. He's been a nice, a nice combo with that one. Matt Prater misses a 48-yarder that could have given the lines the win in the fourth quarter, and it's just, you know, more of the same in Detroit. Another, not only a loss season, but just kind of a blah season. Well, and this is one year, this year stands out as a year where there's a bit of a changing of the guard happening, number one.

There's a lot of new young quarterbacks that are putting their stamp on their offenses and their teams. And a lot of attacks that are flexible enough to change midseason and change their fortunes. And the Lions remain stuck in the mud, looking vastly like they have. Kooter, a lot of credit for what he was able to do once he took over. I guess it was a year and a half ago, something like that. But I don't know if that's stalled out or if now he's in danger. I think he's in danger. I think he's in big time danger.

If you're a Lions fan, I feel for you because I also root for a team that seems perpetually stuck in the mud. And it just there's no pop. And the only thing that makes them a strange team, and we'll have plenty of time to talk about this, is that they have ostensibly a franchise quarterback behind center. Yeah. And these years just continue to pass them by. A guy who seemed to improve the last two years to be this steady sort of top 10 quarterback. And this year, taking a big step back. And it's hard to say how much of it's him, how much of it's the offense, and how much of it is all the injuries they've had.

on that off. The whole offense is throwing up jump balls to Kenny Goladay, and I don't know if there's anyone better at it right now other than Newk Hopkins. He had two more today that were just amazing on Tradavius White. He's a special player. All right, let's move up. Here's the snap to Rosen, quick throw, batted in the air and intercepted

Dion Jones. 20, 15, 10, 5, touchdown Atlanta, 41 yards to the house for Dion Jones off the Vic Beasley deplexion. he's back west turn of falcons radio network with the call beyond jones who was badly missed in Atlanta during a lengthy absence of season

returned in an interception for a score the falcons win for the first time in a month 40 to 14 over the helpless Arizona Cardinals Atlanta's beleaguered defense force three turnovers and sack Josh Rosen seven times mark Josh Rosen start here he's in an impossible spot

He is because where you see some rookies, and I think that Darnold is someone who needs a coach, new coaching staff around him, but he's continuing to, as Wes mentioned, almost just take the offense on his shoulders and make progress. It's just not possible for Josh Rosen. And I give him a free pass on this season because you're playing behind an awful offensive line.

He takes some of the worst hits you see week after week. He also throws a couple terrible passes each week that generate typically turnovers, and a couple super pretty ones too, where you see the possibilities with him. But this is one of the teams that I feel like coaching-wise, there's just simply no vision on either side of the ball. And I don't wish anyone to lose the job.

But if you're Steve Wilkes, you have to, what is your argument to go into year two or year three of this experiment? I don't understand what they're doing that he's pushing for that they're succeeding at at all. And the Falcons just put them on it. The Falcons like the Vikings where they've not been able to run the ball and their offense has been, you know, anemic. They got it today with Taven Coleman.

He had a 65-yard run to set up a field goal, had a 43-yard touchdown run, and then had a 44-yard touchdown run that was called back. I mean, he got it done for them. Where has this been all season? I don't know. I think it's because you're playing a lost-at-C team as well. But they did what they needed to,

and, you know, when you're going to go notch a bunch of turnovers, get a pick-six, the game just kind of streaked the way it did to a 44. I don't know why we're burying this game at the end. It was such an exciting affair. I mean, you're giving it appropriate love. I'm just saying, I mean, I was captivated by it, and it reminded me why I chose this line of work. I mean, it was just a fascinating way to space spent Sunday afternoon.

I think one of the things that bothers me about Steve Wilkes the most is his repeated insistence in the offseason that the offensive line was the strength of his team. And granted, they have been injured. Every starting offensive lineman has been injured on this team. But even before they were injured, this was a terrible offensive line. I just, that worries me that he thought this was the strength of his team.

And when Byron Leftwich took over as the O.C. Midway through the season, David Johnson started looking like David Johnson again. And I know he had a couple impact plays in this game, but his numbers week after week, he's not producing. So when you take him out of the mix as a productive player, you're kind of hanging Rosen out to dry. Yep. And I should mention that, like, Rosen was essentially mercy benched

by the end of this game from Mike Lennon because it's like, how much to rest do you want to put a first-year quarterback through when there's no stakes attached to the season at this state? Well, Glennon went 10 of 14, 111 yards, and a touchdown, so he should be signed for about $17 million. Oh, he's got some cash coming as well. Hey, still in search of the perfect holiday gift? Yes.

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And on to Sunday night. Kansas team that has had so much adversity this season, rejoice with a win. God, here comes the rush. They're coming in. He is firing incomplete. Incomplete! The game is over.

The Eagles win. Intended for Reynolds. The Eagles win. The Eagles win. They have upset the Rams. Yes, on the final play of the game, Jared Gough sails at high to Josh Reynolds. Incomplete, game over. Philadelphia Eagles, shock.

Los Angeles Rams 30 to 23 at the Coliseum. And whoa, the Rams fall to 11 and 3 and their hopes to be the number one seat in the NFC, all but evaporate. And for the Eagles, Mark Sessler, pulled a 7-and-7. They are in the middle of the hunt now in the playoffs, even in their own division with the Cowboys losing this week. What a huge win and what an unlikely performance by a Philly team. A lot of people wrote off.

And it just tells me that all they really needed to do all along was to get Carson Wentz out of the picture. Plug Nick Foles back in there and just get back on this magic carpet ride. They're back alive. They've got games remaining. a manageable slate against the Texans and Redskins. I was going to help you out, but you got it. I was waiting for my page turn on it.

That Texans game is big. That's suddenly one of the biggest games in week 16 because with the Redskins and Josh Johnson sitting there in week 17, and you think, well, if the Eagles could find a way to beat Houston, there's a real chance that they get back into the play. Obviously, Houston's fighting for a bite. This is one of the most surprising results of the season.

Just because this Eagles team, to me, had looked so dead. And Foles did play really well in spurts in this game. He had some beautiful throws in the first half. But when it started falling apart for them in the fourth quarter, you kind of felt like it was going to be another Eagles collapse and it didn't happen. Got to be worried about the Rams a little bit. Are they that classic team that does peak too soon? And there's so much, they're still, even with two straight losses now,

still in great position. They could still get a buy and still be a team to be reckoned with in the NFC playoffs come January. But they really, Wes, have not been the same team since that incredible double 50 burger shootout. They went into their buy. And the team that's come out, especially on offense, is just not the same team. Well, their quarterback is in a deep slump. This is now three games. And golf did not play well again. He missed some easy throws. He looks a little spooked in the pocket. And he's not playing well at all. I mean, the last play was, I think, fitting. How do you not give, he made the right call.

Blitz is coming from that side. You got one-on-one coverage. You throw it to the outside there and let Josh Reynolds try to make a play on Avanti Maddox, and you sail it. You don't even give him a chance to me. That's unforgivable. And he had some throws like that,

and I think part of it is that the line has not played well over the last three weeks. The lions pushed around the offensive line of the Rams. The Bears certainly did. And for much of this game, Fletcher Cox, was the most impactful defensive lineman in the game, not Aaron Donald. The entire game was a disappointment for the Rams, but it was almost a microcosm in the last three minutes of the game. They get set up really well after a stop. They're down seven and then Jojo Nats and Muff's a punt, Jets Legend, Jojo Natson, and Muffs a punt, that that goes up in smoke.

They get the three out, three and out, and then a missed field goal attempt by the Eagles, gives them new life again. And that didn't even that last drive. And maybe this is a team that too much has gone well for them over the last three months where a little bit of adversity is not, they're not handling it too well. You have, who was it? It was Todd Gurley second, Gerald Everett first, staying in bounds when they did not have any timeouts.

And that cost them, the two of those plays combined, probably half a minute that they could not afford to give up, which led to the desperate last second throw that fell incomplete. It felt like Everett did that on two drives in a row. he didn't get out of bounds. One thing working against the Eagles right now is it's very likely the Bears are going to have nothing to play for in week 17. And they go to Minnesota for that game.

Yeah, that's... Could they sit players? You're right. There's a few things that would have to happen. Even with the Rams losing here? Well, the Rams get the Cardinals and 49ers in the next two weeks. I'm not sure if that's the order that they get them in. It is.

But they just need to win those two games. And but now that they're only one back, you're right. Actually, they should go into week 17 with the chance. The bear should be playing, you know, to win that game in week 17 just because they have the tiebreaker over the Rams, and it opened up at least a slight possibility. If the Rams lost to the 49ers, who are playing a little better lately, you know, they beat the Broncos and the Seahawks.

Nick Mullen's the God. That game, that game means a little something. Well, then strike what I said. The Bears do have something to play. The Rams ever go from that high they were on after the Chief's classic shootout to falling out of a buy would be a stunning free fall and would make you wonder if that team is long for the playoffs.

But you never know, and you never know what the Eagles even. I mean, look at the last year's team with Nick Foles goes and it gets hot. I mean, the fact that lightning could strike twice, probably not. But if you're an Eagles fan now, the season that felt all but over after that Cowboys lost, all of a sudden, like, wait a second. We got Nick Falls back in the lineup. We got a big win. Things are getting weird in the NFC.

What else can you ask for? It's crazy because they're so short-handed. You know, they're so banged up. Is Doug Peterson a good coach again? Somebody update me, please. Well, this isn't a good team. I think he's been fine all along. This has been a, they're a 7-7 team that's looked like it from day one.

I think they've been almost one of the more consistent teams in the league, consistently middle of the pack. But, yeah, you went. This was the first game. This might have been the most impressive game the Eagles had all season, right? Oh, it's got to be. On the road. And so, and I know, and I don't, I know you were joking around about, you know, taking Carson Wentz out and Foles and all that.

I wasn't kidding. Mark, you weren't kidding. Well, there is going to be some hot takes, you know, about Foles. I thought he did come out. They came out with some fire, and he came out throwing the ball well, which he wasn't early in the year. And so you've seen Nick Foles get hot. Can he get hot for a couple more games?

No. The Eagles are going to win the NFC East. Stop. Take a rocket ride. I think the magic number for the Cowboys, though, is one. So all they need is one eagles lost or one, you know, they lost one time in the last six weeks. Yeah, they just eat. And they host the bucks.

I do not think the NFC East is two up for grabs. But that wild card, only half a game out, that's, that's tasty. Wild, the Eagles alive and well. How about that? All right. That's it for our Sunday night flagship program the next time you see slash hear us. We have our Twitter show on Tuesday at 4.30 Eastern, 1.30 Pacific. And then Wednesdays the next time you'll hear our beautiful audio podcast award-winning universally beloved podcast that you're listening to right now.

So thank you, everybody, for your support as we head toward the home stretch. This is Dan Hansis signing up for Quiet Storm, the mailman, the old boss, Ricky Hollywood, behind. the class. We already see a hot take. Eagles better with the ball as a quarterback. Till Tuesday. Come on, Damien.

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