NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2018 Week 16 Recap!

Episode Date: December 24, 2018

In a room filled with heroes – Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler and Chris Wesseling – react to a rowdy Week 16 of NFL action, including – the Saints secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC after silencing the Steelers (2:30), Jake Elliott lifts Philly to their eighth win of the season and keeps their post season hopes alive (8:30), John Harbaugh’s contract extension was warranted after crushing the Chargers (14:20), is New England’s dynasty on the decline (?), even so, 10-consecutive division titles is unreal (30:00), the Titoons wallop Washington, but the make-it-or-break-it game is on the horizon (36:50), Cousins three touchdown performance is more than enough to down Detroit (47:00), Dallas clinches the NFC East by toppling Tampa (50:30), the Rams return to their winning ways (55:30) and Nick at Nite should have ran (59:15)! Lastly, Mahomes’ magic wasn’t enough to snuff the Seahawks on SNF (1:15:00)!Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast now has its best producer. Interesting. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis. I'm joined in a room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal. What is up, boys?

Hey, Dan. Love it. Behind the glass, a little heat. Cam, Moline. Filling in, the notorious C-A-M filling in for Erica Montosi. What's her name? Tamposi. Excuse me?

Is that the old right fielder for the Dodgers? Erica. She's been gone for like 70 hours and we've forgotten her name. Is that how this works? And immediately, Cam makes a bold move there. What I love is Cam, he's like, guys, like, oh, there's no December folder for, like, the money drops. Let me just see if I can find one that might fit the bill and then he drops like a nuclear bomb on Erica. That was all set up.

It was a power move in essence, yeah. All right. Welcome, Cam. Welcome everybody listening. It is late Sunday night, week 16, another action-packed week in the NFL, some good games on Saturday, some great games on Sunday. And we're going to get to all of them because we are, Greg. Now inside of two weeks, Greg. We're completest.

You've got to do every game. We're inside of two weeks before. the premiere of the masked singer only on Fox. All this just to lead up to that. The games do feel bigger this time of year, but I think that's mostly because the Masked Singer is so close.

Yeah, the calendar is moving so slow, but it's because we're just trying to get to that debut of the Masked Singer. The way they've crafted those commercials to give you a little bit more of a sneak peek about what the show's about with each week. It's just like, oh, get here Sunday, get here again. All right, we're going to dig into all the games.

Wes, any thoughts on Wes? doing some stuff. He spilled some apple juice on his laptop today, so you can tell he's in a little bit of an existential funk. Well, I honestly have, that's the first time I've heard of the mass singer. No. It is. I've been talking about it for three weeks. I have not heard of

the mass singer. About 5,000 commercials, Wes, over the course of the last month and a half. My mind really wanders when it's commercial time. All right, well, you'll be sitting with me in my living room. On January 3rd. heard on Fox. All right. We're going to get to all the games now.

So much to get to. We're excited. Let's start with a game that ranks up there. Some people might put it in the top 10 at the end of the season. But Greg, it's been such a big season. Maybe not. Either way. A great game.

Let's go to the Superdome. Rothersberger takes the snap, drops back, three-man rush, throws over the middle. That ball is caught across the 40-to-port guy. Ball is out. The ball is out. The ball is out. The sakes have recovered it. The ball is out.

ball is out shouting rankins grabs with his left rolls and punches it out with his right hand and the new orleans saints are going to win this one unbelievable play zach streep w w w l with the call yes juju smith schuster coughed up the football just as the Steelers were entering field goal range the most costly of several Steelers miscus down the stretch in a saints 38 38 21 28 win with the victory the saints moved to 13 and 2 they clinch home fielded throughout the NFC playoffs. The Steelers, meanwhile, go from first place in the AFC north to the outside looking in with a week to play.

They need a win and help to make the playoffs. Greg, we're going to get to the Saints in a moment, but let's start with the Steelers. They are hard to figure out. They are because they could be outside of the playoffs, and yet I think if you just watch them the last two weeks, you would think this is a team that could win the Super Bowl. I mean, they went to New Orleans. They outgained the Saints. supposedly the best home field advantage in the league

and they were rocking and they were in position to win this game despite turning the ball over two times on fumbles in the second half in the Saints territory despite failing on a fake punt with six minutes to go despite the officials giving seven points to the Saints early in that game because of a pass interference. They're a talented team that are fun to watch and that's why I think if you're a Steelers fan,

this one hurts about as much as any Tomlin regular season. season win because it feels like they're so close and yet there might be watching the playoffs it's insane i would have pushed that back even further than two weeks i think the whole season they've looked yeah and you know this team you're playing with fire scarecrow how many fourth quarters are you gonna blow broncos chargers raiders saints they they have to blame themselves that you know you can blame juju smith schuster for the fumble but all of those games that was a great play by Sheldon Rankins, which is kind of a fitting way for the Saints to win this, is they did get stops. And that's why people are killing Tomlin for the decision to do the fake punt.

I get it. But everyone failed at the end of this game. The defense had chances to close this game out. The Steelers got the ball back with 630 to go. They didn't pick up a first down. That's what forced the fake punt. When they got the ball back then, I'm thinking a good team here chews up three or four minutes of clock, maybe puts more points on the board. They couldn't do it. If there was one thing that I would argue that keeps it out of the top 10 games of the year, because for me it was one in almost every respect, except for the fact that the officials refused to get out of the narrative over and over, almost like if we hadn't heard from them in a long, decisive winding fashion in three or four minutes, they kind of pop back in and said,

hey, remember us, we're here, let us interfere with this game one more time and take it down a strange river. They essentially gifted in a lock for you, Mark, there. That's eight in a row, I believe. Nine. Nine. They essentially gifted the Steelers their first seven points, excuse me, gifted the Saints, their first seven points on a Phantom PI call on Joe Hayden on a fourth down call.

On a fourth down call, it was just a brutal call. And as the game went on, you could have pointed out, and I'm sure from both sides you could do this, a lot of suspect calls where you just want the rest to kind of take a step back, get out of the way, and they couldn't do that. But what I think about with this game, and again, the Saints, they took care of business in their building, but I do not think they're invincible.

I think they're showing signs that they can be beat by a team that knows how to close out a game. And the Steelers shrunk in the crucible here. When it mattered most, a Stephen Ridley fumble when they had a chance to go up either seven or ten, the fake punt call, which I thought was Tomlin getting a little antsy,

giving it to the fullback and fourth and five, not converting that. And then the juju fumble, just as they were reaching field goal range, that all happened in the final minutes of this game with the team season on the line, West. Teams that are real teams, that are playoff teams, that are Super Bowl teams, don't shrink like that. And all of that will serve to overshadow a great game from Ben Rothesberger, who was making some, really eye-turning throws down the stretch.

It was an incredible performance. I think, I mean, Antonio Brown's had a lot of great games. This one's up there, 14 for 185 and 2 in some of the plays that he made, including a try at a touchdown that ended up not count. because he was out of bounds. He was dominant. Schuster had over 100 yards. Rothlisberger played so well. The line was awesome. The Saints really struggled to get pressure consistently. I mean, this was a good Saints defense that the Steelers were going up and down the field for much of the game.

But in the end, in the fourth quarter, they had the ball three times. They didn't score any points. There was whispers downstairs. Oh, the Saints don't have as much to play for it. You heard that on the broadcast. Oh, the Steelers seemed for, especially during a period of the second half, seem to want this game more. I totally disagree. The Saints have now laid out the pathway to get to the Super Bowl by playing at home. And yes, they are not invincible, as you said, Dan. But I would much rather be in the NFC right now than in the AFC with some of these bizarre teams. Because I don't trust the Rams going to New Orleans. I don't trust the bears going to New Orleans. Cowboys, Seahawks, and Vikings, uh-uh. Like this is the team to beat. And they have found a way their slump was one loss to the Cowboys, some tight wins where they figure themselves out. And they often. They had their offense back today. It was back.

The running game still wasn't there. They need to get that. It was, but they have to feel better that they put 370 yards up. They moved it pretty well throughout the game. And Drew Breeze, again, made a number of plays where the Steelers got quick pressure, and he got the ball out of his hands so fast on some of those blitzes to keep drives alive. Like, that's why he's, if he's not the MVP, he's one of the top two in the league. He had another play where he threw a pass.

It got tipped high in the air. like it was going to get picked early on in the game, rushed up and knocked it down with his hand. Like, they wanted this game and they played that way. Let's check in with the defending champions in a game that had a lot of playoff ramifications. 35 yards for the win. Hold your breath. Spot it.

Kick up. It is gone. It's gone. The Eagles win. Last week's game was in Los Angeles. this one was strictly out of Hollywood. He had that in his mind. Cam, clip that off and send it to Erica when we figure out the top ten calls.

He could have gone Englewood than Hollywood? Oh, wait, I guess that's not. Merrill Reese, of course. The immortal Merrill Reese, WIP with the call. Jake Elliott kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired. The Eagles beat the Houston Texans 32 to 30. Their playoff hopes are alive entering week 17. Nick Foles, NFL superstar version, officially back.

BDN threw for a franchise record 471 and four touchdowns. Wes, you wanted the Eagles to die, but they won't. Credit to them for the game and Fools, who really, for the first half, had a really uneven performance, lost a fumble at his own five-yard line through an ugly interception, was off the mark on some throws, and even Eagles beat writers were saying, And despite the numbers, Fools is not playing well at all. But we've said many times on this podcast,

you judge quarterbacks on what they do on third and fourth downs in the red zone and close in late situations. And he nailed all three of those situations. He was money on third downs. He started the game 12 of 12 on third downs, was great in the red zone and, you know, took a blow from Debian Clowny in a two-minute drill, missed one play, came back in, and led them to the game-winning field goal.

So credit to Nick Fools, who, you know, has shown a penchant for showing up in big games. And so it goes that. And he got you, Wes. He got me. For the first time, you have fallen out of first place in the lock battle that Mark's feeling good about himself. Mark should be feeling good. That's not how I would advertise that.

There's a long way to tell the story. Well, you were definitely feeling good about yourself. I did not want to lose today's lock because of the Steelers. I am not a Steelers fan. You mentioned, you know, you're so full of it. No, I wanted to win the lock, too, but I honestly, like the Steelers were on my radar in that game, and I'm glad that the result was what it was. Sorry, not trying to be less than objective there, but I cannot help it.

Sit down. You mentioned coming up through in big spots like Foles, and I think of Vos and Jeffrey in the plays he made on the way to winning the Super Bowl. And the play that he made on 3rd and 10, which was a great play by Foles, to go leap up for that catch was one of the plays of this game. Foles hits Eerts later on that drive on third and long. This drive is already so epic. And it might be Foles's last moment in Philadelphia. And what a way to go out. And he said it was on his mind that that might have been his last game

in front of the home crowd there. It's so good they already did an oral history of this drive on some newspaper. Everybody's got to slow down to oral histories. Oral history of the drive that happened today? Yeah, the drive that wasn't possible. That is unnecessary. I mean, you walked around the locker room and he did it. How about an oral history about how there are too many oral histories?

I like that. No, that's the last role history we need. Sounds like a better concept than like you would actually want to read it. Did any team have a worse day than the Texans, though? Two injuries at cornerback and losing the buy and Demerius Thomas has an Achilles injury, according to Ian Rappaport. He had the dreaded towel over the head, and that tells you everything you need to know. Let's add more to this.

They were without three of their top four cornerbacks, all injured during this game, and that goes partially to why Fools have 470. yards and Yertz and Alshan Jeffrey and Darren Spruill's had a great game today too. Those guys weren't making plays earlier in the year, especially Jeffrey and Sprules. And now this offense is pretty loaded, but the Texans, in addition to all the bad things that you mentioned, they haven't run the ball for three weeks. And when we were starting to believe in this team, when they throttled the Browns and they beat the Titans on national TV, they haven't been that team since then.

They haven't been able to run the ball. They missed Lamar Miller, which I did not expect to say during portions of this season. I think their offensive line is not run blocking well, and they were run blocking for a while early. It seems fair. I mean, this had to be one of the best games from Deshawn Watson, who did a great job bringing them back. But you can't survive. I saw Seth Payne tweeted out. Over the last three weeks, Watson has 110 rushing yards.

The rest of the Texans running backs have 81 combined over three weeks. Their offense, I mean, they couldn't keep up with them. the Eagles firepower. In order for them to move the ball, the play had to break down, allowing Deshawn Watson to just improvise and make plays at that point. And we'll talk about the Cowboys later, but their win clinched the NFC East so the Eagles can't win their division. But if they win next week at Washington, coupled with Minnesota losing or tying or the Seahawks losing out, the Eagles can make the postseason. And the Texans did clinch a playoff spot today with that Steelers lost, but now they have to win against the Jaguards, the Texans, that is,

to hold on to that division. And I don't know. They're going to be under man. Bring Blake Bordles back to make it fun. This is not a gimmie game for the Texans, as underman as they are right now. Let us move on it. To the bizarre war cry for the story. You know, I don't care who wins or loses.

I root for the story. I feel like that's a... How about Blake Bortles coming in and... Like a mid-period Delaware album title, Bizarre War Cry. Let's move on. Rivers takes the snap. Pass across the middle, completes the gates at the 40-yard line,

and he'll be taken down, fumbles the ball, hits up. Tavon Young has the near sideline. Charger 40, 30, 20, 10, 5. Touchdown. Tavon Young. Let us dip into the first of two Saturday games. Jerry Sandusky with a call there.

Tavon Young, whooped up in Antonio Gates fumble and took it to the house. The dagger and the Ravens is 22 to 10 win over the Chargers. The win coupled with the Steelers lost in New Orleans, moves the Ravens into first place in the AFC North entering week 17. How about that, Grog? How about these Ravens who every week, like you keep hearing about how this isn't sustainable, the recipe doesn't work, but great teams, memorable teams take their fans for a ride.

and I think this Ravens team has been taking their fan base for a ride the last five or six weeks. It has been a blast to watch. I've never seen such an entertaining Ravens team. And they dominated in L.A., which they could be returning or they could wind up hosting the Chargers in two weeks if the seeds held as they are right now. And that's a matchup, Philip Rivers would not want to see because he had no idea where the pressure was coming from in that game. And the Chargers' offensive line had no ability to stop them whatsoever. it was a mass

disaster for all five of those offensive linemen. Pouncy and Sam Tevey were just getting thrown around by Terrell Suggs and Zadarius Smith and Michael Pierce and this Ravensteen, mostly because of the defense, is just dangerous. I don't know, I feel like we're going to be covering them in the super

Well, you know, it was a week ago that we were saying the Chargers were taking their fan base on this wonderful narrative ride and they had knocked off the Steelers and knocked off the Chiefs and here you are. The worst possible end for them would have to deal with the Ravens two times in three weeks? It was, they held the Chargers under 200 yards total offense.

That's the first time that's happened in four years. And Phil Rivers, who entered the game as a fringe MVP candidate, he looked like a dottering old man at times. He was confused. He was firing the ball into the turf. It was incredible to see that the Ravens could turn that charges offense into, you know, basically a bad Eli Manning game where the protection seizing him and he doesn't know how to move and he's just living, throwing the ball away to live for another down.

So you've got to give Baltimore a ton of credit for what they were able to do. I watched this game. It's been so long since I've been in this atmosphere at a neighborhood party with about eight other men in the room, average age probably 68 years old. And I was just shot. Was that an Elks party? You were bringing that average down, at least. Yeah, this is our neighborhood.

It's just a bunch of oldsters. But it, like, drove home how much every man thinks he's an expert about football? The comments during this game were just making me laugh. What were they? What comments did you have a problem with? It was like every, first of all, all the information is wrong. Yes. It's like how many, you know, from how many people the subhub sits, like the attendance.

It was all over the map from like 19,000 to 37,000. I mean, everything that anyone says is wrong. Les is hitting on something interesting. We cover professional football for a living. And because of that, we know a lot of the deed. that an average civilian football fan doesn't know because they have lives that don't revolve around professional football. And sometimes in these settings, you just at a certain point have to punt and just keep your mouth shut because you don't feel like correcting people every five minutes. Well, there's an interesting power play going on between the guys who really are like the alpha males in the room and they're really wrong.

And then the guys who are less alpha males and they're a little bit more right. And they just give way to the alpha. So the waterfall of humble brags there, by the way, about our careers and what we do. compared to these other men. Not really. It's just this is what we do. That's not what they do. If I walked into a wood shop and tried to be an expert on carving, not being in it.

Do any of them listen to this show? Because then when that little community chat board, it would be like, this West guy is no longer on the invite list. I don't think they know what podcasts are. Mark, Baltimore has won five of six now with Lamar Jackson as the starter. It makes total sense that they stuck with Lamar Jackson. It makes sense that Joe Flacco will be. elsewhere next year, but do you think that Lamar Jackson is a guy that can take this team on a deep

playoff run? Why not? Well, let's wait until someone figures out how to completely neutralize and take out what they do well, which is run the ball. Not quite as much against the Chargers yesterday, but not that far off and play defense in a way that totally stymies quarterbacks. The Chargers were four of 13 on third down. We have not seen that for them in weeks. They're great coaching staff. I think they're a tough team to prepare for on both sides. The defense especially, I mean, They're a defense-led team, but the run complements it. And I think they're tough to prepare for it. Because in this game where they really did everything possible to stop Lamar Jackson

and came up with a pretty good gameplay. He had one run in that entire game. You know what? They still ran for 159 yards, and they still outgained their opponent by 160. So what are you going to do then? If you are a fan of changing of the guard in the AFC, you want to see the Ravens. Go into New England if things stick the way they are.

This shakes out and just thump them. with about 40 minutes of possession and 250 yards on the ground and say, bye-bye, Grunk, have a nice time in the WWE. Bye-bye, Tom Brady. You ain't coming back either. You know what the Patriots, one area of insecurity is, too, playoff games against the Ravens. That's true.

Although right now, if the seeds help, they could be going back to Kansas City, but everyone should be afraid. I mean, they've got three tight ends on the field. They're taking it back to 1979, and their three tight ends are kind of dangerous in the running. It's all working. Lamar Jackson just got.

It is my favorite. John Harbaugh contract extension. It is my favorite. Yeah, we should mention that. Also, John Harbaugh got John Horbaugh. Right. We should mention. He did.

The Ravens announced before the game even happened that John Harbaugh will be back next year and they're going to work on an extension. And I think we're all in agreement in this room that it was always a bunch of poppycock that his job was in danger in the first place. I agree. He barely made it to this season. And the fact that even when they were slumping a little bit, this idea that he was a guy that was the problem. And you can join seven or eight other teams looking for a problem. brand new head coach in January. No, no, no.

Johnny makes sense. You might have had three teams in the AFC North trying to get John Harbaugh if he became available. I might give that coordinator of the year awarded Wink Martindale right now. See, I like you called him Wink. What about this Don stuff? He's in the mix.

Greg Roman. He's in the mix. Greg Roman. Come on. Some of this Don stuff has been on my radar with you. I mean, that's his actual name. How dare you call him by his name? Let's check in with some of our friends over at Lowe.

And did you know that Lowe's is the new home of Craftsman? Oh, yeah. So maybe our friends are actually Craftsman. And Lowe's is a location where you could find these products. Lowe's is the new go-to destination where we can explore the latest innovative craftsman products, including their new V-20 power tool battery platform. The Craftsman's V-20 cordless power tool lineup features a high-capacity lithium battery that's part of Craftsman's interchangeable battery system.

so it works with all the tools in their V-20 lineup, giving you the runtime you need and the power you deserve. Ooh, I like that. It's well put. Nice turn of phrase. Not to mention a longer cycle life resulting in an extended battery life. For the latest craftsman's craftsmend product updates, visit loos.com slash around. That's loose.com slash around.

Loz is the new home of craftsmen. In fact, somebody tweeted at me the other day that because of that ad read, they went out and got some craftsman products for dad. So there you go. It works, Craig. That's good. That lines the pockets of the NFL corporate layer of groups. We don't get anything.

We want our sponsors to do well. I mean, our listeners are some of the most affluent and intelligent people out there. Especially in the great state of Rhode Island. Danny Hill, play fake, dropping the throw. All right. Myers to the right side of all. Picked off. Telman Smith is going to walk it into the end zone of pick six for Talmud.

and Jacksonville has extended the lead at Hard Rock Stadium. Cam, you didn't listen to a Thursday show, did you? Never do. No, no. Missed out on it. He's got a little bit of the tampo seat edge to him once he gets in that seat. I think she's rubbed off on him a little bit. You're a little spicy, aren't you?

She's mean to me sometimes. Blake Bortles came off the bench late in the third quarter, and what did he do? He lifted the Jaguars, sparking the offense. as the Jags eliminate the dolphins from the mix. Goodbye. 17 to 7 win for the Jaguars. And Doug Marone, who looks like he will be keeping his job after all.

Good for Doug. Sorry, Mniche. Nick Shook now joins us. Merry Christmas to you, Nick. What did you do to Ely to get this game? This is the running theme. Hey, it's the holiday season, Shook, but it's also Bordal season. S-Z-N.

That's what the kids do. Well, I mean, it is the holidays, right? Yep. Yeah, and Merry Christmas to you as well. Thanks, bro. Thank you for saying that. This is a Jaguars team that today came into this game and played defense pretty well, and then also decided to play a juggling act of sorts with its quarterback because Cody Kessler got hurt.

Blake Bortles came in and said, according to a reporter from ESPN's tweet, he entered the huddle and said, let's go, boys, I'm back. They love it. Saddle up, Blake. Blake Bortle's telling his own redemption tale on this field today. Didn't do much statistically, but didn't screw up like he had in the many times before. And that was enough for the Jaguars who got to go ahead, field goal late, and then got a defensive score, which really put this game on ice.

And another game that makes you wonder, what's going to happen in January in Miami? Well, there's whispers. There won't be football. We know that. No, that's typical. It's basketball. It will be dark. Some baseball.

There are some whispers that Adam Gase, who I presumed would have stuck a around that maybe that's not totally the case. That they may blow it up. The Miami Herald is reporting that Mike Tannenbaum is in more trouble than anyone else. And this is, yeah, these are two teams where, and I know our guy Ian Rappaport reported Doug Marone's expected to stay, but this is the time of year where a couple weeks out, some of these expected two reports, you never know, like there are a lot of X factors that could change that.

And I feel like Miami, anything could happen there. And the one thing I think Stephen Ross, their owner, has consistently made a mistake is that he makes change his piecemeal. Okay, let's get a GM, but keep the coach. Then let's get a new top guy in Tannenbaum, but keep the GM. Then let's get rid of that GM, bring in another

and bring in the coat. And it's like, no, do it all at once if you're going to do it. The dolphins are 7 and 8, so the best they can do is finish 500, which on Thursday we talked about how they have been the definitive 500 franchise in football for years now. They missed the playoffs for the 15th time in 17 years. They'll finish it

500 or worse for the night time in the past 10 seasons. So they have their own problems. The Jags 5 and 10 in a lost season. Let us move up. Play fake by Ryan. He's going to take the deep shot and wide open is Ridley 35 30 Calvin 2015. Reed to beat at the five touchdown Atlanta. One swing in 75 yards. Matt Ryan to the rookie Calvin Ridley. West Durham. Love that perfect voice for the Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan through for 239 and three scores, including that long strike to Calvin Ridley. Remember him? As the Atlanta Falcons cruised to a 24-10 win over the rival, Carolina Panthers,

at seven straight losses for Carolina, which did not get a spark in the first career start from Taylor Heineke. Shook, what should we take out of a battle of two disappointing all serrans? You deserve better than these games, Nick Schro. I'm going to keep you on for another game, Jess. It's like, hey, we've got a dud of a game pretty early. in the show. It must be Nick Shooktai. Hey, it's the cross I bear.

Taylor Hineke got hurt early, and he had been off to a semi-decent start, and it kind of plagued him from there. This was a tie game at halftime, and then became a runaway because the Falcons scored in the first play of the third quarter on a long bomb to Calvin Ridley. And then they scored again on another long pass to Mohamed Sanoo, and in between, Panthers turned the ball over a few times, and, you know, this is basically what you get. I mean, this Panther season, if you had told me this is how this was going to go, you know,

seven, eight weeks ago, I'd have said you're crazy. And they look like a completely different team. And it started with Cam Newton. And now it seems like it's just spreading from there. Whereas the Falcons, you can see why some people, myself included, had them going much deeper into this season than they did. You weren't alone. Maybe winning the NFC. But because of injuries and a slow start, you know, they got a little hot in the middle of the season before we're going on this slide again.

And, you know, it's a nice little turnaround for them two weeks in a row. Yeah, I think it's a little reductive to just say Cam Newton got hurt, and that explains everything. But obviously it was the biggest thing in the downfall. The defense was bad all year. Yeah. There was no one on the team. Christian McCaffrey had an amazing season, obviously,

but there was no one that was going to lift this team up once Cam started to falter. And that's to me the story of this Panthers. Which one of these two rosters would you want going forward? Oh, the Falcons, no doubt. I think the Panthers show how hard it is to build a well-rounded roster with 32 teams and a salary cap. They were missing skill position talent on offense for so long. So now that they go out and get that, and they're young there,

and that's promising their defensive front seven grew old, and their offensive line needs help, so that's what they're going to have to do in the offseason. And they dealt with some injuries in the offensive line as well, but they had no depth to begin with. So, yeah. Kaffrey had another 178 yard from scrimmage today. He's knocking on the door at two.

2000 and has an outside shot to lead the league in that. It's pretty impressive. Got over 100 catches now. Past his own dad, whose career high was 101 catches on the 2001 or 2000 Broncos. That's what sons do to fathers. They destroy them. Well, they outshine them in similar careers often. That's what you want, though, right?

Yeah. March of progress. Yeah. Every generation's outpaced. And also daughters do that to fathers as well. I'm not saying that only sons do. Just so that I don't, you know. That should be the goal.

He also passed another dad. Most receptions in a season by a Panthers player at any position passing Steve Smith, Sr. Nick, when do you think you're going to become a dad? When you think about your life, man. Not for a while. You are dating a wonderful woman that used to be on our softball team, she was a reserve. How's that going?

Is that heading towards anything substantial? It's fantastic. I mean, you guys have been together a while. Almost two years in February. How old are you now, Nick? Take a guess. You look like you're about 26. 26.

Yeah. Are you getting some questions from family members on both sides when you're going to kind of seal the deal here? Well, Mark, there's a reason I live 2,500 miles away from home. You're in the prime of your career, that 26, 27, 28 range. Come on. You know what's the same? Yeah, I understand.

Cutting it run, baby. But let me tell you. That's not what's not happening. I hope she's not listening to this. Okay, let's move on. Stick around, Nick. You deserve better than those two games. Brady takes the snap of the playoffice, firing down the middle.

Adam makes the catch on the 11-20. And twisted down at the 15, but he rode over a defender. Stayed at a V. Sprint into the end zone with a dive. Touchdown! Patriots! Iron Man! Played in a whistle. What a fighter.

What a call. Great play design. You get Dorset in motion. You fake the screen to him. You get Edelman on a slant. He knows he's not down. He stays up on the defender. That's a touchdown, baby.

This voice will be quieted soon enough. Bob Sochi and a human power aid bottle, Scott Zolak, WBZ with the call. Julian Edelman stayed on his feet. found the end zone. Tom Brady's lone touchdown pass and a 24-12 win over the Buffalo Bills. The win gives the pats their 10th straight AFC East title. Can you imagine an NFL record? Greg, lots of doom and gloom around Patriot way this week.

But your rag-tag bunch of underdogs have possession of the number two seed with one week to play. I do. And yet I think there's going to be a spoiled sky's falling feel in New England in some ways because it was maybe the worst game the year from Tom Brady and Rob Grancowski, but I'm going to put that to the side from now, because when the Patriots have looked at their best this year, it has been running the ball. They looked like the Ravens in this game. They had 10 straight runs at one point. They had third and four they're running the ball.

They end up with 273 yards on the ground, 47 rushes. You can do that against Buffalo, but it was still impressive to see that interior blocking going like it was early in the season. Cordarell Patterson and Sony Michelle especially ran well, but White and Burkhead. a really good backfield, and it makes sense to build your offense around it right now. The key is, can you do this? I mean, Buffalo's had a pretty solid defense for the most, you know, the most part of the season.

They're missing Matt Milano. Can you do this in a playoff setting? I mean, right now you're a two seed, and that is huge for them, a deeply, a flawed team who is undefeated at home. Sure, in a one game setting, can you cook up a good running game? You're going to need more than 117 yards from the passing game. Is that what the Patriots are now, that they have to? to build around their running game and hide their quarterback?

Is that what we're talking about here? I mean, I don't think they need to hide it each and every week. I mean, I don't think they do either, but I didn't see any of this game, but I saw tweets that this was a terrible Tom Brady game. They need to hide their ability to protect it. He was as antsy in terms of people around him as he's been, and Gronk did not look good and they couldn't get anything going running the ball, but I mean, passing the ball. But I've talked about it a lot this year that that's been their identity when they've been

at their best. It's been one of the better running Patriots team. I think a Ravens Patriots game is the game that I've always dreamt of that could be over in about an hour and 35 minutes. I mean, that game already happened. It was 2009. That was the last time they did not get a playoff by. And that was the first time people started writing

is the Patriots dynasty over. And it was strong. Well, this is different than then. Yes. That was when Ray Rice came out and put it on them with 80 yards right off the bat. Brady's 41 years old. That said, like, I want to, as a fan, enjoy it that you won a division title that like do you won 10 straight yeah I think it's cool

what does it mean to because there are certain levels of enjoyment like what is surging through your body right now is it like ultra excitement where you cannot contain yourself it's more just that I think you don't see it I don't see it I have so much I have so much appreciation and respect the fact that they've won 15 straight division titles with Brady in the mix that the the consistency and we've talked about in the show has never been approached in NFL history period and so if this is their decline that now you're winning 10 or 11 games and you win a division title, there's still something special. I'll never take anything away for the Pats when you talk about what they've been able

to string together, but it was a perfect storm in terms of they've been in a D-Bag division this entire time. They definitely wouldn't have done this if they had some more functional franchises around them in the division, but I'm not saying to take it away. I'm just saying that's something to keep in mind how this happened because it's almost impossible to imagine that a team could win 15 in a row essentially with time. Brady on the field. They've won 16 division titles with Brady, which is as much as Joe Montana with the 49ers and Peyton Manning with the Colts combined. I think next week against the Jets

importance for Brady to get some something going because Edelman is not right. Gronk is really not right. And so you know Josh Gordon. Brady's not right, but I think he has a better chance to rebound than those two because that Edelman just looks slow and he's dropping passes. And gronk, I mean, And this was, if last week was the worst gron game ever, like this one was worse. He had three targets, no catches, and one of the ball sent his way, bounced off his hands for an interception. When you talk about the supposed decline or maybe what people think might be the beginning of the decline of this franchise, you sound like I did in the last year of being a Cavs fan.

Yeah. When I knew LeBron was leaving. Here's the thing, though, I really, I think they still have the best coach in a given situation and a great staff with McDaniels. And is Tom Brady worse now than he was in 2001 or 2003? when they won the Super Bowl? I don't think he is. So can they come up with one-game game plans?

I don't know. I'll give him a shot. He's worse against pressure right now. Yep. You know, I can't blame him for that, though. The offensive line just has that helped him. This was a perfect setup. Josh Allen looks so bad.

When Josh Allen can't run the ball, he's one of the worst quarterbacks you've ever seen. There are offensive lines protecting much worse than the Patriots offensive. No, without a doubt, but I think over the course of a year, you know what pressure does to Tom Brady, and you're starting to see it in the way that he handles the pocket now. I'd be, and I don't say this to, like, pile on bills fans who might have the same feeling. I'd be a little nervous about Josh Allen one year-in.

This feels different than Mitch Trubisky, year one, or Jared Gough, year one. It just seems like the accuracy issues. He's shown more promised than either of those guys showed in year one. As a quarterback as a franchise passer? I think you forget how bad Jared Gough was. Okay. All right. He's a different type of player where he makes you.

cringe at just the unforced errors where the accuracy, you wonder if that's going to go away or not. But I agree with Wes that he's shown enough that you can hope for a second-year leap. I just took a really nice little three-minute mental break there and just sort of sat back and enjoyed the room. How'd it go for you? I feel refreshed. Good.

Nick Shook. Thank you so much. Actually, before I go, I need to tell you all. One and out. Oh, he did lock it up. That's right. Nicely done. Look at that, Shook.

He made sure to say it. Oh, yeah. He was going to take it up. They've got to save it to the end. West, do you have an encounter to that? No, that's a good job by you. That was a lockoff with Shook, of course, taking the, who was it again? Eagles.

Eagles. Congratulations, Nick. Thank you. An early Christmas gift for you and the entire Shook family. Yes, happy holidays. Happy holidays to you, buddy. Let us move up. Takes the snap.

Blitz coming. Jotson fires downfield. It's intercepted. Kevin Bired. Kevin Bired. Kevin Bired. Kevin Bired. It's intercepted.

It's Titan ball. The blitz. The blitz. It came. Johnson through. And the defense come through. Mike Keith. Titans Radio.

One of my favorite in the game. Oh, you Titans. Titans fans all angry at me. I like you, Mike Keith. Blaine Gabbert. Or as Mark calls him, Kid Gorgeous, has the Titans one step away from the playoffs. The backup QV threw a touchdown,

to McCoyle, McColl, Michael Pruitt. Michael, Pruitt. M-Y, capital C, O-L-E. That got me. I mean, you could hear it. Michael Pruitt with 4.30 to play, Tennessee's D closed the game out with two picks and a 25-16 win over the Redskins. That's four straight wins for the Titans,

who have a loser-goes home game coming up next week against the Colts. In fact, it has already been flexed into Sunday night football, week 17 there you go and it's the right move it's the only move mark what happened to marcus marriota in this game marriota left the game with a shoulder stinger never returned elbow right they announced it as a stinger in the shoulder shoulder it looked like an elbow injury and that's what he had earlier in the year so it might be some chicanery credit to both of these teams for producing a somewhat interesting engaging game that featured josh Johnson versus Blaine Gabbard.

I kept wanting, I was at my house thinking there are things I could do around my house, a lot of them, or I could just go do something of a leisurely nature anywhere in the town, and it kept pulling me back, and I couldn't quite turn it off. So that's not my entire review of this game, but I found that the Titans did what they had to do, and it wasn't another one of these like Derek Henry totally explodes, but they controlled their side of the ball, and then the two Josh Johnson intercepted, to close the game were an absolute killer for a Redskins team whose season is kaput as it should be.

I mean, if you're a believer in the playoffs putting the best teams in there, we got rid of the Dolphins this week and the Redskins. I'll give them credit, though. They won last week, and nobody thought they were going to win last week. And they really hung in this game on the road with their... Had the lead in the fourth quarter. Adrian Peterson played a great game.

He looked really good game. He looks. Yeah, he is, Wes, I know you said a few weeks back that maybe you look slow. this game he looks like he found the fountain of youth again this was his best game since october and i think he wasn't explosive laterally for a while he was playing through injuries but also playing behind third stringers on the offensive line and playing with third and fourth string quarterbacks the defense doesn't respect he needs room to run and he hadn't had room to run until this game does that if you're the san diego fleet and you used your first pick on a quarterback to

secure the rights of josh johnson are you now worried that he's just going to get signed to some sort of a, you know, off-season option deal where you're not going to get him at all. I believe, just so you know, that he was on the roster and they used, they passed on their first round pick to protect Josh Johnson, the hometown kid. Is he still going to play for your team? This is the AAS, right?

It's a sort of a little bit too much of a negative occurrence for them. If guys like Cody Kessler are regarded as number twos, Josh Johnson should have a job next year. He looked good. The Gabbert deserves some credit. When they needed fourth quarter points to win this game, and he made about three or four, like they asked them to make about four or five throws.

And he made two or three really nice throws. And they scored on back-to-back drives when they absolutely needed a touchdown. They just went down the field and they scored a touchdown. I think it's fair to give him credit and still say if he has to start in the season finale and if they're playing without Jarrell Casey who injured his knee. And the early word is it looks like a multi-week injury.

Bye-bye. That they're in big trouble. The win was Tennessee's first in seven career games that Marriota has left with an injury. By the way, Mario is still on his rookie contract. He's left seven games injured. So durability is a serious question mark with that quarterback. Any other thoughts?

I would just say it's, I, Marriota on the ground is a dangerous operator in this offense when he's on. But I did not see a big drop off from Mariotta to Blake to Blaine Gabber. Not in this game, no. I think the problem with Marioita right now, the ceiling's lower than I expected. You know what I mean? Like, when you, when Mario, when Mario has a good game. game, it's, like, the ceiling's a little lower, or they're not even trying to be too advance as an offense right now. So a lower ceiling and then the injury problems is a bad

combo. Well, I think, yeah, where I look at it is we've, we know after three or four years in the league that he has defined weaknesses. He doesn't throw outside the numbers and downfield well. He doesn't anticipate the rush or see spatial awareness well, and he gets injured. But he does a lot of things well. Hey, uh, Titans fans, you go win in their building, right? Next Sunday. In their building, they have never beaten Andrew Luck. Win in your building, beat Andrew Luck for the first time. Maybe you're down some key players.

I'll get rid of Taitunes. I won't say it again. Really? Forever? You're putting it on the line? Go win a ball game in a big spot. You'll remember this next, you know, October when they were one and three or something. Okay.

I'm a man. Wow. Suddenly that game is so much big. Cut that up, Kim. That's Poldenboard material. Or shut up. Let's move on. Waiting on a shotgun snap.

It's low. Andrew Luck pumps. He throws over to the left side. It's caught touchdown. Chester Rogers. Touchdown Colts and the game is tied. 27 to 27 under a minute to go. Merry Christmas, Chester Rogers.

Matt Taylor, Colts Radio Network with a call. Andrew Luck hooked up with Chester Rogers on a one-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left. Adam Vinutari hit the extra point and the Colts defense held with an interception in the final minute. a 28-27 win over the Giants. That touchdown pass to Taylor and the ensuing extra point was the only first and only lead the Colts had in the game. Lux's latest comeback magic, save the Colts from elimination, sets them up for that win and in matchup against the Titans.

West gave Indy all it could handle, but this Colts team finds a way. I think when you talk about the best of the best quarterbacks, it's like talking about basketball players. Do they make their teammates better? And this has been the year where I think Andrew Luck has proved conclusively he makes these clowns better.

Clowns. For most of the year, he's been throwing to Zach Pascal and Moe Alley Cox. He made Eric Ebron, the franchise leader in touchdowns. Dantrell Enman. Don't know family members of those players listen to the show. He's throwing Dantrell Inman open with back shoulder passes 30 yards down field. Nobody else wants Dantrell Indeman on their team.

He makes Chester Rogers a guy who's a special teamer and turns him into a chain-moving possession receiver with the game on the line. He's doing it without Ryan Kelly and Mark Lewinsky, two of his starting offensive linemen, and he is the rising tide that lifts all boats and indie. And Frank Reich, I think, is 1B. I mean, today, they're a tandem. And if they make it to the playoffs, he might just be coach of the year. Luck is comeback player of the year.

And the Colts have gone from 1 in 5 to 9 and 6. Wow. In these eight wins over that stretch, how many times have we seen this, where they fall behind? A lot of times in their building, it seems. They're so hard to close out at that, I was going to call it the RCA Dome, but it's Lucas Oil Stadium

where they have all those ridiculous banners flying high, Mark. But they are a hard team to close out, and luck is one of those guys, those magic guys, that when he has the ball, you kind of assume something good is going to happen for the home team. He's got a fourth-quarter comeback in a quarter of his career starts. And this game also featured one of the West moments of the year, where when Eli Manning had the ball in his hands,

seconds later, to try to seal this. Like, we thought, you know, can Eli Manning do it? West said he's got one more interception in him. Like half a second later, he throws an interception game over. As the snap was happening, he's like, I think Eli's got a picket him. That was amazing. On a day in which the Giants play calling

had the Colts defense off balance for 59 minutes. I mean, there were a lot of times where the Colts defense needed a stop and couldn't get it. Eli played pretty well before that throw. And this was a defense that had led the league in points since week seven. Points allowed. Giants are one of the best five and ten teams I can remember. You know, I guess so.

But is the opposite of Frank Reich, Pat Schumer. He is to me. The opposite to me would be like, you have an output, Pat Schumer. I would say no. Someone come and sell to me what he's giving you as a Giants fan. Playing hard down the stretch. It's a limited team with not a ton of talent. I think they're the most talented five-win team,

You got to pick a side on that. On one hand, they won three games. You got to pick a side on that because sometimes you say they stink. They do stink. They don't play it to their talent level. And a big part of it is because their quarterback. Well, and that's also not a huge, that's not a huge compliment towards Shermer. No, I agree.

I don't think Pat Shermer's a good head guy. I think maybe, Mark, you have a little bit of a Shermer issue because of his Brown's days. I know. I do. But I guess it's because I remember those games and I'm seeing a lot of the similar stuff. We've seen like reasons to believe in. him as an offensive coordinator, but I don't think we've ever seen a head coach, like, he doesn't strike me as a great head coach.

Yeah, agree to disagree. I just don't think he's the problem there. I think they have issues, and I think they still need to find a quarterback, obviously. I joke around about Eli a lot, but they need to figure out what they're going to do with that position. Are they going to really bring him back next year? I think they might win just in draft someone. Yeah, I would think that they're going to, he's going to go into the, he's going to be like

a bridge quarterback. Go get Joe Flacco. Let us move. Oh, Joe Flach. Final play of the first half. Detroit rushes three and a half as Jared Davis, eyeballs cousins, who fires into the end zone to the right side. And it's cut.

Touchdown! An amazing touchdown catch by Kyle Rudolph. And the Vikings amazingly have taken the lead in the shadow of halftime. It's a 44-yard miraculous connection. From Cousins to Kyle Rudolph. Did he say miraculous? I mean, you can use the word. But was it a miracle?

No, it was not an earth miracle. I'm down with a miracle stuff. Kirk Cousins threw a 44-yard Hail Mary to Kyle Rudolph. His time expired in the first half, the Minnesota Vikings go ahead on that play. They stay ahead. They beat the Lions 27 to 9, and the bikes are very close to the playoffs as well now.

Winning in next week. against the Bears, and they could still qualify for the playoffs, even if they lose, if they get some help. Mark, what did you see from the Vikings today? Also not a miracle, the way they opened this game. Four straight punts. They had five total yards on their first four drives. They really did not even, I believe they didn't get a first down until about four minutes left in the half. Then what happened was the touchdown drive. Then what happened minutes later was the Hail Mary. And if you're up 14 to nine or so on the Lions, you've got it because the Lions are a team built to score about nine points per game

and assume that they can hang on, which they rarely do. And you got a feel for Matthew Stafford in this offense. But the Vikings, they got out of their early funk and they, in the second half, look a little bit like the team they were last week against the Dolphins. I still do not trust them to do anything, then probably lose a playoff game if they sneak in. But they were okay. They handled their business on the road here. Last week's game was much more impressive on the ground. I still think Dalvin Cook is running about as well as any running back in the league right now. I mean, maybe not right at the top level, but right below that. So the more you can accentuate him in a game where there was at one point,

I think the total yards was 170 to 4. That's the point I mentioned after those first fours. I mean, that's like, yeah, that's a gut check for a team. It's a road division game. You took care of it. Now can they beat the Bears to make the playoffs? That's more interesting. Well, they're a much better team in their home dome, I think.

To me, they should be favored over the Bears who probably will have one eye on the scoreboard during this game. Yeah, the Bears will have something to play for because the Rams theoretically could give up that buy, and that's important. But like the odds are against it, the Rams losing to the 49ers at home. And the Lions finished. Ooh, we'll lock that up. Pick up a game. Whoa, somebody locked this game? I locked up the bikes.

You have a problem? I think you need to purchase a mirror. I looked in it, and I liked what I saw. Really? Okay. Not a ghost to be found. All right. What was going to say? Oh, Matt Stafford is going to be 31 in February.

And I think we all agree. We like Matt Stafford. We think he's a guy that you could build a playoff team around. Clock's ticking in Detroit. And they got a lot of work to do. I don't know what to make of this season if I'm a Lions fan. I don't see a lot of progress in any area. The offense has taken a step back.

and they're hard to watch. They're a tough team to watch. It's funny because we kind of see the Vikings right now as we haven't been impressed all year. And yet who's going to get that sixth spot? It's either going to be the Vikings or the Eagles, the two best teams in the NFC last year, who at the very end of the season are probably feeling,

and especially Minnesota, like, hey, we've got a team, we've got the players that we had a year ago. Like, they are a pretty dangerous six-seat if they can get in because that means they'll probably be. and the Bears. The Vikings trying to get into the playoffs. The Cowboys are in to Big D. Large D. Back to throw. Late pressure. Running right. Hit Sack football. Big City. Jaylon Smith recovers at the third. Everything's big attack. Yeah. Midfield and he's running. Smith's down the sideline. Jaylon Smith down the sideline to become the first cowboy to return the ball

for a touchdown this year. The Lone Star State. Brad Sham, the Sham God, Cowboys Radio Network with the call. Jalen Smith returned to fumble 69 yards for a touchdown. Nice. And Dak Prescott accounted for two scores as the Cowboys clinched the NFC East, 2720 win over the Bucks. That's now two playoff trips in three years for Prescott and Zeke Elliott

since they entered the league. Greg, the Cowboys, they took care of their damn business. They did. It was kind of a classic. Like, to me, this was Dirk Cutter's, you know, tenure in a nutshell. Every Bucks game ever. Get 27 first downs to 16 for the Cowboys. Have your offense give up 14 points, essentially.

And the Cowboys, who didn't need to do much, basically scored two touchdowns with their defense, ran the ball, and just kind of let the Bucks blow this game. But you have to give credit to the Cowboys defense, who even if they're giving up yards, They have guys like Jalen Smith, like Randy Gregory, who's definitely coming on strong, to make big plays. And that was enough in this one. There was a report for me in Rapidport that Dirk Cutter might keep his job.

Don't necessarily believe that he can get fired, but a lot happens what they do these last two games. And I didn't see this game, but this can't bode well for them. It can't. It's the exact same thing you've ever seen, where the Bucks are inside the five. It's like they did all the Bucs moves. They got on the goal line and had a delay of game on the. the one and then didn't score inside the five. You know, they did everything.

There was a crazy stat. Six of the highest Bucks games in franchise history in terms of first downs have come this season with this Bucks team. Six of their best 10 games ever in terms of first down. Their record in those games are one in five. So the best offensive games in terms of moving the ball in franchise history, Dirk Cutter and James Winston certainly is a big part of this, find a way to lose. So they're talented and they call good play, but they're not smart at executing them?

Well, they've also been attached to, other than the last three or four weeks, a terrible defense that gives up yardage and points like a waterfall and a quarterback that costs them two or three terrible turnovers a game sometimes. And I do apologize to the Cowboys fans because, I mean, this is a big deal. You know, we're talking about the Bucks here, and I know it wasn't a pretty game. The Cowboys had 230 yards. But this is an exciting team if you're a Cowboys fan. Jalen Smith, Leighton Vandresh, had Monster games.

games, both of them. Lawrence and Gregory had a great game and Prescott stayed out of the way. This might have been Gregory's best game. What are you laughing at, West? I mean, I agree that this is a pretty exciting Cowboys team. It's one of the most fun Cowboys teams. I remember, but I think Cowboys fans will be all right if they don't get all the attention for one week. Okay. That's fair. Did we mention, by the way, that Sean Lee was a healthy scratch? No, which really feels like. There were several different reports about this. One, that he wanted Leighton Vander Esch to play, and two, that the Cowboys wanted to ensure or Sean Lee would be healthy for the playoffs.

The second feels like spin, but I'll accept it. I mean, he played 15 snaps last week, so that's kind of a weird spot to be in if you're him. So I don't know. I don't know where he has a place on this team. I got the sense he was being selfless and said, hey, I'm not quite 100%. Why don't we let Leighton Vander Esch play?

And I know with the way the NFL works, every roster spot is so important on game day, but wouldn't it be good to have Sean Lee active in case Layton Vander hurt or, you know, having him just because he's not going to be like you want your backup linebackers to be special teamers and if I don't know

what the rest of their injury situation is but you know, that's why. Interesting. It is interesting. The Cowboys Division champs. I mean, he's done after this year. There's no chance Sean Lee's on this team next year unless he's willing to take a dramatic pay cut. And even then I think they might just say thanks. Bye.

I like taking dramatic pay cuts. Is that true? Try me. Are you listening to Meeley? That's weird. Do you know what dramatic pay cuts are? No, but that probably won't play well on the home front, what I just said. Let's move on.

First down and 10 from the 5 he gives to Anderson, up to the 10, breaks and tackle. The 20, 40 left 30. C.J. Anderson, 45 and 50 left sideline goes out of bounds with a stiff arm to finish the run on Trey Boston. Have a day, C.J. Anderson without Gurley. he's getting all he wants and then so. Wes's neighbor, J.B. Long with the call, KSPN. C.J. Anderson playing five days after he was signed to the Rams, went off for a jaunty buck 67, and the Rams, after two ugly losses,

beat the Cardinals 31.9. It was easy. Mark, the Rams opted to give Todd Gurley the day off to rest his ailing knee a wise decision. Yeah, and they didn't give him the day off, then decide to play around the running back position and have Jared Gough throw the ball 45 times. Jared Gough, who's been in a funk, he had a terrible fumble early that kept Arizona around in this game. But it was C.J. Anderson, and it wasn't just him.

They had three or four backs average more than eight yards of carry. But Anderson led the way as one of the best midweek signings we've seen all year by any team. And they talked about the fact that Sean McVeigh felt that C.J. Anderson picked up the offense quickly and that they trusted him and altered what they did with their game plan to give him as much of a helping as they could going in, which is it worked out about as well as it possibly could have when you need to give Gurley some rest. And this game for me, the Cardinals,

we just talked about every Lions game ever, every Bucks game ever. This was every Cardinals game ever. You get a nice early drive by the Cardinals that make you think they might be able to make the thing competitive. By the time you're three quarters in, the wheels have completely fallen off, and the vehicle was in the middle of the sea. And they're going to lose their coach.

They're going to start over. There's reports that Steve Wilkes is out. And he should be. I mean, I know nothing personal, but this has been one of the more unwatchable teams in many years. They are a team that tried to take the players they had and squeeze them in to the philosophies and schemes that the coaches had versus the other way around, which is what every other good team in the league is doing. And the Rams are the out of their funk, hard to tell against Arizona. But they did get, I thought that Jared Goff played a really nice three quarters after he had that initial turnover.

On one hand, it's dreadfully unfair to fire a head coach in his first year when he's taking over a bad team. We all knew it was a bad team when he took the job. But for the reasons you said, Mark, and that seems to be the popular talking points as to why it's not working there. That's what I like to cling to the popular talking points. He hasn't pushed the right buttons or matched his players with the scheme the right way. I guess it makes sense if you internally don't feel this is the right guy, you cut your losses. Well, the defense also got significantly worse. from what it was over the last three years.

The personnel's not quite as good as they were at their peak, but he's a defensive coach and they got worse. I think this is a big game for the Rams. I really do. To get 33 first downs, 460 yards, and to get right again offensively, I thought Goff made a number of really good throws. And that's why I always push back against him.

It's like, oh, well, it came against the Cardinals. Well, Goff had three or four plays in this game where he was absolutely under duress and he threw dimes into small windows. So it doesn't, it's like those, he's going up. against NFL players, and those are positive plays for him to build on after he had really been slow. I do think they missed. Professional football. I know, but I mean, yeah, that's what I'm saying.

That's what I'm saying. I think they miss. They miss Cooper Cup, though. There's just something that's not the same with this offense. It has not been in a while. Three more sacks for Aaron Donald, who I believe set the record for most by an interior lineman. 19, right? 19 and a half. By goodness. Check out NFL.com slash Wesleyan for top 10 defensive player of the year candidates. Aaron Donald, of course, number one, but there's some surprises on the list. Check it out. This kept the bears off their back, too. I mean, you couldn't fumble here.

Hey, if you throw, make big passes in the National Football League, the highest level of the game, I don't care who the opponent is. You've done a nice job. Those other guys get paid, too. Hey, they're trying to feed the families, too. Let's move out. Snap to Mullins. Mullins pressure.

Mullins gets out to his right. Can he run for it? He can run for it. But he's going to throw deep, and he's going to throw it out of bounds. Mullins could have run for the first down. I think he could have run for it. There's no doubt he could have run for it. And he threw it.

I think he could have run for it, guys. And he threw it. Ten Robinson, KNBR. He nailed it. Nick Mullins had his first killer brain cramp in the NFL. Passing up an easy first down run in exchange for a desperation, fourths down heaved. It allowed the bears to escape with a 14-9 win over the Niners. Mitch Trubisky threw one touchdown pass.

Jordan Howard ran for a score, and the Bears still have a chance for a postseason by with a win and some help next Sunday. Wes, how did Chicago's offense look today? They were a little hit or miss. I think Mitch Trubisky only had like four in completions the whole game. He had a couple of brainless plays, but then he also had some plays in key situations where he kept the playal line and hit some big throws or ran for the first down himself. Altogether, I thought, an encouraging game for Mr. Trubisky. And also a game where, it just struck me like how much the NFL has changed in terms of what is possible in terms of going for it on fourth down.

It was fourth in about a foot from the bear's own 35-yard line with five minutes to go. And so if they didn't pick it up, they're up by five points at the time. The 49ers get the ball in scoring position and they just go for it. And that's like a normal thing right now. That's very similar situation to when Bill Belichick went for against the Colts that caused like a national controversy. And now it's like Matt Nagy's like, of course we're going to go for it in fourth and they converted.

And that was at least part of the reason they ended up winning the game. I locked that up. Hey, you're hot. Wait, what's going on here? Don't ask. Is this like when the substitute teacher takes over and everybody acts up? They were less of a favorite than every other lock in this thing. They were only three and a half point favorites.

Les, don't hit out because they're struggling right now. I'm going to ask our listeners to pitch in on this one. Am I hitting out by thinking it's weird to lock up the bears against the 49ers? This is why I don't worry about the mirror. If it's seven points or under, I take it. Like that was a three and a half four point spread there. The Niners had played well lately. And actually, I honestly think the Bears are a little lucky to win this game.

The 49ers lost Brent Selick or Garrett Selick, Donnie Pett. And Matt Breed in this game on a team that's already like so short-handed. And when you watch this game, did these teams look uneven? It kind of looked like two pretty even teams. That blows my mind. One team has a chance to get a buy. The other team might get the first pick in the draft, and we're taking them in a lock.

Okay. All right. Changing the game up on me here at the end. I'm going to start locking up whoever. It's crumbling. No, I mean, just like, that doesn't pass the mirror test. I mean, they were much less of a favorite. Only one man could look in the mirror.

Than any, than a lot of. I'm just going to suggest, as you did, that a couple of people in this room need to purchase new mirrors. They appear to be broken. shattered, unworkable. Wes, second place for the first time this season. Oh, this has nothing to do with me. I'm not picking well.

I haven't picked well in a while. I just, I didn't know that these were allowed. All right. Now a word from our sponsor. Candid makes it convenient, affordable, and easy to straighten your teeth. Candid's clear aligners are sent directly to your home and customize specifically for you to fix and straighten your teeth. Use their at-home modeling kit and then send back your impressive. and some photos. Candid's network of highly trained orthodontists will then review your specific

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and go to candidco.com slash around to save 25% on your modeling kit. That's candidcoe.com slash around to get 25% off the price of your modeling kit, candidco.com. And before we get to the next game, thank you, Mark. I want to point out that the Chicago Bears, the team around the NFL, They could finish with 12 wins, Greg, which would be an all-time team of ATN records surpassing the 2017 L.A. Rams who went 11 and 5.

How you like that? You're not getting that knowledge anywhere else. No, I want to know who's keeping these records. So it's a record. Didn't the Cardinals also have 11 wins the year we picked them? Maybe. I feel like they might have to be 12. Yeah, they probably did.

What about the Panthers in 2013? Didn't they have to help? Check in with NFL research. downstairs they gave me that information way to go bears no they didn't let's move on either way 12 and 4 rolls right throws down the middle of joku's got it he's at the 40 45 50 he's at the 45 40 35 40 35 30 25 20 25 20 50 50 10 5 down at the two yard line David and joku big man on the loose Jim donovan with the call Baker mayfield the David and jubes

And Joku, and Joku, that clinched it for the Bears, Browns, excuse me, who jumped out to a big lead in this game and then held off the Bengals. Final score 26 to 18. The Browns, 0 and 16 a year ago, are now 7-7-1 mark another positive day and a season full of promise. It is the first time the Browns have swept a division opponent since 2007, and the first time they've done so against the Bengals since 2002. and I have to say that outside of, you know, they whipped the Bengals last time they play them, but something about this game, to me, especially on the defensive side of the ball, felt like one of the most dominant Browns wins I had watched in a long, long time. And you talked about Andrew Luck making the players around him better.

We're seeing that with Baker Mayfield because suddenly, Prashad Perriman is a thing. This is the third or fourth game where he's made a big play. And the play calling has just been superb from week to week. Nick Chubb just puts this team on his back from a rushing perspective. The defense made big plays. They're playing a banged-up Bengals team. I'm not saying it's shocking the world-type victory, but they were well-coached for the most part.

And on that final completion to Najoku, now you can say this is something you do or you don't want out of your quarterback. I think the Browns will take it 100 times over. Baker-Mayfield raced down the field and caught eyes with Hugh Jackson on the Bengals sideline and basically just didn't it wasn't any gestures just eyes and then he spun around on his access and jog backwards continuing to lock eyes with Hugh Jackson as the game ticked away and it's the quarterback that Cleveland needs it might not be the one that another team needs but he fits perfectly with this Brown's team they have attitude and they stuck it to Cincinnati today I don't think one of the

most disorganized teams I have seen in a long time I do not how you how you can make any argument for Marvin Lewis to come back and coach this team this was a disaster game by the Bengals. I mean, I don't know. Well, Marvin Lewis is an idiot. I don't know if any team would pass on having a talent like Baker Mayfield. I, the question I had downstairs. We talked about it downstairs was it seems like, and I think Mayfield loves the cameras

on him and he enjoys this type of part of the sport and the competitive nature of it all, why he's almost like going out of his way to stick it in Hughes' face. And it seems maybe it's more than just the decision. to go to the Bengals maybe. There was maybe more bad blood behind the scenes earlier in the season that we were not aware of because he really seems to have enjoyed this whole turn of events with Hugh getting piled on in Cincinnati.

Well, you know what he enjoys is winning, which they never did with Hugh Jackson because of Hugh Jackson. And so I think it's just something he loves that winning moment so much. He's got to do it. I want that attitude for my quarterback. I'm sorry, this is football. This isn't a sewing circle. If the Browns go to Baltimore next week,

week and win that game, I think they're going to keep Greg Williams and Freddie Kitchens. I mean, I almost can't imagine them. It's weird, but I almost can't imagine them not keeping Williams and Kitchens if they end the season on a four-game winning streak, including a win in Baltimore, which would be their most impressive win yet. I think one thing is that all these teams that are sticking with these coaches that seem like they should be let go is it does seem like there aren't four or five lock and load candidates out there right now.

Freddie Kitchens, you cannot let go of. I don't know how you figure that out. The Greg Williams thing, he's done a much better job than Hugh Jackson. I realize personality-wise, he's not the easiest guy, but... You can't make the next coach hire Freddie Kitchens. So if you open it up, then it's just... You have to be ready to lose him.

If it's Bruce Ariens. That would be your one... Freddie Kitchens has already worked under it. That would be your one option. Think back to when we did our emergency podcast when the Browns fired their offense coordinator and Hugh Jackson, And what the general thought process around Greg Williams was at that moment and now where we are now, that he could potentially keep the job is an incredible thought.

And you can make the case for it. You really can because they're playing so well down the stretch. And this AFC North isn't over because the Browns are playing too well to dismiss them in any game. And as great as the Ravens are, they invite close games with the style of play. And what a win. I don't know. you know, a little bit of a revenge on Baltimore. The only, you know, downside if the Browns did win that game is, you know,

you're just letting the Steelers get in the playoffs. So is that really that exciting? Unless the Steelers blow another game. That's a show. That would be a best case. That would be a propensity to do this year. Let's move on. Rogers in the shotgun.

Williams to his left. Here's the snap. Rogers clean pocket. Throes the middle of the end up. Devente. Totsdown and a dagger. They beat more. Clayboard to the backline to the end zone and the Packers have won it.

Wayne Larravee with the Call Packers Radio Network. Aaron Rogers threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Devante Adams. In overtime, Green Bay won the toss and never gave the ball up. The Packers beat the Jets, 44 to 38 at the Meadowlands. This was a classic Jets loss under the Todd Bowles that we've seen over and over again where they're competitive. They have a lead in the fourth quarter and the defense. Todd Bowles is a defensive guy, Wilts.

They blow 15.4th quarter lead here again. So Todd Bowles, who is going to get fired and justifiably so, watches his defense crumble again. And I would imagine Packers fans who have been frustrated with Aaron Rogers this season, and there is a vocal contingent of Packers fans that believe that Aaron Rogers has not been criticized enough for what's gone wrong in the last two years. Well, especially this year, this was one of those vintage Rogers games

where he kind of did it all and was frankly unstoppable down the stretch and the jets are by no means a defense to be fearful of, but he just sliced the jets up time and time again. So Aaron Rogers playing out the string, throws her 442 yards, two touchdowns, ran for two scores. But I would be remiss not to mention the other quarterback in this game, Sam Darnold, who is really coming on strong at the end of the season. And another great game for Darnold, who threw three touchdowns, didn't turn the ball over,

threw for a career high, 341 yards. And with a little better play calling in the fourth quarter, I think he probably closes this game out. But Jeremy Bates and Todd Bowles got tight and made the wrong decisions, and the Packers steal the game in the end. But, Greg, in a way, if you're a Jets fan, you're getting what you want at the end of the season here, which is a ton of optimism around the quarterback and the idea that you finally have found someone to build around, and I absolutely feel that to be the case. And you're not hurting your draft stock. Right, I know you were locked in number three.

Very into this game and disappointed, understandably, when they blew it. But it's all about Darnold, and the fact that he's stacking these games one after another where he keeps looking better is perfect. I mean, you couldn't draw it up any better for a little Jets off season excitement. I think what frustrates me more. The problem is you only have one other offensive player that I, literally, Robbie Anderson, is the only other offensive player, including just about most of the lines,

that I care about, Herndon, moving forward. So you've got a ways to go, but you have a quarterback. And Elijah McGuire has shown some things since he came back, and I still like a new note, although he's had an off year. He's a free agent. Yeah, he's a free agent.

I think they have a lot of work to do, but I think my disappointment stems from watching four years now of Todd Bowles and him making the same mistakes over and over again. And that gets frustrating, especially in all these fourth quarter collapse. If you're Mike McCagnan, the players you initially drafted are close to or if not on their way out, and they've already passed through their rookie contracts, and there's no progress. What's the argument for him returning?

There isn't. I mean, picking the next coach. They gave a 500. They gave a 540 yards to the Packers today, and there was one play I saw someone tweet out about. It was like, look at who Rogers' skill position talent is on this play. It was St. Brown, Valde Scantling, Coomero, Danny Vital, and Jamal, and Jamal Williams. That was who's surrounding them. No, the Jets, the defense isn't good.

And one guy I want to point out before we get out of here and get to Sunday night football, Tremaine Johnson, who signed a $70 million contract, one of the highest paid defenders in the league, another terrible game got called on a PI call. The Jets had 16 penalties in this game, which is inexcusable and another product of bad coaching because it's a lack of discipline.

Tremant Johnson, after having another poor game, walks out of the locker room without speaking to reporters. When you sign that contract, Part of the deal is you need to be in the locker room and face the music. I don't know if you can get rid of him, but. I owe you an apology, Dan. Why is that way? I was chicken counting before they were hatched.

Why is that? On our sandwich. I laughed at you when you mentioned that Sam Darnold has a shot to win December rookie of the month. And I think he does have a shot. I think he has a very good shot if he closes out on the road against the Pats with a chance to keep your patriots out of the second seat. The best thing for the Jets and Browns fans is he probably has to knock Baker Mayfield, you know, out of that race, too.

That it's our quarterbacks for the first time in our lifetime going back and forth. No, there's juice in that game. And I know Jets fans well enough to know that, you know, that would make their season. It would. Of course it would. We would take dropping five spots. Of course. Tom Brady's last regular season game.

You got to lose. What? Five spots in the draft is way more valuable than that. It is. No, not knocking Brady out in the final regular season game of his career. He's knocking him out for the season. It would be sweet, Wes. It's the last time.

I know what you're, I know your side of it. Give me the draft pick. Yeah. You can look at it as a no-lose situation. How about that? All right. On to Sunday night football. Russell's got a scramble.

He's going to go over the top. He's got Baldwin. He makes him up with one head and makes the catch. And he's down at the goal line. A 29-yard completion. And Kansas City just has no answer for the Seahawk receivers in man-to-man coverage. Doug Baldwin. Holy mackle. Can you believe he came back on the field?

Doug Baldwin with a beautiful catch near the goal line set up the game icing one-yard plunge from Chris Carson. And the Seattle Seahawks beat the Kansas City Chiefs final score 38, 31 from Seattle. And the Seattle Seahawks are going back to the playoffs. They improved to 9 and 6 with the win. And they do it in impressive fashion, Chris Wessling, by beating the Chiefs, outscoring the Chiefs, more big plays than the Chiefs. The Seattle CX once again show that they are a dangerous team in the NFC. Yeah, Eric Weddell said after the Ravens victory Saturday night, I know for a fact that nobody wants to see us in the playoffs. You have to imagine that goes just as much for the NFC and the Seahawks.

Two different styles of play. And the Seahawks have a much better quarterback than the Ravens do. So to me, they have to be even scarier. Well, they'll be on the road, almost certain, or very good chance it'll be in Dallas. But this game was a reminder how great Russell will. Not like we need a reminder, but just how great he can be.

And kudos to Brian Schottenheimer for not playing to his type, which even Seahawks fans this season have complained about run, run past. How about throwing the ball deep with a rainmaker on second and 12? with three minutes left in this game, that set up the Baldwin catch that also was on a second down. The Seahawks played to win. They did not play conservative at all.

They knew the opponent they were facing, and it was impressive offensively. If that Rams Chiefs game was the standard bearer of primetime explosiveness, this game had just as many incredibly beautiful throws. Russell Wilson making something out of Ed Dixon, who we used to make fun of when he was labeled as a move tight end by, I think, the Panthers or someone years ago, he's making plays but it's Doug Baldwin

it's Tyler Lockett and I'll tell you once again Pete Carroll has my vote for Coach of the Year because what he's done with this team and what he's morphed them into they would go into Dallas and they would knock Dallas out. They are now 9 and 6 as they said they started 0 and 2 they lose Earl Thomas to a season ending injury

they're written off by everyone including myself and thousands of others in the football Gagnos Zenskyy Greg was on the Seahawks bus to some degree. He was. Greg keeps his streak alive, always correct. In this case, Greg, you never heard no one.

You were the one that believed in them, though, Greg. It's the one thing I got right before this season. But the Seahawks showed, I think, in this game, the kind of problems the Chiefs have, especially without Kendall Fuller. Because the pass rush was getting to Wilson. They couldn't get him down. They can't tackle. I mean, you mentioned Ed Dixon.

That, to me, was a turning point. point. They had a third and 15 play to Ed Dixon. You're missing Ed Dixon in the open field. You got new cornerbacks coming in for them that are just flying by them. And some of these were just great plays by Baldwin, but there was shoddy tackling. And the Chiefs have a lot of short drives on offense and a lot of miss tackles on defense. It's a bad combo. And Patrick Mahomes, the numbers look great as they always do with Mahomes. But in the first half, he left some plays on the field. I'm thinking specifically of a wide open Travis Kelsey. Is this a different game. If he connects with that on that throw, well, by the score, yes, it was. But

in general, Mahomes didn't heat up until the second half. And Russell Wilson was just the more consistent quarterback in this game. I think some Chiefs fans are starting to doubt their own team. This team has some chinks in the armor. They can't stop the run. Their secondary is horrendous. They're not protecting Mahomes as well as they did earlier in the year. And they've shown that they want to outscore everyone, but they can't outscore the good teams. They lost to the Patriots. They lost to the Rams, they lost to the Chargers, and they lost to the Seahawks. All those teams are getting 30 points. Well, they're not the same team away from Arrowhead.

I mean, that's true of most teams, but they've, for the most part, not played their best on the road, including after the by struggling with the Raiders. I mean, if you're a Chiefs fan, who has the most haunted playoff run of just about anyone in the last 20 years, how can you not be a little freaked out when you're two and three in your last five games, right? They were nine and one. And it magnifies that Chargers lost them last night. And that was not a close game.

So there's not a lot of wiggle room for Chargers fans to rethink about that contest. But had they ever pulled that out, because they both have cupcakes, it's the Broncos and the Raiders, respectively, next week. The Chiefs have the edge, right? The Chiefs have to win to get the home field advantage. Technically, the Patriots are still alive for home field because the Chiefs, in theory, and Chargers could both lose. and then the Patriots could slide in there.

But that seems, I can't believe a world where the Raiders go on the road on a short week and win in Week 17. What happens when the Patriots lose to the Jets? How far do the Patriots fall? They slide, maybe. Depends on the old Jags. Down to four.

Depends on the old Jags. Wow. Very interesting. Yeah, I would, I get why Chiefs fans would be a little bit nervous. You worry about some of these teams, you know, the idea of peaking during the wrong time of the season,

who can really get it going. The Chiefs now, they feel like they can be top, but they still, as things stand, are the first seat in the AFC, and you like their chances in their building in a big game, even if they're not invincible, but nobody is in the league right now. The biggest issue for me is that what would be cupcakes

in the fifth and six seeds in other years in the AFC are absolutely not. If it winds up being something like the Colts and the Ravens, both of those teams would scare me if I'm the Chiefs. We just saw that game a few weeks ago, and the Ravens almost won. definitely played them evenly. Well, the Ravens now can't be a wild card, right?

Because either the Titans or the Colts are going to win. So it's AFC North or bust for the Ravens and the Steelers. One of those teams is going to be the four seed. But it is amazing how all these teams, and I even throw the Saints in there. It's like the top 10, even almost 12 teams in the league, whoever's going to make the playoffs. There's just not a huge gap between any of them in a given week. It's just the reality. It's going to be a lot of fun, isn't it?

Greg. Playoffs, best time of year. Absolutely. All right. That's it for our week 16 recap. And, of course, in two days, it will be Christmas. So for those that celebrate the holiday and happy, Merry Christmas to you and to all your families. And thank you for listening to our show.

It's a gift that you are, your gift to us is just listening to our podcasts. That's a good. That's all we could ask. That's a good way to say it. And our gift to you is you can listen to our podcast. Yes. I mean, on Christmas all week, just go back and kind of, you know, write reviews, crank up those downloads. Spend the time off by upping our numbers.

Yes. And Mark, how about a little secret Santa? Here, this is for you. It's Baker Mayfield. Thank you. And I will give you a gift to write back, Darnold, comma, Sam. S. Darn. S. Darn.

What does Greg get? Greg gets 15 years of Patriots, ugly football that will take him deep into his 50s. Lump of cool. I mean, I timed it up right. Wes, I got the football during my prime. West gets the Bengals back. I get the Brian Hoyer experience next year. I was going to say West gets a child in 17 months.

I'll take it. Healthy job. No west of us. Very helpful. A beautiful, bouncing boy named Cletus. Not named Cletus or Barnaby. Cam, good job behind the glass filling in for Ricky Hollywood. Thank you kindly.

Don't take her shit. You got to push back on her. I know she thinks she could boss you around, but push back. Or Dan, who keeps adding, you know, editing elements for you to deal with coming out of this. She's mean when she's sober, so I can't do too much in the workspace. Great work, buddy. And Merry Christmas to you, pal. Thank you.

You guys, too. Thanks, Cam. All right. This is it. That's it. That's it. Dan Hans is signing off for Quiet Storm. the mailman, the old boss, Camalina, behind the glass.

Until when? Oh, we have a different schedule. Until Thursday? Thursday. Thursday. Next time you'll hear from us. Also, our Twitter show is Thursday. Until then.

Thank you.