NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2021 Divisional Round Weekend Recap

Episode Date: January 24, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal recap all of the games from the Divisional Round starting with one of the best games in ATN history, an overtime thriller between the Bills and Chiefs. The heroes then recap the three contests that ended with game-winning field goals, first Titans-Bengals, followed by Buccaneers-Rams, and finally finishing with Packers-Niners. 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. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast is no longer with the bucks. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis. I'm joined in a studio filled with some heroes. Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler. Listen. Freak out. I don't want to, you know, sound smug or sanctimonious or overly self-satisfied. But when people say, oh, the NFL is king, well, it kind of is when weekends like this go down

where it just takes over the culture and divisional. round playoff football played at the peak level of drama it doesn't get any better and we talked about it the wild card round was a little bit of a you know dud this one gregg was as good as any i can remember i think it was the best ever pound for pound yeah and i feel personally responsible for making it that's one thing like what's with us working for the league we did it we put this together We put the Bill's Chiefs last, right? You almost thought, I thought at the beginning of that game, it's like this weekend's been so good

that almost inevitably, maybe this game will be one-sided or won't be as, like, insane of an ending as the two NFC games were. But then you were so happy that it was last. I watched the end of the game almost with my kids and watching them go nuts just got me thinking about what you're saying

about NFL being king, because they're not building. or Chiefs fans. And they were kind of starting to tune out towards the end because, you know, it's been a long weekend of football watching. And when those two teams started going back and forth in the end, they are screaming and yelling and running around and jumping and hugging, even though they're not rooting for either team.

And I was just thinking like, oh, that's how you get them. Like they're going to be paying that cash to the NFL for the rest of their lives. Got them. And that particular game is one we'll talk about for 50 years. The contrast for me was my family left for a little bit. I normally watched these games in the garage, and that's where I stationed Bucks, Rams. But I went into the house to go watch the rest of it,

and then came here in the middle of Chiefs and the Chiefs Bill's colossal event. I went back into the garage right before leaving to go turn it off, and that station had switched to a, like, low-level college basketball game. In the contrast between what we have experienced and that sporting event, it was so incredibly low-level and depressing, The NFL has no competition. It's a bit of apples and oranges, like a college basketball game in January. Imagine the human being that switched to watch that instead.

I will say that, you know, I love sports. I love, you know, basketball, baseball, football. Those always been the big three for me. Even college football, for instance, like in the playoffs, I can get into that. But there's something different about the NFL if you're watching their postseason where I just, I'm fully invested as if I'm like the Jets were playing in the game. always it's heightened if your team is actually involved, but the games are just, there's so much at stake and you could feel it and you see it the way these teams play. Some of the teams that

you see melt down, and there were a couple, including both top seeds. You see what pressure does to some teams and some players, and you see how it makes some players greater. And that's where Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen come in. So we're going to get into all the games, but we have to start. I think, I was thinking about this driving in, that this might be, you know, my pick for the best game in the history of the around the NFL podcast. Now, I don't have, again, like maybe a Patriot fan feels differently about some of those

Super Bowls, and there have been some great ones. But in terms of just the feel of the game, the vibe of the game, the greatness on display from both sides, this to me is the best of the ATN era. So let's get to it, Ricky. Let's fly. 36, 36, tie in overtime. She's first down and

goal to go. Mahomes looks to throw it. Pump faking, right side he wants it. It is caught by Kelsey. Touchdown. Kansas City, one of the greatest duos in the history of the National Football League. Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelsey on a push-fade comeback, and the Chiefs have won this incredible divisional playoff game in overtime. There you go.

See, the great ones rise to the challenge. Mitch Holtz is another one. W.D.A.S. Don't give up. Patrick Mahomes finds Travis Kelsey in the corner of the end zone. Eight yards early in OT. The Chiefs rally to beat the bills, 42-36, in one of the most wild games you'll ever see in the playoffs. A game where the lead changed hands three times in the final two minutes of regulation.

Harrison Butker, you know, maybe he was feeling a little pressure when he found out he was the number one. kicker on the ATN kicker power rank. He felt that pressure early in the game, but when he needed to make the kick, he hits the 49-yarder as time expired to force O.T. And then the Chiefs win the coin toss, and that's annoying because you wanted to see Josh Allen, who was a beautiful football man in this game, do his thing.

But the Chiefs take care of business. They take the ball, go right down the field. Let's start, Greg. There's so much to get to it for this game. But why don't we start with where we're at? when the bills once again with Gabriel Davis finding the end zone for another touchdown. It's a 19-yard touchdown pass. The cornerback falls down. It is now 13 seconds in regulation.

It's 36 to 33 after the PAT from Tyler Bass. And that's the game. That's when everything, it should have been over and yet it wasn't. I left. So I told you I watched the end of that game with my. kids 13 seconds left we had to drive we're driving into the studio we're in a different studio so we can be safely socially distance we're not in our podcast studio where we where we where we taped at the other day and game that's covid ravage that room right this room is completely safe we are

you know yeah one or two feet extra apart and i just thought i and i and the kids said oh it's not over and i said well there's 13 seconds left all you got to do is pop it up before the end zone or uh you do a squib kick because you've got to teach the kids situational football early in their life. Never too soon. And that's going to take off at least five or six seconds. Then Patrick Mahom, you know, you'll have time. Which takes you to seven seconds, seven, eight seconds. You take seven, eight seconds.

You got one play. I'll listen on the radio. It should be fine. By the way, that is terrible strategy overall, Greg. I texted you as well. Greggy, this game's not over. A game like this, do you really want to be in the car? You're testing fate.

How much time are you really saving ultimately when one of the greatest games of all time has 13 seconds to go and the greatest quarterback in football is heading on the field? And Greg, we'd already told you you can take as you have a window of time to get here. We're fine.

I was still the last one to get here. I didn't want to hold you guys up. I was trying to be considered. And, you know, you put the game pass on in the car. You could watch it. You listen there. I mean, listen, the more you explain it, the less it makes sense, actually.

It's not the safest thing in the world. But that's just what I assume. But it was stupid. because 13 seconds is officially too much time to leave Mahomes. But it was a mistake that the bills made that I'm sure they'll answer and we'll look for that. But how do you not do that? They must have talked about it. I hope it wasn't just like go out there and kick it through the end zone.

Tony Romo mentions it right before the play. They don't they don't harp on it because the game gets crazy from there. And yes, you should make the stops defensively at this point. you know the Chiefs have all those timeouts. And when you think, like, well, that's not much time. Tyree Kill just took it 64 yards on you on the last play that the Chiefs had. I wasn't trusting any defense in that spot. And so that was just one mental mistake from a coaching staff that otherwise, you know,

I think had a good day and is a good coaching staff. I love the point because if you're the bills at that stage or the Chiefs, you realize that both defenses have been like abducted by the Hail Bob Comet. They don't exist. I don't care about Buffalo's number one ranked unit. That means literally nothing at this point. The game is clearly not over. And if you give them that chance, Mahomes and what was happening at that point,

they're going to get into field goal range. It's far too risky. You could have ended the game there. And it is ultimately, yes, Bass kicks it through the back of the end zone. They shouldn't have done that. That was a strategic error. But they're still set up, obviously. Right.

I still, even then, if you had told me they were doing a touchback, I still would have thought it had been safe to leave. It's still, it's either two plays and a long-ass field goal attempt or two plays and one of them's a Hail Mary or a hook-and-latter trick play of some kind, and it's probably over unless you give up the 19-yard reception to Hill, and that's okay. You kept it in front of you. He stayed in bounds, all that.

That's okay. But the one that's going to stick with them and stick to their ribs even more than the kickoff, I think, is they let Kelsey come off, unchecked, unmolested, straight down the seam, turns and he's wide open, and he rumbles 25 yards, and it was as easy as possible. There was no resistance. There's two people who can't beat you there. Kelsey and Tyree Kill, and you let one of them beat you, and, you know, Butker makes the kick, and then the coin toss is lost, and the rest of his history. And I thought the defense, you know, for much of the game, before this thing got completely

out of hand, and what, 25 points were scored in the final two minutes of regulation. I thought the bill's defense came into this game focusing on trying to stop Kelsey. And I know it got out of hand, but that's what they tried to do early. And by the end, I mean, the bow had totally broken. Well, it was 26 to 21 at the two-minute warning. And Josh Allen was facing a fourth and 13. Is that the play? I mean, it is ridiculous to think that that was the score at the two-minute warning.

and the final score was 42 to 36, just to close the book on the lack of a squib kick. Or he could have popped it up. I think that would have been the move. I mean, they practiced this stuff every single day. He said, and he was asked about it three times, that it was an execution problem, and he takes responsibility,

which is kind of a non-answer. But to move it back to that two-point conversion, that's where it really goes great. I mean, a two-minute warning. It was fourth and 13, And that's part of what I think has to hurt for Bill's fans right now is that Josh Allen was on another planet. So was Patrick Mahomes. Those two guys, I think, were taking playing quarterback to about as high a level as you possibly could.

But Josh Allen in these two games was as good as they've ever seen any quarterback, period. And they lost the game. Like the plays he was making down the stretch and Gabe Davis to, you know, make a move to put his cornerback in the dirt to shake him on that fourth and 13 for the touchdown. It's just, it's crazy to play that well and lose. Well, and so before the fourth and 13, the touchdown to Gabe Davis, he also converts the fourth and four, Josh Allen. He also completes the two-point conversion to Stefan Diggs.

And if you came into this game and if you had one factoid when we're doing these preview shows and someone said, Stefan Diggs would have seven yards receiving in this game, you would think the bills are likely in serious hot water, potentially doomed. instead you get Gabe Davis becoming the first player in NFL history to catch four touchdown passes in a playoff game 200 plus yards he was out of his mind in this affair let's hear him a home because yeah I think this will be when this is replayed forever on NFL network and anywhere else it will be remembered as the Mahomes Josh Allen duel at the end

let's hear Mahomes talking about this great shootout between two future Hall famers I'm going there yeah it was a I mean it was a heck of a game I mean 17 Josh played it played his ass off Pardon my language I mean It was a great game to be two great football teams And at the end of the day Guys like Tyreek and Travis made the plays

That won us the game And I thought that the shot of Josh Allen And I feel everybody I don't even know if you're listening This is one of those games where Bill's fans you need a couple days Maybe you listen to the show Maybe you don't

I get it where you know your quarterback did something insanely special. And when he's sitting on the bench, staring straight ahead, I think there's just shock because they went ahead, of course. They go ahead 2926 on a drive that ends at, let's see, where we're at. Pardon me. They go with 154 to go. They get the two-point conversion.

At that point, you think maybe that's the hero moment. And that was the Allen drive. That was where he is running, basically every yard on that drive was from him, whether it was scrambles, whether it was fourth down, escape. And they're trying to run the clock out. They used seven minutes. Obviously, it didn't work out. But they quickly give up the touchdown.

And then to go back down the field again, six place 75 yards and 49 seconds, everyone in the building sensed that, oh, my God, they actually have slayed the dragon. and we talked about it on the network show and a bunch of wrong predictions I had this for these games. I went 0 and 4 with my picks. And that's fine. I have no problem with that, actually. That there's going to be a team that has like a heartbreaking loss this weekend

that they'll grow from it. It will be something to look back on it as like the pivotal moment in their growth. And I thought it would be the Bengals. But I hope it's the bills. I hope the bills eventually get over the hump because I felt so badly for not just the team and the coaching set, but the fans that have to be just dying right now. Well, you hope it's like a Michael Jordan Bulls

versus Detroit Piston scenario where there have been a couple tough playoff losses, and this, you know, also sparks them to come back because they're well-built. Or the Chiefs against the Patriots in 2018. I mean, these are the growing pains and the thresholds you have to go through. But, I mean, I'm with you. The Josh Allen look was a thousand-yard stare because you're asking someone who's thrown nine touchdown passes

in two playoff games, to get on a plane and go home now. Right. And also, if you're a Bill's fan, you kind of think, like, well, last year was that loss for us. Like, this was our win. We were ahead with 13 seconds to go in Kansas City. I thought going into this game, the winner of this game is going to win the Super Bowl.

I still feel that way. And I definitely was feeling that way with the bills ahead with 13 seconds left. And there's just no guarantee. We say this every year around this time. That it sounds good that you're building something and we'll be back. but I don't have to tell the Browns fan in the room,

like it doesn't necessarily work out that way. The reason why I think it hurts is because I think Josh Allen was just playing the position at such an outrageous level that he was not going to allow his team to lose in these next few weeks no matter what. And maybe he'll be like that again and maybe the defense will be even better coached in the future and they'll get their time. But there's no guarantee. The problem is he went against the quarterback that's basically at that level.

level two. And I thought it was interesting. In the first half, I know it was only 7-7 with two minutes to go in the first half. But I thought that first half showed how much these two quarterbacks have evolved and gotten better. Because I felt like the way defenses went at them all season, the whole story we talked about with the too high safety looks and like the ups and the downs of the bills. Like that all led to this moment where the chief's offense and the bill's offense really solved those problems. The quarterback solved those problems on a, Aaron Rogers or Tom Brady type of level where it was like you can play us any type of way. Maybe you'll slow the game down, but you're not going to stop us because they weren't really getting stopped in the first half or the second half. The only times they got stopped

is when they like ran the ball a couple times in short yard. It's just like they showed the evolution of quarterbacks and like how you can do it within a season even and you still lose. I don't know. I'm just ranting. God damn.

I mean, it was Mahomes said after the game, I will remember this for the rest of my life. That's why, just to bring it full circle, one, again, to me, the best game in ATN history, we'll look back and it'll be these two quarterbacks young at the height of their powers just going back and forth. I'm a little annoyed about the coin toss situation. I know we don't need to talk about that because it's kind of a little, at least whatever our thoughts are. It's a bit basic. Just like basic like Bill Cowher on CBS before the game kicked off said, the last team that has the ball is going to win this game and he's like god damn and bill

cower was right that's a ring he's correct he's correct he nailed it so i watched the first cbs half time of the year for my me today and at one point out of nowhere he just went on a thing thanking tom brady for what tom brady's done in the league and ended it by saying i love you tom well i what is that ricky if you could find that can you play that coach you love the 49ers don't you? I love the 49ers, but I'll tell you what I love the opportunity to watch Tom Brady and what he's done. If he does have stepped down, we've been blessed to watch one of the greatest of all time.

The ambassador of the football, a national football league, this guy represents everything that's right about it. You're right. Love you, Tom. I love you, Tom. You think he's watching? What is going on? So, I don't know.

The coin toss, that's the only thing Josh Allen did wrong. He called the wrong side of the coin. Which is not meant to be a skill set. It's not why you draft. It's the only thing that, yeah. That's why they got to bring in Gino next year. They got to get Gino on the Roth. I think he's going to be available after that DUI, Greg.

Notice how the DUI for Gino just, Greg was like, I'll make sure not to mention that and it'll just slip under the radio. Well, it doesn't work with Greg's morality clause with a lot of these players. We've been in the playoffs. It was just a side story. Anyway, unbelievable game. Two tremendous talents. The Bills and you're a Bills fan listening day after the game.

No, I tip my cap. That's some real fandom stuff. and hopefully the people of Western New York are covered from this one because that's a stomach punch loss. It's pretty high up there. Like, again, we've been doing this long enough where I'm thinking ATN era.

Still, to me, the worst stomach, well, let's say, 283, so the Falcons lost, obviously. Malcolm Butler, Seahawks, obviously. But to me, one that's right there is the Packers loss to the Seahawks. Yeah, that's up there. I think the Packers is the worst because they truly blew it in,

in impossible ways. Right. Butler would have been my pick as the best game of the era because those were the two best teams in the NFL, a team going for a repeat.

This was too, though, by the way. True, but it was a divisional round. I agree, but it was a divisional round game, so that's the Super Bowl. Two of the best teams, one going for a repeat, one trying to win, you know, a dynasty of the first in 10 years.

We don't need to harking back to the Patriots. Glory days again. But this, it will be interesting to look back if the Chiefs can win the Super Bowl here. I mean, this is, historic stuff from Mahomes to try to get back to his third straight Super Bowl to get to his

second trophy and it's sort of for Chiefs fans just desserts after losing that coin flip against Brady when it was it was three weeks ago we were still asking do we trust this Kansas city offense at this point can they get out of this season long funk that feels like fools conversation at this point

I like the mean of time solution she basically said blow up the rest of the postseason have these two teams just play best out of three just give us what we really need That seems brutally unfair. Would you... I mean, I get it. I don't think that's her...

It's deeply flawed. I don't think she's actually asking for the... You what? What would you do to overtime, though? I don't have an improvement. How about playoffs, though? Like, it's touchdown for touchdown until someone stops. But then the second team has such an advantage.

There's, like, no perfect way. If you know that you don't need the touch... It's giving an advantage to losing the coin toss. It feels less unjust than what we witnessed here, though, I don't think so. I think it's still football. The modified overtime rules, like younger listeners might not realize that like eight years ago, it was just first score wins, and that felt brutally unfair on the coin toss.

But what really stinks about with these games, these classic games, and I was at one, obviously it's not even the same ballpark, but the last time the Chiefs had a great overtime game where a lot of people were watching, I was in the stadium at SoFi against the Chargers, and it was the same thing where these two teams are going back and forth, these two great quarterbacks. The Chiefs win that coin flip. and they go down the field because the other defense,

in addition to that they can't figure out this all-time quarterback on a heater, they're gassed. And that's what happened again here, just like in the Super Bowl 283 with the Falcons and the Patriots. And the Chiefs Patriots' championship. Although I wasn't quite as confident there because the Patriots' offense wasn't going as well. The difference of like this game and that Chiefs Rams game was,

like there was no turnovers in this game. There was no defense. There were no, the Chiefs didn't have a penalty until midway. There were almost no penalties. There was like four sacks. There was no turnovers. The few stops that they had, and I guess, and I know we should move on, but, you know, McDermott did pass up that fourth down, that fourth and one. Like, there were a couple moments where, like, they had the game won.

I know, but that drive, that drive where basically Allen, you know, handed it off two straight times, and then they punted. And the drives were just so few in this game. You know, they just were holding the ball that that maybe, like, I think they just had to be aggressive the whole time. You're the Buffalo best. They got a little safe for a stretch in the second half there. And, I mean, it was like Roma was harping on that. I think it was legit. If I'm a Bill's fan, though, the landscape is changing potentially because Brian Dayball, who has been in a mind-meld with Josh Allen for years and called an incredible game, obviously, today could be gone. Leslie Frazier could be gone. I'm not sure who's looking to hire him after today's defensive performance.

But, I mean, that that is, it's been so consistent there. You're losing two of your admirals. There's a window, and you have to, when that window's open, you've got to find a way. But you can't really blame them, like I was saying, the four big game, the Mount Rushmore of crushing losses since we're doing this podcast. Packers meltdown, Thalcons meltdown, Seahawks' play call apocalypse. This bill's, there was no meltdown. It was just a horrendously difficult loss where greatness defeated greatness.

But, Dan, there was also Brown's Jets, Week 3. I thought that that was on the mountain if we want to add a fifth face. Which one was that? That was the one where Sam Darnel, was out dueled by Baker Mayfield? Does that not? Doesn't that feel small now. Greg doesn't seem moved by that suggestion.

How about this? One last statement game before we move on. Tony Romo. Statement game by Roma. He's heard the criticism. He's not immune to checking Twitter and the mentions. He knows people are saying he's not as good as he was a couple years ago. He was, that was a master class.

And I know from some behind the scenes info that his son was in the booth for part of the game with him, so maybe that inspired him. But he is, like, we have feed that you can hear what's happening during the commercial breaks, and it changed what I thought about Tony Romo, the person. I really, I really admire him. Because he's so nice. Well, Greg, Greg, that doesn't register with Greg, being nice.

He was genuinely being, he was being incredibly kind. He was being incredibly kind. He was being incredibly, like, the way he got along with Nance, it was genuine. He really likes Nance. Don't you remember when Tony Romo, when my wife was living in Dallas? I don't recall this. to her condo where my wife was living with other single women in Dallas.

Okay, sounds good. rang the doorbell and asked for band-aids. I've never questioned whether he's nice. No, I think the quality of being nice doesn't seem to take the scale. My point was, if you're going to go as far as, well, I've gotten certain information about what's happening. It was a word set up. I don't think I don't think I'm supposed to give information off. But if you're giving positive information, no one's going to mind.

What you're saying, Mark, is Greg doesn't, being nice and stuff is not something that's important to In the media landscape, Greg would be more like, I'm going to cut off your head and then maybe bury your head in the dirt. Maybe I'd bury your head and leave your body on top of the ground in freezing weather. I think you're a nice guy, Greg, but not in the way that some other people deem, like, a person being nice. You have nice qualities, though. You're a nice person to me. Greg, in fact, gave me a book to read on Friday, which touched my. That's an example.

Greg brought me socky today. He does very nice things for people. Who you want in your corner, you know. that see listen it's there's different levels of it um all right let's uh move on i feel like we could have done the whole podcast i know i kind of want to but we can't we need to move on let's go through the devon singletary uh contribution at least we've saved the best for last to keep people around honey badger being out by the way that was a big part of that game yeah the middle of that defense for k c was hurting there all right let's uh move on though we got to move on aFC let's uh let's

Let's finish out the AFC. We have the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the AFC championship game. This is the first franchise in NFL history to host four consecutive conference championship games. Who are they playing? Well, let's talk about it. After this break. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin.

And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get.

Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects

the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.

If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. McPherson, ready from 52 yards away. Carras will snap it back to Kevin Huber for the win.

The snap, the put down, the swing of the right leg. It's on its way. It is good. Coffin nails. Bam, bam, bam, bam, that is unbelievable. 54 and 52 at the gun. Oh, Mick Fearless. And again, Dan Horde and Dave Lapham.

Lapham being the fan in the booth. Love it. WC. K.Y. With the call. Rookie Evan McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal's time expired. It lifted the four-seat bangles past the number one-seat Titans. Oh, Titans fans. How come it's so quiet in the mentions after this game? No, you know what? Are they listening to this?

Not a single mention in the mentions about, hey, maybe we were wrong. Well, you've won. You've won that duel with that. that group of people. 1916. He's taking his own graves and he's throwing in you Titans fans. On Saturday, just the Bengals snapped a 31 year, of course, winless streak in the playoffs.

Now they snapped the NFL's longest active road playoff skid, and they do it with the performance that wasn't, let's say this, Greg. It wasn't like as electrifying as we've seen. Joe Burrow and the Bengals in recent weeks, but this was a tough, hard-nosed win where they basically were able to beat the Titans at their own game.

They won despite nine sacks and losing both lines of scrimmage, really. I mean, I think they did a good enough job against the Titans running game, but when they picked off those three Tanna Hill passes, which really felt like the difference, it wasn't because of pressure, It was because of their coverage.

It was because of Jesse Bates, like, just fooling Tannahill. It was Tannahill forcing a pass at the end. And more importantly, on offense, it was Joe Burrow overcoming the pressure. Like, they just, like, thinking about two plays in that game, but starting with one is that Joe Burrow passed to chase to set up the game-winning field goal. Money. That was, you know, against, like, this cover-two look that the Titans had been throwing in. They're more of like a man team, but they'd thrown it in pretty effectively throughout the course of the game.

And they said, you know, they've seen that and they knew it was possibly coming. And Burrow knew in his head what he was going to do. They adjusted their game plan. Chase, to me, is so mature as a route runner. They're both seeing the field with the same eyes. They have the perfect calling. And they, like, execute it. And that was the opposite of what Tannahill and the Titans offense did in the crucial.

moments and sometimes it does to come down the quarterbacks like the bengals quarterback is way better yeah and burrow you know credited zach taylor for calling that play and said that they had seen the coverage on the tablet on the side line they knew what they knew what the titans would do there i mean and burrow executed and like we're in a season where a lot of high octane rookie quarterbacks came into the league and looked completely beguiled from from wire to wire i mean maybe a couple good moments second year quarterbacks too and burrow to take nine takedowns in this game and to show the composure he did, and to simply be completely unflappable. The AFC North

has changed for the next 15 years. The AFC has changed. I throw him right into the pile with Mahomes and Josh Allen. The Bengals who have been... Whoa, whoa, whoa. Well, I'm just saying he's getting into that mix for me, and I don't need to go whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I honestly think we're looking at that kind of player. I mean, we are.

Maybe he's got to knock out the door first. No, I think you're probably right. To me, they're just a couple years ahead. That's fine. In their development. That's fine, but I mean, to me, it was like they took their defense to your point, Craig. Knock on the door before you walk in there. I kicked the door open.

I told you eight weeks ago that the Bengals were going to kick someone's button. You can't do that, baby. You can't do that. I can do whatever I want to do, first of all. No, you got on the Bengals bandwagon, then you jumped off. I didn't jump off. When you jump back on, you can't then act like you were there the whole time. I didn't jump off.

I was, my take looked bad because they lost a couple. You kind of jumped off. No, that's your take. They kind of got, they kind of fell into the bio rhythms of up and downs. Did you take them to beat the Chiefs when they were playing the Chiefs? I don't know. think so. You know, you two are unbelievably unannoying to hang out with most of the time. Burrow in this game, though, 242 yards after the catch. A lot of it was not downfield throws like we've

seen in other games where it was deep shots. It was his receivers making a lot of action happen after they caught short passes. I mean, he had three passes of 15 plus air yards and none over 20 in the entire game. If you're a Titans fan, you're so disappointed, obviously, because this is now the third time they've been the number one scene and got knocked out and also uh you know i was having some fun a few minutes ago but you know they were very they had their chest out the fan base they thought we're going to show you what you don't you don't think we're a true number one we're going to show you something and part of the reason they had confidence of the part of i wish gravedigger was here because i'd love to hear his thoughts on this but we'll get it eventually um ryan tanahill was

a guy to trust he was a guy to trust in these situations we talked about it on our tv show on Friday on Saturday. It was like, listen, we all know Joe Burrow is a rising superstar in the league. Tannahill might not have that ceiling, but he is a damn good quarterback. And then he goes out and throws an interception on the first pass of the game. He throws an interception a couple quarters later after that and then throws the interception that sets up the game-winning field goal. He came up small. There are a few small performances from veteran players. We're going to get to the Packers in a little bit. But Tannahill, it can't, there's no other way to go around it. He He kind of let him down here.

He also had a E.J. Brown open on a deep shot that would have been a game changer in this. And he missed him on that. He was just off. And I think that the Bengals did a good job. You know, Lou Anorama, who we, you know, you... Captain Lou. You know, we used to kick his butt around on the show a year ago. He's now intervened for the Giants job because I think he put the Titans...

It's funny how quickly things change. It do change because the whole Bengals changed. But on top of it, we were wondering what version of Derek Henry do you get? And we just didn't get... He ran well, I thought, early on, but he just wasn't able to take over the game. There was one moment in this game that I thought was awful. It was a third in Inches play where they had Tannahill and shotgun, and he takes the snap, and he winds up running the ball.

Why not just Cubey sneak it there? Tana Hill's good at that. I mean, like, you're asking him in that. Then on fourth down, they give it to Henry, and he stopped, drive over. Right. They weren't helped by Henry returning. Now, I don't know if Dante Foreman helps them win the game. game but like I don't know that he wouldn't have I mean his he ran great on that

his 45-yard run that he had and he had another were two of the best runs of the game I mean the 45-year-run was the best run of the game and then he had another I'm failing to remember how long it went for but he ended up four for 66 but they were loyal to henry henry gets stuffed on the two-point conversion which which looking back was such a crucial play it was a great play by clay Johnston but this was an offensive line that was used to leaning on teams and leaning on them throughout the course of a game and it just didn't happen for them this game. Tannehill actually hit like a lot of big plays. I mean, Brown goes five for 142. You know, he hit him downfield a couple times. They had the big plays, but that that

interception he had and just to put, you know, the time on it, you have to get to overtime there. It is insane that the Titans had the ball left with 28 seconds left on a third and five. on their own 40, and they lost in regulation. On that play, he forces it into Westbrook-Aquina. You know, you can do the thing where you kind of pause it and you see that there's actually a tight end coming open in the flat, and you lose the game throwing it to Westbrook-Kina. Julio is not on the field.

Julio had a nice game. That's weird. They don't throw out to A.J. Brown, but the thing that gets me with that play where you talk about veterans and where, like, Joe Burrow was not making that mistake, there's no pressure. So, like, he made a bad decision

with no pressure, throwing it into a crowded area to a bad receiver with no pressure? Like, that's like a mental thing. That's a short-circuiting. We've got to talk, Evan McPherson. He converted his 11th field goal from 50 yards or longer, the most in a season for one player. He also became the first kicker in NFL history

with at least four or more field goals in multiple games in a single postseason. He's played two, both games. He's four-for-four. Here's what Joe Burrow had to say about the last kick. So he was talking to Brandon as he was going out to kick. He gave a little warm-up swing, and he said, ah, it looks like we're going to the AFC championship

right before he went out there to kick it. And when you have a kicker, I mean, we knew exactly what we had as soon as he walked into the building in camp, and we just saw how he carried himself. Oh, let's go behind the Velvet Robs for a second here. Evan McPherson, he's moved all the way up now to number one. The kicker power rankings in the playoffs. Justin Tucker still in his own world.

And I wonder if he changes the way teams start looking at the kicker in the draft. Taken in the fifth round, it's, you're not, Roberto Aguayo, I think, scared off a lot of teams. That second round pick of the bucks, that was a horrific misfire. And you've seen it every couple of years, somebody really reaches. But teams that have avoided it completely take a look at the draft classes. Just look how much a great kicker can change a team. Gostkowski was a fourth round pick and got a lot of grief at the time. He's in the back right now, popping bottles.

They're getting rid of Vinatari. And I always thought like people, like, hey, it was like, I can't believe you a wasted draft pick out of kicker. Oh, like what, your fourth and fifth round picks are changing your franchise ever? Right. It's like, give me a break. That's the ego of GMs. They always think the safety they take in the sixth round is actually a big time. If you believe in them, and you're right, obviously with McPherson, but if you believe in them, even in your only halfway right, like, that's a perfectly acceptable pick.

You should take kickers. There's 25 scenarios a season where a better kicker is going to give you a chance to win. I mean, look at Justin Tucker for the Ravens, obviously. But you've added Burrow and McPherson over the course of two seasons. It completely changes the Bengals. Totally even plans there. Burrow and McPherson, that's two pillars. No, but you know what?

But honestly, like how many teams with good quarterbacks are riding shaky streets because the kicker you can't trust? You're getting your third and fourth kicker by December. They have Big Bone Randy on their roster, which I think they did at some. They're not playing for the AFC championship on Sunday. It's simple as that. I mean, he's that important. Did you guys see the clip that was circulating today? That was on TikTok, but it made it to Twitter, too.

There's a video of McPherson kicking it, and there's a Gatorade bottle taped to the pylon, and he kicks the ball, like a field goal range, and the ball hits the cap and unscrews the Gatorade cap, and it's like crazy. Cincinnati's got swag coming out of their ears between McFierless, Chase, doing the gritty, And Burrow, like, who's just, like, on another level with the way he dresses and the way he plays and carries.

I know people weren't driving last night in Cincinnati because, like, my sense is that town likes to do and buy alcohol. It's crazy, though, because, like, you watch this game. Did you guys get the feeling that, like, the Bengals were better, you know? I mean, it was just even. It was a field goal game. They were dominated. Their offensive line was dominated in such a manner in a winning performance, unlike anything I've ever seen. I mean, Burrow has to take some of those sacks as his own responsibility.

A couple times he was protected and he held the ball too long and he's trying to make a play. I would say at least three of those times. Once knocked him out of field goal range, it wasn't a perfect game from Burrow. In fact, before that field goal, they had gone three and out, interception, punt, punt in the drives before that field goal. But the reason is because all day he was in third and 18 they faced. one point third and 14 third and 16 third and 18 like their offensive line was absolutely manhandled Jeffrey Simmons had as good a performance as anyone not named Aaron Donald has had a defensive tackle oh he was unbelievable they like they still won the game I don't know there's part of me

that feels very like like that was problem that was a problem that I'm worried about that but that is and the Packers were the same way the Titans they I thought they were a little bit tight in this game I thought you know you saw it not the deep I mean, the defense held Joe Burrow to 19 points, you know what I mean? But just that idea of, like, being at home, having the opportunity to take care of business and just not quite being there, not executing the way you were when there was less pressure on you at the end of the season when you had that winning streak. I don't know, it was just, it's very frustrating, I imagine, for Titans fans as well.

For the Bengals, like, you know, we'll look forward all week, but it's two weeks in a row where you can look at a series of drives and it's the protections. First of all, like coaching staff maybe can we figure out how to stop some of the bleeding with the Joe Burrow punishment midway through this game. There was no answer for that. But Raiders game, this game, they're not finishing certain drives. That's not going to work against Kansas City. Right. Well, I also think their weaknesses have matched up really poorly.

Their interior line is where they're just terrible. And Chris Jones isn't going to be a huge treat. And now you have Chris Jones and Jaron Reed coming. But the thing Burrow did that like Tanna Hill didn't at all and no one on the Titans' offense did was like he made plays that weren't. There is a play I can think of where they knew he was going to roll out. Like they didn't bite on the play fake. He has a defender right in his face, and they have two defenders on Jamar Chase. I think it was a third down.

Maybe it wasn't. That play is defended perfectly. Like the coach had the exact play. Everyone's in place. It's three on two. Burrow makes the miss. And then he gets it to Chase, who makes two guys miss, and they pick up a first down. And that's kind of just like our players are better.

than your players. I don't care about your coach. He is mentally tough. It makes me think of Ricky Hollywood. There's a parallel with the way the two of them operate and they're in professions. I agree. Here's the good news, by the way, how we kind of got into this game. You said Joe Burroughs there with Josh Allen and Patrick G.

We're right there. We get to find out. That's going to be amazing because Josh Allen did literally everything he could do and it still wasn't enough to knock off the Chiefs. Joe Burrow is going to have to deliver on a similar scale. And he did it. He did it in Arrow. head, which I don't know if that helps or hurts either team in particular, but they know they can

come from behind. But the desert's not buying it. I mean, the chiefs went into this game barely favored over the bills. The chiefs are favored by a touchdown next week. Well, I mean, the desert has adored Kansas City all season. So I'm not overly concerned with that. All right. Let us, before we move on to the NFC side of action, we do have to. We do have have the bill cower comments on tom brady would you like to hear them please please why not okay go ahead rick coach you love the 49ers don't you i love the 49ers but i'll tell you what i love the opportunity to watch tom brady and what he's done if he does have step down we've been blessed to watch one the greatest of all time oh doubt ambassador of the football game national football

league this guy represents everything that's right about it you're right love you tom what i knew i didn't know oh yeah love you bro That's not going to work with Dan. I can tell you that much. Well, the funny thing, too, is James Brown asked him about the 49ers. Yeah, right? Well, you know, he answered the question he wanted to answer, his own way. Wait, before we move on, you guys were all with Lakeisha.

I didn't make it over, but how cool was that when they hit that kick? I mean, I think one of you took the videos of it. Like, she was on top of the world, and that must have been so nice. It was really nice to all be together at all these days, but watching a football game, like, we did it outdoors. Link is there. He slept through the first half, came out for the second half. Walker was there.

You know, Connie and Gonzo were all there. It was beautiful, and I don't know, like, we're along for this right. She's already thinking, like, what if there's a Bengals-Ram Super Bowl? Who do I root for? Yeah. We'll be confusing. And it's so funny because, like, I was driving home after the game from Lakeisha's, and it was like, imagine, like, having this conversation.

say, where would Wes be at right now on this Bangle situation? Now, it's kind of, it's taken on a life of its own on Twitter and amongst, like, the listeners. And there's a general vibe, like, Bengals are the team of ATL. This is for Wes and all this stuff. We don't know, like, where West would actually come down on Cincinnati at this point in time. But there is still, like, this, like, kind of spiritual bond that it just connects out. It's just, it's been very nice. And his brothers.

I mean, like, we've been texting with a, no, I mean, Wes is, was the most stubborn friend I've ever had. So I am not just assuming that he would have flowered open and become this giant Bengals fan this season. Yet there are elements of the Bengals that Wes would have loved about the football. What is he doing when that field goal goes through the uprights, the 52-yard? I think it would have...

We're in the backyard, he's with us. I think it would have melted. His heart by then would have melted to some degree on the Bengals front. But would Link be in a Bengals shirt? No way. Oh, see, that's... No way. I don't know.

No way. We don't know. We were talking about this in the moments after, too. Yeah, I kind of don't think he would full. embrace it all. But you know, Wes, like, there were times where he'd say one thing, and I think he would still, like, be appreciate, first of all, he'd appreciate the bro of it all. He'd appreciate that his brothers are having some fun. And even if he wouldn't want to, like, admit it, I think he would just enjoy that it's, like, interesting. Like, ooh, this is a fun, new life experience

I'm having. And it makes it bittersweet, to say the least. Definitely bitter. But it was beautiful to be out there, like, friends. Like, that was one thing I was thinking was, like, he'd appreciate that we are all getting together and that we're all together as a family with his family. Right. And he'd appreciate how much it means to Lakeisha because it does, for her, it ties to him.

And that is. And Lakeisha's mom sitting, you know, in the back with a notebook full of notes. She walked up to me, and she was like, what happened on that last drive on 30? She's charting every play. And I showed her, like, NFL Jesus. Like, if you'd like, this can help you too.

but I love that you're doing this. Oh, yes. By hand, you are a savant. From the first snap, she had her notebook out. She's taking notes. That is amazing. She is the best. I'd love to. We've kind of had her on the podcast.

But at one point, I kind of rolled up next to her, and I saw her notebook, and I said, what you got in there? She was like, nothing. Yes. She's not afraid to kind of just go quiet. But then as we were leaving, she gathered us all together and said some really nice words about how important it was to be together. and how much it means with West and everything. It's just like, all right, that's a special woman. All right.

I'm so pissed at, Jet. Why is that? Because we were supposed to be there for a little bit. We did have a prior engagement, but if we go there first, the Bengals weren't supposed to get this far. I mean, I've had a brunch plan for a long time for someone's birthday. Right. During a playoff game.

Ricky's still technically in her 20, so brunches matter on a level that we can't understand. It was someone's birthday, and I had said yes. but Jet was supposed to be done school and we were going to go to Keisha's first and then, you know, she just took way too long and... You know we're doing the pod right now, right? But I'm mad that I'm not there. And she was like, I know how much this meant to you

and I was like, clearly, you really hustled. Thanks. She has zero rebuttal. All right, let's welcome in Jet to share her thoughts on how this played out. Erica was hammered at 6 in the morning. I do like that bark played out. Like, during a playoff game, he's going to be like,

I'm sorry, but this is our core. I know you were probably tracking it heavily on your phone. I do like, yeah, we're hearing from the Wesleyan Brothers, Nick saying that Tim sounded like he was having a fake orgasm at one point, which I thought was an interesting response. And I just want to give Dan credit 16 to 6 Titans, not to go back to the game, but 16 to 6 Titans, they just, I think 4M had just hit that play. They're in shotgun, and as they're getting ready for the stab,

Dan goes, don't throw it, don't throw it, do not throw this ball. And three seconds later, Tana Hill, through that interception where on the screen. There was another moment where Dan, that was a great job. Dan raised incredible alarm at this garden party because Joe Burrow got hit, and it looked like for a minute he was a slightly uncomfortable in the knee area. And Dan sounded like he had been taken out in the stomach by a bow and arrow, but instead, you know, nothing. Joe Burrough is one of the most exciting aspects of this NFL season.

He's coming off a catastrophic knee injury, and he got hit low and then grabbed at his leg. And I went, I'll move my mic here. I'm like, oh, no, his knee. And then Greg was legitimately upset. He was like, hey, calm down about that. Hey, easy. Take it easy. There's nothing wrong with this knee.

He's fine. Tana Hill did actually look like he was hurt a little bit later. I was like, Dan, please, you know, fill in the place. Why are you been saying that? But I was giving you, I was just trying to coach you up a little bit. Calm down. You're around a bunch of people. Like, Joe Burroughs' mom there? Yeah, like we're there.

Who am I not? I'm just saying, if you're going to yell out like that, be a little more sure that something bad happened. Greg Rosenthal's social dynamics class. You don't need to alarm the masses that Burrow blew out. Greg also dropped an F-bomb in front of his child Walker at one point, which I noticed. So, you know, there's a, Greg, you know, not everyone is totally pure as driven snow here. He wasn't paying attention.

He turned and looked at you, and I saw in his eyes he had never heard that come out of Your mouth. Dan did a great job playing quarterback with Walker as a wide receiver, and I appreciate it. Yes, we had a great time. Dan was the dad. I could never be for Walker. I was like really in the doghouse with Greg about referencing Joe Burroughs knee injury, but then I played with Walker.

It was like even Stephen. Do we need to take a break? Yeah. Let's take a break and then hit the NFC. Let's go find Jets body. You wish. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now I'm Drew Franklin.

And this is NFL cover. Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more.

What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day.

Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Matt Gay, with four seconds on the clock, we'll attempt a 30-yard field goal from the left hash. Hits it with the right foot. Kick on its way.

It is through. It is good. Matt Gay brings it home. There he is. J.B. Long. He deserves it. He's got a lot of pop on the show with the call. KSPN.

Mackay, 30 yards out. The difference and a 30-27 win for the Rams over the Bucks. Moves the Rams back to the NSC title game. A game that the Rams led 20 to 3 at the half, and 27 to 3 in the third quarter, before a series of self-inflicted errors opened the door for what could have been one of the great collapses in NFL playoff history. Cam Acres played a major role with two lost fumbles in that, but that was just two of many errors the Rams made. Matt Gay himself fell short on a 47-yard field goal attempt in perfect conditions.

There was a wayward snap, all sorts of things going on. But when it came down to it, Mark, when the walls are falling in and it goes from 27 to 3 to 27 late in the fourth quarter, Matt Stafford, drop back and made the pass to Cooper Cup that set up the field goal. Cooper Cup, who I just consider to be the MVP, I don't really care who they'd name MVP at this point because he saved the Rams season. He had the early touchdown that Matthew Stafford later called. called, you know, his route, essentially a love of the game route where he's a decoy trying to pull defensive backs away. But he was left open, scored that one, scored the game winner. This is exactly why you went and got Matthew Stafford. I thought Stafford had to answer that question over and over this season. He did it today in spectacular fashion. And, you know,

it's the Rams overcoming past demons and current demons because you're dealing with Tom Brady who, you know, with 10, 15 minutes to go in this game, it looked like this thing was, this was the stinker of the four, four beautiful efforts. And instead, Tom Brady nearly took them to the brink. I mean, it was incredibly watchable. I thought the Rams defense made life very tough for Tom Brady. And early on in the game, it just looked to me like the Bucks had hit a wall, that there were too many people not on the field for them. Tristan Werf's absence affected Tom Brady a ton. You're obviously, your wide receivers are out. You know, they were missing guys. Tom Brady was out of sync, and he really had no one to throw to it. Even with Gronk, he seemed out of place with

gronk until later in the game it was nearly a gem for tom brady i wonder if it's the end of tom brady's career that hangs in the atmosphere at this point for us to find out but for the rams two weeks in a row there are parts of them that looks totally confirmed as a super bowl team they put they face the next um but an incredible effort on the road well i mean if i guess if you if you've been living in a cave that's news this it's such a misleading final score and box score to me. And yes, the Rams losing four fumbles is part of the story. And we should talk about that. But if you wish to. The defense, like, the Rams defense, it's not this, this comeback. And it was a good comeback. But it was all like, I can't believe Brady did it again. They were stopped three

times in a row in the fourth quarter in any other situation. That's the ball game. The Rams defense stopped two different times, like forced punts and also forced the fumble there in the fourth quarter to take it under five minutes. And yet this still happened. But Cup is the story to me. Like those two plays to set up the field goal. It almost feels like now after what the Chiefs did off, 42 seconds, that's nothing. But they didn't have timeouts there, which is like such a big difference. McVeigh's pension for burning totally unnecessary timeouts.

should have come back to haunt him, but it didn't. Those two plays in a row in Cup going nine for 183 and one is just like, maybe it's not the end of one of the best receiving seasons of all time, but it's the most memorable thing yet. The first play, he puts Murphy bunting on the ground. He shakes him so bad that that man went on the ground and in a very safe defense where they're playing to prevent him from going to the sidelines. He gets deep and out of the back.

right it was second and 11 i'm talking about the last two the last two plays 35 seconds left after stafford almost fumbled the ball they're they're playing safe and they didn't send anyone and they didn't get any pressure on stafford and cup gets out of bounds after shaking that dude and i think todd bull saw that and was like i don't want to go down like like a bitch basically and he decides to send the house on the next one because going safe didn't work they hadn't been getting pressure all day so he decides to send everyone but here's where mcmay made makes it up to me personally. They played that so fast.

The NBC actually wasn't even ready for the next snap. They were still in Cups replay. I went back to look. They snapped the ball with 21 seconds left. And because they played with such tempo, and that was the plan coming in. Even though the clock was stopped, there was miscommunication by the Bucks.

The Blitz call did not get passed around to everyone. So it was a total mistake in terms of coverage and what their responsibilities were. And Cup goes deep. and oh, by the way, you've got to make the play, and Stafford, like, delivers a beautiful ball. And you have to then get down the field and clock the ball. Like, that's a part of this as well.

Like, forget about coaching. That's just playing excellence. And the, going back to that quote, because I found that to be an intriguing quote, and I didn't know what it meant at first when Stafford called it for the love of the game route. Because of when the defense is sending the house like that, the guy that just goes straight out to pull away some defenders,

there's not enough time to make him a part of the play unless some of the defenders that are supposed to be blitzing don't get the play call in and they didn't have the full compliment of blitzers coming at Stafford. Now, I think it was Sue as still got to him. Oh, yeah. And Stafford made the play and you got to give it credit.

A really tough throw and a great throw under pressure. Even then most quarterbacks are not making that play. Now, here's the question now, Mark, with the Rams, not to spin out of this game. But I'm just like, I'm still trying to process the Rams with this game as we now look ahead. They have one more game to get to the Super Bowl. And you can't say that they closed this game out.

They had a quarterback and a wide receiver and made a very special play to save the day. But even Cup had a bad fumble in this game lost that changed things. There's something about this team lacking a killer instinct. It's what got them beat in Week 18 by San Francisco. And it almost cost them in a game that would have been remembered forever.

And that spooks me a little bit as we spin forward. I'm with you. but they also have guys like Von Miller who had an absolutely incredible performance today. OBJ completely fits. I'm not sure I love watching that personally, but these moves they've made have worked. And the mistakes, they somehow overcame it today. I mean, you're also playing the dark magic of Tom Brady, and it's like to get out of there with the way they did.

I'm not that concerned with that. I'm probably more concerned with the matchup for San Francisco, but this team is like well-built, well-put-together to get this far, and overcome their own mistakes to me. I don't know. I'm kind of sold on them. Well, to your point, though, Dan, like, I do think it comes from above

that there is something that they get, they tried to sit on this lead. And that's, it's so dangerous. Because, like, when you ask Stafford and Cup to make a couple plays, look, they made it. But they didn't ask them to make those plays for a couple quarters. There was, like, the field goal kick that you mentioned,

that they were short on. They just ran the ball three straight times, including on third and long. It was like McVeigh was just, he has this. You really have issues with McVeigh. It's every show. No, it's just this. He has this conservative streak that when he, like, is leading, he wants to get so conservative.

And the running game wasn't working today. Acres went 24 for 48. So I just, in a game that you were down. It's one of the worst games ever. Acres averages two yards of rush and 24 carries and has two backbreaking fumbles. He fumbled more in this game than Michelle has in the last two years. I was thinking at the end, you've got to have a Sony Michelle in there, like a trust. Too much faith, yeah.

He's got to have like four yards for you. That said, they started out very aggressive. Like, they weren't running at all. I liked what they did, like, throwing early. But it's crazy to dominate a game like that for 55 minutes and have it be that close at the end. I don't buy Tom Brady retiring. I think this might be the beginning of a lot of these guys, these legendary players, even guys that are just around forever, like we just saw with Big Ben.

And there's the period where they're playing for a long time. And then there's the period where it's like every year is like, is he coming back, Willie or Woney? And then he comes back like a couple of years. And then there's the last year. I think with Brady, the way he is, everything tells me as a competitor, he wants to draw this thing out. So I'll believe it when I see it.

But he's thinking about it because. I guess. But that's what I'm saying. It's all part of the process, I think. And I thought he looked. I'm not saying he looked old in this game. But he was so uncomfortable. This was a tough, tough game for.

Brady you had to throw the ball 54 times he was constantly under duress he was having a move around in the pocket i thought to get to 329 yards uh to get that comeback really was a gargantuan effort by him because the the rams defensive line really came after him all game well i mean they were a mess on third down too for a long big chunk of this i just i who were his options to throw to i mean tyler johnson seems to be so out of sync with brady and every one of these playoff games he's not used to his line getting worked that That's why I mean like the box scores are misleading. He looked done with this game, by the way.

When he overthrew Bray to turn the ball back over with about four something left and it was 2713, it just looked like, like, let's get it's like this isn't my job. Let's get out of here. Now, the Rams overcome losing four fumbles in a half or, you know, they had one right before the half when they could have gone up 273 and Acres fumbles on the goal line going into halftime. Ariens doesn't take timeouts there, which felt like the biggest, like give up move ever. It was just like, I don't even want to try to score at the end of the half.

He wasn't taking timeouts when the Rams had the ball. But before that, like, I don't know if any quarterback could have done much there because the Rams defensive line was destroying them. ESPN ran a stat that said they had the highest pass rush win rate of any team in any half in a game in the first half of that game. This was the ultimate proof that like Sax and QB hits are are a quarterback's that because Brady managed to make it only three sacks in four or five quarterback hits, but it wasn't just

worse as guy that was getting beat like a drum like Donovan Smith was getting destroyed. The guys in the middle were getting destroyed. All those Rams defensive linemen, I think it's a special group. I think it's potentially like a special Super Bowl championship group. Now that Miller... Well, in Miller's nine QB pressures were

the third most he's had in the next gen stats area. Talk about showing up. He's playing at a high level now. with Floyd there and Donald. Yeah, I think Brady for the first, having, they showed at some point, coming back from a commercial break, him and Gronk celebrating after the Super Bowl last year on the field.

And it struck me that his jersey, and they played on grass, it was at Tampa, was completely white, gleaming white. Like it didn't have a mark on him. And in this game, he took a beating. He was bleeding. Bloody lip. There was a shot as he was walking off the field

with the sun in his face and he kind of actually looked 44 years old for the first time ever. I was like, man, this is, this was hard work. So maybe this, if you want to buy into the idea, as Tom thinking about coming back or leaving, this was kind of probably a very tough game for him to head into the offseason on.

I wonder if, if the comeback, because it, you know, he does throw that pass to Evans, which is a beautiful throw. When he made that throw, I was like, that would be a great last throw in the NFL. Burke texted me that. It was so true. But then he gets the ball back.

They go, you know, they score again. I almost wonder if, like, the way this game ended, I don't know, maybe it's a good way to go out on it. Ooh. What are you talking about? Just that like, it wasn't embarrassed. The Super Bowl would have been a good way. No one's going to remember this.

I guess what I mean is like it was a reminder of both things, how completely difficult it is to play and try to win the Super Bowl. Like this, he knows how poorly the buck's offense played and how badly they were beaten for 55 minutes. Then you have, like, the way it finished, and at least, like, you didn't go out in some embarrassing chump-like way. When I saw these reports, I was like, oh, I think he's kind of gone. Like, I was a surprise because you haven't, you haven't seen. Everybody want to put a sandwich on it? No, I don't. I don't feel.

I don't think you will, but Greg. Like, I don't feel confident. I hear what you're saying, Greg. Maybe I'm wrong about the good way. Who would disagree with you more that it's a competent way or a memorable way to go out than Tom Brady? Right. He was as steamed and annoyed after. this game and throughout this game and last week and in previous weeks as I've seen him I think

he's very frustrated with how this offense finished in general I think that's true I take back saying it'd be in some way a good way I guess in my it's my fandom that it's like at least it wasn't embarrassing he had a nice right he was a fighter in this game absolutely come back and that was it because those reports and he basically said it to Al and he probably said it to Jeff Darlington and Adam Schaefter who reported on ESPN they hinted at like well if he makes or wins a Super Bowl, then that's probably it. So he was already thinking that way as if he could get to the finish line, then maybe he was going.

I like the part of that report also is like, actually, his wife has wanted him to retire since 2017. Right. Oh, that must be getting awkward. Right. They were like half a decade ago. Who was doing this game? Yeah, Troy was like, yeah, I think Giselle will have a say of that.

I don't know. I mean, Chris was saying that. And I was like, well, I think if she had a say, He would have retired four years ago. He can't throw the ball and catch you two. My favorite Giselle line of all time. I do like this. That was a low moment, walking out of that giant's locker room

and seeing Giselle waiting for Tom. From S.I's Mitch Goldich, he tweeted that daytime Michaels and Collinsworth is like running into your teacher at the mall. It was very bizarre to me to listen to them at daytime because I'm typically with the way we watch football all day long together. We go watch that Sunday night performance. in the big viewing room together when we're allowed in this building.

And you get the throaty, kind of chalky, Chris Collinsworth shouting at you for three hours as the nightcap. I don't understand it early in the day. Al who's probably having cocktails along the Malibu Coastline at 2 a.m. the night before. You know, he's a night owl.

He's a guy that, like, he was still waking up when it was 1.30 in the afternoon there. Like, Al's a, Al likes to hit up the nightlight. Plus the bucks are a prime time. That's true, but do you... The Bucks are a prime-time team. You and Wes always used to be annoyed at the light in Tampa afternoon games, which was a little annoyed.

Well, it was much more annoying when they were also like a wild trash bag of a team. It's a little less annoying the sunshine in Florida when it's Brady running the show. And, by the way, that was not a criticism of the great legendary Al Michaels. I just know Al likes, he likes living in L.A. And he likes the life. What's the place where Mel Gibson went? Moon Shadows? Yeah.

He'll have a stake. He did more than just went there. or just go there he that was his haunt until it wasn't what one last quick thing is we been we should i do just want to say how great stafford was because he had nothing to do with why they fell apart in this game nothing at all they threw the ball over his head his running backs fumbled twice cooper cup fumbled twice his coach started running and not like letting him throw he was excellent uh and they were aggressive from start to finish he he was the better you know he was protected better but he was the better quarterback

in this game. As if we needed any more validation for that being one of the best trades in recent memory, today basically locked that up. They absolutely hit a home run on that trade. With Andrew Whitworth out at left tackle, I mean, we've seen what that's done to the bucks to lose your star tackle on the right side. Joe Noteboom came in,

and I thought he did a good job. I mean, it's like that. A little note boom in your notebook there. I like that. I didn't get some note boom. I didn't see much out of Jack Barrett or JPP. This team will not be the same next year. That's the thing they tried to do.

They brought everyone back. That's not, you know, look, they got to this point. They were in a good position. But everyone's not going to be back next year. JPP for one will be one of those people. I'll tell you the first person. Yeah, I'll tell you the first person out the door of Tom Brady leaves, Bruce Ariens. Right.

He's not on board with like nurturing a young quarterback. Ariens said he's back. But there was talk also in the media that if they could make it to the Super Bowl, that he would be out too. But he was very quick in definitive saying he was back because I think he knows he can't have any equivocation there or else Brady would be like, yeah. They also have about $5 million in effective cap space.

So we'll see. All right. So the Buccaneers are dead. Long live the Buccaneers. There will be a new Super Bowl champion. Let's find out the Rams opponent. Maybe you don't know. Maybe you don't.

And now you'll find out. Well, Mark just told you. Well, maybe they missed that part of the show. How about bleep out the team that I mentioned, Erica? No way. No, that's a great idea. No way. No way.

There might be one person listening that is on the edge of their seat. Also, why is the- So what am I not supposed to put anything in the description to? Why is the response, no way? Because. Because it's out of hand, just I won't do it for you. The description's different. Most people don't read the description.

Yeah, no, you could avoid the description. Or put, how about this? If where you were going to mention that team in the description, six X's, five Xs. Leave it a surprise for everyone. Okay. Okay. So we're assuming... Well, then we get into an SEO situation there. Right, because we're trying to drum up the, you know, the clicks.

Well, for the individual that did not watch the game, they probably aren't reading the description. They probably floated in audio-wise. You're very well-practice that beeping out things. I mean, I think you can do it. Okay. Just beep that one. Okay. Be you obedient.

And then when people get to this part of the show, it's always got to go there, Mike. I'm just saying, well, I don't understand why the response is no way. Like, I am allowed to suggest something, and you might say that's a... good idea i'll think about it at least i would if it was a good idea what's up with grown men uh wanting saying they love tom brady first it was zolak i love tom brady and now it's cower they're bound down just calm down gorgeous gorgeous girls love tom brady all right let's get to another number one seed melt out how are the 49ers bill i love you tom he got caught up in the moment. Cower.

Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.

Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else.

It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level,

we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you don't miss it listen to the move the six podcast on the i heart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts pepper snap is a little high pull down by wishnowski robbie gold has it away and it is good as gold robbie gold has kicked the 49ers to victory here in green bay Oh, the bongos! You got to, oh, can you supplement the bongos with some, you know who I'm looking for?

Feeley, good as gold, Robbie is. Just hit it, hit it like five times in a row. Sure. Now, be obedient. That gets a sure. Be obedient. That gets a sure. I'm not comfortable with this.

All right, you ready? No. I need a second. Robbie gold. Good is gold. He is. Gold makes a 45-yard field goal. Saturday night.

Time expires. The Niners knock off the top-seated Packers. 1310. Yes, it is the 49ers, listener X, who will meet the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium for the right to play in Super Bowl 56 right here at SoFi Stadium. Would that be weird if two years after never happening for 55 years or whatever, two years in a row

the team in the Super Bowl is playing in their own stadium. That could happen. That's in play now. It doesn't matter right now because we're talking about the Niners. Robbie Gold has made all 20 of his career playoff field goal attempts. Maybe he should be number one and McPherson number two? Tight battle. I'll have to think about that. I'll get back to you on

Thursday with the official rankings. The Niners continue to put a postseason curse on Aaron Rogers. They have always had their way with him. And for the Packers, Greg, this is a lot more disappointing or we'll get to them, but the Niners is a gritty win by a team that just finds away.

I feel like such a company, man, but how great is the NFL that you can have these two classic games? And I consider this a classic game. And one is 42-36 in overtime, and one is 13 to 10 in the snow. You put this in the same category as the game we watched today. Different. Certainly the execution and, like, the level of football is not the same,

but in terms of it being a memorable football moment that was so tense throughout the game that had an explosive ending and had me riveted and had great plays, absolutely. The one play I'll remember forever is that Debo Samuel third and seven run. 103 left. Such a fascinating moment, I think, for a coach,

the Packers had no timeouts, and I just thought they kind of have to run it here. As much as I'm like the stay aggressive guy, I was like, you kind of have to run it here. You can't give Rogers the time and you've got to try to run it twice and see what happens. That's who you are.

You're the 49ers. And worst case scenario, you bring the clock down and you don't let the Packers get the ball. They line up in shotgun to spread them out. They get used, check running all the way across the plate to check it out even more. They pull their guard

and then they give the ball to Debo Samuel a wide receiver who only had 83 yards in this game, but it was like, it's like the most impactful 83 yards plus that kick return you will ever see. And it's what the 49ers are all about. You have Joanne Jennings, a wide receiver, blocking out there.

You have Kiddle blocking out there. And then you have Debo, who has two guys pretty much unblocked that he has to beat. And he, like, dead legs, Jair Alexander, who came back for this game last couple weeks and just kind of puts a move on him, breaks the tackle, gets the first down.

It was a perfect play call of like doing what you're best at, your best player, they convert it, and gold gets it done a few plays later. It was an awesome way to end. I love that you paired it with the Chiefs and Bill's game because I think if you were to like double bill football games like you do movies, it was such a different type of game. And watching this with my kids a little bit too,

it's like, oh, special teams for certain teams, If you can make that and maximize that, that's what the Niners did. I mean, it was that Debo Samuel, the fact that he was playing injured at that point, that it was snowing, that it was the Niners against this, this matchup to me, I enjoyed watching this so thoroughly. And there was a moment in this that I thought showed, that gave the Niners total hope before halftime. Because Jimmy Ward blocks the field goal.

Before that, he had allowed Aaron Jones to have the 75-yard catch-and-run, the blown coverage, that really put. put them into a hole. Then the field goal is blocked by Jimmy Ward right before halftime. Because if you look at the way Green Bay came out on that first drive, I thought this thing was going to be curtains for San Francisco. Instead, they start to put the muzzle over Aaron Rogers and the Green Bay offense. You go into halftime off that special teams play with a completely different mindset, feeling like we're the more resilient team. This reminds us of so many of our different wins. We trust that Shanahan's going to get us out of this.

Aaron Rogers' butt is tightening by the minute. The Packers are not here for the moment, and this is what Green Bay does every single January. They are misfits. They are absolute meltdown artists. And I know that a lot of listeners come out of me for being hard on the Packers. They are a regular season team that doesn't know how to close, and they were taken to town by a football team that played all three phases and did not let up.

So we all... Like two phases. Including you. Well, they played all three. They executed two of them very well. We went into this game thinking this Packers team would be different. Like we talked about it on the network show on Saturday. And yet they weren't.

And I think what for me, when I think about this game and why I don't see it as necessarily a classic, is when a team let's, I think of this game of the Packers lost more than the Niners won. And that affects like when I think of like all-time classic playoff games. And I, you know, they go right down the field. They score a touchdown. They get the ball back and a sneaky underrated play in this game as Mercedes-Lewis fumbles on the second possession

where they're marching again to go up. Great play by Warner though, too. Two scores. Absolutely. But from that point on, and everyone's going to be dwelling on the special teams, and I get that because not only did the field goal get blocked 39-yard or at the end of the first half,

that would have put them up 10-0. They then allow a 45-yard kickoff return on the first play of the second half, And then, of course, the block punt and touchdown return heard around the world with 441 remaining. But the thing with Aaron Rogers and the thing with the Packers this year was this was a special offense that was supposed to rise to the occasion. And I think starting with that Mercedes-Louis fumble, they got tighter and tighter and tighter. And think about the two possessions for the Packers that sandwiched that block punt. It was a three-and-out and a three-and-out.

like Rogers needs to wear this loss as much as anyone else because he is the guy that's going to get the MVP trophy and he came up very small as did the rest of the team I hated the scheme like we were talking about or I was talking about Alan Lazard barely gets targeted in this game it was Aaron Jones and it was Devante Adams 21 of 26 attempts to those two players at the end I did a sky sports hit at the end of the third quarter

and they had not yet targeted a wide receiver other than Devante Adams. Targeted. And so what happened? Why did that, now you got to give credit to San Francisco, of course. But what happened with this team? How did they get tight? That goes to the head coach as well. I think that the weather is a helpful equalizer.

I think the 49ers pass rush was awesome. Bosa with five pressures, two sacks. Armstead with four pressures, two sacks. If you think about those special teams gaffes, What happened right before both of them? Sacks. In the red zone. Aaron Rogers had 26 seconds left in the first half when he took that sack.

And those were quick sacks. Those were not sacks I really put on Rogers. Those were sacks where the O line kind of collapsed and they got to him almost right away. The one before half of him, they had a lot of time there to go try to score. But instead they sacked them and then they just had to spike it and do the kick. And the same thing with the block punt, you're buried deep there. He makes a mistake on second down, and he gets sacked on third down. So they moved their entire offensive line around.

Billy Turner came back, but Bacteari didn't. And Billy Turner is another starter who's been out for a while, and they decided to put him at left tackle. They got rid of our guy Yoshi. I forget what his name is. I call him Yoshi. And then they moved, they moved the guards around. Does anyone listening know who that is?

Who? What is his name? Yosh. Our guy. Our guy, Yoshi. I mean, he's one of my favorite names in the NFL. I should know his name. What position does he play?

He's been their left tackle for the last few weeks with Turner. Go ahead. Anyways, they reshuffled their entire offensive line, and that seemed to cause some sort of communication and was maybe a decision that Lafleur regrets, and certainly they were bringing it up during the broadcast that maybe it might be something they regret, that they moved around three or four positions.

Yossi or Yusha Nevon. I mean, they overcame, you know, what was pretty stagnant, obviously, and mistake-prone Niners' offense. I mean, Jimmy G. with seven minutes left in the third quarter, had six completions that traveled 21 yards downfield. They overcame a terrible interception by Jimmy G. Near the goal line that set up that Aaron Jones catch and run. There were a lot of risky throws by Jimmy G.

There were a lot of drops. It was not a good effort. I kind of thought the Niners would tell us who they were. were by their first driver to with their scripted drives. They wanted to run the ball 40 times. They were total duds. I thought maybe this is the game where the journey is over for this team. They are not in control.

I think you had one of your Sessler prediction text, as I recall. I mean, that's what I thought I said on our network show that I wanted to see what happened on the first drive. It couldn't have been worse. I just couldn't be more impressed with the way they worked the way out of this. I do think the weather, to your point, Greg, changed it for both teams. And I'm sure we'll get a bunch of think pieces. Doesn't it hurt the team that's better at passing?

It absolutely, it was zero degrees there. It should, but it's like, it's in, it's at Lambeau and they were eight and no there and they've been, and I get it. I'm just, I've been playing there for 20 years. Right. And Kyle Shanan said, like, we'll be happy to be playing somewhere warm next week. But I think it, it helped them. They were built more for it. I mean, I, although that said, I mean, they've had probably 16 better offensive performances this season.

So I'm not sure. Right, but I'm just saying, you know, I take the trade off because I think it just made it tougher for the receivers. Dan, you mentioned that they should just put the Packers in a dome at this point, because Lambeau maybe isn't an advantage for Green Bay in this situation. They keep melting down in this. You texted me that they should just put them in a dome. They're like seven and seven. I think that was me.

Prove it. Greg did it. I think it was me. I said that put a... You're doing these games like 800 texts happening where you're trying to watch the game, please. I feel really bad, too, about Yosh Neiman. Just give up. Because like Yoshi just...

Go back to Yoshi. Go back to Yoshi. And, like, this man, though, dessert. He's not Yos. He's his Yosch, so he deserves this. What happened with the Bakhtiari, by the way? That was the kept that under. The dumb subplots we've had a deal with for the past month and a half.

Well, he played in Week 18. Yeah, for like, that's what made it really strange. And then vanished. Well, he clearly didn't, you know, he tried to return. He clearly his body did not the spot. Well, many mistakes were made by the Packers, obviously, in execution on Saturday night, but was bringing in Backdiari back in Week 18 for a tune-up for a game. He didn't even make two weeks later.

I wonder if that's something privately that they botched as well. I get why they did that, though, because we were asking, oh, will the chemistry be there when they put all of them into the... Right. Rogers said I was so happy to, like, play with those two guys, with Wells, who did play in this game, the center. I do want to talk about, like, the Rogers missed, though. So the way it ended was crazy in terms of their last possession. I misspoke before. I was mixing up the drives. His last throw of the game

was that deep shot to Devante Adams where once they got the coaches tape out today, he has Lazard breaking open on a pretty clear read. It's tough for, like, dorks like us to be like, oh, you should have thrown it there. But this is one, and smarter people than me have broken it down where it's like, okay, if the safety goes here, then you get the crosser here.

And Lazard is wide open. And instead, he clearly kind of made the decision. I'm just going to give Devante Adams a chance. And he just hucked it up. And it's like totally not what he has done the entire season. And it was very farvy. And it was very far against the Giants where he just started like chucking the ball up late. This is something that now needs to be talked about.

This is a big, that was a big legacy game for Rogers. The resume is stacking up now what's happening in these January games. and to see what he did yesterday, and again, you're right, Greg. There was a lot of past protection issues, but when he was as dominant as he was for like 90% of this season, including untouchable in the last seven weeks, and then to fail to move the team when the, when the season was on the line, then you watch what happened today at Arrowhead. It's pretty cold there, too, by the way. And you see Josh Allen and Patrick Gough Holmes just going at each other back and forth,

brilliant artists at the peak of their game. it makes me think differently about Rogers after this particular game. He's still a legendary player. He's still probably worthy of being the MVP this year. But you can no longer look the other way with this January stuff. I tried to look the other way, Mark,

and it cost me in the lock game. I had a chance to win the title outright. Right. And I lost it, and I now... He lost it for you. He certainly did. And I will tell you what. Now it's the one game of difference.

I now have to pull like at the break glass and I have to flip the emergency switch is ride or die with my homes and I'm giving you a heads up and just riding or die with my homes well I won't be afraid to confront you again I'll you know consult my own

internal strategy but I'm not looking necessarily to tie here nor am I I feel the same I mean but there was a year that you caught me and tied and like I have to take that into consideration but that was sort of a cheesy photo of both of us like holding a trophy together.

Nobody won that photo. No, it's just absurd. So there's a lot to look ahead, but I'm with you on one thing. I am not doing this again with Aaron Rogers. I will not. I am not. Like, I don't think he is either. I don't think he is interested in a rebuild on any level.

They are 44 million over the cap heading into the offseason. They got a lot of big questions. His comments after the game, I thought, were, I mean, tilted towards, uh-uh, not into it anymore. I can't deal with it. Really? We all agree that we think he's coming back at this point. He'll come back and retire in week six if things are bad, but that's totally different. He's had some annoying, to put it mildly, moments this year.

And my least favorite was reading that entire ESPN article. Like, if you were trying to give Aaron Rogers any benefit of the doubt, he drove me crazy in that article. I don't know if you read it. And so I, like a lot of people apparently on Twitter, was happy to see them lose on some level and happy to say, Oh, for sure. Say bye-bye. But I watched the press conference. I thought he handled it pretty well.

I don't think it showed much either way. He was trying to be fair. I don't know. I went into this game kind of assuming he would be back with the Packers. He did say the Goudicund's relationships going well. I think he wants to keep playing football. I think he would, like, when he wins, I would have voted Brady, but when he wins the MVP, it's a regular season award.

But he just played poorly this game. It wasn't just that... You don't want to retire in this game. Unless he doesn't love the game anymore, I think he loves the sport. The Packers aren't getting rid of him. Like, they have all the leverage. They have them under contract.

They're not handing it over to Jordan Love. Like, they're going to give him some more money. I just don't see how it wouldn't work out that way. But to your point that he has to wear it. Like, his location was off throughout the game. It was, in the play before that Lazard miss, he almost threw an interception trying to force it to Randall Cobb. It was not a good game by her.

This is the divisional. He didn't outplay Jimmy G. Jimmy G, who was not good in this game either, but he made as many plays as Rodgers. He made a couple plays. I think statistically you look at the box score and it says, oh, Rogers outplayed him. But really, well, let's face it, though.

Rogers was a massive disappointment. Rogers bombed out in this game, and he's the MVP. So, like, there's a higher bar that needs to be met. Garapolo could easily throw a pick six or two in this game, but he didn't, and the Niners are moving on. And that is as annoying as, to me, the performances of the Packers, you just got to give it to the Niders

and think about now that they go to L.A. to face the Rams for a chance to go to the Super Bowl and they know they could beat the Rams. And that's going to be an interesting game to watch how it all unfolds. How about Shannie just kind of owning Matt LaFleur and owning Sean McVeigh? I thought they had split their matchups before.

Maybe it's that I was thinking. Well, next week could change everything about all that business. Well, he's owned Sean McVay. You know, they've won, what, six straight? And they've certainly, maybe it's the 49ers that have owned Aaron Rogers. After passing on him in the draft, you know. Well, he's never beaten him in the playoffs.

In the playoffs. But I've noticed that Shanny is coming for Lafleur's beard. You know, Lafleur is known for this, and it's almost thin to the point of being silly now. Lafleur. And Shanahan's beard has never looked better, never more groomed. He out-bearded it. The bearded boy, and they went to his... Well, one is a boy, so that's the beginning of the issue.

It's hard. When you're a boy, it's hard. All right, spinning forward. Sunday, January 30th, 2012. And by the way, you don't have to worry about anything COVID-related. COVID has been cured in the NFL. We're done with that. Now we just need Fauci to connect with certain figures in the NFL and the rest of the world will be fine as well.

So just giving everybody a heads up on that. Isn't it crazy? Problem solved. Isn't it crazy that, and I'm happy, obviously, and we all should be happy, that we just went through this entire weekend of playoff football, and it wasn't even on the radar? Like, whether you think that's good or bad or right or wrong, from where we were in December where it looked like the season was about to go under

to you get to this place, and it didn't even come up, really. Well, it has to do with something green with the face of presidents on it, and the machine will not be interrupted. Usually I would say that, but I think there's some other. No, I'm wrong. The league is very pure, and that's, you know, that's how they'll proceed. No, I think there might be some things going on here where we might see society start to follow a path that the NFL is on. Not that the NFL started this, but.

It's also died down. It's kind of like my kid's school. There were six people in it two weeks ago, and there was 18, you know, in Ellis's class. So there's six in it two weeks ago and there's 18 in it now. Right. There's no need to be vague. Just the general idea that there's, we might be reaching a stage where society is just like, we got to live with this.

We lost. We're taking the L. You can't do this. You can't do this business all next season, and they don't intend to. It's dying down. Well, you said it was going to die down after the first wave two years ago. I'm just saying this wave is clearly on the recess.

What was Greg's take? It's going to be fine by June. That was, you know, like 20, 2019 or whatever. It wasn't as bad as the like the first weekend of it, Erica, on our network show's final thought was everyone should go out. Oh, my God. Yeah, I forgot about that. Live your life.

Ordering the people to gather, to breathe into each other's faces and cavities. That's what I said safely outside and walks are good for your mental health. Like they even, the NFL just announced that they are not testing unvaccinated players anymore. If they're, you know, unless they're showing real symptoms. Yeah, it's symptoms. Like it is, there's been a 180 and where this is going. I was impressed that so many players self-reported for those couple weeks too, but I think that. Well, unless they're on your favorite team, but like that, sure.

That kind of went out the window, I feel like, once the playoffs started, in terms of, like, you were leaving it up to the players to self-report. They did that in the regular season, and they're not. Like, Debo Samo's like, I have a small cough. See you next season. Like, no, shut up, please. You will say nothing and you will play for 60 minutes. They missed A.J. Dillon in that game.

That was a big. I'll go win a game, Packers. Well, that is a nuclear level loss for the Packers. I really thought it was a classic. I'm going to tell you something right now. If Rogers comes back and 88% of sports writers picked them to win in the NFC, I'm out of here. This was a classic, Dan.

I'm a couple of work for Home and Garden magazine. You know, I think you like Rogers. You locked them up. I think you got to recognize this was a classic. Good for you! Not at the same level, but also very memorable. No, I will remember the Packers gagging and collapsing into puddle their own pee.

But it was like the block punt was an exciting play. I'm not saying it wasn't like. I like fun low-scoring games, too. I'm just saying the Packers utterly collapsing and pooping themselves on Saturday night was a highly disappointing outcome for a team that, here, this is what it's about for me. Especially, like, for instance, I had number one of the power rankings too. That's where it's coming from. No, well, listen, let me explain.

When you watch all the games and you get invested in the themes of a season and how teams respond to certain things, and how a quarterback plays. And everything's pointing to, this is a big time, real deal team. And then people say, oh, yeah, but sometimes in January. Not sometimes. And then I'm like, well, I've watched every snap of this team,

and I've watched the way this quarterback is playing, and I'm going to lean on everything that's happened this year to inform how this weekend goes. And then a totally different team shows up. All right, hold on. That's annoying. That's a logical way to approach, exercise such as power rankings.

I'm totally with you. But the clock has struck midnight on Green Bay, not just sometimes, every single year since 2010. Aaron Rogers is won one Super Bowl. You said in clear terms that you think this team is different also than those teams. Right, but I picked the Niners to win. I picked the Niners to win the game. I didn't think this was a mismatch.

You picked two things then. What do you mean? You said this team was different than the past teams. For weeks and weeks, I do think that they're not the same Packers team where the defense under Dom Capers with his fake hair flying in the wind is going to totally collapse. That I do think they were built differently,

but I did not think they were going to win this game. I picked the Niners. There's not, I didn't say two things. I picked the Niners too, partly because I just thought it was fun and I thought they'd cover and because it started raining along with that snow. Oh, well done.

That's right. Freezing rain. Oh, yeah. 72. Rainmaker might have to just quit for the year. You're going. You're more annoying than Aaron Rogers talking about quitting.

Just don't do it or do it at this point. That's fair. I didn't think it was like a mismatch, though. To me, these teams were pretty close to even over the course of the season. I know that seems crazy, but over the course of like the last nine or ten games. And that's the thing about the NFL. We invest so much time, especially us, because we're working in it, into it all being like this buildup and it's like your resume and here's what you did. But it's just like one game.

And these two teams personally, I don't think we're too even. I think the 49ers have a lot going for them other than the quarterback, you know, other than the two quarterbacks, I think the 49ers are legitimately a better team. They get into teams heads too. When we picked the game, I said, well, ultimately, Aaron Rogers, Jimmy Garapolo.

That's the main difference. Unless Aaron Rogers pees down his leg in a huge spot in the playoffs. And an MVP shouldn't do that. He's not the MVP. And special teams was a seven point difference, and they won by three. Because they blocked the field goal,

they get the touchdown. They also get the return. And the Packers, you know who's pissed off at Aaron Wright? You think, like, we are, whatever, or you are? Like, you know who's pissed is Rashon Gary and Kenny Clark and that defense who gave up six points. They gave them six points in a playoff game, and they lost. And that's why I wouldn't like the Niners next week, but then again, they find a way. And the Rams are showing they are not really good at stepping on throats.

So that's a very good game. But if you take out the Rams three times in one. season. Ouchy for L.A. I'm not sure. This feels like a different Rams team to me than the one that got thumped by the Niners on primetime. It just does.

Yeah. Yeah. So the Bengals are still in the west of his time slot, even though they're in the AFC championship game. They're the noon window. They do announce that before the season starts, so that doesn't feel like a slight. Well, it happened three weeks in a row.

That's all I can tell you. CBS, that's Romo and Nance, Bengals' Chiefs, three o'clock from Gieha field. Arrowhead Stadium. I don't recognize that. It's Arrowhead. And then 3.30, Pacific, 630, Eastern. Next door. Should we go? Nineers, ramps. I want to. Should we try to go? Should we ask for press passes here? Danny? I would like to go to a championship game.

We've been lucky enough to go to many Super Bowls. I've never been to a conference championship game. Are you guys include me on the credentials email? We will. I don't know. Usually that's actually the producer's job, so you... Well, you did it without me even knowing last time. That's true. Maybe if you follow my suggestion on a couple, you know...

Okay, Mark, I'll go back and bleep a score that you gave that happened from a game from yesterday. Some bells and whistles in my favorite. You can go to the end of the title game. I've been to two. I saw the Patriots drop a bomb on Mike Tomlin Steelers, and I saw Case Keenum get waxed by the Eagles. Neither one was competitive. I hope this game is... Braggie.

a little more competitive. All right. Just saying. Let's get a better game. What was that? Good as gold. What is it? Good as gold.

You didn't get the good as gold. Robbie is. You need Robbie is. Of course. Why would you? Why the incomplete drop there? Good as gold. I'm not going to harp on anything anymore.

I think she's done a next to the time. Good is gold. That's what made it really sing. Good is gold. Robbie is. Right. Okay. Yeah, that's... All right, is the podcast stuck on?

Those on me. We'll be back on Tuesday. Connie Fox will be joining us. We'll get her back in the virtual studio, so that'll be nice. And then Thursday, the big preview of the championship Sunday, Saturday morning, the NFL network program, and we go on and on and on. Anything else, boys? Not a word.

Good as goal, Robbie's been. All right. Let's go. Everybody, enjoy your week. Hope you enjoyed the football. Legendary weekend of action. Until Tuesday, you know what you got to do. Heath a call.

Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday.

Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.