NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2021 Super Wild Card Weekend Recap - Westivus

Episode Date: January 17, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal recap all of the games from Super Wild Card Weekend starting with the Bengals beating the Las Vegas Raiders in a Westivus game to remember. The heroes then recap the Niners/Cowboys game, Bills-Patriots and Chiefs-Steelers before closing the show with Tom Brady steamrolling over the Eagles. 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 has less turnovers than Patrick Mahomes. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. Dan Hans is here. I come to you from a virtual room filled with some heroes.

Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler. Let's take it easy on the Patrick Mahomes slander because he took care of business. Ill-timed, ill-timed. Right. Sometimes the money drop is like perfectly timed for the night. Dropping it when you just put a 40 burger on the line doesn't really. It's like our producer watched like the first like 25 minutes of the late game on Sunday and said, oh, that will work. The Steelers win.

It's a conversation starter. When I'm going through all the list of money drops and how they're labeled, I'm like, Patrick Mahomes. has a couple of turnovers, but you guys have zero because you're perfect all the time. Well, we hope we, so we don't, we don't technically have the ability to have a turnover. Let's look at like this sort of hot topic that was sent in around week eight. Let's use that one. Let's go. Yeah, but also, also this.

I thought you'd be like, okay, hey, this is a perfect way to start. Patrick Mahomes, how many turnovers did he have tonight? And it'd be like he didn't. He had a way better game. Like you could have rolled with it. So you wanted us to lead with one of the more like least noteworthy games. of the weekend. It's a one-off. Also, it's a compliment to you guys. You guys don't have any turnovers. So we should just start the show over. It almost feels like, I mean, I don't know

how we dig out of this hole. Speaking of turnovers, a Ricky turnover to start the show. Erica, thank you. I see where you're going with it. Erica, don't stop dreaming with your dreams because they're very, they're important. Right. This dream is dead. This dream turned out to a nightmare for the rest of the audience and us, but we're going to push forward wildcard weekend in the books. There's, of course, one more game to be played in this round of the playoffs cardinals rams on monday night but all the weekend games are in the books and we will dig in on every one of them some really good stuff um to get through here not a week mark not a weekend of incredible upsets necessarily but memorable moments

for sure yeah yeah i mean i said three of the games were um they were all watchable because it's the playoffs and they feel a little different but totally non-competitive um The other two, I don't know. There's something obviously a nostalgic we can get into about the Bengals situation. And the Cowboys Niners game to me was thoroughly enjoyable

and honestly, aesthetically beautiful between the uniform matchup and the way that the sun-splashed field presented itself to the viewer. I thought it was a perfect time of day to play that game, although the sun did obviously cause some issues. Yeah, blinded the home team's receiver

on a crucial third down. Not our fault. Not our problem. And the giant video wall, knocked down a punt by the home team. Other than that. It totally stopped Cowboys Drive. That really is something

they should look into. Yeah, it was, you know, it's like a mediocre wildcard weekend. It happens. I think you had two good games. One very interesting game, 49ers Cowboys, which I don't know if it was a classic, but it was interesting. And I think the Bill's Pats actually qualified

into my theory that some blowouts are entertaining. Like, you will remember that performance. Oh, I agree. on that. I agree on that. Right, that game. It can be. Yeah. Like that, I don't think that game was a worse game than Bengals, Raiders necessarily. Like, it, it, it provided a lot. And then, uh, two, two sleepers. I necessarily, I never, like, quite, like, bought into the theory that you guys put out there about how blowouts can be a lot of fun until the Patriots were on the wrong side of one in prime time on Saturday night. You were enjoying that so much. I mean, we were all

texting and I was like, Dan is rolling right now. And in just, adoring this experience. Blow out sometimes what I love about it. There is just other dominance unfurled on someone. Stop it with that sound bite. And we just went through our first regular season without Wes. And Saturday, obviously, began our first postseason without him. And I thought there was just something like cosmically so right about how it all,

the way all things work together here. and it turned into the Bengals kicking things off in the traditional West of his time slot and obviously it was kind of like a nod to Wes's memory but also something, I don't know, man. It was beautiful how the idea of what West of his was transformed on Saturday because it kind of started with Wes from the cynical celebration of Bengals' futility

and then Wes shared that with the world and it became like one of the more enduring bits on the podcast to, you know, this celebrating this exciting young ascendant team, this organization that Wes fell in love with as a boy. And it kind of, it was the bangles of the old days that made Wes love football. And all of a sudden they're playing in this game, Greg,

and they're winning the game. And Cincinnati is celebrating and the head coach is walking through local bars, handing out game balls. And it just felt so perfect when you think about West. And that is, that's the biggest memory for me. And I'm sure you guys as well. Yeah, next week, they're right back in the West of the slot. First Saturday. I mean, I guess it's not West of us anymore, but you could have, like, you could have run that,

the simulation of where they put these games a million times and they're putting Bengals Titans in the first Saturday afternoon. that's your takeaway time yeah I don't know I don't know I don't know I I figure we're getting we're getting to the Bengals game honestly I was like I enjoyed it but I also was kind of pissed like I I had a hard time with it I think this month is going to be hard on some level I mean that's just you know being real like like I enjoyed the Bengals of it all they're a fun team and it was fun it's fun to text with Nick and everything but I'm also just like pissed. You know, Pistie's not here to enjoy it. And, you know, you see the picture of Link, like, Link, like that is bittersweet in one picture. I look at that picture of Link. He's so beautiful

wearing that Bengals shirt. I just wish, you know, Chris is sitting there, sitting there watching it with them. But it's, it's, it's, we're all, we're all rooting for the Bengals now. We're all Bengals fans. I think one thing about it, you know, we all wore the, the white shoes that we wore at Wes's wedding and texting with Phil and Nick throughout the day, it added layers to it. And I'm with you. I mean, obviously we all agree that there's this intense sort of bittersweet nature to it. But like Lakeisha was rooting so hard for the Bengals that it just even seeing that on Twitter people responding to a couple of Westivist tweets, it's just like this continues to be someone whose impact. I think he never would have even understood. He would have never

imagine it would be as big as it was and it goes beyond the opponents the games the time slot or anything and i can't help but think that wherever west is like there's a little bit of you know you might be might have had a football god in the headlock to make this happen and i kind of love that he did it's funny too because it's been five years since the bengals actually made it to the playoffs so it was a tradition for four street years early in our podcast uh and it's been so long and yet like the strength of the branding has lasted with five years of no west abysses until this until this and you know if you know lakisha at all she's a spiritual woman and you know ever since west past uh she's made note of butterflies around her uh and the the cameras actually catch

butterflies on the field a butterfly on the field when evna mcpherson was out on the field uh attacking on points for the bangless it was just kind of like man yes it's it's it's a it's a It's messed up that Wes isn't with us, but it's just, it's nice to think about him and remember him and how much he meant to all of us. So that was Saturday. A butterfly in like 21 degree weather does feel kind of spiritual to me. That's not a normal hangout for a butterfly. So there's something bigger going on here. That was a good breakdown. What is the study of insects? Etymology. I believe so, but not my field. So we're going to throw it to you on the etymology. corner throughout today's episode.

We're going to get into all the games. Is it etymology? Maybe. I don't know. I should know this. You should? I feel like we all should. Elmology per rickie.

So why don't we start right here on Saturday Bengals hosting their first playoff game in some time and looking for their first win in 31 years. Here come the Raiders. Let's dig in. The play clock at three. Shotgun snap. Carr throws into traffic.

Interceptors. Jermaine Pratt has the football. Confine Nails. Bam, bam, bam. How about that? Love it. Oh, yeah, of course the bongos of the Bengals. Dan Horde, W-C-K-Y.

And, you know, that's one of my favorite tropes of the radio guys. When the color guys are just screaming, they're no longer doing their job on a fundamental level and they're just cheering in the press box wildly. I love it. Dave Lapham doing that. Jermaine Pratt sealed it with the fourth down interception of the final seconds sealing the first playoff victory in 31 years

for the Cincinnati Bengals 2619 over the Las Vegas Raiders in the wild card opener from Cincinnati. Joe Burrow led the way for an efficient offense. They scored on six drives. And when the offense stalled in the fourth quarter, the defense rised up just in time. raised up just in time to ensure that first victory in 31 years mark because the raiders were

involved it wasn't going to be easy because the raiders showed us time and time again over these last five weeks that they were going to be game and hang around but in the end the better team won this game yeah and it's clearly the team that i was ready to see move on because i know that the bengals had their troubles on offense in this i mean burrow early on looked dialed in and was throwing some beautiful passes. Jamar Chase had a big game, but it seemed like they became a little bit more unhinged as the game went on. And in the Las Vegas defense responded, I'd like to see, you know, next week that the Bengals aren't kicking field goals from the 13, 12, and 10 yard line that they complete those drives. I think they will. But I mean, I come out of it a little concern for

them on defense, too, because Trey Hendrickson, who is such a difference maker, left with a concussion, Mike Daniels was hurt, Larry Ogunjobie. And I think that's, changed that tender of the game a little bit, too, because they were so reduced on defense. And we don't really know exactly what's going to happen with those three guys, too. But I'll let you guys unfold the whole whistlegate business. I mean, the game turned truly bizarre. And I mean, honestly, I thought, speaking of Westivist, because it looked early on like it was just going to be a Bengals roll on, roll on to victory type scenario. It got a little too close for comfort.

And I thought it started to have a Westivist feel in the third quarter going on to the fourth until they closed the job. I would like to see them not have to punt the ball inside two minutes also and give the ball back to the Raiders for what almost became a topsy-turvy game-winning drive there. Yeah, I thought Zach Taylor got a little tight in the second half. You know, there was a couple times he punted. He chose to, you know, run the ball instead of really trusting Burrow to finish the game out on, you know, first and second down with a couple minutes to go. So the Raiders have to look at this game as a missed opportunity.

I mean, you're playing a team that couldn't rush the passer all day, including with Hendrickson. I mean, they had a couple plays early, but for the most part, they weren't getting pressure on. And the second half was as little pass rush as you'll see out of an NFL team for half of a game that you'll see in an entire year. I mean, there was literally no pass rush. You're missing, they're missing all these players. and the Raiders still couldn't punch it in. I know they've overachieved, but they were like a sloppy team. They were terrible in turnovers and penalties for the whole year.

And Derrick R. Knows you don't get chances like this too often. This was his first game in a long career. And I think as great as they played to get there, or at least like as much guts they showed, I think they'll look at this as a missed opportunity, like this was a game that could have won. The play that Mark is talking about.

about is late in the first half, Joe Burrow rolls right to avoid pressure. As he's closing it on the sideline, he gets the ball off. You hear a whistle. And the whistle was, I guess, Burroughs stepping out of bounds. Tyler Boyd catches the 10-yard pass in the back of the end zone, builds it to a 26 lead. And we love Mike Tariko. And we don't love Drew Brie so much, who had a rough playoff debut, I thought, in the booth. But the NBC team goes silent on the issue, even though everyone's thinking the same thing, including Ricky Hollywood,

who texted us moments before they came back on air 15 minutes later and said, oh, by the way, yeah, there was a whistle thing. And they throw to the referee in the booth. And he says, yeah, that should have been a dead ball at that point. Well, it's because they're there, though. No one heard it there. Like, I think that was why.

I don't know. I think Breeze said he heard it. I think he said he heard it. the fact too. They have the television copy too. I mean, I get why the crowd would. And they got people in their ear. They have a whole truck. It was a terrible job by the broadcast. Let's face it. But here's the one thing. I think a little a little bit overblown because the whistle was so late and strange that it wasn't right when he was down the sideline. It was when the ball was out of his hand. It was already crossed the plane of the goal line.

Boyd was just about to catch it. I don't think it changes anything personally. And I don't when I think about the Raiders, like, should they have won this game and they got screwed? That's not how I look at it. It's just unfortunate that the officials had such a poor game. Well, they had such a bad game that the Jerome Boger crew, and, you know, Dan, I thought you had a great comment because we talked about this before when we were texting that why did they cobble these playoff crews together as a reward for the best officials? Because who is not rewarded?

We aren't. Like, that was the sloppiest playoff game, officiating-wise, in a while. And, I mean, it was just they seemed to be so out of sorts. I mean, honestly, if they were to blow the whistle because they thought he was out of bounds, the replay does not show him even being close to out of bounds. Secondly, isn't there, right, there's an emphasis with these refs, you know, especially because it's so controversial and we can replay everything, don't blow the whistle in these situations, because let replay or something else take care of it.

It was just a botch job. I thought it was a bad situation for the Raiders, but I'm with you. I don't know if it totally changed the game because he wasn't out of bounds. I'll use like a basketball analogy here. and let's use the Milwaukee Bucks instead of defending champions. Would you rather take the starting five of the Bucks having played together all season in a one and done playoff game or just like a collection of like some of the best players in the conference to go against the Bucks for one game?

Now maybe that collection of great players beats the Bucks, but there's something to be said for a crew working together all season and all the rhythms that go through that. That always struck me as odd. Well, there's also something to be said for not giving Jerome Boger a playoff game. Which he almost never gets. I wouldn't have known those staff. Well, then get him out of the league.

Unless someone. Based off of grading, though, isn't it? Why are we hiding? He's only had a handful over the years. And I guess almost never like to the divisional round is when they start advancing. By the way, etymology is the study of words. I knew something seems wrong. Entomology would be.

Well, Ricky is telling us because in our chat, she wrote etymology. You guys misheard me. I said entomology. Oh, okay. There we go. I almost got it right. That counts. It's like a Mark Sessler prop bet.

Ricky, you buried us in this text thread to the right of my screen here saying etymology. I forgot the N. I was just, yeah, that's my bad mark. Ouch.

All right. Well, we're good. I just, you know, I just took us. Anyway, so, yeah,

so you have that situation. But ultimately, you know, Zach Taylor, like I agree, Greg, he got a little tight there. They ran the ball twice.

when they had a chance to kill the game and then didn't convert on third down, kick the ball away. And then not only do they give up a completion right away for 15 yards, they also get a late hit. So all of a sudden, blink, it's 30 yards. And the Raiders are at the 35 of the Bengals. But you got to give Cincinnati credit. They stepped up.

They got the stop at the end. And it really did. It set off like a, it's interesting because last year, the feel good story was the Browns in the city of Cleveland. And now this year, it's almost like Cincinnati is taking that spot where people are really appreciating that city and the underdog nature of it and how they had been the lesser than for so many years in that division. And now it feels like there's a lot of public sentiment behind Cincinnati and the Bengals as a team to get behind in the AFC. I thought they also, I mean, I've kind of in the past, because when your team is winning three games a year, it might not be the most rough and tumble throng of viewers of all time inside the stadium. and they've not been a place that you were scared to go play.

I thought they made life very difficult for Derek Carr yesterday. Obviously, it was super emotional. It was the biggest Bengals home crowd for a playoff game ever. And I kind of had the same thought as you, Dan, like, wow, I kind of wish things could have flipped. Not for the Browns, but for Wes, who one of the last shows we did with him was after that Brown's playoff game, that he could have witnessed this instead of that. I mean, he was very kind about all that, and I think he knew what it meant to me. to the show to some degree, but I would rather of him see a Bengals win than a Browns win.

The Bengals crowd was awesome. I mean, they made a huge difference. Carr was pretty rattled. Carr really finished the season, I think, struggling. I wouldn't say Saturday was his worst game, but it was more like the things that you think of him as strengths, poise, you know, ability to control what's going on at the line of scrimmage, things like that, that he was struggling with, whether it was like, to of games, not getting the plays out, like managing the situations.

Throwing short of the sticks, by the way, on the last play of the game. I mean, that's kind of unforgivable. He ended up with 16 turnovers and 12 touchdowns in his last 11 games. So that's like a pretty long stretch. And there was a report from Ian Rappaport that his future will be tied to the next coach. And the way I read that is, you know, the ownership. Like, who else is that even talking about? You know what I mean?

Like, that has to be coming from the highest of levels. And ownership there has been, I think, the key to why Carr has been part of these reports year after year. I mean, Gruden was part of it, too. But, I mean, literally Mark Davis spoke publicly about wanting to get Tom Brady in front of Derek Carr a couple years ago. I'll never forget that. And the fact these reports are coming out, it's just like one more quarterback to

throw in this pile. and maybe none of them get moved. But the fact that Rapsheet put that report out before this game, not after, but before this game, I don't think it's not coming out of nowhere. I mean, that's a good, like, scoop and nugget for Ian to put out there on game day. But, like, then you take a step back, you think, all right, let's say the Raiders don't want to have Derek Carr in their team anymore

because he's the reason why they're not a better team. Who's the upgrade from Derek Carr for them? Right. It doesn't sound like Russell Wilson's going anywhere. Anyway, we have plenty of time to talk about what happens next with that team. Let's hear from Zach Taylor, who, by the way, that was not, I wasn't exaggerating. He actually late into the night was going to different Cincinnati bars, handing out game balls and giving speeches to drunk Cincinnati. What do you call it?

Cincinnati's. Cincinnati. Ooh, I like that. Etymology? I don't know. Let's play that, Ricky. Some of them may not understand the significance of what happened today. I think this city can finally exhale and just enjoy this team for what.

what it is and take that pressure off those last 31 years. And, you know, I think that's, today was significant for a lot of people. All right. So Cincinnati moves on. They get the Tennessee Titans, as Greg said, in the early window, Saturday, 1.30 p.m. kickoff from Nissan Stadium in Nashville. And we'll see where the public is. I wonder where the desert is, Greg.

I'm going to say, let me see, early line, let's say, ooh, close. Close to a pick-em. I'll say one and a half, Tennessee's lane one and a half. I think it's, well, no, yeah, the Tennessee, I think, by three. Ooh, that's coming down. People are going to get, people are hot about the Cincinnati team. I think it was actually two and a half, at least initially, and it's moved up to three at least. One little nugget for those who, for those Cincinnatians or whatever we were calling them.

Do you want to know the three bars that he went to, Zach Taylor? Yeah, of course. We like dive bars. We'd like to hear about. that stuff. This is history. It was the Pontiac. It was Walt's Hitching Post and Mount Lookout Tavern.

Ooh, nice. We, like I said, haven't had a West of us in five years, but I think we did four different podcasts on the West of this weekends. Usually they come on the Sundays, and we do have a clip from West from the last one. Oh. This was the West of us to end all West of us. It has to be right. I mean, you could not script.

a more fascinating ending unless it was that if vontes burfect wasn't touched down and he really did just run out the end zone and get penalized that would have been the best way to end it he ran like all the way to the locker room but this was a pretty good ending just the total and comprehensive meltdown of discipline from two players who have been known to have meltdowns of disciplines in the in the past and vontas burfect who plays out of control frankly and i think has been for a couple years the dirtiest player in the nfl You left to kill Perfect. He did. And he said it right there. I said it right there, the West of us to end all West of his. So maybe that was the final chapter,

and it's now turned into something else. We love you, Chris Wessling. All right, let's move on. We have more games to get to. So coming up next, we are going to move to the Sunday slate and the game in Dallas. Ooh, the Shanahan's are flying.

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 Podcast, 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, podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. Two receivers go left, including Tony Pollitt. It's a design run for Dak Prescott, 30, 25, gets it from behind by Aziz. Altshire.

They got to get up and clock the ball. Five, four, three, two, Dak will he only get it off in time? No. One second to go. Did he spike the ball in time or not? No, he did not. He did not. The 49ers have won the game.

What do you got, Alex Kemp? Did he spike it in time? 49ers where Jimmy Ward's got his helmet off ready to celebrate Alex Kemp is the game over That's the end of the game The game is over the 49ers of one They're on their way to Lambo Oh my goodness

Greg Papa with a call KNBR with Tim Ryan there Yes, Dak On a design running play Runs up the middle Slides down They spot the ball But it was the Cowboys that spotted the ball

not a game official. The game official has to run out. He taps the ball. He's getting in the way of everything. And by the time they finally get the snap off, it was triple zeros. And the Dallas Cowboys at home once again come up short in a huge spot. The 49ers hold on for a 2317 win over America's team who go yet another year without a Super Bowl appearance. I think it's up to 27 now. Greg, this always profiled as. a bad matchup for the Cowboys because the 49ers, the way they played the game, the victory

they were coming off against the Rams. But for the most of this game, I think what really struck me was just how much better the 49ers looked than Dallas, which is kind of a role reversal from what most of the season was. Right. It was not two teams that looked evenly matched. You know, for most of the game, you know, the 49ers averaged two more yards for play than the Cowboys that changed a little bit towards the end, but it almost further highlighted the game management fiasco at the end because it was on both sides. I feel like that that ending was kind of perfect for this game because it was both teams struggling in terms of situational football. For the Cowboys, it was mostly penalties. I mean, just crazy penalties. The Randy Gregory

penalty I know you talked about on Sky that kept the 49ers on the field. all the holding calls that took back big plays by the Cowboys. But in that final situation, I do kind of want to start there, since that's where the play is. What is going on? Like, it is sort of like a cliche. I don't know if this is true, but they always say this.

Players always say this. It's like if it's under 16 seconds or so, then you got to get it out of, like you don't end up running another play inbound. Like you don't feel comfortable that you're going to have enough time to get up, spike it in all of that. And for him to, for Dak to do that on a design run from the 40 when they had 14 seconds left made no sense at all because you could have gone two Hail Mary's there or whatever you want to call two throws into the end zone. So you get two

bites at the apple in that situation or if you want, you could try to move it forward two different times. You could have gotten three plays in there by going to the sidelines. And yet that like it was just a totally a logical play. All right. Do you want to hear from Mike McCarthy on this? because Zaddy Mack had something to say about what they were thinking here. Let's listen to Zaddy Mack. It's like anything else. Do you want to be running the Hill Mary play from the 50-yard line or you want to be running five verticals from the 25-yard line?

So that's the decision. It's the right decision. You know, it's just like anything. It's, you know, the execution between us and the officiating spotting the ball obviously wasn't in tune. It wasn't, you know, we shouldn't have any problem getting the ball spotted there. That's just the point you're looking for. So, Mark, McCarthy's saying there, we, we knew what we were doing.

Wasn't at the 50. This is McCarthy. This is McCarthy. He always makes these little lies. Like when people do that, like you weren't at the 50. You're exaggerating to make your point. In fairness, I think he's saying once you finish the seven-step drop back or however far you have to set up a Hail Mary, you're throwing at 50 or air yards.

But, Mark, at the same time, like, he's not giving any inch here. He's putting the game on the officials entirely there. I don't think that was the right play. I thought their response, Dack Prescott's post-game presser and just most especially, Mike McCarthy's, told me so much about the Cowboys. I heard no accountability. It's blame. It's looking elsewhere. This was a totally bizarre final play.

Mike Silver said it was called by Kellyn Moore. I mean, I think the thing is if you're Dak Prescott, if anything, you slide earlier, you get the ball spotted, spiked, and bang, you go from there. But I'm with you, Greg. I just think you take as many shots as you can. at the end zone. And it capped off a totally sloppy performance where, again, it raises questions for me about Mike McCarthy. You seem totally out of his element. I know he gets a lot of, you know, fire. But at this point, it's like, this was the biggest moment. Jerry Jones called it the worst, one of the worst losses he can ever recall. It's like, I know he's all hyperbole,

but this was meant to be the team that was never going to do this. And then all, from the first minute on, it felt like a total collapse job. But wasn't this kind of predictable? Well, I mean, you and I both pick them, pick the Niners for that reason because it's not just, well, yes, the Cowboys as an entity or have been prone to this for decades now. But even this team, the way they played down the stretch, it always felt like this was in them to come up small in a moment like this. Like they were a flat track bully and now here are the big bad San Francisco 49ers who go into the building with 90,000 people going nuts and say, we don't care. we're not afraid of these guys, and they go right down the field, score, go right down the field, score again. And to Dallas's credit, they at least were able to stop the bleeding enough to make it a game again. And Jimmy G played a role in that.

He played overall, solid game, but through another one of those Garoppolo picks that I think is eventually going to get him killed. You know, down the stretch in the playoffs this year, Garapolo will make a mistake that end San Francisco season. But not yet because the Cowboys weren't able to come back and really make. make the Niners pay. I think with Greg, without stressing the Dallas side of things too much, I think that's such a juicy storyline to take out of this game. Just the utter flatness that they showed up for a playoff game with all, after all the buildup through the season,

it was just so on brand and so disappointing. Right. Well, this was a 49ers defense game to me. And that is showing the Cowboys offense to be the front runners that you're talking about. Like, if the match up here was Cowboys' offense, you know, needs to carry the day, they were no match for most of this game for San Francisco's defense, which lost Nick Bosa fairly early. He was having a good game early, leaves with a concussion,

and the defensive line for the 49ers terrorized them. I mean, they hit. I mean, this felt like a playoff game. They were hitting. The Cowboys' defense, I thought, was pretty physical, too. They settled down once they got almost a little overaggressive, and Shanahan had some great play calls in Jimmy G and some conservatism by Shanahan helped them stay in it.

But they were hitting, and until the very end of that game, the Cowboys' offense never got going. I mean, this was supposed to be the strength of their team, Dak, Amari, C.D. Lamb, going up against some guys on the outside for San Francisco who should be attackable, and yet, Dak just didn't have the time. Dak wasn't very accurate, like wasn't making good decisions,

didn't have time back there, and they were just bum-rushed. It didn't feel like they were too evenly matched teams. You would not have thought that the Cowboys were the favorites in the home team. And I think you got Debo Samuel emerging, again, as the most watchable player in the league. I mean, they just use him in fascinating ways. He's so powerful. And I know that interception was such an on-brand mistake by Jimmy G. But he early on, especially on third down, like to Juan Jennings and,

others just made a couple super money throws and some great catches to brandon iuk that whole crew played at their best where someone who is who you know how do we explain how cd lamb was essentially kidnapped before the game the guy is a no show in this performance and all week long it's talking about how the cowboys wide receivers are going to dominate san francisco it makes total sense and it doesn't happen at all it's like san francisco is more than the some other parts on defense debo yeah debo samuel it's amazing. It's hard to do this. He scores a touchdown every week, whether it's as a receiver or as a rusher, sometimes as a passer. He's a remarkable player. And it's like, yeah, you miss most, you miss Nick Bosa for most of this game. George Kittles held to one catch. And yet you

still dominate. So you have to feel really good as a 49ers fan coming out of this game that you, this could be a potential deep run in the playoffs. Because I don't, I don't really imagine as we look ahead at their schedule. They're heading to Green Bay and they'll be playing prime time on Fox on Saturday night. I don't think that's a team that goes into Green Bay and is intimidated. I think the only thing that holds them back is Garapolo able to keep up with Aaron Rogers. He doesn't have to keep up, but limit the mistakes because the rest of the team is peaking at the right time on offense and defense. They're really dangerous right now. Right. The offense seems to play good for about a half, you know, at a time.

Yeah, that's been for a month, great. The Tennessee game, the Houston game, the Rams game, this game. It's tough to get four quarters out of this offense, especially with Jimmy G. He could have put the game away with overthrowing Ayuk who was wide open earlier in the fourth quarter when they took the false start to give the Cowboys the ball back. Like, that was him being a little too just jumpy and not letting his offensive linemen get set before the snap and they take a penalty there. So their offense, to me, has great athletes and they can put together a good.

half, but I think what's making them special right now is their defense and their coaching. Their defensive coaching specifically, like D'Amico Ryan's called the Blitz at the perfect time there at the end of that game. But there's something about the way that they coach guys up front, really in the front seven, that year after year, it doesn't matter who it is. Like, you bring in a guy like Ebacom ends up making a huge impact. They bring an Omenahoo from Houston halfway through the season. He had an awesome game. Armstead was awesome. Drey Greenlaw, who's been good for them, missed the entire season, came back

two weeks ago. Alshahir, Fred Warner, like, to me, that's kind of where they won this game. And that's where you could, you know, keep the Packers under wraps at least next week. Two, before we move out, two telecast-related notes. One,

CBS gets Jimmy Garoppolo immediately after the game. Tracy Wolfson does the interview and Jimmy G's in full Patriot Way mode. says nothing interesting. And then as soon as the interview ends, they keep the camera on him

with the parabolic mics around. And Garoppolo's screaming into the stands, we own this place. This is our house. I just thought it's funny. You'd say nothing into the microphone, but when the camera's right on him, 14 seconds later,

he's screaming that the Niners now own Jero World. And my other telecast note is, can we get Jay Feeley out of here? I just, can I play my favorite? I'm sorry, Greg. I don't want to step on the toes of anyone in your industry. But can we listen to Jay Feeley's analysis on field goals today? All right, Jay, he's already made one from outside 50.

This is 52 this time. Well, hopefully you didn't jinx him, Jim, talking about how successful he's been. Good as goal, Robbie's been. There's the kick. And the gold rush continues for San Francisco. Let's go. Nance is waiting. He makes a comment about jynxing, and then Nance leaves the mic open.

Jay, say something. We're throwing it to you for some type of information. Nothing. Nothing's assler. Isn't part of the problem that, like, a separate analyst just to discuss field goals? I know that's a specialty, and that's how they use them. It's like, I get it. It's okay, but, like, the topic does not stir my imagination to begin with.

I don't need a separate analyst to come in and hit me with that. Now, that's different than the kickers club. Kickers Club is interesting. And that's, well, it was like, okay, we thought, you know, they put Pereira on the game. That was, that was a great idea. Great addition. And now you got the rules, experts on everything. So they're trying to go to the next.

I think they could use an analytics person if it was the right person in some spots. That could be something. But they tried to get cute with this kicking thing with Feely. And it's not. Well, it's possible, too. And I don't want to pile on Jay Feely. It's possible of maybe another former kicker. was doing the same job, you might get something out of it.

I just think it's, yeah. It's a niche topic. It's too niche. Like, I don't need it in my ear during the game necessarily. I, uh, can Kyle Sannahan, you're such a good, he's such a good coach, like, such a good play caller, obviously good at like the organizational aspect, because I think it's a credit to him that the coaching staff does so well. I know he's not a defensive coach, but like the fact that he's restocked that group and

they, like, that's, he gets credit for them. that too. But let's go for some fourth and ones now and then. I mean, you're early in the game. They have the cowboys on their heels. And instead of, you know, going for fourth and one so close in the red zone, he kicks a field goal. And then late in the game where you basically need a yard to put the cowboys away, he punts it back there. It'd be one thing if your offense wasn't rolling, but they were. Let's, let's, uh, it's like McVey and him are weirdly conservative when it comes to that. I wonder if that's sometimes, you know, Mike Shanahan, his father in his head, you know, a little bit more old-schooly, because it certainly flies in the face of what

we're seeing from almost everyone else. They're two of the most conservative coaches him and McVeigh. It ended up working out because they, uh, DAC missed on that deep shot to Cedric Wilson, which that would have, if he could connect on that, that's a huge play. He was under pressure, obviously. But before that, yeah, they're at midfield, fourth and one. Depot Samuel sneezes and he gets three yards. Like, let's just, let's not overthink this in the future, Kyle.

You got to be a little more aggressive on offense. But who are we to say? The Niners now have 11 wins, feeling good going into Lambo. All right, let us move on. These games are saucy. And now let's head to Orchard Park, where a bloodbath went down.

The snap. Josh's going to throw it. Takes three steps back. Has all day long to scan the field, waiting, waiting, still has time, runs to his right. Now he's pressured, gets away from it, fires one into the end zone,

and it is caught. Dawson knocks me. to catch in the end zone it's a buffalo touchdown how did he make that happen josh allen had forever to wait for dawson knocks to come open touchdown buffalo that's how it started and it just never stopped for the bills john murphy with the call wg r josh allen set a team playoff record with five touchdown passes including two to dawson knox devon singletary ran for two scores in the first half And the bills put on one of the greatest offensive clinics you'll ever see postseason or otherwise, a 47-17 decimation of the rival Patriots in the wildcard playoff game. This is the crazy thing.

Greg, let's start here because the bills rang up 480 yards of offense on 51. snaps before Mitch Strabisky finished the game with three kneel downs. This is one of those games where it's so historically dominant that there's just tons of stats. One, the bills never got to fourth down the entire game.

That's wild. Number two, that 480 yards of total offense that they had was actually the maximum amount of yards they could have had because they scored every time they took the ball. They went all the way down the field on

seven straight possessions so they had the possibility of gaining 480 yards on those possessions and they scored every last one of those yards one of the most unbelievable performances ever and you know bill bell check and the patriots what can you say i think it was the greatest performance offensively i mean efficiency wise it's the greatest performance in nfl history how could how could you get better than being the first team to ever have a game without any punts, field goals, or turnovers. Like that is, they are the first team ever. And going back to

they, usually there's some weird game in like 1920 when like, you know, like Bronco, you know, Nagersky or something, somehow scored like 77 touchdowns or whatever. Like there's some sort of like... Crazy legs hers untouched to the end zone 40 times. Right. Like the highest scoring

game is weirdly from 1941, like 77 to 41. But no, they're the first team ever to do it. It's like they beat Navy when all the guys were at war the Pacific. It's like, how are they in the NFL? Like, they didn't have a turnover. They didn't turn over and downs. I mean, there was that stack coming out of the last game. Bill Belichick had never coached the team that didn't force a punt. I mean, an opponent didn't punt against him. And they now just did it two times in a row. They just had two perfect games, essentially,

against Bill Belichick in a row. And, you know, West was on our minds on Saturday with West of us. And I think he would love Joe Burrow. You know, we've talked about that. And that was a great performance by Burrow. It was like a sneaky great. He didn't have that many chances to be great and every time he was, but I think he would have really loved Josh Allen in this performance too. He was always a believer in Josh Allen and didn't like that I was throwing dirt on him early in his career and thought he could be great. And this is a guy, Josh Allen, just at the absolute pinnacle, I believe, of his craft. And he was like that again against the Patriots just a month ago and to do it two times in a row against a Patriots defense that had been highly competitive

all year is like one of the most impressive things we've seen in this entire season. I mean, it was like a perfectly worded poem. It was like a novel that devastates you. It was from start to finish. It was flawless. And like, you know, I cannot believe that even 48 hours ago, I was still involved in these theoretical Patriots versus Bills whose better war because, I mean, I was off and taken out behind the woodshed about five minutes into this game. I texted you after the first touchdown, game over. And I like to do that sometimes. And I think my record is spotty in a lot of areas.

But my game overs sometimes are accurate. It was accurate this time. I love something. If it makes you feel better, Mark, we even could tell when you got behind the bills or the Pats one last time on Thursday show, we could tell you didn't even believe it anymore. No, I was because, I mean. Wait, really? I don't know that. Well, I don't think Mark believed in the bills so much, but it seemed like your Patriots hope had been waiting.

I didn't expect the bills to do what they did here. And I think that in a weird AFC, it was a resounding note. I think, though, if you look at the last five weeks for the Patriots, their defense has fallen off, their pass rush has fallen off, they can't stop the run. I mean, if you want to just look at the way that most Patriots teams under Bill Belichick would finish a season, this was the counter-opposition. And this was the counter opposite to that. And I just want to read one quick thing that Tim Graham, I love this writer from The Athletic, cover the bills forever.

This was his opener. It's brief. It said it was four degrees at Highmark Stadium, 17 in Greenland, 27 in Moscow, and 13 in Nome, Alaska. The temperature was about 50 degrees where the Buffalo Bills left the New England Patriots.

That's the year-round temperature, six feet underground. I read that too. That's such a great line. And, yeah, that's it. And, you know, it did, it did make me think. And the, and the, after the game, the bills players, they talked about it. They were super annoyed with that wind game, that Monday night game and how the media presented that game. And I just find it interesting how, like, you know, there was a, a narrative about how the great Belichick had outschemed Sean McDermott. Like, where is the talk on the other side after yesterday's game? Because, That was not just a on-field clinic by the Bills. It was a coaching clinic by the Bills who totally changed some of their strategies. They were very aggressive in the past as opposed to going run heavy.

They attacked the Patriots. And then New England never made any adjustments or never made any that made any difference to give up seven straight touchdowns. It's almost unfathomable when you think about Bill Belichick and the Patriots that we've known for this to have happened. But they just, they had no answers. There was nothing they could do. Well, their defensive line was soft for the last four or five weeks this season. They were pretty routinely bullied, including by Miami. I thought that was in a game that they made it clear that they really wanted to win,

that they were saying they were treating like a playoff game and got pushed around physically. Judon ended up, you know, I've been on him lately, not playing that much in this game. Apparently, he has been struggling with an injury. He played 20 snaps in this game. Well, that would explain a lot. that that helps a little from his vantage point they were missing you know they're starting one of their starting cornerbacks who got covid and uh the replacement joan williams which is one of many of the failed second round cornerbacks belichick's taken over the years got filleted on on one of the touchdown throws to ammanuel sanders i mean it was it was also just like one of those nights like one team has josh allen and the other team doesn't one team is in like year four or five of building this thing up and I think was just very comfortable in this matchup because how could you not be when three weeks ago

you just had the best game I thought by any quarterback, potentially of the entire NFL season, until this game. Josh Allen just did it two times in a row. I mean, he's on such fire that he was trying to throw that ball away to Knox the second time around. I mean, he said that after the game.

He was trying to throw it away. He had turned around to go back to the huddle and then he heard the crowd go nuts. Right. And even that ended up turning. Credible cash. into a touchdown. I think that was a third down, Dan, actually. So he was, maybe I'm mistaken. I think he was going to the bench and he didn't realize it. It's really crazy. But,

like, the game essentially fell over on that Micahide Interception, which was one of the best defensive plays of the year. So you're right, it was a great coaching job. This team has done a great job, dable and on the defensive side. But it was also, like, great playmakers making plays. We texted back and forth about that, Dan. And to me, like, that high play was just a sensational play that you kind of got to tip your hat to the guy that made me i i was i was little harsh on uh mac jones uh in the immediate aftermath of that but then you watch it again and it was you know it was just a great play a guy flies into the picture right before it gets there and i thought the interesting thing you know would you you know he went full be he seems

stunned um no but i thought what i thought this was going to be one side of game in favor of the bills but I thought it was going to be the defense throttling down on Mac Jones. And like Mac Jones was far from the problem in this game. It seemed like if the Patriots defense could have just been competitive, this could have been a different game. And yet they weren't. And I think it sends you in usually if you're the Patriots or any team. If you go into a season with a rookie quarterback and you win double digit games

and you get to the playoffs, even if you lose, it's a success. but to lose this way and knowing the standard of excellence up there, I wonder, I don't think there's going to be sweeping changes, but perhaps we see more changes than we think on the defensive side of the ball at the very least. Well, I think they had a lot, I agree. They had a lot to change on defense. I mean, that's like Dante Hightower in both of these Bills games, I think was a problem. He's a free agent.

That might have been his last game. Kyle Van Nuoy, you know, Jamie Collins. Actually, I thought Collins played pretty well when they brought him back. Lawrence guy, all these guys have been around. It was a slow offense that couldn't get it done. J.C. Jackson's free agent. I think they need to make some changes. But I think I feel at least like it's a successful year just because of Mac.

And that they need to just juice up the offense because it's an offense first league. And to me, this game was a reminder that, like, no matter how good you think your defense is going to be, you can get creamed. You mentioned, like, Mac Jones not being the problem. but they only had eight drives in this game, Dan. It took the chiefs about six or seven drives to warm up on Sunday night. If it had taken the Patriots that long, they would have been shut out, literally. I mean, the game was over.

The Chiefs had eight drives in the first half of that game, and like the bills didn't even have that many of the whole game. You are right, though, Dan, that when the Patriots won that first contest in Bizarre weather, and I fell victim to this because I just have thought this about Belichick for so long that it was a masterful masterclass of coaching. And then when the last two bills romps, where's the Sean McDermott praise? It's like I hear you.

And I think that he's got Leslie Frazier never gets talked about. He's done an awesome job. I mean, Brian Daibald to adjust the offense and tinker it and come in with a new approach. I mean, he's going to be a head coach thing. Alan running is so huge. Oh, my God. I know we hit this before,

but it's one of the reasons Wes love Josh Allen, was because at the end of that rookie year when he just started running like crazy and like taking over the league quietly for a month, like that's been a huge difference since the Tampa game is Josh Allen running at will and it really makes them hard to stop. And on those first couple drives, especially on third downs, he killed him. And it's a testament to organizational stability that Josh Allen came in, very raw, was not good at all.

his first year, even if he showed maybe some strides at the end of that first year. A second year ended with strides, but a really bad playoff exit against Houston, as you guys, no doubt remember. But they kept the coaching. They built an offense around him. They adapted the offense as they learned more about their quarterback. And all of a sudden now you have something really special up there in Western New York. And now we're going to get something really special, which is Buffalo at Kansas City.

Josh Allen against Patrick Mahomes on Sunday, the late game, the Jim and Tony game next week. So buckle up. That's going to be wild. By the way, you know how, first of all, yes, I was enjoying the game. Of course I am. You have to understand this is basically what I have. It's, I don't, I'm not trying to rub it into Patriots fans listening in. It's just like when you see a team dominate your life in a lot of ways to see them get a comeuppance there in such a

public way, it kind of feels good. It's why I have to detach from the Patriots. I wouldn't be able to tolerate you, you know, these threads and stuff. I understand. Who he's really gotten in your head then, Greg, if that's your actual strategy. That's, that's, it's not intentional, but you know, I had side effect. I had those feel good vibes from, from West of this, and I had a couple Titoes and then a, that game rolled on.

And then I watched the, um, the new Oasis documentary about their Nebworth concert last night. And I was just like, this. is a nice Saturday. You got a little fire going. Your day just got better and better as it went along. It is better to lose in a blow, I believe. Because I think when you lose to a team that's unquestionably better and it's not even close, it's like, what do you do with that?

There's nothing. Yeah, but you don't want to have a historically bad performance. Like, take it from the, my team has had a lot of those. You just don't want to be in the history books for a bad game. I wonder if Ricky agrees with your Patriots take that it's great to get absolutely your house blown up by a nuclear bomb. I'm saying it's better. It's better than, like, blowing it in a painful way where it's like we should have done.

They shouldn't have done anything more, unfortunately, than they did this year. This is what they should have done. Maybe what they should have done is have the Chargers win in Week 18. And then I think they would have had a chance to win a playoff game. But when they got sent to Buffalo, it was over. Hey, Ricky, this is. You don't think the Raiders were competitive in Cincinnati and that there's no way the Patriots would have been competitive. of it's a different situation that team that showed up for a wild car weekend yeah they looked

like they did not belong belichick actually looked freezing he just looked freezing he was like how can i get this what how much fabric can i put over my face hey rickie degrees you better be free how would he not be freezing well i mean i know but you know how like the people that are out there getting their their butts thumped you're thinking like how quickly do we get on a plane i'll be in the bahamas four days from now it's like it's getting colder and colder if you're winning you know if you're the bills and you've been taking those pills they've been talking about you're warm you're good um the pills uh ricky here in the twilight of your 20s i just want you to know that this is this is probably how it's going to be from now on what that the patriots are like

losing yeah they're not special anymore so you're late 40s so you're late 40s so giving you a heads up i'm okay with it like i i it's it sucked and like the group chat with my friends from home like was starting off very very funny and then it like it the the text got funnier and funnier as time went on and sort of i see where gregg's coming from with the sentiment because i did like you know pour a cocktail and i'm laying on on the couch and i'm like literally laughing out loud like it was laughable like people are saying and i was like tweeting and like having a great time like going off on twitter and people were like you're such a like miserable pat so i'm like i had a great time like there was you were just drunk that's all no i i i was

wasn't. I mean, maybe by the end, early on, I don't know if you were having a great time. There's still something novel about it for Patriots fans, though. For those that find enjoyment in that moment, I get what you're saying. But when that's like 18, 19 years ago in a row, it becomes a little less novel. It becomes more tiresome. Yeah, all of a sudden, I'm like dragging out my A's and that happens. I'm like, make a damn stop. They can't stop anything. I found that. I know a lot of people from New England that maybe a really, relocate and you hang out with them, and that accent will pop out after a few drinks. Or Brian Kelly, for instance, could be a New England or that goes somewhere else

and adopts a new dialect. I feel like I was lower on this Patriots team than throughout than some Patriots fans. But I think I'm higher on Mack Jones than most than them. I feel like it was a successful season because I really do believe that Mack Jones is going to be like a top 10 type of quarterback for most of his career. And I know it's early and I'm counting on him to get into that Joe Burrow plan that he somehow made his arms way stronger in year two because he, because Mac Jones needs that and like build up his body because that's not there.

But the fact that they found a quarterback, I'm like, okay, and a great defensive tackle in the second. I'm like, that's, that matters more to me. Not great, but I think that's like, that's a huge win. I know what you're saying. Before we move on, Dan, I sent a text. yesterday at 6.31 p.m., so it was still relatively early where it's like, you know, there's still time left in this game. I sent a text to Greg. Have you ever seen a more embarrassing game with like 400

question marks? And he responds, yes, plenty. Oh, God. So great. I'm like, okay, I'm not going to text you. I mean, 09.09 Ravens is because you have to, you have to adjust for expectations. Greg is such a romantic. You just want to spend hours just like, you know, one on one. Hey, you know what I would love by the way you know how if you go on youtube and there's a listen to bohemian rap city but only freddie mercury's vocals and you're just like wow that guy was an amazing talent i want the radio telecast of the patriots from yesterday but it's only zolak can anyone do that for me i will i will pay you or at least say thank you on twitter my guess is it it's like the drew breeze version of that on nbc just silence for most of the broadcasts total silence

Not a great, not a great game for Drew. All right, let's take a break and then hit the rest of this weekend games. 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. 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? 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 philosophy, 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. In the pocket, step up, firing down the near side. Kelsey at the 20, 15 to the 10, and into the end zone. Touchdown! Kansas City on a tightrope catch and run of 48 yards on 3rd and 12. with 13 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Oh, yes, the Kansas City Chiefs started slow. But when that team turns it on, they still are special. 21 points in the second quarter, capped by that late touchdown by Travis Kelsey. They had 21 more in the second half. Final score, Chiefs 42, Steelers 21. The zombie Steelers are no more. finally a double tap.

You just got to shoot them in the head. And the Chiefs did it. And Mark, this was a game that started out as a potential nightmare for Kansas City because the offense couldn't quite get in gear. Pittsburgh's offense was doing nothing as we expected. But then disaster strikes, a interception by Boholmes on a tip pass. And then a sack or a running back fumble recovered and score a touchdown by T.J. Watt all of a sudden you got the defensive score you're losing as the as half time nears but that all

got quickly wiped away once kansas city woke up yeah and i think like you know watching this because we were i guess we were why why do we even have to qualify that we were texting during any we're texting all the time about everything every day so just especially now that they won't let us do the show to oh yeah well that's very we got to we got to we got to make a stand here we got to get back into the studio man well we need to come you know we need to come up with our own plan and maybe We've got to get Fauci on our side. We've got to get Fauci on the horn and have Fauci tell the shadowy league figures. Just like let the guys in the studio, like let him in the studio, let him do the show.

Fauci, Frank Signetti, anyone that can help us out and give us a little bit of an edge here. I mean, the game was enjoyable actually. Frank Signetti just got a head coaching job. I don't know if you saw that. I know. He's busy. We'll see how long he keeps that. But you're right. I liked him in his other role. I'm saying he's so valuable.

Who said he's not still doing that? He's definitely, he's still moonlighting. as a private eye. Frank Signetti's on the case. As long as he's still doing it. That's all I'm saying. Just don't ditch that thing. That's in his blood. What we were going to say to each other, we were enjoying the game, I think, because it was like, okay, we knew, I think the end result was always going to probably be a romp, but it didn't look that way early. And it was like, is this game getting weirder and

weirder by the minute? And then suddenly, Patrick Mahomes throws five touchdowns in the span of 10 minutes and 30 seconds, which is obviously never happened before in the NFL playoffs. Is that true? Is that the actual stat? Yes. Oh, yes. I mean, it's insane. It's insane. I mean, to the point where, I mean, we tracked these games. Whoa. But I was like eating tacos and kind of wandering around the house and changing shirts during, like, the third, fourth quarter.

Because it's like, this thing is so far cooked. And the Steelers are such an unwatchable mess on offense. And it was Big Ben's final performance. But it was sad to me. It was a reminder of like, and I know that there's, you know, people dislike Big Ben in general. but if you are a quarterback that's cooked, don't come back for that final season. Because you know what?

The Steelers actually, I think, had a pretty enjoyable campaign for Steelers fans. But Big Ben watching him, I just found it depressing. I mean, it certainly wasn't inspiring. Steelers fans loved it, though.

They really did. Damasek was one of his favorites, but my friend Anthony, who I do the podcast with, he was the same way. They, like, loved this season. Like, it was almost like, this proves that Tomlin can never have a losing

season and that like they were they should have been like a four win team and here they are so i get that as a fan it's easy to see why it was enjoyable i'm just speaking that like something about watching big ben if you look at his throat chart it was like a smattering of 150 passes at the line of scrimmage like they just they're defun i mean it happens it happens this is how it happens for most guys it's just like people it's like tom brady has made makes it feel like this is something that doesn't happen but it happened to elie manning it happened to peyton manning it happened to Big Ben, it happened to. You name the quarterback and just about every guy has kind of that, like, you wish he

were to retire a year or two earlier and then you have that one last season. And like if Big Ben would have hung around. Phillip Rivers, oh yeah. Yeah, he was just right first run, one and done throughout. It was very good. He was very consistent. But he was like he did it. He was okay.

You got to admit. You got to admit he did it the year before. He was deeply okay. He was. But yes, you're right. He might have been really bad if he came back. That's, that's fair. But yeah, I just think like.

this he has to get out of here now because he would have hung around one more year it would have been like we're this is how we're going to remember the guy it's like uh i think i've used this analogy before but how the simpsons being on the air still and being just a to me subpar for now almost like 15 20 years it it kind of like reframes and you don't realize that it was like one of the greatest shows of all time for the first eight years or so of its existence so ben needed to go they they need to obviously they have a lot of work to do the Steelers because they got to find a quarterback because he's not on the roster and they got to add to the blocking obviously just needs to be better. They had 20 carries for 56 yards in this game, Najee Harris, who otherwise had a very good rookie year, 12 for 29 in this game. So the offense just kind of needs a real jolt and getting Big Ben out the door will help. Right. That's the issue with Tomlin. They have not been the same since Mike Munchak left their offensive line coach. And that's something Tomlin hasn't necessarily shown that right now he has the wherewithal

to fix is their offense and the right coaching decisions because, yeah, they had a chance to win this game. They stopped the chiefs for five drives, scoreless, and forced two turnovers. So five drives usually gets you to halftime. One of those turnovers resulting in a touchdown. Right. So we should, like five drives usually gets you to halftime as a defense. So you scored seven points.

You gave up zero. You forced another turnover to put them in plus territory. Like they really could have been in this game. And yet instead, when Mahomes got going, I mean, it really got going. And it just reminded me of those other Chiefs' playoffs wins that they had when they were really rolling. I'm sure they're going to think that too. that it's like oh this is just like that texans game it's just like that titans game we can spot anyone you don't want to be spotting the bills next week but if if they do like they're going to feel

like they can do anything to your point to your point this was how pittsburgh's offense went when the game was still in doubt this is their drive chart three plays zero yards three plays two yards three plays negative three yards then they get the interception they go five plays eight yards then they go six plays 20 yards then they force the fumble and score the touchdown so now they're winning 7-0 somehow immediately give up a 78-yard touchdown drive go three plays eight yards the next drive give up another touchdown three plays five yards give up another touchdown half-time game over they were much better than the mike glennon giants by the end by the last three or four weeks they were about the number 29 number 30 offense in the league That's why, I mean, a chance to win, the defense gave them that chance early and then the floor falls out. I thought one thing for the chiefs going forward, Jerich McKinnon, who, you know, has been an afterthought for years, played a really good game and fits really well into that offense. And they need someone out of the backfield to be a spark plug like that. And like that, I just think he has a bigger role than expected depending on who's available.

I mean, he had 142 yards. They've been waiting two years for Clyde Edwards-Cillard to make a big impact and or stay healthy. and maybe he's back next week, but I'm with you. Like McKinnon, you know, it's funny, like they, with the great Mahomes at the controls, and you have all that speed with Hardman and Tyreek Hill, how, and of course, Travis Kelsey is on the field, like this, I think was, in general, these last three or four weeks, they still have it. Like, that's still in their DNA, and they can go on a heater now.

And it's why I think they're the best team in the AFC. and I think they're I think they're probably if I had to like who's going to win the AFC who's going to come out of this in the next three weeks the Chiefs are my pick because they're special on that level but it's going to be wild

because I think all these teams that have survived now and the Titans of course now the Bengals the Bills these are all I think really good teams it's going to be fun to see how this AFC shakes out I'm glad we're getting Chief spills on one hand I was like oh I wish that was the championship game

but then I thought no that's stupid because then that game might not you might not even get it. And, like, I'm just glad we're getting it. Like, it's great to have Allen, like, these are the two guys who are fighting for AFC supremacy. I know maybe that's, maybe the winner of Titans Bengals makes a Super Bowl. We'll see.

But these two guys have been the guys. The Chiefs are trying to get to their fourth-rate AFC title game. That's incredible. McKinnon just quickly, I think, is kind of an amazing story. He missed two entire years. He tore his ACL, missed the entire next season, too. Like, Shanahan believed in him enough to give him that huge conference. He had 12 carries this year.

He had more touches tonight than he had in the entire season, and he was electric in that game. I'm with you that he should be a big time factor next year. And shout out to Travis Kelsey's mom for making it to both her kids games. She was somehow at the Eagles game and made it to the Chiefs game by like the fourth quarter in time to see Travis throw the touchdown. Because I don't want to be a jerk, but did she fly commercial or private? I don't know.

That's a very good question. If she flew private, you know, check your privilege. What do you want me to do, throw a party? She feels commercial? Now we're talking. My guess is she probably threw commercial. I only know this because, like, the NFL Twitter account was sending this nonsense out. I interviewed her once, very engaging, interesting woman.

There are certain Mark Sessler projects that you hear a lot about. The Mark Sessler Mother's Day long form. gets a lot of run on the show. It was largely a disaster because one of the moms was the mom to a player that got embedded in such a large controversy that we had to pull his part out of the story. And it was probably like 40% of it. And we had an executive that used to work at our company that said, that blame me for the whole thing and said, why are you a child or something like that? And it's just like, why did I ever sign up for this hideous assignment?

First of all, yeah, Mark only had like six projects. So we hear about them a lot, you know? It's like these little long forms. these long forms, I think. So I don't, I think we hear. The Mother's Day one has gotten a lot of juice for sure. Oh,

there's got in it. She was in like three times and four years. Uh, she's definitely, uh, in commercial and in coach. What a job. Look at that.

I got to give it up. There she is. She's flying commercial. That's Donna Kelsey. And I don't know if she's in the extended leg room section, but that's, that doesn't look like it. That's neither here nor there. That flight doesn't look like it even has it.

That's two seats in me. That's a great mom. I mean, mom's the best. You want her to be riding like luggage, basically, to earn your approval, Dan wants to. She's commercial. We're not, still not good enough. Stick them with the dogs, you know. I wonder the John Candy U-Haul from Home Alone.

It's just rumbling across the Midwest. No, all right. So there you go. So the Chiefs roll on. Like I said, we are set up for a glorious matchup, Bill's Chiefs next week at Kansas City. but let's roll on. All right, let's take a 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 iHeart. Art 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 into 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 the final game of the weekend the early game on sunday it was the tampa bay buccaneers beginning the defense of their championship in the playoffs it went to

plan here's the play dropping to throw brady looks toward the end zone throws caught ball evans he's got a tampa bay touchdown does a somersault and the box Put the dagger in the heart of the Eagles. Gene Dacker-Haw. W-F-U-S. With the call. The Buccaneers started hot and coasted to the finish against an overmatched Eagles team.

Final score 315. Tampa Bay set the tempo from the very beginning. Brady. Tom Brady led a pair of long touchdown drives in the opening quarter. They built a 17-0-0-0-lead by halftime. Coast to the finish line. A little sloppy there in the fourth quarter allowed the Eagles to do that thing. The Eagles did in the beginning of the year.

Remember when they had all those garbage time points. They did it again here, put up 15 in the 4th to make it look somewhat presentable. But, Mark, this was a Bucs team ready to chase that Lombardi again, an Eagles team that was, you know, probably shouldn't have been here in the first place, let's be honest. Yeah, I mean, this is the one that got a lot of, along with the Steelers game, a lot of, like, why do we have a seventh seed operating at this time of year? And I mean, I get it.

You know, the bucks were a sixth seed last year, so, you know, it can go both ways. But I thought this was all about Tampa's defense. And, you know, a Todd Bowles author, Jim, absolutely beautiful. And, like, they, you know, I love that they basically asked them, like, are you concerned about Philly's ground game. And he said, no, just I'm simply not concerned at all. And guys like Jordan Whitehead, Antoine Winfield, just shut it down early on. The thing for me that I'd be concerned with going forward is this, that after Tristan Worf's went out, that I thought that Brady was hit a lot, he was hassled. And yeah, they went on and scored their points. But

if you look at their drive chart post-Werfs injury, they were pretty much taken out of the, Their offense was not the same on any level. And Brady's fine throwing to a bunch of guys who'd be like third or fourth stringers on other teams because of their injuries. But I don't know if that's survivable if he's operating as one of the Dave Damashek sort of Jenga-type pieces.

Yeah, Ryan Jensen, too, the center got hurt and then came back and seemed to play pretty well when he returned. But worse is a huge loss. You go from a, was he first team all-pro this year? I think he might have been. He's played every snap for them for two years. So you go from the very best to a backup that struggled. Brady had the lowest time to throw of any game by a quarterback this year.

So he was just getting rid of that ball. I think that was the game playing anyways. By any quarterback or for the box? I believe by any quarterback, yeah, of any game this year. 2.1 second, like just getting rid of the ball. And then he also had the lowest, you know, A-DAT, average depth of target of any buck. game this year. So they were throwing it short. I think that was the game plan, but it also cranked up because of the offensive line. It made sense this week, but it's a Bruce Ariens offense.

You need to be able to drop back seven steps sometimes when you want to and throw it deep, and they're going to need to, I think, in future weeks. So I think that's well said, but they manage games as well as any team I've ever seen. Like, you can look at this box score at the end and the yards of play look kind of even. And this happens a lot with box games. But when you watch the game, they really control it. They're such a veteran team. veteran coaches that I think the box scores sometimes lie with the lie when it comes to the bucks and definitely with this game it was such a take care of business game it was yeah it there was just there was just a general vibe around it that you know they're they're playing the the milton burl game

we're you know we're going to show it we need to show to take care of business move on no it reminds me of like grand slam tennis matches this NFL weekend in that like the higher seeds like sometimes you're like watching the early rounds almost to just get information on what you think for the next rounds the NFL is not supposed to be like that you know like I you know I'm looking at it and thinking who is timing with Tyler Johnson is is a little off you know that's not a great sign for the future but okay the defense is healthy now that's a great sign for the future you should be just worried about this week that's not how the playoffs are supposed to be I don't know do you think if you're Philly because you know you've got teams like Baltimore out there that like

we are a run team we're going to that's our identity because of our quarterback X, Y, and Z. I don't know if Philly comes back next year with the same exact offense that they turned into, you know, a third of the way into the year. Maybe, but it just felt like they were. It seems to limit them at times in a big way.

I mean, they made the playoffs by beating a bunch of bad teams late. And I just thought once you, like them, they're the last team you wanted to go down. Nobody wants to go down two touchdowns early. But like they needed to, it had to be their run game that really dictated a lot of things in this game. And when they couldn't do that,

you put everything on Jalen Hertz. And I know with those late scores, it made it look much better statistically. But I thought Hertz was a little overwhelmed in this game. Brian Baldi, we did some great Sky Sports work today with Neil and the gang over there. And Baldi had a same takeaway that it just felt like the game was a little too big for Hertz. I almost thought I wonder if Mark's boy,

Minshu gets in this game to try to spark him. But ultimately, I guess they decided they're better off with Hertz, who, by the way, and teams hide this stuff all the time. And after the game, he's wearing that walking boot again. And he acknowledged like, yeah, man, that ankle injury I suffered a month ago, that bang me up. And you could see it. Like when he's scrambling on Sunday, he's not moving with the same explosiveness that

he had earlier in the season. So once you take that element away from this team, they become very ordinary on offense. They only ran the ball nine times other than Hertz's runs. I mean, it was seven, it was three and outs and stuff, right, it was 17 nothing and it was a lot of, you know, before you knew it and it was a lot of short drives. So that's how that happens, but that's, that's a disaster scenario for the Eagles. The Bucks dominated them. You're right. It was one of Hertz's worst games. He wasn't accurate. He was a little late on decisions. Troy Aikman was annoyed because I think he was worried this was what was going to happen to the Eagles. He was annoyed. He didn't get the Cowboys game that apparently. CBS paid for that time slot, like extra money to have the Sunday afternoon playoff spot and basically whatever the best game is, they're going to give that to him. And it's not just, it's not just, I think with Troy, and we have the sound. So I want to, because Troy eventually bubbled over in the, no, no, that you did a nice job

setting up. He eventually bubbled over in the fourth quarter. But it wasn't just that there was some shenanigans and some payola involved with CBS getting the best NFC game in the first round of playoffs. It's that Tony got it. Romo, the Cowboys quarterback that doesn't have any rings. And here, I'm Akeman. I'm Akeman.

I got three. And I'm Chopped Liver. Let's listen to Troy Aikman boil over because he got stuck with the bad NFC game on Sunday. And Troy, and that game coming up, which is on CBS, which is the Dallas Cowboys, hosting the San Francisco 49ers. We saw San Francisco with that overtime win in L.A. last weekend. That's going to be a good game.

It's going to be a great game. I'm in a really good game. I think there's a lot of people that'd like to be calling that game. But it should be a lot of fun. Did you see Aitman's looking at Buck? He's going to be a great game. And he's looking at him. He's thinking, should I say it?

Should I say what I've been yelling about behind the scenes for days now? Oh, screw it. I'm going to say it. I wish we were calling that game. I love it. I love Akeman. It was funny. His exasperation was,

was one of the more entertaining parts of this I never liked the 7th seed because I just thought 12 was the perfect number but I think arguing against the 7th seed just because these two games were bad is the wrong argument just because I think that's random

you watch it's such a small sample size you watch games on any given weekend and usually this would be a pretty good game and usually they're closer it didn't work out that way but like you could have two great 2 7 games next year very easily, and then will everyone be back on board? I like 12, because 12 made sense to me, but I think it's a little random. You need like a 10-year sample size before we judge the seventh seed, but I think it's

four of the games have stunk, by the way. Saints Bears stunk. Bill's Colts was actually the best game, maybe a wildcard weekend last year. It's time-consuming. You're asking people to sit down for three and a half hours and watch a game that has zero competitive value, and it's the playoffs. It's not the same as week eight or week 12. it shouldn't be and so it is an eyesore and like if you get three or four years into this

and that's the way it is it's not a good product for the NFL and I think they you know they're never going to change it they'll probably add two more playoff teams if anything all I know is the Steelers were a mediocre team with the worst quarterback in the league this team this Eagles team was a deeply middling team the Matt Nagy like post year one Bears team made the playoffs last year and they They were completely forgettable. That Colts team, I know Greg loves them because Philip Rivers was on it, but that is not a very memorable team.

And they went out. That was a good team. I mean, they were ahead of Buffalo in the fourth quarter against the two-shed. But Greg, for you wanting sample size, they're the aberration. Right. No, no, you're right. I mean, I guess what I'm saying, it's a little random. It's like we could have easily had the chargers in, you know, in that seven spot.

And then maybe that's the game of the weekend. A lot of this just comes down. Well, that's true. That would have been. Right. It just increases the change. chances tenfold that a team that shouldn't be playing in the bracket is in the bracket. But guess what?

It makes more money for the league. And we're also told that it makes the end of the regular season more competitive with there being only one team getting the buy. I don't know if that's true or not, but that's what we're told. You know, we're told a lot of things as humans. We just do what we're told and hope things work out. They don't always work out. I'm a good little boy.

And I will say I think it's a good product. Keep doing it. Make the season another three or four weeks long. had four more playoff teams, have the season start in late July and go until early April. It's also weird. We don't know who the Bucks are playing. You know, they're playing the Monday night winter, but it's just weird on Sunday night. We don't know who they're playing.

But that will be a great game. And I loved as someone who likes this Bucks team, like to see the defense show up. They just look like a team that was ready for the playoffs to start. And that was the defense that we saw from a year ago. Yeah, Todd Boll's all week was. hearing about how dangerous this Eagles running game is, and this is upset city, and the Bulls-a-Sense was just like, bro, just wait.

Wait. All right. Now, you guys got to wait a couple days before you hear us again, Tuesday. We're going to be on the scene for Monday night football, the primetime game between the Rams and the Cardinals. I like whoever comes out of that game, barring some type of, like, mystical performance. so I'm going to pick the Bucks.

But that pass rush, that offensive line issue for the Bucks is going to be trouble. I'm thinking about Aaron Donald and Von Miller potentially or Chandler Joe. I mean, interesting. Well, look what it did to the Chiefs a year ago. So, I mean, it's like these tackles are gold. It was a long time ago, but the Rams should have some confidence pretty soundly beating the Bucks way back in, what was that, week three. If they get through. I'm not I'm not counting anything, especially after Mark apparently switched his lock.

I thought he got his lock right. I thought you got the 49ers right, but then you sent the tweet out after the 49ers had won confusedly saying, didn't I switch the Cardinals? Didn't I lock the Cardinals at the end of our show? Or am I misremembering that? I switched it to the Cardinals. You did say that. I did hear you say that at some point, but it's hard to keep track.

I think that means that you locked four different teams, Mark. Well, it's not a great feeling because I kind of. and forgot who I had previously locked it was paid did I I mean I have to go back and listen to the show now because I thought I went Patriots Niners then Cardinals um but to find out that according to this to that to the official guy the site that like I had picked the niners and then moved off that and they had one the man has a name what am I what am I doing here but lock it up lock it up his name is lock it up ATN lock it up that's what I'll call him lock it up uh no You did pick three.

I think we could get to the bottom of this right now, Mark. Because you initially, you got hot in the pants. Ricky nailed that lock, by the way, while you're trying to figure this out. Good job, Rick. She's locked two in a row of bills over Patriots. You've really got a good beat on this matchup here. I think you got super hot in the pants and locked up the Bengals, I think. And then you move to the Patriots and then you...

No, no, I think it started with the Patriots. All right, we'll have to check the Patriots. Then the Niners. Then the Niners. And then I do think you switch to the Cardinals at the very end. When I'm going to be there, and so I have something, now I'm not root, you know, I am contractually obligated to say pretty things about the Rams. But I'm not really rooting for either team, but I'd like to see. I would like to make it clear on behalf of the rest of us on the podcast, we are not contractually obligated to say nice things about the Rams.

That's way in your head, Mark. It's like my kids are Rams fans. I can't even, like, get it in me to, like, be particularly, like, a big fan. I mean, like, I'm happy for them. You can choose to believe me or them. So you need the Cardinals to win in L.A. Or the Lock Comp is pretty much over. It's funny, because you referred back at some point.

I don't remember what program it was or what of, like, you offhandedly mentioned how you had locked up the Cardinals. And I was like, did you? I never was there for that. Someone else checked the tape. I don't have time. Check it by tomorrow night. I think we should just let it stand as Cardinals and we move forward.

Right. It takes the stakes of that game in Amsterdam. Of course, Dan would say that after... Listen, I'm just taking care of business. After watching the Bowles of Sounds. Finally, Todd Bowles comes through for me. It actually wasn't... It was not Todd's fault the way things went in New York.

He does deserve a second big chair. It had to hurt you when Troy just like out of nowhere. had a sniper fire of like, oh, you can't count Todd Bowles' time in New York. That's a mess of an organization. But they are. Who said that more than me on this podcast? Of course. When people say that and then they go, oh, sorry, Dan.

It's like, dude, I know the Jets suck in a run poorly. No one knows better than me. Anyway. Well, maybe your dad, but no one beyond your dad. At least the old man got to see Namath. But we don't need to talk about the Jets right now. the Jets don't exist right now. Only a few teams are left, and we're going to get to them.

So Tuesday, you'll hear from us again. The Iran and the NFL broadcast will be back at the end of next week. And, of course, we have a preview show. So another big week for the podcast. Thank you to everybody for listening. Congratulations, Cincinnati and all the Wesslings, who, by the way, locked up the Bengals successfully. I think we all hit on our locks leading into this Monday night game.

So a lot to be excited about. and thank you for listening. And that's it till Tuesday. Yes. Eat the call. Hey, everybody, Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks.

On Move the 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.