NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2021 Week 18 Recap - The Craziest Sunday Ever?

Episode Date: January 10, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal recap every game from the insane week 18 slate starting with the AFC and the nail biting SNF matchup between the Chargers and Raiders. The playoffs are officially set and there were some major upsets. Nick Shook joins the show to talk about the Falcons/ Saints and Bucs/ Panthers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast is having a mojo moment. Oh, we're having a moment all right. Yeah. It's playoff fever. And the Around the NFL podcast, welcome to the show, the flagship program. The regular season is in the book.

hands is here with Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler, boys, the playoffs are set, and we are in the afterglow of one of the wildest Sunday night football games I can ever remember a true classic that we're going to get into in just minutes between the Chargers and the playoff-bound Raiders. Can you believe it? How's everybody doing? I don't know. I don't know what else talk about other than that game since it just ended. But I did notice how there was some like some haters kind of coming out about week 18. They're like, oh, week 18's come and they've just served us like the Eagles backups here on Saturday night, as if that didn't happen in every week 17 anyways. But this week 18 Sunday delivered. I mean, in a way that I could not have possibly

foreseen. Well, there were like a string of epic performances and epic games today. And I mean, that Sunday night game, which I believe was roughly five and a half hours long that contest, totally delivered. Honestly, it made me, and we'll get into it, but it made me think for just a minute of Wes's incredible speech about the meaningless of sports and trying to find meaning in it and reconciling that. And it's just something about the way this regular season, which has been an up and down affair, ended in the most improbable insane game.

it was like gripping it was gripping it was football at its best so no cynicism for me on the fact that it also was about five and a half hours long i like was walking around my garage but no obviously it was a great it was a great game and there were a couple other games we'll get you the day that were insane also you felt that lock slipping through your fingers i'm sure you were struggling with that a little bit you did get it done kept your season alive with the raiders uh i'm sure as a 15 point fourth quarter lead disappeared that that garage or some walls that were in danger and some controls and some some texts that we got and seemed like the anger was building but it looks it all worked out well i mean you know counter to that as you could feel the chargers coming back and inching

closer to the potential world of a tie that would have caused utter chaos in pittsburg so you know there were a lot of little mini victories um that were possible here little mini victories on the on the front all right let's dig into it real quick Saturday. It's going to be Raiders, Bengals, 4.30 Eastern on NBC. Then, oh, we knew it was coming.

It was inevitable. Patriots, Bills, rematch Saturday night game on CBS, Sunday, Eagles, Bucks at 1 p.m. Eastern. And then Niners, Cowboys, 4.30 Eastern on CBS Sunday.

The Steelers, who are somehow in the playoffs, They get the Chiefs on Sunday night football, and then first ever, unless Greg can tell me it happened in 1993, a Monday wild card playoff game. Cardinals, Rams from SoFi. Whoa, should we go to that game? All right. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. How about West of us coming back? The first Saturday afternoon game is in Cincinnati. But you know what? It's not it's not the Red Rocket starting this one. It's Joe Burrow. I was going to say, this is like Westivis for adults. Well, we've been getting, yeah, we've been getting a lot of Westivist type tweets, but this is not the Westivis that Westus used to talk about.

No. Because Westivis wasn't the Bengals just entering the playoffs and getting ready for the game. Westivis was a celebration of their one and done that everyone saw coming, and it was always celebrated as the early kickoff game on Saturday. Now, it is still the early kickoff game, but this feels different. I think West would have said the same. They're heavy favorites. Hopefully they get it on.

I can't believe no Colts, no chargers. We got the Raiders and the Steelers. Let's get to it. All right. Let's dig in starting with, yes, an instant classic from Vegas. Oh, Sunday night. Two seconds on the clock. And Daniel Carlson is on to put a little frosting on the cake.

A little 47-yard. Jeff Puck, baby! Let's go to Cincinnati! Yeah, baby! Brent Musburger with the goal. Brent Musburger's like 140 years old. That man was fully alive with that call. Daniel Carlson kept a wonderful night for the kicker.

He has got his own booth in the kicker club tonight with his fifth field goal. the difference in the 3532 overtime win for the Raiders over the Chargers who and I know people are going to say oh the Chargers is going to charge her and they did it again they blew it and yes in a way they did

because I thought they were the better team to set up well for them to advance but the fight they showed with those 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter that is something I'll remember including that drive at the end of regulation anyway Raiders advance

as I said they move on but this is a game that has so many levels and aspects to it, Greg. What kind of jumped out to you the most when you kind of reflect upon it about 45 minutes after the kick went through the uprights? Well, I think let's hit the timeout at the end of the game first, just because I feel like because it's the last thing that ends up dominating the conversation, obviously you mentioned, like the Herbert performance in the comeback and some of those throws were, like, that was more exciting to me.

But the fact that Brandon Staley took a time out on third, and four with, what was it, 38 seconds left, to me was kind of like a nothing burger. And I think this is a case where, like, the announcers of the game, Al and Chris, were getting so excited about the tie. Twitter's getting so excited about the tie that they, like, led everyone in this weird, wrong direction that was in some way saying, like, the Raiders were laying down at that moment. The Raiders ran for seven yards on the previous play. And the Raiders, at that point, were not going to throw the ball again.

And that was obvious. They were going to run the ball. And if they got close enough, you know, they presumably would kick a field goal to try to win it. When Staley called that timeout, he took two lightweight guys off the field that were struggling in run defense. And he put his run defense, you know, two guys who are better in run defense on the field because he just gave up seven yards. This is a terrible run defense. It's been the story of this Chargers defensive season. Like the fact that they lost and the fourth downs and timeouts, like, distract from the fact that he is a defensive coach.

and his defense stunk in a big spot like that when basically I think the Raiders would have been okay going to a tie because they were just going to run it kind of like our guy Sean McVeigh did at the end of the game and if it didn't work then they either punt or they kick a long field goal

Staley wants to get a better guys out on the field and they still couldn't stop it. They knew the run was coming. Josh Jacobs, who was great in this game, picks up 10 yards and they kicked the game winning field goal and they made this big deal about the timeout And that to me was just, it was strange. It was like acting like the Raiders were not trying in that situation.

What they were trying to do was just run the ball. And they showed on that drive, like, they were going to be able to do it and do it well. And this Chargers defense, like, let them down one final time. Well, Derek Carr said after the game that they, you know, their intention was to win. And, you know, I kind of don't really care what anyone says. But do you think that there's a different level of urgency if a tie would have led to both of them making the playoffs, that the Raiders aren't pushing that hard to get a field goal if the timeout doesn't occur there.

But they're running the ball. What changes? Either way, they're running the ball. The game was different because of the tie situation in the sense that the Raiders didn't have a huge motivation to throw there. I guess I'm asking it either way. So like what would have changed? Let's say that Staley does not call the timeout.

The Raiders continue to run the ball. Time expires. Both teams make the playoffs. think that you don't think that would have been a possibility there? I do. I just think But wait, they would, but what I'm saying is they would have run the ball and either, I don't know what would have happened there, but let's say they run the same play and it gains 10 yards. Then they kick a field goal either way. The point in Staley said it after the game was he was just trying to stop the run to make it as long a field goal as possible. He called the timeout,

not like early. And the timing of it is what gives it away that he obviously was just doing that he didn't call it with 40 seconds left in the playcock he called it with four seconds left you know he wasn't trying to save time necessarily he was just trying to like stop them from running and he looked and he saw a formation that he didn't like and they couldn't stop the run i i agree with you and yeah and staley said after the game yeah that was there was no there was no other than what you're saying greg he just wanted to have a better defensive stop unit on the field because he just saw them gave up seven yards like on a play where like they should not be giving up seven yards. And that's what it comes down to, I think, which is this game probably ends in a tie and that poor dude, the Steelers fan at the stadium, he's, he's like dead in the middle of the aisle right now. If all they have to do is stop the run there. And I think the Raiders are going to play that very conservative and they're going to make it look like they tried. But hey, you know, it is what it is. And I think it would have been a massive story if the Raiders just ran the clock out without kneeling. And I think it could have happened if the Chargers could have just gotten a stop. But.

You know, I think it didn't work out that way, and Carlson made the kick. And I think it was the best for everyone involved, ultimately, not the Chargers, obviously, but in the best interest of football, I don't think a tie where nobody was really trying at the end would have been a great way for the season to end. I like the way it ended. And I thought, I thought Derek Carr, who did not have a very good game overall, made that huge money throw that set up those final runs that led to the game winning field goal. So he gets a little measure of revenge against Joe. Bosa and the Chargers, Bosa, who's trashed him in the past for not being a money

clutch player. And maybe he wasn't in this game, but he delivered that big throw when necessary. And I have to say in all my years, like watching football, certainly in my years doing this podcast with you guys, I can't remember another drive like the Chargers game tying drive

in the fourth quarter. Unbelievable. 19 plays, 83 yards, the touchdown at the gun. It covered about two minutes and five seconds about of game time, but about 20 minutes of real time. It featured a conversion of fourth and ten, fourth and ten, third and ten, fourth and ten. And then the touchdown when they had one shot at the end zone and they stuck it in there. Herbert making big throw after big throw after big throw. I'll never forget that drive. And that's why like

the Chargers fans that have been ride or die with that team, no matter what city they playing are hurting again tonight. But man, they didn't, it looked like about midway through the fourth quarter that it was a classic Chargers going to charge your meltdown. But what they showed in this game was how it is different. And they're not there yet. But with that dude, anything is possible. So I think it's a bittersweet night for Chargers fans who once again, you're reminded how special that guy is behind center. And a credit to the whole team, because I think Collinsworth nailed it, those guys were gassed. And I think they caught some breaks with some timeouts and some stoppages that even gave them a chance to get into the end zone there because they had nothing left and they weren't even to midfield yet.

But that took some real guts that drive. So I have a lot of respect for the Chargers and what they did tonight. And the drive before was 14 plays. Like they were absolutely winded by the time that thing ended. And it's, I think it's just one of those games that the complexion of it shifted so many times. And you come out thinking like you can make a bunch of mistakes and errors and get in your own. way, but when you have Justin Herbert, anything is possible. And the tie felt, or the going into overtime felt inevitable once they got going that way. But I mean, I do think if you're a Chargers

fan, you look back on a lot of little what-if moments, like the Andre Roberts botched punt return that just basically set the Raiders up for a quick score. You know, when they, I'm not disagreeing with this call again. We've discussed this issue a thousand times, but they are stuffed on fourth and one from their own 18-yard line in the third quarter. My God. I mean, the thing is, it's just like, that's who they are. That's their philosophy. I mean, Justin Herbert.

Is it even though? Yes, it is. Because. Inside your own 20 in a game that your season's on the line. I'm the last, like, math nerd person out there. But, like, it, like, there were tweets showing that, like, over and over the suggestion was you go for it. I think from a, just like, a human angle, it's like that, it didn't, it didn't, it kind of,

it was a pivotal because it's not showing a lot of respect to the Raiders' offense. The play call did not work out. I mean, it's one of those things you look back on, but that's who the Chargers are. And Brandon Staley said that all season long, like, this is what we do. But they're not a good interior running team, and they weren't on that play.

And like Darius Phelon, who got carded for the Raiders, made a great play on that play. So you got to think about, like, the strength of your team. I don't mind going for it there. They ended up going six or seven on fourth down, but a lot of those were in that late desperation mode.

There was also a fourth and longs. Right. And, well, one of them was fourth and two early. That added seven points to the score. They would, you know, if they kicked a field goal there, that kind of evens out. But is that just like Herbert hitting those throws? It was like the quality of those throws were outrageous. The touchdown to tie it at the buzzer at the last game of regulation was one of the best throws of Justin Herbert's life.

He's, you know, going to his left and he throws it down and away. When Mike Williams is getting double covered, bracketed, and man coverage, like, that's impossible. Like, that was an unreal throw. Ricky, can we hear because I really, my buddy Matt Money Smith, our friend, the voice of God for the ATN podcast, I have to hear his call of the touchdown at the end of regulation. It's the only time we're going to hear money until next September in terms of calls. But this one, I'm sure it was worth it. Herbert and the shotgun.

Here is the season. They rush for. Here comes Max Crosby. Herbert to the end zone. Caught touchdown. Chargers. Mike Williams. DJ, I don't believe what we have witnessed.

Laugh or cry, buddy. Laugh or cry. We are tied at 29. What a treat for NFL. fans everywhere. No, except for one. Mike Williams, by the way, kudos. He's one of those guys that was tough as nails.

And, you know, just running those go routes going up and down the field. He's going to sleep for three days. Nearly made three one-handed catches, including one that preceded the game tying field goal in overtime. If he comes down with any of these balls, it's a different game. But then you could say on the other side between Derrick Carr's accuracy issue, issues on downfield shots and some drops on their side of the ball, it could have been a very different game.

So, man, it was just a hell of a game. I'll never forget it. Yeah, like Max Crosby won this game as much as like a defensive end could because I think just how many points the Chargers would have put up if Crosby wasn't just destroying. By the way, he entered the fourth quarter, according to NextGen, that's like eight pressures behind the season lead of pressure. I forget who it was that was in front of him, and he had nine in that quarter, so he ended up, like, winning that. It was just, like, outrageous.

The third and one last, like, little point was, like, and this goes back to the Chargers' run defense, so it's kind of a full circle thing. The key play in the game, I thought, before those last couple drives, was the third and 23 run that Jalen Rashard had at the end of the first half. The Chargers are winning by four there, and we're going to get the ball back with over a minute to go and put up more points. And that ends up being like at least the seven point swing. The Raiders go down and score a touchdown because the Chargers can't stop a rushing play on third and 23. That really changed the game. And that was like during a little segment where the Chargers had one first down in five drives. So it's like every aspect of both of these teams played a part in this game.

And that was the longest third down run to get a first down of the entire year by any team. And so it came at the perfect moment for Jail and restarting the Raiders. I mean, remember the game was over at 2915, too, until they overturned the fourth and sixth spot at, you know, to give the Chargers the play. It was that moment where I thought, oh, maybe the Chargers will win this thing. And then, no. And let's close this game out by giving credit where credits do to Rich Besatia,

to Derrick Carr, to Josh Jacobs, to Zay Jones, that whole team, that defense, the offensive line. They finished 10 and 7 this year. And when they lost 48-9 at Kansas City, they just seemed like they were done for. And then I'll own up to it. I wrote them off multiple times, including a couple days ago. They were your ride or die team back in like some week four episode. I don't know if you remember this episode where we each picked a team.

So I guess in the end, you were right, yeah. I nailed it. I like playing it this way. But like they edged by the Browns, they edge by the Broncos. they stun the cults and indie and then play great football and win this game. So it's all house money now for the Raiders. And I know they're going to be a heavy underdog next week, but it doesn't matter. Considering everything that this team went through this year between Gruden and Rugs

and having an interim coach just dropped in out of nowhere to be able to go on this run in December and January, congratulations to the Raiders and those fans. Big year, big year for Vegas football. All right. And one little thing, like, I think, you know, our overall impression of Derek Carr, the football community's overall impression, has changed as he incrementally gets hotter and hotter with each passing week. Why is he looking more attractive to me than at any previous time in his career?

Wow. That's how we're buttoning up that game, I see. Maybe not the final note we were looking for, but I just think that he's kind of feeling, you know, he's in a zone, he's feeling the calm. No wonder Mark's not cynical. He's going to be re-watching that Raiders, you know, post-game interview a little later and get comfortable. Real comfortable. All right.

Let us now move on through the rest of the AFC. So we're going to hit all the AFC games and then we're going to move to the NFC. All right. Let's move now to the biggest upset of the day. Oh, man. Come on, Colts. Fourth and goal for the Colts. Jackson to leads this game 23 to 3.

They hand it to Jonathan Taylor. Jonathan Taylor. You didn't do it. He did not get there. The Jags have stuffed him again at the one-yard line. Oh, the bongos go to the Jaguars. Who a little teaser move out of the basement of the power rankings. The J-Men will take their place to end the season.

Frank Frangy with the call WOKV. Trevor Lawrence kept his best game as a pro, the beautiful recovery and TD pass. And the Jacksonal defense made that big goal line stop to basically lock it up. The Colts gagged their way to Infamy on Sunday, blowing their chance at the playoffs and a stunning 26-11 lost to the Jaguars

at the big chlorine tank. NFL rushing champion, Jonathan Taylor, held to 77 yards. Carson Wentz turned the ball over twice, leading to 10 points, and Indy faltered in all phases to the 3 and 14 Jags. Greg, this was an outcome that can change the course of the entire organization in Indianapolis. It is just hard to believe because it wasn't like one of those games where it's just,

oh, I can't believe he made that play or I can't believe they made that call or even just, I don't even think you can just say, or, you know, Carson Wentz is a bum. Like, I get it. There was a segment when I'm sure. Red Zone was all over this game in the third quarter where Carson Wentz did not rise to the moment. But at that point, they were already down by two touchdowns, and Carson Wentz hadn't been that involved in that game in a negative way. The Jaguars just like looked better. And you mentioned Trevor Lawrence playing his best game. He played a perfect first half. They kind

of took the ball out of his hands in the second half. But when they needed just one play out of him he made it that that scramble to in throwing it up high to marvin jones who had an awesome play uh was just a reminder of like how talented lawrence is and his teammates let him down a few times today they could have won this game by about 30 i was sitting when i was watching this game i was thinking oh my god are they going to blow this because they should be winning by about 25 or 30 but they didn't uh their defensive line offensive line everyone just freaking yeah Levischish and all, can we catch the ball? Leviscich, can we catch the ball?

I'm totally with you, Greg, this was, there was nothing fluky about the outcome. The Jaguars kicked the Colts' butt in this game. And that's why Mark, Frank Reich after the game, do we have that, Ricky, Reich after the game? Never expect to be sitting here, you know, having this, having this moment right now, not like this. You know, we had a good week of practice. We had good preparation. all week long. Felt good energy the whole week, every day.

Every meeting, felt like we had three good plans. I felt like the players were dialed in, and we just didn't get it done today. We just didn't get it done, coaching or playing. I mean, right, Mark, he looks stunned because there's no way you could have predicted an egg at this magnitude. Yeah, I mean, I think it's a top five cult's loss of all time.

I mean, I really do. And I mean, I know it wasn't in the playoffs per se, but it was a total collapse. And maybe there were hints of it when they fell to the Raiders the way they did, although we think a little differently about the Raiders right now. But, you know, I don't, I didn't put anything into the fact that they hadn't won in Jacksonville since 2014. But it was an utter no-show. And I think it raised, it's like when you think about the cults in general, they had dominated in back-to-back wins over the Patriots and Cardinals.

They seemed like one of the more sure things in the A.S. But it did hedge around the fact that you needed Jonathan Taylor to be operating at MVP levels. You needed Carson Wentz to keep the mistakes down. And today you got the worst version of those two scenarios. And I'm just stunned by how dominant Jacksonville was. It makes me think when they beat up the bills that one week. But that just felt like such an aberration because the offense in Jacksonville had been so bad. But you got Trevor Lawrence's best game at the perfect moment for them.

And they still come out with the number one overall pick. Well, yes, because the lion's loss, the lion's upset, one of the Packers keeps the Jags at number one. So it's literally, it's a perfect day for the Jaguars in every way. It is, and it was the offensive line for the Colts, I think, more than anything that killed them. Like, they couldn't push them in the running game. There was a couple short-yard situations. They couldn't get early. You heard the fourth down call.

And Eric Fisher was just getting destroyed. Sometimes the game's about matchups. Josh Allen terrorized Eric Fisher in this first matchup where they could not get anything done throwing the ball either and their offense was pretty bad that day too and Josh Allen just destroyed Eric Fisher who was coming off an injury today and it almost just short-circuited the entire offense

like when that happens and it's like a Chargers game and Storm Norton getting dominated like Justin Herbert can overcome that somehow when it's the Colts like Carson Wentz is not overcoming that And the cults committed the Cardinal sin of any type of team in this situation late in the season. When you need to win, the other team's ready to go home for the winter, you get off to a little bit of a slow start and you give the Jags a reason to start to rally around each other and start to get pumped up and get the crowd involved. And by the end of the first quarter, you knew this was going to be a game.

It was almost like shades of, like I showed the boys. We got the Nintendo classic, as I told you, which is just going off in the house right now. And they've been playing Mike Tyson's punchout, that classic game. So I showed him like a clip of Mike Tyson's, you know, all of his knockouts and gave him on YouTube and gave him the rundown. And then right when they thought this was literally the most dangerous, baddest man alive, no one's been better, I was like, now watch this. And I showed him the Buster Douglas fight. And they watched it like, I felt like I was watching the Tokyo Dome event live. in my Uncle Bob's house in 1990, like they were stunned.

It's kind of like that, like where Mike Tyson let Buster Douglas start to believe, and then that was it. And I think that's what happened with the cults here. And I just don't know what it, because Carson Wentz, obviously, it washes away everything this season. It really does. It's that devastating. And it really, anybody that doubted Carson Wentz now says,

see, I was right all along, and you kind of were. But I think it's very important what you pointed out, Greg, which is Carson Wentz didn't. step up in this game but neither did anybody else on the team not the offensive line not the playmakers not even the defense with darius leonard who had a huge personal foul late in the game it just was like this weird everyone falls off and then it's like who who does that go back to frank rike has to take heat too this team was not ready and we saw it i think organizationally it's it's everyone it's the whole thing and then ultimately you look back on the carson wends trade with the

Eagles. And someone tweeted this out that the cults get Carson Wentz. The Eagles get a top 20 pick, a third round pick, 103 million in cap relief. The Eagles made the playoffs. The cults are going home. Right. I mean, Wents is under contract for a couple of years. I just don't think he's going anywhere. Of course, I guess it shouldn't need to be said. I don't think Frank Reich or Chris Baller are going anywhere. So I don't think it's like something that changes their organization necessarily. It's just like an ultimate, like, wet fart how this, how this season ended. And the thing with Wentz is, yeah, he wasn't the reason they fell behind, like Trevor Lawrence was great on third downs in the first drive. It really set the tone. Like, he made great

plays to keep that drive going. They had a long touchdown drive. But when they're trailing by two touchdowns in the third quarter, and that was like the moment you needed a franchise quarterback, he had one of his worst quarters of the year, like he just started short-circuiting and had that, had that quarter and it was just like and he had the look. And damn, this is our quarterback here that we need right now. And it was just, yeah. As it's becoming the biggest story in the NFL and everyone's eyes are on the games

and CBS wisely is cutting repeatedly to the sideline and you see Wence and it's like that does not look like a leader of men that's about to save the day and he wasn't. So it wasn't all on him, but he certainly played a big role in their collapse losing back-to-back games, missing the playoffs entirely. And like we talked about at the top of the show,

you needed this. This changed everything. This pumped life into week 18. We needed either Jacksonville or Houston to do something crazy. Jacksonville did it and it opened a door for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let's take a break and then we'll hit that game. 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 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. all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies,

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Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, here it is. in overtime to try to win it. A 36-yard effort for the magic of buzz. The ball is down. The kick is on its way.

That kick is up. Their kick is good. And the Pittsburgh Steelers have defeated the Baltimore Ravens, and the Steelers are headed for playoff land. Wow, Bill Hilgrub, I almost spoke too soon there. Right. He's lucky Dano Carlson hit that kick. Ben Rafflesberger and the Steelers aren't dead.

They're undead. The zombie Steelers are improbably, impossibly even. Alive after a 1613 win over the Ravens in Baltimore, that win, combined with the cult stunning loss to the Jags, and the game on Sunday night not ending in a tie, allows the Rafflesberger-led Steelers to enter the playoffs for the... I meant to look this up.

I'm going to say 100th time in his Hall of Fame career. It's probably closer to, like, what, 10, 12? Yes, it's probably closer to 10. The stats research department is on it, buddy. All right, thanks, buddy. Greg, the rest of the AFC had a month to deliver the headshot to kill the Walking Dead

out of Western Pennsylvania. They could not do it. I think this is the 14th playoff trip. It might be 13 if I counted wrong there. That is just outrageous. I can't believe this team got to 9-7-1. They ruined Marks 8-1 first of all. Sorry, dude.

No, guess what? It's not going to happen now until 2046, so sorry to everyone. They ruined that. This was just such a 20-21 season Steelers game. Ben could have thrown four interceptions he was rough but Tyler Tyler Huntley made the mistake especially in the red zone you know late in that game when they're up for to throw that interception that Andrews where he just forced it in a field goal there really felt like it's probably going to be enough it was

brutal and man it was I just I'm impressed T.J. Watton out of only sets the sat record he does it in a huge spot like in a second and goal situation where you end up stopping the Ravens from scoring a touchdown like that's that's the way you want to do it he tied the record with michael strahan now so that is now they're together in the record books he had a sack immediately as the game began on a strip sack and then they changed it and just ruled it a forced fumble otherwise the record would be his but i'm glad it worked out the way it did and now we just need somebody else. Maybe it will be T.J. Watt himself to break it out right.

But now Stray Hamis to share the record, and I like it. It's a start. It would have been nice because that was pretty early in the game. That was the second quarter. It would have been nice for him to set it. But that was the thing about Watt and why he'll probably win defensive player. The next play after that, he made a great tipped pass to, like, you know, break up a pass from Huntley, too. He was all over the place.

The offense in this game was pretty rough. I was watching this just thinking, man, I don't want to see either one of these teams in the playoffs. You know, you know, Watt was not told that that initial sack was taken away. He thought he had it. And then he had a later one where he and Cam Hayward combined on a half sack. And that was taken away because Cam Hayward had a hit to the head. So, you know, razor's edge. But Watt was not informed.

I thought that was a little bit tough. I can't help but leave this season. Just thinking about the Ravens and how well coached they were, how many dark corners they got out of to get to this point. It's such a season of what ifs, but it leaves me with more respect for that organization. As my voice continues to disappear here, I've learned. I mean, the Ravens, they ended the season, what, on a six-game losing streak?

They went, they were eight and three, and they finish eight and nine. Of course, a lot of that goes back to injuries. And five of those were on the last play. I mean, that's the thing. They were decimated and then lost a lot of close games in the second after, winning a lot of close games in the first half. But it's like, you know, it is, it's disappointing because we talked about the Saints in the same way a couple weeks ago and the Saints closed strong and found ways. And the Ravens just could not finish out these games.

So just a very frustrating loss for them. And the Steelers, listen, first of all, Steelers fans, Damashack and everybody else, that had to be the most painful, strange Sunday night football experience ever. I mean, when they cut to that fan, the NBC cameras, the Steelers fan that's somehow in Vegas, and he saw what looked like the Raiders running out the clock at midfield. Can you imagine what all those fans went through? And for it to end the way it did on a field goal, if he misses the field goal, it's a tie, and you miss the playoffs, that would have been an all-timer in terms of fan pain. That wasn't an all-timer, just thinking about it, that that puts the Steelers into.

I mean, man. So they are going to enter the playoffs as underdogs because they're just, let's face it, not a very good team, but credit to Mike Tomlin and credit to T.J. Watt, I guess you give Ben some credit because he did have the big fourth down conversion there that set up the field goal that allowed them to advance. He's running on empty. And yet now he's wandering like a walker into the playoffs. It's pretty crazy to see that it's the Steelers. who come out of that division with the Bengals because they so clearly felt like the fourth best team

for much of the year. Yeah, this is, I don't know if this season, you know, we needed a seventh AFC team, but this is how it works out some years. Credit to Mark East Brown, too, for dropping that touchdown in the end zone late in the game. It was right in his bread basket. He probably would have won the game there.

Talk about it. He's almost like the embodiment of the Raven season, starting so well and promising. cratering in the end. So toughier for the Rames, they'll be back with Lamar Jackson, assuming his ankles better by week one next September. I don't know. That was a weird injury, the way it all

played out. But the Steelers move on. Who do the Steelers have again? They get... The Chiefs. The Chiefs. Who obliterated them a couple weeks ago. Now, you know, these things have a way of surprising you, but just the way it all shook out, I feel like we got the most

lopsided or least interesting matchups possible. But maybe Raiders, Bengals, Steelers, Chiefs, Eagles, Bucks, maybe those will surprise me. Come on. Do I have to watch a game on Nickelodeon, the Cowboy game? The Niners Cowboy Game? Just give me a heads up. Yes, you do.

I don't have to. I'm making you. You know, Troy, Troy and Joe will have that. All right, good. So, double-chat. I mean, it's great for the kids, and Nate does a great job with it and everything, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting banged as an adult in a big spot there. All right.

So the Steelers advance. One more week of the Ben retirement tour. One more week of stories about Big Ben, the zombie stealers live on. I cannot believe it. What was that, Ben? Wow, he even laughs like a zombie. Let's not assume one more week. I don't want to jinx that and suddenly have it be two, three, or four.

That's a fair point. All right. So the cults cannot take care of business against an AFC South also ran. The Titans also had a chance to win. a layup or so we thought. That turned out to be a challenge as well. Tana Hill, looks left, comes back to the middle, fires. Julio Jones, touchdown, Titans, finally, Julio for six. Mike Keith with a call WGFX. The Titans clinched the top spot in the AFC for the first time

in 14 years, beating the Texans 28 to 25. behind Ryan Tadahill's career high-tying four touchdown passes. That was the 12th win of the year for the Titans. They locked up their second straight AFC South title last week. And they have the number one seat in the AFC for the third time since leaving Houston in 97. First time since 2008. Talked about that on Thursday. They were won and done, so they're looking to change that up.

This year, they also get the first round by, of course. Mark, this one looked like a laffer at halftime, but Houston and Davis, Mills made Tennessee earn it in the end. Yeah, this grew fishy for Tennessee. I mean, they had a 21-0-0 lead at half. They had outgained the Texans 268 yards to 67. It looked like Houston was simply not going to be able to operate on any level. And then, in the second half, Davis Mills, who, I mean, I think we've seen these

halves from him where he suddenly gets hot, he's a fishing, he can throw the ball really well, like just caught total fire. Danny Amandola caught total fire. I mean, this is like a team built of like ex-patriots and in people that he had been essentially been written them off. And the Titans like, or the Titans in the second half open with three straight three and outs. And you really just were starting to wonder if maybe they get caught off guard here. And I thought that Tannahill made one of the plays of the year. And it was essentially a third and five where they were just searching for life. And he got whacked. by this guy, Jacob Martin, it looked like he was going to go down. He escapes the sack and completed a 36-yard pass to Nick Westbrook-Kina, which helped set up the touchdown, their only score of the second half, and it was just enough to escape. So they did what they needed to do. It grew a little too close for comfort, but they are your number one seed.

It was a very tightened win. That play was awesome, by the way. I thought it was just, it showed me everything about Tana Hill, Tann at that point of the game, yeah, the Texans could take over. Texans have a chance. So that was, I agree, that was the turning point of that game. And it is interesting to me that, and this is, I'm not factoring in any overtime minutes and we'd love to get a grave digger on right now.

And 1,020 minutes of game time for the Titans in the regular season, it took until the 1,013th minute for Julio Jones to score a touchdown. But he was a difference maker here. I think there were a couple games, Justin, where he was a difference maker. And my, a couple, I mean two. but now he gets two weeks AJ Brown gets two weeks and most importantly

yeah boy Derek Henry gets two weeks with Ryan Tannehill going into the playoffs with confidence where's your confidence level at 1 to 10 about a deep playoff run probably like a 9ish I mean just watching the other

AFC teams today it's like the Chiefs are clearly one of the best teams and I think the Titans are the other best team And I think a Titans Chiefs' 2019 AFC championship game rematch is somewhat inevitable at this point. Ooh, I like the confidence. That's a great point because I thought the same thing kind of looking at the AFC where the bills have been a little wonky here late in the season

and that you just wonder about what version of that team shows up. The Bengals are obviously the X Factor here, but you don't look at them as some unstoppable superpower. So the Titans, by virtue of having the advantage of a free pass to the divisional playoffs and the home game, yeah, they are set up very well here in a conference that's wide open. Well, and the way the seeds fell, and it's always dangerous to project out because either way they play the lowest seed. But I think if I was a Titans fan, I would like the idea that you could avoid Kansas City and or Buffalo until the conference. That if the seeds held, you get the Bengals. and I think that's probably your best possible matchup. But you also just gave up a huge comeback by Davis Mills in the second half.

So, I mean, let's not beat our chest too much. I don't see a free pass, barring a massive upset by the Raiders or Steelers. I don't see a free pass here once you get to that final eight. No free pass. Basically, there was a scenario, you know, it could have fell different, I guess, if you somehow got stuck against the Chiefs. But since they won Saturday, I guess you weren't. worried about it.

Right. If you had blown this game, basically. I think, like, you know, the Patriots have a pretty good shot to upset the bills with Belichick, just being such a great defensive mind there, that that would be a pretty good matchup for the Titans, too. The Bengals have so much trouble on the offensive line. Can they stop the run? I feel like once you get into the playoffs, the teams that can run and stop the run have

such an advantage, and the Titans have been so good stopping the run lately. And once they get Derek Henry back, I mean, they've been running the ball. well without Derek Henry. So once you get him back, they should be able to continue pounding it. I think the second half today was, I mean, definitely discouraging, but it also gives you a lot of good teaching points for the next two weeks so you don't go into the playoffs too, like overconfident or whatever. Yeah. I hear you on that. Wait, what's what are you laughing about, Mark? I mean, I just, you know, it concerned me a little bit what happened in the second half, but I'm, I'm with Gravedigger that like they are who they are. They've been really resilient. And I don't, there's no team

in the league that would be helped more heading in the playoffs with a week off to get healthier. And I would say, I would guess, Grave-Digger, and you tell me if my hunch is correct, that all like the bozos like me and tens of thousands of other, quote-unquote, analysts of the field who were in love with the cults this season, they go down in flames while you lock up the number one seed. So this feels like a pretty nice day for Titans Nation. It was. I think Titans' Twitter was, like, more excited to see the Colts lose than they were to see the Titans win because everyone kind of expected the Titans to beat

the Texans, but nobody really expected the Jags to beat the Colts. It's been months of people telling you, Titans, man, that like the cults are actually the better team here, and it's like there is an aura of disrespect, I think, that fan base, you've won 12 games.

You're the number one C. Are you better than the Chiefs? I don't know. It's funny. Like, this is going to sound like still trying to fight a battle that's already lost now. But like two weeks ago, that absolutely made sense. And it wasn't, I don't know what happened to the Colts, but I will tell you one thing I did, I did do. I dipped into the Colts subreddit just to see what was going on. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Not, not pleasant. So I'm sure the Titans, maybe Titans fan did the same

thing. But you don't, you don't, you don't interact in that situation. You don't dare get into the, the commentary and rub in or anything. But you just, if you want to check it out, Lurk. I sometimes like to lurk for teams that I dislike or teams that are going through something very painful. And I thought that was interesting. Erse is definitely in there like with a bunch of fake accounts. Yeah.

Colts have seven pro bowlers and didn't make the playoffs. That's crazy. Very crazy. And the Titans are a team that says, hey, we've been overlooked. Now's our time. So the stage is set. Good job by you, Grave Digger.

I'm sure the metrics are rolling in. over on the Titans Film Room podcast. Nailed it. You got one going up? You got one coming up tonight or what? Tomorrow. We'll record tomorrow.

Let's just get it up early. Okay, let's take advantage of the fan excitement, you know? You're right. You're right. We will. All right, good stuff. All right, there you go.

The Titans take care of business. Let's now move. And by the way, good for Davis Mills. He's fun to watch, huh? I don't know what happens next in his career. but nice little ball player i noticed um quickly on the texans that that they're considering moving on from david cully according to our NFL network guys and they sort of hinted that if they were moving on from david cully it would indicate that they're like confident in getting the

specific person that they want and it's nick casario so you could try to guess Josh macdainiels would be a logical uh one bill o'brien like they was like Ryan and Casario have links? He was like in McDaniels' wedding, but I don't know. You never know. But it sounds like that the bag job is in here, that they have someone that they want to hire. Which I remember like banging the drum about that in August. It always felt like Cully was set up to just be the patsy here.

But to his credit, he didn't let the Texans become a laughing stock. They really did battle once they got their feet on the ground in about October or so. bad juju if they fire cully i get it but also he's really done a nice job for them right the contract for the worst position of any coach unlike i mean it still would be a bad job and terrible um but unlike the players the contracts are guaranteed so that's an he he got a five-year contract which is kind of surprising now i'm confused so and i know something it's maybe standard for these guys to get five years or something close to it but if you gave him a five-year deal and then he took that roster of nobody's

and made them competitive week after week and made them get better as the season got along. Then you fire them. It's almost like the Texans don't have a clear plan what they want to do with their organization. That's just like a theory that I'm percolating in my brain, that they might not know what the hell they're doing. I think you're connecting some dots there in a wise way.

All right. Let's move back to Saturday, where the chiefs were looking to give themselves a chance to take that number one seat. It didn't work out, of course, but they did their part, just barely. Lock is... No, the ball's out.

The ball is out and picked that by the Chiefs. Taking off is Melbourne. They're chasing Ingram. He's at midfield. No, it's Dorian. It's at Nick Bolton. Nick Bolton at the 20. 10, 5.

Touchdown. Kansas City on a defensive score. Melvin Ingram knocked the ball out from Melvin Gordon, the third. And it was picked up. Up by Nick Bolton, the rookie linebacker. Mitch Holtus with the call WDAF. What a dramatic play.

And I've been mixing up Melvin Gordon and Melvin Ingram on the show for about five years now. They finally met up in a dramatic moment, and it did not work out well for the running back. Melvin. At all. On a day when the offense was held in check, it was once again the Chief's defense that stepped up for the AFC West Chance. Champs. Melvin Ingram Forst the Melvin Gordon Fumble. Nick Bolton scooped it up, took it to the house. Game swinging play, 28-24 win for Kansas City.

As I said, at the time, it moved the Chiefs into the number one spot in the AFC. Titans took care of business Sunday, took it back. So the Chiefs, the number two seed, and they get a nice matchup there, as we've said, against the Steelers on Sunday night. Now, Mark, news out of Denver after the game. It was reported the next morning that the Vic Fangio is out after three years without a playoff trip. And the Broncos, it seems, Mark, are trapped in a time loop right now.

And they are looking for a coach. Yeah. And I think it's, you know, for whoever is interested in that job and becomes an interview candidate, like there are questions, major questions around the quarterback. situation. I mean, in another world, maybe Las Vegas opens up too. You've got a quarterback there. And Denver has a huge problem to solve on that front. I don't know. I mean, Vic Fangio, to me, is just a latest example of, like, I love to have them as a coordinator. But these teams that are built around like an impenetrable defense and not much else on offense are just seemed doomed to

me. That said, I mean, the chiefs, they ran for like 191 yards on the chiefs. That's the second time that's happened to Kansas City in a couple weeks now. And I'm a little concerned about that. I'm a little concerned about Tyreek Hill's heel. I mean, his health going into next week, but other than that, they're very explosive. And I think we're looking at a Chiefs team that's going to be very, very tough out. Yeah, they are. And yet this was a bummer of a week. I think they had a really bad week because Hill got hurt in warmups. Him and Kelsey haven't done anything in the last two weeks combined, kind of had the ball forced to them. Damien Williams, who's been really good, was banged up in this game.

Edward Zalair is out right now, and their cornerbacks are just playing, like, this man. I guess they've been playing man coverage and being that aggressive all season, but they've gotten roasted in the last two games. The only reason it didn't come back to haunt them in this one is Drew Locke just, you know, couldn't connect on a lot of these passes, and the Broncos couldn't quite make them pay. But I think that could be a problem in some point. playoff matchups and offensively it was like it was the story of their season basically wrapped into one game that the chiefs only had seven drives in this game essentially they averaged 10

plays a drive in those that's outrageous they averaged 10 plays a drive um and so it's not like the broncos were stopping them but it was just like endless seven yard throws from a home so he had to throw a lot of passes to get to where he was at and they ended up needing a defensive score to get it done. Listen, the Chiefs win 12 games. They win their division. They very nearly get the number one seed. So on some level, they did what we expected the Chiefs to do. But I've never in the last, you know, in the Mahomes era, I've felt that they're as vulnerable as they are this year, just because, you know, Patrick Mahomes averaging six yards per attempt is something that's happened too often this season. And yeah, I think the injury to Tyree Kill is as major. And it really puts a lot

of pressure on guys like me, Cole Hardman and Byron Pringle and Travis Kelsey to step up and be special. So while I think, you know, they're set up to, you know, get through the first round, certainly. I think they'll take care of business there. After that, I see it as being pretty much a crapshoot, you know, in the AFC because the chiefs just, they've shown us too much, too many times this year that they are capable of being very, very human and vulnerable on any given week. Would it be a shock, though, if they went on like a three-game tear? I mean, I'm with you.

Like, they've just not been the old chiefs in various ways all year. But, I mean, what have suddenly- I want to put it past them? I mean, it went to the Super Bowl the last two years and won the first time. So, yeah. But at the same time, like, that would also be maybe a break from who they've been for most of the season. Right.

I thought Mahomes had played his best three games of the year in terms of a stretch in a row leading into this game. he played well he played fine in this game it wasn't really on him uh it was more of the offense around him they did have a great sunday though getting the steelers instead of the chargers to me if you're if you're a chiefs fan that is a pretty big difference i mean for us too right mohomes mohomes said after this game we're still looking for that complete game and i laughed because he was removed from the steelers game a couple weeks ago with a 30 to three lead with 13 minutes left or 33 to three lead with

13 minutes. I was like, well, that wasn't a complete game? Why? Because Henney didn't, you know, it's like, well, we could have played a lot better when we were up 33 to three against the Steelers. That's probably what he felt. It's also the middle of January. It's like you're still looking for the best version of your team. It might not be shown up. It may have already happened. I hate the, I hate the Andy Reid punts in opposing territories. It's two straight weeks where it could have hurt them. You know, you got Patrick LaHomes as your quarterback year punted on fourth and five from the 40s. Like back-to-back weeks is killing me. And I think with the Browncas, as they begin their head coaching search, it just feels like you could hire whoever, but until they figure out this quarterback situation, we'll see what happens this off season.

Well, ownership is a problem. Like, it's the biggest question, I think, for any coach or anything going on. I mean, ownership right now is, it's a legal fight. It's unclear who the owner will be for the next coach. But it's pretty clear that the current owner will not be the. owner for very long for this new coach, assuming a new coach gets hired. So that, that to me is very problematic. That's very hazardous. Like everything you hear about where to go for a job, like that's all a bunch of red flags right there. Right. Like if you, how, how attractive is this Broncos job? They don't have a big time quarterback in place. They don't have stability and ownership. Like, they're not going to be able to get a top candidate. It makes, it makes me wonder if they would have knocked off the chiefs here, whether the Broncos would have thought about keeping Vic around, knowing that as well, because they're not, they're not naive to the fact that this

is going to be present a challenge for them. But they didn't get the job done. It's a story of the Broncos in the Fangio era, good defense, offense, making big mistakes and killing them. And I'll do it the last time, maybe on this show, with Vic now out the door, no longer in the big chair. Moment of silence for Vic, followed by this. We'll be right back. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin.

And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? oh my we think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining and twice a week that is exactly what you're going to get listen to NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the iHeart radio app Apple 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,

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Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Josh takes a snap out of the gun, steps up in the pocket, looks into the end zone, trying to fire it, going to keep it himself, finally throws it late. It is caught in the end zone. No, it is incomplete. Stefan Diggs, I don't think he got his feet down in the end zone. Yeah, this is essentially a four-point swing.

After discussion, it is a touchdown. They don't have to challenge. You can talk them into it. Go crazy, Orchard Park. Let's go Buffalo, 2710, over the gym. Jets in a game where the offense, once again for Buffalo, had you scratching your head a little bit, never really came together against the Jets who entered the game with the 32nd ranked defense in the league.

But it didn't really matter because the Bill's defense absolutely destroyed the Jets offense, holding them to wait for it, 55 yards total, the lowest total in the history of the New York Jets, 55 yards of offense. They somehow got 10 points out 55 yards. There was a fourth down completion from Zach Wilson to Keene and Cole that went for 40 yards for a touchdown. But that was about it. The bills, so not very impressive by a long shot on offense, but against a team like the Jets. You didn't need to be perfect.

But that's too straight, Mark. That's two straight games going to the playoffs where, yes, you've got the Ws against the Falcons and the Jets, but the Bill's attack wasn't in gear. Will they be able to flip the switch against better competition? Well, I don't seem to have the same faith in Buffalo that you guys do. And so I view them as a team that's going to get picked off in the AFC after maybe winning a game. But, I mean, I feel like every time I looked up, Zach Wilson was getting absolutely pummeled. He was sacked nine times. They were one for 14 on third downs.

And my one, you know, this isn't a Jets conversation so much, but that lack of consistency on what they've been on offense is concerning. I mean, Buffalo, I think, just played a discombobulated attack today, if anything. Well, the Jets' offense has been, you know, better the last couple of weeks, certainly last week. So to hold the Jets to 53 yards the lowest in franchise history, I mean, they get some credit for that, you know. It's like no one else has done.

done that to them. That is outrageous. The New York Jets have played a lot of football games to have this be the lowest amount in the history. There was a guy, the Jets, and it didn't help that the Jets were missing all their wide receivers mostly. By the end of the game, there was this guy named Tariq Black on the field. And man, I'm a pretty big Jets fan. Like, I know this roster. I have no idea who that guy is. And he actually made a catch. And it was his first career catch, and that was good for him. But, you know, they missed, they missed between, um, between the Elijah Moore, between James and Crowder, between Keenan and Cole,

the Tennessee wide receiver, it's late. Corey Davis, they were on the third left tackle. They were definitely short-hand. They missed so many, they were missing so many guys. So none of this was very predictable. Zach Wilson did end the year without an interception, his last five games. Go build around the kid.

Now, the bills, good news also for the second straight week. week, 170 yards rushing. So that helps as well. Obviously, Devin Singletary showed some signs of life late in the season. So the running game is in a good place for them. Josh Allen on the passing game, very up and down, 45 attempts against the Jets. Again, 32nd ranked in the league, worst defense in the league statistically. And the average touch over five yards per attempt.

So they got to clean it up. It wasn't very good weather there, very windy, icy day. So you got to factor that in. as well. But take care of business game, but also I look at the bills and I'm like, hmm, are you going into the playoffs in a good, in a good place? I'm with you. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Right. But I think, and we'll have all week to talk about it. I know it's getting late because, because Zemika's coming into the room now. We're taping in the bedrooms. I think she's just like ready to go to bed. I think they're happy to see the Patriots.

I really do. Just I think just because it's like a familiar opponent that. they just played their best game of the season against a few weeks ago. Not that that guarantees a victory. Just that, like, they know this. They know this team. I don't think they're going to be intimidated by it at all. It's a very familiar opponent. It's not like, oh, we've got to go do a bunch of work to, like, figure out the Patriots.

Well, they know, they know Buffalo, too. Right. We'll see. Right. I think the Patriots are the same way. It's a short week. It's a Saturday game. My point is they're just, like, familiar.

I think both teams will go into it. And Mark, before you get two anti-bills, because you're not to do this on the show, let's check in with it that the Patriots did in their final game at the regular season. That's fair. That's fair. We should. They throw it out to Myers. Myers is just going to run around with it. Touchdown. There you go. Touchdown Miami. And Gwaven intercepted the pitch in the end zone. It's a fumble recovery, but it's a pitch. It's a touchdown.

Mimi Cephala with the call. the Dolphins Man they play well against the Patriots in their building especially late in the season it seems They take care of business 33 to 24 Over the Pats

The Pats had to get a win And a Bills loss To take the AFC East Instead they get spanked here By Miami So they head into the postseason On a down note At 10 and 7

I believe they lost 3 or 4 mark To end the season So they enter the playoffs and a little bit of a funk, too. Yeah, this was an uncharacteristic Patriots game, sloppy. They allowed the dolphins right out of the gate to go on a 13-play drive that saw two ago,

seven-for-seven touchdown drive. And then seconds later, Mac Jones throws a pick-six to Xavier and Howard. They're suddenly down 14-0. Mac Jones lost a fumble later in the game. We heard that Jacoby-Myers lateral disaster at the end. They kind of sealed it. Duke Johnson ran all over them for 117 yards. The Pats gave up 195 on the ground.

Jalen Waddle set the record for the most rookie receptions in NFL history. The Patriots were also banged up. Christian Barmore got hurt late in the game. Isaiah win their left tackle left with an ankle injury. Ramandre Stevenson had a head injury. I mean, it just seemed to me their worst performance in a while. And Belichick basically said, we played poorly, coached poorly, didn't do anything. Mack Jones said it was a super he used the words a super embarrassing performance on his own

now I think he made Mac Jones made some pretty fantastic throws down the stretch but they were they built they put to themselves in too much of a hole and like you said down in Miami the dolphins have somehow had their number the last week of the season and they did it all over again right and they did it in New England a couple of years ago too to get that one take that one seat away with Ryan Fitzpatrick you know the injuries to me are the biggest story. Like the Patriots haven't looked like a world beating team other than against the Jaguars for a while, but, you know, Barmore to me is their best defensive linemen right now. Judon's gone real quiet and made a lot of mistakes over the last month. And Barmore gets carted off. You're starting left tackle.

Stevenson makes them special, I think, with the one-two combo with Harris. And so that to me is their biggest problem, not even just that they're playing poorly because I think they could bounce back, but those are three really important players for them. I'm going to set the spread. This feels like they'll set it at Buffalo by three laying that wood. That's my guess. Four and a half. Four and a half.

Okay. All right. So they're giving the bills a little more respect. But we'll see, yeah, that's something the track here with the Patriots where they're at. Injury-wise, let's keep moving on here and take care of. the AFC by taking a trip to believe land. Keenham play action fake. Steps in the pocket. He's got a good pocket. He throws left. Land recorded at the five to the end zone. Touchdown. And the Browns go ahead. Six-nothing.

Oh, yeah. Case Keenham. Getting it done. Two touchdown passes for the back of quarterback. In for Baker Mayfield after he underwent surgery to fix his body up. And the Browns hold off the bangles 21-16. the Bengals who started Brandon Allen, rested a bunch of starters. They weren't really into playoff positioning. They chose to try to get healthy for Wild Card Weekend. So the Browns finish 8 and 9.

Bengals 10 and 7, Browns go home. Bengals get the Raiders on Saturday in the West of this for Adults game. Mark, how you doing, buddy? I'm very... Did you watch this game? I don't even know.

Do we have this three of eyes on this one? You know how I'd like to have like 14 games up at the same time on my screen? Yes, very unhealthy. Yeah, it got the best to me today. I kept an eye on it. It just feels like anything in life that needed to end a couple months ago, watching the Browns on a weekly basis. They've driven me nuts.

You know, I think one of the bigger news items over the weekend were these reports that they are bringing Baker Mayfield back, that at least that's where we stand right now. It sounds like that whatever divorce we think, thought might happen will not be happening. So I think it's just there's a lack of other quarterbacks to go look for. But what an uninspiring performance by them

and the Bengals, who would have thought three or four months ago, come out as the much more electrifying team in Ohio. It's been a depressing year for Browns fans in every possible way. We'll see about that Baker report. I wonder if it's a done deal or that's

just like the starting point in this story and Browns kick the tire. I think this January thing, it's always couched. It says they plan to move forward. Well, you got to put it out there like that right now because they probably do not like the idea of what's happened in the last week, which is that like there's a good chance that he's going to be traded. That hurts their leverage. They have to start it at the point where, of course, we're okay keeping him or they're already like starting any trade talks at a disadvantage. And they want him to believe that they're keeping him too because that's obviously a possibility.

but you don't have to worry about it now. I did see like a headline. I didn't read it, but one of the local Brown's papers that said, you know, Case Keenham gives them solid play, solid quarterback play in this game. They could have used solid quarterback play over the last six weeks. And I do think that's a fair thought that you do wonder what this season could have been like

with a healthier baker or just with Case Keenum over the last six weeks because as bad as a season it was, you know, they're one game out of the playoffs. It wasn't that crazy. Well, I mean, Dan has been pushing for them to put Keenham in for two months. And I think, you know, in the final analysis, there's a strong reason to think that things could have been a little bit different. All they needed to do was score another touchdown in a couple of these games.

I mean, they were competitive, but quarterback play was a major, major issue for them. All right. So there we go. We'll be talking about the Browns' offseason plans. We'll be talking about what happens next with all the teams that move on. from their head coaches a little later in the week. But that wraps up the AFC. Let's take a break here and move on to the NFC.

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.

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Welcome back. All right now. AFC in the books. But there's a whole other conference we're going to dig into now, figure out how the playoffs all shook out. No better place to start than right here in Los Angeles, where the Rams and 9. did battle in a classic. Hit it, Ricky. Stafford back on first down, throws a deep one down the right sideline for O'Dell Beckham, Jr.

Intercepted by Ambrie Thomas. Ambray Thomas takes it away. The Rams only have one time out remaining. The 49ers are going to win the game in L.A., and they have won the game. They are going to Dallas, Arlington, Texas next week to end it. Greg Papa with the call, KNBR. Embry Thomas, the rookie closed it out with the interception of Matthew Stafford in overtime, allowing the San Francisco 49ers to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 27 to 24 at SoFi Stadium. Sofi Stadium that was packed with Niners fans. I mean, that was, that told you something right there. In this game, Greg, the Niners.

overcame a 17-0-0 first-half deficit. They took the game over in the trenches, gave the lead up again. But they kept coming back and they close it out. They're going to the playoffs where they'll face the Cowboys next week in Dallas. The Rams, even though they lose, still win the NFC West because the Cardinals gagged and they will host the Cardinals next week.

Crazy game, fun game, lived up to the hype, Greg. Yeah, I can't. I can't think of many cases of a team forcing their way into the playoffs with a more stirring win than this. To be trailing 17 points in the second half. And, you know, we know that the 49ers needed this win because of what happened in that Saints Falcons game to get into the playoffs. To come all the way back, to need a touchdown drive that going the length of the field to tie it to force overtime with no timeouts. to get it is one of the moments, obviously, of the Kyle Shanahan era of Jimmy Garapolo's career and to me, one of the worst moments of Sean McVeigh's coaching career. Because I put a lot of this game on the way he handled the last couple of minutes.

You're referring to after the touchdown to tie it, I assume at 24, the Rams get the ball back with some timeouts and a little bit of time. No, I'm talking about when they have the lead, and they're near midfield, what is it, 2417, right? Under two minutes to go, you bring in Matthew Stafford, you need one first down to end the 49er season, to end this five-game streak. And what do you do? You call three straight runs, the third of them on third and seven with total give-up play. You know it's not going to get it. choosing at that point on 3rd and 7 that you would rather take the final time out from the 49ers than give yourself a chance to win. It was an unbelievable Herm Edwards moment. Topped a few seconds later

or a few drive later when it's 24 all. And yeah, they get the ball to the 37 or so. Matthew Safford is sacked with about 13 seconds left and he let the time click off. That wasn't as bad to me as the three straight runs. but that was insane too. They had time for at least two plays and they were only 25 yards away from field goal position with the Pro Bowl kicker. That was 100% Sean McVeigh like losing his nerve

or his mind a little bit and not thinking clearly because I bet if you could have especially that last sequence over, he would absolutely take a time out and not tell his offense that we're giving up. We're not going to give you a chance to make a play. It's unreal, man.

I was blown away by that. Can I just, Mark, before I throw it, to you. I'm going to play the other side of this. I didn't hate the move to run the ball three times there. You had gotten a huge interception. Then your offense went down the field, go ahead, touchdown. Niners come on the field. You get a three and out. And McVeigh then had a decision. He felt like his defense had settled down and he said, we're going to play ball control. We're going to kill the timeouts. We're going to take this thing down to a minute and a half to play and forced San Francisco to go 90 yards against the timeouts.

my defense that I trust and believe in filled with all these stars, and they totally gag. You can trust it when you don't pick up the first down by trying to throw the ball. He's just, he's just like so unbelievably conservative in these situations. I understand that. I understand what you're saying. He's conservative there. The situation wasn't changing. All it was was was taking a timer out or two away.

Okay. The clock wouldn't change. Nothing would change. I know it all looks like the timeouts didn't matter because they went right down the field. But the fact that they really put, they had to go 88 yards. without a timeout. Now, Mark, they did it. And I just, I guess what I'm saying is, I understand your side of that, Greg, but he basically, McVeigh said, I trust my defense to not give up a touchdown here. And I thought they gagged in a big spot.

I'd love to hear what he has to say about the sequence that you mentioned, Greg, as well. I mean, this is a team that has been totally owned and a coaching staff that's been totally owned by the Niners. And we, you know, we knew that coming in. And I, I thought that this came down to so many impressive individual performances on both, on, from both teams honestly it was one of the games where it's like i know we have like 22 games of the year it was one of the most enjoyable football contest that we've seen this season and it stood out in a big spot and for me i mean jimmy g for all the stuff that gropolo's gone through this year this off season leading up that was a signature moment in a signature drive by him and it was just guys like

you know all sorts of niners players stepping up i love that they did not abandon who they were when they were down 17 nothing they came out with that 10 play, 10 straight runs, then the Debo Samuel touchdown pass. I mean, it's like they, to me, that would have been a big spot for them to get away from their identity, lose themselves a bit, and the Rams capped the thing. I mean, the Rams looked more like the Niners, the way they opened it with a 13-play field goal drive, a 12-play touchdown drive. The Niners were in deep space early on in this thing and did not flinch.

I'm so glad that they made it into the postseason because the way they're coached, the way they operate. They're imperfect, but they are going to give the Cowboys a test. They make the, they make the NFL playoffs. Our Super Bowl picks are alive, Mark. You know, we pick the 49ers to win the Super Bowl. It's still alive. Well, I'm not surprised that, you know, that that's come to fruition. Although you jumped off at halfway through, I remember. I don't worry about that. The San Francisco 49ers make the NFC way more interesting in the playoffs here. We'll get to the Saints later. Kudos to how they finish their season. They deserve a lot of credit considering everything they were up against. But I think the

49ers have a chance. chance to go through that conference if they get hot. And yes, I agree totally about Garaplo. I think he is a guy who's a bit of a punching bag. I certainly have not always been very high on him. I thought they were cooked when they were down 17-0, and he seemed to be not playing at a high level with the bad thumb and everything. And he made so many big throws down the stretch. And I thought that that drive that we were just talking about when McVeigh decided to punt it away and take the timeouts away and put it in Garoppolo's hands and say, this guy's not going to beat us. And he just, he carved them up. It wasn't even

competitive. It was five plays 88 yards and 61 seconds in a tie game. And I mean, so much of that goes back to, I think he's not in the Cooper Cup, I think is the offensive player of the year. I think Cooper Cup is a very good chance of or should have a good chance of winning MVP. But if you watch Debo Samuel every Sunday this year, this guy is unbelievable what he brings to this team. As long as he stays healthy and Brandon Ayuk stays on the field and George Kittles around with that running game, I think this team really is dangerous. Samuel was dominant in many ways today. I also think that Samuel, like, there are a lot of divas in this league that would not accept the role that he was put into where suddenly you're becoming a running

back. I mean, when they scouted him, Shanahan, they talked about the game that Shanahan saw those qualities in him, but he is an unselfish player who is incredibly dynamic and they trust in to do so much. And he's an absolute raging star for this team. Right. The two big plays on that drive was Iyuk to start it for 21 yards, making a great play after the catch. And Samuel making an even better play, a perfect throw from Jimmy G. But then Samuel makes it special going for 43 yards after the catch. Like I think a lot of quarterbacks could succeed in this situation. And they overcame Jimmy G's two interceptions here. But I guess I'm being hard on McVeigh, because it's the

biggest moment of the season, right? And he lost his composure. They took two timeouts on defense in the overtime. We haven't even mentioned overtime, which the 49ers go down, get a field goal. The Rams do stop them in the red zone. And then at that point, the Rams have to go score a touchdown because a tie, you know, what's the point of a tie in this situation? Really, you want to knock the 49ers out of the playoffs. And the 49ers would have made the playoffs with a tie. they didn't have any timeouts left because they had used their two timeouts in like totally bizarre situations before that on one of them including right before the kick which it just I guess it was just like a straight I don't know if it was a la reveal but it was I think one of his worst moments in terms of McVeigh at the end and and a lot of people are going to get on Stafford too you have you had the interception while the 49ers are making that come back it's a little bit of an arm punt but it was a bad throw and then you finish with with how to how they finished, which was like one of the worst series, O'Dell Beckham could have possibly had.

He ran the Ron route on the first snap got in the way of cup. And then Stafford has a bad throw to OBJ, who did stack the cornerback. It was behind him. So it was more on Stafford there. But it was just like a bad sequence in general. I know this isn't a popular take because everyone's always defend O'Dell to the end. But can you compete for that ball there a little bit more?

I don't know. It was underthrown, but he just kind of healed off. Well, I think one of his issues, a lot of this time is he doesn't locate the ball, like, quick enough in that situation. He just didn't see the ball clearly. I mean, he was behind the defender, so it's tough to really put too much on him when the quarterback underthrows it. But does he have to play before?

I mean, that was three straight-in completions to old of Beckham to finish that game. And this game mattered for the Rams. I know they won the division anyways, but they're now the four-seed. I don't think the matchup is particularly harder in the first round. You know, you get the Cardinals. although who would have they have had? They would have had the Saints. So the matchup is much harder.

They would have the Saints as a two seed and a possible home game in the divisional round. And now instead you've got the Cardinals, which is a tougher wild card. And you're going to be, if you win, going on the road to Lambo in the second round, that's a big difference.

One little thing about the Rams, I thought that they, in the second half, especially in the first, long stretches of the third quarter, their offensive line, which has, you know, I think there were doubts about their O line coming into the year,

but they've done a commend job overall, but I thought they were dominated by the Niners front. They went into overtime with Stafford taking five sacks. At one point, he looked injured. I just think this team, like we've seen their high moments. You kind of could project them to go to the Super Bowl. But I also think that they've got a bit of a tight butt situation heading into the playoffs based on this game.

I mean, it's, it seems like every couple of weeks there are doubts surrounding the Rams. It was their toughness. It's, can Stafford get out of games without multiple interceptions and turnovers? And now you've got this thing with Sean McVeigh. and I just, they're, they've got a lot to answer for a week from now. And yet they are the NFC West champions and they will be playing at home next week against a fading Cardinals team. Fading is the way to describe them.

Let's talk about the Arizona Cardinals who had a chance to steal the NFC West if they could just beat the six, the seven, excuse me, the six and ten Seahawks in their own building. They couldn't do it. Russ takes the snap, hands to Penny. He gets a backside cut. He goes across mid-fills. Field, down to 40, he's going to out, run him. 30, 20, 10, 15, 10, 5, he is in.

Touchdown, Seahawks. Rashad Penny was going so fast. He was crossing yard lines that I didn't even see. 62 yards ran away from the defense. Rashad Penny, what a day. Steve Ribald, K-I-R-O with the call. Man, Rashad Penny. Former first-round pick, all but forgotten.

injuries derailed his career. He was a monster down the stretch for the Seahawks. He ran for 190 yards and that score. Russell Wilson threw three more touchdown passes, averaged over nine yards per attempt. And the Seahawks knock off the Cardinals 38 to 30. As I said, Arizona still goes to the postseason, but they limp in as the number five seed for their matchup at the Rams.

The Seahawks go home, but they at least resembled. themselves down the stretch. Greg, how did this game play out? It played out like the Seahawks were the playoff team. I mean, they just looked like a better team. The Cardinals, to me, were lucky to be in this game towards the end. At halftime, it was 229 yards for the Seahawks, 86 for the Cardinals. It took a Gerald Everett drop in the end zone, wide open play,

which has kind of been, unfortunately, his specialty this year, and a Chandler Jones forced fumble that turned into a touchdown by the Cardinals defense. on like the second play from scrimmage to keep this thing close. But then the Cardinals come all the way back in it, and you think that they've righted the ship. But Seattle's offensive line was like great down the stretch. I mean, they were like opening up holes for Rashad Penny. Wilson was about his explosives of,

I've seen him this season in terms of like evading defenders. It was a lot of just Russell Wilson improvising as he runs around. They're a statement on Rosenthal in a lot of ways. he um i don't know like you you looked at these two teams i think they caught the siox at the wrong time but i went into this game thinking the sioxx are just a better team right now that they've played their best lately it's mostly because of their offense and the cardinals are are a bit of a mess i mean james connor got hurt right at the end of this game too i don't know if it was serious but he converted a third and eighteen run uh and then left the game after that and that that got me worried because

he he made a big difference just by being out there today i worry about this team this cardinals team. It's just been a month straight of confused offense. You know, they're banged up. Their defense, which used to be such a difference-making unit, you know, they had a big play that was it a near-pick six today that put them in deep in Seahawks territory. But, I mean, Rashad Penny has kind of made it impossible to deal with the Seahawks, too. I mean, they caught them at the wrong time. They just caught them at the wrong time. And I don't, I just, I look at the Cardinals, and they don't seem like the team they were two months ago. And Kyler Murray is so visibly frustrated today.

He just seems something's not right. He slammed his helmet on the ground sitting right next to the coach. I was wondering if that was because they didn't go for it on fourth and short or whether he just was frustrated they didn't pick up the third down because they did go for it earlier in the game in a similar situation. Because we can say that they caught the Seahawks at the wrong time, but it's like, man, if you're any good, you're the Cardinals in that spot in week 18 and you see the scoreboard, what's going on in Los Angeles,

you should be able to take care of business. So I think when you look at the arc of their season, as disappointed as the Rams are tonight, even as division champions, you love that you have the Cardinals coming into your building. You probably would have liked it better if it was maybe the Eagles or the Saints, but... It would have been the Saints, yeah.

Yeah, you're feeling pretty good because you're like, okay, we can kind of reset things. We get a team that seems to be free falling out of the mix. Now, of course, this is the NFL and nothing really makes sense. And if Kyler Murray goes off for four or five total touchdowns next weekend, that wouldn't be stunning either. But I think at this point, we've seen enough from this offense really since Kyler came back to say that is this going to be ever an explosive unit again for the rest of the year.

Right. They had a 19 play 10-minute, 41-second drive that didn't even reach the Seahawks Red Zone, which is like an anomaly. but it also, to me, spells out how unexplosive this offense is. Like, each one of their receivers, Kirk, Green, and Wesley, like, made backbreaking mental errors in this game. And it's not like they're making up for it with great explosive plays. No, they had six drives go for 17 or fewer yards. I mean, it's just completely counter opposite to the first encounter with the Rams, where they won, I think it was 37 to 20

and put up nearly 500 yards of offense. This is a different team right now. Well, they have two big weaknesses right now. Their offensive line cannot protect Kyler. He was a disaster today. And again, I really think the CX are playing well. Like, it took too long, but they've looked quite good over the last month or so. And their cornerbacks are really injured where they're playing two practice squad guys.

And if they could get healthier for next week, that would help. But if not, the Rams, as you said, Dan, have to love that match. And I do wonder if this, it shouldn't matter in theory, but I do wonder if this last couple of games helps Pete Carroll keep his job. You would think it would. I could totally see that. I mean, and as much as from the outside, we all think, oh, man, this Carol thing has kind of run its course in Seattle. Well, they have a long track record of success there, even if there's only one ring. And the fact that they end strong, if him and Russell Wilson are in good terms, I would think it's more likely it comes back, both of them, I should say.

Mike Garifolo reported early this morning that the Seahawks have no plans to trade Russell Wilson this off. season. So I guess now it becomes if that report checks out is true, do they bring back Pete Carroll? I think they will. Right. Because who are the Seahawks that are not planning? You would assume that's John Schneider and Pete Carroll. And I think that's the bigger first question is if whether those two guys return or not. Well, and we thought we get all these anonymous reports by now. And there has just been not much heat around Carroll being just like playing well. Even when the season's a wrap and they're out of contention, just like lighting up a couple opponents at the end of a season. I think that matters in terms of calming things down a little bit.

Right. If you look at their statistical profile, like in terms of points scored and the analytics and stuff, it's like they almost have the exact same team in yards for play, stuff like that, yards for play allowed as they did a year ago. It was just like they won a lot of close games last year and they lost them this year. One quick note, though, on not a lot of reports is there was one report that was essentially there's no, which is essentially absolutely no one has any idea what Jody Allen is thinking. It's not like Jody Allen, who's, you know, the sister, Paul Allen, Microsoft Air, is talking to literally anyone and is too involved.

So I think everyone from Pete Carroll to Russell Wilson, which was the report, is in the dark and just is wondering what she's going to do. I mean, could you pick Jody Allen out of a lineup? I couldn't. I did not only do I not know what she looks like. I don't. I googled her recently just because I was curious about this very thing. It was like, Who, what is Joe? Because I didn't know if Jody Allen was a man or a woman. That was the problem. And it is a woman. Remember the movie Dave?

We've got that confirmed. Mark, remember the movie Dave where the fake president comes to the White House? And he needs to learn about like everybody in the cabinet and all these things. And they actually have the cardboard cutouts so he could, you know, pass as the president. I do the same thing with all, not only ownership in the NFL, but also high-ranking executives and potential errors. Just so I'm the best version of myself. when I do this show. Well, you're very diligent.

Yeah. You're very diligent. And I, you know, I could have, I could follow your path in that and I, yet I refuse to. I mean, can you imagine? Because it's not expensive, dude. Those cardboard cutouts that I get made for all these people, the Jody Allen cutout, that cost me $200. You're, plus it's LA, like, you need to find a place for this, you know?

It's like, this is taking a lot of your, a lot of space. You know, your, your home ownership that you have now. Exactly. But it's all worth it to do this job the right way. Let's now move to Greg's darlings, the Saints, who are not playing next week, but they did their very best to get there. Out of the eye formation, fakes the handoff play actionation, looking to the far side, complete to Trotman. Trotman makes the completion, and it's a touchdown. Adam Troutman on the far side, parted in Dr. 3, and then headed right for the pylon.

Touchdown, New Orleans. Taston Hill, he was looking good. On Sunday in Atlanta, throwing a touchdown pass, driving the ball with accuracy. He has to leave the game with a foot injury. Trevor Simeon comes in. He throws a couple touchdown passes. The Saints Cruz, 30 to 20 over the Falcons. We now welcome in the pipe.

Nick, Shook, and Shookie. The Saints needed help here. They needed to win, get to 9 and 8. They took care of their business. Then they needed the Rams to take care of the Niners. Unfortunately, that's 17-0-0 lead in Los Angeles. Angeles didn't hold up so the Saints go home, but really an impressive close to their season. It was impressive, and I think it was appropriate in the fashion that they did it because they

lost Taysam Hill to injury and had to turn to Trevor Simeon to finish this one out, and finally got Alvin Camara going for the first time in about a month, and yet after putting together, you know, one of their more complete performances, especially in the second half of the season, they end up sitting at home because, like you said, the 49ers were able to beat the Rams and knock the Saints out of the playoffs. And it really speaks to, you know, for them from a season-long perspective, a team that was dealt a tough hand, managed to fight through a lot of it. But ultimately, that is what sank them. The fact that they couldn't win games, they couldn't win a game last week that they desperately needed to win, that type of situation, you know, undercutting them and keeping them home for the first time, you know, in five years.

And, you know, the first year of the post-Drew Breeze era ending in disappointment for them, even though they played well. counting on the Rams you know it's like the Rams have broken the Saints hearts a few times the last few years I mean they had the scorebug of the Rams game in the corner of Saints Falcons this whole time so you know you're seeing it's 17 nothing and then you're seeing it's you know 24 17 with under two minutes to go it looked like the Saints are in the playoffs and Trevor Simeon is probably starting that game because Laura Oakman on the sideline reported it was a Liz Frank injury for Taysam Hill which was so disappointing he was was playing really well in this game, throwing it well, as you mentioned, Dan, and running it.

And I know the better, more compelling team made the playoffs. I think that ultimately it's better for the overall product. But I actually think the Saints would have been a problem for the Rams, if they had a healthy Taysom Hill especially. This team was just like one of the only defenses that mattered, and they finally were getting some playmakers to make some plays in this game in the last couple weeks. Yeah, I mean, it was. Like I said, they got Camara going.

Their defense has played well for a long time. The Falcons were playing just letting it fly because they had nothing to lose. And it made for an interesting game and an entertaining game. But, yeah, like you said, you know, it's disappointing because they would be kind of a tough out just because of the defense that they've had for the majority of the season would make even the highest powered offense still kind of struggle at times in a playoff setting. But, you know, hey, this is the value of a quarterback like Drew Breeze. I hate to say it, but like, you know, the first year you go into a season without him,

You end up starting four different guys. You know, James gets hurt and gets knocked out. It throws your entire plan off kilter, and you're forced to kind of roll with the punches. And I give them credit. I mean, even today they fought through and played a good football game. It's just that all those issues compounded. And ultimately, they lose out in the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. And I think they're back to the drawing board because, you know, if we look at them long term,

which we have months to discuss this, but is James Winston the guy? I mean, you know, they were all right with him. They were probably in a better situation than they were with any of the guys after him. Tason Hill, you can make an argument in the opposite direction. But this is how important a quarterback is. Well, they basically go into the offseason with similar questions they had last offseason. And it's one of the bigger off seasons in the NFC. And I don't think that the wise maneuver would be to settle with the same group of quarterbacks.

I mean, it's not going to be easy to find someone else at this point, as the Russell Wilson's don't get traded in X, Y, and Z. But, I mean, from a Saints angle, you'd have to say, Sean Payton did an awesome job this year. They, other coaching and other coaching staffs would have crumbled with what they faced. But they cannot go do all of this again next year with completely depleted cast of characters on offense. And a clown car of quarterbacks who are not ultimately the right guy. I agree with you.

Clown car, I guess, is a little strong because Winston was okay. He wasn't terrible before he got hurt. He had moments for sure. But I tend to agree with you that I think they're going to. Peyton's going to certainly, I think, kick the tires and see if he could upgrade the position. Because to work this hard to get to 9 and 8, there's like kind of a standard that they've set in New Orleans that they view themselves as a team that should be in contention for the Super Bowl every year. And they weren't. Camara, by the way, 30 carries for 146 air.

That is not very, that's not the typical Camara workload that he's had in the past. I wonder what his workload will look like going forward if they see him as that type of let's use them as a bell cow or did they want to get the offense moving in a different direction where they could use them the way they did with Drew Brees more. That will be interesting to see. Anything on the Falcons before we kind of closed the book on their season, shook? We give credit to Russell Gage for having a nice game today, put together a highlight play, a little hurdle over a defender to pick up some extra yards. He looks good in the box score. I think season long, the guy that stood out to me more than anything, you can talk about Kyle Pitts. He was, you know, the top five pick.

That's what you're expecting from somebody like him. I thought AJ Terrell took a ton of big steps in his second season. The next-gen stats love him. I mean, he's a stud in that department. And I think he's on the course to be a name that you're going to pay attention to in years to come as long as they can figure out some other things because he's developed into a pretty solid corner and only a second year. So there's some positives.

And I love the way they played for Arthur Smith this year. It's just that they didn't quite have the talent to be able to get over the hump and into the playoffs. If they spend an offseason to adding some talent, then this might be a team we watch out for. And, of course, you have to answer quarterback long term, but we'll cross that bridge when we get. More on ESPN reported they want Matt Ryan back and that they're planning to bring him back. I tend to, you know, write these reports on, you know, January 9th in pencil. It's almost like sending a message of like, okay, here, we're behind you, Matt Ryan. But that, it kind of makes sense to me because just because it's a pain, like they could add a rookie with him and it'd be a pain to get rid of him.

I think he played pretty well this year. Well, the financials make it tougher than some of expected to just move on from him. And it should also be added here, and maybe we'll get him on the show sooner rather than later. But Steve Weish had speculated this past week that Calvin Ridley might be looking for a fresh start after this year, where he missed most of the season with what was termed as mental health issues. So a lot of stuff to figure out with the Falcons, the Saints. Yes, they have a lot to figure out too, but they go out with their heads held high. take a break and then hit one more game with Shooki.

Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin, and this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining.

And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? 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 end. 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. Shotgun snap, lob down the left sideline. Evans is there. He's got it. That's touchdown number two. That's touchdown.

Buccaneers. My goodness. That doesn't sound like Gene Decker-Hoff, does it? Anybody? I did not think it sounded like... I mean, who knows? My goodness is a nice touch. I'm saying, well, it definitely wasn't him,

but maybe something popped up for old Gene today, you know. A lot of COVID opt-outs lately. WFUS, the call came from whoever it was. Tom Brady put the finishing touches on another fantastically successful season, both individually and for his team, throwing three touchdown passes. and a 41-17 win over the Panthers, who started 3-0, finished 5 and 12. But Matt Rule's coming back.

That's what we're hearing, Chucky. You're not going to find, you could turn me a hater, you can turn me or whatever. I am not a fan of Matt Rule, and I think that the potential that was within this team, which really began in the off-season with the same general experiment, which became an experience, in choosing to go that route over, you know, I don't know, spending your first-round pick on a guy like Justin, fields then into this season and all the dysfunction they had offensively and how Donald clearly wasn't the guy and wasting a defense that played really well at times. It just, the combined product was not up to standard and not, it didn't fit for a guy

in his second year who came in pretty highly touted and spoke, you know, all the platitudes about building the program and we're going to do it the right way and everything else. It hasn't, you know, show to the field. And having said all of that, they had a 7-0 lead after the first quarter in this game. They were playing pretty hard. It's not like they quit on the guy. It's just that the product over the entire season is just not enough for me. I think he should be gone.

But if he's coming back, he's coming back and enjoy that, Panthers fans. And whoever you have at quarterback next year. Let's spin to the bucks here because they finished 13 and 4. They won the South. They will host the Eagles next week. I think that is the plum game that any high seed wanted. You wanted to get the Eagles who I think are going to be out of their depth next weekend. And this is a team.

that you have to give them credit, Mark, because last month when they lose nine zip to the Saints and they lose half their offense to injury over the course of three hours, no, were they dominant over the next three weeks? Did they almost get beat by the Jets? Sure. Did they lose Antonio Brown and that turned into a circus? Sure. But they closed and they stuck the landing by winning three straight to put themselves in good position here. Yeah, it's the Tom Brady experience, too. You know, rewatching that Jets game, just what he did at the end of that in that March and the way that they won that affair. It just reminds you that the ecosystem is going to be different

with Tom Brady running the show. They're a low drama operation. They overcome this kind of stuff. I don't know if I see them quite as starry a prospect in the playoffs as I did a couple. And even injuries aside, just something about them feels a little bit off at times. But I don't know.

I mean, they find a way. Like you're getting Rob Grunkowski putting up 130 yards. To me, it's like anything could happen in these, playoffs because there is no true dominant team. I don't love the idea of them having to go into Green Bay, for instance. But outside of that, you know, I think that this is a team that's going to hit the NFC title game. Well, Grunk, I mean, having that big of a game, what was it, 137. So that puts him at about 800 yards for the season over it. I mean, that is outrageous at his age at this point. And the fact that in this game, they were down 7 to 3.

I checked late in the second quarter. There was about a minute to go in the first half. At that point in the game, the Panthers had 12 first downs, and the Bucks had two. The Panthers were putting it on them. It was like 190 yards to 40. And I'm thinking, like, what a terrible way to go into the playoffs. And then I look up at the end, and it's 41 to 17. And that's been kind of the story of these Tom Brady Buccaneers in general since he's gotten there.

You'll have halves like that, and then the avalanche will come hit you, and it doesn't matter that Cyril Grayson, who's been really good for them, gets knocked out with a hamstring injury, and you're without JPP, and you're without Shaq Barrett, and you're without Levante David, and those guys will matter in the playoffs. But, like, at the end of the day, they put up 41. It's like, it's outrageous. It's outrageous. That's the thing is they tend to sleepwalk at times, and then when they wake up, you're toast. No matter, you know, unless you've got a four touchdown lead, you're pretty much toast. I mean, he's completing passes to Prasad Paraman and Ty Johnson and Cameron Brayton and Kashan, on. Scotty Miller at a touchdown run. That's the thing. You talk about all these injuries and how it might diminish their standing going into the playoffs. So I don't know if they can do it. They're missing a lot of guys.

It doesn't matter with Tom Brady at the controls. All you have to do is do your individual job to borrow the phrase from the Patriots. Do your job. He's going to find you. And more likely than not, you're going to score touchdowns and they're still going to be a really tough out. So going into the postseason now, yeah, this is how you want to go in, of course, with a win like this. But this, more than anything, demonstrates. to me that I don't care who they have out there. As long as 12s back there, they got a really good shot. This cannot be hit hard enough.

And I know we're kind of hitting on it a little bit here, but I'm going to hit on it directly. Tom Brady is five and a half years away from turning 50. And he just completed a season where he set a career high in his 22nd season, 21st season, by throwing for 5,300 yards. He threw 43 touchdown passes. he is depending who you talk to the favorite or one of the favorites for sure to win the MVP he is 44 years old and i just again for me personally my fandom like him getting away from the patriots has allowed me to like not just wallow in the misery of him refusing to get old and now i just get to enjoy it

more because it's like man he just he's doing it again and that's why like shook saying, even with all these injuries, if you have him back there and no one knows how to play in the playoffs more than Tom Brady and you just do your job, yes, I absolutely could see them being a final four team in a few weeks. Hashtag gradual decline. In the OL, the offensive line, which is among, if not the best in the league, is healthy. And so that's really important. One very quick point, just because there's so much news out there today with all these reports,

I do wonder if Matt Ruhle is 100% back. Jay Glazer reported that he'll be back if he hires a rock star offensive coordinator. Our guys said that the search essentially for a rock star offensive coordinator is coming. Like he's going to hire maybe a former head coach. Like Bill O'Brien was one name thrown out there. I don't think he would be a rock star.

He does have a great relationship with Deshaun Watson, a quarterback that they're going to pursue. So you wonder if that's a factor. But the way Glazer said it, like, if his status is dependent on, like, what happens with his coordinator hire, I don't think his status is 100% guaranteed here. I got to give David Ely a hat tip, noted Panthers fan, because the Bill O'Brien thing, he said, well, if they hire Bill O'Brien, they're essentially just hiring their interim head coach. Right.

If that's the state of things, that's what you're setting yourself up for. How many star offensive coordinators are there? I mean, I think they thought they had that with Joe Brady. Yeah, they just fired one. Right. And for people who have lost track of the Bill O'Brien carousel, he is the offensive coordinator of Alabama, which is a celebrated and highly successful college football program.

It has a big game on Monday night. Yeah. And it's interviewing for the Jaguars head coaching job as well. He's the latest product of the Nick Sabin coaching rehabilitation program. There you go. Shook, we have reached the end of our time in the regular season with you. We will absolutely

love to have you on the show down the stretch and throughout the off season, but we want to thank you again for the vital work you do for our program on these Sundays, like filling in the gaps, and not only just filling in the gaps, making the show better with your great analysis and

genial attitude toward life. Genial. I like that. Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. It's been fun being on. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me this whole season. All right. Good man. Really filling that gap.

I mean, he overfills it. Fill the part of the gap. The pipe. Now he's got to get back to the gym because the pipe never rests. Oh, that grunt. There he goes. The pipe out the door. We continue on now.

So we're going through things. We're checking boxes. We're talking playoff teams. How about two more? This game played on Saturday, Cowboys Eagles. Dak Prescott next touchdown pass would be the single season record and he's looking for it here throwing out to the left it's caught and into the end zone touchdown there it is he finds Corey Clement an eight-yard touchdown pass for Dak Prescott his 37th of the season

a new Dallas Cowboy single season record Westwood won with a call there Dak Prescott through a career high five touchdown passes and broke Romo's record there. He did it against Eagles' backups, I should say, but it is what it is. Cedric Wilson and Dalton Schultz, each had two touchdown catches, and the Cowboys closed out their regular season

with their second 50 burger in three weeks against an overmatched division foe. Final score, 51, 26 against the Eagles, a team that prioritized their health in the wild card round over a possible better playoff seed. Now, all that set, that was a nice win, Mark. I think you and I were on the same page on the Thursday preview show that even if the Cowboys didn't make a big change where they ended up, and they are the number three seed, they will face the 49ers and what will be a very tough game for them. To go into the playoffs on a high note, it helps.

Even if it does, like in the back of my head, for instance, keep me wondering, is this team like, are they bullies? can they just they pile on and beat up against these teams that are overmatched and then kind of cower a little bit against real competition real competition's coming we're going to find out next week where the cowboys really stand yeah that'll be the acid test but we basically ordered them requested them to have an explosive finale and they went and did exactly that now I mean look at the game some of these games where you've got people sitting I get that that you know this is not where we're going to be a week from now but it showed Dallas flexing their muscles and to me it does it does bring more faith into their ceiling and what they can be I think it's their defense too they're just they're a balanced team and we've talked about how we feel about the Rams going in the way they have the Cardinals fading fast like any one of these NFC teams that can go in and light up light a team up I don't care how it happened the way that Dallas did it it adds faith and I think that they're a dangerous opponent I think they needed it for themselves because they said as much they just seemed like

like a team that has some confidence issues, they're like too high or too low. You know, they say, oh, don't get too high, too low. I mean, that's not what the cowboys are. Jerry Jones likes to get too high and they like to get too low. And, you know, Doc Prescott did not want to say that he was having a slump or that he wasn't playing with confidence, but you could just see it on the field. And so I think they came out and did this because they felt it was necessary. You know, they played into the fourth quarter.

Now, this game was tied 17 all late two. The Cowboys' offense was incredible the whole game. That had nothing to do with the offense. They just had only had the ball three possessions at that point. And they didn't have Tyron Smith and Tony Pollard, and they didn't have Michael Parsons either. So they were a little short-handed. But the Cowboys starting defense gave up 17 pretty quick points,

and it looked like a game for a minute until they took over. Gardner Minchu started for Jalen Hertz. And yes, he did lead the team to some scoring drives early, kept them in the mix. I did like that story about me and chew. I don't know if you guys saw this, that after the game against the Jets, he went into the coach's office and was like, coach, I deserve the ball. I should be the starter of this team.

I thought that was adorable. I love this guy. Look at he is a dangerous quarterback. I know that, like, well, I don't know if you're being serious, Dan. No, it's an amazing move because, like, it's one thing to be the backup quarterback and do your job. But, like, Jalen Hertz probably saw that story. And he was like, what? What?

It's a strange. That would be a That's a strange one. That's a strange one. But he's got too much charisma. He can't be held down. That's Gardner Minchew. I kind of like their backups.

They had some feisty backups. Huntley, Jason Huntley was fun. Tyree Jackson, who was what he used to be, a quarterback was kind of fun. Cuez Wachins is fun. They actually, I think, got some use out of this

looking at all of these guys. They also had 12 plays. players on the COVID list. I think they strategically told a lot of guys to take that test last Monday so that they could get their COVID list designation out of the way, which is just a bizarre thing that you have to strategize in 2022. Coach, these fellas believe in me. And now I ask you to believe in me. Put me in, coach. I will lead you to the promise land. Well, it didn't work. It depends how he put it because, yeah, I think I think that could be kind of annoying. I I've always held it against Drew Bloodsoe a little bit, the report of how hardy kind of went into the coach's room and tried to get Tom Brady out of there, you know, when Brady...

Hey, Skip, I reckon Jalen might feel a little bit sore about this, but I got to stick to my guns and tell you how I feel, and I'm the best man for this job. Give me the ball, coach. Well, I would like to see actual footage of how this went, because it's turning into a folly very quickly. That's, I'm reading a transcript from Eye in the Sky within Nick Siriani's office. All right. Blake Darwin is back, by the way. That's a nice little tight end duo you got with Schultz playing so well. And your guy, Cedric Wilson, Dan, had a monster game.

I like Cedric. On paper, they're the best offense. On paper, they're amazing. Do I have a Cedric Wilson connection that? I'm unaware. I don't know. One show, you were just like, this guy is really looking good. I am fascinated.

I'm always fascinated by the Cowboys. I like following America's team through the good time. and bad. They're just compelling. They have such a wide variance in terms of how this is going to play out. They could meekly go out next week. This was the worst draw, wasn't it? This was the hardest match that you could have possibly had, yeah. I think so. I think they could lose 31 to 17 next week. I think they could drop a 40 burger. That wouldn't have stunned me either in advance, and make a deep playoff run. I think it could go either way for America's team. I will tell you this. It's going to do a big number, that game. A lot of people are going to want to watch.

watch the 49ers and Cowboys. All right. Let's move on now. So, yes, Cowboys. And I should say, yes, the Eagles, not, you don't only kill the Eagles, obviously, because they arrested a bunch of people. Not a great way to go into the playoffs.

Never beat a team of the winning record. The whole season, at least the season ending with the team having a winning record. They now go to Tampa and we'll see how that goes. But I'm feeling pretty good about who I might pick as my lock next week. I'll just leave it as that. All right.

let's now move to Detroit where the Green Bay Packers were looking to win their 14th game but the Lions they don't play man they don't play love works out of the gun there's the snap love back loves sets and throws over the middle it is intercepted by the lions intercepted down at the 43 yard line lions come up with a pick and that's going to do it Tracy Walker with that football Dan Miller with a call WXYT Aaron Rogers threw two touchdown passes in the first half

set out the second half with nothing at stake and the Lions getting that interception at the end of the game beat the top-seated Packers 37 to 30 that was Jordan Love

who threw the pick he threw two interceptions late in the game but Green Bay's playoff positioning doesn't change unfortunately Mark the Lions you know one of of those type of games. Great way to end your season.

But if they just would have done what they were supposed to do and get beat by the Packers, whoever the Packers are playing, they would have the number one overall pick because of what the Jaguars did. Instead, they stay it to K Sarasar. You know what? I love it for them, though, because they are playing so hard for Dan Campbell. And they just put everything out there today. I mean, they emptied the trick play compendium. They used all sorts of trickery on Gun Green Bay. And they they have gone for it on fourth down 40 times this season, which is the fourth most in the league.

Excuse me. They just like, there's something about them. Mark getting choked up talking about the... No, I just have this hideous cough. I have this hideous cough. I mean, it's another game like before where, you know, Aaron Rogers is out at halftime and Jordan Love looks, you know,

like a non-starter to me. I mean, just does not have it at this point. I thought it was important for Green Bay to get David Bakhtiari some snaps. He left and went into the tent. but seemed fine. But, I mean, just a little bit of playing time. He'll be huge for them in the playoffs. Does it be related the 10th thing?

Did they have any? Yeah, he did his press availability afterwards and downplayed it. But yeah, it was an injury. Yeah, but he seemed like unaffected by it later on. Amon Ross St. Brown for the Lions, they have a star. And I just, I know that they lose out on the first overall pick, but you can see little pieces here. And again, I think that they have found the right coach.

I mean, so it's, I know their record is, what it is, but they go into the offseason with some optimism. Well, they broke the record for fourth down conversions. NFL record. Old Dan Campbell. That's good. Throwing caution to the wind. The Jaguars, unless they trade out of the pick, they won't be taking a quarterback, obviously.

So if the lions, if things hold, the lions could have the pick of any quarterback. We'll get into all that as things play out. This isn't supposed to be a great quarterback class, but nobody knows anything, especially this time of year. It's not till the draft

process plays out that you really get a better idea of where the quarterback market's going to be. But it could be one of those, and this affects like if you're Jets Van 2, for instance, with two first round picks in the top 15, I hope this isn't one of those Eric Fisher, Luke Jokel drafts. Nobody wants that. No, people like the talent, I think, at the top of this draft. A lot of defensive players. Maybe it's not a good quarterback class as much. But anyway, so the Packers, it doesn't change.

I don't know if you guys have any takes about the Packers to me, for instance, they're going to still be number one in the power rankings. This doesn't change anything for me. And the fact that Bakhtiari got back on the field and got some reps as long as the knees holding up, that's all great too. Well, Josh Myers, too, they're starting center. So that's massive. And I think that's why Rogers said he wanted to play.

It is worth noting the Lions had the lead, you know, when Roger sat. They had a halftime lead. It doesn't shock me the way the Lions have been playing lately that they would be competitive. Yeah, I don't take too many big takeaways. but I haven't been overly impressed with the Packers' defense in the back half of the season. I actually think teams kind of built like the Lions with a good offensive line, a good running game. Like, they struggle to get off the field a little bit this Packers. Yeah, they scored three on their first four drives, the Lions, and they were legit drives.

I mean, they just, they look much, much better than they had it earlier stretches of the season. Is this the most successful 3 and 13 year ever? I think so, because they're so fun to watch, too. And again, it's they kind of play with this, um, daring do where again it's the fourth down attempts it's that go check out some of the trick plays they pulled off today and i mean i think that they they're a team that if you look at what they've done over the last month plus i think they're on the right heading in the right direction they have changes coming too they're getting rid of anthony lynn their their offensive

coordinator who lost uh play calling duties about midway through the season and for what it's worth dan campbell took it over as the head coach and and they their offense was a lot better after Dan Campbell took over. Hey, Greggy, you smell that? What's that? That's Mark Sessler predicting the lines to make the playoffs next year and us hearing about it for two and a half months next summer. I think he'll actually predict it in May.

We'll go back on it in August and then he'll claim it throughout the course of the season, but then go quiet. Once again, we can't cover. Mark just got up and walked away. right as I started to bring him up. So if I didn't tell the audience that Mark left, it would just make it look like he didn't say anything. Here he comes.

He's riding back. And he is back. Mark's back, Barry. Yeah, Marky. I was just saying that you're going to have two and a half months next summer, you're going to be talking about the Lions going to the playoffs. That was my prediction. I'm not quite there yet.

I know, but in the summer, you will be. You will. You just signed, by the way, you sprinted out of there while you were coughing that was a coffin sprint i haven't seen that the old coughing's uh sprint better than a coffin sprint right man this corona got me but i'm you know i was feeling good today until the show started all right hang in there buddy let's take a break hey this 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 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 NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here.

And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the. the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow.

We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back. Let's keep moving through the NFC. It is third and two, cousins from under center. He's looking deep. Now he avoids a boyfriend. Bear, fires to Jefferson caught touchdown, JJ. He's JJ with a 45-yard touchdown reception, and it's 17, 16 bears. Yeah, we predicted this one.

Paul Allen of the call KFAN. Nice stat patting week 18 finale for the Vikings. Kirk Cousins passed for 172 and three touchdowns in the second half, leading the Vikings to a comeback over the Bears, 31-17. Two teams with a head coach in danger of being canned. We'll see. We will have a podcast that will follow this one in short order, either Monday or Tuesday, addressing everything on Black Monday related.

But as of this taping, both men are still employed. Anyway, Justin Jefferson tied the score there. KJ. Osborne caught the go-ahead touchdown for the Vikings who outscored Chicago 283 in the second have Greg, who has the brighter future, the Bears of the Vikings. Ooh, that's a good one. You lean, you know, the team that has Justin Fields, but I do like Vikings roster a lot better and just their general makeup,

even like the way they've brought in talent, their organization. So I guess I'll go Vikings. That's tough. I'd go Vikings too. I mean, I think also you've got a lot to attract a new head coach if they do move on from like Zimmer. We'll have a lot to talk about. There's some ominous reports about Zimmer.

There's no need to get too deep into it now because we'll find out. But it sure looks like both these teams will probably be. Well, did you hear Zimmer snap at a reporter who asked him about his job security? Let's listen in. Yeah. Have you heard anything about your job status

and what are your thoughts just on the rumors? No, I haven't heard anything about my job status. I haven't heard anything about yours either. Do you think there was a chance this could have been in your last game? Was it right? Not my choice. On my decision. Yeah, so he seems like Zimmer is just over it.

Last week when they were asked if Kellyn Monde was going to get the start if he needed to see him, he's like no, very flatly. One of my favorite, like, coach responses. He's very much like a Parcell's type guy. I like Zimmer, and I think it's going to be a bummer if he doesn't stick around. But at the same time, you know, results matter. This was, by the way, truly the DG. A. F. Bowl. You have Zimmer who's like, you know, he doesn't care anymore. And Bears coach Matt

Nagy elected to go for it on fourth down six times failing on all but one of those attempts. Dalton got sacked three times on fourth down, which you would have to check, but that had to have set an NFL record. I don't know if anyone's ever taken three fourth down sacks in the same game. Yikes. All right. Let's quickly wrap up the NFC with the NFC least bowl. Here's from the snap, throws him to the slot, picked off Bobby McCain, 2015, 10-5, pick six, touchdown, touchdown, Washington. Bram Weinstein, W-T-E-M, Bobby McCain returned the first of his two interceptions, 30 yards. To the house, Antonio Gibson ran for a career high, buck 46, scored a touch,

capped his first 1,000-yard rushing season, led Washington to a 22-7 victory over The Moribund, New York Giants. Washington finishes at 7 and 10, Big Blue, a mortifying 4 and 13. Dave Gettleman's Giants' career almost certainly ends with this loss, the general manager, and we'll see what other changes we see

with these two NFC East also rands. Jack Del Rio says he's back, the defensive coordinator. I didn't know that was up to him to his side, but I guess he knows. So, Ron Rivera, it's a reminder. it's like, hey, Washington, you could be worse, you could be the Giants, you could be the clown show

to use Joe Judge's words from a week ago that are the New York Giants right now, running a quarterback sneak power from their own four-yard line on third and nine, just to like give their their punter a little extra room. That's a sad, it is a sad moment. There is, it is a sad moment. And, you know, that fan base that's had a lot of highs over the last 30 years or so, um, to hear the reaction in the crowd when they see a quarterback sneak called twice in a row at the goal line. The last one, yeah, third in nine, not even like a third in 28 or whatever. It was like, you can go get that. Against like a nine-man box, too.

Like every, like both teams had everyone just condensed next to the ball. It just, it looked like they were on the goal line, but it's like, no, you were on the four. Neither team had over 100 net yards passing in this game. That is not a frequent occurrence. And yet my guy, Terry McLaurin, got 93 somehow on his own going over a thousand. You know, I'm losing a lot of sandwiches on Terry. It was a tough situation.

It wasn't his fault. We will, yeah, we're going to revisit our sandwich props on our next show. But I do remember you had something very lofty. Don't even let me know. I'd rather be surprised when we take a look at it again, but you were all in on Scary Terry. But he got bogged down by an offense that was just, you know, from the Ryan Fitzpatrick injury on, just they were not able to overcome

the setbacks. And it's going to be a huge offseason for the Giants. I still, to me, feels like they could clean house. We're going to find out what happens over the next few days and weeks. But for the time being, there's no denying that the end of the Giants ended the season as probably the worst team in football. Yeah. I don't understand how there's, there's floating reports that Joe Judge will be retained. It's like, it's a combination of bizarre press conferences and a team that is completely totally regressed and has zero identity. Daniel Jones looked better, I think, after watching what was going on. I mean, just in comparison.

I do want to get, though, Mark, because I know you're going to be watching this on Game Pass later, just like your detailed notes of all of your thoughts and takeaways for how this game changes your offseason, just look at the Giants defensive line and linebacker positions. I'll be sure to send you my notes. Post-haste. Yeah, we do count on you, Mark, to handle this film study. We believe that.

Listen, you showed me how professional you are with the cardboard cutout scenarios. Do you think Jaylen Smith has a future? You know, he had five tackles in this game. Does he have a future with the Giants? There's only one way to check. That's the tape. Check with me on Tuesday, and I'll let you know everything that I've downloaded mentally about this.

We're going to carve out a section of our next show just to break down this game, the tape study. and we turn, we count on you because we know you're the man for the job. So it sounds like a terrible task. What was that, Mark? Thank you for saying that. There you go.

All right, that's the NFC. The table is set for another year of postseason football. We will have you covered, of course, with three shows every week, maybe more, whenever it's called upon, and including Black Monday, or as we call it, New Horizons Monday.

That's a branding that we came up with that skirted some NFL restrictions about using the term Black Monday. New Horizons Monday is upon us. So we will have a show for you either Monday or Tuesday, breaking all that down. So keep an eye out for that. Until then, try to get some sleep.

Thank you, everybody, for listening. Does anybody else have anything else to add? No, my voice is about to die, so let's wrap it. It is, yes. It's almost 2 a.m. on the East Coast right now, so that means we need to end this till Tuesday. Heat the call. I'm going to be able to be.

Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sundays. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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