NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2023 Divisional Round Recap

Episode Date: January 22, 2024

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler recap the Divisional Round action across the league. The heroes start off by talking about the Chiefs beating the Bills (03:51) and the Ravens beating the Texans (27:16). The guys then wrap up the show with the a recap of the 49ers' win over the Packers (42:23) and the Lions eliminating the Buccaneers (01:05:14). Note: time codes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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edition. Pound for pound, the best weekend of football of the year. And the drama. The drama was excellent this weekend. Living up to the hype. We're down to four here. Dan Hansis with Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler. Sunday, January 28th, Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens.

3 p.m. kickoff CBS. 6.30 p.m. Eastern time on Fox. Lions at Niners from the big bell bottom. The winners of those games play in Super Bowl 58, two weeks from that day. Mark, three games left. Yeah, and I think like that announcement alone by you is a very crystallized, irritant to four fan bases who did not survive this weekend. but I really don't know if any of them can be put above what Buffalo's fan base has been through. We sat down and watched this game together for hours

and I don't know. Sometimes if there are football gods or whatever is sitting up there controlling all of this, the puppet masters, man, they have a six sense of humor. It's the beautiful part of doing this show that we will get to all four games, that every winner, loser, like you'll all get your due.

And yet it's hard not to just feel overwhelmed by the enormity of this Bill's Chiefs game. It's right before we tape and it's Josh Allen. It's Patrick Mahomes. It's a game we've been building up to for four years and in some ways it was so different. And then the ending being so similar.

The only difference is we got a Bill's fan with tears, you know, covering himself up. Eric didn't want to share that. I wasn't talking to Eric instead of like Chiefs fans with happy tears. Oh, the guy on the telecast. Yes. But Eric's probably crying as well, although he's a very strong man. Yeah. I thought the Sunday games are, you know, the,

the everyone is and rightfully so has been focused on detroit the city of detroit the rise of the program under dan campbell and how it's galvanized that whole area and how they're so easy to root for i think from a personal standpoint it did i have like as we're starting the show a little bit of a hangover because i've always felt a bit of a kinship with the bills and their fans in the afc east and this feeling that when is it going to be your turn to get over the hump and there are so many moments in the game we're about to talk to talk about where it felt like this was different than other bills teams and yet it was it is it's distinctly different than the other games too because i think if you're a texans fan or a packers fan there's a little bit of house money going

on there and there's hope for the future it's like you're surprised almost to be here on some level Tampa bay similar no one expected Tampa bay to go deep into the playoffs the bills came in with immense expectations immense pressure and the the the the carter it was rolled out for them to finally do it this time around to host the chiefs in Buffalo and the fate could not be more cruel and I think and I think it I don't know I feel like there's a

weight to all of it I feel exhausted I mean look at look at the crowd people literally emotional to the state of tears and that is the power of sport the power of the NFL and the hold it has on western New York and really everywhere so let's get into it

the problem for the bills is that To get over the hump, they had to beat the Chiefs. And that's the team that they have Patrick Mahomes. That's a problem. All right, to Orchard Park. Chiefs 27, Bill's 24, 147 to go. No, no, no, no, no.

In the game on fourth down and nine for Buffalo. Placement down, Bass's kick is up. And the kick is no good. A little prophecy. Tyler Bass has struggled and he just misses the kick and the Chiefs will take over at the point of the miss kick

their own 34 yard line as Tyler Bass misses this wide to the right he missed he skanked one wide to the left against Pittsburgh and you just wonder on the overcorrection the Chiefs catch a break on a miss field goal

by Buffalo Mitch Holtz is rolling in the plug wow a little Of course, of course. Because you know what? WDAF with the call. Because the cheese were supposed to neatly move to the side this year. Bad year by their standards.

Couldn't get anything right. But then they flip a switch. As the true great teams do, and it will drive you crazy if you're sick of watching the Kansas City cheese. But they don't care. Just like the dynasty before them, the Patriots, they didn't care either. as the chiefs get that the benefit obviously of a missed field goal there by tyler bass

a one that will live in infamy of course not quite at the level of wide right in january 91 but wide right in january of 24 is something that will stick with us uh and she and bills mafia forever final score 27 to 24 the chiefs advance to the a fc championship game for the Sixth. Sixth consecutive year. Does anybody understand how difficult it is to get to the AFC title game, to get to a conference championship game six years in a row? I don't even care if you don't win them all, just getting there. It's so difficult.

So the Chiefs use a big playoffice that was gone all season, Gregie. Right. They average nine yards per play in this game. And the defense tightens up in the back end of this game to take one and rip the hearts out of Buffalo. I felt like these teams switched bodies. All season were wasted our time apparently talking about how this Chief's offense. They're never going to get it together. And today they have eight plays over 20 yards.

They're moving the ball up and down the field. I know they got fortunate with that missed field goal, but let's be real. They were probably the more consistent team. They had some breaks, really go against them later in this game I know we'll get to. And I keep thinking about how all day Steve Spagnolo was just daring Josh Allen to just stay patient. Stay patient. Keep moving the ball up the field. Keep calling those runs.

Keep taking the checkdowns. No big plays for the bills. They literally did not have a throw over 15 yards in the game. He only had two that went over 10 yards in the air that were completed. And in nut cutting time. And Alan tried some deep shots that through no fault of his own weren't completed. You had the 60 plus yarder through the air to dig. Diggs didn't make it.

You had the Sherfield catches that he couldn't get. But in the final drive for the bills, before they kick that field goal, first down, they try to stick with the run, burn a little more clock. Cook is stopped. They ran the ball great in the first half. Chief's defense stepped up, stopped the run in the second half for the most part. Next two plays, and Tony Romo pointed it out on second down, Alan has crossers short routes open. And instead of going for digs over the middle, he holds it. I can't kill the decision because he's got to. here for the game-winning touchdown. But Chris Jones pushes Dawkins into Allen's plant leg. He can't extend. It doesn't get there. Third down, he holds the ball. That was just a bad decision.

Trying to make a bigger play, doesn't get it. And in the end, Josh Allen is who Josh Allen is. And he went big game hunting. I think he played great today. But Patrick Mahomes played better. And the Chief's defense in the end play better. And they're just a great organization who has playing their best, what it absolutely matters,

and that's what dynasties do, and they are a dynasty. Yeah, I mean, both teams combined for scores on nine of the first 11 drives. Then it turns into an emblazoned dogfight, where that dries up a little bit, and it comes down to moments, because if you knew in this game that the bills would have a chiefs fumble, go through the end zone, and you'd have a chance to take a possession away from Kansas City,

it's that kind of game, and they do nothing with it. They fizzle out and punt. right away. On the previous possession, they go for a fake punt. Demar Hamlin, of all people, unable to convert, done on downs. Miss field goal comes two possessions later. Their final three possessions in a key, close, tight affair result in zero points. They couldn't take advantage of the little opportunities. And a big play offense that we've been used to, to your point, Greg, zero plays over 20 yards. Not even like a Josh Allen big run or anything. And I feel guys... They had 27 for sounds.

They were still like a good offense for most of the day until the fourth quarter. They were. But I think it's like you have to look at, you know, we don't know what will happen with Stefan Diggs. But like, Stefan Diggs is not a primary number one guy in this offense today, the way that you would have hoped for. Oh, they needed him. They absolutely did. And you can't be what you're not. And maybe Stefan Diggs got old fast.

I don't know. Or maybe he's just not in a good headspace. Or maybe it's just the way sports works sometimes. And it's not your day and it's not your season. But there was something wrong with Diggs. And we documented it on Thursday show. you looked at his numbers that he just hadn't been an explosive player. And, yeah, that deep shot.

Can I say on digs just while we're there? Like, I think what is wrong with him in part is Legerius Sneed. In these two matchups, 19 targets, 45 yards. Which is all great, Greggy. And pay Legerius Sneed. That's all cool. But this goes back two, two and a half months. And he, he, and by Allen was perfect.

The bro was there. He had him beat. He dropped it into his hands, Alan, and Diggs could not make the catch. And I'm not saying they win the game because they end up getting into Kansas City territory anyway on that drive. But, you know, going back to this idea, I feel like in the second half,

I felt it watching the game. And I feel like you could feel it in the building. And you could feel just watching the way the players with the enormity of the moment. It felt like, it felt like in Eric, again, I love you, buddy. I felt like we're watching a game where it was, a sliding doors moment in Bill's history. Like this was going to be the half or the couple of possessions

that will be remembered forever when they get past Mahomes and then beat the Ravens and go finally win a Super Bowl. And they had it in front of them. After the horrendous Mikul Hardman turnover upon review, they survived the botched fake punt. And then they get the ball back again. And they can't move the ball. And then for that drive to stall and then you leave it up to the kicker,

on a in January in Buffalo on a cold and windy day uh unbelievable and and that's what patrick my homes was saying after the game about his defense and uh a little pep talk that he thought he should have given a little earlier i went over to the defense and i told him i said y'all shut it down and we'll win this football game we'll go home we'll go to the nc championship game um and they did and going to that fourth quarter and um i told him next time i'll trying to tell them earlier. And to the credit, to the credit of the chiefs, because the bill's kind of Greek tragedy side of it is easy to kind of get wrapped up

into, but to the credit to the chiefs, like the Patriots before him, they're that team that finds a way, especially this time of year, and they did it again. Well, they did it the same way they've done it for five years. But they weren't supposed to this year. But I'm just saying, like, it was so crazy to think going into the third quarter, They were trailing in this game and their offense at that point was averaging nine yards per play and they hadn't been stopped. I'm not counting it as a stop when they ran one play before halftime.

The chiefs had literally scored every time they had the ball. They were averaging 9.3 yards per play and they entered the fourth quarter trailing. That's what happened in the Dick Vermeal days. That was the stuff that happened early in this Mahomes run. When you had Brady and Gronk going up and down the field in the first half, Their defense actually didn't show up very well today, and it didn't matter because Mahomes and this offense were cooking. Kelsey making big plays.

The first play of the second half, Mahomes, with a dot to MVS. Then later in the second half, where Mahomes evades the pass rush. There was no Bill's pass rush today, steps up another one down the field to MVS. They ran the ball really well. This was a peak chief's offensive performance that certainly makes you think, like, hmm, wonder if they have one or two more of these in them. That's all they

need. Yeah, it was, it's two weeks in a row now where they've answered questions on that side of the ball. And I, you know, I think Kelsey, this whole season has not felt to me, obviously like peak Kelsey, but he showed up today in a big way and crossed the barrier. They've got the most you know, Mahomes and Kelsey, now of the most

quarterback target touchdowns and playoff history. They pass Brady and Grunk. It looks like it, that feels like it. That's who the chiefs are. And there is just something inevitable about Mahomes. There wasn't a moment in this gang where you felt any doubt coming from him.

And this whole thing that he's on the road, I think he enjoyed being on the road. I think he enjoyed being in this environment. And they took that challenge on. Chris Jones was going at the Bills fans before the game. And that's a lot, you know, you're watching Bills fans shedding tears

at the end of this affair. And I think it's like it is, it is the inevitability of the Kansas City Chiefs that they're going to find a way in any environment, any situation to show up when it matters most. and the doubts about their offense flutter away at this point. Here's the annoying thing, again, about like this job, what we do for a living. We're supposed to be paid off this time of year now because we watched all the chiefs tape all year.

And we, how many times did we say, man, if they haven't figured it out by now, it's just not going to happen. And the way they were able to just, they started it last week and they had some red zone issues, but really did. I think they were over 400 yards, Greg, as you pointed out earlier, last week in their win. This week was, it looked vintage. And then it's just like weird stuff goes on. Again, I struggle to hate the Chiefs, even though they're a team at this point

everyone should get sick of. And I think there's a little bit of that pushback that kind of began this year with some Chiefs fatigue. I think Taylor Swift's involvement with the team indirectly has led to that. But I can't because they are just not an unlikable squad, but the things that do get me mad because it shouldn't be that way

because it isn't like this for any other team. MVS shouldn't all of a sudden be like making incredibly play incredible plays downfield like he's making in this game. The guy could not catch a cold for basically his whole career and now is making big time plays. You're seeing play. Now, Isaiah Pacheco, I like Isaiah Pichaco. He runs like peak like Roger Craig now. I mean, this team, their ability to find ways to get it done with obviously Mahomes at the center of it. It's commendable and yes, annoying.

It's their O line to today. Ed Oliver didn't have a press. I think for the first time in two years. Wow. He had a one-on-one matchup with Joe Tuny most of the day. Dequan Jones didn't get after it. Von Miller is a total no-show. You know, one of the most regrettable contracts, unfortunately, for them because of the injury

and he couldn't come back, and they just couldn't get after him. And then you look at the box score, and it's Mahomes 17 for 23, 215 and 2. And yet I think of this is like one of his best games ever. I know he'd miss those two throws in the red zone where back-to-back plays essentially where they were trying to go in. But other than that, just the decision-making, everything's on point. It's fun to watch greatness, but you're right.

There is something about this team when it really comes to it. Like, the defense did make those plays. Suddenly, they have five tackles for losses. Suddenly, they're in the bill's backfield for all these negative gains. CEH, Clyde Edwards-Alair, like a draft bust. Literally couldn't get on the field all season, a first-round pick. And suddenly he's popping up for like a big 28-yarder. And there is just something about this team that now that we're here,

even though I wanted this Bill's team to win, you do look at all the injuries that they were taking advantage, the linebacker position for Buffalo, certainly thin at the playmaker. Shakir was going in and out. The tight ends were getting hurt. And you do think, like, this Chief's team is a little healthier. They're peaking, and it does set up,

we'll get into it during the week, but it does set up a beautiful matchup next week. Yeah, because this was a game where it's like you start to look back at the bodies that are lost for, for Buffalo. Like Matt Milana was missed in this game. A.J. Klein was picked on a lot in this one. And if I knew going in that the Chiefs would have the

ball for 22 plus minutes in the, in the Bill's 37 plus, I would have thought that's what Buffalo wants. Yeah. Keeping the ball out of Mahomes' hands and they must be going on long scoring drives. They must be converting. And instead, it's like the Chiefs did so much with so little time. And

it's like 9.3 yards per pass for the Chiefs, 4.6, or sorry, 4.8 for the Bills. Big plays versus no big plays. Now, we're about to throw to some Josh Allen sound. I just want to, Bill's fans,

if you're listening, and by the way, great people. Just tough, tough as nails. If you're listening to the show, because I know it can't be easy. But even if Bass pipes that one, he'll tie the game, but the Buffalo's inability to really finish

off that drive, they were a lot of, of trouble anyway because that would have been with 147 to play you're sending Mahomes back on the field with two timeouts so there the offense is inability to execute in the fourth quarter and this is a game by the way that had five lead changes by the first minute of the fourth quarter but their inability to score and execute they were shut out in the fourth quarter really is what haunt will haunt them throughout this offseason here's here's Josh Allen on another year of what if sucks

sucks. Losing them, losing anybody at home sucks. Yeah. That about accurately sums it up. It's such a bummer. They had Micah Hyde and Jordan Poir take the podium together and they talked about how they came in at 2017 and it just hurts for the guys like them that came in together and are still there, the ones that kind of change this entire culture. Where like, even making the playoffs, they're sending Andy Dalton, you know, thousands and tens of thousands of dollars in charity money just because they got Tyrod Taylor into the playoffs to lose a wild game. That's how much it meant. That's how much they needed that culture to be changing. Here, so many of those guys, including Milano and those two, have been there throughout.

And it did feel a little bit, and Poir and Hyde every year, you're not sure if they're going to come back. Poyer, by the way, had that heroic punchout on Hardman on the goal line. Like, that would have been a defining play for him. I think he's 35 years old, and you just don't know how many of those guys will be back next year. I don't know if Stefan Diggs will be back.

And I think they knew the enormity. You feel that every year, and I'm sure it hurts McDermott because he did such a good job, I think, coaching up this defense throughout the back half of the year, really scheming things up. And he just lost today.

Like, scheme, players, everything. Andy Reed and Mahomes put it on McDermott and his defense in a big spot. And he can't, And he's going to say, you can't, you can't change the defensive plate collar. He already changed the offensive play collar unless they give Bill's fans on Twitter, their wish, at least some that I saw on that they're like bringing Bill Belichick. Back in, back in August, we did the urgency meter, had the bills on top.

And you, you push back pretty hard on it, Greg, but I saw this season as they were at the top of the urgency meter. And I thought this, the window of this particular Bill's team, this Josh Allen led team, but with some of the players on the defense, you mentioned, with Stefan Diggs as the alpha dog of the offense, like it was going to be telling what happens after this year. And I really do think we're going to probably see a different bills team. I think McDermott's obviously going to be back. Island's not going anywhere.

Milano will be healthy again. But at a certain point, I mean, how many times you're going to keep running into this wall in the AFC playoffs before you have to make substantial chances, changes around the quarterback and coach. We'll see. They have a fascinating office. season because how do you approach from where

they're at right now? They absolutely do. And I think it starts with, you know, like last off season there was drama laced around Stefan Diggs. I think it's start. We're right back there again to find out his future. But the desperation to win to get past this step showed when they fired their offensive

coordinator midseason. Like this team would do anything to get it right. And you're back where you started from a bunch of guys are probably not going to be back. And then you're hoping next year that your quarterback stays healthy that the division doesn't change too much. that you can be this bill's team and add weapons. But it's like the journey back to get to this place

is only more pressure-laid and more impossible to get to. And I think you see the difference between a chief's team that's like, who cares what we've been for the past four months? We're going to be something different now. And they knew it. It's like Mahomes in that comment saying, I'm going to go tell the defense, you do it. I'll get us to the AFC championship.

Do your part. The bills are wondering, how do we get past this? And it's another season ending with a massive question. They know more than anyone, the bills, how tough it is to get here. They had to win, what, six straight games to get to this point. And you were feeling like they were that team. And they did make a lot of changes. They turned into kind of a heavy personnel, run the ball well.

They ran it for 182 today. Like, don't get it lost, I think, in the final few plays. Like, Josh Allen played outstanding in this game. The reason this game is a classic, it's going to be, you know, a game of the week tomorrow. But to me, it's the game of the year so far is Mahomes and Allen were brought their A games. Allen was not letting them lose there for three quarters. And I know there's a couple plays at the end, but if his receivers made place for him,

kind of like we've been wanting the chiefs receivers to make plays for Mahomes for a lot of the game, like he'd be the hero. So it was two of the very best. And unfortunately, for Bill's field, like a familiar finish, except for the snowballs being thrown at Mahomes as he, like, gleefully ran off the field.

Exactly. That was a great image. Jason Kelsey with his shirt off, bellowing from the luxury suite, upstaging, Swift. Exiting the sweet down into the stands amongst those friends. I mean, he was slightly for some reason I wouldn't do that in Baltimore. I don't know. I guess Jason

Kelsey can do whatever he wants anywhere. Kelsey was hammered. Yeah. Like, let's not get that twisted. I'm not judging the man. I think he's early into retirement now. They said that. They said a great time, but he was. He was, he was sauce. When he gave his speech, apparently, when they won the Super Bowl at the parade. Yeah. He was asked, I think, Shilkopedia, like, tweeted this out. Like, he was asked, how many beers he had in his system at that point and he said 20 and then like on a scale of 1 to 10

how drunk were he was like it was like a 5 out of 10 so who knows what was going on today? He's one of those heroic like Wade Boggs like beer drinkers like he could do 40 beers from Seattle to Boston on a flight yeah the the me call fumble when Alan fumbles near midfield and somehow it doesn't get scooped up and they recover the Allen rollout

I think it was a 26% completion probability to Shakir to put them ahead. Oh, yeah, that was ridiculous. There's so many could... I, earmuffs, Eric. I'm stunned. I can't believe this wasn't the day.

Right. Eric, I can't believe this wasn't the game, the Buffalo game that you remember forever. That... I'm sorry, buddy. No, I mean, you become calloused as it. Callous to it as a Bills fan. I mean, I actually was telling people today, I felt like a little confident. And I've told them like, that's probably not

good, because Buffalo's going to buffalo. low. And yeah, yeah, I mean, the, I don't know, it all comes crashing down so quickly. And in a moment like that, I mean, all game, I'm talking to Randy, we're watching this game. And Bass botched one last week. He had one blocked. And even his, his little extra points, they're kind of, they're kind of, they're a little. And I'm like, dude, he's tucking them in. And they're, they go for it. They get, there was a nice drive. And it's like, well, you kick it. I'm like, yeah, you got to kick it. Tie the game. And like, do you trust your kicker? I'm like, hell no. But I had a bad feeling about that kick. Yeah.

You said it. You actually said it seconds before he missed and I thought that's too improbable, that's too evil. It was just and it was as soon as it was off the foot.

Yeah. It was never close. They had their season online earlier that drive with a fourth down call they convert that Alan had a nice another third down on that

and then like it all comes crashing down and then the second it's over you get a slack from like me be like hey can we get some post game sound?

Yeah. We're going to want Alan really pouring his hard out. That's the nature of the business you guys. I'm a professional. You're a pro, dude. They also could have gotten, by the way, even after the miss, if you get a stop, maybe a miracle, a reverse 13 seconds can happen. But I mean, give the Chiefs credit. They really were the better team, ultimately.

And they proved it by ice in the game there with two runs in the ensuing drive. And that was it. That first drive, guys, it was like a third and 17, a fourth and one conversion, overturned fumble, overturned fumble. It's like, there's a minute and a half in. And I'm like, my nerves already through the roof. And I'm like, this is going to be well those days. and something's going to go horribly wrong. Sports are the worst.

It sucks. It's also tough, like, when your team keeps losing to the same team in the playoffs. And, like, you know, Big Funk knows that with the Packers and the Niners. And it's like, you've got this situation. It's like, it's, it's this resounding, repeating note over and over that's an evil note. I know, I know that basketball is completely different than football. Entirely. But it does make me think of when we're talking about, what do the bills need to do?

Football is completely different than basketball. As a Knicks fan in the early 90s could not. get past Jordan. Couldn't do it. And then it was like, is there something wrong with the Knicks? Well, Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is a problem. They had incredible teams in 91, 92, 93.

And they just couldn't get them. And, you know, that's, maybe that's the, maybe that's the pain. You don't want Josh Allen to be remembered as the guy that just happened to play at the same time as Brady straight into Mahomes. And you'll just end up always being the bridesma. but it's hard not to think that way. He's still got a lot of years, but it's been... We had the Mahomes Jordan debate like in 2018, or 2019 when Mahomes is making that run.

It's like he is the best football player I've ever seen. And at no point has that even dipped like a little bit. And he just proves it again and again. It's crazy. All right. Let's, uh, let's move. Let's move to the other AFC game. It was played on Saturday.

It was the number one seed Ravens against the upstart Texans, a game that was a dead. heat at halftime and then the Ravens showed who was who. Lamar. Pulled himself, runs to the left. He's to the five. Lamar's in. Touchdown Ravens. We're going to have a championship game in Baltimore because that Hayes in the barn.

Lamar just ran through the tunnel. He went to the locker room. He went Bo Jackson. He's still up the tunnel. And I was getting ready to say, There's no way they can run this boot again. And they did it. Oh, you can do it when you're the Ravens

who just punish people. Do what they want. And good job Jerry Sandusky and Rod Woodson, WBAL, because of course, old fogies, no, that's Boe Jackson running up the tunnel against the Seahawks in 87 of Monday Night Football. Lamar with a nice tribute in a 3410 win over the Texans,

like i said this game was 10 10 at the half mark sessler but then the ravens came out flawlessly execute a go-head touchdown drive and they just never look back in fact they never gave up a touchdown on defense the only score for the houston was a punt return in the first half i thought this game was a perfect portrait of how complete the ravens have become if it was a situation where early in the year they were warming up on offense

and learning the system this was an absolute exclamation point of how dominant they can be and I honestly think they played a team that's going to be around

for many years to come in the Texans with C.J. Stroud faced more pressure in this game than he has in any other game of his career and it looked like it

and I just mentioned that the bills in a losing effort had the ball for 37 plus minutes the Ravens had it for 37 plus minutes in this because they were able to run the ball for 229 yards because Lamar Jackson was magical on the ground

because he was nearly flawless through the air because their defense absolutely choked the life out of the Houston Texans and made what looked like a special passing game under Bobby Sloick and C.J. Stroud a week ago looked completely lost at sea for the entirety of the second half because yes

it was 10-10 big special teams play for the Texans and Lamar Jackson talked about going into the locker at halftime and refusing to tell the public what he said because it was filled with too much language that a sailor would speak. I would like to see that. I mean, I think that says a lot about Lamar Jackson versus him a couple of years ago. And Greg, it was way back in like week four or five that you talked about the Ravens as a Super Bowl team. And I thought this was maybe Greg being a little hyperbolic about his Lamarmey and all that business. But they look completely

impressive from every angle, and they absolutely proved, I thought, against the Texans that it really doesn't matter who they play. They're going to be who they are. I would love to hear that half-time speech. And it's funny, this game actually did remind me of the game in London we saw a little bit in the sense that there's a lot of Ravens games like this where it's like not that impressive for a while. And just steadily, they just smother you. Just every little aspect of the team smothers you. And then sudden you look up at the end of the game and you're like, actually, that was never really a game they took over. And part of it is they just have answers. They have answers with personnel like flowers running some big boy routes there, likely turning into a great red zone

threat. Obviously Lamar has almost a perfect game. 16 for 22 for 152 and then 100 yards on the ground. Just like no mistakes. I think it's one of the best all around games for a quarterback you'll ever see in the play. Right. It kind of reminded him a home's game today because if you just looked at the box scores, it's like it wouldn't seem that crazy other than the 100 yards rushing. But I also think they have answers defensively. Like Monken knew that the Blitz was giving them trouble in the first half. They just knew exactly what to do to it in the second half, those adjustments. Lamar made him.

Monken made him. And I don't think that was going to happen with Greg Roman there. And McDonald being their defensive coordinator, I don't think it would have been as complete with Don Martindale there. So they did a really good job just personnel coaches everything right now is humming. Yes. So when you have Lamar playing at this level and playing this competent and the running game humming the way it is,

They're going to be very difficult to beat. It's my big takeaway from the game was the defense. And you know how I think it was, I got to give credit to Mark, you're a cinephile. Who directed 28 days later? Well, I'll have to look that up. But I wish you would have known that off the top of your head. I do too. I love open questions on a show that thousands of people are listening to.

Danny Boyle directed a movie in 2002 called 28 Days Later. A classic zombie apocalypse film. with a twist. All of a sudden, the zombies who you remember throughout pop culture history being kind of slow lumbering, kind of unstoppable, but easily you could run past them or run around them, you could balk them on the head of the two by four. These zombies were fast and they come at you in waves and gangs and they're horrifying the zombies

and it started a whole new way of looking at them in that genre. That's how I look at this Ravens defense, the way they swarm with speed and power. And even if the first guy misses the tackle, the second guy is coming right behind him. If he dodges out of that guy, the third guy wallops him. And you saw that over and over and over.

Houston could not get a clean look, could not get into the open field, could not make a play. And yeah, they just suffocated their offense, an offense that was kicking ass going into this game. I would note that Danny Boyle did train spotting as well. And in that film,

those zombies were on heroin. The Ravens do not appear to be, have heroin in their bloodstream. thank you that's my comment I love that one too there is something about like I don't know what's in the water there in Baltimore what Mike Donald's doing because yeah

they have guys like Arthur Millett I'm sorry one second were there zombies in train spotting no I'm saying they were all metaphorical you know like lost to society zombies yeah a different type of zombies I felt you go ahead thank you great great movie great movie I'm talking literal zombies yes

and 28 days later literal zombies yes they they um the drug right that almost turns you into right right but the slow lumbering zombies but in in baltimore it's like go ahead you give a little bit of that zombie juice to millet you give a little bit to clowny and instead of like getting you know trashed and quitting on your team at the end of the season it's like zombies they're quick twitch monsters cloudies in your lap ball game matt abke i thought had a great game he just kept winning that matchup over and over and over that was against shack mason uh for the most part and i'm with you they just kept throwing so many different looks.

Actually, at halftime, the Texans had more yards on offense than the Ravens because they had that one decent drive that they ended up settling for a field goal. But for the most part, it was just good night. And then eventually, like the play calling, I really was impressed that call we heard with Lamar, where they kind of do the end around, but they have Ronnie Stanley pulling and it's like a misdirection. They ran that twice just to perfection. the likely touchdown on

an RPO. I mean, that was... He's been such a huge contributor. That was a beautiful play call too that like, what can you do there? Everyone is out there blocking on the edge. Lamar probably could have run it in, but instead he throws it to likely who makes these great catches.

They might get Andrews back and Chiefs will be a very tough test for them. But don't ice likely because Andrews's back is a legitimate player. Oh, no, you can use both, you know? Let's listen to John Harbaugh, who has the man that's going to be named MVP in a couple of weeks and maybe be playing in the Super Bowl a couple

days after that. I thought Lamar was going to play great, but he's played great all year. And just now, it's more important than ever. He's been locked in from day one. That's his term. And we've all kind of ran with that. And I think he's directed this whole thing. But like he said, we got more work to do. It is a lesson, I think, to the entire league, because it looks more mystifying than ever that we spent the majority of the offseason wondering if the Ravens wanted to keep Lamar Jackson if they were planning to or if they thought maybe they

would free themselves and no other team in the league, including the Atlanta Falcons most noticeably, like really pursued Lamar Jackson, but he was sort of a man that like we've covered some bonkers offseason stories. That's crazy. That one will forever stand out. And I feel like, you know, even in the moment and on this show, if you go back, we were all a little puzzled, especially some of the teams that were choosing to make statements and let up you know that they weren't interested, teams that had quarterbacks like Desmond Ritter, be like, no, we're not interested in that business. But this is

now turned into the kind of worst case scenario for all those teams because it's almost now going to be, if this team ends up going all the way, that's legendary, like the where that was in summer. But also the Ravens kind of catch a break too, unless they were playing, you know, chess and everyone else was playing

checkers, like if another team had the good sense to go hard after Lamar, you would have lost this guy that's about to get you to the Super Bowl potentially. Right. I keep, I've seen tweets from like Adam Schafter where it was like where they make it out like oh the Ravens were never going to let them

let him go it's like well what if they just front loaded a massive offer and they were willing to give up two first round picks are you sure about that and more to the point whether they fully guaranteed it and it's a conversation for another day but to me there is a level of quarterback

and I would put Lamar Jackson at this level where it's like just guarantee the contract if it's like four years Josh Allen and Patrick Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow and Lamar and C.J. Stradd, these guys, they're going to get to those four or five years. They will be on the team for those four years. So just guarantee him the money anyways. It's not that big. It's a brutal sport. That's that's what there's a higher level of danger than other sports. They're sort of like there are mass. Not sort of a catastrophic injury

near one of the contract. I just mean there are catastrophic injuries in basketball and baseball all the time too. And they survive giving out massive. I'm just saying a four year contract. for a quarterback. If someone had done that, they could have had him. There is one thing about the Ravens that I thought stands with me going into next week's game,

that there was a lot of talk about, A, the fact that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have crumbled in the playoffs, no matter what the regular season looked like, and they had this extra rest, and where they come out flat, and they did come out flat. Like, their final three drives

in the first half, three punts were for negative seven net yards. And it's like, psychologically is that when the Ravens can be broken by a young team with nothing to lose? and to come out three straight touchdowns and a field goal, it's like, cool, I think this Ravens team is different. Troy had it pegged. He said before the kickoff to start the third quarter, this is a very important drive. Right. You got to go and get a touchdown and kind of shut down that energy, as it were. And I think they absolutely did.

Here's D'Amico Ryans, who obviously did a tremendous job as a rookie head coach. And he does have a right future with this team. only the future has to wait until September for them. I think our team learns that we know we're right there at halftime. So they know they're toe to toe with a really good team. And I hope our team just understands that moving forward, right, at all costs, you got to finish. And you want to continue to move forward, continue to play in big games. It'll always be about executing and finish. I see why you want to stand with that man and lock up a game.

and a team coached by that man. Yeah. Well, he's only a few years removed from being on a team, so. But it was a mistake. It, I don't think so ultimately, because I was doing it, A, for the show, and B, to, you know, that was a mistake in the sense

that locked up a team that was. Well, like, you know, if I lose, that it clearly is a mistake, so. They were also like 10.00 underdog. It was, it was perhaps, from a logical standpoint, misguided. I understand where you're coming from. And I, uh, conversely,

locked the other team. I understand that. But that's why. why I did what I did. And the second half standings are just heightening up. Greg, he's getting a little nervous. We'll see how he did in his lock a little bit later. A race, nobody outside of yourself is following.

Ryan's, they're going to be great for a while. Like, they have their premium positions. Really well covered if you think about, like Laramie Tunzel left tackle, all pro. T.J. Stroud. Enough said. Maybe the most valuable contract in the league, if you think about it, because he's got three more years on this rookie deal

and he's already this good. And I thought he played pretty well I know it sounds crazy He only scored three points He did not have a bad game Sunday He actually made your Saturday He made a lot of throws against pressure He had virtually no chance

But I was curious I went to check the PFF score I bet I was like I bet it's not that bad It's not it's not good But it's just like a solid Well he doesn't turn the ball over Right Get Tank Dell back

Right Get Derek Henry maybe in the backfield next year Right Okay so you got the receivers You got Stingley Who came on like a house On fire you have a lot of the premium positions.

Grinard is a free agent, but we'll see maybe the franchise tag him. And Will Anderson at the edge. A lot of the big time positions, they're set for a while. And then he showed, he took all these guys that were afterthoughts elsewhere. Desmond King, Cashman, Barnett, Christian Harris, who was the second year player who stunk as a rookie. And it's like, he made all those guys better. I mean, they usually I push back on the like, well, they're going to be set up for the future. I pushed back on it with the Jags last year.

I wasn't so sure. Like this team is the team in the AFC. The only problem, though, I think you've got a great head coach, but when you're defensive-minded and like Bobby Slowick's taking interviews left and right, it's like you don't want to have C.J. Stroud's offensive coordinator switching every year or two over the course of this rookie contract. And let's see, just checking the Deshaun Watson trade. They do have the 23rd overall pick from the Cleveland Browns.

So they get a first round pick. They sent a first round pick to Arizona to get Will Anderson. yeah will anderson there you go thank you Greg and yes chiefs at ravens mahomes v lamar next sunday it's a new one that's a new one for the playoffs in a playoff set is that has been very difficult to pick because the matchups have all felt pretty even and that's as loud as baltimore has been crowdwise in a long time and they quietly have not like you have to go back to like 2012 when they got to a afc title game well this is literally the raven's first thing ever home

aFC championship game which I was surprised right first since 1970 when they were the Baltimore Colts I could live without the R-A-V-E-N-S

Ravens chant that's a little that's IP that came from flushing Queens in the early 70s just FYI it's fair comment

remember they were doing play like a Raven when Rex Ryan was there or something like that was barred IP as well all right let's take a break

and then we'll hit the other two games 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 is the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow we break down the draft analyze and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day plus we dig in the coaching strategies

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We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. All right, welcome back to around the NFL, the divisional recap, the flagship program. So, yeah, that is the AFC. Now let's turn to the other side of things. The NFC.

And it's time now for the Sunday Drive presented by the first ever Toyota Grand Highlander. Yes, the San Francisco 49ers. It feels like it's been a month since we've seen them on the field. It's been about three weeks since they had their full squad out there competing. And they got another upstart team, the Packers, who were upset-minded. But unlike the Houston Texans, they were. up for the challenge the nineers who it was tight first and ten green bay they have two timeouts left love out of the shotgun deep drop crushing gets chased out to us right we'll throw on the run back

no it is intercepted he farmed it go down dray greenlaw running back the other way secure the ball he'll run back the other way they're trying to strip and throw him what are you doing bro big play dray goes down green bay has two timeouts left but the 49ers Have the football. Oh, my good. Goodness, good call there by Greg Popper. K.N. BR. If Dre fumbles that ball and it gets recovered by the Packers,

and then the Packers go on to win. I mean, that would have been one of the more devastating. Stay down, kid. Yeah. Anyway, it all worked out for the linebacker and also for his team, the San Francisco 49ers, who benefited from another. missed field goal attempt this time by Andrew Carlson of the Packers, who's missed kept it a four-point game late instead of a seven-point game

in terms of a lead for the visiting Packers. And then San Francisco and Brock Purdy, who struggled for most of the night in rainy conditions at the big bell bottom, leads the team on a big drive down the field, a big boy drive ending with a Christian McCaffrey touchdown. That is the difference after that Jordan Lev I&T. we heard final score 2421 and the Niners are back in the NFC

title game for the third straight year. Can they get over the hump with Kyle Shannon? We will see. Mark um geez that is a game that the Niners were very fortunate to escape and survive.

But they did and now they will be playing for the Super Bowl at home next week. I just want to hit it from like one angle and it's it's like the Brock Purdy side of things because it kind of felt like anyone, whether you're for or against Brock Purdy in terms of the scope of who he is,

the MVP race and everything else, it kind of had something for everyone because it was the game that kind of could tell you this isn't an MVP level quarterback. And like, look at it. It's raining again like it was when he played the Browns, and you're getting this other version of Brock Purdy who's imperfect with the game on the line

in this critical moment. But then you also got that final touchdown drive where I thought Brock Purdy, like in a rough and tumble outing show that in the end he really is capable. And like I think this Niners team, you know, I wondered what would happen to them after the rest that they've had. And they've been so dominant and so unstoppable. This was just like a B minus version of their offense for 85% of it. And they still found a way to get it done.

Here's Purdy on the Niners winning a game that under Shanahan, they have struggled to win coming back from behind in the fourth quarter. I mean, I think it is important. We were all like, all, all, this is it. And you know, this is our season. And so for us to capitalize like that was huge for all of us. And then obviously for myself as a quarterback, like, it's good for confidence and all that. But we have too many good players, man, on this team. So many players that are difference makers and we've got a great defense.

And so for us to not find a way, it's not right. So for us to finally have a game like this and pull through at the end was huge for all of us. well it's so huge obviously to just keep this season going i think to win a super bowl sometimes you got to survive a bad game and this was it i mean they should have lost this game they were fortunate to win they made the plays to win uh but there were many times it could have gone against them and if you if you wanted to be a skeptic of this team and look through a certain lens anytime they were kind of pushed this year they crumbled a little bit and even like the three-game losing streak, like, they crumbled and they, like, couldn't stop the bleeding during that three-game losing seriously.

Well, every, oh, well, Debo Samuel and Trent Williams were out. It's like, look at every other team in the league. Look at the bills. Look at so many, look at the dolphins with all these injury issues, and they found ways to win. And then in that Ravens game, too, they let it snowball on them. So I think to stand up in a spot where they really looked like they were about to lose and have both sides of the ball step up after a pretty shaky game from both sides of the ball in the last. last eight minutes and them to play their best ball in the last eight minutes was huge because the Packers, Dan, had the ball, first in 10, 7.51 to go, up four at the 49ers 24-yard line.

At that point in the game, did you think the 49ers had much of a chance to win that game? No. And I'm mad. This is what we do for a living. And I felt like I kind of nailed the game. I thought the Packers would come in and take that momentum from Dallas. I thought the defense had a chance to, because they were stiffer against Dallas. They did. They played well against San Francisco on defense for the most part in this game. And then they were able to put points on the board and then put pressure on Purdy. And Purdy was making mistakes.

But here's the problem. They did all that. But they got turned away in the red zone a couple of times. They had a turnover and downs on fourth and less than a yard. They dropped the- questionable spot on that. Yeah, questionable for sure. But also an unreal play by

Drey Greenlaw to stick love in the chops. Purdy did throw the ball for grabs a couple times. They didn't catch it. So that they had, and this is why, this is why also, because I don't necessarily believe in the, the future is bright, you know, plenty more years because you just,

you never know. And the Packers, on balance, it was a successful season. And it was, quote, unquote, house money game here against the Niners. But when you have that team on the ropes like they did, when you kind of outplayed the mighty Niners to get brought down by failure to execute in the red zone, turnover near the red zone, missed field goal, that makes the loss hurt because it's not like a better team got you

on that particular night. You were in position and you just failed in the stuff that you should be able to handle and execute and you didn't and Matt Lafleur after the game you know you know he was hurting because it was right there in front of him I felt like we had plenty opportunities to kind of put the game out of reach and unfortunately just didn't do enough and it's never one play because I know I'm sure a lot of it's going to come down to the miss field goal but there were plenty opportunities you go back in the first half and have three red zone. opportunities and have six points, you know, there was just, there's a lot of plays out there that it's just, if one play goes different and probably have a different result right now.

And then to kind of put a punctuation on it, Mark, they're still in good shape. They have a chance push this game to overtime or even win it. And for Love who had been impeccable for two months to, and everybody was saying it, not just me, but to go Brett Farb, to roll right, kind of throw a desperation pass late and over the middle that's picked off. He didn't have to do that. His first down. He did it. And at the

worst time, he looked like a kid again. So these uncharacteristic mistakes that they had not been making during this rise is kind of what got them. Not so much the Niners. No, it was a tough, it was a tough throw across the body. You're right, he didn't have to do that at all. Ridiculous. And

if you look at the game, because he was throwing outside the numbers, he was 12% for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Pretty flawless and the kind of Jordan Love you've expected. But throwing between the numbers, he was nine for 16 for 33 yards with two picks, including that game ender. And so it's an unceremonious way for a really incredible season

to end for Jordan Love. And you're right, because it's like, you know, we've got big funk back there. Like a Packers fan's like suddenly got to be feeling incredibly hope about the future compared to where you were a couple months ago. But you also are thinking, wait a minute, had we pulled this out,

we're a team that knows we could beat the lions. So it's like it is a lost opportunity and the idea that you're just going to march back here to the Jacksonville Jaguars example. We don't know that. The floor will never ever get over this loss. I don't know the man personally, but this is head coach nightmare fuel these type of...

To the same team. That was one of the tougher press conferences I've watched. He was so devastated. And he has the cap pulled down low over his eyes and the way the light was hitting was just shadow. And it was just like, he was not trying to put on a poker face. He was so sad about it because he knows it was right there. Love played a pretty flawless game until the end.

And then there was just a couple throws. The interception on the tip pass, he just missed the throw. Who is that to the tight end over the middle on the first interception? So that was some bad luck. Two, it was like it tipped up and he got punished for it on a day where your guys, Darnell Savage, drops a pick six right into his breadbasket, get another purdy dropped later, and they took advantage. And then there was another play on the third down when they could have run more clock

out where he just, him and Aaron Jones weren't on the same page on like a checkdown. He was hitting all the hard throws, but he didn't hit the easy ones. But even then, there was that first down with the Packers, I mentioned, like 751 left. And that's where the 49ers stepped up. Warner makes a nice tackle in the open field for a no gain. Bosa gets a quick pressure on love. and then Carlson, who's been missing a ton of kicks, misses that kick. And he's a rookie, like all these other rookies, misses it in a big spot.

And then you give the 49ers the ball back. And at that point, I'm like, oh, man, are they going to win this game? I don't know. Their offense really hasn't done anything for a while. And it wasn't like dot after dot by Purdy, but the third and five play to Ayuk was a very low percentage play where it took a perfect throw and maybe an even better. catch both were perfect iuk and purdy were so good on that play and then after that purdy just made all the right decisions he made the right reads on like a i think it was one checkdown to the left side where they

made a big play and then he made the nice scramble and they ran the ball well and it's like they just finally calm down in the biggest spot and you got to give it to him but you do wonder like dibo samuel first head injury and comes back in the game then shoulder injury leaves and it's the kind the thing that, you know, they're talking about that could be a multiple week thing. We don't know exactly where it sits, but it is weird because they have so many weapons, but when Debo's not been on the field for them, it

has been a, it's marked a big change. Well, it hurts when you lose them, like, right off the bat and who was doing this game now? You know, Olson said how they had basically had information Debo was going to be a huge part of the game. Right. You kind of saw that. They were like trying to give Joanne Jennings these endarounds and stuff like that.

By the way, while Carlson misses this kick and and Bass is missing his kick. Come on guys. Robbie Gould just was out there the whole time and just like finally shrugged his shoulders and was like, I guess I retire. Gould must not be interested in.

Who literally never missed a kick in the postseason, extra point or field goal. And I mean, Olson said they asked Lafleur about Carlson and what his thing with Carlson was. And he's like, well, every time he takes a kick, you know, I pray before it. It was like, maybe, A, don't tell them that

or tell them that off the record. And then B, you can't be. go to the NFC divisional round game with that that attitude that was that was tough and look they would have tied it up it's not like they would have won the game in it the way that game was going at the end I feel like the Packers had their chances

to put it away and then they started looking like the really young team they probably would have lost anyways but man this might betray who I'll be polling for in the NFC title game but I don't need to see Brock Purdy against the Ravens defense again if that's how this thing breaks down

I don't trust your guy Marry Well, then you have to trust Jared Goff. I know. And that's and that's fair. And we'll see how that game goes. We're going to get to the lines in a minute. But yeah, I thought he was very shaking in this game. And we'll see if it was the weather or just a rough night. And I do, you got to give him credit.

They let him on the drive at the end. And he let him on the drive. But man, I thought the Niners are so fortunate. And I don't. And one thing we disagree with on Greg, you were saying earlier today, like, this is the game like sometimes teams need to survive a game like that and then they can get back to being dominant. I'm not quite there with the Niners.

I'm curious what version we get next Sunday and we're going to find out. I just think the body of work, their offense has shown in defense. And Steve Wilkes, I think ended up coaching a pretty good game by the end of this game. I wouldn't surprise me. I'm pulling for the Lions, but it would not surprise me if the 49ers recapture. their form, because I do think the weather was a big part of it. He has small hands. I don't know.

It's not always a small hands thing, but I mean, he was really bad in this game. He was worse in this game than he was in the Ravens game, which lost him the MVP and he threw the four picks. I don't even think it's a question. Like, he was legit bad. I was curious. I would say it's a question. He was pretty bad in that game, too, but that game was.

He won this game with a drive at the end of regulation. That game was his normal self, except for like two or three bad decisions. He could have thrown six exceptions in that game. This game, like, his normal throws were bad. Everything was bad. Decisions were bad. He wasn't seeing the field.

Like, I checked the PFS score. I was curious, like, and it was, you know, it was like a 58. The only score that was worse this year was that Brown's game also in the rain. Right. I think he's, I think that to me, the takeaway is inclement weather affects Brock Purdy, where it may not have any effect on the quarterback. It's supposed to be nice next week in San Francisco, by the way. But Dan, when you say the overall body of work of Purdy, but also just the Niners' offense in general,

I feel like you're a little down on them when. And there's a lot of evidence to suggest that they weren't explosive in this game. It was kind of shocking how they could. I just don't think that that predicts who they're going to be, you know, against Detroit next week. But no Debo Samuel matters a lot for this offense. If he went, if Brock went out there next Sunday and went 27 for 32, I wouldn't be stunned. Right. But does he have a stink, a stink bomb in him still?

I can't rule that out either. That's, I'd be concerned as a Niners fence because I've gotten to the point now and I've seen my share of bad quarterbacks where and he's certainly not one of them but when he drops back and that ball is heading towards the second level of defense you kind of hold your breath and be like who where is this one going like is he hmm not to the level of jimmy g though but okay but this i don't i you know i guess i'm just i'm like i can continue to defend brock pretty i i i'm in the middle on it like i have i don't like his story is great i i keep i'm taking the story out of it. I'm just talking about the guy on the field. I just look at him as like a second year

quarterback, even if he wasn't like a late round pick and where he's at and stuff. And maybe I'm biased. He's no Tom Brady, but it's like people think back to this Tom Brady that like never existed. Like Tom Brady had games worse that like like the Super Bowl. He literally didn't do anything until the final court, but he didn't make, he didn't make the big mistake. Not Tom Brady. No, I'm not even saying he is. My point is like you can have a second year quarterback that you're carrying along in some certain games, but you can do that when you're supposed to be this monster team. And I do give their defense. I know the Packers struggled in the red zone, but there's because there's an opposing defense there in the red zone. And I thought their defense

kept them in this game with those red zone stops. And Greenlaw, to me, in some ways, is defining 49er and he gets overlooked. He kind of reminds me at Navar Bowman with the old 49ers. He hit Tucker Kraft so hard in the eye that like you know Kraft had to come out of it he just blasted Tucker Kraft one play later he blasted Jordan Love to get a fourth down stop then he gets two interceptions in the second

half he's just like a beast like Bosa showed up at the very end of the game Warner was great in this game I just they've got so many guys that I just feel like for years they'll develop they'll find a way to overwhelm you absolute studs in the middle of the defense it's just it's the cottage industry

I'll probably be in I'm probably being too hard on Brock. Mark, I apologize. I am being too hard on it. Don't have to apologize. If you're looking at yesterday's game, yes. Maybe. Maybe Sam Donald's come and running out of the tunnel in the third quarter.

Well, I mean, that is, that is... Oh my God, is that Sam Donald's music? If that's your angle, then this is, I think we understand where this is all coming from. I knew it wasn't going to happen. Not my angle. Well, the idea that Sam Darnold is going to come out in... Oh, my God, that's Sam Donald's music. Okay, so he had...

It was like eighth team. When they couldn't score, I think it was another three and out in the third quarter, and then they were set up with a short field, and then they had to settle for the field goal, and then they punted again the next drive. I actually, for a second thought, is it that crazy to go to Sam Tarno right now? I actually didn't think they'd do it,

but he was struggling so bad at that point in the game that I was just like, man, maybe the condition. It's so destabilizing, though. It's such a destabilizing, like, coaching. It wouldn't have been a decision. It would be a bit of a flip of the panic switch. Right. To go to Arnold at this point.

But they like them. And Purdy's got to play. Had that throw at a kiddle. You know, it was just, yeah, he did have that throw to kiddle. The, you know, he had some play. Well, that all comes out of his hand right now. Are we sure where it's going? Is it going to the right team?

I think we're, I think we're overreacted. If it's dry. But yes, he, he, he got a, he got a hall pass because he, that would, that would have been the conversation all off season. if the Packers had just caught those interceptions. And he got a break. Mark, who is your hall, Pat? It is going to be sun swept in 58 degrees next week with little wind,

and you're going to be right back where you want them to be. You know, you two are unbelievably unannoyed hang out with most of the time. That is from the past. Randy, I know you're probably. The host of Sessler passed. I know, Randy, that was heartbreaking. It is crazy how many, and I know, like, Jets and Browns fans don't want to hear about it. But I think it's true that being a fan of a team like the Packers,

but the Packers specifically, the bills now are joining this territory in losing this many heartbreaking. Get the violins out. Why can't this both be true? All right, Mr. Patriots, fan. Please educate me on how I feel. They both can be true. Because the Patriots got six titles.

The Packers, if you're doing a ranking of the most painful losses, and Packers fans who are masochistic were doing this last night, since 2007, this maybe isn't even in the top 10, which is crazy. And it's a heartbreak. You got the NFC Championship. Nothing will top that, 2014. You had the one against San Francisco in 2021 where they couldn't score it.

They had losing to Eli immediately after going, having a one-loss team. That was rough. They had far of losing to Eli in overtime. They lost to the Cardinals twice in overtime. They lost to the Kaepernick two different times. There's a couple more NFC championship games under Kyle Shanahan. I haven't even mentioned before we even get to this one. It is crazy.

I have a great idea. You could actually follow the model of my favorite team. Just don't make the playoffs for 13 straight years. It's just saying on that. Just like an utter void, like a black hole. We don't have to compare. I'm just saying it's got to be painful. If I have one more person tweets me, it's time to put the past.

Packers on the pain rankings. No, shut up. All right. I do want to hear from Randy, though. Big Funk. I just wanted to jump in and chime in about how Eric and I bonded through our sorrow before the game started because it seemed like every network was running compilations of most losses for the Packers and the bills. You know, it's like we can't escape it. And the boogeyman won this round again.

I feel it's tough. It's tough. It's tough. I get where you're coming from, though, because... The Packers have it nice, sort of, I guess. I don't know. Not sort of. You definitely have a nice.

You have another young superstar quarterback. But what does it matter? I just think, though, if you went through all this, then you will come back and say, you know what? You had a point. Yeah, all those years ago. I think it depends on how you look at it. Sure.

But at the end of the year, it's like the Jets and the Packers, they're both in Cancun right now. Right. But there is, I think, Greg, you're kind of double talking here with your points here. Because you were just saying a couple shows ago, you got to enjoy the experience. Absolutely. The Packers had a really fun ride this year. Look from Thanksgiving until five minutes to play.

And it opens the door for the future. Like there were questions whether they even had a quarterback and you do have one. Don't get me wrong. That's what other teams. They set up great. I just mean in that day, in the moment, it doesn't ease that pain. And that's a particular type of pain that unfortunately. But I know that too.

I have other fan base. Like I said, I'm a Yankee fan. I understand that side of it too. Yeah. I'm almost uniquely qualified to tell you that bowl. are suck but there's nothing worse than just being a laughing stock and never even no doubt getting a chance it's no question they're too different they're quite different but it is very i totally empathize and we talk that's how we open the show with bills fans who deserve a chip they

still waiting and this felt like a special year and it wasn't and for packers fans even though this was this was a prototypical house money game for a green bay to have a kind of a win almost in your back pocket and let it get away you just don't want to do that in the playoffs because you just never, ever know. All right. That was the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Let's go places. Learn more at Toyota.com slash Grand Highlander.

All right. Let's finish it up. The other NFC game, back to Detroit. Yes, the place was hopping once again. Mayfield takes him straight to the line with a minute 40. Baker leans in. There's the snap. Blitz comes.

Mayfield back, loads, throws. Pick up the Lions. It's intercepted by the Lions. intercepted by the lions Derek Barnes Derek Barnes Oh baby 133 to go

The Lions are going To San Francisco Derek Barnes With the interception Oh baby Stand up Fort Field Look at this Woo

Look at this Wait am I Do I have the timing wrong Or are we in a simulation Was the Detroit game Before the Packer game? No.

That was today. Oh my God. It was the earlier game today. That was today? That feels like 47 years. We were on Sky Sports at half time. I don't remember that. I am with you on that.

It does feel like it happened weeks ago. I've been infected with the rage zombie virus. You're right. That was that I thought like Dan's already booking the San Francisco trip. No, he was right. Dan Miller with the call with Lomas Brown. Lomas is one of my favorite tropes. he's just the color guy screaming yes

because a great moment happened WXYT for the team and that was the interception of Baker Mayfield the decisive play in a 31-23 win for the Lions over the bucks Gregi you locked

the former team of around the NFL and in another game where the underdog came to play this is a game I believe is 1717 in the second half Detroit, like Baltimore, not at the same level, but took control in crunch time when other teams might wilt. They said, no, no, no, no. No one's beating us in our building, not in this spot.

Yeah, I've been taken these last two weeks that the Lions defense has been opportunistic and really contributed to those wins. And you heard it there. They got just enough stops and got the interception at the end. But I also think how when it was 10-10 going into the second half and the Lions don't get any done on their first drive. After that, the lines that we know take over and get touchdowns on back to back to back drives. And there was a third and 15 in there to a Monra, St. Brown, that just says so much about the lions. They protected up perfectly. Tampa could not get home today with their four-man pass rush. And the Blitz really wasn't that effective either. And they

just have a laser on Zion McCollum who just came into the game. And the lions are so good at that. Ben Johnson is always attacking weaknesses. Like a new guy comes in, it's fresh meat, third and 15. There's no way we're running the ball here to like set up a closer field goal or make a shorter fourth goal. No, we're going for it. Ragnow, who was in and out of this game, was an animal, protects it up. They hit it.

Amon Ra breaks a tackle to get the first down on that play. And it was just really bold play calling like that throughout. Their running game wasn't working, so they called the third and one kind of fake where they get it to right. What is that guy's name? Brock right down the sideline, the same play that used against the Jets. Like everything they touched, they went for a fourth and goal as part of that. Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown.

It started it off. They go for it. Like being bold and then their players executing it and just playing smart. They looked like the lines we've seen all year today. Yeah, they keep being, they keep emphasizing who they've been and how they got here. And they're not changing from that. Dan Campbell refuses to shift identities. Dialing up Craig Reynolds on that fourth and goal.

A surprise character in that situation. You're right. That incredible 16-yarder to Amon-Ron-Rond St. Brown on 3rd and 15. Gough, you know, if we're going to praise Brock Purdy on that final drive, Goff in the fourth quarter hit his first 11 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown on those two long touchdown drive. So it's like golf was money when it mattered most. And, you know, this defense gave up 408 yards to a Buccaneers team that did not quit.

But it really was going to come down to a big mistake. And for as good as Baker Mayfield has been in these two games in this stretch and the best version of himself, like, that is the other side of Baker Mayfield. That mistake occurs and it's snuffed out what could have been a pretty spicy final couple of minutes. Because the Bucks, I give them credit, like they're not a great team, but they fought really hard in this game. And it's like they believe in Baker Mayfield, but the Lions, same with Gough. And Gough talked about just feeling a calm throughout the fourth quarter. And I think this version, who Jared Gough is right now and the way he operates. in the final minutes says so much

about this line's offense. Yeah, they went it went from 1717 to 31 17 in a blink and to Mayfield and Tampa Bay's credit they go right down the field. They get the touchdown they fail on the two point conversion and then get the stop and

you're thinking, hmm, this could be interesting but Baker, yeah, makes that big mistake. Here's Baker after the game obviously you saw it in the highlight or immediately after the play happened hanging his head. He knew he had a chance to do something special and they could not get it done. It sucks. I feel like my heart just got ripped out, but it's football is a complex game,

but it's also simple. It comes down to taking care of the ball. And in two-minute drives like that, when you know you're going to have four downs to use, just a bad, bad mistake by me. And it sucks because I know what type of group we've had all year that we fought to get to this point. We fought to be in that game. We weren't supposed to be here by any measures, but we believed in each other and we fought for it and so um yeah this this one's going to weigh on me for a while yeah and i thought it was interesting and i think they said it during the telecast um that these are both players uh baker mayfield and jared goff number one overall picks and they had apparently spoken this was a couple of weeks back before this line of this matchup was set in stone they had

a conversation mayfield and golf and they talked about how when you're a number one overall pick you're kind of at the top of the mountain and you have to find a new chip on your your shoulder. And for these guys, both their original teams, the Browns and Rams essentially quit on them. And now here they are resurrecting their careers. And here's Gopf, one win from getting back to the Super Bowl. It's listening to Jared Gough. It's a credit to all the guys in there. We've said this a million times about how it's the same group. It's not like we've, you know, added a ton. It's a lot of the same guys. And Brad and Dan have been very intentional about bringing in those type of guys who can, who can handle moments like today. And moment.

moments like last week and ups and downs of a season. And I think it's all been intentionally done by them. And we're not here by accident. Now, Goff avoided the negative plays today. And when he mentions that with Brad Holmes, it really is insane to think about how many of the draft picks. All the focus has been on this year's rookie class. But when Derek Brown made that play,

I mean, Derek Barnes made that play, it reminded me of all three of these classes because they've done a really good job developing players. Derek Barnes is not like a household name, but if you think back to week one, who is making all those huge run stops and just stuffing the chiefs and big plays, play after play, it's Derek Barnes and guys like Melafonwu, who they've developed slowly and has eventually turned into this great part of this three safety tandem with Cardiner Johnson and Penae Sewell and St. Brown are draft picks.

And Hutchinson had another nice game. And just throughout, it's all these homegrown players. and I think you get a sort of cohesion between the coaching staff and the players that is pretty rare and maybe can kind of carry them through. A game like this, which was weird, mid-third quarter mark,

the Bucks were averaging 7.3 yards for play and the Lions were averaging 3.7. It was kind of a strange game where the Lions were being opportunistic, but I wasn't watching it and thinking, ooh, the Lions are a much better team here. I thought they were in trouble, and they kind of stabilized and played their best at the end.

Well, they're learning. I think, you know, like the Detroit journey is they're learning how to win games like this and to kind of work your way out of not your best performance you know the Niners did it

but the Niners have playoff experience they kind of know they know how to do it I think it's really impressive and I you know it's like they remind me of the Rams Brad Holmes coming from Rams world like Jamir Gibbs someone that they were kind of like

why on earth are the lions picking this running back this high in the draft watching Jamir Gibbs like he has been a complete difference maker just the speed alone and what he did today in key moments It's like every one of the players you mentioned,

all these rookies, second year, third year guys, they've hit on them over and over. And the emphasis is that Jared Goff, who they were pretty plainly honest about from the beginning, we believe in them, we'll see what happens. They didn't just chase quickly another rookie quarterback to supplant them with. And they've made the best version of Jared Goff come alive

because of that belief. I think Jared Goff had his confidence cracked like an egg coming out of that Rams experience. And it's like there is something to the mentality of an athlete to say, we believe in you, go do it, and now here you are as Detroit Lions fans. Yeah, everyone thought they had Jared Gough

nailed. Like, this was a guy from, you know, Northern California, a number one draft pick who really wasn't deserving of it. He was a bust. And then, oh, he was actually, he had some good years, but he was propped up by Sean McVeigh's brilliant offense at the time. And then he was shipped

off to Detroit to be a starter for maybe a year before he became a back of the rest of his career. No, because like Dan Campbell said like you're good enough for Detroit and the fact that Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell and that organization saw in Goff not a bridge guy but a guy that could be a major part of this operation moving forward nobody else saw that and the building the roster the way they have people didn't see that you think back to the opening press conference and in fact I think we have some sound from Campbell on that the opening press conference where it was it's

infamous I'll tell you how infamous it is the the the biting the kneecaps press conference, which, remember, the lines were a laughing stock at the time. Before that season started, this is two years ago, Colleen and I did the first hard knocks podcast series, and we noticed that it wasn't in the first episode. We're like, oh, of course that's going to be the episode. They're going to play off that. Then we were told, no, don't talk about it either. The lions and the, and Campbell were sensitive that that was being taken and put in a different way to that's how he was. known. He was like a cartoon character

the way he looked, the way he talked, the way he was saying. And everyone, like Jared Goff and so many of these other guys, we underestimated the lions. Here's Campbell talking about the beginning of his tenure and how that has changed now. Dan, that first press conference has kind of become legend. Decaps, all that. Initially, though, there was a lot of like,

what did the lions hire with this guy? You hear that then and what do you think? You're probably one of them. to each his own talk about a last little great line you know it it's been sticking in his craw for a long time but they're getting the last laugh now that's awesome i that it's also campbell sticking it to the whole like people were saying back that you it's probably you he he is definitely someone i bet that everybody was that kept track we had our fun of it with the lines at that time and campbell who you know didn't have a big resume but we're saying mark like damn

if they and this isn't don't do not tell the lines you tell dan campbell that they're playing with house money in san francisco no this team is this team believes that they can win a super bowl and if they ever did it says dog if they even just made the super but if they want it he's mike dicka he is a national celebrity of of the highest order when you talk about sports figures in america like this he's become a a star and seize the moment, because I'll name another one. Remember Rex Ryan? Yep. He became a star overnight.

And again, you think, because they went to the Jets and 9 and 10, they went to the AFC championship game two years in a row, you think it's just going to go on forever. Maybe this is the moment for the Detroit Lions right now. But I will say this, even if things do not go well next week in San Francisco.

You can't take away what happened these two weeks, these two home games and the wins and the crowd and the feel around. that is, this is, for Lions fans, this will be a season that will be viewed warmly no matter what happens. Yeah, because before you had Ditka's 1985 bears, you had the 84 bears that learned how to do what the 85 bears did. And I think you're talking, you're so, you mentioned that in the screening room. And I love the DNA, the comparison between Ditka Campbell and Rex Ryan, because Rex Ryan came in and said, I don't care what we've been. We're going to be something different now.

And it resonated. We're not going to kiss Belichick's rings was the famous. I don't care what the order was here before. It's a new order. And Ditka took a Bears team that was lost at sea for a long time, did the same thing. And who's been more lost at sea than the Lions? And it's a lot to do with Dan Campbell's just willing this team to do it, his own way. And he was doubted because of his personality out of the gate.

But they believe in him with every fiber of their being. And his ability to hit on big decisions. Like Aaron Glenn, I thought, had a really good day today. And I know they were giving up a lot of yards. but if you think of why the Bucks drives kept stopping, it's because they kept finding the free rusher to get to Baker Mayfield, who ended up taking a few sacks.

I thought Baker actually played quite well in this game until that interception. The first interception came off a drop. Evans finishes with 147. Baker throws for 3.49. He had the fourth and 15 play to keep their season alive. He had the play where he almost was sacked. And then he's rolling out and makes one of the best plays

any quarterback made all weekend. And yet, I think the coaching for the Lions is just better. And I compare it to the Bucs where Bowles has been bolder this season. He's kind of gotten some pop in Tampa of like, oh, it's a new Todd Bulls. But today there was electric that Todd Bulls. It's just a couple spots. There was a fourth and one at his own 35 in the first half. And I know it's your own 35.

But the way that game was going, they were running the ball really well. Rashad White ran for 6.1 yards per carry. Edmonds went 4.8. And he punts there. There was the, they kicked the 50-yard field goal, which I'm not going to kill him, but it was a fourth and five. Who's their kicker? He's been great all year.

I literally think that was his first miss kick all year that wasn't a block. Chase McLaughlin's been kind of under the radar as like having a great season. He's in the top five of my kicker ranking. And then at the very end, they're down to touch that. And I know it's transgressive, but it was fourth and four, I think at their own 30 or so. And that's just a no-thought punt there. But the way that game was going, I was like, man, the lions are just going to go. down the field and score a touchdown here. Is it that

crazy to go for that fourth and four? He didn't even think about it and they did go down and score the touch on side. I thought he was not that bold in some big spots. That's kind of bowls. I mean, that's part of it. And they have a big decision to make with Baker, who really outperformed this contract and

had a nice year overall for that team. And we're going to see what happens next. I think we've got to give the last word to Dan Campbell, who gave us some thoughts on this Lions team and this moment in the city in which they play. Well, I think it's important, right?

I mean, you can't, I don't know if it's, you know, it's not the first thing you think of if you go to L.A. Or just in general, right? You got the sun, you got the beach. You got plenty of other things going on in here, man. That's fire. Man, it's harsh winters, right? Auto industry, blue collar.

Things aren't always easy. And I just think that's, you know, that's what we're about. And that was, you know, you want something the city can be proud of. You can look at those guys and say, man, I can back that guy. I can back that team. You know, I can resonate with those group of guys. I feel attacked.

And Greenie dropped on Southern California. With the sun. Every week for me is just a war. Right. In my home, it's just a battle to my wife. And I just to survive and grind through with the two maniac boys and the pressures. The traffic can be. internationally known podcast.

Don't give me that look, Rosen. No, no, I'm with you. Oh, don't give me that resting Greg face. I'm giving you Dave Campbell that look. Oh, like, oh,

LA with their beaches. Hey, when we drove to Walker's basketball game Thursday, we had to park underneath indoors because it was raining outside. Usually we park on the street,

but we wanted to get it, you know, under the roof. That's we parked inside. And when I took, perfect example, Greg. When I took my dog captain to the beach,

Friday right around sunset and my boys brought a frisbee there was a sign outside that beach that said no dogs allowed even in the off season yeah and i'd say like if you uh you know there are times if you were to buy an ice cream cone you've got to get into an inside area so that the sun and the warmth don't melt it prematurely while you're trying to eat it thank you so dan i did literally we're waiting for your apology go to the beach this morning because on the west goes another nice thing it's like oh a nice noon start for the nfl will get out i think dan campbell's proving his point without having to retort

but that is very nice and we will see what the lines do I would love I mean I did have about third quarter of Bill's chiefs I started to openly daydream about the idea of us being in Vegas and fans from Detroit and Buffalo

pouring into the city on Friday afternoon and what that scene would be we lost the bills unfortunately today and I'm not necessarily rooting for No, I am. I am rooting for the lines. How can you not root for the lions?

I mean, so I think a lot of people across the country are going to be pulling for the lines. But look, their opponent, the 49ers, they're shinier, they're sexier. They're California too. And they've been trying to get over this hump for years as well. They haven't won the Super Bowl since, what, 1990?

We're going to patty cake around the Packers and the impossible nature of what their fans have been through. like Niners fans have been through a lot too I'm not yeah not Super Bowl loss that would that would be that would have been a brood a loss for the 49th do you want to guess the spread yeah let's do

hang on let me think about Packer got to get this right all right so we got Niners Lions I like I'm going to say they're going to put the Niners they're going to install them at four and a half I'd say five and a half seven wow interesting I mean they were nine and a half

against the Packers I just thought it would be some more respect. And then the other game, Baltimore, Kansas. That's a tough one. I'm going to say right now Baltimore minus three. Baltimore, three and a half. Three and a half is right on the number. There you go, Mark. You got a future in this.

I do not have a future rainmaker. Not in this, not when we're not being employed by this company. All right. So there you go. That is the breakdown of Divisional Round Weekend. There are only three games left in this season. Oh, one more thing. Big Funk pointed out, shot me a little note that there is a photo

and this is for people watching on YouTube of Eric our producer who really a great effort watching this game upstairs. I'm basically hiding under a desk at this point. What is going on? You're behind a preschool basketball hoop, that plastic you know, the tyke one and you're sitting against the windowsill but kind of tucked away like almost like a raccoon that's been hit by a car and is like under a bush

the um the basketball that comes with that child play pin basketball hoop went across the office when we missed the field goal oh okay heaved and I just again to circle back on that I totally get the frustration

of the teams and fan base that can't get over the hump that is because it is with the bills it's Super Bowl robust and and everything else feels like... But if you think about it, Eric, like... It does suck to lose like that. Yeah.

Where you're going to go with this, Greg? But... There we go. But, like, most people have to wait for the podcast to be recorded and then edited and all this stuff. You get to listen to it live for free right off the back. Right. And then he has to kind of listen back to it for the edit. Yeah.

This is the perk. This is the perk of the job, guys. Pinch yourself. all right that's it uh we're going to be back on tuesday i'm going to tease it again Colleen wolf will rejoin us on Tuesday we'll see uh tiny box hour and uh yep three games left three games left he the call In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down.

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