NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2023 Super Wild Card Recap Part 1

Episode Date: January 15, 2024

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler recap the first four games of Super Wild Card Weekend. The heroes start in Dallas where the Packers stunned the Cowboys (02:00), followed by the Lions beating the Rams (23:40), the Texans taking care of the Browns (41:40), and wrap things up with the Dolphins falling flat against the Chiefs (59:05). Note: time codes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. 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. The Around the NFL podcast. No floating trash bags this week. From the Chris Wessling podcast studio, it is Around the NFL. NFL the flagship program the playoff edition the first of four are these bad boys this one being well that's not even right because we're going to have a double recap we got that's right four games to dissect today two more tomorrow night and that just get warmed up before division round championship Sunday and then of course the Super Bowl from Vegas where we'll be and and the playoff weekend that we just enjoyed three blowouts and a a tight one point affair

and it was a lot of fun. Dan Hansis, Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler, heroes, Greg, a lot of stuff went on this weekend. Some of it's surprising, some of it not. But the road to the Lombardi starts to clear ever so gently.

I know it. It feels very strange that as we talk, there's 10 teams left that can win the Super Bowl, but we're coming off a high seeing the team of ATL from a year ago win that game. And that game to me it didn't save the weekend because I don't think the weekend needed saving but we needed a game like that that was tight and there's game management decisions to talk about because the other two

were Sessler specials where there were blowouts but to me at least a couple of them were entertaining blowouts and one of them blew your mind blowouts so it had a little bit of a blow your mind blowout yeah and I mean that creates very juicy storylines I mean some of the wreckage and there are there have been some floating trash bag operations this weekend and there will be consequences oh that That is certainly true. In fact, Mark's going to take them out back. In fact, let us get going here. And we're going to start with, I was going to say the blowout no one saw coming.

There were a couple of those this weekend. But the one that went down in Texas today, there will be reverberations. I think so. There will be tremors. There will be earthquakes. there will be dams breaking there will be people swallowed by swarms of locust that's that type of loss for the cowboys uh but on the flip side the packers made an announcement that the glory train will continue to ride unabated to gero world first in ten football at the 38 of dallas play action of bootleg left half bootleg got out no right open down the right side must play Touchdown. Touchdown.

Luke Musgrave. And a dagger. A dagger right through the heart of the Cowboys. Oh my goodness. Ooh. Bangas are nice. This is fancy. When we get, this is the official big funk theme song.

The Randy Chavez behind the glass. Die-hard Packers fan. You know, there's another dude. It seems like a nice guy that we watch these games in the theater here, who's a Packers fan, and he came in up the steps during the late game, and everybody gave him a little round of applause because he's a die-hard Packer fan. And like, oh, did you start wearing that Packer shirt? And he's like, no, man, I lived through 2 and 6.

I was like, you live through 2 and 6. It must be so hard to be a Packers fan. Try to walk a mile on Lee shoes, baby. All right. That's not the point. The point is the Packers. It's not the point. The Packers absolutely roll the Dallas Cowboys 48 to 32.

And do not look at that final score as a proper indicator of what happened in this game. Because Green Bay's offense from the initial possession, Greg Rosenthal, absolutely wiped the floor with Dan Quinn's defense. And the Cowboys' offense conversely had no, no way to match what was. was going on on the other side of the field. I get that there will be a lot of DAC talk and there should be and we'll get to that too, but it wouldn't have mattered. When you score six offensive touchdowns in your first seven drives, when you say we're not kicking the ball off, we're not deferring to the second half, we're taking the ball

and even when we can't run the ball the first couple plays of the game, we're going to keep running the ball until it works and we're going to eat up seven and a half minutes of clock and score a touchdown on that very first guy. and we're going to keep piling it up. And then when we come out of halftime, when you think you have a chance because you just scored a touchdown, make it a little closer at halftime,

that to me was the moment of the game. They ran right through them coming out of halftime. Then Stefan Gilmore tries to cut a route and ends up giving up a big play. And it was just a Dallas defense that all day was trying to do too much, but also they were soft. Like they were soft and they were small.

No team plays more dime defense in terms of light personnel when other teams have two tight ends. on the field than Dallas, and they did it all day today, and when it mattered, Green Bay just lined up and they said, Michael Parsons, you're not going to get near Jordan Love and you're not going to get near Aaron Jones in the second half. They made this Cowboys team look soft as hell, and they put up a 40 burger before the fourth quarter started. I can't believe it. Not a single sack for the Dallas defense. I think a big narrative was like, can Michael Parsons

make life incredibly tough for Jordan Love? I mean, I just saw wide open wide receivers over and over. I mean, Romeo Dobbs 100 yards before halftime. Where was Parsons? He had like one pressure the whole game. I mean, also he got dinged up later on. But like what we came to know and like respect about Dallas's defense completely vanished today. And what we thought Jordan Love could be, he tripled and quadrupled it today. I mean, it's like where, how far can they go?

I don't know. If they play like this, they can take anyone on. And even Aaron Jones, who had I think 30 yards in the first half, but you could tell he was running well. And that has been a weakness of this Dallas. defense, right? Able to just run right up the gut. And I thought he down the stretch was such a huge difference maker for the Packers and

really humbled Dallas. I mean, they were, they come out of this with like, as you said, Dan, tremors, earthquakes, problems, huge questions. And we haven't even talked about Dasper, Dak Prescott, but two picks in the first half and the whole thing fell apart. We're up to two Dak Prescott teasers. We're getting

there. Yeah. Aaron Jones goes over a hundred yards with three touchdowns. And Jordan Love threw for three touchdowns with, I think, a perfect passer rating. You had the Darnel Savage pick six for 64 yards. This was a game that was 27 nothing going into halftime before the Cowboys got on the board on the last play of the second quarter. It ballooned up to what was it at its highest point in the third quarter. I mean, this this game was an absolute. 48 to 16 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

There you go. When Jordan Love hit that little side pocket shot, just absolutely ridiculous. a into a pinhole. I'll tell you what, a big picture narrative this weekend is that elite defenses, quote, unquote, are a myth. Because between what we saw from the Browns on Saturday and the Cowboys on Sunday, all the talk

about these defenses to get shredded the way they did. And with Jordan Love, he is, my goodness, I mean, what he has been able to do in these last two and a half months now, it really does evoke memories of the rise of Rogers. And if you're old enough, the rise

of barb and I thought it was so interesting that on that first drive that you were referenced Greg which set the tone obviously for the whole afternoon taking up half the first quarter and scoring a touchdown after electing to take the ball when you win the coin toss you knew just by his body language when he was moving in the pocket that he was going to be a nightmare and I talked about that on Thursday that even though I picked the Cowboys we all picked the Cowboys um this just felt like such a bad matchup for the Cowboys because the Packers seemed so light on their feet And conversely, I thought the Cowboys just seemed so tight as a drum. And I thought that what you heard from the Fox team of Burkhart and Olson,

and they keep on repeating this and pushing this narrative, like, what's wrong with DAC and CD Lamb today? Like, there's something weird going on. What was weird was the Dallas Cowboys getting swallowed up by their own myth once again and playing tight as a drum. And the Packers doing the opposite. It was crazy. Right.

Love on that first throw to Dobbs. which I think was for about 22 yards, where it was the second and 13 on that first drive, and he's back peddling, and he's about to get crunched by O'Digizua, and he just makes it look so easy. And there were about six or seven throws like that in this game that just reminded me when you go through this season

and you think of the best performances by a quarterback in any game all season. Jordan Love is on the list for a lot of them. The game he had in prime time against Kansas, the city a couple weeks ago. Maybe not as many people watched it, but it was Sunday night again against Minnesota, the win that they had against the Lions. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and I don't think enough people have watched

them enough to realize that, but it's just true. There isn't a quarterback playing better in terms of decision making, and Lafleur is setting him up, and Dallas tried to go against type, and they talked about this on the broadcast, too, and play a lot more zone than what they like to do with man, but it didn't make a difference. It's like Dobbs was talented enough to go six for 151 in one. But you always had a feeling like Love would find someone else if he needed to. This was a day like Jaden Reed didn't even have a catch this game. They have so many young guys coming out of their wazoo here.

But he always is making good decisions on top of like being just so physically. He only had five in completions. There was an incredible second half catch by Romeo Dobbs on a precise broken play throw by Jordan Love. It's like he just was dialed in from wire to wire. wire. Here is LaFleur, the aforementioned LaFleur, who had a wonderful game himself on Jordan Love. Jordan Love, wow. That was, that's about all I can say. Pete is wow. And Mark, he has, he's got another quarterback. And dating back to 1992 to present. And now for the, in the beyond now, the Packers feel set up with a potential, not just a star. This guy's playing like a

superstar. And what makes the Packers fascinating is that he's not alone. It's just not him. This is a team that's coming together. Even the defense showed up in this game. Never mind, lipstick on the pig in the fourth quarter by Dallas's offense. Right. Like the much maligned Joe Barry defense,

which caused multiple turnovers in the first half. And the final score is not indicative. I thought they did a nice job on Cidiland. He was doubled. You saw him tripled at certain points. And I always thought that the key for Dallas to get off to a fast start was have Cid Lamb dominate this game. And he really was not a factor until garbage time

and a bunch of junk happened late. Like these, the 32 points dowels put up. Most of it happened in a zero non-factor like kind of late flurry. Like the Joe Barry defense, which looked good against Minnesota, it looked good against Chicago. I know those aren't premier offenses. But it did its job today and made Dak Prescott and the crew very uncertain. Can I ask a question?

How much do you, how, and this is not to take away from Barry or what Green Bay did today, but how much can you say is the Packers in their scheme and their players And how much, honestly, Greg, do you have to, like, be honest and say the Cowboys choked in this game? Yes. They gagged and they played at a far lesser level than we saw for the entire season. And you can't, like, that's going to be obviously blown up and what everyone's talking about on Monday morning and beyond. But sometimes the narrative is a narrative because it's true. And the Cowboys seem to choke in January.

Yes. After falling down early and then the first DAC interception, which, Dak said after the game, he played poorly, that he played a terrible. Said I sucked. Which is wild because he threw for 400 yards in the end and they had 37%. But he knew that the important part of the game was the first half. That was kind of a lazy route by Cooks and Alexander makes a nice break on the ball. But at that point, the Cowboys had already punted and then they punt the following drive too.

They set up the Packers for a short score there. Like one play later or a couple plays later, Aaron Jones is just running through their defense for another score. So everyone choked. But C.D. Lambs drop and passes. is Dak slant to CD, which is usually so money. They're off. And my guy, Jair Alexander, who you talked about on the Drematorium this week, even though he got hurt halfway through the game,

he comes up with the big interception, not the pick six, but the early interception. And he was out there. I know they didn't send him out for the coin toss. Oh, they should have, but he was out there. He was suiting. Well, they're not in Charlotte. I don't know what the season was good for you injuries and so he caught there. It was late.

Really, it was late. honestly there's no better feeling like there's a few quarterbacks who have thrown me multiple picks in my career and jack is now one of them so he's along my top cubies i i feel like jair alexander and my eldest son jack would be like good buddies if they hung out um so yeah dac is now on jair's list and dac is going to this is going to be one of those losses where it it will continue to stick to the ribs of everyone associated with the dallas cowboys and you wonder if Mike McCarthy, the head coach, as an example, will even have a job after this.

You wonder if Dan Quinn, who seemed to be a shoe in to get a job elsewhere, the D.C., the highest paid D.C. in the league, after giving up a near-50 burger in this spot, does that cause teams like, say, the Seahawks to walk away? Here's Jera, who, you know, no shortage. And I tweeted this. I would pay $7.99 a month if you can give me a Jera box.

Like, it's just a shot. one shot on Jarrah's luxury suite for the entirety of a playoff. Put that on Peacock. Put it on Peacock. Absolutely. Be worth it. And make sure if you're going to put it on Peacock, the picture is clear the whole time.

Just something unsolicited advice. Here is Jerry immediately after the game talking to the media about what's next and how this was a loss almost like no other for him. It seems like the most painful because we all had such great expectation and we had hope for this team and thought that we were aligned in a great shape and great shape and it didn't happen for us and it's as fresh on me right now as it is on anybody else but I don't I won't get into any of the addressing of any aspects of any part of it from the coaching to the players to what's around corner on a personal basis I'm forward and so I mean it's the Dallas Cowboys they're an experience exclusive to themselves in all of American sports and it feels like it's an annual meeting with

Jerry Jones discussing the disappointment that ends it all in January it's three years in a row and as you know as problematic as the past two exits for Dallas were disorganized discombobulated final minute defeats under the watch of Mike McCarthy. This is a bigger disaster because, you know, how many times will we be fooled? I was even saying a couple days ago, this Cowboys team feels different to me. And the ending is completely not different.

It's the same. And it's like because it's the Cowboys, because it's Dak Prescott, because it's Jerry Jones, I think that Mike McCarthy, obviously, is on a hotter seat than you could ever have imagined me. I think he has no chance of coming back. I think there's no way you can do it.

Because he's like a good coach and deserves... respect, but the way they talked about all year that his future was going to be determined based on how this year finished. He said it. This was all that mattered, this game. And I, like, you know, I brought it up as a hypothetical on Thursday's show

that, you know, you have someone like Bill Belichick sitting out there. And I, I just wonder if you're Jerry Jones, who already has a wandering eye in the past for someone like Sean Payton, does everything turn and change in a way where someone like Belichick winds up with tells? We'll see, but Mike McCarthy's future couldn't be shaken. Listen, Jerry Jones is turning 82 this year.

And this, he just said it. Like, this is a loss that really hurts. And they were certain this team was different. We were, we visited this team back in July. You could just see the optimism just pouring out from every corner of the facility there. So for this to have the same ending after the third straight 12 win season. Yeah, I don't know if, Greg, I don't know if it's going to be Bill. And I don't know.

But I also think Jerry Jones. Jones at this point, he might come to a place where, yeah, not only do I have to get this guy out of here. I need to make a big splash because I'm running out of time, quite frankly. Right. He said he was stunned. I read Calvin Walker as one of the best Cowboys reporters out there. And he said the people that have covered this team at least for 10 plus years didn't see this coming, not at all. And I do think that is, there is something about them being Charlie Brown and Lucy pulling the football away that's like, I think part of the reason they never see it coming is because they think that it couldn't be coming. It can always be coming. Like they sort of get in their own little cycle of like, we're believing the hype. Like, of course you could get blown out by a good young team that's coming if you're not on it. Like nothing that happened about this season and how they set up is going to make any difference when you get out there.

today, and when you fall down in the game, they kind of just showed who they were, which is in a spot. I think it's tough when you got the home crowd there. You feel that tension. They are the first team in history, Dan. It's so weird with McCarthy to win 12 straight games, to win 12 games in three straight years, but not make the conference championship in that ground. So he's been incredibly uniquely successful, and then for it to happen against the Packers,

who beat him in the Descott a game, beat him in Dak's rookie year. when they were the one seed and have now won 10 of 11 games against the Cowboys makes it like doubly painful. It's like, what do you do? This Packer's team is going to be around for, like all these teams are going to be around for a while.

And I know the highly educated membership of the football Gagnanzante is going to say this is ridiculous. But I really do think and the ghosts are become a thing around the Cowboys. And I think it seeps in under the doors and in through

the windows and down the chimney at the star. And it's become this added layer of pressure now. Like when are things going to be different this year? And I think the team takes it with them. I think you really saw a team from the jump

pressing in this game. And when they had the wrong opponent here, the team that's on the opposite end of that spectrum, it was a recipe for disaster. Quite frankly, I'm mad at myself because I felt it come up but pick the cowboys was too safe but I don't find this overly surprising in retrospect like the cowboys were set up for the fall and they took one I think that saddie oh zaddy that that angst like starts with Jerry jones because he speaks about the team and the experience of losing in a way that

not other owners would would be as personally like open about the i like that about jara i like it too but i mean i think that that's where the weight begins right but i do think it's a surprising loss in the sense that you know i absolutely surprised home and away splits maybe they don't they don't mean much but like Dallas at home was its most dominant version of itself. I mean it's like destroyed teams and so for this to happen

it's completely atypical to anything else that we saw happening in Dallas to this Cowboys team. Let me rephrase it. It is surprising but maybe we shouldn't have been surprised in like retrospect. Sure. Maybe the clues were there all along. Well the clue the number one clue is they were playing one of the best quarterbacks

in the league who was playing free and could create in a way that that Dak, who I'm always defending, but has in a big spot. And I do feel like he held the ball a little too long. He wasn't seeing the field tonight. He's gripping the ball a little too tight in the first half. And Love is out there making something out of nothing in a way that Dak just wasn't. But, man, I still go back to the defense.

It's supposed to be a defensive team. Zach Tom, who's led the league, by the way, doesn't get a lot of pub. But according to NextGen stats and pressure percentage, in terms of preventing pressure as a right tackle this year. They're really well coached, a young offensive line for the most part, who played great, didn't give up a single pressure in nine pass-wrest snaps against Parsons. And Parsons, I think, only had one or two total, and he got it elsewhere. So it was just like everyone was in their head and they lost.

Dax got like a contract situation, which is sneaky, interesting. Not that I think he would go anywhere, but this is kind of the season where they have to give him a new contract because his cap figure is so big. So everything I feel like is going to be on the table. And it's hard to sell Dan Quinn as the guy who would succeed Mike McCarthy. And Packers fans, we'll be talking about you all week. Oh, yeah. You can enjoy it.

Celebrate. I know you are. And, ooh, the Cowboys weren't the only people having a rough Sunday. The Wessling Brothers, or I should say, Nick, continue their stumble. And guess what? They no longer occupy second place alone. That way. They locked up the Cowboys and that did not work out.

Isn't this the guy used to get on me for, you know, taking like four or five point favorites here. He would get on me for not being bold. Here he is taking a seven. Desperate times seven and a half and then he takes the out. See, nobody saw it coming. Nobody saw it. They should have seen it coming because Jordan Love is a rising superstar

and we'll give him the last word before we go to our next game because he got, you know, it's noteworthy that Dak had that's going to get MVP votes was clearly outplayed in his own building by the kid in his first full season as a starter. This is how he, I think it was the final kneel down. Listen closely. You might find it familiar Cowboys fans. For them to come into the house here in Dallas that no one's been able to win in almost two years. Man, that's pretty impressive for this Green Bay team. It wasn't quite a here we go, but it wasn't here we go. You don't like that, Mark. What? You don't like that. I don't problem with that. Oh, okay.

Packers. Why do you think I would? I don't know. You kind of do it. I was like, well, I think if you're going to mimic him, like let you put a little bit more effort into sound. I think he did. He threaded the needle there where he had fun with it, but he wasn't being like a dick to DAC personally. So I think that's what he probably didn't want to like mimic

him. Imagine James Winston had that opportunity. I know it's hard to imagine him a final kneel down to win a playoff game, but imagine he would have put, it would have won an Oscar for it. I think he would have pulled it off in a different way. Packers, Niners, is the Saturday game next year. Oh.

That is a delicious divisional round game is giving me flashbacks that Colin Kaepernick back in the day against the Niners. I believe in this same round. Oh, my. I don't need to tell you football fans, divisional round weekend is the best of the year. But we're not through wild card round yet.

Let's go to the other game on Sunday. It was the only game that was decided by less than a touchdown. This one, just one point. It was going off at Ford Field on Sunday night. Here we go. Golf works out of the gun, second down in nine. Two minutes to go. There's golf back, looking, looking, throws.

It is caught. I'm in Ross St. Brown. First down. That's going to do it. That's going to do it. That's going to do it. Jared Goff delivers against his former team. Now what they have to do is take a knee three times, and this game will be over.

For the second time since 1957. for the first time since January 5th, 1992. These Detroit Lions are going to win a playoff game. Yeah. Dan Miller with the call. Of course you bring the bongos. Oh, it's playoff season for Eric Robbins. It's behind the glass, too.

Dan Miller, the voice of the Lions, who's been through the bad times. Like the Lions fans, he was there. He was on the mic for 0 and 16. And all those Lions fans that waited three decades to see their team simply play a home game in the postseason. Well, they got rewarded with a 24, 23 win over a obviously extremely game Rams team

that came within a failed stop on third down there of getting the ball back with a chance to steal the game. So there you go. That ends a nine game postseason losing streak for the Lions. Mark Sessler, that was the longest in NFL history. It dates back to January 92. and now they will get two home playoff games for the first time in franchise history

hosting either Tampa or Philly in the divisional round next Sunday. What a joy it was to watch that game in that building. You had like Lions fans and they cut to an 89-year-old Lions fan, a very famous guy who's been going there for 60 years

that we're literally just shedding tears. And sometimes it's hard to gauge the sound in the stadium depending on how the mics are set up on some of these stations. And it's like, this place was on fire. And I found myself, I think the Rams have had an incredible season and there's a valiant side to them,

but I found myself just rooting for Detroit. And the way that they came out of this game with three straight 75-yard touchdown marches. I mean, Greg, I think we were all watching this the other. My takeaway is that both quarterbacks were absolutely pristine for so much of this. And at one point I thought Matthew Stafford literally had the life knocked out of him. And then five minutes later, he's back in the game.

but instead of one of them completely collapsing, I love how this game wound up because Jared Goff against his old coach completely got the job done and the play that I'll remember is just outside of the two-minute warning. It's second to nine at the Detroit 32. The Lions need to get a first down

to basically just salt the game away. And Dan Campbell, the stamp that Dan Campbell has put on this team from wire to wire is that he goes absolutely nuts through the air, 11-yard completion to Amon Ross St. Brown. It's like they don't just try to go conservative. They do what the lions do.

It paid off and they executed the Rams in the final minute. That's how they won the game, Greg. That was a chance. A lot of teams run the ball, take it to the two-minute warning, punt it away, and then ask your defense to make the stop. But Campbell has shown all throughout his tenure, he puts the faith in the guys that he trusts the most. It was such a fitting ending for last year's team of ATL.

Team of ATL. I mean, this was what we loved to be. about this team and then they struggled a little bit and then they had it. It was right there. You're right in those final minutes because number one, it takes balls to throw the pass there. But number two, it takes intelligence to do it on the second down. Don't wait for the third down when they're possibly knowing that you're going to

have a higher likelihood to pass in that situation and they can run some games up front or they can send the blitz or whatever they're going to do. Trust a guy and I'm on around St. Brown to run a route that he said. after the game. You know, they've been running this for years. This is kind of their bread and butter play. It's one-on-one. Like, trust Jared Goff, even though you saw a couple little moments in the second half where you wondered, like, is this going to go sideways? Ultimately, they only scored three points on three possessions in the second half before that. Like a lot of Rams games

this year, there were not many possessions here. They tend to give up a lot of long drives. They tend to have a lot of long drives, and that's what it was like. So every drive meant so much. And so you win it that way with smarts and balls, but same thing on the on the drive before third and four aid in hutchinson the dude that to me rarely represents this turnaround in such a big way beats rob havinstein gets a holding call it was the right call on third and four the rams are in field goal range we'll never know if bret maher would have hit that kick what would it have been i think it would have been about a 50 yard oh i know okay what was it no i know he wouldn't have no you know you know that he wouldn't have hit it uh it

have been a 51-yarder, or they could have gone for it on fourth and four. And that's the reason I think ultimately that Campbell said, no, we're going to accept the penalty because I thought that was actually a very bold decision to push them back to third and 14 because I think he's thinking either they can kick the field goal or they go for fourth and four. I'm going to go ahead and trust my defense to go make another play. And who wins again on the next play? The guy they took second overall, Aiden Hutchinson.

And I know Rams fans will be complaining about that missed pass interference for a long time. And they did miss it. It was a bad miss call. It was a type of bad miss call, though, that happens. Right. Saints fans will tell Rams fans what to do about a missed call in the playoffs. It was kind of like a subtle play by Cam Sott. And I think where like I'm not going to go crazy.

They missed the call. But part of the reason that happened is because Kaminsky and Aiden Hutchinson both won quickly and forced the difficult situation. And so like that's big time players, season on the line stepping up in a big time moment, Aiden Hutchinson. And you mentioned the sound. inside Ford Field and that was the first

playoff game in the history of that building which has not been around you know it's been around for a minute now L.A

they were down to one time out in the second half of the fourth quarter and two of those timeout they're burning them in large part because of the crowd noise

and they're just dealing with the elements as they are and it's just like you could actually and that's why one of the many reasons why playoff football

is amazing like that I think the fans in the atmosphere there absolutely played a role in the lines advancing in the playoffs. And this is a game that they are chanting Jared Goff's name, an hour before the game. And this is showering Matthew Stafford, the prodigal son with booze when he's on the field. And we have sound here from Dan Campbell on Jared Goff, who is one of the most interesting kind of journeys of any player of his generation. as he goes to the next round of the playoffs after slaying the team that dumped him as a salary dump to get a trade done to get the Stafford to Los Angeles.

Here is Campbell on his quarterback. Just really proud of him, you know, and what he means to us and his play today. And I bring it back again. He's one of the reasons that we won this division. And he's another reason why we just won our first playoff game here in 30 years. So, what a stud. I want more Campbell. Give me Campbell on the lines getting another home game.

I know this. We were fighting for the two seed. And to get another home game and we got another home game. So it's awesome. And we had to earn that. And we earned that with a win today. They sure did. And by the way, all the drama around the two-point conversion

that wiped out against the Cowboys, it's all gone because the Cowboys got their ass booted out of the postseason. So the lines now move up to the highest seed besides obviously the Niners, which means they get the second home game. And that feels, that just feels just just. And it's, I

think for all of us, because that was a low moment. And it's like, we don't want the officials being the center of all this. I just like, the Jared Gough experience, because Brad Holmes, who obviously came from the belly of the Rams, become the general manager of the lions, like showed incredible faith

in golf, like, through a lot of ups and downs here. And also is the architect of a team that is like littered with future stars and young players to see like a guy like Sam Leporta do what he's done all season. The way he came back from injury to do tonight, golf opens 14 for 15,

was nearly pristine in the first half. And it almost overshadows the fact that Matthew Stafford, and we were watching this together like through three or four of the most incredible passes you'll see. But golf did too. Gough made very few mistakes. I go back to one incredible looping, arching throw to

Amon Ron St. Brown with the team up 21 to 17. It's like, golf can do it. And he's grown a lot before our eyes. And I think he's become a different kind of person. And I think it's just a great NFL story to have the team put faith into him. He's not just a placeholder. And he came tonight and delivered and played one of his best performances of all time. I mean, he played great.

And there is something about Dan Miller saying second time since 1957 that actually hits harder than the first playoff win since 91. Yeah. I mean, now it's like seven years before like the Civil Rights Act, 1957, and it's only their second playoff, Victor. That is absolutely preposterous. And you're right, sometimes you can win the game in the first half like that, and they won it by winning in the red zone. Even though they did not run the ball well tonight, I was impressed by the Rams defense,

pretty much stuffing the Lions run after the first drive or two. The Lions go three for three in the Red Zone. The Rams go O for three in the Red Zone. McVeigh got a little pass happy in the red zone, went away from the run. They were a good red zone team for most of the year, so it wasn't like a recurring problem, but they kept going to Cooper Cup. Cup

had nine targets in this game. He had 27 yards. Pukunukuha had one more target, 10 targets, 181 yards, the most by a rookie in the history of the NFL in a playoff game and a touchdown. And here's next gen stats, Greg.

59 receiving yards after contact, the fourth most in any game this season. He was a fifth round pick that came into league. I don't think you can argue this. This year was unquestionably a top five receiver in the league

and it wasn't just like scheme gets him open or anything. You watched it tonight. He wasn't even that open half the time. He's just running over guys and making contested catches and as great as Gough was, if I'm going to give Gough an A-minus

for this game, maybe like a 92, it's like I would give Stafford a hundred. He played incredible. And I do think, I mean, they went 0 for 3 in the red zone. So you got to ding the quarterback a little bit there. But I don't want to take away from it because he did play incredibly well. Some of those, like the third and 19 early, where he throws it across his body to keep that drive alive when they were down 14.3.

You just had so many throws that other quarterbacks couldn't make. And he was just getting absolutely brutalized. He finishes with 367 and 2. They finished with almost 100 yards more than the Lions. They were moving the ball. They looked like they were going to win this game in the second half. the Lions had two straight drives where they didn't do anything. And the Rams really were moving the ball.

And that's to me why the McVeigh time management stuff hurts a little extra. McVeigh's obviously a great coach. But this was literally by the subject of my like thing on Thursday in the Drematorium is these coaches blowing timeouts to use delay of games. And we've been talking about it on this podcast for four or five years that McVe always is blowing these timeouts at the beginning. So it was that. And it was the slightly conservative field goal decisions where at the time,

I personally didn't have a problem with them. And they hit them all. For what it's worth, like, the ESPN analytics all had them as like slight go for it. It's like even though it was fourth and six, fourth and seven that the way this game was turning out, like he ended up trusting that they were going to get those points in the end. And they didn't get it. But the timeouts to be heard. They finish one more drive and Marr somehow splits the uprights one more time.

They win 2624 and it all makes sense. But, yeah, when you lose by a point, that it looks much worse. But the Lions, for instance, did hit a fourth down in the red zone for a touchdown. That's what they do. That's a seven point play. Well, I think that's the distinct different nature

of these two coaches. And you kind of have to live with that with McVeigh for all the positive, too. But, yeah, drives ending at the six, the nine and 11. Pooka Nakuwa, one more thing about him. Where's Walker, Rosenthal, by the way? I'm sure he's... Pookanakua rules.

He's upset. The Rosenthal House is upset. The Rams are out. of the playoffs. However, it was a good year for the Rams. They're ahead of schedule. Puka, it's crazy watching this game because it's so how clear it is that Puka is their number one odd

receiver. And it's a cup that's their number two after a couple of years of injury. And Sean McVeigh, a guy that almost walked away last year, came out of this season, even after a tough loss, reflective and positive about where he's at. And you know, the finality

of it is still kind of, it doesn't totally resonate. But man, did I learn a lot and really appreciate this group. You know, they, uh, they helped me find my way again and, and how much I love this and love the people that I'm around. Um, I was texting with Jordan Rodriguez of the, of the athletic of the rodrigue. That's next of the Rodriguez.

She's going to buy out the athletic from the New York Times. Uh, just worrying or wondering when the, the Rams special teams gaff will come that will destroy their season. Um, it made me think of the Crispin Glover character from, hot tub time machine when you know that he loses his arm and then the whole movie's like when is when does it happen when does he lose the arm

and you see all these near misses where he almost loses the arm and brettemaher's kicks like like the shadow going across the upright over and over again maybe think about that so at least it wasn't some heartbreaking defeat in that measure because I thought that's what was how the ramps well they had that punt I forget who the

the punt was chuggled that was another almost that's like when the Glover's character threw the chains up in the air when he was doing the ice sculpture. Like, there were so many moments that the Rams, it almost happened. But this is really ultimately, Mark, about the lions at a special day for them. And their journey continues. No, it would have been, like, a letdown for them after all of this to not pull out this win.

And I do think, like, for the critique of McVeigh and I hear what you're saying, Greg, like, in general, like, coaching is better than ever. And, like, the McVeigh journey in this, too, matters to me because. Depends what team you're talking about, but go on. Well, no, I'm saying, like, if you're a Rams fan, like, this season... You have one of the best coaches in the league. You do. You do. And, like, I think he's revived.

And I think this brought him, like, a, some, you know, a whole new, like, breath of fresh air. And, like, this was, like, a five months ago, we were talking about the fact that Matthew Stafford probably or likely could be traded before the deadline. And we got the best Matthew Stafford season. So the Rams, like, I think there's a lot of hope ahead because of the way they're rebuilding their team, too. I think that's true. And before we go, like, and maybe this is the fan in me. I was definitely rooting for the Rams and this going on. And now the Lions are the team I want to win the Super Bowl the most.

But I do know we've been in this spot after playoff losses and said that so many different times. And I think this one hurts for either team of such an opportunity. The Lions are either going to get the Eagles or the Bucks. The Rams would have played the Eagles or the Bucks. Matthew Stafford, to me, is playing at an MVP level. You know, Lamar will win it. I don't think in, I just don't think anyone's playing any better than Matthew Stafford. Aaron Donald is towards the end of his career.

You have these things going right now. They had a really good opportunity to keep this thing going maybe to the NFC championship. Who knows if it ends there. And you just don't know if you're going to have a healthy Stafford playing at that level at this point in the season. Again, you hope, you hope so because to me, he added a ton of entertainment this year. They were one of the most fun teams to watch. Oh. Greggy?

This was a heat check. Oh, Gregi. And like Peyton Pritchard, when he just like pulls up from 30 after he's hit like four straight threes. I did miss this one. You almost got it. In this year of years, Greg, I bet you were thinking the whole time, it's going to come out, Rosenthal in the end. I thought the Rams, I really was convinced the Rams were going to win this game throughout. I was surprised how that thing ended.

All right. And lastly, before we take a break, two telecast notes. loved Tariko, and he lives in Ann Arbor. He's a Michigan guy. He was juiced for this game. I like seeing that. I like emotion and people like being real to them, true to themselves. He wasn't coming out right and saying it until Collins were teed him up at the end of the telecast that he's from the area.

But he had a line at the end. If you want to text a Lions fan, congrats on the playoff win. Do it. It will be the first they've ever gotten. Texting wasn't around the last time the Lions won a playoff game. Got him. and the other telecast note would be when they're showing Detroit luminaries.

It was like there was a shot. It was like Eminem, Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, Big Sean. I was like, we don't need to get Big Sean any cry on. Just, we just. Big Sean, a little too much pop for Big Sean. Greg, be fair.

I mean, he doesn't land with the same garage with those other three. It's like having a Mount Rushmore and then putting Gerald Ford is the fourth guy. We don't need it. Big shot and taking strays at a big spot. Gerald Ford, too. All right, let's take a break. We'll be right back.

What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends,

and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year.

Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different.

Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is. exactly what you're going to get. Listen NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Fulrio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, 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. Flacco in the gun, one back after most of its hunt. Flacco to throw. Flacco, it's picked off. There we go to the left, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5. Touchdown, Christian Harris. That's the second one.

Second pick six of the game. That's why they pay that guy. Welcome to Houston, Joe Flacco. Oh. The Texans G, pouring it on in the third quarter with two touchdowns. Sestog, do we have a new Sensian power aid flavor down in Houston? I think it's very possible.

Mark's face when he said, welcome to Houston Joe Flaggheim. Yeah, I'm pouring some salt on the wound. I found it unnecessary from Andre Ware with his play-by-play man, Mark Vandemir of KILT, but you get their excitement because the Houston Texans

absolutely dismantled the Cleveland Browns 45 to 14 the Texans route Cleveland a game that started close started looking like it was going to be a shootout and then yes mistakes by the Browns the back to back pick six has ended the game but Mark as you know and I'm sure it was not a pleasant watch as a Browns fan it was the Cleveland defense having no answers for CJ Stroud that really was what this game was about. disaster for Cleveland and an incredibly promising turn of events for C.J. Stroud and the Texans who kind of feel like the AFC's Packers to me right now. I think Cleveland, like everything over the past month plus in the Joe Flacco segment of this season that you could hang your hat on just didn't show up in this game. I mean, Blackos turned the ball over a bunch, but it not to this degree in the sense that it costs them so hard. Because when that first pick six occurred, the Browns were still in this.

It wasn't, it didn't look good, but they were in it. And, you know, you kind of thought, like, in the past, flack it was found a way production-wise to get out of it. But in this game, like the Amari Cooper that fried the Texans a couple weeks ago, not happening this time. Miles Garrett was taken, I thought taken to town by Laramie Tunsell, who's one of the few tackles that's had success against Miles Garrett really, really kept them out of the game, almost from wire to wire.

I don't know. Cleveland just fell apart. And if you're going to tell me in any of these games that you're starting quarterback's going to go throw back to back, pick sixes, like on the road, you're not going to win. And it's like, I don't know, Cleveland's defense at home has allowed the least amount of points per game. But quietly, this nugget that was sitting out there as a bit of a menace was that they've allowed the most points in the league on the road. And so there was some, it's a very strange breakdown, but there was some concern going in about what which version of the Brown. defense would show up in this. And C.J. Stroud is the story of the game.

He was, he was beautiful. 16 of 21, 274, three touchdowns, 13 yards per attempt, Gregi. Perfect passer rating. And it could have even been crazier because he missed like a 60, 70 yard bomb in the first half. And who was that? Nico Collins. Otherwise, if it would have been even crazier, he was a complete command in this game. Right.

The pick sixes will stick on our memories. And obviously they were, they were massive to happen back to back, especially that first one when it's only 10 points. But that point of the game, I was thinking, man, the Browns are lucky to be down only 10. Their defense no-showed. Much like the Cowboys game, like there will be like the quarterback for the Browns and the offense disappointed, no question.

But I don't think that the defense gave the Browns a chance to win this game no matter what. And that's the side that you were a county on. Bobby Slowick got one over on Jim Schwartz. There was misdirection. There was big plays. They even had that big singletary run early in the first half on a very creative play call. They were averaging 9.3 yards per play.

They were averaging almost a first down every time they snapped the ball. The first three quarters. What? What? What? Come down, Greg. Of this game, like, and you think back to like his very first throw of the game, Stroud, actually they had to dump off that first throw.

But the second throw of the game, they are getting. right into Stroud's grill, and he gets at 21 yards, like layering it, leading Nico Collins into very tricky zone coverage. And he had four or five of those type of throws. The second pass, actually of that drive, that Schultz dropped. That was another missed opportunity. They actually had a first and goal from the two that they get nothing from. That was a missed opportunity. Like, I kept thinking, oh, they might get caught here because they're not taking advantage of us. he had like four or five of those really special CJ drought throws and he only had to throw the ball

21 times. He had the almost the exact same box score as Jordan loves, 16 for 21, three touchdowns and just like five special throws that like makes you think, wow, this guy's already a top five or six quarterback in the NFL. I mean, I'm glad you brought it up, Mark. It's funny, it's like the Spider-Man meme, the Texans and the Packers, two 10 and seven teams that just knocked off a favorite. Obviously, there was a bigger upset in the NFC side of things but the Browns are favored in this game and they it's a team that's

ahead of schedule with a first year quarterback and Houston's case is straight up rookie and it's like the team that you do not want to face now because they are again just like the Packers there is no fear now because just making the playoffs is progress so now that you've won a game it's like a starting to be like a freight train and Greg you could tell me like what their playoff scenario looks like for next week, uh, if, if you have it on you and your calculations within your brain. But like I, it's there, and from the love to Stroud comparison too, it's like these guys are young, young men that the entire team is everything's being driven through them and their, uh, potential for true greatness. It's, it's pretty amazing to watch.

I think also they're both well coached. And like, I'm glad you mentioned like Bobby Sloak because earlier on in the year, one thing that it was noted that he did was they, you know, their offensive line was banged up and he did a good job of like creating certain protections for Stroud and like against Cleveland's pretty ferocious pass rush like they moved the pocket a lot they found a way to nullify that pass rush he was getting the ball out really quick and they were aggressively striking downfield I thought one of the bigger surprises was Cleveland's defensive backs who have been awesome yeah completely as you say no showing in this game I almost like do they were were they overconfident and just came in thinking a little bit too much because

they were fried early and they were fried through the entire contest. It was just like a couple missed assignments and then the Brevin Jordan play where Ousukor Moa, who was incredible otherwise, was like the best defensive player on the field for either team.

I think he had four or five tackles for loss and was the one guy playing. But him and another defender, they both kind of flash at Jordan at the same time and run into each other and Jordan ends up like running through for a 76 year touch. That was the moment where I was like Oh, the Browns are really in trouble. Because you look at this final score and you kind of forget,

oh, the Browns were leading in the second quarter, 14 to 10. They had answered both of Houston's scoring drives with touchdowns to take the lead. And then the Texans just go right back. And they also had their share of long drives too. I don't know what the heck would happen to the Brown defense. Other than you kind of can't trust defenses. I've always believed that. And that was true.

The Browns this year, too. They would have a game here and there as historically. as they were like offense wins in this league and there's some days where you're just going to get fried almost all that came at home think about every defense that has been hoisted up at some point this season they have had games where they weren't just bad they were atrocious and i just wonder what that's all about i wonder i was thinking more like big picture i was thinking about that is have anything to do with the almost unprecedented loss of starting quarterbacks across the league this year did some of these defenses get artificially inflated and then that's part and then when the

playoffs come, you know, certain things come home to roost. I just want to put it in perspective, 4514 final, but on second and 16 for Cleveland was 702 to go in the third quarter, Flacco hits David Bell. I feel like David Bell is targeted maybe 700 times in this game for a 16 yard, for a first down. They are first in 10 at the Houston 34 down by at this point. What was it? They were 10, I think.

10 set up to make it a one score game again when the Flacco. pick six happen so the game really did swing on that uh let's go to demico ryan's talking about his uh young quarterback that has changed houston cj is the reason why we're in this position he's special special young man special player continues to shine no matter how big the moment is like our whole team is leaning on him and he has the shoulders to carry that weight and he shows up week after week he continues to improve week at the week uh no moment it's too big for him. And when you have a young player who can shoulder the load of your team and the way the team is behind him, the confidence that he gives our entire team, it's so cool to

watch. And Mark, I want to also give the floor here to Joe Flacco because even though this game went poorly and the pick sixes will be remembered, it was an incredible run for Flacco who really electrified and ignited that entire fan base before the clock struck midnight here's flacco on on the end this is why we love football this is why we love NFL playoffs it's 14 really good football teams and it's one game and you know unfortunately for us but just fortunately in just the general sense of everything there's always a winner and a loser and today like I said unfortunately for us we were the loser but But that's what we love about this game.

There's going to be a winner. There's going to be a loser. And, you know, you have to learn how to deal with it when you're not the guy. Mark, he's a free agent at the end of the year. And Deshaun Watson is obviously still the future of this franchise. So based on his play, you imagine he's going to search for somewhere where he can play next year, which means just like that, Flacco Brown seems like it's over. It's amazing how quickly just things change.

It's, I mean, we have DeMarne Hamlin sitting out there as the overt company. player of the year, but I can't think of too many case studies where someone who's played a third of the season has an incredible case to be the comeback player of the year. The Browns aren't in this position without Joe Flacco doing what he did week after week. And really, I think I felt like I saw a different version of Joe Flacco with a person, came back from this exodus. Completely, I feel at ease with himself. He brought leadership to a position in Cleveland that has not had strong leadership from the quarterback. They've had chaos that make the whole of Sean Watson thing.

It brought a nice feeling to Cleveland's season. I don't really, it ended the way it did. It's almost easier that it ended 45 to 14. There wasn't a lot of what ifs. The thing melted, but Joe Flack was one of the better stories for Brown's fans. I thought about that, Mark. What if it was the other way around? What if the Brown 45, 14, and then he plays well next week?

Like, what would have Cleveland have done? In some ways, it makes it more cut and dry, which doesn't necessarily. mean good things for the Browns because who knows what Watson holds in the future with this organization right but there's little question now where things go and they had a fun run I hate the I personally don't like the sports talk show attitude of like well if you don't win a title it's like what was the point of it's like the point is you're having fun along the way that that's what that's what life is they had some fun along the way you're not going to get a title one team gets a title at it depends where an organization is like when you're you keep on getting there and you can't get

I get it, but you can at least team like this is different though. Right. And but even if you can enjoy, enjoy the process and enjoy the weeks, the wins that you get along the way no matter what, this team was a special team because it had those wins like the 49ers win and it had the defense at times was so special. And flacco, it's a thud of an ending. And unfortunately, the opponent makes you think about the long term of it all.

It's kind of crazy how little pop the Watson trade got. and all this. It's like, oh, yeah, by the way, you're beating us with like four or five draft picks that we just sent to you. And you've got a rookie quarterback on a rookie quarterback contract. And we've got the biggest albatross of a contract in NFL history. And oh, by the way, our draft pick just moved down about, you know, five spots because you beat us. And you have our draft pick this year. Mark's in the room, Greg. Calm down. Well, I'm just saying from a team building perspective. What are you, Andre where? It's going to. kind of crazy. Houston legend, Audrey Ware.

Remember those running shoot teams at University of Houston back in the day? And you've got a coach, because I think this matters too. You've got a coach that beat Coach of the Year candidate Shane Stike in a year ago and coach of the year candidate Kevin, or a week ago and Kevin Stefanski this week, two weeks in a row. And the Stike, and that was a closely bought game. This game really looks so great on Ryan's resume because they were embarrassed by the same Brown's team a couple of weeks ago. and he showed Ryan's

all the adjustments that he made to take Amari Cooper out of the game to limit Anjoku to make it a game where you saw Flacco repeatedly like I said targeting the Brown's fourth

wide receiver and the second tight end and it was kind of a master class all the way around from Houston in a big spot right and Ryan's who I think has if their defense had been

a top five defense this year he would have definitely won coach of the year and I think I think Savancy's going to win it that should have been the coach of the year bowl. We should adjust this. We should also vote on these things during the playoffs or something. There is a case to be made to just vote on everything after the playoffs. It would be a big

disadvantage if you were on a team that threw no fault of your own didn't make it, you know, like a defensive player of the year or something like that. But I think there's something to be said. That wouldn't be crazy. But they mixed things up a lot. Stingley had not traveled all year with the opposing top receiver. He shadowed Cooper. And then I thought it really stood out when Flacco just had a straight dropback, he had no chance. And the tackles finally caught up.

Like Grinard had that sack. Will Anderson had a ton of pressures. His pressure rate was through the roof in this game. Derek Barnett had a big sack. He had a ton of pressures. I really thought that stood out. Like, it was a big play action game where both teams could do play action. But when Stroud dropped back to pass, he had the time that he needed.

And Flacco really didn't. Both of those interceptions were on plays where he panicked a little because but it was also because quick pressure was right in his face. Yeah, they didn't sack him in the first game. And I know that Case Keenham was the quarterback for Houston, so that was a whole different situation. But Flacco was protected well in that first game behind that same offensive line.

I think you're right. All the injuries, because they were so banged up up front, it caught up to him big time. Texans get the Ravens next week, the early Saturday game, if the bills come through and win on Monday. Pretty simple. If the bills

It's like seven plus four Yeah, if the bills lose To the Steelers as 10 point favorites And what a ghastly moment that would be You don't need the Steelers Then we would get Texans chiefs Which would be a rematch Of the divisional round

A few years ago You know the Texans I believe Are the only team in the NFL That have never been to a conference championship game Am I crazy? The Texans They are the only franchise To never want a road playoff game along

the only one to never appear in a conference championship game. So they have now reached the furthest they've... They're the patron state of Westavis, which we just celebrated. Yeah. One in Duns all over the place with the Bengals through the years. All right. All right.

So. So, so, so. We have one more game to hit. I had one more thing I wanted to share there, but now it's gone. It happens. I was so caught up in Greg's comments. It escaped your mind.

Here's the thing. Sometimes it comes back, but we've already moved on to the next game. And that hurts too. Which hurts. But I think we've done this show a long time, Mark. I want to give Dan the grace to, if it comes back during the next game, we can have an official timeout or some sort of song. Yeah.

And you give us that. It's already back. Oh, okay. All right. Well, it's back, baby. And the only disappointment is, it's not. It's not. All I wanted to say was, respectfully,

because I love the divisional round so much. Pittsburgh Steelers are not invited to my divisional round. No. So we do not want any upsets. We want chalk for this Monday game to be played maybe in a blizzard, maybe not. No, I think that was worth it. I think it was.

I appreciate. Respectfully. Just like the disrespect. You can't come. You've issued your edict. All right, let's move on. It's time now for the Sunday Drive presented by the first ever Toyota Grand Highlander. You know what? You want to hear something funny. My wife says to me, so my wife says to me my wife says to me oh you know a car i kind of like uh the grand highlander

and i say i says to her i've been talking about that goddamn car all year on the podcast and she wouldn't know because she doesn't listen to the show but i don't know i could end up with a highlander you never know she ever listened to this this show no no mine hasn't either well um that's islander people johnny highlander out there i know you love the show the end just gave you like a free one minute pop that's worth an actual my wife wants your car let's get can you give me the car i'll drive the car i'll talk about how much i like the car let's get to the game without further ado a game played in some of the most miserably cold conditions in the history of professional football car tight edwards illarys in the game now running back they fake to him

Mahomes, throws right side. Cop Rice at the five Angling Wright. Touchdown. Kansas City, rookie Rushie Rice. His first postseason touchdown, an 11-yard crossing pattern. And just like Germany, the Chiefs have an outstanding opening drive for a touchdown to start the game. I thought, I was talking about, like, historical Germany? I thought it was going.

It was like, don't get Greg going. We don't need to tee Greg up for some old. Old H talk. We catch my drift. Just like Germany. An alliance will decide the future of our company, and we will have to take away the military. We don't need it.

We didn't need it. And now we got it. So thank you to you, Mark just passed out. Mitch Holtus with the call. I'm just getting out of the way. W.D.A.F. With the call. Oh, no.

The Chiefs is going to rope a dope us here. Rahsaid Rice has a big, big game in his playoff debut, eight catches for a buck 30 and a touchdown. Another score called back and a dumb penalty by the Chiefs. And Kansas City easily takes care of business against a Dolphins team that, let's face it, put him in those conditions. Of course, I locked it up.

26-7 final. And quite frankly, it could have been a lot worse. But the Chiefs continued to have some struggles, boys, in the red zone where they would get in close and like I said a penalty wiped out one touchdown you had a bad Travis Kelsey drop which seems to be an every week thing now which is weird couple of them uh that uh short circuit and another drive so this is a game that could have easily been 35 to 7 uh but they still took care of business and it was pretty uh clean a bit of business from the chiefs who are a battle tested team that uh did not seem like the cold bothered them

and I know we talked about it on Thursday, the Miami Dolphins, well, the players weren't born in Miami and all that, but you know what? Miami. They're a team that practices in Miami. They're a team that plays their games in Miami. They have a quarterback that's from Hawaii,

for Christ's sake, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and they played like a team that wanted nothing to do with Arrowhead on that particular night. Yep. I thought it was an incredible case study on that front because I, you know, this matters. Like McDaniel's teams were four and ten,

in games played in December and January over the last two years, 16 and 6 and others, and a lot of that has to do with you bring teams down to South Beach early on in the year and teams are not ready for in the reverse, 100 plus degree temperatures. And you boat race them. You boat race them. And they finished 1 and 6 against playoff teams this year.

And you're facing a quarterback because I thought that was exactly true. The Chiefs looked comfortable in this climate. Much more so. Mahomes is 21 and 6 in his career in games played in 40 degrees or colder. That matters. They're just, I think you could lean on one thing. You knew their defense would show up at home, and they absolutely did.

I think the Dolphins didn't convert a third down until some part of the fourth quarter. So everything that you thought Miami could maybe do, they couldn't do. And then you have, you've been waiting for this guy to want someone to step up as a wide receiver, and Rashid Rice did it yesterday. And it's like a team that had as more drops than any other team in the league coming into this game. It looked more competent. And I'm willing to forgive a couple mistakes here and there because it was like butt cold.

I thought like multiple things can be true here. The dolphins could be not ill-prepared for this moment. This could be the worst game of the weekend. It was. And it can also be the Chief's best game of the season. And I don't even think it was a question. Like there was a game against the Chargers that they played a pretty complete brand of ball

and finished close. But even that was a one-score game. They boat race the Bears in week three when the Bears were just a mess in the second. I'm not counting that. They completely dominated this game. Until those last couple garbage times drives, the yardage was 390 to 151.

If it wasn't for that 53-yard touchdown by Tyreek, which was a great individual play by Tyreek Hill on a throw that was a little underthrown, but a nice play call. They were just killing them. They had a nine-play drive to start the game, which was the best drive they maybe had since Germany, a 10-play drive, a 12-play drive,

a 13-play drive, a 14-play drive. You don't think of the chiefs as like a tough team, But they look like a tough team. They got a tough defense. We know that, but they look like a tough team on Saturday. They were very prepared for this game. They ground this Dolphins team into dust. And you kind of don't think of Mahomes as like a tough quarterback,

but man, is he tough? Like the throws that he could make in this weather and the runs that he could make were awesome. Andy Reid talked about it afterwards. Pat had a nice day just right from the get-go. I mean, I don't think they're anticipating us. throwing the ball quite as much as we did, but we were able to come out

and sling it. A lot of quarterbacks can't do that, what he did in that kind of weather. Yeah, and, you know, talked about that on Thursday, too, that you have Mahomes and you have Kelsey, and it's like, they're going to make some plays in these conditions, and then it was like, can the other team

do that? And it's a funny thing about Mahomes in general, like, he kind of walks funny, and he kind of talks funny, and he doesn't, he doesn't even, he doesn't even move very gracefully for one of the great athletes in the history of the sport. And yet, like, obviously his production and his career success, team success and what you saw on Saturday night reminds you of like he's special and he's an all time player. And they have a puncher's chance in the playoffs because of that.

And if they would have continued to pour it on after that Rice touchdown, I would have been like just, you know, shaking my fist. And as someone who also drafted Mahomes for a fantasy team. in this very strange year for them. Are they going to go put up 45 on the Dobbins? They didn't do that. They showed a lot of their warts that have been an issue all season on offense. But they had those sustained drives that I was talking about. They did.

That was kind of poor. They did get one more touchdown. We didn't see a lot of 10, 12, 13 play drives out of this Chiefs team for a long time. And they had like five of them. So that was pretty good. I agree with you. I just, I can't because I've been down this road with this team this year as, as we all have,

where you kind of buy in on them again. I thought the opponent was perfect for them. them, Mark, I could say it now. And you're a showman and I respect you. I can't believe you locked up the dolphins against me in this one. I can't either. This was a Kansas City team that just was, I mean, you couldn't have put it on a platter for KC. Well, I did literally for the confrontation in the, but I, yeah, about four minutes into

this game, I realized that was a Dundon. The Dolphins, I mean, they could not wait. There was a drive. I think their penultimate drive where it actively seemed like they were trying to run out the clock like they they they they were a team that was ready to get on the bus and and I think it's going to be interesting to see what what's next around the dolphins after this game obviously macdaniel loves toa and I don't think two is like going to be we're not going to be talking about his job security in the near term but they have to like start talking contract and do they want

to make two a one of the highest paid contracts in the league he did lead the league in yardids passing so he's he's going to command a big contract and I just wonder what the future holds to my because it does feel like this is a soft team and a front running team and a team that's not built to play these types of games here is mike macdaniel um talking about a tough day at the office nobody on this team really um harbored all the excuses they kind of um whether all the different variables that people would talk about injuries whether all that stuff we came here to win didn't happen and it is fair to say Greg point out not to make excuses because he's not making excuses but they're missing so many key players on their defense so in addition to the the conditions

not being conducive to what they like to do they're just missing so many playmakers that that factored in the Kansas City success as well the defense of injuries especially gave them almost no chance in this game in retrospect I think it was six defensive starters and it was like you know their best so many of their best defenses I mean six. And their offensive line, because they couldn't run the ball. But ultimately, I think they had one touchdown in their final 16 offensive possessions. So, like, that really wasn't where the, I know they weren't totally healthy on offense. Moster was coming back.

Wado was coming back the offensive line all year. Like, it was a very injury-plag team, but things were relatively stable on offense, and they totally flatlined. Tua had a sequence in the first half, and they showed another angle of this play. It was a second and one. I don't know if you remember it, where he just threw one of those. It was like a swing pass. Who was it to most?

Just when it hit the helmet? And no, and it hits the dirt. And that was going to be a 40-yard play. And he just threw it in the dirt. And then the very next play, they got pressure on him. And he throws one of those two afloaters where he like tries to throw it over the defender

that's in his face and it ends up being an interception. And that they made him hold the ball. And then there was the end of the sequence. I think that's what you're talking about them, almost like running the playout. Like at the end of the game, he's throwing short on third and 10 and fourth and six.

running the play clock down to five, four, three. He threw for a six-yard loss on third and ten in the late hurry-up situation. And then he threw short on fourth and 16 and it was just like, man, whatever. I don't, I'm not piling on here, although Dolphins, you know he's right about your team in the end. But is this a guy? Is this the guy? Well, I think if we're going to, if we're going to say it's the guy to wonder if Dak Prescott needs to be re-evaluated in terms of like the moment that matters most, Dak Prescott has to live up to it.

Now, Tua didn't have a chance to play in the last year's playoff, but like, this is someone that in big, big moments, and sort of like mirrors the entire Dolphins, has not shown up when it mattered the most late in the season. I mean, this team just ran out of gas. You lose 56 to 19 to Baltimore. You crumble against the bills a week ago, and you no show in the playoffs.

And it's like if everything isn't perfect for Tua and the dolphins, there seem to be real issues. And I think that gives Mike the playoffs work. That's not how it works. You've got to go into adversity. I know they're banged up, but every team's banged up. He reminds me a little bit of, like, earlier career cousins. I think he's a, he's well over, he's definitely ahead of the Dalton scale.

He's in a top, he's a top 10 to 12 type of quarterback, maybe higher. That would be on the lower end, but things are going to have to be right around him. But like, that's always the question with quarterbacks like that. I think Dax's even another little level above that. But I think that's where he is, that he's a good quarterback, but you're going to need to be tighter. Like, they had four pre-snap penalties. I counted them up on third down,

and almost all of them were in short-yarded situation. I mean, that's just, like, so sloppy. They couldn't really run the ball. The Chiefs were the better running team, which you wouldn't have expected. So, like, Mahomes, you look at this box score, and it's like two for 41 running. That's a Mahomes running box score, if I ever saw one.

He had, like, two back-breaking runs in this game. So Tua was bad. He's going to need everything around him, I think, to be, like, really good. And I think that's possible, but he's not going to carry you. Yeah, big decision. It's not possible, though. Big decision.

Why not? Over the court, everything needs to be perfect around your quarterback. Not perfect, but I just mean like we see. History isn't kind to those type of quarterbacks when you're trying to win Lombardy. But everything kind of has been perfect around to a for law until the injuries mounted. I mean, like the offense is this, this defense and the injuries and everything in the way. I hear what you're saying, but I don't know.

We've seen some like mid-level quarterbacks win Super Bowls or higher than mid-level. But he's probably not going to. be like the top five guy year after year and Dolphins fans have been trying to tell us that. The Dolphins finished one and six against playoff teams this year with a minus 110 point differential. So yeah, a positive season

in some ways like the fact that two stayed healthy played every game, including the playoffs was a great development. But there are big questions because they keep winning the Super Bowl in September, but that's not how it works in the big picture. And this Chiefs, I mean, this is unquestionably we knew it all season, but seeing it in the playoffs,

it's unquestionably the best Chiefs defense we've ever seen. So we do have a Hall of Fame coach, one of the best quarterbacks of all time, and the best defense that they've ever had. It's why you've got to say they got a chance. I mean, if they're in Buffalo, you're saying they don't have a chance against Buffalo. They certainly do. And if they're hosting Houston, they're the favorites in that game. Not like they're a lock or anything.

But either way, they got a chance. Karloft has had a nice game. Like the whole defense showed up played great. That was the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Let's Go places. Learn more at Toyota.com slash Grand Highlander. great girlfriend work too by Taylor going to the game

being open air with the glass it was crazy in fact we're going to do the Dreamatorium this week by the way that's I think three that's the Hattrick Dreamatorium references do you not have NFL Plus I know I know the league's making you get peacock and everything now

but NFL Plus gives you the Dreamatorium access on Thursday which we're having fun every week talking Dreamatorium and I have I'm going to cook something up this, what, what great? Nothing, that they go.

I'm going to cook something up this week about just the conditions in Kansas City and how wild it was. So, uh, but shout out to tell her. People get mad when they even show her on TV, which is toxic, toxic, toxic. She is, she emits, like, super loyal girlfriend vibes. Like it. She's a growing football fan and it's like the critique is annoying to me. Right. It's show her like, oh, what, you show the biggest star in the world who's dating one of the biggest stars in the game, like, oh, five or a guy.

How dare you? Calm down. Like that little picture with the snow beforehand, that was like from a movie. That was amazing. The anger that I see in social media, like, what do you expect?

What Greg just said is true. It's literally the biggest star in the world with Travis Kelsey in a relationship. It's fine. It's fine. Like how does television work? This is how it works. This is how culture works.

It's part of the story of the chief season, whether you like it or not, stop being such a boring football head. And wake up, there's a whole world in front of you. Okay, sometimes you get on me for, you know, contrarian takes and whatnot. Sometimes.

I was laughing because I'm going to hit you with a big one here. Hit me. People need to calm down about Peacock. I mean, number one. You going company man is not surprised. It's not company man. This is how I really feel. Number one, like,

everyone goes out to, like, bars to go watch these games. It's like, how much you put in down? What I mean everybody goes out to bars? I'm just saying, like, you go out, you watch games, you go out to the bars, you watch a game or whatever. Yes. How much is a beer? Like, just one single beer.

Are you trying to get me in trouble? right now you want me to get into a debate that gets me fired what i'm saying is this is gregg hosting the show i'm saying like you don't even think twice about drinking you know i putting down however much on on a to watch the games so that and you're putting down six bucks or whatever for peacock now it's like it's like an NFL playoff game it's incredibly entertaining and then on the back end it's like oh do i want to check out season 10 and top chef again maybe i do maybe i do yeah but maybe i want to go check that i hear you it's like it's six dollars come down people pay $6 for a coffee.

There's lines out the door in Santa Monica to pay $6 for some lot of sake. You're projecting your financial situation on everyone else. I think the thing is like if you're going to a bar, you're choosing to. Like when they tell you you have to choose that to watch it or go to the bar if you don't want to watch it. If you don't want to pay.

There's a lot of people don't want to go to the bar. And by the way, you know. Go to your friends. Yeah, make me, what if you don't have friends? What if you just want to sit home and watch the game? But maybe you're not great with a smart to see. So I would, I guess I would venture to say in that scenario, $6 is fine. Like, calm down.

$6 a month. No, but you just cancel it. Also, it's not a lifetime rate. Don't throw me directly to a Ted, the talking Teddy Bear reboot immediately after the game. I didn't ask for that. Right. Nobody asked for that. Go check out the box office that Ted too did.

Everybody, Ted had a moment. It was weird. I was talking about it with my buddy Bob on text today. like it's weird the whole TED phenomenon and then everybody was kind of like all right we're kind of done with Seth Macfarlane Ted too came out at stiff he made a cowboy movie of some kind

nobody wanted to see that and then everyone moved on and then all of a sudden Ted shows up again the talking teddy bear didn't ask for it don't want it don't stick it in my TV it's funny because when that popped on Walker was like I want to watch that

I want to watch that I was like I don't know that's an R that's a hard R don't eat it holdovers available on Pagok great great movie What is your steak? What's your financial state in Peacock? Just finding this.

I don't care. All right. I'll give you the last word on that one, Mark. I'm very happy for Greg and his over. I just mean, I went and paid 20 bucks to go see holdovers. You know, it would be safe. I mean, who asked for Ted? Who asked for more Ted?

Honestly. Not a human that I know. What was Mark Wahlberg like in 1993? Well, go read some stories about that. Now, if you want to say Jason Garrett, popping out of nowhere after not announcing games all year maybe he had one or two and he's suddenly in like one of the biggest games of the year

and he's saying to go for it on his on their own 35 by the way down 12 good job by Jason Garrett's like you would have never done that as a coach that was a big moment for analytics in general that Jason Garrett is saying go for fourth down on your own 35 but maybe he's had a Mike McCarthy esk epiphany during his time away from the game I would like a little deeper bullpen there

um okay real quick before we say goodbye we didn't talk stealer bills of course because there is a nasty blizzard in western new york that game was pushed till monday and the governor i mean if you don't know that what are you doing big pop for the governor by the way it's a woman right she's getting a ton of kathy hackley's getting a ton of um kathy's getting a ton ton of um publicity out of this uh she said today hot co she said hocky's wife it won't be pushed back again so that game happens tomorrow of course also so the Bucks Eagles tomorrow and we're going to have the recap tomorrow night. A couple of other news notes.

The Chargers are going to meet with Jim Harbaugh, according to ESPN, a report. And also the, the Patriots, they quickly move and hire a new head coach, his name. Gerad Mayo. And we're going to get into that into a little bit more detail tomorrow night. So that's what's happening in the news. And that's it. Anything else? what's big fun what's big funk doing to celebrate i'm curious

the packers you know the guy very nice guy in the in the theater but when he says i lived through two and six mark it used to annoy you so much they were two and five so i don't know where he thought they were two and seven used to hate the idea that they got rogers right after far that used to bother you so much and now here we are and this team is better with jordan love does this does this annoy you i kind of felt going into this season that it was an exhaustion with Aaron Rogers that I will experiencing this is different

will this bother you Mark if we put it in this perspective because I tweeted it because it's still bothers me. If we start talking about peacock again I'll start to get annoyed. Brett Farve 1992 1992 to 2007 Aaron Rogers 2008 to 2022

Jordan Love 2003 to 2038 followed by a disaster of stay with the jets my entire existence So you'll get one Super Bowl title About eight divisional round In conference championship losses

I'll take that It'll be fun a couple of MV cases Look I know it's weird to say it Because a lot of people would concern themselves Lucky to have what the Packers have had But we've had some really tough losses So to be here now I feel I feel great

I feel good One second Randy Turn up this music Let's just groove to this and then I want you to come back in Randy Turn it up all the way in my headphones Oh big funk He's got another Cuban. Big funk all the way till 2014.

Big fun. Come back in, baby. What's happening, guys? I'm feeling good. I know you all, baby. Oh, yeah. I'm feeling real good. Congratulations, about it.

I'm happy for you. Thank you. Randy is a really good dude. And I haven't met too many jerk Packer fans. No, it's not their fault that they've had this fortune. They're not an unlikable fan. They're very, they know ball. They know ball.

They have a good... group covering the team, I feel like, which helps. They're 10 point underdogs, by the way, in San Francisco. So your house money. Give me all the points. I don't know. I want it. I love it. This game really was, like, we were just happy to be there. You know, I think going

in humble, going in just Zen, that's been my mood all week, just Zen. I'm just happy to be here. I'm happy to watch the game played. If I'm the Niners, I'm thinking like, wait, how did we get stuck having a Jordan Love and the Packers next week? Early prediction, either the Packers or the Texans and God damn it, maybe both win next week.

I love that. I would not. I've been saying for a long time, I think Texans, two, two playoff wins. And I think it's, it's not even a remotely impossible concept that they could challenge the rate. What if you're hoisted on your own petard there, you know? Well, that there was, there was something. There's something cruel about the football gods, you're getting behind one other team this year, the Texans, and then they dismantle the Browns. What is up with the football gods?

Why can't they just be cool? I never I never liked the fact that Cleveland got Houston at all at all and it came to it came to fruition those concerns and the and then the team of ATN heat maybe the Texans and Packers the two teams that maybe should have been the team of ATN meet in the Super Bowl that would be it's all in play we made a grave error with the with the team of ATN so I blame Tyler Goodson for dropping that fourth and one pass all right time to go great job behind the glass great job listeners thank you to sky sports for having us on this week we'll be back next week on sky with neil and the gang in domican sue he goes by sue when he introduces himself he the call hey everybody daniel jeremiah here and i'm bucky brooks on move the we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends,

and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sundays. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant.

And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. 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. This is an IHeart podcast.