NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2023 Week 14 Recap

Episode Date: December 11, 2023

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler recap Week 14 of the NFL season. The heroes start the show by discussing the Bills beating the Chiefs (02:03), the thriller between the Rams and Ravens (12:15), and another dominant performance by the 49ers against the Seahawks (22:00). The heroes then run through Jaguars at Browns (28:45), Colts at Bengals (37:23), Vikings at Raiders (45:00), Texans at Jets (54:40), Lions at Bears (01:03:44), Buccaneers at Falcons (01:12:00), Panthers at Saints (01:18:40), Broncos at Chargers (01:25:54) and Eagles at Cowboys (01:34:11).  Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. The home of Sessler, after dark. From the Chris Wessling podcast studio. It's Around the NFL, the week 14. Sunday recap. Whoa. It is after dark.

So you're going to get a vibey Mark Sessler along with Greg Rosenthal. both. I'm Dan Hansis. Boys, how about this? Listen to this right now as we record. Here we go. I refuse to. What? Listen. Oh, okay. Okay. Let's get the show going in a positive way. Mr. Rosenthal. The AFC, uh, wild card situation. Wild. There are six teams at seven and six. Six teams at seven and six. Pittsburgh, Indy, Houston, Denver, Cincinnati, Buffalo. The NFC, they got the Vikings, the team of ATN. They're seven and six. So that's nice. as well, and then five teams with six wins. So it should be obvious.

There is a lot to be determined in this final stretch of the regular season, and it's really hard to tell who's what. It's like you're in a house of mirrors trying to figure out what teams to really believe in right now. And I was like a young kid I used to spend, and I became obsessed with football. Like back then, like on with a pen and paper, I'd go through these like playoff things like in my room for hours, but nothing back then was like this

because there were always six or seven dominant teams and some trash. They're all cobbled together right now. Right. We thought the AFC was going to be the better conference going into this year. It is, but for a different reason. Like, at the top, it's not.

But they do have 11, we do have 11 teams in the AFC above 500, basically eliminated five, and everything else is up for grabs. I thought this was the best Sunday of the year. A very good Sunday, especially the early window. and then we had the game we're going to talk about right now because one of those teams entering action hoping to be seven and six

was the Buffalo Bills. It was a game they absolutely needed. Guess what? They went and they got it at Arrowhead. Mahomes in the shotgun, two receivers left one to the right, and Kelsey in motion coming over left to right. Here's the snap. Back to pass.

And pressure coming throws it deep down the middle of the field. It falls incomplete. Turnover. On Downs, Buffalo football with 55 seconds remaining. The defense holds. Oh, indeed, Chris Brown with the call, WGR, the Buffalo Bills. It's been a season of frustration, and yet with kind of seemingly everything on the line, or at least it felt that way in this game, they find a way to get it done.

And maybe, and we're going to get to it, Some great fortune in this case involving Cadarious Tony and where he put his right foot on a fateful play by the Chiefs on their last drive. But it doesn't matter. 2017 bills get the win. So, yes, they are one of the seven and six teams. And Mark, Josh Allen, the numbers don't jump out at you in this game. It's not like he had one of those classic games. But it was such a great Josh Allen game to me in.

How often he saved the bills from catastrophic plays, big sacks, big swings of momentum, and he kept on making great plays, keeping plays alive. It was vintage in so many ways. I thought he totally responded. You know, when not the entire team did around him at times, there was one play that comes up first for me was just a classic Josh Allen improvisational dose of magic where it was a four-yard completion of Dalton Kincaid on fourth and one. he had no business even being around to make that throw.

And it's like, this is the kind of thing that only Josh Allen can do. There was the, I thought, absolutely pivotal moment late in the game where it is 1717, the driving to, you know, essentially get a field goal. And he almost took a sack or he should have if he were a different human that would have put them like out in dangerous worlds outside of where you would want to be kicking a field goal. Instead, he found a way to elude the enemy and a. again, find Ciccaden for just the one yard. You're the sideline? Is that the player? It was right before

the field goal. It's like for the one year of completion. And it's like, I feel like that saved them 12, 13 yards or something. It would have been completely fatal. And so, you know, it's like they don't look completely together to me on offense. This was a team effort.

But Allen showed us what he can do and why they're in this moment and you can't count them out on any level. This was a huge victory for the bills. Season saving. Right. Their season would have finally, I would have finally said it is over now. And I know they would have only been one game back of all the seven and six teams, but they had been in these games week after week after week. And Romo said on the broadcast how they've given up three leads in the final minute, Sean McDermott's defense. So for their defense,

with some absolute fortune to take advantage of that fortune after the call on Cadarius Tony and make three great plays in a row, it is worth mentioning. You know, Ed Oliver getting that tip there on third and 15. Leonard Floyd, a great pickup to hit. Mahomes' arm on fourth down. There's no rule that's saying the bills aren't going to give up a game tie and field goal in that situation anyways after getting the fortune. So they took advantage. And yeah, Alan, to me, the key play of that final drive is the design run on third and two. And it's just like it's Allen season. It's design run. I'm going to scramble and I'm going to get it season. All right. Let's talk about the Tony play. Second and 10 near midfield. In fact, let's listen to it. Let's listen to Chiefs Radio, Mitch Holtus and company on what it looked to be. a dramatic go-ahead trick-play touchdown that turned into a penalized play for Kansas City. 17 Buffalo. They sent another blitz selling out. Flag on the play.

Might be a free one. They've got Kelsey at the 30. Kelsey 25, angling back. 20. Now he's going to ladder up back at the 15-yard line. It's Tony. 10. Five.

Touchdown. Kansas City. They mess around and practiced with this all the time. It's going to go with a 49-yard touchdown. Kelsey, the old University of Cincinnati quarterback. Number 19, offense lined up in the new field. Who wasn't on? On Cadarious.

Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness, indeed. Cadarius, Tony, who set the tone for the whole season, really, in week one on Thursday night with that brutal game of drops against the lions. And I said it as we were gathering around the monitor to watch his last drive. But I just had a feeling, and you don't need to be. some type of seer to see this that a wide receiver would betray Mahomes again on this this pivotal drive for their chances to be the number one seed and not only does it happen it's Tony again who was legitimately off sides his foot was in the neutral zone now why is Pat Mahomes going insane after the fourth down in completion frustration that happened a few plays later but also because on the third and long von miller had lined up and gone off sides and there was no flag.

So you had the frustration of them, you know, eyeballing Tony the way they did and then missing Von Miller and Andy Reid, who's not, just like you're not known to see Mahomes as angry as we saw him on the sideline, Andy Reid was openly critical of the officiating. You could sense the frustration all around this operation. I never use any of this as excuses, but normally I get a warning before something like that happens in a big game. A bit embarrassing in the National Football League for that to take place. Wow, so and yeah

That is strong I don't know if that you get fine for that maybe And if you do read can handle that But that's yeah Two weeks in a row now where the Chiefs It feel like they're on the wrong end Of pivotal officiating in the game But once more guys

You can't just look at the officials with the Chiefs Because at the end of the day In their building It was the other team's quarterback That you remember the plays And it was the Chief scoring 17 points This is just who they are And they can't figure it out

and so wide receivers over and over and over and over. Yeah, I say with the Chiefs that when they had that week one meltdown against the Lions, season starting not in any way that you'd wanted to. And we were given evidence that the whole internal wideout crew was not going to be what you'd wanted maybe. And Tony obviously stood out in that one. And you have today, and they're eight and five, they're two games behind the Baltimore Ravens. And you could, from a certain point of view, say Tony cost them two games.

But it's not just him. It's like these, this cast of wide outs around Patrick Mahomes, you thought by now they'd develop. They'd be somewhere else. Like someone would have stepped up. Tony, when all summer was talked about as their potential so-called number one. Well, he's been sort of one of their number one nuisances. Guys. He was off the field the rest of the drive.

Yeah. And you had a feel, you feel for him as a human, but it's like, oh my God, they are one game up on the Broncos now in the division. It's getting into a very weird place, unprecedented in the Mahomes-Reed era. And yet, they still. have a chance at the one seat. It'd be pretty hard. They're back to, too. But they keep telling us, though, Greg, they're not going to go on that run.

I don't get in there. I don't think that's going to happen, but I'm just looking at what the Ravens and dolphins who play each other and have to go through. Like, everything is, is wide open. Rishi Rice has stepped up and, you know, you're getting on me, Dan in the newsroom for pointing out. I've been saying, you know, Rice isn't a guy to build the whole plane around because he doesn't really run all the routes and you can't do everything.

He's a developing player with a lot of problems. That catch he made on the last drive around mid-field. was fantastic. I mean, that is a starting wide receiver type of catch. Not even really open, but a great throw, great catch in that scenario. And that was the point where they get to midfield with tons of time and timeouts because the bills hadn't handled the situation well. And Sean McDermott, like he has a lot this year, is just calling blitz after blitz.

He is very different than Leslie Frazier. He continued to come after them early in that drive. And it wasn't really working. he gets bailed out a little bit and then the four-man pass rush Oliver and Floyd and Jordan Phillips really did impact those last three plays and I choose to believe

because I was kind of rooting for the bills here. You were? You had picked them in one of your many endeavors. It's game debut. We're picking him. I just, I keep thinking this Bill's team is better than it is and waiting for it to show up. I choose to believe Josh Allen would have gone down the field in 72 seconds because he had a lot of time left there. The game was not over and maybe if you look at him

in that game's going to have a classic. And we were robbed from that part. of the class. Yeah, you were celebrating the fourth and long incompletion. We're like, Greg, we're trying to watch

something cool here. He's got up his personal interest in this. Why can't we celebrate? We're watching football. Like the Josh Allen in that Eagles game, right?

Then the buy happens. It feels like a long time ago. With that and this, I do think the play calling switch worked in some sense where they're letting them do more what he does. I don't think they have

another choice, but just to let him do what he does. But we're getting kind of, he also said, like they talked up in the broadcast that he said he's not felt this healthy like in years. And he looks like it.

I think it is a situation where you can look at the bills as like record aside if they start to heat up and you get this version of Josh Allen like I don't know where they're going to wind up. Yeah. It's so weird to see Mahomes that angry.

Like he is, do we have that by the way? Do we have the footage? You can check it on in YouTube. That is, and yes, he's mad at the officiating because he's the one that saw Von Miller and thought he had a free play. But this is a lot of things you're seeing that are boiling over with this team.

And it is, it's still weird to watch. It's strange to watch this team in that money spot to instead of think what we've always thought, oh, nice try bills, but you can't, you miss Gabe Davis again on that. And you go to Kincaid and then kick the field goal. That's going to cost you the game because Mahomes is going to make you pay. That doesn't happen anymore. No, not automatically. And it's not going to happen until I fix the roster.

And you can't do that until after the Super Bowl. So that's where they are. Let's keep moving. Great start. Fun game. But it wasn't the game of the day. That was in Baltimore. Ethan Evans

finding the Thailand Wallace Evans hangs a wobbler Wallace settles under it at the 25 gets a block comes to the near side 30 spins out of one tackle 35 along the sideline 40 he's at midfield Wallace in a 40

still on how many tackles are going to miss 10 celebration time no flags Wallace in the end zone Hayes in the barn and the Raven He's waiting in overtime. Man, yeah, a walk-off punt return. It's only happened twice this season. Give up.

Give up the bongos. Let's give it up for Rams special teams. That always finds a way. Three missed tackles on that. Anyway, here we go. His first game ever, boys, returning punts as a pro. Tyler Wallace goes 76 to the house in O.T. To lift Gregie's Ravens 3731 over Gregi's Rams.

No, it's confusing, but that's the way it is. Anyway, the game winner came following a wild end to regulation. That included a dramatic third and forever TD strike from Lamar to Flowers. And then a game tying field goal by the Rams in the final seconds of regulation. But in the end, Greg, they found away the Ravens, which is progress, I think, because this felt like the type of game that in the past this season, the Ravens found a way to lose, not this time. Oh, yeah.

When the Rams got the ball in overtime after the. the Ravens went three and out. I am thinking, good night. Rams are going to go. How about first and 10 at the 30 at the end of regulation? I was thinking, uh-oh. Yeah, I think the Rams are going to win this game and the Ravens found a way to do it. And we'll get to all the quarterback play.

It was a fantastic game. We're going to watch it for our game of the week on NFL Plus. So there is a lot to dig into. And yet in a game like this, sometimes it really does come down to special teams. Devin DuVernay got injured and during the game. And that's the only. reason why Wallace was the punt returner. And Harbaugh said he thought about going to Zayflowers because, you know, let's be real.

Zayflowers is just like a more dynamic player. But Wallace had been the guy in practice all season, Duverne, who, according to my Twitter search, Ravens fans are sick of who, even though he was a pro ball return, all he ever does is catch fair catches. And they're like, oh, there's no way he would have even returned that one. And Wallace makes one of the plays of the year. The concerns of 10 and 3 teams, 113 teams. And it was against the last ranked Rams special teams all season long.

It's not just their kicker who actually came through today in tough situation. All season long, their special teams have let them down. And I was getting on Harbaugh and the Ravens who are big about special teams early in the year when they were really low in those rankings. And they've climbed higher and higher and they're better than average now. And their kick returns, I mean, their kicker, Justin Tucker had a nice day. Hell yeah. Hit some big kicks in tough conditions.

and then the special teams stole them a game to keep them on top of the AFC North. Otherwise, that division would seem up for grabs. And the way that the game started, I thought, was optimistic for Baltimore and tells us that they're growing because you had the Isaiah likely 54-yard touchdown. O'Dell Beckham is a factor now where he was just a theory. Four for 97 and two of those grabs were really... He's a guy on their offense.

Difficult grab. That's a huge development for them. I mean, I think looking at from the Rams side, they started out really hot in this. And, like, Matthew Stafford, like, games in a row has been on fire. But it's like they got figured out in the second half here by Baltimore's defense to come out after a really optimistic first 30 minutes to punt four straight times. But they finished so strong. And that's why this game went from, like, really interesting and good, two fun teams,

20 to 17 a halftime, you know, two high-level quarterbacks to, like, a truly great game because the end of the fourth quarter, both quarterbacks just took over. the Rams get the ball back with eight minutes to go and Stafford leads just a Cooper Cup touchdown drive where he is doing everything this was an old school Cooper Cup game

eight for 115 in a touchdown he leads them down the field to Lamar Jackson gets the ball back needs a touchdown and I know this won't feel like an MVP moment he's going to have to keep stacking

but those two throws when they needed a touchdown he gets a touchdown drive in response third and 17 to Zay Flowers was just a dime of a throw. And then the two-point conversion, they sort of didn't make a big enough deal about it on the broadcast. That was a ridiculous play by Lamar Jackson

to avoid pressure, step up, get smashed, and hit the two-point conversion. And if he doesn't hit that two-pointer, they don't win this game because Stafford drove right back with a nice drive. So it was like really high-level quarterback play by both these guys. On the ground due by Lamar. I mean, this is like

11 for 70 on the ground. I love the body language from Zay Flowers after the two-point conversion as well. It was just like, I'm that guy. Like, this is the guy that Lamar has been looking for for years. I have finally arrived and I've taken this offense up the next notch. Do we have, I know it's in a losing effort, but we like to track calls of the year. And our intrepid producer, Eric, who's having a nice Sunday.

Bills are alive and well. He was in his car rolling in. He got a great J.B. Long call. Right. Yeah. Coming in, it's usually either the chargers or the Rams on my radio. And this was the go-ahead score. late in the game.

Here you go. It's here. Second down and goal from the five. Has a snap helmet high, looking left now, middle pressure. He steps up. He throws right side end zone. Cots. Caught back right pile on.

Demarcus Robinson with the go-ahead score. Matthew Stafford playing like an ellipsis. Dots after dots after dots. Touchdown L.A. That's great. By the way, I said, on Thursday that I see him all the time in the barbershop. I've actually never seen him in the

barbershop. Well, I found that statistically to be weird. I see him out and about and we stay in touch and then we've hung out in a park before with our families, but we go to the same barber. So a little correction there by the insider. That's important. That is the type of things. Some insiders brush things under the rug.

Some people own their errors. J.B. Long with that call and it is interesting. Yeah. And again, it's in a losing effort, but Stafford's pocket movement there. He is having It's such a great year. This is like a, I can see why Sean McVeigh is having fun. And they are very much alive, obviously, and they have Washington, the Saints, the Giants three, arguably broken teams.

And then the Niners to close out the season. This one would have, I know. This is a crusher. This is a total crush. This one would have taken it to a different level, like a level where like, ooh, we're a fun story. You might get to the seventh seat of like, we just beat maybe the best team in the NFL on the road straight up. Because for most of this game, Lamar looked a little out of rhythm. It was just him making plays.

Like the Rams, I thought were a little more consistent throughout the game. Their defense was playing well. And then for it to end the way it did with McVe, just having the same issues that he always have. So you mentioned they had the ball on the 30 with plenty of time left still. I didn't like the play calling or just the vibe and energy of that drive from that point on. I totally agree. And part of it was they ran out of time at one point, had to use a timeout late. They took a delay a game.

And then in overtime, they get the ball back. They have, I believe it was a second and four on their first drive of overtime on the 31. And they take another delay a game. And this is the history of the Sean McVeigh Rams. And some Rams fans was like, how do you know it was McVe's fault? Like, what about Stafford? It's like, I don't know. It's been happening to them more than any other team since the moment they got there.

So it's just like this one little bugaboo, the game management stuff. and they're like taking a while to get the play and it killed them the next play that their tight end dropped a pass to that maybe wouldn't have gone for a first down and then the next play is a part of their test. Are they like missing someone on their staff, you think? That would be like, don't do this right now.

Do this instead. No, I think it's just McVeigh gets caught up in the moment. That's what happened. They had to burn a timeout. He got caught up in the moment on a play before. And then like the play call doesn't come in in time, I think. Maybe they should hire a guy that's great at close situations, late timing.

and knows how to pick guys for special teams. Like maybe if you get like two birds, one stone, there's got to be somebody out there. Monster.com could find that person. Shout out to a Cooper Cup, by the way. Eight for one, 15, and a touchdown. He had been under 50 yards receiving in six straight games. And he was awesome.

A lot of the yards were after the catch. Pucco was awesome. Nakua is just like. Kairn Williams was awesome. They almost, they went away from the run too much. They stuck almost fainted just though. Right. No, I just like, because, you know,

he was outrageous. You're trying to watch all these games, but yeah, I saw the one catch he made. I'm just like, this guy doesn't have a bad game. He doesn't disappear. He doesn't. They ran the ball seven or eight straight times to start the game to get inside the 10, and then they got a little pass happy after that one injury to watch. Kyle Hamilton, to me, who is the most important player on the Ravens defense,

maybe except Roquant Smith, but it's the two of them. He left with a knee injury and just the way Harbaugh talked about the MRI to come. That's something to watch. Uh-oh. We got to get like a fainting chair the next time we do a. Rams game work had the vapors there for a I mean I would say typically I survive Rams recaps without any issues

but that's before Nukua showed up yeah oh my he is one talented that is how I actually speak all right let's keep moving let's head to San Francisco where the Niners are just inevitable third down at 11 here

they send Debo inside a brand that Iuke right Kittle inside of Juan Jennings left and McCaffrey goes in motion that bumper motion Outright, blitz from Bobby Wagner. They pick it up. Deep shot, Brock Birdie's going downfield for Debo. Touchdown!

San Francisco! What an MVP race we got now, by it. It's between Lamar and Purdy, and we're going to talk about Sunday night football, two combatants in the mix there. It's really starting to heat up here. Great call. Greg Papa as always and Brock Purdy was in his bag once more with a career high, 368 yards passing.

Debo Samuel, who's as productive as any player in football right now, scored two more touchdowns, including that long TD strike. Kittle had a long touchdown catch. Christian McCaffrey quietly goes over 145 yards rushing and the Niners win 2816 over the Seahawks. Mark, you watch this game closely. not even a perfect outing by the Niners, but they're so good that they don't have to be. Yeah, they kind of won it in a typical fashion for some of these Shanahan outings on offense

because it seems absurd to suggest they didn't have like an excellent clean outing on the day. They had 527 yards. No stop. Okay, in 28 points. So there's, but that's eight plays of 25 plus yards that ate up 280 total. And it's like something about,

all of them right now are operating at like a level beyond human like they were all in sync it's like i think at other parts in the season you kind of had debo was hurt for a bit you'd have guys disappear for a little bit like george kiddle they are all right now on fire i mean the throw to debo samuel um chris mcalfrey opens the game with a 72 yard run that sets up a touchdown brandon i yuk is catching a 45 yard bomb george kiddle had a 44 yard catch off a laser i mean purdy is making these throws and he's making them beautifully and there are some incredible stuff happening but they were able to Early on in the game, they came out with the touchdown triggered by that McCaffrey long run.

Then it was a punt, another punt. Brock Purdy had an interception. And it was like Seattle was hanging around and you were like getting maybe not the best version of the Niners. With Drew Locke, not Gino who was inactive in this game. Absolutely. Gino sitting from the sideline.

And Locke wasn't like a huge problem early. He threw two interceptions in the final 14 minutes or something. But the Niners worked their way out of it, not with, you know, a 14 play type drive. But this time around like three, four or five play drives capped by massive explosive plays. So I don't know,

just show me another way they can handle their business. And it's like, this is the one team that is just blowing people away. Right. If the closest thing we can find to a problem of their disjointed offense

is like, well, they're only good other than that, you're not great except for the 8, 25-yard plays. It's just like a crazy amount of explosivity. There's no way to describe it without sounding absurd. I think you go watch it from wire to wire.

Early on is a little rough. I'm with you. What I mean by the, that is like even on days where you do some good things defensively, they're going to hit you for those explosives. And this matchup is just, it actually used to favor the Seahawks early in the Shanahan era before Brock Purdy showed up and even a little bit,

I think three years ago. But now it's one-way traffic. The 49ers have absolutely destroyed them five straight times the last two years. Yeah. And the Seahawks are obviously going in the wrong direction. Seattle has lost four straight games for the first time in 14 years under Pete Carroll. They've lost five and a road of the Niners.

And D.K. Metcalf gets run in this game for, you know, a fight later in the game. He starts out. You body slam someone. Yeah, red hot with a touchdown that got him ahead early. And then, you know, again, like you're talking about in Kansas City, that frustration, especially, you know, you get into mid-December of some of these teams where things aren't going the way they were expecting.

And it boils over. And you saw it with Metcalfe. Yeah, I think that's, you know, that's been part and parcel with the Metcalf experience. But I would imagine, like, Dan, if I body slammed you at our workplace, there'd be cameras somewhere to catch it. But on NFL field...

It would be. NFL field, though. It's like, you're not getting away with this. I'd like to see that. I'd like to see the attempt even on that. What? I don't know if he could finish it out, yeah. Maybe like, you know,

maybe if he's high on speed or something. I don't know. Anything else from this game, Mark? Not really. I will say there was this incredible Mitch Wisnowski. It wasn't set up to be a fake punt. I don't believe in terms of like the play call because it seemed to kind of surprise other Niners,

but he just saw an open field. They were up 14 to 10 at the point in the third quarter, and he bolted for 30 yards, but it was taken away by a penalty, but I wish it had stayed. It would have been another big explosive play for them. Just for listeners that are, yeah. It was a cool play.

That's fun. He just, he would have done on his own, though. I'm glad we got in the show. Otherwise, it was never going to be mentioned. Would have been lost in the sands of time. Yes. In the dustbin of history, it would have gone. If you were someone like that,

you know, listen to our preview show and certainly the Thursday in Riga. I mean, you might be like, why was Gino Smith not playing in this game? Because he was completely healthy and he hurt his groin during practice. I want to find out what happened during practice there on Thursday and did not play and that obviously

that could change their season a little bit if that turned into a long-term injury. If Greg is surprised by something that happened in Gino Smith's growing, you know he's digging in and he's going to find out. He's on the beat. He'll find out. Great purdy quote here, by the way. That shows both the level of awareness and also a reminder of what's

going on here. This is from the AP write-up of the game. I'm part of a special group. Any of our guy, any one of our guys, any one of our eligibles, you get the ball in their hands and then they do the rest. Yeah, McCaffrey, 153 yards. I didn't even mention. I think

126. He's an MVP candidate, McCaffrey, potentially. They are an incredible team. It's just, let's see if they can. Are you? Yeah, like, he's like the fifth guy you mentioned in this game, and he went for 126.

Well, their box score is insane. Yeah, every week. All right. Fred Warner, too. It's just crazy. All right. They did suffer some injuries in the secondary, but we can discuss that. Well, that could have been your last point.

Charverius Ward went down. Is this a redo of the last point? Should we take the other one out of the show? We've done like four points since the last point. Trey Greenlaw went down. That could be an actually tag on to my Chevroval. And you started your previous last point by saying no, but then you made that other point that we should.

I won't say a single other word, though. I'm done. Anything else? Nothing else. Because once we leave, we can't come back. Nothing else from me on this. How about this? Let's go to Cleveland.

Does that go, Margie? How are you like that? Intriguing. It was quite a day. McManus, playing with the football. A little onside kick on the action. Here we go.

For the yet, onside kick. He dumps the ball to the right side. The Browns are on it. They got it. They got it on the right side. They recover the ball. as getting an arrow there

is James Prochet and the Browns can get into victory formation with a minute 32 and what a long afternoon this has been Wait, this is our call What do you mean? Never a doubt Jim

this was smooth sailing the whole way for the Cleveland Browns An onside kick recovery? Yeah, it was how to It's rare Maybe we can change things up It's good All right

Hey flag that for me next time Eric All right I thought it was a It talks about how it was An onside kick recovery It's sealed to the game By the team that was being kicked to It's sealed the victory factually

Yeah Dave Dave and Joku scores two touchdowns in this game We can get into that He got Joe Flacco playing out of his mind He can't get the highlight Browns 3127 over the Jags Come on Marky

Give one of those guys Cestog Yeah Flacco Not a Flucco Not a Flucco To serve the highlight light. He's thrown for 565 and five touchdowns and two starts.

It has to be. They found hope in an unlikely place this holiday season. It has to be one of the more like improbable quarterback because of who it is and because of what Joe Flacco did to the Browns for so long and because of how he didn't get a call to work with any other team this entire year until everything burned down in Cleveland and to assume that we'd get the guy that we even saw last time who couldn't move, who seemed out of sorts, who was just like a shell of the former Joe Flacco. And like, I am saying today, I'm watching him throw, I don't really remember a Brown's quarterbacking performance

in recent years like this at all. It's like they really just found this version of Joe Flacco that suddenly this was their most complete win. This was a weird game. It had 34 possessions. There were 50 passes in the first half. The Vikings game was like, we were a quarter into the Vikings game in the late window

and the Browns game was still going on. They got just enough from everyone, but you did get a star turn from David to Joku. And I know it's been your guy. He was frustrating last week. He was frustrating last week. But today, honestly, I think he showed what he is when he's successful is like a powerful steam engine, who like stiff-arms someone and just rolled into the end zone on a huge touchdown. He's very physically talented that guy.

He really is. Their defense, which has been like hot and cold, I think of late, that the Rams put it on him. but when they're at home, they're a different unit. And Trevor Lawrence, who looked pretty healthy to me. Like, I was thinking what version of him? He moved around. He ran a bunch. He was harassed from wire to wire until the very end

when they did start to come back and move the ball a bunch. And that's why I do think, and I know I'm not going to get you to agree this. But like, I really for some reason thought, like, another Brown's team, because their record to me doesn't quite match up with who they are. I can't really figure out of all the riff wrap. thing, and it feels like, you know, it's been up and down, but like they, they really never really relented. And I see a secondary that plays total confidence. They picked them off a bunch. They sacked them a bunch. It wasn't even like the biggest game from Miles Garrett on the

planet. They have a bunch of injuries. They grant Delpit, who they signed to an extension, got hurt. You know, that, that feels very Brownsish. But they took her a business against the Jaguars team that should win their division. How many possessions did he say were in this game? 34. That's got to be. Three hours and 48 minutes of football. So yeah, I went, what? What? It's crazy. We can't be having that. I went big on like the whole Chiefs played well last week per possession offensively. They only got, they only got seven. Like per possession, they were, you know, one of the best offenses of the of the week. This game, these two offenses played like two complete games compared to that Packers Chiefs game, for instance. Like they played two games worth of

possessions to get to this number. So I guess that informs the Flacco numbers, but I don't care that some of the stats are just crazy. He's the first Browns quarterback since Brian Seip in 1980 to throw three touchdowns of over 30 yards in the same game. That makes me feel special. You know how they always had that Browns t-shirt where it would be all the quarterback? Yeah, it was a jersey. Now they're going to have to start a new jersey. It's Browns quarterbacks under Kevin Stefansky that have outplayed Deshawn Watson. I mean, it's getting long. We got Bay. in 2020. We got Flacco this year. We got Jacoby Brissette for all the last year. We've, hell, let's throw in the case Keenham couple starts where he won. Like, it's getting

long. It's insane. That's the fan keeps taking these guys. And at least for stretches, like, gets them playing at a very high level. Yeah, I think he deserves some credit. And it should be no surprise. But like, you know, they, they announced that Flacco obviously would be the start of the rest of the way. Like, they kept doing this thing with whoever was going to be their starter. Flacco spent last week on the practice squad. Like, if I'm not like, I believe I'm correct about this. Like, another, the Jets could have come snatched Flacco off a practice squad and made them their starter.

Like, it just seemed like a bit of a hazardous option to them. Well, they could pull them back, I believe. At that point, yeah, they could have matched. Is that concerned me that that would be a strategy that we'd employ at this point? I think that happened with John Wolford earlier this season, I believe, of the Bucks decided to match it. But that is crazy. That they aren't going to do the week-to-week thing anymore.

No, he is embedded now. It's tough luck for DTR, who actually was playing. okay and then he did lose it to injury. DTR came in and had like a very critical like chain moving run where they, then they had Flacco jog bet out. So they don't, they're not expecting Flacco to run around the field too much.

Any, any concerns here about the Jags who now I've given up 27 points or 31 points to Flacko whatever they gave up last week to Jake Browning, you know, they lucked out with the rest of the division results today, but this defense doesn't look as

I mean they got in the last six days they got beat by the Cincinnati back up and then like the third quarterback on the depth chart or fourth for the Browns. So it's like you know when they are not hosting playoff games or you know they're in a perilous situation come January

it's because they stumbled at this portion of the schedule. You know, in credit to Trevor Lawrence for you know competing in this game and from what I saw was moving well and finally the Evan Ingram connection is bearing fruit. He had 11 catches for 95 and two touchdowns in this game. But you know,

No. Flacko gives them a little, the Browns, instead of being like, what a shame that they don't have any chance because they have these bad QBs and this defense that's being asked to do so much. Now the offense has a little life to it. It's just a fun story. You could block for Flacko. He's shown at 38 years old, he can move in offense.

They looked different. This is one of the first complete games in a while. Mark's back. I mean, he said we. I would say this. Oh, there's a we in there? I missed that. You were there for the we.

He said something about we. I hate having to clarify this because then I get a bunch of tweets from people. It's like, why did you change your stance on the Browns? I completely disagree with the Browns signing to Sean Watson on any level. He's not in our lives right now. And from just a watching football that's enjoyable or teams that are weird in a really strange season,

like Flacco being the Brown's quarterback, like at this point is one of the weirder sports stories of this year's NFL. To be clear, I love it. You were enjoying this game as a fan and that's great. I was. apparently I picked the wrong like I didn't like what I enjoyed was not do. Do we have another highlight?

Is there anything we can do? This is eating me up inside. You know what the call? The call was pretty good because it talked about what a long day it was. No, Greg. It was a nice little summary. That's why I went on this too. It's like he encapsulated. They almost blew that game and he's like it was a long day. Because otherwise you got to go back to like

you know the early fourth or something You're all wrong. I'm right. Post-it note on the computer Joe Flack. Is the joker on your on your fantasy team? He's not, but I'm a big fan of David. You could have gotten the David Bell touchdown in the fourth quarter. You got to give Flacco the highlight. Well, here's my thing. How about next week

when he does it again? Oh, love it. Spoken like a fan. Lock it up. I like it. All right. Let's take a break. I'm going to recover from that recovery and we will roll on with our guest, Nick Shook. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this

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

Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. dot com slash NFL now to learn more what's up everybody Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm bucky Brooks on move the sticks we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team

building philosophies coaching trends and how front offices construct winning rosters every week we study the tape talk to decision makers and share the insights you won't find anywhere else 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 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. all right welcome back it's time now for the sunday drive presented by the first ever toyota highlander and uh let's head to cincinnati where the bengals said we are relevant second down and goal inches away the bengals already up by seven now browning moves under center he has mixon five yards behind him browning will try to sneak it in mixon shoves him in the back Into the end zone, touchdown, Bengals, and Cincinnati has a two TD lead. Dan Hoard, WCKY with the call, Jake Browning has that dog existing within him.

The 27-year-old played like a star for the second time in six days, throwing two touchdown passes rushing for another score. And the Bengals beat up on the Colts 3414. let's now welcome in a man who could beat up on a lot of people if he chose to but he's not a man of violence he doesn't throw hands mark but he will if he must if he needed to but he doesn't it's not out of pocket that he just goes to

that left and right that's a special kind of power I won't beat you but just know that I can Nick shook the pipe welcome aboard buddy with great power comes great responsibility and I exercise plenty of responsibility in conflict situations absolutely what's going on

those Cleveland, you know, those clubs and bars, I'm sure. Sometimes they see a guy like Shook, you know, 6 foot 8, 275 carved out of the side of a mountain and they say, I'm going to, you know, I'm going to show what a man I am. Yeah, that whole, I'm going to use him to lift myself up. That has ever happened to you? 6-8-275 reads like an overblown college bio. Let's do, let's do 6-4, 6-3 and flirting with 6-4-2-30-35. Let's go with that.

You know, I'm very concerned of late. about, like, child gangs, which is a prevalent thing. It's on your radar, yeah. He could, I, like, shook just, he could take out an entire child gang, and they deserve it if that, if they came to the dormits. Yeah, he could beat on a child if you had, too. Is this like child gangs, like pickpockets?

Like, you worried about, you know, a group of cocky pickpockets coming in. No, it's like the violence ranges and what their quest is ranges, but they're criminal in nature. All right. Let's get to it, uh, browning again. Looking good, huh?

Yeah, real good. Uh, that, that was not a fluke on Monday night. Much to, uh, you know, the, we all thought it was probably going to be a fluke. And then he comes out and execute the offense efficiently. Once again, Zach Taylor doing a great job coaching it up,

you know, a nice little mix of screens, the running game's going. Everything's balanced out and allowing Jake Browning to just do what he's asked to do. And then he mixed in the big plays, started the second half with a few deep passes. He had a beauty down the sideline to T. Higgins.

Everything was just cooking on this offensive side of the ball for the Bengals who, you know, this is a team that we thought they were headed toward a dark winter once they lost Joe Burrow. And now suddenly they got belief, legitimate belief and hope that they just might make the playoffs to the point where you might not even want to be somebody who faces them because they still have a championship roster outside of quarterback and their quarterback's doing his job quite well. The win over the Colts today, like this is a Colt scene that we know has probably overachieved to get to this point, considering they have had Gardner Minshew at quarterback, you know, for most of the season. But the win today felt emphatic for the Bengals and the fact that they blew a 14-0 lead rather quickly just before the half. And instead of, you know, accepting that, hey, we have a backup quarterback here.

They came out firing. And before you knew it, it's 28, 14 Bengals in the lead and then eventually in control of a game that they just look like the better team. I think one of the great things is like they didn't have to go change their offense to tailor around, you know, Browning's like limitations. It's like, this looks like a Joe Burrow offense. And it's like there's a lot of stuff happening. I'm not calling him Joe Burrow on any level, but like you're the QB Index guy. Like, where would you put him right now? Like, what do you do with someone like that?

Well, we're faced with a little bit of a battle of Ohio right now between backup quarterbacks because Joe Flacco and Jake Browning are both playing relatively out of their minds, considering what we expect of backup quarterbacks. Now, Flacco, you know, being a former starter, probably has a higher level of expectation, but he is 38 years old. So Browning and Flacko are both at the top of the backups group and they're actually outperforming some starters in the league right now and a handful of those guys. It's going to be an interesting week for QV index, a lot of movement, a lot of performances that we probably didn't expect. but I'm excited to kind of dig in on that and Browning, you know, you don't want to put too much stock in a win on the road over the Jaguars on prime time.

But now that we've seen him do it a couple times in a row, now you've got to take him seriously from here on out. This is not just a one game fly by night type of thing. And now I'm really intrigued to see if he can do this for the last four weeks of the season. Are the Bengals going to get in the playoffs? Is Jake Browning going to be the guy? It's worth watching.

They're one of the six, seven, and six teams right now. And now they have a tiebreaker over the Colts. They have a tiebreaker over the bills. You know, it's, it really is a credit to Zach Taylor and that staff. And the fact that when the game got tight again, and we saw it against the Jaguars as well, like, they trust Browning. And like what you're saying, they were attacking with a backup quarterback where you see coaches all the time when they have a quarterback. They don't trust or a backup quarterback. They, you know, they throw out half the playbook and you end up with a very stilted offense.

But apparently it's not the case here. No, I mean, 275 passing yards on 18. completions. He only had to throw the ball 24 times, and yet it felt like they really controlled this game. He's just completely in rhythm. He looks comfortable. And I don't know if this is a microcosm of the way Zach Taylor coaches his offenses, because what he looked like to me, even going back a few weeks ago when they played Pittsburgh and right after the Ravens lost, when they played Pittsburgh, I thought, I mean, he looks a lot like Joe Burrow did way back in week two of Burroughs rookie season when they played in Cleveland in primetime. And I'm sitting there thinking,

man, this kid's got no experience yet. He looks really calm and confident. That's kind of what Browning does. Obviously he doesn't have the same physical tools that Joe Burrow does. But, you know, it's a beautiful partnership between coach and quarterback right now. And Browning is just playing as somebody who knows he doesn't have to be the hero probably isn't capable of being the hero. And it's totally fine with that. He's just going to take what is given or is what is asked of him. And it's working really well right now. They're also getting contributions in a way they just weren't with Burrow for the most part. They run for over 100 yards. Chase Brown literally wasn't on the field ever with Burrow. And he has a second straight big game. He goes for over 100 yards from

scrimmage. And then their defense, which has been a sieve for most of the season, has its best day of the year in terms of yards allowed. They only give up 14 points. They get involved in turnovers, too. So it does feel like Higgins has a couple downfield plays, as you mentioned. Like, it does feel like the rest of the team is showing a little bit more of what we expected coming into the year around their quarterback. And that does make them dangerous. Although these two teams, I feel like, I don't know. I feel like they might be on, if I had to guess that they'd both be on the outside looking in once we get to take. Yeah, agreed. But we'll see. Cincinnati winless

in their division still, that's really hurt them. So they're in a bad tiebreaker spot. So they got to keep winning. Anything about the cults that you wanted to throw in there? Too many mistakes. Too many penalties. They had a season high in penalties with nine today, accepted for 66 yards. A bad interception, Gardner, issue, just under pressure a lot throughout the day. Bernard Ryman, the left tackle got dominated by Trey Hendrickson. The matchup numbers are bad when it comes to pressures.

I don't even want to read them. bad. It's it's a team that I think they've already hit their ceiling. And if they can continue to play at that level, they'll make it interesting through the rest of the year. But games like today are going to happen because again, you do not have your star future franchise quarterback on the field right now. And there's only so much you can do when you're running games not going and you're trying to dig yourself out of a hole. And that was the Sunday drive presented by Toyota. Let's go places. Learn more at Toyota.com slash Grand Highlander. Let's stay with Nick Shook. and head to the desert for a game featuring two teams

that will not be in the desert on Super Bowl Sunday. Hey, that's there. Let's keep it real. Intercepted. Oh. It's off at the 34-yard line. And the Las Vegas Raiders have gone bust. Ooh!

The game against the Minnesota Vikings. Backflip! junior and i've been with this first national football league interception has knocked out the raiders and the minnesota vikings are going to win three zero oh yes the minnesota vikings you just don't even try to score on them because they're not going to give you anything can't do it and all they needed was a field goal so they said we're not going to get crazy we're the team of at n we're not going to We'll just kick a field goal in the final minute and two minutes and we'll win 3-0.

And that's what they did. Beating the Raiders to improve to 7 and 6. And it is, here's some data points. Let's give Dick Banks support. This is a very special honor. So yeah, there's reasons to be nervous about the Vikings as the team of ATN, Shoki, because they're trending downward Josh Dobbs

after his Monday night nightmare against the bears, comes back off a buy and is so abysmal that they pull him for Nick Mullins in this game, who's the quarterback when they went on the field goal drive. Justin Jefferson finally comes back and then ends up in the hospital during this game with a chest injury. So that certainly is concerning. But in the end, they did find a way despite just 230 total yards and those measly three points. Yeah, there was more juice in that theme song than there wasn't this game for either team. team. It was a tough watch. If you're a fan of defense, you might say, well, you know, this is a great game, but it was more a product of bad offense than good defense. Now, the Raiders got after Josh Dobbs a ton. Josh Dobbs didn't help himself with the way that he sensed pressure and kind of panicked. I totally understood why Kevin O'Connell went to Nick Mullins late. I was a little surprised just because it was a zero, zero game in the last six minutes of the game. And you give credit to Nick Mullins because he converted a few third downs that Josh Dobbs probably wouldn't have converted. And that got them in field goal range to put the only points of the game on the board. But the problem is, is like, if this is the team of ATN,

right? Like you just said, they're treading downward. I love the way that the defense has played in parts, but my God, guys, they got a bad situation of quarterback. They're going to go into the next week. We have to hear about it all week. Nick Mullins, Jaron Hall, Josh Dobbs. All of them are not great options. And it's a bummer to see the, the character arc of 2023 for Josh Dobbs come to a crashing end. But we were trending this way for the last couple of weeks. It needed to be made. And I think if they're playing anybody other than the Raiders or the Patriots, they probably lose this.

All right. Let's come down here. Because first of all, the Raiders have played a lot with Aiden O'Connell. This is easily the best defensive performance anyone's had about Adam. Their defense is very good. Like, it's been a top 10. Even second of all, they lose Justin Jefferson. I keep going.

I like this. They lose Justin Jefferson to a chess. injury right away. He had two catches early in this game. Both of those two plays were high-level plays by Josh Dobbs. It's funny how quarterbacks look better when they have an exceptional wide receiver.

They lose their right tackle. I think a team captain, Brian O'Neill, a Pro Bowl caliber guy. They lose a starting guard, Dalton Reisner during the game. And they find a way to win. Nick Mullins, the old Molladog throwing some lollipops over to the sideline, but in between

zone coverage, they were some pretty clutch throws and they get out of their for a victory and maybe Jefferson's injury is not that serious. What did you call the throw? Some lollipops? We call it feathered. Okay. Feathered. I don't know. They were just like, you could see why

Nick Mullins has had the career he's had because he came in, he made great decisions. The game wasn't too big for him. You could also see the reason why he's had the career he's had because just the ball was just taken forever to get there. So there's, you could use it. You move on in next week, you get Jefferson back. If you win, beat some bad teeth.

He's in the hospital, Greg. Slow down. It's like guarantee. They said they don't think it's significant. He's on the plane coming up. I think it's fair to say, like, depending on, you know, eye of the beholder, that Nick is right, there is a trending down snare today when your quarterback gets benched.

Is a slight disaster. It was a disaster last week. We'll see what happens with the wide receiver. You've lost a bunch of offensive line. And it's like... Madison got hurt, by the way, in this game, too, after running well. So there's a other one. And somehow won.

To arrow up to the defense. I know you don't like to root for the team of ATO. I'm just saying, this is part of the package, some crazy. I do like to root for them. I don't need to manufacture it out of thin air. I'm going to wait in C mode with this team. How about this? If that doesn't do it for you, how about a lock, a double lock?

Oh, yeah. Oh, that's why. That's why. Rosie and Zozer combo. Oh. Two and out. This is the soundtrack to my nightmares. You know, don't even ask.

At first, I didn't like this whole thing that you were jumping on with the locks. But I got to say, you're doing a good job as an offensive coordinator. There's more juice here than the Vikings now. So here's a thing. Here's my spin on team of ATM because this is an emergency meeting because they, okay, they did win. But the juice is out of the bottle. So now we're at a low point and we see if they can somehow rediscover the magic. But we kind of pick them based on Dobbs being a funky guy to bring in their tenacity on defense,

Justin Jefferson's eventual return and all that stuff, except for the defense. has disappeared. I guess the lesson maybe, Mark, is when you, because the Lions was such a natural pick last year and we got to go on the whole ride with them, but even that started out poorly. Jumping on a team in the middle of the season is a big, big risk because the NFL season,

despite being only 17 games long, has so many, like, peaks and valleys. Beware of joining a team during a peak. Maybe there's another peak to come, but right now we're kind of in a valley, even though they won. They're not at it on any level, obviously. They're two and two with us, by the way, as the team of ATL.

So that's, that, I think the record speaks for itself, yes. Yeah. Josh Mattelis with the big force fumble, we've talked about him all year. He got an NFL plus thing. That was the biggest play in the game because that was the only time either team was in the red zone. And then Ivan Pace, Nick, an undrafted rookie who's been easily the best rookie linebacker in the NFL. I would put him maybe top five or six defensive rookie of the year, period. One of our guy, Spicerax's favorite players, 13 tackles.

a sack, and then the game winning pick. So they're getting good production from these random guys that we didn't know much about going into the season. Yeah, I was going to give a little shout out to Mattelis. He's been my favorite guy to watch on this defense all year. It's a group that you looked at them on paper coming in the season. You're like, I just don't see it on the defensive side of the ball. A lot of people are playing better than we anticipated them.

Ivan Pace being one of them. DJ Wanham's been a guy that has shown up in a number of games this year that I've really enjoyed watching him play. So I totally give them credit on the defensive side of the ball. And they got after Aiden O'Connell. They shut that offense. down. It's just that like we just discussed, I don't know, man. It feels like paperclips and chewing gum. And, and in the last month, this is a separation season. I just don't know with the

quarterback situation, how it's going to go. But a good win for them. And then if we, if we do pivot to the Raiders, uh, part of the reason that Brian O'Neill ended up leaving with an injury is because he was getting ran over by Max Crosby. Oh, he was awesome today. That, that Raiders defense was stifling throughout the afternoon until the fourth quarter. It's almost like he just asked them to do too much since the offense was doing everything. I feel bad for them. Yeah. I know, but because in that situation they had to get a stop, they couldn't get a stop. Here's the big question with the Raiders that I present to you guys now is, look, you have a month left. You already declared Aiden O'Connell is your best quarterback, your best option, but yet we know that, you know, he's had some moments,

but he's probably not your long-term answer. You have an interim head coach. How do you proceed through this last month? You're five and seven. What is there left to figure out when everybody could be gone? Five and eight, you're just, you're just playing out the string. There's not much to it. Yeah, you get a nice little window here.

I'm trying to add intrigue here. I think you, there is no need to force it. You just take a deeper look at Antonio Pierce who, like, has a supposedly chance to be a head coach. Supposedly there was a 25 minute meeting after the game that held up Antonio Pierce's press conference because Mark Davis was talking to Pierce. And just the odds, he was facing an extreme uphill battle to keep that job. And I guess that's the only intrigue is if they could keep this going and win a few more games,

but that's it. Jackpot, baby. All right. Uh, Shuki, you said it all. Thanks, bud. Thanks, right. You didn't answer the question. I had one question.

Oh, yeah. Have guys picked fights with you to try to prove that they're men for their buddies or for girls or whatever? Has it happened? Yes, until I stand up from the table. They approached me at, then they kind of back.

Oh, hell yeah. Oh, hell yeah. That's the pipe, baby. You got my back. I got yours, buddy. All right. Thanks, Nick. All right,

guys, thanks. That's odd, though, because, like, Nick's sitting down, like, at a booth with five other people. I still look big, but, like, you wouldn't go pick him out of the, Like, that's not how you, be the guy walking around, it seems like... Are you poking a hole in this story? I just have, I have additional question. You literally said, speak with him.

Stay the pin of that. I will. Let's, we're going to ask him more. Okay. Next week. We'll do. Eric, remind us that, okay? Because by the time next Sunday at this time comes,

it will literally feel like this conversation was seven years ago. To the soggy metal as we go where magic was in the air. Got done for Zach Wilson, Hall to his left. There goes Gibson in motion. Wilson takes the snap, drops back, looks left, throws left pod front left pylon into the end zone that's a jet touchdown grease hall walks in and the jet's answer and stretch the score to two leads again hit it no new york city i didn't think we'd hear the song again this year

bob was choosing with the call jet's radio um like a phoenix rising from the ashes is Zach Wilson has returned the much beleaguered quarterback through for two second half touchdowns. He went over 300 yards passing and his return from a bizarre two game benching and the Jets beat down a Texans team that played like, you know, one of those dome teams that don't want anything to do with a rainy December afternoon in the Northeast. That's what the Texans looked like in this game. 30 to 6 was the final. And it was the tale of two games because, boys, this one played out exactly like the game we just talked about for the first two quarters. The Jets and Texans combined for 11 punts in a scoreless first half before New York erupts for three touchdowns and three field goals in the final two quarters.

They scored 30 points in the second half, the Jets. So interesting Zach Wilson game because you see he made plays in the second half that. you understand on some level why the Jets have been reticent to let go because they think they could there's one day someone unlocked in there now me and Connor or wrote something that I agreed with over on SI today I think it more points out just how inconsistent Wilson is as a quarterback and that's never going to change or at least not with the Jets maybe if you get him with a legitimate play caller elsewhere he can develop in a different way but this guy and this was his third game of 300 more yards He has amazing tools and some of the moves he made with his feet, finding a little open spaces and then slinging the ball, no look passes. It was like the best version of Zach Wilson and for a jet team that had went into a very dark place.

It was nice. It was a nice Sunday at the middle. It's kind of like also they kept cutting up to the booth where Nathaniel Hackett in the first half when things were bad. Like I thought I saw a crack in the armor of like just a bit of concern. like deflated almost. Yeah, just like, I mean, he knows that we're staring him on camera and things are going terribly. I mean, just from like a human side, because I feel like Zach Wilson obviously been yanked around so much. I love seeing it just for him because no matter what, if his career isn't in New York, and this is a good thing for him to find out what they want to do with him at quarterback going forward.

I think they can't maybe make the same mistake. That's a huge, it's just a personal, he can walk around New York City this week and not feel like he's letting the entire metropolis down. and I like that. But C.J. Stroud going out was to me the biggest story of this game. Yeah. The Texans, it was a total loss. It was all bad. And the game was already well decided when Stroud gets hurt. He was knocked out of the game with a concussion. It was a pretty bad hit where he slammed the back of his helmet on the turf on a Quinn and Williams hit. Nico Collins, who were just talking up as this guy that like nobody's paying attention, but he has almost a thousand yards receiving. He lasted one possession before leaving with a calf injury. linebacker Blake Cashman went out, Tavari Thomas, Will Anderson.

Their first round pick also goes out in this game. I'm not sure the severity of his injury. So you had all these injury issues and an offense that was just five starters. Yeah, in the midway through the third quarter before they had their one scoring drive, they had negative 11 passing yards that deep into the game. And, you know, it was the type of performance from the Texans that, yes, And I know you're high on a mark. And I think when they have everybody on the same field.

But when they're healthy and they're healthy, they can be dangerous. But I did not like, even before Stroud went out, just the vibe of the team did not feel like a team that's ready to play crucible games in December and January. Could be just a bad day at the office. But they were badly outplayed by a team that was like in tatters going into this game. Well, they're down their top three wide receivers, which now with Collins gone and. including receivers in general because Schultz has gone. So that's, you have a rookie quarterback down three receivers and then you, you know, lose three of your key defensive places to Cashman and Thomas have been vital to them.

Their offense really hasn't been hitting since that Bengals game. That was kind of the high point of their season. I know they won the following week by the Cardinals, but they've had inconsistencies in each of the last three games against the cards, Jags, and Broncos. Their schedule stays favorable. but this was a major come-down-to-earth game. They had a missed opportunity with Jacksonville, who lost that game against the Browns. And they just need to get healthy.

They need Strat out there next week. And it is a reminder, like, it's a long season. They've been right around, to me, a 500 team, but just with a little more excitement the rest, you know, this season. Like, they're plus eight now in terms of point differential for the season. I would caution, though, because I saw some Texans, Twitter stuff. It's like, is the season over? All these seven and six teams, every time you lose, the season's not over. The odds are of all those seven and six teams, a total of zero will go four and no.

I mean, that's an overwhelming odds that none of them will run the table. Because you think of the first four weeks of the season. How many four and no teams did we have? Only great teams win four straight games. So if you're seven and six, you probably have one game to play with. if you finish 10 and 7, you're more than likely, not definitely because it's high-breakers,

but more than likely in the AFC, I think if you finish 10 and 7, you're probably going to make the playoffs. And if you finish 9 and 8, you're probably not going to make the playoffs. So you're engaging with Texans fans who are concerned about their mathematical chances when the entire AFC is within like...

I think it's more the way they lost... The way they don't engage with them. Well, I'm not engaging at all. Seems absurd to me. It's the reporters, too. I see. Like, imagine if you were a Brown's fan, When you come into this game, seven and five,

you lose 30 to six to the Jets, and your quarterback goes out with a concussion and four other starts. You're feeling like it's all over. And I'm saying that. Yeah, all that stuff feels real to me. Yeah. Like the fact that you're probably going to get an AFC team

that wins nine games and sneaks into the wild card, and they're sitting at they have seven. Yeah. They play the Titans twice, and who knows where the Colts will be at that point. Long way to go. Last point on, because circling back to Hackett, in the second half,

when things started going, other way. And he called a good game. I have to say for the first time, it was like, okay, there was some misdirection, some trickeration. They were kind of, he was actually having a nice day for once. And they showed him having like a release and a celebration. It was like, oh, that's, that's good. Because we knew from Hard Knocks, he's a good guy. Right. He's just in over his head. And, um, and, and, and one point about Wilson playing in front of an offensive line, that again, by the way, was terrible. McKaybeckton had the worst game I've ever seen him have today. Um, he was making these plays, uh, at one point he was 17 of 18 in the second half.

Uh, so, you know, he played really well and did show something. Uh, he's, he's a curiosity. He remains not, I don't want him to be my quarterback ever again. Yeah, you don't want just four games, but you know what? It's, it's, it's a fun, it's fun to see him when things are going well and just cutting loose. Um, all right, let us move on. Hold on, Dan. Yes. One second. Yes. Um, you wanted me to pull something from the, oh, yes. Thank you. Thank you. I did not want to let you get past. Thank you.

Because this can't go without mentioning that someone did lock this game up. And it was one Nick Wessling who was having a grand old chuckle during his prediction. Let's revisit that. Are you kidding me? This team's an absolute shit show. How can they even be considered an NFL franchise right now? This is a joke. How there are only three and a half point favorites is beyond.

on me, the Texans are going to roll by 30. This isn't even funny. I don't even know why I'm laughing. It's a disgrace. Good luck, Jets. Better luck next year. Bye. Who's the disgrace now?

Oh, boy. I don't think Nick is wearing pants in that video. All right. Let's move on. Where are we going next? Where are we going next? Let's go to Soldier Field. Listen, he's a showman, and that was a... That was a great message, just it wasn't accurate.

He put himself on the line, and, you know, it didn't work out for him. Lions showing blitz. Lions have their safeties back deep. Awaiting the snap, Justin Fields, moving off the left side. Free play for Justin, worked it down to left side. He's got D. Bang. Looping into the end zone for the touchdown.

Touchdown bears, and they're back in front. 38-yard strike. DJ. more the catch. That probably has declined. He's on the plate, touchdown. Wow. My goodness.

Man. Who did we give bongos to? It was deserving. Rams Ravens. But I got to say, the bears are. Vikings would have been a fun bongous. The bears. I did have that thought for a second.

So many choices. The bears could have gotten the bongos because the bears played a really good game on Sunday, really giving it to the lions, the rival, 2813. win. Justin Fields threw for a touchdown, ran for another, and that play, I chose that

one because it was a fourth and long, and the, just no hesitation. Justin Fields dropped back, he sees DJ Moore in one-on-one coverage, he just drills it. And they say, we have this ability. So Matt Eberflus, the head coach,

all of a sudden they're, they've won three or four, and he got his first division win, last week, Iber Fluse, which is insane. Now that he has his first back-to-back wins as head coach of the bear. So they're stacking some things here now. And it was, uh, it was just nice to see, uh, the bear is showing some life. And Mark, I think, I think, I kind of threw this out there a couple days ago.

Could Justin Fields get the bears thinking with a strong finish? And, uh, I thought he played better than even his box score in this, uh, leading this offense on an impressive show. Yeah, I think for these teams that, you know, they're out of it to some degree, but a lot still matters. And it like, I mean, Iber Fluse two weeks ago to me felt like will he finish the season with his team? Probably because the GM and him are very linked. But it's important for us to see what the vision of Matt Iber Fluse is. And that, you know, beyond even Justin Fields, this was a defense, a roster that gave away defensive talent a year ago, burned it down a little bit to the ground, had no pass rush coming into the year.

the Montes Sweat acquisition, I think, has absolutely turned a key on this defense. But they've been a legit, really good defense today. Right. He's been great, and they had four sacks, I believe, and they made life really difficult for Jared Gough. And I think the other side of this is like concern around the Lions continues to grow and bubble. Yeah, I just don't like the energy around this team right now. I think Lions fans that are freaking out. I'm sure there are some out there.

I think there's reason to be concerned because there's just some things that we are not seeing. Aiden Hutchinson finally kind of got it going again in this game. So that was positive. But the slow starts, Detroit, they've been trailing at the end of the first quarter now, three of their last four games. And when this team is playing from behind, they just, they just look and act different. And Goff is put in in more uncomfortable situations. And they can't play defense, Greg, not.

And especially against mobile quarterbacks who just run around this unit. Every quarterback has their best game. in a while against this team and it's concerning this is division matchup and so they know each other a little better than other teams but it's the bears these two teams have played twice i i watched every second of that game live last time and the bears were the better team for 55 minutes and it wasn't fluky i know goff had a couple interceptions in that game but they were also winning the line of scrimmage they were moving the ball like they were the better team the bears have looked pretty reasonable, I would say, for seven, eight weeks now. I mean, they had a backup quarterback playing,

but the team around Beijing, and now since Fields come back, they're a dangerous team. They're a team I wouldn't want to face down the stretch. And the Lions, you're right. Their offense is great, but they also only have like two to three pieces. And if Gough falls behind and starts getting under pressure, like it's, it's not the best offense in the league that you can have this level of defense around it. It's concerning. Yeah, and Jemir Gibbs also, once again, maybe getting him more and more involved with the offense will help because he gets the ball in his hands

and he was excellent again in this game. But overall, just not enough. The Packers, by the way, who play Monday night, are very much in this division race now. Oh, for sure. Down two if they can win that game with four to play. It is not over. And we mentioned Iber Fluse.

Like, if they finish strong, you could see this Bears organization in over the years has been not wanting. wanting to pay their coaches to go away. It's just kind of not been their MO. Their ownership isn't too involved. So I think he has a chance if they keep playing well to save his job. They've won five and nine now.

Like they're trending. Like if they can finish with a sense of dignity and some success, I think he will get another year, which maybe is not the right move, but if they're showing progress. And then the next question will be, Greg, to circle back to the Fields thing. Sure.

You have DJ Moore now and that's now a legitimate thing. You have Marvin Harrison's son out there is the next big thing. coming out of college, the idea of well, we could draft a new quarterback or we could give him a potential superstar to pair with more and really start building. And you have a ton of cap room. It's kind of like

tier two of all that. Right. Or we trade down to like whoever is the two or the three pick. Get Harrison, get more picks. It all could be exciting. And I'm not sure keeping Eber Fluse would be the right decision. I'm leaning no. But I kind of like more Eber Fluse in our life. It's like the last six or seven

weeks, I've realized he's an extremely goofy person in press conference that I feel like if he was on coaching a different team people would be like what is with this guy and he gave a little example oh all right just a little example he's just weird now jubon had 17 tackles today jacquan yeah crazy what did you think of the way he was playing sounds like my college that's right oh well he's he's winning he's feeling good but he's just even just the awkwardness is like hey over there I got you I got you Is this something juicy about it? I like that. Safety with 17 tackles.

Safety with 17 tackles. I like that, though. That's one of those, like, sneaky flexes where I'm showing I have a sense of humor. I'm showing that I'm loose and easy. And I'm also showing you that I was a great player once in a time. I bet, you know, some of his pillow talk at home is like,

honey, you've got to, like, kind of show them who you are. Show them the person that I know. We want the real mat to come out. Yeah. Like, I recognize him now when I see him. Like, I think there's progress. That's a turning point. Team of AT&M?

Can we jump? Pivot? Who would blame us? Who could? I mean, who says we can't? Who locked this game? Whose choice is it other than... Who locked it?

Oh, I did. Oh, Markey. Oh, cess dog. That's okay. Maybe I'll, you know, join ship with some other person winning 12 games a week. Do you want to? Do you want to join us? No.

I'll examine it. But, like... This was also... This was a dumb lock because it's like, why do I do I? keep picking these teams on the road that are trending downward when I'm picking them. You know, Greg, the only thing that would actually end the lock competition

is if we all just joined on the same lock. That would be the only way I'm considering it. I am heavily considering it. I'll take it to the committee. My own committee. I think my second team in the standings is now tied you. So. Well, yeah, you have multiple franchises to sort out so I can't. I'm like Mickey

Loomis. I'm the Mickey Loomis of the locks competition. All right, let's take a quick break and then we will finish up. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL

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

Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones. and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters.

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

Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you don't miss it listen to the move the six podcast on the i heart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts you get your podcast yeah right welcome back uh it is time to to dive into the mysterious and terrifying and grisly world of the nfc south mask up everybody mask up like the out break gear. The full

body suit with the pull on and then there's like the window. We're back there. Yeah. Yeah. We're back there. Let's go. From the 11 yard line. Good snap. Mayfield. You can go back. Those of all left. There's a caught ball. Caught ball. Touchdown. Tampa Bay. Cade

Otten makes it over the shoulder catch and the box we take the lead. Yeah. They have one-on-one coverage. You could tell by the body language of Mayfield, he was going to Otten the whole way. Before the last is thrown holding Defence number 27. Ah, decline it.

Listen, Roberts, he's a stickler for rules, and he wanted to make sure we have the holding call and announcement in there. Thank you. A completionist. I like them. Completionist. K.D.

No, that was Jane Deckerhoff with the call. K dot and pretty good tight end. A little tight end. No, in Joku. Well, some weeks he is. Dave should have been in the show today. show today. You know what?

We'll do an entire... Can we get a new joku highlight by the end of the show? Just do an entire episode on his highlights from today. Kate Ottenhold in an 11-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds to play. It was a wild fourth quarter and it allowed the bucks to move into a tie for first place in the stinkiest blue cheese NFC South, 2925 over the Falcons. Greg, are we completely certain that the season will end with an NFC South champion? and if so, do you think it is the Bucks who find a way

they did on Sunday? I think you're selling the Bucks short. They're not tied for the first place. They are the first place team. The Bucks are back. Oh, excuse me. This game was drafted by yours truly for just the scenario that happened

that the Bucks had the ball late in the game and I was thinking this is the Bucs season. If they do not score a touchdown, On this drive, which they received, I believe, with three minutes and 20 seconds left, their season's over. They're down to, they won't have the tiebreaker, four to go, bye, bye bucks, it's gone. And Baker Mayfield, who was terrible today, 14 for 29, missed like seven throws.

Yeah, but he's got moxie. Ran into like four sacks, pressure that wasn't there for most of the day, had his best two throws of the game when he absolutely needed to, which has been, I think, typical of him late this season. season is he's in the perfect division for him for who he is right he's come up with his best work late in the in the game and third in 10 it was one 16 to go he had been forcing throws to godwin the whole time 10 targets for at that point like 20 yards and baker had a dime he finally wins this matchup against clark phillips they were trying to pick on this rookie safety the

whole game and the rookie safety was winning and it was a beautiful throw and catch and then the next play or two plays later is to Otten for the touchdown. And that was enough to just get out of here in a game that Desmond Ritter and the Falcons just kept finding ways to let the Buccaneers stay around, even though the Falcons really outplayed them. I'm issuing a

correction to your correction. What? There's a three-way tie top the NFC South. I get it, but the first, the answer. No, no, tiebreaker stuff. It's not the end of the year yet. Who is in first place in the NFC? There are three teams that are six and seven. But who is in the middle of December, that's all that matters. Who's in first place? Don't worry about anything else.

worried about the tiebreakers and all that business. We'll get to that. There's plenty of time for that to decide it. But right now there's, this is the NFC Southmark. Six and seven, six and seven, six and seven, one and twelve. I have some fun. I know, I'm rooting at this point. Like, you got to flip it around if you're looking for something that's intriguing. Like, there's a chance we could get a seven win team winning this division.

And you've never, we've had seven and nine. You've never had seven and ten. So that would be intriguing. I mean, if I said to you back in August, I believe that Baker Mayfield will be the best quarterback in this division by mid-December. And that's, I'm not saying he's, he is. Bryce Young, Carr, Ritter. Baker.

This year's version of car. I'm just saying it's that much of a car wreck in the division. When I woke up this morning, I was feeling pretty dangerous. That, it does apply. You know, we tried, who was it? Who was the reporter? Tried to get Baker at the end of the interview to say he was feeling dangerous.

Hewed him up on it and everything. And he's like, no, I wasn't feeling dangerous when I woke up and he walked away. pretty good who was the reporter somebody we know go ahead go on

I'll figure this out I think they had something like 80 something yards on their first eight or nine drives like the buck's defense was giving up

like this was the ultimate Desmond Ritter game who's gotten better at football he threw for 347 in this game he threw for a touchdown ran for another but like he just finds a way

to make the biggest mistakes possible crucial moments. He missed a wide open Bajon Robinson for a touchdown early. He threw an interception on like a swing pass that was a great read by Carlton Davis, but still it set the bucks up at the eight. Their offense was not going to do anything today, but that set them up for their only touchdown early in the game. He had two fumbles. He took a brutal safety in the game where he held the ball too long. So it's like, yeah, you can be great the other 45 plays. And it was driving me crazy. Arthur Smith just refused to run

the ball. At one point, and this is when the game is close, they had 31 dropbacks for Ritter and 11 carries for the running back. Come on. What is happening? We're back in that world. Bijon Robinson. By the way, Youngway Koo, who's great, he's nails. But he missed two field goals in this game,

which cost them the game in a way, but also well, and they're 50 and 52 out. But for him, that's usually money in the bank. That also gives Justin Tucker back, I believe. the all-time leading kick percentage for active players. Nice to work.

So I'm happy about that. But I like Young Waycoo, so bummer to him. Good player. Just not a great day. I think my two all-pro safeties were in this game, and they were both making monster plays. Bates ended like three drives, and Winfield is the one that had that force fumble.

I mean, I think we agreed. Which could have been a touchdown. It turned into a safety because it bounced and the Falcons got it. We agreed Bates was clearly the best free agent pickup of the, of the office. He's been great. Great maneuver. without even thinking who wins the NFC South. Mark, Bucks.

Greg. I'm going to go Falcons. Me, bucks. Those decided. Nobody. It just says a lot about the Saints that they get no votes in this scenario. All right, let's stay in the NFC South

where the Panthers and Saints did battle. Saints moving towards. That feels like a stretch. And the field level suites. Rolls to his right, this car. Throws to the end zone. Touchdown. Start a car.

playing in this game for Jimmy Graham touchdown oh he thought he might dunk it but he didn't Jimmy don't want that fine he doesn't have that those hops anymore

he's not allowed either after he ruined the goalposts that one time remember his heyday Mike Haas and Deuce McAllister with the call um Derek Carr

who apparently is unkillable uh return from a concussion and various upper body injuries and he threw late touchdown passes to Chris Olby and Jimmy Graham and the Saints beat the Moribund to Panthers 286 to pull back into a tie atop the division with two other teams

there are tiebreakers but whatever Mark you know the whole vibe around the Saints seems so weird to me and kind of toxic even after this win all I see around the team the reporting and the fans and the retweets and everything. It's just negativity. Like, why isn't Jimmy Grant playing more and

drama about Carr and the center fighting on the field and reporters squabbling with the head coach? Enjoy a win, guys. Christ. I understand what you're saying. I think that, like, you could look at just the score of this game, and it's deceiving. It was a really rough watch. On both sides, we already understand that the Panthers are a rough watch,

but these two quarterbacks, And I think this frustration is just that it's, you want to look at the win alone, isolated? Cool. But it is a continuation of a disturbing pattern with Carr and the Saints. And it's like, I get that he's the lightning rod and is going to take critique no matter what he does. But both quarterbacks combined for 58 passing yards in the first half.

And it does feel like a year more than any other season that I can remember where like you come out of everyone half of these games with a quarterback that has a reputation of succeeding in the past or at least, you know, producing with like 18 yards or 28 yards or some nonsense. And so it was like the perfect storm of both quarterbacks playing some ghastly football out of the gate. I mean, Carr specifically was 13 for 20 for 37 yards with a bad interception. I just think there's bubbling frustration.

The only thing they did well offensively early on was run the ball pretty well out of the gate. And it just all flared up from there. And it's just like if you're going to have a week where everything comes together and you look like a Saints team that we want to potentially view as a team that can win this division without us having to see an extra game, you beat this Panthers

team, and like, they've got nothing, and Bryce Young at one point was, Bryce Young was like one for nine to start this game, and this is a crazy stat. He averaged 13.4 air yards per attempt today, the fifth most by any quarterback

in a game all year. On those passes, he was 0 for 6 in the first half, and one for 9, with 32 yards in the whole game. It's like you're going 10, 12, 13 minutes at a time drive after drive where it's like no matter how depressing the car situation

is, I just want to season to end for Bryce Young because it's like there is there aren't the sad. They're the sad the sad because of what you've given up for him, who he is, like what he's meant to represent and you've already fired your coach and it's just like, it's a tough watch. They ran for 204 yards

on the Saints, which is another continuing issue for the Saints is that they get run over. over every week, and they still only picked up six points. I mean, the reason, though, that there's negativity after the game is, look, Eric McCoy is the leader of that offense. If you have to pick one player over the last, you know, five to eight years or whatever, he's the center, he's a captain. He's a leader of the offense.

He's always very cool, calm, and collected. And he gets into a huge screaming match with Carr on the field that continues onto the sideline. So there's got to be a lot of questions, and they all try to downplay it. It's unclear, honestly, what it was even about. It just feels like a big misery party down there. But that's going to be like when that guy is getting arguments with the quarterback, it's like, okay, what is the bench the quarterback. Like, he's already injured anyway.

If everyone's so miserable about the quarterback, get the quarterback out of the lineup, I mean, I don't know. But it isn't, just from a distance, it seems a little odd that there's so much, even in a blowout win, you know, 286. I'll say this, though. They did put together two late touchdown drives where, you know, Jimmy Graham became a factor late in the game on that. front. But it isn't like, like, I think to your point, Dan, like a couple of weeks ago,

or like the idea that like Carr's getting killed, but he's actually playing well, it's like, he had a couple of nice passes in this game, but we're not even getting the Derrick car that we got a year ago in Oakland, which was not the Derek car we got previous to that in Oakland. So it's like, I imagine it was far less than 100%. I would end in this game. But some guys are, he's battling through injury. I thought he played his best game of the season against the Lions last week for what it's worth. Some guys get presented as warriors.

And then there's Carr who's being killed for playing poorly in a game where, like he barely made out of the previous game alive yeah i just i'm just like the whole vibe is frustrating to me around new orleans right now mccoy did uh apologize to reporters uh about the spat saying what was it about nobody they won't say oh you know there's that guy john boy we'll find out some yeah there's the guy john boy who does mostly baseball stuff but he has a whole empire up there in new york and he's a great lip reader and he does all these great videos if you're a baseball film i like that reading lips of whether it's fights on the field or what's going on we need that we need that guy NFL needs a version of that guy I was thinking of that when

the mohomes uh sideline tirade happened this would be another example oh maybe does john boy have like a brother or a sister that could has the same scale i don't know him personally our buddy chris rose works with yeah so i'm yeah how about for the second half of the football game we're going to try to go to watch and a few minutes uh ask him we're going to masculine. Here's good vibes. A punt return touchdown on a day where Steve Gleason is there in attendance.

How about that? I'm glad you mentioned that because I was like sitting at the top of my notes and went somewhere else. But it was actually ruled a fumble. So it wasn't, I mean, it looks like it was a punt though, so it is. But you know, but that yes. I guess even

a dance point, even that couldn't just have been what it needed to be. You know what's remarkable? Like Steve Gleeson, who had the famous block punt when they reopened the Superdome after Katrina. late stage ALS like he's the fact that he's going

in these games remarkable yeah whether or not it counted well the touchdown counted they just ruled it's nitpicky

like apparently like if you if you cause a fumble before he even tried to punt it essentially he's a but you're right

he is a remarkable human I think he has a new book out or he had a book like every time he speaks people should listen there you go

good enjoy yourself guys it's the holidays let's go across the sidewalk charges football ball now the charger 46 yard line is wilson has him at the line of stream meets germaya walk by the glass before he's left now looksries right tough times forever to throw the ball steps up now throws a deep ball he wants courtland sudden in the end oh gregly portland goes up oh gregie the catch touchdown Denver penalty flag thrown michael davis get your penalty flag out of my highlight let's go interference call as

Cortland, much like an NBA power forward, just blocked out Davis, caught the ball. Football is completely different to basketball. You got in the booth. How did you do that? Because you were in the newsroom I thought the whole day. Just trotted over.

Didn't go to Brown's charges, but decided to go to Broncos. Well, I needed to make this comment, though. You know, I had a feeling it was coming. Dangerous bounces back after last week's three interception performance. He throws two touchdown passes and 224 yards through the air and the Broncos cruise over the chargers who are dead in the water. 24 to 7 the final.

The Broncos keep winning. And yeah, like I said, improbably a game out in the AFC West as the chiefs continue to struggle on their own. Okay, so who had this game? I did. Greg. Justin Herbert might have played his last snap this season. So what happened?

Let's get to the Broncos later, but that is the biggest story to come out of this game. They're playing on Thursday night. He had a right index finger injury. It's been reported by our guy rap sheet. It's a fracture. And Ian said because of where this is happening in the season that he might not be able to play again this season. Brandon Stanley. What a lost year.

Right. Was asked about it as well. And he said in terms of Herbert returning this season specifically, that is to be determined. So I think we can take from those comments that he's definitely not playing Thursday night. They are five and eight. And he's probably out multiple weeks. And just going out with a whimper in a four 25 p.m. game, there's only two of them today that approximately zero percent of the non, like, Broncos fan part of the country was watching. And, you know, just our market.

didn't get Chief's bills. Right, because of this. Our market got it. That's an absurd. With Easton stick back there, and it was emblematic of what's happened because Herbert was just crushed in the first half. He took four sacks, and he never takes sacks, but they were all over him. Their offensive line had injuries in this game, Zion Johnson got hurt, and that's been

part of the season is the offensive line not nearly playing as well. Like, there was just drops. He's making some really bad throws early. It was 17-0 at one point. and then Stick gets in there so Easton Stick didn't have a chance and this is kind of how the Staley era ends it's probably not going to end this week.

Maybe it'll end after the Thursday night game if they want to get a jump on it but if not it'll happen at the end of the season. Doesn't it seem antiquated for where we are in society that like regions of the country are still getting banged by the local team playing? I mean, this is a national sport. Like, come on.

You got to give us another way to watch one of the games of the year. You get Sunday TV, Sunday take that. It is, but I mean, tons of people are watching Red Zone too and things. Not any more expensive than the other option, but I hear what you're saying. They find a way to figure everything like this out, and so this hangs out there as an odd pathway.

Denver defense finished with six sacks, two turnovers. They held the chargers to combine one of 18 on third and fourth down. Jaquan McMillan is like a star. Every week, this undrafted slot guy makes just a couple massive plays. He was great. Hey, if the Broncos, follow me on. on this one. The Broncos ever went 10 and 7? John Payton? Coach of the year?

It's got to be in the mix. Would that be one of the greatest turn around? Yeah, because I think it's like relative to what they were last year and what they are with 10. I would put that similar to my fantasy team going from 1 and 5 to 8 and 6. I think that's where I kind of put that. I think he would get consideration and should. The only part with that argument, and I've seen Broncos fans making already, is like, the main part of the argument seems to be about how they responded to 1 and 5, but he was the coach of the 1 and 5.

He gets full credit for the one in five, too. The fact that they're at 7-6 overall, I think, is a good coaching job. But I think if you said that going into the season, that's like one, that's one game better than expectations. That's also, he also is taking over a team that was, you know, somewhat in tatters with a lot of questions starting right with your quarterback. Like, the defense needed time to figure itself out. So I don't really. It's done a great job. He's not a great job.

I just mean the six games that they went one in five count as part of. he definitely he would definitely be the first NFL coach to win coach of the year that also lost 70 to 20 in the season that has never happened and you could cement that is true and Vance Joseph I mean this has been in the defense is capricious

how about that? I like that you know it goes up and down but Vance Joseph is coaching a top 10 defense now for two months straight the defense has stayed about the same all year it's been consistent they let other teams lose games it's a winning formula they run the ball well enough Wilson is a lot of checkdowns and then a lot of just bombs and like he might have gone two for seven

on bombs today or whatever and that's happening every week and yet the bombs that they hit are so worth it keep throwing the bombs the Sutton catch that he had to me was his season in a nutshell the other guy the defensive back I think was Michael Davis was literally holding his arm like full hold two hands on his other arm he's 50 yards down the field and he catches the ball with the other arm in the end? I think it was one of the catches of the year. It sort of got slept on, because you didn't see it on the angle. When you saw the other reverse angle, it seemed completely impossible in a

beautiful throw that Wilson had all the time in the world. They're playing well. And I'm not sure I want to see them in the playoffs personally. That's a, that's a mark thing, but like something about them. Who gets in instead of them? Like, would you rather, I'd rather see them over, I don't don't know. I don't know.

Julius Thomas were the last Denver receivers to reach double digits and touchdowns until Cortland Sutton. Those were in the Peyton Man in Glory years. And also, Mark, I know you like kind of exaggerated numbers comedy. This is Russell Wilson on your corner. I think I had about 35 seconds

back there, he said, about the clean pocket before the Sutton touchdown. I went left, went right, went through my reads, and then back to Cortland. I mean, that's what he used to do in Seattle. So it must feel good. I mean, that offensive line is falling out too. They have the, yeah, that when Joey Bosa got heard that

just sort of, I feel like I did this little charges. All right, if the Panthers are the saddest team in the NFC, I think the Chargers, the AFC. The Jets? Agreed. No, now the Patriots have escaped. It's the Chargers. I mean, the Chargers feel, it feels very bleak.

They don't, it feels very bleak and just depressing, and it's week after week without any light shining through. The Jets was like kind of a tragic season, but even like today showed that they're fighting hard. I don't know if that's happening for Brennan Staley's team. that well they're they're packing up the tent i don't think it's happening for brandon's dilly's team no all right real quick guys yes before we get to sunday night football yes i have something for you dan oh flakko underneath center on third and one yes it turns bootlegs it out to the right

he's got a man wide open and jok who's got it at the five going in touchdown bang hit no foot go what a beautiful fake by flaco oh you're happy come on That's a good call. Well, my argument wouldn't be that it's not a good call. How did you do this? For the first time, as we've been doing the show for 11 years, you somehow turned in a great Brown's touchdown

into something you're needling mark about. I mean, it's kind of a big surprise. It's kind of amazing. It's a magic trick you pulled. I'm glad that Dave Nijoku got his moment. And it was a great day for Joe Flacker. Those two men deserve to be celebrated on the show. And now they have,

and I'm with you on that. Teamwork. All right. To Sunday night football. Second goal. Snap to Prescott looks left. Slant Gallup. Touchdown.

That was right now. That is four offensive possessions for the Dallas Cowboys. And that is three touchdowns and a field goal. Man. Brad Sham, the Sham God. with the call after the score on nbc they they cut away to jera's box which listen jera makes the rules although they have had trouble in the stadium's history with fire code you're right go do your research if you don't know what i'm talking about there had to be 300 people in that sweet celebrating

everyone vaguely looked exactly the same great vibes though for the cowboys who uh beat the eagles three to 13, exactly the type of comprehensive takedown of their rival that they kind of needed. Not just, Mark, to potentially steal the NFC east away from the Eagles and the top seat of the NFC, but also for the skeptics out there, they're like, wow, they're the Cowboys. They'll find a way, again, another performance where it's like, or this might be a different team. They feel differently to me, and I've been a skeptic and kind of waited for down. Dallas to have like the kind of game where it is assured,

it is cemented that they're a different type of Cowboys team. And I saw it. I mean, these two teams know each other so well. And I think they caught Philadelphia at a time where the Eagles are having some struggles of their own. But that doesn't explain without you talking about the great nature of this Cowboys defense and what they did tonight where you've got Stefan Gilmer playing the game of his life, punching the ball out from A.J. Brown, who that doesn't happen to A.J. Brown typically.

And Devonta Smith, who has been so good for the Eagles, dropping a bomb in the end zone on a pretty good throw. And losing a fumble himself. And losing a fumble himself. And it's just they couldn't get unhooked. And I thought, you know, there were a couple moments here where the Eagles could have climbed back in

and done what happens on like every Sunday night football game. And Dallas just wouldn't let them back in. Even with the Fletcher Cox strip sack of Dak and Jalen Carter, that seemed like momentum shift. But momentum doesn't exist, Greg. I mean, it didn't in that case because the Cowboys took it right back.

Every single moment in this game, they just looked like they were going to make the big plays and the Eagles wouldn't. You look at the yardage and it doesn't look that uneven yards per play. Like, Eagles move the ball. You're right. You mentioned those mistakes. And we didn't even mention in that grouping, Jalen Hertz lost the fumble. And A.J. Brown ended a drive with a drop that would have put them inside the five yard lane in the first half. So they only had eight drives when this game was still in doubt.

and three ended on fumbles from their three best players and one ended on a drop from one of their other best players, A.J. Brown. So that was half their judge. But I honestly don't think it would have mattered because this was going to be the Cowboys night on that first play call. We knew Zaddy was feeling it. The first drive, rather, calls for that big sweep to turpin on third and one. That was a gutsy call. They run the ball on fourth and two at one point and they pick it up. They ran the ball well in the red zone. I just think,

DAC had so much time on that first touchdown. Like it was all just working when they needed to make a play. They made it. And even on the rare chances when the Eagles won up front, because actually the defensive lineup played okay in this game, Dak just hits them with like a beautiful Eli Manning to Manningham type bomb to Gallup on the sideline. They were just better.

They're just better. That's very big of you to reference that play twice a one night. Incredible play. Yeah, Dak with pressure in his face dropping that the bucket to gallop. That just shows the zone he is in right now and has. been for weeks. And I mentioned it earlier in the show. This MVP race is becoming like a corker because Dak does not lose any ground. Lamar moves up a little bit. Purdy reestablishes himself. Tyreek on Monday night. I'm not not giving up on that one either. You can have your Tyreek.

Just saying. The QBs, I guess what I'm saying more and not taking away from Tyreek. I'm just saying one more to go. I think those are the four main ones right now. But I think they now we're saying, oh, there's no quarterbacks where it's really jumping out. Some of these guys now they're starting to stack week after week, big performances and the number are getting gaudy and that wins MVP's. But yeah, you have this game for the Cowboys and they are essentially unbeatable at home.

Well, they are. They're not essentially unbeaten. They're 7 and 0 at Jero World this year. And that is a big deal because if they can keep this up and take that top seat and make the NFC go through Dallas, once again, you're starting to think this could be

a different year for the Cowboys. Yeah, I mean, there is an interesting stretch coming up because they are untouchable at home. Only one of their final four games in the regular season are at home. They have to go to Buffalo. They have to go to Miami. They play Detroit at home. Then they have to go to Washington.

So it's like, the Cowboys have to keep proving this if they want to someone see. I guess part of like the point we were talking, making at the beginning of this is they've proven themselves now to me. Like, I don't expect them to go lay eggs anywhere now. This is a different experience.

We've been covering this Cowboys team as a group for like a decade plus. And there was a reason to be annoyed with the pitch versus the product in past years. They're beating teams in every possible way. And they just went and did it to the Eagles who, it's like

that's what I needed to see. I'm good. So the Eagles are now 10 and 3. There's a an instinct to say, okay, well, you just got through the toughest five game stretch any team's going to have all season. And you went three and two,

which isn't, you know, if you look take a step back. It's not too embarrassing. You know, you got those wins against the Cowboys. He split with the Cowboys against the Bills. Who's the other one that I'm missing in there? Chiefs. The Chiefs. And then, you know, you lose these two games,

but you lost these two games by a combined score of 75-32. Yeah. It's an eye-opener. And you're just getting tired. And yes, their last three games of the season are easy, but next week you're in Seattle. So, like, I give, I actually give them a slight edge to win the division just because of the schedule, and that would make all the difference in the

world. And I think they're a veteran enough team that they could kind of gather their forces and improve from now until the playoffs and end up being very dangerous in the playoffs. But right now, they're not a great team. They're too deficient defensively. At one point, they had given up a score on nine straight drives. I think they ended up finishing that game. They've now given up a score on 12 out of 14 drives. I mean, it's just, they're just not a great, they're just not a good enough defense right now. And in the offense, at least tonight, one thing that they put on tape that they won't be happy

with is they had no answer for the zero blitz. Just like the Cowboys just kept doing it over and over, and they didn't really have good answers for it. Where are we going? Oh, I think you know exactly where we're going. Cowboys are not that dissimilar. to the 49ers and that they can come at you and waves with big-time players and stars. And they have unearthed a major star in their special teams.

It's Brandon Aubrey, the former soccer player who was, what's the, they all had great backstories, he was an accountant or something for a brief period. Software manager after his pro soccer career didn't go well. And then his wife said, watching football, like, you could do this. So he just practiced for three years until he got a job. great wife will take you great places, including to the top of the kicking power rankings, four for four in this game, with a long of 60, also hit a 59 yarder, also hit a 50 yarder. And he's piping these kicks.

And he, yes, it's bottle service. It is straight, all friends allowed in, the girls coming in with the big signs and everything and the sparklers, like Brandon Aubrey gets all of it in their kicker club tonight. And if I may be a little more serious, this game could have turned out differently in the second half, if not for Aubrey's greatness. Because after the Jalen Carter scoop and score makes this a game, what's the score at that point? It would have been 2314. Yeah. 2314, the Cowboys get the ball back. 2413.

2413. They make a couple plays and then the drive stalls on the Eagle side of the field. Zaddy decides to bring out Aubrey for this bomb. from 59. And if he doesn't make that kick, the Eagles are coming off a defensive score and they have the ball at midfield. And you just don't know what could happen. But the fact that he made that kick, it kind of calmed everything down. And when you have a kicker that you can rely on, the way Zaddy can rely on Aubrey, he's like a legitimate weapon and one of the biggest stories for this team this year. Yeah. And to close the game out with three field goals from him, and these are drives that ended at the Philly 41, 27 and 32. So Dallas wasn't able to like knock out

punch with C.D. Lamb or Tony Pollard to fill in the blank. But each of those drives ate up five plus minutes. So in a way, like I thought he was the executioner in this and kept chipping away and taking the life away from Philadelphia. He's 30 for 30 on field goals. Forget about Tucker

being on top of the list. We got a new one. I mean, that's 100%. I know he doesn't quite qualify, but not yet. My God, they just have so many elite players. When they were showing, you know, at the beginning when they do the starting lineups and they show the PFF agreement, I know PFF's not perfectly. But I just, it's like DAC, number one out of 34 quarterbacks.

Tyler Smith, number one out of 40-something guards. Tyron Smith, number one out of 40-something tackles. C.D. Lamb, number three out of 115 wide receiver. It's just like, that's a lot of elite players. Now, Aubrey, maybe number one right now out of 32 kickers. And you wonder why Jara's box is shaking with everyone celebrating because they have put together a monster team there. And it should be said, I got to, I went through all that.

Aubrey is the first kicker to make a, 59 and 60 yard field goal in the same game. So that's history. It's pretty crazy. Yeah. Like I kind of was thinking, wait, that's never happened before, but to your point like you're saying. Yeah, that just those kicks weren't really being attempted in the in ages of old. I mean, until like 10 years ago,

a 59 yarder, there probably was less than 10 in NFL history. Imagine like 10 years ago. The thousands of people this is the final week of the regular season and fantasy that went into Sunday night football. Their opponent just had a kicker and they had an 18 point lead and you lose. Brandon Aubrey literally makes history.

Crazy. So big win for the Cowboys. 49ers now in great position for the one seat. Niners in the driver seat, but the Cowboys right behind them if there's a slip-up. And yes, the Eagles very much in the mix as well. It's going to be a great ending to this regular season in the NFC. Before we say goodbye, I want to circle back because I thought the quotes are strong enough from

Mahomes on the situation at the end of the game. And we were noticing on Twitter, people were doing lip reading. the way John boy Jimmy O'Brien does have siblings yeah like a younger brother and two sisters yeah Chris Rose confirmed that but I don't know if any of them are willing to or even have the ability to help us out in that way for lip syncing or lip reading in the NFL but we'll stay on top of that story here is Mahomes who what he was so furious about was it seems like not the von Miller fake off sides as much it was that they called that on Tony and given, obviously, the play that wiped out.

In that moment, I mean, I've played seven years, never had that, never had offense all sides called. I mean, that's elementary school. We talk about, I mean, you point to the ref, do all that different type of stuff, and it doesn't get called. And if it does, they warn you, and there was no warning throughout the entire game, and then you wait until there's a minute left in the game

to make a call like that. It's tough, man. I mean, loss for words, man. It's just tough because regardless if we want to lose, man, just just for the end with another game. And we're talking about the refs, man. It's just not what we want for the NFL and for football. And again, this is out of character for Mahomes to be this outspoken. But also what he says here about what Kelsey did on that play.

And that's why as a football fan, Greg, I know because you would pick the bills. But like to have that exciting play wiped away, you understand the frustration. And I thought Mahomes summed that up well. I mean, it's a legendary moment, man. I mean, something that's not taught, something that only a couple people in this world would even think about doing, and for him to make that play in that moment,

making the catch, making a couple of dudes missed, and throwing the ball across the field to another guy and scoring a touchdown in that moment, I hope they still show it whenever he goes into the Hall of Fame because that's a legendary moment that we didn't get to really witness. Calls back to what you said earlier, Mark. What is it that I said?

Like one more point, and then you mentioned a play that was wiped away by penalty. You and Pat Mahomes. Well, I mean, I, first of all, if he, I trust him to point out, like, an inconsistency in, in this call. I mean, it's, it is, it's not something that we see. And, like, I don't know, like, it was so frustrating. And it's another, last week, it feels like that game against Green Bay was a million years ago. But, like, that game was torn down by really wacky officiating.

Like, it stood out as one of the worst games of the year. And then this happened in this moment. Is the call wrong? Technically no. Should the officials maybe get the hell out of the way? But the nuance he mentioned about like there's a kind of an agreement between the officials and the players. Usually the players are looking over to the side. We don't know if that happened.

Like you also can't give the warning if like Tony wasn't out there and doing that in similar spots. And he has not been playing much in recent weeks. I don't know what his snap count was in this game. But it's been like under 20 snaps in general most of these weeks. And he was so. far off sides. He was blocking the view of the, the official. So it wasn't like it was close. He was way on

the other side. So I understand Mahomes point. Way on the other side is strong. His foot's on the line and that the, you know, his head is blocking the official. I just mean there has been, it seems to me, an emphasis. So we check the numbers. And there has

been 13 offensive offsides called this year, which doesn't sound like much. That's one per week. But that's 10 than the two previous seasons combined. So it was a call that they never used to call. And I wish I could remember, but this was called in a big spot just last week. And I was looking for it, trying to find it.

And it, and it wasn't, but it's, it has been happening here and there. And I think it's the frustration of the whole season is just, it's part of it. It is part of it. Because, and this is a safe way to take out some of that anger. And he said, I, I, I held my nose or I didn't say anything after. that controversial Packers game. But this time, I couldn't. I don't know.

And it is brilliant from Kelsey. That was not a play call. That is something Kelsey just does. It is freaking crazy. It's true. Didn't count. And I know Eric, Eric agrees that that should have been a touchdown

because you're a man of integrity. All I know is this side of the glass, 2 and 0 in these games you guys are talking about. Oh, please. Oh, that's right. Because you got big funk was on the right side with the Packers. We've actually not been listening to anything you've been saying in last 10 minutes, though.

that's all right that would be untrue of previous producer you guys have to listen to plenty of honking from us the play was amazing I will give him that

ticky tack yes definitely but hey rules are the rules just get out of the way yeah I feel you but listen if I was a bills fan I'd be exactly the same as you

yeah but as a football fan I'm like damn it that should have counted there's been countless of these games go the other way against the bills

in weird fashion so this one I get it man take it take it when you can get it you have nothing to apologize for thanks football fans

like this. Greg's like, yes, I have a pick in one of my 17 things I'm doing. Yeah, well, that's 17. It's two. Slightly villainous. Game day view.

Check it out. And the locks. Let's go. All right. All right. That is the Sunday flagship program. Hope you enjoyed it. We'll be back on Monday on NFL Plus game of the week and also our Monday night

podcast, which is a news rundown and two Monday night football games. What? That's a real thing. Why? I don't know. heed the call This is an I-Heart podcast.