NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2024 Week 11 Recap

Episode Date: November 18, 2024

Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Patrick Claybon and Nick Shook to recap all of the Week 11 action from around the NFL. The show starts with Chiefs at Bills (01:30), followed by Ravens at Steelers (11:56), Packers at Bears (22:30), Seahawks at 49ers (32:37), Rams at Patriots (42:45), Falcons at Broncos (53:01), Raiders at Dolphins (01:30:00), Browns at Saints (01:08:47), Vikings at Titans (01:14:50), Jaguars at Lions (01:20:55), Colts at Jets (01:31:10) and Bengals at Chargers (01:39:27). Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're always scrambling for a last minute touchdown. That could be Josh Allen. It could be Gino Smith. It could be anyone. It could be me here in the Chris Wesleying podcast studio for your week 11 recap. alongside Patrick Claibon. Nick Shook joining us from Cleveland where the undefeated Cavaliers

roam. And I thought this was a fantastic Sunday of games. We had some headliners, but maybe that's just because my agendas were fulfilled. Because you seemed more salty, Patrick, when I came into the studio today. Yeah. All things Greg vibes up.

And even I can't let one Ravens lost just ruin your whole day. It wasn't just that, Greg. I picked the game that I did not want to happen. I picked the things I did not want to happen. And I lose both ends of that. We'll talk about that coming up. Okay. I'm looking forward to that. And Nick, yes, your NBA team's doing great. NFL team, not so much. But you can just kind of turn off those emotions and now just enjoy the spectacle. Because you actually were the one that was assigned to Raven Steelers early.

Rare case where Patrick doesn't get that big time game. Yeah, it was a game that I wish was played in prime time just because of the matchup. But judging by the final score and the result and how ugly it was at times. I think it was deserving the 1 p.m. slot. Okay, so put a pin in that one. It's part of the big block that we're starting the show with. We always start with the best games, and there's no other game to start with than Josh Allen versus Patrick Mahomes, bills and chiefs in Orchard Park. All right, here we go. Game on the line here with the bills up two and 227 left. It's a fourth and two. There's some late motion. Fakes the throw. Alan going to step up in the pocket. Now he's going to take it and run, and he's got the first down

and more, 10, 5, and muscles his way into the end zone for an unbelievable 26-yard touchdown run. Are you kidding me? We're not kidding you, Chris Brown of WGR. One of the moments of this season, no doubt Josh Allen comes back to pass. They got a mesh concept. He wasn't planning to run, but he decides to run, and he's bouncing off defenders into the end zone. The Bills get the victory, 30 to 21 over the Chiefs. This is a rivalry that always delivers.

And on Sunday, the Bills delivered the Chiefs their first loss of the entire season. Bill's got a chance here to be the one seed in the AFC. They are flying right now at 9 and 2. And the Chiefs, they were bound to lose eventually. I guess you never know. They are at 9 and 1. And yes, I think that play told us so much about this rivalry, about where these two teams are at in 2024,

because Sean McDermott has evolved. In the past, fourth down, 227 to go. I don't know if Sean McDermott is going for it in that situation. And it's one thing we've talked about on this show from the very beginning of the season. They've been extremely aggressive on fourth down. And one of the reasons I was so impressed that he went for in this case is that they failed in a somewhat similar spot in the first half of this game where

in theory they could have taken points meanwhile they don't really have a good kicker that's probably informing the decision right there but he knows you need touchdowns patrick to beat the champs and he let his best player decide the game and josh allen decided it yeah a fourth and two in a high leverage situation and as you mentioned the bills run mesh they run mesh they let their generationally talented quarterback and a high leverage play uh just run something where it's not confusing. Again, we'll talk about another team that did not necessarily do that

in a high leverage situation. Not salty at all, but this is the first time. It's been 44 games, Greg, since the team has scored 30 points in the regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs. That goes all the way back to week four of 2022 and they get it

with those, not to say they're relatively simple concepts, but a lot of screens to Khalil Shakir. We saw the Chiefs defense miss more tackles today that I've seen the miss in a very long time. Khalil Shakir was seven yards after catch. Curtis Samuel was six yards after catch. These are average on every single reception. I didn't know if the skill position players with the bills with all the injuries, we're going to be able to make this a game, they played spectacularly after catch.

They were awesome. Keon Coleman does not play in this game. Dalton Kincaid does not play in this game. And sometimes it is just about your players showing up and playing a little bit of above where we've seen him. Amari Cooper hasn't been on this team for long. You look and he only has two for 55, but they were both really difficult catches

at massive points in the game. Cooper leads them to an early touchdown. His other catch was also fantastic. Curtis Samuel, has been in moth balls most of the season, made an unreal play on the very first drive of the game that helped lead to a touchdown. That was on a third and nine

where he got, again, free from some Chiefs Defenders, playing above his skis. he gets a huge touchdown in the fourth quarter. And yes, this Bill's team ultimately beat a chief squad, Nick, that I didn't think got a ton of pressure on Josh Allen, that if you really break it down, it was a close game. But if you really break down the line of scrimmage, I thought the Bills won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

Their defense and their offensive line, both won. They were a little tougher, I think, than maybe previous Bills teams. That's weird because this rivalry has kind of evolved. much like Sean McDermott has evolved. In previous years, we would think about shootouts. We would think about, you know, explosive plays, tons of points on the board. We saw that in the playoffs. We saw that when they met even in the regular season of the postseason.

It's been back and forth affairs. This was not like that. Both these teams have changed. The Chief's offensive line is a huge concern for me, which is part of why the bills found success up front, but Greg Rousseau is having a great year. He causes a pressure that results in a Von Miller sack. The Chiefs have to punt the ball.

Whereas, meanwhile, the bills don't have the same explosive offense, but they still have Josh Allen. And so it's almost like the scales have kind of tipped toward even again because both these teams look different. And yet we still get a total of 51 points between these two teams. And the bill still almost melted down in the fourth quarter before Josh Allen essentially salted this one away with that touchdown run. Right, because the defense has made plays in this game.

My Patrick Mahomes starts the game with an interception where he panics a little bit, but it was because of a really quick pressure. Josh Allen throws an interception on a fourth down early in this game. was the fourth down decision I was referring to. Great play by Chamari Conner. There were segments in this game in the middle where the Bills punted a couple times in a row. The Chiefs punted a couple times in a row in the third quarter.

So that's why I just love this matchup because it's got a little bit of everything. But I like how you mentioned those long drives at the end. That's the Chief's style, and that's what the Bills did to Kansas City. They showed that they can win in this style. James Cook did not have a great game. They did not run the ball well,

but they did get it done in the first. red zone and he broke some tackles and they're able to kind of play like the chiefs offense and pick you apart and they will go on two drives late in the game a 10th play 61 yard drive where they take up six minutes of the clock and then that final one right after patrick mahomes makes it 23 to 21 Patrick like you're just thinking it was almost like mahomes needed to be down nine points in the fourth quarter just to feel alive again you know what I mean like because that next drive that he had, that was like the best drive I've seen the Chiefs offense have all season. Like he's making next level type throws.

He's on the run. They move fast for once and they get that touchdown and you think, oh, here they come. But the bills just kind of squeeze the life out of it. A huge play by Khalil Shakir on a third and nine, whether it's, you know, passing or rushing. Josh Allen is right there with Lamar as the best quarterback in the league and he proved it in the biggest of spots today. And also the bill's offensive line, they lose D.O. Dawkins for a couple of plays. They're late. We'll have to check and see long term

if that's a particular issue. But you mentioned that third and nine, just Khalil Shakir. He takes a huge shot on that play from Cook, like on his back hip, is able to get the first down there. Just so many moments where you look and see the bills make plays like that. And on the other side, Newk Hopkins had a ball

kind of roll out late. Kansas City, not able to get a couple of conversions in a game where this might have been the best Xavier worthy game that they've had in several weeks. And you kind of wondered Kareem Hunt had his longest run of the season as well. The plays that Kansas City has had to win the game were there. It's just the defense that they can normally count on to shut out opponents.

Couldn't get off the field in Kimo. Yeah, it's a good call on Worthy. They really built the game plan around him early, although he always has that one play, the Xavier Worthy, like, mental boner play. And that was, he blew a, what would have been about a 40-yard catch on a nice throw by Mahomes, not getting his feet in bounds,

which has happened so many times. But they still scored enough. I mean, they get a couple touchdowns there from, great. I thought it was really important just looking at the next-gen stats, Nick, 37% pressure rate by the bills despite barely blitzing, which is that, I think that's been the key to them. So it was Oliver, it was Rousseau, it was Miller, it was Epinessa, it was everyone.

Meanwhile, for once, Spagnolo didn't dial it up enough. They were blitzing plenty, but they weren't really getting to Allen. There were segments of this game where Alan was missing open receivers, like not seeing him, and I give Spagnolo credit for that. So I think it was just a good game between two really good teams. But at the end of the game, the winning play comes off of Blitz. The touchdown to Samuel comes off of Blitz.

Let's actually listen to that. Alan in the shotgun, Shakir in motion right to left. Here's the snap. Blitz coming. Alan has to throw it wide open. It's Samuel scampering to the end zone, and he's in for the touchdown. Well, welcome to the end zone, Curtis Samuel. A 12-yard touchdown reception.

his first as a Buffalo bill. Welcome to the 2024 season, Curtis Samuel. I was waiting for you. I've always believed in you. You arrive in Buffalo and I think, wow, this is the place to unlock him. And he's been a net negative all season. They actually tried to get him going last week.

I thought it was pointed. I thought they're thinking, we need this guy at some point. And they're feeding him targets early in that game against the Colts. It didn't really work, actually. They threw him the ball eight times for 35 yards. But maybe it paid off a week later because he made a number of really good plays.

Look, this isn't a devastating loss for the Chiefs. You're bound to lose eventually. They get to their buy, or rather the Bills get to their, or no, the Chiefs get to their buy, and their schedule is still pretty favorable coming up. I'm not too worried. The Bills have a really interesting schedule coming up for just when you're thinking about potential MVP.

They actually do have their buy, so they're going to feel good coming into it. And then they have the 49ers, at the Rams, at the Lions, all these high leverage spots for everyone to kind of see Josh Allen on national TV. And if he can get through that well, then he's got three cupcakes to finish out the season, two Patriots games and a Jets game. So the bill's in good shape here.

Let's listen to Josh Allen, trying to keep it in perspective, because yes, this has been a rivalry. The bills have actually won four straight games against the Chiefs in the regular season, but it's the playoff games that everyone remembers. It means we have to nine wins. I know it's a from perception outside perception it's a really big game and what it means for both fan bases and the league we're in week 11 you know we're 9 and 2 last time I checked nine wins probably doesn't get you in the playoffs so you know going in the spy week get to enjoy ourselves a little bit but coming back ready you know a hungry team and just trying to go

want to know yeah he has been through this before he knows how long this season is how difficult it will be to slay the dragon but this was a good start going from one great a fc rivalry to another let's go to pittsburgh lamar jackson in the shotgun three receivers bunched tightly to the left snap lamar moving out to the left lamar being strung out and lamar flings it backhand incomplete and the stear's defense has come up with a stop i don't know what lamar was doing there just running it seemed like blindly. Down the line of scrimpies. I know he had somebody leaking through in the back and I don't even see it. That was Rob King and Craig Wolfie of WDVEE in Pittsburgh. Yes, that two-point conversion was the difference in an 18 to 16 victory by the Steelers. Najee Harris ends up icing the game

a handful of plays later after some misadventures from Justin Fields where he slides too early. Glad that didn't end up being the difference in this game. But, man, Patrick, you could pick a lot of differences in this game. Where do you want to start? How about that play? Yeah, well, again, we talked about this, and I'm glad, you know, Shook, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this game because I'm going to be thinking about that play where it seems like the Baltimore Ravens, both sides of the offensive line and all the

receivers and Lamar Jackson are all running different plays. Three plays appear to be run. they come out, Mike Tomlin gets the Greg Popovich timeout, and shout out to Coach Poppe. Hope he's doing better recovering from the stroke there. But he sees what the Ravens are going to run. And so Munkin has to scrap the play that they were initially running. And then it's an absolute galaxy brain panic on the biggest play of the game where I legitimately,

I'm looking for postgame sound to find out what the hope was here. Because there was nothing there. There was nothing. It was extremely confusing and everything Tomlin does this year. just turns to gold because what's the worst case scenario? I mean, I guess you don't want to run the same play that you were planning to run the first time around

because they started running it, but... They should have. They should have, is my answer, Nick. Yeah, I would agree. I think Charles Davis in the broadcast says, oh, I think that was, that looked like jump pass. And obviously, if you give that away, you're not going to come back and run it again

because that's an element of surprise play. It looked like it was blocked right up front and it just completely crumbled once they got to the edge. I'm not going to make too much of a deal out of one play because, Patrick, you'll be on board with me on this. The Ravens played one of their worst games of the season today. And a lot of that is credit to due to the Steelers' defense for complicating the picture. They were bracketing Zayflowers often. You know,

they were making it hard for Lamar Jackson to throw the ball. Until that final touchdown drive there, he had only completed two passes of receivers all day. Everything they did offensively was a struggle. But they also got completely in their own way. They had 12 accepted penalties against them. They fumble away possession on Derek Henry's second carry of the game. And they go four for 11 on third down. And it was even worse earlier in the game. They just look like a disjointed operation all day. This is not the Ravens offense that we knew them to be

prior. And again, a lot of that credit is due to the Steelers' defense, but this is a winnable game. Justin Tucker misses two field goals in the first half, shooting themselves in the foot time and time again. They got to be on that playing, kicking themselves all the way back to Baltimore because this was a game they very much could have won, and now they've lost it.

They're a game and a half behind the Steelers. And I'll tell you what, though, it's setting up, it's setting up for a real nice rematch later this season. Yes, it is. That's on Christmas this day. The Steelers have won seven out of eight in this matchup between Tomlin and John Harbaugh. After the game, Cam Wolf of NFL Network, who's going to be with us in studio, by the way, on a preview

show in about three weeks. So look forward to that, Patrick. That'll be exciting. He said Tomlin was going around the locker room and just going up to players and saying, welcome to the rivalry. I like that. I like when the coaches lean into an actual rivalry. What is it you think the Steelers do that just has been Ravens Cryptonite, whether it's Lamar on the field or not. It's been very effective, whatever they do. Well, I mean, we saw it in the Ravens win against the Cincinnati Bengals where

Lamar is rolling to his right. It's an absolute hopeless play. Half of the planet is telling him to throw the ball away. He makes a move, tucks it eventually gets down inside the two-yard line. It's very difficult for Lamar to make those plays with T.J. Watt on the field. he's just never been able to and so many times we see him stiff arm the edge guy get away, spin away

from the edge guy, it feels like he's over lifetime in getting away from T.J. Watt and then on the other side, like last year's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was again, they dropped everything last week. At least the Steelers were knocking the ball down this time. A lot of Lamar's passes got bad at the line of scrimmage, but

just mistakes. Just being mistake. I don't know if Mike Tomlin has the magical juju to just make things go horribly wrong for Baltimore, but in these last couple of games, it has been the Ravens. I mean, all credit being sent out, George Pickens made a great play down the sideline. As Shook said, the Ravens losses. Yeah, I want to hear what you think about what the Steelers' offense and defense did well, Shook, but let's actually listen, because I think it's apropos right now to hear

Lamar Jackson talking about the loss. Ever since last year, I believe, you know, going back to the as a championship game, we killed ourselves. Chief's game, the opener killed ourselves. Raiders, we killed ourselves. And today, same thing. It's just like, we can't be beating ourselves in these type of games. You got to find a way to fix that. Yeah, he's right. They really do feel like they beat themselves. Justin Tucker missed two kicks. So out of four losses this year, all of which are by one score, Justin Tucker has played a huge role in three of those four losses.

Lamar finishes two for 10 under pressure for 27 yards, was hit a number of time by the Steelers' defense. but Nick, let's give the Steelers credit here now on top of this division by a game and a half. What did they do offensively, defensively that you think was special to be able to keep winning in this rivalry? Yeah, I'm actually glad Lamar pointed that out because that was the initial thought I had as while that game was going on. I was like this looks a lot like the AFC title game from last year, offensively. And I think that's a big product of what the Steelers defense did. Lamar could not get loose as a scrambler. I mean, he found extending plays to be very difficult and he ended up sailing passes over guys' heads.

And again, it's because of the Pittsburgh defense. So what did Pittsburgh do well? Well, let's talk about offensively because they weren't much better offensively. But what they did do is convert all their field goal attempts. Chris Boswell hit six of them. That's the most converted in Accrucure Stadium since it was built. It's also the most since Gary Anderson hit six in a game at Three Rivers Stadium back in 1988. There is a little research fact right there in Pittsburgh.

But no, I mean, it was up and down for the Steelers. Russell Wilson, this is a classic Russell Wilson game for him. because, you know, we talk about, oh, he's exceeded expectation, and he has, but play by play, he's still very up and down. He was very up and down today. Where he was good was in the short passing game. He was extremely excellent at just taking what the defense gave him. He was perfect, no, he was 20 to 24 on passes under 10 air yards today for 126. So 126 of his 205 yards came on passes under 10 air yards. And then that big completion that Patrick referenced to George Pickens, which set up, surprise, another field goal, but at least got them deep in Ravens territory.

So he made the big place here and there very, very small amounts. And he just kept him steady and consistent. And they just kind of won this war of attrition by staying ahead and playing well enough defense to deny the Ravens of their opportunities. And that's the AFC North. And that is Steelers Ravens in a nutshell. I texted a friend as a Steelers fan. And I said, hey, I think today's going to end 17 to 16.

And that's when it was 3 to nothing. It finishes 18 to 16. It just looked like that game. Yeah, that's amazing. And this division's not over. I do think we can say a few things about the 2024 Ravens right now. they're not going to be the one seed. We know that.

And they're not missing the playoffs. They're at 7 and 4 in the way the AFC isn't how good they are. So they're going to be somewhere in between. They're going to try to go win this division. Not over yet when you look at the Steelers schedule. Although Steelers do get the Browns 2 out of the next three weeks. So at least in the relatively short term, it's not brutal. They can win this division.

They're going to be somewhere between the 2 and the 4 seed, most likely, somewhere between the 3 and the 5 seed. And it's a decision. whether they can go win the division or not. The Steelers, yeah, were in the bottom 10th percentile in terms of EPA per play and success rate on this game. So their offense did struggle. Russell Wilson had that ghastly interception in the red zone.

One of the worst plays of the year, right? I mean, considering the situation that you just can't make that play late in the game, the running game was okay. But it's really the Ravens defense, which I guess had a better game. And yet at the very end, I know, Kyle Hamilton caught your eye, Patrick. He did because Justin Fields comes in into the game to run the ball.

The Steelers are not going to throw the ball. And Kyle Hamilton is hopping on one leg before that play. He gets an immense depth. It's second in nine. He gets crazy depth just because he can't move. So he's just back there just for moral support. Roquan Smith was out of the game.

I don't know if it was a helmet communication issue where they couldn't take Kyle Hamilton off the field. Either way, he stays in the game on the next play. because Justin Fields slides down despite the fact that Kyle was not going to do anything to contact him on that play. You had to know the rules, Justin Fields, by the way. Someone's got to tell him the rules.

He slides short. The spot is where you initiate the slide. And then, so on third and one, Kyle Hamilton stays in the game. Again, he's on one leg and they can do nothing to stop Najee. He gets the first down and ball game. But just we're going to have to check on Roquan status.

Kyle Hamilton's already playing on one leg, it seems like. Those two, without those two, I don't know. The defense played better today, but it's a rough stage. Yeah, Roklan's a hamstring too. So that's concerning, because you know how hamstrings can be, and that's the key part of their defense right there. So that's concerning for sure. That is a big one to watch.

Yeah, Lamar Jackson's numbers against the Steelers in his last five starts, five touchdowns, 11 turnovers, and 21 sacks taken, hard to believe. Van Jefferson played most of this game at wide receiver. Mike Williams didn't get any runs. Van Jefferson with a big fat, Ofer. I'd like to see a little more Mike Williams at. some point. And a drop. Yeah, he'll drop as well.

But these, uh, on his only target, I believe. Uh, the, uh, these are champagne problems. The Steelers are rolling. They're a big part of this season. They're going to the playoffs too. We'll see what, where they are in seed. Uh, somewhere, I would guess, between three and six is a fun division. And it feels like it's just getting started.

Let's head to the only division that's better. Yes, the NFC North. Santos for the game. here's the snap placement made the kick is blocked it is blocked and the Packers have won beautiful it is blocked it comes up short and the Packers have won 11 straight over the Bears 20 to 19 oh my goodness what a finish wow wow Wayne Larravee and Larry McCarran for WR&W yes some They just seem blessed. I mean, thinking about the Chiefs last week on that block field goal,

thinking about the Packers this week on that block field goal. But that was a great block. And special teams matters. Rich Passachia matters. And the Bears, man, some franchises just seem snakebick. And they have been since about the 1980s. This could have been such a nice soul-satisfying win for Caleb Williams and a Bears squad that has just been going through.

it. Caleb Williams gets them in position. Maybe Matt Aberflus didn't get them close enough in position. I would argue that was a mistake. Yes. Packers win this game. 20 to 19. Patrick, I am stunned by how well the Bears hung in this game and probably deserved to win this game, but I didn't watch it as closely. Explain to me how they did that. Well, they did so.

And we'll start with the good news. Of course, before Carl Brooks kind of ruins the day of all Bears fans. a nice game for Thomas Brown. Congratulations. The Office of Coordinator change worked out. Got to see the playmaking ability of Caleb Williams. Scored on four of their first five possessions, did the Bears. They also converted 56% of their third down plays, if you want to check my math.

It's 9 of 16 there. And I think one of the most consequential drives for them, because the Packers late, go for it on fourth and goal. They roll Jordan Love out. It's hopeless in the end zone. So he tries to run for it. they get the turnover on Dows, they start that possession on the two-yard line, and then they have a 12-play drive.

The problem is it's only 49 yards, but they at least flip field position. They give the ball back to the Packers. Jordan Love hits Christian Watson on a 60-yard play. They review it. It looks close, like he almost has that ball hit the ground, but they go in, they score, and then we heard the results of that final drive there

are the only Bears victories or moral ones. The offense had a low bar to clear, but they definitely cleared it today. You know, Caleb Williams in this game early on, he's running around. He ends up with 70 yards on the ground, which is, that's fantastic. And I see as that last drive is going,

the Roma dunes a catch on the sideline. Great back shoulder throw. That was fourth down, right? Great catch by the two rookies. And you do feel like, oh, this is the tide turning. Let's have that conversation about not going far enough. The bears have the ball. with a timeout,

which, by the way, the Packers took at 35 seconds. Okay. We've just been through this so many times. The ball's at the 30-yard line. Okay, so at that point, it's what, a 47-yard field goal? They've got,

it was probably more than 40 seconds when they could have taken that timeout. The Packers took it at 35. You have a timeout, you have a timeout left, but you don't want to use it there. Okay, but the Packers, they use it.

it. They decide to save you a little bit. At that point, you have your time out and you have 35 seconds left. Why not try to get closer to make it easier? Like, why not? I know bad things can happen. Don't live in your fears. I will play devil's advocate here. Because that drive started with Caleb Williams taking sacks on first and second down.

Okay. And so it was one of those things where they had, it became third and 18, right? He gets the pass to Odunzo. then they have to convert on that fourth down that you mentioned where perhaps memory of that and seeing Caleb getting sacked all the times that he's getting sacked this season. They don't want to go

from a 47-yard field goal to a 58-yard field goal. It's one of those things where of course it could be closer but considering the way things have gone for Chicago it's you know you've got to protect the field goal. We've seen it league-wide. You haven't been able to protect the field goal. Is this

Packers team any good by the way? Shook. They're seven and three. Like They are good because their coach is good and I believe their quarterback is good and I think their offensive talent and their scheme is good and their offensive line. So they are good. But they are one of the teams in the NFL where I just don't feel like I know much about them. They're just sort of like, what? What's going on here?

They feel a little lucky to be seven and three, but they're also so talented that it's like, okay, I'm fine with them being seven and three. Every time I think about them or I'm asked about them, I come back to the same feeling, which is that I am. being tested on a book that I never finished for summer reading, but I read the cliff notes. Like, I know parts about them, but their quarterback's been heard on two separate occasions, and they've played in some inclement weather situations, and they lost the time of possession battle in this game by nearly 13 minutes today.

So how much of a sample size did you get? Jordan Love through 17 passes. He threw a pick that was really ugly that would have led to a touchdown that would have flipped the scales of these game early and probably put the bears in a position where they were pressing, and instead they had the benefit of time. They had the benefit of time and patience and a new start with Tom. Brown at O.C. And they were so close to winning that game.

It's just like the Broncos last week. They played well enough to win and they didn't win. And you know what? Shout out to Carl Brooks from none other than Bowling Green State University, mid-American conference guy getting that blocked field goal. I love it when a Mac guy changes a game. Well, finally, someone from that defensive line does something. That is a little part of my frustration.

I think it's the scheme because it's all the same players as a year ago and their pressure numbers are just so down. And their overall team numbers aren't terrible. So I don't know what it is. It kind of speaks to what I'm talking about. This is just a team I'm not sure what to do with. Like, it's a game where like Dobbs, you know, doesn't do anything, but then Watson pops up for that big play.

I mean, that was a fantastic play. And I do give them credit. Love through that interception earlier in a big spot. And they needed a touchdown to go win a division game. And they got the touch. Hell, let's listen to the Jordan Love, go ahead, rushing touchdown. Love to the line of scrimmage. Craft motions to the right.

Ball in the right hash mark. Just inside the one. Quarterback keeper, Jordan Love, pushed forward to the end zone for the touchdown. And the Packers take the lead. 20 to 19. Yeah. They haven't beaten the Packers since 2018. What were you doing?

in, like, the fall of 2018, Patrick Claibon. You were here. You were here. I think in the 2018 season, I got put on the bench in one of those years. There were some decision-making changes. Oh, no, I should have brought this up. No, it's fun. And your boy was chilling on Sundays.

But, hey, we're still here. Now he's so busy. He only does NFL daily when it's his second show of the day. Like, he always has live programming before doing this. So you have so many jobs. But hey, that's 2,163 days. If you're counting on your fingers, which the bears are. And, you know, they had a shot.

They had a shot to win. I know folks don't want to celebrate just moderate improvement as opposed to beating a team in a rivalry game. But the improvement was there. Let's just put up like the visual of Thomas Brown getting so pumped in the booth for the bears for the YouTube audience. And yes, thank you for everyone that's been subscribing on YouTube. I just loved how pumped up he was, like one of the best, like, let's go's after a touchdown. I believe it was the Roshan Jotson touchdown right before halftime.

What they did absolutely worked. This was their most encouraging maybe offensive performance of the year, considering the opponent and the situation that it was in. In the pantheon of headset slams that we've seen on TV over the last few years, you have the negative one, the angry one, which is Total Wolf, the team principal of Mercedes AMGF1 and then you have the positive side the other end of the spectrum, which is Thomas Brown

when they take a 10-7 lead over the Packers in a game they're not supposed to win. He scared his booth mate sitting right next to him. He slams that headset down. Better get used to it. And he jumps like, whoa, oh, this is why we had Waldron on the field. You're up here breaking stuff. Man, this division is

so good. It's unfortunate. And the NFC, 4 and 6 for the Bears feels like a death sentence. I thought this team was done done. This was such an like an encouraging performance that if they had won it, they would have felt a little differently. They now feel done at 7 and 3.

The Packers with a really interesting slate of difficult games coming up, starting with a San Francisco 49ers matchup next week. We're going to listen to Matt Lafleur, but then we're going to take a break. So this is Matt Lafleur in the locker room talking about the blocked field goal unit.

It was from Packers.com. And we'll take a break. We'll be back on the other side. with a little NFC West showdown. I love how Rich always defines our field goal unit, right? It's the definition it defines a character of our football team. And I'll tell you what, man, you guys got after their ass on that final play when we need it right there.

I got one game ball right here. Representing the field goal block unit, gold front, where can be at? Kyle Brooks. Oh, yeah. Thank you. Hey, I'm Matt Jones.

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

And twice a week. that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here.

And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else.

It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deep,

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 gino gets them back to the line of scrimmage 22 21 gets the snap looks steps up going to run 10 five gino touchdowns Seahawks! Holy catfish! Gino Smith runs left side. Can't find anybody open from 13 out, 12 seconds left,

and the Seahawks take the lead, 1917. Are you kidding me? No quid in this bunch. Holy catfish! How could you have a frown on your face? Claibon on a Sunday that produces that. One of the moments of Gino Smith's career. Rabel on K.I.R.O. Wow. Gino Smith with a drive that if nothing else

psychically changes one of the most one-sided division rivalries in the NFL, 49ers, Seahawks. The 49ers have absolutely owned Seattle. Maybe it saves the Seahawks season. It certainly makes them feel more relevant at 5 and 5. 49ers fall to 5 and 5, and yes, that was a drive to remember, Shucky. You know when the voice cracks on the call that it's a peak moment in football in your season as the Seahawks team that desperately needed to win just to stay in the thick of this very messy NFC West race.

Guys, when he's scrambling left, I'm shouting at the screen. Get out of bounds! Get out of bounds! And then I saw that there was open spaces to score the touchdown! I screamed so loud in the newsroom. That was one of my favorite moments. And that's the thing. As he crossed the goal line, I thought nobody on this planet will enjoy this moment more than Greg Rosenthal, and I can't wait to talk to about it. This was the Gino game, because you had

the highs like that. You had the lows. Like, when he throws a pass rolling to his left and sails at five yards over Jackson Smith and Jigba's head for an interception to start the third quarter. Like, you had everything in between. But what you had more than anything was a veteran quarterback who's been doubted, who's been through the fight before, and was capable of leading you down the field when you needed it for a touchdown I know by the way was also benefiting from the fact that Nick Bosa wasn't able to play because of an injury. Yeah, so

Bosa did not play the last handful of drives of this game. He actually wasn't on the field for any of the Seahawks scores for what it's worth. And I really give the Seahawks defense, though, a ton of credit. They quietly played

their most impressive game of the season. I thought before the buy shook against the Rams. And it ended up all being for not because Stafford has that play in overtime. The offense can't come through. And it seems like they played another great game today and they got the ball back for Gino late. And he ends up knowing he needs to go 80 yards to have a touchdown. Just a bunch of really good decisions. A nice throw to Metcalf, a couple dump-offs. Jackson Smith and Jigba is playing really well. Just a composed veteran type of driving. He's had a lot of these last second drives

it now over the last couple of seasons and it just felt like this team, their center literally retired a couple days ago before this game out of nowhere Connor Williams. It just felt like this team was teetering a little bit and they really needed something like this.

Yeah, and you know like that sequence and that final drive alone kind of captures who they've been as a team. You know, it goes beyond Gino but like focusing on him specifically just for this example. He hits a pass over the middle and first down. He misses an out route by like four yards shallow and then he you know, rips a pass through a tight window

to JSN on third down. It's a team that's coming together, I think. They're starting to kind of understand how to play together and not having the pressure of the world on them because they've kind of already realized oh, we've disappointed ourselves especially at home a lot this year. But what stood up to me the most more than anything was that they played inspired football on the defensive side, which has been the most

unpredictable part of this team this year. They were closing, passing windows on third down. Boy, Amafé dropping in coverage and batting down a Brock Purdy passed over the middle was really impressive to me. They were getting after him. Purdy had a solid game too, but that was the part that really allows them to even buy the time to get back into this game and be able to win it

was the fact that they were playing pretty complimentary football even if the numbers aren't super high from it. Yeah, able to get, you mentioned Boyer Maffe in coverage. His past rushes are very good as well, bothering Purdy, especially in those key moments where you had a solid Christian McCaffrey game in total yards,

but it's going to be tough to limit Christian McCaffrey total yards. They were able to kind of limit him in the run game. And then just good decisions, by Mike McDonald, you mentioned the fact that their center retires in the middle of the week. Late, again, they only have one timeout. Gino hits Jackson Smith and Jigba thought he was going to get out of bounds.

He instead elects to cut it up field. I'm wondering if they're going to try to sprint up and clock it. Gino had just had a huge run. And instead of going up there, losing it down to clock it, Mike McDonnell goes ahead and calls the timeout. Gino gets the opportunity to get a breather, which he clearly needed because he's able to come back after the timeout and have the game-winning touchdown run. Bosa or not, this is something Gino needed. First win as a starter against the San Francisco 49ers.

Vibes up and immaculate on the eve of a huge NFC West battle on November 24th against the Arizona Cardinals. I love it. This division is stupid. There are three five-and-five teams. Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers are all five-and-five. And the Cardinals, I mean, the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers are all five-and-five. alert. And the Cardinals are leading the way at six and four. All these division games are

going to be really fun down the stretch because it's the double jeopardy of second place in this division is very likely not making the playoffs the way that the wild cards shaping up. So it's probably just one spot for all four of these teams, which all have good quarterbacks and all are intriguing, but are all clearly flawed. I mean, Juan Jennings is the man. And 10 catches 91 yards, so many key first downs. But you get McCaffrey back. And then you, you, like, lose Nick Bosa during this game. This team just feels a little snake bit. McCaffrey, fine game, you know, over 100 yards from scrimmage, not incredibly explosive. And you just start wondering, Nick, if, like, the Niners team that we keep thinking. And I was saying, well,

they're going to start coming along after the buy. Like, maybe the old Niners just, just aren't coming this year. I don't know. Yeah, I mean, they're banged up. I think McAfry is going to slowly kind of like build up to what we knew him as. It's, because it was a little bit closer than the week prior. But, yeah, they're banged up. Like, they didn't have kittled today. They dealt with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball, and it's just really hurt their ability to get into a rhythm.

The beauty of it is that it's week 11. Like, we still have basically two months of football left. But in a division like this, where you didn't build an early lead because you lost some games early, you have no breathing room. So you have to hope that you figure it out quickly and hope that you can do it if you continue to miss guys here and there, if you can find a way to piece it together and hit that stride before you're at full strength. Because at this point, they're not going to really be at full strength this year.

Right. Well, but they were the team that had a really tough schedule down the stretch. Them and the Seahawks compared to the Rams and Cardinals, just on paper, it looked tougher. And this was a game you thought they would win. They'd go on the road in the next two weeks in Green Bay and Buffalo. It's nut-cutting time. Like, it is time for them to show up in this season

or else it's going to totally slip away from them. They are one and three in the division. So they actually don't have that many division games left to, make up ground. They have the Rams at home and then they finish the season in week 18 in Arizona. They also have an at Miami and a home for Detroit. They are getting tested in a way in the regular season. We haven't seen since the Jimmy Garoppolo like out for the season type injury seasons that they've had. And so it's been a minute. It is going to be a challenge for this team to make the playoffs. That's true of the Seahawks too. But at least Gino and the Seahawks are

feeling better. Let's actually listen to Gino after the game. I was out there smiling on last drive like I walked on the field I mean I just had kind of felt like angels in the outfield like somebody just rubbing my shoulders the whole time and I just felt like there was no pressure and I think the perspective that I have that I've gained over my career has allowed me to to play that way and so whenever there is a moment or a mistake that's made I don't I never really get too down on myself and I also don't get too high when you know good things happen I think as long as you stay even killed throughout the process I think you know things work out better that way well I'd feel like angels in the outfield they're rubbing me if I had that shirt and

sunglasses combo waiting for me after game i have never seen angels in the outfield i have to admit i feel like patrick what definitely has and so he can tell me about it or explain that to me i mean it's it's a pretty self-explanatory title the the angels are why are you so surprised by deities um and well it's i feel like everybody there was a run there gregg yeah where there was super early internet was yeah uh culture was generally driven by movies and angels in the outfield for sports fans was probably one that most of us did it counter. I think it's not just going to shock me. I think a lot of people are going to be shocked.

Okay, I hear you, but this is where I think our age difference. And Nick is obviously much younger than myself and younger than Patrick as well. You know, I was like 15 then. Like, am I going to see like Disney movies in the theater? No. It was like. Greg was too cool. Yeah.

I was too cool. I was too cool at 15 or 16, whatever it was. It was just kind of like, yeah, that's kid stuff. I don't need, I don't need angels in the outfield in my life.

You know what I do. I know. Are you standing on Toy Story then? I'm just saying at that particular time, it's like, do I want to go see that or? I don't know. Oh, Greg had other plans.

Nick, that's what we're finding. Do we just want to go like, on the streets? Drive around the hills of Western Massachusetts and find the beer that we buried in the forest. All right.

You know what else? I have time for? it's time for the Sunday drive presented by the all-new hybrid Toyota Camry. Let's go to Foxborough. Foxborough Rands on defense protecting a six-point lead.

Third down, 13, deep drop from May, heaved over the middle. It picked, intercepted at midfield. Can Kitchens takes a seat with L.A.'s' fifth win on a pass intended for to Mario Douglas. Kitchens calls game.

That was our friend J.B. Long, Kspn. Rams close out a 28 to 22 victory on a mistake. Ah, Biden, DeMario Douglas? I don't even think it was on Drake Me. Why aren't you looking to Mario Douglas? It's going right over your head. Making my rookie quarterback look bad in a big spot.

Rams get the road victory. Fun quarterbacking. Wait, I got to just stop it down for a second, though. You never, like, buried alcohol in the forest or anything? I want to learn more about the esteemed Greg Rosenthal Forest. beer. Yeah, like, you know, this is, you know, people just would, like, go put them out. You know, we're in Western Massachusetts, you know, you get the beer and you just, like, go.

I've heard of this. You go put them out somewhere, and then you go meet up and everyone, because you're not going to, like, leave it in the house. You're not going to carry it around. Someone just goes, puts it out in the wood. But someone has to carry it to bury it. Yeah, you carry it. You don't even bury it. You just kind of like, you just go put it out by some trees or whatever.

Yeah, you buy it, you get it. You leave it out there. You assume no one's going to go take it. You're fine. what else you're going to do to entertain yourself at the other outposts he had some experience with this as well from what I recall listening to so you're not alone in this it's just that the geographical connection we're missing it here with me and Patrick and yes I'm glad we're talking about this because yes my geographical connection

to the Massachusetts region people should be feeling better in Massachusetts we'll get to the Rams part of it here but I actually do want to start with Drake May do it I'm shocked Greg I think this is the best loss you could possibly have. Like, Drake May is so good. This was actually his best game. I don't even think it was close. And I know he ends up with two turnovers here.

One on a sack that was so fast from Kobe Turner, the conductor, you know, getting inside quickly with the pressure and then Braden Fisk finishing him off that he had no real chance on that. But this was the game that I was waiting to see because Drake May has shown the real highs. but on a play-to-play basis, it's still been real up and down, and I thought he was just nails.

Like, he was changing plays before the line of scrimmage. He was really accurate. Most of it was short stuff. He was, like, reading the defenses. I thought him in Van Pelt, the play caller, were on the same page. They didn't have a ton of drives in this game,

and they almost went for 400 yards. So all game, they looked like a real deal. NFL, like, professional offense. It wasn't about the scrambling. Like, he got 27 yards on the ground in the end and had a couple key little scrambles, but that was just like a minor part. Sean McVeigh said it after the game that,

wow, this kid is going to be special long term. And so that was my biggest takeaway was he was doing all the little mental stuff that people like Nate Tice were saying, he's better than you think at that, at getting the gimmies, getting the short stuff. And if it wasn't for three or four drops from his receivers, a couple of which changed drives, a couple killer penalties,

which took 30, 40, 50 yards off the, field. Another boneheaded Jalen poke play where he goes with a false start on a fourth and one late in this game, which actually forced them to kick a field goal to make it 28, 22, or else it could have been a different game in them going for the touchdown. Just a ton of mental errors. I have no faith in this Patriots team around him and the decision making by Gerard Mayo where he thinks he has a good defense and their defense is getting cooked on it. All of that was bad. and you just got this shining star of a rookie quarterback

that is really exciting if you're a Patriots fan right now and we'll get to the Rams but talk about Drake May Nick Shook or don't that's what gets you excited about it is that like in previous weeks it was like okay

well he's just going to scramble his tail off for the first quarter of the game before he settles in and now he's actually not needing to do that he's settling in he's using his mind and his processing ability to throw on target passes taking the gimmies like you said

he's settling in he kind of in spots reminds me of what I saw from Joe Burrow way back in his rookie season. It's like week two. I mean, the formerly known Cleveland Brown Stadium watching them play the Bengals. And I'm like, wow, the speed of the game

is not too much for this kid. He's processing it there. He's making the right decisions. Granted, he threw the ball 53 times in that game. You don't want to make me doing that. But he did throw the ball 40 times today for 22 and two touchdown. So, like, he can handle it.

That's what helps you sleep at night as a Patriots fan. It's just that now they've got to fix everything else around. They don't need to win this year. They're three and eight. That's all fine. And they didn't win today because I thought the quarterback play in this game, Patrick, was outstanding.

Like, it was as high level as you could have possibly expected. Like I said, I think it was easily Drake May's best game. It was also one of Matthew Stafford's best games in a long time. He was just about perfect after just a couple little misplays early, but only 18 completions, but he

did it for 295 yards. Every play was big. Mentally, he was absolutely sharp. He beats the zero blitz to Cooper Cup for a long touchdown, but some of the throws to Nakua were fantastic. Puka's running over players. The touchdown to Colby Parkinson was just a fantastic flip your head, like throw and left. It was the Matthew Stafford that we've been waiting to see. Yeah. And now four touchdowns, the two of his last three

game, uh, Puka goes for 123 in a score where I was worried he heard himself again because he does the Puka Nakua thing completely lays out to make a grab in the end zone is able to stay in the game. He has 123 yards. That one score, Cooper Cup had another to go with the long touchdown you mentioned as they beat the blitz. Kairn averages 5.7 yards per carry. It's the Rams offense that we were promised, right? That they kind of didn't necessarily show up and we'll talk about the Dolphins defense and the win that they had because I think we're going to go back, especially Rams fans are going to go back and kind of circle that

game in prime time that loss to the Dolphins, depending on how this season shakes out in the NFC West. But it's tough to critique. This particular Rams team were they, on offense, everybody was there and everybody played well. They protected Stafford well as well. I have a critique. And the critique is not specifically about this game, but it's just about the unreliability of Matthew Stafford this year. Who is he? Like, what, who is he? Last week, he was not good. This week, he's 18 for 27 for 295 and four touchdowns. Which Stafford am I getting? Because it's driving me insane. Yeah, this was really encouraging. Maybe he's the guy, although last week,

would prove me wrong that excels when he's got one of the best wide receivers in football. I really think just A-B testing when Puka Nakua plays football, like they're a really good offense. But he had them both

last week. Well, that's true. And they didn't do anything. That's what drives me insane. That's true. But other than that, so don't think he's 100% and it's not just because of it when he came up off that diving touchdown. I don't think he was moving that fast in this game. And yet, he made so many defenders miss. He ran people over. These are, he was so good on outbreaking routes. Stafford was in this game. It was something like 11 for 16 for 153 and 3 touchdown. Those are like difficult throws that you

need a big arm to make. A lot of them were to Puka Nakua. Our friend Jordan, Rodriga, the athletic points out that the touchdown to Cup was very much similar to the love of the game route that Cooper Cup had against the buccaneers in the playoffs where he's supposed to just kind of be running that route but isn't expected to get it. But over the years, they've realized sometimes it does pop open and that he's a, he now is more of an option on that play. And that was a fantastic play by the offensive line and Stafford to read it. And then Cup got free behind Jonathan Jones. but they had 13 Nakua and Cup of the 18 catches, but they're not all equal. I mean, Puka is a number one, number one,

and he is awesome, and the dimes from Stafford were so fun. I want to listen to see if our friend J.B. Long enjoyed that Colby Parkinson touchdown, because that was one of the sweetest plays of the entire day. Second down two. Rams at the 19 of the Patriots, bootleg, left side, end zone toss.

Oh, man. He brings it in over his shoulder. his first as a ram touchdown Colby Parkinson 19 yards it's another red zone dot from Matthew Stafford I mean he is fading away

that's like a trick shot and he has to time that so perfectly or else Parkinson runs out of room right over the linebacker that was sweet they did punt a couple times in the fourth quarter which gave the Patriots a chance to win this game but my god was he on fire for a while that throw made me feel like I

do when I step into a really, really hot, hot tub. Yes, that was awesome. It was really good to see Christian Barmore back on the field. He's been out all season with Blood Cloud Sid that he went through some tough times really in the months since we've seen him. And so it was good. He made a couple plays. And yeah, like I mentioned, this defense, they always make a couple plays to change the game.

And even though the secondary struggle a little bit, Kobe Turner was awesome. I do think Gerard Mayo has got to do a better job in terms of. a game management, very conservative, acting like they're not moving the ball in this game with a couple fourth down decisions. They can't pick up a yard to save their life inside the five. Let your guy, Drake May, get out, and he's the best player on your team right now.

Just give him the ball like he's Josh Allen. Do not trust the running game. It's not happening. Great win by the Rams. That was the Sunday drive presented by the all-new hybrid Toyota Camry. Whatever your vibe, it's a Camry vibe. Learn more at Toyota.com. slash Hamry. So big win for the Rams gets them to 5 and 5 and right in the thick of things.

That was the Broncos record entering Sunday. They knew they needed a win after a couple tough losses to Denver. Knicks will operate under Center on second and six from the Falcon 41. Play fake, bowl rolls to his right, squares his shoulders, throws a strike. That ball caught, and this is Little Jordan Huffrey pulling away to 20, 15, 10, 5. Touchdown, Denver. Little Jordan Humphrey, a strike from Bo Nix, 41 yards on the touchdown reception. That is the fourth touchdown pass of the game by rookie Bo Nix. Yo, Bo Nix had four touchdowns in 307 yards and five incompletions

in an NFL game to get a 38 to 6 win to keep the Broncos in playoff position. This is happening. He's getting better every week. Sean Payton is dealing. is dealing. They embarrass the Falcons. Blowout win. Good foresight by us, Patrick. All three of us on game debut.

Cynthia, myself, and you predicted a Broncos win. And they got it. Yeah. None of us had 38 to 6. Where Michael Pinnix is coming in and making plays late in this game because it's just a wrap for Kerkow and company where they really couldn't get anything going. He's 18 to 27 for 123 yards. And then when you, Kirk Cousins got negative two yards on pressured dropbacks.

Wow. That was the total. He's pressured on 30% of his dropbacks for a total of negative two yards. Wasn't necessarily that great in no pressure situations where the Falcons couldn't stay on the field for long periods of time. And when they could, as was the case, all season, they could get absolutely no pressure on Bo Nix. including on two screen pass touchdowns where the Broncos got a touchdown to Mims and then they come back later on next Red Zone possession. They run the same play to Troy Franklin.

And there's no Falcons in the picture. Quinn Miners gets free, blocks two people. The exact same thing happened a couple of drives later where the Broncos were just having success on everything they called today. That is Sean Payton in his bag. He did that so often in New Orleans where he'd run the same play about with different personnel's later in the game. He does little things in the game that show you how good he is and why not? They have such a crazy team right now. They're winning up front. Like the biggest

mismatch all day was Broncos offensive line versus Falcons pass rush. But it's a mismatch on the other side too. Shook, their pass rush for the Broncos is getting after cousins. It's situational football. It's complementary football. It's looking at a three person backfield. And you using all these guys like Vellet and Little Jordan Humphrey and Franklin and they're all making plays. And it really does remind you of Saints teams. Like, I don't want to go crazy with the Knicks Breeze comparisons, but they are really ahead of where I would have expected them to possibly be here at 6 and 5. I'm just trying to figure out who Marcus Colston is in this receiving court. They don't. They don't have them yet. Yeah, they do not have them. They don't. They don't. But it's

fun. This is a very fun team to root for it because it is a bunch of young guys. Little Jordan Humphrey has been there for a couple of years now. but like Devon Velley and Troy Franklin and even Audric Estime, the big hulking running back from Notre Dame. You know, he gets his run in the last couple of weeks. It's been very fun to root for them. But you're right. Like when it comes to playing the Falcons,

there is one best course to victory over them, which is getting after Kirk Cousins. Because as we've discussed many times in this show this season, he can't move. And how do you stop that offense? You get in his face and dare him to make throws under pressure. And, I mean, that's really what made a difference for Denver in today's game and then allowed them to just continue doing

what they've been doing with Bow Nix for weeks, which is get him out on the perimeter. That highlight we just played, he's on a play action rollout. Of course he's going to find the guy. That's where he's at his best. So it's fun to see all this come together. I have a hard time looking at the Broncos

and thinking, legit. But at the same time, I don't. You're going to be legit if you're still in the conversation at the end of the year. I'm not saying they're a title contender, but it's fun to see them in the conversation right now. I would make the case if we're going Saints parallels

that Cortland Sutton to Marcus Colston is probably as solid as you can get on this route. We'll have Devon Valet be Devery Henderson. Maybe Javonte is. Mims is Henry. It doesn't quite work. I mean, you're right. Sutton has some aspects to him, but he's, you know,

he's more of a deep guy. Yeah. But there was a play where Bo Nix, in one of the situations where everybody was covered, which was very rare in this game, Bo Nix lost one up to Cortland Sutton, who goes up and makes a grab over, over the top of A.J. Terrell,

who was in good position on the play, it takes the ball away from him. Just an overmatched Atlanta Falcons team where they had the disaster in New Orleans and Youngway Koo came back, hit two long field goals today, so the kicking game wasn't necessarily. I saw people concerned about the alignment

because Koo takes that awkward stance. The stance stayed the same, the positioning, and the distance was the same today. He hit his kicks this week, but it did not matter other than the Falcons getting a few points, which if he didn't hit him, they wouldn't have any. Right. There was a fourth and go-for it by Rahim early in this game where they got it in their own end, down 14-3. And I thought that was a telling go-for and smart that Rahim knows their defense isn't good. And that they're going to have to be really aggressive to win games offensively. Now, this is their worst offensive performance. And it's why I think the Ravens, I mean, the Broncos are legit. Now, winning the Super Bowl legit? No, but like a legit playoff type of team. When you're that good up front and your coaching is that

good on both sides of the ball, then you totally pass my smell test as like a six or a seven seed, which I think they are angling towards. Payton and the Broncos and the rest of the AFC West has benefited from playing the NFC South. Like, that's partly why they're loading up on wins. But Sean Payton owns this division. Like, they swept the NFC South. Sean Payton did it. Like, he is still the best coach in the NFC South. Most of these games weren't even close either. They're like, he handed the Bucks their worst offensive performance of the season. That was back. I mean, Vance Joseph is coaching really well, really creative.

And the Falcons never felt to me like a six and three team or even a six and four team. Maybe they're more of a six and five team. Their defense, I think, is so problematic that we'll see if there's a team over 500 at the end of the year in the NFC South. I think the Bucks are very much alive in this division. If you look at their schedule, I think they can go win this division. And I would guess, like, nine wins, you got a decent chance here to be at least tied for the NFC South Division, you know, championship. We'll see. Like, I just think that's where it's going that these two teams.

You don't look like you agree, Shucky. No, I see three wins on their schedule right now that I feel comfortable about, which is the Falcons, which is Vegas, Giants, Panthers. And then you get Chargers, Vikings, and commanders. They're all smashed in here together. But, I mean, they're six and four. I can see them winning nine games and winning the division. Probably they're over under right now. It should be about 10.

Like, you're right. But they're a team, their pass rush, their defense is problematic enough that I don't think any game is for sure. Good job there by the Broncos. While we're talking teams, like trying to stay in the playoff mix, let's stay in the AFC and let's go down to Miami. Second and 11 from Miami from their own 43-yard line, nursing a five-point lead here in the fourth quarter with 3.28 left of play. Sherim Smyth in motion across the formation, back to throw to her. Getting pressure gets it off down field and he's got a wide open. Smith at the 30 at the 20th.

It's a full race to the end. He got touchdown. Touchdown! Wow, Tua Tunga by Lowe's looking down the field and Janoos Smith got behind everybody. That was Tua Tua's only throw over 20 air yards all game and it was a great one. He found some blown coverage when you need a big play, you call up Jonu Smith. That was Jimmy Cephalo and Joe Rose on WBGG in Miami. What an offensive performance.

by the Dolphins in this game. It really shows how their offense is different this year, but absolutely back. 34 points on only seven drives. They scored on six of those drives, mostly touchdowns, and the only one that they didn't was a 45-second drive at the end of a very weird first half

where they really didn't have time to get going. Extraordinarily efficient. they were eight for 12 on third down. Tua was just making great throw after great throw on third down. Yeah, most of them were under 10 yards. Some were in the 10 to 20 range. The thing that really gets to me when I think about this Dolphins team lately is that Tua from the pocket, mostly good,

but there was like a third quarter play where he looked for Tiree Kill. It was dialed up perfectly. and Tua just made the wrong decision of what type of throw to make and he just lays it up there and gives Jack Jones chance to come back and break it up. Very next play is one that shouldn't work.

The Raiders pass rush was decent today. They flush Tua out. He's rolling to his left. He makes a sensational touchdown throw to Tariq and his numbers in this game in terms of creative. First of all, seven for eight when he held the ball over two and a half seconds

for 121 yards into touchdown. And then three for three when he was outside of the pocket and on the run. Like create a Tua is really making it happen in the last handful of weeks. And it's working. And we saw it on the touchdown to Jono Smith where these are the plays considering his injury history where we tend to say, oh no, like Tua, what's going on? Get rid of the football. But he's made the right decisions, like including the win out here against the Rams. You mentioned that touchdown pass where it's things get squirrelly in the pocket.

He rolls out. Tyreek comes with him. He's able to get his second foot in for that touchdown there where this offense is more Jonu Smith than Jalen Waddle now. We haven't seen a lot of Jalen Waddle this season. But you can't argue with the results is Johnu goes over 100 yards receiving with two touchdowns there. And Devon H. had a solid performance. All of Devon A. Chan's production has come in games

where Tua Tua is the starting quarterback. It's almost like the dolphins just ceased to exist for a few weeks there. And now they're back and we're left to wonder, what if? What if things didn't go wrong? Well, they're four and six. So in the AFC, in the NFC, that would probably be a death sentence. In the AFC, I think you got a chance to make a run at that seven spot. Another easy matchup next week and then an interesting one on Thanksgiving.

So they're in it. You're right. It's too bad when you think about those games that they weren't more prepared for their backup quarterbacks. But yeah, A. Chan goes over 100 yards from scrimmage, 105 yards, including four catches. Moster is weirdly not part of this group. The running game was fine today,

but they didn't really need it. They kind of knew what they were getting from the Raiders defense, and they just kept possessing the ball. There was only five drives, Nick, in the first half of this game. Five total, not from five team, five total. four drives in a row from the Raiders and the Dolphins that were all at least 12 plays

three of them were 14 plays or more one was 16 plays the Raiders offense actually played quite well today the Turner's made a difference but it just didn't matter because the Raiders defense couldn't get any stops yeah if you want a sign that football is cyclical look at the Miami Dolphins one of the most

explosive teams in the NFL in the last couple of seasons suddenly becoming like the Chiefs are kind of which is a shorter offense they're taking what defenses are giving them John Hsu Smith's role increases because of this style of offense, essentially. And I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that the dolphins already went through hell and high water with this team this year without to a tongue of a low for that stretch. So now it's like, all right, let's get our rhythm back. Let's get kind of acclimated again. Let's take what the defense gives us and we'll just move our way down the field.

We don't need to be the 70-yard touchdown pass team anymore when we can beat a team like this. I am curious. I want to know because I was wondering about this last week when they were doing the same thing to beat the Rams. Do they have that in the bag still? Or is it something that, like, we're just trying to win games right now. And again, against this defense, too, this is a defense that gave up 41 points and five touchdown passes to Joe Burrow recently. So it is the Raiders still. But, yeah, I'm very curious about the dolphins and see if we'll ever get that from them again.

Well, we saw today where you think about this, Mike McDaniel offense and play action, guys in motion. They only had six play action dropbacks today. Wow. To a tongue of my loa. That's like, I was going to say, Kirk Cucon. Cousins like, but Cousins only had one today when I looked at. You have to throw Curco out. When we're talking play action,

it's just, the Falcons don't do it. It's weird, but weird from the dolphins today, but on his non-play action dropbacks, too, it was 24 or 30 for 250 yards and three touchdowns. So if it ain't broke, yeah, don't fix it. Right. Yeah, like Antonio Pierce

knows he's in a tough spot. He actually told the broadcast crew that he made the offensive coordinator change because he wants to be around next year, too. which so he's very aware that he's very aware that he could be one and done and when his defense is getting shredded like this

they had no answers you do worry like I said the Raiders offense was better people are going to look that their leading rush was Jacobi Myers with 20 yards and look at the points and and think it's same old Raiders I don't blame them in their first five drives

when the game was actually in doubt the score was 3119 with three minutes to go they averaged 3.8 points per drive, to put that in perspective, that would be the greatest offense in NFL history. Like, they moved the ball, they scored points. I know it, like, they were going slowly down the field. And until Minchu threw that interception, and the game was basically over, like, he had a couple, like, scattered bad Minchu plays, but overall, they, they were good. And he was pretty good in this game. Brock Bowers is an absolute beast. He is the best tight end in the NFL, in my opinion, at least certainly receiving 13 catches for 120.

They built the whole plane out of him. And the combination of his hands and his yards after the catchability are just crazy. He's one of the best tight ends catching the ball on a play-to-play basis that I've ever seen. I mean, he really is that good. He took my breath away how good he was in this game. The dolphins had absolutely no answer for him when they put Jalen Ramsey on him. Sometimes they double him. Like everyone knew on third down they were going to Bowers.

and he was making the hard catches. He was making it easy. He had 78 yards after the catch two, making people miss. He is freaking awesome. Maybe they'll be happy they didn't get Michael Pennix. I don't know. You would always rather have a quarterback, but man, Brock Bowers is so freaking good

that I think they should be thrilled that they have Brock Powers. I'm thrilled to take another break. That's right. We're going to come back. We're going to talk a little saints, little Browns, and a little coming out,

party. If a 34-year-old can have a coming-out party after the break. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin

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

Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze match-ups, 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 die-hard 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. I totally agree. Second and seven, Tase them again. This time, Lusat, we get to the outside.

25, 30, Tase them on his feet. 40. Tase them's going to go down the sideline. 40, 30, DeSam 20, 10, what a day! See you later by! Taysam Hill, guess what?

He didn't step out of bounds. Nothing. 75 yards. Taysam Hill, with his third rushing touchdown on the day. He finishes with 130 on the ground, but that's not all. He finished with eight catches and 50 yards through the air,

but that's not all. He completed one 18-yard, and through an interception through the air. Maybe don't do the deep, deep, Deasam Hill throws anymore. But my God, what a performance by Taysam Hill. That was Mike Haas and Deuce McAllister on WWL. Saints win 35 to 14 against the Browns in a game that was tied, I believe, in the fourth quarter, 14-all.

And they just put on them late. Nick, I know you probably didn't enjoy this as much as Saints fans. But I got to say, I do like when sports gives you something And like for all the Saints fans that showed up today, it's been a bad season. You got last week and then you get this Taseom Hill game. Like that's a memory. I feel like that. People went to that game will remember the Taseom Hill game for the rest of their lives in a bad season.

And that's about as much as I could have hoped for in a Saints Browns matchup at this point in the year. I can attest to that in 2010. The Browns went to the Superdome and David Bowens picked off Drew Brees twice and took them both back for touchdown. So it does linger in your mind. This was a classic, all right, first I have to say this real quick. Okay, I am a noted, and maybe I keep this under the covers a little bit, I'm a noted Tayson Hill hater, just because I don't like it when people's names get thrown into flashpoint topics that are then circulated and recycled over and over again.

So to see Tayson Hill go bananas against the brown, aren't we? Aren't we in the post? Yeah, you would think that would upset me. But Tayson Hill's role has evolved. We're no longer flirting with the idea of him being the full-time starting course. quarterback, and that interception would show you why. He is still a very threatening ball carrier, and he ran through those Brown's arm tackles like it, who was the easiest job in the world.

He was fantastic today, and Drew Brees, or not Drew Brees, Derek Carr, excuse me, was also fantastic for the most part. A couple of really good games for him. I mean, the Saints, look, I'm not going to buy in and be like, oh, they're turning it around, but it's nice for them to have a couple of really good positive weeks under Darren Rizzy. And this time, they did it without a clogged toilet, so good on the janitor as well. James, after the game, was caught on video,

just going up to hug his old teammate, Taysam Hill, and just said, you are amazing, man. And he did it with a look in his eyes like that. That was, like, that was JC right there. Like, that was, he was praying to Tasem Hill. After the game, he said, when you're playing against one of the best all-time athletes, the NFL has ever seen, you have to come with it.

He was prepared and he did a great job today. And I do think there is something to that Tasem Hill's teammates are always like, man, this guy is amazing. Like, what he's at practice and everything. And so you just appreciate the Taysam Hilliest game of all time. Literally. And you questioned the Taysam Hill deep shots. I think they'd heated it.

Like the Browns getting that Taysam Hill interception had the secondary salivating to the point where it's like, all right, we got to buckle in here because Tassum's throwing the rock. And that was it. The two attempts, one completion for 18 yards, and then the interception as well. But 138 yards on the ground. Tassum Hill averaged 19 yards of carry. the pass is such a factor where it's like we don't want to get beat by Tayson Hill

so yeah have them go in there and throw a pick otherwise you know keep balls away from Alvin Camara where the defense is thinking that it's a give but no it's Tayson it's Tayson every time why wouldn't it be? I'll never forget with our great friend Chris Wesleyan who this studio is named after

after that Vikings Saints playoff game and him just standing on the table and saying Taysam Hill was the best player in that game. He was the best athlete. He was the best player. And I was like you back then.

I was getting sick at Taysam Hill before it even happened. I was like, this man had six touches. Can we calm down on the Taysam Hill of it all? And now here he is 34 years old and he's somehow better than ever.

They use him better than ever. Clint Kubiak with a nice game plan. I mean, look, if Valdos Scatlin is getting a 70-yard touchdown every week. I mean, and Derek Carr, it only had six incompletions

against pretty good secondary, 148 yards and two touchdowns. And your number one receiver other than Valda Scantling the last couple weeks is Kevin Austin and your winning games in the NFL. I'm giving you a lot of credit, Darren Rizzi. Let's go. Let's go Rizzi. Oh, also, Dante Pettis almost had a punt return for a touchdown, but half of his foot stepped

out barely, which is why they said didn't step out of bounds that time on the hill run. That would have been cool, too, considering all the places he's been in his NFL career. It's a bunch of people he could root for. Low moment for the Sifansky era, 2 and 8, the defense, maybe close. lapsing a little, you know. Maybe. If you started James and fantasy, you're like, wait, they had a bad day. I mean, he had $3.95 and two touchdowns, but it's pretty dark for your, for your

Browns. Yeah, not much good to say about them. The tackling crumbled on the back end and their offenses still are off. I mean, James did a good job. Like if week one for James's first start against the Ravens was like the high point, like the productive side, you're going to get a lot touchdowns out of him. And then the second start was all the bad parts, which is all the. turnovers, the three picks. This is like right in between.

You know, like, did enough to lead a couple touchdown drives, couldn't convert in the fourth quarter in a close game. Defense doesn't do its job. And next thing you know, you're down 21 points with a few minutes left in the game. Well, we've been talking all season. How many teams have two or three losses this year right now? It's nine different teams. Cleveland is in third place in Tankathon at 2 and 8. The Saints now, after a couple wins at 4 and 7. Who knows? Maybe the NFC South is up for grabs. Let's go to Tennessee, where the Titans have been out of the mix and in the mix for that number one overall pick. Darnold, back to pass, hit as he throws, finds Addison over the middle, 2520, near side 10-5.

Touchdown! Jordan Addison with his fourth touchdown this season. It's a 47-yard strike from Sam, the man on the fan. That was Paul Allen on KFAN. Jordan Addison. Feels like he only makes awesome big time catches. He's like the poor man's Devante Smith, but I don't want to call him a poor man's anything

because he's an outstanding. Number two receiver. Vikings win 23 to 13 in Tennessee. Kind of the game everyone expected, really. Like nothing too crazy, right? But they're in control, but it's not like a crazy ball. Maybe I'm wrong, Patrick. Well, I was just thinking, because coming off of that dreadful game by Sam Darnold,

we had the turnovers. He actually injures his hand trying to make a play after one of his own turnovers against Jacksonville. Now he's another game against an AFC South opponent where I think this game was better than Sam Donald's stat line. He was 20 of 32 for 246. Got the ball to nine different receivers. That touchdown that we heard there, the touchdown to Jordan Addison with pressure around his feet, He had a 141 quarterback rating under pressure in this game.

Pressured on 32% of his dropbacks. He was good in the pocket and had a couple of throws on the run where we didn't necessarily know what we were going to get from this Minnesota Vikings offense. I think it was a bounceback. Of course, Justin Jefferson had a solid game. And then on the other side, the Titans had a few big plays go the other way. It wasn't just that Jordan Addison touchdown.

Calvin really had a 51-yard touchdown called back due to a late illegal shift that really didn't have anything to do with the play. There was also an unsportsmanlike call on Coach Callahan because they got an unnecessary roughness on a third in goal that actually gave the Vikings a first and goal at the one yard line

that you could say that the contact wasn't to the head and neck area, it was a shot to the chest. He lost his mind after that, got an unsportsmanlike, Donald scored on the next play. So there are spots here where this Titans team showed a little bit of fight. Yeah. But just the same type of mistakes that has them

with the record that they do. They also had a 98-yard touchdown, and there's been so few moments to hear from Mike Keith on this show all season. I have not heard this call, but if you're going to give me a 98-yard Titans touchdown, I'm going to listen to it.

Six men set to rush. Levis, from his end zone, firing deep downfield for Westbrook. He's got it. It's 40, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5, end zone. Touchdown. Titans, the longest touchdown pass of the year in the National Football League.

Just went 98 years. And put that on the calls of the year list. That was my Keith of WGFX. A man whose voice is so distinctive, shook. Somehow Walker, my son knew it. Like, I heard him say, like, while playing. Madden touchdown Titans I was like wait you know Mike Keith that is amazing but he's like watched enough of like the highlights videos on

NFL that he knows it so a little bit of levity there for for the Titans and Levis has been better by the way since he's been benched if you want to look for some positives yeah yeah he's he's slowly getting back to where you know they want him to be I think anybody who roots for quarterbacks wants him to be because you see the potential there in between now I am now kind of rooting for a 99-yard Will Levis touchdown pass, just so I can hear yards one more time. Yes,

that was what did it for me. I love that. Yeah, credit to Darnold for having a good game on a day where they couldn't run the ball. A little bit concerned, I think. Aaron Jones, and when it was Cam Acres too, that wasn't working either, but Aaron Jones is kind of, and their running game hasn't been really working well. That might

be where they missed Christian Dar esau as well, not just in the passing game. So on a day like that, to be able to cruise and be a efficient and obviously have Brian Flores do his whole thing. That's huge. They're eight and two. Only one loss behind the lions here. And Kevin O'Connell, you know, feeling a little chesty after the game. I'm old enough to remember when nobody thought we were very good. So the same way that I answered that question, I'll answer it now. We just got to continue to get better and prove.

Eight and two means absolutely nothing. Name names, KOC. Put them on blast. Yeah. Who is? it? And eight and two does mean something. It means you're very likely to make the playoffs based on your schedule. And that you absolutely have a chance. Like we talked like, oh, the Eagles, do they have a chance at the ones? It's like, I don't think the Vikings are going to get there. But they're literally just one game back. And we have some head to head coming up. So they absolutely could do it. Big time job by the Vikings. They did what have good teams do, which is they've taken care of business all season long and beaten the bad teams. And they had this little. run against the three bad AFC South teams, and they beat them all. Like, a couple were ugly. Colts and Jags, Titans, you went on the road. Good job by them.

Speaking of a, you know, a mismatched NFC North versus AFC South matchup, we're going to go to Lions and Jaguars next, but before we do that, we're just going to say goodbye to Patrick Claibon because Kevin Patrick, coming at you, is going to do a couple

games with me, and then Shook, you'll come back with me to finish up with Sunday night football. Patrick, I hope we've brightened your mood since this all starts. Oh, it's always bright. It's always bright. What is life without football? And if not for the losses, we couldn't appreciate the wins. Oh, wow.

That really does Buddha-like. Let's go to Detroit. Golf up under center turns, takes to give the Jemir, throws, end zone. Caught. Havon Ross St. Brown, touchdown Detroit Lions. Golf with a dart. 14 is having a day. 16 is having a day

This whole team is having a day If it's Sunday It's a great call by Dan Miller of WXYT That was the seventh Lions touchdown On the seventh Lions Drive

At the time it was 49 to 6 They close out The Jaguars potentially close out Doug Peterson's career with the Jaguars With a 52 to 6 victory more on Peterson in a second Kevin Patras here

living the good life as a Lions fan is their first eight game winning streak since 1934 I don't know if your grandparents were alive back then they were

my grandparents were yes that's about all I know you know Steve Belichick might have been on that team who knows he was at some point what a team this is before we get to the Jaguars of it all

because that is interesting to me. Like, just explain what stood out the most to you in this version of offensive excellence in terms of their performance. How easy it was. They literally, it was like seven on seven out there for golf. It was hilariously, it was hilarious. Like, every, you knew on third down, second down or third down,

I was like, okay, this is going to be a first down. It was so, it, Amorazin Brown, they could not stop me, 11 for 11 for 161 yards. What? Anytime there was a question mark, it was like, yeah, this is going to St. Brown and it's going to be a first down. They had two of their first three drives. They didn't even get third to third down. They didn't hit one third down and two of their three first drives, touchdown drives.

Like it was it was offensive efficiency at its finest. And the offensive line gets a lot of credit, but they really won this game. I mean, Walker and Heinz had, Heinz Allen had a few pressures, but golf had all day. he could have had three T parties back there and then made a throw, and it would have gone for a first down. They had 38 first downs in this game. I got to admit, I did not see that until just now. I can't imagine there are many teams in the history of the NFL that have ever had 38 first downs. Yeah.

What the heck? It was crazy because, so the last time when they whipped the Titans and they scored 50 plus points, they had a lot of short fields and the defense got turnovers. It didn't happen today. it was literally like 70-yard drive, 80-yard drive, 40-50-yard drive, 65-yard drive, 72-yard drive. It was unreal, 8.5 yards per play. I mean, J-Mo went for 124. Gibbs had 123 scrimmage yards.

I mean, I don't know what David Montgomery was doing, only getting 75 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Like, what a bad day, you know. So it's a franchise record of 645 yards of offense. They are the first team to score a touch. on their first seven drives since the 2007 Patriots. In terms of Lions history, it's the first since at least 1933. They just don't go back that far.

There are just so many different stats you can come up with. That many yardage is a lot of fun. And Montgomery and Gibbs getting it done every week, James and Williams having that moment where he spins and he has the 64-yard touchdown. That's his second receiving touchdown of over 60 yards. it's just awesome they are a historic group Kevin and just before we get to the Jaguarian and I'm not going to ask you this each time we have you on to the Alliance team but just at this

moment in time I just do want to know what it's like to be a Lions fan and the people around you and everything like that it's it's insane like as lines like the the mentality has always been like okay we're going to probably lose this week but if we win it's fun and just talking of friends and stuff like now it's like no we're winning like there was no question walking into this game and like the the jaggs kicked a 59 year to field goal on the first drive and it felt like the jv like golf clap you know jv scoring on the varsity team golf clap going on like okay you had your fun and now the real team's gonna get the ball and just going to march down the field it was it was it was a mismatch that you rarely see on NFL level usually when there's a blowout

there's folly from the other team it was just poor play on one side and awesome execution on the It sounds crazy, but I actually am glad that they had this sort of performance just because the last couple of weeks that Titans game was weird. Their offense didn't need to do anything, but they really didn't do that much. And then the Texans game, you're a little off kilter. If you're playing a defense, this bad, Ryan Nielsen, man, this. It's bad. It's so bad. So let's get into the Jaguards of it all. First of all, or lastly, Alex Anzolone could be out six to eight weeks with a broken forearm, which could put him back for the playoffs. So that's disappointing for. the Lions, but they could get him back for the playoffs. So, man, they've had a lot of injuries. Zadaria Smith also played in this game and apparently looked pretty good. He was pretty solid. He led the team with four pressures and had

a half a sack. It was solid for a first performance, I would say. He definitely brings something to the lineup, but they're just, they're still going to be a work in progress up front. That's just how they're going to be the rest of the year. The Colton Pouncey, who does a great job, the athletic and has a podcast you guys should check out. He

said this thing a couple times, and he keeps repeating, which I think is true. When you have safeties that hit like linebackers and cover like cornerbacks and, you know, and catch the ball like wide receivers, it's like you're going to go far. This safety tandem is absolutely electric. Brian Branch is a defensive player that you're candidate. Okay, let's get to the Jaguars. I was really bothered, excuse me for a second, to rant, Patra, by the reports that had

been building for weeks, frankly, that Peterson could get let go after this game. and if you just watch around and you listen to what reporters are saying and different little whispers and stuff, I just was seeing it pick up. And then it was really picking up last week that like, well, this could be his last week. And then our national reporter Ian Rapporte, who's doing a good job reporting this. It is no shame, no slight to Ian. But basically reports on Saturday night that this could be Peterson's last game, which if you really dig down deep into it, it's like Doug Peterson knows. going into this game, he's going to get fired after this game. And that does bother me.

And people can say, well, he's a millionaire and he's doing a bad coach. And so it's like, yeah, but that's why bad organizations stay bad. It's like, you don't have to let all this happen. And if you're doing it, just do it. Don't tell everyone that you're going to fire the guy for weeks on end because these little whispers don't get out there by accident. So the team went into this game, kind of knowing their coach was getting to get fired. Doug Peter, that's, this is what I believe. He hasn't gotten fired yet. So we'll see. Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I suspect he's going to get fired. I'm going to continue ranting here. And like, this is the same organization that also thought it was smart to hire Urban Meyer. You know, this is the same, uh, organization that I, like,

they've made so many mistakes organizationally over the years that they thought, it was a good idea to keep Trent Balke, for instance. We'll see if Trent Balke keeps this job. The reports are they might still keep him. There's a report from pro football talk that it could be a Trent Balke that stays there with Bill Belichick. Balkei was there with Urban Meyer. You just can't kill this guy.

The guy who picked Trayvon Walker over, Agent Hutchinson. Like, come on. Right. Right. Look at the trajectory of these two teams that just played on the field. They were both one and two in the draft. One's dominating and the other just floundering now. went the other way.

There was actually an article in the athletic before the start of the 2020-3 season comparing these two organizations as two teams that have rebuilt and like which organization is in a better spot. Right. Yeah, because the Jaguars are coming off that strong end to their season with Trevor Lawrence.

And now like, the whole way it went down just to me shows why bad organizations stay bad. And yes, I'm trying to think of like the other way that they've blown things lately. and it's just not even worth it. But anything you want to say about the Doug Peterson era,

because I think it's over. It is certainly over. I mean, the defense is ridiculously disappointing at this. I mean, they switched to coordinators this year. All the talk off season was how they're going to be more physical, and they just got blown up. Like, there's three games started with teams with that scored touchdowns on their first five possessions.

Two of them were the Jags that gave that out. The bills in week three, and then today. and the Cowboys against the Saints, the Saints put it on the Cowboys. So those were the three games and two of them came against the Jags D. Like it's, and then Mack Jones, I mean, what is there to say? He couldn't keep the ball in bounds to save his life. Like he had a couple of deep shots that he could have connected on and they were five feet out of bounds. Okay, let's listen to Peterson after the game, asking, you know, asked if he's coached his last game.

You know what? I can't, I can't control of that. and, you know, listen, I've been around this league a long time, and, you know, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen, obviously, but at the same time, I still have a job to do, and that's to, you know, get ready for a, you know, a good division opponent here in two weeks. Yeah, they have a buy, and don't expect it'll be in coaching afterwards. It'll probably be Mike McCoy. great career with Philadelphia, getting a Super Bowl championship.

Probably the last time we'll see him as a head coach, good guy. We'll see if he decides the coach again in the NFL. Let's go to a Jets team, which already changed their coaches, but trying to keep their season alive against the Colts. Third and goal for Indianapolis, they are five for 14 today on third down. This is big. Riches the amount of the gun. He's going to take it off left edge.

Take it, take it. Cutts into the end zone. He's his way into the end zone. Touchdown. Anthony Richardson, his second rushing touchdown today. And the Colts with the score right there. Lead 28 to 27 with 46 seconds to go. That would be the final score.

That was Matt Taylor and Rick Van Turrey, WFNI. Yes, Anthony Richardson needed two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to come from behind and get a victory to keep his team in the wild card mix. And you know what? He did it. Maybe the best day of his career. And yes, it helps that the man can truck stick a defender on the goal line, had a touchdown earlier in the game.

That was very impressive to get the Colts out to a 10-0 lead. The Jets look dead in the water for most of the first half. Didn't have a first down until, you know, two minutes to go. but they actually come back and lead this game 24 to 16 before the Colts stormback. Kind of a fun game, KP. I mean, you changed the assignments. You wanted this game and you got a good one. I did.

Yeah, it was started out, the Colts started out strong, you know, 13 nothing. And Anthony Richardson made some, his second pass was one of the worst short screens you'll ever see. And it was kind of like, oh, gosh, are we back to this? And then that by the third drive, he settled in and he made some very, very, very nice throws like darts over the middle i think he was like 66% completion percentage which for him is ridiculous awesome compared to what he has 44% coming into the day uh so he had career 272 yards two past two touchdown passes two runs and his he's such a threat in the red zone dude like that's what that's where he makes a difference like he's josh allen would but bigger like

he's just so physical like you cannot stop that run that you showed you cannot stop that I don't care who you are you're not standing him up so he played with a lot more calmness than we've seen like before he went to the bench like I really wondered early when he made a couple missed throws whether he was going to just keep getting scatter shot and he really calmed down I think that's the part of the game that they wanted him to to work on the mental part and he really did settle down now their offense went in the tank a little bit they couldn't run the ball but he when they needed it he made the throws he made a few darts over the middle like when he throws his fastball it's it's great it's

awesome like over the middle to josh downs is perfect i would throw that that pass like 20 times a game for like that 15 yarder it's it's great and occasionally he can throw with a little bit of touch he almost overshot downs who's just one of the best hands catchers in the league who made a really great over the shoulder catch he ends up with five for 84 and a touchdown on five targets so uh josh down's fantasy owners like me out there maybe there is life uh here with anthony Richardson. He had gotten most of his yards with Joe Flacco. And then the whole shot that Pierce threw to Pierce, I mean that Richardson threw to Pierce on the game-winning drive was just a thing of beauty over Soss Gardner. Soss Gardner's really been struggling,

whether it's in coverage, giving up some plays here to Downs and to Pierce, not great tackling. But that was just a beautiful throw. Richardson finishes 9 of 12 on throws over 10 yards, according to next gen stats, that's the fifth highest percentage on throws over 10 yards of any quarterback all year with at least 10 throws in the game. So like it couldn't have gone better.

This was a good feeling victory for them. He'll miss some short stuff. But when he has, his fastball is that 15-yard dart. Like, just let it rip and he can do it. Yep. And this is the type of game we wanted to see when the beginning of the year started. This is the game we thought.

He uses legs. He had 10 rushes for like 30. 40 yards, two touchdowns, and then he mixed in some good, good intermediate throws. You know, Shane Steichen after the game looked so happy, so relieved. It just like exactly what they want. Now, they have the Lions next week, and they have a tough game in Denver after they're by in about three weeks. So this team still has a pretty tough road to the playoffs at five and six. So they do have a bunch of games where they'll be favored, Patriots, Giants, Titans, and Jaguars.

So they could get to eight, nine wins, something like that. But I just think this game, the way they won it, and the point of the season it was at is going to calm everything down, really important for them. And so happy for them. And 80 Mitchell is starting to make plays the last couple of weeks, too, which is great. Let's flip it to the jet side.

There was like a Bronx cheer in MetLife when they finally got their first, first down with 1.45 left. And then they got it going, Patra. but ultimately they're one in five since they made the coaching change from Robert Sala. And one of the reasons I think they lost this game is Ulbrick and his game management situations, not deciding to go for it on a fourth and two, not going for a two-point conversion. Two decisions with Aaron Rogers not so subtly criticized at the podium. I'm sure that's going to get a lot of run in New York.

Yeah, the fourth and too late, to kick the field goal to go at five like that's proven to be one of the worst decisions you can make just let it be three or just go for it and try to put the game away like the bills did um but he also went for it at fourth down earlier so i don't like the the thing coaches that i hate with some coaches it's pick a strategy and stick with it be aggressive or don't be aggressive the wishy washingness gets you burned every single time so like yet they couldn't get a first down to save their lives i was literally found myself yelling at the tv like what are you doing because they were it was an amalgam of poorly blocked runs awful passes from rogers

he was like so scattershot earlier like behind garrett wilson by like four feet like he's he's cooked man wild it was wild and then they calmed down and breese hall made uh but got them back in the game basically at the end of the half with a great run a catch and run uh but but rogers he's he just doesn't have it his a dot had to be so I didn't look it up, but he, he had 29 pass attempts. Four of them were over 10 yards. Four of them were over 10 air yards. Right.

Of 29 pass attempts. That's ridiculously bad. Yeah, it was a 4.2 average yard per throw. And yeah, you can see the difference between him and Richard said, Richardson average 9 per throw, which for him is actually quite low. So that means he's getting under control. But, yeah, Rogers is cooked. You can see the plays mentally, and you can see the positive plays. athletes age poorly,

it's that, yeah, you can make the play sometime, but you can't make them consistently, and he's playing without a lot of confidence. He wants to clear his head during their by. They're at 3 and 8. I mean, their season has been over, but it's extra over now at 3. And 4 straight games without a 300

yard passing day in 2020, 3 and 4, like, or 22 and 4. Like, that's a long time in this day and age to go without a 300 yard passing game. If they had a developmental quarterback, this would be the time that they would go to it, but they don't. So you do wonder if these are the final days of Aaron Rogers in the NFL. We can talk about that later in the year.

But first, we've got to talk about Sunday night football. Thank you, Kevin Patra. Appreciate it, guys. Straight from Detroit. Enjoy, you know, all your newfound success. The tigers have a fun season. The lions are a juggernaut. Even the Pistons are winning some games.

We're getting close. They look like a good young team. All right, let's go to SoFi Stadium across the street. Burrow taps his helmet takes the snap they bring an extra body to rush he throws to the end zone it's in the air

and it is incomplete Chargers win the Chargers win 3427 Derwin knocks it down That was our friend Matt Money Smith on K-Y-S-R

Chargers hold on for a wild 34 to 27 victory in one of the longest games of the season that ended in regulation. That thing took three hours and 40 minutes in one of the craziest games that we've seen all season. Chargers blow a 21-point lead in the matter of minutes in the second half. They're charging the hell out of this. But you know, it was stronger, Nick Shook. As we finish off this fun week 11 recap, the 2024. Bengals, we need a nickname for them because here's what they do each and every week.

Their offense plays fantastic. Joe Burrow has MVP quality stats, but the rest of the team comes up short and in the end, it's often the Bengals offense that has a chance to put the game away and Joe Burrow and his guys can't get it done either with a little help from Evan McPherson. The Chargers escape. They are seven and three, and the Bengals are buried. Yeah. Oh, maybe that's nickname right there, the buried bangles, because they can't dig themselves out of the hole they've put themselves in. I mean, Joe Burrow tries as hard as possible to dig them out almost every week. You know, there was a period in this game when they were still down 21 points, and he got hit on a third down where he got blasted from like two different directions, and he like hits the ground

and lays there for a second, was slow to get up. And I wondered, is that the hit that sat the last like desire, like burning desire to win out of Joe Burrow? Is this the moment where he just gives into the fact that the team around him and the way this season's going, you just can't overcome it. And then he comes out and throws three touchdown passes and they tie the game and they get in field goal range twice

to potentially take the lead. And then his kicker lets him down and he tries all the way to the end and they lose another one. Yeah, let's start with that comeback. So it's 27 to 6 early in the third quarter after a short field goal drive

by the Chargers puts it at that level. At that point in the game, Justin Herbert's absolutely dealing. He's getting protected very well. Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offense are a little bit of a mess. They have six total points in their first six drives. They have three straight, three and out. So the Bengals' offense, not covering themselves in glory.

Chargers' defense looks so sound. And then the Bengals start getting stops. And the Chargers' offense really runs dry. And the Bengals have a drive where they're they get down close to the goal line, they're down 21 points at the time, and they spend what felt like about 15 plays inside the 10-yard line, and they keep coming up short, and they go backwards, and then they go forwards, and then there's a penalty on the charges, so you keep getting more and more chances. And finally, it's fourth and goal. The game, there's certainly

have no chance to win if they don't get this, and for some reason, Jesse Minner and the Chargers, single up Jamar Chase on the outside with Cam Hart, their rookie, who went out of the game with an injury after this, and they get a touchdown in single coverage on a zero blitz. It's 2713. At that point, there are five minutes left in the third quarter. Roughly seven minutes of game time later and 45 minutes of actual time later, the score is tied. The beggles get a stop.

They hit a fourth and down to T. Higgins who just runs straight through double coverage for a 42-yarder on fourth down. Then Herbert fumbles the ball, and they get it right back, setting up this Jamar Chase touchdown. Let's take a listen. The Bengals will go empty on second down and 10 at the 17-yard line of Los Angeles. Burrow catches the shotgun snap against the four-man rush. He's backpedaling all the way to the 30. throws before getting hit into the end zone. It is caught by Jamar Chase for the touchdown.

And the Bengals are a P-A-T away from a racing a 21-point deficit. And this game, Nick, reminded us, and of course that that's our friends, Dan Horde and Dave Lapham on WCKY. It just reminds us how good they are when they have T. Higgins and Chase. Chase finishes 7 for 75 and two touchdowns. although a costly kind of drop late in the game. T. Higgins, a nine for 148 in a touchdown. He jumped so high on one attempt for one of those touchdowns.

He looks so athletic in this game. Like they are a different team with those two dudes. But I bring it to that point just to point out that like that comeback was so fast and so big. There hasn't been a team that won coming back from 21 down in over a year. Like it's hard to do that. And we still had all this time left in the game. there was like a whole other game that was played after that point. It was almost like they came back too fast.

I don't even know how that makes sense because they got the ball three more times after that, but somehow they didn't score after that because of the McPherson misses and a couple good plays by the Chargers defense. Well, I mean, if you operate with the idea that there's finite energy in a football team, it's almost as if they ran out of gas,

but they didn't. Like they still got in scoring range, but they had to storm back from such a deficit that it did expend a lot of energy. But it also illustrates, again, what we've known about these Bengals all year because this essentially to me was the Washington game. This was both Baltimore games. Like we've seen this from the Bengals. They've been able to a little bit, yeah. They've been able to explode. In fact, there was a third down conversion

that they didn't get where Chase jumped up for the ball and the DB got there at the perfect time. And it was almost like the Cam Taylor Britt, you know, that type of play that set up the field goal for the Chiefs and that loss. And it just kind of tells the story of the whole season for them, which is that Burrow is out there slinging it. He's slinging it to Chase. He's slinging it to Higgins. They're moving the ball. They're putting points up in bunches. It's coming quickly, but they just lack that extra little thing to get them over the hump in so many of these close losses. And what we retreated to was this weird like hot potato of possession between these two teams in the fourth quarter. It's like, you go win the game. No, I don't want to.

You go win the game. No, you go win the game. And neither of them decided to win the game until J.K. Dobbins got in the ends up. Right. There were great defensive plays. And in that breakup you mentioned on Chase, there were a handful of plays that it seemed like they were going to make the Bengals at the end of that game. And it was Christian Fulton who had a big play. It was Tarheeb still the rookie fifth round pick who made the play I think you're talking about. And on one of them, yeah, you give the ball back to Herber with under two minutes to go

in great field goal position at the 41-yard line after the McPherson miss. And they just go three it out, like three straight incompletions, including a pretty bad miss that Herbert had in there to McConkey and you're thinking, well, of course the Bengals are going to get it here and they don't. And that's why I don't know what to say. Like Nick Wesleyan,

I'm in this text thread with the two Wesleyan brothers that I'm closest with, Nick and Phil, and they're making fun of me because I keep pointing out that this season is just like a smidge overrated for Burrow. And I just said, well, based on this season because this was right when they tied the game, I texted back, he'll be sensational, but they'll blow it in the end. And that

that is why it's like a smidge underrated, because I keep seeing Beggles just fans say he'd be the MVP if he was getting help. And I'm like, they've had the ball with a chance to win on offense and Joe Burrow and their offense to go make the place to win it five times. And they've won no times. The question though, because I know it's the rest of the team that's partly putting him in there. I'm just saying this team has loserish vibes. It's combined. Like even the way this game started, the offense somewhat put the team in position by playing so bad. They just keep finding ways to lose. Burrow might make my all pro team in the end.

Like, I don't know, but you can't say like he would have an MVP season. He's been part of that just because they haven't been able to close an offense. Sorry for Randy. Yeah, no, but I think the good outweighs the bad. And I think about some of those possessions that didn't produce points in the fourth quarter. Like some of the, even the past record that I'm just talking about. He puts it on this guy. He put it on his guy a few times.

I think he missed Yoshivas once deep. Like, other than that, I can't really think about a ton of. mistakes. Somebody tweeted. He had the interception that was overturned by penalty. That one. That's what it was. Somebody tweeted. Other than that, he was just about perfect. Exactly. And that's who he is. It's just that like the loserish mentality is all around him. And I'm not, you know, trying to completely defend him. But it feels like he's the only one that's like pushing them forward. It's him and Jamar's riding along with him. And T. Higgins, when he's healthy, has been there. And it's just like so painful to watch as a football person to like sit back

and see this guy's playing tremendously for the most part. He has to overcome so much and yet they fall short again. So he'd be on my all pro team for sure. Absolutely. Like no doubt, slam dunk, but they're four and seven. Well, that's top. That's top two, though. So at this point, he wouldn't be because, you know, I would, I would have Lamar and Josh Allen definitely ahead of him. But he's been sensational. Don't get a twisted. I don't want to get too distracted on like picking nits there. I do want to give some credit to Herbert and the Chargers as a whole because ultimately they were charging, but it didn't end as if Brandon Staley was the coach in the end somehow. Maybe that is the difference. And ultimately, you do build a 21 point lead because of the

reasons that they are better than the Bengals on balance this year. They protect their quarterback well. The Bengals' offensive line did not play well at all. Joe Burrow made so many plays escaping pressure. And so Herbert was dealing in part because he was protected well. And then at the very end, even though they weren't getting much done in the second half offensively, at the end, It was the combination of two dots by Harbor on that final drive and then the setup to J.K. Dobbins. Let's listen. I bet Matt Money Smith had a fun call for this one. I have not heard it yet. Let's listen to Dobbins. Take the lead with 18 seconds left. It's Dobbins and Matlock. Hand off to Dobbins. And there goes Dobbins.

Had his horse to the 20, to the 15, to the 10 into the end zone. Touchdown. Chargers. 29 yards. J.K. Dobbins, with 18 seconds left. Oh, great call there by Matt Money-Smith. Yeah, that was a part of the game you thought. Maybe go down, Gus Edwards, go down. But you can't blame him flipping into the end zone,

56 yards on the ground for him. They were quiet running the ball all day. McConkey ends up with 123. He's really turning into that dude. But Dobbins and the run game come through. And what a night at SoFi Stadium. a late night. Yeah, and I'm sure the traffic there is insane, but rightfully so.

Two things. Ladd-McConkey, tip of the cap to you, sir, for overcoming a drop on a previous drive when you were wide open along the sideline to make some huge catches on that final drive. He was a big part of that. He's one of my favorite receivers in this rookie class to watch. Has been since the Combine. And number two, shout to Matt Money-Smith,

because you can hear a little bit of trepidation in his voices. He's calling those plays. He's been through the ringer tonight. Yeah. Teams on a roll. Team blows the lead. He can feel the walls caving in. Even on that last throw by bro, it's very calm, very like it throws it deep. And it's, it's, you know, touchdown, you know, then he explodes for excitement. Like, he went through it all tonight. Congratulations to him and the Chargers. Yes. And you're right about the traffic. If you're watching on YouTube, you might notice I'm home now. That's because I got, I got out of there as soon as I could.

because not only is this Chargers game happening and I would have got stuck for an hour and a half after that got out, but there's a Sabrina Carpenter concert right next door and my God, it was insane. It was traffic, you know, paloosa. You know, when you bring in Sabrina Carpenter and you got the clippers over at Intuit,

one block away that way. You got Carpenter on the other side. I squeezed through there like Joe Burrow, you know, a fading that rush, stepping up in the pocket. Third down, stepping up. up sliding for a big gain, yeah. Triple whammy.

Yes, to be at home now. And big win for the Chargers because, yeah, they have the Ravens next week on Monday night football. A lot of Los Angeles during these night games coming up in the final stretch of the season. They also have at Kansas City in a couple weeks. So that was a big one to pocket

just to make sure they feel like this is a different Chargers team, different season. And yeah, it would have been a more fun season. I think if the Bengals were a little closer to end the mix. not totally writing them off at 4 and 7. I just, you can't quit this team. One of the best four and seven teams we have ever seen. One of the best week 11s we've ever seen, Nick Shook. Appreciate you, man. Oh, appreciate you as well. And I'm pulling for you Bengals fans. I'm sorry

that you've been through all this, but there are brighter days ahead, hopefully. We'll see. Okay. We will be back Monday night football. Nick Shook, we're going to have to cook up some fun segments or something a little extra if this Texans Cowboys game doesn't deliver. for Nick Shook and Eric Roberts, Patrick Claibon, Chris giving us a lot of help. Yeah, when Jake A Dobbins is showing NFL daily guests, get it done in the end. You know football is back. See you Monday night. Hey, everybody.

Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to 6, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL. to evaluate team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sundays.

Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.