NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - NFL ATL: Week 17 recap

Episode Date: December 30, 2013

A room full of heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, Chris Wesseling and Kevin Patra -- recap all of the Week 17 action including the “Sunday Night Football” matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Don’t miss the key takeaways and analysis from each game. Join the conversation on Twitter: @NFL_ATL or #NFLATL.Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the League podcast is wary of shadowy league figures. Welcome back to another edition of the Round the League podcast. My name is Dan Hansis, and I'm joined by a room filled with a fair amount of heroes. Chris Wessling and Mark Sessler. What up, boys. Hey, Dan. What a day it's been for you, Dan, especially, but all of us.

For me especially. What did I miss? No. No, what a day indeed. First of all, Greg Rosenthal is downstairs. It is a special night. It is Sunday night of Week 17. There's so many things going on, so many things in the air,

especially including what's going on with Mark Sessler's Cleveland Brown. So Greg had to stay downstairs, so we're manning the ship. I am back from New York, and I got back just in time because right in front me, Mark Sessler is wearing an extra large number 15. official Tim Tebow jersey tucked into his jeans as per the terms of the bet

tied into the week 16 Brown's Jets game Mark you're a man of your word congratulations you put a clown suit on Mark I didn't mean to it was just a bet you know I would have been wearing a weed in jersey but Mark thank you

well listen and I you know I sit next to Wesleyan in the newsroom and I see the look of jealousy in his eye that I get to wear this for the first time ever. It was yours as a wedding gift. I had to pull the tag off of it. So it's not been getting a lot of use by you. It's not jealousy.

It's pity. Poor Mark. He's fine with wearing the jersey. He looks good. He's got a nice dress shirt on underneath. He's really pulling off the look. Contrary to expectations. But every sad sack in the building has to come up and ask him about it.

Why are you wearing a Tim Tebow jersey? It has been slightly distracting. And we're going to get into it because this on multiple levels is and it's been a tough sledding for any Browns fans over the last 30 years, but especially since 99. Today we'll go down as another dark factory of sadness type situation. And Mark, we're going to get into it. But let's start with the teams that, and don't take this the wrong way, that matter.

Let's go through first the AFC. The AFC schedule, playoff schedule was released. We're going to mix it up a little, and NFC, excuse me, for the first two rounds of the playoffs. We're going to mix it up a little of this. week since all games were divisional. We're going to go through all of the AFC and then take a look at the playoffs. Then we'll go through the NFC. Let's start in Cincinnati where Andy Dalton threw for two touchdowns, ran for another

and set a pair of Bengals passing records, Bengals. Bengals on Sunday leading Cincinnati to a 3417 win that eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Mark, the Ravens lost their last two games, finishing 8 and 8, and they become the 15th Super Bowl champion that failed to. reach of playoffs the following season after winning a title and the sixth in the last 12 years

tell me about this one well you mentioned that Dalton threw two touchdowns but he also tossed four interceptions and you know this game if anything at home Cincinnati is a rough deal for an opponent and

to imagine that a team can throw four interceptions and still win by 17 points this is more of a complete team than they were in the two seasons. There's no question. They've got, listen, Tyler Ifer, it wasn't on the field today. Neither was Germain Greshon. That's a huge chunk of the way that they move the ball as their tight ends.

These guys don't have to play a Saturday morning playoff game for the first time in two years. Yes, the Bengals, after playing three of the past four years on Saturdays of Wild Card weekend, they have the 105 p.m. Eastern game. The Chargers at Bengals, that will be a CBS game. That's interesting. I just, you know, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't think Cincinnati is a team that's going to lose that playoff game at home. But Dalton,

I mean, again, they've found a way to win around him, but that's going to catch up to them, obviously. They're all growns up. Are they? They've graduated to Sundays. That's awesome. No, this is the most Bengals outcome possible. They win the game convincingly, and they still

don't know if they have a quarterback. They can win in the playoffs. Right. Right. Marvin Lewis said last week, or a few days ago, look, Andy Dalton's going to get criticized until he wins a playoff game, and we know that. After the game today, reporters asked him about Andy Dalton. He immediately changed the subject to talk about the entire team.

Andy Dalton is the elephant in the room. Four interceptions, and it's not just that he's throwing interceptions. They're awful throws. Bad decisions. These are the worst kinds of interceptions that he's throwing. Put a little on Jay Gruden, too, on a first and goal from the one. Apparently, they had to throw a pass that was picked off. If you know the guy maybe is not someone that you could trust at that level,

give the ball to Joe Bernard. let him take care of business. It is a little bit of Gruden, and it's a little, you know, Dalton's done this before. He had picks on back-to-back drives. I remember a lost Browns-Bengles game earlier in the year, which since he won, but Dalton sabotaged them with these ugly throws. And you're right, it's on Dalton because his passes, his decisions are a mess. And let's just put the Ravens to rest.

This is a little surprising. At 8 and 6, you would have thought that maybe they were the favorite, and they ended up going 8 and 8. It just didn't work out for him this year. Yeah, I mean, Flacco did not look healthy last week. I didn't, I'd have to go watch more closely what happened today, but since his defense put heat on him and he didn't look comfortable the entire time. Andrew Luck threw for 282 yards and one touchdown.

Robert Mathis reclaimed the NFL Sacks lead and Adam Vinitieri joined the 2000 point club Sunday as the Colts routed the Jacksonville Jaguars 30 to 10. The Colts, the AFC South champs have now won three straight. That matches their longest streak of the season. And now they move on to the playoffs, where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs at home in the Saturday early game next week. Wes, let me ask you a question. I think that winning that game in Casey, and obviously I'm not going to put too much in routing the Jags, I'm starting to think that the Colts are no longer a complete afterthought, and they can win a playoff game, perhaps be frisky, in January.

Thoughts? Yeah, I agree. This is, they've turned their season around. They have an edge on other AFC teams and that they now have an identity. They've ditched that power running game, and they are now a ball control offense based on the quarterback. It's a short passing game. The rushing numbers look a little bit better because they ran with a huge lead in the fourth quarter, but they passed the entire game.

Ty Wyatt Hilton had career highs in receptions and receiving yards just after halftime. They were throwing to him almost every time, and they controlled the ball, kept the ball out of their, kept their defense off the field. Their defense is allowing less than 10 points a game over the last three weeks. This is a different team. They've dominated. And so it took the cults way too long to adjust out of Pep Hamilton's what he'd like to do. Is there any concern in your mind, though, that when they get into a tight spot in the playoffs,

they're going to revert back to what makes him comfortable? Or have they rethought the way they're going to approach teams from now on out? I think this is a legitimate metamorphosis. Like, they've changed what they're doing. they changed who they are. I think they've realized they can't run the ball like they want to. And, you know, coaches are stubborn. They have these philosophies that they haven't come by by accident,

but through many years of coaching, it takes longer to make a change than we thought. That's why, to me, the most fascinating story of the season was Ron Rivera's epiphany. To me, that just shows I love the open-mindedness to be willing to make a change. We have 32 games of Andrew Luck to look at now. I'll throw it to you, Wes. What would you grade luck's second season, regular season? You know, I give it an A-minus.

I thought his numbers would be a lot better, but I can't kill him for losing Dwayne Allen and Reggie Wayne in an offensive line that was supposed to be upgraded and didn't play any better than last season. You know, A-minus might actually be not even generous enough. He really carried that team. At times, this looked like a three- or four-win team with him doing all the heavy lifting.

I was impressed with him. I still think if I was starting a franchise, I'd probably start with him. I mean, you plug an average guy into this, into quarterback on this team. They're 5 and 11. Yeah. Miami Dolphins were eliminated from the Scramble for the AFC's final wildcard birth Sunday by the New York Jets, who thrived in the role of spoilers with a 27 win in Miami, eliminating handsome Hank's Dolphins and also perhaps a fifth.

saving Rex Ryan's job, although there's been reports that it was already saved before the game. Doesn't matter. The Jets finish 8 and 8, Woody Johnson came out after the game and said that Rex will be back in 2014. Yes. And it speaks to the minds and the hearts of Jets fans that I speak for many Jets fans when I say

that we're really happy about how this season turned out and we're feeling really good and we're in a great mood today. But ultimately it's eight and eight, and it's three straight years of the playoffs. But bottom line, Ryan was the right move to keep him, considering how much change there will be of other coaching staffs this season, what they would have been contending with, that Ryan had them playing hard. That was the right move to me. But let's look at the Dolphins, and here's another team,

eight and six, destiny in their hands, as much as destiny could be in any man's hands. Right, guys? Right, Chip Kelly figured that out on. And they fall in their face in a really gruesome way. I believe they were outscored 39-7 against the Bills and Jets to end the season at 500. I mean, what do we take from the Dolphins? And what does this mean for their coach and their general manager?

This was exactly why I didn't want to see them in the playoffs. They don't do anything well. They're not a bad team, but they don't do anything well. I think they've scored one touchdown in the last three games. This is not a team that's they're not doing anything on offense. and not do anything on defense. I love Ryan Tanna Hill's progression this year. I think he doubled his touchdown total from his rookie season.

There are positive signs. They do have pass rushers on defense. But this isn't a team that strikes you in any way as distinctive. I don't know what they're going to build on. Well, and you just talked about the cults as one of the few AFC teams on the lower rung of the playoff squads that have an identity. Miami had zero identity against the bills last week. And, you know, I thought, oh, listen.

They also had zero points. Exactly. They come out today and they look awful. And it's not all on Tanna Hill, but it's not been a good stretch for him. They were eight and six, and we had a discussion that week about which coaches might be on the hot seat, which wouldn't. You have to look at how much changed over the last two weeks where now it's, you know what? What is this team's direction under Philbin? It's about as uninspiring as you can imagine.

I can't kill Tana Hill. His offensive line is just depleted. He lost heartline during the game, lost Dustin Keller early in the season, lost Brandon Gibson his slot receiver. He's lost a lot over the course of the season. And I think as far as throwing the ball, he exceeded my expectations. He had a good year as a passer. Wes, I know you love either late Sunday night or getting up early Monday and watching game tape.

I implore you to watch what Ryan Tannhill put together today because in this game, he's the reason why the Dolphins. are going on the playoffs. He had a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. D. Milner got burned by Mike Wallace. Wallace is wide open for an 80-yard touchdown. He badly overthrows him. I mean, he hits on that pass.

It's 14-0, and it's probably pretty much all she wrote. As it turns out, he doesn't hit on it. They punt, the Jets score, and it's 7-7. It's a new game. He was missing on throws all day. He was missing high. And I agree. And if you look at his numbers, 23 touchdowns, 13 interceptions.

He was better this season. And he still has a bright future to me. But that's a disheartening way to go down with him no-showing with the rest of the offense back-to-back weeks, right? That's fair. Yeah, that's totally fair. I think you can definitely knock him for two things, his inconsistency, and he holds the ball too long in the pocket. Real quick before we move on, Ireland Philman, in or out, Mark. I think it's going to be one-in-one.

Joe stays. Ireland goes. Ireland's kind of Teflon. I don't think he'll ever be fired. I'm with Mark. Ireland goes. Philbin stays. Yeah. And then Philman gets to enjoy what Rex went through this year. New GM and he needs to prove it. Can we say one real quick thing about Rex?

Yes, because what we talked about before the year was when you get strapped with Gino Smith or just rookie quarterback, an offense with no talent on it. This is Rex Ryan's best coaching job since he's been with the Jets because what he did, he saved his own

job. Right. He really did. And I think it's good for New York that they're keeping him. It shows that Idzik isn't a complete automaton that decided this months ago. It played out as we thought in August. We talked about this. If they go eight and eight or even seven and nine, Rex deserves to keep his job.

I wouldn't have put too much into John Idzik's credit, though. This could have been Woody driven still, which might really tell you where Idzik falls within. That's true. We knew Woody was a Rex guy, but I don't know. At least there doesn't seem to be an overt power struggle there. Agreed. Levyon Bell ran for 90 yards in a touchdown, and the Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive momentarily anyway

by drubbing the lifeless Cleveland Brown's 20 to 7. The Steelers, of course, were in line to grab that six-seat, which would have been a huge upset in something none of us saw coming. However, Chief's kicker, and the game we'll get to a little later, Ryan Suckup, missed a 41-yard field goal that would have beat the Chargers. They end up losing that game. Chargers are in. Steelers dead, and let's get to

Rob Chatsinsky. Mark Sessler, it was reported by Ian Rappap Report that he's been let go. He's been fired as the Browns coach after one season, and now they're starting over again. Not good. No, it's, I mean, it's an epic disaster. You're looking at a team that is about to hire since 1999. It's seventh coach. It's had 20 starting quarterbacks. Zero playoff wins. It's It's a recipe for decades of anguish. But this came out of left field.

They just asked Ian on air, scale of 1 to 10, how surprised are you? With everything that you knew that we don't even know, he put it out of 9. And this is the one I said on the show two weeks ago. No, no, no, listen, he's part of a long-term plan. Hey, guys. Yes, Kay Rich? What's going on? Hey.

Long time, no talk. Hey, Kay Rich. A long time, no talk. I heard Mark alluding to what he said two weeks. go and I got a treat for you guys. It was actually last week. The organization brought Chud in to not just blow it up one year later like they've done over and over and over.

There's absolutely literally no, it's not being written about or discussed because it's already known it won't happen this off season. There's just no question. Boo-ya. Yeah, well, I'm wrong. I mean, but that also is what this morning when we all got to work, that's how, that was the narrative. That's how everyone felt.

This didn't. There were no hints of this happening. That wasn't a pylon move by me, but. the reason we were talking about that. Well, it was, but it was. However, the reason why I asked K. Rich to cut that was because I had brought up in the podcast last week, isn't it a little weird that he was completely under the radar? They were a team that was slipping and sliding down the stretch, heading towards a four and 12. Maybe we shouldn't have been so surprised. And maybe a couple weeks back when we talked about coaches on the hot seat, we kind of, we missed it by not

including Chud, because they were a team in a free fall at four and 12. And that usually leads to someone getting canned, and that's exactly what happened. Why is it so shocking and why is it so disgraceful to dump a guy when the team went in the tank that way? It's shocking because even coaches going into a free fall, like you said, when they're the first year of a new regime bringing that guy in, it's still shocking that they didn't stay with him longer than one year. He was handpicked by this, by Joe Banner and Michael Lombardy.

Right, in a season when, you know, and listen, whether or not they won the Trent Richardson trade, it was clear. they're rebuilding, and they send their star offensive player away early in the year. They saddled Chud with a terrible group of quarterbacks. He's not picking the players. So it is surprising in the sense that should he be put on the hot seat in our eyes because he goes 4 and 12? Yes, but organizationally, the message all along was, we love this guy.

This is the guy we picked. We didn't inherit him like Holmgren inherited Manjini. We're sticking with him. So yes, it is surprising. something that we should have seen 10 days ago when no one else saw it. First of all, this is all even more depressing talking to this. I feel for you, Mark, because I'm a part of a kind of a loser following the Jets, and you are the same way, but only worse, because what happens year after year with your franchise, it's even more depressing

that you're wearing a Jets jersey while this is happening, and that ties back to a Brown's failure as well. It's like working on multiple levels right now. It's very meta. But let me ask you a question, and I'm being vaguely serious about this. How much more can you take? Come to the dark side, Mark. You are a factory of sadness. You go one of two directions. You either get more and more angry and become more hostile and involved in it,

or you become, you know, I'm getting killed week to week because I'm emotionally dead whether Cleveland is winning or losing games. And by the way, I kept telling Greg and you and the rest, they're going to lose this game, and yes, they would. I'm more in the move of emotionally dead. I can't drop them because it's too far gone. As Wested with the Bengals. But he did it at a different point in his life.

It's like, I can't do that. But I'll tell you what, they have and they're going to meet with reporters tomorrow, their brain trust. They've got a lot of explaining to do. And if this is the question, you're going to go bring in someone that's going to blow everyone away, they'd quickly forget about Chitinsky, the fan base. But if you bring in Ken Wisenhunt or you bring in some guy that has a lot of baggage and isn't have a lot of belief in them to begin with, it's going to be tough sledding.

If they bring in Lombardi's boy, Josh McDaniels, can we take a can of spray paint to your Tebow jersey since he'll be quarterbacking for the Browns anyway? He would be. Was that from you? Yes. I thought that was a sound bite. How?

Because I just, it's almost too much for my brain to handle that the day that you wore this Tebow jersey, Chud gets unexpectedly canned, and there is a chance, a actual chance that the coach that replaces Judd could get Tebow and bring up to the Browns. You listen. It could happen. There's too many variables that make my head spin.

My head hurts. It's like, well, we're working. We just have to bang out the copy and follow the news. But when I had to get home, lie in bed and ponder what happened in the last 12 hours, like none of it's, it's all surreal. It's moved into the atmosphere at this point. All right. We'll move on for now.

We're going to be talking about this. Let's say a word about the Steelers. Go ahead, Wes. It's a shame that they're not in the playoffs. I couldn't agree more. They're playing better than any of the AFC contenders for that six spot. Including the Chargers who are in the playoffs, but really have no right to be the way they showed up today.

But go on. Steelers are 8 and 4 in their last 12 games. The only reason they're not in the playoffs, and there's nothing really they could have done about it. Leveon Bell had a foot injury. Heath Miller coming back from a knee injury. In September, they didn't have an offense. if they had the same offense now as they did then

it is a shame they are they look today fantastic levion bell can run he looked as good today as he had all season it's a shame because this team at eight and eight could give anyone in that conference a challenge what if the Steelers did get in at eight and eight and of course the Ravens did not would that mean the Steelers then would have lost their first round pick because of sideline gate and then maybe it's better that they didn't get in I don't think there's any first-round picks involved.

I think there was only late-round picks. I think the whole pick, the sideline gate, they're just keeping, they were trying to keep Tomlin hemmed in about the situation, right? Anyway, Mark, if you want to jump in with more Chud venting, the stage is yours. But just know that we have. Let's move on. There are, you know, listen, there are 12 teams that made the playoffs. Yes, we will.

And there's plenty of podcasts that talk about the Browns. Chris Johnson ran for 127 yards and a touchdown, and what might be and what really almost definitely will be is the final game with the Titans who beat the Houston Texans 1610 on Sunday. Really not too much to get into with this game, but I will say this. That's 14 straight losses for the Texans,

which is just hilarious. And that wraps up. They have the number one pick in next May's draft in which they'll almost certainly take a quarterback, right, Wes? Yeah, I think you have to. They don't have a quarterback on their roster. They're not going to go with Case Keenum. Matt Schaub is probably out of Houston.

They need a quarterback. It's funny. Someone tweeted at me today, and this is not on McNair for saying this, but he sent me an old link to an article that was Bob McNair explaining why he passed on pursuing Peyton Manning and free agency. And it's because Matt Schaub was coming back from his Liss Frank injury. He was 100%. He has a great arm. And they were set at quarterback, and they didn't need to look in another direction. They could fortify their roster elsewhere.

and that did not quite work out. Whoops. LaGarrett Blunt ran for a career high, 189 yards. What? And two touchdowns and had two long kickoff returns. What? As the New England Patriots clinched a first round AFC buy with a 3420 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

The Patriots are 12 and 4. As if we ever doubted, the Patriots would somehow get to that 12 and 4 mark and get that by. They do it every year. And if Greg was here, I would kind of get upset and just moan at how things never change. But you know what, with Greg not being here, let's just keep it between the three of us and K. Rich behind the glass and the audience. Great job by the Patriots this year.

Yeah. I'll tell you what concerns me about New England spinning this forward is, and Greg made a good point. They are greater than the sum of their parts because you've got, Legerred Blount, for instance, is the mark of this team. This guy that no one wanted in Tampa, traded him for a track star that ended up doing nothing, and he's running over people. But the defense, big issues. Thad Lewis is throwing for 8.5 yards per attempt today. The same thing happened in New England last week.

I'm concerned about this team going into the playoffs. Yeah, they've done well. They've had as many injuries as anyone. To key players, and to end up 12 and 4 is almost miraculous. They've done so well. But defense, they keep winning while they're giving up career games to opponents. I don't know. I have no confidence in any Dalton succeeding in the playoffs unless he goes to New England

and plays a passing defense that gets worse by the week. Mark, you say you're concerned about the Patriots, but aren't they on some level? I know with the Patriots, it's almost like the Yankees during their postseason run where they're always expected. If you don't win the Super Bowl, it's considered failure. But isn't it kind of house money? No one's going to get too down on them if they get knocked. out this year, considering all the guys they're missing and how great Denver is this season.

You know, they win a playoff game and get knocked out in the AFC championship game. That would kind of be a success given what's going on with the trust. I think it's probably a good thing that you aren't part of New England's front office with that attitude because they don't think that way at all. And one of the reasons they're 12 and 4 despite all the disaster, other clubs would be 6 and 10 after what happened in New England. They are that well-coached. And whenever you've got Tom Brady running the show,

I think they have to be thinking Super Bowl. They didn't come this far to think anything less. It would be a disappointment. I agree with Dan. If I was a fan and they lost, I agree with it. It's house money. After everything that's happened to them this year, I think it's unreasonable to expect a Super Bowl.

If they get there, that's great. But if you're a Patriots fan, 12 and 4 is in a completely emotionless experience. And the season really starts now, right? Kind of, yes. And I will bring up the analogy again because I am a Yankees fan. And so I do understand how Patriots fans think. This is like the Yankees during their great run of 96 to 2011 or 2012, excuse me, where, yes, they were going to win 95 to 100 games every year.

And while that was an achievement, that really meant nothing. So it's all about the postseason. And there's a certain burden that comes with that. And even as underdogs this year, they'll get heat if they lose. I feel for that fan base. I bet you do. Two things. This is the eighth buy in Belichick's 14 seasons as coach.

And for the bills, they missed the playoffs for the 14th straight year, the league's longest streak. And one last thing, the Patriots will play the late game, this primetime game, Saturday, January 11th of Division Round weekend. Mark and I were at a bar, the cozy inn two years ago. The last time the Patriots played on a Saturday night. That is, and this will be a callback to earlier in the podcast, the death of Tebow Mania. that was the blowout of the Broncos a week after that Steelers miracle. Oh, that was ugly. Moving forward.

Peyton Manning set the NFL single season yards record and threw four touchdown passes to clinch the top seat in the AFC playoffs with the Denver Broncos with a 3414 victory Sunday over the Oakland Raiders. Peyton Manning, geez, one half is all he needed, two quarters to get the yardage record 5477 eclipsing Drew Breezes 2011 record by one yard and also to throw four more touchdowns to get up to 55 on the season

and oh by the way the Broncos clinched the number one seat in the AFC and they have home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs Hey Mark you want to know how to get Dan really hacked off What's hacked off by the way? Just cheesed off you're a little mad you're upset What's hacked off? We keep on going further

into the vortex Your ire has been raised. Okay, I know that one. Your dander has been raised. Something sticks in your crawl. Okay. Okay, I like that one. Ask Dan, who's in the conversation with Peyton Manning for MVP.

Dan, who's in the conversation for MVP? You know, I can't say who it was on Twitter today because it was someone within the NFL media umbrella. And if I were to attack said individual a, a large shadowy league figure would come down upon me with his iron fists so I won't. However, I will say this. Someone tweeted today that Matt Forte

deserves to be in the MVP conversation because he's had a great year. And yes, Matt Forte has had a very nice season. But there is no conversation for the MVP. And you know why? Why? I'll tell you why. Here are Peyton Manning's final statistics for the 2013 regular season.

450 of 659 passing, that's 68.3%. 5,477 yards, that's a record. 55 touchdown passes. Record. Just 10 interceptions, a 115.1 pass rating. This is a line that may never be topped, and I know records always get broken, but this will always stand as one of the greatest, if not the greatest season ever, by a quarterback for the number one seat in the AFC.

this is the biggest slam dunk MVP that I could ever remember. The last time I saw an end-of-season stat line like that was 1993, me playing Super Tecmo Bowl. Who is it, Montana? I think it was Jim Kelly. Oh, Jim Kelly was a great Tecmo ball player. These Broncos playing at a level, listen, whatever, a few bumps in the road earlier in the year, can they be stopped in the AFC West? Sure. By who?

Anybody can have an off day. They don't have a defense. That's true. You just saw them against the Oakland Raiders. Who knows? The Broncos play the late game on Sunday, January 12 of the divisional playoffs. Of course, at Mile High. And last year they had the early game Saturday.

And Rahim already requested, I got a text, not to go any further into that game. But they have the late game on Sunday. And, yes, Manning and the Broncos, amazing season. but kind of like the Patriots, but even more so Manning has to get to the Super Bowl this year, or it's going to be seen as a failure. Well, this is not house money for Denver on any level. This was a two or three-year project with Manning, and you've got to get it done. I agree.

This is totally, this is opposite of the Patriots. You've got to do it this year. The San Diego Chargers ended their three-year playoff drought with a 27-24 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to advance as the number six seed in the playoffs. was a game. Listen, plenty of credit to the Chargers who won four straight games. They were five and seven and dead.

But they also needed two things. They needed the Chiefs sat 20 of 22 starters, including their entire defense. Chargers are playing at home. And this game is over and the Steelers are in the playoffs if the Chief's kicker hits 41-yard field goal. To the Chargers

credit, they wiped out a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter before that suck-up miss, and then they won it in overtime. So, give them credit and winning four in a row including a road win in Denver to keep their hopes alive. They deserve it. But they got very lucky. I mean, they got losses from the

Dolphins and the Ravens and a very lucky win today and now they're in the post season. You're a lot more generous than I am. Credit? Credit? They got a miss field goal by one inch to save them from losing a game at home to

a team benching 20 of 22 starters. They'll get no credit from me. And one of the starters, ironically, was the guy that missed the kick. So it's, you know, you couldn't get more lucky than the charge. Who was the other one? The punter? I guess it was. It had to be, right? Chase Daniel played pretty well. Yes, he did. Making the leap candidate. Quarterback controversy? But yeah, even though I'm happy to see Philip Rivers and his big swinging Bolo in the playoffs, I've kind of lost any excitement for the Chargers as a January football team after watching how

they performed at home today. I'm kind of shocked that they won the game because it's such a classic San Diego meltdown. They will be playing Sunday 105 p.m. Eastern at Cincinnati. Two games that, two teams that nobody's really going to believe in, somebody's going to have to win. And a rematch of the coldest game in NFL history. Oh, give me some history. Well, I don't know, it was 82, I think maybe. Chargers come in, the downfouts, Kellyn Winslow, West Chandler, Charlie Joyner Chargers.

Did Eric Corrielle, lighten up the scoreboard? Chargers spent half the day with their hands in their pockets, those front pockets on those jerseys in the 80s. Bengals offensive line comes out sleeveless for a game that was minus 37 wind chill. Back when Wes actually paid some amount of attention to the Bengals as a fan. I was in love with the Bengals. They broke my heart. Just to go over it again.

Chiefs at Colts next Saturday at 435 and then Chargers at Bangles Sunday at 105, Eastern, all times Eastern. And let's move to the NFC now. We'll start in Atlanta where Cam Newton threw two touchdown passes. Greg Hardy, Cracken had a team record for Sacks and the Carolina Panthers clinch the NFC South title by beating

the Atlanta Falcons 2120 on Sunday. The Panthers clinched a first round by and home field advantage for at least one game and they are the number two seed in the NFC. The team of around the league this year, Wes, how confident

as you feel going into the dance? Not very. It's their offense. I love the way the defense is playing. They will keep them in almost every game they play. Without Steve Smith, and this was big to get him back. We don't know if he'll be back or not or what condition he'll be in. Jonathan Stewart, we don't know when he'll be back.

They're just not moving the ball. They have one of the worst wide receiver cores in the NFL. Cam Newton was sailing passes all over the stadium today. I think Greg said it best When your third and long play is a quarterback draw You've got some major issues on offense I still like Carolina's chance Let's assume that Seattle wins its first playoff game

I still like Carolina's chance Better than the Saints or another team you want to Let us go into Seattle And with that defense Put some heat on Russell Wilson There's no question in my mind right now The 49ers are a better team than the Panthers Well they're more complete team that's for sure

Yes. Aaron Rogers fired a 48-yard touchdown past the Randall Cobb in the final minute, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 3328 to capture the NFC North Championship. This was Rogers back after missing seven games with a broken left collarbone, found a wide open Reggie Cobb on fourth and eight at the 48 to wipe out a one-point deficit with 38 seconds left. This was, I will say, in my opinion, the number one moment in the NFL media newsroom all year. when you hit that pass everybody kind of blew the roof off the place it was only one of four times i got out of my chair all year the other time being about 10 minutes earlier when ryan suckup missed the

field goal wow double chair i was hopping all over the newsroom today who wants to deal with green bay in the playoffs i mean it doesn't matter what the record is going in i mean suddenly you had rogers hitting cob on this huge these are the guys they didn't have all this time how about the Onions on Aaron Rogers. He hits a fourth down conversion to Jordy Nelson. And then with a game on the line, fourth and eight, he gets away from the rush. Buy some time. Hits Cobb in stride.

Game over. Onions, my friends. It's going to be a tough matchup against the 49ers. Very tough matchup. And one thing that would concern me if I was the Packers beyond their defense, which has been pretty poor, Eddie Lacey wasn't cutting like Eddie Lacey comes He couldn't put weight on that ankle He wasn't the same player

James Starks actually looked better than Lacey today That's an issue I don't think we're going to see Kaepernick go run For almost 200 yards this time No neither do I Yeah that I mean that was a game That was Kaepernick's true coming out moment Where all of a sudden

All bets are off as to what that guy could be He hasn't been Although he's gotten better as the season progressed I don't see him all of a sudden becoming that phenomenon again So I think this will be a closer game. But ultimately, the Green Bay defense has let them down in back-to-back playoff years. I'm still a little suspect that they'll be able to get the stops.

Defense just isn't very good. A little shameless promotional plug. Brian Baldinger, NFL Media Zone, not the guy that sent that tweet earlier today. We'll be breaking down Green Bay's final drive in his drive of the week. And you can see that on NFL.com this Tuesday. Should we do some type of post-mortem on the Bears? because this is a devastating loss. And there's a picture that everyone's going to see.

If you didn't see it already tonight, tomorrow, Brandon Marshall face down on the Soldier Field turf, just stunned all in front of them, another team where they had it all in front of them. They lose back-to-back weeks and heartbreaking fashion to a big rival. I just wonder, are we going to, was this Cutler's last game? He played pretty well today. We can't blame him for that loss.

My gut feeling is the Bears' first. franchise tag Cutler and then trade him. I think they have so much work on defense to do. They need bodies all over that defense. They need whatever assets they can get in the form of draft picks, and they need the salary cap space. Cutler will take probably $17 to $18 million a year. You can re-sign a account for $3, $4 million,

and then draft a first-round guy and then fix your defense. That's kind of where I think they're headed. Real Jernigan caught a 24-yard touchdown pass and read 49 yards for another score to lead the New York. Giants to a 20 to 6 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday in what might be and probably will be Mike Shanahan's final game as the Redskins coach don't need to say much about this game right well it was a nice parting gift for Mike Shanahan to sabotage Kurt Cousins trade value yeah so much for the narrative that Kurt Cousins was going to use

these final three games against a soft schedule to create a horrendous uh quarterback conjuracy and maybe it's for the best because it we would have had to deal with that for the entire offseason. I mean, the one thing is that a year ago, Shanahan was edging back into genius territory and doesn't look like a genius today. The Redskins ended the season on an eight-game losing streak, and they are the number two pick in the NFL draft. However, that goes to the Rams to handsome general manager less need.

So guess what, RG3 is if there wasn't enough pressure on him to get right, get healthy, and be the guy he was as a rookie. now that trade is amplified even further of him having to be that guy. He'll return with a furious vengeance in 2014. I like that. You know, so while the lions are dead and gone, and they'll probably have a new coach potentially going forward, it's always fun to get Kevin Patra,

the ATL Chicago correspondent on the line. So why don't we do that? Kevin Patra, are you there from Chicago? Kevin Patra. You know it. coming at you what's up kev how's it going fellas how are you how cold is it where you are right now it's freezing there's ice everywhere why does anyone live there i got sunburned yesterday all right here we go rookie cordel patterson scored two more touchdowns including the go-ahead catch

in the end zone in the fourth quarter and the minnesota vikings beat the detroit lines 1413 on Sunday in the final game at the Metro Dome after 32 seasons, just the minor aside, I don't need to hear anything about the Metro dome. I went to the Metro Dome with my buddy Greg, who's a Vikings fan back in 2006 for a Jets game.

That place is a dump. No one really has any connections with it except for maybe Kirby Pucket fans. It's gone. It's over. It's over for the Metroome. Anyway, so the Vikings and Lions both out of the playoffs. Patrick's season's over. You're happy it's over, I assume. I'm thrilled.

Just how I dreamed it up. Close locks, everything looking like crap. Oh, it was beautiful, beautiful. But here's the good news. Reggie Bush, the greatest running back to ever live. The Reggie Bush hype train rolled straight past the thousand yards for the second time. He did. And Joyne Bell, first R.B. tandem to go 500 and 500 together in the same season.

They have shown promise. Oh, they only combine for 63 yards on the ground today. That's the waymest that's ever heard. It doesn't mean anything. That's the first time ever NFL history record book Jay Joycell is in the record books How about that one?

Congratulations on your 7 and 19 With 2,500 yard receiving running backs I love the lines right now by the way Receiving and run at Russian You had You had Mikkel LaShore Who came out this week And said, I just want to eat

Whoever will feed me the rock Is where I want to be All right, bro, good job with that And then you also had Matthew Stafford this week Was asked about having some type of QB guru to maybe fix his woeful mechanics. He's like, I'm good. No, I'm good.

I don't give it that. Zero determination to improve. If I'm Kevin Patcher, I'm feeling great about the future. That, his whole personality toward all, he did it earlier in the year with not wanting to have a team meeting. It's just nonchalant, and that's kind of frustrating, to be honest with you. And I think that's one reason they need to bring in a new coaching staff to kind of light a fire under him. Well, the answer to all of your problems can't be flipping your hat backwards. Oh, a little do you know

I do it every day answers every question Kevin we will be in touch with you throughout the postseason and then into the offseason we will break down how the Lions will finally get to the Super Bowl but we're going to move on from now not against you but against the Lions and the Vikings who we don't respect at this stage

you shouldn't all right man we'll talk to you thanks Laco that was a shot at staff for not at Patra. Only game featuring two teams that probably or most definitely will fire their head coach. Correct. Let's move on.

Phil Dawson kicked a 40-yard field goal as the game ended to lift the San Francisco 49ers to a 2320 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. That locks in the Niners as the NFC's number five playoff seed. From my perspective, and I, you know, it's silly or whatever, but I've never seen a team that was this good have to work this hard to get to the playoffs. Every other team, look at the Steelers almost made the freaking playoffs this year. The Niners had to go 12 and 4 and they had to earn every one of those wins, but they're in the dance and they're a player. They're the hottest team in the NFL right now. They've won six games in a row.

The offense, you wouldn't even recognize them from early in the year. Kaepernick has gone over a 108 passer rating in five of the past six games. That's sublime. This is the game of next weekend to me. San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers 4.40 p.m. Eastern on Fox, the Joe Buck, Troy Aitland special. I really like this game. And, you know, I think we talked about it a little earlier about Kaepernick, what he's

going to bring. But, you know, there's no reason to think that the Niners can't beat any of these teams in the NFC in their building. They're just built for this type of football. They're shown it the last two years. I mean, are they, where do you guys, where do you rank the Niners right now in terms of power rankings for NFC? If they played on a neutral field, I would have them even with the

Seahawks. Yeah, see, that's the issue for me is that if they're going to deal with Seattle, it's going to be in Seattle that's such a game changer, but, you know, Wes is right. You look at the whole conference and, man, what more does San Francisco need to do at this point to not be as under the radar as they are?

I'm sure they'd love it. Because honestly, all the tensions heaped on Seattle and actually Caroline at this point, and the Niners, you're right, they struggle to get here, and they're much more balanced than they were two months ago. Totally different team. They're a Vernon Davis concussion against the Panthers and an Amad Brooks penalty call against the Saints away from being 14 and 2.

And one quick post-mortem on the Cardinals 10 and 6 this year. That's a pretty good season and a very tough division. One thing I'd say is I think at mid-season, we all kind of figured they'd be among the teams looking for a quarterback in the first round of the draft. I think Carson Palmer's done enough in the second half of the season that they'll be comfortable with him starting next year. I mean, I think they're going to get one, but they don't have to start a guy right away. What an impressive job Bruce Ariens did. I'd still call him coach of the year potentially. Malcolm Smith returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown.

Marshaw and Lynch added a two-yard scoring run. Seattle Seahawks clinched the NFC West title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 27-9 win over the St. Louis Rams. Seattle matches its franchise record for wins in a season, and they get that number one seed after failing in their previous two weeks to lock it down. As Turner Klonizer would say, I believe I had this one. Seahawks win by three touchdowns. You got it. Kellen Clemens throws a pick six.

Come on. You're very excited, Wes. I like when you get excited. Yeah, I mean, that minor hiccup last week aside, I still view Seattle as the big favorite to win this whole thing. And I view the NFCs, it's going to be tough. I mean, the Seattle Seahawks, they play. the early game Saturday, January 11th,

against the lowest remaining seed in the NFC? That's how these things work. Correct. I like their chances to get out of this conference, but... Do you have any concerns over their passing game? Percy Harvin isn't walking through that door. No. In fact, I'm seeing reports that he could be heading towards IR anytime now. Yeah, they went through these funks where the offense looks really bad,

and that is something to watch out for. But I get the feeling that they'll turn it on in the playoffs. I feel confident with my prediction still that the Seahawks will romp at MetLife Stadium February 2nd if that's the date of the Super Bowl. General game. I think you nailed that. Boom.

Hang on the ball. Circle in the bases, Grand Slam. Drew Brees passed for four touchdowns and ran for another score and the New Orleans Saints clinched a wildcard spot with a 42-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Saints will head to Philadelphia to play the Eagles on Saturday night. 8.10 p.m. Eastern on NBC. Guys, we know that the Saints are a team that's great at home,

but they're not going to be at home in the playoffs. Are we taking them seriously in January? You have to take them seriously. It's not like the Eagles have a shut down defense, but Drew Brees had his highest passer rating of the season today. The fourth highest of his career, and my takeaway was it's essentially meaningless. They've averaged 34 points per game at home and 18 on the road.

They're a different team on the road That's an issue Although the Eagles didn't win at home for months to start the season But this is one of the more fascinating matchups Of next week's action I can't wait to see what happens here But I could never rule out the Saints with Breeze At the helm

Especially as West said against the defense That is still discovering who they are, I think Who do you think will be favored in this game? You've got to give it to the Eagles at home In the playoffs? I think the Whoa, wait a second. Seduction Sunday.

Oh, we have to congratulate. I can't believe it took us this long. It was a terrible job by us. Yeah. Cambridge, Brian the Glass, a huge Eagles fan. Eagles all the way. Congratulations, Kerridge. Thank you.

What are your thoughts? I appreciate that. Well, you know, I feel like everyone after this game, they're like, can the Eagles really keep up with the saints? But this is my thing. In our division, these games are always like this. It's always underwhelming more so than what you expect. We expect to this game.

be really good. But when we step out of the NFC East, our games, we put on shows. So I'm looking forward to this Saints matchup. Well, yeah, I mean, there's no reason why we would ever write the Saints off against the Eagles. Because with all due respect, Hey, Rich, I don't think anybody thinks the Eagles are a great team. They have capability to, the capability to be great in spots. But look what they did, their last home game last Sunday night against Chicago.

They just blew the doors off. So I don't know. You wonder if the Saints defense will be. be up to the challenge of playing in that spot. They remind me of Denver in one aspect, not personnel-wise, but the ability when they get hot to just dump

21 points on you in a quick amount of time and close opponents out, if they get hot, that's why they're a total wildcard bizarre team to me heading into the playoffs Philadelphia. My sense is the Saints will actually be the consensus pick to win this game.

We shall see. Going against you guys. I like that. See, that's heat. That's an example of heat. Wes asked what is heat in the last podcast that I was seeing in the studio. He's learning through life experience is what it is now. I hope it's becoming more clear than the AD scales to me. Well, yeah, but the AD scale to you, I mean, this is, I got nothing.

By the way, the boss, the one guy in this room, not in the room, but on our team that picked the Eagles way back when to win this division. Well, let's talk about the Eagles. The Philadelphia Eagles went into Dallas, facing a Cowboys team without Tony Romo, and they got the job done. A 24-22 win. They got the big stop on the two-point conversion at the end of the game. And then this is where it gets a little weird. Cowboys get a stop, get the ball back, first down for the Cowboys. They have to go about 60 yards to get in the field goal range.

First pass, intercepted, Orton intercepted game over. And it really makes you think, first of all, you know, there's no Romo to blame for that pick. It feels like there's ghosts in that building for the Cowboys, which you don't want ghosts in your home building that just opened, ever. Not a good, not a good fit. I think they're just not a really very good football team. Yeah. And listen, Orden played, he did a solid job tonight. Through for the second most passing yards that the Cowboys have had in the game this year.

Hmm. Yeah. I mean, he played, and you could hear it, and Chris, it was funny, Chris Collinsworth was actively rooting for Orton. I think he saw him as an underdog character, and he kind of got behind him. And you could hear in Collinsworth's voice after that interception, because he knew that Orton had just thrown away all that he achieved in that game with that bad pass, threw it behind his receiver, game over.

And, you know, Orton also made the wrong read on the two-point conversion try. He looked like he had Witten open as that might have been the better read. instead of firing it towards Des Bryant, who's covered. But on balance, you've got a really good start out of Orton. And to the Cowboys credit, they at least showed up in this game. But ultimately, the Eagles were the better team and they won the game. Yeah, you want to see the better teams get into the playoffs, and that's what's happened here.

But secondly, I hope that we don't spend the next five, six months in the offseason hoisting up a completely average product that's come out of Dallas for years on end. this is the quintessential average team with an average coach that cannot get it done they're sloppy I do not want to see this team put on six more nationally televised games next year it gets under my skin oh you're going to get it though yeah guess what I know that but that's but again it's the one team no matter how they do we just put them up there we crown them they're a completely mediocre football this is where I disagree with you mark because we have a fundamental record it's they're 8 and 8 but they weekly, and they did it again tonight, they play exciting fun football games to watch.

They get great ratings, and that's what NBC wants. That's what the prime time audience is looking for, competitive games with popular teams. That's why the Cowboys are there. And I will say one thing, Jerry Jones in the box, we've seen it so many years now, the Jerry Jones Disappointment Face. This was the Jerry Jones raging anger, where he actually came up out of his seat, stormed away from his seat, and you could see him shouting in the box. Is Jason Garrett going to survive this?

Yes, I think he will, actually. Really? We'll see. I guess they've invested so much money in him that maybe he does, but I don't. He hasn't earned it. He hasn't. And wait, my argument is that they're average. They're eight and eight for the third straight season under Garrett. I understand that you find them entertaining on television.

I don't disagree with that, but I'm calling them. I'm saying that they are average, and they are a 500 team for the third straight. straight year. I don't know this to be a fact, but they seem to lose an inordinate number of games through clock failures, bad play calling down the stretch. Every time there's a closed game, it seems like they're on the losing end. That's right. The GM's job, safe or in danger? He's in good shape. Infallible. All right, that does it for tonight's podcast. We will be back on Tuesday. Mark, guess what? What, Dan? We have, during January 3rd.

throughout the Po season, we will have different days. I guess one day, Tuesday. We're going to do Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Pod. I like that. Wait, Thursday's different, too. You're all thrown out of whack. All right. So the podcast is Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday through January, which means we will be back

on Tuesday, and that gives us, Mark, an entire new platform to talk about the Browns. Look, I don't think we need to spend another second on that time. You are a factory of sadness. Mark is going to. go through the glass and attack K. Rich. But you know what? I'm taking K. I'm sorry. I'm taking K.Ritch in this. She seems like she'd be feisty.

I'm just going to go home to my house and I'm going to cry. I feel like K.Rich might know Karate. I might. I might, just. And I do not want to fight her in a physical or mental battle. I just, I don't, I'm staying clear of K. Well, you're running on fumes. You've been awake and working for 20 hours now.

I know, Mark. Just go home. That's what we do in week 17. It's true. We're all machines. And, Mark, congratulations. This is the conclusion of both of our fourth seasons at the NFL, regular season. We'll right back at you, Dan. Historic.

That's stupid. Who cares? All right, we'll be back on Tuesday. Signing off, this is Dan Hansis, for the mailman, the sizzler, the boss, you know, in spirit. Kevin Patrick coming at you. K. Rich behind the glass. Until Tuesday. This is an IHeart podcast.