NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - NFL Odd Couples and Justin Herbert Out for the Season

Episode Date: December 13, 2023

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler, and Colleen Wolfe preview the Week 15 Thursday Night Football game and first Saturday slate of games. Before the previews, the heroes get you caught up on news from around the league including an update on Justin Herbert (06:15), the NFL going to Brazil (11:00), Al Michaels getting benched (17:58) and talk about odd couples from around the NFL (23:50). The heroes then preview the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Raiders and Chargers (52:10) and the Saturday games between the Vikings and Bengals (56:03), the Steelers and Colts (01:00:50), and the Broncos and Lions (01:05:55). Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. Struggles through the pressures of fatherhood, but still looks great, baby. From the Chris Wesleying podcast studio, it's Around the NFL. I am Dan Hansis. I got heroes here. Greg Rosenthal. Mark Sessler.

And it is Wednesday. That can only mean one thing. 1051 Club in the house, Colleen. Whoa! What's up? Hey, guys. Hi. I left my house today and immediately texted Dan with the GPS ETA, which was just about 1051.

Yep. As was he. So we're really aligned. Right on the money. Your precision is incredible to Greg and I. And it's not... It's just... It is.

That's it. Consistency. Yeah. And accountability. 1051 Club forever. How's everybody doing? Midweek show. Hump Day.

I thought it was Thursday when I woke up, so I don't... Same Zee's share. That Dan spilled water all over the place. Colleen's days just feel lighter. They feel better, you know? See, I have the opposite feeling. Yeah. With me?

Yeah. Is it the homicide division sweatshirt that I'm wearing? The Philly Homicide Division hoodie is, I guess... With a great catch line. They came up with a great catch line there. Our day begins when yours ends. I got a buddy down. Oh, my goodness.

It's morose. It's accurate. I mean often? I'm in the Christmas spirit. Does that mean they work at night? Or does it mean what I think it means? There's a grim reaper literally as part of the logo. Yeah.

Like when your day meeting, your life journey ends. Yeah. Our day begins. That's what they start. You can die, by the way. Maybe that would be a good slogan too. then Mark, maybe you get some residuals. I'll say you're allowed to, and then we'll probably

handle it if it seemed nefarious. Detective Murray will be on the case. We care about you and we care about who you were. All right. Coming up today. NFL odd couples. How about that? What are some pairings in our league

that on the surface anyway don't make sense or not what you expect? good one good said coming up I think Greg came up with that but he did good job

so the pressure is on Greg to make it sing I choose not to accept that pressure we also have a bunch of previews to hit because we have a Thursday night affair Chargers and Raiders and I see

in a rundown you sent out Greg you had LAX hyphen LV is that because the charges are already ready to fly home Ah Hey got it Greg enjoys when he does the rundowns

and we think I'm glad you do because it's like you wake up and they're there but there's always like an insane spelling mistake and one of the things that he's done. Where is this rundown that you guys are talking about? Am I right? Pod Nowness, I think you have access to it on Slack. You can always do it.

I know you don't check so I texted you. Oh, the potential news. I got that. Okay. And first, though, let's start by getting caught up on where we're at. Flacko on fourth down and three. Play clock is at five. I don't know if they're going to snap it. Play clock is two. They do. He rolls right. He throws the middle. It's wide open. Down at the 25 at the

2015, 10, five. Touchdown. It's David Bell. What a call. Oh my goodness. They forgot to cover David Bell. It was the parting of the Red Sea Gym. David Bell, who has been searching. yearning, desiring to get into the end zone in the national football league. Well, desire no more, my friend. His first career touchdown and couldn't have come at a bigger

time. What a gutsy call. And what execution. Flacco DeBelle and the Browns are up two scores. Oh, what a call. By Jim Donovan, Nathan Seguera, WKRK, Cleveland Brown's radio. Onside

kicks are cool, though, too. I mean, Dan, you have to be the most annoying person I've ever met because you've been sitting on this for 48 hours multiple people have reached out and said we like the anti-direction you took to go with an onside kick and nobody no one reached out to you zero people show me who reached out to you I will spend time and get it to you

but like this is so important to you that I'm just you just keep going to manufacture just keep going it's so important it's so great to hear that call because David Bell what a moment what a moment in the game Donovan and Zagura bring the energy it's great to see Donovan back in the mix He's a legend in Cleveland. So no one on earth is saying that it's not a good play call. No one is saying they didn't do a good job.

Also, watching that video of the call, it's so fun. I don't know if I've ever really watched a radio call or a broadcast call like that in the booth. It's awesome. You were actually asking for the Nogoku call, though. So that was the David Bell call. So many options. That was the last touch on. And I'm not saying this to be annoying, although my competitive spirit, you know, got a little

offended when you said Dan's the most annoying person in the room. But now I like Dan. Is it eligible? Is that play eligible? Because it wasn't on the show. And yet, when I heard that call immediately, I thought that should probably be on our top 10 calls of the year long list.

I think it's eligible. It's now been played on the show. I've done my best to exhume these different calls from a great Brown to win. It's on the call. What if we... Put it on the list, Eric. I'm making the call. Put the onsites kick on the list. Let people, you know, vote on the side. We're going to keep that one out.

That's Dustin. Yeah. Yeah, thank you. All right, we can move forward with that now. We're good now. Now we're good. Okay, we're good. Not good at all.

The people that didn't listen to the recap show have no idea. Screw him. What are they doing? You're not wanted here anyway then. Actually, pause it, go back, listen to the recap show. How rich would this opening segment be if we went back and listened to that part of the show, if not the whole show? This is a lot of tasks. On the Sunday flagship show, come straight to our.

show, and away we go. We're back in. I like a pod with directions. Demands. Yeah. Justin Herbert is done. Bad news. Bad season.

Bad season for Herbert. The Chargers. The idea of Los Angeles football, you know, getting some juice. Nah, bad, bad, bad, bad. He is going to undergo surgery on his broken finger and

they are playing on Thursday night, obviously. So we're going to get easted. stick. Yep, we are. Including Colleen, who's the anchor of NFL networks coverage when the Chargers face the Raiders. So there's that. And then there's the general question around the future of this team. Herbert and Brandon Staley probably played their last game together as coach and

quarterback. And when we see what the future is, I assume it's Herbert leading the way, Mark. But I feel like this organization has a lot of unanswered questions as they head into the offseason. Yeah, I mean, I wonder, you know, by Friday afternoon if the coaching staff hasn't been largely whittled down. It just seems like a really real possible responsibility at this point. With Herbert, it's like there's no question he's the future. And there's no question that this is a good roster on a lot of ways. They're mystifying because of how underachieving they've been.

But I don't like the situation for Herbert in general where we're looking at like his like fourth quarter. It's going to have like this fourth new offense to learn. I'm like, this was pitched as like Herbert and Kellyn Moore, who are friends that did like, I think car commercials up in like the northwest. It's a real bonding experience. Yeah, like they're just like, they're like pals. It's like, and all off season was like, we're really going to tailor this around Herbert's strengths.

And it's like, none of that looked like to happen at all. It's the worst, Herbert's worst season. Well, some of it though is like, so we say like, you know, it's a shame that Herbert can't get that continuity. But if him and Kellem Moore take off and have a big year together this year, then probably none of this is happening. Well, the injury you can't control. But I, this is where I get a little bit frustrated with the Herbert experience

and where he's seen is, can't just tell me because Mike Williams got hurt this year that the Chargers offense is where it is like this is a team wide issue and the quarterback has to be a little better too so I just think that's what I mean I still believe in Herbert but just kind of a lost year for Los Angeles it always is a lost year for Los Angeles this is this is the constant theme with this team ever since I started working at NFL Network it's like I every off season love the Chargers and I'm all in on all of the moves that they've made and all of the way that they set up their team,

but especially with Justin Herbert, and it's just such a shame because it just feels like they're such, they're just wasting his career at this point. He's young. He's in his prime. He should be among the top quarterbacks in the league with like the Joe Burroughs and the Mahomes and the,

and everyone and even like De Trevor Lawrence's and Josh Allen's, but like he's just not because this team can never put it together. Wait, the Chargers wasting the prime years of a outstanding the quarterback's career. What? What?

Exactly. What? What? What? I really loved Mike Sando's article in the athletic this week that was saying that it shouldn't just be coaching records. There should be owner's records. And they put up the owner's records.

You know, that's, you know, that's where you see the through line. You know, they didn't know what, they wasted Drew Brees, by the way, you know, a Chargers quarterback. They wasted Rivers who still had a great career and everything. And I don't think they're wasting Herbert. And I don't think this year was a disaster for him. But his best year was 2021. I think even Herbert, you know, big fans like myself, would say his best year was Staley's first year.

His second, only his second year in the league. And so to then have your next two years be worse than that, individually and as a team is quite disappointing. The only thing I'd push back slightly on is like, is this roster that talented? I am very curious how this goes in the offseason, kind of the core players that they have, they all seem very up in the air to me. Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, I think Bosa might be gone. Erwin James hasn't had a great year.

Certainly the line didn't play as well. And Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are both good players, but where are their future? So there could be a lot of change. It just reminds me a little bit of like when the Cowboys made a switch at Defense Coordinator and Dan Quinn came in, and all the same players got a lot better. I think there is talent on the roster.

I mean, for me, they have spent, only two teams have spent more to form their defense cap-wise. They're number three behind Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and they're one of the worst defenses in the league. That's right. In other news, big news, the NFL is always looking to expand its reach internationally, and we will be heading. Well, I don't know about we, but that'd be cool. We better, me. We being the NFL, will be heading to South America for the first time. The NFL has already played games each year in the United Kingdom.

and Germany this year, and in 2024, it will be Sao Paulo, Brazil, the league announced on Wednesday. The date and time of the game and the teams that will play it have not been announced. It was chosen over Madrid, but I would imagine Madrid is in line as well. So that comes on the

same day. It was announced that the Super Bowl in 2007, which will be 61, will be played here at SoFi Stadium. nice little west coast Super Bowl again the international expansion is afoot so you get Brazil which you know what's news to me that they're the third most um pop you know it's the country where they have the third most amount of NFL fans behind the U.S. in Mexico wow that's and maybe and it's partly because it's a lot of people there but there are we've heard from our friends our fans in Brazil and obviously there's a language difference

But the English speakers, we have a lot of listeners. We had a, remember, they sent us a uniform. I forget who it was. It was a football team. I still have that in my closet of like a Brazilian football team. So that is very exciting. And it was part of an announcement that they can now do up to nine international games as of 2025. So that will not be next year.

Technically, the Wembley Stadium Jaguars game does not count as part of the series. How does that work? I didn't know that because basically they do it every year. And they're saying you take that out of it. And on top of that, we can now do eight a year. In the past, it had been four a year. And part of it is just a scheduling thing. They're now saying, well, instead of making you give up a home game,

you know, with that 17th game every four years, now we can do it every eight years. Now we can do it every four years. And so it's happening. And I think the idea, Mark, I'm curious what you think. Kill at least three of us in the room. To just have that early window, because they also even said publicly

that eight might, they might go up from eight. I think the idea might be that early window, 6.30 on the West Coast, 9.30 on the East Coast of the U.S. is just a new window. And that's like, maybe at some point, that's a weekly weekly game. Because the numbers, it all makes

sense, you know, the 16 games. I appreciate the enthusiasm in your voice, Greg, over this development. It causes me slight anxiety, but I would say that if they, and I hope that they send us to Brazil. We do have a lot of people down there that listen to the show.

You know, the same way that we built a bridge for Goodell and his friends over to Europe, we can build one to South America. They're bare hands. Yes, shout out to pick6.com. I don't know what's going on on their website because, you know, I can't read it. But they got 10,000 followers and they said just book the live show right now.

I like that tweet to us this morning. You guys are really driving this. You're driving the international expansion and you should be proud of that. These are the hands that built the international expansion. Brick by brick. Well, Henry plays a role as well. Do you think we would all return from Brazil if we went to Brazil?

The answer is no. I mean. Wait, what would have? I'm sorry, what would happen? Why would return to the United States if they sent us to Brazil? Oh. Well, sounds like it would be a good time. Just saying, like, it sounds like a nice bookend.

They got to go big with the teams they send there, too. I wonder if what's the main fan base? Well, I read that the dolphins. Don't know anything about it. The Dolphins, like, you know how different teams have... Dan doesn't want to go. They sort of, like, own... Well, I'd like to return.

I wouldn't go. Why wouldn't we return? That's what I just said. Yeah. Mark saying he would choose the state. He wants to disappear. I like how much done off of this. Stay for, like, three months and see what, like, real life is like...

That could be anywhere. Pounding back home, eight hour. Like, oh, the game in it, you're on a midnight flight an hour later to come back to L.A. And, like, you know, grind around the streets. We're never sure if you're going to even get on, like, the flight back from Indianapolis for the combine so it's still my favorite we'd wait three days for you in brazil mark and then uh and then we'd get shook on a plane to l-a and we just have to move forward i don't think anyone would complain but i just i'm saying like it seems like we could pack in like a couple extra days in

south america after the game absolutely oh yeah yeah although they always got us out like eight minutes after it's like you're rushing in a taxi with your bags to the airport you got another show to do i the thought of a 630 a m kickoff window on the regular i mean it already there was five this year, right? Yeah. It is on the regular. It's happening. I do like a home.

Doing the pregame shows for that on the West Coast is selfishly from my perspective. It is tough. I'm not going to lie. I mean, there's a lot of complaining going on about this game. Maybe we should just cancel the whole thing. It's over. We're turning the car around. We're going home.

Get a Dell on the phone. There's too many entanglements. In other news. I'm just going to keep tracking this because it's fun. The MVP odds race. in Vegas per draft kings. Dak Prescott has now jumped ahead in the race. I have some

data points here. Dak after his big game in prime time against the Eagles is now at plus 150. Purdy's odds actually went up as well, but he drops behind Dak at plus 185. Lamar's at 475, Hertz, it's plus 650,

and then Tyreek and Mahomes deep distance at 1600 and CMC gone at 4,000 right now. So it could be turning into and these things change quickly but in Vegas that's starting to point to is this a two horse race between Dak and Purdy

things do change quickly because sure there's what four weeks left of the season I think four weeks ago DAC was something like plus 3,000 I always remember the year. Hope somebody got in on that it was like Vic or Tom Brady Vic or one of Tom Brady's best seasons ever and then like

literally with three weeks left of the season and then Tom Brady became the first ever unanimous MVP even though there was like even with three weeks to go, but Vic got hurt and had a couple bad games and Brady Finestrong. So it's all about that closing kick. I think Lamar still has a pretty decent chance here. I think there's a pretty big drop off to Hertz this time around. Yeah, well, especially with this stretch.

And it's all about the narrative and what recently happened. But every single Cowboys... I never thought he made sense there because to me, he was getting outplayed by too many quarterbacks this year, even though he's really good. He's like a top five quarterback, top six quarterback. He's also like kind of hurt, like whatever's going on with him. But every single Cowboys fan I talked to is like, no, Dak was, Dak will never win this award because it's

Dak Prescott and like, well, I don't understand like the Cowboys lead every conversation ever because he's a cowboy. So I don't know. All right. Finally in the news. And this would be the third largest and create one long

transcontinental flight home for the Chargers. Meanwhile Jacksonville can set their sights likely on Kansas City. Here we go for the win. got it but there's a flag down there's a flag down as everybody's running out under the field but there's a penalty marking and they call it on the defense that's the end of it that is unbelievable that was the call from al michael's with tony dungy of last season last year's wild uh wild card game

between the Jaguars and Chargers, a game that the Jaguars wiped out, what was it, a 27-0-0 was that game? Yes. And that might be the last call Al Michaels ever makes in a playoff game because it emerged yesterday in a report from, of course, our guy,

Andrew Marchanda, the New York Post, that Michael's, 79 years old now, will not be on the air when NBC has a, a prime time availability or has a playoff game availability. So he was in line to like last year

call one of the playoff games and it came out that they're going to actually use their college guys, Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge. So they sideline Al and this was a surprise to Al because in an earlier conversation with Marchand about a month or so ago

he had no idea that that was even a possibility. So I'm sure he's furious about it and this is the way Mark, you know, they you know, this whole insider, like, media reporting business with these guys. It's kind of an ugly way for Al Michaels' legacy to be wrapping up here with being told he's benched and being reported this way. But I felt it was noteworthy because we've been talking about Al and how he's not quite

the same the last couple of years. Yeah, I think like anyone can see that, you know, Al Michaels, who for as long as we've been alive, has been like the A number one legend. and his career largely pristine, and he does it all. You don't get guys like this that announce every sport and have an ability to do it all really excellently. And, like, it made me think, like, when I saw this, like, nothing ends well half the time.

Like, it's hard to be the person, the rare person, that your final moment is, you know, Peyton Manning and a bad season walking out with a Super Bowl title. And it's, like, it's tough when your job is to be enthusiastic, to bring fire, to be on that call, which was so lackluster and got so much attention and there was confusion. Like age affects all that and it's like you're finally starting

to see like the dotting up of age and like you know how like are you the center of this like call of this like game this moment and it's not been the same Al Michaels. I still think though when you hear him in interviews and stuff there is this thing to him that no one else has and I kind of hate it for him because he's been in our lives

and in our ears and on our television sets for the entire time. The crazy part is NBC actually has more playoff games this year. they have three on wild card weekend one of them's just on peacock which is the most you know they've never had three games like that so yeah something goes on it is sad he hasn't been set up well at amazon you know listening to watching some of the college football playoffs i was like oh this is fun seeing kirk herb street excited about a football game it really bothers me it's like this is the number one sport and i know college football and if the NFL is the same sport but It was the same reason why I always didn't like cost this on NBC. It's the number one sport in our country. You've got to have guys that it's their number one sport.

That's a Herb Street side point, but it's been on my mind. And I think it hasn't helped Al out, but also the schedule hasn't. And he hasn't helped himself out. I think it's deserved it too, but it just sucks. I think you definitely should have Al on the call while he's still around. So I disagree fundamentally about this, and I think it's not a nice thing to do. for a guy who's absolutely still capable of calling the game. And I also want to say,

I just mean there's better guys out there. Like, Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, a lot of guys, to me, there's enough guys way ahead of Al that it's like those guys should be on. But don't do that. The problem is now we're all talking about it. Like, let him do the playoff game

and then you make your offseason change. It might be a personal thing, though. There's things that we don't know that often affect these sort of things. And it's like, you know what I mean? Like, you said about walking away at the right time. And I think ego is part of that. too. John Madden did it perfectly, but you've got to be really looking forward to that

next part. You've got to be just ready to give all that up and it's a lot to give up. Even when he's not excited about the games, though, it's still Al Michaels and you still have that comfort in the familiarity of watching so many games with him over the years. I'm not saying that Iron Eagle is kind of sucks, but... Not the better choice or whatever at this stage. But when you, Al's only going to be around a couple more years doing this. And so as someone who's grown up with him, I'm perfectly comfortable giving him that playoff game

and letting him enjoy it. And like you said, make that change if you want after the year. I don't know. I just don't like the way it was handled. And I don't like that if that was his last game, they gave him Dungey. And Dunjy was more the problem than Al on that telecast. And Al kind of got dragged

into it. Dungy was brutal. He was so boring and dry whatever. I don't know why they thought that was going to be a good idea in the first place. We're definitely getting texts from our friends here, the business on this one. I like it. That's what's happening in the news.

We'll be right back. Hit some odd couples. 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.

What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be. informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more.

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

It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you.

Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I love the sting. I love a sting. The sting has been a regular part of the show. I know. It's great. Yeah, it's,

it just feels a little more official. Uh-huh. When you have it. I like it. The production value, all the bells and whistles. You guys are doing great. Let's hit it again.

It's so fun. Just hit it again. Thanks, Colleen. All right. Welcome back. Around the NFL. NFL, odd couples. Okay, what are some unlikely bedfellows?

How about that? Greg, this is your brain child. You get us going on. Well, I really give Colleen credit. We're on a text thread, and she sent us the trenchant update yesterday with the headline, looks like Kevin Costner and Jewel

really are a thing, which was news to me. I didn't know there was news about that. I clicked on the link. There's some pictures. Pretty surprising. Now, I said this because I know that Mark has always really enjoyed Jewel. And when I first moved to L.A. in 2014, I lived across the street from a karaoke bar called The Gaslight.

And Jewel famously had been there singing before. In disguise, I believe. Yes. And Mark told me about that, and I never forgot about it. And now anytime I see anything Jewel related, I have. have to send it out. Now, there hasn't been a lot lately, but this one definitely counts. She did have an NFL connection. Once dated Charlie

Whitehurst. That was weird. Former Seahawks. Down in Rocky Top. So that was a bit of an odd couple. I would say, Jewel and Costner definitely an odd couple. And look, I owned the CD pieces of you back in the day. Who didn't? And so I was trying to, I was thinking we should think of some NFL odd couples. You have pieces of you?

I did. I did. I think it was part of... What an achievement. It was like a Massively. I didn't know many teenage guys that had pieces of you. I had pieces of you. I wasn't even younger, though. But it was, it wasn't just for, he was like, it was like in 30s. It wasn't just for girls. Yeah, I was a freshman in high school.

I think I got it as part of that. You remember you get the eight CDs from Columbia? Sure, for a penny. For one penny, by the way. We're really old. The brakes a little bit here. What? First of all, Jewel isn't just for girls, but I, I follow music pretty closely,

and I know a lot of people that love, I've never seen a guy that had pieces of you in his jewel case. She sold it. I just would like to point out she's sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Who will save your soul? Yeah, I think there's some met in it. I mean, she's got classic. Not really a bad song in that album.

So who is the... I'm surprised by your take Dana. Yeah, I don't like it. What's my take? What's my take? Taking down Jewel. You said... I love a Jewel sing. A guy would never have a jewel that album in her in what case? I said I never met. I never met somebody a man that had Jewel City. Maybe they just... And this will be now turned around

me being some type of misogynist asshole. I'm just telling you from my human experience. That's cool. I've never known another man in my college years or my high school years where I saw the CD. But now you do. They did own it. Now I do. They did own it, but their own internalized misogyny and their fear of you,

they didn't tell you about it. They were ashamed. Thank you, congratulations. Everybody. Everybody. Let's come out at the sun, Jewel fans. We're taking over in 2020. Just everybody give themselves a round of applause for being so open-minded. Jewel heads.

So who is the Jewel Kevin Costner couples in the NFL? That's what I asked. And I'm going to start with someone that's maybe around Jewel's age. I don't know how old she is. It's Joe Flacco, him being back in our life with Kevin Stefansky. To me, it was the first thing that came to my mind. And I think you could even extend this to Joe Flacco and Mark Sessler as an NFL odd couple. And the Browns fans writ large finding themselves in 2023.

rooting for Joe Flacco, the same guy who ripped their heart out for so many years dominating them with the Ravens, all this cross-pollination. And these two guys and Kevin Stafansky having a quarterback that is going to make some mistakes, but also will just throw the ball to where Stafansky wants to open receivers. And it's a rare couple, and you see couples out there like this, that kind of look alike, something Joe Flacco was asked about. this week he was saying that last week i mean i you know i'm a guy with a beard i could shave it off and look completely different tomorrow so i probably should it's just playing into the fact that

i'm an older quarterback if i shave this off it would probably take five years off i love this his accent is so good it reminds me of home i love it oh yeah right uh-huh automobile new jersey they're like around the same age the fansky and flack a couple a couple years apart here and it is that's a great one it's a it's a it's a moment moment in time and we'll see where it goes but I think they're a pretty legitimate team although they have some injuries and I think Stafansky loves

showing I am a good offensive coach I think Flacco's helped him. He has been good he's brought out the best in his unlikely partner. They've lost three offensive tackles they just lost another one. I don't know how deeper into the NFL free agent circles and stuff you can do to solve that but it is

a little different than the like Big Ben was 26, 2 and 1 against the Browns and largely like probably the most hated opponent for Browns fans around just because of how he'd like to stick it in their face. Flacco was never that way. That's all I'd say. I mean, he also was 18 and 3,

the second best record to the point when he won in Cleveland. Wait, he was 18 and 3 against the Browns and you're saying it wasn't that bad? No, no, so I'm saying compared to Big Ben. Everybody is beating the Browns in that area. But that's 18 and 3 is... I would just say, personally, as much as I distaste I had for the Ravens,

it wasn't like Flacco base so much. There's a bunch of other knuckleheads on that team that drove me. It's just kind of crazy, though. If you had said this before the season, it's totally great. It's a totally odd sight, but I would say he's done a nice job of, like, in his stuff, like in the locker room last week. Like, he, he's very happy to be there.

And there's a different kind of field of Joe Flacco. And he's been a different athlete than we saw on the Jets. I disagree with that. Well, at least, like, he looks fresh to me. He has a better, like, offensive line around him. I think that matters a lot. For now. I mean, he could throw. He could always throw.

I like it. I'm enjoying seeing him. this way and we'll see if it keeps up. It's just so weird to see him in a Brown's jersey. And it's like Joe Flacco being a Brown is the most 2023 on brand thing for the NFL. Like all of the different quarterbacks that we've seen. I think it's this week when Nick Bolton, when Nick Mullen starts and when Easton stick starts, it will be 57 different starting quarterbacks this season.

That is problematic. Including 10 rookies, which is. But they've been some of them. more fun quarterbacks actually. They have. Actually,

Easton Stick had one gorgeous throw the other. Colleen, I want to hear yours because you said you

had five. Okay. So, you got to choose. This one, I cannot stop following all of the, like everyone

else right now, but I'm completely in love with the DeVito family and Tommy DeVito and everything that they have following them.

And so for me, the odd couple is Tommy DeVito and the rest of the NFC, fans because I know that I'm not alone in this and I feel I felt so strange watching Tommy DeVito and almost rooting for the Giants on Monday night it felt super wrong but there was something exciting about it at the same time and just like having been in New York last week I went over to

Brooklyn I got some pizza you guys know I love sandwiches like I I feel like I essentially grew up Italian because like that's just our family is not Italian but we act like Italians and we love everything about Italian Americans and Italians in general. So it's like this story is so fun. I'm currently trying to convince the network to like send me to the Giants Eagles game on Christmas Day so I can tailgate with the DeVito's because I really, really want them to do the seven fishes in the parking lot. Do it. The seven fishes. Look it up if you don't know. I have a take on that, I think, because Eagles fans hate the Giants and vice versa.

Yeah, it's more so than the Cowboys. You have to play them twice here down the stretch. And they are playing twice, that's right. And, but here, I think part of it makes this DeVito thing so kind of fun is that it's also kind of a safe thing. Because you know DeVito, it's not like, if DeVito was actually

the guy that was here to save the Giants, you probably would be more afraid of them or like, oh God, they found somebody that's amazing. But instead he's more just like this, like this, like 2023, fun-found story that you know is probably a moment in time. So it's like, oh, I root for this guy. He's not really good.

The Giants are bad, so it's not a threat. Now, if you were, like, battling for first place right now, and he was actually bawling out on a high level, I think it would be a little different, maybe. A little different. And I probably will feel different if the Giants beat the Eagles on Christmas Day. Yeah, you might feel a little different then. But in the lead up to it right now, I mean, my heart right now is with the difference.

vetoes. Very nice. And the agent, the whole thing. The agent is, uh, I hope he's been busy. I hope he's been doing his job. That's all I'm saying. The agent? Yeah.

Oh, I mean, he's got a lot of jobs. You kidding me, that guy? He's getting up early. He's got waste management. He's got tow trucks. I'm trying to, obviously he became a big story immediately on Monday night. And then Tuesday, he was everywhere and doing media and everything. And then I clicked into his Instagram.

Sean Stalado is it? My agent was with them that night, too. Yeah. Um, well, And that's funny And there was like an Instagram post from I think it was like months ago And he was like welcome Sean Stolato

To the Boston Italian American Hall of Fame And I'm like What am I missing here? Is this guy a well-known person? This is before any of the Davido mania. Hall of famer The Italians go away.

So he's obviously done things in his career. He's a python. I know that. I mean that's established. I'm just curious what his other successes in life are besides. That's not good enough, fine. Some under the radar, I imagine. Don't worry about it.

All right, Mark. I want to double back on something we were mentioning earlier with this, which is the Chargers. And I have been doing some research that I would like to file a report on the Chargers. Okay. Okay, so not every coupling is just like, hey, one person and the other person, we're having a great time. It's like, you know, we live in a multifaceted universe now. Big time. Right?

So I look around the league, and I look at the Chargers, and I spot a polyamorous relationship on the rocks. So it, you know, it started with an air of adventure. Right. Right. And they always do, these things. There was so much to like, a star quarterback in Justin Herbert, a bright young, new thinking coach in Brandon Staley,

Joey Bosa, Derwin James, talented bodies on both sides of the ball, all living together and sharing meals and passion. And, you know, one shared vision of love on a grand scale. People say we can't live like this, but they don't know as the Chargers said to themselves. But then little attachments and jealousies started to form. Some became self-interested. And internal questions began to rise, asking if this polyamorous arrangement, you know, Herbert Staley, Kellynne Moore, Tom Telesco, Keenan Allen, he always banged up Mike Williams, an ownership group

that left its fan base to Wither in the San Diego Dust was functional or fantasy. and right now I imagine them all gathered in the living room of their large group home talking about why they began this love experiment in the first place to live in a way nobody thought possible to cast off the old petty toxic qualities that ended all their relationships prior but it's just not working

it was just a phase in life an exploration of boundaries a time they'll never forget but the breakup is overt and imminent I hate that for them It has to end though You can't go forever Yeah but they thought it could

They thought that they could have this lifestyle That everyone said no Like this is why most people don't do it This is why it doesn't work out And they said uh-uh no look watch us And now they're in this situation Where everyone thinks they're different Everyone thinks they're a special little flower

Right it's like this is what you learn You know at the end of every You know multi-part docu-series about a cult But it's like the Chargers were hoping for like eight episodes And they only got three You know It's just shortened down Tough real tough sitch

But it's weird We didn't never got the Like the honeymoon phase With this team just It's just all sad the whole time The honeymoon phase is in training camp though They did win a bunch of games to make the playoffs Adversity out of the game

At the end It was over before it started All right So I kind of went Connie here and I took NFL odd couples to mean something a little bit different, but this will work.

So the odd couple for me is the Kansas City Chiefs and them being in cahoots or in the role of the bad guys. This has not happened before. This is new. And this is after a Sunday

in which Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid both got after the officials and, you know, bemoaned how they're being targeted or, you know, failures by officiating or happening over and over again. And this comes from a team that's had nothing but monumental success for years. Do you have, to Mahomes' credit, when things calmed down and he realized that, you know, I got to, I should probably hit the accelerator a little too hard. He spoke to the media with regrets about how things played

out. This was yesterday. Yeah, I mean, obviously you don't want to react that way. I just, I mean, I care, man. I love it. I love, I love this game. I love my teammates, and I want to go out there and put everything on the line to win. But obviously, can't do that. I mean, can't be

that way towards officials or really anybody in life. So I'll probably regret acting like that. But more than anything, I mean, I regretted the way I acted towards Josh after the game because he had nothing to do with it. And that's the drive Odyssey 610 sports radio he appeared on and said that. And you know what?

Good. That's fine with me. And I love Mahomes, the player. And I think he's a good guy. And him saying that I don't carry any ill will at all toward him. However, I just think you heard so much vitriol toward them and the reaction to that, that people are just sick of the chiefs. And this is a team that hasn't won 11th, hasn't won 11th.

hasn't won less than 11 games since 2015. Patrick Mahomes, as everyone knows, has never played a road game in the playoffs. They're always a top seed. The last five years for the Chiefs have gone aFC title game, Super Bowl win, Super Bowl loss, AFC title game, Super Bowl win.

The regular season record in the Mahomes era entering this season, 64 and 18, Mahomes obviously multiple MVP's, multiple Super Bowl MVP's Andy Reid, the head coach was a guy that you rooted for because he never got over the hill, never got over to the

mountain top. He's done that now twice. And in general, there's this vibe that everyone is okay with the chiefs getting their comeuppance because they've gotten some calls over the year themselves. Listen, I remember that Jet Sunday night game. I was mad about that game and it was like, why do the chiefs always get the calls? It was like it always used to be

the Patriots. How about the Eagles and the Super Bowl? So it's like that makes sense too that there's a growing sentiment like enough of these guys. Well, it's like when I was watching Patrick Mahomes at the end of that game, I thought to myself,

that is the reaction of someone who is not used to losing. And it was all over the place. He was so furious and I could not stop watching. I wish that there was more camera shots of him. Just the Mahomes. Security footage from sides of buildings

to see every single shot of him because we're just not used to seeing anything really negative with this team, them really face any true adversity and any real flaws come out. And now we are and it sort of makes it easier to be like, well, let's see more. What happens now when you put even more pressure on them

and will they break under it? I think about like that 11 and 5 Patriots team that started oh and two. And like they were, Belichick was on the rocks. And when they went and beat the Rams in the Super Bowl, like vast amounts of the country were delighted by that because they had been that team that were on the outside and like they were lovable winners

and it was a great time like you know And the Rams were a superpower at that point they were and so it was just post 9-11 it was just like something felt kind of pure and great about it the next year they don't even make the playoffs so it's like they're not bothering us but then they go win two straight Super Bowls and even that 2003 year people weren't like sick of them then

because they weren't expected to do it that year either 2003 like they had not made the playoffs here it's like the chiefs have been as close as we have to the next dynasty and they've been perfect and like even last year it's like oh my Holmes has like a high ankle spray and then he's like oh I'm gonna have my greatest rushing game in the playoffs it's like whatever adversity

they faced by Sunday like they overcame it like this is a different place but it's just exhaustion in sports like we're always craving if you're lester a chiefs fan you want a new story it's tough I think it's tough for Tony Roman to say the same stuff about Patrick Mahomes over and over so it's like show us someone new Tommy DeVito is a fascination

because it's like no one expected this human being to be in our life they hate us because they ain't You know, no matter who you are at the top, it's going to be like that. And the Chiefs are a great test for it because they are about as likable. Like, in the end, Andy Reid is still going to be the guy moving his fingers trying to get those little nuggies.

You know, you're not going to not like Andy Reid. You've got to love him. And Mahomes is a nice guy. Right, the next day he's apologizing. Even, like, Tom Brady, when you really pull it back, was like a tough guy to truly hate. But he was easier. He obviously had the flakeet and all that stuff.

But, like, in interviews and stuff, but Mahomes is even more. difficult i oh yeah no the patriots were perfect for the role because they were great for longer they were in multiple scandals and belichick is belichick it was it was kind of everything wanted to everything made sense so they were easy uh to hate the chiefs not as easy and yet i feel like these people are starting to you just get bored just want something new especially after last year um who wants to go who's got another one okay i figure we're only gonna I'm only going to go a second time, right?

So this is it, Greg, make it count. The speed, what round of the ones I've had? Alan and Diggs, I think, was kind of a fun one because that thing is still going on. That's weird. Mike McDaniel and Mick Fangio would be a classic sort of buddy cop thing where it's the young wisecrack and the old curmudgeon coming together to do a great coaching job. But I'm going to go Jake Browning and Zach Taylor just showing us like they're not just guys that were made by Joe Burrow. And they're making each other better.

It's like a couple where like maybe neither of them caught your eye and then suddenly they're out together and you're like, goddamn, they're both pretty hot. Like this is a totally different Bengals. I don't know. This is a different Bengals offense completely than it was with Joe Burrow. And it's, I know it's not going to last like this. But the numbers are the numbers.

Two of their three best offensive games of the year, really their two best offensive games, were by Jake Browning. They weren't by Joe Burrow. Like, that is pretty crazy. By EPA per play, by yards, everything like that. They've actually done better the last two weeks than any Burrow game this year, except for the 49ers game.

And no one's saying, obviously, that they can stay at the level or anything like Burrow. But I give Taylor a ton of credit because instead of it being Burroughs' offense, where it's five, you know, everyone's spread out, and I'm just going to figure everything out. And I'm sort of the coach, ultimately. it's back to what Zach Taylor came from and this matchup we'll get into it but I just wanted to point them out especially

it's a great matchup for it because he's part of that McVeatree and it looks like those teams it's way more play action it's much more under center it's screen game and you know what like it's kind of helping some of the people around them do their best

again it's not a long-term thing but I really admire the way they've adapted those two specifically as a couple because Browning's playing great we thought he was going to he was in example of, oh, these garbage backup quarterbacks that don't deserve to play, they knew something, and Zach Taylor's showing us something

with what they've been doing. This is the year where, like, a lot of coaches have had to deal with this, and some have survived, like Shane Stuyken and Gardner-Menschu, have survived. Like, this pair have survived. They've survived, like, with terrible, not terrible, but poor quarterback play. In contrast to, I can think of a couple teams where you lose your starter,

it's like curtains, it's total curtains. And it does, there are a couple coaches that were hired to develop quarterbacks. Dayball's doing that right now. I'd say Stafansky's done it where it's like it's you're in the mix it's working you're interesting if you're not in the mix because you you haven't gone total flotsom jets and a quarterback you do it a different way which I guess I didn't they've done that under Zach Taylor they've closed strong they've kind of adapted during seasons and I'm pretty

surprised to see them putting up you know 400 plus yards and 30 plus points back to back week it's pretty well against against decent defenses too not against like trash bag teams Anybody else want to throw one out? I have a quick one, and I'll keep it quick. Like, we went down David Teper Avenue with a lot of vengeance and a lot of fire, and I get it. Vengeance? Well, just like...

I thought it was fun. No, no, no, but just like, I mean, the whole football world was like... Also, the branding is important. What? Tepper would be talking. No, I mean, that we, I think, handled it in a ginger, in a formative way. But I would say this, I think in that conversation...

All right, let's get there. But so that, like, in that conversation, one name never came up. And I never really heard this person's name come up at all. And it makes me wonder about the coupling of David Teper and Scott Fitterer. Because Scott Fitter is one of the more anonymous general managers around. And I guess we can say he has no power. Maybe Teper, Teper's just doing everything. Fine.

But I don't think that's the case. Like, Scott Fitter is 13 and 34. He made the trade to bring Bryce Young. I know it wasn't just his pick, but he is the guy on the first. phone negotiating on a trade that looked pretty ridiculous to me. He went and got Sam Darnold, that didn't work. PJ Walker, that didn't work. He brought Cam Newton back in that weird little dose of time.

That was weird. Baker Mayfield, who's gone on to Tampa to be functional, melts down there, and they cut him mid-season. It's been totally chaotic. It's been an absolute nightmare visually. It's optically one of the worst teams in the league. Their future is strange. It's going to be tough to get a coach, and no one brings up the fact that they have a general

manager that has done nothing correct. Is this an episode of Federer Be Betterer? Well, it's a sad situation, Mark. I just think he's, you know, skated by, and why is he never bought it? Is he the new Trent Balke? Because I feel like Balkey a few years ago was getting all of the heat and no one wanted to work with him. It was difficult. Now it's this.

Here's my take on Federer Be Betterer this episode. Federer probably has the worst life in the world right now of any NFL figure. after what we were heard was happening with poor Frank Reich getting called into the office and just getting buried every Monday morning maybe there's a reason

we're not hearing from Federer maybe there's in a dungeon somewhere Fitter It doesn't rhyme quite as easily but it is Fitter and yeah this feels like a pilot that Fitter is in a dark place

Fitter would be better I don't think it's making it to season one I think it's a one in time spin off sorry well he could land somewhere else and then we could reboot it so good app though

that's good anybody else um you guys already hit on mahomes mahomes and his receivers was one kind of odd couple bellichick and losing but also robert craft and meek mill is one that they are always it seems like they are at events together they have been on the jet together and they seem to genuinely enjoy each other's company and i would just love to be there for a conversation between the two of them because i bet it would be kind of hilarious I do wonder if Robert Kraft was just a day-to-day Hammond Egger like a barber shop guy Just cutting people's hair like does Meek Mill care about him

Is that there might be something else? Check as a barber would be interesting I don't think if Meek Mill was cutting hair That Robert Kraft would be particularly interested It would be able to power Goes both ways power magnet Like I want Robert Kraft listening to dreams and nightmares That's what I want to be present for

By the way Odd couples Teenage 20-something men having pieces of view I will say I think I had jagged little pill Alanis. I had that. Yeah. But I...

They seem very different to me, but that's a step in the right direction, I guess, if that's what we're... Well, again, it's not the right direction. I don't know. I can't rise to your guys' level of understanding. No one's making a judgment if you didn't have it. I can't get there. I can't get there. I can't get there. But why does Alonis Morissette...

We didn't say anything about your team. I can't get it. said we had it. I can't get there to where you are, Greg. But I'm just saying, I think I had Alanis. That's all I'm saying. I didn't have Alanis, but I was a big Liz Fair guy, you know. I don't think she's stuck, but I had a Tori Amos album. I've seen that as well. I just hate that Dan hates Jewel. Like, I just don't know why.

I liked, I had Tori Amos. Amos. You would see some Amos. Yeah. My brother went to a Tori Amos concert and he's got, he was somehow in like the second row and he told me that like she spent the entire show not out of attraction. staring right into his eyes. There was a little bit of anger in some of her music, and I think she would... Maybe he looked like an axe or something.

She'll pick one person and focus on that. I've heard of that, yeah. Yeah. I think you do that at our live shows. At our live show, I can't see anything. Like, it's just like... And also, you know, lots happening to... Vanessa Carlton, was she in that time?

That was a little later. A little later, I feel like. I... Crouton. Bought tickets and attended. I don't know which year it was, but it was definitely... Whenever Liz Fair was there, the Lilith Fair with my girlfriend.

Wow. Yes. Wow. Greg. I think it was probably 97. Please find pictures. Someone must on earth them. I'm not like, I'm just fine.

I just want to share it. The world's most comfortable man. Greg Rosenthal. Went to Lilith Fair too and had the Jewel CD. Anything else you want to add to your resume? Your CV. That's about it. I think Sarah McLaughen was running that thing.

Oh, she was. You know who is there? Missy Elliott, because I remember when she walked by... She went by, you could touch her inflated outfit. I remember, like, she came up, you know, the aisle and you could touch the...

I don't care! Yeah, let's please move on. That Sarah McLaughlin album that had the Building a Mystery, bangers all over that one. Yeah. Riddled with... Surfacing, I believe it was called. Riddled with them. Also, a Lilith Fair. Stollworth. All right.

Where are we at? Are we good with this? please yeah all right yeah we're out of here uh let's finish up with a fun way to hit these uh uh previews because we got four to hit there's a there's a saturday triple header so that's starting now and we have Thursday night football so uh Eric do you have like how we don't want to clock it is that what we want to do three minutes was that we want to do three minutes is good all right how about this just so we have a little bit let the person set it up and then start the clock okay

And let's start with Thursday at football. So let's go in order here. Time-wise, Greg. I feel like I want to donate one of the minutes to a different game. Is that allowed? We already talked to Herbert. Yeah, do your best. Here we go.

Chargers, Raiders. Go ahead. Okay. So we got Easton Stick starting against a quarterback to be named later. We think it's, no, it is Aiden O'Connell. One last time. I guess that would be where I start. If he doesn't play, Antonio Pierce has indicated, you know,

maybe they'd go back to Jimmy Garoppolo despite the risk that they would be taking injury-wise and what that would mean for their contract. I don't know. Because he wants to win games. But it's same ownership that benched Carr for the same reason, isn't it? That's a good point.

So maybe it's just idle speculation by the reporters. Raiders are in a murky spot. Like that's not a, I mean, it is the same ownership. I think they want to win. AOC, you know, AOC versus Easton Stick, big time. Easton Stick had a couple dimes. He also had some terrible throws in that little. Jimmy G is also, like, Mr. Glass.

So the idea of, like, Derrick Carr is one thing. You can't, if you tried to kill Derrickar, you can't do it. People have been trying to do it for weeks now. But Jimmy G. is like, that's a real roll of the dice. And what's for what cost? I don't know. They're both 5 and 8, so they're technically not eliminated. I think if you're Antonio Pierce, like, this matters a lot.

Like, I think he has a chance to not hopefully just be like a token head coach interview. I mean, last week hurt, but it still got time. It did. but, like, they've been a... But he's a defensive coach. Right, and their defense was good, but they've been a better team. I mean, I don't know.

It's like, at this point, both teams are kind of drifting away. Like, how about if you're the Chargers and you're thinking about, you know, even next year, like, Quentin Johnson came off a game where he had 91 yards. They were off two big catches late, but, like, show us what you can do for the next month. Nothing matters.

So you don't, the pressure's off. That's perfect. Just go, like, a couple of these guys. Like, we know, like, you're going to be there for the next coaching stuff. Nothing does matter at this point, especially for the Chargers. Their offensive line is, also a disaster. So I was looking to see who the backup is to East and Stick. And it's Max

Dugan. Doug. Oh, yeah. The TCU, uh, national championship guy. So, uh, hopefully it doesn't come down to that. But I mean, watching Max Crosby, who was hurt in that game, he still is coming off a knee injury. And he played well in that game. I think he had two sacks. And so now he hasn't practice all week either, but going up against East and Stick, I don't know, guys. Josh Jacobs might miss the game, too. There's a thought that maybe they'll rest some of these guys at some point, but not yet.

And Devante Adams, who's one of my favorite players to watch in the league, it's just sad that he's just being wasted right now, and he had some comments this week that it was embarrassing what happened to the 3-0 loss, and how long did it take him to get over it? I mean, I'm moving past it. I'm not over it, but I'm past it for sure.

I think he's going to add a lot of intrigue to the offseason because I think he it makes so much sense for them to trade him and it's going to it's going to give them a premium draft pick and it's him at age 31 or whatever it is going to a contender and unlikely a quarterback who can get him the ball so he's I think in his final games as a raider too anything else Rogers Raiders guys you can watch the Thursday night game day kickoff on NFL network we get started at 6 p.m. Eastern it's a two and a half hour pregame show so there's another odd couple you and Steve Smith.

To talk about. I love it, Steve. Steve's the best. Two and a half hours. Yep. All right. All right. Let's move to Saturday and a game, Vikings, Spangles.

That's a good one. Good one. It's an important game for two playoff hopefuls who lost their franchise quarterback, but they're in different stages right now. And it's good that you brought up where things are of Cincinnati and the optimism, but I also think that's interesting to keep an eye on because the Vikings lost cousins to the Achilles they trade for Josh Dobbs who balls out for two weeks

expectations go way up in Minnesota then they crash down to Earth and Dobbs to the bench now. Nick Mullen's starting. So now that overflowing praise that was once reserved for Dobbs that's been shifted in some way to Jake Browning who has, hmm, balled out for two weeks to raise expectations in Cincinnati and now he has to see if he can make it go

more than a couple weeks and help take Cincinnati to the playoffs. Hit it. This game is huge for the Bengals. Obviously for the Vikings, too, mathematically. But the Bengals are going to walk into a buzzsaw after this. It gets tough. They are seven and six.

They're exciting and they're a very intriguing, like a wild card option. But they have Pittsburgh on the road after this, then Kansas City on the road, then the Browns to close out the season. So Jake Browning is not out of the woods on any front, but I just find them watching the last two games. It's like we've lost all these teams. We've lost all these storylines and narratives and quarterbacks. It's like one of them just got revived, like came out of the grave and is like not just marching slowly towards us, but sprinting towards us. And that's why the Bengals are fascinating to me. But that's my point. Like just a little bit of caution because two

game sample sizes are still small. Right. And I've been hurt now by the Vikings and Dobbs who who is so much fun, Greg. And now he is ancient history on that team. He might be the third quarterback this week. It is going to be Nick Mullins who can kind of operate the offense and has been in the offense frankly for multiple years. They brought them there in a trade to be the backup quarterback and he would have been the quarterback, not Josh Dobbs,

if he wasn't on IR at the time. So I get going to him. I still like the Bengals here because their defense has played well the last couple weeks. They've had a history of really improving late in the season. Their screen green has just been insane. So I do feel like Jake Browning

has shown a little more sustainability in terms of the way they're running their offense, but he's playing a very difficult opponent. Vikings sixth in DVOA now defensively. First in points allowed since week one. Whoa. The Vikings. And there was a quote last week from Aiden O'Connell,

which I think applies here, which is he said they just make it so difficult to do our normal stuff. So this is like an ultimate test here for how hot browning is. And a nice little assignment for our buddy Chris Rose, who's on the call for NFL network. We got to,

there's five games. here. I'm going to be a company man, but this is a fact. There's five games this week that have two teams with winning records against them. We got three in a row on NFL network. They lucked out with the schedule here. I like that Zach Taylor is not only coaching the team, but

now he's coaching the fans as well. Do we have that? Do we? I do challenge our fans. We got outstanding fans to you know, drink one more drink and rush in the stadium and be as loud as you can humanly possibly be when Minnesota's offense is out and help our guys.

And that challenge is one that I would accept if I was there. Did he encourage binge drinking there? It's also a 1.30 p.m. game, so. Let's go. Get up early. It is like the counter opposite of Sam Weish telling the fan base to settle down and stop throwing garbage in items. Yeah.

So, Zach Taylor. And then also Nick Mullins throwing for more yards in the fourth quarter relief effort that he had than Dobbs did all game. That game was such. trash. Let's see a little bit of something in this game from them please God. And Justin Jefferson is back and that's great

and please God. Please Vikings win this game because if you don't the team of ATL becomes Team of ATL No we can't have that

no I can't I think they're going to lose this game But they'd still be in the playoffs. They'd still be the seventh. The second time the Vikings did that to us under the team of eight. I think then they can rally, but I think this is a tough spot. Who knows?

You know, you know, fool us once. Baymond. Now you can't do worse than. Fool us twice. You can't get fooled again. All right. Next game. The Steelers and the cults, Mark, tee it up.

All right. I prepared like a little, I like how you do this because I made a little pregame show. Oh, that sets the table for you. Excellent. A feast. Let's hear. Let's try this. If Colleen Wolf, ice skating alone at the rink in quiet darkness before school, did not dream of fielding a perfect score at the Horsham, Pennsylvania ice skate fiesta.

And the sliding door's nature of this life would not allow Colleen to be here today to tell us that Mitch Chibisky was a nationally televised disaster against the Patriots less than a week ago. If Greg Rosenthal had not toiled by lamplight in his teenage bedroom, crafting lines of rebellion for local Massachusetts emo sensation Delaware, he would not be here to inform you that Pittsburgh is the first team in NFL history with a winning

record to crumble in back-to-back outings against teams sitting a full eight games under 500. Ouchy. If Dan Hansis were not once in a parked car, his 10th grade gal pal, Rachel Haynes-Sang Clair sitting shotgun, listening to Z-100,

night soot from the old coal town, steaming up in the valley below, he would not be here right now to suggest that T.J. Watt and Alexander Highsmith are both a little banged up ahead of a skirmish between two seven and six teams that absolutely matters to human beings who care about the AFC playoff race.

Clock it. Two winning teams. Well done. I like the pregame show. I don't believe in either one of them. Colleen said that. Colleen is, I can come on your pregame show.

I know Steve Smith would want to hear more fair like that. Come on over. Hey, we have a lot of time. Two and a half hours. So if you want to come by and... Times is to start? You don't get invited. on anything. Let's be honest.

We're in our safe space here. That's about it. This T.J. Watt story has gotten surprisingly little attention that he got clocked in the face to start that game. Then days later, one of the most respected coaches in league has asked if he even undertook a concussion test.

And Mike Tomlin's straight face answer in front of the mic was, I assume so. He didn't have an answer for that four days later. If this was four years ago, this would have been the raging story. We're talking about, but everyone's sick of, like, blowing it with concussions. And he had to change his visor to a tinted visor during that game. This is one of the superstars in the NFL, and we're doing so wrong by them.

And people have, I shouldn't do the people have given up because we are the people. Like, it's crazy to me, and I hope the NFL comes down on this a little bit. Like, I doubt he's going to be in this game, which is quite a big deal. at the moment that the player says I'm okay to play but I need a tint advisor because the lights are an issue for me after that hit I took to the head

someone has got to be thinking bigger than we need to win this game tonight and that obviously wasn't happening there in this same matchup like there was a hit that Gardner Minchew took last week where when he got up it's happening. He folded to the grass like so I don't know like I think it just seems like I get you on where Tomlin should

have been four days later, but like during the game, that's not common. That's on the spotter. That's on the whole system, which it really feels like has taken a step back for the first time. And since we've covered it, yeah. I mean, the Steelers in general are just completely self-sabotaging at this point with the back-to-back losses against really bad teams. And I know traditionally, even when Big Ben played there, that was always their thing.

They would lose to bad teams after like beating up really good teams. And now they're in this race. where they can't afford to lose because they're racing for the wild card, Pittsburgh, Houston, the Colts, they're all in it together, which makes it kind of a fun game here. Yeah, I think the Colts are a type of team that they're always going to play close games. So part of me wants to totally write off the Steelers because that's as bad a five-day stretch as you're going to see in terms of a team like telling on itself and saying, oh, we're not for real.

Like you had your suspicions and then we prove proven all those. But like it's the cults. So there is definitely a scenario where they win a game by three points here. And they win a 2118 game and they're 8 and 6 and in good position for the playoffs. Just that's just the state of the seven and six mayhem. It is. It's chaos. We still don't have to take them seriously.

No, neither of these teams. It's weird. Mintu played, I thought, okay last week for once and they scored one touchdown. And usually he plays terrible and they score like 30 points. The team makes no sense. What was the name of the girl? Mary Claire. It's factual, so you should know, but it was...

My memory's foggy. Rachel Haynes, San Claire. Rachel Hayne. From the Sinclair family, from the... So was that a... Rachel Hayne was one of those two namers, or that's her middle name? That's the Haines, like, the fortune, right? Yes, so those two fortunes combined, the St. Clair fortune and the Haynes...

And you were, like, I don't... Long time since then, I guess it just got foggy on me. You weren't into the money part of it, you know? No, that wasn't important to me. All right, finally, Connie, give us a little Detroit. Denver breakdown. The prime time game of the triple header. Where are you going to be?

I will be there. I will be in Detroit. I've never been. I've never been to Ford Field. I'm actually very excited about it. Nice. But for many different reasons, including that Sean Payton is visiting his old pal, Dan Campbell.

And if you guys miss this, it's a nice little primer for this game. This is what Dan Campbell had to say about Peyton visiting him. It means we better be on our stuff because he's going to come here to try to embarrass us. That's what it means. And so that's our motivation. That's my motivation. And it's about winning now.

All we got to do is find a way to win. We're going to have to be at our best. And we will be at our best. We didn't do that, by the way. Let's go. That was just naturally underneath that cam, whatever he speaks. Yeah. I mean, just like when he orders his coffee, it starts playing all the time.

He has like a speaker that was implanted in his biceps that just rips that song out. yeah so two teams with the longest playoff droughts and when was the last time that the lions have been this good this late in the season I think it's been since the 60s so or last week but yes I mean before this year I'll raise my hand and say the New York Jets have had a longer playoff drought well two of the longest two I mean they're up there um it's been very long time yes so I just have excited to see Ford field filled with a ton of excited Lions fans for this team. Oh, it's going to be a great scene. This game matters so much for both of these teams. The Broncos are one game back from the Chiefs. They actually have a shot. There is a path for them to win the division. They're obviously in the wild card race too. And then the lions are just kind of going through it right now. This is the time of year that you want to

be playing your best football and they've lost two of three, including that huge division game to the Bears. So it's just I like the student teacher connection. Sean Peyton then Dan Campbell, they go back so many years. Peyton was the Giants quarterback's coach and then the offensive coordinator when Dan Campbell was drafted by the Giants. Campbell, if you guys didn't know, third round pick. Keep vamping. The clock hasn't started running yet.

Oh, my God. That's okay. Start the clock. Someone else go. No, keep going. I want to hear more about that. The line is on a run. They were together in New Orleans, certainly.

Yes, they were together in New Orleans. Although, Dan, I can't, I can vamp. You need me to vamp. No problem. Vamping for two and a half hours on 30. Thursday in the pregame show. Take us home. So Dan Campbell, he was on that Saints team, but he was hurt, I believe, in training camp. However, Sean Payton made sure that he got a ring. They were together in Dallas and then obviously together in New York with the Giants. But he was a third round pick in 1999. They've been friends ever since. And now they're frenemies. And he learned how to coach from him, too, you know, being on that staff. And I think he's such a good coach. I love the way he put it on Monday. about his players.

He said, I feel good. I think it's a positive because so many of our best players let us down on Sunday, which is just like such an interesting way to put it. He said, like, it was the players that always show up, our toughest best players

who didn't show up for him. So who's he talking about? Aiden Hutchinson thought had a really poor game, a couple big mental mistakes, gave up big plays. Jared Goff, 34th out of 34 quarterbacks over the last four weeks, according to PFF, one of the worst against the blitz.

in the NFL, third worst against a blitz, according to PFF, and Denver does a ton of blitzing, and their offensive line stunk, and that's kind of what they are known for. Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker, who were both banged up, missing Ragnow, who's their center, was a big deal for them, and they're both back at practice. So, I think

it's a good matchup for Denver. I'm surprised you're such a big underdog, but this would be a spot you'd love to see the lines respond. Yeah, two ways this goes, right? The line's either crater now, and we've begun to see them go down, and then they're going to end up kind of blowing their season here, or, like a lot of teams. There's peaks and their valleys and maybe a primetime game is a chance to kind of get right and flush the last few weeks of frustrations. I'm leaning closer to that because I don't think they just became a bad team overnight. I think they're in a slump. But if they don't get out of it now, then you get really concerned that, you know, this team is on the wrong track. I like that they don't play a game outside the rest of the year. I think that this is good for them. But they aren't a bad team.

and I love their coaching and I think some of it's correctable but since like week 10 it's legitimately been like a terrible defense. I mean it's shown and like they are 30th and points per game allowed 30th on opposing passer rating 29th on opposing

third down 28th in sacks 30th and turnover differential and golf's been up and down after being so clean for so long a season plus back and you're dealing with a Denver defense that might be the difference maker here because they're allowing less than 16 points the game since week seven and they've been creating

turnovers left and right and golf has I think what six turnovers and like he's been a turnover my hope is like it was against division opponents who maybe know him well but man he he struggled it's a nice matchup because the lines give up a lot of deep passes and that's what Russell and Sutton are so good at

that's right good work that's going to be a fun pregame show and halftime and post game Mike Garifolo will be up there on the desk with us Maurice Jones Drew Michael Robinson good good group yeah You and Mike G got that good chemistry, too. It's like he's my brother.

Yeah, I can see that. Italian. Exactly. There you go again. Colleen, you've said it all. Thank you. Anything else you want to plug? Panic.

Panic. You could just say now. I think that's it, really. Check out Colleen on NFL Network Thursday and Saturday. Oh, you know what? I do have something. Oh, go ahead. Guess what?

I maybe, I think I'm going to be flying. with the Thunderbirds who were basically the Blue Angels equivalent of the Air Force. Whoa. What are you being flying with them? I'm going to go up in a fighter jet.

Oh, Colleen. And I have to wear a G suit because like you have a bunch of Gs and I'm so excited about it. For an NFL network on behalf of that? It'll be like Super Bowl related. So I'm going to go up with one of the pilots that does You're going in a fighter jet.

Flyover. I got medically cleared yesterday. Let's go. Whoa. That is wild. Yeah, I can't wait. Can you see if Greg can go too? Maybe, yeah.

Would you go? I would go. I'm like really worried I'm going to pass out or throw up, though. Yeah, do you not eat for a while before him? I don't know. I need to find out. If anyone has any tips about flying in a fighter jet. Yeah, you don't want to be.

Let me know. Kind of a niche a part of the audience, but there's got to be somebody out there. Yeah. Yeah. They used to love on the network showing this clip of Torel Davis completely passing out when they did something similar. And he just was out cold. Don't do that.

So what do I need to do to prepare myself? Somebody out. out there. There's got to be somebody, a listener out there that is experience in the fighter jet. Let Colleen, which needs to know not to pass out and then become, you know, a clip they use 700 times in this network. Don't have like a burrito like right before I feel like is a good man. That's a good one. Her DMs are open. Feel free to chime in anything you have. Let me know. All right. We will be back tomorrow Thursday, Thursday with our triple header week 15 preview in bulk NFL plus dreamatorium Thursday night football recap oh it's all coming it's all coming until then eat the call

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