NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Steelers Defeated, Headlines from the FUTURE

Episode Date: December 8, 2020

A virtual room filled with heroes- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler are joined by Patrick Claybon to recap the Washington Football Team's win over the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers (3:50) and the Buffalo Bills romp over the 49ers (13:21). The heroes read headlines from the future that may shock you (27:44) before previewing the Patriots Rams matchup (1:04:02). Please follow the Around the NFL Podcast on Instagram @theatnpodcast and leave a review! Around the NFL is a part of the NFL Podcasts network.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. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast has unfollowed the official NFL accounts on Twitter and Instagram. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis. I'm coming to you from a virtual room filled with Heroes, Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. And he's back, baby. He is a warrior. Patrick Claibon.

What's up, boys? What's up, everybody? Remember when Alex Smith, and we're going to get to Mr. Smith in just a bit, had 17 leg surgeries, and he came back, and he was a hero. And then just when you thought you couldn't respect him anymore, he got cleated in the shin,

and he had blood and gore coming out of his sock and onto his shoe during the Monday night game this week. And you're like, man, this guy, he gets it. He's a true team player. That's what I'm thinking about Claibon, who had oral surgery, just got his stitches taken out this morning. And he's on a talking podcast right now. Patrick Claibon, you are our Alex Smith. Hey, look, honestly, if people are bleeding, if you're as the internet sabotages me.

But seriously, if you're bleeding profusely, if you're bleeding profusely, if you're, not Alex Smith, you know, stay home. Do what you can to protect yourself. Don't be a hero for anybody. I had a minor procedure to take care of a root canal issue that has been going on for way too long. They had to snip the tip of a tooth of a root of a tooth, and I'm back. No problems.

No problems whatsoever. Dan's overselling it. I'm fine. Nobody worry about me. I just have to miss a day of TV. I go the other way. I think we should take it. Alex Smith as an inspiration.

Show up to everything, bloody. Even if you weren't bloody before, just get bloody before you go there. Be like Alex Smith. The only relevant bloody sock in sports history for my perspective. I'm no doctor or rabbi, but when you snip the tip, it can get bloody. By the way, this, I like that, that was a funny money tag. This would be a great time to really pull a power play within the company, like heading right into one of the darkest winters in our nation's history,

you know, at least in a long time. Just say, now it's, let's consider us. Let's consider our situation, guys. It's time to consider us. Why did we unfollow all the major accounts? Yeah, I don't understand the facts behind that. I mean, I don't think there are any facts. I mean, I think just as a move of like, you know, we're, you know,

just like many players do that, you know, if they're unhappy with their bosses or want to make some sort of move. I guess I should say if Roger Goodell is listening right now, if the chief of NFL network, Mark Quenzell is listening. No, we have followed hard all those accounts and we believe in the direction of this company. In the message. And the message. The message is the key. All right.

Big show today. So we got the warrior with us and we are going to roll through two more games on the week 13th slate. Impossibly, we're not done, though. There is a Tuesday game, of course, between the Cowboys and Ravens, and me and the Sizzler are going to give you a minipod late tonight. So you're going to have extra extra content from the ATN podcast. This show will focus on the two Monday games. And also, it's been a while, headlines from the future as we look to the end of the regular season. We have those mystical powers and we will use them.

We're not afraid to use them. In fact, we're going to do it. So let's dig in, and we'll start in the order in which the games were played on Monday. Let's head to Heinzfield. Rothersberger. It throws out to the way. Yeah. Tipped up in the air.

And intercepted, intercepted by John Bostic at the 25. Washington takes over with a three-point lead. Oh, we were so due for an interception, right? Better to be lucky than good. Absolutely. Well, I guess it pays to be lucky and good because, man, Montez, sweat. Great job tipping that ball. Wow. Yeah, kill that music. This is not Monday Night Football, not branded by ESPN or Disney or any of its subsidiaries. This was just a game. And you probably couldn't even watch it because it wasn't nationally televised. Anyway, the call, Bram Weinstein, DiAngelo Hall. And that was Julie Donaldson of W-T-E-M. Montez-Swet, knocks the Ben Rothlisberger pass up in the air. It is picked off.

by Mr. Bostic and that, John Bostic, that was Mr. John Bostick, and that was the difference. The Washington football team knocks off the Pittsburgh Steelers 23 to 17, the first loss of the season. And I think it's only fair that I tee up Mr. Greg Rosenthal, who predicted Washington would knock the Steelers from amongst the ranks of the unbeaten. And they were the only one. Greg, how did they do it? the way they've been doing it all year by like being better than the sum of their parts when you watch them it's tricky i don't like getting into this nebulous area of like ooh they're mentally tough you know like they're a mentally tough team but when you watch them i see it i see them competing hard as hell every week on both sides of the ball especially defense and i think that tip pass was fitting because this was a day where they didn't they barely touched ben rothusberger you know I think they had three quarterback hits in about 55 dropbacks, but they just keep coming and they keep making it uncomfortable and they tackle and they play like their hairs on fire.

And the offense seems to find a way to do just enough in a game where they lose their most dynamic offensive player, Antonio Gibson, right off the jump. They lose the key to their offensive line, Brandon Scherf, in the third quarter of this game. They just keep pushing. And I think heavy wears the crown of an understanding. undefeated team in December. I think these teams, they don't want to lose, but I think it's just a lot to be carrying. I think the Steelers were due, and they played a team like no other, the football team.

I thought that the goal line stand that Washington produced, little moments. I made the mistake. I think we're all writing on Monday, and then suddenly the game is starting, and it's like, wait, I've got overlapping duties here. And Washington went down at one point where, we're, we're. where the Steelers dropped to their second touchdown. I tweeted out game over, which is never a good move, about 14 minutes into a game.

But I really was convinced that the Steelers were quite angry coming off the nationally televised Ravens game where they were, I thought, they looked confused, out of rhythm. And they doubled down in this game and looked completely out of sorts. And, you know, I don't know if Greg gets a mentally tough other side of the coin for the Steelers, but the drops, like the decision to throw to Anthony McFarland

when you've got, you know, four or five wideouts on the field in a key situation, a guy that's not someone who's been a go-to guy for Ben, this seemed out of sorts. And, you know, we can get deeper into the game. But one thing I find interesting is when these probably two of Pittsburgh's worst games happen back to back. I realize some people didn't see this game,

but essentially isolated alone out there for viewers to watch, there are a lot of really agitated Steelers fans, that feel disrespected, and I get that. At the same time, they've not looked like a best record in the league team at all over the past two weeks. They've got to sort themselves out. I thought it was interesting that Montez-Swet said that they all knew they were going to win this game.

That's fine to say it, but Chase Young told Adi that we did because Baltimore exposed some things, he said. So I just, you know, you get that little report, and I wonder if there's some sort of carbon copy out there for teams to follow. Well, I think the copy of the follow, right, is to be a solid team. And if not for that James Washington, 50-yard touchdown, because the way this Redskins defense is, oh, I did it. No, slur jar!

Ah! All right. We're going in the slur jar. That's like the first in years, by the way. And Claybond's defense, he's on a heavy amount of drugs. Right. Just totally. Not at all.

Not heavy. A slight amount. But honestly, the way that they're structured, kind of built front to back, they're supposed to make you work, right? So Fuller misses the tackle on James Washington, the Steelers score an easy one. And that's really the only relatively easy score that they had.

And when things are, as Mark mentioned, like not going as perfect as they could for the Steelers, they run into this opponent, it's going to fight you for every yard. And it just didn't work out. And as far as, like, feeling slighted or disrespect, it's really hard to win every game. Like everybody,

Everybody doesn't do that. So as far as the sky is falling and all of it. Like, yeah, like, we're saying that they're not this world beater, unbeatable, unbreakable team. Nobody is. But you play a game against the team that's hot. Quarterback's got a great story. And Montes Sweat makes the play. A guy who people literally questioned his heart, right, coming into the draft.

They don't know if he's going to be able to hold up. And now he's coming to his own. This defensive line is great. And they just, this team is Alex Smith. They don't mess up a lot. They're not going to wow you with a bunch of great plays, but they're going to show up and they're going to give you a B minus. And if you don't play B plus, then you're going to move.

I think that's well said. This is not a world-beating Washington team, but they are well-prepared and well-coached, and the quarterback doesn't make mistakes, even if he'll drive you crazy at times. with some of his predictable underneath passing. But even that in the second half changed. He just played such a great game.

And again, off 17 surgeries. And he entered, the only reason he really made the team was because of his salary and how prohibitive it would have been to cut him. And he ends up being the starter. And now they're in position to make the playoffs. And Greg, I'm with you on the Steelers side of things in terms of the pressure and the heat that comes with being undefeated as you approach mid-December.

And I gave them a pass for what was really an ugly game against the Ravens last Wednesday. And I thought of it at the time as throw that one out. It was just stupid. It was delayed multiple times. COVID issues. Everybody's knocked off their schedule. But really what we saw was that this was now an extension of that where guys dropping passes. They're a little out of sync and maybe pressing with the spotlight on them the way it has been in such an unusual way.

And the one thing I would think from their offense, which is kind of weird. It's a bit of strange offense, the Steelers, where they can go into these deep funks, and then they come out of it for a quarter and they get the game on track, but then they could slip back under. They need to figure out this running game because they cannot, there's nothing they can do, it seems, when they need short yardage other than, like, dial up another Ben Rafflesberger, quick drop back and pass. And that works a lot, but it doesn't always work.

It would be much better to have a hammer. Maybe it's James Connor when he gets healthy. Maybe it's calling a sneak for big breeze. And by the way, he's never been more big breeze than this one. 53. It took him about 54 throws to pass 300. And again, that's not totally an insult. I'm talking about like a fairly effective breeze.

In cold weather, these receivers have dropped a lot of passes. These last two games would have looked a lot different if that didn't happen. That said, they're a station-to-station offense. So they don't have as much room for error to survive these drops because they're getting no big plays. And the running game's gone from, like, a problem to one of the worst, if not the worst in the league the last month. So it's gone from, like, bad to, like, it's a sinkhole. Mark, you get the last word. Well, I don't know if I need the last word, but, I mean, get James Connor returning is not the same thing as, like, Saquan Barkley returning.

I mean, I think they had issues with James Connor, too. I'm with you. They're an imbalanced offense. Some of that goes back to play calling, too. A lot of people not happy with. You get pouncy back. You might get Stephen Nelson back, but you lost Joe Hayden in this game. And sometimes it is just like magic, though.

I mean, the biggest play of the game to me was Cam Sims turning in one of those short Alex Smith throws on a third and 14 to a big time game. And Cam Sims makes an insane one-handed catch later in the game. And even in the field goal drive to end the second quarter, it's like, they're young players, Logan Thomas, he's been cut 14 times. How about that for a comeback story in his career? He's like riding to a big time game against the steel. Dan, that's my version of the last word right there. So enjoy yourself. You couldn't give Cecil the last word, Greg.

No, I hadn't. I'm too excited about the football team coming through. Well, it was a great prediction. I'll give you that. All right, that was the last word by Mark Cecil. Let's head to the Real Deal Holyfield Monday night football game. All right, here they are at the five-yard line of Buffalo. In the shotgun formation, third and goal for the honors, low snap around the knees,

picked up by Mullins. No one's open. He breaks one tackle. He moves up in the pocket. that throws a short pass. It's at the goal line, but grabbed by both the running back and wipe the defensive back,

and they grab it at the same time and they're going to call it an interception. Oh, my goodness. Disaster for San Francisco. Disaster for San Francisco, yes. You got to believe, you got to believe, when it comes to Tremaine Edmonds

that he's going to be the one that comes away from a 50-50 ball. The bills roll 34-24 over the San Francisco 49ers, and it was a good effort by the Bill's defense. This is a good all-around effort by the bills. But really, to me, the story is Josh Allen, Patrick Claibon. 32 of 40, 375, 4 touchdowns, no picks. The first quarterback in Bill's history to complete 75% of his passes with four touchdowns,

or 80% I should say. Claibon, are you buying in on the Bill's ceiling being lifted after this show? Look, if you can't get any pressure on John, Allen, especially with Stefan Diggs playing the way, a good night. There's just, there's limited opportunity for you to have success. And I said it last week. As far as being wrong about a football player, especially after the draft, after his rookie year, after his second year.

And it's like, well, you know, the ceiling is 63% completion percent. Well, no, it's past that. He's well into the 60s. He's feathering balls, like over the middle. there was a great throw just out of the Fred Warner I believe who is like 6-3

fully outstretched It was unreal It was just a perfect pass And he had several on the night So I've never been as wrong about a player As I was wrong about Josh Allen And if you can't bother him Like the Rams did in the second half of that game

And in all of their losses You're able to get pressure on Josh And kind of not that he is as mistake prone as he was, but he still wants to make plays. And sometimes when you try to do everything, it can go horribly wrong. But if he's just able to stand back there, you're just going to lose the game. I think there are these games with Josh Allen where you can tell 10, 12 minutes into it that he's in a place of total calm. And that just seemed to be him last night. And when Josh Allen plays that way and when you're not making life tough on him,

and you've got one of the better receiving groups in the league, Cole Beasley, playing one of the best games of his career. I think they can beat any team in the AFC or the NFC. I mean, that's their ceiling when all things are coming together. I mean, their running game was not great last night. It didn't really matter. Josh Allen was unstoppable. He was in a place of total zen.

And I thought it was captured well at the moment when, you know, after a Cole Beasley touchdown, when John Feliciano, the guard, the big lineman, is just cradling him like a little base. in his arms. I don't like a lot of these end zone celebrations. I've done that to you with the cozy before, Mark. Well, exactly. I mean, that was just perfect. And I thought it encapsulated the total piece that the bills were feeling in taking apart a discompobulated Niners team that had moved to Arizona. I mean, when he's good, he's breathtaking. That was as good a half as

any quarterbacks played all year. Because, you know, he had the three or four just insane wow throws that very few quarterbacks could possibly make. But he also. also had all the open receivers and the really good decision making, which kind of puts him over the top when he's feeling. He said after the game that he was in his own and that, you know, when it's spinning, when you know what the ball is doing, when you know what the tail is doing, and I think he means the tail of the ball, like that's when you feel everything's great. And I think that's a unique sort of quarterback. It's why I'm almost bored of myself continuing to bring up Cam Newton when it comes to Josh Allen.

But man, I love the comparison. And you saw the graphic last night that they were the first two quarterbacks that have a certain amount of rushing yards, touchdowns, passing yards, that like a younger Cam Newton. And now that poor man's Cam Newton stuff I tried to put on Alan early is so wrong. He reminds me of Cam Newton in prime Cam Newton that he's streaky. And I think Cam Newton was like that as a throw. That obviously he can make every throw that there ever is.

But he does it in a way where he has like a feel uncertain day. that he maybe doesn't have every single day, but when he has that feel, and Cam was, I think, among the streakiest great quarterbacks in NFL history, it's like, you're not stopping that, dude. Yeah, when he's locked in, it is scary. And Mark, I totally agree. I thought the same thing, how completely at ease he seemed to be in the pocket.

And there was even an incompletion late in the game where he scrambled to his right and scrambled and scrambled and scrambled, and most quarterbacks would either take a sack, or panic and throw it over the middle late or just throw it away. He was so confident that he kept his eyes up the whole time. He eventually did throw it away. But even like you can see the lineman kind of chuckling with him. He's like he wasn't giving up anything because I think he believed he can complete any pass yesterday.

And when Allen is playing with that confidence, and again, this is against Robert Sala, Sala defense that we've been talking up in a 49ers team that we saw as a team potentially ready to make a rise. and he just made them look like an XFL team. And if I'm the chiefs, if I'm the Steelers, and if any AFC team that fashions itself a true Super Bowl contender, I'm taking a big gulp there and being like, uh-oh, because if this version of Josh Allen shows up in the playoffs, they can beat anybody, and that includes the Chiefs. Well, and they have Pittsburgh next.

And I would mention along with Sala, Brian Dable, who, you know, he has hung around in Buffalo for a while. and I think it's been a perfect partner for Josh Allen. He helped them a lot down the stretch last year when they changed the pace of the Bill's offense. I think it helped Josh Allen. Last night, I mean, the two of them, they made mincemeat of the 49er secondary. One that a week ago made the Rams look foolish.

So it is such a week-to-week league because the Niners, to me, never found that groove that the Bills did. And Dan, I saw that you tweeted, like, where was Debo Samuel and all this? They just never got into their groove. And sometimes I love Kyle Shanahan and his running backs. But like seven people had essentially rushing attempts in that game. You got to settle it down at some point and get one guy. Mark, unless he tells Kyle Sannan, settle it's down.

No, I'm just saying, you know, it's like, why not give, why not say like today is Rahim Moster's day to run the ball 25 times? I mean, just because Belichick likes to use a bevy of backs, and it's not every game. You're just going to get shocked that some dude out of nowhere is going to blitz you for 200 yards in week 16 and leave you dead. The Devo thing was weird. because he was so awesome last week and the fact that he was not part of the game plan until the game was basically out of hand. And then Nick Mullen starts feeding him late in the game

and he's making plays almost every time the balls in his hands because he's Debo Samuel. I, for one, is like you, Mark, tread carefully when criticizing the great Kyle Shanan. But I thought Claibon that the game plan was a little off with not having Debo Samuel have a bigger role. I think sometimes the circumstance, the defense, the matchup, and Kyle Shanahan draws a picture.

picture in his mind of the way things are going to go out and that that's the way things go in the game plan and when it works oh my gosh this is crazy debo samuel because you know he's back for the first time he looks healthy he's got 131 and 11 targets um and when it doesn't work it's like hey what where where are these football players that have contributed so much and you know why can't we get julio more than four targets in the super bowl um but it's um i think that's just one of those calis shanagan things where sometimes it's one of those targets So one of the great NFL catches of all time, William Jones. It was the best catch in the game.

We know that. But in terms of Shanahan, it's, the Josh Allen thing is tough to compete with, especially when they can't get stops and it's tough for his offense to do what it needs to do on the ground. They don't have that gear, right? I mean, the 49ers don't have that gear. As good as Nick Mullins is, you know, shout out to Spain Park High School, my wife's alma mater. You know, it's not everything that you'd like to have on an offense, especially, you know, on a road home game, which they did a pretty good job of making it look like Levi's almost with the tarps and stuff.

Pull back a little bit and it's like, that's not Santa Clara. But Levi, the big bell bottom also doesn't have, you know, quite the charm or personality of old candlestick, even though it's a much better facility. not a ton of personality. So you throw in another red modern stadium. It's like, all right, let's go. The Bill's defense, I think, has come out of their by-week playing their best two games of the season. You get Matt Milano back last night.

I think that's huge. Because if they, defenses are fickle. And if they're back to being somewhere close to the Bill's defense from 2017 to 2019, then you really start thinking about them as a Super Bowl team. The last thing I do want to point out is like, can we just slow down the Robert Salad needs to be, hired by the lions thing. It's almost like they're telling me so much it they at one point they said the lions would be so lucky if they were even able to talk to them. I mean, what is he

a deity? Is this like the Dalai Lama that they should be grateful? We're at that time of year though. When you're in December and a coordinator's having a nice year, these guys look like absolute like Belichick clones, you know, lock it in for 20 Super Bowl titles. That was Matt Patricia during the end of his Patriots run. I mean, Greg, at least, you know, the Texans don't believe that they'll be able to speak with anyone, so they've shut down all searches

and just are going to wrap, you know, Romeo Cornell up in Christmas wrapping paper for themselves as they're present. The problem is, Greg, you're asking for moderation from Monday night football, and they do nothing. Like, they tiptoe into nothing. If it's discussion of a coach, an issue,

they're going to give you the full treatment. You could tell they love them, though. And Levy said at one point, And I'm hoping he misspoke because people made a deal. Why he's picking on Levy all the time? He literally said Salah said that he was going to have his pick of all the jobs, which either a bad job by Levy for revealing Salah said that or he misspoke. Because I was like, really?

I can't imagine he's puffing his chest out that much where he's like, yep, going to be choosing by everyone. Like, they better hire me. The last few weeks you've been coming after Levy a little bit. And it's like, you know, you got Tessator fired up at you. couple of years ago. You want to mess with Levy? You see, that guy works out. I'm not messing.

I don't know if we works out. Big Tech, by the way, could help the Houston Texans. Our company, our startup, which, Clayvon, if you want to get in on, absolutely you could buy into the company. So much money, Dan. Let's do it. Yeah. If it's just a simple internet connection issue, we have modems for days at Big Tech for the Texans

if they want to start their head coach search. And my final thought is, Greg, sometimes. you can be premature in saying someone did a premature forking. You know, a little bit, everybody getting so crazy about the 49ers on the rise. Well, they hadn't even got to 500 yet. I'm feeling good about Mark and I's fork. You're the one that picked them in this game. I picked the bills.

I'm just saying sometimes. This NFC playoff spot has some potential to be ugly down the stretch. I'm not in love with any of these seven seeds. And it could be, it's kind of under the radar that 8 and 8 could. be that seven seed right now. So I don't even say the 49ers are out of it. And, you know, Dan, I would go back to giving us credit for what we did on the Godzilla minipod where we forked the Niners and, you know, people were critiquing us. And I, and let's look at our integrity as Gernos. I'm quite pro-niner's and had to go there, you know, from an analyst standpoint that

night. And I feel that we continue to stand on very strong ground. So, you know, let's, we could end the show right now and feel good about what we've done. Thank you. Is anyone else a little bit annoyed, fresh out of surgery, how good Claibon looks with this lighting on him right now? Like, what is up with Claibon being so much better looking than us? I'm trying to find out with this, like, compi, 386 laptop that they got me. Like, why I can't, why it looks like it's pitch black dark in here. Like, I'm doing an interview with, it's just like the light is hitting that beautiful face.

And it's just like this, you're almost like an angel. Yeah. I mean, we also spoke for about five minutes before, because, Dan could not get over. Claibon lost the beard post-surgery. It's a different-looking Claibon these days. One thing that helps, I've just given, I meant peace with the fact that I'm about a 5.6.

Stop. Well, it's not going to, you know, when you feel good about that and you just, who am I trying to impress? You know how like it, you got to age adjust though, you know, for a man of your age, bump it up to 6.6. Well, it's fair. Yeah, Mark, you're a six and a half. You guys are all north of eight.

I will say that. That is not a turn. Period. Not true. Let's move off this topic because it's depressing for three of us. All right. Now, that's the football for Monday. Again, we have one more week 13 game, Ravens Cowboys.

Mark and I will hit that very quickly. Like, you'll be surprised how quickly we hit it. To the point is like, why do they even bother doing this? It'll be like a 2020 flash, you know? You guys. All this honking, you're going to end up with like something seismic is going to happen in this game. Greg, do not. No, don't say it.

It's going to be a Minko-like 2020 flash. All right. Let's now transition to a place that other podcasts fear to tread. In fact, they don't even have the possibility to go into the future. 1999, AD. More than a generation. away and yet dreams traveled faster than light

and even now scientists and planners are shaping the lives of our children who will live in the 21st century how will they live perhaps in a honeycomb structure like this take a journey with our podcast

into the future the 21st century beckons as we make predictions no premonitions headlines from the future it's all couched in stodgy old print

journalism give us a headline tell us what's going to happen when football ends on week 17 I believe it's January 3rd 2021 I get us going

by the way spoiler alert it should be said If you're someone who looks at the NFL season as a television show, you probably don't want to watch the finale right now if you're in the middle of the season. If you engage in activities in the desert, it would not be ethical to listen to what we're about to tell you. It's like when you're watching a show anyway

and they promo what's coming up in the next segment and it spoils, it's like, I'm already watching. Just check out now. That is annoying. I like that we have, yes, that's true. It's time to get rid of that. Let us now go into the future. The headline.

Out of Baltimore, the Baltimore Sun, a thriving print outlet. Quothraven. Never more. Open, parenthetical, losing, close parenthetical. The Ravens will win out. Hmm. Wow.

Finish 11 and 5 and be the number 5 seed in the AFC playoffs. Don't worry, Mark. The Browns will still be in the dance. But the future tells me. that the Ravens are about to flip the switch, a switch that we wondered we'd wondered if it would ever be flipped

if this was just one of those years where nothing works out. But listen to the schedule down the stretch for the Baltimore Ravens. Home against Dallas. Also, as you're listening to this, you probably already know the result. They better win.

A lot of pressure. I have more pressure on me than the Pittsburgh Steelers right now. Entering yesterday. Then, at Cleveland. Cleveland will never beat the Reynolds. Not in this time. Not at this time.

Home Jacksonville. Home Jimon. At Cincinnati. Five and O. You already know they beat the Cowboys. 11 and 5. I have to tell you, Dan. I am in, you provided the analysis,

but I think I should offer one of my headlines next because we are in complete lockstep. And this happened without any sort of conversation. We had similar visions. Okay, let's hear it. And this is from the Baltimore City paper. It's not the sun, but it's sort of one of those papers. It's in one of those machines you open and it's got the film.

The Wire Weekly? Baltimore Weekly something. It goes like this. Mark Ingram on Playoff. Bound Ravens, colon, rest of AFC, better be wearing their depends. Mark with a C. They're going to be feeling themselves. The Ravens come playoff time after what they, after what you've just described that they will do, Dan.

And they will be at full power, corona deep in the distance. And it will be a scary sight in the future. Spooky. I'm loving all. this Ravens backing out of nowhere I've been getting picked on for my belief in them well you've made excuses for them all year

but things are about to change. Yeah that they could respond there's still some issues here well they already have responded they're in the playoffs they're 11 and 5 right they also already beat the Cowboys today breaking that losing stress right book it that's

true that Monday night game against the Browns and it's too bad your Browns lost Mark There aren't many games left on the entire schedule I'm more excited for than the Ravens Browns with the Browns a chance to get a little revenge. Well, 3117 Ravens be Cleveland, so you can still watch it, Greg,

but the result will not be unknown to you. We gave you a spoiler alert. You can't get upset with our podcast right now. But in all seriousness, there is a, there's also a very obvious chance chance, or I shouldn't say obvious, but a very real chance that the Ravens play, you know, the season continues in a similar script, they go, let's say, I feel like their floor here is probably nine and seven, and maybe that's good enough to get in the playoffs. Maybe it's not. But I don't

know, there's just too much talent here. There's, there's, there's, I just believe in them to get hot. Anybody else would be, would anybody be stunned if they won out here? No, not against that schedule. No. They might be favored in every game. Cleveland will probably be a toss-up. But they're going to have to get to 10 wins. It's not simple for that.

I don't think there's any chance in 9-win team, or very little chance in 9-win team gets the AFC. All right, Patrick. Take us to the future. All right. Keep me that music. I want to get into the zone because some people are going to tell me this as a prediction doesn't warrant all the problems.

circumstance. But this is a headline from a paper that means something to me. It's the Gatesville Messenger. Oh! The headline. After week 17. Gays is out, Dan. And you say, Patrick, why are you telling me this in December when we know that this is already going to happen?

Well, it's because the subhead Turmoil at the top comes to an end as a name in football returns to the National Football League to bring consistency to the franchise. Jim Harball

is the head coach of the New York Jets. Things didn't work out in college football. You think you get to pick the players but you really don't. In the National Football League, you have an opportunity to secure talent. And with a name like Harbaugh, you can stand the test, this theoretical test, that somehow the air, the pressure is different in New York.

Turns out the field is still the same link. The football still weighs the same, unless Tom Brady's playing. You can win in New York. and Dan can finally rest as a happy Jets fan. Congratulations, ma'am. I really hope Jim Harbaugh works out for you. Well, this is quite a spoiler. But, you know, the Jets have been...

I'm not a writer. That's you guys. The Jets have been sniffing around Jim Harbaugh before. So this makes a lot of sense. And then you have to, the old Chris Wessling line, which I love so much. History is instructive. The last time that the New York football jets

bottomed out in true humiliating fashion from a season standpoint was under Rich Kotite when they followed a 3 and 13 with a 1 in 15 and they went and they got Bill Parcells from the Patriots. And that was the beginning of a really fruitful era for the organization.

And I get the first. feeling that the Jets are going to want to make a similar splash here at a time where, again, I didn't look into, I should have looked into the future and I had the opportunity and see if they had Trevor Lawrence is their number one pick, but we don't know yet, but at a time where they could have the best college prospect to come out of the draft since Andrew Luck, when they have more free agent money than anyone when they have all these first round picks to now bring in a big name and head coach, that to me feels like a move that Johnson's might try to make. here. So not only do I not question your premonition, Claibond, because I would be foolish to do so,

because obviously you're right here. It all passes the smell test for me. Sounds like the type of mistake the Jets make a lot. You know, a general manager is in place, and he has no say over a coach who's going to wind up having more power. When these Bill Cower rumors came out over the last couple days where Boomer Ossison is saying that, Like, Cower, it might be interested in the Jets. My initial thought is like, even the Jets aren't falling for Bill Cower, okie-doke. I mean, it's like, what does agent call all the reporters? And they're like, no, we're not going to go with this.

So they're like, well, boomer will float it for you. I mean, give me a break on Bill Cower. This actually reminded me of a headline that just got on the cutting floor. So in case you are curious about that number one overall pick, unfortunately, the January 4th headline on the New York Daily News, one of them is going to be, darn it, Sam Summerines tank for Trevor with last second win over the Patriots. Darn it.

Yeah, I could see that happening, but maybe Jim Harbaugh would be a terrible move, but I guess what are the alternative? Who's the number one name in this head coaching search? And it's going to be a crowded and competitive field anyway. Brian Dayball, for instance. Eric Bienemy. Eric Bienemy. You could say Arthur Smith, perhaps.

I mean, all these guys have positives to them, but is there a slam dunk higher if you could pick anybody you want? Maybe Harbaugh has passed his expiration date. I wonder, and he's, I think he might be a little bit nuts. So I worry about that in New York. Well, it'll be fine. Don't worry. But, you know, if the Jets aggressively went after Harbaugh,

I wouldn't hate it and probably would blow up in their face just because we're going off the history of this organization. But I honestly would not hate it if that was the path they took. Any concern that Michigan is a raging disaster? I don't know anything about college football. Claymond made a comment that you don't actually get to pick the players. I would do their homework on what you got Michigan. This is particularly why I saw this in my vision of the future,

that this is something like a vast majority of football fans in New York don't care what happens at the University of Michigan. again. They're going to see the name Jim Harbaugh. They're going to look at the old stuff and they're going to be like, oh, okay. And he'll get a chance. He'll get the legitimate chance that maybe like an Eric B. Enemy wouldn't get, or any of these, Bob

Sala probably wouldn't get. There's a lot of scrutiny that comes without having this resume that brings all those other things with it that Jim Harbaugh has. And, you know, it's, I think it just, it's what's going to happen. So there we go. I mean, it's the future.

Like Carcell's the best few years of a Harbaugh administration are always the first few so you know that happened at Michigan that could happen with the Jets and then it's sort of then he burns himself out

and Greg do you have any other negative wish casting to put on my team as if you're mad that I'm saying Jim Harbaugh wouldn't work I mean No but you also predicted that Donald's going to blow the Trevor tank I mean

at what point do you does it run out this this wish to make you want them to win I could just imagine them beating the Patriots let's go to another headline going now let's do it that that was my backup uh headline but i figured thank you patrick it was topical it was topical all right let's do it topic is you're a jerk believe me you don't want to mark right here we go jackpot hole

raiders in disarray after disappointing end to the season that's written by Bradley over at the Las Vegas Review Journal, our old NFL media colleague, now the sports it. That's right, double B. Caught a bird. This Raiders team, taking on a little bit of water as the season ends, reminds me a little bit of the last John Gruden team in Tampa. And like that team, I think if things went sideways down the stretch here, you have the

Colts, you have the Dolphins, you find a way to lose maybe another division game and you end up at 8 and 8 just feels like a recipe for a lot of whispers about everything going on in that organization. Gruden's not going anywhere, but Gruden on a losing streak to end the season just feels like a guy who's got to get wild and blow some things up. Say what you mean, Greg. What is he going to do? He's going to fire Mike Mayak? I'm not saying that. I don't know. I'm saying that the Raiders are ending the season with a very disappointing finish,

just like the year before, and that John Gruden is an emotional man who will change some things. I do not think Mayak would be in any trouble whatsoever. It would have to be Derek Carr then. I mean, if it's not Carr, Mayok, or Gruden, the news element to it is lower. This sounds like page six. I mean, first of all, what else does the Vegas sports section have on January 3rd? third, you're telling me the Raiders not bumbling to the finish line? Is it a big deal? After being

where they were and all the excitement that they had, if they finish seven and nine or eight and eight, which I do feel like is on the table, I think a lot of things could change. Certainly the coordinator, but also, yes, the quarterback, I think would be in play. Even though I think Derek Carr's played well, I just, I don't, I think it would be in play. I'm the biggest Raiders booster on this podcast, but I have to admit my faith is now shaken after these back-to-back performances. They shouldn't beat the Jets. The only reason they beat him is because Greg Williams got himself fired with the worst play call of the year. And of course, we know what happened against the Falcons, that 43-6 loss. So they seem like a team. Here's the thing, though. Here's the

thing. And this is why the NFL is the most popular sport in the country. Just when you think you have it all. It's the old Roddy, Roddy Piper quote. Just when you thought you had all the answers, I went and changed all the questions. I feel like the Raiders that's so obvious that they're going to go in the tank, that would it totally stun me if they go and beat the cult, who, by the way, didn't look so hot themselves in their week 14 game? I just think the league is such a week to week thing that I don't want to put too much into these two games. And by the way, they did win they're last week. So they're seven and five. But I do, I do acknowledge, as the Raiders fan of this podcast, apparently, there's reason to believe that this premonition will be accurate.

Well, I mean, why? They had no business winning that game. Why discount Greg's fortune telling at all? I mean, everyone else's has been taken as, you know, the Bible. I can't do it. Yeah, I mean, it seems like it would be as clear as anyone else's. It's a premonition. They're going to melt. It's not a prediction. How different would you feel if? Jackpot Hall. that's pretty good if there was a close loss to the Falcons

and then they or a close win against the Falcons and then the opposite happens against the Jets like would we feel would we feel that much different like the like Sam Darnold through the Hail Mary yeah I mean is there

is there that much of a of a difference over the course of the week versus how we feel about I think we're getting into my favorite part of every episode Claibon Logic, take me through it. So what are you saying, Patrick? I'm saying Greg has seen the future, and we see the future.

And whether it happens this last week or this week, I think this Raiders team is kind of what it looks like they are. The same thing they were last year, a potent offense and a defense that's really not going to bother anybody that much. And so it all comes down to Derek Carr making these throws. and if, you know, if Greg Williams blitz is 37 people and you've got Lamar Jackson out there with nobody within 30 yards and Henry Ruggs can run past them, they can beat you. But if you don't do that, then, you know,

it's going to be a little tougher on them. I don't know what John Gurdon would do exactly. Like, you know, it just feels like if, you know, in his third season and if it goes bad at the end, he's just got to do something. Like angry phone call to Bill Bradley. Maybe he just has a wild, you know, night out, you know, at the mirage.

I don't really know. But it feels like he's going to do something. All right. If you are just tuning in, we are looking into the future. All pertinent information about this family, its records, its tastes,

and reference material is stored in the central home computer, which is secretary, librarian, banker, teacher, medical technician, bridge partner, and all-around servant in this house of tomorrow. They nailed that one.

Pretty spot on. Yeah, pretty good. Up next. From the Detroit Free Press, known locally as Freep. A Lion in Sunset. I take you to Sunday morning. It's a report.

that goes live on our website at exactly 6 a.m. from NFL Network Insider Ian Rappaport. Ian's report The Lions game against the Vikings is expected to be Matthew Stafford's final start for Detroit. Ian further goes on

that the Lions are planning a complete tear down under their coming regime and they are complying with Stafford's wishes for a clean break at this time.

No bad blood but Mr. Stafford is ready to move on to whatever comes next in his career while the lions blow it up. And listen, we saw it just this week.

Matthew Stafford through Friday for 400 yards, led the lines to one of those great fun Matthew Stafford comeback wins. That's not really what they need right now. In fact, it kind of hurts them that he's at that level. I was thinking about Stafford, actually. So you have the Dalton line established by Chris Wesson, 2014. And he is the prime meridian for a franchise quarterback.

This is maybe a little out of date at this point. But if you're better than Dalton, you're a true franchise starter. if you're behind him, you're not. You're not the guy. I feel like Stafford is the, the Stafford line is for that next tier for top quarterbacks. And like that's how you differentiate if a guy is a true franchise star quarterback or someone closer to the middle of the pack.

And I feel like his coming off this season, it's been a little up and down, but he's still in his early 30s. He's got a lot of good football with him. I think he would be a fascinating, player in the Tom Brady role from last off season. Well, I don't know if it would have to be a trade or a way where he gets out of his contract and he's a proper free agent.

But that's what's coming. I'm sticking to the prediction, though. We're keeping this within the 17 weeks of the regular season. The prediction is that the Lions will be clear and open about this, that this is the end for Matthew Stafford in Detroit. I think we're blown away. A Saturday. I'm with you.

I could see him in Denver next season, in Washington, a number of places. And it's not totally without weight that his wife has been popping off about the state of Michigan, about the Lions, about Detroit in general. She seems relatively unhappy with... She's going after Michigan? I missed that. She did. I mean, I mean, it seemed like more of a citizen. complaints about Michigan, basically, some of their lockdown antics.

But, you know, I just, maybe, maybe Stafford is half the equation, very ready to move on himself. If someone put a gun to my head and say, list your top five most memorable Matthew Stafford moments, I would struggle to, but I don't doubt. You'd be like, what, that's weird. Why are you doing that, man? It doesn't seem like this is worth it. You've got your whole lot of head of gun down, man.

Well, you know, I'm just saying. I put that more on the lions than Matthew Stafford. I would love to see him in a different uniform. I just would. So, Dan, I trust your crystal ball here. Thanksgiving, 2013, when he had all those injuries, that game against the Browns where he had the NFL films thing on the wire. They made the playoffs that one time.

Oh, my God. It would be a terrible way to go. Stafford was asked earlier this month, and I thought this was interesting. if he still has the patience to go through another reboot, another regime change. And he's been there. He was the number one overall pick in 2009. He's been there 12 years. And he's been a good soldier for the Fords over that time.

He's played almost all the time. He's hurt a little bit in the beginning of his career. I know he had the back issue last year. But otherwise, he's played every week. His answer when asked if he would have that patience was, I'm not going to limit myself to anything, which I thought was an interesting answer because it would be very, easy to just give an answer that didn't give you anything to think about, but that makes you

think that he's thinking about a fresh start. I like this, Greg. I like the idea of what he would bring to the NFL in terms of intrigue this spring. To a Kyle Shanahan offense, maybe. There's a circumstance. The Lelcheck offense? I don't know. Sure. That would be good. Either one, his contract's very tradable. People think these guys are paid a lot in reality. I think any contract that you know that you don't have to give the guaranteed money up front they're all good contracts so he's under contract for a couple more years at you know plenty reasonable rate this would be a lion's type of thing where he they're put in a tough spot before they even have a GM coach that they don't really have the you know leverage or choice whether to keep

them or not and he's making the power play you know that that would be problematic for them but I also could see that timing playing out that way. It has before. Let's move on. Patrick. Paining a picture for you. The season has just ended.

Expectations have been met by some teams and not met by others. But the headline in Miami. Pick your favorite newspaper. It's There's so many good options in Miami, Palm Beach Post. Yeah, Miami Herald.

Palm Beach Post, this guy. Not Finn-ish, as Tua Tua of Iloa and the Miami Dolphins. Knock-off presumptive contender the Buffalo Bills in the final week of the season. Subhead. Two a shines. Fins went. Much shorter at that time, looking into the future, seeing the subhead. recognizing the way things go.

Dolphins win at week 17. Underrated newspaper core, really, and beat writer group in Miami. You got the Harold, you got the Palm Beach Post, you got the South Florida Sun Sentinel, most towns down to one paper. One, you know, great local coverage. Miami's still got three.

Well, you got a lot of older people that remember the concept of reading newspapers. In a younger city, there are some people that have never done that, so. That's a good point. And they still have them to read, which is, which is key, right? When you're, right. If that game is in week 17?

That's the week 17 game. And they are one game behind the bills right now. The bills won their previous matchup this year. So obviously for multiple reasons, Dalvin's need to win. That would then be the tied in the head to head. And then if they, I assume they're tying their final record, Claibon, or I shouldn't assume that. No, they just, they get in.

Oh, they get in the playoffs. They don't need to win the division. Gotcha. They have the toughest schedule of any team down the stretch. They do not play a losing team. They play the Chiefs. They play the Patriots. They play the Bills.

I'm forgetting who the fourth team is. I think it's the Raiders. That is a playoff stretch. That is a tough slate. And if they can get out of there at two and two, which I think is reason. I think you get to 10 wins and I think Brian Flores wins

Coach of the Year. In this deep of a field, I think they might need to get to the playoffs to sway those voters because I think that all those Coach of the Year votes are going to be split. I feel like the Coach of the Year might go to

someone in the AFC East. I still think Belchek could get it if they make the playoffs. They got a win out. You got Stifansky. You got Sean Payton winning with backups. You got Tomlin, you got Lafleur.

You go in a lot of directions. Pretty crowded field. Yeah. All right. Up next, Mark Sessler. Well, you know, I know that we've spoken at length during this segment. I'm going to offer two quick NFL business

headlines that will create some issues at the end of the season. Gun to your head. Gun to your head. Sue stop. Sue stop. No, it wasn't Stafford. That got stopped.

No, we're past. that now. Shall I continue? This, Mark Maskey from the Washington Post, bubble butts, colon, NFLPA votes no on Puerto Rico postseason safe space. Now, when you read this, it's bubble butts, B-U-T-S, as in a bubble, nice idea, but we aren't doing it. The NFLPA will not be into the idea of, um, gather as a playoff field in Puerto Rico, after too many arguments in the United States over where that would take place and contingencies.

Second quick business headline. Yummy, yummy, put this game in my tummy. This one is concerning. Phil Mushnick of the New York Post. That old dog? Keep grinding, Biocch. Goodell says Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday games, in quotes, a possibility for 2021 and beyond.

You know they're loving these standalone operations here in the middle of the fall and early winter games every day, mimicking baseball and football are little lives that used to be contained to simply Monday, Sundays and Thursdays, no longer, family chaos ahead. This will be the first season in the history of the National Football League, Our League,

where there are games on all seven days of the week. I was reading the New York Times, a COVID-19 coverage at 4 a.m. this morning because that's what I do now to clear my mind. And there was a comment that with the vaccine now ready to be rolled out, and it has begun over there in the UK. Congratulations to everybody there. Shout out to the NHS. And hopefully coming here soon and it works and everybody, we can move past this. There is a belief, according to the New York Times, that we will return. turn to a normal life, potentially by the fall of 2021, which lines up perfectly for the old

National Football League, potentially to, if they could just get through the rest of this month, through the playoffs, the Super Bowl, that the way the schedule sets up, the NFL will have dodged COVID-19 for the back half, hopefully, of this wretched, wretched disease. Is it a disease, whatever. We could have used some of our fortune-telling skills on actual matters such as that, but we stuck with divisional races and wild-fart entries. Weird that Mushneck seemed to be addressing that headline to you specifically, keep working, biatches.

Yeah, I think so. So what he's sort of like, he doesn't, you know, he can pick and choose what he feels like covering. He's a little cranky. Yeah, maybe he could get a vaccine for being a horrible person. That would be fantastic. I don't know him personally. Is he not a fun person?

I think if we were to extend trash takes for, you know, the duration, he would be up high on the list. Yes, he would. All right. Close us out, Greg Rosenthal. Ooh, that's a lot of pressure. All right, week 17 just ended. January 4th morning, you're still doing the New Orleans Times picking you in three times a week, I believe. Wish it was every day.

What a paper. Headline from Jeff Duncan here. Time to live on Taysam Hill, question mark. Breeze's December struggles opens the door for new QB. The Hill to Live on comes back. Totally can see it. In this scenario, maybe Taysam Hill starts this week against Philly. Maybe it doesn't.

But either way, Breeze comes back. looks like you would expect a 41-year-old human who had just had all sorts of ribs being broke. Is he 41? To play in a highly competitive physical sport with some struggles in December, reopening a quarterback question, potentially even for a number one seed.

We had this conversation. I was on the good show with Ben Ennis and J.D. Bunkus up in Toronto this morning we talked about this very topic and my take on where they're at right now with this quarterback battle or potential battle or showdown is tasem hill if he plays this week against the eagles and lights up the eagles plays at basically the level he played this past sunday it gets really interesting i think if he if he either heads to the bench on sunday and breeze takes over or he plays closer to his first two starts. I think that takes some of the air out of the balloon of this drama.

But if he lights up the Eagles, I still think Peyton goes back to Breeze because of the loyalty factor and it's almost like a Peyton Manning and Gary Kubiak in Manning's last season when they went back to him, even though maybe you weren't sure if it was the right move. But if he does struggle and Peyton has that memory of those last two starts by tasem, how could

you not consider? They're all in for a Super Bowl. I mean, if you have a better option, a quarterback, how can you ignore it? I think it's all about breathe. If anything, I think the way that game ended, if that happens to be last Tayson start, will be a pretty bitter

taste in Sean Peyton's mouth, fumbling twice in the fourth quarter, including just the ghastly one, which almost lost the game for them. I, you know, going 25 minutes without scoring is something I think that, you know, against Atlanta, I think is something that Sean Payton is going to remember. But I'm basing this more on breeze, that if he comes back at his age,

he's had some struggles this year and understandably looks his age off those injuries, that then that opens the door and they're going to have to think about it. I wonder if they'd ever platoon each for like a half or something. But I don't know, Greg, it's your prediction. So you could actually answer that question. but I'll wait for the drama to unfold. Well, at this point, I'm just setting you up that Breeze has his struggles,

and it becomes very much an open question. The struggles that anybody could have late in the season, the struggles that easily that Tasson Hill could have. Right. But as Greg has seen in the future, right? We already know there's not much future for Drew Breeze left. And so whether it's, if we don't even see James, right? It's kind of, it's kind of presumed that, well, it's going to be Tayson Tom, right?

If we don't see James through this stretch, then what else would the Saints do in the absence of Drew Brie's? Well, it might be a media thing too, but yeah, you're just, I'm very curious to see, like, let's say that he comes back for Chief Saints, Week 15. I mean, I don't know. I'm just curious to see how Drew Breeze looks here. We now, ladies and gentlemen, close the curtain, the mystical curtain, and take you out of the future and bring you back to the reality of the present. Tell no one of what you heard today. what's next the things you've seen are techly possible it remains only to apply what we now know to fulfill these dreams of tomorrow the world of 1999 and beyond is limited only by the boundaries of our imagination today today today today today today today today's got dark

there I don't think we made it we're stuck all right before we go let's look ahead now a little bit closer into the future no predictions here but Thursday night football the beginning of week 14 and Greg I know you are very excited about this match it's the battle for my household you know my my two kids on the opposite side of rams patriots my wife sort of become a rams fan it's not going to extinguish the memories of Super Bowl 53 for Rams fans. But I do think it would be a nice... Or the rest of us.

Right. What a dog that game was. What a memory. I do think it's... It would be an important hill to climb for them because they shouldn't lose this game. They are more talented. They are more balanced.

And I think if they did lose to an admittedly frisky Patriots team, it would probably because Jared Goff was outwitted. and that the Rams were out-coached. They have more talent, and this is a spot when you look at their schedule. They should win the NFC West if they beat the Seahawks in week 16. The only way they could trip up is lose a game that you shouldn't, and I would put that into this category. The Patriots are going to try to ugly it up with long drives on both sides of the ball, really,

and keep the score low, and that wouldn't surprise me if that happens. But they should have more. They really should have more than the Patriots. I wouldn't be shocked at this, the final score were kind of close to that weird Super Bowl score that no one predicted. I mean, maybe not as severe for the Rams. But I look at the Patriots, they're four and one over the last five games. And even forget just the last two games, what they did to Kyler Murray, what they did to Justin Herbert, what Stefan Gilmore did to DeAndre Hopkins, 55 yards. Keenan Allen last week, 48 yards, no receiver or running back for the Chargers had more.

They erased that offense. And I mean, I understand that's Belichick versus a rookie quarterback. But Goff, to me, is also vulnerable in similar ways to excellent defensive coaching. And so I think this is a get over the hump, prove people wrong, game for Jared Goff, who people probably from a distance could say this will be one where he'll have trouble. let's see if that can be something different, if the storyline can be different. This is one of the few Super Bowl rematches

where a lot of the characters are gone, but I think if you're Sean McVeigh, this matters a lot to you. You know, Cam Newton has five touchdown passes this entire season. I mean, this is a good quarterback game because Newton, despite continuing to be good with the football, running the ball, and finding the end zone that way,

geez, what is he going to look like in this game against a Rams defense that is, stellar. That is a big test for Newton who's struggled, obviously, all season, and especially in the last month or so, to move the ball through the air. And they're overmatched all the time, though, right? Like, is Jalen Ramsey going to travel with Jacobi Myers? Like,

like, so this idea that there's this mismatch, talent-wise, on offense, it's true every week. It's going to come down to... Especially true this week, though. Yeah, it's certainly the case this week. But what we've seen, we saw the Flores versus Jared Gough and Sean McVeigh's situation.

Perhaps if you believe in such things, there could be a similar Belichick defensive performance, even though they're missing most, if not all of those guys from that defense that played like that in the Super Bowl. I'm with you guys. I see a close game. And the Patriots

are a little bit hot, but I don't really know how much meaning we're going to be able to extrapolate from. this from either team. I think they're both kind of just mired in this middle, and there's something missing on both squads. Right. The way the Patriots are playing are insane.

I mean, Camas has career lows for passing in their last two weeks, and it was two of their best games of the season. He has 11 rushing touchdowns. I mean, they are a 1970s team, but the defense is why I give them a chance, because Adam Butler's playing great, Chase, Winoviz, Joshua, Chase, like, they're, they're coming together defensively and they could ugly this one up and gunner olshevsky is going to do something magical i got i got the rams 20 to 16 what do you guys oh yeah it sounds about right i maybe i'll steal that for the old uh game picks column there that score don't have to steal it

it's my gift patriots 19 rams 18 oh 19 17 here patriots wow right so there you go tune in Thursday and we'll have a recap on that, a shorty on that as well. In addition to, of course, Mark and I handling Ravens Cowboys Duties wrapping up week 13. So a lot of content coming your way. Thank you as always to everyone. Thank you to Patrick Claibon, the warrior, Willis Reed stuff right here. And we will not forget it. That could be a promise. Hey, Ricky, what's up? Hey, guys, just before we go, I wanted to say that our Instagram handle just hit 18. thousand followers. Wabba, wabba, wabba.

And that is the ATN podcast, and we've been putting a lot of cool stuff on there, and we've got some new stuff, you know, that we're planning for that. So if you're not following it, make sure you head over there right now at the ATN podcast. That's great news. Should I be offended that, like,

I have about 5,000 fewer followers, so that there must be 4,000 to 5,000 people listening to our show that are, that have, that dislike? What I'm bringing to the effort. That's all I can glean from that. It's an interesting way to look at. You have more than five less.

Yeah, lots less. Wow. Well? Yeah. It's like maybe they're not into like the 1993 college photos of Mark Sessler as much. I was told by someone at the NFL, and I was later told this was misguided advice that I needed to turn my Instagram account into an NFL exclusive, NFL exclusive content. No more other business. And I just kind of feel like I'm tired of that kind of stuff. I want to put out there.

Don't ever change, Mark. Don't let them change you. Never take advice from other people on your social media account. Right. Like if we're not going to respond to you sending pictures about that trip to Colorado, then put it on Instagram. Someone will respond there. That's good advice, Greg.

The ATN podcast, make sure you give it a follow. And if you want to discuss, if you're into the show to the point where you want to fight with other people, listen to this show, check out the ATN subreddit as well, which has a thriving community. We appreciate everyone. Hey, and since we're here, go on Apple Podcasts and leave a review, a rating that really, really helps us out, especially going into the holiday season. You want to give back to us? Well, do it that way. Leave a review, five stars. Thank you very much.

That were Venmo. Erica. Erica gets her full share today. Good promotion. All right, that's it. This is Dan Hansa signing off for Patrick Claibound, the old boss. Wide Storm and Ricky Hollywood behind the virtual glass. Until, well, tonight.

You know, I'm going to be able to be. Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere. else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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