NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Week 14 Recap: The Best Slate of the Season Delivers

Episode Date: December 8, 2025

Dreams were crushed in Week 14. The Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and hell, even the Cincinnati Bengals suffered losses that greatly compromised their respective seasons. Co...nversely, teams like the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars positioned themselves to continue their campaign into January. Gregg Rosenthal, Jourdan Rodrigue, Patrick Claybon and Nick Shook join forces to provide recap, analysis and discussion of a pivotal week of football in the NFL. Game recaps in order: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Miami Dolphins at New York Jets Washington Commanders at Minnesota Vikings Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Houston Texans at Kansas City ChiefsNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:02:11 Welcome to NFL Daily, where the best slate of the NFL season delivered in week 14. I'm here in the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio. My name's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm with my caffeinated friend, Patrick Claibon. in my other. I don't know if you're caffeinated or not. Friend, Jordan Rodrigue.
Starting point is 00:02:34 It happened. We came into this week on the schedule. Five monster games on the slate for division lead, playoff lead. Another game that was Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. And we're going to hit all those games in this very recap. And that's going to lead to a great Monday night. I am caffeinated also.
Starting point is 00:02:55 And we're just going to get right to it today. I don't want to. I honestly don't want to mess around. be wrapping up the show with the big Sunday night game, Texans, Chiefs. But I think there's only one place we can start today, and that is at Lambeau Field. They get motion to the tight end of the right. Fake the swift, bootlegging left Williams looking to floats the end zone. It's intercepted. Interception. A leaping interception by Kisham Nixon. And there is your dagger in a Lambo leap to the south end zone stairs.
Starting point is 00:03:27 22 seconds ago, and the Packers have hung on. Oh, they wanted it, and they got it. A late takeaway by Kishan Nixon. So many big defensive plays this year by that very quarterback. Stopped a Bears drive. Packers hold on 28 to 21. Caleb Williams has a play call, which they ran very similar to the Bears game, just a couple weeks ago.
Starting point is 00:03:58 They hit that for a touchdown. He's late on the throw. It doesn't work out in this game and the Packers' defense holds on and takes over first place of the NFC North. And it's Kishon Nixon who was benched for like a couple of plays earlier in the game because he was on the brunt end
Starting point is 00:04:13 of a Matt LaFleur rage burst because of an unnecessary roughness penalty. This game was nuts because the Bears had a chance to come down the field. And at least you're thinking about tying it, But it's Ben Johnson, and he had already gone for a couple of, like, sort of FU plays earlier in the game, including the most demoralizing third and long screen you'll ever see.
Starting point is 00:04:37 And you had to think Ben Johnson's going for two if they score here. Yeah, the strategy at the end of the game, we can start there, was interesting because Ben Johnson essentially chose to run the clock on himself before that play. And Matt LaFleur was okay with it. And I think it could have cost the Bears because if they had gotten first down on that play, then they wouldn't have had as many plays to try to go win the game. But maybe he knew they were going for the win that whole time. Everything is setting up for that play call. That's dangerous.
Starting point is 00:05:10 Then again, I think he made a great play call because Caleb Williams needs to throw that ball quicker. Yeah, you can throw the ball quicker. And also, it's a tough play. But we've seen Caleb make these types of plays because DJ Moore was coming open late as everybody crashed in on Caleb where he could flip that over. with a linebacker and hit him at the very least get the first down. But you need the touchdown at that point because you're
Starting point is 00:05:31 thinking, and I'm sure because we were having the discussion in the newsroom, do you get the touchdown late, try to get the two-point conversion, get out of here on the road with a win. But all that goes away when you start the play sequence with a minute and 31 seconds and then you're thinking clock
Starting point is 00:05:46 not necessarily first down and you're in a got-to-have-it situation on fourth down with under 45 seconds to go. It was so different just a few minutes before that. It's too bad because I think Caleb Williams played a really good second half. Obviously, their offense was running the ball really well. They went touchdown, field goal touchdown,
Starting point is 00:06:03 before getting down inside the red zone at the end. But when you saw the angle, Kometz open, he's pretty wide open right away, where it's like a quick decision throw. And that's the push and pull with Caleb Williams, who I think is playing well. He has a lot of, holy hell, that's amazing plays. But you look at his time to throw today, it's like 3.4. And that was maybe the difference between him and Jordan Love on a day where Jordan Love looked like a veteran.
Starting point is 00:06:27 Jordan Love looked awesome. And he's got a number one receiver, guys. Kristen Watson had two touchdowns in this game. I want us to listen to the first one because it just was a great moment. Just the daintiest of placement. Snowflake football placed it right into his gloves for a touchdown as lightly as a snowflake falling. Here's the snap. Blitz on.
Starting point is 00:06:48 They pick it up initially. Lofts the middle. Going to Watson, got it. Touchdown. Green Bay Packers. Christian Watson. Took it away from Kevin Byrd and the Packers strike first.
Starting point is 00:07:02 23-yard. Touchdown pass. I love that play so much, not only because it gave Packers fans the Lambo leap that they were just jonesing for the entire time. And what a cool environment, too. It didn't quite snow flurry.
Starting point is 00:07:17 It did in the morning earlier. And fans helped shovel the stands. and the field gets cleared and it feels like 10 degrees for most of the game according to the broadcast. And that's Christian Watson. That was his fourth touchdown in four games. He went on to score a fifth touchdown in the same game of a really pretty little man-beater that Matt LaFleur designed up.
Starting point is 00:07:36 And Jordan Love just had no fear. Like we're used to him playing at his very best, at his quarterback island. Oh, yeah. Right? Because this was Jordan Love, the first touchdown, he's got seven defenders. pressuring him. And first of all, don't, don't blitz Jordan Love. He's going to do great things. He's got great pressure beaters. He's got a great offensive line. He's got great outlets. And he's got great scheme. So perhaps perchance do not blitz him. And the bears backed off on that second.
Starting point is 00:08:03 They were in man to man across the stack and across the field. And then the Packers adjusted again to get Christian Watson these opportunities. And, you know, it was a really, really well called game from both sides, but I give Matt LaFleur the edge in this one because they went run pass and especially run when they needed to the most. And so Dennis Allen, whose defense has looked really good in these past couple of weeks where they were in bend and then break your heart mode. And then they were just full on break your heart mode, locking everybody down. They get in that Christian watch and touchdown, that first Christian watchin touchdown, they have him third and 10 and a chance to get off the field. And they send the blitz.
Starting point is 00:08:42 Against the blitz, Jordan Love was eight of 11 with two touches. touchdowns on the passer rating of 150. Here's the thing, though. Leave 10 alone. It comes down to players, though, and the Bears just don't have a pass rush. They are hurt either way. Like, on the second touchdown, which to me is just the perfect Jordan Love throw because no one can throw it that far with that ease to put the ball on the air under it.
Starting point is 00:09:07 And Jalen Johnson kind of, you know, his eyes are bad on that play. They're in zone on that play. and he allows the defender to get, you know, behind him and everything, and Brisker tries to make up for it. Once again, I think Tom Brady's getting a little better. He was pointing that out. And I just love how these two teams are so different. And we saw in tough conditions that this style of Packers can work.
Starting point is 00:09:28 Because Josh Jacobs finished out the game well and was a big reason they won. But ultimately, you got Jordan Love throwing 12.1 yards average depth of the target in this game. Bombs away compared to a Bears team. which has a 60% success rate, which runs the ball down the Packers' throw, really took over the line of scrimmage in the second half of this game, 100. But they didn't have 138 yards.
Starting point is 00:09:52 They didn't have a single run over 10 yards this whole game. So it was all just like five and four and six and patience. And those two styles made a great fight, and we're going to get to see another one in a couple weeks. I know, and I loved it. And I wonder if it almost flips the next time around because each team will perhaps try to do the opposite thing of what they just did.
Starting point is 00:10:10 The Bears' offensive line, And I don't think, you know, we have to continue to give them their flowers for the way that they can just choose to run the ball in a deficit, in adverse moments. They put together a 17-play, 83-yard scoring drive that took over eight minutes off the clock. And I mentioned that screen. When you're running it like that and your offensive linemen are feeling space the way that the bear's offensive linemen were, and you're Ben Johnson, and you got a little mean streak in you. What are you going to do on third and very long but run the most mean-spirited bullying screen that just it, and it sets up a touchdown and it's 21-21 at that point. But then Josh Jacobs says, okay, guys, hold my frozen beer. I'm going to run the ball down your throats.
Starting point is 00:11:02 He cuts on a like blade of grass, a frozen tundra grass on third and two and picks up 21 and sets up his own touchdown. I mean, it was just these teams. I love this game. I know you can't tell. You mentioned the physicality. You know, if you're watching us on YouTube, we love you. Like, subscribe to the episode. There's a play where Manungai and Edger and Cooper collide,
Starting point is 00:11:24 just a massive hit from Cooper in the second quarter of this game. And you see the helmet fly off Monongai, like a piece of the helmet. They both lose paint on the play. It is absolutely ridiculous. And that is like the type of hit and hitting. and this is some real menly men football. And we ended with a real ball. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:11:46 When then we ended with like a very bitty handshake at the end. So I think it was like a perfect combination. Matt LaFleur was just running. It was the range of society, you know? It was it was Matt LaFleur just doing a drive-by on that handshake. I love it because we should have set it up during the week. You know, Ben Johnson had the. those quotes that he can't wait to, he's really enjoyed over the years,
Starting point is 00:12:11 beaten Matt Lafleur twice. Well, he's not going to beat him twice this year. Patrick. And they tried harder. Matt Lafleur remembered. And that's why he ran 57 yards across the field to give a quick handshake that he would love talking about after the game. Yeah, I wanted to say what Lafleur said.
Starting point is 00:12:27 He said, it was a quick handshake and we'll see them again in two weeks. I think there are no good losses and we do got to move on. But I think the Bears coming back in this game. their run game traveling that it was that it was this tight that like these two teams look pretty even to me it's not a good loss but they keep passing tests and to me I don't think any differently about the bears even though they fell from the one seed to the seventh seed the NFC is bananas right now with one loss they fell from one to seven and not that anyone cares but behind the Texans this packers defense is my favorite defense to watch in the NFL
Starting point is 00:13:04 Carl Brooks made a play tonight a trick handoff to DJ Moore where if you go back can watch it in slow motion. You can see him read, react, diagnose, adjust his massive body to change his, his direction in but a millisecond and make the play, the tackle behind the line of scrimmage. That's this entire Packers defense, smart, physical, well-coached, aggressive, special. And people will, of course, criticize Caleb on that final play. The Packers were all over that play call. Because it wasn't the exact same formation, but the execution and where the receivers ended up, ended up being the same place
Starting point is 00:13:40 that they hit the touchdown to Philadelphia. And folks thinking that Caleb should have run, Edron Cooper had the corner on him. Oh, but he should have thrown it right away. He should have thrown it fast. Yeah. But if you're thinking Caleb could have got to the line again, 56 was there.
Starting point is 00:13:54 Yeah, and we learned a few things just about, you know, how they're going to use players. Jaden Reed was back in this game and made a difference. That was good to see four catches, 31 yards. Bow Melton played more on offense than Marcus Golden. and who else and Dantavian Wick. So that was interesting
Starting point is 00:14:10 the personnel usage. And yes, only one of these teams has Michael Parsons. Eight pressures in this game the same amount as the entire Bears team combined. So big win.
Starting point is 00:14:20 Multiple monster hole. Against him, by the way. Yes. Don't freak out. Geez, that arm, he had an arm
Starting point is 00:14:30 wrapped around his neck on the last two scramble plays. Yes. I mean, my goodness, guys, what are we doing? Laflare, playing a bit afterwards saying we don't know what a hold is anymore but I know what a first
Starting point is 00:14:40 place team looks like it looks like the Green Bay Packers so the first place was decided in one north division it was also decided for now in Baltimore Clark and Ramsey back inside their own 15 yard line and even retreating as the ball snapped in Lamar jackson rush coming from the backside he's hit and taken down it's high Smith with the sack back at the 38 yard line and That will do it. The Steelers come to M&T Bank Stadium and win 27 to 22, and they are back in first place by themselves in the AFC North. Fitting ending there.
Starting point is 00:15:21 Great call by Rob King on WDVE. The Steelers survived 27, 22 against the Ravens. And I say that it was fitting, Patrick, because I think Lamar Jackson in this offense needed to turn back into the old Ravens offense to get out of there with a win. And for a while, it looked like they were going to do it. They finished the second quarter
Starting point is 00:15:45 with a touchdown drive. They're driving throughout the second half, but they can't finish the drives, whether it was officials getting in their way or their running game getting in their way, or in that case, Lamar Jackson holding the ball too long and not operating a two-minute
Starting point is 00:16:01 drill very well, getting in their way. There were flashes from this Ravens' offense of looking special again, but ultimately it was a pretty balanced effort by a game Steelers team. I'm giving them a lot of credit for pulling out this game in Baltimore, a game that we did not expect would go this way. Yeah, we got to go back a few weeks to week eight for a Aaron Rogers completion with Tenmore Air Yard.
Starting point is 00:16:27 And they get it against a defense that's kind of strong. They got three over 20 in this game. That's just wealth right there. The defense that struggled to make plays on the ball late, you know, the last play of the game, the Ravens are in a Hail Mary situation. They're in 12 personnel. Lamar's holding the ball. Nobody's at the 10-yard line even yet because you got two tight ends on the field.
Starting point is 00:16:48 And, you know, he's waiting. He's holding the ball too long, which was, as you pointed out, the curse of the last route. But it's difficult to look away from the game because clearly, you know, there's stripes involved every single play. And you'd like to make the plays. But there are a couple of key ones in this game that have to have. you have you questioning the way things go in the book. So there was an unnecessary roughness call on a Steelers field goal, which was very confusing and led to the Steelers scoring a touchdown.
Starting point is 00:17:18 And that was one play that was just a curious call. It happened. Also, there's no rule that the Ravens defense just has to lay down and give up a touchdown there. The Steelers' offense did a good job. Extra downs help. Similar to how the end of the game played out. And yes, the Isaiah likely overturned touchdown with under three minutes to go.
Starting point is 00:17:37 It's one of the most controversial calls to me of the season. It's first in 10. There's about two minutes and 43 seconds left to go. The Ravens are coming from behind. They're down five points at this point. And it looks like they take the lead. And likely catches the ball. He takes two steps.
Starting point is 00:17:53 Maybe he got the third down. Maybe he didn't. But the ball gets poked out there. and they decide upon review to overturn the touchdown after the game the NFL did release a statement, the pool report, and they said he did not get his third step down. And the problem I have with that is it's so close and you're supposed to have clear and obvious evidence to overturn the call. And that's my problem with it.
Starting point is 00:18:23 Like if they had called that on the field, it's a bang, bang play. mistakes are going to happen. I do not understand them overturning that call. This is crazy. Yeah, it looks too close to make an actual decision on it for me. And, you know, you kind of got to be Greg Olson to get that one, I guess. Oh, wow. She did it.
Starting point is 00:18:43 She loved it. She said it in the newsroom and she said it again. Because it's a great line. It's an amazing line. There was also the play where Aaron Rogers had a ball tipped back and he catches it. They give Aaron Rogers credit for catching the ball. and having his knees on the ground which I'm wondering do you need to make a football move
Starting point is 00:19:00 when you have knees on the ground or is you don't the play was over I think that was the right call if you have possession and the ends on the players I think that was the right call I need a ruling on from the league about like anatomy in general because one peak equals two feet but three feet does not I mean I just I just need a little bit more like body part
Starting point is 00:19:16 clarity I think from the league off a lot is going on here and yet I don't want it to get lost that Aaron Rogers played his best game of the season front to back they And this is why this game was tough to have, like, one big takeaway. Because I think the Ravens' defense and their miscommunication and their total lack of a pass rush and them getting dominated, frankly, by the Steelers' offense for three quarters of this game
Starting point is 00:19:41 is the biggest reason I believe that they lost. Then again, they did get three and outs in the fourth quarter and, like, set up the Ravens with a chance to get this comeback. But it was 27 points on only six drives. That's three touchdowns, two field goals. and one punt. And they did not get a quarterback hit in this game. They did not get a sack. On the old around the NFL podcast, that's called a Golston.
Starting point is 00:20:05 They had a Golston in this game. And they couldn't get pressure when they didn't send anyone. And then when they did, actually, they were on, the Steelers were on their third left tackle because they lost their left tackle. They also lost Darneau Washington to a concussion. And you see the Ravens kind of like, see blood in the water. And they send the house. They go empty against Aaron Rogers on.
Starting point is 00:20:26 a third in long and they don't get anywhere near him and he hits calvin austin down the field d k mcalf goes for seven and one 48 and so yeah like they definitely got a good whistle i'm not particularly confident that the raven's defense would have gotten a stop if they called that a touchdown anyway so i just think there's a lot that the ravens and their fans i'm sure um should be upset about when it comes to the ravens too because it's just a team that is not playing well enough right now and the unfortunate thing about all those things if The Ravens had purely played this well over the past couple of weeks. This might not have, they wouldn't be in this situation.
Starting point is 00:21:03 On often. On offense. Not on defense, but yeah. Well, on defense, especially on the Jalen Warren screen pass where there's nobody on that side of the field. It wasn't even a screen. I don't think. It was just a swing to Jalen Warren. It makes one guy miss.
Starting point is 00:21:16 And like there's nobody for Pat Friarmoot. Can we actually watch and listen to that play? We have that play because that was typical of what we were seeing in this game. Warren is to the right of Rogers and the shotgun gets a snap. Back to pass, throws to Warren in the right flat, wide open, scooting down the right sideline, has room. There is nobody there, and he's in for the score. Jalen Warren, a short pass out to the flat,
Starting point is 00:21:39 and he goes 38 yards in for the touchdown. Pittsburgh Steelers add to their lead here. Not even touched. Yeah, so you add in things like that, the nasty Rashad Bateman drop on third and four in the red zone, where it's, again, credit to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the pressures that they did get, T.J. Watt adds another great, great plays to his great resume. But there's aspects of this that were also a donation. Sure. I agree. But you can't
Starting point is 00:22:07 run the ball. And like I said, Rogers played well. Like, for instance, there's like a third and one escape early that he gets. He had three or four dimes in this game to D.K. The one to Austin was a beautiful ball. He ran in for a touchdown. So he's making plays. And then on the other side, here's my stat. I had it circled. I didn't want to forget it. I'm excited about this. I didn't want to forget it. The Ravens had 18 runs, I believe, in the red zone today.
Starting point is 00:22:32 Is that right? That doesn't seem right. However many runs they had in the red zone, and I will confirm it. Do you want to know their success rate on it, Patrick? Tell me the success rate. It's a big fat zero. Zero. And that's where I think about that missed touchdown call at the end where, okay, you get likely,
Starting point is 00:22:49 you know, doesn't complete that play. They are set up on a third and two on the five, right after that because they have a good second down. And what does Derek Henry and this offensive line do right after that? They lose three yards on the next play. And then Lamar has a chance to just like make something special happen. He can't pull off like a very difficult throw to Andrews. And there were a few times like that in this game where Lamar maybe had a chance to do something special.
Starting point is 00:23:13 And he didn't particularly, I think he's looked much better in terms of his legs the last couple of games for what it's worth. He runs for 43 yards in this game, including a touchdown. He looks healthier. But like, I don't know. you can't run the ball and you're letting Aaron Rogers make plays all over you. Like, I don't feel that bad. This was the ultimate Greg and Patrick game because not only did Aaron Rogers play probably one of the best, if not his best game of the entire season,
Starting point is 00:23:36 but also Jalen Warren got in the end zone. So everybody loses. I love. I mean, I was rooting for the Ravens. I'm not lying about it. The Jalen Warren thing is a joke. Neither Greg nor I enjoy Aaron Rogers discount, double checking and celebrating and being all saucy in the post. But I do, yeah, I have to like.
Starting point is 00:23:53 I have to give credit where it's due. Indeed. Which, uh... He did have some postgame salt, I think, right? Aaron Rogers did? Like, in terms of his hair color, or what are he talking about? In terms of his attitude, I thought, didn't he... Don't we have some sound of him talking, talking a little smack in the post game?
Starting point is 00:24:11 I'm sure. I'm sure it's out there. We got my Tomlin sound. Let's listen to that. I'm like looking at it. You know, we knew what was on the line today. And, um, that's why you go do business with a guy like Aaron for thick days like today. for thick days like today
Starting point is 00:24:23 he's been there, done that guy but beyond the experience component of it, he relishes it, you can just tell and that's the benefit of having a guy like AR. You know, Chris Bavona's doing a great job, filling in for the great Eric Roberts
Starting point is 00:24:39 behind the glass. That one's on me. I take on that one. I read the rundown wrong. Also, I'm also having a thing. Sometimes Chip Kelly calls the wrong play in the huddle. You've got to be able to figure it out on the field. That's what matters. That's what Chris Babona did right there. And I was talking about giving credit, by the way, in terms of red zone. Stats. Dan Pazuda, who's a great follow on Blue Sky, by the way, who works for FTN, gave me that stat in terms of zero percent success rate in the red zone.
Starting point is 00:25:11 I wanted to give him credit. And I wanted to give credit to everything that happened in Buffalo. I think we got the game of the day, Bills and Bengals, so good that we've. We've got to bring Nick Shook into this show early. But first, let's hear from Chris Brown and Eric Wood on W&R. Brown-alone setback, receiver to each side. And it's intercepted. Jumping up in the air is Bedford gets away from Burrell. 30, 20, 10, 5.
Starting point is 00:25:40 Your AFC defensive player of the week has done it again. Christian Bedford with a go-ahead touchdown. Oh, great call there by Chris Brown. Put that in the play calls of the year. Giving you more work, Bobona. Somewhere, someone in the office of the Players of the Week office is like, yes, big pop in a big spot. Someone finally cares about our award. We got a dedicated room for it.
Starting point is 00:26:09 Oh, yeah. It's just one guy's job. I sat really near them. I can't believe that's a full-time gig, especially in today's day and age. Like, you get a pension. That catches a scud missile. It's crazy. 39 to 34, shook.
Starting point is 00:26:23 I'm surprised we led with a defensive play because, man, this was a lot of great quarterback play, a lot of great offense. What stood out to you most in this courageous Bill's victory? Well, yeah, we start with a defensive play because that was the moment when I realized and I think everybody in Highmark Stadium realized, oh my God, the Bills actually can win this game.
Starting point is 00:26:43 Because for a good portion of this contest, Joe Burrow and the Bengals had a step and a half on the bills. They had a 28 to 18 lead in the fourth quarter. They had three straight touchdown drives to start this game. They could not be stopped. And it was snowing pretty heavily for most of this game. Didn't affect him at all. Josh Allen also having a pretty good game.
Starting point is 00:27:01 It was a great example of two quarterbacks overcoming inclement weather to find success. But the Bengals, they were better until that moment. Until that moment and the moment right before it, when Josh Allen faces a zero blitz, finds a running lane and takes off through one of the widest spaces of open field you're going to find. in an NFL field for a 40 yard touchdown in just rapid fashion the bills went from being like oh god there's like eight minutes left in the fourth quarter we're really going to lose this game to the bangles the bangles who are so desperate they need every win possible to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive that we thought weren't even going to be a possibility before
Starting point is 00:27:36 joe burrow came back and instead in a quick just transition of a couple of plays the bills are on top and they ride that wave all the way to victory it was one of those games that felt like a playoff game between a team that was eight and four versus a team that was four and eight. It was that much fun. Well, it looked like a playoff game. The playoff game they played a couple years ago when the Bengals went in there and ran all over them. They've been playing that game on NFL network all weekend long. You mentioned the Josh Allen rushing touchdown.
Starting point is 00:28:07 Let's hear it. There's the snap. Back to pass. Blitz coming. Allen steps up in the pocket. 40, 30, down to the 20. Allen looking for the end zone and he's in for a fourth. 40-yard touchdown rip.
Starting point is 00:28:21 The Beast has been released. My goodness. What a touchdown run by Allen. Oh, man. Back to being one of the most successful plays in football, the Josh Allen run. And I just think considering where they were at with the injuries that their defense had down a couple
Starting point is 00:28:40 scores in this game to respond the way they did and set up such a big game next week in New England. It's just, it's a big in terms of the story of this season. The story of the AFC, it also Alba eliminates the Bengals from having a little hope. I think it's good when you see a defense like this that's been through what they've been through. And certainly I have not been shy of criticizing them on that. And today, absolutely porous on third down. And that was a huge reason why the Bengals were able to stay in the game and to make the bills play from behind through much of this game.
Starting point is 00:29:11 But when your defense responds to something insane that your quarterback does, but not just doesn't just do that once but does it time and time again makes a couple of pivotal takeaway plays splash plays at the end of the game when it matters after Josh Allen after the button has been pushed right you guys are always talking about when
Starting point is 00:29:30 when does Joe Brady up in the box just press press the release that was it that was pressing the button yes and then the defense showed up in a big spot and and return the favor that's better complimentary football than we've seen from the bills in a while yeah the biggest button moment here was it was 14 to 3
Starting point is 00:29:46 And the bill's had a goal-to-go situation, gets to fourth down. And they run a, of course, it's Joe Brady. It's a mesh alteration. And there's nobody open at the top of the drop. And it's classic Josh Allen. He's buying time. He fakes a defender back. He's rolling to his right.
Starting point is 00:30:03 And he throws a seeing-eye touchdown to Khalil Shakir that saves the game. Like, it saves the game. And there's, I'll say, like, Lamar's hurt. Mahomes. that's it in terms of making this like fade away throw rolling to your right like on fourth down where that's it and there was also a Dalton Kincaid touchdown later in the game that happens within structure and Josh didn't have to do all this I feel like that's been the first one in weeks where it's where it's been like that for the Buffalo Bills where it's I mean it's 17 as long
Starting point is 00:30:36 as 17s there they got a chance to do even the touchdown that they scored to essentially put this game away was out of structure it was Allen suddenly has all day to throw it's fourth and goal and he finds Jackson Hawes for a three-yard touchdown to give them an 11-point lead. An 11-point lead that seemed impossible just a few minutes earlier. The sequence that followed that basically preceded the Benford play, take this, for example, James Cook, having a great year. They're riding him on the ground. Everything's cool. They're deep in Bengals territory. He fumbles the ball into the end zone. Bengals recover. Boom. There's their chance to score. Gone. Bengals respond with the touchdown drive. Mike Gisicki puts him up 28 to 18. And then all hell breaks loose.
Starting point is 00:31:13 the Allen touchdown, the Benford picks six, then A.J. Epinessa catches a deflected pass. They go down and score. That's the Hawes touchdown to give them suddenly a 39 to 28 lead. It just happened in such rapid succession. And I felt like it was an illustration of the difference between a team that has found success for the majority of the season, has overcome adversity and has positioned themselves now at nine and four to be in a great spot versus a team that has tried to overcome adversity, has been held back so many times and is ultimately not going to reach the postseason. And it's unfortunate for the Bengals. Like, what a way for this bengal season to essentially end that you have a 28 to 18 point, Lee.
Starting point is 00:31:46 I'm glad you pointed out the time element of this with eight minutes left in this game. And you end up giving up 39 points. And I know seven of those is on Joe Burrow and the offense, but it's just like another kick in the teeth. And you wanted at least to watch, Shook, that second T. Higgins touchdown. And while we do that, like I want to let you wax him. on what this Bengals offense did today. Because you could argue this one-handed catch while T. Higgins is getting dragged down
Starting point is 00:32:18 is not even the best T. Higgins touchdown in the game. His first quarter touchdown was absolutely ridiculous. This was an awesome game, but what did you see out of the Bengals' offense in the Bill's defense today? An offense that was really fortunate to get T. Higgins back. An offense that almost lost T. Higgins again when he crashed down to the turf
Starting point is 00:32:34 and had to be examined checked for a concussion after his head hit the turf and it was frozen there, obviously. And they were just really fortunate to have him in there. But another example of how Joe Burrow elevates this team, like, exponentially. This is an offense that could put up points with Joe Flacco for certain stretches earlier in the season, but we saw over the last
Starting point is 00:32:51 two or three starts that he had, they had struggled. Now they didn't have Jamar Chase in one game and they, Higgins was in and out, whatever it might be. Burrow, at one point I thought, like, could he be, if he were able to lead them to the playoffs with performances like this, and this was a super impressive one until it all fell apart, could he potentially be in the running for MVP? Because that's how valuable he is to this team.
Starting point is 00:33:11 right. Well, I'm not putting him in the conversation, but I appreciate it. Now they lost the game. Doesn't matter. Is that allowed it? Do we have anything in? Well, they lost, but I'm saying if they had won this game in an alternate universe. I was allowing for the fact that the Steelers and Ravens are looking shaky enough that I was allowing for the fact Bengals could get back in it. But now I'm not feeling. Yeah, the point structure is impossible for Joe to be in the conversation. Okay. So we've been mentioning Bobona, killing it behind the glass, the whole crew. That means Eric Roberts is in Buffalo. And we have a. special message from Eric. I have not heard this yet. I'm looking forward to it. NFL Daily. We're out here. They're blowing the field. It's snowing on us. Look at that. Hopefully this is sprinkled on top of a Bill's Wind recap. If not, I'm going to sit here and freeze to my seats and contemplate life because I flew all the way out here for Joe borough to ruin my family vacation. You're probably running late, Greg. Take a break.
Starting point is 00:34:15 Chris, Vivona. Get him to break now. Go bills, baby. That is a real producer right there. Eric, keep him warm by any means necessary. That looks like an amazing scene. He knows that we're over time. He's telling me just get to your break and stop honking.
Starting point is 00:34:36 But before I do that, I will say, Just check out Eric on Instagram because he had some great shots, great seats. Good job by the Roberts family. Whoever got those tickets, if it was Eric himself, way to go. And he saw some of the best plays of the game from up close. I was happy for him. And I'm happy it sets up an awesome game in the AFC East next week. Let's take a break on the flip side.
Starting point is 00:34:59 We're going to talk about a game that could help decide the AFC South. So many big ones today. Chris, get them to break. If a Lenovo gaming computer is on your holiday list, don't shop around. Just go directly to the source, Lenovo.com. It's your last chance to score exclusive deals on the gaming PCs you want, like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 gaming desktop and Lenovo Lock Gaming Laptop. So avoid all that shopping chaos and price comparing,
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Starting point is 00:36:34 That's Hellofresh.ca promo code Dinner50. Hellofresh.ca. Hellofresh, Canada's number one meal kit delivery service. Hey, what's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. If you love breaking down football from every angle, you're in the right place.
Starting point is 00:36:50 Every week on Move the 6th, Bucke Brooks and I dive deep into the game from the X's and O's to the front office moves shaping the league. We kick things off with Brian Baudinger, breaking down what really went down on Sunday. It is as good at timing rhythm offense as there is in the league right now. Then Rhett Lewis joins us for our rookie draft and coordinator of the week,
Starting point is 00:37:10 where we highlight the rising stars and the masterminds calling the shots. DJ talked me into A Ronde Gadsden Jr. He had a monster game. A monster game. And you hear from the voices who actually build the game. GMs, coaches, and players who give you insight you won't get anywhere else. High standards and high care. That's the right combination.
Starting point is 00:37:30 So whether you're studying tape or just love great football talk, subscribe to Move the Sticks on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, y'all, it's me, your man, M.G. Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. L'Orio. And I'm Laquan Jones. If you're looking to win your fantasy football league, you need to tune in to the NFL fantasy football podcast. It's right there in the name. Every week, Florio, LQ, and I bring you the latest news from around the league. We break down every matchup, give you our
Starting point is 00:38:00 analysis and advice so you know who to start, sit, drop, and trade to bring that championship trophy hole. I just want to remind everyone how good Rishie Rice was last season. And there's three healthy games. He was the wide receiver two in fantasy. I think Rishie Rice just goes off this week. The Chiefs come on a flip pass to Rice. This side. Touchdown! Remandre Stevens is my sleeper this week. This is a matchup where I think I can slide in Stevenson into my flex position and he could deliver double digit points this week. Drake takes the snap. Hands it off. Remodry running it right and running into the end zone. Touchdown. It's never too late to turn your fantasy season or Subscribe to the NFL fantasy football podcast on the IHeart Radio app,
Starting point is 00:38:40 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up? It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast, the Off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars for the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment. About anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture. And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season, the season of more,
Starting point is 00:39:05 on the Off the Edge with Cam Joined podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage. Store more and do more with your data. Try them for free at Wasabi.com. Dropping again, looking again. Fires in the right side of the end zone. Caught! Touchdown! Jacoby Myers caught it in the right side of the end zone.
Starting point is 00:39:30 A 14-yard scoring strike. What a throw. What a throw. What a day for Trevor Lawrence. 36 to 19, the Jaguars roll over the Indianapolis Colts, takeover first place in the AFC South. Feels like a long time ago, the Colts were 7 and 1, and on top of the conference.
Starting point is 00:39:54 That was Frank Frangy, by the way, on WJXL. Some people are saying, Jacoby Myers, the best trade deadline pickup of the year. And in many years, that's some people. where it was Patrick Claibon in the break leading up to it. Unfortunately, Jordan, like, as great as the Jaguars performance is, and we'll get to it, it did feel like the biggest news of this day was what happened with the cold.
Starting point is 00:40:18 Yeah, so at that time, that put the Jaguars up 14 to 7. It was still a beautiful time when both teams were relatively healthy. They were going to compete, and this was going to be a ball game. Blows were being traded back and forth. But in the biggest game of the Colt season, to date, they lose their quarterback, Daniel Jones, doing Achilles injury that Shane Stike in postgame did not have an official update on but said, does not look good, a non-contact injury on a throw in the first quarter, and he knew it immediately, and he slams his helmet down, and by halftime, he's in a boot
Starting point is 00:40:57 on the sideline for the rest of the game, and it is an uphill climb for Riley Leonard at that point. yeah and this jaguar's defense has been playing better you had your eyes you know on riley leonard the rest of the day but to remind the listeners anthony richardson suffers that freak injury with the exercise band that breaks his eye socket we have no word on when or if he's going to be available again so we'll just have to wait and see riley leonard is a late round pick Nate Tice's guy out of Notre Dame. But it's just hard to see this Colts team competing now. You remember, of course, they gave up their first round pick to the Jets to get Soss Gardner.
Starting point is 00:41:42 He is currently out with a calf injury. And suddenly some of these teams, like the Bills, for instance, we just talked about, like you can almost cross off the Colts. I have a feeling because they have such a brutal schedule down the stretch too for Riley Leonard and this team to play. a team that was already kind of showing signs of decline. Yeah, and it started with the run game with them. It was the biggest crack until, you know, Daniel Jones broke his leg
Starting point is 00:42:09 and was trying to play through that entering the game was their run game. That was really struggling. And all of their losses this season, teams have held Jonathan Taylor for 86 yards or less. And this game was no different. Now, the Jaguars defense, I want to say, it wasn't just that they were playing lesser quarterback competition. they played really, really well.
Starting point is 00:42:29 It started with Devin Lloyd, who picked off Daniel Jones on Daniel Jones's very first pass from scrimmage, which, you know, you say omens and signs all the time, Greg, this was a big one. And it got, they just, they, they swarmed to the ball and they covered really well. And they, they just were relentless. They ended up taking the ball away three times, including forcing a fumble on a Jonathan Taylor carry. And like I said, bottled up the run game really, really effectively.
Starting point is 00:42:56 and that's where I think this Jaguar's defense has improved. But Riley Leonard did not play poorly. In my opinion, the statistics, I think he played better than what his statistics showed. And they show that he was 18 of 29 with no passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdowns, and of course, the interception. But he made a couple of really tough throws. He showed that he wants to push the ball, that he understands how to run the offense, that he can push the ball and he can create out of structure, which he did a couple of times. He made a couple of really tough throws, including a possible
Starting point is 00:43:26 pivotal throw, which really was one of two moments that could have helped get the Colts back in this game. That was a touchdown that was called back to a very suspicious penalty. And there were calls on both sides guys before I get it in my mentions, but
Starting point is 00:43:42 that was a tough one because you could see the Colts defense really kind of turned to Riley Leonard after he made that would be touchdown pass. And they were like, all right, we got a chance. And they ended up forcing a stop on the other side against Trevor Lawrence and the Jags offense that played had a really,
Starting point is 00:43:58 really good game today. Yeah, the design success rate for the Colts, 34.8%. And it's been falling in recent weeks. And that's, I think, what's going to maybe get forgotten in this Colts season that, like, unfortunately, the 7 and 1 fall was happening before these injuries. Now, I mean, it's crazy to think about, what are they? They're 8 and 5, so they've won, you know, one game since that great start.
Starting point is 00:44:23 And let's give the Jaguar some love. Yeah, I would love to because Team Trev. It's a good day for Team Trev. I'm so hard on Trevor Lawrence. I own that and I recognize that. And I am always lamenting the roller coaster that is the Trevor Lawrence experience. But he took care of the ball so well today, Patrick, in a downpour. It looked miserable in Jacksonville.
Starting point is 00:44:44 It rained buckets the entire time. But he took care of the ball. He didn't turn it over. He ran a couple of times, including a sneak. It was really important for the, for the Jaguars. And he made a couple of really incredible throws, including this video that I would like to present. Oh. I know.
Starting point is 00:45:02 And it's me doing it. As a possible throw of the year candidate, because this is a pouring rain throw right here, Tim Patrick down the sideline. And you see the water dripping off the camera lens? So it's Trevor rolling out, throwing on the move down the sideline, doing so on the move as his body's floating away in the pouring rain. Now, I don't know if it wins throw over the year, but it's Trevor. It's not going to win. No, of course.
Starting point is 00:45:24 But it's nice to be nominated. It's Trevor Lawrence, who I feel like I owed a nomination to at least one time during the season. I've been pretty hard on him. I think he's playing his best football the last couple weeks. And like that, a throw where Trevor Lawrence can make it look routine by making the right decision at the right time, getting the ball to come down in the right spot to Tim Patrick, where when he makes it look easy, it's like, oh, okay, well, yeah, anybody could have done it. When Trevor does that, that's when everything is working great.
Starting point is 00:45:52 And we saw like the fully implemented design. for for BTJ as well who's catching deep balls on the side like doing what Brian Thomas Jr. is supposed to do out on the edge and you know it's fully assembled to this point where E.T.N. in the run game, especially taking advantage
Starting point is 00:46:10 of those early Colts turnovers the one from Jonathan Taylor which was backbreaking in hindsight because Dimes just goes down and I'm sure Jonathan Taylor thinks, yeah, I got to grind out every single yard and he's trying to reach for an extra when the ball gets poked out. You can credit the Jack's defense from
Starting point is 00:46:26 that. And Devin Lloyd has continued his, you know, DPOI candidacy after missing a few games. He comes back. He gets dimes again with the play he's got almost every quarterback they've played this season, lining up right at the line of scrimmage, dropping out, hiding behind the line and popping up for another pit. He does it all. What a ride this Jaguars team has been on. Like they started out hot and then they were, they don't look great before the buy and suddenly it just felt like it went from messy fun to just messy. And now they're at nine and four. Everyone's contributing. E.T.N. with a long touchdown run. You mentioned, I know it slowed down a little bit later in this game. And yeah,
Starting point is 00:47:00 we've kind of wanted to see Trevor click with Liam Cohen. That's been the one thing we haven't seen. I thought he had his best game of the season last year. You can play well even if it's the Titans. And I think what he showed on tape was good last week. You could see how fired up Liam Cohen was on the sideline. And he was a little fired up after the game too. When you have a team that feeds on disrespect, how do you does that continue to go when maybe the respect starts to come, which might be I don't know if we'll ever really get it. So that's the beauty of it. It ain't coming.
Starting point is 00:47:29 You know that. It's not. And that's the beauty of it. And that's totally fine. All right. He's putting that chip on the back. Maybe. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:47:39 We get no respect there. The chip is on the shoulder. The Jaguars are nine and four currently the three seed. And talk about no respect. They haven't allowed the Indianapolis Colts to win a football game in Jacksonville since 2014, that's 4,1002 days, according to our friend John Shipley. That includes some pretty garbage Jaguars teams over the years. Who's the leading rusher in that game for the Colts?
Starting point is 00:48:06 Tret Richardson! Also, Liam Cohen, hello, we named the Jacksonville Jaguars, the messy fun team of the NFL Daily podcast, which I know your organization is aware of. So, hello, the disrespect is not in the best. building over here. That's kind of like backhanded compliments, but if I'm them,
Starting point is 00:48:27 I would take it as respect. At least we're talking about it. We had a blast with that episode. Absolutely. Unlike somebody else that's sitting at this table, I picked the Jacks to win this game. I know. The respect is all.
Starting point is 00:48:38 It was a direct comment toward Greg Rosentall. I understand everything. I'll take that out because I think they were winning this game, whether Dana Jones finished it or not after watching that. Okay, so that's who's atop, the AFC South. Let's see if we found any separation in the great NFC West.
Starting point is 00:48:55 New possession in plus territory. Short set, a ball fake. He wheels, he deals, jumping at the five, it's Puka again. On one play, a 31-yard strike, Pusa Nakua, with a new career high in touchdowns. Wow. Thanks for playing, MJD.
Starting point is 00:49:19 Yes. I'll see it in the film room in like an hour or so. Watch that Sunday night football game. Yeah, that was the Puka Nakuwa drive, one catch drive, nice and efficient. It was the Puka Nakua game. Seven catches, 167 yards and two touchdowns, much of those in the first half. Almost felt like Patrick, he was trying to top himself, like, oh, you thought that catch was good?
Starting point is 00:49:43 How about this catch? The Rams win 45 to 17 in a game where Stafford got to just chill for a lot of the fourth quarter. And I'm glad that he did. It's always a couple of drives longer. I start to complain about it early because this one was out of the question to the point where I'm arguing with next-gen stats because there was a couple of Stafford throwaways targeted that get credited as a target towards Puka Nakua. I don't think they should count because he caught everything as he has for the past few weeks. He was spectacular to get a chance to watch this game and you're worried about the score.
Starting point is 00:50:15 It's worth it just to see how Puka was playing. The start of the fourth quarter was Jimmy G. the game because the offense for the Rams was averaging almost nine yards of play. Stafford does retake the lead in the conversation as the Patriots were a buy. So I'll get a full score update coming out probably on Monday night.
Starting point is 00:50:36 But the Rams defense is what made this one laughable. They pressured percent on 48% of his dropbacks. He completed less than half of his attempts when he was under pressure. The offense looked disjointed and clunky for the vast majority of the afternoon. He was negative six in terms of completion percentage over-expected, so he was
Starting point is 00:50:53 under-expected in terms of that stat on the completion percentage. Michael Wilson, in that one role where he can play, because there was no Marvin Harrison Jr. there, but it's scarcely difficult to call this one a football game. And late Quorum had a long touchdown, where I wondered
Starting point is 00:51:09 if that was the beginning of the end of the Jonathan Gannon era, Greg. I think that was the longest ramps touchdown of the season. They hadn't had, they don't do a lot of explosive running, but Blake Forum really I mean, and the blocking on that. Yeah, like, we keep hearing. Oh, Gannon's safe.
Starting point is 00:51:26 And Monty Austinfort's safe. They're showing Monty Austin Fort in the owner's, you know, booth, you know, sitting next to... It's a good place to be. It is. So that makes me think he's more likely to stay. But I've just seen this enough. We've seen this over and over in the years where insiders say these guys are safe or they're trending.
Starting point is 00:51:46 Oh, they're not going to be in trouble at all. And that's early December. and then they get their teeth kicked in. And then there's another week. And they get their teeth kicked in again. And then there's another week. And it's like this month, it's a long way to go. It feels like the Cardinal season is over,
Starting point is 00:52:01 but they've got to play four more of these games, and they keep getting embarrassed. I just, it's hard for them to make a case if it continues to go like this, especially in this division where he's had a chance now year three to kind of show, okay, what can I do defensively against these teams? and everyone's putting up a 40 burger on them.
Starting point is 00:52:20 The 49ers are, the Seahawks are, and now the Rams are. But yeah, you mentioned the run game, Patrick. They go for 249 yards on the ground. I don't think it's like a secret weapon, but I think if the Rams win the Super Bowl, and I think they have as good a chance as any team in the league to do it, their running game is going to be one of, if not the biggest reasons why. Yeah, it looked great today.
Starting point is 00:52:43 And again, you know, the Cardinals caveat, that, although in defense of Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals, the close losses did pile up over the course of the season. It hasn't been like this. It has gotten there late, but it was, whether it was Williams, whether it was Corp, whether it was Ronnie Rivers late in the fourth quarter? Shout out to Ron. Shout out to Ronnie Rivers, who had a lot of garbage done today
Starting point is 00:53:05 because there was a lot of it available. Well, partly because of my games today, by the way. Yeah, that's unfortunate. Yeah, I was thinking that your game's early. had some blowouts too, but then you got the good one. Oh, I got the great one. You got the great one. This was back to the 13 personnel way that we've seen from Sean McFay, which is fascinating.
Starting point is 00:53:27 I've been talking to some people around the league about this over the last couple of weeks, and there's this theory that's being played out, and I think we're just going to need a lot, like just more data from the entire season to just see kind of what matches what, but that it's so easy for him to skip right over 12 personnel and go directly to 13, not just because he has the tight ends to do it and the skill level of the tight end position to do it even without guys banged up. But it's a lot of the same 11 personnel concepts
Starting point is 00:53:54 and route patterns that is just being run out of a heavier personnel. And when they go against a defense that is a little bit more of a matchup-based defense of Jonathan Gannon scheming a matchup week by week, which we know he tends to do, this is their version of just loading up and what other teams say will load up
Starting point is 00:54:13 and run the ball down your throat. This is their version of it, except they keep their passing game open as well because of what their tight ends can do and what Puka and Kua can do. Yeah, I saw Tara Barsop with ESPN said they had more, yeah, 13 personnel, three titans on the field.
Starting point is 00:54:28 The first half of this game, than any game all season. So they loaded up, they pushed them around. It was nice to see their pass rush get after it. Again, they had nine quick pressures in this game, a million pressures in general. As Patrick mentioned, they've been a little quiet at points lately.
Starting point is 00:54:42 and Nate Landman did his thing again with a crazy awesome interception in the second half. I'm now going to put Bobona on the mic for the first time in his show. And this is a legacy game for Bobona. And I'm going to give you the decision as we just talked all about these tight ends,
Starting point is 00:55:02 do you want the Colby Parkinson's touchdown in the show or do you think we should make up some time and move along? No, you're going to play it because I cut it. What? Steph on 30 goal. Helmand high snap, looking left. Pro's middle is caught. It's a touchdown.
Starting point is 00:55:19 Colby Parkinson. How about the Sean McVeigh flu game? Oh my God. The head coach and play caller sick on the road in Arizona. Five drives, five scores. Stafford's surgical in L.A. is blowing out Arizona. That is awesome. You know what to blowout when we spent the second half wondering like,
Starting point is 00:55:42 What was his sickness? Maybe it was the flu. J.B. Long knows all. And I like how spicy Chris got. I just want to add. Yes. Sean McVeigh is not the only one who had a flu game. I spent the last 48 hours in bed.
Starting point is 00:55:56 There we go. Came here. There we go. I've been kind of sick. I'm making Drew a little nervous. We haven't reached half time yet, Chris. So, you know, don't smoke. A lot of game left.
Starting point is 00:56:05 He's pointing at the scoreboard. This is a Sean McVeigh, 49ers, 2021. Yeah. I also shouldn't be too surprised. because Chris is a Rams fan. Of course he's decked out. Of course, we played the highlight. He's got his cap and his jacket on.
Starting point is 00:56:18 Well, not everything was happy in Rams' fandom today because they had to watch the Seahawks put it on the Atlanta Falcon. Shaheed, the deeper of the two, back on the goal line. And here comes the kick, end over end. Shaheed from the goal line, near right side numbers, up the field, 10, 20, looking for a gap. He's got one. He's off to the races.
Starting point is 00:56:37 Look out. This could be at 50, 40, 30. They're not going to touch him. 10, 5, he looks back. Touchdown. Seahawks. What a way to start the second half. Kick the ball to Rashid Shaheed and say, go, baby, for a hundred yards.
Starting point is 00:56:56 And he does. So the score was tied at that point, 6-6. Yeah. Half-time. The final score was 37 to 9. We can go in a lot of directions here. I appreciate the great call by Steve Rable here on K-I-R-O. but how about we start this way?
Starting point is 00:57:12 Let's do it. Rahim Morris got those three points by kicking a field goal went down 23 to 9 inside the 10-yard line on a 4th and 2. That's the most gutless field goal I've seen all year and the most pointless.
Starting point is 00:57:27 What are you doing, Rahim? Let's give the Seahawks some love, actually. Yeah, it was a very, very sad field goal. The saddest. That was the saddest. 23 to 6. Fourth and 2. That's the clack.
Starting point is 00:57:41 Like, what is it, the claxon horn of field? We will, we will give that the 2025 sad field goal award. Thank you. For the Falcons where it's a tail of two high ups. That's the start of the third quarter where the Falcons have somehow managed to have this a 6-6 ball game. Rashid has that touchdown. By the way, the average length of Rashid Shaheed's touchdowns in his career in the NFL is over 50 yards. This 100-yard kick return definitely helps that.
Starting point is 00:58:08 But consistently, because we're years into this. and he's still doing it. So after the game, Rahim Morris said that that was a backbreaker. It cost the team the momentum. Kirk Cousins was asked about that and said, quote, who cares? We have to find our way back. You have to play your way back from that. So in honor of Kirk Cousins and the Falcons are officially eliminated,
Starting point is 00:58:27 other than my linkage to Terry Fontno after putting him up there in the GM rankings, there's no reason to discuss Kirk Cousins in the Falcons anymore. So we'll honor Kirk's request. Thank you. Seahawks essentially on the way. Although Bejohn Robinson crossed 1,000 yards and Kyle Pitts had 90 plus through the air. Let's talk Seahawks because against man blitzes, against the defense that was the top pass defense in the NFL at one point. Sam Darnold had an interception in the first half, a rough first half, but this late season, Sam kind of went away in the second half.
Starting point is 00:58:57 He had three touchdowns against man blitzes. There were two J.S.N touchdowns where he won that one-on-one battle with A.J. Terrell. And they got one quick pressure, did the Falcons on Darnold. The pass-rating wind pressure today was 127. So the folks that were watching this darnal decline, it definitely went away. I understand, as Kurt Cousin says, who cares? But a much better game from Sam, slinging Sammy today in a dominant Seahawks performance where they go on a 34-3 run to close it out.
Starting point is 00:59:26 Like, that is how the Seahawks play football, though. They have now, this was a graphic during the show, 4.30-point halves this year. And I'm like, that can't happen too often. They've done it four times. The rest of the NFL combined has done it six times. So they explode, whether it's special teams, defense, or offense. But I do think on a day where they didn't run the ball too well, we kind of know their special teams and their defense is going to be good.
Starting point is 00:59:55 That's not a surprise to me. I think they got to feel good to have such a positive Sam Darnold performance, where he did get Shaheed involved too as a receiver. Cooper Cup gets a touchdown and JSN gets back. on the MVP track? It's not going to happen. JSN does get the points from this game with the two scores
Starting point is 01:00:13 on the road. And so, yeah, it's back in the positive in the conversation, but, you know, the vibes in general on the offense are on the way up. Yeah, he beats A.J. Terrell like on an inside move and then dust him on a catch and run early. That was their second, or touchdown on the second half.
Starting point is 01:00:29 Yeah, it was incredible. He had five passes on seven targets when matched up against AJ Terrell for 81 yards. according to next gen stats this is maybe the best team in football uh one through three pick one and put them there right and you mentioned that who's three packers okay packers there it's cool it's all nmc teams in my book anyway i feel like because of body of work i put the rams and sea ox above but you're right i think the packers gets in that i agree today yeah that that defense said today i think um first of all great for sam darnold this is exactly when you want your
Starting point is 01:01:05 quarterback playing some of his best football, especially problem solving against some of the pressure look. You know that Jeff Ulrich did not make it easy on him with some of the blitzing that Atlanta likes to do. And also, you mentioned, Greg, that the Rams were probably really sad watching the Seahawks cruise, but they got a draft pick that they're watching a little bit closer than that, I think. And Atlanta is giving them a pretty high, high value first round pick. Atlanta right now is projected, according to Tankathon, for the number nine pick. That trade looking better and better. Since I didn't watch this game, really almost at all, Patrick.
Starting point is 01:01:39 I do want you to tell me something you found interested about the Seahawks' defensive performance against your guy, Kirkgo, other than the fact that it was they were covering a man named Dylan Drummond who had four or five catches. Yeah, and David Sills also getting back in the game of this high-flying Falcons offense where they had Nicky Manwari matched up, and I know Cal Pitts had a great game, but really allowing Nicky Eman Worry to get involved in man coverage against Kyle Pitts,
Starting point is 01:02:09 like use, it's two incredibly large, fast, gifted athletes, and Pitts got the better of them on, honestly, Kurt Cousins' best throw of the game, but to have that amount of faith in the rookie, because it was still a game at that point before the second half offensive explosion, where it's, I know that there's the rookie wall theorizers out there,
Starting point is 01:02:28 but you get Nick E. Manwry in these situations where they're able to provide pressure from so many different places. the vintage Seahawks where we haven't been concerned with the defense but just in the deployment of the talent that they have available
Starting point is 01:02:43 it's a really good spot three more quick pressures from DeMarcus Lawrence who's turning this from like a great story to just like is he an all pro this year like he is getting into that with just one of my favorite players
Starting point is 01:02:56 of the last decade and I loved hearing Jackson Smith and Jigba after the game saying yeah Nick Eamon Worry was that guy in practice that he's been picking on all year because he thinks he can be special, but that he's kind of put an X on his back. I'm going to make you better by trying to embarrass you in practice,
Starting point is 01:03:11 and now he's out there just bawling as a rookie. So the Seahawks take care of business. Would another division leader who is playing today, the NFD South leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, do the same? Again, the new right tackle is Sherman. Chuck. Oh, here they come up the middle. He got away from one.
Starting point is 01:03:29 He got away from VA. Here he goes. No way. Touchtown! His second touchdown run today. Shock from 13. Kevin, how he got a way for that. That was amazing.
Starting point is 01:03:51 Yes, it was the best in the game. I do not know. I do not know. Great job there. By Kevin Harlan and Trent Green with an excellently timed question. And, oh, wow, that boy can move. Tyler Shuck was the difference in this game on the ground and not making many mistakes through the air.
Starting point is 01:04:14 There was that one interception. Seven runs for 55 yards, two touchdowns from Shuck on a day that was played in a driving rainstorm for much of the game. Jordan's given me a curious look. Why are you giving me such a curious look? You know, Greg, it's just because I'm just so confused, you know, because all I heard from you leading up to the draft and then after the Saints drafted Tyler Shuck was that he runs from pressure. He spazzes out against pressure. He fritzes. So on that play, it looked like he navigated pressure and then like didn't run backwards, right?
Starting point is 01:04:56 Or get moved backwards. Like, I'm just making sure I'm seeing it. He has done a great job using his feet. This game might not be the best spot for that. Negative 20% completion percentage over expected when under pressure. He's playing so much better. Holding onto the ball to taking sacks. But I don't want to rain on that parade.
Starting point is 01:05:13 It was raining so hard. That hurt the passing game in general. And you said it. Like these, like, they basically were giving him the Taysam Hill plays. There was a design run in the first half for a touchdown. And his ability to play well late in the fourth quarter and his ability to run has been a total game changer for this offense and he's looked better each and every week. And it makes me kind of look back to that last season at Louisville where he breaks his leg in
Starting point is 01:05:43 2023. He's coming back. He's trying to play. He's already a little bit older through this process. And I'm wondering if our evaluation of Tyler Shuck was based on early coming back from that broken leg and playing on it, trying to get a chance in the NFL where you start with Spencer Rattler for the first few weeks of the season. And now, this is the fully formed and fully healthy. Tyler Shuck playing in a mud slop film where, yeah, the passing numbers weren't great. They were better than Baker Mayfield. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 01:06:13 And he had, you know, a few, like just zone passes over the middle to Juan Johnson or Foster Moreau. He had a few dump-offs where he got through his read that were good. He avoided, you know, mostly big mistakes. But the plays that impressed me the most in this game were his two throws to Devon Velae late in the game where they are trying to kill clock. And Kellynne Moore does show a little bit of faith in his young quarterback, you know, calling for passes late while they're trying to kill clock. And he hits Velae for 13 yards on the sideline.
Starting point is 01:06:46 Really nice throw. And he keeps doing that on a third and five. And that was a few plays after he did a very similar third down completion to Vailay. And it's like he's making those plays late in the game. Whereas Baker Mayfield gets the ball back. with all the time in the world and they go four and out. One of those four should have been an interception,
Starting point is 01:07:08 but just was dropped by Jonas Sanker. And the bucks go three of 13 on third down and two of seven on fourth down, many of which were runs. But it was another day where Baker was just not great under pressure, not great in terms of intermediate throws, just not great. Yeah, he's really struggling. And you're starting to see some of the, they've had a very few games where they're entire.
Starting point is 01:07:31 line has actually been completely healthy and complete. And obviously, Tristan Worf's not being a part of this one as well is a factor. But yeah, he has not played good football for weeks now. And yes, part of it, you know, you have to wonder how bad is the shoulder hurting him. And obviously
Starting point is 01:07:47 that's not the, I don't think that's the throwing arm of the pain of it and all of that. He ran really well today. That was probably the best thing he did. That was good to see. And he has to. If you can't, he's been such an inconsistent thrower. It's almost like he's trying to force plays and in the early weeks of this when he, I guess in a way he was
Starting point is 01:08:08 still forcing plays and pushing the ball. It's just they were working. And so that was our particularly preferred brand of Bakerball chaos. And in this case, it's just not working. And I know I was, you know, being all tongue in cheek about the Tyler Sheck thing. But I think it's a, it's a cool testament, Greg. And we've talked about this of like how a quarterback can change and grow up over the course of a season and how a lot of times it's happening on a really bad football team and not a lot of people are actually watching it happen. But I know that you've been watching his tape really closely and understanding a little bit more about like how he is starting to actually handle what's coming at him pressure-wise
Starting point is 01:08:45 and seeing a lot of different types of it week over week too because other teams are coming at him with that consideration of what they saw in college. Yeah, this is a different test. And the Buccaneers chose to not blitz almost at all in this game. and it made sense because they still got a lot of pressure but like we said he handled it pretty well for the most part
Starting point is 01:09:08 I do feel bad because early in the day I just send notes as we're doing it and I did have a wotting and I'm a knee from Chuck which was intercepting so but this was it was more of a it was more of a miscommunication it's just his receiver
Starting point is 01:09:23 stopped on the route and Alavi read it differently and I don't know who was at fault there but it's always just funny when you just throw the ball and there's no one else, you know, in the area. I love it. I do. He played great.
Starting point is 01:09:37 Yeah, we've seen both Lamar and Mahomes have bumbles this year where they try to, that the check swing and the ball comes out. That's the one where you see why it happens. Because Shuck, he sees the receiver stop, but he's already in his throwing motion. Already gone. I just lay this thing out here. And look, I know the Saints might have messed up their draft. You know, it's standing for a little bit right now.
Starting point is 01:09:58 But the big takeaway here is obviously that the Bucks lose this game. They're still in first at 7 and 6 now tied with the Panthers. Two games left against the Panthers. And the Panthers sitting at home and watching a guy who's got a chance to be the offensive rookie year in Teddural McMillan watching a fourth quarter, Emeka, Bucca out and up where Baker actually does get on the ball and he stone hands it right there in the end zone. Tough day for the game. Yeah. Down the stretch for Abuka, it has been.
Starting point is 01:10:27 It's been nice. It's tough. It's been one big drop a week, enough where I think it's impacted his rookie of the year chances for sure. It doesn't mean they're over. But that ball was maybe like a little high and like a little hot. So it wasn't quite as easy as it looked when they did show the replay. And I do have to repeat, most of this game was played in the most disgusting conditions. It was all mud.
Starting point is 01:10:54 Everyone's uniforms were insane. There's giant divvits in the ground. the reason why the bucks like went two for seven and fourth down is like they kept going for these fourth and shorts in spots where it made sense and like you just couldn't get any push like the traction it was disgusting in a great way there was no baking and as we head into a break a teaser also very little cooking sunday it is not uh yeah not a lot of baking uh let's take a quick break as jordan teased and yes we'll come back on the other side Well, that's don't. If a Lenovo gaming computer is on your holiday list, don't shop around. Just go directly to the source, Lenovo.com. It's your last chance to score exclusive deals on the gaming PCs you want,
Starting point is 01:11:45 like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 gaming desktop and Lenovo Lock Gaming laptop. So avoid all that shopping chaos and price comparing, and just go directly to the source, Lenovo.com, where PCs are up to 35% off. That's Lenovo.com. It's 5.23 p.m. One of your kids is asking for a snack, another is building a fort out of your clean laundry,
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Starting point is 01:13:18 to the front office moves shaping the league. We kick things off with Brian Baudinger, breaking down what really went down on Sunday. It is as good a time. timing rhythm offense is there is in the league right now. Then Rhett Lewis joins us for our rookie draft and coordinator of the week, where we highlight the rising stars and the masterminds calling the shots. DJ talked me into A Ronde Gadsden Jr. He had a monster game. A monster game.
Starting point is 01:13:42 And you hear from the voices who actually build the game. GMs, coaches, and players who give you insight you won't get anywhere else. High standards and high care. That's the right combination. So whether you're studying tape or just love great football talk, subscribe to Move the Sticks on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, y'all, it's me, your man, M.G, Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Lerio.
Starting point is 01:14:08 And I'm Laquan Jones. If you're looking to win your fantasy football league, you need to tune in to the NFL fantasy football podcast. It's right there in the name. Every week, Florio, LQ, and I bring you the latest news from around the league. We break down every matchup, give you our analysis and advice, so you know who to start. Start, sit, drop, and trade to bring that championship trophy home. I just want to remind everyone how good Rishie Rice was last season. And these three healthy games.
Starting point is 01:14:34 He was the wide receiver 2 in fantasy. I think Rishie Ryshe goes off this week. The Chiefs come on a flip pass to Rice. Near side, touchdown! Remandre Stevens is my sleeper this week. This is a matchout where I think I can slide in Stevenson into my flex position and he could deliver double-digit points this week. Drake takes the snap, hands it off.
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Starting point is 01:15:10 when your fantasy team scores another touchdown in the playoffs. I'm JJ Zacharyason, host of the late-round fantasy football podcast. Every move matters this time of year, so tune in daily to help build a championship roster to beat your friends, your family, and that one co-worker who won't stop talking. Literally. Listen to late-round fantasy football
Starting point is 01:15:31 on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. First and 10 at the 12-yard line. Fitching the HN, left side, trying to get around the quarterback. Comes it back in. 10, 5. Touchdown Dolphins.
Starting point is 01:15:48 Patience and then the great burst once the blocks were set up to take off and get in the end zone. Man, the dolphins are having fun. Sounds like it. Dolphins win in the Meadowlands, 34 to 10. That was Jimmy Cephalo. Joe Rose, maybe, in the mix on WBGG.
Starting point is 01:16:09 Devon A. Chan, been one of the best players at his position in the entire NFL. Unfortunately, got hurt in this game. Before the break, you made a great pun. That's what Jordan does, referring to a man named Brady. Cook. And it went over my head in the moment. I was thinking of those goofy. So did a lot of the passes. Yeah. Brady Cook comes in for an injured Tyrod Taylor and that was kind of all she wrote in a game that the Miami Dolphins were dominated on offense even before that. Yeah, well before Tyrod Taylor left the game with a groin injury. Two consecutive early
Starting point is 01:16:44 scoring drives spearheaded by Devon A. Chain who had an incredible start to this game, left with a ribs injury. And then Mike McDaniel said postgame that they held him out for the rest of the game. Mostly at a precaution. He could have returned if it was a crucial game. He was already at 93 yards, including a touchdown, and just looked magical. Um, and this game was so out of hand that when, uh, Tyrell Dodson made a great play on a Tyrod Taylor throw, a little Tyra, Tyrell on Tyrod, uh, violence there. He corralled the ball between his knees to come down with an interception and then the dolphin scored on the other side of that. So it was 21, zero. in the first quarter, and the dolphins had 178 yards to the Jets 18 yards,
Starting point is 01:17:31 and then Brady Cook came in a little bit later. Overall, the Jets scored 10 total points, and all of them were on special team. Oh, man. Yeah, Isaiah Williams getting it done for this. Second return touchdown of the season. Yeah, and it was nice, too. He earned it. We weren't familiar with Brady Cook's work before this, Patrick.
Starting point is 01:17:50 Did you go to school? Did you learn anything? Well, we were actually on that drive of the highlight on Game Day Live and Therod goes into the locker room and there's a player running out on the field wearing number four. And I'm telling Steve, I'm absolutely not Googling who Brady Cook is right now because I was behind on my SEC, you know, down the standings, Missouri quarterback. I was not aware of Brady Cook. If I was, I had forgotten he existed prior to today. It was part of a trend. this was the first week since week eight of 23, which is October of 2020 when there was more than four non-first-round quarterbacks playing, much less at the same time, much less all in the early window.
Starting point is 01:18:37 But I don't want to take away what's happening in Miami. They have gotten a little lucky, frankly, not just that the schedule's been easy, but they had close wins against the Saints in Washington. And if I'm going to knock them for needing kind of a lucky play here or there to win, win each of those games. We should give them some credit or just destroying the jets, sweeping the series. What did you like watching the dolphins today? I liked everything about their offense. I'm not kidding. I know what their season is, but I have to say, like, since the start to the season, Mike McDaniel, I think is coaching, like, one of the best coaches in the NFL right now. And so is Anthony Weaver. And the tandem really, really works. And I know people could hear that
Starting point is 01:19:21 grown, but go watch the games because this scheme, he is doing things that are freer in a sense that this is what you thought he was going to do when he took over the job. And I think a lot of times coaches start coaching into the ecosystem. And you heard a lot of stories about players kind of doing whatever they wanted. And there was some, maybe some, some voices in the room that were encouraging those types of things that aren't there at this moment. And so it's, it's one of those things where it's clear. It is so clear. Tyreek Hill is like, it just say my name. Well, you know, and they moved on from Jalen Ramsey, who you know that I am a huge
Starting point is 01:19:57 fan of as a person and a player, but also like it gets tough sometimes, especially when you're losing. And so Mike McDaniel, even despite the fact that they've had some real stinkers of quarterback games, you can see that this scheme and the way that they have these guys playing together and fun and trying things, he's got these two tight ends working in a way. where they're working every single angle of the field, including like retirement home, Darren Waller. They're working every leverage point and angle in the passing and the running game on the field.
Starting point is 01:20:30 They've got someone really, really special in Ollie Gordon who can come in and spell and needed to today at running back. Mike McDaniel is having so much fun that he's got his drawstrings around his hoodie tied like a bolo tie. This is the guy that we remember years ago coming in and putting up massive scoring games against some of the, these defenses. And I think they're doing a hell of a job. And I want to give them props because I feel like a lot of this season and rightfully so, we're thinking this guy's out the door. I don't think
Starting point is 01:20:59 it's, I don't think it's crazy to talk about him possibly keeping this job at this point. No, we got to find out who the GM is. We've got to see how it ends too. They have the Steelers, Bengals, Bucks, and Patriots. So they'll be able to write their story. They did get to that point I've been talking about for a month that you can see a scenario where they get to six and seven. They're playing a meaningful game. It's a Monday night game against Pittsburgh. The problem is in the AFC. There's still two losses behind. So they still need to run the table. Look, they're testing the bounds of
Starting point is 01:21:24 how little production they can get out of Tuatunga Vailoa and still win a game. He goes 12 for 23 for 157 yards. I think that was last week. This time, it's 13 for 21 for 127 yards. Yeah, that really is tall. And they haven't topped 200 yards passing in a month. But they get the win
Starting point is 01:21:39 and they're feeling good. It's always going to feel better when you're on a four-game winning streak. Let's go to Minnesota where there's a team that to feel a little better, and they were after Sunday. Fourth and goal from the two, Hawkinson in motion to the right. McCarthy, back to pass, basketball right, caught. T.J. Bounces off commanders, touchdown.
Starting point is 01:22:01 T.J. Hawkinson with a tough guy touchdown and the Vikings lead 30. Tough guy touchdown by Paul Allen on KFAN while you see like the injured commanders, defender just trying to recover from what T.J. Hawkinson was throwing at him. I love that O'Connell went for it there on fourth down, let his quarterback try to get his third touchdown of the day and he did it. The Minnesota Vikings got shutout last week and they win with a shutout today, 31 to nothing. They get revenge against the bagel. Well, welcome back Jay J.J. McCarthy, who really stepped in to all three of these touchdown throws, two of them to Josh Oliver.
Starting point is 01:22:45 The first one comes up the seam against the commander's defense that we had seen some improvement with DQ calling plays. And they were in games. They were not in this one. They get Jaden Daniels back. He goes nine of 20 at a bit of a theme where he leaves the game with an injury to the same elbow. He just comes back from because he gets a huge hit. on a play where Andrew Van Ginkle does Andrew Van Ginkle. And it's the Brian Flores defense suddenly materializes.
Starting point is 01:23:15 And these are the plays that we're used to seeing them make where AVG looks like he's going to have another pick six. His problem is he's not as fast as Terry McLaren. He was looking around to see how he was going to get caught and scary Terry comes back and gets him. But then Marcus Marrota comes in the game. He's trying to force the ball to Zach Ertz. He gets high load and he leaves the game with a knee injury. You saw the injury on the touchdown. to T.J. Hawkinson where it just goes bad to worse for the Washington commanders.
Starting point is 01:23:44 They get eliminated officially now mathematically. Greg, you don't have to worry about them being on any graphics. I'm not sure that was going to be a concern after this one either. But the Vikings, the Vikings do. They'll have an outside mathematical chance. They have not been eliminated. Falcons, commanders, they were. And it's a bummer to see Daniels leave with an injury. After the game, Dan Quinn indicated that Daniels could have come back in and we'll see about next week. Zach Ertz, unfortunately, it sounds like he tore his ACL. They said it doesn't look good.
Starting point is 01:24:15 It wasn't confirmed. So you hate to see that for anyone, much less a veteran like Zach Ertz. And yeah, Mariotta comes in and throws an interception on his very first throw. JJ got more help today. Now, he, you know, he obviously was more under control. I don't know what you saw. But he also gets a running game, 50% success rate. They rack up yards on the ground and the defense plays like the Vikings can play defense.
Starting point is 01:24:37 What did you see out of day? Well, a player, again, a very young quarterback, still, you know, still learning things. The overstriding critique does remain. You get those big step, but when you have space in the pocket and he's making those throws on time where a couple of weeks ago, you know, prior to the concussion where it was late, he had guys open and he wasn't hitting those throws, he had them this time. And that's the up and down experience we're going to have, I think, with a young quarterback where we've seen this really intense long-term viability conversation
Starting point is 01:25:11 about this 23-year-old quarterback up and down all season long and I think we're going to hear probably for the next couple of seasons but it's he saw the growth today. Well, he could quiet it down. And I think Max Brosmer's performance definitely helped set people's experience. That did too. And then there was this week where like every question, every press conference is about how simplified the offense is going to be
Starting point is 01:25:32 and they're dumbing it down or what I don't know what they did. but if they can have a good month, that will be great for everyone involved. And I'd like to see Jaden Daniels. You don't want to see him get hurt. I'd love to see him either, I don't know, not play or play well because it has been a little bit of a story here
Starting point is 01:25:52 when he's played this season. It hasn't gone how they would like. And Dan Quinn said they weren't lost anymore. They're lost again. Well, yeah, I am. I think multiple things can be true here, which is they maximize to such an admirable length, Jaden Daniels' stellar rookie season.
Starting point is 01:26:16 And then they waited too long and assumed that they could just return all of this and it would still continue to be this way. But football, as Patrick likes to say, it's a spheroid. And it bounces all different ways in terms of your injury luck and especially has this year for the commanders,
Starting point is 01:26:34 and they got older along the way, and they got worse along the way, and they got more banged up along the way. And so it's kind of one of those age-old adages, right, in football, where do you wait until it's unquestionable that you need to rebuild lots of parts of this roster, or do you do it before you get to that point and then hurt some feelings along the way?
Starting point is 01:26:58 I think they chose the former, obviously, and now they're going to have to do some cleanup. And unfortunately, they're going to be part of our lives because they're on a Saturday big game for the Eagles. There's two games against the Eagles remaining. They're on Christmas against the Cowboys. So we will be watching this commander's team. We will be tracking them.
Starting point is 01:27:14 And we will be saying thank you to the tag team of Claibon and Jordan Roderig jumping off the top rope. And winning a WWE title. I don't know. Thanks, guys. No problem, Greg. Let's go to Las Vegas. Tuckie's going to be joining us. Chip Kelly's down.
Starting point is 01:27:35 Coverage tack for the Broncos. Five and a half sacks now for John Franklin Myers. Driving kick, Mims on a gallop from the 48. Marvin in trouble, steps out of a tackle. And here we go. Marvin's loose. Poist drawer Rader down the sideline. 2015, 10, five.
Starting point is 01:27:50 Touchdown. Marvin Mims. That was Dave Logan on K-O-A. When the offense isn't quite getting it done, there's a whole third element of football shook. It counts. And Marvin Mims made it count with a big punt return. Touchdown that gave the Broncos a 14 to 7 lead against the Raiders. They win 24 to 17 in a game that didn't feel that close.
Starting point is 01:28:18 It was 24 to 7 with just a couple minutes left before the Raiders tacked on some points. A taking care of business game by the Broncos. what did you find most interesting from the Broncos point of view in this one? I mean, Bo Nix is slowly but surely becoming more consistent. And we saw, you know, when they played Sunday night against the commanders last week, it was an inverse Bo Nix game where he was good early and didn't have a good fourth quarter. Well, he had pretty much a good game all throughout. They converted a number of third downs in this game.
Starting point is 01:28:49 I mean, they went on three different drives. This is crazy. 14 plays 81 yards, six minutes and six or eight minutes and 54. seconds. That's their first drive. Touchdown drive. Then they go on a touchdown drive in the second half where it's 14 plays 86 yards and they take up nine minutes and 13 seconds. The last scoring drive took up 10 minutes and 17 seconds. And it's because they were able to stay on the field by converting third down. So I mean, he was consistent throughout the game. He made a lot of good throws, sharp throws, a little bit under pressure or needs to get it out. Made a no look throw.
Starting point is 01:29:21 It seemed like every situation. This is very typical of Raider games, but it felt good to watch the Broncos do this against them because you have so much, you know, worry about how whether Knicks can be consistent or not, it's just every third down, every, every situation in which you felt like they had them behind schedule, they might get a stop here, they didn't. And a lot of that was because Bo was finding guys open, giving them opportunities to catch and run and continue to drive. The Raiders are one of the most DOA teams. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 01:29:42 I've seen in a long time. And we'll get to the end of this game because it was hilarious. But to close the Broncos side of things, look, they have a 63% success rate. I know it's against the Raiders, but that's what you got to do. build confidence. R.J. Harvey had a crazy stat in this game that he had more successful runs or 10 play runs, I believe, according to next-gen stats against an eight-man box than anyone in the NFL since Derek Henry years ago. And so you're seeing Derek, you know, R.J. Harvey getting it done on the ground and then you got your fullback like Sean Payton style. Adam Prentice is getting
Starting point is 01:30:19 off for a couple plays in McLaughlin. And like those are just things that you like to see because Harvey is going to be a really important piece for them. They have a really difficult final month the season where, yeah, you're the number one seed now. You're really going to be tested down the stretch. You're going to need that running game. Yeah, this is your last tune-up game because it's good that you went out and took care of business, but the next four games in your schedule
Starting point is 01:30:39 are all against playoff teams or teams that are in playoff contention. It's going to get real difficult real quick and you'd have to be able to prove yourself. I do like the trajectory that the Broncos have been on as a team, including Bo Nix, just that they've been a little bit more consistent, a little bit, not predictable, but more reliable than they've been for much of this season. I hope that it's a precursor of good things to come. We're going to find out very quickly. And again, the Raiders are not a measuring stick by any means.
Starting point is 01:31:02 But some teams like the Broncos, who like to play with their foods, who once beat the Jets, what, 13 to 11 overseas? Let's beat the Raiders 10 to 7 or whatever that horror best was. Because this was not a 24 to 17 game. This was a 24 at best 14 game. Okay. So Gino gets her late in the third quarter. I believe, maybe like the last play
Starting point is 01:31:24 just about of the third quarter. Kenny Pickett comes in. And the Broncos who only had six drives in this game, that's crazy, by the way. I've never seen a lower number because I'm not counting the kneel down at the end of the first half with three seconds left. They only finished with six drives.
Starting point is 01:31:43 That's crazy. They turn it over on downs. And that whole time, Pete Carroll is calling timeouts late in the game after Kenny Pickett, you know, leads them to a touchdown drive with about two minutes and 15 seconds left. He's calling timeouts to save time. Even though they're down two scores, they have no chance. I guess in theory, they could have scored like immediately and then kicked an onside kick. But then they get the ball back. At this point, it's 58 seconds left. They're still trying to save as much time as possible. And they get a delay of game penalty.
Starting point is 01:32:21 on a throw from Pickett, which stops the clock with about five seconds left. And what does Pete Carroll do, Nick Shook? He sends out the field goal team with four seconds left. Now, there's logic to this. You think, all right, you try the field goal now, try to get the onside kick, except four seconds is the amount of time that it takes to kick a field goal.
Starting point is 01:32:40 So as the ball goes through the uprights, Daniel Carlson starts to celebrate, and then he sees that there's no time left in the clock, and he does one of these half-hearted, like, point to this guy, like, ah, well, I guess we did just score on the last second. of the game in a game that didn't matter, sure. That is the all-time backdoor cover. If you were watching this game to get a penalty
Starting point is 01:33:00 where Pickett throws it down the field, which stops the clock, makes it easier. They could have maybe had time to spike it, maybe not to set up that field goal. But also, just Pete Carroll, just trying to make his team look like they're competing and look better and have anything positive to say, that's why my friends, it is dangerous to gamble.
Starting point is 01:33:21 why I'm glad, Nickbook, we are not allowed to do so. But I will remember this because I'm trying to win for the 10th straight week on my pick show with Cynthia Freeland. And I had the Broncos minus seven and a half. So that did hurt me in the heart like it did many other people. Banged in a big spot. You know, you can blame Brandon Jones for laying on the receivers and giving them that opportunity.
Starting point is 01:33:43 What a stupid team this Raiders team is. Just wasting our time. Let's go to a game that was not a waste of time. Despite it, including two teams that it will be picking high in April's draft. Judkins with White Hart in the backfield. Two-point conversion to tie. Back to Quinnshot. He's going to fake the reverse.
Starting point is 01:34:05 He's got it. And now he may throw. Now he reverses his field. Now he throws it back all the other way to the other side. And it's incomplete. Oh, my. What was that? Oh, no.
Starting point is 01:34:17 I love Andrew Siciliano. He's great when they win. He's. Great, even if they fall short on a wild play. Bobona insisted. He wanted Siciliano's call. It was the better call. That's what we do.
Starting point is 01:34:29 WK.R.K., the Titans survive against the Browns. Everyone's going to get on Kevin Stefanski for that play call. But it would have worked, right, Shook? I just think Judkins just didn't flip the ball. He just forgot. I think Judkins took that hand off. Well, it wasn't a handoff. It was a snap to him because he's in the Wildcat.
Starting point is 01:34:49 Yeah. And they've been doing Wildcat near the. the goal line a lot, especially in the last few weeks. They did it earlier in this game to limited success. I think it was actually a loss of the first time they ran it. But I think he got the snap and took off to the right and just adrenaline took over and he completely forgot that he's supposed to pitch the ball in the reverse. Because he realizes it after the fact.
Starting point is 01:35:05 Yep. And it's open on the backside. Doesn't work out. Of course, you're right. The fancy's going to come under fire. It's those who are going to cherry pick criticism are going to look at Chudor Statline, which was solid, 23 or 42, 365 yards, three touchdowns. And they're going to say, why did you take him off the field in that situation?
Starting point is 01:35:21 I understand the call. It would have worked. It's not about taking Chador off the field there. How did Chidor look in this game? Because, you know, I see a, you know, a screen pass pops for a big play in the game. But also, you know, a nice throw that ends up being a 60-yarder to Jerry Judy. Harold Bannon gets in. I thought the touchdown to Injoku, right?
Starting point is 01:35:45 Early in the game, there was a one-yard throw, but a nice toss and a really nice catch by Injoku. was a sign of a quarterback making some plays. What did you think of Shadur in a losing effort? Yeah, you know, there were a handful of highlight throws. The one to Njoku was definitely one of them. It was a difficult throw. He was kind of off balance and he put it in a perfect spot, essentially between two defenders and Nizucoo makes a great diving catch.
Starting point is 01:36:07 That's a positive. Another positive is the touchdown pass to Jerry Judy, not because he just threw a touchdown pass, but because he looked to his right and then came off of that point in his progression, moved to the next side, saw Judy coming open and put it right on him, where he could catch and run through the rest of the defense for a touchdown. It's a big boom for them because last week,
Starting point is 01:36:25 Judy and Shador were seen arguing on the sideline. So everything's all fine and dandy now because they hooked up for a 60-yard touchdown. Those were both two very good throws. The touchdown of Fanon kind of came in a weird set of circumstances near the end of the game. So he had his moments. He also ran for a touchdown out of desperation, but he also did the things that Shador has done in his start so far, which is hold on to the ball too long,
Starting point is 01:36:44 taking a necessary sack, throw a prayer of a pass into traffic over the middle when you're under pressure and you're already holding on to it too long, that ends up getting picked off and kind of swings the game in the Titans favor. Do you take the good with the bad? And it's another very small step forward for him, I think. So the Browns lose this game in part because they just could not stop Tony Pollard on the ground. He finishes with a season best 164 yards.
Starting point is 01:37:08 And I feel bad. We've had so few Titans highlights on this show that weren't just crazy Cam Ward plays in a losing effort. They actually won this game. And I've put a big asterisk. this whole season over that Cardinals win. If any win in the NFL does not count as a win, you know, they say a win as a win. I don't know if that Titans win over the Cardinals counts as a win.
Starting point is 01:37:27 This counts as a win. So let's listen to a positive Titans highlight. A Conquo goes in motion. Pollard, inside handoff, 25, 20, 50, 10, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. That is a Titans touchdown. 32 more yards for Tony Pollard, and the Titans have the leadback. Back and forth they go.
Starting point is 01:37:51 I mean, this was a scorefest, 31 to 21. That was Taylor Zarzer and Dave McGinnis on WGFX. And it shakes up the top of the draft a little bit. Right now, the Titans fall out of the top spot, and they are down to three. The Browns are at four. I think any chance to Fansky had to save his job. I don't think he has any chance to save his job.
Starting point is 01:38:11 Anyways, I think he's out. But this is not going to help. Give me something on the Titans that you like to see. I mean, I love the Tony Pollard got going because I'm a big Tony Pollard guy and I feel like he's been in a rough spot with them and they're inconsistent offensive line. He's making seven and a quarter of a year, million dollars. And I just feel like he hasn't gotten the opportunity to really prove that he's worth that money. So it was great to see him pop off some big runs today, especially against the Brown's defense that seemingly lost contained second level was a rough job for them. And so it's good for him to thrive. It was also a snowy day in Cleveland. Cam Ward only completed 50% of his passes. He led a very impressive opening scoring drive where he hit Iio Manor for, uh, a touchdown from 14 yards out to give them an early lead. He handled the pressure of the job, I think, pretty well. Ultimately, the Brown's defense did cause some issues for him. So it was nice for Pollard to be that balance.
Starting point is 01:38:58 But more than anything, I'm just glad the Titans played a complete game as a team. This is probably one of the best performances they've had this year, not just because it was only their second win. They just looked like a competent team, which is what I've been able to say that about them in a number of different games. And I feel good for guys like Cam Ward, who has too often been sent to the podium after a loss and had to explain why his team is terrible.
Starting point is 01:39:17 Today, you were not terrible. Congratulations, Titans on the victory. It's been a brutal year. Shout out to Jeffrey Simmons, who had 11 pressures in this game. One and a half sacks. Actually, two sacks. I don't count half sacks in my book. That is two sacks.
Starting point is 01:39:32 Three quarterback hit. So he was the best defensive lineman in a game that included Miles Garrett, who, by the way, had the lowest pass rush win rate, according to PFF, of his entire career. No, second lowest. He only had one pressure, but it was a sack. So he moved forward in the race to break that sack record. He is three and a half away.
Starting point is 01:39:51 It's going to be tight, but he did get that one. Simmons, by the way, a couple of runs stuff too. He has been awesome, probably an all pro this year, which is crazy, considering he's on the Titans. Let's take one break, but Shook, you're staying with me. We're going to wrap up. I said at the top of the show, we had six massive games that would really shape these playoff races. We got one more to go.
Starting point is 01:40:12 It's Texans cheap. If a Lenovo gaming computer is on your holiday list, don't shop around, just go directly to the source, Lenovo.com. It's your last chance to score exclusive deals on the gaming PCs you want, like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 gaming desktop and Lenovo Lock Gaming Laptop. So avoid all that shopping chaos and price comparing, and just go directly to the source, Lenovo.com, where PCs are up to 35% off. That's Lenovo.com. It's 5.23 p.m. One of your kids is asking for a snack. Another is building a fort out of your clean laundry,
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Starting point is 01:41:15 Runs. No, what do we even have fridge staring? And the best part? You're in total control. Skip a week, pause anytime, pick what works for you. It's dinner on your terms. The kids can even help you cook. Yeah, it's going to be messy. But somehow, they tend to eat the vegetables they made themselves. Try HelloFresh today and get 50% off the first box with free shipping. Go to Hellofresh.com.com slash.com Hello Fresh, Canada's number one meal kit delivery service. Hey, what's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. If you love breaking down football from every angle, you're in the right place. Every week on Move the 6th, Bucke Brooks and I dive deep into the game from the X's and O's to the front office moves shaping the league. We kick things off with Brian Baudinger, breaking down what really went down on Sunday. It is as good a timing rhythm offense as there is in the league right now.
Starting point is 01:42:13 Then Rhett Lewis joins us for our rookie draft and coordinator of the week, where we highlight the rising stars and the masterminds calling the shots. DJ talked me into Arronday Gadsden Jr. He had a monster game. A monster game. And you hear from the voices who actually build the game. GMs, coaches, and players who give you insight you won't get anywhere else. High standards and high care.
Starting point is 01:42:35 That's the right combination. So whether you're studying tape or just love great football talk, subscribe to Move the Sticks on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, y'all, it's me, your man, M.G. Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Lurio. And I'm Laquan Jones. If you're looking to win your fantasy football league, you need to tune in to the NFL
Starting point is 01:42:58 fantasy football podcast. It's right there in the name. Every week, Florio, LQ, and I bring you the latest news from around the league. We break down every matchup, give you our analysis and advice so you know who to start, sit, drop, and trade to bring that championship. trophy hole. I just want to remind everyone how good Rishie Rice was last season and these three healthy games. He was the
Starting point is 01:43:19 wide receiver 2 in fantasy. I think Rishie Rice just goes off this week. The Chiefs come on a flip pass to Rice. This side touchdown! Remandre Stevens is my sleeper this week. This is a matchout where I think I can slide in Stevenson into my flex position and he could deliver double digit points this week.
Starting point is 01:43:35 Drake takes the snap. Hands it off. Remodry running it right and running into the end zone. Touchdown! It's never too late to turn your fantasy season or Subscribe to the NFL fantasy football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You hear that? That's the sound of the group chat going off when your fantasy team scores another touchdown in the playoffs. I'm J.J. Zachary Eisen, host of the Late Round Fantasy Football podcast.
Starting point is 01:44:03 Every move matters this time of year, so tune in daily to help build a championship roster to beat your friends, your family, and that one coworker who won't stop talking. literally listen to late round fantasy football in the i heart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts 10 from the chiefs eight one back it's hunch mohomes to throw four-man rush mahomes unloads downfield and tipped and intercepted aziz al shire has it up the deflection another pick third of the game for houston wow Kelsey could not hang on Aziz got it hot potato pick
Starting point is 01:44:47 and the Texans have the ball in Chief's territory again and that time the Texans would take advantage with a game ceiling Kaimi Fairbairn field goal. The Texans win 20 to 10.
Starting point is 01:45:04 That was Mark Vandermere on KILT in what we might have seen tonight, Chucky was the end of the Chief's dominance over this conference, at least for this season. But I wanted to start with that play because it's about a Texan's defensive performance
Starting point is 01:45:23 to really top all of them that they've had this year. In the fourth quarter of this game, the Chiefs had the ball five times. They had one first down, and that was on the garbage time drive before they just spiked it. Patrick Mahomes picked off three times. the ball's just a little inside there, but Kelsey could have made the catch,
Starting point is 01:45:44 but he doesn't make the catch. And it's the Texans who are Johnny on the spot. What a fourth quarter. It was the last fourth quarter I expected, Shook, because at that point in the game, the Chiefs seemed like they were rolling. And I guess this is just how it ends for great teams. And yes, the Texans,
Starting point is 01:46:04 maybe they could be a great team too. We know they have a great defense. Kind of reminds me of the way the Patriots lost their last playoff game, Tom Brady era, right, 2019 against Tennessee. I remember that being a similar, I don't know, go out with a bit of a whimper instead of a shout or an actual fight. Look, you're right. The Chiefs were dominating the Texans offense in the third quarter. I mean, Nick Haley seemed to have no answer for what Steve Spagnullo was dialing up to the point where I'm watching it laughing, like just chuckling out loud because I'm thinking, how can you not anticipate these many
Starting point is 01:46:31 blitzes that Steve Spagnolo was going to send against your offense? Adjust. Guess what? They didn't need to adjust because their defense took care of business, forcing Andy. you read into uncomfortable situations, fourth down decisions. They got to go. They're deep in their own territory. Guess who doesn't get the first down? The chiefs, why? Because they ran into the Texans, fantastic defense, gives their offense a short field.
Starting point is 01:46:50 They capitalize and then they steal the deal. This is Texans football in 2025, baby. I'm glad you mentioned that. Andy Reid made decisions that Andy Reid would not normally made. You could tell that they felt that they needed this. They needed to do something different. and the sequence you're talking about was so telling. They get a fourth and one situation.
Starting point is 01:47:16 It was more like one and a half after Mahomes just runs over Aziz al-Shayr. If Al-Shayr had just tackled Mahomes in the right spot, they're punt in there. I don't know how this game goes, but instead Mahomes kind of runs them over. He gets about a yard short, and they decide to go for it on their own 31-yard line, but there's pretty quick pressure.
Starting point is 01:47:38 The guys are ready on the interior, ready to stop Mahomes from possibly scrambling forward. He steps up in the pocket. It's an incomplete pass and the Texans take over. And I do want to point out that sequence because you know what happened right after that is the Texans actually took advantage. C.J. Stroud pulled off a great third down conversion and then they ran the ball right down the chief's throats to get the touchdown to go up 1710. So as bad as the Texans' offense looked for parts of this game,
Starting point is 01:48:11 and you're right, they had negative yardage in the third quarter. It was 128 yards to negative two. They have had these little moments in the last six weeks where they look normal and they don't look fully normal. But in the first half of this game, they put up 200 yards. That's pretty normal. And then in the fourth quarter, they at least had that one drive and they did get a couple first downs before the game ceiling field goal
Starting point is 01:48:32 where they're just good enough and then they let their defense carry them the rest of the way. Exactly. Their offense is not going to be the most adaptable, the most versatile that you're going to see among teams that are fighting for a playoff spot this year. But that is fine because when you pair that, when you couple that with an elite defense like the Texans have this year, it doesn't matter. All you have to do is buy them more opportunities and give them the short fields that they gave them tonight. And they're going to be in every game, which is why I have a lot of confidence in the Texans, why I think that this five game winning streak that they've put together is not a fluke. It is just indicative of a team that can, that has a defense that travels and can play with anybody and it can shut down anybody. I... I mean, look, I know the chiefs have been going through it this year, right? This has been a struggle-filled season for them. That's how you end up at six and seven at this point in the year. But I haven't seen their offense this flummoxed. Travis Kelsey, this just speechless, mystified, has no answer for what's going on.
Starting point is 01:49:21 Patrick Mahomes looking this despondent and, dare I say, dejected by the end of this game, maybe ever. That's what an elite defense can do to a team like that in a big spot. Yeah, let's talk a little bit about Jalen Petrie here. So in the first half of this game, the Texans play fantastic. They go into halftime leading 10 to nothing. It was the first time Patrick Mahomes had been shut out since the AFC championship game three years ago. Now, first time in the regular season since 2021.
Starting point is 01:49:54 And part of that was Jalen Petrie and one of the plays on defense of the season. Second and nine for the Chiefs from their 36. Pacheco in motion to the left as Mahomes takes the snap looking firing over the middle. Tipped and Petrie with the pick, a diving effort at the 45-yard
Starting point is 01:50:14 line. Tips and overthrows we got to get those and the Texans get it the deflected interception. Great call, but when I think tips and overthrows, I think it's almost like a lucky tip over the middle. That was a great pass defense by Petrie
Starting point is 01:50:30 to get it up in the air and then to track the ball and actually intercepted himself diving like a baseball player there was incredible. And you think about that play. And then you think about the hit that he had on Rashid Rice in the second half. I know you were loving that. It looked like Rice might have caught that ball. It's a first down to start the drive late in the third quarter. And he absolutely truck sticks him.
Starting point is 01:50:56 So many good plays. I know you were loving this play, Chuck. And I know you have got to be loving people. Petrie, who to me, I think, cemented an all pro slot position tonight with the performance that he had. Absolutely. Nobody embodies this Houston defense and their swarm mentality more than Jalen Petrie. It's because of hits like that. That is a clean throwback football hit made by a defender who's out to let you know that you're not getting any three yards. I'm breaking up your pass attempt. I'm going to put you flat on the ground. You might ragdoll down to the ground like Rashy
Starting point is 01:51:27 did there. That's classic old school football. We don't see it nearly as much as we used to for better and for worse, but tonight, Petrie set the tone with a hit like that. And I think, you know, if anything, on the national stage, Texans have been there a few times this year. They've been good in some spots. They've been bad in others. Tonight, that hit alone sends the message that everybody's going to remember when they think of these Texans defense now, which is, oh, we got to take them seriously.
Starting point is 01:51:47 They must be respected because they can flatten us like that. Well, you know who might have remembered it? You never know. Fourth down, later in the fourth quarter, Mahomes knows the play is kind of collapsing. and he finds Rishi Rice, throws it a little early. It's a great throw. And Rishi Rice, like he's done a lot during this stretch run, just dropped it. I'm not saying that the Jalen Petrie hit, made him drop it, but he dropped it.
Starting point is 01:52:15 I mean, yeah. Like, it just, the culmination of having to play this Texan's defense, who's banged up at safety, but you think about the plays from the secondary, Kamari Lasseter, with a great interception on what was kind of an arm punt by Mahomes. in the second half to start that fourth quarter. Kamari Lasseter tracking down Taekwon Thornton on a deep shot where it looked like he was beat, but great makeup speed. They just got playmakers up front.
Starting point is 01:52:43 And so on a night where the chiefs were short, three offensive linemen, like, obviously that played into Patrick Mahomes finishing 14 for 33. I can't believe I'm looking at that number. That played into Patrick Mahomes going 10 straight passes with an incompletion or an interception in the fourth quarter. Like, that was part of it. But, man, like, I just think the Texans defense puts so much pressure on you just because of their talent, not because of their play calling necessarily, but because of their talent
Starting point is 01:53:13 and the chiefs ultimately buckled. Yeah, and I can give credit on both sides here because I think that the offensive line absences while they were a problem, it didn't look that much difference than what we've seen from the chiefs for good portions of this season. Pole, the replacement of left tackle, I thought, did a really good job for most of the night, much better than I anticipate. that he would. But, you know, we've given the Texans all the credit in the world. Well, I'm also going to take a little bit of credit away, not intentionally, but just because this is one of those
Starting point is 01:53:37 games of the Chiefs, but they just didn't make the plays they needed to make. This is the game where they didn't do the things that they've done so often over the last decade that has led them to success, that has led them to three Super Bowl tries to all these appearances in the AFC title games and winning the AFC West for a decade straight, they drop passes on fourth down. A lot of passes out of Mahomes' hand looked strange. A lot of nose diving out of his hand tonight, which I think hindered their ability to complete some of those passes in key spots. He was a little bit inaccurate at times.
Starting point is 01:54:07 Didn't seem like he was entirely on the same page with some of his guys. You mentioned the interception off of Kelsey's hands. That was a bit behind him. Just uncharacteristic of him. So that explains that stat line. I'm not surprised to see that stat line. But for those who have watched Patrick Mahomes over the course of his entire career, you'll look at tonight's performance.
Starting point is 01:54:22 You'll look at those numbers and go, God, what are they replace him with a body double? That's not who he is. And that's what the Texans defense. can do to you. And he was their leading rusher. They decided not to hand the ball off to Kreme Hunt in that key fourth down situation. Ultimately, the two chiefs running backs both finished with under three and a half yards for carry, Hunt and Pacheco. And that the defense and Chris Jones was up for the challenge to start the third quarter. But I do go back to that CJ Stroud throw to Jaden Higgins on third down where Chris Jones looks like he's going to pull
Starting point is 01:54:53 C.J. Stroud down. But C.J. Stroud evades it. Gets the, the first. down. Great throw. I thought just avoiding the sack would have been huge because they're trying to kick a field goal there. And instead he gets the first down. They end up with a touch on. That's a big time play. And look, he had eight straight incompletions at one point two. The conditions were not good for throwing. It's freezing there. But he had a good first half and he made enough plays down the stretch to win it. What a moment here in this season. They are six and seven, the Kansas City Chief. And they are going to need to win out. They're going to need to beat both teams in the AFC West, the Chargers and the Broncos, to have any chance to make the playoffs, they're going to
Starting point is 01:55:33 need to get to 10 and 7, and they're going to need to get help. There's not a lot of reason to think they're going to do all of that. Tonight really felt like when you're watching Patrick Mahomes with his hands on his head after one of those fourth down fails, like a moment in time, in part because the AFC is so deep this year. And I don't know if teams like the Texans are going to lose enough for the Chiefs to catch up. That's all about, catching fire at the right time. And the chiefs, they hit their stride for a brief period, but that feels like ages ago. I don't know it's shocking for us to consider a reality in which we'd go into the postseason that doesn't include the Kansas City Chiefs, but everything changes
Starting point is 01:56:08 eventually. Nothing is forever in this league or in life. And I think the Chiefs are realizing that right now with everything that's happened. I'm not going to count them out yet. I'm still not going to bury them. I know it's annoying. It is a little annoying. Like this felt final and yet you look at it. There are two losses behind the Texans, but now they're down the tiebreaker. They're going to really have to just win those division games, win out. It seems unlikely, but they'll be rooting Monday night while we're watching and doing our show. It's not going to be live on YouTube this week, but they'll be rooting against the Chargers because they need the Chargers to lose some games here down the stretch.
Starting point is 01:56:44 And the Texans now at 8 and 5 for now are in the AFC playoffs. And they're looking at the other team that's 8 and 5 out of the wildcard at like the Colts. And they're thinking, hmm, that next Colts game looking a little easier right now because of what happened on Sunday. Man, the season is a long one. We thought this Texans team was in deep trouble. They are full of badasses. Who can they thank, Greg?
Starting point is 01:57:08 Who can they thank for getting back here? Who started it at all? Tell me right now. Davis Mills. Respect the neck. I think you were going to say Jordan Rodriguez for picking them to make the Super Bowl before the season. It's still alive.
Starting point is 01:57:21 In this AFC, everything's still alive. Before we go. You also want to know who's a bunch of badasses? Eric Roberts deserved to go to Buffalo and see his team win a big time game. And so it really says a lot about Eric Roberts that he left the show in the hands of a very worthy group of men. It's not only Chris Bobona who is doing it tonight. It's Abu Kamara. It's Devin Harris, like the whole group back there making it run seamlessly, maybe too seamlessly for Eric's hopes.
Starting point is 01:57:51 But it shows that he's building a coach. tree here, and they can run a top shelf game, or at least recap anytime he's gone. Can a producer get Wally pipped? Is that possible? No. I don't like where this is gone. I did it. I'm sorry.
Starting point is 01:58:08 Hit the music. We're so overdue to hit the music. But yes, thanks to Devin and Abou and Chris Bavona and, of course, Jordan Rodriguez, and Patrick and Patrick Leibon. And my man shook. Like I said, we're going to be recapping a really fun Chargers, Eagles match. on Monday night. We're not going on YouTube this time around. Check that out in the feed.
Starting point is 01:58:28 Can't wait for it. See you there. If a Lenovo gaming computer is on your holiday list, don't shop around. Just go directly to the source, Lenovo.com. It's your last chance to score exclusive deals on the gaming PCs you want, like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 gaming desktop and Lenovo Lock Gaming laptop. So avoid all that shopping chaos and
Starting point is 01:58:54 price comparing, and just go directly to the source. Lenovo.com, where PCs are up to 35% off. That's Lenovo.com. Lenovo, Lenovo. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 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
Starting point is 01:59:19 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,
Starting point is 01:59:36 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up? It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast. The Off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. It's happening every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars for the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment. About anything
Starting point is 01:59:52 from teams and players making waves to pop culture, and I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season, the season of more on the Off the Edge with Cam Joined podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,
Starting point is 02:00:08 or wherever you get your podcasts. Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage. Store more and do more with your data. Try them for free at wasabi.com. You hear that? That's the sound of the group chat going off when your fantasy team scores another touchdown in the playoffs. I'm J.J. Zachary Esen, host of the late-round fantasy football podcast.
Starting point is 02:00:28 Every move matters this time of year, so tune in daily to help build a championship roster to beat your friends, your family, and that one co-worker who won't stop talking. Literally. Listen to late-round fantasy football on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant, and I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcasts. podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
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