NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Week 16 Recap: Todd Gurley surging in MVP race & playoff spots still up for grabs

Episode Date: December 26, 2017

A room filled with some heroes- Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, Gregg Rosenthal & Colleen Wolfe- recap all of the Week 16 action, including Cam Newton’s “fumblerooskie” (9:00); The Patriots giving a hit to the Bills’ playoff hopes (18:30); How the Chargers can still make the playoffs (27:00); How nervous should Eagles fans be heading into the postseason? (44:00); The Steelers clinch a first-round playoff BYE (1:01:00); and much more!Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast is being blackballed by the league. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis and I'm joined by a room filled with heroes, Mark Sessler, Connie Fox, and Greg Rosenthal. What's up, people? Hi. Hey, hey, hey.

Now that was accurate by Matt Money-Smith. It's true. They've been trying to hold us down for five plus years now, and I will not stand for anyone. Can't nobody do it. Can't do it. Can't stop us. This is the flagship program on a Tuesday,

special occasion because, of course, Christmas fell on a Monday. Did everybody have a happy, Merry Christmas? It was great. I was on the East Coast and the West Coast. Look at you. Yeah. A bit of a humble brag, but no big deal. Flew back on Christmas.

It was great. business class I did I treated myself Connie Fox I have all these miles it's not like you're going back though once

once you've flown business class a couple of times it's like that's it that's your life the amount of miles I've racked up from flying back and forth it's like nothing that's amazing

the show is presented by head and shoulders it is also on video or a video show tonight and someone pointed out to me that Connie on her laptop has NFL network This is the laptop of the business class right here. So I asked if I could just get a regular NFL shield.

Sure, you did. I feel like this is like a weird thing to have on my computer. This is what I got. But you obviously went out of your way to get something other than the network sticker. Well, you just want an old thing stuck to your computer before and they made, and they had me take it off. It's putting the people around you in their place. I think it's a good move. It's a shot.

It's a power move and I respect it. I think they're putting me in a bad situation right now. um each of us each of the men in the room have three children um one quick anecdote i want to share we each have two children excuse me that was news to me yeah very concerned dan has one we haven't heard about in another state but i haven't met him yet i'm sure he's a nice boy um but uh it was really annoying my christmas cleaning the same room the living room and the dining room cleaning those two rooms about 15 times over the course of 14 hours was exactly exhausting. That was my Christmas.

Yeah, we had that conversation before the show that our experiences mirrored each other to some degree where I thought, you know, I vacuumed this section of the house three times and it is 11.15 a.m. What were you guys vacuuming? Yeah, I know. It's just, it's just like I have a one year old and a three year old. My one year old Harry, his only goal is just to throw stuff around. That's how he plays by making a mess. Jack the more customary three-year-old boy moves from thing to thing, new toy. a new toy leaving just complete havoc in his wake.

And then there's food. It's Christmas. There's crumbs everywhere. And there's spills. You know. Yeah, Luke and Colton are... They're bona fide ruffians at this stage. So they, you know, every room is a total grab bag.

Sounds really great, guys. Yeah. It was joyous. One day, Collie. I can't believe I don't have kids yet. You'll have three kids. So nice. Connie, I had a great time.

It was, you know, what an excuse to just stay home, hang out. It was pretty easy. Easy peasy. Yeah. All right. Greg puts it in perspective. It is important to be with the family. You're right.

I'm just saying, yeah, it's pretty rare to have that. All right. Now we've got to get down to business because we have so much to get to 16 games, in fact, playing over the course of Saturday, Sunday, Monday. And I think we should just get into it. Probably, yeah. And a good way to get into it is starting in the NFC South. A huge rematch between two rivals.

Let's get going. A bunch trips near left. Breeze takes the snap. Backside pressure comes. He steps up and looks long. Wide open target, 25, 20. 15, 10, veering, right, five touchdown. Ted Ginn, Jr., 54 yards.

John Sadek, Westwood, won. True story, Ted Ginn. That was his one millionth career touchdown of 50 or more yards. He's been doing it for a long time. It's been great for that team the season. That's an NFL record. Yeah.

Anyway, the mighty St. Stephen. Defense made two goal line stands and a 23 to 13 win over the not ready for prime time or January either. Let's be honest. Falcons. The Saints clinched their first playoff birth since 2013. And once again, Greg, there was no question who was the better team when these two rivals got together.

Didn't really deliver on all the Saints Falcons rivalry hype, a quiet game, a reminder that this Saints team enters the playoffs so different than the other. other five Sean Payton Saints teams that he's ever brought to the postseason because on a day where the running game was kind of secondary. It was the defense. It was Cam Jordan with the monster game. It was those goal line stands despite missing a lot of key defensive players. They really stopped Atlanta's run game. And it was a ball control offense with just a couple big plays from Drew Brees sprinkled in when he absolutely needed it. I mean, they held on to the ball for almost the entire first half. It's a different Saints team, and I think it's better prepared than they

have been since they won the Super Bowl to win some games in the playoffs and actually matter in January. I look at the Rams and the Vikings as really trustable entities in the NFC, but the Saints also, because they can beat you in so many ways. I also thought we were watching this game together. One of the best interceptions I've seen ever, Marshawn Latimore's butt pick. We call it a butt pick. Are we calling it a butt pick? Maybe we could work out. There's a lot of crazy little names. Did you have one?

I mean, I was just calling it the butt interception, but that's way too many syllables. I mean, butt pick rolls off the time. It's less syllables. It's got the double entendre of grossness. I like it. That play was very telling, I think, for this Atlanta Falcon season. Julio Jones was not in the game on a third and long. What was that?

I'm not sure if it was because he made a mistake earlier in the previous two downs or what it was. So they bring in Marvin Hall. who's had two catches all year, he drops a pass over the middle, which was a good throw by Ryan. So Ryan ends up getting a wildly unlucky interception, things that just could go wrong against the Falcons have this year. And that was the case in this game

where they were just so flat and at no point. At some point, you just got to trust, I guess, that this is who they are. Yeah, and I think, too, we have to mention the Saints, I mean, obviously they looked like the better team here, but they did have some blocking issues when Tehran Armstead went down. Yes.

And they were really not good on third down at all. They only, they were three, I think, of 13 on third down. Only the Falcons were worse, and they only converted two third downs, or I think, yeah. The loaded nature of the NFC, the top heavy nature, I should say. The Saints at 11 and 4 are currently projected as the fourth seed. Is there any path, Greg, that gets them to a first seed, no, but a buy, yes. No. No, they're locked.

They're out for the buy. They're either going to be the three or the four. Don't think that's the worst place to be. You might have a tough wild card home game there. But who knows? Maybe you're going to Philadelphia in the divisional round, which does not sound like the worst thing. No, not at all.

What we saw last night. Falcons still alive, too. They need to win against Carolina. Still alive, but I'm ready for the Falcons to go home. Well, yeah, it's down to... It's been a little bit of a boring season. It's been pretty rough to watch. It is.

Every time, like, you think, okay, this is the game that they need to show up. It's like they don't show up. That said, if they win on Sunday against Carolina at home, they're in and heading on the road in the playoffs, it comes down to Atlanta and Seattle. And I kind of just started feeling this late on Christmas Eve. It feels like the Falcons are going to lose out

and they're still going to get into the playoffs. That's kind of my scenario because all that needs to happen now, they've already got the Lions lost, they're out. They lose, and the Seahawks lose to Jimmy Garoppolo. Feels very possible, very possible. Jimmy Garoppolo is not going to lose, obviously. And this Falcon Sea, I know they turned the switch. They flipped the Spes.

The Seac's placed the Cardinals. I knew I just spaced on that. The Seacques placed the Cardinals. Right. Not Jimmy Garapolo, but I can see the Cardinals going into Seattle. That's a rivalry game that Arizona has done pretty well. And Arizona's not playing that bad in Seattle ain't that good. This Falcons team is not going to flip the switch like they did last year.

They couldn't flip a switch all season. No. All right. Let's check in with another NFC South superpower. Newton fumbles the ball picks it up and drives forward and scores a touchdown. Gail fumble Ruski almost.

He fumbled a rooski. Come on guys. Mick Mixon, Eugene Robinson, WBT with the call. Cam Newton fumbled, bubbled, then scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds remaining to lift the Panthers to a 22 to 19 win over the bucks in Charlotte. The win clinches

a playoff spot for Carolina which is now went to the the playoffs four of the past five seasons. Connie, why was this game so close? You know what? Tampa was actually the better team, I think, for most of the game here. They led most of the game. They outgained the Panthers, but it was just kind of sloppy for them. And this made Panthers fans. They made Panthers fans basically wait and sweat it out the entire game until you just heard that play. Cam Newton. He fumbled Ruskied himself. The fact that, I mean, it took till the final minute for Cam,

Newton to save the game. The game winning drive there. He fumbled the snap and then he was able to grab the ball and somehow get through. Incredibly fortunate because that ball, you know, it's an oblong sphere, guys. It could have bounced in any direction, but it just stayed right in front of him and nobody was able to crash the line and muck up that area. And then he basically fell into the end zone. It was one of the more lucky plays of the season considering the stakes. And that's what the game came down to, which I was surprised, and I guess I shouldn't because it's a division game. But Carolina, the fact that they looked like this against the bucks for that long on the game, that's concerning a little bit here.

I'm concerned. They're season in a nutshell, though. Like, it's ugly and it doesn't really make sense. Like, they're saying, they're breaking down the game afterwards, chanting Jerry Richardson's name, the team owner who's now selling the team. That sort of doesn't make anything. But then you look up at the end of the day, and they're 11 and 4. and Cam Newton's the reason, and maybe it doesn't have to be pretty,

they somehow find a way. They still have a chance for a buy. You know, the Rams don't have a chance, the Saints don't have a chance, but the Panthers still have an outside chance at a buy. It's crazy. I mean, right now where it sits, they'd go into New Orleans and play them in the wild card round,

which is I feel like these NFC South teams have played each other 145 times this season. Especially because all the games have come at the end of the year. Oh, you are wrong. Oh, yeah, I'm wrong. They just feel that way. the same as every other division. Their schedule is so backloaded,

and they play the Falcons this week in what's one of the more interesting games. There it is. Oh, look at that. Greg disseminated plenty of playoff scenario information before going online there. Can I just say I called my house a few weeks ago and a fax machine answered.

Come on. And I was like, Dad, why is there a fax machine? on. He's like, oh, you need to fax something? No, there's a fax machine answering the house phone. What are you doing? Dad, get off the phone. You're ruining my life. Get out of 1996. Get out of 1996. I have no idea what they're doing. Pennsylvania, man. I'm telling you. Yeah. Let's check in on the team of ATL. Chuck and snap. Swing past. Left side, Gurley on the screen 20. Got a block 25. Into space 40. And he's gone. Todd Gurley. 20. 10. Gurley for MVP.

I liked it. I agree. J.B. Long. MJD. Our boy, KS. Team of ATL. And Lindsay, let's cut that for the top 10 nominations of the calls of the year. Because whenever you could stump for MVP at the end of an 80-yard catch-and-run,

I had fun with that one. I hope you did too. Todd Gurley won tens of thousands of fantasy championships single-handedly on Saturday, Sunday, piling up over 275 yards. from scrimmage and two touchdowns. But it was Jared Goss, 14-yard touchdown passed a Cooper Cup in the fourth quarter that helped the Rams and allowed the ramps to sneak past the Titans 27 to 23. The Rams clinched their first NFC West title since 2003,

and the Titans have lost three in a row, but still in control of their destiny and the AFC playoff chase mark. Todd Gurley seems to be getting more explosive every week. This bodes well for L.A. Super Bowl chances. Yeah, I mean, you call him a running back, but his level of danger playmaking ability in the passing game in the screen game is unparalleled right now. I mean, I guess you look at Alvin Kamara as someone else in the playoff picture that can do the similar stuff. But this is a team without a lot of overt weaknesses with a player who

absolutely is deserving of MVP conversation and mention in votes, playing at the height of his powers at the perfect time. I came out this game, though. The Rams to me, I think they have a chance to potentially go into the playoffs and mow teams down and wind up in the Super Bowl. I mean, I don't think that should be a surprising scenario if they accomplish that. What concerns me in this game a little bit and it's a one-week thing

was that a very vanilla Titans team did an adequate job passing the ball against them and made a few, too many plays downfield from an air attack that shouldn't scare anyone. The second thing for me is the kicking situation. Sam Ficken! Yeah, I mean, Sam Ficken. You're kidding me?

They tried out 18. kickers who don't have a job, and this is the guy they picked. I mean, I understand he was working, like, in a Connecticut brokerage six days earlier. You might have been working in that office at some point in your 20. Never. You have to pass a series of, like, mathematical tests. That's not. Mailroom or something. I don't know.

Mailroom, sure. I'm concerned, because they had a chance they were at the Titans' 32-yard line early in the game and had to dial up a Johnny Hecker fake punt. I mean, there's not a lot of confidence in Sam Ficken to start with. That was before he started missing kicks. Then he started missing kicks. These games are going to come

down to things like this, and I have to wonder if they have to go try someone else immediately at this position. This was a hazardous choice. He hadn't kicked in four years. He hadn't kicked in a game since 2014. It's rough. Crazy. That is kind of odd. That's an odd choice for them. Their special teams was so good, too, before Greg Zerline got hurt. Well, this is also why we all jump to Barry Fickle and the Rams for their decision-making. Fickle. But we all, Ficking. I don't need to learn his name. It's not going to be the NFL much. longer. But John Fossel is also being heralded as one of the best special teams coaches in the league.

I'm sure he knows what he's doing. He saw something in the fickle. And it didn't work out maybe. But they should get somebody else in there. Maybe he irons out the issues. I don't know. Take a look. I think the Titans, this was a good recipe for them to play their best game.

They're at home. They desperately need to win and they came out. But for the third straight week, you really see the difference between Mike Mularky and the opposing coach. A lot of those Todd Gurley receiving touchdowns this year have been. been wide open. Like, when they're in the red zone, they dial up great plays where Goff has defined easy throws.

His game-winning touchdown wasn't easy. That was a great play by Jared Goff. But then you look at Tennessee when they're in the red zone, they spend 15 plays inside the five-yard line and they can't score. And they never get their guys wide open in space. It's very rare you see Mario da throwing to an open receiver. And Malarkey is one of those guys that I think if they don't win this game, I think we're going to see a new head coach.

in Tennessee. So it's such a big game on Sunday. It's weeks in a row, and it happened against the Niners. It happened this week where with two, inside the two-minute warning, you have Marcus Marriota, a quarterback that we gushed over last season in previous years for good reason. They're not getting it done. Their defense isn't getting done. Their offenses, and they have chances to win these games and close the season out strong. No capability to do it.

It was nice so that we saw finally Corey Davis have that big game that we were expecting. I mean, two big catches. Yeah. So he went six for 91. And I had been waiting for it all season. There you have it. Tennessee's in with a win next week. So with all this struggle,

they could even get in with a loss with a little bit of luck. Don't need them in Wild Card Weekend. Don't want them. Don't need them. I don't think we're going to get them. One last note. Let's, you know, it's a Tuesday show. So little shoulders of greatness presented by head and shoulders.

Yeah, a little shout out to Todd Gurley, of course, for magnificent game. Greg, I will cue you. up on this. You have been very staunch in your support of Tom Brady to win his third MVP. Todd Gurley now has just the type of numbers that you cannot ignore in this type of race. Do you think Gurley's got a shot? Oh, he's definitely got a shot because I think voters and people in general are looking for any reason not to vote for Brady.

And Brady is give it. Well, that's true. I mean, we've spent most of the season. That's your opinion. We've spent most of the season looking for other reasons. people to vote for other people and Gurley is a great person to vote for I mean you saw over the last month

how important he's been people remember the last month more than anything Brady's I think played two of his worst three games of the season over the last three weeks I would definitely vote for Tom Brady because I think the gap between his value let's say in Gurley's not just that

their positions but in terms of how they played over the first 10 weeks of the season would be significantly ahead for Brady where I'd give him the vote But I wouldn't kill people for vote. But that does come down to position, too, because a quarterback's always going to have a bigger impact than a running. I wouldn't say Todd Gurley, I think he was their most valuable player.

I don't think he was the most valuable running back in the league for the first nine or ten weeks. He was one of, he was up there, but he was my top guy. Camara, yeah. Congratulations on those shoulders of greatness, Todd Gurley, which, of course, is presented by head and shoulders. Speaking of Tom Brady, Brady screens it left for Lewis. He got on, hop step to the right past the time. Accelerates pass the five. Into the end zone.

Touchdown. Patriots. Start the buses, boys. This one's over. Bob Sochi and the Zolak, WBZ with the call. Start the Bills buses? Okay. Huh.

Somebody's getting their buses started. Tom Brady passed for two touchdowns, and the Patriots remain in line to claim home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the AFC. A 37 to 16 win over the bills on Sunday. Yes, the passer a win away from the number of. one seed and we'll skip the wild card round for the eighth straight year.

Is that correct? I think it's nine. Jesus Christ. No, isn't it? And a little bit of news out of New England, by the way. What's up? No one other than James Harrison is visiting Foxborough today according to reports.

I like that. That's stupid. Greg, the final score here, though, didn't quite reflect the tenor of this game, did it? No, it was a really well-played game by the bills that was back and forth through three quarters. these two teams looked about as even as possible,

which could raise some red flags. The thing I'd be most worried about is Tom Brady hasn't been as sharp over the last few weeks, certainly in this game. That said, you know, football comes down at, like, the fourth quarter matters. They close so well. They know they've been through these games. I think there's a part of Brady and Belichick that probably don't mind that they're getting put in these different situations that they have to answer,

that he throws a pick six. And you know what they do? They respond with a touchdown in the next drive, that they close out a game that's not going well. So overall, getting the one seed is massive for them, because I think they need all the help they can get. You like the idea of them being tested versus rolling into the play. I think agree with that.

A little bit. They're not closing the season looking better than they did during the middle of the season, which is a hallmark of their championship teams, which is one reason why I don't think they'll necessarily win the championship. I don't think they look better than Pittsburgh right now. I mean, are we going to talk about it? The Kelvin Benjamin situation? Sure, let's do it.

Let's talk about it. What was that? I don't understand how that was overturned. It's a bad overturned. What happened to just needing clear and obvious evidence to over there? It is now, it's pretty clear under this new, and what Connie, of course, is referring to is late in the second quarter, the bills hanging around in New England with their playoff hopes potentially on the line. and Tyrod Taylor hits Kelvin Benjamin in the back of the end zone on a very nice pass. He gets both feet down and it looks like.

He gets the ball. They rule it a touchdown on the field. They send it to Old Riveron in New York and he overturns it. And what's become clear and I think why everyone's more frustrated than usual even with the catch rule is that under this new leadership in the post-Deno-Blandino era, it appears that they've changed the rules where it used to be send it. to, for review, well, it used to be the on-the-field referee had. This is the first time it's been in New York, really making it everything. But what I mean specifically is it used to be, okay, we're going to go with the call in the field unless they blew it. And if we see that it's clear, they blew it, then we'll change it.

But if it's kind of borderline, we'll keep the call. And everybody was like, okay, that makes sense. But what's happening now is they're sending it to New York and the plays being re-officiated entirely. And that's why you see something like this. This should have never happened. this was a catch and it was a huge play in the game potentially because who knows what happens going to halftime winning maybe the game turns out differently yeah they went they ended up even getting a lead in the third quarter it could have been a different game and i think it was especially frustrating for everyone except patriots because the bills dropped the touchdown that looked exactly like the jesse james play the play before this so it was just the feeling that the patriots are getting every break possible and it certainly that's the case i mean this comes seven days after the abomination of the the the catch rule with Jesse James. It's just amazing.

By the way, Bill's owner Terry Bagula was on the Buffalo Sabres team-produced radio program on Tuesday. He owns Sabres as well. Yes, he does. It's an NHL team, Mark.

I am well aware. Well, because there was a period where Rex Ryan, you know, was painting his truck and we're roaming around with Sabers gear on, you know. Anyway, this is what Pagula had to say, obviously, not happy.

They obviously weren't looking at the same television. The rest of the country was looking at, were they? You know what? You could probably find somebody in the country that disagrees with that catch. And I know one

would, and I know one guy would be Al Riveron sitting in New York City, but everyone I talk to, and they're not Bill's fans and they're not necessarily anti-patriots, they're all baffled by the call, which just wasn't consistent with what replay should be added. I don't know what's going on, but we have to fix it.

And I'm not saying that as the owner of the bills. I'm saying that as a football fan. We can't have stuff like this happening in our league. Preach. It's well, said. Anyone inside the AFC East, if you had any hopes or notions that this season might be a little bit different than

the past 20, you know, if you're Buffalo, it's exactly the script it plays out exactly the same. In the end of that game, from that catch on, played out like every other Bill's Patriots game. Yeah, well, the bills took a lead. They were even pretty competitive through the first quarter. It was 16, 16, midway through the third quarter. Yeah, but

Gronk took over. Gronk is at his absolute peak. He trashed a pro bowler and Micah Hyde in that game. And the eight straight bys, we could go back four years and listen to the podcast we did in 2012, and I think I went on a big soliloquy how the fourth or fifth straight by, which tied the all-time record, was the greatest achievement in like modern football history that will never be touched. Been doubled. Because I think being one of the four top teams in the entire NFL, the entire NFC playoffs isn't

even going to make it back this year. The playoffs, being one of the a buy team, two or three straight years, you know, at that point, four or five straight years. is so incredible. And here we are, four years later, and the streak's still going. And one quick difference between them and the Steelers. You could say all the Steelers are going to knock New England out potentially, is that if you're New England every week,

it's a different player that you're using to upend the opponent. Dionne Lewis had a career game. And three weeks ago, it was Rex Burkhead. And the Steelers, they lose one or two main characters, and they're done. He's a top 10 back right now in the league, Dionne Louis. Theon Lewis can play. Speaking of Grunk, he was asked about this incredible run. by New England over the past eight years,

and here's what he had to say. Rob, this is the eighth straight year that this organization has won 12 or more games. In your feeling, what does it say about the consistency of this organization to be able to accomplish something like that? It's unbelievable, and if you think about it, I got here eight years ago.

Don't think too hard, though. Maybe that's the reason. Oh, my God. I'm watching this on video and that would be an achievement. He's not wrong. He's not wrong. He's not wrong. Belichick, by the way. Look on his face. He'll be cleaning up trash on the side of the mass pike for like a week in the offseason

for making a joke like that during the press comments. Bill doesn't like that. That's where the two ball ball ball ball boys are buried underneath the mass turnpike. Let's check in with not quite the throne of ease. The New York Jets. Rivers and the shotgun makes the snap. Looking to the right. Throwing middle of the end zone.

Caught, touchdown, Rivers to Gates. I don't need to tell you who that is. Matt Money Smith with the call. I talked to Money, by the way, in the studio last week we were just catching up, and I asked him about his call. Dangerous, humble brag by you? No, definitely. I was thinking it too.

Yeah. But his call, of course, his touchdown call is. Knock on wood. Oh, right. Knock on wood, Colin. Batched it, botched it. And he doesn't use it for every touchdown. I found that interesting.

He picks his spots with knock on wood. He's a pro. Knock on wood. Anyway, Philip Rivers, so he didn't use it there, is what I'm saying. So if you were, oh, where was knock on wood? Did you cut it too soon? No. He didn't say it there.

Knock on wood. Philip Rivers threw a touchdown past Antonio Gates. Melvin Gordon ran for a score. The Chargers keep their playoff hopes alive, a 14 to 7 win over the Jets on Sunday in the Meadowlands. Here is the path. I'm going to jump in for you, Greg. Give you a little blow.

Give the modem a blow. Please. What? No, we're giving the modem a blow. Great. Say it again. Take it up line. Get off the phone, Dad.

Yeah, like, blow into your video games? Yeah, exactly. Anyway, the chargers get in. They got a win against the Raiders, and then they need wins by the Jaguars over Tennessee, and then the Ravens over the Bengals. So it's a hatcher. but not exactly miracles are needed in any of those cases.

So the Chargers have a very clear path. And my thought about this game specifically is, yes, all those things need to happen. But the Chargers really need to focus on themselves because I thought for the second straight week, they delivered a flat performance. I didn't see any of kind of the magic that we had seen for about two months prior to that Chiefs game. And it makes you wonder if the Chargers have peaked. already the season, and if they'll be able to take care of business next week, I don't know,

we'll see. So that was my thought in this game, that they didn't really against a Jets team that is a mediocre team in general or worse. I think they've lost eight of nine now, by the way, if they're five and ten. And playing without Mo Wilkerson and Josh McCown and Bryce Petty is one of the very worst quarterbacks in the league right now. This should have been an easy win for a team, LA team that was desperate for a victory. And yet the Jets are, knocking on the door in the final couple minutes of the game with a chance to tie the game. Billy Powell ran all over the charges run defense, which is suspect. And if the Jets had Josh McCown or a better quarterback, they probably win this game

because there were throws left all over the field by Petty who just wasn't competitive. So the Chargers got away with one, I thought, and need to be better in week 17 and if they get there beyond. They've had a lot of injuries. And Hunter Henry, I think really changes their offense. That said, I think we need to be careful about. worrying too much about style points in this late season. It is a long season. There's a lot of injuries.

You're on the road. It's cold. I heard a lot of criticism. I heard some criticism of the Vikings offense. It's 10 degrees. You know, in Philadelphia last night, that's part of the reason, at least, that some of these games are ugly.

And if nothing else, the Chargers got the win. I'll be more worried if they don't perform this week against the Raiders in a must win game at home. I get your theory, but it also sounds like a little bit of an excuse for a team that not played. They won the game. The Steelers could have ground out a win yesterday, and they blew out their opponent. I think a good team should just take care of business. Well, the Chargers especially, too, coming off of the game that they played against the chiefs,

where the offense and Philip Rivers, they just didn't look the same at all. And then you have this performance, which also didn't inspire any confidence, at least in me. But I think, you know, Hunter Henry, you mentioned him. He goes down. How about Antonio Gates? he's still kind of got it. Yeah, he can't move anymore. He can't really move.

But he's got the old man skills. And Jamal Adams, who's a very good young safety, struggled on a couple of plays, including he was in coverage on the touchdown. Gates going six for 81 and a touch. I don't think it's something to expect every week at this point. But the fact that this happens right after Hunter Henry goes down, maybe the old guy's got one last run in him. It would be kind of fun if Antonio Gates, who's never sniffed the Super Bowl,

got in the playoffs and was making big plays with his quarterback one more time. It's a big part of their offense. But if we want to say, oh, you know, the Chargers aren't consistent enough to get into the playoffs, we need something better. You're going to get Buffalo or Tennessee. Right. And all these teams go through these rough patches. I would rather take my shot with Los Angeles.

And they have a few routes in. Like, they can get in if the Bills and Titans lose too. So if they get their win over the Raiders, I like the Chargers chances. It's better than 50-50 to get into the playoffs. All right. let's move on snap back to alec smith fires for kelsey he pulls it in touchdown kansas city terrific throw terrific route terrific catch kelsey in traffic just burn the pro bowl safety rachad jones and the chiefs the little eggnog full of sweet nectar in the end zone yes wow cut

it yeah cut it bitch halt is not only that he had that little flare at the end that was a very descriptive. I'm good at my job. Touchdown call right there. We have like a field of 64 with these calls. Mitch Halt is KCFX with the call. Alex Smith threw for 300 yards and a touch. Kreme Hunt ran for 91 and a score. The Chiefs

beat up on the Dolphins, 29, 13 on Sunday. Guess what guys? They won back, they won the AFC title, AFC West title with this win. This is the first time in their 58 year history they've won back-to-back titles, which really surprised me because there have been some runs of good Chiefs teams.

Wow. Specifically, the Marty era in the 90s. So is that why Andy Reid dressed up as Santa? Andy Reid celebrated by dressing up like Santa. Gotta love Andy Reid, uh, who wherever he goes, he wins. And, um, this is interesting. When we were talking about on our pickum show, I, we handed out gifts. I jokingly said, uh, that, that the chiefs, the gift I was giving was the

neuralizer for men in black. Yeah. To completely wipe out the middle of their season. and I'm not saying that happened. I'm not saying that didn't happen. But they are now playing like that middle portion of their season never happened. Five and O, then they lost six of seven. Now they've won three straight,

and they've won each of those games by double digits. And their defense is playing well and the offense is making plays downfield again. Once again, Greg, out of nowhere, the Chiefs look like a team that could be dangerous in January. Four times in five years, Reed's made it to the playoffs. Like you said, they've outscore their opponent's 85 to 41. And so if they had done that after, you know, if that had just been a continuation of the beginning of the season,

we'd be thinking of them as a real contender. Ultimately, like the AFC is pretty similar to last year, where the Steelers, Patriots, and Chiefs are the three teams I take the most serious. And I think the Chiefs have a chance. I give Andy Reid a chance in a one-game playoff to come up. I know it hasn't happened for him in the past, but I still think he's a tough coach to prepare for. Yeah, I think, too, ever since they switched the play call, to Matt Nagy. It's made such a difference.

That's when everything sort of turned around, especially for the offense. But now Marcus Peters, too, in these two games since he was suspended, I mean, he has been playing out of his mind. He's forcing turnovers. You were trying to fire Pory and he read a few weeks ago, Connie. I'm always trying to fire that.

That was mean-spirited on your part. She has a complicated relationship with him. Get out of here. But Peter, yeah, you're right. He had two interceptions and a forced fumble against the Chargers last week. Recovered a fumble, forced another on Sunday. five turnovers in two weeks after the Nadir of his season and really the chief season

when he picked up the flag like a baby threw it in the crowd, walked to the locker room with the middle ends, came back out with his shoes on and then they lose to the jets. Like that was the low point for the chiefs and now they've come all the way back. And by the way, Greg, this is good use of Nadir. Thank you. This is interesting. They are locked into the fourth seed. Yeah.

And they got the Denver Broncos next week. They can basically give all their key guys another buy week. going into wild card weekend and double-edged sword there because you give them the rest, and that's the most important thing. But maybe you lose a little momentum. That's a negative thing. But you'll take the rest. I wouldn't, right.

If I'm the chiefs, I mean, outside of injury, they haven't earned, to me, the concept of resting in week 17. Because of what happened to them in the middle of the year, go in. Wow. That's how Tom Coughlin used to do it. Belichick, it does it year by year, depending on how he thinks his team is looking. For instance, if they had clinched everything this year, I don't think there's any chance they would rest anyone in week 17 because I don't think he thinks they look good enough. And the one weird thing, though, is Patrick Mahomes going to start this game?

Well, we'll talk about that on Andy. I think the ideal scenario is you play so great against the Broncos that you start sitting guys early in the second half because they're up three. Yeah, that's the best scenario. And I think Reed's history is that he does rest players. So we'll see how it plays out. One last step before we get it. And I think we had to say goodbye to Colleen. I know.

I was going to hit the alarm. I know. Just is just a fun stat involving the dolphins. Landry, Jarvis Landry went five for 51. He now has an NFL leading 103 catches this season. His stat line, 103 for 895 and 8 touchdowns. This bro can potentially drop a 110 spot for catches as a wide receiver and not eclipse 1,000 yards. Wow.

Meanwhile, Todd Gurley is averaging like 12 yards per catch more than half the receivers. I talked to Handsome Hank who's on our... You're talking to lots of people all over. the building. My instant messenger client, I said, Jarvis Legend, this is a weird stat line. I don't like it. Is this guy actually being used properly?

Would he be better in a different role? And he seemed to be, you know, he's a pure slot receiver. But 103 for 895? Come on. Come on. Let me get some yardage. Before you go, Colleen, we have a great listener, Mark Lem cooler, who sent us a ton of gifts.

And one of them was, if you can watch in the video show, popcorn mixed with chocolate popcorn. It sounds like something that's up here. This is exactly what I have. last week that made me sick, and now I'm going to probably just do it all over again tonight. Connie's Tuesday night is locked down. It is. It is. I'm coming off of a night where I also had lots of sweets.

So this is great. I woke up with the shakes a little bit, and it was not from alcohol. It was from sugar. I'm just saying. Debatable. Bye. That's it. I got to go.

That's my sound. The lady doc protests too much. Goodbye. No one asking, but she's telling us. Not from alcohol. No, I wasn't hungover at all. What are you guys talking about that? None of us concerned originally about that.

Didn't bring it up, except her purse and a wine bottle falls out. Those little mini wine bottles. A bottle of Jack falls out of her pocket. Whoa, whiskey. Come back in the off season for the intervention podcast. The only female I know that would categorize as a wino. I don't know a lot of female winos.

I do. I mean, you see them around personally? Do you know any mobs? Sure. I don't talk to mom I'm not really even talking to moms So you got to reconnect with your wife It's very important

My wife is not a whino Intervention is an underrated show There is I have not Good show, very good show, a little depressing There is a wine bottle A brand that I actually got from my mom once As a joke called Mommy's Little Helper Which is funny

It's a weird culture that we live in Let's move on to a sad NFC North game Honolie fakes a throat of the left Now he whips it out to the right, intercepted by Harrison Smith at the 48-yard line. Two picks tonight for Harrison Smith, who has five this season. And the Vikings turn over Green Bay once again. I don't even know if I can go on with the show after listening to that. Anyway, bit downbeat.

The Minnesota Vikings shut out their opponent for the first time in over 20 years. How about that? Beating up on the Green Bay Packers without Aaron Rogers, 16 to Zip on. Saturday night in Lambeau Field. The Vikings still in the mix to get the – well, they're still in the mix for a buy, right? They have a buy. They have a buy, and they're still in the mix of the number one. They need to clinch the buy.

They are in great position. All they need is a win or even a loss by the Panthers to officially clinch it. Mark, there were a lot better things to do on Saturday night before Christmas than watch this version of the Packers against the purple people either. of today. This was a sleepy affair. I mean, Greg, you mentioned that the Vikings' offense didn't exactly rain down vengeance on Green Bay, but they did what they needed to do. And Harrison Smith snubbed by the Pro Bowl voters, I don't know what else could go wrong with that scenario. But this to me is another example. And look, the Vikings, I think we trust deeply. It starts with

their defense. It extends to their offense. There isn't a part of the Vikings roster or team that you could point to and say some sort of Achilles heel or a weakness. that has us concern. It's the exact opposite. The team-building situation in Green Bay, you talk about them not shutting them out in 20 years, because you had, through that entire time, obviously, Brett Farve to Aaron Rogers. It is embarrassing to watch what happens to this Green Bay team the minute you take one player off the field. They are simply not a good football team outside of having Aaron Rogers. It's not any player, though. It's one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

I don't think they'd be a good team this year with Aaron Rogers, and there's no way to ever find out. I question if they would make the- It started off with him, though. You know, they did. The logic breaks down because they were a successful team with Aaron Rogers in the lineup. Right. But if you remember those games, it was like slogging against Mike Glennon and the Bears. It was different games.

It was games like that where Aaron Rogers' brilliance carried them, and he could have carried them far like he does every year. But ultimately, I mean, when you go up against balanced teams, I don't think the Packers, because of what you're saying, would have had enough. I just wonder if there's a lot of changes coming on that roster in the offseason. But back to Minnesota, I mean, Matthews, Jordy Nelson, a lot of guys. All those guys could go.

I love watching the Vikings play. And this wasn't the most exciting version of the team. But I really feel like they could knock anyone off in the NFC. I cannot wait. I love to see them play the Rams. That would be a fascinating NFC title game. It's one of the more depressing games I've watched this season, just because the hopelessness of it all.

Minnesota was just such a superior team. And Hunley is just, you know, he's a tough watch, let's face it. They're a better team than Green Bay with Aaron Rogers, though. I think it would have been a great game because what Aaron Rogers does when he's healthy is he shocks you and he does things and carries that team. We saw it last year and every other year he's been healthy just about, but we're not going to see it and we're stuck with that version of the Packers, which was a tough watch, let's face it.

It absolutely was, but it shouldn't take away any of the joy of the Vikings fans on Christmas Eve Eve to take over Lambeau Field and start doing your skull chance late in the night. You shouldn't feel bad at all that Brett Hunley's that quarterback because you know what? You went in there and had Joe Webb in a playoff game. You had Christian Ponder. Enjoy this moment. They're going to end up with the most wins they've had her the second most in 57 years. So like, savor this. You've got a chance to host the Super Bowl. Like enjoy these next week. Nothing about this Vikings team is fluky. I mean, you always point to certain teams that get these 13 and 3 or 12 and 4

record to say, come on. But not with this Viking team. They are a legit chance to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium, which would be incredible. The Vikings are, in a lot of ways, a cursed franchise. They've had a lot of heartache over the decades. Things have really broken well for them this year. Well, the Carson Wentz injury, Aaron Rogers disappearing. And they, of course, lost Sam Bradford, but then they had these guys waiting in the wings,

Case Keenham waiting in the wings. This is all lining up in a really positive, inspiring way for a Minnesota Vikings fan. but, and one of my closest friends back in New York is randomly a Vikings fan. I don't know how it happened, but Greg, you know who you are, Greg with 1G.

Something bad happens to the Vikings, and I'm worried the fans are with it all in front of them. But that's for another time. That's for January. I hope that this team does take care of business because I think they're good enough to go to the Super Bowl, but they are the Vikings. Well, in their corner, Eagles fans would say the same about their team.

Rams fans have no idea what's happening right now. So it's like the same thing, fans, I mean, everyone's sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop on some level. Eagles fans had the same baggage, and they got burned and they lost their quarterback. We'll get to them in a little bit. Ram's, you're right. There's a little bit of a unknown entity to them, which is a good thing.

Let's move on. In comes Jake Elliot. Hold your breath. Ball is spotted. Kick is away. It's got the distance. It's gone. He did it again. Now, maybe the call from the Vikings

Green Bay game could learn a little bit of a lesson in terms of enthusiasm right there. Merrill Reese and Mike Quick, WIP with the call. Jake Elliott atoned for an earlier miss with a 48-yard field goal right down the middle, 22 seconds to play. The Eagles tacked on another one of those silly lateral touchdowns. I think the people in the desert might have enjoyed that. And they clinch the number one seed for the NFC playoffs, a sloppy 19 to 10 win for the Eagles over the Raiders on Christmas night.

And Mark, the Eagles, they found a way against an inferior opponent. But one can imagine Eagles fans aren't wildly overconfident as we get closer to the playoffs right now. I found this game far from a delight to witness late on Christmas night. I was not what I needed in my life, but I will say this. Wife and kids weren't plugged into this one? I don't think I earned any points by locking myself away to watch this on the couch for three plus hours. You're a professional, bro. You're a pro. There are other opinions probably inside my household.

But I will say this. You can always do like the game pass next morning route. These days start early for us. I don't know about that. Whatever. You sat through it. If you're an Eagles fan. The Eagles ruined Christmas is what Mark's saying.

Go ahead. Yeah, they basically. I come out of this really concerned about, because, you know, last week's very promising showing on offense and in promising game by Nick Foles came against the Giants defense, which is, you know, what do you judge coming out of that? I don't know what to take from this, to be honest, if I'm the Eagles, other than a major concern.

I would be very, very concerned. Very nervous if I'm an Eagles fan that if this is closer to the version of reality now, post Carson Wentz, that I'm going to host the playoff game in the second week of the playoffs, and we're going to find ourselves down, you know, 14 to 6 late in the third quarter, and we can't move the ball, and Nick Foles cannot escape pressure, and he can't make a throw because he doesn't have a big arm, and I'm very nervous. The weather sucks.

That's not a problem. It's the accuracy of the big. It is a real concern that you're going to get an instant replay against us against a good team in the play. I don't feel like there are a team that could play from behind very well in this is what you're going to get. No. The one thing, and I would be really concerned,

because Gruden pointed out, Foll is very streaky. This guy's got the NFL record for touchdowns in a game. He looked great a week ago. When things start going bad, they really start going bad. When he starts getting pressure in the pocket, he was just so flustered, making poor decisions of when to run, when to throw. Like he had a first down just sitting in front of him late in the game, and he threw the ball out of bounds, which was just like a mental sort of midget moment.

At least the defense bounced back from a few bad weeks and won this game for them in a way that is surprising. And as bad as they've played the last two weeks, overall, they did find a way to win those games and get that one seed, which is important. because I think they are going to need everything that they can get. I mean, since the moment when got hurt, they were trailing in the Rams game, found a way to win that, found the way to win. So at least like they've got the number one.

Does the NFL need to look at these late year Saturday slash holiday games and say, we've got to find a way to not give America the Houston Texans, which is an automatic loss and a Raiders Eagles game that really had better than choose? It's just bad luck. Last year you got literally the game of the year on Christmas. this year, you could have had Deshawn Watson. You've had a team who's been in the playoffs three straight years,

and you thought Raiders were not going to be... I don't know. I'm just saying, couldn't there be an opportunity to say, hey, instead of wishing for good luck, we could maybe a month ahead or two months ahead, flex something in. I think it's that important on Christmas. I think, and you look at the NBA... They're not going to mess with people's families

and Christmas like that. They're going to, it's just... I mean, they messed with ours. Yeah, when you look at the NBA, for instance, and it's in the middle of a season, of course, it's a different setup, but they give you Warriors Cavs on Christmas afternoon. Thunder Rockets is the other national game,

two of the best teams at that conference. The NFL is locking in the schedule for Christmas Day and Christmas night. I think that's something it's an important, and I know it only happens once every six or seven years, where you maybe flex and make sure these are great games because, frankly, I don't think it was a good luck for the league to have these dog teams involved on what's a really high-profile sports day for people. I just think it's unavoidable.

I mean, if Deshaun Watson and Carson, and wents are in this game. But they're not. But we loved them. They're not going to flex out. It's just you can't, you're not going to flex out a team that's not. Honestly, it would have been better without, without the games than bad games. How about this?

Don't have games on Christmas then. If you're going to potentially, and I imagine, we just saw they canceled the week 17. A shocking bit of restraint by the NFL. And I wonder, I just wonder, honestly, if they saw the way Christmas looked and it wasn't a great look. And I'm sure it wasn't a ratings bonanza. And they said, well, we don't want to do that. that again. I know there was another reason and it was about the competitive nature. I don't think it was even, I don't think there was any decision. When I worked at NBC

every year, the main thing was you had to have a game that was going to be not affected by what happened earlier. And there were many complaints over the years. The Bengals Jets got into Sunday night a couple years in a row when there were better teams available, but they didn't know for sure. The Titans played the Colts backups one year when there were better games available. But again, there was a scenario where those games weren't going to matter. I think it just happened that this is the year that for the first time ever, that there were no games. So they just didn't even have a choice. But I guess they could have thrown some Hamm and Eggers contest up there, and they didn't. And that's actually kind of a crazy

promising move by the end of time. Derek Carr, by the way, is going to go into the offseason with a lot of people doubting him. We will never know how much his back injury is affecting him, but he is just not the same guy this year. I think there were five or six turnovers in the second half. That was a very strange game overall. Let's move in. This was a loser-goes-home match on Christmas Eve in Big D. And 48, Bailey's kick has got a humongous distance, and he missed that one to the right.

Wow. Wow. Dan Bailey pushed a chip shot right. The closing act in a dizzying red zone fail for the Cowboys and a 21-12 loss to the Seahawks who peeled themselves off the mat following last week's humiliation against the Rams at the clink. We'll get to the Seahawks in a second, but I want to start with that sequence because it represented the epitome of a team coming up small when it mattered most. The Cowboys down 2112. They have first in goal at the Seattle three-yard line with 7-54 to play.

Everything is set up in front of them. Zeke Elliott back from suspension and what happens? They throw the ball twice. They take a sack and then they have to settle for a field goal. It's like, all right, Dan Bailey can count on him. he pushes it right as you heard and all of a sudden it's a two-score game with five minutes to play game over and you have to be wondering what was going through Jerry Jones's mind because they cut to which I love when they do is for high profile cowboys losses they cut immediately to Jarrah's box as the kick sails right and Jones gets up and walks out and I'm thinking to myself oh boy with that play calling and the fact that the cowboys are going to go 8 and 8 or 9 and 7 and missed the playoffs, could heads roll in Dallas after a loss of this magnitude? Our guy Ian Rapport says it's not going to happen, and Jerry Jones is kind of putting it out there.

That's not even a consideration that Jason Garrett will be there. I think he could end up changing his coordinators. Rod Marinelli is the name you hear most. I don't know if Rod Marinelli is the problem. He certainly wasn't a problem in this game. The Seahawks had 136 yards. The Seahawks won a game where they had more penalty yards, 142. And they had yards on offense.

To me, these are two dead teams, and one of them had to win. Sorry, Seahawks. And maybe that you have enough, they have enough championship kind of medal inside of them that they're going to find their way into the playoffs. But for a team that's been in Super Bowls, I don't know if a first-round loss is going to feel that exciting. If you're a Cowboys fan and you knew ahead of time that you were going to hold at one point MVP candidate Russell Wilson

in the Seahawks to 60 net yards passing 76 yards on the ground, you'd say, you know what? We're the team heading to the playoffs. And this is why I'm surprised why Jason Garrett has so much rope in that organization is because this is not the first time the Cowboys have come up small in a high-profile spot and they've only been to the playoffs, what, twice in his time there?

And this is a bitterly disappointing season. I know the Zeke suspension kind of wreaked havoc on this team maybe behind the scenes as much as it did in terms of losing your best offensive player for six games. But I just don't understand. Garrett, to me, you wonder if he's part of the problem, why the Cowboys are never able to put together back-to-back big seasons, why they come up small down the stretch in these games, why they lose these playoff games in these ways? Why should Garrett be so safe? I thought, I think it's... I think if I'm a Cowboys fan, I'm probably getting a little

annoyed of seeing Jason Garrett being perturbed on the sideline. You're not alone. I think that they long, ages ago when there were issues about Garrett potentially coming back, Jones has said over and over. He was our backup quarterback back in the day. He's been an assistant with us, a head coach. They feel like they put decades of work into Jason Garrett. So you have to find someone that they believe enough into Switch. Secondly, I think there's enough hubris within this organization to think Jerry Jones on down thinks, oh, we're a Super Bowl team. Every year, we're a Super Bowl team. And what happened this year is the NFL's fault for doing this to Ezekiel Elliott versus our own issues on offense. Right, but it's not. It's their passing

game's fault, ultimately. And I'm not putting that all on Dak Prescott. It's on the coaches. It's on Des Bryant. It's on Jason Witten, Terrence Williams, in terms of just the personnel that they've had over the years. When push came to shove with Zeke out, the passing game was miserable. And for most really of the season, they've been erratic at best, and they never could figure

it out. And they're just not good enough otherwise. You don't have a good enough deal. They had to be a great offense, and they were so far from it with Dak. And I think it's unfair to call it a la Raville, Magnifico season. for Dack Prescott. No. But at the same time, again, he did not show up in this game.

That interception, the pick six, I mean, that was a bad throw and a bad decision, bad footwork. He did not, they really needed him to kind of be at a higher level to make up for a lot of things this year. And I don't think he was up to it this year. Maybe he is down the stretch. But I don't think he was ready for it this year. Just a lost season for the Cowboys. It is. And the Seahawks, their scenarios very doable.

The NFL does a good job. of setting up all the games that matter at the same time of day. So they will kick off at the same time the Panthers and Falcons kick off. And all they need is the Panthers to lose that game. And they need to beat the Cardinals in Seattle and they're dancing. And very possibly going to Los Angeles for round three with the Rams. Which is interesting. And they did split, by the way.

We all remember that they got absolutely plastered two weeks ago. But they beat them in L.A. already this season. So we'll see how it plays out. Let's check it. Listen, we're here to talk Broncos Redskins, so let's get to it. Cousins, going to float it. Man is wide open, Doxon at the 25-20. 10-5, touchdown.

Touchdown Redskins, Josh Doxon. Finally. Bring it's in, baby. Yes. Oh, yes. Kirk Cousins threw for $2.99 and three touchdowns. That could have been his last home game with the Redskins. They beat the Broncos 27 to 11.

Greg, the Brock Osweiler Hot streak lasted exactly one. one game. And is there anything else we need to really talk about in regards to this game? No. Let's dig in. I think we should treat the rest of the show as a speed round. I mean, Jay Gruden, I guess. If these last couple weeks mean anything, it might be Jay Gruden's chance to keep his job if that's open, if they win these games. And yet there's whispers that the Bengals are quietly interested in Jay Gruden. And similarly for the Broncos, I think there are definitely questions about Vance Joseph after this year. There are so many, and I want to write about this.

I've never seen as many teams that are up in the air in terms of coaches. Practically half the league. Yeah, it's pretty crazy. And you have to factor that in. Teams that are on the bubble, do we want to fire a coach when half the league is trying to hire a new coach? I think when you have someone like Jay Gruden, that to me, who I think's been a good coach, should be a reason not to fire it. And that's your answer with Garrett, because Garrett will turn around and get another job in two seconds.

People say that. I think I think you, Garrett, would get hired as a head coach quickly? I don't know. He's not involved in the offense or the defense. I would take Jay Gruden over Todd Bowles. I'd take Jay Gruden over Jason Garrett and a second, too. All right, let's move on. Andy Dalton takes the snap.

He hands it off to Giovanni Bernard. Geo bounces out wide. Heads for the end down and scores. A touchdown for the Bengals. That should be coffin nails. Bam! Bam! Wow, I like it.

You know, every win matters. Dan Horde and Dave Lapin, W.EBN with the call. Gio Bernard ran for 116 and a touch in the closing minutes, sending the Bengals to a 2617 win over the lines that knocked Detroit out of playoff contention. Hey, guys, maybe get to training camp on time next summer. Lessons learned. How about this for an angle? Literally showed up the first day possible, just pointing it out.

How about this for an angle? Bengals, football's worst team over the previous two weeks pulled off a win for the Gipper in what was supposed to be Marvin Lewis's final home game in Cincinnati, thus opening the door for a dramatic contract extension this week. Buy or sell. Hard sell. Louis is an idiot. A hard sell.

He doesn't want to be there. He doesn't want to be the coach of the Bengals. My least favorite storyline, these final weeks, or the press conferences, when they asked Lewis about him leaving. And they said, was this an emotional game for you? And he's like, why would it be emotional? Why would it be emotional? You know something I don't?

It's like, bro, just what are you? You've operated as the source of these reports. What are you trying to? Yeah. What are you trying to do? Jim Caldwell, meanwhile, who has kind of, you know, similarly doesn't like giving much away in a press conference at, you know, talked on. It's like blinking.

And they asked them like, you know, is there anything your team excelled at this season? And he said, no, there hasn't been anything across the board we've been good at. Well, that's fair. Because that's true. Not a good case to keep your job. Another Blas season for the Lions, and we'll see if Jim Powell keeps you. I think you're going to see a former Patriots coordinator in Detroit next year. Charlie Weiss?

Whether it's Patricia or. That makes sense with the GM there. One of those guys. But Chaz Weiss gets another shot. No, no. I think he's like a current Patriots. Someone employed by the Patriots. I think his University of Kansas one was really took him out.

All right. Let's move. KU. KU. KU. Kew. Covey for set empties the back field. He stands in the gun, takes the snap.

throws. Incomplete. No flag. No flags. The Hayes in the Bard. And the Ravens playoff hopes are still very much intact. Thank you, Lord. Jerry Sandusky and Jarrett Johnson, WBAO with a call. Yes, the Baltimore Ravens got to stop they needed at the end of the game. And Joe Flacco threw for 237 and two touchdowns as the Ravens took a step closer to the playoffs with a 236. win over the cults on Saturday. Baltimore will get into the playoffs as an AFC wildcard if they could beat the bongles at home next Sunday, which is not going to be easy, not with Marvin Lewis still on the sidelines. The Ravens, by the way.

Well, Marvin Lewis is an idiot. Greg have won five of six following their four and five start. And this was that kind of like grinded out win that makes you think they can make some noise if they get into the posies. Sneaky good game in a weekend that didn't have many. No turnover is just about. No penalty.

long drives, it was tense. If you didn't know that the, if you just took away the fact that the cults are terrible and the Ravens aren't pretty to watch, it was actually kind of a fun, late season football game. I'm a little worried as a guy who I think the Ravens could go to the Super Bowl, but they have not played that level of defense

over the last few weeks, including in this game where they let Jacoby Brissette go up and down the field quite a bit. And their whole recipe for making the Super Bowl is with a very good defense, and they just haven't been the same since Jimmy Smith got hurt, and I don't know if that's the reason.

I don't know if that's going to change when they get to the playoffs. I don't see them as a Super Bowl team on any level. We've obviously differed on this one. They can win a playoff game. Blackos played well over the last month. Seven touchdowns, seven yards per 10. So is Big Ben.

And so will Tom Brady when it matters. I mean, it's like, I get it. You're counting on special teams and defense and a league leading turnover margin. I mean, these are recipes that have happened before. And people think about, like, these old Ravens days. A, newsflash, this is what old Ravens games look like. It's not like they won pretty back then either.

You'd also need, like, a flock of star players in the AFC to be, like, taken away, kidnapped by, you know, Baltimore area kidnappers. Low-level Baltimore criminals to come in and help out New England, you know, take out New England and we get Big Ben removed. Like mezzanine-level criminals. Yeah. How about this, Greg? You mentioned special teams, but I'm going to call them out. Mr. Justin Tucker, who doesn't miss any kicks at all. 1717 in Foxborough in the divisional playoffs

and Tucker comes on for a 53 yarder it could all happen that's what I'm saying turnovers special teams the defense needs to be better because I think we're at a point with Joe Flacko where now he's like okay again he's okay but the defense needs to be better let's move on

pressure coming it's picked up Rothesburger throws wide open over the middle juju Smith Schuster will walk in for the touchdown And Smith Schuster will sit Indian style underneath the goalposts to celebrate his touchdown, making it 33 to 6 Steelers. Tricky to narrate Juju Smith-Schuster's touchdown celebrations. It's always a lot going on there. That is Bill Hillgrove, WD-V-E with the call.

Ben Ralthusberger threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns. And the Steelers clinched a first round playoff by with a third. 34-6 win over the Houston Texans on Monday. Greg, this was as easy as the final score indicated. They looked awesome, and I'm not sure if the second half of the season Steelers' offense is ever going to get to play with the first half of the season Steelers' defense, because if that team ever played, that's the Super Bowl champions. That's the best team in the league.

Their defense had, you know, defense played great in this game. I don't know what you can take out of it. But that loaded offense, we were so excited about coming in the season. It's here. You need Antonio Brown back, but maybe Smith-Schuster and Vance McDonald who's playing well and Bryant are getting even more reps in a bigger role in these couple of weeks here, and that's going to help them in the playoffs if Brown is Brown. There have been a lot of big blowouts and wipeouts this season,

but this was about as powerful and utter destruction of an opponent that you've... This game felt over, and I know I often say this, and sometimes it's not always true, but eight or nine minutes in, you knew this thing was utter toast for the Texans. You got the terrible towels waving throughout energy field. It was a great sign for this offense. And it's the second week. To be able to do what they did in the passing game, you're still playing an NFL defense.

They just mauled them. With the Steelers, keep in mind they are 12 and 3. And they lost Antonio Brown early in their showdown against the Pats. It's still outplayed New England. It should have won that game, if not for some interference from the rulebook. And it puts you in a situation where it's like, yes, yes, yes, the Steelers are the real deal contender against the Pats.

Would it have been saucier if it was in New England, potentially? But I still believe in their chances because they are a machine. This team is ready to win. And this is going into kind of mental territory, which you don't really know, but just judging the Steelers over the years, I feel like going through those tough games, Cincinnati, Baltimore and New England, and having lost that New England game, maybe isn't the worst thing for this team,

which feels itself a little too much. Sometimes losing that game, maybe it gets them a little refocus. I'm ready to go. I'll say catch of the year maybe by DeAndre Hopkins. Yeah, that was the one little bit of juice that this game got later on. Hopkins making a leaping,

tapping the ball with one hand, into his other hand, and then somehow getting two feet down. In fact, our boy, Mike Tariko of ESPN, he knew he had a dog game on his hands. So he really soaked up what was one of the catches of the year. I asked Lindsay to cut together a little sizzle reel of Torrico's reaction to that play. Here's Hilton blitzing off the slot again.

Passer Hopkins. Oh, my goodness. Did he catch that? Did he catch that? That's the touchdown catch of the year if that's good. They're still talking about it. There's a flag down. If he got that inbound, that's the touchdown catch of the year.

Oh, Merry Christmas. That's unbelievable. What he just did? It's hard to tell. Did he get that second foot down? Possession. there. One foot down.

I don't think anything else is down. It's a bummer. Let's check it out here. Let's see him get the one toe down. That's Kurt Warner. There's one. Oh, yeah, they're down. They're down.

They got them. That angle. Great job, guys. That angle gives it to you. Wow. He's the best. That's sick. That is unbelievable.

It's so on point. He's the best of the best by far right now. I was thinking of watching this game, the way he was like setting up Kurt Warner. He is so good. Like how you view Bob Costas, I think a lot of kids, how Mark Sessler views Bob Costas growing up. Costas in the day.

I feel like some kids should be growing up feeling about Mike Tariko. That's how good he is. By the way, Tariko feels the way about Costas. And he's going to pass Bob. Syracuse grads. One of the aspects that makes Trigo so pleasurable to listen to is, like Tony Romo, he's like way into the game. You can tell he loves what he's doing.

Maybe get those two together and let's fly. I like that. No, but one guy, Hilton, on that play, Not the greatest thing that happened to him. But that guy, Steelers found something to Mike Hilton. Let's move out. This is like the ninth week in a row. He's been awesome.

Kaiser's shotgun takes the snap. Looks right. Up in the pocket, dumps it off. Higgins caught it. He's got a first down. He gets back up and runs at the 15, at the 10, at the 9, at the 5, and he fumbles into the end zone, and the Bears recover it. Pritzamukamara's got it.

He's running in the end zone, and he goes down in the end zone as he is tagged out on the play. Jim Donovan, WKNR with the call. The Cleveland Browns are 0-15. Deshaun Kaiser through two more interceptions to pad his NFL worst total, and the Browns coughed it up twice overall in the red zone, a 20 to 3 loss to the Bears. Even the old Zeus are trying to throw them. Some positive lock ju-ju did not help the brownies

who are now faced with the challenge of upsetting the hated Steelers to avoid the second 0-16 season in NFL history. not good, Mark, but the good news is you do have the first pick in the draft. Yeah, and it's going to be a very interesting next couple of weeks if you're John Dorsey, the new general manager or anyone that follows this team, because I don't understand, despite various reports that Hugh Jackson has, you know, ownership, support, how do you go into this offseason and into next year trying to sell what's happened over the past two years to this fan base?

I mean, they are a team that I think with a better coaching staff should have four to five wins. We've been saying that for a long time. The way they lose these games is beyond hexed in nature. It's incredible. The stuff that happens in the red zone over and over weekly. I thought this game turned when Miles Garrett had a really athletic, fantastic pick six of Mitchell Trubisky, and then it was called back by a flag.

I mean, they cannot catch a break. On the bear's side, I think you got in the second half one of the better performances by Mitchell Chubisky. It's not flashy. That doesn't happen for him in this Bears regime right now. But he picked apart Cleveland secondary. Every part of the Browns fell apart down the stretch in this game. Oh, and 16, that's what they're going to be. Pittsburgh could put the bottom half of its roster on the field and find a way to be Cleveland.

And the Steelers still have a chance to right home field advantage. They line up at the same time as the Patriots So you would think Tomlin is going to play his starters Although he might be scoreboard watching And call off the dogs at some point We'll see. Let's move up. Here's the shotgun snap. He's back. He looks right. Comes back left. Garopolo moving to his left.

Being chased throws end zone. It is caught. Touchdown, San Francisco. Trent Taylor, with the catch A five-yard strike from Jimmy Garapolo. Ted Robinson, K-S-A-N with the call. Jimmy G. DeGaud. Jimmy Groplo threw two touchdown passes,

ran for another touchdown, and the 49ers won their fourth straight with their new QB. A 44-33 win over the Jags at the big bell bottom. Quiet Storm, it is looking increasingly likely that the 49ers will never lose again. Did Jimmy G. and the Niners expose Jacksonville's vaunted defense on Sunday? They seem to be exposing everyone they play. this was a very bizarre game.

Let me start with Jacksonville, that they clinch the AFC South minutes into this thing, which I guess a team could react in various ways. Sure. But they went on to have one of the ugliest losses you could imagine from a team that's been really kind of one of the turnaround stories of the league where at one point Malik Jackson and Aaron Colvin

are battling each other on the Jaguars sideline. There was a later, like later on where the receivers coach and a receiver getting into it. Kinna McArdo. Yeah, Keenna McArdle, a Jacksonville legend. And then fights throughout the game or penalties. Awful penalties, like, laid on. Yeah, and I mean, and then on field Jimmy G.

And I already am seeing people. There's already a backlash where people saying settle down on Jimmy Garapolo. You know, it's just a couple weeks. I get it at the same time. Is that backlash on your Twitter? Are you taking heat for that? I mean, I praised him because what I've seen week after week is just, well, yeah, no, It's definitely, if you tweet something out, it's like, chulo, and it's like, I would just say go watch him.

I mean, he is the kind of guy that you look at what this team was when they had Brian Hoyer and everyone else under center. It's a bunch of just dudes that look like they're barely going on to the roster going into next season. And he is turning guys like Kyle Eusecich, who I think is a good player, but he needs the right quarterback with him to make that happen into a big play machine. I mean, Marquis good. And like, Gropolo is making throws. he made more throws in the past couple of weeks. And honestly, in the back 20 minutes of this game, then you will see some quarterbacks make all season.

He is an artist. He's fantastic to watch. I think it's the trade of the decade. I think you got a young franchise passer for a second round draft. I want to see more before trade of the decade. Okay. Well, I'm saying trade of the decade. It's looking that way.

I think to be able to import someone with this potential who's showing immediate giving an immediate dividends for the team and you didn't give up a first-round pick or multiple first-round picks or mortgage your future to get him, that is a definition of an amazing trade. But on the jack-side, Greg, that is a little bit concerning in terms of,

and West talks about it a lot, that they're not a come-from-behind team and we saw that again in this game. This team facing some adversity, how do they react if they fall behind? Are they a team that's going to keep it together when the game, when the gauntlet of the playoffs arrives? Although they did fall behind six.

nothing and then took the lead. That was what was strange in this game. They made that comeback and then fell apart. I'm more worried about them just in terms of their maturity. I mean, the defense was the problem in this game. They could not get a stop. The maturity of hearing 49ers players and pretty much every opponent saying no team in the league talks more trash than the Jaguars.

No team, I think, was more confident going into this game. And they played like a bunch of clowns. You got the bad Blake Bortles for most of this game, making some awful Blake Bortals. And Leonard Fournett has not been effective for a while now. And I don't think it's on him. And it's a little bit of a coincidence that all their best games are without Leonard Fournett. But it's a problem when you can't establish the run.

And they couldn't in this game. So I think they're just like an immature team. And this was a big immature game. And you would think they'll bounce back from it. I think they were incredibly frustrated by Garapolo too. And that's weeks in a row where defenses seem to feel that way. And now you got what? the Rams and the Niners next

this Sunday, that's going to be an interesting game. The quick thing on Jimmy G is, it's not just Jimmy G. It's Jimmy G. And who I think is the best offensive mind-flash play caller in the league in Kyle Shannon. You put those two together. A lot of open guys in this game and you're really cooking with gas. All right. Let's one more

game to get to. It's the one everyone's been waiting for. Let's go. Third and two for the Giants on their 28th. And the pressure on Elon Manning. He fumbles the balls picked up by Kim Dici at the 15. He breaks a tackle. The 10 running to the five, into the end zone for a touchdown. DePash KTAR.

Kim D-D-J, Kim D-J, Kim D-J, why did you fall out that window? Kim D-D-J, Kim D-J, no sacks or force fumbles this season. Weren't you supposed to have your breakout season? Kim D-Kim D-J, Kim D-J, Kim D-J. It's a great question because he looked amazing in the preseason. That's why people were waiting. Yeah, this whole card. The Cardinals team, though, if you look back...

A holiday tune for the ages. Can you find two teams that played each other this weekend? I mean, that really have had more depressing seasons when you went into September thinking... Cardinals at least, if you're a Cardinals fan, and it just was bad luck. It was a lot of injuries. Considering everything, the fact they're seven and eight, and if this was Larry Fitzgerald's final game, he goes over 100 yards, he goes over 100 catches for the season, has a monster game. It felt like one of those games, hey, let's just feed Larry and let the 100.

home crowd enjoy it and you know what it's because he can deliver because he's still the best player on their offense it's pretty amazing that he did it remember the shady lawyer from the simpsons voiced by phil hartman he would abandon his client at the first sign of trouble and then he would leave behind his briefcase and they'd open the briefcase and it'd just be filled with like confetti and shredded paper that no but i wish i did that was the that how i imagine the game plan for week 16 look for the giants it was a 23 nothing lost by the way there was no reason to win this game you you are one week away two weeks away from getting one of the top two picks and what is said to be a premium quarterback draft class class this is exactly what the

giants should be doing i don't care if they get shut out i don't care if eli looks old again the giants are doing exactly what they should be doing get to two and fourteen although people got a little too excited honking after last week and i'm thinking of your boy Mike Francesa about like, this is the Eli that could have been there all year if he was good. It's like, all right, yeah, there's one game here. Yeah, but that's fair, but also just got shut out in Arizona.

He did throw for 400 against the contender without Odell Beckham. So there is an possibility that Eli has something on the tank with a good team. This is not a good team. Whatever. There you go. That's week 16 recap in full. Thank you to everyone for listening.

Remember, this is our video show. So if you go to NFL.com ATN video at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific. It should be there. If you can find it, tell us how. And you can enjoy, enjoy it all. And we will be back with our next show on Thursday,

where, yes, we will preview the final week of the regular season and the playoff calculator will be tuned up and ready to go. And we are coming down the home stretch there, Sizzler. Let's do this thing. We are past the halfway point. This is Dan Hansa signing off for Quiet Storm Connie Fox in absentia

The old boss Lindsay Fulton behind the glass A little Ryan Bartlett Helping out today Like that Until Thursday This is an I-Hart podcast This is an I-Heart podcast

Thank you.