NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Week 17 Recap - Playoff Talk

Episode Date: January 3, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal recap every game from Week 17 (and there were a lot of them!) starting with the Winners of the AFC North! Nick Shook joins the show to talk about the Bills and as always the heroes recap the Sunday night matchup. Who is your Coach of the year? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast. Loves a 50 Burger. And we got a couple today. Welcome to the Around the NFL podcast, not from the Chris Wesleying podcast studio, but remotely across the Southland. This is Dan Hansis, joined with Heroes, Mark. Mark Zessler, Greg Rosenthal, Mark, you promised that you'd be back despite the COVID. And you were a man of your word.

Oh, what a warrior. Yeah, what a warrior. Yeah, I got rid of that cough, which I thought would be unpleasant slash unrewarding to anyone listening. So that's mostly gone. So the rest of it, I mean, I feel like a piece of junk floating through space, but I can do that. Hmm, space junk. We just have you on for your looks, though, Mar. That's, like, you could just be on mute and just be our man candy.

I see what you want. So, all right. I mean, listen, we are powering through, like the NFL. I'm not feeling great right now. Greg, completely indestructible. I mean, that guy is even human? We've been asking that for years. And now we might have some proof.

But Mark and I are both here. The whole gang together. And, yes, week 17 is nearly. in the books now, and yet the regular season has one more week to go. But where we stand now, things, we have some clarity after Sunday. We're going to go through all the games, as we always do, of course. But we have, let's see, we have six of the eight divisions decided. So congratulations to the Bengals, Titans, Chiefs, Cowboys, Packers, Bucks,

the AFC East and the NFC West, still to be determined. And we have some playoff heat right now in terms of the wild cards as well, which is a lot of fun. We're going to get into all of it. And usually, Greg, I like to have, like, a throw it to Rosenthal to give us. He was like the prototype for the Carnegie, Steve Karnacki, and give us all the computations. Does that guy even know football? I mean, I have questions.

He knows numbers. But it's fairly straightforward. The Colts beat the Jaguars next week. They get a wild card spot. Then you have the Raiders and Chargers playing next week. they better be in prime time. That's a win and in, most likely. Arizona is going to make it in the wild card.

And then you have Philly, New Orleans, and San Francisco. Two of those three teams are in. Am I missing anything, Greg? No. It's, I believe, one of the quieter week 18th. Well, it's the only week 18 we've ever had, but it's one of the quietest. It's also the loudest week 18 as well. Right.

It's, I think so much was decided on Sunday in such a manner that there's not as much much drama going into the final week as there could be. But that's fine. We'll still have a couple. We'll have a couple little things. By its nature, wouldn't an extra week of football? Let's say it went 25 weeks. We'd get closer and closer to having no spicy final week scenarios.

So I think it's just random. It's just random because of the results today, how it fell. But there's still some pretty good stuff. There you go. Greg Ever, the company, man. And Mark, I imagine, although disappointment that Cleveland Brown's eliminated from contention, today. I didn't sound like you were looking forward to a primetime game against the Steelers so much,

especially in your weekend state physically. Now all that, it's all just watching it for fun, I guess. Yeah, fun would be the key word of tomorrow night's Brown Steelers game. But I would just say that one thing I've been saying all along is I want the teams that deserve to get in there to be there. Now, there's a couple arguments for against some of the people still in contention, but watching like Cincinnati, watching some of the, these teams rise up. I don't need Cleveland.

And though, they didn't deserve it. They didn't earn it. The Cincinnati Bengals. But you can knock out the Steelers officially on Monday night. That is kind of fun. Fine. Fine. I mean, it's fun. I feel like you're going to have more fun with that than I am because it's a dark note compared to where we were a year ago. All right. I was teed up nicely to get into the Bengals,

but that's fine. I'm going to move forward. I'm going to process it and say... But you didn't. By saying that, you didn't move forward. It was already ruined. It was already taken away from me. But it's okay. We're just grinded through. I attempted. I know. You set it up beautifully, Mark. I'm like Robert Sala on the post-game press conference.

I'm not saying who did it, but everybody knows who did it. It was Michael Flore. All right, let's get to Cincinnati where the Bengals made a statement that they are a team to be reckoned with in January. Two seconds left. This will be a 20-yard attempt from the middle of the field to send the Bengals into the postseason. Kevin Huber is ready.

Catches the snap. it down. The kick is on its way. Yeah. It is good. The Cincinnati Bengals clinch the AFC North and prove they can beat anybody as they rally from 14 down on three separate occasions and beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Oh, Bongo's right out the gate, Dan Horde. Lappelin for the call for WCKY and just unsolicited advice, production advice to the people over at WCKW. Let's get some parabolic bikes on the field. I want to hear Cincinnati going off in that spot.

Evan McPherson kicked a 20-yard field goal as time ran out. The Bengals earned their first AFC North title and playoff appearance in six years with a truly wild 3431 win over the Chiefs. This was a game where Jamar Chase And an NFL rookie record And Bengals franchise record With 266 yards receiving And three touchdowns and 11 catches

Burrow threw for 466 and 4 scores This of course a week after Burrow threw for five What was it 50 or 540 something like that So I mean listen This is where we are The Bengals rallied from 314 point deficits Against the AFC West Champion Chiefs who, Greg, by the way, had won eight straight before this game.

And now you look at the Bengals as a team, man, if they could beat the Chiefs in a shootout like this, they could beat anybody. They really can. They did the game plan in the second half that so many teams have tried, which is like, keep the ball away from the Chiefs. It's like, that's good, but you have to score touchdowns every time you have the ball. The Chiefs only got the ball three times in the second half. The Bengals, it's not like they were playing slow, but they go five minutes.

They go four and a half minutes. They go six minutes on their last three drives score on them all. And the play of the game is that third and 27 to Jamar Chase. I don't know how you leave. I think it was Charvarius Ward in single coverage against Jamar Chase on third and seven from midfield at a point when you can get off the field. It was a crazy setup. It was a great play, though, by Jamar Chase, great recognition by Joe Burrow. And I hate always making it about the coaches.

Ultimately, you need a quarterback and a receiver who can. convert that play and they did it. Tony Dungy was going nuts on as much as Tony Dungy can go nuts in any capacity. But he was fairly animated on NBC, Football Night in America pregame show. He couldn't believe the defense Kansas City stayed in not just on that play, but throughout the game and man coverage, not giving the cornerbacks help, especially in a day where Jamar Chase went completely nuclear and you knew any time was thrown his way, it was going to be a big play.

I believe there were six plays of. 30 plus yards by Cincinnati's offense in this game, Mark. Yeah, and it's, you know, it's consistency now because we saw it a week ago. We saw it against the Steelers twice. We saw it against the Ravens in the first game. And it's kind of what got me excited about him way back when, not me alone, but it was like there is no way to kind of predict what the ultimate playing power of this Bengals team is and what you see from Burrow over the last two weeks.

I get that we all agree that he's a top five quarterback right now and an MVP candidate. But it's like there's no reason. to think he couldn't even double or triple in what he's doing. I mean, he's unbelievable. And their big playability, this has to be a chief's team thinking, wow, this is what we used to do to other people. We used to put them into a fix that they could not get out of mentally. And I like Zach Taylor at the end of the game in the interviews. He was emotional. He said, you know, we've been through a lot. And I mean, he's hung on to a job status last couple years before this year where I'm sure that was not easy. But secondly said, we knew that we had to go, go in there

and go for it in tough situations. I think they've become much more aggressive than they were at other times in the season when they kind of took their foot off the gas a little bit. And I'm with them that you come out of this with this result, it should confirm something to everyone because whether the chiefs are still that high watermark to beat them, it's not last year's chiefs,

but they were as hot as anyone on defense. Their offense was heating up, and the Bengals went and outclass them. I couldn't be more impressed. And I'm actually quite happy for the Wesleying clan, even though I joined the Wesleyan, and locking up the wrong team in this. Oh, yeah.

We'll get to that in a minute. I want to say one thing about Zach Taylor. They didn't lock up the Chiefs, to be kidding. That was me. That was me. Oh, well, they would never do such a thing. Look at that. We got a double.

I cannot express to you how much I hated what Zach Taylor did at the end of the game. Fourth and inches with under a minute left in a tie game, Cincinnati decided to go for a touchdown instead of kicking the McPhersoners. Field Goal, and Joe Burrow throws incomplete in the end zone, the Chiefs get flagged for illegal use of hands, now Burroughs limping on the sideline. They call on Brandon Allen to Neil twice, and then McPherson kicks the field goal. And I just, I don't know, I just couldn't, I couldn't believe that they put themselves in that position.

Imagine what happens there if there's no flag that goes down and the Chiefs take over and win that game. But I guess there is the other way to look at it again. Like you have so much faith in your guys. But I thought that was crazy talk what they did there and they got away with it. Well, and there was a penalty to play before. They went for it twice. You know, there was offsetting penalties on the Chiefs and the Bengals.

It was a crazy sequence. You know, they were, Romo was wondering if that they were intentionally not trying to score on the first two plays. I didn't buy that, did you? Which I didn't, I think they were trying to score. But I understood what he was saying, because if ever there was a let the other team score a touchdown, that was a possibility for Reed there. I actually think he made the right call because of what happened. Like, you could see what happened to still keep playing defense. But I agree.

That was a crazy situation. But it was a sign of how much more they trust their offense than their defense. When you look at just the box score of this game, Chiefs have 10 QB hits and four sacks. The Bengals barely touched Patrick Mahomes, and yet which is the quarterback with 444 yards? It really shows you like how good Joe Burrow is under pressure. It's not like his offensive line was playing well, and he is willing to stand in there and take the hits. And Mahomes, even with a good running game today, I guess you can't put anything on the offense. It's asking a lot to be absolutely perfect.

They had like eight drives and scored 31 points. But they weren't the explosive team. I think you said it well there, Mark, that they're not as an explosive as a, a team as the Bengals have been this year. That was one of the best games I've ever seen from a wide receiver. Jamar Chase, his ability to just use his speed to pull away from cornerbacks and safeties that have an angle on him, his ability to make plays when a receiver is draped on him in coverage, his ability to find a seam and then just disappear behind a secondary

and take off. I mean, it was absolute dominance. And it does remind you again that Joe Burrow, who I love this guy. This guy, Joe Burrow, he's so funny, such a great leader of a franchise. He pushed for his old college teammate, Jemar Chase, to be the pick, the first pick five overall in April. And now he has his guy, and he's showing the whole world that as good as Penae Soule can be, this was absolutely the right move. After the game, Joe Burrow, who, again, he plays a little bit of swagger and a chip on a shoulder,

was soaking in the glory. Yeah, you know, I said it. In the preseason, you know, we were talking about playoffs, and I said, you know, we're going to go with the playoffs. And the easiest way to do that is to win the division. And, you know, everyone kind of laughed at us a little bit. But, you know, we knew the kind of team we had, the kind of guys in the locker room that we had,

and we knew we could go ahead and do it. He's also in the locker room afterwards doing, like, his LSU get the gat dance. He's got a cigar. It's all amazing. It's easily the high watermark of this Bengals team, since they had so much hope when Carson Palmer was young going into that 2005 season playoff game.

And I think right back to that season, too, Carson Palmer was the third best quarterback in the league kind of by consensus that year. It was Brady Manning Palmer. And now here we are. I think Joe Burroughs going to get some MVP votes now. He would be third in my mind. I still would have Rogers won,

assuming he finishes this out strong. I think Brady's just had a better season overall in the breadth of the season has to count, but I'm sure Burroughs going to get some love. But he's at least the number three quarterback. They're right back there. And Chase, you mentioned he's got to win the offensive rookie there because of today. If there was any doubt about it.

And I think there was going into this week, he's got to win it now. Sorry, it also, excuse me, that's absurd. It also shows you how far. Yeah, I mean, get rid of that. See, that's what I'm talking about. No one needs it. Nobody needs it. But, I mean, back in the preseason, like, the Burrow Chase thing was getting killed for the idea

that like it's too cute to team up with your with your college wide receiver you know roommate and trying to get the team to do that when you could have had this like stalwart left tackle burrow's knee was an issue chase wasn't playing well back in the summer and months later it's totally transformed i do want to see if anything comes out of this burrow injury that we saw at the end of the game it looked fine walking around but i don't know he wasn't it was fine he said it also wasn't the surgically repaired me you know it wasn't the surgically repaired knee that's good the fact that he wasn't getting treated after the game and he was dancing. That was a good sign.

And, you know, speaking of signs, Greg, I think you should have taken a sign. Mark, you're off the hook on this because you weren't involved in the conversation. But speaking of science, I did give you a sign, Greg, that maybe it was time to get behind the Bengals on Thursday's podcast. Let's listen to it. I don't feel like this is the 85 Bears. This is not the 2,000 Ravens. And I could see Borough move. And I like a shootout here, Greg.

And I like the bangles in like a 34, 31. one win that changes the temperature in the AFC. 34-331. Got the score right. Great job, Dan. You don't get to play back a Thursday prediction unless you get the score right. That feels like a fair rule to follow on the show. Incredible work.

This is really more for Mark because you also buried him in the lock standings with this one. Ooh, that was a good one. Well, you know, I did a bad job. I honestly, I wouldn't have, I would have taken an L because I completely forgot about it outside of going for like a Monday night thing. Dan asked like did you do a lock and so sportsmanship eight minutes before well you also I think psychologically pushed me into a scenario I was panicking looking at like 18 spreads that had moved into unlockable territory by Sunday and picked this chief's team and I was thinking like why did I do that Erica is shaking your head she doesn't even

get why you're throwing that at me I mean it was a logical thing they were up to they were up to touchdowns you know multiple times in the game you I have stopped seeking any form of enjoyment. I told you that. I went from two games down to two games up in four weeks. Believe me, Dan, like you've been tweeting about it all day long. I think everyone is extremely aware. Like, oh, do I have a chance of getting the most locks in a season?

Like, is this guy actually tweeting this right now in live time. It is an unbelievable thing to witness. No, the answer is no, because I think I've lost three. you asked. Mark, first of all, Mark, are you okay? It's just the, it's a lock-agged. I just thought that the hubris was on like next, it was like next level.

We get it. You're doing well in an in-house pick-um tournament. We're very excited for you. I just asked the question at 13 and 4. No, no, no, no, you didn't. You didn't just ask a question. That's a, that's a, that's a, that's sort of framing you as like Mr. in control guy.

Like, it was an absurd, uh, poor sportsmanship tweet. Anyway, uh, Greg. While Mark melts down, I want to tell you that the record is 17 wins in a season set by you, sir, last year. So I would have to, I guess, win out. But, you know, what are you going to do? But I have buried Mark, and that's good. Let us now take a break and then continue on. Hey, this is Matt Jones.

Now, I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow.

We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies. roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Tyler takes the snap, short set, lobs it, deep near side at the one-yard line, Oh, what a catch. Antoine Wesley into the end zone for a touchdown. How did he pull that down? And how about the toss by Kyler Murray? A huge score for the Cardinals early in the third. A huge score by the Cardinals, a huge win for the Arizona Cardinals, who beat the Cowboys 2522.

Great stack. Kyler Murray now 8-0 lifetime going back to his high school days at Jero World. And this was a game, Greg, where you just got the feeling that the Cardinals needed the game. And the Cowboys get back into it with a touchdown two-point conversion. Yes, there's a fumble at the end that some good luck comes the Cardinals way because of a timeout situation with Dallas. But really, Arizona was in control of the game throughout, and it felt like a game they deserved and they got it. They did. And sometimes, you know, we like get so in the weeds, like,

trying to analyze everything. And there was a lot in this game. The fourth down aggression from Arizona was important. The aggression to try to score at the end of the first half was important. But it was also like their playmakers made plays. Like in the biggest spots, Wesley making that catch was amazing. Kyler Murray, more than anyone, making some of his third down conversions, were not as scripted.

They were just him making a play. Chase Edmonds, who got hurt late in this game. And so they didn't have James Conner. in the end. They didn't have Chase Edmonds at the end of this game, but he made some massive plays. They never did get Rondale Moore back for this game. They're down two corners and two of their best pass rushers to injuries and COVID. And these are new injuries. This was one of the more impressive performances in a big spot, I think, by a team all year because of what they didn't have. And Cliff Kingsbury set the tone. I think by going for it on fourth

and goal. He would have been killed if they didn't get it. And Kyler Murray made a nice play on the goal line. They score there. And like I mentioned at the end of that first half, and Kyler, in a big spot, that drive you mentioned, Dan, just when it felt like maybe this thing is going to go away, because it felt like they were playing uphill. He leads them down the field, kills the clock. It was an awesome performance and keeps them alive in the NFC West. I'm with you. I'm totally impressed. It didn't need to look entirely pretty. I do come out of it, though. all credit to the Cardinals, with just lingering concerns about the nature of their offense at times, they still seem sloppy and out of it at points. And I'd even point to that

final clock killing drive, where it started with Murray totally missing a wide open Christian Kirk. There was what I thought at one point, a delay of game call that should have gone against Arizona, which would have been huge, which wasn't. But then he sprinkles in an incredible run for a first down. A great throw to Zachary. So it just seems to me a bit the journey with Kyler Murray and this offense is a bit of an up and down ship at times, but they got out of there today. So I had mentioned the play, the fumble that wasn't, and I'll just give it a little more context.

So last, a little outside the two-minute warning, and that's important here because that means it doesn't get stopped by the booth. It has to come from a challenge, and Dallas was at a timeouts, and they were at a timeouts because earlier in the game, in an obvious field goal situation, it seemed for the Cardinals, Cliff Kingsbury ran out Kyler Murray at the same time as Matt Prater and the Cowboys were confused and they had to burn a timeout

because they were a little out of sorts so now they had zero timeouts and then Chase Edmonds I think it's a play got injured down near the sideline when the ball pops out his knee was up, his elbows were up recovered by the Cowboys right before the two-minute warning

the call probably would have been overturned would have been Dallas's ball down three with two minutes to play but because they couldn't stop and challenge that was a huge setback and just those are like those little things but also because Mike McCarthy blew it and not because he took the time out earlier

because he took the time out with about 240 to go and that's not a second guess multiple game management you know people are like you never you don't take the time out there a you lose your your ability to challenge but he also didn't save as much time as he could have so it's just these things that you know how they used to have the

when to go for two note card that everyone looked at. We need a note card for these coaches for like when to take timeouts around the two minute warning because he had to wait until after it. And that was that's one of the reasons why. It's very funny. It's just like if

the Cowboys now, they're a full game out, their chances of getting the one seed are not good at all. Obviously they're done. They're done. Okay. So they're meth. So think about that when they're on the road in the playoffs. You know, these things can change seasons potentially. I

that really stood out to me as well. Right. They could be playing in L.A. if the Rams win next week, the Rams get the two seed. And now, you know, the Cowboys could be playing on the road in the divisional round, too. I am a little worried about Dak Prescott. Again, there was a couple decent drives late in the game, but he did not have a good game. You know, he missed a lot of throws.

Just like, it just was, it was more on DAC, it felt like, for a good chunk of this game than anyone else on the offense. And I'm just surprised to see it. Just doesn't look sharp. And I don't know if it's an injury or what, but it's just not going where he intends it to go. And Michael Gallup suffered a torn ACL, according to Jerry Jones. They're going to try to confirm it on a second test. But that's a better for them too.

On a touchdown catch, too, which is, you don't see that too often. So that's a big loss. I also do not trust Greg Zerline. I think Greg Zerlind is going to kill him in a big spot at some point here. Yeah, it's fair. All right. Let's now move on. Let's head back to the AFC, a game with huge playoff ramifications.

The Raiders had a chance to shock the AFC, and they did it. This will be a 33-yarder. This is for the win. Cole checks his kicker. Good hold. Yes, baby. Check pot, baby. Man, you know, we lost John Madden last week,

and obviously, a legend. Brent Musburger and also another guy that kind of when I hear his voice, I think about what it meant to be a sports fan in the 80s, 90s. And then here's Brent Musburger in 2022 calling big wins for the Raiders.

Treasure our icons in broadcasting. Anyway, the Raiders are up to five walk-off wins this season. Five walk-off wins in one season. Latest was their biggest and most impressive. A 2320 win over the Colts at Lucas Oil stadium sealed by that

Daniel Carlson field goal at the gun three straight wins for the Raiders all of them narrow wins, all of them against AFC hopefuls and the Raiders, as we said at the top of the show, can complete their improbable journey to the playoffs

with a home win over the Chargers in week 18. Basacea bump? I don't know what it is, but I have to say like, I don't care what happens next week. They can lay an egg lose 27 to three. I come out of the season.

I don't know. That won't feel good. That'll make this feel like a bunch of ways to time. Listen, I get it. What am I said? I guess, yeah, maybe a 27-3, that would be a bad taste in your mouth to end the season. But to win all three of these games against teams clawing for the playoffs at a time where they look completely dead.

I said it myself. I was talking about them after they lost in the Chiefs. Like, they're a joke at this point. They win three in a row. And this one, I thought, was truly impressive. the Colts had been rolling, as we all know. I'm amazed. I'm amazed by this result.

I guess I shouldn't be. Like, the Colts putting up 262 yards of offense. It's not like Wents' numbers were like incredibly bad, but he threw for under five yards per attempt. And his big play was that long touchdown that should have been intercepted to T.Y. Hilton. So that's a bad game. So we've heard from many players, and there's no way we're.

know, but we've heard from many players. Okay, it's great to get off the COVID list quickly. But some of them aren't feeling too great. And that first game back, they haven't been at great shape. Wentz would not even admit that he felt poor earlier in the week, even though his own coach said that Wentz was struggling earlier in the week with COVID. So it's like, just be honest. I don't know why you can't be, like, honest with your condition when asked.

Like, it's become this weird thing where, like, I think politically, like you're trying to just not even be honest. But it's a big loss for them, if only because they're going to have a worse seed in the playoffs, assuming they win next week. Well, it's a terrible loss. They have to play next week. They probably would have sat their players. Right?

I don't know. It's possible. I mean, the Raiders come out of this last two weeks before this game, having scored 16 and 17 points, got a win in both. I look at Wentz, and I don't care what he answers. Like, he did not look the same to me at all. And I do think there's a lingering effect. And I understand why it's difficult for him to answer the question.

But what a momentum killer. I mean, this team felt like, you know, and it just speaks to the nature of the AFC, the up and down, topsy-turvy ride that it is, that, you know, five days ago the cults felt like the most surest thing around. And now they're gripping, they're hanging on for their life. It's funny, too, because if they take care of business next week, beat the Jaguars, they finish 10 and 7.

The Titans obviously clinched the division. So it's going to end up in a way that this game, doesn't really matter to the Colts, that they were going to be locked in. I kind of take it back. It's not that big of a game other than they don't get the rest of the guys. But still, you kind of lose a little of that juice. And I think the Wentz thing beyond any lingering issues, symptoms connected to COVID-19. Also, he didn't practice all week.

And I thought the turning point of this game occurred late in the third quarter. It was a third and seven at Indies 23. It was actually the first play of the fourth quarter. and Wenz has T.Y. Hilton on a busted coverage, wide open down the left side. If he hits Hilton in stride, there's a good chance he goes in for a touchdown. Instead, he overshoots Hilton, who, again, was all by himself.

And they kick the ball away, turns into a three and out. They kick the ball away, and the Raiders go right down the field, six place 62 yards, score the go-ahead touchdown. Now, Indy marched down the field on the next drive and tied it with the field goal, but that to me felt like the turning point. And again, when you think about the Colts and like the Colts, when they're locked in and Wentz is playing well or as good as any team in the league, but there's too much of this inconsistency with Wentz where you do feel like, unless he gets on like an Eli Folsey and

type heater in January, one of these type of games is going to undo them in January. You just kind of can feel it coming. I mean, we react as a collective group very positively and very with a lot of of force to his performance before the previous game where he was throwing the ball as well as anyone. I think it matters. If you track these quarterbacks that are out with COVID that don't practice at all, all week long, and then they go play, you're going to get some of their most down performances. I'm not saying that I want to go look at that scientifically, but to say that it just doesn't matter, I think we're agreeing that it does. I mean, at the most critical juncture

of the year, I mean, no matter what happens playoff seating-wise and stuff, like this was a momentum killer for the cults. And I mean, it's like you do question their quarterback play if they don't get a better performance. Meanwhile, Kark is in a bad turnover stretch here. He had a couple interceptions here today, but they really have had something going in the fourth quarter. They go touchdown field goal there to win the game. Car, you know, has held up this franchise. Like this was, this has been a nice season for the Derrick Carr in Las Vegas and Oakland Raiders legacy. He's like, I don't know, Ricky, you saw him in the post game press conference there's something about him like i know he's not a perfect quarterback i think he's on the

right side of the dalton scale uh dalton line but not not to me too far i think he's in that like 12 to 15 range um but i do like the confidence like there's a certain genus de qua yeah that's what i texted you guys i was like cars kind of hot like his like swag and and everything and he's like he's feeling himself and i was like i'm kind of into it yeah that dude he carries himself as a remember he's never gotten to do this he's never gotten to do this they have one winning record right since 2003 and the one good season he had he broke his leg you know with a couple weeks left and so he didn't get that like this is the the best late season experience he's had and he's earned it and he's going to be in in prime time next week i'm pretty sure they haven't announced that as we say but

that's got to be the sunday night game chargers raiders come on i like the chargers i like Justin Herbert. He'd be fun in the playoffs, but like, I'd be cool at the Raiders in this crazy season doing it as well. And they have a chance there at home against the charge of the team that's not really known for stepping up in a big spot, big spot themselves. So that's going to be a really fun game to watch. And I really hope it does play out with all the way things kind of sort themselves out in week 18 with a win and in, true win and in scenario, making it the first playoff game of the season. All right, let us take a break here. And then check in with the Tennessee Titans.

Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin, and this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining.

And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever. You get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here.

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

It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Woodside, heads to Hilliard, he's got room, 30, 20, 10, 5 in zone.

Oh, John Trell, touchdown, tight, okay, exclamation point on the day. On the day is right. How good is this field? It has to feel good for Titans fans. Dantrell Hilliard goes 39 to the house. Deonto Foreman, 132 in a touch. Ryan Tannehill throws two touchdown passes. That was Mike Keith, of course, and Dave McGuinness of WGFX.

The Titans clinched their second straight division title with a 34-3 win over the Dolphins, whose seven-game winning streak disappeared in the face of actual opposition. And here we are. The Titans go from red hot start to mark a team that could not get out of its own way offensively, two, with one week to play, they are in position with the number one seat in the AFC.

Yeah, they've, they to me, have been a team that have stuck together through some of the most trying circumstances in the conference. today I thought it was an exclamation point again for their defense that never really went away the way that their offense did and they just wanted I think to show this the weather in this game was a huge factor and one quarterback was going to come out faring better in freezing rain total downpour and they put it to Tua I think that their plan with Miami was to get the dolphins into unmanageable third and long situations which happened over and over and Tua maybe down in South Beach gets you out of some of those. In this situation today against this defense,

he could not. The worst third down offense in the league, they looked it this way. And to your not believing in them, Dan, this is why. Because the offense, when you don't have something perfectly happening for them, they crumbled. And I thought that you could look at some of the guys on this Titans team, Deonté Forman, I'd start with him. The way that he has run the ball over the last month and a half, but especially today, I thought he put it to Miami in a way that, like, basically demoralize them. Their defense, which looks strong out of the gate, started to crumble because, and it wasn't a huge A.J. Brown game. I think he had 40 yards in this. But Tannahill ran for a big first down. The running backs did it. They had some up and down issues with their line. But Miami,

to me, was completely outclassed and shown to be what they are, which is sort of one-dimensional. When their offense does just enough and their defense does everything else, that's fine. But they couldn't get it done today. And the Tennessee Titans are so clearly the better operation. And they knock Miami right out of the playoffs. Well, you have a small margin for error when you start 1 in 8. You're 1 in 7, whatever they were. That's a tough spot to get in. But to lose 34 to 3 when you're two similar teams, I mean, this is like the classic

Titans game. They have 300 yards. They have 110 yards passing, and they put up 34. I'm not saying Derek Henry isn't extraordinarily valuable, but to your point, Mark, like, they've run the ball really well. That's what they do well. It's a good run-blocking offensive line. It works with their play-action offense.

It works with Tannahill. And they've survived without Henry. Like the running game was never a disaster. Yeah. And even with A.J. Brown not having a big game. He's just such a, he changes the way defenses have to approach the Titans and, and opens things up for Ryan Tannahill. Julio Jones didn't play in this game.

But we know that that's not a big deal at this stage. Let's bring in Grave-Digger. Grave-Digger, first of all, congratulations. I know that you ride or die for your Titans and this had to feel good because I locked up the Titans in this game but I certainly didn't see them rendering the Dolphins non-competitive

which really just speaks to Tennessee really turning it on here. I predicted a 1310 win for the Titans so I also did not see this kind of I mean to Greg's point like they only had 300 yards of offense it wasn't like they were marching up and down the field the whole game but they just looked like the playoff team

if it was like one of these two teams could make the playoffs the Titans are the ones that looked like the playoff team I think they have been better coached They're a one seat All you got to do is beat the Texans And they just won a playoff game This was you know this was like this and they got to beat The Texans next week

At Houston It could be tricky Houston could be tricky there But you should take care of business And I just think it's such a Interesting season Grave digger for Tennessee to, if they can now come all the way back around and get that number one seed, get the buy,

have home field advantage. And this always felt like, and by the way, Derek Henry then gets more time off to get right without the Titans playing a game. Like if they could just survive the storm, they are set up well for the playoffs. And I know you're feeling yourself. You know how I know? Because, first of all, two things. Number one, Titans fans.

What, I love you, Grady, you know that. But why can't Titans fans understand that? that people, whether it's me or anybody else, that doubted your team earlier when they were, you know, averaging 170 yards a week for about a month and a half, doubting them then isn't the same as what we see in them now. I don't know why it's like everyone's like pulling up receipts and showing that you were wrong.

You doubted our, no, because the Titans, I was a different Titans team without A.J. Brown and that were gone. This version of the Titans I feel good about. And I like, so I don't like that element of the Titans fandom. And a lot of them have been coming out of the woodwork again. But I do like you, Gravedigger, getting after friend of the show, Aaron Shats, of football outsiders, who he replied to some Titans fans attacking him about his analysis this season. And Graver responds. Listen to this, Greg, because I know you and Shats are tight.

Are you tight? You know each other. We know each other going way back. All right. I mean, give me a break, dude, Graver says. Just admit your system didn't predict anything. accurately and we'd have a lot more respect for you. Well, Bunsen burner, blowtorch, baby!

Here's the thing. All season long, since the beginning of the season, he's been tweeting about the Titans and he never has any good things to say about the Titans. They like, don't measure up well on DVOA and all these other things. So it's constantly like, the Titans are defying DVOA, not like, hmm, maybe we should relook at how DVOA is used to assess teams or maybe like when injuries happen, like there should be a caveat to like the DVOA rings. Like this isn't their starting 11 on either side of the ball for the majority of the middle part of the season, right? But it's never like, oh, wow, the Titans are impressing us. They're playing better than we expected. It's like, this is the worst DVOA rated team to ever be in the one seed

and they suck. It's like, although you did quote tweet something. I was like, oh, you got them. And then I looked and the tweet was from September 8th. I was like, oh, well. Yeah, well, he was doing his little like, the Titans defense is not going. to improve this year and he's never said like wow this is this is surprising the titans defense has improved way beyond what we predicted it's like we never said that we said the patriots d would improve more than the titan's team well let's just say this crazy the titans discourse in in general is fairly annoying okay um but at the same time like titans fans who are looking like get even with people that doubt their team screw it what you have better things to do you have a locked

in loaded team that is ready for the playoffs right now. And you're going to have more because everyone, you know, when the Titans get that one seed, the conversation for two weeks is going to be like, ooh, which lucky team can angle to get that divisional round matchup against the Titans?

Because no one's going to want to go to Kansas City or Buffalo, you know, people are going to be talking about the playoff tournament as if like that's the nice place to go. So it's coming more. I don't know because Derek Henry will be back by then and people, I think, for a lot of people who are down in Tennessee, that will be like the reinforcement that really puts them

in a higher class. That's just the way I see, but maybe you're right. They have something, numbers can't measure. And I think that's what's great about football. Like, they really are more than the sum of their parts. The fact that they've played more players than any team in the history of the NFL is remarkable. They are so obviously more than the sum of their parts when you watch them week and week out. I would say Mike Rable doesn't get the credit he's deserved. If Titans fans are annoyed about that, because I think he doesn't fit the, pristine sort of shiny boy mathematical um you know wonkhead image that everyone's after these days like he's just sort of a bro but sometimes that works and he he clearly knows how to go week to week with

different matchups and as for fans coming at any of us i mean the titans have been disrespected for a really long time they could be more level-headed about it i guess but i think half of them are probably you know it's east coast it's they came out of a terrible rain they're probably tweeting with like seven beers in them and they may not have their wits about them in terms of where they're sending their arrows. I mean, we've got our own, you know, producer head shooting arrows at a friend of the show. So everyone's losing their cool, baby. All right.

Well, that's fair enough. All right. Congratulations, Gravedigger. Thank you. All right. Let's take, no, let's not take a break. Let's keep moving. Let's bring Nick Shook into the show.

Shooky, we go from Gravedigger to the pipe. How you doing, buddy? I'm good. Despite the general despondents where I'm located, I'm great. Oh, yeah. Okay. Well, how are you, by the, yeah, the Browns eliminated from contention. But I know, like Mark, you were frustrated by this season, an outcome you probably saw coming,

a negative outcome for the season, that is. Yeah, I mean, Mark said it best last week. It's not deserved. You know, if they were to try to make the playoffs and, you know, the Bengals were to lose because the Ravens lost and if they were to beat the Bengals somehow next week, it's still not deserved. So this is the outcome that they deserve, that they screwed around for a lot of the season, never really found any consistency, and that's how you get eliminated from the playoffs. And, you know, allow me to be a beacon of hope for the city of Cleveland real quick.

I'm wearing this on purpose because everybody here is going to turn their attention to the other team. It's an all-star game, but they're going to turn their attention to the promising team, the team that's overachieving, not the team that is disappointing. You're wearing a cavalier's shirt, you know, for our audio. listeners, which is all of our listeners. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So it's cat season now. There's something else for Clevelanders to be happy about. Okay.

How about those guardians? Right. I was texting with Shook about Darius Garland some Tuesday night a few weeks ago. This guy can really play. All right, we're going to do these games. Then we're going to get Shook's take on the Cleveland Indians name change. But let's get to a little Chargers football.

They needed to take care of business against the beat up Broncos team, did they? throws downfield there's your shot play mike williams caught into the end zone touchdown chargers a record breaking throw from justin herbert 35th touchdown toss of the season is now a franchise record and why not go to mike williams who has got more 40 plus yard touchdown catches this season than any other receiver How about that? Matt Money Smith, the voice of God for the Around the NFL podcast and the Power Rankings TV show co-host with a nailed it call. Justin Herbert. He set the rookie touchdown record in year one.

He sets the franchise record in year two. What happens in year three? We'll see. But for now, the Chargers are still in the playoff mix after a 3413 win over the Broncos at SoFi. A great take care of business game right here, Nick Shook, for a Chargers team that stubbed their toe in exactly this type of game so many times in the past. Yeah, and stub their toe in the last couple of weeks

with a stunning, disappointing loss to the Texans that kind of threw everything into question, but they responded like a team that you would, you know, a playoff team, you'd expect them to respond by coming out, like you said, taking care of business. So the Broncos were shorthand, you know, they had a dozen guys out because of COVID, and Drew Locke's playing quarterback,

and even he had to exit for a little bit because of a shoulder. issue and you give them credit for coming back. But, you know, that aside, the Chargers largely dominated this game. They did it offensively. It was really a complete team win because they did a good enough job defensively to allow their offense to build a lead. They took a 17 to nothing lead right before the half and ended up going to halftime 17 to 3. And it was never really in question. They got a couple of goal line stops or or holds that limited the Broncos chances of turning those possessions into touchdowns. And they cruised to a victory and set themselves up with a date with the Raiders and if they play like they did today then they got a good shot but

the Raiders are better than the Broncos but for this week at least you know they're they're back to the chargers that I think we expected the question now is can they be can they maintain that consistency into a must win game next week I mean I feel like the Broncos season was defined by those fourth fourth in goal plays here in this game like when you have Kendall hinting completing a pass to Drew Locke on fourth and goal that for from the one or the two that doesn't go for a touchdown. You know, it's probably not your shit. When Kendall Hinton came in, what was that?

Like a Philly Special type of thing? Yeah. And then he throws it to lock, who catches it, but he wasn't in the end zone. Does anybody want it? Now that I'm looking at the box score, that was his only attempt of the game. Kendall Hinton, if you go for one for one for one yard and no touchdown, what is your passer rating? This will be something good to know.

According to the box score, it's a 79.2. You're right. It absolutely defined the Broncos season this year, which is frustration. You can see the potential. It's just that they don't execute. There's questionable decisions in terms of play calling or scoring a touchdown that gets wiped out by a penalty and you have to settle for a field goal in what's already a multi-score game. It made it 20 to 6 with an offense that couldn't convert already.

Get Aaron Rogers to Cabo. Do the old secret meeting. I don't know if it's Rogers or maybe there's another veteran quarterback because I think we all kind of want to see it at this point. point, Greg, I think a term that you like to use, it will confirm your priors that the Broncos are good. They just need that next level of quarterback play another season where that's kind of defying the conversation a little bit around this thing. Right, but also, like, who knows what, I know on paper this defense in secondary looks good and it is good, but it's like Vic Fangio is not going to be running the defense anymore next year. So then to me, that's a start over. I would assume after three straight losing seasons, which this clinches that he's out.

And yeah, you've got some good skill position players for sure for the next coach and the next quarterback, assuming they're not on the team. I mean, you cannot have Vic Fongio and Pat Schumer going to Cabo to court Aaron Rogers. It's going to have to be a completely new cast of people that someone like in Aaron Rogers, who's moving his entire brand to another team is going to believe in. And I'm not sure who that coach is right now. They're also trying to sell the team, by the way. Well, that's part of it. I was going to say I've seen Elway in Indianapolis, who knows what goes down when. and Elway's down in Cabo.

It must be a wild scene down there. I'm sure it gets great. Chargers lucked out here. Chargers lucked out with all the injuries and the Broncos this week. They deserve it. They needed a little luck. They deserve it. The Chargers are one of those organizations that you should never, you know,

hold it against them. They got a W and a little luck. All right. Let's move on, Shuki, to Orchard Park, where another team was looking to take care of business. Bills need a touchdown here. And the gun, the snap to Allen. Hands it off.

Singletary, driving forward, gets down to the one-yard line, and he is stopped. Just sure no, it's a touchdown. A late call by the officials, but it's a touchdown for the bill. A six-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary. See, that's classic play-by-play guy move there. I didn't mess up. That guy messed up. Late call.

John Murphy, WGR, with that call. An accurate call. Wasn't on him. The Bills clinch a playoff spot. Devin Singletary scores two touchdowns in the second half, making up for a sloppy performance from Josh Allen, who had multiple turnovers. But it didn't matter.

2915 win over the Falcons. Thankfully, thank God, Shooky. The Falcons are eliminated from playoff contention, but I suppose a little frustrating as a Bill's fan to see Allen throw three picks a week after that magical performance against the Patriots. You know, we spend time and digital space talking about MVP races we have for this year and last year and many years before that. And I often get crushed because Josh Allen never makes it into like my top three.

But this is the type of game that explains why he doesn't make it into my top three. He's a great player and they rely on him a lot. But occasionally, and I know it was snowy, but you're the Buffalo Bills. You should expect to play in snow. Occasionally relying on Josh Allen goes poorly. It's just that, you know, I'm glad we played that clip because that's really what defined the win for the bills is being able to rely on the ground game. something that they really refused to do for a lot of the season, unless it was Josh Allen running the football until the last couple of weeks.

They've gotten back to giving it to Devon Singletary and establishing more of a traditional ground game. And I think it's balanced out their offense. And it's helped them in cases like today where their quarterback is erratic, throws a few really ugly interceptions and one that just was a product of a risky throw that he's known to take from time to time. But they were still able to win. And you could say, you know, you can give them a ton of credit for doing it

offensively and going to the ground game, but it's also a reflection of how much talent that the Falcons still need when they don't have Kyle Pitts in the field because he wasn't available in the second half and they couldn't move the ball. They had 77 total yards in the second half after losing Kyle Pitts, essentially. So they need more weapons, and they've been a scrappy bunch and they've been fun to watch, I guess, at times just because they play hard.

But in games like this, that talent difference ends up being the difference, and it was today. I think Arthur Smith has dealt with that all year long, and he's dealt with it creatively when there isn't a lot of options for creativity. So I'd give his first year coaching there a positive grade. But I would ask you this because we just said, oh, if you project enough, you could say Carson Wentz in Indianapolis has like a Joe Flacco Super Bowl-type run with Josh Allen. He's an MVP candidate going into any season. Do you think, though, that we can get three straight performances from

Josh Allen that are pristine enough to avoid something like this? Because in a playoff game, they're out if this happens. Yeah. You know, that's kind of the wild card. Last year you would say yes, this year it's been up and down. I mean, it really has as a team. And this is probably the lowest point he's had, I think, all year. But that's who they've been, you know, in terms of final score. They blow out a team like the Dolphins one week. And then, you know, a few weeks later, they lose a closerner.

They lose to the Jaguars. They've been very up and down. So it's kind of difficult to predict. I think over time with his progression, you would expect if he's still with Brian Dable and they have a little bit more of a balanced offense because you're relying on him to throw it, you know, 40 times and run 15. times. It's going to work sometimes against some teams, but I don't think it's really the

reliable formula. Then yeah, maybe that does happen, but it's just right now not with this season. I couldn't say that. I mean, this was the classic Josh Allen game. Every possession was an interception or a touchdown. That's kind of I take my chip. It's just insane. Is there a chance

here your Jets can help out the Patriots next week? Because for a minute there, the Falcons were ahead in this game. I was thinking, wow, could the bills lose? Because the bills still, you know, are winning the AFC East, but it's not up. It's still up for grabs going into week 17, and I anticipate both the bills and the Patriots will be playing, obviously, to win. And so the Patriots would need the Jets to pull off like a huge upset. I mean, the Jets came very close to pulling off the biggest home upset in team history

today. So it's certainly within the realm of reason. The Falcons also are like, yeah, they're seven to nine, but they're a whisper away from being four and 12 or three and 13. They are not a good team at all. So I guess there's, that's a pretty disappointing win, but who cares? It's a win. And the are still in position to win the AFC East if they take care of business on week 18. All right. Shook, I'm not going to ask you about the Cleveland baseball team name change. I just don't think it's the right platform for you, and I don't want to put you in a tough spot one way or the other.

So I'm just going to say you're a great Cleveland sports fan, and the people are lucky to have you over there. You know, it's a great business decision out of you. Because the last thing you want to do is alienate some listeners who feel very strongly about that or don't really care at all about baseball. So this is a football podcast and we'll keep it there. Sidespepped it in a big spot.

All right, Chucky, thank you, buddy. For joining us, stay warm and there's always next year. Yeah, that's true. There is. Thanks, guys. All right, let's take a break and we soldier on. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin.

And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get.

Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development

to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day.

Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Stevenson to the left of Jost takes the snap, a playfick, a throw to the left, looking for Wilkerson, oh, he's lonesome, touchdown, Patriots, and he goes to Wilkerson for a second touchdown catch of the day. Keep this kid active. Oh man, he gives you a little something on the

outside. Um, Bob Sochi, and a man named Scott with the call for WBZ. Patriots are back in the playoffs. Rookie quarterback, Mac Jones, threw three touchdown passes. Actually set the franchise record for touchdown passes in a season. He only needed to throw 20 to do it, and he did. Damien Harris and Ramon Joyce Stevenson both scored twice on the ground. Final score 50 to 10 over the Jaguars. And Mark, we talked about this on Thursday's podcast.

If ever there was like the classic Patriots, Destroyed, a bad team that's ready to go home scenario. It was the Jaguars at home. So 50, 10 is not surprising to many of us. But I guess, let's give them credit. They're not doing it with Tom Brady anymore. So there's just something the way this team practices, prepares, that separates them from others.

Yeah, I think all that's true. You got a very clean game from Mack Jones, who threw a couple great touchdown passes in this. You got a guy like Christian Wilkerson, who's barely played for them getting involved with two touchdowns. Their running game was on fire. I think their defensive backfield could essentially look at Trevor Lawrence in this offense and assess what they were trying to do on almost every play. You are playing the worst attack in the NFL.

It looked like it. Trevor Lawrence was underwater from the very beginning. You don't have James Robinson in the backfield. And, you know, about 12 minutes into this, I was thinking, oh, this is going according to script in every possible way. It's going to project out as a blowout. It did exactly that. New England scored on, I think, eight of nine drives.

They were forced to punt once. It was just utter and total dominance. They controlled both lines of scrimmage. And, you know, I don't want to bring up Trevor Lawrence over and over, but it has been such a bad season that you just wonder where he is at mentally. I mean, we know New England's very good against rookie quarterbacks, but the level of dominance today was like these two teams were not playing in the same field or in the same sport.

I mean, his receiver group is among the worst position groups in the entire NFL, not just receiver position groups, just any position. The drops, the like mental mistakes every week is brutal to watch. And they're probably a laydown for the Colts in a similar big spot next week, like they did the first time they play the Colts. It's quite an accomplishment, I think, for this Belichick rookie quarterback team to get to 10 and 6 here. You got a chance to go to 11 and 6. It was disappointing.

Obviously, they didn't show up in some of their biggest games of the year. But it is quite a rebound from where they were a year ago. And they'll be dangerous. Like, I'm with Scott Zolak on this one point, if only this. Keep Wilkerson active in the playoffs. I've seen enough on Nikiel Harry. Oh, I know he cracked down blocks on the running game. Okay, that's great.

I saw Wilkerson in the preseason. He made some plays here today. It's like they need any good playmaking pair of hands. I can get. And you look at the AFC East. The bills have a one game lead. Right? Or they're tied.

They're tied. They're tied. They have the tie breaker. Bills have the tiebreaker. We talked about the bills. They have the Jets. The Patriots at Miami. That's an interesting game for New England.

But the good news is for Patriots fans, which I guess Greg is one of them still. But, you know, we've talked about that on the show. It's unclear. It eliminates a nightmare scenario where the help they got today, they're in the dance. If they get some help from the Bills, so be it if they don't, these teams could very well, I think it's set up right now, Bill's Patriots, round one of the playoffs. And I don't think it matters as we've seen where that game is played, considering the team split, winning in each other's stadium.

So I think we all want to see a third matchup between those two teams. And I wonder if it's kind of a... I don't. It's a happening here. It's going to go down. It would go a long way to putting to bed, I think an argument that we've had about these two teams as a trio all season long. I mean, we need to see a third one.

I'd love to see Patriots, Bengals, or Patriots chiefs even more than that, just because I think that would be fun. By the way, the Bengals had a Golston today. It's been a while. I check every game. Golston, of course, no sacks, no quarterback hits. Congratulations. Wait, can you clarify for me, Greg?

Because, again, I don't even know sometimes with the Patriots talk, what you mean. Like, do you want to avoid the Bills because you don't think it's a good matchup? Or because you would watch, it would be a more fun matchup if they're playing. I've seen that twice. I think the Bills best game is really high level. And like, I've seen that game. And to me, Patriots Chiefs would be a lot of fun. And Patriots Bengals would also be fun.

I don't need another division, you know, third time around. You're scared of the Bills. That's what I'm really. I would agree. I guess I'd be scared of the bills. But I think the Chiefs are a tougher matchup, but there would be something about that that would just be intriguing

if they could ever have a chance there with Mac. All right. So let us now move to some intra-league football in Baltimore. Takes a snap. Inter. Rolls right. Intra.

Titches, throws. Caught, front pylon. Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown, L.A. O'Dell Beckham, Jr. gives the Rams their first lead with 57 seconds remaining in week 17. Thinking about that springtime social with J.B. Long, post-draft.

Having a couple of, maybe he's drinking a white claw. I'm drinking a Tito's with our beautiful families. Just living it up in Southern California. One of the strangest recurring bits going right now. J.B. Long. YSR with the call. I think I might have heard MJD in the background there. Matthew Stafford threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to O'Dell Beckham, Jr. with 57 seconds to play.

That came after Stafford and Beckham connected on a fourth and five to keep the game alive for the Rams. And the Ravens could not respond in their ensuing drive. They lose their fifth straight game. And the final score was. 20 to 19 20 to 19 thank you Greg another sloppy performance Greg by Stafford

but he delivered when it mattered he did that drive to take the lead was the moment like you bring Stafford there for and I know you can say like he's the reason they were trailing

and he was a big reason he had three turnovers they were all his fault it wasn't like he had bad luck he played well in the second half Like, they had to play very clean and nearly perfect on offense because they were not getting the ball very often. The Baltimore Ravens offense just kept grinding up these long plays, like a 14 play drive, a 12 play drive, a 15 play drive, a 9 play drive. So Stafford didn't have a lot of chances, and they had to finish touchdown, touchdown, to win the game.

And he did it, including a fourth down play to O'Dell Beckham before the touchdown, you know, with the game. essentially on the line and Beckham makes a fantastic hands catch and Stafford you know moves out of the way of pressure is like an incredibly clutch play and this Rams team has shown an ability now this last month to win a variety of types of games and come through in the fourth quarter and they're trying to kind of build their their culture I guess their identity of this Rams team and I think they got a feel now when they get into these tough situations that they're going to come out with victories. Yeah, I thought the biggest X factor for them was overcoming Stafford mistakes, and they weren't able to do that in the loss to Tennessee. They weren't able to do that when they were

thumped by the Niners way back when. And this is a game that kind of shows, look, he can not, he will be imperfect, because you're going to get a game in the playoffs where he's going to be imperfect. I mean, he is sort of that dude that throws pick sixes. He throws interceptions and little He's thrown more of this season than Rogers has his whole career. Right. I mean, he's also thrown more than all but three quarterbacks since 1950 during his career. So it's a thing. I mean, I know a lot of that happened in Detroit. But if you're a Rams team that wanted to find a demoralizing loss late in the year that would have put us back into a weird place with you, you go to Baltimore and you lose on the East Coast this way. Instead, they found their way out of it. And it included a new

face like Odell Beckham. I think that matters. And I think their defense. I mean, I know that Baltimore had their way with them a bit today. In general, the Rams defense gives me a ton of hope. They're very balanced on both sides of the ball. And I have no problem with winning ugly in, what, early January, we're going to mine into mid-January here before the playoffs. I'm fine with it. Maybe this is, maybe it's time to just recalibrate expectations with O'Dell Beckham, that he's just never going to be a guy who puts up Justin Jefferson type lines or,

or what we saw, Jemar Chase today. He's just not a consistent elite playmaker like he used to be. But again, I think he's up to what, four or five touchdowns now with L.A. it seems like he scores once every game and otherwise unremarkable box score, but he has become a red zone threat and a weapon for them what he never was with Cleveland.

So that has been a help for them. We still have the opportunity potential where Cam Acres around the bend. Sonny Michelle has really played well. Cooper Cut in an off game for him goes $6.95 and won. So I think the Rams, yeah, is Stafford somebody you just lock and load

and be like, okay, he's ready for the playoffs? No, but like I have him the same class as Josh Allen, well, Josh Allen's a better player. But what I mean is Josh Allen, Carson Wentz, Matt Stafford, these guys that are talented but sometimes enigmatic type players that can obviously go on a heater in the postseason. And could I imagine Matt Stafford having a killer postseason and them riding it all the way to the Super Bowl?

And I totally can see that. So again, that's why you go get Matt Stafford. And they're set up here for all the trials and tribulations of the season. They're 12 and 4. and they have a chance here. They're the two seed. They're the two seed. They can get,

can they get up to one or are they? Well, as we tape this, we're going to assume the Packers finish out the Vikings here, and then that'll clinch the one seed for the Packers. So the Rams are at two. They haven't won the division. They can do it next week. They can't have these three turnover games from Stafford.

He's done back-to-back weeks. I know they've won, but in the playoffs, I don't know if you have that margin for error. But I do like, like you said, cup this was in theory an off game but he stepped up getting open huge plays at the end making plays after the catch ramsie had a nice game i'd like to see it's clearly not the passing game that that peak rams could be because this is an underman raven secondary and they were not taking advantage of it um for chunks of this game that the ravens kind of backed off i think that surprised them

they were playing conservative uh but donald we keep saying it week after week like he changed this game. His pass rush pressure on Huntley prevented a wide open touchdown in the first half. He gets a sack to end of drive in the red zone at the end of the game. The Ravens were basically on the doorstep of scoring a touchdown and almost putting this thing out of out of bounds. And then that's the moment where Donald steps up. And it was just like another just Aaron Donald, you probably weren't going to win the game if it wasn't for Aaron. He's a defensive player of the year. For me. Listen, it's a close one.

You know, we talk about it all the time, the old Francesism, seasons unstop till after Thanksgiving. On November 28th, the Ravens outlasted the Brown 1610, a game in which Lamar Jackson threw four interceptions, but they still won. And at that moment, they were eight and three on November 28th. Now you fast forward to January 2nd, they're eight and eight, and now need to win in week 18 and get help, or they end up out of the point. playoffs entirely. It's pretty wild what's happened to the season, but not if you've been following it week by week, not particularly surprising because they just have been absolutely assaulted by injuries and COVID and the Lamar ankle injury, which was obviously more serious than they initially let on. That's how they got where they are. Right. And the in four of those

losses are by a combined, the last four losses are by a combined six points. That's a Right. They probably have, well, they probably have four wins that combined by six points too. Right. That was early in the season, but I'm just saying to do this in such a short stretch where you lose by one, lose by two, lose by one, and then lose by one. It's too bad. Huntley, you can see he's a pro quarterback. Like he's a starter. He made a couple of mistakes today that hurt them. It wasn't quite as good a game from him in this game. Like he still looks good and he looks like he belonged, but he had a couple plays he wanted back. or else they could have won it. Oh, well. Would it help my fantasy team that went down in the finals today? But we'll take that second place prize money and we're off. We're off. We're happy with the way things turned out overall, just disappointing.

But I know a lot of people were wondering. When you see this on Game Pass, there were a couple of plays where he could have had more points. They were. Don't tell me. Don't tell me. It wouldn't have mattered. My opponent put up 175. It's fine.

We move forward. We're professionals here. on to, oh, not great timing for this. On to the Meadowlands. Ready to go, Brady with 23 seconds to go. The snap a good one. Brady looking, cocks the arm, those toward the end zone. Receiver, Obed?

Caught ball. Touchdown Tamabay. Touchdown Tamabay. Buccaneers take the lead for the first time of the game. Grayson makes the catch of the end zone. Buccaneers lead. 26, 24. Tom Brady.

You're terrific. See, it's about the delivery. When Gene Deckerhoff says, Tom Brady, you're terrific. That's nice. I like that. When another announcer goes, I love Tom Brady.

It doesn't carry the same warm. Put it that way. Yeah, there's a lacking of a panache there with the second individual. A man named Scott. WFUS, Gene Daggeroff. Antonio Brown walked away from the bucks. But luckily, they still have Tom Brady. The goat led them.

the bucks on a 93-yard drive in the final minutes, culminating with a 33-yard touchdown strike to Cyril Grayson, sealing a 28-24 win over my Jets. The Jets had a two-touchdown lead in this game, and it was a tough one. We're going to get to the game, but let's start with the Antonio Brown stuff, because obviously this was the huge story of the early games.

It was everywhere. had, it's still unclear as of this taping what set him off. But he had a meltdown late in the third quarter. Tampa Bay was trailing 24-10 at the time. Cameras caught him in an animated discussion with Mike Evans. Evans was trying to calm down Brown, but instead Brown stripped off his pads, jersey, gloves, t-shirt, tossed the gloves and T-shirt into the stands,

and then walked completely bare-chested down the sideline into the end zone, which, by the way, it should have been a penalty, but we're not going to dwell on anything like that. He then waved to the fans, jogged through the end zone, into the tunnel at MetLife Stadium, apparently left the stadium without a shirt on. And after the game, first there was speculation that he was benched,

and he melted down because of that, but then there was talk on Twitter that he wasn't even benched, but something set the man off. He was plain. Jay Glazer reported that Arian, at one point, he was already upset for some reason that is unclear. Ariens... you know, put him in the next play. I guess he was, I guess he was like on the sideline,

and Ariens, you know, put him in the next play, and he refused to go in. And then Ariens asked again the next play, and at that point, when he refused to go in, he said, like, you're out, you're, you know. Okay, and then he melted down. So anyway, Ariens, after the game, obviously the first question is not about this great comeback.

It's about Antonio Brown walking out. In the middle of a game, here's what Ariens had to say. He is no longer a buck. All right, that's the end of the story. Let's talk about the guys that went out there and won the game. See, but it's not that easy, Bruce. It is not that easy because you, Bruce Ariens, and you, Tom Brady, and you, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, created this situation by looking the other way over and over when Brown was clearly a loose cannon. Now, I think there's something interesting with this, Mark, I'll start, I'll tee you up on this.

I wonder, obviously Antonio Brown seems like he's not the greatest guy, but sometimes I wonder if there's like a mental health. component here that makes this maybe not as straightforward as like everyone just saying clowning this guy for being a total idiot. It's sometimes it feels like to me with someone's behavior that there's something wrong with him. And then you hear Brady's comments after the game that were he was expressing concern about Brown's well-being. That's a part of this conversation that I feel like you're not hearing a lot of. I mean, I do think that when we look at Antonio Brown and you look at what happened on hard knocks with the Raiders and, you know, there's a litany, a laundry list of things that have happened with Antonio Brown, that it is possible to piece together and be curious

about the mental health side. I mean, because there's been indications and suggestions that is something he deals with. And I took Brady's comments along the same avenue that you did. This is a star player who was on a Hall of Fame avenue at some point. I mean, you can see it. And it's like, that's why he was in the building. I think this puts to bed probably what was a bit of a tension-filled scenario between, not I don't know about tension-filled, but Tom Brady wanted him. Would he have been on the bucks that Tom Brady wasn't there? No, this wasn't a Bruce Ariens wishcasting. I think Bruce Ariens did his best to put up with him. I just wonder, I mean, in terms of the Antonio Brown experience, did he wake up at some point today thinking that,

you know, I don't want to play anymore, or in the scope of possibilities of actions I might take today, one of them could be stripping down from the belt up and running out of the stadium and an Uber home. I'm just not sure. He was well dressed when he took the Uber. There was some great shots of him waiting. It wasn't an Uber. He got his personal. Oh, well, then he's fine. You've taken, first of all, you've taken your chance at a Super Bowl ring away. And you've probably taken your team's chances away because losing Antonio Brown on the field is nothing short of Titanic, I think, for the, for the Buccaneers. With the state that they're in right now, it's huge. And this wasn't like a experiment that always had.

a potential high-risk, high-reward point of implosion, and today it imploded in rather spectacular fashion. Well, supposedly they were getting frustrated, according to some of the local reports, with his behavior throughout the course of his suspension, and then since coming back, and you could see the way he was with reporters when he didn't even want to answer questions about it.

So, you know, you're right, Dan. Like, Ariens was the... I know Brady wanted him on the team, but Ariens ultimately made the decision to keep him, which was even after the suspension, which was obviously a mistake. And they're going to be counting on Cyril Grayson and Tyler Johnson.

You know, I know Evans was back today and Gronk had a good game, but they're definitely short-handed. Levante David's hurt, Shaq Barrett's hurt. They've had some really significant players that are out right now. To Mark, your point, I wonder if Arients has a conversation with Brady

before he goes up to that podium or if that's something just in the heat of the moment. He says, no, he's gone. That's it. Well, I mean, that was to be like he's not even, it's like Antonio Brown quit. He was off the team already. He took himself off the Bucks. Ariens never even had a choice.

I don't know, right? Well, I mean, he left. He literally left. You know what I mean? Like at that point, Antonio Brown knew his Buck's career was over. I mean, I don't know if he's thinking about it that way. I don't think he was thinking about anything because if you look at his escalators in his contract,

with just like normal type brown performances the rest of this game and next week he would have cleared well over a million dollars in bonuses. So I think he's a guy that is a complete loose cannon and a hothead that lost his temper and probably even if he won't admit to it right now, he knows he made a huge mistake.

Now there's talk like, oh, he's out of football now. Well, we'll see. We'll see. Wait until the off season and see if another team says, oh, I would like this top 25 wide receiver in the whole league at a deep discount. Like, don't underestimate the NFL's ability to look the other way. But, I mean, I always think about Chris Wessling and the most upset I've ever seen him on the podcast,

other than when someone told him to take his hat off, was when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick brought Antonio Brown to New England in the wake of the sexual assault allegations that Brown was facing at the time. And West was so strong about that. and said that he had lost all respect for Belichick and Brady. I remember there was some tension in the studio that night, Greg, because you were talking, you know, you guys were in a real good conversation about everything about it. And I thought about that today because I've been thinking about,

I know, as we all have Wes a lot with the new year. And, you know, he's been gone almost a year now. That Brown, this is not anything new, that he's been this divisive guy that at a certain point, people need to, you've got to put your foot down and say, this is not a guy that can help my team, even if he is fantastic. talented we've seen it again with yet another team right and one of it one of west's favorite

coaches too aryans you know one of it like an organization that you know they they won a super ball so i guess they'll they'll look back and think i guess it was worth it because he helped along the way um but it it's like they they asked for it and they got it and i don't think they're they're done by any means i mean they find a way to win this game and i know we can get to the game but They've won 12 games and they'll have a home game in the first round of the playoffs and maybe more, but they're not the same team that they could have been because of injuries and now because of this. As far as the game goes, from the Jets side, really, I know it helps their draft standing,

but it's a really tough loss because, like I said, they were, I think, double-digit teen underdogs in this game. And Zach Wilson played his best complete game of the year. And the defense really played well and played with a lot of passion. And I came out of the game or as the game went along, like really feeling good about Robert Sala and how Hardy had this team playing. After the game, Sala was furious about a, the Jets were up by three points or four points, excuse me, late in the game, deep in Tampa Bay territory, facing fourth and two.

And there's a miscommunication between Michael Liflor, the offense coordinator, and Zach Wilson about a play call that should have been an end-around to Braxton Barrios but instead turned into a QB sneak, a two-yard QB sneak that they were trying to get, they got maybe half a yard. Brady takes over and goes right down the field, and I thought it was interesting how pointed Sala was.

I wonder what it means for the relationship with Michael Flore, who I think has been very good this year, but that set in motion, the comeback for the bucks who went 93 yards the other way, the Jets, passing up the field goal on fourth and two, that would have put them up seven to try to win the game, call the wrong play in the huddle, or it's executed improperly by the rookie,

but it was put completely on Michael LaFleur. That was the big turning point and what people talk about, not Antonio Brown related in this game. I just, I would look at some of the positive quarters and moments the Jets have had in the last couple weeks and say, let's build off it. I'd hate to see them in some sort of scapegoat scenario

or fresh change move on from LaFleur and bring in a new offense because if Zach Wilson needs anything on the planet, it is ultra-consistency between now and next September. I hate the lack of responsibility there. Hopefully it's just like emotions, but that's from both coaches. I mean, Ariens takes no responsibility whatsoever. It doesn't even want to talk about it.

When he said he wouldn't talk about why Brown was returning in the first place, like you're always asking your players to take responsibility, and then the coaches don't. And I don't know if Sala was putting it on his coach, but it's a bad job by him, too. Like, you don't want to do that publicly. Yeah, I mean, he didn't mention anybody by name. But, yes, it was just unfortunate because it was really a nice,

it was a nice day overall at the meta lens. The fans were into it just didn't work out. But credit to the bucks, they come back. They keep themselves pointed in the right direction, even if Antonio Brown will not be there any longer. Let us now take a break and then continue on. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin.

And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get.

Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development

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the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Heineke firing for the end zone incomplete incomplete and let's say Rodney McLeod says he caught the ball in the end zone he intercepted the

cloud feels like he just intercepted the game now let's see intercepted the ball to seal the game he does it again the second week in a row that Rodney McLeod comes up with the interception huge and this is going to do it ladies and gentlemen That's like such a perfect call for the Eagles as a team right now. It's just like, well, it worked out. That was a good thing for the Eagles. The Eagles win. Merrill Reese, Mike Quick with the call WIP,

is not art right now for the Eagles, but football's not played in a damn museum. Rodney McLeod picked off Taylor Heineke in the end zone with 24 seconds to play to seal another one for the Eagles, this time a 2016 conquest over the Washington football team. Greg, Philly's recent games all seem to follow a similar script, slow start followed by a winning course correction. Right.

They were impressive here. I mean, I know it wasn't pretty. And McLeod, you know, I didn't think that was an interception either. You're such a homer for the Eagles. I don't know what that is about. A 2016 win over this Washington team is a hyper-impressive win? This is a two-and-five team that you were wondering if the coach might last only one year, if the GM might finally lose his job after more than a decade in that building,

that clinched the playoff spot with a week left in the season by going 7 and 2. Yes, they got a nice break in terms of the schedule throughout that run, but they still did it. And like for this team, for their expectations, they did it. And you're right that this game was perfect for it because it was not pretty, especially defensively in the first half, but the second half, when they needed it, like there were very few drives in this game.

They go touchdown, field goal, field goal. They win the second half, 13 to nothing. Their defensive line absolutely dominated after Heineke was just playing out of his mind in the first half. And they played more or less a perfect second half to go clinch a playoff spot. You know, just take it. Just take it.

I mean, what do you want? No, you want to talk about like in the AFC, everybody wants to look at and maybe we'll get the Titans. all these NFC superpowers like give us the Eagles in round one we'll fly i you know what i think the eagles are ripe to pick someone off in the playoffs depending on how that opponents it'll be like the rams or the box most likely at this point i could see it i could see it they've given up under 25 in a row now that came against the giants the jets the giants again in washington twice so that that factors in but i think they're built really well along both lines they can run the ball jalen hurts

if you get the right game out of him, I would not want to deal with them in the wild card round. You know, I'm not going to say too much more because I have to watch the game. So I'm not going to bury the Eagles for their performance today. But I think it does, we need to keep an eye on. Jalen Hertz healthy. I think, yes, I'm going to walk that back a little bit

because maybe if he's making plays with his legs in a playoff game, things can get dicey for any favorite. But I thought, you know, there were some comments made by Nick Siriani after the game that, you know, he really thought so much of hurts for kind of battling through what's been a really painful injury that's affected him in a lot of ways. So he's coming out here and winning games. So respect to, respect to the quarterback for that, respect to the Eagles for getting to the

playoffs. I don't think a lot of people had to pick for the playoffs. And Nick Siriani, who, you know, who's overcome some initial public facing, you know, an underwhelming start to like how he was positioned and where the organization was and how things are going to work out, well, they're going to the dance. So that's pretty good. Right. And this was a fourth and fourth down game. You know, it would have been the talking point. I feel like if it didn't work, it often doesn't become the talking point when it does work, but they scored two touchdowns on fourth and goal. And I think both were from the two,

if I was right, so it wasn't like a total cinch. And one of them took an extraordinary play from Boston. Scott. Jalen Hertz essentially gets tripped up while pitching the ball backwards. The defensive line for Washington looks like they're winning. Scott gets to the outside, gets the touchdown, and hitting those two fourth and goals was kind of the difference in a game that was this close, that both quarterbacks, if you look at the box score, played much better than the box score showed. Hertz, I thought, had one of his best games. His offensive line did not play well for him, which was rare. They did not have much of a running game.

game besides hurts. And Heinecke played really, like, out of his mind in the first half. Like, every third down just felt like it was Heineke pulling off a miracle, and it ran out. I would say one thing. I know Ron Rivera is, you know, beyond critique, and we all like the person a lot, but this team has fallen off a cliff. And I know that they have been short-handed. There have been corona issues. There have been injuries. You don't have the quarterback you plan with, although I don't think the quarterback play has killed them that much. Four games in a row against division opponents. They were embarrassed by the Cowboys a week ago.

They've lost twice to the Eagles now in not too far away weeks. Like, I'm sorry, but like the honeymoon period on some level needs to be reimagined during the offseason. You've got to go get some real players, especially a quarterback. Little honeymoon period reimagining. Well, I mean, you know, I think you get some more rope than most coaches around. Yeah. Can we just mention quickly that the rails at the stadium collapsed and Jalen Hertz.

It was terrible. It was a couple. Listen to Greg, correct you, Mark. It wasn't incredible. No, no. I mean, it was a very sober moment. It wasn't a sober moment. It was amazing that Hertz then, like, starts posing for pictures.

But it was, if the timing had been different, Garifolo, by the way, nice job. I think he was the one that. I don't think he was the camera. No, he just sent it out. He amplified it successfully. Okay. I mean, Hertz could have been underneath that while, while the gate fell on them and all the fans that if it was like two seconds later, that would have been a freaking disaster.

What's going on in Washington? Earlier in the season, the pipes were bursting and soaking the fans. Come on, let's build a new stadium. When you watch what human bodies are capable of, because also the fans that fell, like, face forward down, like, 90 straight degrees into the earth should have been hurt. And they were up two minutes later with their arms around hurts, taking, like, group selfies. So, you know, the body is strange. Wait a second.

I think maybe it was Mike's original video. video. I'm not sure. I don't want to take it away from him. Either way, that's how I saw it, because it was going nuts. And there was an AP photographer runner that was injured. He was underneath that thing when it fell. Oh, he was. I don't believe it was a serious injury situation. But yeah, it was scary because, you know, like, that was, what, 20 people leaning into it. That's got to be fortified. What are we doing in Washington? Can we do anything right there and the eagles are brought their heated benches too it's now become a bit in the nfc west that everyone's bringing their benches to washington and we clean things hop down there for christ

sake and yeah give it up to uh hurts for that's that's some joe montana like composure to just start posing with the fans like seconds later i don't think anybody was aware there were injuries at that point or serious injuries all right anyway let's uh head from one team punching their ticket to another that could, the Niners. 49ers on the 45 that a roll tray lands to the right,

has time, going to throwback left on the overrout. It is caught by Devo Samuel inside the 10 brings a tackle. Touchdown. San Francisco. Great call. Greg Papa. one G great

not a triple G two Gs double Gs it'd be even better if he was triple G Papa wouldn't it right he's only he's only 50% G sniper shot KNBR

rookie Trey Lance threw two touchdown passes in the second half of his second career start and the Niders zeroed in on a playoff spot with a 237 win over the Texans

the Niners can clinch their second postseason appearance and five years under Shanahan with a win next week against the Rams or a loss by the Saints. That is the setup, Mark. What did you think about the kids' performance today and would it be something that potentially gives Kyle Shanahan some pause as they look forward in 2022?

I think it would give him a little bit of pause because, I mean, you know, he heated up and you saw a couple things, which I'll get to in a minute later in the game, that give you hope, but I thought that they really struggled. Shanahan struggled to find the best play calls to kind of find rhythm and fit Lance in this offense at first. He threw a bad interception on a, you know, zoned in pass to George Kittle. He also had an incredible like laser touchdown dart to Steebo Samuel later in the game that you're like, wait a minute, Jimmy G, for all his good and bad moments, could never

have thrown that ball. I mean, he had another incredible throw to George Kittle that as they got heated up, and I think they still want to be a run-based team. And, you know, Eli Mitchell, like, was so good today on a couple of different runs that helped him out. But you didn't see Trey Lance take over the game necessarily. Not that I expected that today. I thought on the flip side, what happened for Houston a little bit, they hung around. Their offensive line did a sneaky good job, and they're not a good O' line at all, until the Niners defense really kind of got going later in the game. It just took the entire San Francisco operation some time. I honestly looked at it, Dylan thought, for all of the

ups and downs with Jimmy G. I don't know if I would take the risk of putting Tray Lance into a playoff game over Jimmy G at this point. He just looks to me a little slow in his processing. I mean, that did improve as the game went along. So maybe he project out two games for now. It's a little bit better. But I think there's a reason that we haven't seen a ton of Tray Lance up until we needed to because of the injury this week. Because I think it's neck up. We all know he's a smart player. They say that this offense just has not totally clicked in his mind, It can do things physically that are very impressive. Well, maybe there's like, maybe that's the case.

And I know Garapolo on balance has been good this year. The case for why Lance should have been in the lineup so he could get their mental reps, get ramped up, and continue to gain some confidence. And then you're going into the postseason with a rookie that has some reps. I know that's all silly because that's not the way it played out. And Garoppolo certainly is capable of getting hot himself in January. But it did make it, as you're explaining that to me, It does make me think maybe if he had the opportunity to get sped up a little bit,

this would be a different Niners team we're talking about, but that's not where we're at. But I think he might. I mean, the decision might not be one to be made. This sounds like a serious thumb injury. It's torn ligaments. He's going to have surgery in it eventually. He never sounded like he got particularly close. He never threw a football this last week.

And while I bemoaned the lack of juice going into week 18 at the beginning. of the show. The Rams 49ers game is pretty spicy. I mean, that, you know, 49ers have won five straight against them. The 49ers are going to need that win to make the playoffs, or at least to clinch a spot. The Saints will still be alive, and I'm sure they'll put that at the same time, so it's not a dead game. They've kind of owned the Rams. They could hurt, they could knock the Rams out of the division lead. Maybe it's Lance. Maybe it's Garoppola. I don't know. The way they talked about the Jimmy G. injury does make you wonder if he's just Dunzo this season. McVeigh or Shanahan, that's just fun because you know, like, if there's any two guys on a field in 2022 right now that I want to have like their inner monologue locked in, I would be like when those guys are going against each other and just mother effing each other like all through the game, I'm the true boy genius.

No, I am. Take that want to be boy genius. I'm the true boy genius. Like, well, you're both like 40. It's the extent of the dialogue. Right. And McVeigh could knock them right out of the playoffs, which would be a nice little revenge for losing five straight. against them. All right. So let's move on now. The Saints also Harbor playoff hopes as we enter week 18 in a few days. So let's check in on them.

Second and 20 back to pass. Here comes pressure. Throw. That ball's picked off right side. Looks like C.D. Deuce right in front of the Saints bench down inside the 30-yard line. CD-Duce. We'll take it to the end zone to celebrate. And that's the way you finish it.

Z.D. Deuce. I liked it. Delayed interception of Sam Darnold sealed it for the Saints in 1810 win on Sunday. Saints still alive in the wild card race. And this is a game where Alvin Camara turned a short pass into a New Orleans touchdown. Their first touchdown in 11 quarters. Would you ever think you would see that? The Saints under Sean Peyton needing 11 quarters to score a touchdown. but even if he didn't score that,

they probably would have won anyway because Brett Marr kicked four field goals and the defense was just way too much for the Panthers' completely inept offensive attack. This is a Panthers team that had seven sacks of Sam Darnold. Cam Jordan had three and a half on his own and that's his third straight game with at least two sacks. He's had a great career, Cam Jordan,

and he still got it. And yes, it was CJ Gardner's. Johnson or C.J. Deuce, was it? C.D. Deuce. C.D. uce. Who locked it down. So the Panthers at six straight losses. The Saints pull to eight and eight, and they have a shot here.

I mean, I didn't watch much of this game, but I did watch the Panthers final drive while they were down eight, so it's technically a one-score game. I don't feel like I needed to watch anything more than that. Oh, my God. This was not a great game. This was not a fun game to watch. is a game like, I'm glad I watched it because I don't have to ever think about it again. Sam Darnold can't play.

It did remind me that I was one of the people that was like, man, they probably should have kept Arnold and then traded that number two overall pick. And no, Sam Darnold's just not going to be the guy. He's a backup somewhere. Tassum Hill is the same thing. Taysam Hill is not even a backup, I don't think, at quarterback. I think he's much more suited to be the gadget player that he was before that. I think this was by far not his worst game, but it kind of is the taste of hell experience that he doesn't really move the offense very well, but he will come in with a nice run here and there.

So the offense is what it is. And it was good that they got Camara unlocked a little bit in this game. They've really struggled to do that in stretches this season, but it's the defense that carried them and the defensive line, which is really good. And that is their ticket to the playoffs. they are a they are not a pretty team the Saints but they are a gritty team I love and I know you do Greg I love the week 18 matchup at Atlanta because you know the Falcons are a team that would love to end the Saints season in crushing fashion and I do not put the Saints as a heavy favorite there I think that's another one of those close Falcons games in which they've had

a lot of success this season but we'll talk about that on Thursday in the here and now the Saints got it done I win the Saints the one thing about them again if you project some of these teams into the playoffs. Their defense, when they match up well, I mean, it can be a lights out situation. And Carolina's offensive line being as bad as it was, I mean, that last drive that you watched, Greg, there were two gigantic, like, takedowns of Darnold

that essentially the second end of the drive. I mean, they are able to rush to pass. But they were, like, throwing three-yard passes. They're down eight points, and they couldn't even throw it more than three yards. It was just crazy. I think that shows, though, like how the quarterbacks in Carolina have been under duress all year long behind that line.

but this list the Saints defense did it to Tom Brady a couple weeks ago I just they're a little bizarre I mean it's hard to predict any of their games outside of them being low scoring I feel like saints fans don't even want them to make the playoffs just stupid just make the playoffs and have I know this what does it matter what is it saying I know what they're saying I know what they're positioning it's like oh we don't it's like who cares just enjoy it just make draft positioning you're eight and eight it's right is it going to make that big a difference at this point right exactly and I'm not that wasn't before this that wasn't it's like okay we You know, they're not going to win the, I guess the idea is, like, you don't want to lose 34 to three against the Rams or whatever it might be, which is totally possible.

I'll tell you what, what I wouldn't give to wake up on a Saturday or Sunday morning and be like, oh, my team's playing a postseason game today. Do not take that for granted. I know Saints fans, you've been very lucky with Drew Breeze all these years, but it doesn't always happen. I don't know how many Saints fans are like that. Are you think it's a lot? Is that a scientific study? How do, like, were you coming up with that, Greg? That's from one.

He knows who he is. Okay. All right. All right. Anybody else have a question about this game? Because it really is exactly what it looks like. The Saints, field goal kicker did nicely. The defense balled out.

Sam Darnold stinks. Taysam Hill's not much better, but he is better. No, but I think it's noteworthy that Ian Rapport said the plan is to keep that rule. But he said barring a total catastrophe the last couple weeks or like something unforeseen. So what does that even mean? Like every week's a catastrophe for the 2020.

Well, I also think it's all been foreseen. I think what we're watching is not something that's shocking us. To me that says like, yeah, we're probably keeping them, but I don't know if there's some coach we really like that. I mean,

does 178 total yards of offense, three yards per play? Is that a catastrophe? Right. The lowest air yards per attempt of Sam Donald's career, which is like a pretty high or low bar to reach. He averaged 3.5 yards per throw. And that's not even the worst.

Like an off-season draw, or an off-to-field drama, too, you know, which some have been good at cooking up. I honestly think rules best chance to survive, yes. Don't get blown out in week 18. Don't say anything. Don't become a meme or be someone that's mocked for a stupid press conference comment, a J-Z-type comment, and just get to the off-season. Lips sealed into silence. Keep a low profile, my man. We're pulling for you.

We like you. You're a Jersey guy. But we need to keep a low profile. All right, let's, yeah, there was a worse offensive performance. It was from the Giants. Let's check in on that. With time. Here comes Quinn.

Walked right into what. Quinn's got them wrapped up and the ball comes out. Giants have recovered. But Robert Quinn has just picked up sack number 18 in a regular season that has been nothing short or spectacular and has set the bear's single season record for, sacks that has held for 37 years. This game was about defense for the Bears, though. Robert Quinn

broke Hallfamer Richard Dent's franchise single season mark with his 18th sack in a 29 to 3 win. Over those even. The Giants were held to minus 10 net passing yards in this game.

Quinn, meanwhile, reached that 18-sack mark a year after his bear's tenure began with two sacks in 15 games in 2020. Weird, Mark. Weird. It was a weird game. It's an eyesore of a scenario for Giants fans who have been through it. You know, it always was a Jets Giants who's dealing with worse stuff.

Or one of them has like high glory and the other still has worse stuff. But right now, these Giants fans, I mean, this game in the first couple of minutes became as embarrassing as possible. You know, the Bears basically got up 14-0 off a strip sack of Glennon that put the ball to three-yard line. Then he threw a terrible interception. It's just like Mike Lennon, who has been around the block, at this point, I don't understand how you keep hiring him.

He had 24 yards in the entire game with two killer interceptions and that fumble. The Bears' offense was not very good either. I mean, this was a rough watch. But they just, I thought it was better field position for them. And a defense in Chicago that looked like under Shonda Sayo has done a really good job, I think in general, like the Bears' defenses of old. It's like, we don't need the offense to drive. everything. We're going to go take care of business right now.

Good call about Glennon. I wrote about that in the power rankings last week, that the tri-state area has seen entirely too much Mike Lennon this season. And this is the type of performance this year where you kind of play yourself out of that backup quarterback land. And it's putting his career

in danger. He could be heading towards the XFL. Any other notes on this game, Mark, that jump out to you before we move on? Not a ton. I do think that the Bears have played hard from Matt Nagy, despite we all know that he's gone. I mean,

I think you even go back to that Packers performance just in general. They have not faded the way some of these teams have. Some of these seems like Joe Judge's team. We do have Joe Judge some sound from him. His 11-minute rant defending himself when they asked what he's done to keep his job was ridiculous.

Speaking of keep a low profile, dude. Now, you guys ain't been in the building for two years now with this coach. All right. But I'll tell you right now, all right, if you're in the damn building, you walk on through our locker room, you ain't seeing that crap you saw before, all right? You ain't seeing guys right now planning vacations. You ain't seeing golf clubs in front of players, locker.

You ain't seeing that stuff. I mean, well, when did Joe Judge become like Matthew McConaughey in a time to kill? He suddenly has like a southern accent. Yeah, that was weird. You ain't seeing this. And it was just ridiculous. He's from Pennsylvania. And it's just the aints and he went on this huge thing about, like, what a great, how they've stayed together.

Like, I don't care. You just got blown out by another team that supposedly isn't staying together. Like, show it on the field. Like, I think he's gone. Who cares that it hasn't been ugly? Like, it's ugly on the field. I know the report was out there that he was safe. But that happens every year.

There's always a guy we're told the safe that goes. And I just think the way this season is cratering into abject embarrassment for the giant. it just makes more and more sense that they're going to do a total overhaul of the operation. I mean, you could say it's unfair to Joe Judge or whatever, but he's had two years and the organization has regressed or the team has regressed. And it's just like, man, what's the case for keeping a guy when the teams? I mean, the Jaguars are probably the worst team in football, but the Giants are right behind them.

And that's really telling. She started like making things up, too. Like he said people from other teams are telling them that they'd rather be on the Giants still, even though they're making more money elsewhere. It's like, I don't just stop. Sorry. I mean, I think to Greg's point, though, too,

like from last week, that suddenly what, you're not going to have the general manager, but you're going to have Joe Judge if you keep them, and then you're going to shoehorn another general manager in there that works in that power structure. I think that the giants have to finally get this thing right. And I don't know what candidate would be out there

that would appeal to them outside of like pulling Bill Belichick away from New England, which I'm going to continue to hammer that idea. But this is not working. It's dysfunctional. Why would Bill Belichick ever want to leave the Patriots, once again, an ascendant franchise to try to rebuild the giants when he's like 70 years old? Because I think that it would be, if he were able to do that in three or four years, as his swan song, to go back where he came from, to raise it out of the ashes,

it would be like, oh, wait, this is the greatest coach of our entire lifetime. He's already risen the Patriots out of their seven and nine slumber. I was going to say, though, like he already has that narrative set up in, New England, not to get bogged down here. Well, I think we all need new challenges. Maybe view it as a new challenge versus just doing it with the Patriots again. But without Brady is what I'm saying. He kind of already has that set up in New England to write that final chapter.

Yeah. I'm not calling this a likely scenario. I'm just saying that the Giants would want to be wooed by someone. Like, if you're going to move on from Joe Judge, you're not going to fill them in with some other, you know, nameless face, please. Right. All right. Let's wrap up the pre- Sunday night football games with a trip to.

Lumen Field. That still doesn't sound right. Play fake. Neither is the clink, though. Looks, Rolls. Throves inside. Touchdown. Seahawks.

What was the original? Ross rolls right and he waits, and number 14 opens up under the goalposts from a yard out. And Medcalf now with his third touchdown of the day. Original name of Seahawks

Stadium. Questfield. Now that's a lot. name. That's a corporate name I could get by it. A little more poetic, yeah. That was when the 12s were the 12s. Anyway, Steve Rable, K-I-R-O. Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes.

Hey, Greg, three of them to D.K. Metcalf, buddy. Send me a message. Hey, to Mac Jones. You're setting records today, three touchdowns. Let's call him a draw. And, uh, well, that was like two takes going up and smoke. at the same time, but Russell Wilson shot and D.K. Metcalf hates Russell Wilson and can't catch touchdowns from them anymore. Well, there was never a thing that they couldn't catch touchdowns. It was like there, there was some, you know, unhappiness. You're right. Okay.

Stick it with it. Fair. Rashad Penny added 170 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Seahawks roll 5129, another 50 burger. Ironic, 50 burgers for the Seahawks and Russell Wilson and Mack Jones and the Patriots. Yeah, Gregie. I fired them up. That takes got fire. Well, I mean, that take only lasted like a day before I saw Chris Sims getting flamed for saying the Jets would turn down a Russell Wilson for Zach Wilson trade,

which is really another level on top of mine, which there's many levels to why I think that's wrong. Russell Wilson played great, though, today. It had a very slow start, weirdly, for a team that put up 50. And then I think they scored touchdowns in six straight drives. I mean, you don't see that too often. Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, Fuggo, Figo.

I mean, that's getting it done. That's eaten right. What more do we want to say, really? Mark, that was your spot. You slide right in there with your own commentary. How the show works. Not always, but I will. I will.

I mean, what happened with Detroit? Because I think Tim Boyle, like, at this point, would have been any different with Jared Goff in there at any line. No, they banged me. The Rainmaker, the hot streak is somewhat over. I went one-in-one this week. You know, the Eagles came through, so I was up to 6-0. Ow!

I got banged by Gough. You're right, wasn't the difference in this, but I wouldn't have made it rain with Tim Boyle. But that's what happens when you tape on Thursday. It's okay. Ouch. Uh, they, by the way, how about your defense did not show up your behalf? What?

To come after certain coaches about accountability. You know, don't talk about this or that. You just take the L. Oh, well, I could have tried. I thought about like, is there any way to, because I did change my pick like online and stuff when that happens. But at this point, our podcast, you know, you got to live with what, what changes. So I took the L. So there's, there's six and one.

I don't know if there's too much, but Russell, uh, Russell, okay. Rashad Penny has, like, really run well the last few weeks. He now has as many runs over 25 yards as any running back in the league. He either is tied with Jonathan Taylor or he's second. I'm not sure right now, but that is outrageous. Yeah, that's, I guess, something to look forward to. The Seahawks, former first round pick finally doing some things, staying healthy. All right, there you go.

The lines have mixed in some of those grisly blowouts befitting of a truly terrible team with the feel-good stories. We kind of gloss over when they get their asses blown out. But that's happened a lot too. Our narrative. Well, it's true. They've had a ton of close losses and they've gotten destroyed. Amon Sitt Ross St. Brown, though.

Hey, he's a real one. Setting some rookie records, had a rushing touchdown. I mean, this was about as fun as a Seahawks, Lions, totally empty blowout could be because there was a lot of points. You like points? Watch the game. That's it. You know, we have a couple pieces to build around.

you know, go get another wide receiver, pair with him, and we're starting to cook a little bit. Got T.J. Hawkinson there. All right. Enough. Enough Lions talk. Let's move to Sunday night football. Hey, this is Matt Jones.

Now, I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining.

And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development

To team-building philosophies, coaching trends in how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you.

Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, Sunday night. From the 7, Dylan on the inside, Howard to the goal line. And in again. A.J. Dillon, Green Bay touchdown with elite. Too easy for the Green Bay Packers

where once again the number one seed in the NFC. They are once again 13 and 3 for the third straight year as they take out the Vikings without Kirk Cousins. 37 to 10 final score. As I said, the Packers with the win, clinched the NFC. Number one seed, that means they get the buy week. They get home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. And Mark, this one never felt like was even the slightest bit of doubt.

No, I mean, the game itself for the Vikings was just sort of doused in purposelessness because, you know, you've been reduced to a team without your quarterback, but I don't think it would have mattered if Kirk Cousins were there or not. The Packers right now are locked in, as you mentioned, they're the first team in league history to win 13 plus games in three straight seasons of those three teams. This is the one. I struggled to kind of buy into hot regular season.

I expect you to get knocked out in the playoffs. I don't feel that way at this at all. I think you look around the NFC right now, and I love teams like this that drop a bomb right before they start to rest players and get ready for their buy. Who wants to go into Green Bay? is the Cowboys who are a hot and cold operation. I mean, we like parts of them.

The Rams who you're praying like their quarterback doesn't have a bad turnover game. We don't know what we're getting from the Cardinals. And the Bucks team, the one that I thought might have been Kryptonite for Green Bay, just watch their best skill position player, march off the field with no shirt. So I think Green Bay is rounding into form at the most perfect possible time. Your quarterback is the MVP of the league. You have skill position players all over the place. The defense is solid enough.

This team right now has no excuses, and I don't mean that in a negative way. I just see their path as clear to the Super Bowl as it's ever been in the last five or six years. It was nice for them, though, to do this. I know Kirk wouldn't have made the difference, but to go into halftime with the yardage total, before that Vikings field goal drive, I believe was 290 to 30. It was like, okay, thank you, Packers, because the last three or four weeks, without these complete games, with letting the Ravens back in, with getting a little lucky, I believe, against the Browns.

I'm sure they wanted to play a cleaner game. Rogers was fantastic. If Tagura didn't drop that, you know, potential touchdown in the first quarter, he would, you know, Rogers would have had three touchdowns. Devonte Adams sets the Packers record. Everything's great, and they're not going to play a meaningful game for three weeks, which is always a little weird. But the next time they play, they'll either be like eight teams left

or there'll be six teams left or who knows. that's the next time the Packers will play a meaningful game and they might have a lot of players back, especially on the offensive line. That's the spot where I think they could get better where they've been short, you know, without Turner, without Myers and now without Bactiari, of course. Yeah, the Bactiari thing looms over everything. He was, you know, their best tackle and the best offensive lineman and he tore the ACL last January. If he came back, that would be a huge lift. And yeah, I agree that this feels of the three years, the year that they're the most set up here to get back to the Super Bowl.

They haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 2010 season, so they're obviously overdue. Rogers, even though it feels like he's going to be good forever. You don't know what his future is with the Packers. You know, Devante Adams' contract is up. They're over the cap significantly. So this particular team, the way it's constituted, like this is the team that needs to win two home games

and get to the Super Bowl. and I think they'll be a favorite in every game they play. Now, we'll get to all that in time. But I think it was just, it should be celebrated what they've been able to do this season, which is they started the season as ugly as it can get losing that game in Jacksonville to the Saints. Rogers threw two interceptions in that game. He threw two more over the next 16 weeks. That's just how crazy, 15 weeks, that's how crazy the season has been in terms of the offense

being mistake-free. They're so well coached. They didn't have a penalty in this game until the very end of the game. Jones and Dylan are a great one-two-punch. Adams is unbelievable. So, yeah, this team is set up well. We'll talk about the Vikings as well, Mark, down the road.

But you have to wonder, I thought it jumped out to me. I didn't know that stat that the Vikings haven't been above 500 at any point in a season for two years now when Vikings brass needs to decide whether to bring Mike Zimmer, that inconsistency. has to be, you know, put into the equation. Yeah, I mean, you were the team that kind of floated below Green Bay for so long, and I think that the acid test for any team, any coach in the NFC North,

is beating Green Bay, beating Aaron Rogers. And, you know, Zimmer's had a couple moments here and there, but you're right. Like, we've drawn entertainment from how close they hover to 500, how most of their games come down to the very end. But they've never really morphed into dominance. they've never really become that team. And it just feels like the end of the road for Zimmer

because of the amount of frustrating games. I kind of drew interest from that Bill Parcell's book that he shared with the announcing crew at the end where Barcells gave him a couple different tips about what it's like to be a coach. And if you aren't cut out for this, it's going to be real rough. The first two were no party, but the third one is just lonely. And sometimes when I look at Zimmer,

it does seem like you're trapped in a strange place as this Vikings coach. And I don't know how you really argue bringing him back for another year because I can't think of a team that has so many interesting parts but feels in need of a refresh in certain areas. But don't bring back,

don't get rid of Zimmer and then keep Kirk Cousins around because I don't care who you bring in. I don't know, maybe I'm more a pro-Zimmer guy than other people, but like, don't tell me that Mike Zimmer's the problem because I think ultimately cousins bears a huge responsibility

that they've been middling ever since the Minneapolis Miracle. They're an up and down operation. Cousins is an up and down quarterback. And it feels like to me, if you want to do a little quick post-mortem here, that that's as big an issue as any head coach malaise that they have. He's not on the field in this game

because he didn't get vaccinated. He must have slipped out of the cube. That's a problem. It's a tough one. It's like it is just like such a boring way for this to end, but almost so predictive. I mean, if you said this before the season, that Cousins gets COVID before they get hammered in week 17 on Sunday night football

for the Packers to get the one seat. It's just like too predictable. And it's a really tough one, Dan, because I, you know, I want to argue with you in terms of like Cousins versus Zimmer. But I think the answer is they're just, they're similar, you know, they're both a little better than average, actually. And that's why it's tough. I think Cousins is ahead of the Dalton line.

I think Zimmer is ahead of the Dalton line for coaches. And yet it's so obvious. that the two of them together in three out of the last four years have been underwhelming, having gotten their over under wind total, which is just a kind of a good way to look at, like, expectations, and it needs to change. And Spielman, who runs the show, really, precedes Zimmer by, I think,'s five or six years. So he's been there for 15 years. So it's a tough one because there's no easy answers.

My guess would be you do blow it up in that, yeah, Cousins is a trade. tradable piece in that if you get stuck with Cousins with the new coach, you can live with that, but you kind of go into the offseason seeing what a new coach or new GM wants to do with him. And I feel like Cousins actually is pretty darn movable. Zimmer and his three years before Cousins was there, you know, I don't know. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm just saying, I think he's a lot of floor of the year, by the way. I think that Zimmer was a above average coach, maybe a little bit more than that.

then Cousins comes in and all of a sudden that Cousins' mediocrity is draped over everything. And also, and I don't want to hear it on Twitter. People are like, oh, don't say that Cousins, you know, he got COVID because he's unvaccinated. I know everyone's getting COVID now. I understand that. But that hung over this team, the whole season, the fact that he was the starting quarterback, unvaccinated, and it did come and get them in a big spot here with the

season on the line. So it is what it is. I think Lefleur and Rogers might have... cemented their trophies. Now, Vrable might get coach of the year, I think, has a good chance. But Lefleur, man, I think he might get a lifetime achievement for that 13, you know, the 13 wins, three straight years. And I think he deserves it. And I know Burrow is the fun pick, and he might put up some numbers next week,

but I still would give it to Rogers or even cup. I would actually give it to Cup maybe over, over, if I had to vote. But you, like a three-pack, but you can't. So I'd give it to Rogers. To Dan's point, that's the third. third time in his career that he's thrown 500 plus attempts with four or fewer interceptions. He is the MVP. And to top what happened last year, I, you know, I would want to dock him a few points for, you know, six months of absurd offseason drama. But

that's gone at this point. He is the best player on the best team in football right now. I wonder if the, because it's such a, it seems like a closer race this year, I wonder if him not, and he's not going to play next week against the Lions for several reasons. But that inability to pat his stats and get up to 38, 39, 40 touchdowns, you know, whether voters will hold that against them even subconsciously, because 35 touchdowns in 2021 doesn't jump out out you like it did maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago. I think he won, for me at least, he won my theoretical vote in the first 8 to 10 games when he was managing those games almost like he was the coach, like even when the numbers

weren't popping off, he did the necessary place to win in each one of those weeks. and, like, he, like, calculates risks and avoids mistakes. So it was, like, making up for the guys that weren't gone. It was a great season. All right. Let's spin forward. Okay, so the Eagles did, they clinch a playoff spot in the NFC with the Vikings loss and the Packers win.

So the Eagles are officially in. The schedule for week 18, they dropped it. Chiefs, Broncos, and Cowboys Eagles will play on Saturday. The Sunday night game, as it should be, is Chargers versus Raiders, which is most likely going to be a win-in-in-in-in. in-game. So the playoffs start early. Any other final thoughts, gentlemen, before we say goodbye. The Eagles will probably rest their starters in that game, but they were in a tough spot, the NFL because they wanted to keep all the, I was thinking about, there's a lot to consider there.

They're playing the AFC East games all at the same time in the afternoon. They're playing in the Sunday afternoon, that is, the NFC West games at the same time, Sunday afternoon, and the Saints are being moved to the afternoon to that NFC wildcard spot. So basically the Sunday morning is all but dead. And so it was tricky. There wasn't any perfect choice, but I would guess the Eagles are probably got to rest their starters.

They're almost certainly going to play the Bucks or there's a very high percentage chance that it's Eagles at Bucks almost no matter what happens. I think Chiefs 40 Broncos 7 will be a real juicy piece of fruit to dig your teeth into on Saturday. At least that game has meaning, but you're right. It's not much of a game. And one last note, we watch the Vikings tonight.

The most famous Vikings loss of the last 30 years came at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1998 NFC championship game. The head coach of that Falcons team was Dan Reeves, who appeared in nine Super Bowls, nine as a player, assistant coach, head coach. He died at his home in Atlanta on Saturday. he was 77 years old. Reeves, you know, this comes right on the heels of John Madden, and this is another guy. Like, he's the face of an entire generation of football. He came into the league with the Cowboys and had a great playing career,

went into coaching, had that great run with the Broncos, obviously, that produced multiple Super Bowl appearances, went to Atlanta. Well, went to the Giants, had some success there in the post-Parsels era of that franchise. Then, of course, went to Atlanta. and got them to one of the more unlikely Super Bowl, making them one of the more unlikely Super Bowl teams ever. 200 wins in his NFL coaching career, including the postseason,

one of only nine coaches in NFL history with 200 wins. Rest in peace, Dan Reeves. I mean, Dan Reeves, I'll say one quick thing. Like when I became a football fan, he was paired at the hip with John Elway as I watched the drive, the fumble, and then two years later, a third AFC title game against Cleveland and in a blowout. And I was like, I really want to

dislike this guy more, but he's not, he's likable and there's something about him that kind of seem to come from a different world of coach, classy coach behavior. So I think he was just about as well-liked around the league as possible by players and the people that coached with him.

Dan Reeves. Okay. Thank you for listening. We're grinding through it. The whole world's grinding right now. we'll be back on Tuesday with another edition of around the NFL to make sure you're there for that as we begin to look ahead

towards an unprecedented event in the history of our league week 18 buckle up baby all right you excited Mark? I am you you know you forgot that

that big week 18 back in 1993 when they had a couple bye weeks remember that that was a fun time damn damn Yeah, but that also, that's different. That was two weeks off for every team and probably week off, you know, weeks off for various... Good little nugget there in a big spot there, Greg.

I deserve to be corrected there, and you did it. I was going to hold off if you just powered through, but then... No, no, that's good. I think it's important that we gave the listeners the correct information. This is not unprecedented. Week 18's back, baby, with a vengeance. All right. This is Dan Hansis, signing up for the old boss,

The Quiet Storm, the Grave Digger. taking shots behind that bulletproof glass. That's what the Titans are all about. That band base coming after everybody now in Ricky Hollywood. Until Tuesday, he'd the call. Hey, everybody, Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks.

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