OverDrive - OverDrive - January 23, 2026 - Hour 1 - Luke Willson

Episode Date: January 23, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Mitch Marner's return to Toronto against the Maple Leafs, the reception from the fans and the view in the matchup, Craig Berube's massive cut on his head and Anthony Stolarz's return to the lineup. TSN Football Analyst Luke Willson on the NFL conference championships, the Bills' head coaching search and NFL picks.

With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. This hour of overdrive is powered by Fanduil. Fandu, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.

All right, here we go, overdrive off and running TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker up on TSN4. course up on YouTube live Brian Hayes, you, Doug, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McLennan. What's going on? Well, what a night we're about to have in Toronto.

What a night we're about to have? What do you think, because there's been a lot of bouncing around, I think even Doogie, our crack staff producer, throughout a poll, what should happen? Cheer or boo?

I think it's going to be a lot of booes. And I just based that, on what happened in Vegas. Yeah, I think it should be booze. It's entertainment. Like, it's way more fun. Why wouldn't there be booze? Like, everyone's, you know, there's this big referendum, like, oh, but what about the person?

Mitch is a professional athlete. This is not a personal attack on Mitch Marta, the person. It's a sports figure coming back to a town. He left. He wanted to leave. There's a report that came out yesterday that would indicate two years ago, the guy was basically thinking, I might be out of here. There's more and more details about whether or not he was willing to take a trade before the trade deadline, right?

And waving or not waving or not waiving. And why would you not? If you have tickets to the game, isn't it more fun? Isn't it more entertaining? If it's just an electric atmosphere? I don't know. I've never, I don't. Of course you don't, because you guys are too cool.

I get it. You guys are too cool. You guys played the game. I get it. I've never gone to a sporting event and booed or cheer. Because you're too cool because you guys are out of place. Because I'm too cool. You're both too cool.

I get it. I think it's lunacy. No, it's not lunacy. I understand it. No, you don't. Clearly you don't. Your initial reaction was, I don't know. So what would you expect?

What would you want? I expected to be booed? I was here, let me finish. Here's what I think is going to happen. He's going to get booed every time he touched this puck. And I've had plenty of players. I play with Chris Pronger. We nicknamed him boo.

Mitch Miner is the villain tonight. I have no problem with it. I do believe. one thing. In the tribute video, maybe there should be some clops because he did give you nine years. So you can boo every other time, but do you believe there would be a tribute in the movie video? Who the hell can turn the switch off like that? Like vitriol and hatred and booing.

And then all of a sudden it's like, hang on a sec, for five minutes here, I'm going to just clap and be cordial. And then as soon as that video is over, I'm going to start booing again. honestly, as nice as people from Canada are, Toronto, I don't think that's going to happen. I don't think it's possible to do that. I've talked to a few leave fans that have said exactly that. Literally, it said exactly that. I am going to boo the hell out of them for the whole game, but during the video, that's why I brought that point up. Is that not what you think could happen?

I take some issue with like he gave nine years. He didn't go to prison for nine years. The guy was a leaf. He lived out a childhood dream and he got paid. an exorbitant amount of money, right? He didn't give, you know, yeah, he worked hard. He was a really good leaf. Like, he was a really good player.

He played for the team. He played for the team. Exactly. He wasn't forced into being a Maple Leaf for nine years. Listen, it was a childhood dream, and he played very well, you know, for the team for nine years. So I think there is probably some people of the fan base. Again, I'm not speaking for myself because I don't fall into that bucket. But I do believe there are people that would cheer him.

during that tribute. Yes. And I think they will boo the hell out of them, the rest. And again, I played on teams. We witnessed it with John Tavares going back to New York, the vitriol. I think there will be vitriol there tonight, and I have no problem with it. I just, I can't speak to it personally, Brian. I understand that.

Like, I'm not being too cool. I told him yesterday, I've never booed at a sporting event. He said, I'm too cool. I'm not too cool. I know you guys. I've never done it. But I've known you guys for a long time. You see it through the lens of the player.

as you should. I don't dispute that. You had the experience of being in the league. You were in the room when there were 20,000 people going crazy. I get where your viewpoint is. You can be in the room. You guys can speak to it and you look at it from a different angle. So I guess what I'm saying is, you know, I'm laying it on thick. You guys are too cool.

My point is I get why you two individually with your life experience wouldn't be in there starting the chance. But like I'm saying the 19,000 people. No, let me ask you, as a former O.A. Cheller and now broadcaster, if you went to the game, whatever your personal feelings are, would you boo or cheer? The answer is no. Well, I, again, I'm in a bit of a different place now because of what I do for a living. And, you know, I might be in the press box. I'm not going to be booing up there. I get it, Brian. You have personal feelings that are different than when you go home and your normal Brian Hayes.

Yes. If your feelings were vitriol towards Mitch Marner in hatred, and you're like, man, I really can't stand this guy. Would you go in that building and stand up and go? Sure. Yeah. Yeah, sure I would. Sure. But here's what I'm, I guess what I'm, I'm trying to point out the entertainment value of the experience tonight.

Yes, they heal. He's the heel. Yeah, I think it would actually be a lot of fun. Like, it's a memorable moment. Like, if everyone's on it, it's not that, again, it's not real hatred. You know, it's sports hate. It's not real. That's a great term.

It's sports hate. It's sports hate. You are on our team and you decided to not be on our team anymore. And there's a bunch of other things that you did in the middle of it that piss people off. And the one thing that kind of surprised me, I think we're talking about the same report, Brian. Elliot Friedman wrote something else. They might as well just allude to it. That's right.

It's like the entry-level signing bonus is still kind of putting a burn his saddle. It's like, what? Yeah, I think that and the fact that his agent reportedly said, well, we might be willing to look at a trade to the West, then that would indicate it wasn't about his personal life. It wasn't about, well, I can't leave because I have to be here. It was, I'll leave if I go somewhere I want to go, which spices up the rant and deal that much more for people.

We're like, wait a minute, really? So you were willing to go, but only if it was somewhere specific. Carolina. Yes, exactly, not Carolina. But it also puts a little bit of heat on the Leaf front office that you couldn't find a deal with someone in the West. You know, it was only ranting in, you know, and then it opens up the whole conversation would it have made sense?

They were going to win the division. They ended up beating Ottawa. They were in game seven of the second round. You know, it was a complicated deal to make because of the significance of it all and the cap and, you know, who he is and what he was, what role he played on the team. He was phenomenal during the season last year. The only time to move them was the summer before that, before it was no trade clause kit. Ultimately, that's the truth.

And they decided not to, and that's why they were in that position. I would love a truth serum bullet on that one to say who made the decision, because I guarantee you would have had those conversations to go, this guy's no trade is kicking in. We do have a window here. Are we keeping him and chancing that he's going to leave? or are we going to look at exploring options to moving away from the player just based on what could potentially happen.

Now, Brad Tree Living, I believe, was what, a month on the job before, you know, when did Tree Living? Yeah, it was a quick turnaround before the new movement kicked in. But somebody said, whether it was Tree Living or it was Shanahan or whatever, somebody said, no, we're keeping the band together. And they kept the band together. And does this not remind you about it? the Tavares thing looking back on it.

Like Tavaris was interviewed the whole year that year. Yeah. And he just said the same, but he would say in the same thing. Like, you know, this is where I want to be. This is where I want us to do. This is business. This is between my agent and the GM. And then he's wearing pajamas.

And, you know, and there's a picture. So that's what I thought about today. And, Brian, it's funny because I wanted your opinion on it because you're right. We have, we all three of us have differing opinions on it. New York is very, can be cutthroat. Yes. And we saw the treatment that John Tavaris got. Yes.

The first time. That was extreme. I thought it was very extreme. That was extreme reactions. So where do you think tonight would fall? Like 60% of that, 50% of that? Yeah, I don't think it's going to be nearly as crazy at all. I mean, I'm, you know, it's just a different crowd.

It's a different city. You know, Marner, it's a bit of a different story because, you know, a hometown and all that kind of stuff. And the belief was also when John left, like, oh-oh, he left them in the dust. Like, the Islanders weren't that good, right? And it was like, this is our guy. This is our captain. First overall pick. The whole marketing campaign revolves around him and see you later. Marner, you know, they're, he rolls through town when they're three points out of the playoffs, right? So those arguing they can't do it without them, you know, are probably emboldened today because of the position they're in. And I think that's another thing I guess I'm driving out here.

and I'm probably asking for too much because this building has been around for 26 years and we know the way it is. We know the way it is. But it's always been the chicken of the egg. Do the players have to get the crowd into it? Does the crowd have to get the players into it? This should be a layup for the crowd to be rocking

to get the players in. And I think it's imperative because if you'll recall, when Tavaris went back, the Islanders pumped the Maple Leafs. This is a chance. As much as it was last Friday, or last Thursday, I think it was, when the lease were in Vegas.

This is the one, if these players care at all about their fans, I know they're going to try, you've got to win tonight. You've got to do this because that Islander team was flying. They were hitting everyone, and the Leafs went into a shell. It's actually the first sign of, uh-oh, this may not be good. These guys may not be wired for prime time when they went down to the island because they were a really good team in 18, really good, and they got pumped and they got ran out of the building.

And Vegas is really good, and they're going to show up tonight. They're probably pissed about losing last night. but if you care at all about your fans, the way you always pay lip service to it, come out flying, you've got to win tonight if you're the leaves. You've got to. It's imperative you pick up two points. You've got to be flying because if they are,

if they look off at all. If they choke this one away, this will be very difficult for them to, I think, explain. Exactly. And I think you can't get up for this game. They better be flying tonight. And you talked about,

the crowd and we usually talk about, I mean, it's Friday night, everybody should be feeling good about themselves. Yep. I think for one of the first times, like, there's usually a buzz and warm up where people, you know, they get down by the glass and they want to see their favorite player and they want to offer somebody candy and throw a puck or what, but I think it'll be packed for warm up and the booze will start immediately. Like I think there's going to be an atmosphere in there.

It's just one of those things that for whatever really. reason, they watch this guy every night, and they can't wait to see him skate on the ice for some reason in a different uniform. They just want to see it. Different number, different uniform. Everything. The anticipation is huge. My second highest anticipation, did somebody take an axe to Craig Barubis's head?

What a look? What the hell is going on? Dude, Craig Barrowe. It's a moriousalming cut. It is outrageous the picture. Like, I thought it was AI. I thought it was, like, I don't know what's happened. Well, he, oh, my God.

Did he drop a barbell on his forehead? When he took that picture, like, when he lifted his hat up, that looks like somebody, like, he had a lobotomy. Yeah. They've cut into his head. Frankenstein. The skin back. And, exactly. Yeah.

They're using skate laces for stitches. Right. That's how big it is. Like, I love Chief. And, like I said, I played with him. I know him personally in that. I don't care. He is the toughest human on Earth.

That had to hurt. I'm sorry. Dude, there is no space for stitches in a forehead. Nothing. Grab your forehead. There's nothing there. Yeah. You have to sew into the scalp.

Basically, your skull is being touched. I don't know why I'm laughing. I'm just like I'm staring at a picture of it right now. Yes. And all I can think of is when he lifted his hat up, I was more. my God. That's one of those ones where people grab their chest and they're like, oh my God, dude. That, like, that is either. That's after it's been cleaned up, Brian.

Yes. That would have been an absolute scene. Like he said it was in the weight room. So, you know, that looks like a tilt and someone had a bat or something because it was crazy. Dude, that's a boreasolming skate to the forehead. Remember Boria's cut that went across his cheek? Right through his, right under his eye, man. So close to his eyes. Okay, so tonight, I'm just, again, little tongue in cheek. He's wearing a suit. He can't wear a hat. What about a fedora?

What about a fedora? What a hat on him tonight? I'm sorry, you can't be behind the bench looking like that. Or maybe you can't be scaring everybody, staring at everybody. I think when you look back at your coach with 75 zips on his forehead, you're motivated to play well and play hard. I agree. Can you imagine you go back and you bail out of a hit and you go.

skate to the bench and that's staring at you this guy's your coach has 75 zippers on his forehead yeah and that black guy's going to get worse right because it probably just happened yeah like we saw him yesterday and it wasn't there so it was last night or this morning that happened and the his eyes are going to sink he is terrifying stuff i saw that picture an hour ago because i i heard i was reading online it's like ah you know the bruby unveiled the the cut he had on his forehead when I saw that picture, like, it stopped me. It actually stopped me. Yeah.

And, you know, the Mitch Marner talk, obviously, we're going to talk about it for two hours here. The Barubi cut, there could be a 30 for 30 on that cut. 100%. Like, it's either you're lifting and it falls on you, which is terrifying. Terrifying. Maybe he tripped. I know, but, dude, lifting what? Like, what kind of weight exercise? Yeah.

I think it feels like a trip, right? Like there's someone's left a weight on the ground. You hit it and you just went face first right into a piece of equipment. Wow. And that is going to be something tonight. But I think if he rocks the fedora, at least win six nothing tonight. I really do.

If he comes out though with a bandage on his head wrapped around like a white bandage, the full head scarf or whatever it is, that the full head like bandage, the mummy. Dude. That would be. Craig Barouba as a mummy tonight. The Leaves win 10-0. Podora at 6.

He can't do mummy. Like, I don't even think you could give the pre-game speech with like a monster band-aid that covered your whole forehead. I think, guys. The Band-Aid, oh, would have to be the size of a piece of bread. I know. And if you walk in to give a pre-game speech with a 10-by-20 band-aid on your forehead. He's just like this. Talk to the media.

All right, boys. We got a big one tonight. Mitch is back. How could you possibly get through that? You can't. I don't think you could. Play in your structure. Play in your structure.

Play hard. High and hard when need be. Protect the front of the net. Let's get after it tonight. He's so tough. He looks so tough. It reminds me of Pat to Quinn. Remember when Pat Quinn took multiple pucks to the face?

I watched it. I saw Pat on the bench. Crazy, man. He looked so tough. He still looks so tough. of. Yeah. The first black guy he had, and then he's like, I'll never forget.

It was a face off right in front of our bench in Detroit, and the ref wouldn't put the puck down, and he's like, come on, Lainty, get him squared up, and then he's like, ah! He goes, ah, again. And then the next day, he's got two black eyes. Come on, Lainty, get him lined up. God, damn it. Come on, Liny.

You knew he didn't know his name. No chance he knew his name. Look at Pat Quinn there. Look how tough he looks. He could still beat the hell out of 95% of the league. That is a picture of a man that's coaching. Yeah. When you think about it, the Leafs have had some pretty tough coaches throughout the years.

Yes. Old school, tough coaches. Mike Brophy back in the day. Was it John Brofe? John Brofe. John Brofe. Mike is the hockey news. Yes, of course.

Mike Brofey from the hockey news, of course. John Brokey. He was a glad garbage man. He had the white hair. He had the one time he shot a puck at me. Literally, I was in the stands. He shot a puck at me because I was standing watching his practice. We were playing his team in the minors,

and he didn't like that I was standing there before practice, so he shot a puck at me. Famously tough in the East Coast, apparently. I think he was in the East Coast hockey league. Hampton Roads he was with. Like 400 penalty minutes a year. Yeah, great. Yeah, they had some tough guy. Randy Carlisle, man.

Randy was tough. Yeah. And obviously Pat Quinn and Craig Barube, but yeah, what's crazy is we got Marner, we got Barube, and out of nowhere, Stollars is playing tonight. What do you make of this? I was shocked. What was his conditioning stint? Twelve hours?

Never played. Went down there and skated practice. I guess came back and said I'm good. Well, listen, Aiden Hill, it was it nine days ago? Aiden Hill came back from an injury and played against the Leafs. That's the only. thing I could think of is Stolars is ready to go. You've got to play at some point. It's been since November 11th. So what is that? Three months. My math is poor, but I believe it's two, two months.

Two months, just over two months. Sorry. Over two months. And listen, you got to get back in the rotation. And, you know, it's a home start. I don't know. That came out of left field for me. I was quite surprised. Listen, I think, again, there's a real opportunity. for the goaltending. Now, if he can come back and be 100% and fresh and hot, this could be a huge jolt for them. Huge, yeah. Because Wall has played a lot.

He's played really well. Like, he played well the other night against Detroit, really well. The previous two games, you could see starting to leak oil a little bit. With Hildaby, Hilderby's been really good. I think their viewpoint would be, okay, we got the most we can get out of them. Let's not push him too far where it falls off a cliff.

Maybe he can also go back in there. I heard Jamie talk about a couple weeks ago. I don't know if it was on that. So probably on this show, might be a three-man rotation. If you need that hill to be to go in and do some spot duty, the only thing is they're going to most likely be, they are going to be, must-win games. Yes.

So it's not just spot duty like, hey, we're on the island back-to-back. You want to fly in there and wheel out there and play. You've got to win. Well, lost in all of this, like you said, the Mitch Marner booing, the baruby axe in the head, whatever that is. I don't know. Lost in all of this? you need points.

What are you laughing at it? Brian's laughing at it. Somebody sent him a picture, I guarantee you. Someone sent me a picture. Do you remember Dana Carvey, massive head wound Harry on SNL? I do remember. Massive head wound Harry. It was a great skit on SNL back in the 80s.

And someone sent me a picture of it. It's just completely throw me off. My apologies. What could possibly be a skit with a guy with a massive head? I'm looking at a picture of it right now. It's outrageous. It was crazy back then. It was a great clip.

We got to find it. But anyway, Stollars. Yeah, listen, they might go Stolars Hill to be Wall. They might. They got seven games. We talked about yesterday. And you've lost two in a row. Yes, you got a point against Detroit.

But look at last night. Buffalo won again. Florida one. Detroit got a point in mini. That's a really good back-to-back for them. Like really good. They go to Minnesota. That was a tough trip.

Really tough trip. And they find a way to get a point. You know, these teams, they're just going to keep cooking. Boston won again. Boston B Vegas. So you've got the five teams in front of you. There's this monster in Florida behind you. You call the Ottawa game. I can't believe Stamcoast. I can't believe they lost that game.

It was three Cobb and they were playing very, very well. I woke up at 6 o'clock in the morning. I text Jamie and I said I turned it off. I couldn't believe I can't believe they lost that game. It fell apart. It fell apart. And Stamcoast has 24 goals. I know. Crazy. Going into the game yesterday, we talked to Andrew Brunette yesterday morning, and I asked him, I said, you know, how's Stamco's been?

He goes, the reason we've had our resurgence is basically on him. And Yossi playing, Yosey came off of an injury, and Yossi is now up to speed. He goes, our secondary scoring, we know what O'Reilly's going to give. We know what Foresberg's going to give. He goes, Stamco's has been unbelievable the last like six. weeks and he goes, look at our, they're 16 and 8, I believe. Yeah, they're in the hunt now. They're one point out of the playoff spot, but now they, you know, they're in that

mix with L.A., Anaheim, all of those teams, right? You know, fighting for a playoffs spot. Seattle, San Luis. Yeah. But at the end of the day, Ottawa, I was found somebody today. I can think of three or four games where they've at least were cruising to a point and they've lost it. Like there was New York Islanders, they lost with a minute left.

Dallas, they lost with 28 seconds left. Last night was a buck 13 that Stamco scored that goal. Those are points that if you miss the playoffs, you circle three or four games and go. There's your issue. That's it. You're right. And it's unfortunate, and it doesn't get easier. They're playing Carolina, Colorado back to back this weekend.

Oh, man. So, you know. Yeah, listen, everyone's in one. It's tough. And if you're on the outside looking in, and, you know, for the leaves, you got Stollars back. Yeah. You got a big, it looks like they've avoided the injury bug for the most part. Eckman-Larsen likely to go.

Carlo, likely to go. That's big. But you got to, you got to get points. Like if you're 1 and 6, the next 7, you're done. Obviously, if you're 0.7, you're finished. You'll be 8, 9 points out. You're done. So you've got to get through the next seven games, Vegas tonight, Colorado, Colorado, Sunday, Buffalo, Tuesday at home.

You got to find a way to get points. and it's a big one tonight. So, moron stole us return, what we can expect out of him and what this goaltending situation might look like. Mike Johnson coming up later this afternoon. Luke is coming up. Alex Brothers coming up. These two are so annoying to deal with.

I had a good chat with Luke today. It's so aggravating. Well, I haven't seen what's been happening this week as far as you guys fighting with him or not, but he is quite confident. He should be. You guys are seeing the board. You guys are perfect.

We're three and two, and we're scrambling. here and you guys are perfect on your picks i found out's brother to be a little bit unbearable today it's too much he's in your face being a hero and yeah he's just like i don't know i had enough of him today he's got a lot of info but sometimes it's too much and he's a little bit too pushy for my liking i'm all and this is all i'm all over the map here because i got to make the call and these two are not seeing eye to eye and it's your job if you're going to run the show you take all the information and you got to do what you feels best for the team all right coach done all right done All right, Luke coming up,

Alice Brother coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start.

Search corporate traveler today. The MPHL playoff race titans as the push begins February 13th. In the north, the Iron Man and Blitz are fighting for positioning. In the south, the killer bees, jets, and Bluebirds battle through a crowded standings. Every shift now carries playoff weight.

All right, Melodin Friday, brought you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar this January at BP get delicious, mouthwatering pasta starting at 1199 every single day. Enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss, hustle on your local BP tonight. Great night for Boston Pizza.

Great Sunday for Boston Pizza? Yes, yes. We've got the NFL games and then Lease Avalanche at night. Like, what a, what a scene it's going to be on Sunday. But this week has been obviously preparing for the championship round, but also the bills and the press conference earlier in the week. And you guys see the report today?

They're going to interview Philip Rivers for the head coaching job. I'm telling you, man, I said it the other day and some goon on Twitter started giving it to me saying, because basically my point was, I said it on the radio and he made a comment on Twitter. I was like, if you're letting Josh Allen be a part of this. process, you're basically letting him pick the coach. Like, I'm sorry. What are you going to do?

Take all of his input and then pick the guy that he liked the least? What is that going to say? What purpose does that serve having them in these meetings? It's just like, Jamie, you mention all the time, you played with Chris Pronger, you played with Jerome. If they were in meetings for the coach, I'm pretty sure that the guy that they liked the best, the GM would pick as the coach. I think when you have star players, certainly.

You know, back then, I believe, I'm sure it happens today now, too. There is some input from the guys that, you know, you think Josh, you don't think they would go to Josh Allen and be like, who would you like? I know, but Jamie, bringing the guy on the bird to partake in the boardroom meetings. I've never heard of anything like that, man. That is a new level. Okay. Well, let's bring in Luke and see what he has to say about this.

Here he is. Luke Wilson, joining us here on Overdrive. Luke, place yourself, I guess, on the bills, all right? You're playing for the Buffalo Bills, and you hear. hear that Josh Allen is going to be heavily involved in the next coaching hiring. How would you feel about that? As a player, I mean, I like it, but that could mean a lot of things. You know, we're like reading into it a lot, I feel like.

Mainly, you know, it's like, hey, I'm in these meetings and it's Josh can be like, I really dislike one of these coaches. I find that hard to believe, especially because he's going to have relationships with some of these guys for sure. But this isn't really like college or like youth sports where you're like selling the dream. You know, it's like, oh man, if I come here, I'm going to make you a what, an MVP? Josh has already got MVP. So I think it's being a little bit blown out of proportion, more so just like, hey, you know, and even if I was Josh, I don't know if I'd be standing on table demanding that I get a certain,

coach. It's everything about this process. What about if he comes back into the locker room, and regardless of what you think of Brandon Bean, he comes in and says, guys, you should see this bozo being in some of these meetings. He doesn't know what the hell is going on. It's just not a good scene.

It's not a good scene regardless of how good your player is to be involved in some of this stuff. I agree. And again, this is where it's like weird when he's going to be involved. You know, as unhinged as the, the Scotty interview was talking about, you know, the players and this going to the Ravens when he was like, they'll have input, but they won't have power. I don't know if you guys remember him saying that line.

That's kind of more so where I see this whole thing going. Again, at the end of the day, like Josh isn't writing the coach is checked. Josh isn't on a day-to-day communication, you know, with regards to the roster with Brandon Bean. So I definitely think it's important that he has input. it's comfortable and likes the idea, but I don't really know if I would let anyone, let alone Josh or anyone, drive the bus on what should and shouldn't be done at that level. What do you make of Philip Rivers getting an interview?

Is that coach for the bills? Wild. Wild. Wild. You know, and again, that's one where I don't know, Philip. I didn't cross past him. He did beat us one year, so that's fair. You know, tip your cap to him there. I just think that there's a pretty big step before assuming a head coaching job in the NFL, you know, in the sense of as players, and I've seen this at a million times smaller level,

but it's like as players, my job in there is to like learn my playbook, understand what's going on. I didn't really care what the DB coach is preaching. I didn't really care about, you know, what coverage our defense is running this week, things like that. And then all of a sudden it's like, if you're the head guy, like you are responsible for what your defensive quality control coach is putting together.

You know, you are responsible for these things. So that's a big job. But as far as offensive football goes, I really think it'd be a great fit. I just, again, I almost wonder for Philip Rivers' sake, if he would want to be a coordinator for a head coach to make sure he kind of something he wants to do. Right. Yeah. And like, I just wonder also who's left. you know, I guess Mike McDaniel, who just got announced as the OC in L.A.

is going to still take an interview with the bills, which I've heard. Very strange. Don't you think you're taking a job? But like, hey, I might go and take this job instead. Yeah, that seems really strange. And you know where I stand on McDaniel in Buffalo and Western New York. It is a new stadium. Maybe it'll be warmer in there.

But I don't know, man. I just don't love the options the bills have right now. Yeah. It is strange because I would argue that it's the most coveted job. you know and seemingly they have gone a completely different direction and again some of the bigger names have obviously accepted jobs elsewhere but i really don't think the roster's that far away you know obviously you look at the the past few years they've been knocking on the doorstep here Josh is a year moved from an MVP and i believe they announced that he was in the top five this year for MVP i believe that came out the other day yeah it was so it's like

you've got an MVP at quarterback and you've got a run game that was the best in the NFL, that's including the offensive line. Again, offensively, I don't think you're that many pieces away. You're probably a receiver or two away. And then defensively, you know, they were kind of middle of the road, not a great run-stopping defense. But again, like you're not that many pieces away. So I'm surprised it hasn't been, you know, the first domino in this whole coaching carousel to go

because more people would want to be there. Well, this is a guy that we have breaking news here. Al's Brother is actually in line to interview for the coaching job in Buffalo. Oh, yeah? That's why his video's not working. He's currently, I think, at one Bill's drive right now. And do we have Elsbrother or no? There he is.

A.B., did you meet with Brandon B? What did you think of Jerry Pagula? Did your meeting go well or what? Yeah, you know, we're in good gracious. I made sure to throw a couple guys under the, the bus. I know he's into those things, so I made sure to do that. Made him know that those picks that have gone wrong over the last couple of weeks, not my fault. Not my fault.

Good man. O'Dog wanted those guys, and we went with them. Not my fault. But it's okay, because going forward, I think we're going to be making some right. Is that right picks? I'm excited for the weekend. Is that correct, O'Dong? All I got to say is I love all you guys, but next year, the super team will be formed.

The Super Team, Ows Brothers' commentary. today. It stressed me out. It's stressed me out. It's overbearing. He's like that. You know what he is? He's that AGM that will backstab the GM to take his job. That's what he does. And that's what he's like. And I had enough of it today. But until the end of this season, we're teammates. And we have a real opportunity to have a big weekend. If I wasn't being humble, I'm being humble so I wouldn't say this, but I would call out of brother scumbag for that comment. But I'm being humble. You're too humble to say that. Humble guy.

Yeah, this is what I'm dealing with. We have a magical season on our hands, and I have a mutiny between these two buffoons. You've got to be careful that, Hayes. Noodles. Both of them see the world differently. One's up, one's down. I know. It's just, it's absurd.

Okay, well, let us know what your decision is as far as who's doing what's game. Tell us. We've got to figure this out on the fly here, because there's only two games. who do you guys feel more adamant? Which game do you feel more adamant about? Because I think we're in line in terms of who we would pick in each game. Al's brother, you've been here the longest. No, no, let me just throw this in there.

I've already spoken to you on the phone. Al's brother, you can say your piece, and then, Brian, you've got to pick the game. Be a grown man. Go ahead. So here's my concern is the harder game for me is Ram Seahawks. I think that's the one that's more difficult. that's one where like I got a slight lean, you know, maybe we see things differently, the O'Dag and I, in that one.

So I feel like maybe that's where we give Luke the play, allow him to decide, do I want to roll with my guy, Maddie Stafford, or with my Seattle Seahawks? I think it'll be a difficult game for him to kind of sit there and look at. So the one that I think that we probably should go with is Patriots and Broncos. And I think we're starting to get on board here. I think that we can find an understanding between the three of us on someone to take in this game. Okay, and the line is minus four and a half. Still right on Fandau.

Minus four and a half pats on the road. Is that right, Dugie? Yes, okay. Thank you. And you guys, I believe, see this similarly, right? I know you do, oh, you've made yourself very clear here where you stand, right? You want to jump in and quickly point out before I was brother throws in some tremendous information. I don't want any pouting.

I talk to you for half an hour on the phone today. You know where I stand on all the games. I told you you have to just show some stones and you have to make the call. Go ahead, Al's brother. Tremendous information on that game because we're going to lock in this game and we're going to give them the Rams and the Seahawks game. Go ahead, Al's brother. So I think for this one, I think we can lock in the Patriots, guys. I think we can lock in the Patriots.

I don't want a big brain this one. I don't want a big brain. And I know he's satisfied. He's happy. I knew he would take the Broncos. But do we really want to roll with Jared's stuff? did him over Drake May. I almost big-brained it, but then I started to think to myself, why would we do that?

And when you look at the numbers, guys, it really does start to side with the New England Patriots. Like Drake May, last week aside, amazing under pressure. Let the NFL in yards, completions, touchdowns, and quarterback rating. So even if Denver decides to put some pressure on these guys, I still think that he'll be able to bounce back. The Patriots great on the road this year, undefeated, eight no on the road. So they're going into mile high, feeling good, 7-1 against a spread. The Broncos, they're 500 against a spread in their last 10 games overall.

And here's the kicker for what really kind of has me leaning patriots now. Salivating, we'll call it. Salivating, we're salivating, we'll say, sure. And you just look at how Denver won a lot of their football games. A lot of comfort behind victories. They had an NFL record 12 wins coming from behind, which means Bo Nix had to do some special things. Sure, the defense came up,

as well to get some turnovers and some big fourth down stops. But I believe in this offense of the Patriots, and you look at what they're able to do in the first half of games this year, number one offense in all of football, averaging 17 points per game. If they can continue to put up points early, I don't think they'll let it slip away. And I don't see the Denver Broncos led by Jarrett Stidham, who has four starts in his NFL career,

eight interceptions in those starts, being able to lead the Denver Broncos. Broncos to another come from behind victory. I think the Patriots get up early and continue to put the kind of pedal to the metal. I think they have an opportunity to kind of run away with this thing. I think Patriots should be the play. All right. Oh, where do you stand on it?

My thoughts are when you hear people like my old Parsi there talk about this matchup, no one is really given consideration into Drake May being awesome. Everyone's like, oh, he's young, he's this and that. maybe he's going to be dynamite, and maybe he's comfortable now, and maybe he's just going to dominate a football game. Everybody, all I've heard from the likes of my Parsi over there is this guy's young, crack under pressure,

if they get to him this and get to them. Maybe he's just going to dominate, and that's exactly what I want to see. All right. There ain't no, I believe, on the road this year, to the Patriots. They love to travel, man. Hey, he's locking in.

We're locking in the Pats, locking in the Patriots, laying the points on the road. Lock of the century. Lock of the century. Locking in the Patriots. Parti, do you have any feelings on what we just described there? Like, honestly, without being humble.

Honestly, I like the paths to win, but four and a half in an AFC championship game is you guys are criminally insane. There's no logic. Everything that Al's brother just said might have been, I mean, just disgusting. trust in me. It was so useless. Okay.

These, the idea that you guys just gave us. Yeah, exactly. Everything you just said. The idea of you guys just gave us four and a half points while Denver is at home. Okay. Recency bias here. What happened last week? You could not protect Drake May.

I love Drake May. I think the guy is, could potentially win MVP. But you can't protect them. And I got bad news. you don't have the same run game as Buffalo. So I'm just comparing the Houston defense, excuse me, the Denver defense of Buffalo. So it's like you've got a better all-around pass rush

in Denver's front seven. And I do think they're going to run the ball well with Stevenson, but not as well as Cook ran against them. This has field goal game written all over it. You got a great coach in Sean Payton. Stidham is a veteran guy who has been there for a while. He just needs to scheme up play. Again, I like to have to have done, though.

Easier. I've seen that from... Four and a half points. I hear you, dude. Come on. Here's the thing with Stimbing. You guys are in shambles. Here's the thing with sit him.

He hasn't thrown a football at a meaningful game against first-ring offenses since 23. Yeah. We're in 2026. I think it's really substantial. You don't think Sean Payton knows that? But what does that mean? They don't have what, RJ Harvey, Harvey's going to get 35 touches?

What is he Barry Sanders in his crime? Absolutely not, but we scheme this up. Hey, this is going to be a possession game all day. All day. No, I think it's the right play. They'll take their shots and they need it. I think Jerry Statham throws picks and absolutely soils himself. I think he's trash.

Yeah, well, we'll see. We'll see. All right, well, anyway. It's weird, boys, because at Al's, bro, maybe you can explain that if this is so easy, why is the plus four and a half minus 120? It's a trap. It's a trap. It's a trap.

People think that the Denver Broncos is going to keep this a close game, but it's not going to happen. I think people are big-braining this one, and we're not going to stand for it, and we're not going to do it. One of the piece of information that I got here since week 10 onward, the Patriots defense ranks 7th and weighted DVOA, which is adjusted for strength of opponent, which is actually better than what the Broncos have been able to do defensively in the same 10-game stretch here. I believe they rank 12th. So defensively, the Patriots have been playing a lot better in the back half of the season,

ranking 7th in the league, and the Broncos 12th in the back half of the season. So you couple that with the fact that they got the number one offense in the NFL. I really do think that the Patriots can run away with this one. Thank you. There's Billy Madison. We all is from medicine. They had to reach into the stat of DVOA since week 10. All right.

Eric, Eric, you're on the clock now. Eric. The whole world is big-braining this. Not us. Not you guys. We small-brain things. All right. Ram, Seahawks laying two and a half.

Go ahead. well uh very very tough matchup very tough matchup you guys definitely stuck us with the harder game um as you guys know i'm a big believer in the seahawks team a seawks organization john snider that's my guy yeah that being said we're taking the rams noodles and i noodles and i had this discussion we did talk about it today two and a half points we talked about today, and I think the Seahawks probably could win this game, but I like it just like the last one.

3837 was the last one. It's a one pointer, boys. This is too close to call. And before we jump on, I want to talk about big braining, because I'm sure you guys went on Twitter and everyone's saying, oh, Seattle's the best team ever. I saw that today. You look at some of Seattle's last games.

They have a two-point win against Philip Rivers, the future head coach of the Bills, at home. They have a one-point win. They had no business. winning statistically should have been nowhere near winning that game against the Rams. What about trashing the 49ers, dude? The 49ers defensively are absolutely junk. They've been junk.

They were able to stop the 49ers, and that's the thing. The two dominant wins are the last two games they played against a team that is playing guys that have been there for two weeks. Again, I like Seattle here, but if you're going to give me two and a half points, I'd like this to be one of those things where, It's a last second field goal to win by one either way. I had to take the points. It's that close to me.

I think Seattle wins. I think it's, again, I'm betting it's under three points. No. I love it. I love it. Listen, Donald scares me. He still terrifies me. But the Rams defense down the stretch gave up a lot of points.

Last week it was, you know, they got cooked by Carolina. Last week was about the weather. The weather was crazy. Caleb couldn't get going. You know, this Seahawks team, they're rested, they're ready to go. They're going to punish me. Matt Stoffer, too. They're going to hit him and they're going to make him feel it.

I like this. I think worked out the way we wanted it to, right? Exactly. This is exactly the scenario we dreamed up where we get both of our selection. Small-deven-five. Small-braided all the way to 75. The feeling's mutual. All right. The feeling is mutual, boys. If you would have given any other game,

I was taking Denver 10 times out of 10. That to me was the lay-up of the week. Okay. It all worked out beautifully for everybody. How about that? The picks are in. HBO? laying the points, New England 4 and a half at Denver. Nudelson, taking the points,

Rams, 2 and a half in Seattle. What a matchup we have on Sunday. And then it's off to the Super Bowl. And that's what I'm going. Can I ask you guys a quick question? Can I ask you a quick question. Go ahead. Do you guys feel like this is a must-sweep weekend for you guys?

Pretty close to it. Yeah. It's close. 7-5, we're right. If it's 9-3, we're in big trouble. 7-5 we're right there. Yeah. 9-3, you're in 9-3-your-cook.

8-4. It's 8-4. 9-3, we're in big trouble. Big trouble. We'll hit the Patriots pick. I think we'll hit the Patriots pick. I'm not really worried about that one. Promise me when we get to the Super Bowl, though, there's not a bunch of, like, junk.

Oh, it's props. And there are tons of points on line. But I'm saying, you know what it's like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, we're not doing that. Yeah. We're not doing, you know, the color of the Gatorade for five points. None of that stuff.

It's legit. Like, two points for the brains. Two points for the spread, two points for the total. That's been established, and then every prop is worth a point. So there's a lot on the line. It's like singles at the Ryder Cup. And we might be trailing, but I think we can come out hot, man. Miracle at Medina.

I think it'll be the miracle of Medina. That's probably what it's going to be. Well, I think it might be, right? It better be something. Oh, you can be my Justin Leonard. You will be my Justin Leonard. You're my Martin Kimer. Noodles.

Puking all over himself. I appreciate the trust noodles. All right, boys. Hey, we'll just say. Brother and Hayes, stay humble. Stay humble, boys. Stay humble. All the way through, all the way to the Super Bowl. We stay humble. That's our saying. We've always said that. All right, boys. We'll catch you guys later.

House Brother and Luke Wilson joining us. All right. Mike Johnson coming up in about 15 minutes. Back into Leaves Golden Knights tonight, which you can hear right here on TSM Radio. Anthony Stolars is back, and he's starting tonight. We'll get into that. We'll get into what went on around the NHL last night. A bunch of rumors out there. The NFL weekend's going to be wild. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSNF.

With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. The MPHL playoff race titans as the push begins February 13th. In the north, the Iron Man and Blitz are fighting for positioning.

In the south, the killer bees, jets, Irish, and bluebirds battle through a crowded standing. Every shift now carries playoff weight. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. This January at BP get delicious mouth-watering pasta starting at 1199 every single day. Enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss. Hustling your local BP tonight. All right, overdrive continues powered by Fanduel, bringing you more ways to play your game your way. Best bets next hour.

Mike Johnson coming up. The Oilers losing last night. Two games in a row. McDavid without a point. I believe that's the first time that's happening them all year. It's like shocking when this guy doesn't dominate. Well, he was pissed to.

Some weird stuff in the net, too. They were down three nothing, three minutes into the game. Three shots. And I don't think Jari was scheduled to start yesterday. I think it was Ingram and then something happened. But if you look at the fifth goal against Malkins, did you see McDavid?

He was choked at himself. Yeah, he was mad after. I appreciate out. He was like, if I better, were better. You know, like he took it on the chin. It was great leadership. And Sid looked great, man. The pens keep winning. So more on that, into the next hour. And Leaves Golden Knights to Nights.

Overdrive continues. TSN-1050 and up on YouTube live. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fanduel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Introducing Brian Adams Radio on I-Heart Radio. Hosted by Brian Adams himself. Join me for an insider look on a wild ride through 40 years of global rock and roll. Brian Adams Radio.

Now available on the free IHart Radio app. Or ask your smart speaker to play Brian Adams Radio on IHart Radio. Who's ready to rock? Oh, kids want to rock.