OverDrive - OverDrive - January 9, 2026 - Hour 1 - Luke Willson

Episode Date: January 9, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the latest updates on the Olympic hockey rink in Milan, Dennis Hildeby’s stellar goaltending for the Leafs on their latest stretch, and the importance of Toronto coming out strong against a struggling Vancouver Canucks squad. TSN Football Analyst Luke Willson joins to preview a jam-packed Wild Card Weekend, the realistic contenders for the Super Bowl this postseason, and finally, HBO and Noodleson restart their NFL picks for the playoffs, starting with the six-game slate this weekend.

Let's face it, everyone can use a little help in better understanding their technology. Each week, technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Saltzman, breaks down geek speak, into street speak, on Tech Talk. Learn about the latest tech trends in plain English and how it can enhance and enrich your life. Tech Talk, hosted by Mark Saltzman, Sundays at 5 p.m. on News Talk 1010. Gear up for your next adventure with Tech Talk and the 26 Chevrolet Silverado EV, offering up to 793 kilometers of available estimated range on a full charge. This hour of overdrive is powered by Fandul.

Fan Duel, 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 TSN 4 and 5. Brian Hasey, O'Dog, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClinnell. It's going on, guys. How we feel? We got you in a cough. I thought you're choking out noodles to start the show there, by it.

I've had this cough. I don't know if I told you, Hasey, when you and I did the show, the other day. I planned my sicknesses. Like, you know, I've grinded right till Christmas, and then I was like, okay, now I can get sick. And the body shut down for a couple weeks. It won't go away. I've had this, like, chest cough and phlegm, and I think everybody's sick. I'm not going to sit here.

And, you know, so everyone's feeling it. But, yes, every once in a while, I've got to go on the mute because I'm going to be coughing up a lung here. But it's, yeah, it's just on a greasy plane. Oh, I got you. I love it. Planning and illness. I love that. And I know what you mean because you're right.

You're right. You're going to a trip. You're like, right, I got to get there. I got to be okay. Yeah, yeah. You know, I got to find a way to get around that. Do I have two or three weeks where I got nothing going on? Boom.

Down. Exactly. You know where else there's an illness? The hockey rink in Italy has an illness. Oh, my God. What is going on there? It's got an ill. Look at this.

So what is happening over there is they're doing a test run. I don't know who these guys are, but they're players that have been brought into playing stars yeah so they're in there playing a game and the rink you know the ice is in and the game has been delayed already because there's a massive hole in the middle of the ice and listen this is why you do the test runs the thing is still more than a month away hazy i get it out but don't you think that like if bill daily and and gary betman don't think this ice is going to do what they're just going to pull the pin on the whole thing and they don't even think about it.

Can you do that now? I don't know. I think it's too late. I think it's too late. I would be shocked if they didn't have. I can't remember his name. I think it's Dan, the ice guru for the NHL. He did.

The Oilers Ice are always really good. The ice throughout the league. That guy should have been there. Two years ago. He's not doing it for free though. I don't see better be paying that guy. I guarantee you. I can't remember his name.

I believe his first name is Dan. But he's like the ice guru. When all of these outdoor rinks, You've got one in Tampa or whatever, you know, the one, what was the one that Colorado played where it was like, I think it was in Lake Plano. Yeah, like Tahoe. Like Tahoe or something. Like Tahoe. Yeah.

If they can have ice there, Dan Craig, yes. Dan Craig. I guarantee you Dan Craig is on a private jet over there saying what is going on here because they're not pulling the plug on it. Oh, what they're going to do is make sure there's some oversight here so that, you know, one of these star players doesn't fall through a black hole in the middle. It seemed like, Jamie, the whole purpose of having these Geppettos out there, the Geppetto flying stars, was to prove to the world that this ice was ready to go. And sure enough, the game, not just delayed, it's canceled because there's a giant hole in the ice. I love it.

I love it. It's almost surprising they didn't tell them all, like, shut up and keep playing. The cameras are rolling. Yeah, don't act like there's any. I don't care if you blow your knee out. I'll give you a hundred point. You're playing. There's not a hole there.

We want to give you $100,000 cash. Just keep playing. The name of the team is the Jepet. What did you call the Jepetto? The Jepetto Flying Stars. Yeah. I like that. And they're out there just testing things out.

And you're right, Noodles. They need Harvey Kytel from Pulp Fiction. They need to fly somebody in. They need a fixer. They need a fixer. The wolf. Bring in Mr. Wolf. Bring in Mr. Wolf.

Get them over there and get this thing figured out. Because all the announcements have been made, The women's team was just announced earlier this afternoon. That team's ready to rock, right? No major surprises. But I think the women's team ready to go. I think we're all anticipating Canada, the U.S. and the gold. All the men's teams have been announced.

And we're just outside a month away from go time and all these players want to go. They have a month to figure this out. You can't fix ice in like an hour. You don't need a month to do it. Now, do I have fate that this would be a high priority for them? Not really considering they're still. you know, a lot of construction going on, including outside the rink, that by all accounts, it's just a full-blown construction scene.

Like, it's just a full-blown construction scene. Port-a-potties everywhere. Everywhere. You guys know that I have significant experience with Italy. I go every summer. I love the country. I love the people, all of that. But this just smells Italian.

Like, it's just like everything is very casual over there. It's like, I get to it. And, you know, I'm working on some. some documents with them over there. It's been like 15 months. And it's just like, yeah, no problem. Yeah, we'll figure it out. Email us next week.

So that is concerning because of the pace of how this is going. I'm sure they'll get it done. I'm sure it's going to be wonderful. But man, oh man, they're starting to scare some people. That's what it is. And can someone get over there and finish the red line through the middle of the ice? You know, stupid it looks that the red line stops at the circle? Do you guys know what I'm talking about?

Yes, yes. It's so off the red line. You have, the red line's got to go all the way through. Yes. You cannot stop it at the circle. That somebody was just like, not, we'll finish it later. Ran out of paint or, yeah, let me do a quick Google search. Yeah, I guess we're to stop it here.

Anyway, we're getting there. It's a matter of time. But, man, the NHL is supplying a lot of content before you even get to the Olympic Games. Yeah. And, you know, the Leafs with another. gutsy win last night. That was a game that just, it happened to be played. There's nothing that really happened.

Like Scott Lawton was great. It was an awesome story. There was nothing that really happened in the game. It just, it was a game. It was a game that was scheduled and someone was going to walk away with two points. And if you're the Leafs, and the game's on the road, it played out beautifully. You got yourself two points. You found a way to be resilient in the third.

Scott Lawton got a swan song leaving Philly, which was awesome. Easton Cowan continues to contribute offensively. They're getting, you know, scoring from depth players. Hildaby was great last night. And that's all you need. And now they're 6'0 and 2 in their last eight, which is mandatory because in the last eight games, they have lost two points to Tampa because Tampa's won eight in a row.

They've only gamed one point on Montreal because the halves are 6'1 and 1 in their last eight. And Detroit won again last night. And Boston won again last night. night and Phillies in a wildcard race and you know they got a point out of that start right now it's like scoreboard watching every night yeah it's not too early for that it's awesome it's great entertainment and last night I think the best thing they did Hayes they stuck with it to some degree obviously your goaltender is good he it looks like you stuck with it more than you actually

did but he was great and they just hung in there and they waited for their opportunity and Scott Lawton provided it and they got the two points in overtime I thought It's kind of like a road game where not much was going on and you just hang in for it. Yeah, they don't have to be beautiful every night. No, no. I thought the five on three for me was the... Yes. That's your TSN turning point for me.

I thought, you know, because Philadelphia has an opportunity to put the lights up right there, right? And they don't. And, you know, the... You couldn't tell if that crossed the line or not. For me, it was inconclusive, so it was the right call, you know. But they... The Leifes found a way to get it done. You're right.

scores the goal and then this one we're watching it right now, Cowan. But it just, they hung in there, they got some timely saves, they got some big plays, and you got points. Every night, it's points. Now, you know, that's what you're doing. Your scoreboard watching every night. I mean, this Buffalo team has won a bunch of games, and they've just finally crawled in. They're just barely in.

That's the crazy part is we're going to be scoreboard watching. We're going to have these conversations. Unfortunately, I don't know if it's great or bad for the ticker for people's anxiety right till mid-April. I think it's great. I actually do. I mean, obviously it's better if you're a leaf, if you believe they're going to get in.

If they get in, then it's worth it. But we just talked about it yesterday. It's been six or seven years of wake me up in April. You better be awake in January. Like this team's playing for something right now because they dug themselves a hole. And the whole conference, short of Tampa, Montreal, Detroit, Carolina,

you know, are all in the middle for the most part. and are all fighting for the same spots. So there's a lot of hockey left. It's interesting they're doing it without Willie, without Tanna, without Stolars. Obviously, Marner's been gone throughout the season. But it's been more of a workman-like team. They've, you know, winning is going to change the perception of everything. But I think the Hildaby story is at the forefront.

And hypothetically, let's say Stolars is ready to come back. Does he step right in and play? Does, like, do you send Hilderby back, I guess, because of waivers, but, man, this kid's been really good. It seems kind of really good. Regardless of what Stolar means to the organization or what his standing is, with how desperate they are and how badly they need points, to take that guy out right now, it just seems like he's playing pretty good, man.

I don't know. It just seems like it would be a risk. There's some element of risk to it to just throw Stolars in when he came back and said, all right, Hilderby, thanks for your time. You did your job. You kind of held the fort down now. down to the minors. Yeah, I know that's what happens at pro sports, but it seems really risky to me.

I think I've said this all along. I think teams are going to need, they need three. They need three. They've got to find a way because there's no guarantee that, again, where are we at? I didn't see today. But Jamie, when three are healthy, who's going to play? Are they all going to have? I think he's not ready to play.

But let's say he was. Yeah, then for me, like wool is, if you're just asking me right now, wool is the number one. and I think Hilda B and Stolars can battle for ice time. But Wohl isn't a guy that is a 60 game starter, especially with this schedule. And keep in mind, we've talked about the Leafs schedule in particular. I think they've left their time zone once, to Chicago, I think it was, or to Detroit or Dallas. Yeah, you're right.

So, Dallas. Now they're going to need, you know, a rotation. They're going to need whoever is on that roster needs to play well for them. So wool has to play well. He'll be has to continue to play well. And Stolars, there's no guarantee. And I get where you're saying. If he comes back and he's slow out of the gate, I'm sorry.

You're going to have to take a step back. Yeah. Exactly. Like what you're trying to do is you've got to go with your best every night who you trust. And whoever you believe is going to give you the best opportunity to win that game on that particular night. Now, you don't lose your position because of an injury, but other players are allowed to fill in and play very well, and that's what Hildobie's done. Absolutely, and that is the nature of what I think is going to separate here.

Like, who gets the goaltending? You know, it's obviously the islanders are getting it with Sorokin. Obviously, recently the Leafs have been getting it. The Havs have been doing this rotation. Vasilevsky's been phenomenal. He's turned back to clocks. He looks great again. Bob doesn't look that great.

Florida, hence, not winning many games. Ottawa is a disaster right now. They can't get a stop. They're signing James Rimer to minor league deals because they don't know what to do. You were just with them in Ottawa or in Colorado and Utah. Like, I don't know how you can play Maryland anymore. I mean, I don't know. I guess you have to.

He's their only NHO goalie right now. And, you know, he played well in Utah. And I was telling, oh, I talked to briefly from the airport today. Like, that Colorado team, I was joking with some of the Colorado, you know, guys before the game. And they're like, I'm sorry, but this is a scheduled loss for Ottawa. Of course. It's back to back. And Colorado's lost two in regulation.

and they haven't done that all last year, all this season, you knew this was going to be a bloodbath. And it was 2-0 after the first. I'm sorry, it was. It was. Oh, gosh, yes. But, like, the weird part about it is it was 2-0 after the first, and Ottawa had a couple chances.

Colorado, Ottawa made it 3-1, and then 3-2, and we're pushing and got a goal-call-back on an off-side, which was a legit off-side, and honest to God, it was like the wheels felt like that it was like, it looked like the, 6-1 in a second. In a second, and it was like the Italy rank. It was just insane. Like you, and, you know, calling the game, it's tough.

You go into podcast mode. You're not breaking down shots. Oh, those dudes are getting in a fight. I like that. Good for him. You know, I have mixed. I hope Chaser didn't see that fight. Well, I have mixed emotions on it.

No, I have mixed emotions on it because I understand the, the, the emotional factor, what he wants to do because he's a competitive guy. He's their best player. What if he breaks his hand right there? That's what I kept thinking to myself because I'm like, you love the passion. These guys have a lot of pride and they're getting rinsed on the road. Love it. But if he ends up breaking his hand, they're in one.

They're already in one. They're already in one and you need those players. That's the crazy. I think you've got to let them breathe a little. I mean, you're 100% right in the cautious. you know, element of it, and he's not, he's in uncharted territory. You don't know what he's walking into. Right.

But I kind of like that someone. Oh, listen, I give the guy, I love the kid. You guys know I love the kid. Yeah. He's a hell of a player. I feel bad for Brady because, you know, he can't fight. Like, he got soccer the other day and he takes his glove off. He's got his hand all, you know, all cast it up or whatever that is on a stump.

You know, he's chomping at the bit to drop the gloves. Definitely. Everybody else is, you know, doing it. But you're right about the schedule of loss. I mean, they were in Utah the night before. Colorado coming home, two losses in Ragged through Florida, where the Leafs are there Monday, they get them on the front end of it. I think the thing that Ottawa missed out or anyone that goes through there,

because that appears to be the new thing. It's Utah, Colorado. You know, that's just what you do. Yeah, it's close. Yeah, it's like Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, the teams in the West, that's what they do. Yeah. You go through California, you play the California teams. Right now, you're going to play Utah, Colorado on every road trip for the rest of time.

You got to just get two points, whatever it is. Maybe you beat Colorado, awesome. But you've got to find a way to get two points. And the Leafs play Colorado on the Monday. They got Vancouver tomorrow, who you have to beat right now because everyone's beating them. They've lost, what, five in a row? Yeah, they're just, and like Buffalo beat up on it. You just, you got to beat them.

Literally to a point where, and it's a difficult thing, because we know the league, anyone can win every night. Yeah. But you cannot be the team that loses to the team that's getting. pumped every other night. You can't do it. Like, it's just, you're losing ground, man. You've seen how, you just documented how difficult it is to make up ground by winning every night. Like, if you start dumping

games to crappy teams, it's a big time problem. That's what scares me about the Leafs. If they have one kind of semi-drop or blip, like, it could be very costly, because they've already had the big one. You're right, though, but that's what I was just going to say. On this show, what was it, two weeks ago? They'd lost to, what, Nashville,

They'd lost to some teams where maybe you felt like you could have win or should have won. And we're going, man, like this is – but this is how the ups and downs of this group is. I have a question, and it's more about their record 60 and 2. People mad about the coach? People mad about – you know, like – mad about the roster construction. It's quieted it down. That's for sure. You know why?

It's because I think it comes back to one of the things that we had talked about, Hayes. I mean, it was Jonas on the show because, oh, you were at the World Juniors. But it's like, how about the players play better? All of a sudden, Matthews playing better. They look really good. You're getting depth scoring. Players playing better. Like, you know, it has quieted down about, hey, you've got to fire the coach and do all of these things.

Now, we'll see how long that lasts. But at the end of the day. Yeah, I mean, you're 100%. I mean, you go six or two. Everyone's going to be very happy with things. And a big part of it is goaltending, which factors in. Wall and Hill have been very good. Their special teams have been great.

Their penalty kill has been outstanding. Like they've got the best kill in the league the last couple of weeks. That goes a long, long way. And, yeah, they're scoring a lot, which, again, I think it seems like they're playing a little bit differently. I don't know how you guys see it all. Like if Brubay's allowed them to breathe a little bit in terms of entering the zone and getting away from the dump and chase to an extent. But they've also just found a connection with lines, you know, that maybe didn't make sense to a lot of people.

As I told you the other day, like it seems like the fun. is lifted where they're just, they're not in a brain fog anymore. They're just, they're moving, they're excited, there's some passion there. They were literally sleepwalking through games, a lot of them. And you're literally, you're watching and you're like, what the hell am I, what's wrong with these guys? Well. And desperation kicks in.

Like at some point you realize we are out of time here. Guy loses his job and then you see where you are in the standings. You better figure it out or it's lights out. I was concerned last night when Riley had the wide open back door and he rolled his stick rolled in his hand. Do you think that's what happened, though? Like, it rolled in his hand. It just fluffed it.

He fluffed it. And I was like, oh. What a pass. That was, too. It was great pass, and it was a great play. And unfortunately, you know, he heals it or whatever. And I'm thinking, okay, maybe this isn't, you know, this is a night where it just doesn't go their way. But they stuck with it and got it.

But if there was anybody who needed that goal or needed that play, it's Morgan. Yeah, it is. And I've been happy for him. And I thought he played well. I think him getting Carlo back, again, has been pretty substantial. Like that's, you know, Brandon Carlo, he struggled like everyone else did, but he got a new lease on life. You know, surgery, injury, rehab, come back when they're playing better. Everyone else, you know, they took their heat and then they reset and now they're playing well.

And Riley has been much better than the last two games, much better. And that's got to continue because, you know, Vancouver tomorrow and then it's Colorado, Utah, Vegas. You know, you got some tough games coming up, man. And tough schedule, too, like timing, body clocks. all of that. Go time. I was joking. I think Willie will be back probably tomorrow, but that's it, right?

Teano's not coming through that door. No, I don't think those guys are coming through the door. The addition of Carlo, I do think, helps, because he's an NHL defenseman. That's what he is. Regardless of where you play him, he's an NHL defenseman. So now of a sudden you can push other guys out of the lineup or, you know, move them around a little bit, or you're not asking as much of players to punch above their weight. and I think that helps a lot.

That helps the process. You're right. They've got a big test. I would say a big test, but it better not be a trap game tomorrow. You've got to be ready to play. This is a classic trap game tomorrow night. You look down on Vancouver. They've been losing.

You got Colorado on Monday. You're 6'0 and 2 feeling good. Last time at home before you're away. You know, classic trap game tomorrow night. And Vancouver plays the least pretty well. And it's hockey night. They're going to show up and play. Of course.

You know, like they're going to be ready to go tomorrow night. So, yeah, we'll look ahead to that with Johnny, Mike Johnson coming up. All right, Luke Wilson will join us, and we're going to make our first picks. We're going to set the scene for what this is going to look like throughout the playoffs, right? HBO up against Nootelson. We've got five picks to make. We'll save the Monday-nighter for Monday. Monday-nighter is Houston at Pitt.

So we'll save that pick for Monday. But we'll make the five picks. We'll tee up the playoffs, see what Luke is thinking in terms of Super Bowl picks, and who's got the most pressure on them. We'll get to all that way. I don't know how you've been listening to that other guy all year long. He's on a cruise, hammered, texting information about what he thinks is where his liens are, and I'm reading it, and I'm like, I'm not buying a lot of this stuff.

I know. I'm very concerned that he's on a cruise right now. You know what it is, though? We had some comments in the group chat. Now that he's, is it public knowledge that he's taking the plunge and all of that, right? Right. And Gabe. Don't let that become Yoko Ono beside him.

If he's Lennon, don't let that be Yoko. I am concerned because we had a Beatles like one. He's not focused. He's not focused. I'm telling you right. He's not. You're right. We've had a Beatles-like run. Yes.

And this guy. All of a sudden, Yoko's singing the next song up. Exactly. Yoko's making the pick. You know, it's like, okay, I guess we can do that. Is that your information? Okay, we're doing that. We're bringing a.

that instrument, that's an interesting call, okay? Don't do it. I'm concerned. Cruises, engagements, his heads out of whack. We had the greatest regular season of all time. We need to follow through here. By the way, we should marry that guy on overdrive. We should marry Al's brother on overdrive.

You think we could, they would, listen, I think you could do it. I mean, I don't know if he would be up for it necessarily. There's no chance he would want to, he might not even invite us to his wedding. We might be like, maybe he wants to do it on overdrive. We'll just set up shop somewhere. I love it, man. Cajel man and Queen Elizabeth. Oh, would you be ordained?

Would you do it? Would you do the JP or whatever it's called? I'll get a certificate. I'll get certified to marry Al's brother. Dude, this would be the biggest show in the history of overdrive. Al's brother getting married live on YouTube. And we tease it, right? But coming up in the 5 p.m. hour, Al's brother's wedding.

Dude, what about this? We sell tickets. Yes. We sell tickets to attend. Owls Brothers wedding. Oh, we have to do it now. We have to. Even if it's not official, you know, sometimes you get married,

then you get to come home and go down a city hall or whatever and get the certificate. In some capacity, Al's Brothers getting married on this show. Before she comes down the aisle, he will offer up information on any type of sporting event picks available. I love this. I think it has to happen, and the wheels will be in motion. Wheels are in motion. Luke's coming up, picks coming up, and we've got a lot to get to today. Johnny will join us. We're looking forward to it. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN out.

Let's face it, everyone can use a little help in better understanding their technology. Each week, technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Saltman, breaks down geek speak, into street speak on Tech Talk. Learn about the latest tech trends in plain English and how it can enhance and enrich your life. Tech Talk. Hosted by Mark Saltzman, Sundays at 5 p.m. on News Talk 1010. Gear up for your next adventure with Tech Talk and the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV. to 793 kilometers of available estimated range on a full charge. Severance package, I only owe you two weeks pay. Think you may be owed more?

Find out now at employment lawyer.ca. Answer a few simple questions, and in seconds, you'll receive free answers for your workplace issues. Go to employment lawyer.ca. Learn how severance is really calculated, and find out how to get what you are legally owed. Always check with the employment lawyer, Leor Samfiru first at employment lawyer.ca.

Pouring in for Al's Brothers wedding. Some people are saying Niagara Falls casino theme. That's kind of his hometown. I mean, their options are limitless. Yeah, there is a lot of opportunity here. Like this will be, I mean, this will be like a royal wedding. I got to think this is covered by CTV News, CP2, 4, right? Like everything.

I would think even other companies. Some type of chakoterie shop. Yes. Yes. Yes. Charcuttery has to be involved. There's probably a, what about on a cruise? Could we be cruising through the, like Lake Ontario?

I don't care. Like a dinner cruise. I am not going on a cruise and humoring that guy and feeding the monster. No way. He does not need another cruise after this one. You're right. He doesn't need another cruise. What do you think the timeline is when he gets back from? this one, let's say it's this week, like, is he back on another one in March?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's every three months. Two or three months, yeah. Van Duel should have odds on his cruise. Like, they should be like, when does this guy take in another cruise? Two months from now, I guarantee you it's within 60 days old. Minimum for a year. Minimum for a year.

It's seasonal, at least seasonal. So, yeah, this guy, very concerning. We don't have access to Alice Brother, but that's fine. You and I will take care of. of it. And Luke, I'm sure, is chomping at the bit here. We haven't had a chance to catch up with him this week because we had, we're on a different time on Monday. Yesterday, I guess he was preparing. I don't know what happened there. He's got bigger and better things to do. But we've got the wildcard weekend here. So let's bring in our boy, Luke Wilson and just try to get a read on how he's feeling about things. Are you feeling confident? Like you've been, let's face it, man. It wasn't a good year. Right? Like, we just put together one of the all-time great runs, plus 21. No one's ever seen it before. But now we reset. You've been waiting for this for a long time. A long time.

Yeah, I mean, I'll address a couple of the comments there, and I've said this before, I don't think you guys have heard. But again, to me, you look at the 07 Patriots, arguably the best football team member, but nobody talks about them because they didn't win the chair. You know, you look at Golden State when they lost LeBron won 73 games. I do not care. I wish we would have a better regular season,

but the way that our season works, we both make of the playoffs. I'm about championships. Noodles, he's about championships. I have won a championship with you, Brian Hayes. I have won a championship with the O-Dog, and noodles and I are going to win this championship. A man who is zero rings. A man who is zero rings, his name is Al's brother. No, no, hang on a second here.

Rings. Let me just ask you this. We were just talking about the great Al's brother, and his competitiveness, his savvy, he just spanked you in the regular season. Does Al's brother intimidate you come playoff time? Yes or no? No, the answer is absolutely not.

He spanked you in the regular season. I got an inside track of what these guys are up to. He's basically the general manager, this guy. Yeah, he runs. He's a very important season. It does not. Let me ask you all right now on the record. Yes.

Yes. I should say when. when he doesn't win, when he doesn't win a playoff for the fourth season in a row, does that now go to show you that this guy can't get it done? This is the first time

in a while he's won the regular season. He's got to be happy about that. Again, I blame myself more than I credit him. But you tell me, I feel like it's, if he doesn't win a championship this year, I think you've got to part ways. He's John Harbaugh. Let me pose it this way.

Who has more pressure on them? brother or Josh Allen to have themselves a great month. Dallas brother, without a doubt. House brother. All right. Let's go to Josh, though. Guys, I'll be very honest with you. This is not a good matchup for the bills.

I think they can win, and I think the bills could go to Super Bowl. But I also think this team can easily be won and done. I look at how teams are completely formulated from top to bottom, and everybody knows they have a very leaky defense. You know, they've had a couple good moments, but overall, I don't think there's any Bills fans that are really rolling in this playoffs, thinking, hey, our defense is an elite unit. Offensively, they have an unbelievable run game.

I would argue that they're the best run, they have the best runners statistically in the game. You know, as far as their team rushes go, same thing, because they've got a quarterback that can also run. I believe the stat right now is there are two teams that didn't give up 100-yard rusher this year, and that was Jacksonville, and that was Seattle, and Jacksonville, I believe, hasn't given up a 75-yard runner. This team has stopped everybody in the run. Now, I don't think they've seen a team that runs it as well as Buffalo does, but that's the key matchup.

As much as I want to say, oh, it's up to Josh Allen. If the run game gets going, I like the bills by 10 points. I really do. But if the run game gets stymied, Josh is going to have to throw the football around. And he can clearly do that, but who's he thrown who consistently, guys? The answer's been nobody.

And now you look at the other side. Like, as much as that I'll say it, I think Josh Allen is the best football player on planet Earth when you talk about off, you know, everything all encompassing. You talk about his ability to scramble, his ability to make off-schedged throws, his arm strength in general,

all of those things. But the best football player in the last, six weeks of the season, and it wasn't very close, was Trevor Lawrence. He's certainly the hottest football player right now. We'll see if he carries that, and he's got to kind of write his own narrative in the playoffs. But I think that his last six games he had 19 touchdowns and one interception. Okay, and that's including walking into Denver and blowing the doors off of that elite defense.

Okay, the whole offense, Parker Washington is their number one guy. They went out and got Jacoby Myers, very good receiver. they started the season of Parker, or excuse me, Brian Thomas Jr. as probably their best receiving threat. I would put him at number four right now, behind the tight end, Brent and Strange at number three. Like, this is, both of these teams,

and I know it's kind of crazy to say, but both of these teams have a legitimate Super Bowl shot. Now, the difference between the two of them is Jacksonville is much more complete. Josh Allen is obviously, again, the eraser of all those things. Yes, and I think there's also another element that needs to be considered. It's experience. Liam Collins got none of it.

You can say what you want about McDermott. He's been through the ringer. He's played a lot of these games, you know, and I think you look at Buffalo. It became pretty clear New England was going to win the division. And I wonder how much, like, I don't care how they play down the stretch. I don't care what they did in week 18 weeks. It doesn't matter. Like these guys have been preparing for the playoffs.

and, you know, I think their defense is good enough. I don't think it's great, but I think it's good enough. I think the run game, I think Alan, I think the experience. I like the bills. I like the bills. I get what the Jags have done. I know they've won eight in a row. They're a spicy pick.

A lot of people, I see some people saying they're going to win the Super Bowl this year, like you just said. Is it possible, I guess? They have a shot. Sure. I think that applies to everyone in the AAS. Not my favorite, but they're my sleeper. Yeah? Yeah.

Sure. I mean, I could see New England winning. I could see Denver winning. I could see a lot of, like... It's wide open, though, isn't it? It's wide open. Like, how many teams can't win a Super Bowl? I don't think Pittsburgh can win four games.

I'll tell you this. You know, go ahead. I would put the chargers in that category. I don't think they can. I might be giving you too much information. No, I'm with you. But I would put the chargers in that category. No way. And then I would also put the Panthers in that category.

Yes. And the NFC. Right. I think the NFC is just as wide open. I think the Packers can make a run. Yeah. I really do. I think the Bears can probably make a run.

I think that there's six teams on the other side that can all win, and there's six teams in, or let's call five, I would say five teams in the AFC. Yeah, I would agree with that. I think it sets it up for, it's very difficult. Like, people have been asking us, who do you have winning in the Super Bowl? I don't know, man. I know that's a horrible answer, but it's tough. With all the boogeymen out of the, not in the playoffs, it's an open field.

That's it. So, with my home's not there. That's why I would, I probably pick the bills. That would probably be my pick because of that. Go ahead, Noodles. So Herbert has no chance against May. I wouldn't say that. To be honest with you, Noodles,

I thought this was Herbert's best season that I've seen. I'm like, this guy, to me, take the numbers, take everything out of it. He has taken that step where I would consider Herbert in that upper five echelon. I thought the guy literally willed his team to wins. but the problem is with both of their tackles out and the way they're, I mean, he's taking seven sacks a game. And there was one game, he should have been sacked 12, 15 times, I bet. But he scrambled out of them.

It was miraculous. That's a very tough way to win. Again, they could potentially beat New England. I would not guess that's going to happen. But, hey, Herbert makes some great plays. But now all of a sudden, to do that three games in a row would be nothing short of heroic. That's fair.

So I'm not a big believer in the Chargers to make the run, but they can beat anyone because I think Herbert is that good. It's a very similar situation for the Bills. I think the Bills team has some holes in it, but they can beat everybody because of Josh. Yeah. Yeah, I agree. And then on the NFC side of things,

you know, it's interesting because the one-seeds are not getting nearly as much respect as one-seeds in the past. Right? When you talk about it, the way we're talking, talking about it, that it's so wide open. What you're saying is Seattle and Denver are getable, yet they get the buy, they get home field, and they earned it. So how much better are those two teams set up based on their situation to go on a run

compared to whoever else is going to get through this weekend? So we'll start with Seattle. The buy week is huge. The home field advantage is huge. But, you know, hey, obviously I'm pulling for him. You know, I'm pulling for Seattle to win. But let's take an honest assessment of Seattle's last three games. You go in and you beat the Rams at home.

That was the big matchup, prime time, Thursday. If you look at statistics of that game, remember it, the Rams beat the living hell out of Seattle. That game shouldn't have been close. The Rams are up 16 points late in that game. Seattle returns a punt. The two-point conversion, hit off somebody's head when they ended up, you know, counting that.

It still landed and someone should have jumped. on it. They didn't. Correct. So there's one situation. You then go in and you score again, tip your cap to Seattle. You miss a field goal. Before that, though, I'm talking about

the Rams. Ice the game. Seattle goes, gets a two-pointer. Then the Rams go right down and score a touchdown in overtime. Like, through this number one defense, shred them. And then Sam Darnold turns into John Elway, goes right down the field, scores and wins a two-point conversion.

and Seattle turned the ball over. They had a special team's touchdown that really saved them. They had the crazy two-pointer. That was not a dominant performance. Then you go to the next week. They go to Carolina. That game was ugly at the happen. It was like 3-3 or somewhere in that range.

Carolina was really battling them. Bryce Young turned the ball over. Next thing, Seahawks jumped on him. And as we know, that offense in Carolina is not great. And then you go and Seattle beats the doors off San Fran, give them all the credit in the world. but it's a bit of recency bias for me when I'm like, okay, they played unbelievable week 18. They had no business winning week 17 and week, excuse me, week 16 and week 17, they were okay.

So I don't think there is the juggernaut everyone believes here. And then Denver, the looming loss late is the Jacksonville one. You know, I sit there and say, oh, what a great defense, what a great defense. Jacksonville comes into your building and blows the doors off you to the point where now, and they had to do it. they did do it, but they had to win out to get the buy. So I do think both Seattle and Denver are extremely strong, but in no world do I feel like they're a stamp it favorite should walk through to the Super Bowl. Again, like I'll go back to my year, the first year specifically, we were 13,3, got the one seed.

We played New Orleans in the divisional round at home, and I remember thinking to myself, like we would have to puke all over ourselves to lose this game. Like there's just, we're just, this was peak Legion of Boom. There's no way. Now, the difference was that year we played Sam Fran. That was the infamous Shirm tip game. That in our locker room was much more of a difficult matchup than the Super Bowl was going to be. So, Sal, I felt I remember telling my, you know, pops out back then right for the Super Bowl like, hey, the Super Bowl is two weeks ago.

We're going to kill Denver. These didn't match up well with what we did really, really well. So I still don't think that, you know, to me, there's that kind of thing where there's two juggernauts on both sides and like this is coming down to this. I think it's completely wide open. Well, and that leads to the picks here. So the way this is going to work, there are 26 total points up for grabs throughout this whole playoff run, which means every game is worth a point. You win it, you get the point. You lose it.

The other team gets it, right? All the way after the Super Bowl. where one of us will pick the spread, that'll be worth two points. One of us will pick the total, that'll be worth two points. And then we're going to play five props. So the total of it, wild card, divisional, championship Super Bowl adds up to 26 points. It's basically a race to 14 points. We start with six on the line this weekend.

Can I ask you a question here, Hayes just to clarify this? I got an email. First was sent to a wrong email by Dooley, try to jam me. But the email said the Super Bowl was going to be. was going to be money line, not spread. So can you confirm it spread for the Super Bowl? Of course spread. That's what I thought.

Don't blame me. This is the duty email. Yeah, insanity. Yes, it's Panthers versus the Super Bowl. The Pats, and it's going to be a money line game. I mean, come on. Yes, it's the spread. We always play the spread.

Yes, spread, clarified Super Bowl spread. All right, and because we were so victorious during the regular season, just like you guys last year, we get to pick the games. So we get to pick our first three this weekend. We'll pick the two we want the next weekend. We get the one in the championship game. Super Bowl will be different. We might, I think, we'll figure that out,

but we might flip a coin for who gets the spreader, who gets the total. So we're on three games. We're actually only going to pick two because we are going to pick the Houston-Pitsburg game. We'll do that on Monday. Okay, so that game's out of the way. Noodles were locked. We're picking that game on Monday. I'm excited.

We're picking on that game on Monday. We're going to do this in chronological order. Packers Bears is a game we're going to play. We're going to play that game, and we're taking the Green Bay Packers. We're laying the points at Soldier Field. We're taking Green Bay. The Green Bay Packers have been mailing it in down the stretch. They played a third stringer in Week 18.

Jordan Love is fine. He's been fine for weeks. He's rested. He's ready to go. Jaden Reed's good. Watson's good. They got their offensive line intact. I don't think this Bears defense can keep up with the Packers' offense in the playoffs.

rookie coach versus Lefleur who's got a lot of history there. If it wasn't for Romeo Dobbs on the Squib, they beat the Bears twice this year, including at Soldier Field where they had that game and loved left with a concussion. Not a shame to say it, Hazy, scaring me a little bit. All these games are tough. I don't love picking either. I don't like having the responsibility of being like, I want this game, that game. All year they just come at you and we pick winners.

Now there's more of a responsibility for us to try to weed through this. but Green Bay has owned Chicago forever. Under the Light, Soldier Field, Caleb Williams' first playoff game. I know Parsons isn't there. I still think the Packers' defense is good enough. We are laying the points on the road with Green Bay. All right?

That's our first game. Lock it in. Second game, and this is the last one we'll pick here, because again, we're going to pick the Monday Nighter. Bill's Jags, we're going to pick that game. And we're taking Buffalo. What? We're taking Buffalo.

We are on the Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo Bills are going to go in there and lay a beating on Jacksonville. Josh Allen is about to have the legacy month of legacy months. He is the best player in the world. That defense is coming alive. They mailed it in down the stretch as well. I don't trust Lawrence.

I don't trust Duvall. I don't trust Liam Cohen. I don't trust anything about the Jags. They're the Jags up against the Bills. Mahomes isn't in his way. Lamar's not in his way. Burroughs not in his way. We're laying the points.

Bills at Jags. Just think of their nerd coach when he got hired. Duvall. He's going to get pumped. Pumped. Pumped. Packers, bills, two road favorites were on them. Trevor Lawrence is Jeff Spicoli for me.

I don't know if you remember the movie Fast Times. Stone. Stoned in the pocket. He's Jeff Spicoli. That's what he is. But he's a hell of a quarterback. And I think he's got some jam to his game. I'll tell you how I know.

And noodles, you've played with guys like this before. You've played with guys when they've got their 20-point league because they got up early on us. And they get to chill. to relax, to make their comments, but now it's zero-zero. And all of a sudden, they've got to earn their keep again. And if he had a brain, okay, he would have given me this game because he knows, if you listen to anything I say in the show, I would have taken Jacksonville.

Right. So theoretically, you would have been able to call three games. But now you're jammed. That's valid. Because you're going to lose this. You're going to lose this. And now you're giving me three shots. That's a very good point.

Had you thought of that. Al's brother jamming me up on the cruise. He probably would have considered that, but he's not around. Very good point. Although I think even though you think the Jags are good and it's a tough matchup, I think in your heart of hearts, you think the bills are going to win that game. Anyway, that means you guys are on Rams Panthers. I think it's still Rams minus 10 and a half.

Minus 10 and a half at Carolina. Noodles, listen. This is a trap noodles. I think the Rams are going to win the Super Bowl. But I do not think they're going to cover 10 and a half points. and I know that Hayes, Al'sbro, and O'Dong thought, hey, Matthew Stafford, he's going to go and give him this game. We're going to Carolina.

Carolina beat them earlier in the year. I fully expect the Rams to win this game. But 10.5 and a playoff game on the road is way, way, way too much. And the Rams defense has been putrid down the stretch against everybody but the Cardinals. To me, unless you really like it. Now, Devonti Adams is back. I expect this Rams seem to be rolling.

but there's just 10 and a half in a playoff game, I love the Panthers to cover the spread. Okay. That's the thing. I don't mind that. The spread is the problem. That's the problem. Like we believe we know who's going to win the game.

It's just the numbers. Yes. And you're reading the numbers. It's the hook for me. Okay. That's the hook. I will go along with it. They're fine with it.

Panthers. All right. Eagles, Niners. They made you sick, didn't it? That made you sick. I know you take the rounds. I'll be honest. Eagles minus five and a half. Lines back up to five and a half. Eagles five and a half. I'll be honest, noodles. If you wanted one game that I did not want to pick, this is it. This is to me, and I'm not just saying this. I know we love to kind of, this is the hardest game for me to put my finger on.

You look at the situation with the Niners, you know, again, I'm trying to take a reasoncy bias. up until week 18, his team was potentially at one seed to get absolutely blown out by Seattle blown out. And now everyone thinks they're garbage. Yeah. I think the Eagles definitely can win. But I like Shanahan to keep this within six points, man. I do, noodles.

I like this as a field goal game. I was just going to say, if the Eagles win, it's a kick. It's a kick in the third, in the four points. It's a kick, right? Taking the points again. I'm taking the points. I'm talking for you guys. All right.

Dogs are barking. You guys are on the Niners. I'm in it. I'm on the points. All right. I don't think you're going to take the points here. So that means Chargers, Pats. Pats minus three and a half.

Noodles, you heard me earlier. This is where the dogs are not barking for me. I think they're in New England. I think Brable's got these boys ready to go. Drake May is either one or two at MVP voting. The Cinderella story of Justin Herbert being able to will his team to wins is coming to an end here quickly. I think it might take a bit,

noodles, so I wouldn't stress. Like, we'll probably get in the group chat and Al's Bro and Hayes will probably be like, oh, it's tied, and the charges might even be up three. But in the fourth quarter, Henderson will break one. All of a sudden, it's a four-point game. We got a strip-sack fumble,

and we're up 11, and you and me are chilling. I really like the Pats to cover this. I'll take the Pats too. The Pats are, that's O's former team. He does love the Pats, O. Okay, so to recap, you guys are on the Panthers, the Niners, the Patriots, and we are on the Bills and the Packers, and we'll make the Monday nighter on Monday.

I love it. I love where things are at. Pretty good. Best of luck to the boys. It's officially go time. This is our champions are made, baby. It's officially go time. The race of 14 points.

Luke could see anybody. We'll catch you Monday. Cheers, guys. There's Luke Wilson. All right, Mike Johnson coming up in 15. And, yeah, we're trying to find a way. to get Al's brother to get married on the show. Maybe if we win the playoffs, that will push it in that direction as well.

Best bet's coming up as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube Live. Let's face it, everyone can use a little help in better understanding their technology. Each week, technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Saltman, breaks down geek speak, into street speak, on tech talk. Learn about the latest tech trends in plain English and how it can enhance and enrich your life. Unwind with the LG massage recliner featuring 3D massage,

soothing heat and Bluetooth speakers in Cozy Bays or Cozy Brown. Tune in the Tech Talk with Mark Salsman Sunday at 5 p.m. You're no longer a good fit for the company. Laid off from your job? You need EmploymentLoyer.C.A. Answer a few simple questions and in seconds you'll receive free answers for your workplace issues. Go to Employmentlawyer.ca. Find out if you should receive a termination package from your employer

and calculate how much severance you are legally owed. Always check with the employment lawyer, Leor Samfiru, first atemployment lawyer.ca. All right, mail it on Friday, brought 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. Hustle into your local BP tonight.

What a weekend it's going to be. We've got a couple of Rappler games, at least Vancouver tomorrow, football all week. weekend, right, college football. The playoffs continued tonight after Miami with a big one last night. And, yeah, we got a lot going on. A lot going on. Isn't it crazy old miss playing in the game when their coach is gone?

Yeah, been gone for over a month. That is bizarre. Why couldn't they just have that transaction sealed up and you leave when your team's out? Like, that's so crazy. It is weird. Good for them, though. They kept battling, right? Like, they got all the way to the semifinal.

Yeah. But anyway, Johnny will join us in the next hour on the Leaf Win last night. What else is going on throughout the league? Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube Live. 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.

Hustle in your local BP tonight. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fandul. FanDuel, bringing you everything. Everything from the opening line to the final score. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies. Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind, and now I've got my own show.

So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies, available on all TSN platforms and the IHeartRadio app.