OverDrive - Willson on Nacua's comments on the NFL referees, Rams against Seahawks and the TNF pick

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

TSN NFL Analyst Luke Willson joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around Puka Nacua calling out the refs in the NFL, the Rams and Seahawks' matchup, the massive showdown for the NFC, Hayes, Bro and O and more.

IHart Radio, everything holiday, all in one place. From 24-7 Christmas music to the stories behind the Christmas hits with Drew Savage. Listen to the podcast on the free IHartRadio app, your destination for all things Christmas. Merry Christmas! These are the songs that get you in the spirit. All I want for Christmas is you. Keep listening from all your Christmas favorites. And there he is, Luke Wilson, in studio.

What's happening? Just big Steelers win Monday night, big cover, feeling good. Feeling good? Feeling good. How are you feeling about Seattle? Wow, it's a tough game tonight. It's a great game. It's a big, pivotal game.

Like, basically, the NFC West will be determined this evening. I will say that there is kind of one dark horse here that no one's really put on the table yet. but I believe, and maybe Dugie can confirm this, that if Seattle wins tonight and they continue to win, and you look at Sam Fran and they continue to win, Sam Fran's playing Philip Rivers, so I would assume that they get it done on Monday night, that if San Fran beat Seattle the final week of the season,

they will sneak in and be the one seat. Crazy. They win the division. Right. They're still in the hunt. Like no one talks about them because of the injuries, but they've just continued to win football games, and they have a bit of a softer-ish schedule.

Like, they got to win out as well, but it's live. NFC. West is live. Yeah, it really is, man. They got three, like, legitimate lottery tickets chased in a Super Bowl this year. And well-coached teams. You look at all three teams. How many are legit, though?

Talent-wise, I think, too. And, you know, I'll say this, or any Niners fans out there, if you guys were healthy, specifically Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, I mean, those two guys, in my opinion, are still top. tier all pro talents

I would say that they are just as good as anyone but losing those two guys even look at last week I believe it was Tennessee the defense you know Robert Salah can only do so much well let me ask you about one guy and his name is Sam Darnold yeah your old hawks

yeah trust that guy in a big game because as much as he's turned his career around he can still stink to join out in a big game yeah and I'll say this what's tough for him right now you look at Seattle is I think they are average they have 407 rush attempts this year

which puts them fifth in the league and their yards per carry is 3.9 which puts them fifth last in the league so he hasn't had a ton of help from the run game and Kubiak their offensive coordinator comes from that you know old Mike Shanahan tree which is where his dad

was of like established the run game and everything's based off of that so I don't think it's all him. You know, he's had obviously a good year. They've had some turnover issues, but I get worried that if it comes down, let's say today, there's some weather,

you know, I do worry that he won't be able to put the team on his back and just find a way to win. Yeah, I would agree with that. And I think that's why, you know, it's interesting you say the Niners are not necessarily a team getting talked about. They're not getting talked about in terms of chasing the division.

Yeah. But I think they get way more play from the general public than Seattle, partially because they're more of a public brand. Totally. You know, the Niners are a hugely popular team. They've, you know, they've been very good for a long time. Shanahan's a pretty captivating coach.

Seattle, for me, like, I would say the Rams and the Niners are getting more chatter in terms of what they're doing this year. And Seattle has kind of been third, and yet they have 11 wins. And they have some good ones in there. Some really good ones. You know? And I think it's the Darnold effect personally. And it's not that Darnold isn't a well-known

player, third overall pick. And Look what he did in Minnesota last year. He's played really well this year. I just don't know if people like the general public are willing to jump on board when Stafford has done what he has done and Purdy's played in a Super Bowl before. Yeah, and I understand that. And again, tonight's kind of another op for him. He's got to write his story.

This is a massive game for his career. Totally. I would say that, but you also, we got to keep into effect. Like Seattle, generally, when they say it's raining, it's missing. I actually spoke with Farhan Laljeep, right, four coming on. here, gave me a little shout. And I'm like, yo, how bad is it? He's like, it's raining, raining. We'll see if it's coming. They're supposed

to be, I believe, 40 mile an hour at wind gusts. Are you sure about that? Like, are you trying to? It's pouring. I'm looking at video right now. Now, they have tarps on the field. Yeah. But this is where it's like, you know, sometimes it's been a short week. I actually think the win situation is a little wilder.

But you look at Seattle's defense, like if this is a game where it's really tough to throw the football and Matthew Stafford's got only one of his main weapons and Pooka, which I don't know if you've seen some of the off-field stuff with Pooka this week. That guy's got to figure it out. Dude. Why are these guys going on streams and like the stuff where he called out the refs is crazy.

Just dumb. So stupid. Dumb penalties for like attention or something. Yeah, he said they want attention so they make calls. They throw flags so that they get more TV time. Like was he a little bit altered, I'll say? A little bit tipsy. Is that what you're saying?

I don't know. Oh, dog. Like I'm watching it and I'm like, I don't know the guy. I have never crossed pass with them, but I'm like, this is just silly, especially for a guy like right now, statistically you've got JSN and him kind of taken over the league. And I'm like, why would you bring like this light or this distraction? You have the one seed if you win tonight, somewhat locked up if you win. You're one of the best receivers in the league right now. You're on a team that has a good defense.

They're on a team that has, who I think is going to win MVP and Matthew Stafford. Like, do you not realize the magnitude of the stars of a line you could potentially win a Super Bowl? And you're going to be on a street. Yeah, we have it. Why don't we play it? Talking smack about refs and then doing other stuff. They're just like, my goodness, man. All right, play it. The reps are the worst.

There's just some of the rules aren't that like, these guys want to be. These guys are lawyers and, like, they want to be on TV too, brother. like the game is you don't think he's texting his friends in the group chat like yo you guys just saw me Sunday night football like that was no way that wasn't PI like but I called it I was like can they do that man I mean these guys are normal human beings too bro like he's like man that's wow like you don't think these guys are on their group chat no I don't think they're not do not think no that NFL referees are making up PI calls and then going on to their group chat what I find is agent gets sound the horn and is like, why are you doing those things? Or as head coach. I think it's more likely McVey. The agent would be after the head coach. Yeah. What I find fascinating about that is, like, that's Aidan Ross. There's certain streamers out there that are massively popular.

And I understand there's a large portion of society that would want to be on the stream or be popular or be his friend. Why an NFL player would have that mentality? Like, dude, you, you're the guy that the streamer is dying to be friends with. Not the other way around. Agreed. Like you're going on a streamer's and he just sounded like he was saying stuff to make Aidan Ross be like, oh, no way, that's so

cool. You're such a cool guy. I'm like, you're a wide receiver in the National Football League. One of the best. One of the best. Why are you looking for clout? Are you the best team? Yes. Why are you looking for clout on a streamers live stream? And you know,

to his point about the refs are normal human beings, guess what? They are normal human beings. beings and they're going to hear that. Right, exactly. And they're going to be like, are you serious, man? You're nuts, dude? It's incredibly stupid. Agreed. But there's been some wild commentary recently. Like, you heard I'm a Udoca the other night, head coach of the Rockets come out and blasted refs. He said two of them should not even be out there. And he said this in his post game, not on a stream where you sometimes get lost in the shuffle. It was a wild point.

Do we have that, JP? I know we're talking NFL right now. See if you can find a Utoka clip because it was way over the top. I haven't read about a fine. I'm shocked it. Oh, you got a fine. Okay, you must have. Like, because I'm almost surprised he was suspended. It was wild commentary from a head coach.

It was that bad of a, like, okay, we have it. Let's play it. This is I'm a Yudoka, the head coach, the Rockets a couple nights ago. In general, I think it's poorly officiated game. I've seen a long time to have no business being out there, and the crew chief is acting star struck. So you've seen all kind of inconsistent calls.

And I'm sure. We should have got a few more texts. What do you say to your team when a game is being called the way that it was tonight? Keep being who we are. We're not going to adjust to poorly, poor officials. So we're going to do what we do. And hopefully they can adjust and call it the right way. Oh, man.

The crew chief is starstruck. So he's out there looking at stars and being like, you're the best, you're getting calls. That's what he's indicating there. and two of them should not even be on the floor. That's wild from the head coach. What are you expecting to happen in the next couple games? Like you're going to get just butchered out there. Yeah, that is red hot, man.

Like, I appreciate the honesty because that's the way he thinks. He thinks these refs are a joke. And look, the NBA is in a bit of a transition period. They got a lot of young refs that probably aren't as good as they should be. There's no doubt about that. I think if you talk to people that are in the league or in the league official development department like they they kind of acknowledge that right just just there's been a turnover right a lot of the veteran guys retired and you're slowly trying to build up the workforce but you can't say it

loud like that there's no there's and what is the i just wonder what goes to these guys like what is the benefit luke this is where to further your point to further your point when i see something like that i think to myself okay you know there's a lot of negative that can come from now like refs being like man i really don't like this guy whatever because you know there's human nature involved. But I always wonder, like, going on there. And for me, I'm going to transition this, but it was similar. This is the first time I thought of it.

In the NFL, at least when I was playing, you had to have a little bit of white sock showing. And in warm up, there was a fine guy that would walk around and be like, tell number, whatever, if he doesn't pull his white sock up, $5,000. And I was a rookie. And I remember hearing a vet on her team be like, find me the $5,000. I'm not pulling him up. And I remember being like,

That is a wild ordeal. And I think to like, this coach right here, imagine sitting down, you know, and if I'm doing oppressor being like, I am going to take, I'm assuming it's 50 grand plus, and I'm just going to light it on fire. And for what purpose? Everything that he said, he could have said off camera probably 30 times worse, kept his whatever the fine money was, it made a bigger impact. And on the flip side, I bet the officials would probably appreciate it.

Like, hey, we had a bad night. this guy was right, kept it to himself. I can't fathom making that decision, no matter how much money you have to just basically torch thousands of dollars. It's funny because I think he probably, I bet you it played really well in the market because fans always want to see that stuff.

They want to see the coach react the way they would react in a similar scenario. And you always hear head coaches throughout sports say, I'm not going to say it, I'm not getting fine. Like Dwayne Casey was famous for that. Nick Nurse, I'm using the NBA example. But guys would say it all. the time because they get poked and prodded.

Hey, horrible officiating, what happened at the end of the game there? They'd say, I'd love to tell you, but I like my money. My wife won't let me. My wife won't let me because that'll be 25 grand or 50 grand. It was 25. It was, Adoka spent 25 grand with those comments. Yeah. 25 G. Which I've got to be honest,

I'm surprised. Like, there's obviously, there's no CBA because they're coaches, their league employees, but I'm a little bit surprised it wasn't harsh. That's a wild statement. Those are wild comments, man. It also, I think it's, the fact that it wasn't harsher might tell you the league. Understands it was really, you might have a point. Yeah, I guess so.

And, yeah, I mean, we'll see what happens with Nakua tonight and the Rams, but it's a great game. Like, we've got a great game tonight. I know you guys are taking the Hawks, but it's all right. We'll see, Al's brother, will join us here momentarily. But we haven't had you on since the Monday nighter, and Rogers was slinging it, man. Slinging it. Like, he looks, two weeks in a row. He, two weeks in a row.

D.K. getting going. MVS caught a ball. I'll tell you another guy, and he didn't do much, but he played a ton. Adam Thielen. They used Adam Thielen quite a bit as a run-blocking, kind of wide receiver. And I was like, as that relationship starts to develop, I can see Adam Thielen becoming a part of this offense too. I'm not saying a guy who's going to come out here and cut, you know,

a buck 20 a game, but be another option for A-Rod. Don't look now. I mean, in a weak AFC, this, Steelers, I think. Did they have a shot? I don't think they have a shot to run the table and go to the Super Bowl, but they have a shot to win the first round? I mean, right now it depends who it shakes out against.

But doesn't this feel like it's going to be a year where there will be like a surprise team in the Super Bowl? Given the fact, you know, like Lamar is not what he was. Burroughs not. Yeah. You know, obviously the guy that's been the most predictable Super Bowl quarterback, you know, Mr. Mahomes, not available. Totally.

It feels like there's going to be a surprise team in there. Maybe certainly from maybe from the AFC unless it's the bill. and it feels like the NFC is pretty wide open too. Again, I think if the playoffs started right now, the one seat is Denver, do I have that correct? Yes, Denver. It would be New England playing Houston. Which is a wild matchup.

I would lean Houston. To win outright? I would lean Hughes at the moment, but very, very tight. And then Jacksonville, Buffalo. I'm taking Buffalo there. Pittsburgh Chargers. And I'd probably take Pittsburgh. I really would.

And now all of a sudden you roll into this thing. and Buffalo's going to Pittsburgh again. And then Houston would be going to Denver in your scenario. That's where it gets a little wild for me, where obviously I would lean Buffalo or Pittsburgh, especially after the last time. But that being said, you know, if it ended up being something the effect of like Pittsburgh's playing Denver,

you know, if all the favorites won, or if Houston's loses and we now go Buffalo plays Denver and Pittsburgh plays New England, like Pittsburgh, New England in the second round for me is a tight matchup. It really is. Yeah.

Like, there we go. There we go. Call me out. Stop it, Oh, dog. Stop that. Look how comfortable he looks.

Look at Al's brother. Look at the O'Dog. That's going, fellas. Al's brother, you look like you are comfortable, ready for the holidays, and ready to talk some pigskin. Oh yes, I am. I am. And this is a good game. This is a good game. I'm excited for this one tonight. And I've got some tremendous information for you guys. So I'm sad. All right. Let's establish the line, doogie. Are we at minus one and a half? Is it for Seattle? Seattle minus one and a half at home. Alice Brother, you referenced tremendous information. Please supply it.

Yeah, I'm quite perplexed by this line. I'm not going to lie with you. I think the Rams are the far better football team. I'm surprised that the Seahawks are even favored. So we're getting points as well to go with McVeigh's Rams. Very surprised by this line. But I'll give you a little three-pack of reasons as to why I like the Rams tonight. Okay, first and foremost, the Rams just absolutely control this matchup. They're eight and two against a spread against the Seahawks in their last 10 games, and they've covered five in a row in Seattle.

So going out onto the road against the 12s, that doesn't bother McVeigh and company. They get it done whenever they're down there. You look at McVeigh in December, last 20 December games, 17 and 3. It's a team that gets hot as the season progresses as they start to kind of come into their own as the playoffs approach. And that's where we're at right now. You said it earlier today. The weather is going to be horrendous, expecting tons of rain, 30 to 40 mile an hour wins, which means this is going to be a run game. The Seattle Seahawks, they like to run the football, but they're not good at running the football.

They average the fifth lowest yards per carry. going up against a defense here at the Rams that ranked second in run-stopping win rates. They're a terrific run-stopping team. So then you're putting the ball in the hands of Sammy Darnold, who saw ghost through four interceptions a month ago against this Rams team. You're talking about bad weather. I just don't like that matchup at all for the Seattle Seahawks. And there's one of the thing that I think the weather could impact as well.

Because you look at what's gone on with the Seahawks offensively. In the last four weeks, their red zone scoring percentage. 37 and a half, which is 28th in football, which means they've relied a lot on the leg of Jason Myers, who single-handedly won them that game last week against 44-year-old Bill Rivers. In a weather game like this, you think they're going to be able to put up all those points

of the can't score touchdowns. That's why he's got, like, character-in-on-offers. He relied on them. Yeah, yeah. Don't say four weeks. Last week jam them in this. But the last four weeks, 37-5%. That's a legitimate statistic right.

there. We look at the Seahawks. And in a 30-mile-an-hour wins, I'm not relying on kicking field goals tonight, which means they got to score and put it into the end zone. Because you know that the Rams are going to put it in the end zone. The last three weeks, they're averaging 66% scoring rate once again into the red zone. So I think it comes down to the team that scores seven instead of three, and I put all my eggs in this Rams basket. I think we take the points here. I think they're the better team. I'm quite surprised that they even are getting points here. I love the Rams tonight. That's probably loves the rest.

Hold on. Where are you at, man? I told you I don't trust Sammy Darnold in the big game. I really don't do it. I think they had a struggle against Old Man Rivers last week that was somewhat suspect. Very suspect.

So is someone explaining me this line then? Well, this would be my... Singapore ain't calling with this... This would be my explanation for it. A couple of different things. Devante Adams not playing is very significant. Leading the league in touchdowns as a wide receiver.

12 man, tough building, big game, short week, divisional game, weather's not great, and, you know, I guess they're looking at it thinking Donald is due for a big game. I mean, that would be my assumption. But I can't go against these two guys. I mean, that was tremendous information. There were a lot of different points there that made a lot of sense. I think we'll lock in the Rams.

We're getting a point in a half, right? Maybe Seahawks win 2928 tight. I get the Hawks at home. Yeah, that's right. Are you comfortable with that? Why on earth would Vegas give Seattle? You explain it. How is Seattle favorite in this game?

First and foremost, Seattle's defense is an elite unit right now, an elite unit. They're playing extremely well. Secondly, compared to Seattle, you take the Rams defense? I think they're very comparable. I didn't ask that. I didn't ask they're comparable. Which unit would you take? I would probably take Seattle's, but I'll take this office all day long.

Secondly. But they're not facing 44-year-old. old Bill Rivers. They're taking on the league MVP and Maddie Stafford. And what happened? What happened the last time Matthew Stafford? What happened the last time Matthew Stafford came to town, or excuse me, played the Seattle Seahawks in L.A.? How'd that game go for Matthew? I believe they won the football game. Yeah, because standing through four picks. So if you want to have a real point, I'll take O'Dog's point. If you're worried about Sammy Donald, that's that. But those points were gifted.

Matthew Stafford, they think had what, one drive? Teahawks dominated him. Mike McDonald, has Sean McVeigh's number. You know it, and I know it. The Hawks cover tonight, and we're down to... I don't even want to say that. I don't want to say that. Down 12? No. Okay. Down a regular dozen.

Well, listen, I think, you know, it's interesting the way you put that, though. This could be an MVP night for Stafford. You get dusted tonight. You don't put up numbers and you lose. I think the door's wide open for Josh Allen to steamroll right through it. Like who need... I think so. Like, for me, I told you, man.

I think Allen should be the MVP anyway. Okay. MVP. What point in the numbers matter? Matter? Saffords. Numbers matter. Right now he's number one.

They did last year though because everyone that was pushing numbers was pushing Lamar. Yeah, but right now Saffords won in league in pass rating, two in QBR. And it's not to Josh. Josh is not one. He's won in total past yards, I believe. Is the most thrown touchdowns only five picks. Like, unless he comes out here and throws five picks and I don't know how you say, I'm saying maybe he doesn't lose the pace car role

but he can slow down a few miles an hour you know like he plays poorly tonight loses I'm just saying I think I don't think it's determined like I don't I don't think Matt Stafford I wouldn't be putting money down on him yet like I think the door is open for Alan to come steaming through down the stretch oh yeah the way he's playing over it is not over it is not over no that's what I'm saying

I think that's the bills in general. That's the story of the bills in general. Like, if you're not going to win this year, be it at the MVP or the Super Bowl, like when are you going to win it? Right, exactly. Like, the opportunity's never been gifted to you in a more beautiful way. And I think in large part because Alan is playing at the level he's playing at. Yeah, I mean, he is completely unstoppable.

Look at the AFC, no Lamar, no Patrick Mahomes. Like, I mean, unless the Steelers puke all over themselves, which can't happen. But Lamar ain't going to be there. Now you sit there and you say quarterback. in the AFC playoff picture Stroud is the 7 Obviously you got Buffalo You got Herbert

I'm still taking Allen in that match up There isn't a quarterback You know there isn't one that's even close to it You can't beat a 40 plus year old Aaron Rogers Then you ain't the MVP And I wouldn't be afraid of Lamar Lamar doesn't have a great play of history Especially not against Buffalo

He's a terrible year Yeah The problem is boys That Buffalo defense is not Not great It's not great and it isn't great on the road Like you know in particular It's really bad at it.

the road. And they're going to have to go on the road. I know we'll see how this whole thing shakes out, but whether it's on the road or at home, if they have to play the Houston Texans, that's a bad matchup for Buffalo. That is a bad matchup. Yeah, we just saw it a couple weeks ago. It couldn't score. Seven, eight sacks? Yeah. Yeah, it's a very bad matchup for Buffalo. Outside of Houston, I think Buffalo... Denver Denver's other tough matchup. Yeah, Denver's defense would scare me.

And you're going to Denver. That's a tough game. This might be a weird take, but I actually would have preferred, if I'm a Bill's fan, I would have preferred that they played the Patriots tight, but lost that game. Like, I hate the idea that Brable now has, like, filmed to study and prep for the playoffs. Like, I would give the coaching edge between McDermott and Brable to Vrabel. Sure. And, like, again, I know I'm big-braining this, but it's like, those would be the three, if I had to rank, like, the four teams that I would be, like, it's Buffalo,

New England is still there. I mean, it was a 35-31 game. Denver and Houston would be the four would probably be my top four right now. All right. Well, we'll see what comes with it tonight, man. Good luck to your Seahawks. Go Hawks. Good luck to your Seattle Seahawks.

Alice Brother, great seeing you. Great, tremendous information, as always. I love where things stand with us right now. We've got a game to play on Saturday, and then we've got games on Sunday. Man, we've got that Packers' Bears game. It's going to be a great weekend. Great weekend. Busy weekend.

they love the slop love the slop love it and they will love it O Dogg is this killing you on the inside man having to like listen to this I gotta tell you I feel like I'm they've made me feel like I'm part of the team that you are part of the team O'Dog

yeah you're on Phillip Rivers and Al's brother I have to do something right now that I never thought I would do I give you full permission to use the pro athlete salutes to you Al's don't you take on a second Al's brother. Let's go.

That is staggering, man. That's staggering. You want bad, juju. It just happened. That's the TSN turning point of the season right there. That even makes me concerned. Stolen valor right there. Al's brother is being treated like a professional athlete.

It was just too good today. He was just too good today. All right, Al's brother. Luke, good seeing you guys. We'll catch you guys tomorrow. There it is, Luke Wilson. Catching the group chat tonight. Pick is locked in Rams. Plus one and a half for HBO. IHart Radio. Everything holiday. All in one place.

From 24-7 Christmas music to the stories behind the Christmas hits with Drew Savage. Listen to the podcast on the free IHart Radio app, your destination for all things Christmas. Merry Christmas. These are the songs that. and get you in the spirit. All I want for Christmas with you. Keep listening for all your Christmas favorites.