OverDrive - Willson on the Chargers' victory against the Broncos, the free-kick views and Week 16 picks

Episode Date: December 21, 2024

TSN NFL Analyst Luke Willson joined OverDrive to discuss the biggest headlines around the NFL, the Chargers' win against the Broncos on Thursday Night Football, the team's free-kick leading to the victory for the team, Hayes and Bro and O'Win Willson's selections for Week 16 and more.

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Own your home, need a loan? Alpine Credits can help. Alpine Credits, where homeowners get approved. Just relicense 12-616. What the... Owen Wilson is cooking. Luke, the free kick stopped last night. Yeah, what was going on?

Like, did you know what the hell was going on? Because I had no idea what was happening. I'm not just saying this. I knew exactly what was going on. It was a weird thing, but Pete Carroll loved that rule. Every year, he would come in and be like, hey, we get a chance to do this

free kick. We would practice it all the time to the point where our special teams coach would make snide comments like, hey, we get a free kick shot. We better be ready because Pete's been waiting to call us for 10 years. So I did know, and, you know, it's a very quirky rule,

but it's kind of a fun one. I think for me with that free kick was actually the penalty. And why I say that is because the idea of a free kick, in Pete's mind, was that you could attempt a 65-70 yarder. And instead of, you know, the big fear is when you have a long field goal, kicking it short and it being returned. And part of that fear is because you have offensive linemen on the field goal unit. Your best chance at tackling a premier NFL returner

would be your tight ends that play wing. So it's kind of that risk-reward, but in the free kick, you can stroll out there with your kickoff team. So the idea that you're going to kick this field goal, it's short, and they're going to run it back against your, again, starting kickoff team makes it a little more like hey we might as well go for this and the second part of that is there's nobody trying to block the kick so the kicker can use a lower trajectory and really drive

the ball so it was one of those things where you can steal three points and the you know the chargers did you stole three points they it well, and obviously the penalty helped. But I was very familiar with that rule because we were practicing probably more than we should. Well, obviously it worked out for Harbaugh and the Chargers. I thought, and I'm not just saying this because it was on the Broncos, I thought the officiating was horrible last night. The Chargers had two penalties for eight yards.

I don't even know how that's possible. It's such a blatant pass interference late in the game night, the Chargers had two penalties for eight yards. I don't even know how that's possible. It's such a blatant pass interference late in the game when Nick threw it to Mims deep. But also, the roughing the passer on Herbert when he's on the ground. No. Yes. Jonas, he touched his shoulder. You can't have that in professional football.

You cannot have it when he gives himself up and a guy hits his shoulder. To me, that was outrageous, Luke, the fact that they threw a flag on that play. I think that one was a bit strange. I heard we did a good job selling it. But, Hayes, I'll also say it's getting disappointing with this officiating. But I thought the craziest one i'm sitting there watching it above jay studio and on denver's first touchdown they have an illegal man downfield might have been their second touchdown was one of the early touchdowns

illegal man downfield and the officials picked the flag up and say the player was engaged that's not even a rule i'm like like, what do you mean? And then I think it was Herbstreit came on and was like, I've never heard of that. And then whoever their officiating guy on Amazon is, is like, I don't really know what they're saying because whether they're engaged or not has nothing to do with any legal man downfield.

It was an RPO, an office of Lyman took off. He clearly was past the line. They literally made up something that doesn't exist. So that was one for me where I'm like, again, I didn't have a big effect on the game, no. But it's disappointing, and it seems like it's every week, there are these plays where you're just like, how are the officials getting this so wrong all of the time?

I mean, go back last week. They stopped the clock in the Saints-Commanders game. That was insane. Yeah, there's been a lot of them. I don't get it. No, there's been a lot of them, and it is just these games, especially high-profile games like last night, Noodles. The whole world's watching.

My question is, though, now correct me if I'm wrong. Are these refs, like full-time refs, do they make big money or are they like working at an insurance company during the week and then show up and ref the game? Like the NFL is the biggest machine on the planet, arguably. I mean, I know soccer in Europe, but it just, what are these refs? They make big money? Are they full-time? What's the deal there? You know what? I actually don't know the answer to that question,

but I was watching something with John Gruden, and he was spot-on with this take. He said the tough part is each crew, you know, they travel all together and they call the game differently. So I will say, you know, when we were every week and we're playing on Fridays, Pete Carroll would get up there in front of the team and be like, hey, here's the – and he'd have a whole breakdown. Here's the crew reffing our game. Here's our record with them reffing us.

Here is what they like to call. Here is what they've called against us in our game. Here's our record with them reffing us. Here is what they like to call. Here is what they've called against us in games past. Here is what the league average is. And you'd sit there and be like, hey, like, these guys are a little tighter on pass interference. Or these guys, you know, hey, Richard Sherman, they let us play a little more last time. Push that envelope. You know, or they're really looking for holes or this guy's you know and it just gets to the point where you're like i wish they could find a way where it was just more black and white and obviously it's never going to be exactly black and white but we get to the point where like you said you know you're sliding and getting hit in the shoulder it's a 15 yard penalty a legal manfield, we're making up rules. Oh, no, he was engaged. We're going to pick

the flag up. Come on, man. This is crazy. I know it was a big topic of discussion about a decade ago where the rest were not full-time employees. Some of them were lawyers, you'd be teachers, whatever it was.

Again, the league only goes on. You're only playing games for like five months. They might be involved in the preseason a little bit. Guys are looking to do things for six months of the year. The NFL wasn't going to employ them full-time. I feel like there was some sort of summit a while ago where they started hiring guys full-time and

started training them. Historically, it wasn't. It was a part-time gig. I just looked it up. Hayes, they're making better money now. That was the thing. Hayes, they're making better money now. Making good money. Well, that was the thing. Back then they would still make decent money, but it was like $100,000 or something for the year.

Now it's like $200,000. Yeah, so they're making – that's a full-time gig. It should be, and it should be big bucks because of how important they are to the game now. We talk about it all the time with gambling and everything else that the NFL is a massive machine. Those guys should be the best of the best which i'm sure they are but they should be they should be compensated like it so that they don't have to pick up a second job and hey i'm gonna rep a huge you know chiefs bills game on the weekend but i know you

know i'm it's kind of crazy your offense is on the friday yeah I'm working on my garage or fences on the Friday. It gets ridiculous. Guys, you're accountants on the Friday, and then you're like, that guy's on TV. He just threw a flag, and he's costing me money now. This guy's supposed to be making me money. He just cost me money. All right, let's get my boy in here because...

There you go. Miles, brother, I love the hat. You look beautiful as always. It is an incredible, incredible look for you and myself. Noodles, I'm sure you heard about this by now, but yesterday was established if there's a tie at the end of the year, the tie break is a 40-yard dash, Luke running backwards, Al's brother running forwards. So that is the tie break if and when we get to that point.

And last night, I would say, didn't necessarily help our cause. I liked our process, Al's brother. I liked our process. I did, too. And honestly, that field goal free kick at the end really turned things around because you take those three points out. Denver's driving with two minutes to go, and instead of settling for the field goal, they could go in and score if it's only a seven point

game that really did come into play at the end and screw with our cover yeah it did and it's disappointing it's a goofy rule it should be thrown out but i mean you know they don't even pay the refs enough money you know i'm not allowed to use profanity, but we all know the saying, if my aunt had a you-know-what, she'd be my uncle. I could say that every single game. Oh, we almost covered. That was a brutal pick. I reversed my reverse psychology. No one on planet Earth would have taken the Broncos yesterday.

No one. Only two dummies that read the headlines on Twitter, which is exactly what you guys did. The Broncos are 1-6 against teams above 500. Bonix is good now. Bonix looked good that first half. Justin Herbert smacked you.

There it is. We're one back and we're humming. Let's get to the games because naturally Doogie of course is affecting the Lions and they're only our games, which is so great. I was of the impression at 6 p.m. when this segment starts, everything's locked. But Doogie's decided that he wants to maneuver Lions, which might garner a complete investigation, third party, big budget, everything.

I thought he worked for you guys. No. What's that? I mean, it may or may not. He does. He does. He does. He doesn't.

All right. Owen Wilson on the clock with the first game of the weekend. Chiefs laying three and a half. Chiefs three and a half at home against the Houston Texans. Who are you taking and why? I'm taking the Chiefs. And do I feel great about it? No. But I'll tell you exactly why I'm taking the chiefs and do i feel great about it no but i'll tell you exactly why i'm taking the chiefs first and foremost cj stroud has not played well this year you look at his

stats they're pretty much right at the level of aaron rogers and kirk cousins and both of them have not been great he's a statistically cj stroud is the 20th 21st best quarterback in the league this year he has not been on it they They've been relying on Joe Mixon. That guy has been incredible. However, one thing the Chiefs got going here, it's been a phenomenal, phenomenal run defense. So I expect them to be able to minimize, or at least, you know, to a degree, Joe Mixon.

And now C.J. Stroud is going to have to go on the road and go down and score points. So I like that matchup. And on the same breath, Mahomes is playing. This is a very meaningful game because they do not have the one seed. Not yet, especially with the schedule they have. They've got to come out here and take care of business. Will I get jammed by the hook? There's a possibility.

The hook might jam me. But I'm not rolling against Patrick Mahomes in this game right now. I like the idea he's got a bit of a banged-up ankle. They're going to simplify the playbook. He's going to grind this thing out, and I think they'll win by six or seven. All right, Alice, brother. I mean, I think we might see Carson Wentz at some point on Saturday.

That's what I'm thinking. Like, I really don't know how much belief or faith I could have in the Chiefs right now when it comes to covering a football game. They could squeak out a win, and they've been able to do that all year. Squeak out wins. In the last six weeks, they've won by more than a field goal one time. One time. And they have not had a good season. Look who they're playing. The Browns, the Chargers, the Raiders, Carolina, they're not playing world beaters out here outside the Buffalo game, which they lost.

So for them to come into this game, you've got a banged up Mahomes going up against a defense that could generate pressure. This defense, they can get after the quarterback. They're second in the league in sacks per game. So you've got a team that could do that. I think they could keep it relatively close. This team has not scored a lot of points, the Chiefs. They have not.

I think it will be a lower scoring game than we initially thought it would be. They could maybe win by a field goal. I'm with you. I think you're going to get jammed by that hook and I am very happy about it. It screams 2017 Chiefs. Screams it. The same number I have in my computer right now. 2017

Chiefs. The computer even agrees. TG's coming together, man. That is great information. Trem tremendous information, and gut instinct. All right, so here's Doogie. I'll be honest, boys. We get a 21-17 win here, and oh my goodness are we rumbling. Yes. Oh my, we'll be dead even coming into this next one.

No DJ Humphreys, by the way, out. No DJ Humphreys protecting the blind side either yeah that's big man that's a left tackle that with a bum ankle that's concerning yes sir um all right we're on raven steelers which at six o'clock when everyone else on earth shuts down the book and decides the numbers are in and this is the way it goes it was ra Ravens 6.5 against the Steelers. But Doogie decided that that's not the way he operates because he is the shadiest character in the history of gambling. It's now Ravens minus 7 against the Steelers. The line has moved to Ravens minus 7.

Roger Dugel is what I'm now referring to, Matt. Roger Dugel. Dugel, yes. I like it. Yes, and this is line movement gate, courtesy of Doogie, but what's your tremendous information on this one, Owls brother? Well, what this might tell me, though, is that there's a lot of sharp money coming in on Baltimore,

and a lot of people might be backing the Baltimore Ravens, which is kind of perplexing. You look at this line at first, and you think six and a half, but this is a divisional game. These two always play each other insanely close. Tomlin absolutely owns Lamar, owns Baltimore.

How could it be so high? Yet the Sharps are still betting and still putting money on the Ravens for it to grow to seven points. I'm kind of confused here, but I think I may be willing to lay the points. Where are you at, AZB?

What's your gut tell you? My gut says you take the points in a game like this. That is my gut, especially the history of Tomlin, the Steelers. T.J. Watt is playing. I know George Pickens isn't playing for the Steelers, and that's significant. And Russ has slowed down. Deshaun Elliott also is out, and that's a big miss for me because the Steelers, why they've been able to really limit Lamar Jackson

is because they've had the too-high-safety look, and they're limiting the explosive plays. You're missing one of your safeties, and Lamar Jackson, outside of that game against Pittsburgh this year, has a quarterback rating of 124.7 with the deep ball, passes 20 yards or more with seven touchdowns. If they can't get the safeties working and that leaves a little bit of a crack for some explosive plays, I think we could see Lamar finally,

finally beat this narrative. Figure out the narrative. Possibly. I will say this. Coming off a buy and beating the Giants and playing great is completely meaningless. We agree. It's nothing what he did last week in the Raiders. Coming off of buying and beating the Giants and playing great is completely meaningless. That we agree. It's nothing what he did last week in the Raiders. Yeah.

I do, you know, the Steelers are coming off a bad loss, too. They kind of got punked. Well, and they can win the division with a win here, too. That's the thing. There's a lot on the line for the Steelers to at least show up. I've got to, okay, so we're split on this one, Hazy B. And honestly, I'm like 55-45 Ravens. It sounds like you're 55-45 for the Steelers.

I have an idea. You let me know if you're okay with this. Where are you at? Jonas. Jonas? Where's your head at? A non-athlete. What?

A non-athlete. Where are you at with this game? I'm curious. Ravens, Man 7. I just want to know, Luke, are you okay if I help these guys out? Of course, Jonas, but all I'm saying is, Hayes, if I were you right now, I would cut A.B. from the team. This guy doesn't want to handle the pressure.

He needs to be cut. You're one game up right now. It's the end of the season. It's crunch time. And he doesn't want to make a pick in a big game? I don't even know where my partner is! I'm making all the picks over here! I do feel like Kyle Shanahan a little bit here right now. Devondre, Al's brother

Campbell. No, no, no. I'm willing to make the pick. Let me ask Jonas where your head is at, and then we will take that into consideration. For me, this felt like a tap-in. Yeah? Steelers. Steelers. Okay. Like, tap-in. Look at all those points. Steelers

already beat Baltimore once earlier in the year. Tap-in. Don't like that offense. I really don't like that Steelers offense. How many points are they going to score? I understand what you're saying. The question is, Lamar against Tomlin, the Steelers, it's a divisional game. It's a touchdown.

Could be a push. I think I'm going over the top. Steelers. It's a divisional game. It's a touchdown. Could be a push. I think I'm going over the top. Steelers, I think we've got to lock in Steelers. Jonas is throwing it out there. Okay, Jonas is throwing it out there. He is our Yoda right now when it comes to this game. That's a big move, though, from six and a half to seven. Like, that's a key number to get to seven.

So that is enough to maybe persuade and push this thing. Might be a push, but hey, if Tomlin and the Steelers roll and they come through like that. The Steelers won eight of the nine last. They're a good club. They're a good football team. They need to redeem themselves after last week. You're right. Moving on. We're on the Steelers. Doogie

McMahon, throw that in. Eagles three and a half against the Commanders. Owen Wilson on the clock. There's no world where I don't take the Eagles. Absolutely no world. I'll be honest with you. I really am cold on the Commanders right now. I think that they are

a bit fraudulent. Obviously got off to a hot start. Even last week struggling to beat a Saints team. The defense to me is not great. I think the Eagles obviously have a bunch of drama, but they've figured a lot of things out seemingly last week. I think Saquon has a monster game, bounces back with about 170 and two tutties.

They just beat this team up. Might take a while. Might have to grind them down for a couple quarters. And you've got to respect the Eagles' defense. One of the best units in the league right now. They're playing a rookie. And I think it's going to be one of those things where they have their way here. Eagles got a legit shot to 1-2.

They need this win. I'm going Eagles all day. I feel good about it. I can't argue with that. That's the play. I mean, I do. I think that's the play. But, again, 3-1.

The hook. It is that's the play. I mean, I do. I think that's the play. But, again, three and a half. The hook. It is big. The hook. In an interdivisional game, you may find a way to see a three-point ball game there. All right. Vikings-Seahawks. Vikings laying three against Seattle. Al's brother, tremendous information.

Please. Yeah, it's another fishy line, kind of. Especially since the Seahawks, look at their home record. They're only 3-5 in front of the quote, 12s that Luke used to play in front of. This, to me, could be a blowout. I really don't understand why it's only a

field goal game. The Vikings, their offense is absolutely humming. We're talking about a top-10 offense against a middling Hawks defense, and defensively, you've got an injured quarterback with a bum knee this team gets after the quarterback and they generate pressure more than any other team in football and they lead the nfl in interceptions and you got a terrible offensive line who's giving up sacks the 29th they ran 29th and sacks giving up per game i really

don't see how they're going to be able to move the football. The Vikings do an absolutely tremendous job stopping the run. So even with Kenneth Walker coming back, they're going to stuff him every play. They're going to get after Geno Smith on every single drop back. They're not going to put up any points in the Vikings. You got Jay Jeddas. You got Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones, and you got TJ Hawkinson. I think this Minnesota team is going to put up a bunch of points. Blowout City, I would hammer

the Vikings in this one. That's where my gut instinct is at as well. I guess Geno's going to try to gut it out, but we saw what happened last week. I don't think he's in a good place. I'm not sure he gets through the game, even if he does. He's passing for a lot of yards this year, but that's going to slow down against Brian Flores.

We've talked about him a million times this year. The Vikings, they're still chasing that top seed, too, just like the Eagles. They're inspired to do that. I know there's a lot on the line for Seattle as well. They're trying to keep up in the NFC West. Back-to-back home games. But we're laying the points here. We're on the Vikings minus three.

Lock it in. School all day. Sunday night are Bucs minus three and a half against the Cowboys. Owen Wilson on the clock. So, to be completely transparent here, probably similar to you guys picking the Vikings, every fiber

in my body wants to take the Cowboys because the line is just too fishy. How this is in a ten-point spread, I don't know. Like, what does Vegas know that I don't? But that being said, you know, I go back a couple weeks ago when my

party, wherever he is, told me, hey, you know, we gotta stop being cute. We gotta stop being cute. And I think about the Bengals game versus the Titans. The layup doogie gave me a couple weeks back. And even that one, I was like, it's too good to be true. And I suck with the Bengals game versus the Titans, the layup doogie game a couple weeks back. Even that one, I was like, it's too good to be true. I suck with the Bengals.

I've got to do the same thing with the Bucs. As much as I sit here and think that the Cowboys might cover this game, because it's something that I just cannot understand why the line is so low, I can't do it. I've got to go with the Bucs. Again, I sit here and I say, Mike

Evans, Bakers, rip it. I mean, they just smoked the Chargers last week. You know, is the Rico Dowdle backfield slash Cooper Rush going to cover a potential playoff team? I don't know. I don't think so. But, again, I'm a bit uneasy about this because it seems like it's too easy. What does Vegas know that I don't? That's a great question.

But you're locking it in? Box three and a half. Locking it in. I'm locking it in. Box three and a half. I got a lot of three and a halves. Lots of three and a halves. I love where FanDuel sets that.

Another hook. Another hook. I know. Again, we got jammed more by Doogie than anything else. But we're taking the points anyway, so actually it ended up helping us in the end because we got an extra half point there for all the Steelers. But these guys are riding favorites across the board.

Chiefs 3.5, Eagles 3.5, Bucs 3.5. Two of them road favorites at that. Yeah, that's crazy. We'll see. I kind of like Dallas in this one. I'm not even saying that. What does Vegas know? They're looking at the numbers, and they see that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

cannot stop the run. They've given up 5.5 yards per carry this season, and their win rates, they're 31st in run-stopping win rates this season, and what does Dallas do well right now? They've figured out the run game. Rico Daudo, the last three weeks, is rattling off unprecedented

numbers for what this team is. He had 150 yards last week and is averaging 130 yards per game over the last three weeks. They finally have an identity on offense, and I think they can keep this with a field goal, maybe even win the football game. I love that. Tremendous, tremendous information.

All right, Jonas. Out of curiosity, do you know who those three games were? That's what I was going to say. I have it in front of me. The Giants, the Bengals, and the Panthers. Does not matter. It doesn't. It's grody, Jonas.

Jonas, you're on our side now. Hey, stats are stacks. Facts are facts. I said nothing that was not true, Jonas. That's right, man. Who cares? That's just deception. You're telling me right now. You're telling me, Al's bro, that if you had this pick, you. That's right, man. Who cares? That's just deception. You're telling me right now.

You're telling me, Al's brother, that if you had this pick, you would have taken the Cowboys. I would have taken the Cowboys. I would have took the points for sure. Three and a half, home dogs, absolutely. Tampa Bay can't stop the run. That's the thing. You may be talking about teams that are good. They can't stop the Chargers.

This run defense. I like the way Baker's playing right now. I like the way Baker's playing. But. I like the way Baker's playing. But I like where we're at, too. I'm going to be completely honest with you, Hayes. And as a GM of your team, depending on how this weekend goes, you need to take a look in the mirror and make some decisions. You're sitting here.

You had a six-point lead. It's dwindled down to one. There's a strong possibility. I need a little bit of luck, as do you guys. You guys are going to potentially be trailing here, or at least tied or whatever, going into this game. You had a partner try to shell off one of his picks, and now he's going to take the Cowboys?

Come on now. Listen, man. You either send him on the Iowa Oscar retreat or something. He's not in his right mind. I stand by him. I refuse to believe he's gotten to this point. Devondre DiStefano. I stand by him.

He's my guy. Don't say that, AZP. You're my guy, man. I can't be Devondre DiStefano. I can't do that. You're my guy, Devondre. You'll always be. I will never sewer you like that snake Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch.

How could they do that to him? He wasn't feeling well. He didn't want to play. Leave him alone. Or a packer, Devondre. I know. It's ugly, man. It's ugly.

All right. We'll leave it there. Picks are in. Doogie, do whatever you can to make sure the other guys make it a match, and we'll do what we can to continue to roll. How's brother? great seeing you. Jonas, throw it up. You're a part of the crew now.

He will not do it. That's Steelers pick is all you, Jonas. I can't do it. Steelers pick is all you. Don't do it. Don't do it. He will not do it. All right, Luke.

We'll chat early next week. There's Luke Wilson. See you, buddy. Luke Wilson, Al's brother's brother partsy great stuff as always uh best bet still to come dear santa b so that means it's going to really turn into a professional show now after whatever that was for 15 minutes now the real stuff begins now the sports emmy gets one