Purple Insider - a Minnesota Vikings and NFL podcast - JJ McCarthy limited in practice again; Vikings-Eagles deep dive (Part 2)

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

Matthew Coller talks about another day of JJ McCarthy not fully practicing and a new name showing up on the injury report that is not ideal. Plus Eric Sidewater of Eagles Edge joins and then Manny Hill plays a game of Talk Me Into before picking the schedule. The Purple Insider podcast is brought to you by FanDuel. Also, check out our sponsor HIMS at https://hims.com/purpleinsider Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode of Purple Insider is presented by FanDuel. So let us go to our next guest here. We can continue the conversation as well, which is my good pal, Mani Hill, give me one second to get Mani into the mix. And let me give you that FanDuel question of the day real quick as well, which is Carson Wentz's over under on Fan Duel is 31.5, 231.5 yards and Jalen Hertz is 203.5. Which of those quarterbacks needs to hit the over more in order to win this contest on Sunday. And Mani Hill, welcome, as always, on Thursday night at

7.30. How about that fan duel question? Which one of these quarterbacks needs to perform at a higher level? Or say it this way, be leaned upon more for the passing game in order to win on Sunday. Well, it's interesting because the Eagles, I mean, they got to the Super Bowl last year and won it without Jalen Hertz having to put up a lot of really big numbers, right? I mean, it was talked that the passing game really last year wasn't good at all. And they were leaning so much on Saquan Barkley having a magical season to kind of carry them to that. But this year, of Sequin hasn't been nearly as effective in the running game. And, you know, the Eagles offense has kind of suffered because of it.

And if that's going to continue because we see running backs kind of wear down typically after they have a big 2,000-yard season, I kind of think it's going to take Jalen Hertz to kind of step things up in the passing game a little bit more and be a little bit more prolific in that way. And you've got, he's got the weapons to be able to do it. He's got two of the best wide receivers in the NFL, got a pretty good tight end, you know, maybe some questions on the offensive line a little bit with protection. But I think with him having those weapons and him being a threat to run himself, I think that should be able to open things up for him to be more successful in the passing game. We just haven't really seen it. So I think he's the one that

needs to really have a bigger day passing the ball. Yeah, it's really weird to say that I think the Vikings should have more success on the ground against the Eagles than the Eagles against the Vikings because not because the Vikings are good at stopping the run. We know they're not. It's really because the Eagles run game has just been incompetent so far. And it just kind of shows you how much of a difference, well, two things make. I mean, when you go over 2,000 yards and win the Super Bowl, you are dead after, I think, with your body.

I don't think you can recover in a year where you're going to have the same explosiveness. And we have not seen it from Saquan Barkley. but I also think just how much Mackay Beckton mattered to them. I mean, you're talking about a former top draft pick who's six foot, I don't know, eight, 340 pounds moves super, super well for that position. Was not the best pass blocker because I think DTs could get underneath him a little bit, but was an unbelievable run blocker as a guard. And he was there for them the entire season.

You lose him, Landed Dickerson's playing hurt. It's just a totally different story from what it was last year with their offense. of line. It's also hard to just break 80 yard runs all the time. He was doing that left and right every game and it was not going to be repeated. So if their run game remains even similar to what it's been, the last couple of games and the Vikings, I think, have been close with Jordan Mason the last few weeks and had some success still. They were great in the Cincinnati game. This is a team lacking their edge rushers. Jalen Carter has not been the same. Talked about that earlier today, but it just with his injuries has not been the same.

And I think the Vikings have a better chance to lean on their run game than have to have Carson Wentz throw all day long. Yeah, 100%. And I think if you're the Vikings and if you're in a situation where you need Carson Wentz to throw for 350, 360 yards, like they kind of did against Pittsburgh, I think it's going to be a bad day because that's just not what, that's just not who Carson Went is as a quarterback anymore.

I think he's a very serviceable backup. He's been able to win a couple of games and play well enough for them to win. But, you know, I think for the Vikings, it's going to be kind of establishing that running game with Jordan Mason. You know, they've got, you know, the guys up front that can, that should be able to do it at least with some effectiveness and take some pressure off of Carson wins so he doesn't feel like he has to carry this team. And I think that's a formula for success against, against Philadelphia. Yeah, no, I totally agree. So what I want to do, man, he's play a little talk me into because we have, it's just been a little bit on the downer side here, the last couple of a while. So since J.J. McCarthy really left Chicago, it hasn't been the best vibes in the purple insider stratosphere here with this team.

So I want to play a little talk me into, which the game is played very simply. we give each other things that maybe you don't even necessarily believe, but you have to talk the other person into it regardless. So I want to go in the direction about the quarterback play to kind of get your feeling on it, but also make you talk me into this. Talk me and the rest of the people listening into J.J. McCarthy comes back at some point this season and is also playing in a playoff game. So talk me into that scenario, how it could.

happen and what would have to go down for McCarthy to come back and play in a playoff game? Well, certainly we know based off of kind of what Kevin O'Connell has talked about is he's going to need to be healthy. He's going to need to get to get back to 100% and get out there and just play. And I think if he can get out there and play and if the pieces around him can be healthy enough, this team has enough talent. to get to the playoffs, win some games, you know, to set themselves up for a playoff spot, and depending on the matchup that they have, maybe win a playoff game or two. You know, I think the biggest thing is getting to the playoffs first, finding a way to get there

and getting that kind of experience for J.J. McCarthy, but it's going to come down to him being healthy. And I think if he is healthy, and he's getting the reps in practice, something he hasn't been able to consistently get really since he's been here, I think we're going to see him get better and better and better as the season goes along with the more experience that he gets, the more reps that he gets. And there's going to be certain opportunities, I think, late in the season where he's going to have some matchups against some pretty poor defenses where he will have a chance to have some success against. And I think that'll be able to build his confidence too. So I think if he can just get back and healthy, I think there's a there's a strong possibility that this team could get to the playoffs with him leading the way. When do you think, so I've said this probably, you know, I don't know how many times about his return that there's no good and perfect time to just drop him back in. It's the NFL. The season's too crazy. You're never going to have everybody 100% healthy and play the worst team in the league or, you know, then just say, oh, JJ, go beat this team treated like a preseason game and then get back out there and start playing against the good teams. But what do you think the ideal matchup or ideal timing?

would be for him to return. Let's just not even consider like how soon it needs to be or how much practice or anything like that. Just if you're looking at the schedule, what game would you say, hey, this one would be the best one for him to return? I'm thinking November 9th against Baltimore at home. Seems a little ways away.

It's three games before that. But I think with the way Baltimore is playing right now, you know, I want to see J.J. McCarthy, if he's going to get out there, I want to see him be able to have some success. And I think with that Ravens defense being as bad as it's been, you know, we don't know the health of Lamar Jackson. That's going to be a big, you know, talking point,

I think, in the weeks to come before that. But that matchup against that defense and it being at home too, I think it's an opportunity for him to go out, have some success, and be able to build off of it. and have some confidence. And then you got the Bears at home right after that too. So you can kind of, in a way, get him back from this injury and kind of ramp him up for some tougher challenges after that,

which would be at Green Bay, at Seattle. You know, I mean, you know, maybe you could talk about at Detroit, you know, the week before. But I'm looking at, you know, giving him a chance to have some early success as soon as he comes out and plays. and that seems to me to be the Baltimore Ravens game on November 9th. I think you have nailed this answer, Mr. Hill, because if you look, okay, so the next two games, it just is not going to happen this week because of health, and then there's no way

to practice enough before you're going to face the Chargers. So those games are out. Now, it would seem, all right, okay, go to Detroit. Last year at Detroit, we saw Sam Darnold's struggle there. I think Ford Field has become one of the more difficult places to play. And also, you probably need to win some kind of shootout against them. They've solved Brian Flores many times before. That doesn't mean they'll do it this time, but it's still the same quarterback, still a lot of the same weapons, and that offense has been performing at a pretty high level for Detroit. That might be a difficult environment to do it. He will get extra practice time, but that would practice time he can get it locked in, all set ready to go, then come back home, have his home environment,

and not just play a bad defense in Baltimore, but play another bad defense the week after against the Chicago Bears. Green Bay would be difficult November 23rd. Seattle is difficult on the road, November 30th, but then you get the commanders and the cowboys. I mean, out of those six games, can you win three of them,

four of them with J.J. McCarthy and stay in the race. You could definitely beat the Ravens. You could beat the Bears, build up his confidence to go to Lambo for the first time. to go to Seattle for the first time and then facing the commanders who I think are still a really good team and they should have won the other night, but their defense is not impossible to face and the Cowboys defense is the worst thing I've ever seen in my entire life. So, I mean, it's it's ironic that Carolina who set the record for yards allowed last year

put up all those yards against Detroit who may or against Chicago. I mean, no, against Dallas, I mean, who might break the same. record this year with the number of yards that they've been giving up. So I think that that six-game section would be ideal for McCarthy to come back. I mean, you'd like to have it to be against the lions, but it just feels like that might be even still a little soon. If he's not really practicing in full this week, there's pretty much no practice at all next week.

So he's going to have a week of really full potential practice if his ankles at 100%. Give me two weeks and then play against the team that's pretty much down. bad right now in Baltimore. What would you like me to talk you into, Manny? Talk me into how, because we just haven't seen it

enough yet. Talk me into how the Vikings, the rest of the season, can turn T.J. Hawkinson back into a legitimate threat and a legitimate weapon in this offense because we just haven't seen it.

And the first couple of weeks, we could kind of say, oh, well, you know, the offensive line was banged up. And so they were keeping him in for blocking purposes. But, you know, you've got Dar esau now back. Obviously, we know O'Neill is banged up a little bit. But you've got your offensive line is getting healthier. And at some point, you've got to get T.J. Hawkinson more into the mode of why you traded for him a couple of years ago to begin with. so how are the Vikings going to be able to do that right so these last three games with carson went to quarterback five catches four catches six catches it's not quite where he was in

two thousand twenty three where he was more along the lines of 10 12 14 targets in a game and they were leaning heavily on him with even car cousins in 2022 was leaving uh leaning heavily on t j hawkinson as they went down the stretch there so it's not quite to that level, but I think it has a lot to do with whether it's Wentz or it's J.J. McCarthy, just understanding that he's kind of always there. Yes, the chip blocking, but I think that's a little overrated. Like, you design that for him to get out into the flag, get out into the middle. It does change things from him lining up in the slot. But when I look at his slot percentage this year versus previous years, it's actually a little bit higher of him playing

in the slot than it was last year. So his in-line percentage this year is 44.8. Last year was 56. So he's actually playing less in-line this year as the traditional tight-end position than he even was last year, right around the same ballpark of about 50% of the snaps. So I don't think that that's been the sole reason why he hasn't been involved. I honestly think it's because that he's so often the checkdown option that, you know, Wentz is just trying to get the ball to his first read a lot of times.

And you see when his first read is presented to him, it's like drop back, throw the ball, bang, it's there. That's why they liked how he's played is because when you could set it up for him, it's there. I think where he's had some struggle and did well at the end of the game against the Browns, but some struggle has been when he has to pick things apart with the defense. Cleveland really showed him a lot at the line of scrimmage. When I reviewed the tape, there wasn't a ton of, oh, That's what coverage they played out of that.

Look, it was a lot of, hey, they're actually going to play some man here against Justin Jefferson like idiots, and he's going to go roast Denzel Ward and win the game there. And the same with Jordan Addison, one-on-one. Okay, that's fine with him. He's going to go up and get it and score a touchdown. You're not going to see that as much from Fangio and some of these defenses that are coming up.

The chargers love to throw a lot of different looks, a lot of different blitzes. That's where he has to get through it and understand, get through. those reads quick and understand where Hawkinson is. And then when McCarthy comes back, he is your best friend, bro. And he was not your best friend in the first couple of games. But he certainly can be.

He can be even when even the Josh Dobbs game, which I think a lot of people have tried to wash out of their minds because maybe sort of in a way could have possibly cost them Drake May. But you know, the Josh Dobbs game, what is he doing in that game? A lot of times he's just throwing it to T.J. Hawkinson

because he's going to be there under Heath. Unfortunately, with the tight end position, so much of it has to do with for 95% of the league's tight ends, just what your quarterback is seeing and whether he's giving you the football or not. And a lot less to do with are you actually getting open or are you actually playing the right way, which is probably an argument against, it was my argument against the Bears drafting Colston Loveland. And it's probably an argument against signing the contract that they did for Hawkinson. Now, you can do it with the rookie quarterback. contract overpay. But if they were in a Kirk Cousins world and they had to really, really hone in on positional value, I would have said it's probably not worth that for most tight ends. Even if I respect the heck out of Hawkinson and think he's a great player, they're just dependent on if receivers are drawing the defense, if the quarterback is getting to checkdowns and finding them because he's not the centerpiece of the offense. And also one more thing, if you look around the league this year, I think you're going to find a lot.

lot of guys with less catches than you'd expect because there's not as many plays being run when you get the ball at the 30 to 35 and kickers are kicking 60 to 65 yard field goals teams are kind of playing for the field goal when they get in the other side of the field and this was brought up to me on our fantasy show today by Mike Schope that the league is at its lowest number of plays per game in a really really long time so I think that there's a lot of guys we're going to look at and go like oh man you know he used to get eight nine catches now he's getting five six but the team in the first two games i i don't even think they reached a hundred plays in the first two games so they also have to stay on the field i mean that's

probably the biggest thing with hawkinson it's not necessarily how he's playing is it's how off it's the other circumstances around including how often you're getting long drives all right yeah i love that that's a great breakdown um okay did i talk you into it did that work Yeah, you actually did. Yes, yes, you did. I think, yeah, I think, well, and that's kind of been the thing too, right? Is that sometimes we see this offense. They'll have a couple of three and outs in a row,

and they're just not able to really, like, sustain a long drive in that so they can have an impact on it too. All right, here's something else for you. These two defensive tackles that they signed in the offseason, it's been a little underwhelming. talk me into it getting better for them. What needs to happen for J. Von Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, to just be more productive. We know the shortcomings in the run game.

It's just, I mean, we knew going into the season that the run defense wasn't going to be great for them. But they were brought in to be just absolute menaces from a pass rushing standpoint. seen it at times, but not really consistently. Talk me into how it's going to get better for both of these guys as we progress through the season. Okay, this is going to be a funny answer. Pass attempts against is how it's going to happen because right now, the Minnesota Vikings have faced 138 pass attempts against, which is the second lowest in the entire NFL.

It's kind of hard to rack up pressures and rack up sacks when the other team isn't throwing right the secondly think about this the Arizona Cardinals have been on the field for 237 attempts so that is a hundred more attempts against the Arizona Cardinals than against the Minnesota Vikings and again very hard for those guys they were brought here to rush the passer they were really brought here to play from ahead that's truly what they were brought here for because last year you think about it the Vikings would get a lead and they would often give up some of that lead and then things would get more hairy than they needed to be because, you know, you don't really want to be blitzing like a madman with the lead because

then you're giving up explosive plays. So you're rushing four. But when your four included Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard and Harrison Phillips, you're not getting to the quarterback with four. That means Jordan Love in two different games, had a lot of time to throw and was completing passes downfield and coming back and almost pulling off upsets, where The idea was, we'll get ahead. We've got Jordan Mason to run out the clock on the offensive side, have long drives, put a ton of pressure on the opposing team if you're up 10 points. And here comes Alan and here comes Hargrave.

And these guys are going to be a nightmare when combined with Van Ginkle or Turner and Jonathan Grenard as a four-man rush. 138 passes. Actually, how many of those have even come with the Vikings having the lead? I mean, it can't be very many because Chicago at the end of the game and where did Hargrave get his biggest pressures? Chicago at the end of the game. And Alan, in that game where Chicago threw a ton, those guys were beasts. I think they combined for like 11 pressures in that game, which I haven't seen Vikings defensive tackles do in a really super long time, if ever, maybe since Linball and Tom Johnson, but I mean, usually not.

they need to be in the right position because if you are behind in the game and the other team is handing off the ball to be John Robinson time and time again, they're just not built for that. That's just not what they're here for. So the logic was you're probably going to play from ahead and then you're going to get sacks and rush four. It just hasn't worked out that way. Like so many of the Viking statistics and shortcomings have a lot to do with just the offense isn't on the field as much and they haven't scored a ton of points. Everything is different. when that happens. So basically it's kind of something that I think we've hinted at a few times where

the offense just needs to get off to a good start. Go down, you know, take that first drive, go down, get a touchdown. Yes. If you can get the other team to go three and out after that, go down, score another touchdown or go down and get another field goal, get a lead early. And then maybe that can kind of change things for those guys and your defense as a whole. Okay. How about talk me into this, Manny, two dog dad, throwing this one.

one out there and we'll take uh we'll take the chats talk me into's if they're good uh says talk me into some of these games having a playoff feeling to them the rest of the way so some of these games mattering enough to have a playoff feeling uh talk me into that happening talking about on the biking schedule yeah uh well i think i mean you you're you're facing the defending super Bowl champions this Sunday. I mean, that's, I think they're not the same team, but that still has to have somewhat of a playoff field to it. With a winning record, by the way, does everyone know the Vikings are not 0.5? Yeah. Um, I think, I think the Chargers game because it's, you know, it's a Thursday night game. It's the only game that's going to be on. I think that has a chance to

have a playoff field to it. The Chargers are a, you know, they're banged up on the offensive line, but they're still a pretty good team with a good quarterback and a good head coach. And they've got some studs on the defensive side that can cause some problems. So I think that has it. I think certainly, I think any game, you know, all four games against Detroit and Green Bay that are still left, I think have a chance to have a playoff field to them. I think Seattle's got a chance to have that as well. So I think there's plenty of opportunities for a lot of these games to really have

a playoff type of atmosphere because you're going up against teams that if you do get to the playoffs, you may have to go against them again. So I think that's going to be huge. It also, I will admit, it might be purple insider wishful thinking because let me tell you, going to Lambo on November 23rd, some frost in the air, you know, the leaves are changing, falling off the trees and you're walking up through the muddy field up to Lambo field. field. If the Vikings are kind of out of it at that point, it's just not the same. So I, you know, I'm really looking forward to that trip. And it might be J.J. McCarthy's first game against the Green Bay Packers still. And I think when you look at the entire NFC, this would be my best argument for this. When you look at the entire NFC, you go, all right, so the Vikings are three and two. And so is everyone else or four and two. Everyone. I mean, let me, let me just pull up the standings. demonstrate. I don't know. I mean, I'm sure you folks know the standings, but like maybe you haven't really thought about this. Right now in the national football conference, the 49ers, Eagles,

Seahawks, lions, Rams, Falcons, Vikings, Bears, Panthers and commanders are all three-win teams and Dallas is a two and a half win team. I mean, right? I can't believe the Panthers. I can't believe the Panthers are three and three. I know. That team is awful and they're three and three and three. I can't believe it. It's the NFC man. The NFC has, I think a lot of teams. I mean, when you get to the end of the year, do we even buy fully Tampa Bay? Do we even buy, oh, I didn't even name the Packers a three win team as well. So, because I missed the three one and one. So there are a three win team as well. All those teams have three or four wins that are right there with the Vikings in the mix, which means as you go week to week, There's a lot of teams that are of similar strength to the Minnesota Vikings, who, by the way, have had a horrific offense in terms of overall production so far, which I don't expect them to continue to have the rest of the way.

I think it will improve, no matter who's a quarterback, better blocking with healthier offensive line. Maybe it's Carson Wentz just getting more and more into the offense. Maybe Xavier Scott, you know, picking up more in the run game, Mason picking up more. in the run game. Like, I don't think they're going to be, right now they're like the 27th offense and expected points added. I don't think it's going to be like that all season long. So there will be a lot of games that you go into, even if you're, even if you're bouncing around 500, you're going to go, well, so are they. And so are they. And so are they. And so are they. And it may shake out that it's a bunch of tiebreakers and cockamamie stuff of, you know, you got this home win against

that team, but that team didn't beat that team. I think that's what kind of season we're going to have here. And I may have mentioned this to you, Manny, but your favorite football season of all time, I know is 1994. If you look at 94, I believe I added this up the other day, 21 teams in 94 when there was not 32 yet had seven wins or more. I think it's going to be like that. And so there will be a lot of games that even, even if you're a game below 500, you might be one game away for taking a big jump in the standings. And there is a good chance that in the hunt graphic is going to look insane by the time we get to the end of this season. I personally love it that way, Manning. I do too. And as you were talking, I counted all of the teams in the NFC that are

basically essentially 500 or better. 12 of the 16 teams in the NFC are 500, have a 500 record or better and you mentioned Dallas is kind of has two and a half wins or two three and one i mean if they win that game against the packers they're three and three the packers are three and two and now you've got 13 teams out of the 16 that have a 500 record or better so um yeah it's it's nuts man and i'm with you i love it i think it's really and i think it for anything if you're if you're a Vikings fan, I think it indicates with all the concerns, with the injuries and, you know, how is J.J. McCarthy going to look? I think this is a positive sign that they're still the three and two and they're still in this thing. And, you know, depending on how things go with the schedule the rest

of the way, they've got a chance to get themselves in a position to make the playoffs. And I think as we've talked about, that's a successful season. Now, with all the moves they've made the off season, you're, you're probably thinking when a couple of playoff games, maybe an NFC championship game run. But I think all things considered with what we've kind of seen from the quarterback position so far, this team can find a way to just get into the playoffs and be competitive in that playoff game and maybe win it. I think I don't know how there can be too many complaints. All right. Let me toss this one out there. A lot of people have talked about KOC's press conference on Wednesday, where he was, it was well described.

I think Rob on the comments said Kurt. He was Kurt. Not to be mistaken with Kirk, but Kurt as in a little bit shorter in his answers, didn't have a big opening statement. It was noticeable to those in the room. Well, actually, normally he comes out and he has an opening statement. So I was like looking at my phone and so, you know, I was not ready for just a like fire away. Oh, okay.

We're press conference and here we go. So I think that with the, it's not hard to interpret. I mean, there's a lot of pressure. And it's been a long season already. And that London trip sounded like it was a real journey for everybody involved to be away from home for that long. And I think that he's also extremely sensitive when it comes to the McCarthy thing. Like this is his draft pick. This is the kid he's working with.

And I don't think he wants anybody to be on the outside telling him how to handle. J.J. McCarthy, which is understandable. Also, I do think at times that maybe reading the clips is not the best idea for the head coach in such a tense situation. So you can kind of see that a little bit, but I still have gone with, look, this is why you hired him, and he's proven over several years to manage quarterbacks as good as anybody in the entire universe. So talk me into us getting to, say, those final two games of the season, where they're fighting for, playoff spot, and we're saying, wow, KOC handled that perfectly.

They talk me into that happening. I think that it is a scenario that plays out where kind of what we talked about, that if McCarthy's going to come back and play, it's that game against Baltimore. And somehow on these next three games against Philadelphia, the Chargers, and the Lions, you've found a way to win two out of those three games, whatever combination you want. And that would put you at what, five and three, right, going into the Ravens game.

And that's the game that J.J. McCarthy comes back in place. And he plays well. They win. He plays well again against Chicago, and they win. And he's built the confidence up a little bit. And he's played really well, maybe in a losing effort against the Packers and that would put him at like 7 and 4.

I'm kind of picking the schedule before I'm actually supposed to pick the schedule tonight. But I think at that point now it's, you know, like I said before, everything is kind of taken off for J.J. McCarthy. And he's really playing well. It's not perfect. There's going to still be some times where, you know, he makes a thrower

decision where you're like, Jay J.J., what the hell is that? What are you doing? But overall, the overall performances are good and they're getting better and you're seeing the progress in the development that you want. And now you're in a position going into Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions at home. And you're like, all right, this team is nine and six. And they're right in the middle of the playoff spot,

right in the middle of the conversation. And they've got an opportunity against probably the two best teams in this division to make some noise and get themselves into the playoffs. And with the young quarterback that everybody, wants to see grow and develop at the helm for that. I think that that's where it's going to be like, wow. Okay, yeah, he handled this well. He brought him back at the right time.

The team, he's playing well at the right time. And this is headed in the right direction. I think that's the ideal scenario. Him handling it well, I think will really come down to two things. When he is going to decide for him to come back. And I like pinpointing the Ravens game is the best. possible time. Now, if they lose the next two, then just play him against Detroit. Who cares? But if you go one and one, give him enough practice time because you're, I know

they're going to have the mini by, but you don't practice a ton after the Thursday game. It's not like you have five more practices. You'll have one. You'll probably practice on that Monday, and it'll be a light practice leading up to the Detroit game. And that's the only extra practice you actually get. You don't come back to practice on Saturday and Sunday and whatever. You're resting at that point. So if he could give his ankle back to 100%, by the time they're going into the Lions game, let him practice that full week at 100%.

Then the next week, QB1, unless they're 3 and 0, then I guess that that could possibly change. But making the right choice of when to bring him back, and then when he gets back that these fundamentals that they've been talking about so much, if they click, if they've been coached into him correctly, if the scheme has been adapted correctly for him to fit a little bit better than maybe it did in those first couple of games, then I think we're going to say, okay, he nailed it.

Where it might get muddy is if he doesn't play in a scenario like that. And then I will be sitting here saying, look, they're handling it the right way. If he's not ready, he's not ready. And Vikings fans will be saying, we're getting our pitchforks and taking them to Carson Wentz's apartment wherever he's staying in Minnesota. Like I think that that's where it's going to get tricky from the outside perception versus him. But I think it really comes down to him being fully sure that he's 100% healthy to be able to play and ready with the things that he needs, the tools in his toolbox.

And then, unfortunately here, the results are just going to have to speak for themselves. Like behind the scenes, you know he's going to work super hard with McCarthy. But really, in order to be fully talked into it, we just have to see it. Like you're doing a good job of it. Hey, if they bring him back at the right time and he's got enough work behind the scenes and he's 100% ready to go, then we're going to say KOC did the right thing. But if he doesn't play well or even if he's not in there, I'm sure a lot of people will say that KOC is doing the wrong thing. And that's the unforgiving part of being an NFL coach is no matter what you do. If it doesn't work out on the scoreboard, you did it wrong.

So that is life. I want to get to picking the schedule. I have one more thing for you. want to remind everyone of the Fanduel question of the day. Carson Wentz is over under 231.5 yards on Fanduel and Jalen Hertz 203.5, which quarterback needs to be leaned upon more and hit the over in order for their team to win this game. That's the Fandul question of the day. And I also wanted to just soliloquy for a second here about another kerfuffle over PFF grades, which is kind of why I wrote the book about it, which you can

get on Amazon, football is a numbers game, it amazes me how many people and former players will see a single grade that they think is wrong from watching the game on TV and then go on as analysts and scream their brains out that PFF grades don't mean anything when I don't think they fully realize how much goes into those grades, which is what I wrote about in the book, where you have your initial graders who have been, who have been vetted through a process of really competition to see who can grade the most accurately. And then those people grade the game. And it goes through then another layer of former coaches and former players

who regrade the game themselves. And if there's differences on certain plays, they get together and they look at it and they decide what the right way to go. And there's been so many scenarios over the years that have played out. They had, it used to be a binder. It's probably a PDF now. A binder this thick, hundreds of pages thick, with all different scenarios and how you grade them.

If this happens, then you grade it this way. If this player, you know, on a duo block, here's what you're looking for that would be a grade. Because these grades have been formulated by the National Football League, by feedback from players, from coaches. I interviewed one of the coaches who helped them form their offensive line grades. The guy is a legend formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, Paul Alexander. He helped them work directly with them.

Here is how you grade the players. And then he compared his own grades with the Bengals to PFFs and found above 90% accuracy. So I don't, I think people think that it's just some guy in his basement taking a guess. It's not. The other thing is, there's only so many schemes in the NFL. The idea that you could, would be so clueless on what someone's assignment would be that you just should shut the whole company down and not take it seriously. is insane. There's outside zone, inside zone, duo. Did you win your block? Did you not win your block? There are very few times and it does happen, but there are very few times in a game

where something happens and you're like, I don't know whose fault that was. And they have to take their best chance at it, looking at through history, how they've graded it, the feedback they've gotten. No one is going to be perfect. But I think the biggest issue is that people will overlook something. Here's a good example. Michael Pennix almost threw the game away against the bills. It knocks off the guy's hands. That is a horrific grade. You deserve a minus two. It's a terrible throw. It's a terrible decision. But we forget about it. Michael Pennix played a great game. Look at his box score. Or people will look at Mahomes is the 13th best quarterback. Isn't he the first best? Well, it's not a player ranking. It's the performance that he's had so far this

season. I mean, Patrick Mahomes and yards per attempt is like eighth. I mean, he's not, he's not playing MVP level football so far. He probably will eventually and rise the rankings. And just there is no stat, none, zero ever that just tells you all the answers. And I think in a chat GPT world, that's what everyone's looking for. Let me just type in one thing, give me all the answers and I don't have to do any, I almost swore. I don't have to do any work. I don't have to do me work. I just want to be lazy. And then when the answers are wrong, I'm mad. What? What? Why aren't all the answers perfect? Well, interceptions aren't perfect. Carson Wentz threw a pick against Pittsburgh where somebody's hand knocked it into the defender. That's not

Carson Wentz's fault. But it goes down as one interception the same as if he threw it right to the second interception, which was horrific. They're both scored the same way. Should we just shut our brains off and be like interceptions? Tell the whole story. Why do we do that with PFF grades? With PFF grades, And I've used them my entire career to evaluate the football team that I cover. I think there's been nothing that's told the story better. No other stat, no other box score stat compared to what I've heard from coaches, heard from players, and then who they pay, who they keep, who they sign. Let's talk about Grenard, Van Ginkle.

Let's talk about Cashman, Isaiah Rogers, their best signings. Go back and look at those guys' grades. they saw the coaches and the evaluators inside the building, the same things that PFF was looking at. It's usually not rocket science, folks. And if somebody is playing like Drew Samia or Dakota Dozier, if PFF was brain dead, those guys would actually be resigned, wouldn't they? Not released, not benched, not right?

So I do think that from game to game, it's really hard to understand the system based on 1 to 100. because Bijon Robinson fumbles early in the game. So he doesn't get the greatest grade, even though he had an amazing game because fumbles get destroyed on this system. Holding penalty for Blake Brandl crushed his grade. Brandl played really good against great competition.

It doesn't factor for competition. You have to use your noggin, my friends. We got to use it. You got to use the context, the other things you know. You have to read what your coach is saying or listen to what your local podcaster is saying is part of the analysis, Blake Brandel did a great job considering the circumstances. If he played like that for an entire season, we would say what?

He's a backup. And that he is a backup, right? And hey, by the way, Blake Brandel last year's PFF grade indicated he was a backup. What did they do? They drafted a first round left guard. I could go through the whole history of this. Christian Derrissaw never made a Pro Bowl, did he? His PFF grade said he was unbelievable.

They paid him $35 million a year. So I think that nothing is actually, how about Garibald? Bradbury, right? I mean, his grades for years have said, underwhelming in past protection. They replaced him. It just, a lot of these times that these things match up, but nothing is ever going to be perfect. So you have to use all the context you can put together. And if you just lose your mind every time you see a grade, rather than trying to find out and understand why it was that way, then you just, to me, sound like a caveman. And I got nothing for you. But one more thing, I agree with Chris Long, not our friend

Chris Long, but the former player, when he said just throwing up those PFF rankings on Sunday night football is not great. I agree with him. What they should do is put up a specific stat that highlights that player, like he's 10th in this or he's here's a data point for him. He's got X number of pressures. They should put up something that's more telling because just saying someone is 23rd out of whatever, she doesn't tell much of a story.

So that's, I had to get that rant out because it's been out there. and I just need people to read the book to understand. And I want to say one more thing is that if you think, oh, players hate PFF, you are so wrong. You are so wrong because I have been in the house. I have slept in the house of the owner of PFF who has started Pro Football Focus, Neil Hornsby. And you know what he has in his basement?

He has signed jerseys from players. Chris Harris was one of them. Mike Yopati was one of them. Signed jerseys that were sent to him, saying thank you for highlighting what I can do when my abilities are almost never shown on TV or in Pro Bowls or something else like that. So if you think that all former players think it's stupid, you could not be more wrong. And if you think teams don't use it, you might want to read some chapters because I actually

go over how exactly teams do use it. But that would take reading. Not everybody wants to read these days. they just want to watch people yell their faces off on TV that if if I disagree with the grade I must be a genius and they must be stupid oh got it okay anyway let me take a break a little deep breath there but uh that's the that's the whole thing on that's the whole thing on that you want to pick the schedule it's why I wrote the book it took two years to write can we read it well and I and I think to kind of piggyback off of that I think a lot of it to the sort of

the discourse or whatever the people that like to poo-pf-f grades is when they see a grade that doesn't fit a narrative that they want to run with or stick by, that's what kind of ticks them off too. They just don't like to see something that is proven to be pretty accurate, proven to make a lot of sense, but it doesn't fit the narrative that they love to run with. So, yeah, it's unfortunate. Do you want to know real quick how Kwezi Adafel-Menta, uses PFF grades. He told me. It's in the book. But I'll tell you anyway, so you don't have to

buy it. And you don't have to actually take some time to read. Here's how he talked about using it. Well, one, he did research using them for the draft, which helped him stand out in the San Francisco front office. Believe it or not, he didn't just show up here. So in the San Francisco front office run by a former player, John Lynch, that's how Quasi made a difference there was studying the grades and data from college football and presenting them with information. Another way that they use it now is as a comparative tool. So let's just say, for example, that your defensive line coach, Marcus Dixon, let's say that he absolutely loves what Harrison Phillips is doing.

Oh, my gosh, I just think he's amazing. I love it. And you're in the meeting evaluating whether to trade him or not. they're going to look at that grade and compare it. And they're not going to go, oh, well, PFF says this, Marcus, you're an idiot. They're going to say, all right, so here's what the grading is coming out with. Here's what you're saying, let's all get together and talk about this more. Let's figure out, like, what it is that he's doing differently.

And Harrison, I think, was a very hard player for them to grade, by the way, properly in Flores system. I used my brain and talk to Harrison about it and figured it out. But just to make that point, though, like, that's how it's done in a lot of front offices. They all, guess what? The Dallas Cowboys have hired some of the best analytics people. The Ravens have some of the best analytics people. I know who they are. Like, they are looking at this data.

And in these meetings, this is how it works in the NFL. They get together in these meetings and they talk stuff out. You never believe it, right? And they go through decisions that they're going to make. and the general manager has his take and the player personnel has his take and the scouts have their take and the analytics person has a seat at that table

and so when they get to the analytics person he's going to present his data and it's going to a lot of times include what the PFF grades say so no team is just going well PFF said this so obviously we're just going to do what they say it's part of the discussion like any other statistic would be so if you're just trying to use it for all the

answers, well, then you're doing it wrong. If you're saying that it means nothing, you're also doing it incredibly wrong. So, okay, now I'll stop. Now I'll stop. Let's get to pick in the schedule, Manny. So here's what you need to do. Well, I think that here's how we're going to pick this. When we get to Baltimore, J.J's the quarterback. Okay. So the next three games, Carson's the quarterback for picking purposes. Then when we get to Baltimore, McCarthy is the quarterback. Okay, so the Vikings are 0 and 5. No, I'm sorry.

They're three and two facing off with the Philadelphia Eagles at home. Do they win this football game? I think they do. I think the Eagles are certainly the Eagles still have a lot of talent. But they just, something just seems really off with them. It's kind of seeming a little bit like it was at the start of last year and kind of how it finished two years ago for them. And I think the Vikings being at home coming off a buy,

I think they're going to be fresher, confident, and the Vikings win the game against Philadelphia. Okay, so to four and two, and now facing the Los Angeles Chargers on a short week. Going to be tough, going to be a short week against a pretty good team. But that team is a little banged up. They've got some issues on the offensive line and with both their tackles out. I think this is an opportunity for Jonathan Grenard to really feast a little bit.

And I think this is a game where they could get out to a good start. And like we talked about with Hargrave and Allen getting a lead, maybe open up some things for them to be more productive in the past, from a pass rushing standpoint, I think the Vikings find a way to squeak out of win in Los Angeles as well. Wow. So winning the next two games with Carson Wentz, this does make it a little bit on the trickier side.

That brings them to five and two as they head to Ford Field and Detroit. Presumably, if you went two in a row, then Wentz would still be the quarterback. Do they beat the Lions at Ford Field? No, they do not. This is where I think it could get a little ugly. I think the Lions are playing really well. I know things didn't go well for them in Kansas City. But, you know, I think overall they've kind of figured things out a little bit.

after kind of that really poor performance to start the year against Green Bay. And Ford Field is just a really tough place to play. It's just hard to win there. It's loud. It's kind of become a modern-day metrodome, sort of, the way it was for the Vikings in the 90s and the 2000s. And I think the Vikings are going to go in there. I think it's going to be a pretty tough day.

I think Carson Wentz is going to struggle. And I think this will then open up the opportunity in the conversation to get J.J. McCarthy back in there. and so that will drop the Vikings to five and three. Okay, five and three, then coming back home, assuming that Lamar Jackson will be playing. Also, I will add for that Thursday night game, Joe All did start practicing again.

That doesn't mean he'll be back by Thursday. That's a short window, but just a note to keep an eye on that it's potentially a chance that he could come back. I don't think he will by then, but we'll see. Okay, so Baltimore, as you said, in this scenario, Wence has grinded them through a couple, wins he's played okay but the wheels kind of come off a bit in Detroit so you're five and three

it's time for j j mccarthy again to face off with lamar jackson and a beleaguered baltimore ravens team the chance for jj to get out and really kind of show what what he can what he can be the really bad baltimore defense you get lamar back if you're the ravens this can make things a little interesting we know dynamic and amazing he is. You know, Derek Henry is still not quite what he was last year, but he's still been pretty productive. I think he's still average in about five yards of carry. And so that's going to be something to kind of watch with the Vikings run defense as well.

But I think the Vikings being at home, going up against that struggling Ravens defense, I think they find a way. I think they find a way and win the game. Okay. So to six and three after the win against the sputtering Ravens. and now the emerging bears, potentially. I haven't really decided what I think of the bears, Manny, because... I have no idea. I have no idea.

I mean, okay, so you beat the Raiders on a blocked field goal. You beat Washington because they fumble a snap. Should have lost both of those games. And if they're not three and two because of those, and instead they are one and four, we're talking about the bears as an utter disaster, even though we've seen better from Caleb Williams. Williams still wasn't good the other night overall,

and this was another PFF kerfuffle that Williams got a bad grade for that game, but did you watch it? Like it wasn't a good, most of the yards were yards after catch, scheme wide open throws, and then there was a lot of muddiness from him in that game. He's playing better.

Their coach is good. Their weapons are really good, but are they good enough to come to US Bank Stadium and win? It's going to be interesting to see what the bear's record is. come this game because if you look at their four games before this home against new orleans at baltimore who's struggling at cincinnati who's not very good then they're home against the giants the bears might three out of four be yeah three out of four of those and that puts them at six and three going into this game and then you want to talk about playoff atmospheres

if the bears and vikings are both six and three going into that game sign me up for that that could be fun I'm going to give the Vikings the edge here because they're at home. If this game or that soldier field, like it wasn't week one, I would lean bears, but I think the Vikings got that game out of the way already, found a way to win it. And I think being at home here against Chicago, I think we'll put them over the top. Can I just say something real quick?

The Bengals are leading the Steelers and Joe Flacco is 11 for 16 with 102 and two touchdowns. Joe Flacko might be my favorite. favorite player of all time. The fact that, like, this guy made an unbelievable amount of money. And he decided, I'm just going to be like a Bronco and a jet. It was terrible. Like, why aren't you retiring Joe Flacco? Then he comes back with the Browns randomly.

Why aren't you retiring Joe Flacco makes the playoffs, comes back, is bad last year with the Colts. It's just a nightmare. And he's like, you know what? this is going to do it again. Just going to keep rolling it out there until they, until they wheel my carcass off the field. And now he's beating the Steelers and playing great.

That is super funny. They've also somehow run nine times for 97 yards. What, what is this league, man? What is this league? Like the Steelers defense looked unbelievable against the Vikings and the Browns. And now it looks horrible against the Bengals who have no off. I don't, I don't know. I don't know football. I don't know football. I can't for it. This is why I don't make a lot of

bets, man. Actually, none. Yeah. Because I have no idea what the heck is going to happen in this league. So anyway, uh, I forgot. Did you say they beat the Bears? Yes. They beat the Bears. Okay. Okay. Seven and three. Uh, two Lambo J.J. McCarthy goes in this man, he picks the schedule scenario. Uh, I'm going to put this down as a loss. I think it's just, that's just going to be a tough place to play. I think McCarthy has a chance to, if he's playing well against Baltimore and Chicago, his chance to go into Green Bay and maybe play kind of well. But I think the Packers being at home in that environment and that crowd, I mean, sign me up for that game. That game's going to be fun and intriguing. But I think the Packers end up coming out on top.

I think so, too, first trip to Lambo, anytime you're going to Lambo and it has even the potential to be cold, it's pretty tough to play down there. And look, they're not a perfect team. They're beatable. We saw Cincinnati mess around and almost beat them last week. Their offense is weird because when you look at the numbers, Jordan loves had a great season numbers wise, but yet you watch them and you're like, is it like, what's up with this? Why isn't this working the way it should? They haven't run the ball the way that we thought. Their defense secondary is questionable. But I agree. Usually it's a split with the Vikings and Packers anyway. To Seattle. Another difficult place to play when the Seattle fans are engaged. And I think

they will be in this case. So you've got them now at, are we seven and four? Seven and four. Okay. Out to Seattle. Yeah. The Seahawks have kind of surprisingly not been able to win very many home games lately for some reason. Isn't that strange? It's so weird because that crowd, I mean, that game against the Buccaneers last week was just incredible. It was just awesome. The atmosphere was fantastic. But, you know, Baker went in there and made enough plays and

the Buccaneers won that game. So I think there's a chance for the Vikings to go in and play well. But I'm going to put this down as a loss for them because I think Sam Darnold is just, he's just playing great, man. He's just playing.

And I'm not going to lie, I'm happy to see it. I'm happy to see it. He just, yeah, he's been playing fantastic for them. And I think he's fit in nicely there in that town. They seem to like him there. And so I'm going to give Seattle the win here, but I think it'll be a close, tight, competitive game. I think so too.

And one of the reasons is that, well, Darnel has a lot of practice banked against Brian Flores, but also the one thing he has is fearlessness. We know that that can cut both ways, but he will stand in the pocket to take that hit. to throw down field. And that's what I think has been a difference maker when they played Stafford, when they played golf versus some younger or less talented quarterback.

So seven and five, home against the commanders December 7th. I just don't even know what to think of the commanders. They've been without Terry McClure. And it's clearly impacted their offense a ton. Their defense has been really good at times, also suspect at times. Jaden Daniels, I'm not sure if he's even 100% healthy at this point coming back. So they're not quite the team that I think, of us really thought they were going to be, but the season is still young. So do they win back at

home against the commanders? I'll say yes. Just because of a question mark of like what the commanders are going to look like between now and then. I mean, that's, we're still about a month and a half away. And is Jaden Daniels going to be healthy? Is he going to be able to hold up between now and then? That's going to be a huge question mark. And if he's not, even if he's playing and he's still not 100% that's going to really hamper Washington's ability to compete because it's a pretty significant drop-off

between him and Marcus Marriota at this point. Or at least sometimes Mario's amazing and then the very next week you're just like, who the heck was that? So you're going win here then? Yep, I'm taking the Vikings. All right, to 8 and 5, then to the ballpark in Arlington,

Jerry Dome. What is it called now? The Texas Rangers used to be the ballpark in Arlington, sure it's now like yeah the the ballpark in arlington is like home to the Dallas usFL team oh really so they're playing football at the old or the old or the old place where the rangers oh okay they're in a new stadium now um okay is will clark still at first pudge rodriguez still playing catcher Juan Gonzalez those are some fun rangers teams man they were good rusty greer I'll keep going

Michael Young. I'm picking the Cowboys here. I'm going to take the Vikings to win here. That Cowboys defense is just so bad. And there's just, there's no light at the end of that tunnel of fixing it. And their offense, the Cowboys can put up some points,

certainly with that Prescott. But I'm going to take the Vikings to go in there and play well and take your business. I will keep saying this. The Cowboys are the best watch in football. It's the most fun. watch in the NFL. They are not the best team. They're not even a good team. They are entertaining. Jerry's got his wish. They are entertaining as heck. They got C.D. Lamb coming back. George Pickens is a star. They score a million points. They give up a million points. This is the game. They're not going to flex that game. Well, they won't flex out that game out, will they. Depends on where they're, no, if it's cowboys and they're still in the race, then they won't. Probably not, not unless they're really bad. But I don't think they will be. I think they'll be just like everybody else and be mediocre. So you have, uh, the of Vikings at nine and five

heading into the last three games? Emmanuel, what did you drink before this appearance? What are we doing here? There was sugar Canada. That's what I've been drinking the night. Okay, so yeah, nine and five at the Giants now.

I think I'm going to pick this game as a letdown game. Okay, yeah. Jackson Dart now. Yeah, you know, the Giants seem to be playing a little better. There's still, there's still the Giants, they're still kind of a walking disaster. But Jackson Darts shown some flashes of like maybe there's something there. I don't know what to think of Day Bowl as a coach. I just don't know. I mean, his first year looked like he had, you know, had it figured out and

then it's been a disaster ever since. But I'm going to put this down as a loss in a weird Vikings lose a game late in the season type of way. So I'll get I'll take the Giants here. Okay. It makes sense to have a letdown game mixed in. You got some pretty good wins mixed in. Also, thanks to tasty treats for the Super Chat. Really appreciate that. Okay. So now nine and six, last two games of the year,

Christmas Day, home against the lions, then home against the Packers. And earlier, we were asked to talk folks into how they could be in the playoff, like playoff atmosphere. I mean, if they are nine and six headed into these games with a chance to go to the playoffs, US Bank Stadium, if it's J.J. McCarthy, a quarterback will ignite, even though they can't shoot fire inside the stadium anymore and drives me crazy. It will explode.

The roof will come off in these two games. But the question is, that hasn't mattered at all to Jared Gough at U.S. Bank Stadium. He's been like, it's all right, I don't mind noise. I'll just throw it to wide open guys over the middle of the field and beat the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. George Loves had his good and bad at U.S. Bank Stadium. These two games will determine whether this is a successful season or not, I think, unless McCarthy is really good and they lose on tiebreakers for the playoffs.

But 9 and 6 against the Lions, what happens? I think this will be the, I think this is going to, to be the loudest U.S. Bank Stadium will be all season for this game. But like you said, man, Jared Goff, that just does not seem to phase him at all. He just comes in and delivers and I go back to when he was with the Rams and they went into the Superdome and won that NFC title game. It didn't, he didn't have a great game, but then he made some plays late in that game and several where you're like, oh, this dude is not rattled by a raucous environment.

So I'm going to take Detroit to win this game. I think it's going to be the loudest U.S. Bank Stadium will be all season. It's going to be a rocking game on Netflix. And, yeah, I'll take, I'll take Detroit winning a really tight, close, awesome game. If I'm not mistaken, the local, it's still, the broadcast still gets played locally, though, right? I believe it does. I think that's right. It's only in other markets that you have to have the Netflix, not if you're in Minnesota,

but a lot of our listeners are not from Minnesota, so I'm sorry to all of you if you're not a big Netflix person. So I'm sorry, I got caught up on that. Win, loss? What is? I picked the Lions to win the game. Oh, okay. All right.

So nine and seven with one game to go against Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers, Micah Parsons, stars all over the field, the Vikings biggest rival, what a contest this will be? But will the Vikings win to get to? 10 victories in 2025. I am going to take them to win this game. It's going to have the similar vibes of the season finale against the Packers in 2012. And Adrian Peterson had his MVP season and the Vikings needed to win, get into the playoffs.

And I think it's going to be, you know, J.J. McCarthy having a really good game when they need him to. Jordan. It just feels like this is a game where the Vikings need to win it to get into the playoffs and all of the key players show up to play. McCarthy has a good game. Jordan Mason runs the ball well. Justin Jefferson is awesome, as always. And the defense makes them makes enough plays and propels the Vikings to victory and propels them into the playoffs. I'm going to tell you the truth, Manny. I could see this happening. I think it's not unrealistic at all to think that they could survive these

next couple games. McCarthy comes back. It starts to click like we've seen from a lot of other young quarterbacks where maybe it was rocky at times. And then maybe there are still along the way some bumps where you lose a game you shouldn't. You have a letdown game. You have a very bad game like you had against Atlanta because you can't kind of pull out of, you know, getting into a rut. But if they were to walk away from this season with double digit wins and McCarthy taking them down the stretch, it would be a runaway success for this year. And I will say this. that probably just considering how the information is changed includes even if they don't win in the playoffs.

KOC needs to win in the playoffs. But if you go through all of this with McCarthy, the injury, the absence, the rebuilding of the fundamentals, and then you get to that point still, and you get a huge win against the Green Bay Packers to go to the playoffs, the way you're going to feel about McCarthy would be really, really good in your ability to win with him, which is very, very, very good. important. It's not as good as winning playoff games and going to the NFC championship and so forth, but it would bode really well for where this franchise was going overall into 2026 and even beyond that because it would mean he could do it. And that's what you really need to

come out with. I still think number one priority should be playoff wins overall. But if you come out of 2025, knowing that he can take you somewhere, that has a lot of value for the future considering his age. Yeah. And I think you get into the playoffs and you know, you get matched up against, I don't know, you know, you play the 49ers at home because the 49ers won the West or, you know, maybe Seattle or or the Rams or something like that. You get matched up with one of those teams and you just lose because you're on the road and it's just tough to win playoff games on the road. And McCarthy plays well and he shows some toughness and he goes out there and he gives you a You don't get blown out kind of like you did last year in Arizona against the Rams or, you know, I kind of think about the game against the 49ers back in 2019 where they just, they just kind of no-show after the big win against the Saints.

You just kind of knew right away this team that this team ain't going to be able to compete in this game. I think as long as you can avoid something like that, even if you lose, I think you can really feel pretty good about the quarterback. still going to be some, you know, the winning a playoff game question mark over the head coach. But I think when you think about the young quarterback and the direction that this team is potentially heading in, I think you got to feel pretty good about that. You know, when I saw Bengals and Steelers on the slate for tonight, I thought, oh, I'll be able to concentrate and write my mailbag for Purpleinsider. dot football. Make sure you go sign up to the newsletter. But it's fun right now. 1410, Cincinnati's got the ball. Rogers just threw his second interception. I know after he threw his first

touchdown, I said to you, like is his KOC seething right now a little bit with Rogers, you know, making some throws. But we've also. He did look like the old Aaron Rogers on the touchdown that he did throw. The problem is he's 41 years old. And can he do that for an entire game? Eh, probably not. That one. I think that if you're saying, well, they regret not having him. I'm like, I don't know that he's going to play any better than Carson Wentz at the end of the year. But then Donald might be a slightly different story at the end of the season. I guess we'll have to find out where it all goes.

So remember to answer that Fandul question the day. If you are rewatching the show here, Carson Wentz, over under is 231.5 yards on Fandul. Jalen Hertz 203.5, which QB needs to hit their over in order to, we, the game. Mani Hill, we will be back on Monday. Of course, next Thursday, I will be in the state of California back in a stadium that I have twice gotten very, very lost trying to get in and out of. So we'll try to go one for three when we're out there. It's, they don't have a lot of signage to help out the old media, figure out where we're supposed to go. Some stadiums better than others with that. But wish me luck on that. But I will see you on Monday night with the roundtable.

with MIRF to break it all down and where this goes from here after the game against Philadelphia. So thank you for your time, Manny. And thank you all for listening, watching, and now go view two old men, battle it out on Thursday night football. So thanks, Manny. Thanks, everybody. And we'll catch you all tomorrow night. We'll have Andrew Kramer doing the hardcore breakdown tomorrow night. So we'll see you all then.

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