The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Hour 2: Talking S*** With Jake Tapper

Episode Date: January 27, 2025

Jake Tapper of CNN joins the show to revel in his Philadelphia Eagles beating the Washington Commanders to advance to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. As he tries to push aside Bradley Cooper to enter the Pantheon of Eagles fans--even though he was born in New York--his full Philly fan shines as he starts taking out everybody from the Commanders, to the Dallas Cowboys, to the referees and even women's flag football. Plus, Dan Quinn said the Commanders were playing with rent money before getting manhandled by the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. Should the Eagles roster construction be a wake-up call to the rest of the league about the importance of a dominant offensive line and stud running back? Can you be carried to a Super Bowl by a running game in today's NFL? Was the New York Giants playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 the worst playoff win of all time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to DraftKings Network. Folks, the playoff season is here and the only thing better than the game day predictions are the foods that come with them. Introducing Tums Fantasy Foodball Pool brought to you by Tums, America's number one ant-acid brand, and DraftKings. Each week leading up to the big game, turn football into foodball by building your best game day plate for a shot at winning a share of $40,000 in cash prizes. Inspired by game day bites and tailgate treats, join the Tums foodball action during this playoff season's most heartburn inducing times.

Visit draftkings.com slash Tums foodball between January 6th and February 9th to enter for free and select your game day plate before the start of each playoff round. Age and eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. See terms at draftkings.com slash TumsFoodball. When you feel the heat of the game, don't let the heartburn keep you on the sidelines. Try TumsChewyBites with a tasty outer shell and soft center for fast relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, and upset stomach. Check out Tums Gummy Bites, featuring a soft and easy to chew format

for fast relief of occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach, and upset stomach. Both available at Amazon, Target, and other major retailers nationwide. And for more heartburn relief fun, be sure to follow Tums at Tums Official on Instagram and TikTok. Ever since switching to Tums at Tums Official on Instagram and TikTok. Ever since switching to T-Mobile, something weird has been happening. I get to cut lines. Oh, right this way. Who, me? I can stream shows at 30,000 feet.

And I was able to buy reserve tickets for my favorite band. It's not just you. With T-Mobile, everyone can get VIP status. That means access to exclusive events and experiences just for being a customer. At T-Mobile, VIP means Y-O-U. Check out the VIP treatment at tmobile.com slash benefits. This is the Dan Lebatard Show with the StuGuts Podcast. This episode of the Dan Lebatard Show with Stu Gotz is presented by Venmo.

Before we get to Jake Tapper here who is elbowing Bradley Cooper trying to become the number one Eagles fan there is nationally and Bradley Cooper will not allow him to do it, I just want to give you this stat from the Associated Press. Patrick Mahomes has trailed in the fourth quarter in nine playoff games. He's come back to win six of them and forced overtime into others before losing. He has a 132.2 rating with five TD passes

and one touchdown run, went down one to eight points in the fourth quarter or overtime of a playoff game, leading scores on thirteen of fourteen drives one of those over times he got to he never got the ball he never so so what you're talking about there doesn't have a precedent for seventeen straight one score games that they've won the ability to win close games i don't think usually is an ability but it's hard to argue against some of this math and if he got the ball first in that game they would have won

let me so jake tappers with us and that's the task ahead he's the chief washington correspondent for cnn he's the host of the lead it's moving to a new time slot weekdays from five to seven eastern as cnn rolls out some changes here during the second trump administration. We've got a handful of questions for you. Thank you for joining us. You were on the Jumbotron yesterday. How was that yesterday seeing your team beat everyone to death with Saquon's thighs? It was very exciting. I loved it. There it is. That's me doing my own press. I took a picture of myself and then hit the QR code

and then got it up there on the Jumbotron and took a picture of it and tweeted it. Yes. Yes. But that's, but let me tell you something. That is not a rivalry with Bradley Cooper. Bradley Cooper is there with Gigi Hadid in the owner's box. I'm, that is not me. That is not a rivalry with Bradley Cooper. Bradley Cooper's there with Gigi Hadid in the owner's box. That is not me. That is not me.

You are the bronze medalist behind Cooper and Kevin Hart? Are you on the medal stand? No? My trout, I mean. No? I think he's the undisputed champion of Philly fandom. He does the, you know, he does the hype reels and stuff. I'm just excited to be watching the game

and that was such an exciting game. And you know, we were only up by two. At one point, we were only up by two points and everybody in Philadelphia is like me. We're all like, oh my God, we're gonna blow it. Oh my God, we're gonna blow it. And then the opposite happened. We destroyed, destroyed.

How does this work with your Washington friends? You're the chief Washington correspondent for CNN. Do you have some texts that you can read me from what it is that you were doing in terms of burying your political friends who care about the Commanders? I have some very good friends who are Commanders fans all the way back to when they had a different name.

And they were telling me how much their boys were gonna spank the Eagles, which were telling me how much, uh, their boys were going to spank the Eagles, which is, you know, obviously not so much by the end. Honestly, I don't want to be gloating. I can go to a little, right? So the, um, first of all, that dance in the end zone by Daniels, when they, he got them to like only 13 points behind was weird. Second of all, all that stuff in like, when the offsides after offsides after offsides was weird.

But then also by the end of it, it was like a basketball score. 55 to 23. And there were fights all over the field too because of the way your team. By them, because of them. We were very well behaved. Did we have any unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary

roughness caught plays called against the Eagles? Jake, are you talking shit? I mean, I'm just laying out facts as Harry Truman once said, president Truman, I'm just telling the truth if they can't, but I'm serious. Like they, they were very, look, the commanders had a great run They should be very happy Obviously Dan Snyder was the problem the whole time and they have a really good team and I was absolutely

Nervous about them because of all the momentum and all the talent and I remain a huge fan of Zach Ertz He's we all I think most Philadelphia people just love him and wish you were still on the team But you know that the game was what it was. It was very exciting. You're talking shit. You are talking shit, it's clear. Will you go into work today and just heckle Bills fan Wolf Blitzer? Oh no, that's so sad.

And I do feel bad for the Bills. One of my best friends, not including my best friend Wolf Blitzer, is a Buffalo fan. First of all, can I say something? That is such a sweet picture. I read in the New York Post people were hazing him for having like that old school TV set up.

Why is that something to haze? That's lovely. He's a lovely gentleman enjoying a game. Look, he doesn't need a Jumbotron in his debt rec room. Anyway. I mean, there's a VCR there. I mean, VCR. I think that's a reel to reel.

Jake, when he showed up in Mission Impossible Fallout and he revealed that he wasn't actually Steve Blitzer. Spoiler alert. Is that the greatest face reveal in franchise history? I was not expecting it. I was not expecting it. Every now and then when I'm near him, I look at him to make sure it's really him and not Simon Pegg. I will say that Wolf reminds folks

that he's done cameos in the most successful Mission Impossible movie and the most successful James Bond movie in the histories of those two franchises. And he leaves it up to the listener to suggest that he's the special sauce. He does remind people of that. And I don't have any facts to dispute that.

Jake, it is really quaint, naive almost, that you would see that entertainment center and say of the internet, why weren't they nice to him there? That's a good point. Why are you? They're not nice about anything. On X, they weren't nice. What do you mean? What? They're not nice about anything.

They weren't nice. What do you mean? What part are you not understanding? I know. It's just like he's such a sweet guy. He's from Buffalo. He's rooting for his home team. It's like what?

He should spend a billion dollars on something. I mean it's, I guarantee you it's just him watching the game. He got the result he deserved for that entertainment center. That's so harsh. Although I have to say, I'd rather play Kansas City, because I think the boys are going to be much more motivated to beat Kansas City. And Buffalo, you know, you got to feel something for them. Like, they're a great team, and they've just been cheated out of a bowl time after time.

And, you know, they did have some momentum, too. So I'm not unhappy that we're playing the Chiefs, even though- You prefer the Chiefs? Is that what you just said? Yeah, because I think, because it will be, I think that will motivate,

that will motivate Jalen Hurts and the guys to, more so than if it were Buffalo, which is probably, which is another scrappy, gritty team, not of pretty much, you know? Jake, it's the Super Bowl. He's motivated Well, I mean I don't know that they were so much two years ago you can't Want it you can't want the Chiefs Jake what I mean

Nobody we're gonna use Nobody wants the Chiefs Well, I think we're gonna I think the odds that we beat the Chiefs are stronger because of the emotional factor of what happened A couple years ago in Arizona. I do that's's just me. Maybe I'm wrong. But look, I'm obviously afraid of them. They're a great team. Mahomes is a monster. I'm not doing a victory lap. I mean, I think that obviously the Chiefs are favored. But I think... Keep an eye on that line. I'm just saying. It's just a... It's up to three. What, you think it's gonna change? I think the teaser is better. It's changed already.

It started at one and a half, it's up to two and a half. Oh, you think it's gonna keep going like that? Good, good. Have you considered that? Make the victory all the sweeter. Have a deal with the devil? That obviously has to factor in, right? That Patrick Mahomes has a deal with the devil?

I think the whole team probably. It was the deal that Brady had with the devil. They transferred it over. It was a complicated transaction. Yes. I mean, as opposed to a had with the devil. They transferred it over. It was a complicated transaction. Yes. I mean, as opposed to a deal with the refs? I mean, either way. Oh, wow, he's talking shit.

Either way, it's gonna be a game. I'm very excited. And you know, my wife is actually a Kansas City fan, so that makes it a little bit more difficult. Wow. I'm gonna have to go to the game just so I don't have to listen to her cheering for Kansas City.

House divided. How does that one go? How will that go over? How does that one work? It's not very well. It's not very happy. It's not a very happy situation. For you.

It wasn't a happy situation for me two years ago. That's correct. I don't know. It will have the kids. well, the daughter will just go with whoever wins. The son is an Eagles fan, so we'll see. But how does that go that evening though? That you're, you know.

It's not fun. It's not enjoyable. Like you're sitting there with your wife and your wife is rooting for the devil. That's not fun. That's not an enjoyable thing. Like why? Like your wife is sitting there rooting for the bad guys. Like, literally, that's like, what? I mean, I don't want to say it's like watching, you know,

a war documentary and she's rooting for the bad guys. The alternative is Philadelphia. Yeah, but I understand that this would be complicated, and I don't mean to suggest that perhaps house divided like Stugatz is, but that's as unhappy as you could be with your wife in a social setting of any kind, is it not? It's not enjoyable. It was not enjoyable two years ago,

and like I said, I'm trying to get Super Bowl tickets so I can take my son to the game, and I don't have to deal with it this year. That's correct. I don't wanna have to deal with it. Okay. She's's from I mean, she's literally from st. Joe, Missouri Which is right outside Kansas City. She is actually a fan. It's not just because of Taylor Swift. She's legitimately a fan And by the way, I don't begrudge all the other girls out there cheering for Kansas City because of Taylor Swift good Whatever. I imagine that Bradley I imagine Bradley is not searching for Super Bowl tickets

They just showed up in his inbox this morning. I mean, I he's probably already there Yeah, he's probably already in New Orleans. Do you think Bradley uses the QR code the photo to get? I think I think I think the lurry just hops a ride on the Cooper jet down to New Orleans I think that's how it works. Those guys are pretty tight. You won't have any trouble getting tickets, will you? I don't know, we'll have to see. Anybody listening out there that wants to help

or hook a brother up, that's fine. I mean, I went on to StubHub. It's not like, I don't know what kind of life you think I lead here, but it's not like people are throwing tickets at me. But I'll get some, I think. You should try Game Time. They have all-in pricing.

You can look to see where the seats are located and everything. Game Time better than Starbucks? Oh, yes. Way better. Let me tell you something. Stupid question. Use the promo code Dan with your first purchase.

Yep. Get 20% off. Is that a real thing? I don't know if you guys are familiar with promo code. Yeah, promo code Dan, real thing. It's a real thing. I'm gonna end up at like a woman's flag football game or something like that.

No, but you can. I mean, there's really no promo code with women's flag football. You something. No, but you can. I mean, there's really no- By the way, I- Women's flag football. No, it's great. That's okay. Here he comes. I'm backtracking.

No, don't backtrack. Don't backtrack. You didn't want to go to a women's flag football game. I want to root for women's flag football. I just don't mean for- in two weeks, I don't want to go there. That's all. Panoramic CPUs of that too. Let me ask you a couple of Philadelphia questions. Better Philadelphia, Barclay, Charles or Saquon?

Oh wow, that's really tough. Yeah. Do I really have to pick? I mean, right now my affection is with Saquon Barclay. He is unbelievable. I mean, I love Charles Barclay. I mean, he's fantastic. I can't really choose because I've actually,

I remember cutting high school, going to the the local Wendy's and there was the round mound is uh... his first year in line behind me to get a frosty and so uh... you know he's he's just the goat in philly although he did he did leave at one point he did leave he did but he didn't win so if Saquon wins a super ball here he is the most famous Barclay in Philadelphia sports history, right? I mean, you're trying to get, no, I'm not going to, I'm not going to choose between Barclays, but I will tell you that Saquon is unbelievable. And like, I, you know, I, if my son were, if my

wife were pregnant with my son right now, Saquon would be a runner, a contender for the name. Saquon Tapper. Yeah, that would be, he's, and you can't help, it doesn't roll off the tongue. You're saying your laughter seems to suggest it doesn't roll. He's so good and his attitude is so amazing. Let the young guys eat. I mean, just all this stuff.

And he's just so, he's such a joy and he doesn't take the bait from folks like the commanders, you know, trying to pick fights. He's lovely, he's a lovely gentleman. Right now, Saquon. I mean, right this minute. This isn't how you play the game. It's not, you're playing it incorrectly.

I said right this minute, Saquon. I don't, you know, like, I actually have met Charles Barkley. I don't want him to be upset. All right. Look at me, blue wing. Well done. Yeah. Sirianni, you like, obviously, better than Andy Reid, correct? I do, and I don't understand the Sirianni you like obviously better than Andy Reid, correct?

I do and I don't understand the Sirianni he, like Simmons saying like he was three games away from like doing a podcast and all that. Like I don't, I don't really get it. He's, he's led us to, to like, I really don't, I understand. I have frustrations like any other Philadelphia fan of like plays and stuff like that, but like this is the second Superbowl in three years that he's led it. Did I have my math right? And he's great.

Is he the best coach in Eagles history? I mean, Peterson led us to a victory. So as of right now, as of right now he's, no. But if he wins us to a victory, sure, then yes, that will seal his fate. Rings in a box, yep. Doug Peterson's the greatest coach in Eagles history.

Yeah, he won one. He won one, he won the only one, we won. I mean, am I supposed to say dig for a meal just because? No, you picked correctly, yeah, you're right. Yeah. I wanna ask you a question we came in here asking today, which is, and this was something that surprised me over the last 24 hours, because Jason Kelsey hasn't played a football game in the last 24 hours, but his value and his greatness to the Eagles by my crew has

been diminished over the last 24 hours, because he's a really famous center who has gotten more rewards than any center has ever gotten from being a center and he left and they're better. I mean, what's the question? Is he overrated? Jason Kelsey, overrated. No, he's not overrated. He's not overrated, but I think Howie Roseman did it,

you know, he built a great team and like he found holes and filled them. I mean, you know, did it, you know, he like he built a great team and like he found holes and filled them I mean, you know, you just you can't I Mean, you know, everybody loves Nick Foles in Philadelphia. He was so great to see him at the game yesterday and but that doesn't mean The Jalen Hurts is overrated just cuz Nick Foles led us to a Super Bowl and he didn't I just I don't I don't see it That way Roseman's doing a really good job Should cam Juergens get the late night talk show instead of Jason Kelsey?

Should it be Juergens tonight? Yes. Sponsored by Juergens. You mentioned Nick Foles. Is he the greatest quarterback in Eagles history? And do you believe Tom Brady when he says that he likes Nick Foles? I believe Tom Brady when he says he's jealous of the polls i believe that that because he caught it and and pretty good uh... why was what's not to like about it for all seems like a lovely

gentleman he had his victim and he's just unbelievable backup quarterback led the team to a super bowl more or less retired uh... so uh... i don't get i mean i don't really think much about on brady to be completely honest, and I still don't understand why they made him an announcer. Well, I'm going to make you think about him more. Do you find the Patriots dynasty more or less annoying than the now Chiefs dynasty?

Oh, that's a really good question. Thank you. I hate the Chiefs right now. I'm like, I think like all of my childhood hatreds of, you know, the cowboys and then my, you know, more recent hatreds of the Patriots, they're so old, they're so outdated. I need to establish a new hatred of the Chiefs. I think that that's the only fair thing to do.

Like why, my brother-in-law's in Dallas, and he lives right in Frisco. I can't hate them anymore. Who cares? They're so bad. Wow. Tom Brady, as an announcer, you really sideswiped him there. Do you have some strong opinions? I said I don't. What is it? $500 billion for two years. I mean, whatever it is, that's exactly what it is. It's $500 billion for two games. For two minutes. 500 billion dollars for two minutes. It just seems excessive to me. It seems excessive.

His story seemed a little self-referential. I mean, I'm just saying. They just seem a little bit like, I get it's Tom Brady, okay. So it's a new gig. It's a new gig. It's about other people now. Someone threw out a theory that people would like him

or if he just became really fat. Do you agree with that? Ha ha ha ha. Eh, I don't know. I just don't like him. Ha ha ha ha. Eh, I don't know, I just don't like him. Ha ha ha ha. You laugh though. Again.

Well, I mean, it's a funny theory. I mean, I think, like, would I dislike him less? I mean, maybe, maybe I would, maybe like, yeah, I mean, if I felt like he was just a, you know, a chilly dog away from a heart attack, sure, I guess, but. Ha ha ha ha. It helps anyone. He's the chief Washington correspondent for CNN. We're talking about football. We're talking about football.

That is correct. That's right. I don't cover this. And I did, although I did interview Mahomes after he beat the Eagles two years ago, and it was very professional. Just so you know. I did ask about that one call, that one, you know, that questionable call, but in any case, it was a very professional. I just want you to know I was able to put it away. Why is there always just that one call with Patrick Roe Holmes, Jake? Like every game, it's just that one call, you know, every game it seems like. You're going to have to ask the guys who get the direct deposit. It's not me. Whoa!

I don't actually think that. You're gonna have to ask the guys who get the direct deposit. It's not me. Whoa. I Don't actually think professional journalists Done sports They're on the take whoa Comedy show Dan I want to do some recap football. I was just Joe. I know I did say on air That the Patriots are cheaters and that I stand by when I said it in 2000 You also said you'd like Tom Brady more if he were fat or a chilly dog to quote you directly a chilly dog away from a heart attack And you hate women's flag football To be precise I said I might dislike him less

Okay Not the same thing as saying I like him more You said you hated the Chiefs, you did say you hate the Chiefs? I said I need to develop a hatred of the Chiefs. Okay, and you said you were against women's flag football. I heard it. This is typical legacy media. It's just, I understand what Trump's talking about now for the first time ever. Just putting words in my mouth. Not at all what I said.

Not at all what I said. You really backtracked though. You really caught yourself. You got a little loose with the sports guys and you're like, some women's flag football game. And they're like, not that I have anything against women. I wanted to make sure that you weren't sending me to a game I didn't.

Stand strong, Jake. Anyway. Can you tell us what it is that you make? And this is a broad question. He's the host of The Lead and it's got a new time, slot five to seven Eastern. CNN is rolling out some changes here for the second Trump administration.

The state of America right now, what dismayes you the most and what makes you the most hopeful? What dismayes me is I feel like political divisions have gotten so intense that people on other sides of the aisle cannot see the humanity in Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, whatever. And it's just, it's very distressing and people always see the worst. They always make the worst possible interpretation of what the other side's doing.

And it's, it's distressing because I don't think it's rooted in reality. Although I do think it is rooted in kind of like this complex of division that has emerged in social media and other forms of media of just creating division and demonizing. So that is distressing. What makes me hopeful is I think most Americans

are not that deep down and are not that in their hearts. And I think, I don't think it will be that difficult to rectify, but I do think it needs rectifying. Let's play for Jake the sound of Philadelphia icon Sylvester Stallone talking about his six ounce gloves and a time when people should have had to carry suitcases through an airport a better time in America. They don't even allow these today.

They don't even allow these today because they're so dangerous. But that's what they used when I did the film. They're barely six ounces, they're Reyes and they're literally lethal. So I still have them because It's a time when people were tougher Sorry, they were life is just getting a little easier and easier and easier and

That's great. It's wonderful, but it's not I think When we force ourselves into tough situations, that's what the human creature is supposed to do. They're not supposed to have wheels on their suitcases. They're not supposed to have lawn mowers or engines that pull them along. It's a convenience, no question. But it just makes things easier.

Now with AI, you can literally put your brain in the pickle jar and have that machine do it. So I cherish these moments, I cherish hard work, even though I hate it, I know it's like mmm, strong medicine. Tastes horrible going down, but it makes you feel better. What are your thoughts there, Jake? Wow, that's a lot. I'll just remind people he's not actually from Philadelphia He's from New York and the character Rocky is from Philadelphia, and I love Rocky

I'll just keep it positive. Your wiki page says you're born in New York, too, though. I was born in New York. I moved I moved When I was three months old Wow, big cat situation. You're really attacking me. You really got me. That's a gotcha. Again with the legacy media and the gotchas. The gotchas again.

This is what. Good seeing you. Look at him. Look at him. We've enraged. It's supposed to be a happy day for him. It is supposed to be. I'll see you in two weeks.

I'll see you in two weeks. We will talk to you then. Nice to see you. What's it called again? The ticket thingy, the ticket thingy? Game time. Game time. Go Dan.

Go Dan. Game time. Go Dan. All right, thanks guys. Thank you. It can't be that hard for him to get Super Bowl tickets, right? It's...

It should be easy for him. I don't know if it's easy. I don't know if the Super Bowl ticket is ever easy. It is with game time. All right. Fair enough. So you got here, I want to tell you a story. I'm serious here. My wife and my two daughters, they begged me to buy a Peloton.

So I bought a Peloton and then I watched that Peloton sit in my office and stare at me. So, you know what I did one day? I looked at it and so I decided to get off my ass and I jumped on the Peloton because no one else was using it and I paid for it. I mean, so why not? Then I realized eventually that they bought it for me. And I got to tell you, way more challenging than I could have ever imagined. Peloton coaches are walking the walk. I love the coaches. I do the Grateful Dead one. It's fantastic. They have a sub three hour marathon runner, military trained athletes, a former college basketball player and so many other well rounded coaches on their team.

All this experience really shows in their classes, which are never short of challenging, especially for me. So I jumped on it that first time. It was challenging, more challenging than I thought. Then I wanted to beat the bike and so I kept jumping on it and I absolutely love it. I mean, I'm the only one who uses it, but again, they got it for me me. I mean I had no idea. That's a little passive aggressive don't you think? Find your push, find your power with Peloton at OnePeloton.com. Yeah sure thing.

Hey you sold that car yet? Yeah sold it to Carvana. Oh I thought you were selling to that guy. Hey, howdy listener. Why don't you sit down here next to me. Let's have a fireside conversation in the winter. This is all theater of the mind anyways. Weather outside is a little chilly. Let's warm up, let's cozy up, not just to each other, but also to that beautiful white can of Miller Lite.

That's right, make these moments even better with Miller Lite, the great tasting light beer for people who love beer. A new year is a perfect time for friends, family and great tasting light beer. Tastes like Miller Time. You know as the football games get bigger, everybody's talking about hosting parties, it's always difficult, everyone's got an opinion, why don't you just bring out a nice cooler of Miller Lite's and make everybody happy. You could be on opposite sides of the big game, but you still know that you are brought together by Miller Time. Miller Lite is a great unifier. Miller Lite is brewed for taste. It hits different than other Lite beers. The original Lite beer since 1975 and still the very best one. Miller Lite,

great taste, 96 calories. Go to MillerLite.com slash Dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Tastes like Miller time. Celebrate responsibly, Miller Brewing Company Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Don LeBretard. I'm winning the margins. I'm like, I'm like, you're money ball of sex.

I'm basically Scott Hattaberg. A lot of woks. Stooguts. A lot of woks, but I'm like, I'm like your money ball of sex. I'm basically Scott Hattaberg. Stu got a lot of walks, but I'm on base when it comes to sex. Other other dudes, they can be Giambi. You know your role, you play. I know my role. This is the down Libertar show with a Stu Gats. The cold that has swept through Florida, I mentioned this yesterday, I don't understand how it is that Pensacola in one day got more snow than Juneau, Alaska got in the month of January.

It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Jessica, have you experienced yet the freezing iguanas? Have you seen that? I haven't seen one yet, but I explained this to people. One of my friends was in town this weekend and I was explaining to her that when it gets below 40, the iguanas like seize and then they fall out of trees. And then we were driving around and we saw an iguana scurrying across the road right when it got warm on Saturday.

And I was like, maybe this one just woke up and was like, whoa, what the hell happened last night? Like, you think the iguanas that, like, when they unthaw, they're like, holy, holy shit, where am I? It's gotta be bizarre. Like those alligators that get frozen in the ice. It's like waking up from like a blackout drunk night and you're just like, how did I end up in the street?

It has to be confusing, right? You're an animal who shouldn't be in South Florida. You are an animal that cannot deal with the cold. You appear to be dead when it is that you are cold in order to protect your bloodstream, and then Pat Riley is burying you in the backyard, and you are indeed dead because then you can't climb out of there, and you're not like, holy shit, you never wake, and are like, holy shit, I don't know what happened last night, you're just dead. Something that Dan Quinn, did you guys notice this yesterday?

Because as you know, I don't consume much of the noise around pregame coverage because I find it fairly useless to have anyone telling me what they think is gonna happen in a game I'm about to watch when the expertise doesn't help you in any way be predictive. But the reporters were all using some form of, and Jake Tapper spoke to this when he said, well, the Eagles are gonna be extra motivated

in this circumstance. Dan Quinn was feeding reporters, Jay Glazer evidently was in the meeting where this was said, but other reporters had the information of Washington's not playing for house money, they're playing for the rent money. money, they're playing for the rent money. That was Dan Quinn's motivational speech before allowing more points than any team has ever allowed

in this situation before. And more touchdowns than any team has ever allowed in this situation before. But he was just wandering around evidently telling reporters, it's not house money, we're not happy to be here, we're playing so hungry, it's like we're needing to make the rent money, we're desperate. And then what ends up happening is the Eagles

end up putting a knee on your neck and you just start fighting everybody because you're frustrated. It was funny. Saquon's first touch and they shoot, the camera pans over to Dan Quinn. He's like, I told these guys about him.

We spoke about this. I think every coach probably did that. We spoke about him. No 60 yard runs on the first play. No 60 yard touchdown runs where you breaks three tackles on the first play. Can we not have that? You know what happened to me yesterday, Dan?

I think you know, because you follow along in our weekly fantasy contest. Go to dkng.co slash smirnoff, presented by Smirnoff, the world's number one vodka. Please drink responsibly. I took the commander's defense. Yeah. There's only four teams.

What was your thought process there? Well, there's only four teams, and you had to kind of save money where you could. So you saved it there. So I saved it on defense, because I said, you know what, Travis had a big week last week, I'm gonna splurge a tight end,

because his tight end cost is like twice as much as everyone else. But like, if you get points at tight end, you get points at tight end. So I was gonna spend money there, and I wanted Saquon, I was gonna spend money there, I had to save money somewhere. And I did on commander's defense,

and boy oh boy, was that not the play, Dan. Who'd you go with? I didn't participate. Really, wow. I thought you were a regular. was that not the play, Dan. Who'd you go with? I didn't participate. Really, wow. I thought you were a regular. Here's the thing, next week is off, obviously, because it's the Pro Bowl game. You can't do a single game showdown in captain mode?

No games, though. Yeah, I mean. Two weeks from now, single game showdown. Yeah, Super Bowl. Yeah, of course. If you wanna be part of our league, yeah, join GBS weekly contest. dkng.co slash Smirnoff, presented by Smirnoff,

the world's number one vodka, please drink responsibly. Fresh new lineup, I'm not gonna pick the commander's defense again. I can't even if I wanted to. I actually understand the pick by you because why would you wanna take your chances with a defense against either Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes?

Why would you want to take a chance against a defense against Jaden Daniels? You pick the defense to stop the weakest of the quarterbacks that was remaining among the four, and then you just saw your defense bludgeoned. It's also the weakest defense among the four, unless you consider Buffaloes weaker than that, but I'm not very impressed with Washington's defense.

That's not a championship defense. And Jaden Daniels was gonna have to take that team wherever it is that it went. But when you look at the Philadelphia Eagles, do gods. Yes, they're good. And thank you, not excellent analysis by you, but accurate, yes, they are good. They're playing in the Super Bowl.

That tends to usually go to only good teams. That's something that, with few exceptions, you can go ahead and try and name them all if you like. But usually the teams that are the Grossman Bears weren't all that good. And you could name a few. The Kerry Collins Giants. I mean, the Warner Cardinals were nine and seven, I think, the year that they made the Super Bowl. Got hot at the right time. I'm not certain either of the giant Super Bowl teams were any good.

I mean. Saquon Barkley, though, running the ball when the entire sport has shifted in a different direction and the idea of Stugats. Like, this part, to me, is interesting, even though I think most people listening to this are rooting against Eagles fans, okay? This sport is something that we love, at least in part, because somehow America thinks of

itself as the tough, gritty people who can overcome everything and steal your land violently if they need to. The entire sport is a celebration of sort of the things America cherishes. Grabbing what you want through violence. And I saw a story here I wanted to ask you guys because being tougher than everyone else in that sport, being stronger, being more physical being running the ball even though everyone

knows you're going to run the ball on the first play you go sixty yards that style is something that is usually admired and i was watching zach randolph the other day on paul george's podcast and zach randolph was talking about being a rookie in a locker room that had Ruben Patterson in it. Ruben Patterson was viewed as a bully by others. Zach Randolph fancied himself and was somebody who was not to be trifled with. He was somebody that was feared by others and Zach Randolph is saying Ruben Patterson comes out of the weight room one time and comes into a locker room where he's known as the bully and he's

like no one can slam me. Who can slam slam me no one can slam me and nobody wants any part a week because Zach Randolph is manhandled. The Philadelphia Eagles, we like space age, we like passing, we like touchdowns, we like skill position, wide receivers. Jokic will never get to be Michael Jordan because he doesn't fly through the sky. But the style Philadelphia is playing, isn't that something that not only regionally you're going to have philadelphia embrace that more than anything which is not just we're going to beat you we're gonna beat you up our offensive line is going to maul you and our quarterback doesn't even have to

be that good like our quarterback can be an afterthought in the office as long as he doesn't lose the game. Eagle fans would rather win the Super Bowl rushing the ball 36 times for 229 yards like they did yesterday than doing it through the air. It represents that team, according to Eagles fans, is very representative of their city and what that city is all about. You tell me something that feels better as a sports fan in that sport, then my team is going to physically,

physically make you fight out of frustration because there's nothing left for you to do other than be run over. I guess having Patrick Mahomes would feel better. But you're right. Like, yeah, you're right. They're two hour city's identity. They run the ball. They stop the run. They do the basics, the little things, and that's how they get

it done. But it's not even the little things. It's the things that require strength from your 350 pounders above on both sides of the ball. They're going to ransack you. They're going to have an offensive line that is the best we've seen in football for five years running, even when they changed the parts. The thing that was special about the Lions team this year was their offensive line, and this was the year that the Lions offensive line got to be in the conversation with the Philadelphia offensive line. It really is staggering in retrospect that

more people did that the Giants traded him within the division and that more people didn't see how seismic an addition that running back would be with that offensive line so that they can mask their quarterback. But it was so hard to see that that's why I give the Giants a pass here. It was like the running back position has been so devalued that how could they possibly think giving Saquon to the Eagles would mean the Eagles would go onto a Super Bowl and maybe win it?

You have to make a correction here. They didn't trade him. He was tagged. You're right. Forgive me, yes. He signed. But they let him go to the Eagles when they knew it was a threat

that he would go to the Eagles. But yes, you're right. He did not not get traded the Giants chose to not have him and chose to not have him while knowing that he Would and could go to Philadelphia the worst thing that happened to the Giants at Joe Shane and Brian Dable is winning that playoff game because they were almost forced to give Daniel Jones I know it sounds crazy, but they were forced on the heels of that performance to give Daniel Jones the cut They didn't have to though They could have given it first to Saquon and there were problems Vocally in that locker room that they didn't give it first to late to say Kwan

But if the Giants have Saquon, are they any better than they were this year? I mean, maybe a couple of games maybe Not a lot better. No, he he and Derrick Henry went to the perfect teams for them to go to in order to make themselves be better and make those teams be better. It's just, it's a crazy thing to think of. How much time have we spent the last five years talking about anybody's running game? We haven't.

Anybody's running game. No, it's a novel concept, offensively. The running game's been replaced by. Anybody's running game. That's a novel concept offensively. The running game's been replaced by all the two second passes, all the bubble screens, all of the- And the quarterback's running. All of get rid of the ball as fast as you can, but when we talk about the four best remaining teams in the playoffs, I assume that you have put Baltimore

among those, you are talking about two of those teams being the teams that play the old-fashioned way in their usage of the running back. I know. Yeah, San Francisco had a pretty good run. Even the Bills using James Cook, right? Yeah. But carried by running game?

Like, where the best? The last two weeks, the Bills were carried by the running game. McCaffrey was AP offensive player there. But we never think of in most backfields we do not think of the running back being more important than the quarterback. I'm not sure if we think of it in San Francisco either maybe. Understood I mean even while McCaffrey was sacking up AP offensive player of

the year honors, remember Brock Purdy was at one point the favorite for NFL MVP in the very same season. If I say to you though, in Baltimore's backfield, who do you want? Well, you can only have one of the two guys, Derek Henry or Lamar Jackson. There's only one team. There's only one team. Josh Allen or James Cook.

Among the best teams, it's Saquon is the one that has behind the quarterback the most important player. Punk. Yeah sure thing. Hey you sold that car yet? Yeah sold it to Carvana. Oh I thought you were selling to that guy. The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency no interest over 36 months? Yeah no. Carvana gave me an offer in minutes picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so Folks, the playoff season is here and the only thing better than the game day predictions are the foods that come with them. Introducing Tums Fantasy Food Ball Pool, brought to you by Tums, America's number one anti-acid brand and DraftKings. Each week leading up to the big game, turn football into foodball by building your best

game day plate for a shot at winning a share of $40,000 in cash prizes. Inspired by game day bites and tailgate treats, join the Tums Foodball action during this playoff season's most heartburn inducing times. Visit draftkings.com slash Tums Foodball between January 6th and February 9th to enter for free and select your game day plate before the start of each playoff round. Age and eligibility restrictions apply.

Void where prohibited. See terms at draftkings.com slash Tums Foodball. When you feel the heat of the game, don't let the heartburn keep you on the sidelines. Try Tums Chewy Bites with a tasty outer shell and soft center for fast relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, and upset stomach. Check out Tums Gummy Bites,

featuring a soft and easy to chew format for fast relief of occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach, and upset stomach. Both available at Amazon, Target, and other major retailers nationwide. And for more heartburn relief fun, be sure to follow Tums at TumsOfficial on Instagram and TikTok.