The Fumblerooski Podcast - Buc'd Up -Ep 408 The Fumblerooski Podcast

Episode Date: December 12, 2025

On today’s episode, the Falcons take down the Bucs in a dramatic upset. Can the Bucs recover? Will the Panthers be able to capitalize this weekend? Rooski Game of the Week finds the Bills and the Patriots playing in the snow! How will the Pats perform off the bye? Will Toyotathon reign in Denver? Chris Costich, CJ Medeiros, and Justin Tucker talk all this and more!

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or a 2026 CRV, a 4.99% APR in a 226 Civic or a 3.49% APR on a 2026HV. See dealer for financing details at Spud, CivicSI and Type On. On today's episode of the Fumble Ruski podcast, the Bills and the Patriots square off again, this time in Foxborough and the weather report, a wintry mix. Football weather, baby. Come on. Week 15 of the NFL season sees us with a couple interesting primetime games. We'll get to those later on. Other than that, week 15 game picks and a recap of Thursday night football. This is the Fulberts.

Ruski podcast. It may not have always showed it in the staff sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie. Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. Welcome to the phone baruski podcast by Power 88, Dean Radio, and Secret Weapon Consulting. We got Justin Tucker. We got C.J. Medeiros, got Adam Wright in the back. I'm Chris Costich. Glad for you to join us. for another Friday episode. Game picks for week 15.

We'll start with our Ruski game of the week, the Bills and the Patriots. And the odds makers for this one, currently giving Buffalo the advantage favored by one and a half points coming into this game. And, well, if you ask anyone on the Patriots, they're saying,

Let it be that way. Mike Vrable in a press conference yesterday said, that's why they're odds makers. They're not just people, they're odds makers. And the last time that, of course, the last time that the Pats were underdogs against the bills, Drake May. Drake May, that's all it is.

Game picks, tuck, start with you. What are we thinking about this game? I think this is going to be relatively close. I think it's going to be a physical game. I heard from you guys, the weather forecast is going to call for snow. So I'm very excited about this being, this being like the first snowy game of the season. I think Drake May is... Who's a snow game already?

Who was the snow game? Wasn't it literally just Bill's Bengals? Bill's Bangles? Yes, yes, yes, it was. I forget. He's right. Also, I think the Giants Packers game might have been. I don't know.

I forget. Bears Giants had some snow. I know that much. Yeah. But, like, not enough to stick. Mm-hmm. But this is going to be, like, the first one in Foxborough. So I'm like, yeah.

I think this is going to be a tough one. I think this is going to be a brutal one. I'm not sure Drake May is going to be looking like Drake May as usual because of the weather. I think the Patriots are going to try to rely more on the run game. And I think that the bank, I mean, the bills are going to keep it close. I think the Patriots are going to pull this off. I think the Patriots are going to win this one and have a stranglehold over the AFC East. Josh Allen will have a Superman-ish performance, but in the end we'll fall short.

I think he'll turn the ball over once. and I think that will come up crucially down the stretch and unfortunately it won't be enough to overcome and I think the Patriots will do just enough to win in the end CJ This game is as close to a coin flip as you can get

Now the thing is I know I sound like every coping Bill's fan About week five but it's true this is a very different bills team Josh Allen has been playing borderline lights out they're angrier they're hungrier and hot take and this hurts me as a Pat's fan I'm leaning towards the bills

I think it's going to be a classic case of bills have a kind of been there done that type of thing their backs against the wall and honestly I just think they want it more I genuinely think they want it more and I think they're just hungrier than New England is. But I think it's going to be a boat race, though. And I don't, and, you know, New England has usually come up on the wrong side of these boat races in recent years. Of course,

those are different teams as well. So you kind of have to take that with the grain of salt. But what concerns me, what I think is the X factor is obviously the weather. Drake May is a warm weather quarterback. And we saw against Tampa that when it was raining for like the first quarter, that was he struggled immensely furthermore their kicker you know special teams the all important third phase of the game is uh you're you have a warm weather kicker andy morrigalis was i believe born in benezuela went to college in miami and uh i'm not saying like all is lost but i'm reminded of this reel that the patriots instagram page but I actually said, oh, what temperature do you consider cold? And they're all like, oh, 50, 60. And I saw this. I said, oh, I don't really hope this doesn't come back to bite them. But I'm not thinking the bills in a route. I just think this is where experience will win. But it's a very winnable game for New England. And even though I've been doom and gloom so far, I will tell you that it's very winnable. And frankly, I wouldn't be shot if they did win. It's going to be a coin flip. And I

One more take. If the Patriots win this game and they beat the bills and by doing so clinch the AFC East, every allegation of Cupcake Schedule and every allegation of they haven't beaten anyone and every allegation of they're not legit will officially be dead. They will all be beaten and that's pretty much it. All those allegations will die. Of course, snarky bills fans don't let it happen, but those who know, will know. Andy Boragallis, when the weather is under 40 degrees, 6 for 8 for field goal percentage, 75%, 6 for 6 for 6, extra points for weather under 40 degrees.

And Drake A is also a dog. I mean, the Pats have literally played the last. three games in sub 40 degree weather and like cold weather and they've still been able to win not the prettiest of course and this is a point that I've had many times in the past in terms of pats probably not looking as great against say the bangles but they finally got to their by week Adam flashed the graphic just now Mike variable six and oh after the bite after the by week and we got Drake motherfucking may come on you shitting me you shitting me give me the patriots by a billion how dare these odds makers

favor the bills again they didn't learn nothing snow melts in may that's no going to be melting in jolette with drake may going nuts all over that bill's defense just like he did the first time around digs give him a hundred yards again might as well josh allen going to be contained just like he did last time now i will say like down i will say that if the bills do win i won't be upset i won't be upset like because you're not expecting to sweep say the bills for example you're not expecting to sweep then i'll even put the dolphins in that conversation because like the pats have always been really bad on the road in miami but especially in this version of the bills you're not sweeping the bills

most of the time, unless this was the Brady era, but it's not. So I won't be mad or I'll be a little disappointed if we lose, or if the Pat's lose, but on that I'll still be happy with where they're at. I'm

because obviously, you know, a win streak isn't supposed, that's why it's a streak. It's supposed to end at some point. So we'll see what happens on Sunday, but this is going to be an instant classic. I agree with CJ this is going to be an absolute shootout

I think and well Josh Allen as well yeah he's been playing pretty good but he's still making some pretty boneheaded decisions where he's been getting away with quite a few bad plays

hasn't heard him too bad but especially in this rendition of the Patriots they've been a little bit more keen on capitalizing on mistakes just like the olden days not as

not to the extent of the olden days of course but we're getting back to it anything else that we wanted to touch on from this game I think this game will be really set in the trenches I think whoever wins the trenches is going to win this game

yeah I agree with that especially with the run games that both teams that both teams have, James Cook, on one side. Besides Josh Allen, he's basically their best offensive player. He really is because the receivers, half the time that Josh Allen is roaming around or getting sacked, his receivers just don't get open half the time. So it kind of makes it a little bit more impressive with what Josh Allen, or at least the stats he's been able to put up the last few weeks.

All right. Step aside for a quick break. When we come back, week 15, game picks. This is the Fulmberski podcast. It may not have always showed it in the stat sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot.

He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie. Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. All right, let's get into week 15 game picks, starting out with the Chicago Bears taking on the Cleveland Browns. Bears are seven-and-a-half-point favorites against Cleveland. And Tuck was telling us before the game, or before we got started up here, the, it's supposed to be 10 degrees at kickoff, but were you saying it's supposed to be wind chill minus 10?

Yeah, it's supposed to be minus 10, minus 10 degrees. One of the coldest games in Soldier Fields history. I was like, I really wanted to watch that game, but it's at one. And so it's like, damn. Let's do a quick Google search, Soldier Field History. Let's see. Top 10 coldest games minus 12 degrees

on December 19th, 2004. Or 12 degrees minus 7 wind chill. Pardon. So this would be the coldest game. If I'm reading this. Yeah. It would be the coldest game. how about that good pull tuck you're welcome uh if we're looking at this game

in its entirety though this is a get right game for the bears now on the other hand all you have to do is not let miles garret into the backfield more than two times that's really it um and the NFL posted a their stat leader for sacks coming into this week and Miles Garrett already at 20 sacks on the season. Next close sky has 13. Unbelievable. That's just

that is literally better than Lawrence Taylor numbers. By a mile. CJ, I would assume that you have the same idea that we're looking at pretty much a get right game here. Yeah, it's a get right

game, but I'm not going to view Cleveland as a mere speed bump either. I don't know what in the fresh hell happened against the Tennessee Titans, but that Brown's defense completely collapsed. Miles Garrett, I think, might have had his worst game this season. I mean, forget not even getting sacks. He only got like four pressures, I believe. So I didn't get a shot. I don't believe he did, not against the Titans. He might have, but I know, I saw like he only had. I saw like he only like four pressures so whatever sue me he's still at a bad game he did have a bad game but of course pf will grade him high because i'm pretty sure pff is vibe of base but i can't prove it he had one set

cuby hits and three tackles for loss really but i saw his pressure rate was bad never mind you didn't feel his impact is what you're saying yeah i didn't you didn't feel the impact and i did see like i saw this thing about how a thing was like it might have been like his worst or rate of the year. I don't know. Long story short, yeah, if he can get back on track, I think the Browns can keep it close. I think the Bears win in Soldier Field, but I think it's going to be a lot uglier than what they want. And call me crazy. No one jumped down my throat. Don't sleep on Shador either. That dude absolutely balled out. Granda was against the Titans, but we know there is some kind of talent there. Yeah, I mean, Shadari's been playing pretty solid.

what do you have last week 364 yards three touchdowns granted against the Titans but it's not like he's been playing like in the other games prior before that Titans game wasn't like he was playing like

some of the worst ball I've ever seen in my life we're not getting into that category but it's serviceable it's serviceable I mean we're also talking about a fifth round first year quarterback so at this point you have to treat him like a fifth round first year quarterback at this rate that's what he is uh tuck i might be that time

uh is it perfect timing tuck it could be perfect timing this is the chance to see what Shador Sanders is made of. This is an extremely cold game. This is going to be rough weather, and this is going to be do or die. If he is able to win against this team, I think going forward, there should be no questions who the starting quarterback for next year's Cleveland Brown should be. I think Shador Sanders should be the starting quarterback if he's able to get past the Chicago Bears team. They're a playoff contender. They are a very good defensive team. I think overall if Sador shows his capabilities and the problems that we all see in him, I don't think there should be any question whether

or not he should be there next year. I know he has the remaining of this season to be the starter. But I think more often than not, I think it's clear that he should be the starter going forward and be their future for at least next year. But I think this game will be a good indicator for that. I think the running game will be more effective than the passing game because of the weather, I'm not sure the passing is going to be all there for either side. So I think it's just going to be a will of who has the better running game. And I believe with Judgens on Cleveland side, it might be just a little bit better than DeAndre's swept in the Chicago Bears.

And I believe the defense of Cleveland will want to prove something because of the way they played against Tennessee. I think they'll have a huge chip on their shoulder. I think Miles Garrow would be a menace considering the way he played last week. I think all in all, I think Cleveland might actually have an opportunity to pull off the upset here.

This actually might be perfect timing. I pick Cleveland in this game, not to take anything away from Chicago. I think it's a bit of a crime that you mentioned D'Andre Swift, but you don't mention Kyle Menangai. Rutgers legend Kyle Minangai Who's low-key been taking quite a few reps from DeAndre Swift

But I have another question for you guys Especially since Tuck has the Browns for this week Say the Browns win this game Does that kind of more or less save Kevin Stavansky's job? I don't I don't think it saves his job No probably not I think they've made up their mind Not unless he like wins out with

I don't think they're going to win out. I don't think they're getting rid of him just yet. He's on thin ice, buddy, but he's not gone yet. Yeah. All right. Bengals, Ravens. Bengals are two and a half point underdogs at home against Baltimore. Tuck.

Just leave the floor to you, man. Don't give me help. Just put me out. Either put me out. out of my misery or give me a dominant win. It's either one or the other because I can't do close games right now. I said the first time we faced the Bengals, I wanted to go on a safari hunt, but we were getting hunted all damn game. But I digress. The Ravens, we need this one because it's do or die, literally. So we need to one out in order to have a chance to make the playoffs.

so I believe we will win this game because we don't really have much of a choice here and it will be close because it's always close with Joe Burrow we can never just outright win but I think our defense will have a better showing that we did the last time we faced the Bengals and our offense better have a better showing even though my right guard sucks but all in all I just I just hope we're able to pull this off I have no indications of whether or not we can win. This is just 100% faith and 100% vibes. I just, we need this one bad all around, both players and fans.

So I think Baltimore is capable of getting this one, but I'm not sure at this point in time. What if I told you that there's a winter storm warning this weekend in Cincinnati? It's supposed to be 12 degrees, which also, which is also going to feel like, two degrees at kickoff that doesn't make me feel any better because Lamar is a warm weather quarterback yeah yeah

that's why I had the Bengals honestly I the Ravens are in such a bad spot Lamar's got to be still like he has to be he has to be unless like or Tuckette has he missed a day of practice yet Has you missed the day?

What? He missed. He missed. Today? Yeah, I believe it's either today or yesterday. He did miss a practice. Oh, bless you. Thank you.

Bless you. Thank you. So how many weeks in a row is that now? Five. Five? Oh, that's just, that's setting it up. It's setting it up for Joe Burrow to go dancing and prance in with T. Higgins. he gets out, isn't he?

Possibly, yeah. Well, he played the rest of the game last week. Do you think it was the right thing to do, considering? No. Probably not. Probably not. Oh, yeah, you know what? That's a good point, though.

That is a good point, which just means that Jamar Chase is probably going to have 200 yards again because, sorry, but you guys can't have 100. 110. He's not having 200. Yeah, okay. we'll be Higgins was limited at practice on once we're currently recording this on Thursday by the way T. Higgins limited at practice on Wednesday is currently on the injury report listed as questionable. So real quick we've taken some time I just want to go through this.

I got the Ravens here you know I think once again backs against the wall I just think the Ravens are hungrier than the best. and I just think it's going to be another case of the Ravens want it more. But I will tell you, I also, I'm questioning Joe Burrow right now. I think dude's just glum. He's just down on himself. The vibes and the bangles are just in an all-time low. And I'll leave you with this Burrow quote.

If I want to keep doing this, I have to keep having fun doing it. I've been through a lot. If it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? There's just a lot of things going on right now. That's not a team that's going to win a lot. on sunday give me the ravens does he think it's fun going on in baltimore at this moment in time do you think the vibes are all good here do you think lamar's having fun i would say the well marr is not going to the media so we'll never know will we justin no i just i just i just

if there was a right guard that was available please tell me so we can get rid of the one that we have right now i can't stand watching him play at this moment in time i'm going to stop you before you really get on a right guard ran here uh kansas city kansas city and uh the chargers uh chiefs are five and a half point favorites at home against la and you know you got just herber and crew and company getting a huge win uh last week against the eagles on monday night bit of a short week but now you have now you have yourself a chance to kind of build on that against a vulnerable uh chief's team a chief's team i may add If they lose this week, they are eliminated from playoff contention.

Wait, really? Or I think I'm pretty sure I read that right. Because they're at a, yeah, Adam, please look it up. I just know, well, I know the Patriots if they win, then they clench a playoff spot. Anyways, maybe what I just said is completely just not correct. Sorry if that Many such information. Yeah.

But, you know, this Chief's team is dog water right now. There's no way around it. And part of me feels like that the Chargers if you tell me that they're going to have a little extra juice If I was on the Chargers right now and you were to tell me this week during practice,

hey, you got a chance to knock out the Chiefs. this week. I'm ready to run through a brick wall. That's all I need. That's all I need. Adam, you said you have it. Okay. Chief's loss and a Jaguars win is basically the first scenario

in probably the best case, or not best case scenario, but probably the biggest scenario. With the Texans winning, along with the Jaguars? So Texans win and Jaguars win, then the Chiefs are eliminated from playoff contention. I just need, I just, I'm fine with the first one. That's probably going to be the biggest one, Adam.

All right. This is starting to become a great podcasting now. All right. Tuck, your pick for this one. Between the Chiefs and the Chargers? Yes. I had, I trust the charges more.

Based upon what I saw on Monday night, that defense looks good in the offense, though abysmal and certain points in the game against the Eagles, I think the offense is good enough to win against this Chief's defense. I got the Chargers winning this one. Yeah. I also have the Chargers winning this one. Herbert's fine with the broken hand. It's not bothering them. he's able to go under center and take snaps he's fine um cj that game against philly raised so many questions for me i know you say herbert's fine but the offense still looks flat it looks lifeless they're

moving around down the field like they get to like the 30 and they're scoring field goals and they should be scoring touchdowns and i think a lot of it comes down to the fact once again it's about that time of year where all the teams on the fringe of losing their division or losing a playoff spot just have like their backs against the wall they're hungry they're angry and a lot it just comes down to i trust the kansas city defense more and until the chargers show some signs of life with their offense which is so sporadic i couldn't tell you if it's alive or dead i'm going kansas city in a very very wait for it very ugly game split decision

nothing better all right Giants and commanders Giants are two and a half point favorites at home against the commies Marks Marriota is going to start this week and you may as well

just shut down Jane Daniels for the rest of the season at this rate part of me has this gut feeling that this game could potentially I feel like this game like if the commanders would lose this game it could be like dan quinn maybe in question part of me feels that way because it's the giants divisional rival they get blown out

they get blown out i think we start taking some question of dan quinn granted this is still a season from hell for washington no doubt about it um but we're talking about motivation give me Dan Quinn motivating the boys motivating the commies to get a win and met life this week CJ I'm going with the Giants here

and a lot of it's not because I think they're necessarily a great team I think they're better than what their record shows but a lot of it is, like you said, the commanders, this has just been a season from hell. Everyone who could get hurt did end up getting hurt. And now there are some whispers around Dan Quinn. And the only reason I would even entertain firing him after last season

was because he made that stupid decision to put Jaden Daniels in a game when you were already eliminated from the playoffs. Shut him down. You gain nothing from this. but hey that's just the commanders was Snyder back in secretly we may never know but give me the giants you know they still have some good pieces like tyrone tracy wondale robinson uh plus jack's a dart i think you know young buck's gonna show the league's oldest team how it's done uh give me the giants getting it done in met life suck i'm liking the weapons

that the giants have run rondale more uh or Sorry, Tyrone Tracy, Jackson Dart. I'm just liking everything that they have on the offensive side compared to what the commanders have defensively right now. It is a season from hell for the commanders. They just look abysmal. Just everything isn't going their way. And I wish Jaden Daniels wasn't going to play the rest of the season

because it's just no point in putting him in danger at this point in time, especially eliminated from the playoffs. And to be honest, I'd be trying to get draft seating more than anything else. But I know the players are going to try to play to win, so I don't know. I think the Giants are just overall a better team right now, so I'm picking the Giants. Giants are currently two and three at home. Washington is one and six on the road. next game on the list.

The Eagles, 11.5 point favorites against the Raiders, and that's all you need to know. I was about to say if the Eagles lose this game, there's a problem. And I'll buy the OC right then and there. This is a get-right game. Or a trap game.

This ain't no fucking. I mean, yeah, it could be a trap game, unless you really think Kenneth Pickett is going to figure out a way to will the Raiders to a win. Super Bowl champion, can you picket with Bo Jackson's great-nephew. I didn't mean to disrespect the man like that. He was also playing with Bo Jackson's great-nephew, so, you know, you got a touchdown last game, so that's cute. True, true.

Did you guys know there was a kid named Bo Jackson on Ohio State? Yes. And is it a dog? Straight home. I heard of it. Yeah. It's a nice little future. Yeah.

Ohio State. Cool players with cool names. I'm like a school up north. That's in scandals. I know you didn't just mention Michigan. I know you didn't just do that. I did. Yeah.

Well, Michigan, man, what do you want? They ain't been the same since Harbaugh left. True. But for me, I'm gone with Philly. Honestly, I mean, pretty self-explanatory. There's no reason where at the link, the raiders should give them any trouble but part but i don't know anymore look they should

win but i don't know anymore because what even is this season for them are we sure they didn't secretly lose the super bowl and this is some weird super bowl hangover just what in the seven hells is this but i will tell you one thing if philly loses this game which i don't think they will my i'm walking in my eagles pick if somehow they lose this if i'm howie roseman i'm saying to nick syriani i know he's your friend like i understand this but he is gone either you fire him or you go with him yeah he's got to go if you're losing to the raiders of all people yeah but i don't think they will lose the raiders it would be funny though eagles who knows Who knows? Maybe we get a Kenny Pickett revenge game.

Now, that would be funny. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Just a couple of things to, I guess, note Max Crosby, five sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his last six games. Ooh. Oh. Yeah. And if we're talking about key matchups, of course, you mentioned the Eagles offense, and that's basically what we're going to be looking at here is the offense

against the Raiders defense because Eagle's offense hasn't been there all year. And surprisingly, the Raiders, or maybe not surprisingly, the Raiders' defense has been better statistically on defense than they are on offense. So who knows how this is going to go? Eagles

have also failed to score more than 21 points in the last five games. Keep that in mind. Next game on the list for our game picks, the Jaguars, the Jets. Wow.

All right. Guess the spread. Damn it. Doug was spread. Jaguars, the Jets. Jaguars minus 11.

and a half. Tuck? Jaguars minus 14 and a half. Minus 13. 5. Daguars 13 and a half. It's at home. against the Jets.

It's turned into the Jaguars Division to lose at this point. They're at the top of the AFC South. But the Jets somehow, some way, they play hard. They get teams to fit sometimes. So you never really know. But I do have the Jaguars winning this game. I'm not going to say if they're going to cover the spread or not, because realistically, that's a lot of points, but they're going to win.

tuck yeah i got the jaguars winning this game pretty handedly i don't think the jets despite how good they are on defense are going to be able to handle that jacksville offense right now who's a little on a little bit on a row right now after the way they handled the colds i'm liking jacksonville to win this one this game and then just went outright won the division The Jets are essentially just dead. They are a dead team. You're already looking forward to next year. And if you lose, you can get, you know, a better pick.

I think that's the name of the game here if you're on the Jets. It is. No, it definitely is. That is for sure. Thou shalt not ruin thy tank, I believe it says somewhere in the football rule book. Yeah. Who knows? Maybe Brady Cook will turn out. He'll have himself a game.

Missouri legend Brady Cook? Probably not. No. No. He's essentially a Madden-generated quarterback, my man. Yeah. At least he threw for over 100 yards, given that. That's been pretty hard to come by for the Jets this year. Texans versus Cardinals. Texans are nine and a half point favorites at home against the Cardinals. Texans.

Yeah, it's Texans. I mean, would you consider the Texans to be the best defense in the league? Yes. Ooh. What do you mean? Ooh, yes. That is the best defense.

The Broncos ain't bad. The Broncos are not bad when healthy. Yeah, and the Texans are still better. I think that those two are in competition for being the best defense. But if you're telling me right now, I think I'm not doing towards the Texans, but not by much. Yeah, I believe that the Texans are the best defense in the league, but obviously, the Broncos are, those are one and two. Those are one and two. Because I've got to remember, that offense that the Broncos have is too inconsistent for me.

So the Broncos have to keep them. The defense has to keep in this offense, you could argue, is even more inconsistent. system. Yeah. It goes either way. I could see each arguments, especially for why they're so good. Also, the thing is, Houston's defense travels. Denver's doesn't.

All of Denver's losses have come on the road. They've only lost twice. And they're both on the road. Denver's defense puts up their best performances when they're in mile high, which if they lose the one seed does not bode well for the playoffs. Like, can you imagine if they make a super? ball we'll see we'll see that I guess well that is the one o'clock picks we're going to step aside for a break when we come back uh get into the week 15 late afternoon slate this is

homoeriski podcast and it seems Adam isn't in the back right now where you're supposed to be Where the hell did he go? I don't know. It looks like it because I can see his hoodie. It looks like someone else is going to have to do it. Chris. This is me. All right.

We'll see you on the other side of the break. It may not have always showed it in the staff sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie. Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. Welcome back to the Fulmaruski podcast.

Let's get into the week 15 late afternoon slate. Oh, geez, CJ just woke out, Adam up from quite the slumber. We might need to get this brother on stage here. Oh, goodness. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Adam, I really am. Oh, that was great. Week 14, late afternoon.

We'll start with the Broncos and the Packers. Broncos are two and a half point underdogs against the Packers. Well, you're just saying it. I mean, fucking Broncos, their offense is very inconsistent. They're very inconsistent themselves, but the Broncos' defense keeps them alive. But it's Toy Oathon. Guys, it's Toy Oatathon. That's all you need.

That's all you need to know. that's my pick give me the packers and i'm going to give this basically almost the same reasoning as i said i wasn't going to be that mad if the pads lost the bills right like this is a this is a super bowl contender if you're the broncos this is a super bowl contender right and yeah you've been guns blazing through the season thus far and that's why you're at 11 and 2. But you're not supposed to win every, it's hard to win every single game,

especially against really damn good teams like the Packers, especially when their team that's hot. Two really good back-to-back wins against divisional opponents. I like the Packers this week on the road. CJ. That Denver defense. fence is terrifying, especially when they're in Denver. They're undefeated at home.

However, it's Toyota Thon, and I got news for you. You ain't beating Jordan Love and Toyota Thon. Give me the Packers. That's literally all the reasoning I need. I think it'll be close, but tis the season, my friends. Tis Toyotathon. It's Toyota Thon. It's beginning to look a lot like Toyotathon guys.

It is. The things are. I didn't think we all would be in agreement on this. I have the Packers as well. I've been liking the way that you plan from the lines and then to the Bears. And now they face off against the Denver Broncos. A challenge, but I believe that the Packers' offense has been stepping up as of late. I wonder what the reason is.

But overall, I like where the team is overall, not just the defense stepping up or the offense. figures it out. I believe the offense has figured it out and the defense is playing well. So I think they're looking like the more complete team right now. And so I got the Packers winning this one, but this will be close because this is in my eye. So this will be a very tough game. So I'm not expecting a very high-scoring one, but I do expect it to be fairly close and maybe a little entertaining. Yeah. I think it's going to be a good game.

That's for sure. You know, you mention how good the Broncos are at home, undefeated at home. Packers have been pretty good on the road themselves. So see how this ends up playing out for him. Next game on the list, the Rams and the Lions. Rams are six point favorites against the Lions this week. Six point favorites. And the over under on this one is pretty high as well.

If you guys want to take a crack at it. Over under 54.5. On the dot. Hey, how do you like that? On the dot. What are we thinking about this game? Because, you know, Detroit, they're coming off a good win against the Cowboys.

The Rams are a super bowl. Contender, top team in the NFC, really. What are we thinking? Duck. I'm thinking this is going to be a potential game of a weak type of game. I think this is going to be a fairly heated game. I think it's going to be a very back and forth. I think the offenses have the potential to show out.

But I believe it's the Rams time to shine. I believe that they had the first seed and they don't want to give it up so easily. So I think they're going to scratch and claw to get this victory out against the very good Detroit Lions team. I think they have something to prove and to something to show you the rest of the world and the rest of the NFC. Like, hey, we're ahead and told us the best team in the NFC, and we're not going to give the number one seat away to anyone. And we're not going to let Detroit stop us. So I got the Rams winning this one. C.J.

obviously it's still mathematically possible if they lose but this is do or die time for Detroit as it sits right now you're on the outside looking in and if you lose your only hope is that Chicago loses too because if Chicago wins and you don't your season is not over but you're once again I use the term functionally eliminated that's how it would be I think Detroit's going to come out swinging I think you're going to see Amunrah and Jemir clicking on all cylinders, but I just think the Rams have too much firepower on that offense with Stafford, Williams, Coram, Nakua, and Adams.

And I don't trust that lion's secondary at all. Still, they have not figured it out. A little concerning, but what are you going to do? I got the Rams. I think it's going to be an entertaining game. I think it's going to be a boat race. I think it's going to be a boat race that the Rams win. I'm going to go with the Lions with the upset on the road this week.

Looking at the last few times that the Rams and the Lions have faced off, they've been in Detroit, and Detroit has gone the upper hand against the Rams the last few times. And, you know, Matt Stafford made his return to Detroit. Now we got Jared Goff making his return to L.A. So give me the Lions. in the upset. You know, the Lions have played pretty good

against the Rams in recent years. Rand, this isn't the same two teams, but I like the Lions and Dan Campbell keeping the same game plan and getting the job done. All right. Next game on the list, the Saints and the Panthers. Can we agree that there's just no chance, right? There's just no way that,

the Panthers lose to the Saints again, right? Like coming off a by, coming off a by, grandee, you're on the road, coming off a by with the potential that the Bucks may just lose tonight.

Obviously, we don't know. We're only we're recording this at 431 at the moment before the Thursday night game. So anything's possible. And that's why the Panthers I mean you see that

I'm still like the Saints win from last week but like all good teams you know the clock is right twice a day you know the box are a very weird case where just the injuries have caught up they're just not a very healthy team the Panthers

have a little more health and if you're the Panthers the division is within reach so if Tampa loses either way I think there's a fire under them, and I think they get that. And I think they got the win over New Orleans. Talk. I mean, we say that the Panthers should win it,

and then all of a sudden, like last week, New Orleans just comes out of nowhere and gets this win. I think the Panthers will win this, but it's like, I wouldn't say there's no chance. I think the Panthers should dominate this game on both sides of the ball, but just when you think the Saints are out of it, they'll have a game like they did against the bus and it's like how the hell did they win this game so it's like yeah but i still got the panthers one in this one yeah they they have to they just have to there's no way around it saints or saints uh nineers titans i got the niners here i think it i think just because of what happened last week i i don't think that's indicative of how good the titans are i

just think it was a bad game from Cleveland. I don't think they'll make the same. I don't think the 49ers will make the same mistakes Cleveland did. So I think the 49ers will win this one and keep their playoff hopes intact or keep staying in the playoffs. Niners, I think the Titans show their potential, but I also think it's a flash in the pan, at least for this season. Like Chuck said, I don't think the Niners are going to make those lapses, Cleveland did.

so, you know, give me the Niners. They don't really have to think too hard about it. Yeah, I got the Niners this week as well. They need wins just as much as anyone else at this point. And Titans, you know, they were going to get a win at their second win of the season at any point. It was last week against Cleveland. Are they going to get a third win this year? I don't know, but it's not going to be against San Fran.

And now the big storyline for this week, by the way, Niners, 12.5 point favorites at home against the Titans. Seattle, taking on the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle 13.5 point favorites at home against the Colts. The Colts down in the dumps, they were a mess. They are a mess. And they decided to call an old hero. and his name is Philip Freaking Rivers. 44-year-old

grandfather, Philip Rivers, is here. He is back. And I found a tweet from a day or two go actually Tuesday. The tweet reads, Philip Rivers is back.

Patriots have 11 wins. Cowboys are average. Joe Flacco is slinging it. There's drama in Philly. Matt Stafford is a stud. Seahawks defense is nasty. Aaron Rogers is the four seed and the Browns and Raiders are

eliminated. Your childhood ain't over yet. That's right. My childhood ain't over yet. I'm 24, damn it. It ain't over. It should be over. My God. The Seahawks

should win this game. The Indianapolis coast just got a 44-year-old quarterback that. That was on the Hall of Fame semi-finalist thing to come out of retirement, which means he now has to restart it all over again to come out of retirement to play for them. And I don't know if I like it or not. I think this is a bad idea, but I'm not going to lie. Philip Rivers can still sling it at 44 years old? I don't know. This actually might turn out to be a game, but I do not trust that.

I do not trust Philip Rivers to be Philip Rivers of all. I think he wasn't the same, even his last go-round with the Colts. So I don't think this will be any different. I think the Seahawks will run away with this one, especially with the defense that they have. No contest.

I think the Colts lose and Seahawks won. It's been 1,795 days since Philip Rivers last took a snap in the NFL. CJ, will the Colts get the upset this week. No. Let me inform you of something. The cults actually do have an interesting strategy. It's hope that the entire Seattle defense gets arrested for elder abuse by halftime because they're going to be smacking old man river around. I tell you what, just that pass rush, those defensive backs have, look, how good do we think Philip Rivers is going to be now? If he comes out,

it starts slinging it like the Philip Rivers of yore then hey good for him unfortunately no no no we were we were talking about the fact that like uh rivers was running this playbook at the high school that he was coaching at and okay but but knowing how to do it and actually doing it are two very different things oh true very true yeah i got the a lot of it's not even the arm it's the mobility I think you're just going to be a statue in the pocket and the Seattle edge rushers are just going to end up probably

teeing off on them or who knows maybe it's Joe Flacco maybe maybe we just get another Joe Flacko I just don't understand why they go with the rivers was Joe Namath busy I don't know sky's the limit when you don't care true it's true at that point

just get Dan Marino imagine being like Taylor We don't no no no get a OuG board and dig up Johnny Unitas. Where did that chip one way or another? Imagine being Taylor Heineke or like, say Josh Rosen, he's been out of the league for a little bit. But like, say or any of these guys that are currently a free agent and like maybe under the age of 30 or around the age of 30 and all of a sudden, old man Rivers comes back and you're like, I'm right the fuck here, man. Like, give me a chance.

That's what Cam Newton said. He said he was, uh, it felt like a slap in the face. they didn't go after them. It's like, well, no, you don't have an arm anymore. You got legs. You don't have an arm. Yeah. And like, Rivers had to have shown some sort of arm strength for the Colts to hand him a contract. I need to see this. I need to see this thing. This is going to be crazy to watch. That's for sure. Yes.

Moving on to our prime time games, Sunday night football, Vikings, Cowboys. will nine get back-to-back wins against America's team against the cowgirls? The Cowboys cannot afford to lose this game. They should not lose this game. If they lose this game, their season is effectively over. So the Cowboys should win this game. The Cowboys will win this game. Nine will look like nine of old.

You know what I'm talking about. And, yeah, the Cowboys will decisively get this victory. If not, there's going to be a whole hell of a lot of questions going on in Dallas this all season. Yeah, on top of that, Dallas is at 6-6-1. They need to get going on the playoff race right now, because especially in an extremely competitive NFC conference, and the Cowboys currently third spot out from a – from a playoff spot.

Vikings, this is their season right here. This is a loss and they're eliminated. That's basically it. But game to Cowboys. CJ? I'm going with the Cowboys. I still don't trust J.J. McCarthy.

He did have that good game, but now let's see you replicate it. You know, finding the, dare I say, success, you know, game-to-game-wise is cool, but can you sustain it? That's always been the, million dollar question. And I think the answer is no. The one thing I'd say for Dallas is there's a legitimate chance they don't have C.D. Lamb because he's concussed. You know,

he got twoified against the lions. So unfortunately that he might not play. I think he hasn't practiced. I said he had some like two more hurdles to clear or something like that. But I'm still going with Dallas here. I just don't trust that offensive. If a QB can make Justin Jefferson look bad then it's actually over yeah Monday night football Dolphins Steelers

the fact that Arnie was kind of feeling like going with the dolphins this week because this is like this is the typical Mike Tomlin trap game right do you get a big win against a divisional rival

and the Ravens You know, you head into the next week. Your three-point favorites against a six-and-eight Miami-Dolph-or, pardon me, six-and-seven Miami Dolphins team. And your three-point favorites against a six-and-seven dolphins team, and you should win. You're riding a hot wave, and the dolphins have a really shitty defense. the dolphins also are coming in on a wind streak this this week. They've looked really freaking good.

Now, is that going to culminate into a good game this week? I don't know. But considering that the dolphins just won in sub-46 degree weather and going to Pittsburgh for Monday night football, I'd say their chances are a little bit better now, especially now that they've shown that they can. can actually play in the cold. But temperature for the game this week, 22 degrees.

I'm telling you right now, they're not winning that. For me, I never heard 46. I'd always heard that they couldn't win below 40. 46 is the first time I've ever heard this. They still can't win below 40. For that sole reason, give me Pittsburgh. Also, I'm sorry. I keep hearing, oh, Miami's getting hot.

It's like, oh, yeah, you're beating a bunch of teams that are outright tanking. What, do you want a medal? So, yeah, give me Pittsburgh. I think the game is going to be ugly, but, yeah. Yeah, they've won five of their last six, including that 30-13 win against the bills. Other than that, they played, they played the Falcons, the commanders, the Saints, and Jets, and they also lost 26 to the Ravens. So, yeah, regardless, um, sub-40-9.

nay, sub 30 degrees. Yeah, you're not going to wish we're cold or McDaniel. Give me Pittsburgh. Yeah, I'm hitting the Mike Tomlin button on this one. Give me the Steelers. Just so Tuck and probably be a little bit more depressed, maybe. Give me the Dolphins. I wish I could just outright say the Steelers will win.

I do not trust the Steelers to just win. For some reason, the Steelers will lose this game. I don't know how. I don't know why. They'll just lose this game for no reason other than to keep the division close between them and the Ravens. I don't know why. I hope they win because I really want the season to be over with for the Ravens,

but I do not expect them to win. I think the Dolphins somehow will get this victory by hook or by crook. I think for some reason they'll have a good. running game for some reason but I think all in all I think the dolphins will just win this game because of course they'll win this game and of course the Steelers will lose this game so I got the Dolphins yeah that's all right you'll just be wrong I hope I am you know and you know for a fact you know you don't trust the Steelers just won uh who they just won against is that supposed to give me

that doesn't know don't get me started rage rage fucking rage I can't maybe maybe after Thursday night yeah we got a all right that's our week 15 game picks

we're going to step aside and jump to later tonight for the recap of Thursday night football the bucks and the Falcons always showed it in the staff But you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie.

Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. And the Atlanta Falcons get the win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a last second field goal, 29 to 28. how about that oh oh how about that how about that how about a kick or actually making a kick for Atlanta I was thinking of the same because they were just saying they're on their third kicker this season uh how about that how about that yeah I'm a risk to mute yourself on the call how about that and sorry my bad I'm sorry no but uh wow just I mean, obviously, let's get the elephant out of the room here. Tampa Bay's playoff hopes, just, this wasn't like a haymaker to their playoff hopes,

but this was a nutshot. Yes. They got handed this one. I'm like, what, 55? I saw it on the broadcast. It went from 80 to like 55, yeah. Something to that effect. Yeah.

Now, hey, oh, look at Rahim Morris, me mugging the camera like he's not about to get fired. Buddy, you're cook. Just take the win and move. but as a whole yeah this is in play the division's in play for carolina and if you look at tampa schedule they got to play carolina twice i mean you control their own so at this at this moment right here carolina does hold the four spot because of uh because of Tampa having more losses but they still have the same wins yeah they got a percentage uh falcons though i mean get eliminated from the playoffs. Kirk Cousins ended up having a pretty good game. Kyle Pitts legacy game.

It ended up ruining some people's fancy playoff hopes already. What a game in general. It looked like that the Bucks had this in hand. Chris Godwin. He actually looked really good in this game. But Atlanta, credit to them, came back. Playing spoiler. How about it? I'd be furious if I'm the offense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'd be furious. It's fourth and 14, third and 28, and you guys fumble the bag here. Yeah, I just, honestly, and the defense only has themselves to blame. They could have put the game away.

Like, think about it this way. You can literally put the game away. You punch the ball out of Darnell Mooney's hands. there's like four or five buccaneers players around him and somehow some way you let mooney recover his own fumble even though he was outnumbered like four or five to one yeah like that right there and honestly to be fair if i were the official i think you could have gone either way like i didn't see a clear recovery i thought you know tampa bay made contact with the ball first but but whatever they're going to go with the original ruling regardless And I've already looking at social media right now, and all I see are coping and seething Buccaneers fans screaming that that one Kyle Pitts touchdown, he was out of bounds. Like, no, I'm sorry. Like, there was enough evidence to overturn it.

That literally says in the rule book, there has to be clear evidence. Just the amount of just pure salt coming out of Tampa could melt all the roads in the north, I mean, can melt all the ice in the roads in the northeast this winter. up just wow I feel no sympathy for Tampa they had every opportunity to finish this game unfortunately Baker through an interception he he slightly threw it behind trade McMillan on that key third and 15 on that second and 15 and then third and 15 he gets set third and 28 they don't they get it to fourth and 14 for some reason they don't they allow the falcons to convert all of a sudden oh my god they're about to win this game

if i'm if i'm the tampa bay buccaneers i better pray that the panthers lose this upcoming game that they have but i don't think they will and now they have to win out they have to outright beat the panthers twice to make it and i'm not sure they can do it not the way that they're constructed right now on defense they couldn't get pressure on kirk cousins until the tail end of the game and they still couldn't recover the fumble this this is just bad it's i think it was like four or five sacks to one sack and yeah in total i think it's five sacks to one and unfortunately that's not good enough that's not going to win you any games both offensively and defensively they needed to play better and they just didn't bjohn robinson had a

good game and unfortunately he did have that fumble which they cost the seven points but overall i thought he had a good game despite that kyle pitts once again somehow some way had a legacy game and just was a beast all night kirk cousins looked like a franchise quarterback tonight which we all know he's capable of being if only the colts had him right now just imagine but i digress just congrats to the falcons they deserve they earned this victory and the bucks, they got to look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves, what type of team are they going to be? They had the division in hand, but due to injuries and self-inflicted wounds,

they're now where they are right now, and they have no one to blame but themselves. Yeah, you know, it's even more embarrassing. The fact that, look, Atlanta, you said it's a good win, but make no mistake, the Falcons did everything. And I do mean everything in their power to hand Tampa the game. Oh, they really did. So here's the thing. Are you ready?

Are you sitting down? The Atlanta Falcons had 19 accepted penalties against them for 125 penalty yards. Conversely, the Buccaneers had four penalties accepted against them for 25. And Atlanta won. That's what I mean. And I say, they literally did everything to hand you the game. You know what? I would say good game to Atlanta, but no, they were undisciplined.

They were sloppy. They were tearless. These silly little slip-ups kept killing their drives. They were handing you the game on a silver platter. They took a little cover off it and said, Bon Appetit, here you go, enjoy, it is on us. And Tampa said, hmm, how do I football again? That's really what happened.

Imagine you lost to a team that had, they committed 19 penalties and gave up 125 penalty yards. And you, and you lost. Like just, oh my God, that is. You know,

when I said that, like Tampa's secondary was bad back when the Pats were about to start playing them. Like, I didn't realize how true it ended up going to be coming, especially when you look at the fact that Kirk Cousins through for 3753 yards. against this defense 30 for 44 unbelievable it was a prime mergo chains game man what do you want he's always bound for one big game and hell i mean is now against the books yeah it's back to back

it's back to back years it's back to back years where falcons of the bucks have themselves an all-timer um but hey what are you going to do mike evans also first game back he had himself a day uh six catches 132 yards but all and all Falcons are eliminated. Bucks in trouble, in trouble right now. Like I said, Panthers now control the NFC South and are in fourth place in the NFC standings. They have a 57% chance of making the playoffs if they beat the Saints this week. And the bucks now on the outside looking in, 58% chance right now. make the playoffs so there's that all right anything else we would like to touch on before we

on the show so someone has got to investigate the NFL in Vegas I said this before and I'll say it again and this totally isn't because I'm a uh uh Bucky Irving fantasy owner have you noticed that whenever a team gets inside the 10-yard line, like, on the offense. They, the RB2 hawks the touchdown. Zach Charbonnet, Sean Tucker does it, David Montgomery, Remandre Stevenson, even Jennings in some cases in New England. Like, it's so weird, RB1 gets them inside the red zone,

and then they just go RB2 the rest of the way. That is some suspicious, that is some suspicious shit if I've ever seen it. That is all. I'm just noticing like it happens a lot, especially because my buddy who's a Seahawks fan pointed it out to me and now I see, because, you know, he watches Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker,

and now I see it everywhere. Yeah. Sounds like you should stop playing fantasy. Yeah. Honestly, I really don't enjoy it all that much. I should actually probably stop. All it does is piss me off.

Yeah. I've gotten some quite the joy from fantasy. football to say the least i've won i've won leagues before like i'm the best team in my league but at this point it's likely that i'm going to be like a one and don't i don't know it's only one yeah have faith in your team dude like i don't know my problem is like over thing but either way all fantasy does like every year stresses me out hell watching just football in general whether new england's good or bad always like freaks me out i don't know maybe i should just you want to talk about streets sharp being the ravens fan yeah tuck you know

I, I, you know, grew up a dollar. I grew up around a lot of you Ravens fans, and I don't want to be like you people. You people are mean. You're mean. That's why. Is that why? Is that why you Ravens fans are awful?

And, Tuck, I'm going to be brutally honest. You are far and away the, like, one of two Ravens fans I've met my entire life, and I've known many, many, many of them that are actually nice. So I appreciate it. Oh, no, no, no. that's not okay well yeah you are a nice guy and chris the other one was that one guy I worked with the woo socks cam those are like the only trade chance i've ever met that i would call genuinely nice people is that what you go through in baltimore is that why like oh my god

i'm so sorry again we live in baltimore it's not exactly the nicest place to live what do you expect actually you know what yeah that is true that is true a lot of imagine you know what you got people firing of paramedics that's just how that's just how it goes in baltimore Imagine living in Baltimore for six days out of the week. And on the seventh day, your Ravens fans throughout the whole 60 minutes give you constant panic attacks and heart attacks. It's not enjoyable. Yeah, fair. Do you wish you still had Flacco?

No. I'm content with Lamar. Even with Flacco, it wasn't. He gave us some scares. He wasn't safe either. I don't know if you've ever seen. the uh the that's one stabros clip you know the comedian stabros he's like a greek guy he's like he's the really fat guy that appeared on yeah i think i know you're

uh yeah elements podcast uh part of my take as well there's a clip from like part of my take and he's like he's got like really long hair and like a mustache yes yeah he's greek um that's basically big thing and he's a ravens fan and they're talking about the ravens and uh he's like you know i really like lamar and or he's talking about people from baltimore and he's like these are the type of people to be like yeah you know i like lamar but there's something that i trusted in flacco whoa hey oh whoa sounds like dundalk if we're being honest i don't know i'm not either with Baltimore, Maryland like that. Either way.

I just, I just want Lamar to win a Super Bowl to shut all that shit down. The fact that Fleco has a Super Bowl and Lamar doesn't hampers him severely, but it's not his fault. Trust me, I want, I do a lot of it's Harbaugh too. Harbaugh really hasn't adjusted his scheme all that much from when he had Flacco to when he had Lamar. We just see a few more design QB runs, but that's literally. I think it's vastly different. the only different there's certain things that happen where it's like please change this john

it's getting literally just like checkdowns in the flat to your tight ends that's literally a that is the hardball special like i don't know man i'm just i don't know but you know me tuck much like you i'm a certified hardball hater i wish he i wish things could change but unfortunately i don't know how we can change them right now if you miss the playoffs fire him again i'd have to wait three more weeks, which again, 20 more days of suffering. I can't go through that right now. Oh, no, four more games. Four more games.

Another month of this. I'm so excited. All right, let's wrap up the show. Let's wrap this up. That'll do it for us today. Thank you for tuning into another Friday episode of the Falmariski podcast. New episode coming out on Tuesday at 8am

and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We also have all our episodes available on Spotify, Speaker, Apple Podcast iHeartRadio, Google Podcast, and so much more. Be sure to follow our Instagram, Fumbleruski, underscore, podcast to keep up with the pod and the latest coverage on the NFL. Otherwise, we will see you next week. C.J. Mederos, Justin Tucker, Chris Costich, over and out.