The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Bears STUN Packers, Rams SURVIVE Panthers on NFL Wild Card Weekend

Episode Date: January 11, 2026

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff is reacting LIVE immediately following the NFL Wild Card Weekend matchup between Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers vs. Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. John kicks off by reacting to the Bears comeback win vs. the Packers. John gives flowers to QB Caleb Williams for his performance in the 4th quarter to lead his team to victory. John then debates if Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is on the hot seat due to choking away the lead against the Bears. John then reacts to Rams surviving on the road vs. the Panthers and questions whether Matt Stafford and head coach Sean McVay would consider stepping away after this season if they can't make the Super Bowl. John wraps up with his expectations for the Bears and the Rams moving forward in the NFL playoffs. 03:52 - Packers-Bears Reaction 36:19 - Rams-Panthers Reaction Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest.  All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet Use promo code “3ANDOUT20” on https://nicokick.com/zone for 20% off at checkout! Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Volume. What is going on, everybody, John Middlecock 3 and Out podcast, brought to you by my friends at Zone Pouches. What a night in Chicago. Remarkable, incredible, glorious. it's got to be cool to be a Bears fan

because that doesn't get any better. We will obviously talk about what we just witnessed. I'm recording this late on a Saturday night. Chicago Bears scored 25 points comes storming back to beat the Green Bay Packers in just an epic, epic game. Caleb makes, I think, the play of his career. Matt LaFleure and the Packers kind of meltdown,

even as they kind of don't melt down, down. It was crazy. So we will dive deep into that game. There happened to be a game before that, which shouldn't have been entertaining, but it kind of was. The Rams barely beat the Panthers as a massive underdog. Bryce Young made some plays. Matt Stafford made some plays, and he didn't make some plays. Rams special teams is a disaster. So we will talk some, we'll just talk football the night. We'll talk those two games. and here's the plan.

This podcast is also on YouTube. Starting tomorrow night, all of our video podcasts will live on Netflix. So Sunday night's pod will go up live on Netflix on Monday morning. And then moving forward, all of the podcasts will be on Netflix.

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So appreciate everyone. And I guess let's talk some football. But let's start with what we witness tonight. My thought all along for this game, before the kickoff and before we saw the context, of the actual experience. The Chicago Bears have had a miraculous season. They have pulled games out of crevices of their body that we didn't know exist.

It's been fun to watch. And the two previous Packer Bears games have been must-see television. Right? I remember the Bears in a loss. I earn more respect from the Bears and that loss to the Packers in Lambo than a lot of their wins.

And then obviously the game that they pulled several weeks ago in the comeback fashion on Saturday night against Green Bay, which was one of the cooler nights probably in Chicago when it came to football in the last 15 years. But you're the two seed, you're hosting Green Bay, who's this bitter rival, who's kind of owned you as a franchise for a long time. They've had Favre, they've had Rogers, and then they just are beating your brains in. You're down 21 to 3.

It feels like 40 to 9. You then kind of come back in the second half, but you look up in the fourth quarter, Jordan Love drives him down the field, you're still down 27 to 16. There's a fourth at eight play that for a split second, it looks like Caleb's going to get sacked. And five minutes later, you have 31 points, they have 27 points. And I can't imagine the experience, not just of the city, but the paying customer. you know, because this league is built upon you and I,

those of us that sit on our couch and watch the games. That's where the league makes all their money. That's what pays for the players. That's what pays for everything. That's what makes these teams worth billions of dollars. Is their television contract. But as someone who has been to a lot of NFL games, great ones, bad ones, you never know what you're getting.

But when you go to a playoff game in a experience like this, with this team, and then you're getting your ass kicked, you're like, obviously we have this special coach. And we have this quarterback who's proven these late quarter comebacks. There's no disputing his physical skills. But it's all just going wrong. And then for it to flip like that and score 25 points in the fourth quarter and to beat the fucking Green Bay Packers.

And to put Matt LaFleur's job status and major questions and head to the second round where you host another playoff game that there can't be a sweeter feeling. So as a sports fan, if you're a Chicago Bears fan, that's as good as it gets right there. I mean, honestly, besides winning the Super Bowl,

that's worth like 10 playoff victories by itself. The crazy part about this rivalry between these two teams is they've only played twice in the history of the playoffs. And they've both been around since like 1850, once in the 40s and once in 2011. And the Packers are one of both. and it felt like it was going that way again.

And I'll be honest, my take, I didn't have any money on this game. I picked the Bears just because I kind of trusted the football gods, did not feel good about that. Ben Johnson was really letting me down. You know, Caleb and the run, it was just off.

Their play calling was off. The fourth down calls in the first half, I thought were reckless. I know the analytical guys are all like giving each other reach around. It's like, woohoo, yeah. It's like, you can't go for it in a 14-3 game at your own 30. You can't do that.

Not now, not 20, not ever. That is moronic. Well, we don't know if our defense can play. Let the game play out. If you've got to do that in the second half, okay. But with five minutes left to go in the second quarter, that is dumb. It really is. And Ben Johnson was a part of a team that had a huge lead against the,

the 49ers a couple years ago in the NFC championship game, and they got reckless. You can't be reckless with these fourth down calls. And it almost cost them the game. But then luckily, I mean, the craziest experience of this game is the Chicago Bears defense in the first half looked like it had been looking.

Not very good. They can't cover a soul. I mean, they cannot cover a soul. And honestly, even toward the end of the game, they can't cover a soul. But they have pulled turnovers just constantly. so they just make plays and flip the game that way. But it wasn't really happening.

Jordan Love wasn't even putting the ball in harm's way. And then the second half comes, they're getting the ball. Obviously, McManus misses the field goal at the end of the first half, which would have made it 24-3. Still 21-3, they get the ball. And their next four drives are punt, punt, punt, punt. They gain one first down over that experience and gain a total of 29 yards.

So whatever Dennis Allen and the defense, defensive players said to each other, they obviously lost T.J. Edwards to what looked like a shattered ankle or dislocated ankle. And you're like, I don't know. I looked at my wife. I'm like, they just don't have the bodies. Even the guys they're rolling out. You know, Jalen Johnson, who's, you know, former Pro Bowl level guy, come back from injury. He's had growing surgery, I think, over the offseason or early on in the season. Clearly, he's just not running as fast as he used to. He's never been like a burner, but he just doesn't look the same. Their defensive backs can't really cover anybody.

But listen, I don't blame LaFlor. You start running the ball. You start running the ball. You try to kind of shorten the game, control the clock. They couldn't go anywhere. I don't have the numbers in the second half from a run game perspective. My guess is Josh Jacobs didn't gain over 20 yards the entire second half. Honestly, it might be like under 15 or 12 yards.

It was a dominant, dominant performance. And then they were getting pressure on Jordan Love. And then it kind of flipped. And what still then the offense for the Bears kind of sputtered. You know, Caleb was inaccurate at times. They just couldn't get any drives going. They had to settle for some field goals. They went forward on a fourth down,

which he ended up throwing an interception. He threw two interceptions on fourth downs, which my take on that would be those aren't as bad as like interception on a second or first down because you have no choice. Like, you got to throw the ball. You got to get rid of the ball. You can't take a sack.

So it's not as bad as, you know, other down interceptions, but obviously it didn't feel good when it happened. And then it's 27 to 16. Loveland turns into Kelsey and his prime, or Shannon Sharp, and it's just dominating the game. He had eight catches for 137 yards.

Honestly, it felt like he had 200. He was getting open with ease, even balls that were called incompletions or drops. He was just, no one could cover him. He was fucking dominating the game. And it's 21 to 16. They get the ball back. And Jordan Love leaves them right down the field.

I think they go six plays. He has four completions. Golden with the play so far of his early, you know, young career. Has that play. I think it goes like 23 yards for a touchdown. And all of a sudden it's, you think, got to be 28 to 16, but he misses the extra point.

So it's 27 to 16. And you're just kind of doing the math. You've watched the bears who, let's face it, have been awful most of the game. I mean, have been awful. Their defense came to play there for a stretch in the third quarter, but then Jordan Love drove right back down, so you're like, well, they're just probably running out of gas.

And offensively, Ben Johnson, who's been brilliant, it just, there's been no rhyme or rhythm to what they've been doing. He felt off. He honestly kind of looked off. I don't know if it was the freezing cold temperatures, but I just, I didn't have that much faith. And then they got in that situation on fourth and, was it fourth and eight or fourth and six,

when Caleb Williams, I think it's the play of his career. It was fourth and eight at the Chicago 43. He hit Rome rolling to his left. I mean, there is Josh Allen Herbert are probably the only two guys that can make that play. Who physically, I'm not saying they do make that play. I'm just saying have the capability to make that play.

And when we nitpick, like when Fernando Mendoza gets nitpicked, you know, how great are his physical acts? attributes, like he can't make that play. Right? So there are elements, and this is where I can live with Caleb's inaccuracies, because he does miss a lot of throws. But he also can make throws that no one else can make, and he does make them, in huge spots. And that individual play saved the game. Because two plays later, he hits a 22-yard pass to Menjai.

A couple plays later, he throws the touchdown pass to Zakias. And then they get the ball. they drive right down the field. Of course, McManus misses a field goal again. I mean, he was, he was bad tonight. You had no faith when he lined up. And then the Bears get the ball,

drive right down the field and score another touchdown. 25 points in the fourth quarter. That is, that's as exhilarating of a sports ending as you're going to see. And it kind of symbolizes their season. That these are, this is a team that just, you can't count out. Because how many of us

are texting people this game's a wrap, this game's over, they look like shit, we all were doing it. Because they did. It looked that bad. You're watching them and you're like,

they can't cover a soul. And you look at the package, they got good wide receivers. Dobbs, when he's on, is excellent. He had a big game. Golden starts making plays. The route he ran

on that final drive, because Jordan Love was driving him right down the field. Hit Golden for a first down. Hit Dobbs for a first down. He hit was it, yeah, Reed for a first down. Hit three big first downs to drive him. And obviously the center gets hurt and they're deep at, where are they? They're at the 40, no, they were, they were at like the 20 yard line, 23 yard line, the center gets hurt and they have the 10 second runoff. And then they ended up getting a delay. a game. I thought

I thought LaFleur with the timeout on the delay of game well he didn't call a timeout on the delay a game that ended up pushing the back a little bit for the field goal and then he called the time out when they were on defense with a bunch of time left against the Bears. We'll dive into LaFleur here in a second but you know things just come up the Bears and a lot of it is

their defense makes tonight it was timely stops and throughout the season it's been timely interceptions and their defining characteristic are these huge plays by Caleb. And the Caleb talent and the ceiling that everyone agreed upon when he was coming out. Like a small percentage of people have that physical ceiling, right? The arm strength, the mobility, the ability to run and throw to your left. Like a lot of talented guys can roll right and throw right. Jordan Love can do that, right, roll right.

Now, certain people can throw it farther or a little bit harder, but most guys with athleticism in the NFL can roll right and throw right. A very small percentage of people can avoid sacks, right-handed quarterbacks, roll left, throw a ball 40 plus yards in the air on a dot to a guy on fourth down to save a season. and when we talk about attributes, it matters. Now, here's the thing about physical attributes. There are a lot of guys that have them that don't even ever make plays. So then you get like the inaccuracy and you don't get any plays,

you just become a bad player. But you can live with some of the missed shots when you're making the great plays. And obviously when he had to do tonight on some of those big drives, he hit quote unquote routine passes. And then on the schemed kind of fake screen that slipped DJ Moore down the side of line, Caleb hit him in stride, he walked in the end of the end of the day, kind of the difference in the game, right? I mean, that was, that was the game right there when DJ Moore scores a touchdown. 31, 27, ball game. Like Jordan Love, I was actually making routine passes,

doing well from within the pocket, hitting Dobbs, hitting Reed, hitting Golden. Like, I thought Jordan Love, for a lot of the game played pretty well, definitely in the first half, and definitely, down the stretch of the game. But he doesn't always give you the miraculous. That's part of why he was more of a late first round pick, right? Even as a quote-unquote project. He still has good physical attributes, pretty good athlete, not great. You know, for NFL standards, probably average.

And it has a good arm. And when he's in rhythm and playing on time, he can look really good. You know, I think he can get a little reckless, like the back foot throws. he's not going to have the same physical talent as Caleb kind of freelancing with his lower half. And it cost him a couple times tonight on some misses, a couple underthrows, on some big spots. And that's reason one team is moving on.

The other team's not going anywhere. Right? It's really that simple. Is one team has these crazy plays in their back pocket because of their quarterback and the other team doesn't really. They kind of have to scheme the play, and then he's got executed. Like, say what you want. Like, I didn't think Ben Johnson was that great tonight.

That's probably the worst game I've seen him have. But Caleb bails them out. And this is a thing with a great play caller. They're going to have bad games. They're going to do stupid shit. I've watched Kyle Shanahan do it for a long time. Sean McVeigh today, I thought, was really bad at stretches. It's like, Sean, your quarterback has a hurt finger.

He's clearly off. Your team is averaging over five yards of carry. Run the ball. Sounds like, pass it again. Pass it again. It's like, bro, just call some runs. Slow down the game. Coaches can get in a bad rhythm.

They can make mistakes. It happens. It's football. It's really hard. Bill Walsh lost a lot of games. Belichick lost a lot of games. Playoff games. Super Bowls.

It happens. Sometimes players can bail you out. And in a weird way, like this guy, I'm watching. I'm like, God, you know, it's not all his fault. It's not like he's got Mike Singletary and Erlocker and Briggs out there. So the talent is not great.

I mean, clearly six was a major liability. The Packers were going at him over and over. It just didn't feel like they have much team speed on defense. But it felt like, God, does Dennis Allen just going to go down like this? And whatever adjustment they made, load in the box, maybe these guys just started playing a little bit more focused. Maybe they just play a little harder. I don't know. but they definitely looked at

because they started dominating the line of scrimmage against the Green Bay Packers. They own the line of scrimmage. I mean, Josh Jacobs could just take over a game. Hell, we saw last year in a loss, remember against the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs, Jacobs was every bit the best player on that field. He was just a dominant force

and he has games where he just imposes his will. Today there was nowhere to go. I mean, the best run for him today was when they put him at Kickoffer Turner. And for split second, you're like, is he going to take this to the house? They end up fumbling. I mean, there were also some crazy plays with fumbles. That fumble, there was the fumble on the play where the Packers threw to the offensive lineman,

who I think got a little cocky and then got very lucky the ball went out of bounds. You have the Christian Watson play in the first half. They ended up scoring a touchdown anyway, but they got extremely lucky that his ball didn't go out of bounds. and stayed inbound and you can't advance it, but if that thing goes out of bounds, it's a touchback. There was just some crazy shit going on. The football gods had their hands all over this thing. That's why as the game kind of went,

and it never got quite, like, if it had got to 28 to 3 or 31 to 6 or something, there would have been a gap. But the gap never widened enough where even if you're someone, listen, not that I think they're frauds, but like if they lose tonight, they would have been two and five in the division and like three or four plays away

from being a seven or eight win team. That doesn't take away. They have a ton of talent. They have an excellent play caller. They just had a lot of shit go their way in big moments. And you get credit for that. The commanders did too.

But the commanders last year ended up in the NFC championship game. So like, yeah, they're playing with house money in the sense that no one thought the bears were going to be this good. not a soul, Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles, the McCaskies. In August, didn't think they were going to be the two-seat. But then you are the two-seat.

Right? It's like, well, I don't have any money. And all of a sudden, you're rich. It's like, well, you better start investing your money or figuring out where you want to put it, maybe buy some, I do something with it. Because you're here now. This is where you're the two-seat at home against this rival. And now you win this game, like,

obviously, who knows, the sky's the limit. Maybe the football gods just carry you to, the Super Bowl, I do think it's hard to ever top that. I've been watching football for 30 plus years. We've all seen crazy playoff games. When you factor in a crazy playoff game against the connection you have with the team you're playing, factored in with the setup of the game, given that you're down 11 points with like five minutes to go, and then you score 25 points in the fourth quarter, you win the

game at home. I just don't think it gets any better than that. like if if they would have just played the Rams or the 49ers and just won the first round like just won a game like 31 to 10 like kick their ass that would not have been as cool as this this is as good as it gets in Chicago right beside like winning NBA finals with Michael Jordan with Chicago Cubs obviously winning the championship is the best possible outcome but like I think this is right behind it and I think most Bears fans would agree.

Biggest win for a lot of people. I mean, when's the last time the Bears have had a bigger win? You'd have to go back 20 plus years on that Super Bowl run team with Rex Grossman. And this feels a little bit different because, like, you have a quarterback that you just draft the number one overall. You have a coach who, again, bad night happens, feels like a star. Right? And it's like, you just get some more defensive pieces.

this team could be something. Because Loveland looks special. Burden's really good. DJ Moore is kind of a bizarre player. I thought Ben Johnson, there were times a night where he got away from Swift, which I didn't understand.

I mean, he gave DJ Moore a carry in a big spot. It's like, DeAndre Swift had the best year of his career. He's just a fantastic player. Like he's the confidence in which he runs. He's breaking tackles. I mean, he had the one run today.

I think it might be. might have been a pass, but he cut it all the way back, gained like seven yards when it could have been like a 10-yard loss. Look, Barry Sanders out there. I don't think he had enough touches tonight. He only had 13 carries. To me, I bet Ben would admit, Ben would admit, he's got to be closer to like 18, 19, 20 carries. He's too good of a player. He's playing too well this season, and he's just too impactful. Now, I understand they were down, so you kind of had to get a little pass happy. But I bet Ben Johnson be the first to agree that 48 pass attempts for Caleb is not the way we want to play. I mean, he threw 50%. Right. And obviously the two picks, but like I said,

I, the picks, it's not like he's throwing first down picks. This is Dante Moore last night throwing pick six on a first and 10. You throw interceptions on fourth down. You don't have a choice. I mean, you just got to throw the ball up. The one play call where it was clearly going to DJ Moore any slip. I don't love fourth down calls. One, I thought you could have run it there. And two, fourth down calls when you clearly have one distinct option, if something goes wrong, and listen, we're human beings, it's a field. It's freezing cold. You might fall on the ground. And it just, you got to hope Caleb pulls something out of his, you know what. He tried to, overthrew it a little bit. But I saw, I think Portnoy said,

big pet peeve when a guy interceptions the ball and ended up losing their team like 20 yards because they'd be better off just knocking the ball to the ground. You get the ball farther up the field, but I don't blame defensive players just in the mode. But yeah, 24 or 48, a couple touchdowns, 360 yards, but the touchdowns down the stretch,

just the massive plays. And that Rome play, I truly believe, that's one of the more miraculous plays you'll ever see. given what was on the line. Speaking of what's not miraculous is, I think it's just hard to shake this if you're Matt. It really is. Now, your best player comes into the game in sweats on crutches,

so you had a built-in excuse. We trade all this for Micah Parsons. He tears his knee. You lose your star linebacker in the middle of that game, right, gets hit in a pile in the shin or ankle or whatever. He gets caoed. You lose some offensive linemen. I get it.

It's football. Things happen. You lose players. The Bears lost. ice tonight. You're up 21 to 3 on the road, getting the ball at halftime. You got to win that game. You just do. And you talk about no rhythm to the play calling. That's stretching the second half, kind of did them in because if they just get a couple field goal drives, and obviously their field goal kicker was not reliable the night, so there was no guarantee even if you got

in field goal range, he's going to make the kick. But everyone, and listen, I've watched a lot of his press conferences. He feels like an impressive guy. And I followed his career since he was a DB coach when I used to go to Niner Praxis in like 2015-16 range. He actually worked for Chip Kelly and Kyle Shanahan. I didn't even know much about him. I remember asking people, like, yeah, he's pretty impressive. 49ers spoke high level.

So I've followed Halfley's career ever since then. Ohio State, Boston College, and obviously the last couple of years. But it's a rough night for those two guys. And one guy wants to become a head coach. in your season and your career is not defined on one half of football, but like you got to find a way. You can't, you just can't lose that game.

And the LaFleur timeout situation, I'm sorry, I just, the delay a game situation, when you're in field goal range, like the points are at such a premium there. You're up three points. To go up,

like a field goal can't beat you, is so big. And honestly, like, to put yourself into third and long when you're in third and eight or third nine or third and ten or whatever it was, you got to call the time out there. And clearly he was willing to use him because he used it on defense a couple of plays later when the Bears had the ball. This was a guy that came into this season on an established platform by his new president,

who was essentially the owner of like, we're evaluating. And their record down nine, seven and one, essentially nine and eight and one, lose to the Bears twice in less than a month, get knocked out of the playoffs where it felt, I mean, I even wrote down, they are going to have two wins as a seventh seed in the last three years. That's an incredible accomplishment. A couple years ago, they went to Dallas and did Mike McCarthy's career.

This year it felt like they're going to go to Chicago and ruin their season. After all the Bears fans are wearing cheese graders on their head, feeling themselves like, damn, LeFloor. That's a big one. And listen, I'm not saying, I'll probably get into Matt Ryan more tomorrow. If LaFleur is available, LaFleur's Ben Matt Ryan's quarterback coach, I would imagine that the Atlanta Falcons would be extremely interested in LaFleur. So I'm not acting like LaFleur is just going to go to the unemployment line,

have to go on food stamps and beg for food. Like, he'll be fine. He more than likely would be 100% immediate head coach. But there's not many better jobs. in America any industry than the Green Bay Packers. About as good as it gets. And I think his job status is very in jeopardy over the next 48 hours.

It's something to keep a close eye on. And I'm recording this at 10, 30 Arizona time. It would not shock me at all if leading into that Jags-Bills game, Schefter and Glazer and those guys talk, it's going to be like the Packers are going to have a lot of discussions over the next couple days.

and he's going to talk with them, they're going to talk with him. I personally would keep him, but you watch something like this, this season. Like, I understand the question marks. I do. He's not a dominant enough coach that like, oh, you can't get rid of this guy. Now, who you replace him with?

How do you just elevate halfway after that? 25 fucking points in the fourth quarter. You're just giving it to Halfley? So if I'm a Packer fan, I like Jeff Halfley a lot, but I don't know. We're kind of in a weird spot. And the great unknown is there's not an owner.

He just does not exist. There's just this president who gets to act as the pseudo owner and make these decisions. Goudicen's a maid guy. He's not going anywhere. And who knows, I don't know all the inner dynamics of the organization, how much juice he has to fight for LaFleur. Does he have another guy in mind? Does he want Halfley more than LaFleur?

But then you just put yourself in a position like who's your offensive coordinator, There are a lot of question marks for the Packers, which 45 minutes ago felt like going to be one of their finest moments in years. Ruining the bear season on the road as a seven seed to now like, is their coach get fired? Is Matt LaFleckon going to get fired? And after tonight, choking a game like that,

because that's what, choking a game like that, I get the Bears make a lot of people choke, but they were on the choke side. I think these people are asking these questions. and it's to me the number one story to go. And there's still obviously a lot of talent on this team moving forward, assuming that Micah Parks has come back. It's a team that next year can be very good.

Like they always draft well, they were missing their right tackle the night, they had a bunch of offensive line injuries, they have a lot of talent on the team. And they easily could be competitive for like the number one seed next year. Right, but I think these next 48, three or four days, I guess it could bleed into like Tuesday or Wednesday. It's something really to watch when it comes to the Green Bay Packers

because that's tough. Losing football games are always bad. You only play one game a week. This is not basketball. This is not baseball. You don't get to just, well, just play again tomorrow. It's not the way this works. But playoff losses in this type manner

just sting as hard as possible. It's just, it's hard to get over this sometimes. and people in power sometimes never look at you the same again. A couple years ago, this isn't apples to apples, but Mike McCarthy, when he blew that game against the Green Bay Packers, he was clearly a dead man walking. Next year of the season didn't go well,

and it was a no-brainer. But he was done that year. Jerry just didn't want to pay him to go away, so he rolled him back. But his career unofficially ended that night. And you have to wonder if tonight officially ended LaFleur, which, like I said, I think Atlanta would hire him yesterday. I think Matt Ryan would be a go-to.

Again, he coached Matt Ryan with Kyle Shanhan on the year that he won the MVP. So I'm assuming they have a good relationship. And it would make some sense. A guy with a ton of experience, a guy with a ton of playoff experience, a guy that you know can coach quarterbacks. So I think he would immediately get another job. But this is a conversation that has been brewing in Green Bay. You're sitting there as a Bears fan, you're going,

Wait, our coach is this guy that everyone loves, who thinks the star, and the Packers have questions about their coach? They might fire and have to go on a coaching search? What world are we? Is this really what 2026 is? And I've never been to Soldier Field. And I would guess part of the reason the aspirations to get the new stadium is the outdated sweet situation. You make so much these new stadiums come equipped with just. so many suites that that's how you print money.

Any of these, you know, the staple center changes the game with the amount of suites they have. That's where you make your big cash. You can sell the suites at the price of like, I don't even know how many normal seats, but it's, they're very expensive. And after a while, they start just being free cash for the owner.

So I understand the aspirations to build more of a modern stadium. But I will say this. that stadium at night with that crowd, you know, clearly they've renovated the press box over the years. I think it looks fantastic. Like that does not feel like some decrepit, doesn't feel like the Oakland Coliseum or candlestick. Like that place feels badass.

And again, I'm not speaking from experience. I've never been there. Clearly there are financial reasons to want to upgrade. I get it. Like who's not in the business of trying to make more money or as much money as possible? I understand it. I'm not one of those like, you know, big Js that just hate on people trying to make more money.

We celebrate that here on this show. But I will say this, my experience this year of just being a fan of football and a lover of great environments at night, it's why I gravitate toward these SEC games. The Bears games at night are fucking awesome. That was, that crowd erupting in the fourth quarter, that experience down the stretch, doesn't get any better in that. You like that. Chicago has something special.

Obviously, the stadium's downtown. I can't imagine that vibe of the people leaving, the excitement, everyone going to different bars, freezing their ass off, having cocktails and beers with each other. There's something pretty special, you know, in this day and age of, I try to spend less and less time on social media. It's just the same old shit over and over. People scream at each other.

It's just not real life. I go out in real life. Everyone's friendly to each other. But there's something so communal. And just what sports and specifically football and football towns bringing people together, people that don't know each other, people from different sides of town, and everyone pulling in the same direction for the same common goal and celebrating it together, it's just something we don't get very often.

And football brings it. I don't think it's shocking why it's the number one sport in America. And that game, the night, probably had 40 million people watching. It's fucking awesome. Congratulations, Chicago Bears. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson for moving on. Get to host another game. You get to host another game.

So it'll either be the Rams or the Eagles, I guess, right? So if the 49ers win, they'd play Seattle. And if the Eagles win, the Rams will play, the Rams will play Seattle. So we'll learn tomorrow the matchups. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet. the official sportsbook partner of the AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars. Duval is going to be jacked up this weekend.

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We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band

before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad,

Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential. title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an Acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending. Opinions are flying. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversy.

and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls,

we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok

podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jenshin win. I mean, she went down in three to Roebuckina, but I'm Delated. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now.

And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. On the Panthers Bears game. went over to a buddy's house with my wife, Chris and Sarah. We had a little midday chili, just kind of seeing his new pad enjoying ourselves.

I watched the first quarter there, and I'm not going to lie, we both looked at each other. Like, this game's so stupid. Why are we playing this game? What is going on? It felt like when it was 17-7 and the Rams were driving at the end of the first half, this thing's got like 40 to 10 written all over it. and obviously they go for it on fourth down at the end of the first half. They don't get it.

Carolina drives scores 1714. And as the game played out, Stafford was atrocious for most of the game. And I thought Sean McVeigh was not good either. You know, he gets very east. He's much closer like his style of a coach. I've said this forever. He's a past game guy, right?

He wants to pass. He wants, like Ben Johnson will not love seeing 48 attempts. That's not the way he wants to play football, right? He would much rather have Caleb be like in the low 30s, and they had 28 rush attempts. He'd rather have 40 rush attempts. He'd rather flip that number. He'd rather have 48 rush attempts and 28 pass attempts.

Sean McVeigh is like Andy Reed. He'd throw it 60 times a game if he could. But tonight, there were stretches in that second half after, I don't know if it's Stafford's finger. I don't know if he just started playing bad, but it was not working. and their running game at the time, I remember looking, the two running backs were averaging over five yards of carry.

I've loved Blake Coram since he was at Michigan. Kyron Williams is one of the more steady-eddy players when he's not fumbling the ball in the league. Just run the ball. You're in control of the game. It's 14, I guess it was 17, 14 at the end of the first half. Then they kick a field goal, so it's 20 to 14,

but they get back in the game. So it kind of ebden flowed. like Carolina would not die. And then the ironic part about the Rams is they had fired their special teams coach, Chase Blackburn, former New York giant. I think he's won like two Super Bowls as a player.

Definitely won one. And, you know, anytime a unit sucks, head coach loves going, it's all that guy's fault. But like, hey, we really appreciate you. Wish you and your wife and your children best in your future endeavors. It's like bullshit.

You just fucking told the guy to pack him a shit and leave. There's nothing more fraudulent in sports. when they wish them the best mid-season with the coordinator. It's like, you just loved me like a week ago, and now you're firing me because something's screwed up. Like, is the owner or GM want you to fire me? Now, their special teams have been bad. But like, was it the coach or is it the players?

Because when they got that punt blocked and then all of a sudden the Panthers score and take the lead 31 to 27, you're like, the Rams are going to lose this game on the road to an 8-9 Panther team, because of their special teams. And I had people, because during the season, like the downfall of this Rams team

is going to be their secondary. And the 10 Rams fans that exist were DM and me like Middlecough. It's not our secondary, it's our special teams. It sucks. And on that punt block, Isaiah Simmons, who might be the best special team or former first round pick,

like, listen, not a defensive player, clearly overdrafted, but when you're 6 foot 4 and the dude on the edge just kind of goes like this, he just walked right into the punter. A lot of times when a punt or a field goal gets blocked off the edge, the dude has to come out the blocks like he's Carl Lewis.

Lay out like he's Ricky Henderson. You're like, that is peak athleticism right there. That explosion out of the blocks, the leap. Like it doesn't get, it's a great play, right? When a punt or a field goal is blocked coming around the edge. This play, the dude on the Rams honestly gave a pat on the ass. Like, go get him, Tiger. That play was an embarrassment.

They deserved when that play happened to lose the game. But then Stafford, seven plays later, leads them on the game-winning drive. And I think I saw on social media that he said, told Devante, like, let's rip their heart out or some cliche comment. And he did it. And he's done a lot in his career.

And the Rams should beat the Panthers. They should never lose to the Panthers. But you watch that game, 34 to 31, and you go, it's hard for me to trust this team. It really is. Now we'll have to see, you know, the Bears have defensive issues.

We'll have to see the Eagles and the 49ers tomorrow. You know, Seattle's still got Sam Darnold. Like all these teams have question marks. It's hard to watch the Rams today and go, yeah, a team that can win the Super Bowl. That team that can win three more playoff games. They're just not playing that well. They lost to Seattle.

Obviously, they were getting, their defense was getting, Cooked by Jacoby Brissette for two and a half quarters. Cooked. And you're watching today, Bryce Young just scrambling around, making throws to, what's his name? I mean, Coker, nine catches, 134 yards. Guy was dominating.

McMillet had five for 81. I mean, Coker had, that play that they dialed up for what felt like for a second, potentially the game-winning touchdown was beautiful play, beautiful pass. but you go, you have to stress this much to beat an 8 and 19 in a beautiful day too. This is not

Soldier Field where it's freezing cold. What was it? Like 68 degrees there? Gorgeous. It was one of those when they took the lead and I was thinking, well, if the Rams don't drive

at the field and score, does McVeigh just quit and go to Amazon? You know, Rahim and Tom and I'm McVeigh, I just get out ahead of it. Like, I just steal their chair. I go, actually, I'm done. Like, he kind of had this look on his face.

They're going to lose this game to the fucking Panthers as a 10.5 point favorite? Special team, when your special teams can't be trusted, listen, I gave the Bears a lot of credit. I can't take you seriously as a Super Bowl contender when your defense is like that. You can only pull so many games. Like, eventually, you can't go down 21 to 3 and come back

when your defense is not trustworthy. It can't happen. When your special teams at any moment can just, like, give them. up a block field goal for a touchdown, can give up a block punt at the 30-yard line, can just have a disaster happening anymore, I just can't take you that seriously. And, you know, clearly Stafford, who I think is numbers 24, 44, 42, 300 yards, not great. I think he started the game like 8 of 8 or 9 of 9, and they didn't have a completion for a while. Through a couple touchdowns,

now two of them were Puka. Technically probably should have been four. They counted one as a run. Puka also dropped one in fairness of Stafford. He would have walked right in the end zone. But I don't know. What the hell is the difference? You know, people nitpick the bears. Like, what's the difference with the ramps? Because their coaches won a Super Bowl?

Because their quarterback has won a Super Bowl? Like, you watch them play. It's hard to have faith in them. They're hard to be trusted. Now, Pukukua is a dominant force. I think he's... I feel like he's one of the best players I've ever seen. That might be a little over the top.

But, like, when you're watching him and he's rolling, you're like, what is this? How does, these guy's unstoppable. And Devante coming back obviously helps him. Park is in touchdown catchful sweet. That was nice.

And I gotta say, one area I was wrong, I've been hard on this guy. I didn't think he could play. And this morning, Schefter, I think, tweeted or might have said on TV, and then he tweeted that

the expectation is for the Panthers to pick up the Bryce Young fifth-year option. And I've talked about it, I said, I would not do that. I think I've come around a little bit. I at least can understand it. He's still not my ideal quarterback, a little small for me, clearly not terrible. He's, he's had some moments over the course of the last month. Today, he was pretty good, made some big plays, made some beautiful throws. And at the end of the day, if you pick up the fifth year option, and this is according to Google, I'm not a cap manager, since the number

would be around $26, $27 million. They owe him because on these rookie deals, they pay him a ton of upfront money. So the cash they pay him next year is like $5.5 million. So basically over the course of the next two years, it'd be $16 million a year. Well, you know, Bridge, Gardner-Minch, who's like a $10, $14 million quarterback.

Like that's how much kind of those guys cost. So you get this guy for two years, keep building up the team and figuring it out. He's shown enough that's like, what are other options? what are we going to do? I understand it. And there are individual plays you watch him.

He grows on you. Now he also makes plays where it's like, ugh, don't love that. I mean, there was a throw to date early in the game. McMillan coming around or coming over across the middle that he just hits him in stride. I think McMillan walks into the end zone.

It would have been like a 40-yard touchdown. It would have been like 20-yard throw and McMillan would have ran another 15-20 yards. But he throws like this wobbly duck. And, you know, it's not, totally his fault the last play of the game when, I think was that Horn Jr. from, I think he played at Colorado last year.

Just needs to hit the ground. Greg Olson was like, bro, you can't try to kiss that with your hand. So that's not totally his fault. But not the biggest Canales guy. But Bryce has definitely improved. And for $16 million a year for two years, I would not be in favor.

There can be no discussion about few. big contract, even like three year, $100 million, like none of that. But I do understand when you look at the landscape and the cost of the league, you know, Daniel Jones just went for $15 million to the culture, $14 million, getting a guy that you drafted, you clearly like a lot that the team likes, high character guy, he just has some flaws. Small, can't really see, not a great athlete, not a huge arm. So he's got to be on time.

When he gets in rhythm, he kind of becomes a, playmaker, but if you get him scrambling and moving, like he's not like he's running away from anybody, take some bad sacks, but a lot of guys at his price point do. So I've come around to at least understand the logic of picking it up and trying to continue to build this team, because they do have some building blocks. I mean, their young wide receiver core is very interesting. There's a couple running backs are pretty good. You know, they have good defensive You know, Horn got hit in the head today. I had to go to the tent, but Mike Johnson was, I didn't even know that much about that guy.

He was making plays all over the place. If they could improve their defensive line, they just got a little foundation there to be a very, very competitive team. Their defensive coordinator, UC Davis guy Averro, he's pretty good, like him. And, you know, Dan Morgan's done a good job of just kind of getting this franchise going in the right direction. Now, like I said, I would not compare Canales to, you know, the top offensive coaches in the league going back to last week where he ran a flea flicker

in a rainstorm but it happens you know that's i do dumb shit too i think he'd like that one back though that was that was pretty bad and his his justification for it might have been worse but today they fought they fought they fought really hard and they made some big plays when they had to and the the rams just i i'm telling you i thought they just looked like shit most of the game But today's all about the Chicago Bears. And again, we will be live on Netflix, Monday, 8 a.m. Eastern reacting to all the games tomorrow. I'll be on YouTube with Coward tomorrow afternoon after the 49er Eagle game. Have a great Saturday night.

And for you Chicago Bears fans, congratulations. That was really, really cool. Okay, before we get out of here, let's talk about someone that needs to zone in. I'm a defender of Justin Herbert ever since he ran that ball in in the Rose Bowl, been rooting for the guy. No disputing his talent. This year what he's done

has been remarkable. His offensive linemen, injured reserve, torn knees, broken hand. His playoff record is not great. I mean, last year was atrocious. I think he just threw another interception in that game. It was really bad.

And obviously the legendary loss to the Jacksonville Jags, I think on a Saturday night when they just melted down. You get to go on the road, big underdog, against a second year quarterback, kind of with nothing to lose.

But I do think Sunday night football, a lot of eyeballs, having a good performance, can just go a long way of quieting everybody. You can lose the game, but if you play well, because right now,

if you have another one of those games where it does not look good, you throw some picks, it's going to be hard to dispute three playoff games, three bad performances. I'm a Herbert guy. I got the Chargers tomorrow, but if they're going to make a little run here,

specifically just win this game as a road underdog flying 5,000 miles, taking on the number two seed. My guy Justin Herbert's going to have to zone in. The volume. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called. called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends.

me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Rivera, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point Game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments.

If we didn't talk ever again, I was hungry. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs.

This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.