The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Reaction to C.J. Stroud & Texans OUTDUELING Mahomes & Chiefs on SNF + NFL Week 14

Episode Date: December 8, 2025

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff is reacting LIVE immediately following the Week 14 Sunday Night Football matchup between C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans vs. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. John kicks off by reacting to the Chiefs upset loss to the Texans on SNF and what it means for the team as their playoff hopes become more unlikely. John applauds the Texans defense for being dominant and explains why the defense is Super Bowl caliber. John then reacts to the NFC North battle between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Next, John reacts to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers big time win vs. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Following that, John reacts to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills surviving a thriller at home vs. Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. John then reacts to Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy's performance vs. the Commanders at home as well as Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders breakout game in a road loss to the Titans. Next, John reacts to breaking news around the NFL, including the Browns re-instating Deshaun Watson and possibly planning to have them be their starter in 2026 and Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones suffering a season ending Achilles injury. John then dives into the College Football Playoff rankings, which ultimately left out the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and John reacts to the university opting to skip the bowl game vs. BYU. John wraps up by giving his best bets for the Monday Night Football matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers: Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Chargers (ML) A.J. Brown Anytime TD Omarion Hampton Anytime TD  02:08 - Chiefs-Texans Reaction 04:48 - Chiefs are DONE 22:42 - Texans defense is ELITE 29:13 - GameTime 30:03 - Bears-Packers 38:41 - Steelers-Ravens 44:32 - Bengals-Bills 49:38 - Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy 50:45 - Browns QB Shedeur Sanders 52:52 - Deshaun Watson to return to Browns in 2026 54:26 - Colts QB Daniel Jones tears Achilles 57:06 - College Football Playoff revealed 1:01:03 - Notre Dame 1:06:31 - HRB NFL Week 14 MNF Picks 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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or wherever you get your podcast. The volume. What is going on, everybody? A late night here, three and out podcast with me, John Middilkoff. Obviously brought to you by my friends at Zone Pouches.

Love these guys. Currently have one in, actually. And it's been a long day. It's been a long couple days. watched a lot of football over the last 48 hours. Some might say it's an unhealthy amount, but I'd say I do this for a living, so that's what I do. Sit on the couch and I consume.

And that's what I literally just did watching a dynasty and a run kind of come to an end. Obviously, the Chiefs, their playoff hopes, I would say officially are over. And the dynasty is going to come to an end. We'll talk about that. Obviously, the Texans, red hot. We had the Bears Packers.

We had Steelers Ravens. We had Cincinnati and Joe Burrow with the craziest two plays you'll ever see when he was in the midst of one of the great games I've ever seen a guy play to throw a couple picks, change everything, and Josh Allen go superhuman.

We had a lot of other stuff going on. We got stories about Deshawn Watson. You got Shador throwing touchdowns. You got Daniel Jones, Taryn Achilles. You got Notre Dame quitting on football. So we'll dive into it all. Appreciate everybody. who watches.

If you follow on YouTube, make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel. Like I've been saying on that channel, I appreciate all you guys sending me those YouTube raps. Those of you listen on the audio, if you listen on Collins' feed, make sure you subscribe to the Three and Out podcast. We do a daily podcast here.

It's like a daily radio show. Just talking ball. And obviously, I go on with Colin every Sunday so you can check that podcast out as well on his feed. So we've got a lot of football coming up. We've got a big Monday night game. Nick Siriani's getting more involved taking the boys into Los Angeles

to take on Jim Harbaugh. That should be fun. Jim Harbaugh can see his old buddy, Vic Fangio, they spent a lot of time together at Stanford and a 49er, so I'm excited for that Monday night game. Football matters now. December is when you remember. I don't even know if that's a statement,

but I just made it up. But let's dive into the Chiefs. You know, when the last dance happened, I think part of the power of that, that documentary, one, we didn't have much to do at the time. But two, anytime that you see like this Elway documentary that's coming out on Netflix, you see a legendary team, a legendary individual go out on top. It's pretty unreal.

But that's usually not the way it goes. I wasn't alive, but my dad once told me that Willie Mays and it his career on the New York Mets. right? No one when they speak about Tom Brady talk about that last year where they went 8 and 9 played the Cowboys on a Monday Night wildcard game and lost like 75 to nothing. We talk about Tom Brady winning the Super Bowl in his first year for Tampa or all the great games he had for the New England Patriots.

Well, the Kansas City Chiefs have officially run out of gas. This team's not very good, right? And like, it's over. They're 6 and 7. They have the same record, let me repeat, as the Miami Dolphins. I'm going to say it again, the Miami Dolphins. That is insane. In fairness to the Miami Dolphins, they're kind of hot.

They're actually playing pretty well. I'd be lying if I said I watched any of that game. Didn't even realize it was going on until halftime. Looked up the Miami Dolphins won by three scores, and two, it didn't even throw for 130 yards. So, listen, no disrespect to the Miami Dolphins. give them a lot of respect for battling after an awful start. But this Chief's team just isn't very good.

Defensively, they battled their ass off tonight. But the reality is of this core group of players. Like, once upon a time, you know, Brady, they won those Super Bowls, and then they went 10 years between Super Bowls. But when you think about the Brady Dynasty, we talk about the two different iterations, the one with Rabel, the one with Bruske, the one with Troy Brown, that group early.

and then there's the late one with Devin McCordy, with Dante Hightower, with Edelman, with Gruncowski. We don't really talk that often about like the greatness. I mean, we discussed the team, the 07 paths, but like Welker, Randy Moss, those guys didn't win anything. Well, I was in the NFL when Randy Moss was on the Patriots, and then he got traded to the Titans. West Welker basically got Wally Pipped and replaced by Julian Edelman.

That happened. And then they transitioned to, the next group. Well, Collinsworth mentioned it tonight. You know, listen, Travis Kelsey has had two moments that are going to be hard to forget. He had the moment against the Jags that he turns around, comes late,

ball pick, the guy goes 99 yards for a touchdown. He has the play tonight where that's what happens when you're old. Like, you're not 30 anymore in your prime. Your margin for error is much smaller. You're not quite as quick. You don't make the plays. He makes that play 100% of the time four years ago. 100% of the time. Both those two plays are catches. One's a touchdown

against the Jags and the other is a catch against the Texans. Instead, there are interceptions that go the other way. Well, as Collinsworth mentioned, his contract's over after this year. His career with the Canis Chiefs is over. He's not going to be on the Kansas Chiefs next year. The other guy, Chris Jones, who is a little bit of a roller coaster when you watch him on the right night. Like tonight, he's incredible. If you didn't watch the Chiefs all season and you just turn on the game the night, you would go, that's got to be the best player in the NFL. But he doesn't do that all the time.

And I looked at his contract today. He got extended a couple years ago. 24 was guaranteed. 25 was guaranteed. Well, in 2006, partially it's guaranteed because it kicked in at the beginning of this league year. I think it's like $19 million. But his cap hit is enormous. They're obviously not going to cut them because the dead cap is even bigger.

Well, what did they do last off season? They traded Joe Tune to the Chicago Bears, who Andy Reid, after it happened, said he's one of my favorite players I've ever coached. But it's part of the business. It's part of building a football team in a structure of a salary cap. Do you think I wanted to get rid of this player? Of course not. I did not have a choice. Well, they're not because they weren't going to extend them.

They're not going to give Chris Jones a fourth contract. So to me, Chris Jones, he's not going to be cut. He's definitely not retiring. He's going to be traded this offseason. He's not going to be on the... I'd be stunned if he's on the Chiefs next year. And part of transitioning and extending this run is figuring out how to put the piece of the puzzle

with new players over the next couple years. And that's what they have to do. Because this group, as we've known it, this core group of guys that we've seen win all these Super Bowls and playing some of these biggest games have now kind of flopped this season at 6 and 7 and listen you can go well how Andy Reid went for it this year Andy Reid went forward on fourth down on that

it was like fourth and one and a half because he realized this team not going anywhere like what are I I won all the I'm not Ryan Day I'm not kicking a field goal trying to tie it when I'm the defending champ and I've fucking done everything I've needed to do in this game does he like what am I talking about I'm going forward I saw people like, how's he doing that, throwing away the season? Throwing away the season.

The season was thrown away weeks ago. And the other simple reality is, I love this guy. I have nothing but respect for him. Knowing people in that organization from Coach Reed down, the way they have talked about Patrick, the way he operates. Like, as you get older and you find out about people that you don't know, maybe that work in your industry or work around you or even just like live in your town, And someone's like, yeah, he's just a great guy, man.

He's just a really, really high-level dude. And his work ethic, how hard he trains, how seriously he takes his craft. Like, the older I get, I respect that much more than like, did you see his highlight play? Like, I saw this clip of D.K. Metcalfe. They put him at Gunner on punt. Like, say what you want about D.K., he's definitely been underwhelming for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But I respect the shit out of that. So I can't have any more respect for Patrick Mahomes.

But he hasn't really played that great this year. And there are a lot of players, if they would have just played like he played, would get criticized like hardcore. Like it would be pretty ugly. Like it would kind of be relentless. And he makes some awesome play, especially with his legs. And he's obviously a great competitor, keeping plays alive. But like his game's kind of up and down.

They need him do play better if they're going to flip this thing. around moving forward because their team is going to look dramatically different. And at this point in time, now, they show the schedule toward the end of the game. They're going to be favored in most of these games and they could still win several of them. But in a weird way, listen, this is not the NBA, they're not going to tank. They're better off losing out than they are winning out. Because for them do turn this thing around, having a better draft pick. And I don't just mean in the first round, I mean in every round,

is the easiest way for next year them to get better players. It is difficult. You can do two things to screw up a draft when you're really good. You can make a bold trade. We have seen teams do that. 49ers did it. You lose a bunch of first round picks. Hell, the Texans did it when they got Will Anderson.

And you just feel at times, like throughout the last couple years, some of their depth is missing. That's what happens when you're missing picks. right, the Cleveland Browns did it when they traded for Deshawn Watson. Like you look back, you're like, we're missing two or three first rounders because we made an acquisition. And if that acquisition doesn't go right, it can be a big problem. Or just when you draft at the end of the round, it's difficult. Right?

Listen, when the trade happened on draft night and the chiefs traded into the first round for Xavier Worthy and the bills traded out for Keon Coleman, we all had a million takes. I'm as guilty as anybody. But going a couple years later, like, Xavier Worthy's fine. Keon Coleman got benched in the middle of the year, made a play today. Like, these guys are fine.

It's harder to hit on wide receiver sometimes at the end of the first round than it is at pick 12, pick 13. You are much more likely to get a better player. So obviously this year for the Chiefs, given their standard, given what we think of them, if you would have told anybody at this point in time, they'd be six and seven of the same record as the Miami Dolphins. No one would have believed you.

but it happened. And you watch them and it kind of feels right. And one thing, even over the last couple years, I have so many friends there that I enjoy watching the team even when it's ugly, but hear from a lot of people like they can be a difficult watch at times. Tonight they weren't the most enjoyable watch. Though, like in this modern day era of everyone scoring all these points, everyone's spreading it out, you know, I'm a sucker for a 1310 game in the third quarter.

I like a game where at any given moment people can, get injured because everyone is getting tackled so hard. Like, I still really respect games like that. I saw people tweeting how the Indiana-Ohio State game was just like, wasn't that great. Like, I don't know about you, but I thoroughly enjoy it. I don't need a game to be Buffalo, Cincinnati, to really entertain me, though really enjoy that game as well. So I just think the Chiefs, their offensive magic over the last couple years is clearly gone.

part of that, no one, you know, people hesitate to say it because his resume speaks for itself, but some of that lies on Patrick, not playing as well. And listen, they got some older veteran players that aren't as reliable as they once were. Now, Chris Jones was all over the place tonight. He was making CJ run for his life. But they're just out of juice. You know, if you get in your car and you just start driving, eventually you're going to run out of gas. And when you do, you've got to refill it.

and that's what it feels like the chiefs at the point in time it is in this operation. Like, they need a refill. And the difference is sometimes you get out the gas station, you look around your car and you've got like Gatorade bottles, you got some sunflower seeds, you got shit in the back seat. You're like, I just need to clean out this car and you just take a bunch of stuff. I try to go to Costco because it got some cheaper gas, throw away a bunch of stuff. It's like a cleansing of my car every time I go to the gas station. And that's why I think the Chiefs need to do this offseason.

and we'll see how they end up. I mean, if I was a betting man right now, they probably end up. I would guess like 9 and 8. But if you tell me that they win one of their last three games, I do think they will be better off. Now, that's not the way Coach Reed's going to operate. That's not the way these guys are going to play. But I don't think it's crazy the last couple games.

If you almost just give Patrick, just let Gardner Minch you play some games. You know, it's tough, especially if it becomes pretty clear that Travis is going to retire, which I think we all kind of envision him doing. You know, he's not going to want to just be out there with Garner Minchu, right? So you kind of want to give him a little send-off. But I think we've seen, we're basically at the end of the road, as my guys and boys to men would say, when it comes to these three guys, and they've had an incredible run.

Most people thought when they traded Tyree killed, they were, you know, on drugs. Turns out it was one of the smartest moves in the history of the least. league. They rattle off back-to-back Super Bowls. They were able to kind of replenish. And that's what it feels like they need to do right now. Replenish. They're just not as potent. I mean, you watch

them against the Texans. The Texans have every bit the talent they have, if not more. You would argue on defense, they have more talent. They're just a deeper unit. And offensively, you know, with some of their injuries, like, what the hell's a difference? What the hell is the difference between

Woody Marks and Kareem Hunt and Isaiah Pacheco? I'd probably rather have for the next couple years Woody Mark's more versatile player right you would take Nico Collins you know probably over any Chief's wide receiver I mean Rashide's pretty good he didn't have a good game the night

you know I think Xavier Worthy's okay you'd like a little more but I think at this point in time he kind of is what he is there's a fast guy that you know kind of catches the ball and goes down he's not going to run around you run over you jump over you like he's just he can make some explosive plays

and it kind of ends there So I think they're going to need a new tight end. Obviously they have a stud left tackle who broke his wrist, and he's going to be a big part of the future. Karloftus, you hope Trent McDuffie's okay. He'll be a part of the future. But they're going to need some reinforcements because they're just out of gas. And they're at the gas station.

It's time to fill up. And that's why this offseason is going to be huge. And like you saw last year, I think you will continue to see. and if you go back in the history of Andy, they'll make some big moves. Like he's not afraid to kind of mix things up. And this is a type franchise where you're just looking at right now. Like sometimes you go into a home and you go,

God, this thing needs a facelift, right? This thing needs a little work. And that's what anyone that's just watched the Chiefs, we all have, because they're on, you know, primetime games, it feels like 80% of the year. It's like they just need, it's like they need a remodel. They need a touch-up. And they need their best player to play better.

You know, I mean, you're watching Cincinnati Buffalo. I'll probably go into that game later, but you watch those two quarterbacks. They are just better players than Patrick Mahomes right now. Like Joe Burrell and Josh Allen are just better players in 2025. I'm not talking about the history of their careers. I'm not talking about 2023. I'm not talking about 2020.

I'm talking about right now. those two guys are better than him. They just are. That doesn't mean in a one-off, if they were in the end, aFC championship game, they would beat him. But today,

and I think Chief fans would admit this, if they watch that game as well, those two guys are better players right now. And I just think there's going to be, they're going to get a much longer off season. Obviously, you're going to have to look in the mirror a little bit. What can I do to be better? But it just, it is what it is.

And they're six and seven. and just a devastating season for a team that, you know, has the highest of hopes in the league. Because there's, you could say the Eagles this year, there just aren't that many teams, even in college. Like, there aren't many teams like Super Bowl or bust. National championships are bust. Like, even Indiana, they're the one seat.

It is not national championship or bust. They just beat Ohio State to win the Big Ten. If they were to lose in the first round, it would suck. You know, their first round, which would be the second round. They still beat Ohio State, which is the biggest win in the history of the program by a country mile. So if they got to the final four, they beat Ohio State. Fucking whole program, all the fans would do cartwheels down the street. The Chiefs, it's like, that's why when everyone's like, how's Andy going forward on fourth down?

Because he's not your normal coach. He's been in the Super Bowl five of the last six years. Like he's just like, I'm just going to lead on my best player right now. It's like, we want to play defense, then punt back and get the ball. He's not thinking like that. He's just trying to score right now. Now, get some momentum, get something going. He's not waiting to like, let's punt the ball back and then hopefully get a stop.

It's like, no. He's not D'Amico Ryan's trying to get to the playoffs and win a game. D'emico gets to the playoffs and wins a playoff game. That is a successful season for the Houston Texans. No one would deny that, especially when they start 0-3. If you bake into the playoffs, even if you don't win the division, you're a wild card. You win a playoff game, which would mean you're on the road. You get to the second round after the second round after the game.

that's incredible. It's a notch on his belt. Chiefs don't get any extra credit for just like, hey, we're just right into the wild card mix till the last week and we missed it. It's not the way they think. Right.

Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, some of these guys, they don't think about money like you and I think. Hell, they don't think about money like other rich people think. So they're different levels to the way you look at things.

He's not looking at it like an individual game. He's looking at it like that moment. You've got to go. I'm sure. sure he's going to get crushed for, but I was just like, I would have done the same thing. He's probably tired of watching this team. You can just tell, like, it's like, I'm just, I want this to end. This is not, we're just off.

And now we know, like, they're not going to the playoffs. Just check the AFC. They really, I mean, mathematically not eliminated, they got no shot. I mean, at seven, the Texans are eight and five. So with the chargers, if the chargers were to win tomorrow, it basically becomes done. because the Texans then and the Jags would both be in. The bills are obviously going in. The Patriots are going in.

The Broncos are going in. You know, someone has to win between the Steelers and the Ravens. And the Colts are just in a free fall. So, I mean, the Chiefs now are tied with the Ravens at 6 and 6, and 6, and 7, and the dolphins at 6 and 7. And that feels about right. None of them are that good. You know, now the difference is, Chiefs have won a lot before.

They got a lot of hardware in their closet. And even the years they didn't win it, they were still in the Super Bowl. So it's like, you know, times have been pretty good for them. But this year not. Today's show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet. The holidays are here and the sports schedule is packed tighter than Santa's gift bag. Week 15 football games, bowl games, NBA and college hoops, hockey, and a whole lot more. You know that new customers can sign up and bet $5 on any game.

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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. We 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 Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, 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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swag or... Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world. He doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

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Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud 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 controversies, 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 there. them listen to Sports Slice on the iHeart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast

and for more follow timbo slice of life 12 in the ticot podcast network on ticot the french open is one of the toughest tests in tennis and i know firsthand because i competed there myself i'm rene stubbs and on the rene 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 jen she win i mean she went down a three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. 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. And on the flip side, like the Texans, I'll say this big picture about them. And I'm someone that, you know, if Seattle and the Texans win their divisions,

your boy can hit some huge parles. A couple of the biggest parlayes. Biggest parley ever hit was when Bryson won the U.S. Open. Paid about 18K. But that's a one-off. If the Texans can, we still got an uphill battle. We're still chasing. We need the Jags to drop.

And they just, they beat the hell out of the Indianapolis Colts. but there is no disputing they are one of, if not the hottest team in the NFL right now. And it starts and ends with their defense. Their defense is dominant. I don't think they can win the Super Bowl. I have a hard time seeing, especially if, I mean, they're not going to get the one seed. They'd have to win three games just to get to the Super Bowl. Feels a little unlikely.

Their offense, I mean, they had a stretch tonight where they come out of halftime. They're up, I think the score was 10 to 7. Let me pull it the box score really quickly. quick. It's 10, nothing at half, actually. Yeah, because then the Chiefs scored. So at a half, this is how they start

the second half. Three and out punt, three and out punt, minus four yards, two yards in those two drives. So a combined minus two yards, three and out punt for no yards. So after their first three possessions in the second half, they

combined for a total of negative two yards. Their fourth drive was three plays and punt as well. Their fifth drive was six plays and 19 yards and then a punt. And then that's when Andy went for it and then they got it back and scored. The offense at any moment can look inept when they're playing a really good guy up front, like a guy like Chris Jones, he can feel immediately like one of the greatest players in the history of the league because he's unblockable. And CJ was doing a great job the night of scrambling around. He actually made some incredible plays. I thought both guys did a pretty good job scrambling around. CJ thought that was a little more accurate on some plays. Now, the Chiefs had a bunch of

drops as well. But CJ kept a lot of plays alive with his legs, had to. It's just hard to trust that offense. I mean, Woody Marks, they're relying on him a lot. Nick Chubb is kind of a shell of his oneself, obviously, he's injured. You know, you just don't have much faith in their ability to run the ball. Neagle Collins is a really good player. They're going to also rely on some of these younger guys. I think the Iowa State rookie had a big catch tonight. But I have a hard time seeing them win a ton of games in a row because offensively, like you're going to have to score points. But when your defense is this good, and clearly they have a good coaching staff, D'Amico's a stud, they're just a well-run operation at this point. They could beat anyone in an individual

situation. So if they're the seven seed, they can take out the two seed. If they're like the five or six seed and draw the number one seed, in the second round, they can win that game. They can win any individual game. It's why if they were in the Super Bowl, they could win the Super Bowl because that defense could take over, all of a sudden it's 10-10 in the fourth quarter.

But I just think it's hard to do that consistently against the best teams in the league to win that many games when your offense isn't playing that well. And just not that, you know, reliable. Though their quarterback is a good playmaker. It's just that defense, and this team, there's a physicality to them.

I mean, I just thought the overall physicality on that field tonight was a little bit of a throwback. It felt like, you know, pre-CTE rules. When you just went across the middle and you could just get a concussion, the type where you would shake off and they'd throw you back in, but it would look like you were dead on the field. And like three plays later, you'd be back. There were so many big hits, big tackles.

I thought today was just a very physical day in general. And I think part of it is when it gets really cold outside and you start talking about in the teens, what was it like 17 degrees at kickoff, you're talking, you got to be fucking nuts. I mean, absolutely bananas upstairs to play linebacker, to play safety, and to be able to like trigger downhill when a guy is, you know, 10 yards away about to catch a ball and you see and you break and you go full speed and you don't even think. a second to hesitate. So the level of like contained craziness on the field, on some of these high level games

today in the weather, was just off the charts. Listen, we're never going to have the days of the 80s and the 90s, you know, some of those hit videos that used to pre-internet, they wouldn't go viral, but they would sell because they would be like on the shelves of like biggest hits, NFL, 1996. every kid I knew would go into the video store and want their mom or dad to rent it or buy it. Those days are kind of done. But there is still like some nostalgia for me when I watch these games and I watch guys just get blasted. And that's what the Texas is.

I mean, the Chiefs match them tonight. That was a war zone for 60 minutes on an NFL field narrowhead. And the Texans just that mentality, that translates. It always has and always will. So when you have that good of a defense, you got to show. shot, right? I would take them, like, they have a better shot to me to beat anybody than the Jags do. And that's no respect for the Jags list. You're 9 and 4. You beat some good teams, but I just think what the Texans do well translates better in a big game than the Jags.

Though, I mean, listen, I respect Liam Cohen. They've done an excellent job. That franchise is a joke in their 9 and 4. Both these two teams actually deserve a lot of credit. I mean, the start the Texans have, they've got to lose some sleep at night knowing like, God, if we just had won one of those early games or not dropped one of those stupid games, we would be right there. And if we got, you know, home field, if we were able to get like, you know, it's probably going to be hard to get anything else than the three seed given that the Patriots and the Broncos in some order are going to be one and two. But, yeah, Chiefs Dynasty is over and the Texans are coming. Before we dive into some other stuff. Let me hit on my friends, my partners, and the official ticketing app of this podcast

game. Do you want to go to a game? You want to go to one of these college football playoff games? I know we got people, big Oregon fans. You want to go to Eugene and watch your team Molly Wop, James Madison, Oklahoma, Alabama. That game would be fun in Norman. You want to go to any of these NFL games. We got a month left. Then we got the playoffs. Playoff football games are great. I can't recommend my friends a game time enough. They have tickets as low as $100. They have flash deals. The price you see on the app is the price you pay at checkout. There are no hidden fees.

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That's my name, $20 off. Swipe. Tap ticket, go download the GameTime app today. I thought Bears Packers is... That second half was some of the most riveting TV I can remember. That was elite. That was awesome. We have watched some bad football this year.

That was not it. I thought there was so much to that game. One, when it looked like the Packers, we're about to step on their neck. Early in the game, they're up 14 to 3. Caleb has like under 40 yards passing. You're just thinking, are the Packers going to roll these guys? Are the Bears kind of sneaky frauds?

Then they come out in the second half. It's like, no, we're not sneaky frauds. Or the Chicago freaking Bears led by Ben Johnson. and Caleb started scrambling around, making some sweet plays. There's just some like guile and heart to this franchise that simply didn't exist. You know, the way people, like the Packers have been good forever. And there's no team that can go from one of the greatest players of all time to an even better player than him in Rogers to just Jordan Love,

who is like third in the odds right now for MVP. Actually, I think he's fourth. But it's still very much alive. Like, you just don't do that. I've seen it twice happen in my life. Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Farr of Aaron Rogers, too, Jordan Love.

They're always well coached, they're always well built. You know, I didn't bet the game because I'm like, listen, do I think the Packers should win? I do. But I'm not betting against this Bears team. And then you watch that first half, like, maybe they are who I thought they would be. It's like, no.

Team has heart. Team has like a physical nature. You know, they have a lot of teams, right? look, the, I guess the Lions would be an outlier team that legitimately has two backs. Most good teams, like, I rely on Derek Henry, I'm relying on Christian McCaffrey, I'm relying on James Cook, and rightfully so. This is my blue chipper, Sequan Barkley. I'm going to ride this guy like Secretariat.

Now, with Munnji, you got him and Swift. You combine, like today, I think they combine for almost 150, 120 yards. And anytime that you can run the ball, and this goes to, Saturday night with Indiana, that creates a toughness because you practice that. And even if you go off to scout team, eventually you go ones on ones and practice. And the physicality of a running game adds to the physicality of a team and adds to the toughness of a team. And to go on the road, like one thing that is not really arguable, Packers team's speed on

defense is elite. And their physicality, I don't know if all 11 guys, you would call like a high. high-end hitter, but it felt like nine of the 11 guys will have no hesitation to lower their shoulder and blast you. I mean, their physicality, their team speed, obviously Micah, anytime you have a guy like Miles Garrett or Micah, who is so fast in the open field, they feel even that much. Von Miller was like this when he played for Denver. And for Green Bay to be up in the second half, 21 to 14, and the Bears to get the ball with a little less than like two minutes left to go in the third quarter, and basically go on an 18 minute or an 8 minute 17 play drive and score a touchdown,

I was like, listen, whether they win or lose this game, this team is no joke. Do I think they're win the Super Bowl? Probably not, but like, this is a legitimate playoff team. And I would argue this about the Bears. I told this to Colin, all the pressure was on the Packers. at Lambo Field, you make this big tray for for Micah Parsons, people like, your boy has tickets on them to go to the Super Bowl. They were a Super Bowl caliber team.

And you're 8 3 and 1, you have one, like, you've got to win this game. To me, the pressure pie chart for that game was 100% Green Bay, zero Chicago. Even if Chicago would end up losing by a couple touchdowns. Like, whatever, we have the Browns coming up, then we get them at home. Seasoned not over by any means. but the way they lost was like, I mean, Caleb literally hit the play that he fucked up on

and he was probably like a step late because tight end was open and he just didn't pull the trigger right away. It is a tough play. I would also imagine he's pretty gassed. Like part of it is also the energy that goes into these games, factoring in the cold weather. You know, he's probably not as spry as he realizes that he's not. He doesn't even realize physically what percentage he's at. It's like a video game when a guy starts at 100 and then he's down to like 50%

and he's just not moving as quick. I don't even think Caleb probably quite realized because he could make that throw in his sleep even if he's late with the power of his arm, overthrow it. But I think sometimes the factoring in of a 12-degree game when's the last time I know he mentioned to Brady like I feel comfortable playing in these games.

I grew up in this area. Well, yeah, you've been at USC the last couple years though. So it's like, you know, last year in Chicago, but you haven't played in that many of these frigid games. And I would also say this about the Midwest. It's colder than D.C. So it doesn't get any colder than that little stretch of Kansas City, you know, Chicago, Green Bay. Like, that's as cold as we got. Cleveland today looked frigid.

Buffalo. I mean, these places are colder than everywhere else in the country. And it just does affect you. So the more you play, like Love's pretty. comfortable in it. He's lived in Green Bay for how many years now? As a backup, just standing on the sideline forever, then as the starter now for the last whatever, three years. Like, you just, you live in Green Bay six or seven years. I don't want to say you ever get used to it, but like you somewhat become accustomed, like you're more comfortable in frigid temperatures.

Even LaFlorida day, there is no amount of money you could have paid me one to attend that game. I would have lasted five minutes. But if I was a coach, in that game to not have a beanie on. And you, you know, you look at the Bears coach, it's like, they looked a little colder, right? I mean, I've seen High Tower standing there next to Ben Johnson. Like, I respect Ben Johnson. He's their hat on. You know, the floor just, the no cap on his head, to me,

is kind of like a muscle flex of a player, even Michael Parsons. It was the coldest game he'd ever played in. Makes sense, right? Penn State's not that cold. It's cold. It ain't that. And last time I checked, like, Penn State ain't playing home games in December. Playing in Dallas, you're definitely not playing in games like that. I lived in Philly. It doesn't get that cold.

Dallas is indoors, right? So I just, that game was pretty incredible. Caleb, run around, made a bunch of plays. Jordan Love, I thought was awesome. One major wild card is Christian Watson now, five touchdowns in the last four games. You know, from bombs to slants to the house, he gives them an element that is just, you know,

losing craft. sucks, but getting him back has kind of balanced the scales a little bit. And listen, some guys are just badasses. Some guys are just in a huge game. I'd want this guy on my side. And Josh Jacobs is one of those guys. You know, for all the shit Mike Mayock's tenure takes, you know, when he was the GM of the Raiders with Gruden, he loved Josh Jacobs. And he drafted him in the first round. And Josh Jacobs is just a big time player. He's such a good, you know, receiver out of the back field, the play he made on that third down today where they run him, it's like the sweep outside, and he's just corralled.

I mean, there's four guys. I mean, Barry Sanders could have been in that position. You're like, oh, it's just not going to go your way on this run. It was not your fault. Bad play call against that defense. And what does he do? He kind of stops, breaks through a tackle, breaks through another, and all of a sudden, it's like a 15-yard game.

It's like, that's just all-talance. It's like, well, yeah, from Alabama. He's got some ability, first round. and he was big time today. And that was a game, and so were the other two running backs for the Bears. That was awesome. That was, I think, my favorite NFL game so far this season. Maybe I'm being hyperbolic, maybe I'm overreacting because it just happened today,

but I really enjoyed it. Speaking of a game that wasn't as good was the Steelers and the Ravens, it wasn't bad, but, you know, when stories, come out. If you do what I do for a living, a lot of my business is reacting to stories. So you do it long enough, you go, well, who, what's the point of this story?

And when Schefter over the weekend tweets about the status of Tomlin's contract, that like he's essentially going into a lame duck year because it has a team option for 2007 and the writing's on the wall that they're probably not

going to pick that up. So it's like they're not going to fire him but essentially putting out the bat signal he's available to be traded for that that's the way I took it could be wrong but just trying to read between the lines I went wow this is kind of great

who knows maybe Tomlin's putting that out someone is like I think that is coming from some angle of the Pittsburgh Steelers you know where I stood I love the Ravens in this game I just I said even based on last game Lamar clearly looks like 50% of his normal self, but Steeler teams leaking oil, it's a problem. Well, I was wrong.

Rogers was really good today. D.K. Metcalfe. Rogers said after the game in the post-game interview, he went out of his way to, like, hammer home. Like, D.K., this week was unreal in practice. His focus, he was dialed as anyone on our team has been all season long. And the clip has gone viral of D.K. playing Gunner. that was a kind of draw the line in the sand game

for the whole franchise but I do think with the Tomlin thing you know Rogers pushed back after like you guys need to shut up I didn't make up this story like the Tomlin thing it's like well you guys are six and six kind of circling the drain your big underdog on the road in Baltimore

stories are breaking about your coach being in a lame duck situation they're not going to fire them but they probably trade them yeah I mean I like the Ravens I was wrong. I was really wrong. I think Lamar looks terrible. And it's not because he's just a bad player. Clearly he's injured. And not nearly. And I mean, if his speed in his peak was a 10 out of 10, what do you think his speed is right now? Like a 5? I mean, Caleb is dramatically faster running around making plays. It's not even close. There's not really much playmaking to Lamar. There was a run, who was calling it, was Romer? call him that game, where he breaks a run, and I think it was Romo. That game feels like 17 hours ago at 10.30 at night. And he goes, God, it's rare you see Lamar just get tackled in the open field like that.

It's like, well, yeah, because this is not the version of Lamar. So whatever they're playing with, and their defense clearly isn't as good. I mean, the Steelers were cooking them. And even on the one play, I think it was 20 to 16, and it's like, okay, the Ravens are going to get back into this game. Just a pretty basic play action rollout, dump off the Jalen Warren. He walks in the end zone like 40 yards. What the fuck's going on here, Baltimore?

So, congrats to the Steelers, rallying the troupe. That's a massive win. Now, the next couple weeks, it's by no means over. They still play each other again. You know, the Ravens next week play the Bengals. Then they got the Patriots. You know, next week, the Steelers playing Monday night football, which is actually a sneaky, interesting game now.

They play the Dolphins. and then they go on a short week to Detroit. So right now the Steelers are in first place, obviously, but this thing could get weird. Now, I also have no trust in the Ravens. Like, do I think the Ravens are just going to go to Cincinnati and win? I think that will be pretty difficult. So that was an outcome today that I didn't see coming.

And at one point in time, I mean, the Steelers are up like 20 to 9. You can tell me about all you want about the yards. But, I mean, Steelers are in full control now. you know, do I agree with the overturned touchdown call unlikely? Like I do think we've gotten to a point in basketball and football

that like we know what it is when we see it. Like, that's a catch, that's a touchdown. No different than in basketball when two guys are touching the ball in the history of the sport, we always knew who it went off on. And now it's like slow play replay. It actually went off the extension

of his cuticles, this piece of skin that's hanging off. It's what are we doing? But it is what it is and didn't count. And then John Harbaugh, you know, when he kicked a field goal, what was the score? 22 to 29. I can't even trying to think off the top of my head now. Let me pull this up because he kicked a field goal late in the game. And it was like, John, what are you doing? It's 27, 29. So they're down eight. He's on the, 18 yard line. And it's fourth and eight.

Now, their offense had been pretty shitty. It just, it was hard to trust Lamar to just pull a play out of his ass like over the last couple years. To me, if Lamar is playing like MVP status, I think you go for it. You know, you don't even hesitate. I can imagine him kind of weighing it a little bit. But fourth and eight with seven minutes to go, you're at the 18 yard line. I don't know. I think you go for it there.

But he kicks the field goal to make it a five-point game, which is a buddy-text-me. You just don't see that anymore. Because the analytics, the front office, the ownership's like, go for it! Which I'm cool with now, too. Like, let's go for it. And he rolls out.

And remember Harbaugh was at the forefront of the movement. So when you see him roll out the kicker, you're like, Harbaugh kind of going full plus here? Like, yeah, he did. And then obviously that was the final score of the game, 27-22. The bills were legitimately in major trouble. It was 28 to 25 Cincinnati, and the Bengals were driving. And it felt like Joe Burrow, who just missed the majority of the season,

just shows back up, is like, yeah, I'm just one of the best players in league. And, oh, in a snow game, I'm going to dominate the Buffalo Bills. I'm going to throw, at one point in time, it's like, this guy can't have throw for five touchdowns? he's driving him right down the field you're like, is this how like this Josh Allen, Sean McDermott era's going to end

with Burrow doing it to him in Buffalo? Then Burrow throws the pass. Dude goes the other way. Flips like that. Then the very next pass he throws another pick and Buffalo season is legitimately saved. Buffalo wasn't just in major trouble.

They felt dead. It felt like he was putting a knife in him and stabbing him over and over again until those two plays. And what's crazy is, I think Burrow, just like Josh, my takeaway from that game is like, these are two best quarterbacks in the league right now.

I'm not talking big picture, I'm not talking over the last five years. I'm just saying, today in this league, like those two guys, the way I just watched, and I've watched football, and all these fucking games,

all season long, like I do every year, doesn't get any better than that. And I'd argue Burrow. I was like, Jesus, this guy looks good. He missed all this time. He just comes back and he's just this good.

With his turf time? How's this even possible? T. Higgins looks like Calvin Johnson out there. T. Higgins, I'm watching it, because I was not a critical. Like, you're going to invest that much in two wide receivers. And then you're watching T. Higgins, just moss dudes, make plays. I mean, just make the one hand a touchdown catch at the end of the game, which almost felt like since his dad he was going to get back in the game.

This guy's a beast. And, yeah, but those two plays, and listen, you can play a great game as a quarterback, but if you throw two picks and one of them is a pick six, Like, in a weird way, you kind of lose the game for your team, even though you clearly were the reason your team was winning. But that's the way football goes. It's why coaches, it's why coordinators, it's why players talk about turnovers, turnover margin.

We've been hearing it since the beginning of the sport. Turnovers. We've got to win the turn up. We cannot turn the ball over. You definitely can't turn the ball over in the second half on the road against a Hall of Fame quarterback. And that's what they did in a bit them directly in the ass. with taking out a chunk of skin. And for a split second, you start doing the math, you're like,

did Cincinnati run the table here? I think they could. And then all of a sudden those two passes happen, and you're like, this thing's kind of over. And you're like, well, they're not going to run the table. And the bills are alive. And that's how fast it happens. Now, big picture with the bills, you know, like I said with the Texans,

you can't win the Super Bowl when your offense is just that unreliable. I would say the same thing with the bills. You cannot win the Super Bowl. when your defense is that unreliable. I don't care if your quarterback on any given game can score five or six touchdowns in every way possible and just turn into a superhuman player. It's not possible to win games in the playoffs with your defense looking like that. And their defense just isn't good.

And I get it, you know, Higgins and Chase, even though I don't even know what Chase's final numbers were today, but their offense with those two guys is better than most. But I think we've seen enough of this team to know, that they're just not a reliable unit. I mean, burrow through for 270 yards, four touchdowns. Higgins had six for 90. Gaseki had six for 80. They actually did a pretty good job on Jamar.

He only had five for 44. But I just, you watch this unit, they're not talented enough. And it's kind of sad if you're a Bill's fan. Now, I think what you hope is just get us in the dance. It's going to be hard for us to win the division. need the Patriots to blow a game here, and then we're going to have to take him down when we play them. But, like, why can't Josh be superhuman for a couple games? The answer is he can't. But your margin

for error in these games, even when he's superhuman, is like you need the other quarterback to throw a pick with a guy right in front of his face, which that just doesn't happen that often. Now, in these snowy games, you know, clearly the ball was kind of slipping out of Burroughs' hands and he tried to push it. Don't blame him. I mean, obviously, if he could do it over, he just would have ate it and just hit the ground. But it's easy to say that after the dude's running around, running the other way. Burrell tried to tackle him and he went right through it.

But that game, like listen, I enjoy like the Bears Packers where every yard matters, every first down is contested. Don't get me wrong. Cincinnati Buffalo was extremely entertaining. And I will watch two great quarterbacks any day of the week and twice on Sundays. But like the style of football I prefer is, you know, what we saw in the Bears Packers game, the physicality. Even Texan Chiefs, you can tell me it's terrible offense,

but I like watching people get crushed. I like football for its physicality and its defensive prowess. And that was definitely not taking place in the Billspankel game. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? 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 did 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 was... 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, for 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 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. 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 controversies, 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, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets. meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levin, this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to her. Rabakina, but I'm delighted. 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. Daniel Craig returns is Benoit Blanc. Wake Up Dead Man, a Knives Out mystery with an All-Star Ensemble cast for his most dangerous case yet. When Young Priest's Judd Duplennessy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks,

it's clear that all is not well in the pews. Written and directed by Ryan Johnson's, critics are calling it the sharpest Knives Out movie yet. Watch Wake Up Dead Man a Knives Out mystery now in select theaters and on Netflix rated PG-13. go rapid fire on some stories. Listen, I've talked a lot of shit. Now, I don't think I've made it up. It's all been based off what we've seen, right? I mean, he hasn't played well.

He was being compared to Marcus Russell statistically. But he threw three touchdowns a day. I kind of stopped paying attention in the second half, but he made a nice pass on like a deep out route. I remember I think they were up like 14-0 and thinking like, that's just a high level. NFL pass. And we got a long way to go.

Washington's not any good. But if you can just build and just have some games where you throw some touchdowns, you make progress. At this point in time, people would be happy. And what I mean people,

I mean the fans. Because clearly it had hit a low point. You have a game like today, throw a couple touchdowns, even if your numbers aren't great, 16 to 23 for 160 yards. But you just make some explosive plays. That's all people want.

Just have a lot. positive place. So hat tip to J.J. McCarthy who kind of found himself on the mat, drug himself up, and had a positive day. Shador, he made the Judy passed

today, and I understand Judy beats the coverage in his is open, but in the game in the elements to drive that pass was like, Dylan Gabriel does do this. He made a beautiful touchdown pass in the joku in the corner of the end zone. He had an

awful interception as well that kind of scrambled around and just threw it up in the middle of the field. But one thing he has clearly given them is just explosive plays. And at this point in time, I haven't seen any Stifanx's quotes after the game. I know social media is just absolutely destroying him for the two-point play at the end of the game to try to tie it where he ran like a, what would it be considered a wildcat end around, I guess, that Juncans never given. at the ball. Though if he had, it would have scored, but I think people, rightfully so, it was like, why are we out thinking of the room here? Your quarterbacks make him play, just let them keep it. Granted, if Shador hadn't played in that game, I know for myself, and most of

you listening, unless you're a Browns or Titans fan, wouldn't have watched one second of that thing. Cam Ward is kind of a disaster. I mean, the Titans are a disaster. Places a nightmare. The Browns are even a bigger disaster. I mean, for a team that gets talked about a lot, Holy shit do they always lose. I mean, they just lose every single week. If I hear one more time how good their players are, how much talent they have, well, then what's wrong? Is Tafansky, who all I hear is get a job immediately, he will? Team 3 and 10.

He just lost the Titans at home. I mean, I lost to the Titans at home. They have a player with 20 sacks. Their quarterback threw three touchdowns today. He lost to the Titans. I mean, listen, nice guy, met him once, cool to me. in a brief interaction, but I think we got to acknowledge, like, Stapansky, if he got fired, he'd get a job immediately, he would.

The other fan base would be fired up for that one. If we did, like, the college role reversal, not sure about that one. The story that came out this weekend was a little weird with Sean Watson. I haven't quite, not that I spent that much time thinking about it, but why would everyone the rap sheets and the shifters be putting out that, Not only is Watson coming back, which financially, like, they are in a predicament. They gave the guy hundreds of millions of dollars guaranteed. So you can't just cut them and eat this enormous dead cap.

The U.S.L. wouldn't trade for him. But, you know, I don't know. I just, I don't even know what to say. Like, you can't bring them back. I saw someone that covers the NFL is like, if you did bring him back and make him your starting quarterback, that would be the worst decision in the history of the league. I was like, yeah, I kind of agree. he never even played like Shador.

I mean, did he ever have one game in his Brown's career that he threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns? I don't think he did. So, I mean, he looked objectively terrible. Now he's coming off in Achilles. You're going to bring him back? Something was fishy with that story. I didn't spend that much time trying to figure out the angle.

Like, who's benefiting from this? Are the Browns trying to mess with Shador? Like, I don't know. Why would they do that? Is Mogeta trying to put pressure on the Browns? I can't even, it's hard to even figure out where does this thing even start? Who even has this idea to like, let's, we want to Sean Watson back, but it happened and it was a story. Another story was, uh, Daniel Jones tore his Achilles today.

And, you know, I threw out on the, the Everything app X that, shocking that a guy with a broken leg got injured. I respect the toughness, but you think someone was stepped up like, yeah, it's probably not a good idea. And then you just seen these people. It's his other leg

and it's a non-contacted. Guys, when you have an injury, think of basketball players. Clay Thompson, tore his ACL. What did you do the next year when he was playing pickup? Before he'd even fully rehabbed the ACL.

He tore his Achilles. It happens to a lot of explosive athletes. like Derek Rose did it all the time, because you overcompensate on one side of your body for the other side, and it creates an injury. What do you think happened over the last several weeks when you are playing on a broken leg? Do you think, and listen, I'm no body, you know, understanding the equilibrium of the movements,

of the mechanisms of all your joints and everything. But if you tell me you have a broken leg, the pressure of your steps, especially if you're playing something like football and driving off stuff and peddling into three, five, seven step drops rolling out, you're probably putting a different amount of pressure than you normally would with a non-broken leg.

So again, no doctor, just went to a couple California state schools. Shout out Cal Poly, his new coach, Tim Skipper, who's getting introduced on Monday morning. Fired up for you, buddy. But you can't tell me that that didn't play. play somewhat of a part into this whole thing. Do I think his Achilles injuries is just completely random?

I don't. I think that the broken leg, then throwing him out there was just, listen, the Colts would have been screwed if he had torn his Achilles or he had not. They were going to lose that game no matter what. But now this disaster,

like they're not winning another game. They got, you know, Anthony Richardson, I looked up on Riley Leonard's out there, the Notre Dame quarterback, and I'm thinking, where's Anthony Richardson? And it turns out he's still on injured reserve. Obviously, Soss Gardner is injured. This thing is a mess, an absolute mess.

And while the Jets did lose today by multiple touchdowns, anytime you have other teams' first round picks, they probably got a lot of joy out of seeing the Cowboys lose and out of seeing the Colts lose. And there's a decent chance at 8 and 5, the Colts finish 8 and 9. I was going to, we've been going now for a while, and it's pretty late.

But so I'll just, I'll get more into this throughout the week. my two things on college football are this. First, I'm a small school guy. I didn't go to Oregon. I didn't go to USC. I didn't go to Texas. I went to fucking Cal Poly. We're D1AA.

And then after that, I went to Fresno State, which is obviously not a powerful for school and considered the group of five. So don't get me wrong. I have a lot of respect. And I worked with a program back Cal Poly, and obviously I worked at Fresno State. I have a ton of respect for people at those levels. It is, I've worked in the NFL, people take football just as seriously when I was at Fresno

State as they did in the NFL. They work similar hours, players train is hard, everyone cares. But there is a different level of talent. And I think one big part of the conversation today with college football was Notre Dame, Alabama, Miami, Miami beat Notre Dame, Alabama's not as good, all that shit. And I think that was, the conversation was like, I think they tell you this a lot sometimes with politics when these crazy stories they're trying to get you to look over here instead of just see what's actually going on.

And I felt like that was kind of happening with college football today. It's like, guys, are you looking at the 12 teams? Do you see number 11 and 12? There are, regardless the order or how good is this team or is Alabama, I know those 10 teams have nothing in common with those teams 11 and 12. Why are we having a college football? football playoff and inviting the little guy. They do not belong.

And a simple fix for this is Division I, AA. Where I grew up Davis, California, is UC Davis at school. They're now in the Elite 8. They're hosting the Elite 8 game this weekend against, like, Rhode Island. They played the D1AA playoffs, the division that North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Montana and Montana State have dominated forever, right? They have their own playoffs. They start like two weeks ago, and they play another couple weeks.

It's just their own little division. They play each other. Why can't we do that with the other two levels? The power four, ACC, SEC, SEC, Big Ten, and Big Ten, Big Ten, Big Twelve. And those teams, right? So instead of Tulane and JMU, it just would have been Notre Dame and Texas, right? because and then the power the power five would have

Boise States JMEUs two lanes whoever whoever the 12 best or 16 best teams and just do it that way because the entire issue and I think and I mentioned this to Coward I do think when they originally set it up they didn't want to get sued if they did

not give them an automatic seat at the table right because they basically just said the highest rated power or power five it's even a fucking hard to say you know D1A, it's his own thing. It's like Tulane has nothing in common with any, we saw them play Ole Miss.

They lost 45 to 10. And I was texting with a buddy in the NFL that knows John Summerall very well and loves them, thinks he's really good. I watched them play on Friday night. They're pretty good. They should be in this tournament. JMU has as much business in this tournament as me and you do.

What are we doing? There are 21.5 point underdog at Oregon. If Oregon tries, they can lose by 50. their head coach when they fly back to James Madison will not even get on the plane because he's going to UCLA and I think this whole thing could have been avoided I don't blame them the situation they're in

but moving forward they shouldn't be included I know we're big on equality and giving everyone a seat at the table not in this world there's a reason we judge Costco and Walmart different than like the local mini-mart

I can buy a hot dog and beer at both. We don't discuss them the same financially. Like, what are we talking about? And I also think the Notre Dame thing, I'll get into the Notre Dame, Miami Prize I'm sure we'll be asked about as the week goes on.

But I'm going to end on this. I get, they're very emotional, and they think ESPN mess with them. They're a huge brand. They're kind of like the Cowboys or the Lakers. But to decline the bowl game against BYU, I get it if you're an athletic department, like the AD, your university's making so much money.

But from a football standpoint, if Marcus Freeman was like 100% hand in hand, arm in arm on board with this decision and didn't push back anymore, I've lost a lot of respect. Because a huge part of the bowl week is one, even if the Jeremiah loves of the team, playing the bowl game, who cares? You can play freshmen who haven't played because you don't burn your redshirt year. You get extra practices leading up to the bowl week. This notion I've heard,

well, they want to get ready for the portal. You can do both at the same time, especially if it's kind of a throwaway game just working on your younger players. There is not a coach I've ever been around that would give up practices and the opportunity to rep it on the field. They got left out. Yeah, it happened, it fucking sucks. And we saw what happened to Florida State. They've never recovered two years later. Now, Notre Dame's not going to be in that position. But to throw away, especially, I would somewhat

get it if you told me they were playing like San Diego State or something, which they never would. They always play a good opponent. But to utilize that time to just, you're going to have new starters next year. And I would imagine several are already on the roster young players that don't start now. You could just start them in that game. against a program, BYU,

that I promise you will take it really seriously. It's an incredible time to like, it's almost like a pseudo-spring game. But they let their emotions, they let this situation, I would say cloud their judgment and make an awful decision. And it's usually why coaches after a game,

when they go to the press conference, like take 20 minutes, take some deep breaths before you go talk to the press. Help, slam a beer. but sometimes if you're an argument with your wife, someone you work with, sometimes it helps, hey, let's just sleep on it. Let's take a deep breath. And I think Notre Dame should have done that.

Because they declined this, and they've known all week that, hey, if we do get, you know, denied from the playoff, what are we going to do? So if you tell me Dave, and I'm sure Bruce Feldman or someone's going to write this story, that they made the decision a couple days ago, I think they're fucking idiots. and I'm not talking about being like cry babies and all that stuff. Yeah, obviously that's true.

But just from an on the field to improve at your craft, something that like you guys haven't won a national championship. Hell, you were close last year. Clearly weren't close enough this year. But like this is pretty valuable. Like there are strict rules how often you can practice, how often you can play, what you can do in the spring. You're giving an incredible opportunity to get more reps,

even if you're pissed off. and they chose not to do it. And I just think it's, I don't know, it's kind of arrogant, pompous, they kind of live in their own little world. We all know some of those people, it's like, have they lost touch with the reality? And you'd be like, well, John, other schools did it.

Well, yeah, some of them don't have coaches. Iowa State just lost their coach like two days ago. They just hired a guy from Washington State. Like, maybe they don't even know, like, what the hell's going on. I'd argue they should do it too. Same thing, you know, Kansas State. I don't even know what their record was. If it was bowl eligible, I think I read they declined it too.

I would never decline it. I never would. No matter how complicated it did this. But especially in Notre Dame situation, where it's like, it's not like they'd get a new coach. It's not like to get new players. Like, yeah, they're pissed off. It sucks.

But to decline the bull invite? Say this about Florida State. When they went 13 and 0 and were denied. 13 at 0. Now, I thought it was justified because they're a quarterback situation. They still went to the fucking bowl. Now they got the brakes beat in by Georgia, but they still tried.

Like, what a joke? Right? Like, what's Notre Dame's argument? Well, you just got toyed by a span. Like, you were given the chance of Miami, you lost the game. It'd be one thing if they had won that game and got left out. I'd argue if Miami had been left out and they did this. I'd be like, I kind of understand.

Like, they actually won the game. Like, what's the point of the games? Notre Dame does not have the right to do that to make that argument. And I think just quitting on the bowl as a team, as a program, I get it as individuals. Hell, I get it as coaches. But I don't understand it from a program standpoint about improving. I mean, how many like four and five star guys they have on their roster

that just could benefit from the reps. And Marcus Freeman and Bavocqua, the AD is like, yeah, we're just, we'll just quit here December 7th and we'll see August 31st. Cool, guys. Before we get out of here, I always forget this. I said I was going to go quick, and we're not. hour in. I think I'm going tomorrow. Harbaugh Home Dog. We'll see. I mean, it's a little risky because of Herbert's physical situation and his, you know, how bad is it? Does it look like Rogers?

I guess we'll find out on Monday night, but I'm taking the Chargers money line. And my two, I'm going to go a little anytime parlay. Listen, this has got A.J. Brown scoring a touchdown written. You got Siriani in the meetings, pounding the table, getting more vocal. I got A.J. Brown scoring a touchdown written all over this game. And the Chargers first round running back on Marion Hampton is back. You know Harbaugh likes to run the ball. Jalen Carter is out. I like, especially now Herbert with the broken hand, you're not going to do like quarterback sneaks by the goal line. So I'm going to go Chargers to win. AJ Brown anytime touchdown and Hampton anytime touchdown pays a little 10 to 1. Friends of Hard Rock bet. Have a great night.

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