The Herd with Colin Cowherd - A Wild Wildcard Weekend, Bears Unbalanced, Luck for MVP and Tired of Texans

Episode Date: January 7, 2019

Colin discusses NFL Wild Card weekend, why the Chicago Bears aren't ready, why Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck is his MVP, and why he's sick of the Houston Texans. Guests include DeAngelo Hall, Shawne Merriman, Trent Dilfer, and Jay Glazer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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.

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sports. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multimillion dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last. Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast.

Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sportsport. Sports Radio. Now, here we go. This Sunday is The Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening live in Los

Angeles, Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1, one hour from now where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. Joy Taylor joining me on what will be our best show of the year. Now, it's only like the 7th of January, so I don't have to compare it to a lot of shows, Joy, But I think we're going to have our best. Oh, okay, that we've done so far. Yeah. Okay.

I'm hoping we're not going to peak this early. I have so many things to talk about today. I'm going to wear everybody out. I'm going to wear you out. I've got so many things moving around my head right now. We'll work through it. So let's just, let me just start with this. I never bought into the Chicago Bears.

I picked Philadelphia to win this weekend. All year long, I was getting hate mail and hate tweets and all stuff on my social media. You don't get it. And I thought, blah, blah, blah, blah. Of course, Chicago fans love their team. I never bought into it. I thought it was a college offense. I thought it was a lot of smoke and mirrors.

I called Matt Nagy, the head coach of the Bears, David Copperfield. Look over here, look over here, and there's the quarter. And, you know, I just didn't buy into it. So I don't have a problem with them being out of the playoffs. Because my question is, they shouldn't be a Super Bowl team. We don't want our Super Bowl champ to be this to be the model, where your 10 best players are all on defense. according to pro football focus, and I think that's a very good sight.

Chris Collinsworth on some of that. The 10 highest graded players for the Bears are all on defense. Totally unbalanced. You want that to be the model that wins in football? Do you think the NBA would be in a better spot today if the Golden State Warriors dynasty didn't have Durant, Steph, Clay Thompson, boogie cousins? No, no, no. It had four Dennis Rodman's who roughed you up, couldn't shoot, rebounded really well,

and we're great defensive players. There's a reason why leagues modify rules to help offense, because it's hard to score. Even Michael Jordan shot only 50%. It's hard to hit a baseball. It's hard to score in football. New England is the current dynasty. They do everything well.

They're totally bounced. Their coaching is excellent. Their quarterback is excellent. They always have a good running game. They always have an efficient passing game. They have a situational pass rush, but their defense, once again, is top 10 in the last. league. Their special teams are excellent. They're really good at home, but not terrible on the road.

They do everything well. So football is being rewarded by a team that values everything and can do everything pretty well. The bears do some things like defense great and have a college quarterback. You don't want that. That shouldn't be the model of what works. If I was a commissioner in baseball, I'd make it easier to hit a baseball. If I was a commissioner in basketball or football, I'd make it easier to score. Do you know what the average NFL score was this year? And remember, this This is the big offensive year, right? This was the year that all offense, no defense, the average NFL score was 26 to 23. We should be helping the offense.

And by the way, most of the teams that are left, Indianapolis, New England, Saints, Eagles, Chargers, they play offense and defense. Dallas heavily leans on defense, but at least they do have some offensive stars like Zeke, Zach Martin, Mari Cooper. Kansas City leans heavily on offense. but they have D. Ford, they have Chris Jones, Eric Barry. They got good defensive players too. But Chicago is completely absolutely unbalanced, and I never bought into them. I like football when coaching is rewarded, offense is rewarded, defense is rewarded, special teams are rewarded. It's nothing against this.

but you do realize that Lamar Jackson and Mitch Trabisky, who were really very similar, both lost this weekend. Because the game is not built to have all your best dynamic players on one side of the football. So I have no problem with Chicago losing. By the way, the top five scoring defenses now are all eliminated and out of football because they didn't do enough on the offensive side. So I just never bought into Chicago. Listen, I trust my eyes on this.

and I think sports for fans is better when it's artistic. It's better when hockey games are four to three, not one to nothing. Baseball games are better seven to six with a lot of base runners. NBA games are better when Kevin Durant can score and not have somebody draped on him. And football is better. When I get a 27, 26 game, my team can play from behind. Baltimore can't. Chicago is not very good at it.

My team can play with a lead. That's New England. That's Philadelphia. That's the Rams. That's the Chargers. Kansas City and Dallas are heavily weighted to one side of the field. But the Chiefs do have some defensive stars, and the Cowboys do have some offensive stars. Chicago is 10 best players on one side of the football.

I didn't lose any sleep watching them lose. I don't root four teams or against teams, but I do root for many elements of football because I love the sport, being valued. That's nothing against Trent and Dilfrey's on the show next hour and the Ravens. But I don't want that to be the model of football. That was one of the most boring teams I've ever watched. Now, I also don't need my teams to be the fastest show on turf or Kansas City this year. But I never for a second bought into Chicago is the way to do it in the NFL.

And they lost because, frankly, like Baltimore, they were completely unbalanced. And that's how seasons end when you're completely unbalanced. All right, let me shift to this. We had a good weekend. We went four for four in our picks. We took Indy, we took the Cowboys, we took the Chargers, and I picked the Eagles to upset the Bears.

Now, the game I liked the most was Dallas, and it was closer than I thought. But the first thing I do when games are over, I go online or I get a box score. tells me this. If you just look at the box score, Dallas had over twice as many first downs as Seattle, 20 more plays, 100 more yards, over double the rushing yards, almost two yards more per run, and completely dominated time of possession. You know what the box score tells you? Because if you watch the game, the game told you Russell Wilson is better than

DAC. But the box score tells you Dallas is way better than Seattle. This was a personnel mismatch, and I'm surprised it was this close. Seattle did not have a first down, a first down, until their fourth possession. I said going into the game, Seattle's a great story. They're not a great football team. Dallas, we think of them as dysfunctional. Jerry Jones, can't win playoff games. They're a highly functioning organization. This is an excellent roster, but because of the limitations at quarterback, they have to win a certain way, and the game went the way it needs to go. Zeke had a big day. They were at home. Defense did their part, and then Dak does what he does often, made one big play late. I did like Dak's run late. Of course,

he wouldn't have had to have been a hero if he'd not thrown that awful pass on the previous drive. But if you look at the top 10 players on the Seahawks and the Cowboys roster, Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, make it for Seattle? The other eight best players, Zeke, Leighton Vanderey, Amari Cooper, Zach Martin, Tyron Smith,

Jalen Smith, DeMarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones, they're all cowboys. Seattle has two great players. They are not a great team. Dallas is loaded with a limited quarterback. And I think increasingly this was actually a very classic

Dak Prescott game. He was mostly uninspiring. His stats were ma'am. He's consistently infuriating and inaccurate. But Zeke, Big Day, defense delivered, and he makes a play late. We've said from day one about Dak. It ain't pretty, but he has a certain personal resonance and calm in crisis.

He tends to be better with a game on the line than he is in the first three quarters with just first downs on the line. But I do think this weekend is interesting because I think Dak, Trubisky, and Lamar are different versions of the same quarterback. The difference is Lamar and Trubisky have a ways to go until they get paid. Dak is about to get paid. And hopefully, once again, Dak Prescott has the self-awareness. is to understand there is a recipe for DAC to win. And those things all have to work. And they all did this weekend.

Home, running, defense, make a big play late. Because it's decision time on deck real soon. And he'll win a lot of games. And Dallas is not dysfunctional. They're going to win a lot of games. They may win their division again next year. But going forward, does DAC want wins or let us? because if he wants wins, this was classic DAC.

It all had to work at home to not just beat Seattle, but understanding that Seattle, personnel-wise, right now today, isn't even close to Dallas. They're not. Look up, 10 best players between these two teams. Wagner, Russell Wilson are in it. It is all cowboys after that. All right.

coming up next, Colin right, calling wrong in 45 minutes. There is a great discussion going on, and it's a very healthy discussion, and it's kind of confusing. It's confusing to me. It's confusing to people. Carson Wentz is better than Nick Foles, and every GM I talk to, and every scout and every executive, and everybody knows it. Philadelphia players know it.

But why does Foles make this offense look better? and why is Foles 4 and 0 in the playoffs? And why is Foles has a Super Bowl? And why did Foles win in Chicago? Explaining, and I think it's pretty easy to explain, the Foles-Wentz dilemma. For the record, you're going to have to pay both of them this year. So you're going to have to make a choice in Philadelphia.

And the choice is Wence, and I'll explain that coming up. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice 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. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, care games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it,

and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app.

Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards.

If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their,

face light up and smile. That means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. 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 Aihar Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. Great to have you in a Monday where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong at the top of the very next hour. Trent Dilfer stops by two. Jay Glazer on coaching stuff. It is great. Of course, Joy Taylor is joining us. It is great to have you in. There is a real dilemma coming up, and it's kind of fascinating. And I want to talk about this for a few minutes because it's something I've made some calls on. I've talked to people about. I've talked to people I trust. And it can be confusing. In football, you've got to be careful of falling for the hot thing. A lot of people fell for Tebow. No, no, no, no, no, no.

A lot of people fall, you know, hey, Mitch Trubisky, this college RPO's. No, no, no, no. That's not what wins in this league. Go look at the last 30 winning Super Bowl quarterbacks. It's mostly Hall of Fame guys who can throw it from the pocket and can't run. There's a dilemma in Philadelphia. They can't pay Carson Wentz and Nick Foles next year, and they're going to have to pay both. Wence is better than Foles.

He's a bigger player. He's a better arm. He's more of an athlete. He's absolutely a better quarterback talent. But Foles keeps winning. Foles is 4 and O in the playoffs. Foles has a Super Bowl. Foles is 11 and 2.

And this is what it comes down to. This is something that with every gift the man upstairs gives you, there's a burden. Every guy would like to be a little taller. You know, every guy would like to be a little, I'd be nice. I'm 6'2. I love to be 6'4. I'd love to be 6'4. I'd love to be 6'5.

He's a little taller I could. But there's a burden with being that tall. Try traveling on a commercial. airline. Try finding shoes and clothes when you're 6'7. Those NBA guys can shop in about three places in America. It's almost biblical.

If the man upstairs gives you a gift, my friends, you will use it. People that sing in the shower do, because it sounds good. The man upstairs gave him a voice, he or she. The man upstairs gave Carson Wentz and very few others on the planet all the gifts. Carson Wentz is

65-235-A-plus. His arm is a rocket A-plus. His mobility is an A-plus. Cam Newton, Carson-Wence, and Aaron Rogers are absurdly gifted by any historic quarterback standard. And when you're given those gifts, you're a little less patient in the pocket. You'll just go out and run.

You're slightly harder to coach. Sometimes you've got this, hey, I got it mentality. We've seen it with Rogers. We've seen it with Cam. and it's why Carson Wentz keeps getting hurt. This is not to say Carson Wentz is difficult to coach, but Nick Foles is easier because Nick Foles is limited. He's not a great athlete.

He doesn't have a rocket arm. He's not very mobile. He accepts coaching because he has to. He's more patient in the pocket because he has to be. He's better pre-snap at this point between the two, because he has to be. The two best pre-snap quarterbacks in my life are Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. They had to be.

They weren't great athletes. When the man upstairs gives you gifts, you will use them. That is the burden of being Cam and the burden of being Aaron Rogers and the burden of being John Elway. And that is the burden of having Terry Bradshaw's arm. You're going to try to throw it through a keyhole from 38 yards. Alex Smith never does. Nick Foles is not more talented. Carson Wentz is your future.

But when you watch the Eagles play and Nick Foles throws it, you end up saying this a lot. Wow, what a catch. When Carson Wence throws it and you watch the Eagles, you end up saying this a lot. Wow, what a throw. This team does feel more like a cohesive team with Nick Foles. And they'll have to figure that out. But as Chris Carter said this morning on first things first, don't kid yourself. Don't fall for brief lightning in a bottle.

Whence is the decade-long talent going forward. I'm going to give you your hypothetical situation. He wins the Super Bowl. And you know what I do? I recruit some of those picks and I ship him out of town because if he does go- Nick Falls out of town. Yes. Yes, absolutely.

I get you what you want. I get you some of those picks. and I go with the quarterback that's got the lower cap number and has got a higher ceiling. So if Nick Foles has won you two Super Bowls, let me tell you something. He's tapped out. You think he's going to win a third one? I completely agree. This is football one of the reasons it's so much better than every other sport.

It's complicated. I mean, we know the Warriors are going to win. They got more good players. But football is, it's tricky. You can have the best defense. and not win, and an average defense and win. But boy, it helps if you have a great quarterback, but Dak Prescott wasn't as good as Russell Wilson,

and he won, and who's the better quarterback? Tim Tebow looks like, oh, he's not very good. We thought he was really good, and Mark Sanchez looked good, and then he wasn't good. And long-term sustainability, Chris Carter is right. Wentz is the better player. Over time, he'll get better, better pre-snap. But football is great because there are no easy answers.

And Foles and Wents, it's a dilemma. But Howie Roseman is one of the smartest guys in this league running the Eagles. They will choose Wins. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. They will choose Wence. Will Wence ever win them a Super Bowl?

That's the question. And that will be even more fascinating. If Foles wins a second, he won't. But if Foles won a second, Wens is a pro bowler for 10 years and never wins one, who do you love in Philadelphia? I mean, you've got to love Foles. If Wenz is a 12-year pro bowler with no Super Bowls and Foles leaves, who do they build the statue in front of 20 years from now?

You think they get him a statue? I don't know. They won't know about that part. So Jason Garrett continues to find a way to stick around and impress Jerry Jones after the Cowboys Wild Card win over the Seahawks. Jerry had some high praise for Jason Garrett. he said, I think this one will make people think more highly of Jason. You look around at all the teams that are on the search for head coach right now,

and we've got one that has a lot of experience on our dime over the last several years. I'm proud that he's having this success. Once again, Jerry is more functional than you think. Okay. But can I mean, maybe we just pump the brakes just for a second. He is just two and two in the playoffs. Jason Garrett is. Okay, but.

I'm not saying Jason Garrett is a bad coach. I've never thought that Jason Garrett was a bad coach. think that he's the perfect coach for Jerry Jones. Now, that and you and I agree with. Now, I don't necessarily think he is a better coach than some of these other coaches that have had the tenure that he's had. I don't think he'd have the same level of success, you know, with another team. But I don't know that this win doesn't change my opinion of Jason Garrett.

Now, if they go on through the playoffs, there's time we'll tell. But for me right now, that win doesn't change, in my opinion on Jason Garrett either way. Yeah, we tend to in sports. everything's great or terrible. I always say this with my football picks. My first rule with all the picks is there's no great teams in the salary cap era and there's no terrible teams. You can watch the Colts go down to Jacksonville, couldn't score this year.

So get out of the great and terrible. Jason Garrett's not great and he's not terrible. I think he's an above average head coach. I think he's very, very smart. I think he's a good listener. On the sidelines, he can drive people crazy. But this win proves again, he is not in common. He's a very competent NFL.

No, I never felt that he was incompetent. I just feel like other coaches being put in the position that he's in with Jerry Jones and Dallas Cowboys. No, I actually don't think they would have, I think it would be tougher for them. So Jason Garrett's the perfect coach for that position. Now, will they ever get over the top of Jason Garrett? I don't know, but that win doesn't change my opinion of him either way. It doesn't make me think like higher or worse than them. So the Ravens struggle to find some offense until it was too late in a 2317 loss to the Chargers.

and now their season is over. Baltimore obviously stuck with Lamar Jackson with Joe Flacco watching from the sideline and there was a loud course of booze in the stadium of fans wanting to bench Jackson and Flacco did not believe that that would have been the correct thing to do. We made the decision what was going to happen here

weeks ago and I just really wanted to see the guys turn it up a little bit and make a fight of it which they did. No, you can't even go there, man. I thought Lamar did a great job of just hanging in there and, you know, and giving us a chance at the end. By the way, why is everybody want to bench Lamar Jackson, but nobody was calling for Mitch Tribesky to be benched? They were both awful in the first half. I went on Twitter for about five minutes.

It's like, you got to sit Lamar Jackson. My takeaway is, so you basically have designed an offense specifically for this kid, and then you're going to go in the middle of your playoff game at home when you're still in the game. We're going to bench him and bring in a purely pocket quarterback. Well, a flacco did win them a Super Bowl. years ago. We're not talking about a rational situation here. Okay, these are fans yelling from from inside the stadium. So they're not, you know, it's not like we're looking at all the facts.

They're just yelling. He did win them a Super Bowl. Mitch Trubiskees had the job all year. Flacco had the job at the beginning of the year, albeit terrible, which is why Lamar Jackson was in. That's the thought in their mind. The most popular guy in a losing situation is the backup quarterback. Yeah, but there's no way in the world. When people are saying that, my takeaway is time out.

I come, Trabiski and Lamar Jackson have a lot of similarities. I don't know if it's sustainable once you have to pay those guys and your defense isn't as good. They can certainly win games. By the way, Trabisky was awful in the first half, but made a couple of great throws late. Lamar was awful in the first half, but made a couple of great throws late. When you decide, I'm going to use this kind of offense. This offense doesn't look like 90% of the offenses in the NFL. Because it's limited.

You have to go all in on this. You don't yank Trubisky in the third quarter. You don't yank Lamar Jackson. I did not like the idea of putting Flacco in for one second. And then you put Flacco in a terrible position as well. Because say the only time to do it would be after the half anyway, right? You're not going to just put him in for the fourth quarter as insanity. So if you put him in for the half and he does terrible as well, what have you done?

You've wrecks Lamar Jackson's confidence, first of all. And that's your future moving forward because you're clearly moving on from Flacco. You put Flacco in a terrible position. And you've just wrecked your teams, any team's moment. momentum that you have moving into next year. Let's not get ourselves. Some days you just have a bad day. Lamar Jackson had a great fourth quarter. He's a rookie. He's a baby. And then you have a limited running offense. These things happen. And let's not act like the Chargers are some bums. Everyone's talking about, oh, like the Ravens chook, give a rookie quarterback, a running offense. The Chargers

are a good team. Listen, the Chargers should have won the first game. The Chargers have better players. The Chargers actually tried to let the Ravens win. Yeah, yeah. They almost blew it. It should be more of an typing of the Chargers than it is of the Ravens. That game almost became so Chargers it was painful. Yes, exactly. Finally, the Lakers are struggling without LeBron James, but the Black Mamba isn't worried. Kobe tweeted, hashtag, thank you

next with an eagle emoji last night after the Eagles playoff win, and then a fan tweeted back at him. Tell that to Luke Walton, likely referencing the struggling Lakers, who lost Sunday to Timberwolves 108, 86 in their fifth loss in six games, all of which LeBron had been out for.

So Kobe replied, relax the entire squad, is damn near out. We're playing pretty well before that. Hashtag get healthy. Hashtag Laker fam. So, Kobe is not worried. Obviously, LeBron is out with a groin injury. Kuzma has also been out for two games. Rondo's also injured. They got a lot of stuff going on, which they will inevitably work through. That being said, it will be interesting to see if Luke Walton is there next year. I'm not sure how that works out. But lots still in play for the Lakers. All right, Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Line news.

where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. Now we bring in a man who played in the NFL for a decade and a half, a baller, a multiple-time pro-bowler. DeAngelo Hall, former NFL great defensive back. Okay, I said the city of Chicago must hate me because I said DeAngelo all year. I don't buy Chicago. It's all smoking mirrors. It's all David Copperfield and offense. I just don't buy it.

Trubisky's gotten better. He's better than I thought. But I don't think the NFL is best served, a team with its 10 best players all on one side. I don't think Chicago ever looked like a Super Bowl team. I'm not saying you can't have great defenses. You've got to have. Yeah. I mean, it was times when I watched Chicago play.

I'm like, man, they have playmakers on offense, though. Let's be real. I like-Elagra. is a really good playmaker. Tariq Cohen is a good playmaker. Good. They're not special. They have some receivers who can get open and make plays.

And Trabinski has, I mean, he. He looked really good at times. But you're right. At the end of the day, this offense is a running first offense and a very, very good defense. And the way the league is constructed now, it's really hard to win Super Bowls that way. You have to score points because that's where all the rules are kind of shifted toward. You know, these pass interference penalties where you can't touch the DBs. You can't hit a – well, I'm sorry, you can't touch the receivers.

You can't hit a, hit a defenseless receiver and really intimidate him. Yeah, a lot of these great safeties, like, we used to go into games when I was a young, you know, a young guy trying to intimidate that receiver or that offense. Let's hit him in the mouth. We're going to intimidate me. He comes across the middle. We're going to take his head off. You can't really do that.

Oh, not really. You can't do it. Period. So guys are like, you know, receivers are stress-free. And that did not used to be the game of football at all. And I understand why, but that's what makes it hard defensively to win Super Bowls and be great like they used to do. Well, think about this. The year started, and we all freaked out.

There's too much offense. It's the Big 12. It's Canadian football. But I kept telling, pump the brakes. The weather gets crappy. This weekend, Foxboro is going to be 28 degrees in snowing. In the end, if you didn't tweak the rules to favor offense, the games would all be 9 to 7. Yeah, and that would make for warranty.

It'd be terrible time. I mean, the first half of the Cowboys Seahawks and the first half of the Eagles Bears was brutal because it's hard to score. I mean, years ago when you played, you could literally grab a strong guy like you could grab a receiver. Yeah, throw him to the ground. Think about that. Or fight with him through the course of that route. Now you got five yards.

If your hands ain't off, he could, I mean, that ref could throw the flag. It's so subjective from time to time. And you have some reps that will talk to you through the course of the game. Yeah. Hey, if that ball was coming over here, that was a flag. Watch those hands. And so it's so subjective. But any given play, you can touch a guy, and that can be a first down.

Let's talk about the Cowboys. When I watched that game, I thought, I got this weekend, I was pretty lucky on my picks. But I said, Dallas has more good players. Now, Bobby Wagner's a beast and Russell Wilson's amazing. Doug Baldwin, I think, is elevated largely by Russell Wilson. He's never that open. Doug Baldwin is a better receiver than I thought initially. he was. He's a damn good receiver. But when I watch the Dallas Cowboys play, Dallas

Cowboys play, Dallas loaded. Dallas got great players everywhere. O-line, running back, wide receiver, Jones the Corner, two best young linebackers. I almost think Dallas underachieve this weekend. I think Dallas has significantly better players than Seattle. They probably do to a man, but that Seattle team is just like Russell Wilson's leadership and just what some of those guys, even Bobby Wagner, you know, you think about that old Legion of Boom and that style of defense that they played. Some of those guys are still there.

And so that culture and just that that ability to, hey, we've been here before. Like, that's value. That's value. No one on that Dallas roster can say we've been there before. Right. There's a lot of guys on that Seattle roster that can say that. And Seattle overachieved this year. Let's be real.

We all had Seattle winning six games this year. And so for them to even be where they were. was a testament to that staff and those guys. But nobody expected Seattle to even be there. That's why I like this Dallas win, but I'm not overly impressed because, I mean, Seattle was playing great, but they're a running football team as well. I heard y'all talking about the Ravens.

They're a running football team. They have a really good quarterback who can make plays with his feet and extend plays. But they laid the league in rushing, and Dallas stopped and run for the most part. They have 73 yards. Let's go to the Chargers beating the Ravens. A lot of people are talking about Lamar Jackson.

I personally would not have sat him. I think once you make a commitment to a Tribiskey, a Lamar Jackson, a running quarterback, you make a commitment. You just can't yank a guy in the third. What do we make of the Chargers, though? Because you and I sit there and watch that game, and they dominated it for three hours, and they held on for dear life. They're going to New England.

Do you trust the Chargers? And it's almost not even to the point that I don't trust the Chargers. It's just, it's New England, man. And I know they haven't looked like New England, but is that pedigree, is that DNA that at the end of the day, they're still New England. And so I just think they'll figure it out. And so I think the Chargers are playing really good,

and you said they look like they were holding on. That's the problem. A lot of coaches, they get up and they change. Yeah, they got real conservative. They get super conservative. They get in these prevent defenses, not to let the big play happen to you, but by doing that, you become soft up front. And then, you know, Baltimore is able to do, you know, do some things that they, you know,

probably wouldn't have had success doing early. And so as players, you're like, coach, man, keep your foot on their throat. Let's, you know, let's keep it going. But as a coach, you're like, man, I don't care about no stats. I just want to get out of here with the win. Now, the chargers will have to go home. They go on the road again. Do you worry about fatigue for the chargers?

I don't. I don't. A lot of people on the outside look at that and say, hey, well, we have to travel today. And it does worry on you a little bit. But mentally and physically, you just want to get ready for this football game. And you'll do everything through the course of that week. You'll leave one day earlier.

You'll leave on a Friday instead of. You can study on the plane. Yeah, yeah. You'll leave, you know, a day before, like a Friday if you play Sunday instead of leaving Saturday when you have a day. close game. So I think, I mean, and the Chargers being in L.A., they're used to West Coast games. It's not like a team or East Coast games. It's not like a team who's never done it before. And like, oh, we got to do this for the first time. They've probably came to the East Coast

three or four times this year. So they're used to it. And so I don't really put any weight into that. But I mean, the Chargers look good at times. I was never one of those people who had them as a Super Bowl pick, but I did have them as a team that in the playoffs, if they got hot, could scare some people. Because, like you said, you can't just have all your talent on one side of the ball. They got talent everywhere. They have talent everywhere. No, I

contend the Chargers have the most good players in the NFL. Seven pro bowlers? And you could argue you could have argued they deserve two more. Finally, Wentz-Foles. Oh, I'm getting cussed out on Twitter already. I'm getting cussed out on Twitter already.

He's a backup. Colin, you see. say he's a backup, but can you have this conversation if Nick Foles goes into New Orleans and wins? And they're playing in the NFC championship game. It'll be a harder conversation. What about if they make it to the Super Bowl? It'll be a really. Like what are we talking about here?

Isn't stock market about buying low and selling high? But I'm almost to the point because they gave up a lot for Carson Went. I'm almost to the point. And Nick Fosz is 29. He'll play till he's 40 the way all these quarterbacks play nowadays. and like I said, I'm getting cussed out on Twitter by Philly fans already. And so I'm just like at some point, if Nick Fowles can create that magic that we've seen these last couple of weeks like we've seen last year and get this team to another Super Bowl. Listen, it's going to be, I will say this.

I'm probably trading Carson Wins. Oh, Lord. Because I can't get the value for Nick Foles and he's won me two Super Bowls. and he's still relatively young in quarterback worlds, and I can get a whole lot for Carson Wins. And I gave up a whole lot for Carson Wins. You know, it is if he goes to New Orleans. And so it's going to create for a great off season

because I can't wait to see what happens. Can you imagine if Foles goes to the dome? And by the way, 375 yards against... I give him like a 5% chance. And if they can pull that out. And Wince went to New Orleans. this year and got hammered. Oh, God.

This is why you pay general managers. Yeah. They got a tough decision. They do. And I will say this. When Foles plays Alshan Jeffrey and Foles have a real relationship where Wentz feels very reliant on Zach Ertz. When Nick plays, it feels like Alshan Jeffrey and Nick Foles.

It just happens. Sometimes quarterbacks, you know, Brady and Gronk for years. Brady and Edelman for years. Had their chemistry. They had a certain chemistry. All right. DeAngelo, great having you on. Appreciate it.

Coming up next, there is only one team in the playoffs that is out of the playoffs, and I never want to see him again. That's not the Bears. I want to see the Bears again. But there's one team in the playoffs that lost. I never want to see him again. That's next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m.

Pacific. Peloton's a game-changing indoor cycling bike. brings the energy of live studio classes right to your home anytime you want. 14 live rides a day, 10,000 more in demand. Go to One Peloton. Peloton.com or visit your local showroom. Listen, man, it's the playoffs.

These games are hard to win. It takes balanced teams. It usually takes great quarterback play, although Dallas won despite not having that. But the one team I'm just over with is the Houston Texans. I've never trusted them. But, I mean, the things I see with that team drive me crazy.

Watson picking up, trailing by three touchdowns, picking up a first down and signaling, first down. Self-awareness, line one. J.J. Watt flexing after tipping balls, trailing by three touchdowns. Listen, you've been to the playoffs three out of the last four years, and you've been smoked all three times. Your only wins against Connor Cook, the Raiders third string quarterback. There's a reason the NFL puts you on the first game of the weekend on Saturday.

They want to get you in and out of the playoffs. as fast as they can. Give me a break. I just see too much ego, too many celebrations. You know, congratulations on a meaningless first down. Come on. You're trailing it home by three touchdowns. There's always an excuse with Houston. JJ Watts not healthy. We don't have the right quarterback. Jadavian Clowny's not healthy. You had all three and you embarrassed yourself.

I think, frankly, I'll go on the record saying, I think the window's closed. I think it's over for Houston. not because I don't like Deshawn Watson. This irritates me. I think he has a great potential, but the Colts have the better coach. Right now, they don't have as good a roster, but they've got the better quarterback,

nine draft picks, $100 million in cap space, and the better general manager. I think this division is going to look a lot like Tom Brady's division in the last 15 years, where the Colts are at the top of it, and then, you know, the Texans every few years will get in, and every few years,

Tennessee will get in, but Jacksonville needs a new quarterback. Tennessee does and doesn't know it. And I'm just not into the culture of the Houston Texans. I see a lot of celebration and a lot of flexing and a lot of this and a lot of that. And I'm just done with it. Like I'm just, I am just absolutely over them. And when I see Indianapolis, all I hear is process and team and us and we. And here's Andrew Luck afterwards.

The message has always been, how are we getting better this day? How are we getting better this day? It's never been results focused. You know, we have goals, and we'll talk about those goals, but we realize it's all about what are we doing to get to that goal. And, you know, the cycle of the week, the cycle of the day, getting the most out of each other, getting the most out of yourself. So in that sense, it's been really fulfilling

because we've kept getting better and better and better, and it's been very energizing. Let me just say this. Let me talk a little bit about Andrew Luck. This weekend, there was no Tom Brady, no Drew Brees, or no Patrick Mahomes. The quarterback play was not very good this weekend, was it? Oh, there's one exception. Andrew Luck was amazing.

Folks, there are certain arguments I will no longer debate people on. The earth is flat. You just argue that with other losers. That dinosaurs did not exist. No, we have bones. They were really big. A man landing on the moon was fake. Again, talks amongst yourself.

The grown-ups are not going to partake in that conversation. The earth isn't flat. There were dinosaurs. And man did land on the moon. And here's the other one. Andrew luck's great. If you don't get it, that's a you problem. For the first time in his career, he's got an offensive line.

He's amazing. Nine draft picks, a hundred million cap space. Folks, it's just the beginning. They have the best young GM in football. But here's the problem. And I don't blame fans for not getting Andrew luck. I mean, it seems obvious to me, but fans only. appreciate what they see. That's why when Patrick Mahomes does a no look pass, fans are like,

oh my God, oh my God, because you can see that. But you can't see preparation. You don't get practice. You don't see Andrew Luck in a film room. You don't see pre-snap. Andrew Luck is playing at a completely different level than 99% of the quarterbacks that have ever played pre-snap. Manning, Brady, Breeze, Andrew Luck, I'm telling you, history of the game, but you don't see Andrew Luck's film study. You don't see him pre-snap. That's why we've never truly appreciated Tom Brady. Because what happens when you see a quarterback make a great play and Tripisky's scrambling around and he makes a great play or Carson Wentz is scrambling around and he makes a great play and Patrick Mahomes is scrambling around and makes a great play. Do you know why that quarterback's in chaos? Because he didn't

audible out of the pressure. Tom Brady's almost never in chaos. Andrew Luck's almost never in chaos. Because if you really do your study and you're really capable of being great in this league pre-snap, you audible out of the problems. You don't have to add lib. You don't have to throw left-handed. You don't have to throw no look.

You don't have to like Tribisky, make it up on the go. You don't have to. You've audibled out of that. And with Andrew Luck, He looks when he throws. He only throws right-handed, and he's very rarely in chaos. Now, early in his career, because their offensive line was atrocious, he was constantly in chaos and through a lot of interceptions.

But I understand why people don't appreciate Andrew Luck. I get it. But I'm not going to argue anymore. When you watched all the quarterbacks this weekend, if I'd have told you, the guy facing Jadavian Clowny and J.J.J. Watt will light it up. Aren't those the two big coveted defensive linemen outside of Khalil Mack in the playoffs? J.J. Watt and J.J. That guy with two rookies starting on the offensive line. That's why I made him MVP.

You can name eight cowboys. You can name eight chiefs. You can name seven chargers. Take Andrew Luckout. Try naming four Colts. Like, I can't help you anymore. If you think the earth is flat, argue amongst yourselves. I'm over it. If you think dinosaurs didn't exist, knock yourself out. But I've seen the bones.

I went to Yale University's Dinosaur Museum. They existed. Otherwise, they spent a lot of money trying to fool us. I mean, one quarterback this weekend was like, oh, my God. And he did it against the best defensive line, arguably in the sport. And pure talent up front, Houston, on the road, had just beaten him a month ago. Kind of hard to do that again. All right, coming up, where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong, Trent Dilford,

a lay out this weekend. Sean Merriman, Jay Glazer. We've got to have coaching moves here in the next couple of hours. In L.A., hour two, it's the herd. Hour 2 in L.A., this is the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Live in Los Angeles, High Heart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS-Wan. Very excited.

In less than 15 minutes, Trent Dilfer stops by. He'll be magnificent today on all we saw this weekend. Joy Taylor is joining me. This is such a great time. I feel very lucky. You know, not everybody gets to do what they always wanted to do in life, and this is what I always wanted to do in life, which is talk sports. But to be able to talk sports about my favorite sport, by the way, the ratings this weekend were gigantic. Oh, great games. Because the games were great. Even the Indianapolis Houston game got a little interesting in the final seven, eight minutes. But this is such an amazing sport, amazing time of the year. We had controversial,

Good Lord, that Chargers replay. Touchdown, no touchdowns like, Guy, I know. It was a little frustrating. Oh, that was just, listen, it's the replay system. I'll say this, it's a lot better today than five, ten years ago. I can remember Washington when it first came into college football was a mess. All right, every Monday throughout the course of the year at this time,

Colin was right, Colin was wrong, and here we go. Where Colin was right? Well, I not only went 4 and 0 on the playoff games, what was really funny is I brought three guests on my show Friday. And of the 12 picks, they disagreed with 11. I'll give you a set. And these are three guests I love. I love these guys. Across the board, they disagreed with virtually every pick I made.

Here's a sample. Nope, you're done. You like Seattle. You're done. I like Seattle. Slaher-Rath likes them. You like them. I'm leaning towards the 10.

Texans, and here's what. Nobody who's played in the Super Bowl has played in a road game since 2012. There's going to be an upset this week. I'll roll the dice and say Philadelphia shocks the world. Really? Yeah. So you and I are diametrically opposed on every pick. Here's how it worked out. And by the way, they all made really good arguments for their team. Sometimes you get lucky. This week I got lucky for no. Where Colin was wrong. If Nick Foles beats the Saints in New Orleans, I'm bringing a white flag to the show and just waving it. I surrender. I give up.

I can't. I mean, it's just incredible. The kid is loose. He made some terrible throws. Now, I have said, I pick Philadelphia about a month left in the regular season to make the playoffs. I love their GM. I think they have a really good roster. Their secondaries beat up.

But there's a lot to like about this team. Playoff experience. But Nick Foles is remarkable. I watched them in college. He wasn't the best college quarterback in his own. conference. Every source I've ever had has said he's a really, really, really high-end backup. But he is now 4-0 in the playoffs, 10 and 2 as a starter in Philadelphia. And the thing I like about him, in these late game situations, he is completely composed.

He is not rattled in the least. And I almost think that's sort of a DNA thing. Either you're anxious or you're not anxious. I mean, he made all the plays on that last drive. There is, Carson Wentz could not have been any better on that last drive. You can't even deny that. Where Colin was right. The rest of the world was freaking out after that Monday night game between the Rams and the Chiefs.

Oh, there's too much offense. It looks like Canadian football. It's the Big 12. I said, take a deep breath. Wait until late December and early January. The weather's going to change. Defenses will figure it out. Some of the offensive players will get hurt.

Folks, you've been watching football for four and I've been watching it for four decades. This is the way it always works. Offenses look great the first eight weeks. Then guys get hurt. The guys getting tackled, offensive players get hurt. And then the backups aren't as good. And defensive coaches figure out offensive schemes like Baltimore.

And then the weather gets really surly and the offenses come back down to earth. Only Dallas with 24 points hit their season average this weekend. Half the teams didn't score 20 points this weekend. Six of the eight teams this weekend didn't score a touchdown in the first half. This is why you keep tweaking the rules to help offense because over the course of the season, it gets really, really hard to score in the NFL. Where Colin was wrong.

There has never been an NBA team that I have missed more than the Minnesota Timberwolves. They fired their coach Tom Timbana. I've been telling you for three years. You just wait. Oh, you just wait. Carl Anthony Towns? Well, now he's regressed.

Andrew Wiggins, invisible. I mean, I have been waiting for the Minnesota Timberwolves. to pop for three years, and it ain't happening. And Jimmy Butler got tired of it, and now I'm officially tired of it, and now they're tired of their coach. Carl Anthony Towns, who I would have sworn three years ago, was going to be the best center in the league, is not the same player.

Andrew Wiggins is a nice kid, gives you 18. You don't remember any of them. And I've just, I mean, I've just completely whiffed on this franchise. They just never, they're 11 in the West. Not in the NBA. They're 11th in the West. I give up. Where Colin was right?

I think the thing I'm proudest of of this show is most media people just react to what happened. And we don't. Sometimes we do, but mostly we predict. We watch the games and we say, here's what's going to happen. And a lot of times we're wrong, but I like that our staff and our team has the guts to do it.

And we picked the Indianapolis Colts to make the playoffs when they had a losing record. And we said, keep your eye on Indianapolis. Andrew Luck is not getting touched. And we picked up on this about week six. We said, this offensive line, they fixed it. He's got all day to throw.

They're not great defensively, but they're owning time of possession. They're not turning the ball over. Luck's getting rid of it early. And we said this team late September, early October, when everybody bailed on them. We said this team's going to make the playoffs. They're going to sneak in. but they're going to go in a winning streak.

And everything we thought has happened, they're now a very good time of possession. They start very quickly. And what happens is now that defense with a lead can just rear its head back. And they've really created a really good pass rush. And Deshawn Watson was under peril the entire game. So when you get leads and you watch the Colts now, they have nine draft picks. They're going to draft pass rushers. and Andrew Luck is going to have leads sitting on the sideline

and watch the Colts pass rushing specialists deteriorate the opponents for the next eight years. We bought them early. Nobody else did. Proud of it. Where Colin was wrong. Doug Peterson got hired by the Philadelphia Eagles, his head coach. I said, he didn't even call plays in Kansas City.

I know he played. He played for Green Bay. I remember that. But how do you go from not calling plays to run in the Philadelphia Eagles? He's now one of the best play callers in the sport. He's four for four on fourth down. 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. SportsSlice 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12

and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist. Kier Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Destin, Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you? you conquer them. On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges

that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going from the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me.

And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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And when Philadelphia had that ball in the last couple of minutes yesterday, Joy, and they were calling timeouts and you're like, why are you calling timeouts? This guy dials up plays. I was wrong. He has been unbelievable. And I got to give him a credit. In the middle of this year, he loses his quarterback, okay? This is a second year in a row. It's been man overboard.

I lose my star quarterback, and he figures out. I mean, this team was on crutches to start the year. They were Green Bay. They had every reason to be awful. They had every reason to go into the tank. And Doug Peterson never stopped believing. They lost both times to Dallas. I put a white flag on them both times,

and they just keep battling and battling and battling and overcoming. And Doug Peterson deserves a ton of praise. You don't do what they did this year with just players. Some of that's the guy wearing the headset. Where Colin was right? Well, we said young quarterbacks and mobile quarterbacks, we think you're going to have a rough weekend. We picked against Trabisky.

We picked against Lamar Jackson. We picked against Deshawn Watson. Now, Russell Wilson is also a good pocket quarterback, so I don't count him. Listen, it is a throwers league. That's not to say I don't like my quarterback to have a moment. mobility. I wish Philip Rivers was a little more mobile. I wish Tom Brady was a little more mobile. But when it comes to January football, it's the quarterbacks that don't make mistakes, that don't fumble, that don't turn it over, that can get out of problems pre-snap. Three of the four younger

quarterbacks lost this weekend. Where Colin was right? We love the Golden Tate moved by the Eagles and the Amari Cooper moved by the Cowboys. Both teams went and acquired playmaking wide receivers. Now Cooper is better than Golden Tate, but Golden Tate, they went and acquired him, and he won the game for him on this play. He was worth a playoff, W. And the NFL has changed. This is not baseball. It changes every year multiple times. Wide receivers, especially veteran guys like Golden Tate and Amari Cooper, they come in, they learn a playbook very quickly.

They are amenable to coaching. They're just worth draft picks. And, you know, college receivers may be younger and cheetahe. cheaper, but when you're as good as Philadelphia and you're as good as Dallas and you have those rosters and you've got to win playoff games now, I'm going to roll the dice and give up picks to get an Amari Cooper and to get a Golden Tate. And Amari Cooper at over 100 yards and it took him about two weeks to figure out the playbook. And they put Golden Tate in and it took him about three weeks to figure out what Philadelphia

does. But we love both those moves and we loved them early and they both were on full display this weekend. All right. Packed today. I got Trent Dilfer coming up. Look at these spots I got coming up. This show is just people just want to advertise on this show, Joy. Just lining up for this stuff.

Trent Dilfer's around the corner. Sean Merriman, Jay Glazer. I will support Lamar Jackson, among others. We'll look ahead to next weekend. We are just starting not even halfway home. So excited for Trent today. Car shopping's confusing. A lot of different terms.

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my friend, via the Coward Global Satellite. Trent Dilfer. All right, let's start with this bear's defense. I didn't buy into them. I thought it was a lot of smoke and mirrors offensively. I have my questions about Mitch Trubisky, and I don't think if your 10 best players are all on one side of the football, you're balanced enough to win. I didn't buy the Bears. I mean, what do you make of you can win Super Bowls in 2019 with just a great defense?

What do you buy with Chicago and not buy? I think those people that say that have their head in the sand. It was obviously possible when we did in Baltimore. We played fantastic defense, maybe the greatest defense of all time. we're smart on offense, manage the game from the quarterback position. I'd be the first to tell you that was what my job was. Tampa did it a couple years later

with a very good defense. I don't know if I'd call it great, but very good. Seattle did it against the Denver Broncos. But outside of that, I don't think you're ever going to see it again. And I think the mistake everybody made on the Bears was calling it a great defense. They're very good. And they have a chance to be really, really good in the future years.

but they by no means great. If they were great, Philly doesn't go down to the field and score a touchdown when the Bears have a five-point lead. It's that simple. People talk about the kick. People can talk about the kick return, all that stuff, all they want. The bottom line is if the Bears played great defense, Philly wouldn't have gone down with the backup quarterback and scored a touchdown.

So I'm with you, Colin. I don't think there'll be a team that is completely defensive-centric that wins a Super Bowl. Again, the rules aren't set up for it. I think the teams are forward-thinking and the ones that we're going to see in the Super Bowl every year put more of an emphasis on offense, on aggressive quarterback play, on creativity. And I think that's bearing. I think the regular season will bear itself out in the postseason even more as we go forward with offenses having the upper hand.

All right. You know, we've gotten to a point with DAC is I think there's a formula and all the boxes checked. At home, running game, good defense. And DAC tends to play a little better on the final drive. the first drive. But I'm told you liked Dak this weekend. I thought he was the second best quarterback in the playoffs this weekend. Andrew Luck was phenomenal.

Who else was better? I mean, Russell played well considering his circumstances, didn't have a lot to work with. They knew they weren't about football ball against the Cowboys' Front Seven with the pass rush. Who else played well at the quarterback position? Nick Fulz didn't play very well until the last drive, so don't use Nick Foles on me through two picks. one was a red zone interception. Philip Rivers wasn't very good. Lamar Jackson was awful until the end. Deshawn Watson wasn't very good.

So who played better than Dak besides Andrew Locke? And I don't disagree with you. We've kind of been like-minded on the Dak Press guy. I think you've been more sticking to a narrative of he's the most overrated player on their team. I think Dak's a winning quarterback in the NFL. I think like his team, and I've said this before on this show, he is a low-ceiling, high-floor guy. But with this football team, with the talent that they have, with maybe the best runner in football is their tailback, they've been stubborn with their play calling in a good way.

The addition of Amari Cooper, I think Dak Prescott's the right quarterback for this team. I think he played very well. He's played very well the last few weeks. But also in the same sentence can not disagree with you and say, it's all been set up for him. This will be a different challenge this next week. But up to this point, back Prescott's been very good for the Cowboys. I rely on you often texting on this show, calling off the air about, you know, evaluation of quarterbacks. And I said this earlier, is that many of the interception leaders in NFL history had the strongest arms, Brett Farve, because it's the burden of great gifts.

Is that if God gives you a singing voice, you're going to be singing in the car, you're going to be singing in the shower. Wentz is remarkable. Fools is not. And the way I describe it is Foles is working. There's a symmetry between Foles and this staff right now that's better than Wence in the symmetry with this staff. Because when my eyes tell me, Wence is way better than Foles, but Foles wins more. What is it? So it's a big one to dive into.

And I think both sides can be right. And I think what you are saying and the argument you've created is absolutely correct, that when you get a guy that plays within the system, that plays within the X's and O's that recognizes his, his limitations that adds a level of comfort to the clay caller, the coaching staff. They know exactly what they're getting every week. And that has worked for the Eagles with Nick Foles, the end of last year, obviously through the Super Bowl, and so far this year with Carson Wentz hurt. The problem looking at this long term, though, is that if you talk to great football people,

they will say, yeah, but we want a guy that can play beyond the. X's and O's. And trust that the longer he plays the position, he will learn to also play the majority of the downs within the X's and O's. So what you see with Nick Foles and it got him in trouble last night on the Red Zone interception, anytime he tries to play outside the X's and O's, it gets him in trouble. Carson Wendt plays outside of him too often, but also makes spectacular plays. So what you're looking for is that sweet spot, that balance of a guy that plays within the structure plays a Bill Walshian, a Mike Holmgren type style of football war. 85% of the time do it exactly my way.

But then the 50% of the time I'm wrong, save my ass. And that's what Carson Wens can do. And those are the conversations that Bill Walsh and Mike Holmgren had with Joe Montana and Steve Young and other great quarterbacks. It's do it exactly my way until I'm wrong, then save me. And that's why they're always going to be on the Carson Wins bandwagon, not and Nick Bulls because he can't do that. And I think that's why both sides can be right here.

They really can. But I guarantee you unless they win the Super Bowl, that's when the discussion maybe really has to change. But unless the Eagles win the Super Bowl, this is Carson Wentz's team for the next 10 year. And the Baltimore Ravens, and I agreed with them, made a decision in that game. We're not switching quarterbacks. What did they say, Trent Dilfer, by not switching quarterback?

during that game. What were they telling me? Yeah, that was an organizational statement. I bet you the conversations had happened in prior weeks with Joe Flacko as well. Like, hey, Joe, no matter what happens, no matter how far we go, no matter what circumstances come up in the game besides an injury, Lamar Jackson is our quarterback. We're making an organizational decision to go into the future with this guy, and we need to ride this as long as we can. And it may hurt us at some point. And you know what it did. It hurt them in the first half against the Chargers.

But they were willing to take that chance so that the organization, and mainly the 53 guys in the locker room, understand that this is Lamar's team. This is going to be Lamar's team for a long time. And today is part of the journey of trying to get him to be a great player. I think the mistake that the Ravens have made in this whole process, one is not honoring the greatest quarterback in the history of Baltimore Ravens

is Joe Flacko a little bit more publicly. I don't like that they haven't celebrated his career there a little bit more. And being an ex-raven, being an ex-quarterback for the Ravens, all of us Ravens understand what Joe Flacko has done for that organization. He's been fantastic. I think they should have honored him a little bit more. And the other thing is, I think they're making a mistake. I don't think you can win a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson type player.

I think you can be really good. I think you win 10 games a year. I think you can be in the conversation. But I'll be shocked if Lamar Jackson ever wins a Super Bowl. way the Rams got rested, the Patriots had a week off, Kansas City did. Before I let you go, you have played in playoffs, not rested and rested. The buy week is an interesting thing. Players love it, but if I was a hot team, I'm not, now the Rams, I think, needed a buy. You know, Patriots maybe didn't. Is there any advantage to you getting the extra week or sometimes

is it a detriment? I think it's both. Again, I know that's a bad radio TV answer. I think both can I think both can be the answer. Some teams need it. I agree with you. The Rams really needed it. Some teams don't all the time. I think though if you're just going to make a blanket statement at the end of the year, your body hurts.

You are fatigued physically. You are fatigued mentally. And sometimes you need to press the reset button no matter how hot you are. And that's where the buy is really, really helpful. If the coach handles it the right way where you don't lose your edge, because you can't lose your competitive edge, but you can get rest. It's amazing. Remember, everybody, this is hard.

It's a hard sport. Your body hurts. Your body writes checks during the course of the season. Just a few days, a few days of treatment, a few days of rest, does an amazing thing to your body, your soul, your mind. And I think that's why the bi teams typically have an advantage. Good stuff. Trent Dill for a decade and a half in this league, relying on regularly.

Super Bowl champ, good talking to you, bud. See you, buddy. All right, before the end of the hour, I will lay out the play out, the playoff scenario and who I like, you know, coming off a four and a week. It's just like magic up here. I mean, seriously. It was a strong week for you, though. You said you weren't very convicted of all of them, but you still put your name out there by your picks.

There is one game. I love this weekend. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. I told you on Friday. you're either going to be very, very right or very, very, very wrong.

It worked out well for you. So up to start in the season at 5 and 1, rookie head coach had one and 5. Rookie head coach Frank Reich had a lot to overcome. But he did his team finished 10 and 6 in the regular season, beat the Texans in the Wildcar round. Now they move on to the Chiefs, and there's a lot of reasons for their success,

Andrew Luck being the main reason. Their offensive lines obviously improved drastically and the defense picked it up in the second half of the season. But primarily the reason for the Colts turnaround has been Reich's own play calling, which showed on Saturday. And after the game, T.Y. Hilton had high praise for him. He played the game. He has a way of communicating with players,

let you know he cares about you. So everything about the players. And when he talks about everybody coming together for each other, it's easy to rally around that. Now, it is his first year. So there's going to be that new surge of energy with the team as well. But I think he should be in the conversation for Coach of the Year. Yeah, he's done.

There's four or five guys. I mean, I think I would have given it to Matt Nagy in Chicago. That's who I'd give Coach of the Year to. I think Pete Carroll had a great year. I think John Harbaugh. Andy Reid. And there's a lot. This is one of those years where there were about seven guys.

You know, listen, this league had about seven guys who could be coached of the year and eight guys that got fired. So, I mean, it's a brutal profession to be a coach in. Frank Reich. Remember, he wasn't the first choice. They lucked out there. They lucked out. I mean, sometimes you, you know, you just want the guy and you should get the right guy. And that's turned out to be the right guy for the situation.

And they have a really exciting, like you said, this, it feels like. like after next year, the pieces that they're going to get are going to make them almost unstoppable. I think Anthony Lynn should be in that conversation also as well. All right. So the signature play from the Cowboys 2422 Wild Card win over Seattle on Saturday night came with two minutes, 33 seconds remaining. Dallas facing a third and 14. Dak Prescott took up up the middle. Yeah. On a design run that looked like it was only supposed to get a couple of yards. And yeah, those things always making me so nervous on the replay. It's just like you're, uh-uh, that part was totally upside down.

Yeah. He was just looking at the neck. Anyway, he avoided two tackles, cartwheeled through the air, gave the Cowboys the first down and set up the game winning touchdown in the following play. And Ezekiel Elliott called it

the biggest play of the game. What were you thinking when you saw him take off? It's simple. He's a grown-ass man. That's what it is. That's how he played today and he let us to this win.

I feel like I'm a grown-ass man just in general. So playing like it or not, I'll take the compliment. But, yeah, I mean, obviously, it felt good tonight just everybody worked well together and we can do that just makes my job easier he is so good that that is where he is so good like when i when i look at him if he did if i if there was no audio and you

just showed me he come he really his body language says this is my team and this is where dac and it's a real thing in sports johnny mansell had on backwards guy never felt like i'm going to stand at the podium when dac prescott takes the podium well he's just always he's always been at quarterback speak. Yes. Anthem controversy, locker room stuff, bad loss. This is a big component. This isn't a tiny component to it. No. What I feel like what you need out of a leader, especially when it comes to football, because it's such a team sport and you need everybody on the same page all the time. You can never have somebody who gets too high or too low. And if you're going to be anything, I prefer that you get high and then come back to the middle.

I think Patrick Mahomes is really good at that. He'll get excited. And then he's back to this. And Dak Crescott is almost always right there. He doesn't get low. Your body language, the way that you are on the sidelines, how ten of you are. I know people make fun of the media or watching body language, but I do

think that's something. And it translates a lot. We've banged on Jay Cutler forever. And I mean, look, we were all right about it. So he is really great in those spots. And he is a grown ass man, and he's probably going to make grown ass man money after that win. Yes, he is. That is the one thing he did. And

And finally, speaking of that situation with the Colts coach, last year after Josh McDaniels made his infamous 11th hour decision to abandon the Colts and stay in New England's. Pro football talk has said that the Patriots are preparing for McDaniels to leave again. He has interviewed with the Packers and the Browns are reportedly interested. I would really very much like someone to explain to me what this is about. I don't get it. Am I alone on this? I just don't get the excessive interest in Josh McDaniel. I understand he's worked with Tom Brady,

but he abandoned the Colts in which is now looking like what was the best job in maybe a decade to come up in the NFL. You know who he reminds me of in college? There's a Lane Kiffin quality where I know he knows offense. I don't ever doubt that Lane Kiffin knows football, and I never doubt that Josh McDaniels does. The question becomes to people that I've talked to in college football, do I want Lane running my organization at Texas, at Georgia?

Do I want Josh McDaniels the face of my NFL franchise? I don't doubt. Josh McDaniel knows football, but he has made decisions and showed immaturity and arrogance that worry me running an entire franchise. The whole world told him Tim Tebow was not a first round quarterback, and Josh McDaniel said, I'm smarter than everybody, he is. And the whole world said, take the Colts job. You got Andrew Luck and Chris Ballard. No. He has this arrogance where I'm smarter than everybody else in the room, and those guys are troubled to work for with.

and alongside. I mean, I'm not doubting the knowledge. No, I mean, he's obviously proven at the position that he's in now. That's without question, even with Tom Brady. Like, Tom Brady's not the only person on the offense. He has things that he has to work with, but I just don't get it overall. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The herd-line news. I want to talk about something. I'm never going to jump out of a plane. Okay, I want to look right at the camera now. I'm never going to jump out of a plane. But if I decide to jump out of a plane, I'm not getting in the plane, going up to 10,000 feet and then chickening out.

Like when I make a decision to jump out of a plane someday and I won't, but if I did, I wouldn't be one of those people that talks about it, prepares for it, goes up, and then chickens out. Some things in life, if you make a decision, you got to go all in. Okay, you can't pull Lamar Jackson in that game. Stop it. why not pull Mitch Trubisky? When you make a decision to run this offense, you are all in on this. The Ravens have acknowledged we're going to draft quarterbacks going forward that play like Lamar.

We're going to draft offensive linemen. They're a little smaller and a little leaner and they're a little faster. When you make a commitment, and I don't think this is sustainable to win a Super Bowl, I agree with Trent Dilfer. I don't think Mitch Trubisky and Lamar Jackson. If they're going to win a Super Bowl, it'll be the next two years because you're not paying him anything. Once you got to pay them and you can't have a great defense around them, they're not winning Super Bowls.

But you don't, this is so different. There is a reason if you go to watch, if you pay $100 to go to a comedy show, they've got a comic and an opening comic and then you have the big comic. They don't have a poetry reading before a comic because you go to laugh. Okay. Certain things you go all in on. If you have Jerry Seinfeld, you open. You have a comic that opens for Jerry Seinfeld.

You don't go, we're going to have a punk rock band, then Jerry Seinfeld, then a poetry. You go all in on comedy that night at your arena. If you're going to go with Lamar Jackson, and I don't know if, to me, this isn't what I think win Super Bowl is over 10 years. Especially once you have to start paying a quarterback like this $25 million, and you have an average defense. And you've got to win shootouts and you've got to play from behind. But you don't pull Lamar Jackson and Mitch Trubiskey because they have a bad half. By the way, John Elway's had bad halves. Tom Brady's had bad.

If you want to pull quarterbacks, Tom Brady was awful against Atlanta in the Super Bowl for two and a half quarters. That's a great point. You can't pull quarterback. You got to go all in on Lamar Jackson. You got to go all in on Trubisky. I wouldn't. I said, Lamar's a second, third round pick. You let him sit for a year.

You see if you can develop him throwing. And then he runs six, seven times. But this idea that you got to pull him because he had a bad half, good hell. I mean, admittedly, it's a very bad time to have a bad half. But those are the decisions that you made. Hey, Peyton Manning against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. You watch that game? I mean, Tom Brady is the best example of that.

Tom Brady's career was over after the first half of that Falcon's Super Bowl. It was over. He was terrible. He's washed. It's the end of his career. The Patriots dynasty is over. I mean, everyone called it. All right.

Coming up next, there is one NFL playoff game I feel very strongly about. There's four this weekend. It'll be incredible. That's coming up. Plus, Sean Merriman, who is never shy to give strong opinions. By the way, I'm going to give you my NFL pick of the week. Not sure when, but I'm going to have it here soon. Sean Merriman, eight years in the NFL, defensive player of the year, a multiple-time pro bowler,

first-round pick. And first of all, you had to be loving the Chargers. And now, New England's just sitting there. By the way, Brady's 7-0 against Phillip Rivers. They're completely rested. that warm L.A. team's got to go to New England. Chargers in big trouble, right? No. I don't think so at all.

The way the Chargers has been playing on the road this year. It's amazing. It's amazing. 8.0.1. Let's see. They haven't lost a game out of the state of California. Right. They lost to the Rams. Yeah.

They have not lost. And I was talking to an executive two weeks ago. He goes, I think they're better on the road. They feel more comfortable like outlaws. Well, this team, if you really look at it, But they're the most resilient team in NFL. I mean, start from just them moving up north, right? And all the stuff they had to deal with from the start.

Moving two and a half hours up. Now you got a new head coach. You go on four. Everybody's off the bandwagon. No one's talking about the team anymore. Then you went nine of your, nine games in a row last year. You got guys that hurt. You got your starting cornerback, Jason Verrett, the starting tight end,

all these guys going down and getting hurt. And you still find ways to win. This is the most resilient team in the National Football League. and no one's really talking about them until now. God, Sean, they have so much talent. They, you know, I said the other day, they have more talent and they're a more balanced team than we were in the mid-2000. We had L-T.

And you went 14 and 2. Yeah. No, I mean, they're stacked. There is no receiving core in the league this good. Yeah. They go three running backs deep. They go two tight ends. I mean, it's incredible.

Two pass rushers. Their rookie linebacker made the great play against Nuwasu, the USC kid. No, I think that's a fascinating game. This is what's really interesting for our audience. So there's a dilemma here. We're all kind of laughing that if Nick Foles goes in Philadelphia and goes to New Orleans and wins, what the hell are you going to do in Philadelphia? But you said, oh, I've lived this.

Yeah. So Wentz is better than Foles. And they drafted Wins and gave up a lot to get him. But Foles is winning more. You've lived this. Yeah. With Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers. You know, when I came in in 2005, it was Drew's last year,

and they had already drafted Philip the year before. What do you do? I mean, you draft a quarterback that high. You already made a decision that you were going to go forward with it. By the way, you guys all knew that Breeds was good. Yeah. I mean, Breeves were great. I mean, obviously he had a big injury that he had his shoulder,

but look what he did when he got in New Orleans. We all knew he was capable of that, but we didn't know that he was going to be the player. I mean, the player he is now, breaking the records and everything else. but you draft a quarterback that early, you stick with them no matter what. And that's what's going to happen with Philly. You know, Nick Foley is going to get a big contract somewhere else, but you can't do anything because you already made Carson Wentz, you're a guy for the next, you know, five to 10 years.

You gave up too much. Yeah. And so you guys had given up too much with Rivers, you kind of just knew this is our dude. And the players in the locker room, even though at that point, I think Breeze pre-injury was better than Philip. Yeah. He was. I mean, because when Philip first guy,

in there, he was 2006 was his first year starting. You know, he had some hiccups and stuff like that in 2005. We've seen him taking reps and practice, but, you know, he jumped right in the mix and started playing well. By this time, you know, Drew Breeze is still trying to get his shoulder back together. So he's not all the way 100% either. So now it's really looking like the great choice being made.

But, you know, Drew Breeze goes and does his thing and with the Saints. What do you make? It's interesting. The Cowboys are obviously, I said this, If you put the Cowboys and the Seahawks' best 12 players up, they're mostly Cowboys. Your opinion on Dak is what? You know, Dak is an average, he's an average quarterback. And I just can't put too much emphasis on what he can and can't do out there.

If he goes out there and stinks it up, no one says anything. If he plays great, no one says anything because we know that he sits somewhere right in the middle no matter what. Yeah, yeah. But he has so much talent around him that they don't ask him to do anything more than be average. They just don't want him to mess it up. Yeah. That's really the biggest thing. You know, he has some plays out there.

You're looking like, what is he doing? Do you go out there and make a big play? No matter what, he sits there in the middle where he's average and you can't really put too much on him to go out and beat his great quarterback that everyone is expecting him to be. But I make the argument with DAC, and I didn't buy him initially. Then I had to, you know, at 13 and 3, but I'm kind of like, if you get a pen and paper and I start writing down best quarterbacks in the league, and I've done this before,

I get to about 20th. and there's DAC. And I'd prefer my guy to be in the top 12. And I get to about 20th. But could I not argue, you've been in the locker room with a lot of quarterbacks. There is what they call a dude quality. Yeah. Dax got it. He looks, by the way, like you, square jaw, stands up, 6'4, big guy.

Dude, looks and sounds like a quarterback. Sean, that's got to be worth something. Because that's, you know, honestly, that's how this team is built, right? They're very gritty. You know, they run the ball well. They got this great offensive line. They got this outstanding defense. So he fits in that gritty mode.

He's confident enough when you feel like you want to go to war with him. But you're not confident in him to take over the war. You're not confident enough for him to go out and lead the war. You're just confident enough that he's going to stick it in there with you no matter what. He's one of the guys. He's one of the guys. And that's why I think that I wouldn't mind playing with Dak.

I wouldn't mind being on his team because you know what kind of guy he is. You know he's going to jump for that extra yard. He's going to dive for it. He's going to sacrifice his body. So when you go back and you watch the film, you're saying, you know what, I can play with this guy. He's not shining away from contact.

He's not running away from guys or sliding down and drop him when he stays in there and take a hit. So you can play with a guy like that. And he's, you know, confident. You know, he's okay, but he's still an average quarterback. And that's okay, too, if you're one of his teammates. Yeah, I mean, Philip Rivers has that quality.

He's kind of a dude. He's trash talking. He looks like a linebacker. He's not a very great athlete. No, but even though he did look like one athlete, I don't know what happened. If someone told me that Philip was going to have to run for a couple first downs in order for them to move the ball,

I would have never believed that. You'd have sold that stock. I want to ask you, I asked Trendale for this. Rams got rest, Patriots got rest, Chiefs get rest, Saints get rest. Go to your career. Yeah. You know, New Orleans just sitting at home.

Now, I could make an argument. Rest is good for veterans. Young guys, I want them to keep playing. What is your takeaway on the four teams that sat around this weekend and got treatment and hung out and good, bad or indifferent? How do you feel about that? Yeah, I don't like the first round buys. You don't.

You know, I don't. I mean, if you got guys that need to get healthy, it's great. But the guys who are healthy who can play the next week, you just get out of your routine. Your routine is completely backwards now. Mentally, you're not as in it as you are. Now you're watching other teams. You're not going to practice.

You're taking a break. Yeah, you get healthy, but you're not in that same routine anymore. And that's great for Drew Brees. That's great for some of these other guys. Like you said, it's been around for a long time. But the ones with no playoff experience, don't know how to sometimes stay in it without actually being on the field.

So even a week off can get everybody out of source. Yeah, because you have some guys that don't know what the playoff mentality means. You got a bunch of first timers out there. And a coach can preach it. A veteran can tell you this is what you need to do, but everybody don't go out and do it. And that can be a problem.

Okay, these are the four games this weekend. Just indie at Kansas City, your gut says... Kansas City. Competitive? Yeah, they're going to always be able to put up points, right? But right now I think the coaches, they're the one of the scariest teams to play because they're just hot. Right?

I mean, Andrew Luck is hot. They have a defense is playing an outstanding. They practically almost shut out to Texas. So they're a hot team right now. But Kansas City, they can just score at will. And that's going to be a problem. Dallas Rams. Rams.

Philadelphia Saints. Chargers at New England. Charges. You looked like it was confident. Yeah, I feel confident about it. Like a dominating win. You know, like a dominating win. And, you know, for them, they're locked for me this week.

You're locked. I just feel like they're locked because the Patriots, yeah, you have Bill Belichick, you have Tom Brady there, but they're not the same team they were in the past. They're just not. They don't bring that kind of stamp to the field anymore. And I know they've been in the playoffs. They have the experience. But there's charge of teams right now, like I said, they're the most resilient

team in football. They've been through so much in injuries and the move. And, you know, people are not really paying attention to them. And they just use all of it as fuel. and going out there is going to be no different. You know, like them winning on the road. It hasn't been a problem this year. They'll go right in the Foxborough.

It'll be competitive. It'll be a good game. But in the past, the Patriots have always found ways to win, right? Not this time. I don't think that's the case. Great stuff. Sean Merriman. Jay Glazer last hour, I promise you all give you my playoff picks around the corner of the herd.

Hour three, we are live. This is the herd. wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Los Angeles, the site. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me. We have a great last hour here. Jake Lasers are on the corner.

A great last hour. You know what I was thinking of, Joy? Is that sometimes underdogs are doing very well in the playoffs. The Chargers were the underdog. Colts. The Colts were the underdog. The Eagles were the underdog. Last year, underdogs did very well in the playoffs.

I think it's something like 13 of the last 14 or 14 in the last. 15 under. Remember the Patriots were favorite in the Super Bowl. There is an advantage to being an underdog because you come into a game like, let's just let it roll. But when you're a home favorite and you have the MVP in Patrick Mahomes in Andy Reed's playoff history, let me tell you something. Kansas City's got a lot of pressure this weekend. I'm not saying that's my pick of the week. I'll give you my pick, but I'm just telling you, I would not want to play the Colts this weekend.

They're underdogs. They're touchdown underdogs. They're playing with house money. They got nine draft picks. They're a year away. They're way ahead of schedule. I mean, Kansas City has gotten. This is the best team Kansas City's having 30 years.

All the pressures on Kansas City. I mean, you talk about all the pressures on Kansas City. Oh, my God. Holyhoi. There's a lot of pressure. It's not going to be an easy place to play. It's not going to be Houston. But I would agree with you there.

It's going to be, by the way, it'll be cold. Vic Synex nasal spray. If it's cold and you get sick in Kansas City, use it. Use it congested. All right. One playoff game I absolutely love this weekend. I'll have that. Jay Glazer in 10 minutes. Best for last. We describe all the playoff games in three words,

the three-word game. Every game this weekend and coming up next weekend. But let's start with it. The Bears lost. Great television. A heartbreaker at home to the Eagles. And I wasn't surprised in the least. I never bought into the Chicago Bears. I picked Philadelphia to win this weekend.

All year long, I was getting hate mail and hate tweets and all stuff on my social media. You don't get it. And I thought, blah, blah, blah. Of course, Chicago fans loved their team. I never bought into it. I thought it was a college offense. I thought it was a lot of smoke and mirrors. I called Matt Nagy, the head coach of the Bears, David Copperfield.

Look over here. Look over here. And there's the quarter. And, you know, I just didn't buy into it. So I don't have a problem with them being out of the playoffs. because my question is they shouldn't be a Super Bowl team. We don't want our Super Bowl champ to be this to be the model

where your 10 best players are all on defense. According to pro football focus, and I think that's a very good site, Chris Collinsworth owned some of that, the 10 highest-graded players for the Bears are all on defense, totally unbalanced. You want that to be the model that wins in football? Do you think the NBA would be in a better spot today

if the Golden State Warriors dynasty didn't have Durant, Steph, Clay Thompson, boogie cousins. No, no, no. It had four Dennis Rodmans who roughed you up, couldn't shoot, rebounded really well, and were great defensive players. There's a reason why leagues modify rules to help offense, because it's hard to score. Even Michael Jordan shot only 50%.

It's hard to hit a baseball. It's hard to score in football. New England is the current dynasty. They do everything well. They're totally balanced. Their coaching is excellent. Their quarterback is excellent. They always have a good running game.

They always have a deficient passing game. They have a situational pass rush, but their defense once again is top 10 in the league. Their special teams are excellent. They're really good at home, but not terrible on the road. They do everything well. So football is being rewarded by a team that values everything and can do everything pretty well. The Bears do some things like defense great and have a common. college quarterback. You don't want that. That shouldn't be the model of what works. And by the way,

most of the teams that are left, Indianapolis, New England, Saints, Eagles, Chargers, they play offense and defense. Dallas heavily leans on defense, but at least they do have some offensive stars like Zeke, Zach Martin Amari Cooper. Kansas City leans heavily on offense. But they have D. Ford. They have Chris Jones, Eric Berry. They got good defensive players too. But Chicago is completely absolutely unbalanced, and I never bought into them. I like football when coaching is rewarded, offense is rewarded, defense is rewarded, special teams are rewarded. It's nothing against this.

But you do realize that Lamar Jackson and Mitch Trubisky, who were really very similar, both lost this weekend. because the game is not built to have all your best dynamic players on one side of the football. So I have no problem with Chicago losing. By the way, the top five scoring defenses now are all eliminated and out of football because they didn't do enough on the offensive side. Football is better. When I get a 27, 26 game, my team can play from behind.

Baltimore can't. Chicago is not very good at it. My team can play with a lead. That's New England. That's Philadelphia. That's the Rams, that's the Chargers. Kansas City and Dallas are heavily weighted to one side of the field. But the Chiefs do have some defensive stars, and the Cowboys do have some offensive stars.

Chicago is 10 best players on one side of the football, but I don't want that to be the model of football. That was one of the most boring teams I've ever watched. Now, I also don't need my teams to be the fastest show on turf. or Kansas City this year. But I never for a second bought into Chicago is the way to do it in the NFL. And they lost because, frankly, like Baltimore, they were completely unbalanced. And that's how seasons end when you're completely unbalanced. All right.

Let me shift to this. We had a good weekend. We went four for four in our picks. We took Indie, we took the Cowboys, we took the Chargers, we took the Chargers and I picked the Eagles to upset the Bears. Now, the game I liked the most was Dallas and it was closer than I thought. But the first thing I do when games are over, I go online or I get a box score and it tells me this. If you just look at the box score, Dallas had over twice as many first downs as Seattle,

20 more plays, 100 more yards, over double the rushing yards, almost two yards more per run and completely dominated time of possession. You know what the box score tells you? Because if you watch the game, the game told you Russell Wilson is better than DAC. But the box score tells you Dallas is way better than Seattle. This was a personnel mismatch, and I'm surprised it was this close. Seattle did not have a first down, a first down, until their fourth possession. I said going into the game. Seattle's a great story. They're not a great football team.

Dallas, we think of them as dysfunctional. Jerry Jones can't win playoff games. They're a highly functioning organization. This is an excellent roster, but because of the limitations at quarterback, they have to win a certain way, and the game went the way it needs to go. Zeke had a big day, they were at home, defense did their part, and then Dack does what he does often, made one big play late. I did like Dax run late. Of course, he wouldn't have had to have been a hero if he'd not thrown that awful pass on the previous drive.

But if you look at the top 10 players on the Seahawks and the Cowboys roster, Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, make it for Seattle, the other eight best players, Zeke, Leighton Vanderey Cooper, Zach Martin, Tyron Smith, Jalen Smith, DeMarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones, they're all cowboys. Seattle has two great players. They are not a great team. Dallas is loaded with a limited quarterback. And I think increasingly, this was actually a very classic

Dak Prescott game. He was mostly uninspiring. His stats were mad. He's consistently infuriating and inaccurate. But Zeke, Big Day, defense delivered, and he makes a play late. We've said from day one about DAC, it ain't pretty, but he has a certain personal resonance and calm in crisis. He tends to be better with a game on the line than he is in the first three quarters with just first downs on the line. But I do think this weekend is interesting because I think Dak, Trubisky, and Lamar are different versions of the same quarterback.

The difference is Lamar and Trubisky have a ways to go until they get paid. DAC is about to get paid. And hopefully, once again, Dak Prescott has the self-awareness to understand there is a recipe for DAC to win. And those things all have to work. And they all did this weekend. Home, running, defense, make a big play late.

But going forward, does Dak want wins or let us? because if he wants wins, this was classic DAC. It all had to work at home to not just beat Seattle, but understanding that Seattle, personnel-wise, right now today, isn't even close to Dallas. All right, coming up next, Jay Glazer around the corner, we have a couple job openings that could be solved with your favorite team, and I will finally have time now. I'm going to tell you the game, the lines came out.

The lines are bigger than I thought. One of them, I feel, is a complete trap. They're begging you to take a team. Don't fall for it. That's coming up next. All right, Nashville, Predators, take on the Toronto Maple Leaf. Seven Eastern tonight's Discover card key matchup. Get your free credit scorecard today, even if you're not a Discover customer.

FICA credit score, checks your scorecard, won't hurt your credit. Learn more at Discover.com slash credit scorecard. Limitations apply. Before I get the Jay Glazer, he's got great stuff. Working the phones all morning. All right, here are, there are four games this weekend, and the numbers are big. Vegas thinks we're going to have decisive wins. Indy at Kansas City, Chiefs favored by six.

Dallas at Rams, Rams favored by seven. Philadelphia at the Saints. Saints favored by eight. That's a big playoff number. Yikes. And then there's that one game that seems interesting to me. Chargers at New England, New England favored by four and a half. That's the one that's very interesting to me.

Okay. I think it's a trap bet. Vegas is begging you to bet the Chargers. Vegas does this once in a while. You see a number and you're like, that, what? That opened it five. You watch the Chargers push the Ravens around for three and a half hours, and the Ravens are the real deal.

They're begging you to bet the Chargers. I'll just say this. Tom Brady against the remaining AFC quarterbacks is 14 and 0. Philip Rivers is 0.7 against him. Lux's 0 and 6 and Patrick Mahomes. 0 and 1. Secondly, playoff football, what wins in playoff football? Best defense? Well, no, the Bears just lost. Best quarterback always wins the game? No, Russell Wilson lost the DAC. Best roster? Not necessarily. I mean, the Texans have a better roster today. I would argue that in Indianapolis,

you want to know what wins in football in the NFL and playoffs? Situational football. Philadelphia, situationally, was great at the end of that football game. Dallas, situationally, run was great at the end of that football game. Who's the best situational football team in the NFL? So that game, when I see all these lines, New England, I guess the lines. In that game, I'm like, man, that's a pick-em. I don't know. It started at five.

That feels like a trap game. Just remember this. Don't get caught up on the stuff that doesn't matter in this league. It's going to be snowing and 28. degrees in Foxborough. Remember that. This game's not going to be pretty. It could very well be just running game, running game. You think

Brady and River is it's going to be a firework show. My guess is it is low-scoring situational football. That's my gut feeling. I do like New England in that spot. All right. And with that, a guy I trust for news and sourcing

as much as anybody I've ever worked with, Jay Glazer, let's bring him on the show today. We've got so many things going on right now. NFL insider for Fox, founder of MVP. I'm like waving to the huge crowd here. Hi, everybody. Hi. No, you.

Yeah. Yep. Sit. Let's start with what we're finding out to be a wildly entertaining dilemma. They gave up a lot to get Carson Wentz. And Carson Wentz is great. Yep. And Nick Foles can't lose.

Philadelphia goes into New Orleans and wins. They've got to make a decision. Jay, they've got to make a decision. The fans now, they're all in the fall. Holtz camp, but where most executives I talk to are in that Wintz is really the better player. Is it a real dilemma here or not? I think you go with the hot hand right now, but also that injury is like a three-month injury that Wins has. Okay.

That's a fracture right there in that back. So that's not something that, you know, you're just, you're hoping to push through in a week or two. That's not it. So you've got to go with the hot hand right now. I don't think you can pull off that hot hand, especially what he did last year. But in the offseason, you try and trade Nick Foles. Absolutely. Okay, so that is the move.

You try and get something for, well, there's, you definitely want to try and see, he's going to have a big market in the offseason. Yes. Because the quarterback draft class this year is not good. That's right. People at top of the draft also have quarterbacks, a lot of them. But there'll be markets for him, for Flacco. There's one other guy out there I'm missing that.

We're going to have markets for a lot of these veteran quarterbacks. Last year, Kay's Keenham had a market for him, obviously. You know, cousins had a market for him, Alex Smith. They got that trade done early. I think you're going to see a lot of that coming up here. But they're going to keep Wentz. That's the play. Yeah, that's their guy.

Like you said, it's interesting. He's the better player. Yes. But who do the Eagles play better with? That's a really interesting dilemma. It really is. It really is. Okay.

Let's go to something else. I do not believe if you're going to use the Trabiski-Lamar Jackson style, then you've got to go all in. I said, I'm never going to jump out of a plane. But if I did, I'm the guy that gets in that plane and jump. comes out. I'm not saying circle back. I'm not going to do it. There are certain things in life, Jay, you've got to go all in on. If you're going to use Lamar and Trubisky, and we're going to do a lot of running and college stuff, you can't yank him in the third quarter because the backup's not equipped to do it. I got what the Ravens were doing, but a lot of people thought

this thing, you got to, what was the takeaway inside the league in your sourcing on Lamar? No, look, that's their guy. You got to roll with them in a good time and bad. And I think that, it took them a little while to figure out too. They're going with seven defensive backs. We haven't seen this. They barely did it. throughout the season. That's what great defensive coordinators do. For Gus Bradley to go and sell it to Anthony Lynn. Let's go at 7 DBs. And for Anthony

Lynn to go, are you out of your mind? And for them to still do it, man, that's gutsy. That's what great coaching is. By the way, Gus Bradley is a guy who I think he should be on these lists for these head coaching candidates. But he's a defensive guy. He's a defensive guy. But other guys have had their resurgence, you know, Pat Schumer

last year after a good couple seasons. I think Gus should be on this list. But these defensive guys are, some of them, He's very creative. He can command the room. But if you pulled him, if you pulled Lamar for Joe Flacco, why do we automatically think that Joe Flacco would have been able to figure out their defense better than Lamar? And I don't think that at all.

And he's less mobile. Right. And by the way, for all the Flacco fans, and there was a point, I was a Flacco guy, remember this. They wouldn't be in the playoffs without Lamar. Right. Okay. So let's slow down. And we wouldn't be talking about a John Harbaugh extension or anything like that.

Right. Let's slow down on that. The Colts resurgence. I said this. It's really funny, Jay. You think that we always see dynasties coming. But the Warriors got knocked out of the first round of the playoffs. The next year they own the world.

Right. Okay. We thought the Miami Heat were going to be forever. We had no idea Tim Duncan was this. We didn't see the Warriors coming. Nick Saban was good. Pete Carroll, we thought, was a dud hire by USC. It looks like I can feel the Colts dynasty coming.

Now, this one I'm going to predict, nine draft picks, 100 million cap space? Come on, Jay. People in the league know this puppy's about to go, right? Well, they also have a real personal guy in there, Chris Ballard. No politics to him.

There are a few guys in this league. Chris Ballard, John Schneider, what he did in Seattle, Steve Kheim, Ozzie Newsom is one of these guys, who don't get the players they want. They get the players that their head coach is going to be able to use and who their head coach

is going to be able to use properly in their schemes, but also he wanted to bring some attitude to that team. Quentin Nelson, that was a bad dude right there. It's Larry Allen-ish type, right? They got crushed when they picked Leonard that high. And he's, nope, this is what's going to happen in our defense. We're going to use him this way. And it really, I think with Chris Ballard running that team over there, they have, yeah, they got a good decade to go of winning.

That's what I feel. And I also, one of the things I like about them is I don't believe. I'm just going to ask you, Antonio Brown and Lavian Bell, I have been told, not by Ballard, but I was told by a rival executive to the Colts. he said they won't take Lavian Bell. Here's the thing. Chris Ballard doesn't talk. He's not one of these guys out there constantly talking to me. He doesn't do that.

So wherever this came from, I don't know where it is because it's not their stuff. Plus, the way Marlon Mac is playing. Yeah. Why would I pay $120 million? A million percent. I don't see that. I think obviously, I think it's agent-driven where you're trying to get a market for the player. But why use the cults?

They don't talk to anybody. They're not media people. Okay. Rams Cowboys. Now, Rams were great for about six weeks, seven weeks. Then I sold my stock. I didn't like what I saw defensively. And then the last two weeks, they rest girly and they mow people.

And I'm like, okay, what Rams am I getting against Dallas? I think the Rams you need to see is a Rams defense that doesn't only rush the passer. Because obviously that's the issue. You've got to stop Zeke. So the way they go about it, they kind of russ the passer on almost every play. Even when they're playing the run, it's like they're rushing the passer to get that running back. They're going to have to change things up, just like you saw. the other LA team change it up this week.

Yeah. And Wade Phillips, very smart coordinator. They can't just do, in my opinion, the same things they've done because everything here has got to be about stopping Zeke. You don't want Zeke to beat you. You want to make Doc try and beat you, especially with the receiving corps that's banged up. I kind of feel with the Rams, there's a bunch of big names,

but their productivity hasn't lived up to their names. They're looking for, like you said, they're going for the interception and the sack. And mostly NFL football is, this weekend there was a moment where Derwin James went for the pick. Right. Instead of playing his man.

Like, playoff football is not about the big hit. It's about don't let anybody over your head. In L.A., the Rams tend to be a little bit of a glamour defense. Is that fair? They also, they went for this offseason with all these big names. Not really, like, and I understand because the Eagles did the same thing last year. It was like they were playing fantasy football. And the Rams did the same thing by bringing in Sue and going for the cornerbacks and going for cooks

and, you know, all these different guys. And they didn't need to. They had their course. They had their Gurley and Goff and Whitworth and Donald. And they have those guys. And I understand why they went for it. But I think we needed more productivity out of some of those guys that soothes of the world that got brought in.

Okay, so I want to ask you about a couple of things. There's a bunch of coaching stuff out there. The USA Today, there's eight jobs. They said the Packers, Browns, Jets, Broncos, Bucs, Dolphins, Cardinals, Bengals were the best job. That was according to me. Wait, rank this again for me. Packers, Browns, Jets,

Broncos, Bucks, Dolphins. It's on our screen. Okay, so now, here's what I would change here. Packers, because you don't have an owner you really...

I don't like it. But you don't have an owner that you're answering to that can kind of meddle, so that's good. And you have a quarterback there. You want to see that. And obviously,

culture, if you like cold weather, that's the place. There's just so much history there. Green Bay Packers is a dream. The Browns you love because you have Baker Mayfield. Right. And you have Miles Garrett.

You have those guys. So you want a chance to go. for somebody like that. The Jets, that's, in my opinion, I dropped them all the way down. Because in New York, too,

I'm from New York. You're not just going against the Giants. You're going against the Yankees. You're competing against everybody. A lot of pressure. And their roster is a bad roster. I do love a Mike McCarthy for the Jets that can completely help rebuild. So you like McCarthy to the Jets?

I love that one because you can help rebuild that culture over there. There's a lot that they're going to have to build back up. Is there an underrated job in the list? Yes, Arizona. Arizona, in my opinion, I wouldn't put them seven. First of all, you have a GM we just talked about in Steve Com. That'll get you. players. They have cap room. They're going to go spend.

They have a quarterback. If you believe in the quarterback, then they have a quarterback there. And it's Scottsdale. Are you kidding me? You got to go live in Scottsdale? Oh my God. Yeah, hell, don't threaten me with a good time. But you've got to think about this, though, man. It's like it's a quality of life thing. I love it there.

Cincinnati, I think they're exactly where they're supposed to be. Again, I would drop the jets down. Denver is tough because you're always and John Elways. Oh, no. And he'll come into your meetings. He'll, he's ultra competitive, which means his competitive nature is going to come off on to you guys, and you better step up in certain situations.

That's why, plus they don't have a quarterback. You know, they've got two defensive players over there. I think a guy like Mike Munchak or Vic Fangio and a veteran who can handle Elway will be good there. All right, just a couple of things. Gut feeling on Antonio Brown with the Steelers, which... I don't think he's back. So you think he's going to... You think he's gone?

I think he's gone, yeah. They're renegotiating for the record Big Ben's contract to perhaps make it easier when they lose it. But I just think also it's either certain things that, yeah, they've just run their course. And it's just, man, that's that, it's hard to repair that relationship. If everybody in that locker room thinks you quit on me, I'm going to have a hard time with that. I'm laying my blood and sweat and my joints out there for you. I can't possibly look at somebody thinking they didn't do the same for me. Okay.

So Jay Glazer says Antonio Brown probably gone. I got to throw out Lavian Bell. I know he's not in the discussion. He is an 85 catch, 250 carry guy. Somebody is going to make a move on him, right? Somebody will. And again, who, I could see in Eagles. I could see Tampa.

Dolphins. You know, again, it's so hard because he has to make up that lost money. So the contract has to reflect him making up the lost money. You saw the Cardinals to give that money to David Johnson. It hasn't really panned out like that. Somebody has to be convinced that, yeah, we're going to, he has to, at least on paper, make up for that money or else why did he hold out? He's got to make up for it.

That's an awful big price tag. Good stuff. Hey, real quick, one more thing. Yeah. That other one, Buccaneers. We talked off there a little bit. I think Bruce Ariens gets done possibly in the next day or two. Bruce Ariens coaching Tampa.

That's what I think. But something happened in that interview, too, I've never heard of. They put his doctor as part of the interview process. They basically made him take a physical. I talked to me yesterday two days ago. He's down there, go to the hospital, getting a full physical. They're talking to his doctor. I've never heard of a doctor being part of the interview process.

Because Bruce is old. And he's pretty much it. Yeah, and he's got through some health stuff. But, man, he will write. If anybody could write that quarterback, it's Bruce Arons. Good stuff, bud. Thank you, buddy. Appreciate it.

All right, Jay Glazer, by the way, owner Unbreakable Performance Centers here in Los Angeles. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Speaking of coaching, Jason Garrett continues to find ways to stick around and impress Jerry Jones. And after the Cowboys' Wild Card win over the Seahawks, Jerry had some high praise for Jason Garrett. He said, I think this win will make people think more highly of Jason.

around at all the teams that are on the search for a head coach right now, and we've got one that has a lot of experience on our dime over the last several years. I'm proud that he's having this success. So Jerry Jones is riding high right now. Jason Garrett getting his second career playoff victory since becoming the head coach in 2011. He's now two and two in the postseason. I know the Cowboys are excited right now, and Catboys fans are excited right now, and they should be. That's a good win, and they finish the season well, and Dak Prescott's looked good. I mean, think about this, Joy. think about the coaches. Pete Carroll lost a playoff game this weekend. We know Pete Carroll's a good coach, right?

And everybody, Matt Nagy, was my coach of the year. He lost a playoff game this weekend. And by the way, John Harbaugh's won a Super Bowl. He lost a playoff game this weekend. Folks, I know on Twitter it looks like coaching's easy. It is so hard to win playoff games. I don't have the stat in front of me. Andy Reed has struggled in playoff games.

Bill Parcell's last six or seven playoff games. I think he was like three and four or two and five. You know, where all this Jason Garrett hasn't won playoff games, well, it's hard. Yeah, I don't, my opinion of Jason Garrett doesn't change because of this win. You never been that higher that low.

No, I think he's a good fit for Dallas because in order to coach in Dallas, it's to deal with Jerry Jones, which is like no other job in the entire world, on top of being like no other job in the NFL. Yeah. I don't think he's a bad coach. I don't put him in the category of some of the other great coaches out there because I just don't. Maybe it's just because I think Jerry Jones medals, I don't know.

That's just his reputation. But my opinion doesn't change him either way. And it didn't matter because Jerry Jones doesn't even anything. By the way, most coaches in this league are not Belichick and most are not terrible. Most of them are in a – if you look at the curve of the league, they're mostly in the middle to slightly better or worse. And we may find out how great of a coach he is over the next couple years because Dak Prescott just earned himself a ton of money with that playoff win. and now he's going to have to coach around that contract. They might find out for yourself.

If Dak wins in LA, cowboy fans will take it because he'll be so happy. If he wins the game in Los Angeles, you might as well go. You might as well fly the plane up to a bank and just have Dak get out, grab the money, because if Dak wins in Los Angeles... I think he's already got it. Well, I do too, but I mean...

His agent is just sitting there. That will definitely cement any of that. So the Ravens struggle to find their offense until it was too late. 2317 loss of the Chargers. Now the season's over. And they stuck with the rookie Lamar Jackson while Joe Flacco watched them the sidelines.

But there was a chorus of booze in the stadium. Fans wanting them to bench Jackson. And Flacco did not believe that that was the right thing to do. We made the decision what was going to happen here weeks ago. And I just really wanted to see the guys turn it up a little bit and make a fight of it, which they did. No, you can't even go there, man. I thought Lamar did a great job of just hanging in there.

And, you know, and giving us a chance at the end. By the way, all these quarterbacks outside of Andrew Luck, let's just make it clear. There were four games this weekend. There were eight quarterbacks. One of them was great in the first half. Andrew Luck. They all struggle. You're not talking about pulling foals and trab...

All these quarterbacks except Andrew Luck had bad first halves. All of them. I just don't... I understand your coach. You're playing for your life. You know, I get it. It's the playoffs. But it doesn't...

The move to Flacco would just seem like complete desperation to me. You don't coach just because the fans are booing. There was no way that they were going to make that move. And I think it would have been a mistake if they did. It would have crushed Lamar's confidence. It would have crushed any momentum or any confidence the team had at that point. And for the record, he was very good in the fourth quarter. He was very good in the fourth quarter.

They looked smart by leaving him in there in the fourth quarter. And that doesn't erase what the entire game was, obviously. But he had them there at the end, which is what you want. He's a rookie. This is going to happen. And Joe Flacko was terrible. I don't like everyone just forgets. The backup quarterback is always the most popular guy in the stadium when you're losing.

Russell Wilson's going to be a first ballot hall of famer. Never forget this. Russell Wilson totally committed, unbelievable athlete, four-year starter in college. He admits like the light didn't go on in the pocket where he was truly comfortable for about two years. Big Ben, first two years in this league as a starter, they were running a power offense mostly. got to give these kids a couple of years of snaps. We're very impatient as fans and we live in an even more impatient

society, so I get it, and you want to win. Fans want to win. It's a home game, there's a lot of energy in the stadium. I understand it, but that just wasn't the move. And look, you have a limited offense. And the Chargers are not a bad team. It's not like this is some embarrassing loss. Finally,

last year after Josh McInails made his infamous 11th hour decision to leave the Colts and stay in New England, pro football talk is now saying the Patriots are preparing for McDaniels to leave again. He's interviewed with the Packers, and now the Browns are also reportedly interested, according to football talk. The thinking is at this point that McDaniels will only interview with the teams that he'd be

willing to coach. So if he's offered Green Bay, the thinking is that he would take it. Think about this. If he goes to Cleveland, you got little beggars, got a little ego, John Dorsey got run out of Kansas City because of ego, Josh McDaniels has more than just a little ego, and the owner of Jimmy Haslam. It would be a, I say this, from. For my money, if you're asking me what's the most interesting thing for me,

Josh McDaniels to the Browns is fascinating. It is so... Oh, that's great content. Oh, God, I would talk about the Browns. I don't think it works, but it's great content. Yeah, I mean, you would have so many... And by the way, these are smart guys. Baker's a smart guy, Dorsey McDaniel.

You would have a lot of people with incredibly strong points of view. I think it would be really combustible. But I'm in the interesting business. Joy, you and I are the most interesting move is Josh McDaniels to the Browns. I always root for chaos. To be perfectly clear. I just don't understand the McDaniels move. And I don't think that just because you have one bad tenure as a head coach, that's reflective

of what you will always be as a head coach. But I think when he turned down or he abandoned, I should say, the Colts job. That was an extra notch on his resume that just, you know, Belichick didn't do great with Cleveland. And now he's considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. So it can happen. But I just think the Colts thing was a bad mark for him. Joy, with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Line News. All right, I love it. We sum up every single NFL game this weekend. And the next four, plus the college matchup tonight, in the three-word game and best for last, that's coming up next. One more Heard? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week,

within the IHeart radio app. Search Heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost the time. 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 athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff

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And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many. many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely.

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness.

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It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals.

At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart women's sports. 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 Levant this plant 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.

Sunday night, tune in. to FS1 for a huge super middleweight title fight as Jose Uzgettaji defends his belt against undefeated Caleb Plant live Sunday at 630 Eastern on FS1 and the Fox Sports app. Dollar Shave Club delivers products right to your door. They got a handsome discount. The more you buy, the more you save. Go to Dollar Shaveclub.com slash Colin for a special offer. Well, we do it every Monday. We call it the three-word game where we think every football game that you just watched or you're just about to watch can be described in three words. So here we go. Seahawks Cowboys, Dax's fourth quarter. Listen, not only did the Cowboys score 14 points

on the fourth quarter quarter. This is Dax's fourth quarter comeback this year. His sixth game winning drive this season. Intangibles matter in this league. Now, I would prefer armed talent to be your strength, size, and mobility, but you've got to give Dak credit on this. He is unflappable late in games. We've seen a lot of quarterbacks who blow up a stat sheet like Kirk Cousins and can't make a play late. That's the opposite. He never blows you away in the stat sheet, but he is excellent late in game.

So if we're going to criticize Kirk Cousins and I have, then I also have to be fair here and give Dak credit. he is Kirk Cousins opposite. Not much on numbers, but primetime games late in the game, Dax good, can't deny it. He's better then than the games that don't matter. Eagles, bears, doink and doink. Cody Parker hit both upright and crossbar.

The league has officially today ruled it a blocked kick because somebody got a hand on it. Six time this year he's hit the upright, four just against the long. Lions. But let's be fair. Despite, you know, fans in Chicago blaming Cody Parki, the Bears should have never been in that position. They scored 15 points at home as a favorite. A touchdown favorite. They should have never been in that position. I have a problem with fans booing kickers. I mean, that's what they're paid to do is hit big kicks. But Chicago should not have been in that position. Colts Texans, another early five total playoff appearances and Houston has never advanced past the first divisional round.

Since the merger in 1970, Texans are the only team never to make a conference championship. And their two worst performances by a home team this decade were that and the 220-15 shutout against the Chiefs. I mean, it's funny about Houston. They not only lose at home, they get blown out in the first 20 minutes of a game. at home. And, you know, Deshawn Watson, trailing by three touchdowns, going crazy. He picked up a first down and JJ Watts flexing because he, you know, he tipped a pass. I do not trust the Houston Texans. And over the next decade, I trust the Colts quarterback, the Colts culture, the Colts draft picks and the Colts GM. I do think they had a moment in the sun and I think the Super Bowl window is

closed for the Texans. Chargers Ravens. Better on road. Chargers are 8 and 1 on the road. I mean, think about the teams they beat on the road this year, Joy. At Seattle, at Kansas City, came from 16 back in the second half to beat Pittsburgh. It doesn't really surprise me, though. It's not like they have home field advantage when they're home. I had an executive tell me earlier this year, he said,

when you watch them on film, they are more cohesive on the road. They play better early in games. on the road. He goes, whatever it is, their only home, their only road loss this year was to the Rams, you know, 15 minutes up the road. So,

watch out New England. All right, how about the games we're going to see this weekend? Chargers Patriots. Oh, and seven. Yeah, none of the remaining AFC quarterbacks have ever beaten Tom Brady. He is 7 and 0 against Phillip Rivers,

six and no against Andrew Luck. and 1-0 against Patrick Malmes. Now, I will say, New England is a vertical team. Is it a big disadvantage to the Chargers? Chargers will beat you over the top a lot. New England's not going to beat you over the top, mostly ever. So if you're looking for dynamic athleticism vertically, Kansas City's got it, Indies got it,

Chargers have it, New England does not have it. Colts Chiefs, battle for MVP. All right, let's make a deal. Whoever wins this game is officially the MVP of the league. So if Mahomes beats Andrew Luck, I'll wave the white flag,

give it to Mahomes. I'll shut up. If Luck beats Mahomes, you guys ready to do that, then luck's the MVP. It's regular season. Shouldn't be. It shouldn't be?

If Andrew Luck goes into Kansas City, if he goes into Kansas City, And luck wins. It would be very impressive. Hey, Whitlock, what are you going to say then when that happens? When luck goes into Kansas City and wins? You're darn right. If that happens, it's a regular season award.

That's not the way I see it. Okay, Eagle Saints this weekend. Eagle season unfolds. Listen, Nick Fultz has the best winning percentage of any quarterback in the NFL last two years. I just, the magic's got to stop here, right? Keep thinking that. I mean, here's the thing.

I don't love the back end of the Saints defense, and I do think Philadelphia is going to put points on the board. And I think Philadelphia is a champion, and champions are tested. And you saw the Eagles against the Bears on the road. They looked very cohesive. They were very good. But I... I mean, what do you have to lose by going with Foles at this point? I like the Saints in this game.

I know. I like the season. I don't know. Something's going on with foals. He's got the juice. Cowboys Rams. Cowboy home game. This will be a 60-40

cowboy crowd. And by the way, I was absolutely stunned by the line. Rams favored by a touchdown. No, you didn't. No. Not going to happen. Now, Gurley is rested.

Zeke is ready to go. So you will have the best two running backs in the national football. Football League. My feeling is there's a lot of running the football. It's going to be one of those games you look up and about two and a half hours in. There's going to be seven minutes left. It's going to be a fairly efficient, fast played game, a lot of running of the football. Cowboys have the significantly better defense. And this will be, I'm not kidding you. I live in Los Angeles. It will be a 6040, 55, 4545 cowboy crowd. I'm not joking. So don't kid yourself.

This is not a road game for the Cowboys. The weather's going to be 72 degrees and it's going to be a lot of Cowboy fans. Oh, is it going to rain? Is it? And finally, Clemson, Alabama tonight. These two again? One team will be 15 and 0 for the first time since Penn in 1897. Listen, I'm bored with this matchup.

They're also the preseason number one and number two. The quarterback for Clemson is going to be the number one picking a couple years. Two is going to be one of the top picks, maybe next year after the year. You know, my takeaway on this, these are the two best teams. You have two great coaches. Alabama is the greatest dynasty. They've only got one real challenger right now, maybe two. I think Clemson's a challenger.

And I do tend to think George is a pretty good challenger in-house in the SEC. You know, I don't think this is captivating for the sport. I think the NBA, I already know who's going to win the title. In college football, I'll take Bama to win by about 10 tonight. I don't trust Clemson secondary. And my only concern for Alabama, I'm just not sure if Tua is healthy. The Alabama quotes are ambiguous. They're kind of, you know, tenuous.

Everything's fine. He's getting better. My gut feeling is Tua is not as healthy as Alabama is saying. And if he gets knocked out, Jalen Hertz is not a proficient thrower of the football. So I'd give Clemson the edge there, but I'll take Alabama to win tonight by Ten Boy. and to be national champs again. We've got to get out of here, and we'll be loaded tomorrow.

We'll see you then. Speak for yourself around the corner. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports

and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, in the moment and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them

and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having him with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast.

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