The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Jan 17, 2020

Episode Date: January 17, 2020

Colin wants Aaron Rodgers to stop playing it safe and take some risks otherwise the Packers have no shot against the 49ers. He isn't bothered by Andy Reid not winning a Super Bowl yet because he has almost always had the inferior QB until now. He makes his AFC and NFC Conference Championship picks. Plus, Titans CB Logan Ryan comes on to talk about how the team feeds of the fact that everyone keeps telling them they'll lose and why facing Patrick Mahomes is difficult. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a Friday. Absolutely jam. Show of the week, show of the year. This is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. It is great to have you here.

I'll take my two picks. Top of next hour, one of them. I think it's the best bet of the playoffs. I know I said that about Baltimore last weekend, but I really feel that. Everybody from Rich Ormberger, Peter King, Logan Ryan of the Titans is going to be on the show today. Young receiver for the New York, Darius Slayton for the New York Giants, a great, great young receiver for the Giants emerged this year. And Joy Taylor, joining us as well. Joy, how are you?

I'm great. Can't wait for the weekend. Very excited. It's a very big weekend coming up, yes. So I believe that I'm comfortable with certain risks. Okay, I'm comfortable with certain risks. And I think when you have a lead in your industry, Tiger Woods, he changed clubs. He changed clubs because he was so dominant.

I used to work at a company called ESPN. They did this thing called ESPN, the phone. And they got a lot of heat for losing $50 million. But ESPN, there was no FS1. They didn't have a rival in the cable industry. NBC wasn't there yet. CBS didn't have it. Fox didn't have it.

They were making $8 billion a year. And ESPN owed their shareholders the opportunity to get into the phone business. Because if it won and it hit, it would, too, become an $8 billion year industry. It didn't. It lost $50 million. Who gives a rip? When you're a company making $8 billion a year, that's a rounding air. But they owed it.

Vince McMahon, the XFL, research shows spring football can work in America. NFL teams don't carry a third quarterback. You'll have quarterbacks for it. Now, you have cable companies in sports fighting for content. Spring football. He runs a billion dollar a year industry in wrestling. He owes it to himself to try spring football again here with Fox. So what if it whiffs?

He loses $200 million. His company makes $9 billion a year globally. Who gives a rip? This is why McDonald's tried McLobster. And McDonald's tried McPesa. They have such a lead on Wendy's and Burger King. This, and I also think this works with bands. You too.

You know, Hall of Famers sat, rock and roll Hall of Fame, legends. They're all worth $400 million net worth. So they went in with Apple and they totally rolled the dice on this thing where they didn't tell anybody. And all of a sudden you woke up one day and on your iTunes, you had a U2 song that you could never delete. It bombed. Bono apologized. But they're still getting into the Hall of Fame. Eddie Murphy.

Pluto Nash had so many credits. He rolled the dice in an action comedy set in 2087, it was a huge swing, and it bombed. Eddie Murphy owed Eddie Murphy. You two owed you two those risks. When you're a legend, swing, baby, swing. Aaron Rogers has become safe. Led the NFL in throwaways. He doesn't throw any interceptions.

His QBR in the last four years, he's not a top 10 quarterback. We know he's talented, but Aaron has to take big swings this weekend. Last week, Minnesota played scared. Kirk Cousins checked down. No big shots down the field. Two-run centric. You don't beat Mike Tyson until you can get Mike Tyson off you, and you get him off you by doing what Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield did,

swinging big early. Aaron Rogers has become too safe. Whatever it is, four or five years ago, he became paralyzed by not throwing picks and throwing it away. You got to throw Aaron to more than Devante Adams. You're going to have to throw somebody beyond that because San Francisco, their quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, is 3 in 0 this year when he's had two or more interceptions.

Garoppolo has a better. roster and will take big swings. I've said this about Jimmy G. The gap between Jimmy G. and Aaron Rogers is not nearly as big as you think, and I'm not sure there is one. Because Jimmy G. understands when you have a defense as good as I have and you have a coach like Kyle Shanahan, you've got to swing, baby. You've got to take some risks.

You owe it to yourself. Aaron Rogers has become safe. Ooh, he doesn't throw picks. Who gives a rip? In the only year Aaron Rogers had double-digit interceding. he won the Super Bowl. He used to have a little gunslinger in him. He no longer does.

Patrick Mahomes does. Lamar Jackson's got a little gunslinger. Carson Wentz does. Aaron doesn't, and you're not beating San Francisco unless you roll the dice. By the way, Aaron, you throw three picks this weekend and you lose a wild one. You're still going to the Hall of Fame first ballot.

You're not losing your State Farm commercials. You were 6 in O in division. You're still the best quarterback in your division. Chicago can't figure out quarterback. You know, Detroit's quarterback's banged up, and it's Kirk Cousins who you beat twice this year. But I think once you have, once you're you two or Apple or Eddie Murphy, a big band, a big star, a big company, McDonald's, and you're already in. You got your net worth, you got your Super Bowl, you got your Hall of Fame, you got your commercials,

you own your division, swing, baby, take some big cuts. And Aaron's become incredibly safe. No chance to win if he does it this weekend. All right, let me talk about Andy Reid, who you know I have great affection for. I think he's amazing. And I have defended Andy Reid for a long time. Patrick Mahomes is his quarterback. And Patrick Mahomes said yesterday, he said, I think I want to win this more for Andy Reed than I want to do win it for me.

This is cool. It'd be amazing, obviously. I mean, the work and that he's put in every single day. every single where he's been at. I mean, he's had success. And so obviously we want to get him that Super Bowl. But we understand it's a process. We understand that first off, we've got to come in and have a great practice today

and then play great this weekend and then try to give ourselves a chance to be in that game and get a chance to get him that trophy. One of the reasons I've defended Andy Reid, because he had Donovan McNabb. He had Jeff Garcia and Michael Vick. Solid, not spectacular. And he faced Kurt Warner in his prime. He faced Aaron Rogers. He lost once to the Aaron Rogers Packers team that won the Super Bowl.

He lost to Drew Breeze, an all-time Hall of Fame quarterback in New Orleans. He lost in Philadelphia. He went to a Super Bowl and lost to Brady in his prime and Belichick. He lost to the greatest show on turf. Remember that team? He lost to that team in Philadelphia. He lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneer 2002 defense, which may be the best defense ever. He was losing with Michael Vic, Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia,

Goodnot, Spectacular quarterbacks to legendary defenses and legendary offenses and legendary quarterbacks. Then he has Alex Smith and he goes over to the AFC. And he loses to Tom Brady again and he loses to Andrew Luck in the playoffs. And he loses to Big Ben and the Steelers in the playoffs. And I'm like, and then he loses to New England and overtime. And I'm like, okay, okay, with Alex Smith. So I have defended him because I think he's had B quarterbacks.

And I'm not saying he hasn't had a couple of ugly losses. He lost to Jake Del Lome over in Philadelphia. He had a better team and he lost to Marcus Mariotta in the game he should have won. I'm not saying he hasn't had an ugly loss. But never forget this. Jimmy Johnson with a Cowboys, two Super Bowl, seven and one in the playoffs. Because he had Troy Aikman. How did Jimmy Johnson do in Miami?

Well, he had a winning record, but he had a losing playoff record. Why? Because Dan Marino was old and broken down. And Troy Akeman, in his prime is way better than Dan Marino out of his prime. So even Jimmy Johnson, who just got elected into the Hall of Fame or put into the Hall of Fame, you go into the playoffs with the second best quarterback, the second best roster, you're not going to win.

But this weekend it changes. Patrick Mahomes is now the Kurt Warner, the Breeze, the Brady, the Big Ben, that Andy's got the best quarterback. Andy's going to have the best quarterback for the next seven to ten years, as long as he coaches in these AFC games. often in the Super Bowl too. Because the NFC may never have Russell Wilson's up there, but Patrick Mahomes is here.

It's a gap between Patrick and 95% of the quarterbacks in this league. In fact, I think there's a big gap between Mahomes and Aaron Rogers, who everybody loves. So I have defended him forever, but now the tables are turning. Now he's got the quarterback.

And now if Andy loses this weekend to Ryan Tanniel, now you can hammer him. Now the gloves you can take him off. I'll criticize Andy if Monday I'm coming to this show and they lose at home to Ryan Tannahill. Because for years I've said with Andy, give me a break on this. You're losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneer defense. You're losing to the greatest show on turf. You're losing to Belichick.

You're losing to, you know, you're losing to Breeze and Kurt Warner. I got no problem with the only play. You know, you didn't have the quarterback. Now you do. Pressure's on. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the Iheart. radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

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conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue of 42.

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Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. So Green Bay at San Francisco, a game I think could get out of hand. I think Green Bay is a 9-and-7 team masquerading is 14 and 3. We see this all the time. You play in a bad division. you have easier schedule. I said when I look at Green Bay this year,

the most impressive win they've had all year was in week two against Minnesota when they jumped out to a big lead. Seattle last week outscored them in the second half. Seattle was down two offensive linemen, third string center. They had no running backs. And they struggled with them.

They struggled to put them away. You see this all the time where there's a team every year that makes the playoffs or every other year with a big shiny record, but they feel more 9 and 7 and 10 and 6 than they do 14 and 3. whereas San Francisco is about a field goal and two plays away from being 16 and 1. And Aaron's never won a playoff game when he's a touchdown or more underdog.

He was talking about the game. He said, hey, the pressure is not on us. We're not supposed to win this week. We're supposed to get whacked. You know, I think if you look at this game, they're definitely favored by, what, seven and a half time. Is that right? So they're, you know, obviously expected to hold court and win. and people know and are talking about how we played the last time.

So I think if you look at pressure, the pressure is in a certain place, and we should be nice and loose. I don't think he's wrong. I generally think the pressure is on teams that are favored, and especially Kansas City and San Francisco, you're at home, you're favored big. I think he's probably right. I hope he's loose, and I hope he takes risk because he's become very risk-averse.

You know, it's interesting, though. He is a great talent, but in 13 years, he's had one great playoff run. It's very funny when great teams or great players struggle in certain situations, there's always an answer for it. I'll give you an example. Roger Federer has won eight Wimbledons, six Australian opens, five U.S. opens, greatest male tennis player, arguably forever, but one French open. Well, it's very explainable.

Rafi Nadal is the greatest clay court player ever and it's not close and he didn't have to play Rafi the one time he won the French Open. You can explain Federer's inability to win the French Open. He's got 20 grand slam events. He can't win the French Open because it happens to be one of his contemporary is the greatest clay court player ever, Rafi Nadal. I'll give you another example. Phil Mickelson's a top 10 golf talent of all time, maybe top five. It took him 13 years to win a major. It took him forever to win a major.

He's only got five majors. And you're like, why? Well, because the greatest golfer, arguably of all time, was in his prime when Mickelson was in his prime. And for that 10 to 12 year prime in golf, because golf will wear you down physically. You start the wrists, the back, shoulders start falling apart, especially the wrist in the back. In the middle of his prime, oh, yeah. Well, you know, Tiger Woods was a comet. He was winning everything.

The Colorado Rockies hit better at home historically. Why? It's the altitude. You can explain most stuff. Here's one that I have, it just doesn't make any sense. People think Aaron Rogers is the greatest quarterback talent, talent ever. Not best quarterback, not most productive, but greatest talent. He's lousy on the road.

In games as which he started, he's a 500 road quarterback. Now think about that. his career road record. It's sub-500 in the playoffs. That I can kind of understand. You're facing the best teams. But look at notable quarterbacks on the road that have played in the same era. Tom Brady's 40 games over 500 on the road.

Peyton Manning's 40 games over 500. Tony Romo's 37 and 22. Big Ben's way over 500. Russell Wilson's way over 500. Drew Breeze. home quarterback's way over 500. Aaron Rogers is 500. He's a one game away from being 500.

Why? How? That doesn't make any sense. My takeaway on the, even this year, as passer ratings over 100 at home, it's below 90 on the road. Why? There's no Rothene at all here.

There's no Tiger Woods here to explain it. Why? In fact, when is he best on the road? when he's comfortable at Detroit, at Chicago, at Minnesota. I think this is explainable because I think Aaron Rogers is a little prickly. He's a conductor at home in Lambo. Quiet, please, the scoreboard says, Aaron, when forced to be uncomfortable, struggles with it.

Peyton didn't, Breeze doesn't, Romo doesn't. I think as Aaron is aged, he is playing same. for a football to protect his passer rating. I really believe this. And I think he's a guy that likes what he likes. He won't throw to you if he doesn't like you. He's a little prickly to deal with as a quarterback. And if you make him a little uncomfortable, he's not the same guy.

He's not good with discomfort, which I don't think bodes well for Green Bay this weekend because the Niners defensive front is in the business of making everybody incredibly uncomfortable. So I think there is pressure on Aaron Rogers this weekend. Deal with some discomfort, dude, because all your peers don't become 500 quarterbacks when they get out of their comfort zone. Breeze doesn't. Romo didn't. Ben doesn't.

Payton doesn't. Tom doesn't. You do. You are not a good road quarterback. And that's going to stick on you. And you can almost always explain great players with a weird stat. Nadal? Why can't Federer win the French Open? Oh, Nadal. Why didn't Phil win more majors? Oh, Tiger.

Why doesn't Aaron win on the road? He's an average quarterback on the road. Passer ratings average, wins, loss average. Why? Play is it safe. Doesn't like discomfort. So there is pressure on Aaron. There's real pressure on him.

He's got to learn to play with some discomfort. He's got to take some big swings. Otherwise, they're getting blown out. They're getting blown out in Santa Clarit. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Former NFL offensive lineman Dante Scarnackiott and the Patriots is where it all started for him. He's now doing radio in San Diego and we get to bring him up a few more times here before the end of the season. And we love him. Rich Ormberger, let's bring him on.

Last week made the bold prediction of Tennessee over Baltimore. It's funny. there's a thing called Warren Buffett, the investor, talks about this. Inner scoreboard and outer scoreboard. A lot of guys talk crap. You know, guys are crap talkers. Oh, yeah. And Warren Buffett says, if you've got a strong inner scoreboard, you don't care what people think of you.

Nick Saban talks about this. So Baltimore's outer scoreboard was, we've all in, baby. And then they got into the game and got down, and they panicked a little. Right. Kansas City says we don't care what people think about us. They got down and their inner scoreboard was, what do we care? I thought, let's go back to your prediction. I think Baltimore had some deep concerns about Lamar that they didn't advertise.

And the minute they got down, the inner scoreboard was crap. Kansas City's inner scoreboard was, we have zero concerns. So go back to your predictions. were you surprised that Baltimore, it felt a little panicky even in the first half? I wasn't surprised because really what you saw was the light of day. They had a couple of corners that still need sweeping, and you can't address those corners mid-season. Lamar Jackson, for everything that he is, there are still some limitations to his game, and it's not fair to say, and he can't fix them, because he probably will.

He's that talented. but there still are some limitations to his game. And also he's still young. So some of those throws over the middle, they sail on him because you get nervous and you put a little too much pepper. And I think the game plan really stuck to what they did well all season long, which was trying to highlight his running ability and start with the run game and then use his throwing as a compliment, but they got behind too fast.

And then all of a sudden the light of day is shining. light as bright as it possibly can on all these corners that still had a couple cobwebs. And that's what you saw. You saw an offensive team start to wilt under the pressure of, boy, we now have to play from behind against a very physical football team. And they didn't have enough. They didn't have enough to get it done against the Titans last week. You know, we are in the business.

I talk a lot of football. NFL is about 62% of my show. And I usually talk about quarterbacks. And most of the great quarterbacks I love and most of the guys that are bad, don't. I would say the exception to it is I've been more critical of Aaron Rogers than other people. I just talked about his road record, which for his contemporaries, is bizarrely average. I have noticed something else with Aaron, and I had kind of a theory this week. Aaron's gotten more safe over the last four to five years. He's leading the league in throwaways. He now will

throw to nobody not named Devante Adams. And I do not think you can beat great teams like San Francisco or Kansas City playing it safe. You've got to take some shots. And he is certainly going to be be a first ballot hall of famer. No doubt. He's on, he's on Green Bay's Mount Rushmore. He's got the state farm commercials, $250 million in net worth or whatever it is. Aaron, you've got to take some big swings this weekend. Garoppolo's, I think, 3 and 0 with two or more picks this year. When you have a defense as good as he doesn't have the legacy, but when you have a defense like Jimmy does, you've got to take some big cuts. And is it, this is one of my things about Aaron. I think in the last four or five years, it's like he's protecting something. He's gotten a little

too safe for me. Is that fair? Is it fair? Yeah, look, I mean, young men play chicken, right? Where you stare down an opponent and you say, I'm not blinking, are you? As you get older, I mean, especially at positions where if you persevere, if you stay durable, your team has a better chance, it's actually better, it's smarter to play it safer, to throw some more of those balls away,

to take the slide as opposed to taking the hit. And so, Aaron Rogers, like many of the great quarterbacks who've lasted in this league beyond their mid-30s, is starting to acquies to that thought process. I need to preserve myself for our team to have the best chance. So, yeah, it's fair what you're saying. But at the same token, this is the maturity of the position. This is what all of these guys have to learn. In fact, post-game after the Packers-Ravens game, he said to Lamar Jackson,

and maybe mixing some sliding a little bit. because he's forecasting for Lamar. He's saying, this is what I've learned. I want you to inherit that too. I want you to understand what you're up against because you could be great for a long time. But back to Aaron, yeah, I mean, in this game especially, it may have to be about him because that is a physical rough defense.

That's a rough group on the defensive side. Robert Sala is leading for the 49ers. So I think you're going to have to take some chunks in order to get the win. I'm a huge fan of Andy Reed. and I think mostly with Jeff Garcia-level quarterbacks, McNabb, good players, Alex Smith, good players. Sure. Not Hall of Famers, but good respectable guys.

You know, he lost to Kurt Warner twice, and he lost Aaron Rogers, the Super Bowl team, and he lost a Brady multiple times. And you start looking at all these guys that he faced, and you're like, well, yeah, he lost the Packer team with Aaron Rogers that was on fire in Breeze in New Orleans, and Kurt Warner and the best defense to Tampa Bay defense,

and the greatest show on turf, and Andrew Locke, and you're like, okay, I can live with this. He had a couple of ugly losses, but he almost always had a quarterback deficit in Philly in Kansas City. Now he doesn't. So this is the first time this weekend. I'm like, Andy, you got to win this weekend.

Is that fair? I think it's fair. I mean, if you look at just position and position and you're trying to sort of say, who would you rather go into this game with the Chiefs players or the Titans players? You might say the Chiefs. Now, does that mean they're the better team, not necessarily. but they have better players. I mean, their offensive weapons are scary.

Once you get to their fourth receiver and you're still talking about Sammy Watkins? Are you kidding me? Who's covering? Like, if you leave your big personnel on the field defensively, who the heck is covering Kelsey and Watkins? Me, Cole Hard me, have Tyree Kill. You are just loaded for bears. So personnel to personnel, it feels like the chiefs have the advantage.

But that's a damn good team on the other side of the ball now. The Titans are scary. And so I understand the thought process is this is a need to win game. And it may be for a legacy play. But Andy Reid has the hottest young quarterback and the best offense really anybody has in the NFL. And he's going to have him for a while. So if not this year, you may say then win. Well, maybe next year because they're that good.

Packers 49ers, something that became pretty clear this year. And this is, I think we talked about it. Matt LaFleur on the script has been terrific. they are not a good adjustment team. They were outscored last week, 20 to 7. Kyle Shanahan is one of the few young coaches who is not only good on script. He's terrific at halftime, which generally is kind of a bellwether quality of your Tomlins, your Belichicks, your older coaches.

I think this is a little bit of a coaching mismatch and a little bit of a roster mismatch. I like San Francisco. What does Green Bay have to do as a former offensive lineman to tame that Niner defensive front? Really what you have to do is establish a physical dominance, a mindset that they're not getting away from you and they want to. You know, it's difficult because they are loaded for bear on the defensive side. And the biggest obstacle you're up against, as far as like the trench battle between your offensive line as the Green Bay Packers and that defensive front provided by the 49ers is the fact that they're so deep. So they're fresh. It is really alarming where it's the third quarter and you're like, oh man, I finally.

finally figured this guy out and all of a sudden you have a defensive line and go like this, he leaves the game and the next man in is just as good as he is and he's got to move. Maybe you haven't explored as deeply in your film study and all of a sudden you have a whole new ball game with a fresh face. That's the threat that San Francisco poses and John Lynch has done a phenomenal job of building a strong roster from the trenches outward. And that's why they've really been so dominant this season in the run game. and defending the run defensively.

You know, Jimmy G will make the, you know, Greg Cosell came on yesterday, and he said, if you look at San Francisco's offense, they asked Jimmy G to throw the ball in the middle of the field, and it's crowded, and sometimes the linebacker drops, and Jimmy doesn't see it. They don't ask Jimmy to make 12 great throws. He's not a life preserver.

I do like him, and I think he is prone to the occasional young quarterback pick. Your thoughts on Jimmy G. in this game? I think Jimmy G. has to win this game because if I'm the Packers, what I'm trying to do is stop the run at all costs. And like Greg Cocell said, protect the middle of the field. Force all of those harder sideline throws. If you're going to beat us, you're going to beat us with Garapolo's arm and you're going to beat us on those deep outs. You're going to beat us on the go routes. Should we be in man

coverage and you caught us with our pants down and you have separation down the field? If you can make those touch throws under pressure with guys crowding the line of scrimmage and taking away the middle of the field, well, then you deserve to win. But that would be my game plan going into this game if I'm the Packers. Stop the run, protect the middle of the field, force this quarterback who's untested at this level as a starter to beat you with his arm. Can he do it? It's really, we're on to unknown territory.

We'll find out. Your gut feeling sounds like you do like San Francisco's personnel. I do. I would take the 49ers in this game. And it's really for the same reason. well, and we'll get to the Titans Chiefs game. But think about the physicality of the postseason. Why do we talk about the physicality of the postseason?

It's because the officials let them play. Same in the NBA playoffs. It becomes a different sport. That's why veteran men beat kids in NBA playoffs. Refes swallow whistles. Yeah. Hand-checking is allowed in the playoffs in the NBA. And you got a lot more, you know, you feed the pain.

You're not going to get the foul every time. So it's the same. thing in the NFL. You have the ability to knock around receivers. So who are the Packers threats? I mean, Jimmy Graham sometimes. Devante Adams is a star. You have some other guys who have really helped them ascend this season. But if you have this fierce, tough, physical group on the defensive side of the 49ers knocking around receivers and not getting flags like you do in the regular season, I think that the 49ers are going to win this game. And it's because the guys, the flags are going to set all the laundry is staying in the pockets. Let's go to Kansas City in Tennessee.

You know, at some point, how many times can you get in a plane, fly home, then get in a plane, fly in the road, lose a half a day to a day of prep and rest. I like Kansas City, your thoughts. I like the Titans. I like the Titans. And it's because of what they've done. They're so battle tested. You know, there becomes this war cry inside of a building when you're road warriors and you know who you are and you feel like you're unstoppable. You know, in order to run through the wall, you have to believe you're going to run through the wall. Otherwise, you're going to crack your head open. And this Tennessee Titans team against all odds have run through the wall. And they beat the dynasty in New England. And they beat

the juggernaut of the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. And they're going to go to Kansas City. By the way, the place where the Chiefs lost three games in the regular season, not a great home team during the regular season. One loss on the road, but three losses at home. And I know Patrick Mahomes was injured for part of the season. But that's something. It says something to me. It's a place where they've had some failure. Well, they fell behind 24-0. Nothing last week. Exactly. And I mean, to save the day, it took a lot. And that emotion takes a lot out of you. I feel like just from the standpoint of running into this game with a full head of steam, the Titans look like a team. And again, the more physical team in this matchup. The officials are

going to let more go. Rable. knows that. Trust me, he knows that, and he's going to use it to his advantage defense. Isn't that going to be the craziest thing? If Tennessee ends up in the Super Bowl, this is why, I've said this for years about the NBA, you've got to get out of this seven-game first and second round playoff series. Right. Knocked LeBron off game one. Then LeBron's like freaking, it's a three-game series. In game two, it creates this massive urgency.

If these were seven-game series, Tennessee isn't getting out of the first round, right? But this is the NFL. If Tennessee comes in and establishes the ground in the first 12 minutes, and Kansas City goes down, and then all of a sudden you start panicking. That's what Baltimore did. They started panicking. And this urgency and this suddenness, it's so Tennessee is playing with house money. There is no pressure on Tennessee this weekend.

And they're built so well. And I have no idea why Arthur Smith, this offensive coordinator, didn't get more buzz during this NFL. head coaching hiring process because what he's done midseason changes quarterback Ryan Tannahill who was almost left for dead in Miami becomes a stud the best completion percentage I mean it's unbelievable and then he has the rushing leader I mean they they are like you said playing with house money and they have a team full of believers and rabel I mean he is just coaching up these guys to be bad guys right you know I mean when they take the field they're all

good guys off the field. But when they take the field, they take on that persona of, man, we're going to come after you and we're going to hunt you down. And that's just fun to watch for me. And postseason allows for it. And I think the more physical team wins. By the way, do you know who the richest coach is in the NFL? I do not. It's the Titans offensive coordinator. His dad is Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx. No kidding. I had no idea. Either did I, until I was. At a bar as I'm prone to do. And I'm sitting next to somebody.

His name is Braun. He's an L.A. kid. He is married to Fred Smith's daughter. It's a great family. Yeah. And she's just down to earth. You'd never know. She works in Hollywood.

And we're talking. And he goes, I'm going to the Titan game this weekend. And I'm like, I'm sitting next to a bar in L.A. with friends. He's like, my wife's brother coaches the Titans offense. And we start talking. I'm like, Memphis. And he starts talking about Memphis. And I'm like, Smith, he goes, yeah, the founder of FedEx, his son is the coordinator for the Titans.

Well, he's about to make a whole lot of money on his own volition because, I mean, like Matt LaFleur now is leading this Packers team deep in the postseason. I think that you're going to see the same thing with him. You don't get that trivia anywhere else. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Let me make my two picks. for the Super Bowl, here we go.

Titans that Chiefs. The Titans are getting seven. I would take the points here, but very reluctantly. Kansas City has a better roster, and they're 7 and 0. Since they lost to the Titans in week 10, they've won all of those by over seven points. They're averaging 31 a game. Their turnover differential is plus six.

Some of that is luck. But the reality is there's a fatigue factor I can't get over. Remember, Tennessee's last game of the regular season was on the road, so they've gone to Houston and to New England and to Baltimore and now Kansas City. I just think this is a great story against a great team, and I think there's going to be a fatigue factor. But I will say this. Tennessee's O-line and running game is built to make Kansas City uncomfortable. You can't out Kansas City, Kansas City. Okay, don't get into a track meet with this team. If San Francisco or Green Bay face Kansas City,

their game plan is going to be run the hell out of the football and make them sit and watch. So Tennessee is built to beat Kansas City. I just think it's too big of a ask. I mean, if they were off a buy, if it was their second road game, you're going to ask Derek Henry again, they have 33 carries and ask this team to get in a plane again and play on the road.

I do think Kansas City also create some playoff matchups, perimeter matchups here that Tennessee doesn't have an answer for. So I'm going to take Kansas City to win 28 to 23. I did not bet this game. I think the line's close. I don't say this with any great confidence. Better roster, better team over a great story. Next.

Packers at 49ers. Now I did bet this game. I put a little candy on this. I think San Francisco minus seven and a half is the side. I think it could get ugly. Listen, this is a Green Bay team that's kind of masquerading as a 14 and 3 team that's been outgained in 10 games this year. Over the last 30 years, rookie head coaches are 3 and 8 in these games. I think their head coach is going to be out coached.

They're at a coaching deficit. Since week 10, Devonthe Adams has been targeted 91 times. Aaron Rogers hasn't targeted any other receiver more than 30. times. And Aaron is 0 and 4 all time against top 10 past defenses, and this is a number one pass defense. I think Aaron is going to have to play uncomfortable and take major risks. I don't think that is now who he is. I think San Francisco is going to bracket Devante Adams and crowd the box and say, throw to your other guys, and I don't think Aaron's comfortable with that. I think San Francisco, in so many ways, they can beat you with power.

They can beat you with Debo and Emmanuel Sanders. They can beat you with George Kittle. They can do power. They can go over the top. They can beat you with turnovers. This is a team. Green Bay does not have a lot of margin for error. Garoppolo 3-0 this year when he had two or more picks.

They don't have to play perfect to win this game. San Francisco is about a field goal and a fumble from being 16 and 1. Aaron Rogers this year went nine and one in one possession games. That's a lot of luck. Now you say to yourself, no, it's not. Aaron's great. Aaron's a little above 500 in his career in one possession, one score games. Last week, Seattle, Russell Wilson was 11 and 2 this year in one score games.

You're like, oh, that's because Russell's great. No, no. Russell Wilson in his career is a little better than 500 in one score games. Seattle was living off these one-score games. score wins. Games. You don't win like you don't win Super Bowls. Green Bay's live enough. One possession, one score games, and winning all of them, nine of ten, that's going to run out. San Francisco wins here 33.23. By 10, feel comfortable saying, I'll put a little scratch on that, pull a little candy on that. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern,

9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls,

we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kyr 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, 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. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous.

Miss referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rep.

My mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? This Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds.

Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series

because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nasree. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night bases on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get to fly. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball.

Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you, you get your podcasts. Logan Ryan is a two-time Super Bowl champ. Seventh NFL season, four with the Patriots, third with the Titans, where he is creating fumbles, forcing turnovers, and finds himself once again in a huge game.

And Logan Ryan is joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network. All right, here we go. It feels like to me, Logan, the postseason is built for you in Tennessee. The referees can swallow flags. They allow more physicality. It kind of feels like it's the NBA. Same thing. swallow the whistles and let LeBron and the men beat the boys in the playoffs. Does it feel like

right now is your time and the sport now is built kind of for you this weekend? Yeah, I think so. We're built for it. We feel like we have a physical team, physical by nature. We believe in running the ball, stopping them run. And you know, the weather gets colder. And Derek Henry comes alive and, you know, defense wins championships. And that's what we've brought ourselves on here. So I do feel like we're built for this run. Mike Vrable, what's the secret sauce? When did you know this dude who was just playing a few years ago can coach? What was it?

What is it with him? I knew, I mean, I think I was on last year with you, and I knew he was a great coach back then. He's just a former player, a champion, detailed, explains things how realistically you want him done. I think the hardest thing for professional players to have a coach who's never done it before. It's not that you can't listen to him, but they ask you do things. like, well, how realistic is that in the setting? I think he's very realistic in his expectations. And kind of that do-your-job mentality here where he informs every player what he expects him to do and allow him to go out there and perform to the best of their ability.

By the way, nobody on this roster, Logan, has been in more big games than you. Teams can get tight. I mean, I've talked to a lot of pros, and they're like, man, you get to these conference championships and it feels different driving to the stadium. How do you ensure this locker room is loose and not tight Sunday. You know, we're not supposed to be here. You know, the underdog is house money. We're seven point, seven and a half point underdog. Last week we were 10, the week before, who knows, probably 10.

So, I mean, we've been having a win and get in since week 16, had a win and get in. So we've been in the playoffs for a good month now. We've been on the road for a good month now. We've been picked against. I remember when we beat New England in New England, every fan said, well, good game, but you don't get rolled by Baltimore. That would be Baltimore. Well, another good game, but you're going to get rolled by Kansas

City. So I'm going to go out there and you know, get rolled over. So we'll see how it goes. Are you worried a little bit? I mean, Logan, fourth straight, roadie, fatigue, Derek Henry, 30 carries. Are you a little concerned with that? No, I mean, that's

what it takes, you know. That's what we're in. That's what it takes. You can call momentum. You call we found our rhythm. four straight so we know how to pack our suits up go on a plane and you know playing hostile environments and we're done the back-to-back weeks and we're going to run it to the wheels fall off we don't know when that may be it might be this Sunday it may be in two weeks hopefully it's in two weeks at the Super Bowl

but you know we're going to keep sticking our formula when did you know during this season okay because you had a losing record and all of a sudden you know you face Kansas City was there a moment an epiphany for you, Logan, where you're like, we're actually, we have a chance to be really, really special, even though the record may not say that. Yeah, I thought we were, I honestly thought we were real special in camp. We had a good team last year. We had a win and get in last year.

We didn't. And I was hurt. We had Jarrell Casey hurt for that, win and get in last year. And we got back healthy. We busted our butt all offseason. and then we started year two and four. And then we were two and four. We were coming home from a road trip.

We kind of had one of those internal meetings. How's this year going to go? They obviously made a quarterback change at the time. I think the quarterbacks handled it well. And then we had a goal line stand to basically go to three and four. We beat the chargers on a goal line stand. Yep, yeah. And we could have been two and five,

or we could have been three and four. So we went to three and four, and we've been kind of having stands like that. We had a goal line stand in New England to help us win that game. So I really remember being two and four, having a goal line stand, and winning a bunch of games since. Do you feel like you ended the Patriots Dynasty? It feels like that to me respectfully. It does kind of feel like, you know what?

They're a little old. There's a lot of good AFC teams. When you walked off that field, Logan, did you think I'm with the right team now? I'm growing. They're not. You know, it's not about the team, man, what team I'm on or anything like that. I just feel like I'm in a good place. I feel like I'm able to show all my abilities.

And I don't know what's going on the page. I do think there's going to be major changes there. I do think that, I mean, eventually those guys, man, they had a lot of long runs. They played a lot of extra games. Yeah. You know, and that's what it takes to be a champion. You got to play these.

You play in a whole extra month of football, and it's a physical sport. So eventually, you know, it seemed like they were fatiguing that game, fatigue this year, and eventually it caught up to him in a sense. So, yeah, if you want to call me Luke Skywalker flying in there and blowing up the death guy, you know, everyone's being in the same thing. Star Wars right now with the Mandalorian everything.

So I got no problem flying into the Death Star. But now, they're all good friends of mine, but you know, you call it what you see. We'll see what happens this off season. One minute left. You ever faced a quarterback with an arm like Mahomes? I mean, it might be him and Aaron Rogers are the only two I've seen with this arm.

The creative arm angles, the velocity on the ball, the ability to throw the ball in the cold weather, how he does. So he's special. I mean, we just beat Brady, we beat Lamar Jackson. But I think this is the best offense in football. I think is our best test. And, I mean, good thing is we played him once before this year, so we know what it's like, and he's talented. Well, Logan, you are four fumbles forced, multiple interceptions, a big game player and a physical player that fits perfectly in a Rutgers guy.

You've got to be tough to play at Rutgers. You don't got any, no 77-degree games. It's cold and snow and windy and Jersey. Congrats to you. You're a good dude and a great player, and we're happy for you, man. Good luck Sunday. Appreciate it, Con. Thank you.

Hey. No collar, baby, so we're good. 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 SportsSlice 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 Slic 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 acapella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee.

We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, A, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Look. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Rhett, Mom, I want you to weigh better.

What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season.

And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was calling. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to you, he's like, you know, I love you, dog.

You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.