The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - More on the AFC-NFC Championship games

Episode Date: January 29, 2024

More on the championship games yesterday and what to look forward to when the Chiefs play the 49ers again in the Super BowlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith ruling. of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind 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 on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to you're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, great to have you back in. Let's not waste any time, Mark Sanchez, around the corner.

J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So Niners Chief Super Bowl line opened at Niners minus two and a half, quickly bet down to one and a half. It's one other places. I have to be honest, I was surprised that the Niners opened his favorite.

I was absolutely surprised. I thought it would be the opposite. opposite. I thought Kansas City would be a two-point favorite. But again, you know, it's, I just don't, I mean, listen, I understood, if we had not seen them play against Baltimore, right, we just saw them against Buffalo, like, I would get it. But after watching Baltimore and the dismantling of the Ravens, I can't make them an underdog. I don't think San Francisco could have gone into Baltimore and done that. I watched Baltimore unaddress the Niners. I'm like a non-competitive game. I mean, listen, I saw the Chiefs Lay and Egg in Denver.

Come on. I mean, the regular season, you know, we just start to have to look at it differently than we do the playoffs. I know people don't want to hear that, but that's the reality. Like Dan Campbell, sorry, bro, you can't coach the same way you did against the Falcons on Thursday against the Niners on the road. You just can't. And maybe Sanchez will poke holes in that. I'm curious what he has to say. Next up, Jim Harbault returning to the Chargers and the NFL in 2024. Everybody's excited. He was at the AFC championship game in Baltimore yesterday to cheer on his brother, John. probably should have asked him for some coaching advice. Harbaugh sat down with CBS before the game to talk about why he decided to make the move.

I love Michigan, but I love the NFL too. And there's no Lombardi trophy in college football. And, yeah, I got so many sands left in the hourglass. And I want to take a crack at that. And there's nowhere better to do it than with the Los Angeles Chargers. We work together. We win together. And it's worth it.

I mean, the hard work, the sacrifice. The pressure, all of it. Why would somebody put themselves through that? Because the rewards are just so darn good. I love that guy. I love his intensity. I just, you know, I mean, by the way, that's a lot of Dan Campbell. What I love about Dan is the intensity.

There is something about, like, there's that Mike Tomlin sort of intimidating, braval, intimidating physical presence. Harbaugh's got that. Sometimes you're like, he's a little unhinged. But when the game's down to the minute, situation. Unfortunately, Harbaugh's great. You may be excited to know this. So the schedule, obviously, not out yet, but you can see who the opponents are.

Oh, you can. Okay. Yes. Damn, the Chargers, they get to play NFC South, Colin. They get to face the Saints, the Falcons, the Bucks, and the Panthers. They will have a big quarterback edge in all four of those games. That is massive. Now, I don't even care where the games are.

By the way, I'm on Chargers. Early February, Sepulva is open for a championship parade. Let's make some reservations now. the city council. Sepulville is wide open. Right by South Prairie Street, SoFi Dome. Very excited. They also, they get Tennessee here at home.

Sofi Stadium. Yeah, Tennessee at home? We don't know what they're going to be looking like. Oh, my Lord. Will Levis, hope they can overcome that. Wow, I was thinking it would be an uphill climb, but the schedule, we'll see what happens. That is great news.

Well, I mean, you know, since the NFL is rigged, I'm sure they want Harbaugh to win. So they're scheduling softies, the NFC South. We'll wrap up here in the NFC. South with the Falcons passing on Belichick and not deciding to make him their head coach. They went with Rahim Morris. Now that means there's only two openings left, Colin.

Seahawks and the commanders. Everybody and their mom has Ben Johnson going to the commanders. How about Seattle goes after? Brable? I love Brable. How about the offensive coordinator for Houston? It's time for Seattle to have an offensive coach. It might be a bit of a jump.

All right. It's still, I don't know what, I thought they would have to end quince. straight Super Bowl with two offensive coaches. You know the side I like. I do. Are you surprised it's not announced as Quinn yet? What are they waiting for? If it's not Quinn, does Dallas invite Quinn back, Colin?

Yes. Of course. Of course. Why not? His playoff performance has left a lot to be desired. Let me tell you something. I don't know if you've noticed, but when you have to face these offenses. Oh, yeah, Jordan Love.

Oh, my gosh. By the way, San Francisco's defense, in the first half yesterday. Gashed, why? Because you're facing elite offensive coaching and elite players. These last four teams, we don't think Kansas City's roster's as good as the Niners.

It's fantastic. If you just don't know who they are, these rosters, you're not going to slow down. I got news for you. Purdy's going to move the chains and so is Mahomes. These two weeks with offensive coaches? Shanahan and Reed

with two weeks to prepare a game plan? So you're not burying Dan Quinn for getting eviscerating, rolled over by Jordan Love in the first half at home. Jordan Love and that Green Bay team have six receivers and tight ends I like. Did you watch them since week eight? Oh my gosh. They were rolling people.

Geez. If I'm Dallas, I don't know if I'm... You've got to change something, Colin. If I'm a bad segment, am I out? Not you, but maybe me. Well, that's under consideration. Somebody's got to take a fall. That is true.

That's one of your better takes. That is J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. I mean, I'm watching the Lions offense in the second half yesterday. And I'm like, yeah, the backs are great, the tight ends great, receivers great, quarterback's excellent. It's hard to start.

It's hard. And by the way, I get five days. So the first half is scripted. So San Francisco doesn't know what's coming. Then you go in at half time. Steve Wilkes go, all right, let's get us back in the fairway here, make some stops. This stuff's hard. I mean, all these games and we end up, you know, with Mahomes and the Niners roster kind of predictable.

It's hard to get through these teams. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger

than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told,

and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a game. galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Bring in Mark Sanchez, Fox Sports. Yeah. We have loved having Mark on. Now, he's got video. We're going to save that to the second half.

Now, let me ask you, because J-MAT brought up something. I am an analytic fan, but one thing analytics can't do in any of these sports. They don't know what stress, pressure, and momentum. You can't account for it. So is there an argument to be made, Mark Sanchez, that there's a big difference between Thursday on Amazon and that game yesterday, where if you do go for it and fail, team shrink quick in January. Is that fair? I think it's the higher stakes, the more criticism, you know, the more. scrutiny, all that.

I just feel like in those situations, there's this ongoing debate about analytics in general. And both of them are within less than a percentage point of go for it, kick the field goal, take the points. Remember, neither one is an exact science. Okay?

It's not a guaranteed field goal. 48-yard field goal. It's not a guaranteed field goal. And I understand the first one a little more than the second one. The first one, you're trying to like pile it on, and you still have the momentum, you're riding high on the horse, like feeling good about it.

And so, you know, if it's close, six one way, half a dozen the other, or right there, okay, man, go with your gut. That's what got you here. All those things, you know, like we're going to, we're going to keep riding our momentum. The second one in the second half, and I'm not saying tighten up in big moments, but it's, okay, if it's tight, I would probably err on the side of caution, manage your misses. Yeah. I'm in the woods here on my first shot. off the tee. It just got a little squirrelly. Let's just get back on the fairway instead of trying to hit the hero shot. Good analogy. You know what I mean? And landed on the green. Unless it's, you know, the very, very end of the game and hey, man, this is all we got.

You know, this guy's on fire. I can't stop him anyway. Whatever. I'm a little more on board with the first one than I am the second one. But, I mean, we're splitting hairs here on this analytic stuff. And once again, I don't think it's fair for people to just hide behind it. Like, well, the number said it, so I did it. I don't think that's cool because that's one end of the spectrum. I think the other end is just, hey, I'm going, you know, doing what I do and forget analytics.

I know this game more than the number. Well, I don't think that's the healthiest way to go about it either or the most successful way to go about it either. I think there's some sort of balance, just like anything. But it was just, I think that the tide really turned after the guy, the ball hits off the guy's face. That's what I told him. You know, and then, you know, you heard Ayuk in the post game with Aaron Andrews say,

a ladybug landed on my shoe. Like, it was just like, after that, there was just this calamity of errors that couldn't be overcome. Listen. And I don't know, whatever it takes to get the momentum and get things going. Like, it was so palpable in both games. The momentum was real. It started off with, you know, the road team having their surge. And then one home team started to figure it out, the other one crumbled, you know.

And it was, that was a heck of a championship Sunday, man. That was really fun. You know, Mark, sometimes, though, you can go to the Edelman catch with Brady. No doubt. They're in almost every big game or big series. Something has to happen. You get a break. Somebody falls.

The guy runs into the referee. You know, like, things happen, and people get picked off. And that was the thing that happened. And you're just like, oh, my God. Are you kidding? Okay, everybody hang in there. You know, you're just kind of reeling. And it was the same thing.

with Baltimore. They get the huge play to Zay Flowers, boom, taunting penalty. Oh my, talk about wind out of the sails and just I mean, like a lead balloon, man, you're just like, what are we doing? So it's interesting. Let's go to the video, let's shift to Baltimore.

So there's always been a theory that you don't reach for the goal. Oh, yeah. Unless Belichick used to say, unless it's for the game. That's right, on fourth down. But in Zay Flowers, he's not really reaching for the end zone. So I mean, listen, Sneed made a great play.

Sneed made an incredible play. Sneed got beat and hung with the play. He never gave up. Were you bothered with that? To the very, very end. You can't reach. Can't reach. So you would have to...

I mean, that's really hard coaching. But that's it. I mean, you just can't do that. Can't do it. I mean, you're going to make it if you just dive with the ball like this. You see how far he landed in the end zone. You don't even have to reach. He's so athletic.

He's jumping from. the three and a half yard line, he's going to make it if the ball's tucked into his chest tight with two hands and nobody touches it. So he's going to make it either way. But yeah, I've had coaches say some horrible things about, you know, it's, that's one of the worst things you can do is reach like that. But then, so it's that taunting penalty that backs them up. Now they've got to waste some more plays to figure out how to get down again. Okay, they get in the end zone. Nope. Fumble. Okay, it's going the other way. then they have a 98-yard drive or whatever it was.

Kansas City pinned him down, and then they throw a pick in the end zone on a predetermined deep throw into a, once again, a defensive team meeting. I mean, the guy, there's three defenders right there, and the receiver's momentum is completely stopped, and he lobbed up. The guy almost fair caught the interception. Yeah. I mean, that was just a bad, you know, Lamar knows. You saw him throw his helmet down after.

He made a bad decision. So we talk a little bit about this. I felt like the lions are a younger version of the Niners, and they panicked a little. Is it fair now, whether it's fair or not? But he used an M-beat or a hardened example. I said, you know, I always figured like, Peyton Manning struggled in the playoffs early.

I'm not going to make a judgment. But as I watched the second half with Lamar, I'm like, listen, there does appear to be a thing, which is you never blitzed Brady or Mahalms. Like, don't you get burned. There is a little bit of a vibe in the league now. Bring the house on Lamar, and take your chances.

Is that now the label on Lamar? I think anytime you bring one more than you can protect with, when you bring eight and they're blocking with seven, when you bring seven and they're blocking with six, it's a direct call out to the quarterback. Because you're banking on, I'm going to get to you before you get rid of this ball

because you do not have the answer. You don't have an answer to beat this and we're going to hit you before this ball comes out. That's all you can do. And you tell the defensive backs, they know. I mean, they're like, this ain't playing with house money this is the other end you're scraping to get by you're off about six and a half yards five yards ish inside leverage because you don't want to get beat across

your face give the quarterback an easy throw inside you make him throw outside and he missed the ball to Nelson Aguilar up the like an inside fade route up to the left side the first time they ran an all-out pressure cover zero and he missed it he just missed the throw it was the right read he had the answer boom he was ready for it but if you don't beat it that time you know it's going to going to show up again. And you better be ready for it for the second time. And he wasn't. And it was just, I thought Coach Spagnola did an incredible job of forcing him to be a passer. I think the play calls too. I thought they would have run it a little more. On third and one, they ran like a full drop back. Like, I was like, what? They only had six running back here.

Remember, I've broken down clips on this show in this seat talking about they run read option with two options in the past game. So it almost becomes like a quadruple option where you're handing it, no, I'm keeping it, no, I'm throwing it. I mean, those kind of plays just leaves defenses running in circles and he's constantly like ahead of the chains and all this dynamic plays that they've had. And then they drop back on third and one. I was like, what are we doing? Well, that one was a big one. And then I thought what Spags did was the defense coordinator. I thought he did an excellent job with these strong dogs and weak dogs, meaning like these overload pressures that force Lamar to cut the field in half and focus on the other half.

And you could tell the rush, the blitzers were in sync with McDuffie, sneed, all the guys in the back end, meaning, okay, he's going to work this side, wait for his eyes to turn to us and then make our breaks, make our decisions. But feel out these routes, read the routes, let the rush get to him. And as soon as we cut that field in half, be ready to make a play. The ball's coming out because he's going to feel the heat from one side and he's coming right back to us. You could tell they just had like this beautiful dance and relationship. between the rush and the pressure and then the back end,

understanding when it was gonna happen. As soon as they turned up the heat, boom, turn on the gas, there goes the fire, here it comes, baby, it's gonna start sizzling, make it happen. And they were all over, man. I just thought they could have established that run a little bit more, just try and pound it,

man, you're Baltimore, man, that's you. That's your, you leave teams like bloodied and battered, like that's who you are. Yep. And so that shocked me a little bit. All right, we're gonna come back. He's got video on Brock Purdy, And golf from yesterday and what was, them had to be 47, 48 million

people watching it. And it was intense. It was two games. It really was. Detroit's Olin, controlled 90 minutes. And then here comes Purdy running around and making plays. The best of times and the worst of times. Yes, it was. Owning a Mercedes-Bin's extraordinary. It's extra easy. Full remote

access to your vehicle from your phone via the Mercedes MeConnect app. Pretty cool. Vehicles all electric, choice, all yours. All right. Learn more. M.B. USA.com slash EQ. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

Paulie Fusco here with Tony Fusco. You know, as the host of the number one rated Paulie and Tony Fusco show, we get tons and tons of fan mail every day. Piles of it. In fact, Tony, why don't you open up one of those letters right now and read what's inside? Yeah, listen to this. Dear Paulie and Tony, your sports takes are the dumbest and most terrible...

Wait, not that one. Open this other one. Dear Paulie and Tony, you suck. more than anyone. Not that one. Try this one. Dear Paulie and Tony, you guys are the absolute best.

There you go. At coming up with the stupidest takes possible. You know what? Forget what those clowns say. Just listen to the Pauli and Tony Fusco show on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Yeah.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman. documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories, that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, as always with Mark Sanchez. Don't forget first things first. About 20 minutes away, we've got video. So let's start with somebody who had a very very, good first half augmented by a dominating run game we know the lion's O line is really special

and it's young mostly it's going to be special for some years so let's talk about jared goff what you yeah i thought uh that first half plan ben johnson had it scripted perfectly they were executing at a high rate they're efficient i thought golf knew exactly where everybody was like it was just they they gave them their best shot you know right early on and stunned them you can't lie i mean I mean, George Kittle said it. Like, they had us. You know what I mean? We were fully on their heels.

Yeah, yeah. And that's exactly what you want to. And then you got to take them down, right? You got to, it's the analogy of like, you can't even let these guys breathe. You got to step on their throat and knock them out. Because good teams, you let them hang around. Then a couple plays happen here or there. Boom.

We fumble. Off the face mask. Oh, shoot, ball off the face mask. We miss a fourth down conversion. Boom. But in the first half, this is one of my favorite plays from Jared Gough. And I love their execution. and it's so funny, in these critical moments, you go to plays on a third and 18.

That's how efficiently they were hitting, like they're hitting at a high clip. But on a third and 18, that's essentially a give-up down. You're probably going to check it down, play for the field goal. And they run a play that we used to run it, a very similar version of it. But essentially, everybody on the field is running left or everybody on the field is running right. And we don't overcomplicate it. You call it lefty. It's not that hard, right?

And so in critical moments, you go back to what you know, day one install type plays. And I thought Jared Goff executed this perfectly. So on the 3rd and 18, they're going to motion. Go ahead and roll the clip. He feels that nobody's going to run across with Leporta in motion. So what is it? It's most likely zone.

Okay, great. You see Tashon Gibson in the back there talking to the other safety, who's going to end up being the buzz player in a three-deep zone. This is the Hawk cover three that the Seahawks made famous with Dan Quinn, Gus Bradley, Pete Carroll. That guy is going to have to decide in a minute which receiver to take. So Goff is going through his progression, left to right, like a sprinkler, all the way across the lawn. One to two, it's Reynolds.

It's Jamir Gibbs in the flat, and now he's got to come back and make a decision after moving up in the pocket. Finally a little pressure from Chase Young, not enough to get home, but he's reading this backside safety, who's filling in for whofonga, who, in my opinion, gives them a better shot. They're really missing him. But once he feels him turn his back and run with James and Williams up the field, Goff just rips this thing and felt that as it was happening and cut that thing loose on a third and 18. Are you kidding?

That's how you know things are just, the dominoes are falling in your favor and just an absolute seed. You're going to see it from Brock Purdy here in a minute. But on third and 18, I thought immediately when he stepped up, I thought he was just going to flip it to La Porta right in front of him,

and he's seeing the whole picture. That is peak quarterback play. But we got to talk about my guy Purdy. and you better give him his flowers. Two comeback wins in a row. I know, it's nice. I mean, this dude's nasty. Hold on.

Three scrambles from a guy who doesn't run like that, who's got a little get-up and go. He's got a little speed to him more than people assume. You got to watch this guy at practice. I've seen him at practice. They call him Baby Bosa. You know what your VMO muscle is, the inside part of your quad when guys have like a tear drop on the inside?

Yeah. I would say ask J. Mack, but he and I. We'll figure it out later. But they call him baby Bosa for a reason. He's got a strong lower body. And he's got some acceleration to him. Look at him. He's got a little giddy up, man.

Watch him bang into guys here. And that I could do without, you know, your best ability is availability. Let's get down there, big guy. I know you're all jacked up. And yeah, Bosa can do that kind of stuff. Your baby Bosa. So slide right there for me.

But what I loved is he snaps back into everything that they are. Who are they? They're a tough downhill. running attack. They can get into big personnel with Kittle, with use check, all their tight ends. They're going to show play fake with McCaffrey right out of the beginning of the third quarter. So they come out of halftime, and this is a second play, I believe, on a second and two, run down and show a hard play action. So go ahead and roll the clip. But I love that, once again, in times of crisis, critical moments, what do you do? Be who you are? Who are we? What's in our

DNA? Downhill rushing attack. Look at the cell on the two backers. They got to step up and fit the run. They have to respect it or McCaffrey's going to gash you. So now they got to retrace. Plus you got IUC sprinting through the middle of the field in zone coverage. He knows he's not getting this ball. This is for love of the game. Bus ticket, get out of my way, blow it open from my man, Debo coming in that window. And Brock sets up and manipulates these defenders and sees it all without even looking at Debo. He knows where he's going be that catch point is right between the middle of the field and the left hash and he just throws that ball in front expecting debo to cut it off that's the ultimate trust and then you see how how debo

reacts after he catches this ball he said yo give me another one remember zeke when zeke would get first downs and say hey feed me let's go and this totally reignited this team did then one play bounces their way then they stop them on a fourth down and all of a sudden oh we woke up the monster Here they come. Yep. And, you know, he just captured that and never faltered. You better give that guy a 1-800-flowers contract or something. Well, you know, it's a, come on now.

You know, I said this earlier. We know certain traits. We look for, you're tall. We look for size, mobility, cognitive ability. One of the things, and I've said this before, I've seen Aaron Rogers, Alex Rodriguez, Greg Norman, LeBron James at the Fritheland. I've seen all-time greats, get a little frenetic, get a little tight. Sure.

to be able in that moment I mean, Logan Ryan came on earlier said that's the loudest stadium. 11 years in the league, that's the loudest I've ever been. In that moment to do that, there is something that you can't at the Combine figure out. No, of course not. You have to be in those situations and test

your metal. Who are you when the pressure is applied? Who are you? Who are you? Great players can struggle. Oh, no doubt. And that's where, you know, you find out what this person is made of. And then if it doesn't work out, okay,

well, now what? Can you come back to that moment and attack it the right way? But what I loved that they did is, you know, I've heard coaches say this, the best coaches I've had, going into the game. There's nothing to make up today. There's no new footwork. There's no new reads. There's no new defenses that are just suddenly created on that day. Just stick to what we know. The rules are the same. We're using the same football we've used all year. The field is the same width and length. It's 120 yards including the end zones and 53 and a third yards wide. Everything is the same. There is nothing different to become on game day. So I know people say like they rise to the occasion. Dude, this guy sunk to the level of his training. This is, this is a day one play action install,

both cases of teams in critical moments going back to what they do best and who they are, exactly who they are. Gough is an elite processor. He knows how to get on a pure progression, read one through five left to right. That is who he is. So in these critical moments on third and 18, put them in that position. Don't make up some new play. Don't put them on the run. Why would we do that? Let's just be who we are, do what got us here. And I love that they snap back into that reality of, hey, man, we're a bully. We can handle this by doing what we do. Let's just execute on one play. And then let's do it again. Okay, let's see if we can do it again. Yeah.

And it was such, it was so impressive to watch them rebound like that in the second half and just control the game. So breaking news, Travis Kelsey is not washed. He does appear to still have something in the tank. It reminded me a little, and I'm showing my age, of that Kellyn Winslow Miami game years ago for the Chargers, where like his jersey he's soaking wet, that it was one of these moments where you're like, man, do we get how great this guy is? I mean. Both of them together.

And here's the thing is, it was funny because that game I was watching with a bunch of people we were doing an event for Mescal Campante and we're watching this thing. How do they do that? How do they come up with these plays? And those are off script, off schedule. Those are six years in the making of reps together. Those are hanging out in the off season playing video games talking about stuff. These are some of these, Kyle Hamilton played that.

There is no defense for that. throw for the back shoulder. There is no defense for this. This is video game stuff. The way he stopped instead of running on that corner. On paper, that route shows you continue to run like a high angle corner. He stopped because he saw a cornerback in his way and knew I could turn around. Mahomes isn't going to throw this ball where I'm not going. He's going to know by my body language that I'm going to slow down and throttle in this window and he just dots him with the football. Those aren't beating a defensive scheme. There's guys in position to make those plays. You're just making a play. Now, to get them to do this over and over and over the sustainability of that, that's going to be the

key for the Niners, in my opinion. They got to make them do these. They got to make them have 10 of those plays. And do it consistently. And if they do it, they deserve to win. You know what I mean? But these aren't plays that you are necessarily drawing up for a specific situation. These are counters and, you know, it's almost like improv comedy. You're just working the room and making jokes about something that somebody said or is wearing or whatever, and you just have the experience together to get you to the punchline, to the finish line. Like, that is, they're not being a scheme.

There, there are something, something silly. Yeah, it's, we, we tend to do this in the media. I've been guilty where we sort of bury the grates and we're like, it's done. And then all of a sudden, I mean, I remember burying Brady after they were seven and five. I'm like, hey, Tom's older. and all of a sudden he goes on this run. And I do think with Travis Kelsey, I was saying earlier, it's like, oh, he's got the superstar, the podcast, the commercial.

You know, it's the last year. Maybe you spread a little too thin. And then you're like, that's as good a game as he's ever played. Yeah, some of those guys like. You know, he told Andy in week 18 instead of a cheap milestone, he told Andy, can I get a week off? Can I rest? Yeah.

He knows. He knows. That was something. That was some backyard ball. So Mark Sanchez, we'll get him one or two more times here. the next few weeks, but it's two weeks to the Super Bowl. They always say paralysis by analysis, but we've got Andy Reid and Shanahan. The rematch period.

Mark, it's going to be such a smart-looking game. Oh, no doubt. And there'll be, you know, one or two key plays, a special teams play that kind of puts them over the edge. Remember the Cadarius Tony punt return last year against the Eagles, put them in prime position, a critical penalty at the end of the game on the pass interference, controversial call, whatever. it's going to be one of those plays that flips it.

And somebody's going to capture that momentum and ride it through the finish line. But that's going to be a good one. It's great. I want to thank everybody. Logan Ryan of the Niners stop by today. How lucky were we, Mark Sanchez. We always feel lucky Colin Wright, wrong. We'll put it on the podcast.

Jay Mack and I, we like the Ravens. Ravens No More. And I think we both feel like Kansas City should be the favorite, not the Niners. What do we know? Not much after yesterday. Mark, thanks again. We'll see you tomorrow live in Los Angeles. It's the hurt.

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, S&L'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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever, you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.