The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Richard Sherman Podcast - NFL Divisional Round Reaction: Cowboys-49ers, Bengals-Bills, Giants-Eagles & Jaguars-Chiefs

Episode Date: January 23, 2023

Richard Sherman reacts to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. He destroys the Dallas Cowboys for their loss to the San Francisco 49ers and explains why Joe Burrow is on the same tier as Patrick Mahomes after the Cincinnati Bengals' road win over Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The Philadelphia Eagles looked dominant again against the Giants, but will the 49ers beat them to reach the Super Bowl? The Kansas City Chiefs got the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Patrick Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain in the victory. Will it impact him when the Chiefs face Joe Burrow's Bengals? #volume #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the Richard Sherman podcast presented by Fandul. It's NFL playoff time and there's no better place to get in on the action than Fandle. The app is safe, secure, and easy to use. Fandual has exclusive offers, boosts, and more all month long.

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See terms at sportsbook. Fandul.com. Gambling problem, call 1800 gambler. The volume. All right, welcome back to the Richard Sherman podcast. It's a really exciting week, Mitchell. Playoff football. Who's going to the title game?

Niners are. I know you love you some Niners, Rich, but they're going to have a tough match. match of this weekend proved it. The elites are in the final four, Rich. I think that is safe to say, let's start down in Phillyland, though. I know you got some people in Philly that like you a little bit where you've been talking positively about them throughout the year. But they absolutely took it to the Giants. You did not see this coming, Rich. On the last podcast, you were all over the Giants. Ten minutes into that game, I'm sure you were thinking otherwise. Mitchell, they did not show up at all, Mitchell.

The team that played during a regular season that was competitive, that was, I mean, Dexter Lawrence was all over the place during a regular season, didn't get a pressure in the game, not anything, Mitchell. Their big-time playmakers, their D-line that was really dominant throughout the season, did not show up at all. Oh, it was disappointing. But on the flip side, Jalen Hertz looked really good. The Philly offense looked unstoppable against that defense.

Wink Martindale couldn't come up with anything to stop that offense. He couldn't figure it out. that defense, James Brad Barry's revenge game went outstanding. Got him an interception. They cut him this year, Mitchell. They cut him and he returns to send them home. Mitchell, that is like storybook ending. Mitchell, Mitchell, you cut me for cap relief.

Mitchell, when you're on a team that doesn't pay the quarterback yet, you're not paying a quarterback $50 million. You don't need cap relief. So they didn't have to cut him, Mitchell. They didn't need to save money, yada yada, he wasn't making a crazy amount of money. He was making what he deserved. and of course he goes and has an all-pro season and sends you home.

New York Giants, you deserve what you got. Congratulations, James Bradbury, Darius, Slay, Brandon Graham, all those big-time playmakers they got. Oh, it was cool to see. The NFL playoffs are here. If your team's in, it's going to be fun. But what if you could actually be at the game? That'd be fun.

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The Giants handling Minnesota very easily. And then it's just, you know, it's kind of this big brother mantra where the Eagles just take care of business. The Giants enter the offseason in murky waters. You know, Daniel Jones finally was starting out to find his footing down the stretch. Now he might have found his foot out the door after a performance. like this. Rich, before we talk more about Philly, I want to address the elephant in the room with Daniel Jones. Are you extending him beyond this season if you are in the New York Giants front office?

I'm not. I'm not. I can't even think of a number to give him. You know, I can't think of a number. They're arguing with Gino about $30 million right now. People are like, oh, I don't know. So what are you going to give Daniel Jones? That number would be, all right? If you can't give Gino coming off a Pro Bowl season, $30 million, to which can you give Daniel Jones? And I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what you do to him. Do you give him a $15 million, $10 million? deal and tell them, you know, prove it with incentives if you hit the playoffs or you can do certain things that can get you up to 20, 25 maybe, but that seems crazy. You know, that seems, that doesn't seem like it's in the cards. And they need, they have other problems. They need to find a way to get some playmakers that received. They still got to pay all the day and they're not getting out of that contract right now. So I think they're a year away from getting out of that contract.

And they just need to find more playmakers. Saquan is another one. What are they going to do with Seekwine? He says he doesn't want to break the bank. He says he doesn't need top, top, top. He doesn't need to reset the market, but he needs something favorable. Everybody sounds good. Everybody's a hometown discount until they're not.

Mitchell, until they're not. So we'll see what he does, but they need to find more talent on offense. They were able to do a lot with the little this year offensively. They need to correct that. Let's get back to the Eagles. 28 to nothing at halftime. It's the fifth largest halftime lead in playoff history. This team was dominant.

And again, I know you had questions coming into this game. Does this level of dominance, you know, quell some of your concerns surrounding this football team? No, Mitchell, they just overwhelmed and overmatched opponent, just like the Dallas Cowboys did against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They beat a team that barely slipped into playoffs. Like, should the Giants have been in the playoffs, that's debatable. You know, they were playing for their playoff lives, but they made it. So congratulations. But they were a Cinderella story for even being in the playoffs.

You know, that was a great year for Day Bowl and his first year coaching. But they weren't expected to do anything. So I'm not giving them like, hey, you know, I think it's going to be a great game between them and the 49ers. I think it's going to be a dogfight. I don't think they play the defense as good as the 49ers defense, Dallas Cowboys. I mean, you know, they thought, you know, they thought, and then they weren't. So I think it's going to be a great game. Well, Rich, let's change pace here.

We got to go over to the AFC. The other game that was played on Saturday was in Kansas City, the gritty Jaguars team. You know, no one saw them getting, you know, into the second round. certainly midway through this season. And here they were, you know, with a shot. You saw Patrick Mahomes go down with a high ankle spraining. All of a sudden, there was, there was light at the end of the tunnel for this Jaguar's team. And they just didn't take advantage, Rich. Break it down for me. They didn't want to win that game, Mitchell. I mean, Trevor Lawrence wanted to win that game, but Agnew, I mean, you know, it feels bad for the kid. It's a fumble, but that's a blunder.

That's a blunder. That's a huge blunder in a situation where they needed to have it. And they had done so much to get in that game, to get back in that ball game after blunder after blunder. But congratulations, Jacksonville, there's Hope, Doug Peterson, heck of a coach. There's, you know, there's a future there. People are excited. They should be excited in Duval. But the real story coming out of Kansas City should be Patrick Mahones. The high ankle sprains do not heal that quick, Mitchell. They do not. They do not. He stayed out there. He soldiered through, but you played against a terrible Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Congratulations. Those boys that's coming from Cincinnati, they are hungry and they are hunting. The plan

he had against them last year, Mitchell, to beat Patrick Mahones, not a hobbled Patrick Mahones, not a high ankle sprained Patrick Mahones, a very healthy Patrick Mahomes went home when he faced this defense last year. And they're more experienced, Mitchell. They're better. They're playing with confidence. They're not second guessing whether they should be here or not. They know they should be here, Mitchell. They're feeling like favorites. You know, it's different when you got the underdog mentality and you're like, we're not supposed to be here. Mitchell, they're walking into places. They're walking into restaurants. And the waitress already knows they're order. Mitchell, they're supposed to be here. This ain't the first time they go. They know what it

looks like to get to the NFC championship game. They know what the signs on the field going to look like, what practice is going to look like. They know what a Super Bowl week looks like. And it's starting to, Mitchell, it's starting to smell real familiar. Well, I know you like the Bengals, Rich. The reality is Mahomes is different. And I know he's going to be hobbled going in the next week. But he had to overcome this week. And one of the big things, big storyline, especially Jaguars, Like, how do you allow Travis Kelsey to catch 14 balls understanding who's under center and the situation that is going on? I mean, Mahomes is so limited.

How does that happen? Mitchell, I question how some of these de-coordinators, like, what they game plan and how they think of these game plans all the time. And it was just unfortunate, but 14 balls, Mitchell, even if he wasn't their number one target, a Hall of Fame worthy tight-in. And, like, for 14, you got to cut the water off at 10, Mitchell. after 10 catches, you're like, hey, somebody else got to catch the ball and beat us down the stretch. But this is their second best player behind my home.

You know he's getting the ball. You know he's his security blanket. You know if he's hurt, he's going to look for him and he's going to bail him out. You don't cover him with D. Lyman. It was like the scout team, Andy Reid was drawn up scout team plays and putting himself in the best scenario possible. He's like, hey, yeah, on this play, D.N. Guard Travis. Yeah, yeah, I know nobody will ever do this. I know nobody will ever do this, but let's put a D-N on Travis and let's see how it looks.

We want to work these plays. And they did it consistently, Mitchell, they did it multiple times. And that's poor coordinating. That's poor play calling. Like, you've got to double him. I'll tell you what. The other guy that we all owe a severe hat tip to is Chad Henney. You know, he let him let him through that little dark situation there.

98-yard touchdown drive, Rich. I mean, that was a huge, huge turning point in this. game. The momentum swung to the Jaguars as soon as Mahomes went to the locker room. And Chad Henney drives him down 98 yards. Let's not forget. I mean, this is the same Chad Henney when Mahomes got knocked out a couple of seasons ago. Against the Browns. You know, and we thought, hey, maybe this is Baker Mayfield's time to shine. And Henney goes out there and secures the dub form. I mean, huge, huge, huge. But that's the difference, Mitchell, in playoff football. You, like, certain guys have killer in them, Mitchell.

We had killer in us. Like, when you smell blood, Mitchell, they are going to fold and we're going to make sure they fold. Mitchell, I don't care if they're a steel beam. We fold them. Like, and there's no killers. There were no killers on Jacksonville's defense. There was no killers that wanted to say, hey, we putting this fire out. Like, they didn't have that.

And that's why they went home because you don't deserve to be in the playoffs. It was the same thing with the Giants. You don't have any killer instinct out there. You don't have any guys that understand the same. sense of urgency, like win or go home, backs against the wall, fight. Like, you're backs against the wall and you're folding up and cowering. You don't deserve to be out there. And I hope you go home, you know, because nobody wants to see those teams play.

You will let Chad Hiddy go on a 98-yard drive for the game when you could, that, that's everything can change right here. You got your chance. You got your opportunity. Like, like, it's like, hey, you better lose, you know, Eminem said it. You better lose yourself in the music, the moment, you know. They didn't lose themselves, Mitchell. They lost.

They lost. They lost. Richard, they sure did. They're going home. They're going to be game planning for next season in the NFL draft. That's what they have to look forward to. If you've been watching the NFL playoffs from the sidelines, there's still time to get in the game with Fanduel. America's number one sportsbook.

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See terms at sportsbook. Vandual.com. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler. 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, Clifford 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black. Black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Onward goes KC. And their foe in the AFC, we already touched on them briefly.

Well, let's go to Buffalo. The Bengals, victorious, 27 to 10. You called the Bengals win, but did you think it would be this commanding, this dominant? Yes, I did, Mitchell. I did. I thought that the Buffalo Bills were on a downward trajectory. I thought it was starting on that January 2nd game where DeMar Hamlin got hurt, you know, in that tragedy. And thank goodness, everybody's healthy. But I thought this was going to happen then. I thought the Cincinnati Bengals were about to run wreck shop on the Buffalo Bills. And the DeMar Hamlin situation saved them from that embarrassment. You know, it brought the world together and did all that, but it saved them from that. And it saved them from a game in Cincinnati, because this game should have been happening in

Cincinnati because they would have won that game. They would have had a higher seed. Buffalo would be going to Cincinnati, and they'd have a long flight home right now. Instead, they just got a short drive. But I expected this. Joe Burrow, you know, you hear about all the, you know, oh, Mahone's arm talent and this and that. And you never hear him talk about Burroughs. You know, like he's just a regular Joe Schmoe out there. But he keeps finding a way to beat them. Like when you talk about the elite quarterback conversation, Burroughs needs to be over. over Josh Allen every single time. Now, you can't put him over Mahomes.

Mahomes has been MVP and likely will be MVP this season. So you're not putting him over Mahomes. Mahones is in his own class right now. He's in his own class. But then it's Burrell. Then it's not Josh Allen. It's not all of these creative players on the wrong. Sure, Burrell's not running around and creating with his feet.

He's commanding. Mitchell, he's taking what the defense gives him every time. When he was younger, he might have, you know, hey, they're putting his shell defense up. he might throw a few into the shell because he's just, he's not patient enough. He's impatient. So he wants to, he wants to big play. Now he's patient, Mitchell.

He's a stone cold assassin. He says, hey, I'll look you and eye and I walk this ball down the field up and down. And that's what Tom Brady used to do. Mitchell, Tom Brady used to take what you give. If you give him a bomb, he's going to take it. But if you don't, he's going to walk it down the field all the way and execute the red zone and score. Get the ball back.

Execute, walk the ball down the field, get to the red zone, score. Like, he is not impatient. And their defense, Mitchell, a bunch of guys you never heard of, but they dominated. Their defensive line dominated this game. They dominated Buffalo's offensive line, and that's a really good offensive line. They're not no slaps. They're not a team that's not supposed to be here.

They're a team with high expectations. And their offensive line, who is down three starters, dominated. A bunch of guys you could not name, Mitchell, dominated. And if they continue to play like that, Mitchell, they will be in the Super Bowl. They certainly look like a team that belongs in the Super Bowl. And you're right about Joe Burrow, Rich. I mean, this is a guy that you look at him.

I'm sure if you pulled all the GMs in this league now, who they would want to build a team around, if they could start from Ground Zero. I'm guessing probably 50% of them would take Burrow over Mahomes. I mean, this guy has that killer instinct. And Tony Romo was touching on it, you know, during the commentary of the game. You know, they're giving him that hate manning ability

to direct traffic at the line of scrimmage. And you're seeing this evolution of Burroughs game. where, man, I think we might be walking into a five, 10-year window now where the AFC's owned by Joe Burrow, because they're beating teams that they were relatively heavy underdogs on the road, Rich. I mean, this is not normal. He walked into his pest conference. They asked him, Mitchell, they asked him a question. And, you know, you're in an age where you say anything wrong, you have any confidence in yourself,

you're arrogant. He said, how long is your Super Bowl window? Huh. How long I'm going to be playing? It's open, baby. It's open. You say, Mahomes? I beat him three times.

I beat him thrice. You say, Josh Allen? Give me a few days. I'll show you what I'm going to do with him. And Mitchell, he's doing it and he's expecting. He's not like, it doesn't look like he's surprised by it, Mitchell. He doesn't look like, oh, man, like, I'm excited. Like, they're on a 10-game winning streak.

Franchise record. Mitchell, they never won 10 straight. Just like the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco 49ers are, I think, 11 straight. How does fish grease, Mitchell? I don't know if you ever got to. touched by fish grease, but it's hot. They were confident against the Chiefs, even with Mahon's healthy.

They felt like they could beat them. With him hobbled like this, Mitchell, Cincinnati is going to come and they are going, expect them to be aggressive early on in that ball game. I wouldn't doubt. Well, let's look at the team that lost that game, Buffalo. They're kind of looking like the Buffalo of old, you know, getting there but not getting over the hump.

And now they're losing, you know, what is this, three in a row where they've got a team capable of potentially one in the Super Bowl and they can't even get there. What's got to change for Buffalo to get past this huge mountain that is developing in front of them, winning the Super Bowl? They need Von Miller to be healthy first off. That'll be a big help defensively to help them get more pressure and more stops. But offensively, I mean, can Day Bowl come back? Oh, Day Bowl are not coming back?

Then they got to figure out, they got to call Day Bowl and let him teach a class to them on how to run this offense. because Josh Allen's stats may look similar to last year, but it does not look the same on paper. It does not look the same on the tape. He did not look comfortable. He did not have open receivers. He was just throwing it into coverage a lot of times. And the Bengals were not giving him anything easy.

Like, they weren't creative. You didn't see the screen game opening up. You didn't see digs running open. You didn't see digs being dynamic, isoed backside, one-on-one slants and go routes, hitches, you know, finding his rhythm. You didn't see any of that. You just saw, hey, Josh, you.

could you do something for us? You know, it's like, have you ever heard the tone by drinking 21-7? You know, 21, can you do something for me? You know, Mitchell, I get you caught up on me. Rich, I think you're right. I mean, what was missing for me watching the game was an overall sense of urgency. You know, I mean, they got down 14 points right out the gates, and it's just they could never get to reinsert themselves competitively back in this game.

And now since he's onward and potentially upward, I'm beyond excited. for this AFC title game. But I know you're even more excited to talk about another game that happened today, Rich. You're 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys, you know, coming out with a win here. This game was close, right? But the Niners defense just held strong. And Dak just could not overcome your thoughts on this game, Rich. I told you, Mitchell.

I told you. I told you. I told you. Mitchell, the Dallas Cowboys are not built like that. They are not. Everybody's like, oh, you know, San Francisco hasn't played anybody in the last eight games. You know, they haven't played a defense like that. Okay, I hear you.

That's true enough. You just lost to Brock Purdy. Understand, a third string quarterback, mystery relevant rookie. So when I hear anything Dallas Cowboys, just remember that. Not that Brock Purdy. This isn't a slight to Brock Purdy at all. Brock Purdy's having an incredible run. He deserves all the credit in the world.

But if I told Dallas Cowboys fans, before the season started, hey, you know the kid they just drafted with the last pick? He's going to put your out of the playoffs this year. They would have laughed in my face. Well, guess what? He just sent you all home. And I hear every time this Cowboys team is different. I heard Micah Parsons say, Mitchell, he said, this is the matchup we wanted. Well, Mitch, Micah, you wanted to go home because this matchup was never going to not send you home.

So, Micah, you are playing, you're not playing their, the guy that drafted number three in the draft a couple years ago. You're not playing him. You're not playing him. You're not playing Jimmy Garoppolo, who's going to sit in that pocket and can't get around. You're not playing him. You're playing a rook. So you would think, oh, man, we're really confident. Ah, this rook different.

Brock Purdy's a little different. Like, he's poised. He's not worried about you. I don't think Michael Parsons had a sack in the game, Mitchell. He just had pressures. He's a pressure guy, Mitchell. He's not a finisher. And that's a great caveat to the Dallas Cowboys, Mitchell,

because they're pressure guys, Mitchell. They almost get there and then they don't. Mitchell, they almost make the play and then they don't. But you know who's not, Mitchell? Kyle Shanahan. Kyle Shanahan, three out of the last four years, they're in the NSC title game. It don't matter if they start the season three and five, five and oh,

undefeated, 11-game winning streak heading. They thought this team was on an 11-game winning streak and they were going to fold to the Dallas Cowboys. The Seattle Seahawks last week, Mitchell, put up more points in a half than Dallas Cowboys put in the whole game. They didn't score second offensive touchdown. And I keep hearing, I was hearing Dallas fans like they had never watched the 49ers. Like they didn't know they had three all pros on their defense. Every level has an all pro.

Look at the D line. Nicholas, John Bosa. Come on now. Second level. Frereico, Anthony, Warner. Come on. And then you go to the third level, the surprise of the bunch, Tylenoa Hufanga.

And he makes him key plays, but it was Jimmy Ward, Mitchell. It was Jimmy Ward creating chaos out there. Jimmy Ward who ended this game, and he looked good, Mitchell. But do not forget about the young kid, the guy much maligned throughout the season. What is the other corner outside of Tahrarius War going to do? Diomador, Lenore. It was like he stopped time for a second, took two steps, and then started the clock. because for some reason,

Dak, he was standing two steps in front of it. He was waiting for Dak. It was like when you had your quarterback throw the ball for the drill and he's like taking too long. Like, hurry up and throw it. I'm about to pick this. Like, throw it.

Mitchell, Dak was overwhelmed. This moment was too big for him. And when they lost your guy, Mitchell, they lost Tony Pother. Hopefully it's just a high ankle sprain. He recovers usually six to eight weeks and he has a good offseason and he gets his money. The Dallas Cowboys haven't been to the NFC title game

since Dion. Mitchell, since Dion. Dion is coached two universities now. Mitchell, they ain't been since Dion. Dionne and played for different teams. The Ravens coached high school, won championships, was in the SWAT. And they ain't been to the NFC title since.

That's a claim to fame, Dion. Like, look, without me, y'all not seeing the Super Bowl, because they have it. And that's the reality. And something has to change. years. Like, oh, the Dallas Cowboys, because they get all these prime time games. People are so high on them. Oh, they're going to do it. Zeke had 10 carries for 26 yards. Without Tony Pollard, there is no offense. You talk about C.D. Lamb, had a solid game, had the big explosive that

gave him great catch. He had a solid game, 10 for 117. Demarchus Lawrence had a sack, but you're not feeling good coming out of this game. Like, what's next for them? That's the big question. And I think they'd be fools to let Tony Pollard walk, you know, first off. Zeke is a one-trick pony at this point in his career, in my opinion. I know you like them, Rich, but 10 carries 26 yards in the playoffs, a game that you cannot lose, and that's a level out of production that you have. I mean, come on. But Mike McCarthy, you know, let's talk about the coach right now.

Does he stick around? Does he find himself in that same position next year? if he's coaching the Dallas Cowboys, Mitchell, what are we talking about? What did I just tell you? Mitchell, since Dion, they've had different coaches. I'm not going to put it all on McCarthy. They won games. They had a decent season.

But no matter who the coach has been, they have not gotten over the hump. They are divisional and done. Divisional and done. Mitchell, let's put a beat behind it. Divisional and done. Divisional and done. You know what I mean? Kind of ordeal.

Like they're not getting past that. Mitchell, and the San Francisco 49ers are poised. I told my cousin, he left a comment on one of my pictures. And he was like, Cuzzle, this is a different year for the Niners ain't ready for this. I said, Cuzzle, you haven't watched them play. They got an all pro on all three levels. And the kid at quarterback does everything they needed him to do. Christian McKay, they got more playmakers than y'all.

George Kittle did it this time, Mitchell. George Kittle, big plays throughout the game, a big penalty called holding a call where he would have got open and got a touchdown on a would-be sack. The guy got sacked on the play. It was third down. Would it took him out of, well, it made it a field goal. But that was a huge play. He made a huge catch to really get him sparked.

CMC didn't have the greatest game, but he had the Russian touchdown. He had six receptions, huge, huge third down conversions. And Brock Purdy out playing, Dak. Prescott had a TD, but he had two interceptions, costly interceptions, one of them in the red zone. And he just didn't look in control. Brock Purdy always looked in control, Mitchell. and he's throwing harder passes. Like anytime everything is going inside for the 49ers,

those are tough passes. And sure, he got lucky. Trayvon Diggs had an interception right in his hand that got tipped. Mitchell was the playoffs. If Fips was fifth, Mitchell, we'd all be drunk. We would. Let's get to something here, though, Rich, that it's going to be a question, I'm sure,

and I want to jump too far ahead. But let's just talk in hypotheticals here. Kyle Shanahan came out earlier this week and said, you know, Jimmy G is going to be good to go here relatively soon. I don't know if that's going to be the NFC championship game or the Super Bowl. But assuming he is healthy, 100% healthy, are you putting him back under center? Are you giving this to... No, no. Not even a question, eh?

No, not even a question. Not a debate. Not a conversation. Jimmy's healthy, perfect. We'll have a solid backup in case any disaster happens. will still feel like we have a chance in the Super Bowl. But no, you're not even considering that, Mitchell. This kid has done too much.

It's not the completions in the passes that get you. It's when he gets you out of plays that Jimmy wouldn't have been able to get you out of. When there's pressure coming and he spins around. And not that he's making a great pass, but he's not allowing it to be a sack. So instead of it going from second and 10 to third and 15, third and 14, it's third and 10. And that can be done. And instead of, you know, you get a little bit on first down,

so it's second and seven, and then you get pressure on. The offensive line had a bit of a rough day early on in the first half, and he kept them in it. He didn't take a lot of sacks. Sure, he threw the ball away when he had to, but those are huge. And his little bit of mobility is something that Calhachanahan values. I mean, that's why he went and got Tray Lance.

He wanted mobility, and this guy has just enough to get it done. But you know what else I want to say, Mitchell? Let's hear it. You know, you know how worried D'Amico Rines was? For the Dallas Cowboys, let me tell you how worried he was, Mitchell. He had four job interviews this week, Mitchell. He had four job interviews this week. Head coach job interviews.

He had to prepare for him. He had to get, I'm sure there were at least a couple hours. Mitchell, he had two today. Mitchell, he had two today. He had two job interviews, head coach interviews today. I don't want to. And then ended his day beating the team, you know, that he needed to, you know, whatever you had to do.

You just love it. You love it. I don't want to take anything away from Damiko, but it helps when you have a first team all pro at all levels, Rich. You know that, you know that, but obviously he's done a hell of a job with this team. I mean, this defense is an absolute juggernaut. And this was a game.

I was a little skeptical. I love 49ers. You know, I think they're a hell of a team, but this was the first really, really true test. I think for Brock, more than the team. I think for Brock Purdy, this was the biggest test of his career. And yeah, I mean, statistically didn't look phenomenal, but like you said, Rich, played with poise, never put the ball into the opposing team's hand. You know, 19 to 29, 214 yards, it's going to get it done.

He did enough to get the team a win. You know, he's gutsy. I mean, that's the reality of it. But the other thing I love about this team is CMC's banged up. I don't know what was going on with his calf or his heel or what was going on. But he comes out of that game and Elijah Mitchell comes in there and toast the rock down the stretch and gets him first down after first down. Granted, should have stayed in bounds on that last first down run, but nonetheless, like, it just shows you, Richard, the level of depth this team has at very, very key positions to be able to weather storms midgame and, you know, come out with wins. And then finally, Rich, you called this guy out a couple weeks ago, Diomador Lenore, and I know you like his game, but you said he's got to step it up.

And he has done just that these last two games, Rich, two picks, the last each of the last two games. when you have guys like this that are able to elevate their games, could be a recipe for something special. Mitchell, you know, on the flip side, Dak Prescott has been in the playoffs a bunch of times. He's been to the playoffs, Mitchell. He's gotten paid. He's considered a top 10, consistent top 10 quarterback.

Nobody's guessing that. But Brock Purdy's a rookie, mystery relevant, has more playoff wins, Mitchell. Don't shoot the messenger, Mitchell. I like that. I'm appreciative of what he's done. But if we're going to just call a spade a spade, call a spade. And I'm tired of people giving credit where credit is not due.

Josh Allen is also starting to teeter into that space. Josh Allen, I mean, last year, you're giving him the hype that he should have. If overtime would have happened, if they would have had a shot in overtime and got the ball back, he could have won that game. We gave him credit. Credits up. I need results. And the results weren't there. Joe Shishty came in there and took everything that was on your plate.

Opinions over statistics, of course, Rich. Come on now. You already know that Drake line. Come on now. Yes. Mitchell, opinions over statistics, of course. And that's what the Dallas Cowboys are. Their opinions over statistic.

The star is bigger than their star power, Mitchell. The noise is bigger than the play. Mitchell, and it's every year. They have not been since 95, Mitchell. 95 was a long time ago. We're in 2023. We get to 2025. it's good night.

It'll be a long three decades. That would be three decades for those that are doing the quick math at home. So, Richard, this concludes the divisional playoff weekend. We're going to have, I'm sure we're going to have a couple of guests this week. And obviously, we're going to have some previews going into next weekend's game. It's going to be some amazing matchups. Last question, I'll leave you with, Rich. do you believe the top four teams in this league are playing in these next games last weekend?

Yes, I think these are the best four teams in National Football League. I think these are teams, I mean, if the league could have picked it, I'm sure they would have had Buffalo Chiefs just because they wanted to sell the neutral site or deal and proof of concept kind of deal, you know, neutral. But this isn't the Cincinnati Bengals team from last year where you're like, I mean, I mean, how are they going to win? Like you're like, you're looking like, how are they going to win the Super Bowl? You know how they're going to win the Super Bowl.

Like, they got them playmakers on the outside. The secondary is a lot better than last year. They're playing a lot more confident. And that D-line, they mean, they rugged, they can do it. In Kansas City, it's just consistency. But if somebody can stop Travis Kelsey and they can get going on that defense, this can go, this can go. And I think the Cincinnati Bengals, they beat them earlier this year. They beat them last year.

They beat them a few times, Mitchell. They beat them three times. three and O in the last three meetings. So they feel confident they can get it done again. With everything on the line, they just went to Buffalo and got it done, Mitchell. So snow, rain sleet of snow. Joe Burroughs, you got to get a ball to Joe.

He's getting it done, Mitchell. Give me a time. Yeah, we got a couple more days to work on that. Right, right, right. Well, Richard, it's been a hell of a weekend. We're going to have a great week ahead of us. I'll let you sign us off. Well, I appreciate you guys joining us.

I had a lot of fun here. Cowboys fans, I'm sorry. You guys talked a lot on my. timeline, you gave guys a lot of comments on my videos, and you gave me a lot of ammo. I sat there. I didn't respond to a lot of them because I was sitting there holding this in. I knew this would happen. You knew this would happen. Dak knew this would happen. McCarthy knew this would happen. Jerry Jones knew this would happen because this is always what happens. And so next year, when your team's 12 and 4 or 13 and 4,

whatever it is, or 12 and 5, just shut up and hope. that they can beat the San Francisco 49ers. Because you know who's going to be there again? The San Francisco 49ers. So you don't walk into that game confident. You walk in there humbly and hope for a win. But I appreciate you guys joining me. Hit that sub button if you knew.

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