The Herd with Colin Cowherd - What's Wright - Best Of - Ravens FIRE John Harbaugh, Top 5 NFL Playoff Storylines + Wild Card Predictions | Nick Wright

Episode Date: January 11, 2026

All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet.  Nick Wright reacts to the Baltimore Ravens firing head coach Jim Harbaugh after their heartbreaking Sunday Night Football loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 of the NFL season. What's next for Lamar Jackson? Next, Nick shares his top five storylines of the NFL Playoffs including Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills Super Bowl quest as well as how Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and the other young QBs perform under postseason pressure. Later, Nick shares his predictions for every game of Wild Card weekend!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey, Jonas, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert 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 ice.

Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 funny.

You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis' keep coming 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, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Most people out here think that taking care of one another is important. And most people would step up for a neighbor going through a tough time. Most people around here help out friends and family when they need it. But the funny thing is, most of us won't look for help when we need it. Talk to someone if you're struggling with mental health. Because most people out here really care.

Find more information at loveyourmindtay.org. That's loveyourmindtay.org. Brought to you by the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council. Welcome to the best of the week for What's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy. The Steelers beat the Ravens in just an epic final game 272 of the 2025 NFL season. And before I get to how seriously I'm taking the Steelers,

The real story is, of course, this season from Baltimore. And the developing story is that at the moment, it's 10.45 a.m. Eastern on January 6th. What was happening five years ago today at this time? It's 1045 Eastern for six years ago. At this time, I should say. And John Harbaugh still has a job. So right now it's status quo in Baltimore. And we'll get into that piece of it as well.

But first, I do want to show actual empathy. And I mean this. This isn't tongue in cheek. This isn't me being a smart ass. This isn't me doing any subtle. I told you so stuff about Lamar, who had such an interesting. game Sunday night.

But over the last 10 years, it is hard to find a franchise that has dealt with more end-of-season stomach punches than the Baltimore Ravens. And it's literally nine of the last 10 years. So if I may go through it just quickly, because this does, the Ravens, because they've had such success compared to mediocre or bad franchises, and because they've got a two-time MVP and a coach people historically have really liked, and they've won two Super Bowls this decade, I'm sorry, this century. people don't look at them as like a cursed cursed franchise. But here are how the last 10 seasons have ended in Baltimore. 2016, the 8 and 6 Baltimore Ravens are playing the 9 and 5 Pittsburgh Steelers. It is on Sunday night football with the de facto division title on the line.

The Ravens have a three-point lead. I don't know if it was a three or a four-point lead. I'm going to check because I want to make sure I have it right. They have a three-point lead with 10 seconds left. And Ben Rottlesberger throws just short of the goal line to Antonio Brown, who gets hit and stopped, and Pittsburgh has no timeouts. He's stopped short of the goal line, and as he's going down, he turns around, reaches the ball over the back of his head. Touchdown division title, Baltimore loses the next week and misses the postseason.

The next year, Baltimore is in a win-and-in scenario in week 17 against that got nothing to play for Cincinnati Bengals and Andy Dalton. They have them in a fourth and 12 with 40 seconds remaining, and the Bengals hit a 60-plus yard game-winning, insane touchdown pass to end the Raven season. the next year is the one year, the reason I said nine out of ten with heartbreak, the one year that didn't end in heartbreak. The next year, the team's not good, throws a figurative Hail Mary by going to Lamar Jackson at the middle, you know,

late in the year, Lamar rips off a bunch of wins, they sneak into the playoffs, they get absolutely crushed in round one, but you had real reason for Optimum, didn't expect necessarily you didn't expect to look as bad as you didn't round one against the chargers but whatever but 2016 you lose a week 16 game for the division in the final seconds 2017 you lose a win in your in game on a fourth and 12 to andy dalton 2019 you have the number one seed you have the unanimous MVP and you get dog walked by the Tennessee Titans in your first playoff game. 2020.

It is a 10-3 snowy, cold-weather defensive battle in the divisional round. You are inside the 10-yard line. Going in for the game-tying touchdown as the waning moments of the fourth quarter approach or of the third quarter,

in the waning moments of the third quarter. Lamar Jackson picks six. You lose the game right there. 2021. You're 8 and 3. Lamar Jackson gets banged up. His coach thinks he'll be back soon. He never comes back.

You finish 8 and 9. 2022. You're having another solid year. You're 9 and 4. Lamar Jackson gets banged up. His coach thinks he's coming back. You limp to the finish line, but make the playoffs anyway. And you're 17-17 in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals with Tyler Huntley at quarterback.

You're on the goal line. You're on a quarterback sneak. Fumble, return, touchdown, 99 yards, lose that playoff game. 2023, you're the number one seat again. You have a home playoff game. You're the number one DVOA team, the number one DVOA defense. You have the MVP of the league at quarterback. You turn the ball over three times in that game,

including a goal line fumble by Zay Flowers, an in-zone pick by Lamar Jackson. You lose 17 to 7. 2024. Lamar is the best year of his career, arguably, despite not winning MVP. You get the Buffalo Bills again. You have a furious second-half comeback.

culminating in a two-point conversion attempt to a wide-open mark, Andrewsie fumbles. In 2025, you have a season from hell, but you can make up for all of it by beating your hated rival Pittsburgh Steelers. And you have another unbelievable fourth quarter by Lamar, including a fourth and seven conversion to Isaiah likely to give you a chip shot field goal and your rookie kicker Tyler Loop gax it. That is nine out of 10 years of utter heartbreak and the one year that was not included in the heartbreak was getting just annihilated in a playoff game, Lamar's rookie season.

That is torture. And I got real empathy for Ravens fans. honestly, and it's one of the reasons I'm so surprised John Harbaugh is still the coach. Because even if that's not his fault, there's too much scar tissue at this point. And it sure feels like a change needs to be made. Now, on the game itself,

how do we evaluate Lamar's play? Such a weird game. Because for the first three quarters, And Collinsworth set it on the broadcast early in the fourth quarter. Lamar was 5 of 10 for 67 yards and wasn't running the ball and had done nothing. And then in the fourth quarter, he played the best quarter of his life, including two of the best plays of his entire career. The two free rushers sandwiching him, him avoiding that sack,

and then hitting Zay Flowers on a 50-plus-yard touchdown. As amazing as that was, I don't know if that was a better play than the fourth and seven season on the line, perfect throw and even better catch by likely to set up the chip-shot field goal. So Lamar, in sports, it doesn't matter how big of a hole you dig yourself. Ask my guy Trevor with his four interception playoff game If your brilliance digs you out of it The last two years, the game ending losses for Baltimore,

It is felt like Lamar helped dig them a big hole And then dug them this close out of it with brilliant play and then mistakes by other people cost him the full vindication. Mark Andrews cost him a shot at overtime and Tyler Loop cost him a win. But how do we do the math on that? It'd be ridiculous to pin the loss on Lamar, but it would also be ridiculous to give him credit for him. coming through in a game that they lost and in part they lost because in the

bill's game last year and the Steelers game this year really really shaky first half performances including a turnover or in the bills game a couple turnovers so that part is hard to parse and history probably won't remember the details as much as more big games that the Ravens were favored in and that's the other piece that I didn't even mention in this. Favored in that game against the Chiefs, favored in the game against the bills, favored in the game against Pittsburgh. Loss, lost, loss. Now, the very end of the game, should John Harbaugh have attempted to put Tyler Loop in a better position? The easy answer is yes. Why didn't he? The uncomfortable answer is because Derek Henry had a fumbling problem this year.

and all of that matters. The fact that the Ravens moved on from Justin Tucker to a rookie kicker mattered this year. The fact that Derek Henry fumbled early in the year and seemed to be in his head about it, despite how brilliant he was, if it wasn't in his head, it was in Harbauls.

Because you had 14 seconds, you had one time out, and you were staring at a 41-yard field goal in the toughest stadium to kick in the sport, and instead of asking Derek Henry to make it a 35-yard field goal or maybe a zero-yard field goal if he pops one, you made it a 44-yard field goal because you don't want to risk the turnover. Also, Lamar told us that not long before

Tyler looped, and I don't know if Harbaugh knew this, not long before Tyler Loop goes to take the kick that will define his entire NFL career, most likely. Lamar flipped out on him on the sidelines. He kicked a ball out of bounds. That's got to be tough for the rookie kicker. I don't know how confident he was walking into that kick. And we only, the cameras didn't catch that. Lamar told us that after the game. But ultimately, the reason the Ravens lost was because they were not a good team this year. They were an 8-9 team in every fashion.

They had moments of brilliant defense and moments of horrific defense, and that was over the course of the season and in the final game of the year. Their quarterback had moments of brilliant play and moments of the shakiest play of his career. That was all season and in week 18. They are coached by a special teams coach And the special teams were shaky throughout the season And then they lost it for him in week 18 That was not a great football team

And that was not a team that had they won They were going to be super dangerous Even though people tried to convince themselves they would be That was a team that needed the Cleveland Browns and Shador Sanders to win a week 17 game Just to make week 18 matter for them. And so why will this team be different next year? Well, right now, as I keep checking my phone for an update, it doesn't look like they're going to be. Which Lamar was asked after the game if he

wants Harbaugh back next year. And he said, I can't focus on that right now. We just lost. Which is a damning and telling answer. And I have been of the informed belief that Lamar is over John Harbaugh. Lamar's answer to that question just furthered that belief, which again, is not naked speculation. and if I were the Ravens, I'd almost always pick the player over the coach.

It doesn't seem like they have any interest in moving on from Lamar, so I just assumed they knew they had to move on from Harbaugh. And again, by the time you listen to this, maybe that will have happened. But it has not happened yet. And the Lamar contract situation becomes very tricky because he has got two years left on what is now a drastically under-market

deal that averages $52 million a year. The top of the market's now 60. Also, they need to rework that deal because it's got a cap hit of $75 million next year and the year after, which is completely untenable, and Lamar, who turns 29 tomorrow and is coming off his worst year as a pro and a year with five injuries, is going to want a top of market fully guaranteed contract. And if the Ravens keep John Harbaugh, What was already going to be a very tough contract negotiation for the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar, I think we'll get that much tougher.

So I don't want to spend too much time right now on the Lamar future, Harbaugh future angle, just because I still feel like this could become dated in hours. still feel like the Ravens are probably moving on from Harbaugh. But it hasn't happened yet. We will get De Manze's thoughts on this, and I will explain why I think the Steelers are an actual threat in just a moment. But first, today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet, Florida's Sportsbook and the official sportsbook partner of your favorite Florida team.

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What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas, we invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty, pretty, well. wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special.

So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down?

Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, hey Jonas. and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert 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 Headwere

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.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jen Chinchin win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina.

But I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. All right, Damase. let's get to Harbaugh before we get to some of the other games. All right. So sadly, after 18 seasons, 12 postseason appearances in a Super Bowl ring, the Ravens are part in a ways with John Harbaugh. You everything would call this on Tuesday,

but now that it's official, where are the Ravens going? So it's really interesting. Interviewing Brian Flores, found that out today. I would be really interested in Mike McDaniel just got fired and a lot of people are connecting Harbaugh to the Dolphins. Couldn't see him coaching. I couldn't see who coaching where. I couldn't see Harbaugh coaching in Miami. Well, I think there's like a weird Steve.

I think I should know this. I think there's some Michigan connections, Stephen Ross, but it doesn't matter. I think it'd be hard to go from Lamar Jackson to, but they're not even going to have Tua. Like, what are they going to do? I don't know. Miami's in a tough spot. What's funny, not funny, but what's interesting is I thought Mike McDaniel as the Ravens offensive coordinator was an awesome idea. Like that running game that he developed, except you have Lamar and Derek Henry.

Like that would be, you know, Mike McDaniel. as it looks like Matt Nagy's leaving the Chiefs, I know it's different systems and everything, but man, oh man, Mike McDaniel's the Chiefs offensive coordinator is something I'm super intrigued by, even though I think it's very unlikely. Now, maybe McDaniel thinks he's going to step into a head coaching job. That would surprise me.

I don't think he's going to go right. But maybe he will. His record wasn't terrible. The team didn't quit at the end. And some people might be like, look at what he did with Tua. As far as the Ravens, decision on firing Harbaugh.

There was no decision, guys. And I've done enough victory lapping on Twitter. So I don't need to, and it's not victory laughing about someone losing their job, to be clear. Victory lapping on, I told you guys all year there was a problem between Lamar and Harbaugh and you guys thought

I was just, I spun a wheel. People thought, like, oh, Nick just decided today he's going to create this out of thin air. as opposed to a paying close attention to the incredibly odd objective fact that they didn't communicate about how hurdy was and also having a little behind the scenes insights so their ability to ensure Lamar was was a raven for life and was a raven next year was going to be kneecapped had they kept Harbaugh. So they didn't. So they move on.

And even though, tell me if this makes sense to you to Monzae, the odds are the next coach of the Ravens is not nearly as good of a coach as John Harbaugh. but that doesn't mean that coach won't be the one to get him over the hump. He might be a worse coach, but also that they just need something new or better luck or whatever it is, and that it felt like you couldn't just run it back again with Harbaugh. So I felt like the move needed to be made, even though I think Harbaugh is an excellent coach.

That tracked to you? Yeah, I definitely don't think the next coach that we would get will be better or as good as John Arball. I think that's going to be pretty hard to find. But you wanted them to move on. Correct? Yes, 100%. Yeah.

So it sounds contradictory. The Belichick thing is so interesting. Had he not had this embarrassment of a year in his coaching. You'd be first in line, I imagine. Yes. I really think so. And you wouldn't care that he's old, that it's not long term because it's like, no, we just need to get over the hump with Lamar.

for Harbaugh obviously I think he could have his pick of jobs if I'm John Harbaugh I don't know that I want any of these jobs I certainly because it was reported yesterday that he's going to wait a week before he starts taking interviews

I think that's smart because I'd be awful interested in if the Eagles, bills, or Packers, losing round one. Do any of those teams ownership decide we're going to fire our coach to hire Harbaugh? Now, on that note, I think Cincinnati should reach out to Harbaugh's agent today and be like, if this job was open, would he take it?

And if the answer is yes, I'd fire Zach Taylor. Now, that's not really Cincinnati style. For Philadelphia, it might sound harsh. Siriani is literally the defending Super Bowl champion. But Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie have never cared about being harsh. They drafted Carson Wentz, number two overall, gave him a huge contract, moved on from him. Doug Peterson won a Super Bowl with Nick Foles. Didn't want a playoff game the next year with Nick Foles.

They moved on from him. They moved, like, they will, if they think they can get, better, they will move on from somebody. And I think Harbaugh, who came, like, started coaching in Philly. I think that's really interesting there. Buffalo less interesting. And he, Danny explained, I didn't quite follow it. He has some real, like, Green Bay ties about, like, who his agent is and the Green Bay.

I don't totally follow. It doesn't matter. But it seemed like LaFleur, midway through the season, there was a little scuttle but about LaFleur not being quite as safe as people thought and how he hadn't gotten an extension. So if I'm horrible, I just want to wait and see do what, does a job come open

where the quarterback is set? Josh Allen, Jalen, Hurts, Jordan Love, or am I going to have to roll the Jackson Dart dice or Atlanta with Michael Penix? So that's what I think is

those places. If you went over there, would be more likely to move off the quarterback, though, right? Like, it's like, oh, he's obvious, it's not the coach that's the problem, it's the quarterback, more likely to have a little bit more control over who's coming in. Oh, yeah. I mean, I think John Harbaal get whatever he wants because there's also not another great head coaching option out there. Yeah.

It's not like there's also Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh waiting in the wings. Or Ben Johnson, you know, that guy doesn't seem to exist this cycle. Now, let me say this about what this means, pardon me, guys, what this means for Lamar. Better come with it next year, too. They have changed defensive coordinators multiple times since he's been there. Again, no culpability on his end for that, just stating a fact. They've changed offensive coordinators multiple times, and they're about to do it again. they've now changed head coaches.

They brought in Derek Henry, who has been nothing but dominant since he became a Raven. We can argue about how good these picks were, but since Lamar's been there, they have spent three first round picks on wide receivers. They perennially lead the league or near the top of the league and pro bowlers on the roster. And now, I believe, with reason to believe, he got what he wanted and he's getting a new head coach.

Gotta go be awesome now. And more than being awesome, you got to be available. You want to know a shocking fact, DeMonsei? In the last five years, Lamar Jackson, an always injured,

brittle, Joe Burrow, have played the exact same amount of games. No. That's true. I'm not making that up.

That is an insane stat. In the last five years, Lamar Jackson has played 70 regular season games and four playoff games, and Joe Burroughs played 67 regular season games and seven playoff games to the tune of them both playing in the last five years. years, 74 games. In the last five years, they both have played in the playoffs two years and either missed or not been healthy for the playoffs, the other three years.

For context on that, in the last five years, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have also played the exact same number of games, 93. So 19 games more of more than a full season. in a playoff run of more availability. And the Lamar's stat is stunning, isn't it? Because we look at Burrow as injuries are just... I thought Lamar had been playing way more football than him. Right.

And with Joe, we also like in their very... What do you call it? Like significant injuries. You know what I mean? Like, Joe Burrow, like, oh, he's out months with a turf toe. Oh, he's out the end of the season with the youth. CL. Lamar, I couldn't, I didn't know that when I was looking it up. I was just like, I'm curious. They're a little ticky tack. Well, I feel like with Lamar, they are less crucial

injuries than they're not. It hasn't been like needed surgery. Yeah, exactly. It's like a little two three week things. Right. But the, it's stunning. 74 games each. So he's got to be available. He turned 29 yesterday. He's going to get the biggest. contract in NFL history this offseason. It's got to go perform. And I'm not sitting here saying he can't do it. But he'll be a good offseason. Yeah, pretty big off season.

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A lot of the big dogs are missing out of the playoffs. So with that being said in the teams that you see, what are some of the big storylines that you'll be following in this post season? So top five storylines in order, I think. I reserve the right to revise it. And I know, listen, I saw my friend, Mina Kimes and Dominique Foxworth mocking this idea, but respectfully, they're wrong. The most interesting story about these NFL playoffs are, is this the year Josh Allen breaks through?

I understand they're the sixth seed. I understand they are a flawed team with a bad run defense, but this is not Josh Allen on the Washington generals. They have the rushing champ. They have an excellent pass defense. They have a great offensive line. It would be, it's going to take greatness from Josh Allen to make it through on the road this playoff field. But it's doable.

And I wonder, for Bill's fans, forget for Josh, would Bill's fans rather have a better team, the best Bill's team, whatever year you think that is, but have Mahomes and Burrow in the field, or a flawed team, but have no Mahomes and Burroughs. I think Bill's fans would say, give me the flawed team on the road without the boogeyman plus Joe Burroughs sitting in the bracket. And I think the... the bills can do it now i also think the jags are a very dangerous team i the i said this on tv i don't know if i said it on here and you'll find you'll find out who i'm picking in this game uh later in the show but i believe the winner of this game is going to win the afc i believe in both

of these teams more than i believe in the top two seeds the patron and the Broncos. So that is, to me, storyline number one is, can Josh Allen break through? That's the most interesting storyline. Storyline number two is, will any of these year two quarterbacks go on a run? You have Caleb, you have Drake, you have Bo. Drake has the most well-rounded team. well, I don't know.

The Broncos might be a more well-rounded team than the Patriot. The Broncos, let me read. I take that back because I actually, part of the reason that I think the Patriots are better than the Broncos is because I think Drake is so much better than Bo Nix. But if you were to, if you take the quarterbacks off of it and evaluate the rosters, it's probably Broncos number one. The Bears are an interesting one because the offense is so good, but the defense of those three teams is the shakiest.

But here's what I'm getting at, DeMonse. And listen, you know I don't believe in Bo Nix, but it's the number one seed. And if he goes on a playoff run, I don't know what I'm going to say. We live in a world where Mahomes missed the playoffs and just tore his ACO. Lamar missed the playoffs.

His coach just got fired. Joe Burrow missed the playoffs for the third straight year. Okay. If one of these second-year quarterbacks goes on a real run, wins multiple playoff games, shows up in the Super Bowl, whomever it is, assuming again, and I don't even really want to include Bo Nix in this, but I have to be fair. assuming that it's not the 2000 Ravens way to the Super Bowl, that the offense more than carries its weight, which obviously would have to happen with the Patriots or the Bears. Does that top of the NFL, not the very top,

but the top-ish of the NFL quarterback pyramid, have to start to include one of these kids. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like if Drake May and the Patriots make the Super Bowl, I already think Drake May is probably a top five quarterback. Then it becomes undeniable. If Caleb puts it all together, God forbid if Bo Nix wins two playoff games and makes, like,

so which of these young quarterbacks are any of them going to go on a run and are any of these young quarterbacks, Bo at least has been to the playoffs, going to have, you know, those first playoff game jitters or first real expectations in the playoffs. you know, stumble. That to me is the second biggest storyline. Go ahead. It seemed like you want to say something. No, I mean, but Bo Nix getting there. I feel like you would attribute that to the defense carrying.

I think it also depends on how they blow over how they do on the run. Right. You got to see how the game plays out. I think the third biggest storyline is, and again, I know that I'm quarterback-centric in this, but because the storylines are typically. third biggest storyline is what if Aaron Rogers goes on a run I don't I don't think it's likely but after that game against Baltimore I don't think it's impossible

is that elevated anywhere another Super Bowl hell yeah yeah I mean the guy's got four MVP's the guy as regular season wise he's a top three quarterback of all time um And so I obviously winning a Super Bowl puts him in a the it's a totally different world worried to win a Super Bowl. But I don't even if he just, they break the, the Steelers break their decade long playoff wind drought, pull off some upsets. They show up in a conference championship game.

Be unbelievable. Yeah. And so I, and the Browns. game was an abomination, but aside from that, he's been really good for the last five weeks. And he gets D.K. Metcalfe back. So. No, D.K. did that to us with insane. I know.

And not having D.K. almost costs them to their season. Yeah. I think the fourth biggest storyline is, and maybe this should have been bigger, is what if the Eagles repeat? Yeah, what nobody's even talking about it? Yeah. They've kind of been flying under the radar. Yeah. They've kind of been flying under the radar. as a defending Super Bowl champion,

and I think it's because they have seemed so flawed all year. But if they go back, like, if they go back to back what that means for everyone involved on that team, all of a sudden, Jalen Hertz is a no doubt Hall of Famer, the, you know, Howie Roseman and the Eagles, maybe they got an argument that they not the Chiefs,

are the the prestige franchise well i listen the chiefs would have the chiefs have been to five super bowls in seven years now and one three the eagles would have been to three and four years one two and then if we extend it back to foals it's hard to call that like part of this it's a different coach it's different quarterback but yeah it would have been they've been if they win this year that in nine years, DeMonse, they went to four Super Bowls one, three. Right. That's pretty unbelievable. It's so hard to imagine them repeating, given how this season is going.

Nothing's clinging. It doesn't seem possible. But they're big favorites, relatively big favorites against the Niners in round one. No one would be shocked if they went on the road and beat Chicago in round two. and if Chicago loses in round one, then Philly would be home for round two. Like, there's a path there. And then number five is

which of the two NFC West juggernaut teams is able to, in the playoffs, look the way they did most of the regular season, which is like the best team in football for either of them. The Rams and the Seahawks. The Rams path is harder, but their quarterback is so much better.

The Seahawks, though, being at home, being rested, being healthy, with that defense and that crowd, dude, I am not dismissing at all the very real possibility of the Seattle Seahawks winning the Super Bowl. I think that Sam Darnham, the Seahawks can win the Super Bowl. I can't believe it.

I think right now my pick, would be Matt Stafford and the Rams but I think Seahawks can do it Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, dude? Huge news. We created our own podcast called,

Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a lot of it.

a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas.

And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and the TikTok podcast. network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay.

Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerner Rabakina is. arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get

your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. In order to keep the 500 or better streak alive, I think four. four of the five years on this pod, we've been 500 or better. We needed to go three and two or better the final weekend. Let's go through it. Because we laid two and a half with Tampa.

They won by two. So now we got to go three and one down the stretch. Seattle minus one. Felt great the whole way. Raiders plus five and a half. I told you guys. My God, that Chief's offense was just so bad. So now we just need one win in the late windows.

Miami plus 12 felt dead pretty early. So it all came down to Pittsburgh against Baltimore. And you have, I was rooting for Pittsburgh to win outright. That's great. Because I picked them. I know, it makes us sad, but I picked them and I, uh, and I just, I, so I was rooting for it. Despite that, you should have seen how I reacted to Boswell's missed extra point. Because Boswell's missed extra point, I'm like, oh, my God, plus three and a half is home.

Yep. Like now, now there's no overtime. There's no funny business. Now it's either going to be a Ravens 2 point win or a Pittsburgh. I'm sorry, a Ravens 1 point win or a Pittsburgh 2 point win. So we got it. 44, 44 and 2. Nothing to write home about.

You would have lost money on it because of the Vig, but still going 500 picking games is, I'll call it difficult. I would have liked to do better. The only piece of our gambling show that was dominant, and we'll get to it more in a moment, was DeMonse's teasers, which I am considering next year to Monsei,

putting real funds behind. Like I'm considering having a huge portion of my 2026 football gambling portfolio, B. DeManzay's teasers. I appreciate it, man. I mean, you really did a great job. Well, you did a great job. It was just impressive. So we'll get to that in a moment.

But now, all lines are. of course from Hard Rock Bet, but I'm told something that there's a twist this year. Yeah, so we're going to be picking on all the games, but I'm going to be going head-to-head with you and picking games as well. You stepped over to the teaser landscape.

I'm going to step over to the Pigs landscape. Okay, love it. And so I don't know where we agree or disagree. So why don't you, so you set up the game, I'll say my pick, and then you say where you stand on it. Okay, so first we got,

The Rams minus 10.5 at Carolina. You're taking the Rams there. Listen, this is, I believe, a square play. The home favorite, home dogs, big home dogs in the playoffs are always cover. The producers tell me there have only been nine home dogs in the playoffs of greater than four points. and the road favorite is 1 and 8 against the spread. I understand that, and 10.5 is a ton of points. I just believe Carolina is not only the worst team that made the playoffs.

I don't think they're a good team. I think that there were five or six teams that missed the playoffs that right now this week, I think, are best. better than Carolina. Yeah. And the fact that the Rams played them and lost to them will give the Rams just enough appropriate fear to know it doesn't matter that we're double-digit favorites. We have to take care of business.

I will swallow this huge number and lay the 10 and a half with the Rams. Your thoughts, don't say. I'm taking Carolina there. I knew you would. I'm, uh, yeah. No, I'm, I, I trust Carolina. And that's, it's a lot of points, honestly. Yeah, I was going to say, you just like the points.

Yeah, exactly. Totally fine. It's a lot of points. So that's where I am there. I mean. All right. Next one. The next one, you got Chicago plus one versus Green Bay.

Listen, Chicago's at home and I think they're better than the Packers. And they have played the Packers twice. Both games came down to the final moments. But the Packers are not the same team from an injury perspective. Jordan Love is coming off from not playing in a minute. Right. Jordan Love hasn't played. The Packers obviously don't have Micah, don't have Tucker Kraft,

don't have a lot of key guys. When they played the Bears the first time, Caleb had a pass into the end zone to potentially, you know, tie the game. I think they probably would have gone for two. through the pick. And when they played him the second time, he had the pass in overtime to win the game. I think the bears are better. The bears are home. The bears are healthier. I did not like how the Bears played this weekend. I still think the Packers won nine games because they were about

the quality once everybody got heard of a nine-win team. I'll take Chicago plus one. The Bears might have the better coach. Oh, you know, these days. But yeah, I took Chicago there too. I don't know if you said that. The, okay, so we're on the same page, All right. Same page there. Jacksonville plus one versus Buffalo. So I'm taking the Jags plus the points. And you might say what points, it's point.

I got to be honest with my dear friends at Hard Rock Bet. I'm disappointed that I can't, that this isn't one and a half. And I really want that half point because I think, so let me explain my pick here. Okay. I think Jacksonville is the more well-rounded team and the team that currently is playing better. I also think Buffalo's tendency to play poor early and then rally late could be a problem for them in this game if Jacksonville's able to shorten the game by efficient passing and running. the ball with ETN. I also, the reason I said I want that half point is for some reason or another, deep down kind

to think Buffalo is going to win this game by one. And so like that a 2423 bills win. And so I know this is the definition of kind of having. it both ways. I get that. I don't have a super strong conviction. I really liked when I thought I was going to be getting, I thought when this game, I thought it was going to be bills minus two and a half, but it was bills minus one and a half and now it's bills minus one. But I will take Jacksonville plus one. And to be clear, because I see what the producers wrote, said number one storyline was Josh breaking through. Those storylines were not all predictions. It was the biggest story story. The

biggest storyline is will josh break through and this bet can you know bills the bills win by one there is no way to win this pick in either direction it would mean the line's exactly right i just think i think the jags there are 13 win team that's at home that's healthy that's playing great they shouldn't be home dogs so i just i i'm obligated to this pick has you scared I don't love it. You never love picking against the team that you think is more likely to win because you're getting the points, but the points you're getting are one. It's one.

You don't love that. You really don't love that, but it is what it is. I'll take Jacksonville plus one. I took Buffalo minus the point just because if Josh Allen does not go out there and it's going to be really bad for him. It's going to be really bad for Buffalo, I think, if they don't go out and get this win. So I took a minus the points. But San Francisco plus four and a half at Philly.

Yeah, I'll take the Niners plus the points. Yeah. I just, I think that, I think this should be Philly minus three. And it's Philly minus four and a half. And I think San Francisco can win. I certainly just, I don't trust Philadelphia to look impressive. offensively. Again, against teams that had a pulse down the stretch, beat the bills by one, lost to the Chargers by three in overtime, lost to the Bears by nine, beat the lions who

had a pulse at that point in time, by nine, beat the Packers by three, lost to the Broncos, by four. Like, they just, even early in the year, beat the Cowboys, by four. four, beat the Chiefs by three. That Rams game, that you'll, oh, they beat the Rams by seven. Not really. They were beating the Rams by one. The Rams were attempting a game winning field goal.

And then it got blocked and returned for a touchdown. They beat the bucks by six. Like, their wins by real margin this. How about more than one score wins? The Giants, the Raiders, the commanders. And I understand it's not like I'm getting seven and a half. I'm getting four and a half.

But I do, I thought the Niners defense played its best game in forever against Seattle. And I think that if they, now Trent Williams, not practicing Wednesday, I don't love. I've got to imagine he will play in this game Sunday. I like that this game is Sunday instead of Saturday for that purpose. I think San Francisco can win. I'm getting more than a field goal against a team whose offense is broken. I'll take San Francisco plus four and a half. I'm riding with you there.

Very, yeah. Okay. We're on the same side. All right. Chargers plus four at New England. I think the Pat's win, but I think the Pat's win by three. I'll take the four points. I'm underdog heavy, but I just, I can't, this is, this would be tremendous.

And I understand his offensive lines brutal. I get it. This would be traumatic for Herbert if he lays another egg. He doesn't have to win. Like, I'm not going to, they aren't as good as New England. They're on the road. I'm not going to, if he, you know, plays a normal Herbert game and they just lose. Now he's not going to get like bonus credit, but I'm not going to kill him for it.

But he can't lay another egg. I don't imagine he will. will. He's been carrying this team on the offensive side of the ball throughout the year. The defense, but the real, the real reason that I like grabbing the points here to Mase is, Drake May has not faced a defense as good as the Chargers defense. I don't know if he's done it all year. Like, I'm trying to think, who's the best defense the Patriots face?

I can't find a good one. The Steelers, I guess you could argue. They turn the ball over five times. The Panthers, like early in the year, I don't know. Like, the bills past defense has been really good all year. Drake made through zero touchdowns against them in two games. Now, listen, this isn't me. I think the pads are going to win.

but I get four points in what I think will be a low-scoring cold game at night. And I just don't think it's going to be a prolific passing attack. I also think Vrable can shorten the game if he needs to. I'll take the four points with the chargers. Taking the four. Okay, so right now our only difference is you've got Carolina plus 10 and a half and you've got the bills minus one. Other than that, we're on the same page.

All right, last one. Last, you got Pittsburgh plus three versus Houston. I think Steelers are going to win. And I understand Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game in a decade. I get it. They get D.K. Metcalf back. They're coming off that type of victory. Houston's offense never got fixed.

It got a pulse, but it never got fixed. There is this weird stat that only I care of. about, which is that Mike Tomlin's the greatest Monday night football coach ever. He's 22 and 3 in his career on Monday nights and 12 and 0 at home. He's been the head coach for 20 years. He's never lost a home Monday night game. This is a home Monday night game. And I think that Rogers is going to be for the first time all year, DeMonze,

willing to stand in the pocket and get hit if he needs to be. because they're in the playoffs. And again, just like a kind of auto gambling rule, I know it has not been a good rule in the playoffs the last decade. But Mike Tomlin at home getting points, I just got to be on that side of it. So I'll take Pittsburgh plus the three. Rogers might get mangled, though.

He might. That would be a concern. Yeah, I'm with you on that too, Pittsburgh plus three. Great. So we only have two differences. Yeah. But my picks are the Rams minus 10 and a half and then all the underdogs. Chicago plus one, Jacksonville plus one, the Niners plus four and a half, the Chargers plus four, Pittsburgh plus three. Hey, guys, it's us.

The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. people to do podcasts.

We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mike. 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.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ 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 funny. 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. You think you're in control until you realize you're not. As they're having this gun battle, thousands of feet up in the air, many of the bullets start to puncture the aircraft.

I thought we were going to die then. The Knife is a podcast about the moment ordinary lives take an unexpected turn. Real people, real stories, and the split second that changes everything. New episodes drop every Thursday on the Exactly Right Network and the IHeart podcast network. Listen to The Knife on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.