The Kevin Sheehan Show - Pats, Rams and Both Unders

Episode Date: January 18, 2019

Kevin opens the show talking about the Wizards win over the Knicks in London and then previews the NFC and AFC Championship games. He talks Redskins for a bit then brings Scott Van Pelt on to discuss both title games and the Terps' big game tonight at Ohio State. Kevin has two Smell Test plays and then brings on Andy Pollin who goes back to the Skins' 1987 NFC Championship win over Minnesota and what happened a few nights before it. <p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a></p> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You want it. You need it. It's what everyone's talking about. The Kevin Sheehan Show. Now here's Kevin. All right, I'm here. Aaron is here. This show is presented by Window Nation. If you're in the market for Windows, call 86690 Nation or go to Window Nation.com and tell them we told you to call. Scott Van Pelt on the show today. Andy Poland will join us as well. It's championship weekend and I'm going to get to that in a moment. I've got some thoughts on the Redskins as well. Smell test coming up later on. also. But how about those wizards? A little afternoon game yesterday. Unbelievable. They were getting their ass kicked. And I was in and out of paying attention to the game. And then I had it on, Aaron, and I was home, and I heard Bucks, you know, I think Porter hit a big shot. And Buck goes, Porter with a big shot. And I look up and it's like, whoa, they're only down four. because they were down, going into that fourth quarter,

they were down, I think, 13, somewhere around there. They were down 19 or 21 at one point in the game? Came back, won the game. The final few minutes were interesting. Beals really, you know, he's playing at a very high level. I can't be overly critical of him, but he had a terrible, terrible turnover in the game late. basically carried the ball, double dribbled the ball.

I've always said this about Beal. I said this when he came out of Florida when they picked him. That he just, he's always had, I think, a very inconsistent at best handle. I think he's able to create his own shot. That's obvious. He's got great range now. That step back has really worked for him in the mid-range too. but he is prone to some bad turnovers at the wrong time,

and I thought he had a deadly turnover there with about a minute to go in the game. The Knicks ended up taking the lead late, and then the Wizards had one opportunity in the game. They were down one. There was about a three-second shot clock differential. And I was actually surprised that they didn't foul. It was 100 to 99 Knicks after Noah Von Leight made an east. shot right at the rim in a post-up ISO. And there's about a three-second shot clock differential.

I really thought that the, I thought that the wizards would foul there. They didn't, and they got the stop that they needed. They got the stop after, you know, Beal missed a shot after the Vonlea shot. Beal missed a pull-up in transition. It was a quick shot, and it was a two-for-one, I guess, opportunity. I don't know if that's what he was thinking, but it was a transition three, you know, off of a maid bucket on the other end. He missed that, and then that created the three-second shot clock differential. And they ended up getting, unfortunately, the least amount of time possible because the Knicks missed a shot.

Then there was an offensive team rebound, and the shot was an air ball, so it was a shot-clock turnover. So the Wizards got it with 3.3 seconds left. They had the timeout. They advanced it. And then it was a really nice play. I mean, they had Beale in the back court. Beal got the ball.

You know, A Reza was sitting there as a screener. And then, you know, here came the double and he dumped it off to Thomas Bryant who drove the rim, drove to the rim. And his floater with, you know, basically would have gone in or missed at the buzzer, but it got goaltended with point four left. And the Wizards had the lead 101 to 100. The Knicks had a long shot, long two at the buzzer that missed badly, and the wizard survived, 101 to 100. And, you know, I had a couple people who have, I guess, a 3 o'clock in the afternoon game might be a little bit easier. Sometimes for people to watch, for whatever reason. I think people were watching this game in London, and it was a hell of a crowd, too.

You saw that. That place, that 02 arena was packed. But, you know, I actually get this. sense, not from most of you, but for those of you that follow the Wizards and follow the NBA, this is a more enjoyable team to watch. They do play together. There are more touches. There are more people involved. On the floor to end that game last night was their backup point guard Jason Randall. Randall's a one-year guy out of Stanford who came in, I don't know, four or five weeks ago, and has played well.

for them as the backup point guard. I want to say he got to the team in... When did he get to the team? Because he didn't start to play until late December. It was really late December when he started to play. Yeah, here it is. The first game he played in for the Wizards was December 18th. He got 16 minutes at Atlanta in a loss.

And he's essentially averaged 16 minutes a game since. he's averaging right around six points a game he is the backup to Sataranski and at the end of that game he was in there Sam Decker was in there Otto Porter who had a hell of a game off the bench was in there Beale was in there and Bryant was in there I think that's the lineup

although Areza had to be in the game so it was Arisa Bryant Beal Randall and Decker No, because Porter had to be on the floor. Maybe Decker came out on that final possession. But down the stretch, Decker was in the game a lot. Randall was in the game a lot. Beale ended up with 26.

Seven turnovers for Beale. That's his Achilles heel. He doesn't have a great handle. He gets lackadaisical and checks out. I always refer to it as far too casual. But he is putting up some numbers right now. Now, and I think he is earning an all-star ad by the coach, whoever it is in the Eastern Conference. I haven't even been following that.

Otto Porter was great up the bench, and the Wizards now have won, I believe it's six of nine. I think they've won six of their last nine games, and, you know, one of those losses was a very close loss Sunday and double overtime to Toronto. They beat the Bucks. Now, they beat the Bucks without the Greek freak. They beat the 76ers in that back-to-back, the second of the back-to-back. They beat the thunder on the road, which was the most shocking of those wins. And, you know, they've beaten some bad teams, too, like the Knicks, like the Hawks as well. But they are sitting there.

You know, I'm starting to feel myself go far too long on the Wizards because my intention was just to mention it. But anyway, they're sitting there right now two and a half games out of the eight spot. all right and three and a half out of the sixth spot they're going to contend the rest of the year for one of those last three playoff spots they may make it they may not if they get there they probably can't win a series with this group but then again you know if they ended up being the seven or the six C they could play Indiana in the first round who knows all right uh look it's championship weekend um two championship games on sunday then the super bowl we've only got three football games left in this NFL season. Four, if you count the Pro Bowl. I don't count the Pro Bowl. Nor should you.

I never count the Pro Bowl. Championship weekend is not my favorite. I'm glad that there are two games instead of waiting two weeks for one. To me, it almost ends the run of we've had football every single weekend since I think early August. We've had football. And next weekend, unless you count the Pro Bowl. you won't have real football.

But the NFC championship game kicks off Sunday at 305. It's the Rams and the Saints, 2 13 and 3 regular season teams. They played November 4th in New Orleans. Remember that game. The Rams, if you recall, were 8 and 0 at the time. They went into that game as the favorite. They were 1.5 point favorites in New Orleans

in the Superdome against the Saints who were 6 and 1 at the time. But the feeling, if you recall, was really that the Rams were the best team in the league, you know, at that point. The Rams and the Chiefs, and the Saints were coming. I mean, they had had some impressive performances, but they had also opened up the season, giving up 48 to the Buccaneers at home and a 48-40 loss. So the Rams at that point were really the juggernaut in the NFC,

and all of a sudden the Saints jumped out to a 35 to 14 first half lead. Rams came back, tied that game up early in the fourth quarter at the fourth quarter at 35 apiece before the Saints scored the final 10 points to win at 45 to 35. That game is the difference of venues on Sunday. It's in New Orleans because the Saints won that game on November 4th. It would have been in the Coliseum had the Rams won that game on November 4th. The Superdome is the spot. You know, the Saints have only hosted in their history one other NFC championship game in that building. And that came in 2009. the 2009 season, January of 2010, when they beat Brett Favre and the Vikings, 31 to 28 in overtime and went on to the Super Bowl to beat the Colts.

The Rams haven't played in a conference championship game since the greatest show on turf Rams in 2001. They beat the Eagles that day in St. Louis and lost two weeks later to Tom Brady and the Patriots as they won their first Super Bowl in the Belichick Brady era. The Saints were pushed more than the Rams were last weekend. They were in trouble late. You know, the Eagles were on the move down 20 to 14 when Alshan Jeffrey dropped that first down throw right at the two-minute warning. A snap, I don't know why Philadelphia took, but that's beside the point. Went right through his hands, was picked off game over. 20 to 14. The Saints move on in that game, but they were tested. And really, they were tested a lot down the stretch of this season. The Saints after that big win over the Rams and had a couple of other big wins too, like when they crushed Philadelphia, 48 to 7.

But they lost games to the Cowboys. They were in a battle with the Buccaneers, a battle with the Panthers and the Steelers, you know, late. And then, you know, that final game of the year, they didn't play anybody. But this is a team that isn't the same team that the Rams faced, you know, when they first played them. That was a Saints team that was scoring 40 to 50 a game, basically. You know, they scored 45 against the Rams, 51 against Cincinnati the following week, and 48 against the Eagles the week after that. You know, that was a hell of a three-week stretch for the Saints, 45, 51, and 48.

Then they beat Atlanta 31 to 17. That was Thanksgiving night, if you recall that game. And since then, they haven't been the same team. And that includes the playoffs. game where they were in trouble to the Eagles, the team they had beaten 48-7. They were down 14-0 in that game last weekend. They were, you know, on the field on defense as Philadelphia was driving for the go-ahead touchdown late. They've struggled more to score offensively. Their defense has actually stepped up and really given them, you know, a bona fide, you know,

defensive, you know, opportunity here. Because early in the season, I didn't think the Saints were going to be very good defensively again. But this is a team that hasn't played as well as they did earlier in the season. And the same can be said really for the Rams. You know, the Rams started off, you know, winning those eight games in a row. And even after they lost the Saints, their next three games, 3631 over the Seahawks, that famous 54-51 Monday night win over the Chiefs, they beat the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. And then all of a sudden you saw what would happen and you saw what did happen when they were

faced with pretty good defensive teams. the Bears at Soldier Field 15 to 6. Lost to the Eagles in that Sunday night game. Remember that got the Eagles jump started a little bit towards the late season run. They finished with the Cardinals and the Niners. Now, they were impressive last week. They were impressive last week. They ran it down Dallas's throat.

Two 100-yard performances on the ground from C.J. Anderson and Todd Gurley, 273 yards in total en route to their third. 30 to 22 win over Dallas. So here they are, the top two seeds, the two highest scoring teams in the NFC, the two teams with the biggest score differential in the NFC, the Saints are favored by three and a half. The AFC championship game kicks off at 640 Eastern at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Chiefs have never hosted an AFC title game.

The Patriots, they're just appearing in their eighth straight and their 13th conference championship game during the Brady Belichick era. 13 championship games during their dynasty. Sunday will be the sixth championship game that they've played on the road during the Brady Belichick era. Their record in the first five that they've played on the road, two and three on the road. The two wins were in Pittsburgh, and they had two losses in Denver and one loss in Indianapolis. The Chiefs were 5 and O. Remember this one? When they went to Foxboro on October 14th to face the 3 and 2 Patriots, the Patriots jumped out to a 24 to 9 first half lead that was a Sunday night game, and here came Pat MaHombs and Tyreek Hill and company roaring back to take the lead 3330 in the fourth quarter. but Brady put them on their back, drove them 65 yards and seven plays, that set up the walk-off game

winner, and the Patriots won it 43 to 40. So how about that? 43-40 rematch in the AFC title game, and in the NFC title game, you had a 45-35 game in November and those two teams facing off. The four highest scoring teams in the NFL, the four highest scoring differential teams in the NFL. The Chiefs last week, they won easily, hammering a red-hot Indianapolis team 31 to 13, and the Patriots routed the Chargers. Whatever the final score was, it was not reflective of how one-sided it was. What was it? 41, 28, I think, something like that, because Philip Rivers put up a bunch of points in the fourth quarter. So here they are, the top two seeds in the AFC. The weather is going to be cold, but not as brutally cold as forecasted early

in the week. 19 degrees at kickoff and dry is the forecast as of this morning, Friday morning. Brady said last week after the win over the Chargers, everyone thinks we suck and we can't win any games. We'll see it'll be fun, he said. Brady is 24 and 4 in career games played in 30 degrees or less. The Chiefs are three-point favorites. Smell test later on in the show. We'll get to Scott Van Pelt right after a quick word about Window Nation. Harley, Aaron, and Eric at Window Nation are big fans of the show. I want you to be big fans of them.

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Quite a while. 27 years. 27 years since the Redskins beat the Lions 41 to 10 to claim their last NFC title and a birth in Super Bowl 26, which would come two weeks later and they would beat the, the, the, the, the, Buffalo Bills for their last title. But 27 years since their last NFC championship game, every single team in the NFC, with the exception of the two teams that played in the 91 NFC championship game, it was January of 92, but the 91 season, the Lions and the Redskins,

they're the only two NFC teams who have not played in an NFC championship game since 1991. That's amazing. Every other NFC team is not only. played one, but it played at least one, NFC championship game. That is unbelievable, it's an unbelievable run of futility, an absolute unbelievable run of futility, especially when you consider what I just said, too, the fact that it's not just that the Redskins haven't played in a conference championship since that particular year. They are, they and the Lions,

the only two. Every other team in the NFC's played more than one. The Cardinals have played in two NFC championship games since 1991. The Buccaneers have played in two conference championship games since 1991. It is quite the run of futility for the Redskins. They were close a couple of times during this 27-year drought. They were close. They played a divisional playoff game the year after in January of 1993 following the 1992 season at Candlestick against the 49ers. The 49ers were the one seed. The Redskins had won the Wild Card game the week before in Minnesota. And the Redskins had the 49ers in a bit of trouble late fourth quarter in the slop at Candlestick,

down 1713, and Mark Rippin hands the ball off to Brian Mitchell, and there is a gaping hole for a 20 to 17 Redskin lead late in the fourth quarter, midway through the fourth quarter, and they botched the handoff ball on the ground, 49ers recover, they go down and kick a field goal. The Redskins got the ball one more time. They couldn't tie the game. They lost 20 to 13. That was close to another NFC championship game.

By the way, the following week was San Francisco hosting Dallas, and that was the first Jimmy Johnson Super Bowl. The Redskins had they beaten the 49ers in that particular divisional playoff game, As the defending champions, the Redskins were that year, they would have gone to Dallas for the NFC title game. The Redskins and the Cowboys have played twice in the postseason, both in NFC championship games, both of them in Washington. That was the closest they've ever been to playing a conference championship game in Dallas. They've had other opportunities where they've both been in divisional games, and Dallas would have had the home field advantage, but the Redskins lost in the divisional round. The 1999 season, it was a good football team that Norv Turner coached and Brad Johnson quarterbacked

and they won a wild card game and they went to Tampa. Tampa wasn't all that good and the Redskins led 13 to nothing. At halftime, Brian Mitchell had a kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half. So they led 13 nothing. I'm sorry, early third quarter. And then they lost the game 14 to 13. Had a chance at a field goal late. but Matt Turk and brother screwed up snap and hold and we never got a chance to see a potential game-winning field goal. The Redskins lost that game 14-13. Tampa went to St. Louis the following week, lost to the Rams in the NFC title game.

So the Redskins were close to playing those. That was the first Ram team. That was the first Kurt Warner team that ended up winning the Super Bowl. They had a chance to play them in the NFC championship game. And the other time that they were close, the only other time that they've been in a divisional playoff game in the 2000s was in 2005 when they beat Tampa in a wildcard game and had Seattle in trouble a little bit early. You know, they were up 3-0. They were stopping them. LeVar had knocked out Sean Alexander. And Carlos Rogers had a pick six right in his hands from Matt Hasselbeck and dropped it. He seemed to drop all those interceptions. But that would have given the Redskins a 10-0 lead and they would have put.

potentially had an opportunity that particular year to go to Carolina, I think was the following week. Carolina and Seattle played in that NFC title game for a chance to go to a Super Bowl. They just haven't had many chances, period. They just haven't. It's January 18th, and nothing of note has happened. Nothing. And it looks like it won't. You know, despite the demands from what's left of the fan base for major change and the look of the a team and an organization that needed major changes, I am surprised. Those of you that have listened to this podcast all year long and late in the season and shortly after the season, you know I'm

surprised. I thought that Jay was going to be gone if they didn't make the playoffs. And, you know, up until early December, I really felt like Jay was going to go. And then towards the middle of December and the end of December, you know, I started to figure out that he wasn't going to go. I still up until a week ago. It was a week ago today, right, Aaron? That we had the news about Bruce Allen staying put, that he wasn't going anywhere. I still was thinking that there was a chance, that he would at least be reassigned somewhere else in the organization. And Kyle Smith and or Eric Schaefer would be elevated. I'm shocked that there hasn't been changed.

Stunning to me. Are you really shocked, though? Even with this team, even with this owner, you're shocked. Yeah, I am. Disappointed, yes, but shocked. Well, you know I am because I said it. I was convinced, and each time I said it, I know this is a contrarian view. I know that this is going against the grain, but I really thought Dan was going to look at that crowd, look at these TV numbers, and just say, he's got to go. He's got to go. My consumers want him out. They're not buying my product anymore. And it's partly on me, okay?

Because he'll never take all of it. But I got to get him out. But he has stood pat. He stood pat. I really believe, I do believe this. I do believe that Dan thought about very seriously some changes. I think he seriously thought about, you know, Gruden at the very least.

But here's what I've come to the realization about. And that is he's got nobody to turn to. Bruce is his security blanket. Jay is Bruce's guy. Nobody wants to work for Bruce, but nobody wants to replace him either. That is what you call a quandary. That is a, what do we do next? Nobody wants to work for Bruce, but nobody wants to replace him either.

We're stuck. I don't know how I will feel come September. I don't think personnel is going to change things much. They don't seem to do free agency very well. The draft can help, but the only thing that would really make a difference is if they lucked into a transcendent talent at quarterback, you know, another Patrick Mahomes. You know, if they got Daniel Jones or Drew, you know, or Locke or Will Greer,

and one of them turned into Mahomes, you know, and let's face it, knowing the way they evaluate talent. They'd really have to luck into it. That's the wild card, really, in all of this. It's not free agency. It's not a new coach. It's not a new GM. The wild card right now is it's getting lucky,

like generational luck at the quarterback position. And it could happen because the NFL's not taking away their picks. They're going to allow them to make picks. And they could close their eyes and throw a dart and it could land on Daniel Jones. and Daniel Jones could end up being the next great quarterback. Who knows? I mean, I like the Missouri quarterback. More than any of the others not named Kyler Murray or Haskins,

and I'm not a massive Haskins fan. I've got a lot of work to do here. We all do as fans and watching more of this quarterback stuff and seeing some of these guys. I watched a lot of them play in college. I think everybody saw a lot of Kyler Murray and a lot of Dwayne Haskins. Most of you did not see much of Locke or Greer or Daniel Jones. Most of you did not.

But that's really, that's the only wild card I can think of. You know, it's not a great corner. It's not a great offensive lineman. I guess a great pass rusher would be a really good thing. You know, if they were to add a Von Miller or a JJ Watt, that would help. I don't think it's going to overcome more likely than not an absolute. average coaching situation and a dysfunctional front office, you know, next year right now has another seven and nine, six and ten kind of look. You can never tell, you know, this much in advance.

You can never tell eight weeks into the season, but you know that saying you can never tell, you never know, it seems to apply to other teams in the league, not this one. The old, you know, the old, hey, maybe it's us this year. Yeah, but it never is them this year. It's, and it's not bad luck and it's not coincidence. It starts at the top. It's just amazing to me that it's still status quo. It may be the worst status quo ever because it seems like it's going to be hard for the owner to shake it this time.

How do you change the current if nobody wants to work for you in the future? That is a real difficult situation they are in. And that's why I have dubbed this, the new rock bottom. It can go lower. We've seen it before, but it feels like it right now. We've got two great football games, though, this weekend as football fans to watch. Van Pelt coming up, smell test coming up as well. Quick word about Ferrisch Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Fairfax. If you are thinking about something new, a Chrysler, a Dodge, a Jeep, a Subaru, consider Ferrisen Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Fairfax. Ralph Perkins is the GM. He's in the store every day. If you head out there,

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Ferris has, including live inventory, live pricing, and their best deals. All right, let's bring in Scott Van Pelt for his weekly visit. Missed him yesterday, but he is here with us as we head into championship weekend. We'll talk some Terps with Scott as well. These two conference championship games, they are, we had a conversation you and I did on this podcast, I think, in late November. And we both talked about, you know, the overreaction is, you know, sort of the way we describe the overreaction to all of the offensive football, the offensive explosion. Yet here we are with the four highest scoring teams in the NFL in a long, long time. Did offense ultimately win this year?

Well, I mean, I guess it did. It'd be hard to argue. I mean, I think, let me back up from that question for just one overarching thought. These four teams you could argue throughout the balance of the year were the four best teams or among them. I mean, New England definitely is less overpowering than they've been, lost five games all in the row, blah, blah, blah, blah. But still, if you're talking about in Thanksgiving, if you said, who were the five best teams? With these four, I've been on it probably. Now, New England's offense, excuse me, New Orleans's offense last week scored them 20 points.

So, you know, did they win because they rolled? Not really. Kansas City scored a bunch in sloppy conditions. That was a big number. The Rams, I guess, got to a decent size number. But put it this way, we saw 80 points in the game between. New Orleans and LA in the regular season. We saw 83 in the game between New England and New Orleans,

and both totals are 57. So, I mean, I think offense is won, but they're not going to hang numbers at that level. Those are big numbers, though. I mean, you're not going to get a 70 in an NFL game. I mean, we've never seen that. I think we've seen 60-something. Yeah, I guess you're right.

I don't feel like I'm doing a really good job articulating my thought anyway. It's okay. I feel like I'm just rambling. And mostly what I'm saying is, yeah, these teams have been really good, mostly because their offenses are really good. But I don't think we're going to see them score the way they did when they met the first time. I guess that's all I'm really trying to say. I mean, I was curious as to what your answer was because I talked about Monday,

you know, admitting that, hey, I was wrong, the best defensive team. in the league didn't get to this spot. You know, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas. New Orleans has been a pretty good defensive team, and the Rams really stepped up. But what was interesting about the four games last weekend is that the four winners all ran the football. You know, it wasn't, you know, there were some point totals. The Patriots rolled up some points, no doubt, but the Saints didn't. And, you know, the Rams, they had 30 and the Chiefs had 31, but it wasn't what we saw in the middle of the year. These teams ran the Rams. You know the Rams ran the ball more in that game than in any game they've had under McVeigh? Forty-eight times to 28 throws. That's the most they've ever

run the ball in any game under McVeck. Now the question is, can you do that again? Look, and I think part of this, I think part of this is against these really good offenses. If you're Belichick, what do you want to do? Possess the ball. Some of the homes can't touch it. If I'm the Rams, I want to do the exact same thing against the Saints in that building. I don't want to let them have it and avalanche me. I mean, it makes sense. If I've got it, you don't. What was really, you know, McVeigh really is really good. I mean, he is, he's so clever. I don't know if you read about the tell that some of the Dallas defensive linemen had with respect to stunt or no stunt. And they essentially took what Dallas did best and said,

we're going to go after your strength and run it right down your throat. Dallas has been a phenomenal defensive football team, you know, and I really, I thought that their performance against the Saints was one of the best performances I saw all season long on that Thursday night game. And the Rams ran it for 273 and two and had two 100-yard rushers. One of them who looks like he's about 50 pounds overweight, C.J. Anderson. Yeah, but he's got the freshest legs in the NFL, according to him, which is actually, I mean, it's an amazing story. You know, he got cut by the Panthers, didn't he? I know.

Here he is, you know, people. He's on like his third team in a year, which I just, I love the story. I mean, I thought that last game where he had the big numbers is like, oh, okay, this is just the last week and the year kind of deal. It's a nice thing. Well, then, you know, he's toting the mail of the freaking playoff game. I mean, you know all these numbers about Brady and Belichick. this is the eighth straight championship game. It's the 13th conference championship game they've played in.

I mean, it's just, it's really, it's a true dynasty. I mean, we've lived through this incredible dynasty in an era that wasn't supposed, you know, wasn't supposed to produce it. You know, the league is designed for parity. It's not designed for a dynasty. And yet we've had it. And we've actually had multiple organizations that have been dominant, but none like the Patriots. Do you subscribe to the theory that if they had been in any other division than the AFC East that we would have never seen these results?

These results meaning this level of a dynasty? I do. I think that's accurate. But I don't think it explains it entirely. I mean, look, when you live on the same block as the jets, the bills, and the dolphins, you clearly benefit from playing six games that you're favored in every single year, right? We agree with that. I don't know how you'd argue that. But to suggest that that explains entirely what we've seen, I think, is insulting to New England.

They're great because they're great. They also, to ignore that they benefit from the division they play in would be ridiculous, too. But you know, you mentioned the numbers, Kevin. To me, of all the numbers, my favorite is this. Brady's played more Super Bowls than had road playoff games in his career. More Super Bowes than Road Playoff games. That's insane. Eight Super Bowl, seven road playoff games, right?

That's it. Those are the numbers. Three and four, I think he is on the road in the postseason. And that's the talking point that I'm having a hard time with. I get trying to create something to rub up against, you know, something to make you mad. But like this whole idea that they've been talked about, like, as if they're, you know, the Cleveland Browns or something. Like, what are you even talking about? You're an underdog on the road because you haven't won a road playoff game in a million years, and you played this team at home earlier this year, and you beat him by three.

I mean, it's essentially a coin-flip game, but this whole, like, bet against this thing. Well, I mean, come on. Well, in one week we got little old Clemson and little old New England. Right, right. Well, exactly. Well, put. Yeah, but I mean, I mean, Clemson's newish, newish. New England's been had it for this entire century, and they're trying to act like we're, like, as if there's,

not shrines in the media built to Brady and what they've done because they've earned it. They've earned that level of respect. I just find all of this angst really manufactured. Is Hartford, I don't know if I've ever asked you this question, is Hartford's considered New England, right? Uh-huh. So you've, for many, many years, you've lived in, you know, not in Boston, but just a couple of hours away from it. And you've probably dealt with a lot of Patriot fans over the years where you live. For sure. Are they sick of it?

Like at what point is it becomes so routine that it becomes dull? Oh, it's not that. There's an arrogance about them and there's an anger, you know? There's that, because they, you know, the spy gate thing, and I hate that using that prefix or suffix. or suffix or whatever the hell to do, whatever it is when you put Gait on the end of something. But the, and then there was the thing with the footballs and the NFL going after them for that. So they, you know, they think the league is against them and they think, I don't know, they, they still, despite all the success, managed to be super pissed off and hostile,

which I kind of appreciate about them. Right. It's just, it's kind of the whole cliche of, you know, the quote-unquote mass hole or if you want to call them. I don't know if I'm a lot to say in your podcast. Sure you're. Okay, well, there's just, like, if you think of the idea of Sully and some, you know, angry guy, that's them. Let me hear how we would say it. Oh, you know, talking about frigging Brady and, you know, the, yeah, hey, deflate these balls, okay?

Roger, how about that? I got your deflated balls over here. You know, you get that to joke about my nuts, all right? But, I mean, it's just, at some point, you know, you guys are always great. It's a little bit like Alabama, I think. You know, you just, you're always good. You're never not good. But no, they haven't ever grown weary of it.

And they're, and they managed to. And I think that the team is, you know, creating some of that this week with, you know, oh, people countered us out, this and that. And look, people definitely said they weren't as good because they weren't as good. But I don't feel like it's, it's accurate to pretend like people said they stunk, because I don't know who did that. You know, I think that there is something interesting and somewhat unique about this particular game. If you're a fan of the team, it's like, you know what, let's go on the road.

We haven't won on the road in a while. The last opportunities they've had on the road in the postseason, they lost to Denver. They lost to Denver and they lost to Indy, I think it is, on the road. I think both the last two losses were Denver, I believe. Right. The last two were Denver. In the previous road game that they had played in the postseason, was Indy. They have not won

a road playoff game. I don't believe hold on, I just, I think this is right. They haven't won a road playoff game. Oh, they beat the Chargers in 2006. 2000, yeah. So they haven't won a road playoff game.

So that is something new to get ginned up about, you know, to go into Arrowhead. The chiefs have never hosted an AFC title game. They're all excited. I mean, And it's such a bad comparison, but we did have our run. You know, and you and I are old enough to remember the run.

And there was a certain feeling that once old coach Joe got into the playoffs, we were going to win. He was going to figure it out, especially on the road. You know, and that was always, I think some of the most thrilling wins rooting for a team is when they win a postseason game on the road. No doubt. Going into Philly after the body back game, that year. One of my favorite games in franchise history. Running it down their throat and just

they, and everyone in Philly was waiting for a fight and then it's like that scene in a Bronx tale where they locked the door and it's like, now you can't leave. Now you just can't leave. And it was the Redskins just hammering them in that building, which was the best. Those, those are the best for sure. And I mean, look, to New England's credit, they've earned the right to very rarely have to play on the road because they're the gold standard. Because of the division they play. playing too. That has a lot to do with it. Look, there's no, again, there's no denying that. But it's, you know, they're part and parcel. I mean, they're much better than they're people they play. And they don't play people that are mostly capable of beating them. So, I mean, I don't know. It's a fascinating game just because, you know, you're going up against a guy in Mahomes who had, who has not had one bad game this year. They haven't, as a team, had one bad game this year. There have been moments they did they look ordinary. But in every game, even when they've been down double digits. He has given them a chance to come back and be close, have a chance to take the lead, whatever. He did it against New England on the road. So, I mean, this game is,

this isn't a torch passing moment, I don't think, but it is really wild how both games have 40-year-old quarterbacks against, you know, young 20s, and they will be the guys of the future. And, you know, I don't know if they'll be the guys of the present, but they're clearly that will be the guys in the next five years in the league that will have to try to take over the mantle. Yeah, you made that point last week going into the playoff weekend. The Kansas City, you know, even their losses, they were right there with a chance to win all of them, which was true. It's the truth. And they're the ones that haven't really taken one on the chin yet this year.

You know, from a betting standpoint, it's three and a half, it's three. There's not really a sizable public play on any of this right now, including the totals. I don't, I don't, you know, the totals are fairly split. I mean, I have, I have a couple of thoughts. I haven't given out my smell test yet. I know who I like just, I like the two underdogs personally. I think both underdogs have a chance to go in and win, both road teams, the Rams and the Patriots, but they're not major anti-public plays. Do you have a sense about that or not? Yeah, I don't think, I mean, you and I like sides based on who the other side, you know, who's the side to have, right?

In this case, I look at it really simply. When it comes to the New England game, to me, you just take them on the money line because when it's over, if they win, you're going to feel like an idiot that you didn't have them. That's it. I mean, I guess.

I guess. All year long, I've said no on Kansas City. All year long, I've said they're not going to be in the Super Bowl. You cannot play in a Super Bowl with a defense that bad. And they really played a good game last week, although I thought Andrew Luck looked ill. I thought he looked cold and slow and just completely off in that game. Didn't look anything like we've seen Andrew look. I was at Disney on Ice, so I'm really prepared to speak about that game.

I don't really have much to help you with there. Scott is as old as he is, and he's a rather older gentleman. He's got very young kids, and now we're going through what, you know, we used to go through when my kids were young and you would say, what do you mean? You're at Disney on ice. It's, it's Maryland, uh, it's Maryland, Virginia. What are you doing? I'm at Disney on ice. And that's where you were during the playoff games. I sure was. I sure was. And it was a magical spectacle. What goes around and comes around. All right. What about the turps tonight? It's the, it's a scary game. Just, it's the, uh, I saw Ohio State's like two, which the number's

not bad. So that's, you know, hooray for that if you care and you and I both do. But this Ohio State team's lost three in a row. They've had all week off. They're at home. I mean, it's the human nature game. Like, they'll be the angry guy in the fight, and that's always the scariest guy. But I'll say this, how many guys on Ohio State's team are better than the best guys on Maryland's team? None. They're not that impressive. I'm not saying Maryland's going to go there tonight and win. I love the points spread. I love the line at two, and the public's going to play Ohio State, but they were playing, you know, they're playing Michigan State last night, and Michigan State handled Nebraska and covered in that game. Correct. And I'm glad. He's an excellent coach.

He's an excellent coach. Yes, he is. There are a couple of very good young coaches in the Big Ten. I think Archie Miller is going to win big at Indiana. I do too, but everybody in Indiana is all mad and freaked out. Oh, they're so impatient. couldn't agree more. I mean, they were patient with Kareen because they knew that he inherited a mess, but everybody in Indiana is all freaked out about that. But they need to calm down because Archie's a good coach. But I think Holman's as good as young coaches as there is in the league. And I just, look, you and I had this talk before the Wisconsin game about like the point spread and being a little bit concerned about it. And you're like, you know what the hell with it?

Maryland's better. We'll beat him. And when Maryland's up 20, I'm like, yeah, look at she. And he was right. And then it was 60-59. And I wanted to poop in my pants. That was so gross, but you know what? Thank God they won. And, you know, this is a tough spot. This is, if they put this, I hope they win just because it means Monday they'd go there, ranked really high against the Michigan State team that's rolling, which would be a blast. But even if they don't, it's still going to be a fun game in East Lansing.

Yeah, I'm trying to think, has anybody lost this week in front of Michigan State? Well, Duke could potentially lose on Saturday night. I don't know if Michigan State would jump Duke or not. That game. I mean, it'll be top five, probably. Michigan State should probably be top five, I would think. That Virginia Duke game, I'm looking forward to watching on Saturday night. Yeah, I like Marilyn.

You know, we've sort of gradually gotten into this conversation, and I think it was last week I said to you, I'm going to be disappointed if they're not in the second weekend of this tournament, because I think their talent says that they're a top, you know, 10 to 15 team in the country. And I think in the last week, I think people are starting to notice. So Lannardi's bracketatology's got them as a four-seed. I agree. But, I mean, listen, we agree.

But also keep in mind that, you know, the Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin wins are all home wins. And the back end of the schedule means trips to, you know, Nebraska and places that are going to be hard to win. I mean, they've already got a couple of road wins if they can defend home court. I mean, I just, four-line feels about right. But, you know, conference road wins are just really difficult to get. That's not a new thought. So, well, I mean, we'll see. Ohio State on the Road will be a really good win.

Was Jalen Hertz close to coming to Maryland or not? Have you heard anything about that? I have absolutely no idea. I don't have. You're not surprised that he went somewhere else, right? I mean, I didn't say that. Like, I think the fact that there was a relationship. relationship allowed people from Maryland, including me, just to presume that maybe he'd want to come play with locks.

But let me just say this. Like he didn't go play at, you know, Vanderbilt, no disrespect to them. He went to play for a team and an offensive mind in Lincoln Riley that just had back-to-back Heisman trophy winners and has been in the playoff two years in row. I mean, if I'm him and I can go there and start or come at College Park, like I don't care how much you like locks. He made what on paper is a decision that you could totally understand. So I have no idea how close. I mean, he was close enough that he visited, and I think that allowed people to connect the dots.

But, I mean, in the end, you know, again, Lincoln Riley, back-to-back, Heisman trophy winners, two playoffs in a row. How about, how about Mickelson yesterday, going to 18 with a chance to shoot 59? Yeah, that's crazy. I mean, he's a, you know, 48-year-old dude and some interesting stats with that, just if you, I mean, for whatever it's worth, anytime he shot 60, the other two times he went on to win. And he hadn't played much golf at all. Like, he's been out skiing. And he won nine million bucks. He's just been out hanging out, skiing.

He said, I haven't practiced. I didn't, I wasn't thinking I'd be sharp. And the two goes out and shoot 60. But those, like, that was like playing in a dome with just a little bit of rain, which makes the green soft. And you're playing with amateurs. so, I mean, like, that's not, that's a golf course. It's like playing putt putt for them. But even so, I mean, 60 is 60.

60. All right, enjoy the games this weekend. I'll talk to you. All right. I enjoy it. See it. Real quickly, before I get to the smell test and then Andy, subscribe to the podcast.

That really, really does help us. It doesn't cost you anything. You don't have to give any information. But if you're on iTunes or Apple Podcast, just subscribe. And then review us and rate us too. That really helps as well. Let's get to the smell test. Kevin looks where the John Q public is putting their cash and does the opposite. It's time for the smell test.

Okay. The smell test last weekend was one and one. I had the Rams laying 7 on Saturday, and then I had the Saints laying 8 on Sunday, and old Mr. Lutz missed that field goal from 52 yards out for a nine-point lead, and that was a killer. So 1 in 1, 108, 85, and 4, 108, 85, and 4 on the season. All right, look, there's not an overwhelming public play in the four opportunities. You know, the two totals, the two point spreads. I'm going to give out both unders because that's really where there is, you know, a strong public lean on the overs.

The public definitely in both of these games is playing the over more than they're playing the under. So I'll take the under in the New Orleans Rams game. That number right now is 56 and a half. So I'll go under 56 and a half and then I'll go under 55 and a half in the AFC championship game. So the two unders are plays. They're the plays for the weekend. Now, on the point spread, there is not a strong enough public bias in either one of these games to make me give it out as a smell test pick. I will say this, though, I like both underdogs.

I'm going to give out just liens on the Rams plus the three and a half and the Patriots plus the three. I like both underdogs. I think the Patriots are going to win outright. I think the Rams are going to win outright, and I think we're going to have a Rams Patriots Super Bowl. I would definitely I would guess that we're going to have a road team win. Like I think one of the road teams is going to win. And if I had to bet on one of them only,

it would probably be the Patriots. Just because I've shorted the chiefs, you know, at my cost most of the year. I don't think that they're good enough, and I didn't think they were good enough to get to the Super Bowl. They're damn close right now. They're, you know, 60 minutes away, one game away. But the two plays are the two totals. under in both games, and then I would lean Rams and I would lean Patriots.

There you go. That's the smell test for the weekend. Real quickly, launchworkplaces.com. If you're looking for some office space because you're working from home and the dogs are barking or the kids are making too much noise, try launch workplaces. You can find out all you need to know about their Bethesda location at launchworkplaces.com, or you can call 240-86714. There are fully furnished offices, conference rooms, co-working desks, high-speed internet, complimentary drinks, a cafe, free parking, and 24-7 access. Get more work done today by moving your office to launch workplaces in Bethesda.

It really would work out for you if you're looking for something in the Bethesda area, Chevy Chase, Upper Northwest D.C., this would be a great opportunity. 240, 86714. Tell them I called or visit launchworkplaces.com. They've got other locations as well, and you'll see all those at launchworkplaces.com. All right, let's bring in Andy. Andy's going to join us here. Championship Friday, two games on Sunday. We'll make picks and a score and more to finish up the show.

But you wanted to harken back to the olden times, and where are we going with Uncle Andy today. Well, you know, it's hard to believe, but actually the Redskins used to play in NFC championship games. Yeah, been 27 years since the last one. Yeah, but, you know, there was a nine-year period that they played in four of them, which is, you know, I mean, remarkable. And they, you know, won three Super Bowls during that period of time.

And they played in 1988 against the Minnesota Vikings. Now, that was a strike year. and they had played the Vikings twice before in previous two years. 1986, they had beaten him in overtime. Remember Gary Clark? Regular season, yeah. Yeah, right. And then the last game of the regular season in 1987,

when they won in overtime to, you know, they were in the playoffs, but I think it helped their seating, and they went and they played the Chicago Bears. Well, did, but that Viking game was the game where Doug Williams came back in and took over the starting role. Yeah, exactly. And he cemented it for good because the Ian Trader had been back and forth, either through injury or for poor play. And they wound up beating the Bears after coming from behind 14-0-0.

As you remember, Darrell Green returned the punt and tore rip cartilage on that play. There was some question whether he had played against the Vikings. He was talked into playing by Richie Pettibone and taking a shot, this, that, and the other. So he played. But here's the backstory for this game, which is interesting. at that time CBS was doing the NFC. And when it came to the championship game, the pregame crew, which was Brent Musburger, Irv Cross,

and I believe Phyllis George wasn't doing it anymore, it was Jane Kennedy and Jimmy the Greek Snyder. So they come into town for this game on a Friday. And in those days, if you were a big deal, you had lunch at Duke Zeberts. So the CBS crew goes to Duke Zeberts, Well, this happened to be the 20th anniversary of Martin Luther King's death. Jimmy the Greek.

And so NBC 4 sent a camera crew over to Duke Sieberts to talk to people about what Martin Luther King meant 20 years later. Which channel did it, Andy? Which local channel? Channel 4. It was Channel 4 locally? Okay. Yeah, yeah. And so the reporter's walking around.

Oh, there's Jimmy the Greek. Let's talk to him about Martin Luther King. At that point, Jimmy had a few. and he sacked into this weird talk about how blacks were bred with high thigh bones to become great athletes. And then there was a question about whether a black could become a coach in the NFL yet. There'd yet to be a black coach. And he said, oh, they got all the playing jobs. Now they want the coaching jobs, too.

And it was just a complete disaster. Ended his career. Well, so Channel 4 runs it on a football. Friday night. This becomes, and this is before social media, but it's big news by Saturday, and CBS has got a problem on their hands because Sunday's coming, and Jimmy the Greek is supposed to be on TV. So Saturday night, they make the decision that they're going to fire Jimmy the Greek, and Brent Musburger opens the pregame show from the field at RFK Stadium, saying, you know, CBS can't tolerate these kind of comments. Jimmy had to go. Hours later, Doug Williams emerges

as the first African-American quarterback to take a team to a Super Bowl. Although his stats in that game were not very good. He didn't have a great game. They did not really produce a lot of touchdowns. Ali Hajush's sheet missed a couple of field goals. He wound up throwing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Gary Clark with about five minutes to go. Vikings drive the field. Wade Wilson is the quarterback.

Takes him down to about the four-yard line, less than a minute to play, throws a pass at the goal line, knocked away by, well, actually, Darren Nelson dropped it if you were. Look at the different angle. Darrell Green gets the credit for knocking it away, but really Darren Nelson dropped it. And the Redskins survived with Joe Gibbs on his knees in prayer,

which is like the only time he ever did that during his career. And the Redskins advance to the Super Bowl, where, of course, they beat the Denver Broncos. Now, later that day was there on his spiner fumble. Remember that, too? Yeah, of course. Biner fumbled, and that would have, Marty Schottnheimer would have been coaching the Browns

in the Super Bowl against the Redskins, but Biner fumbled, and it was the Broncos that won. And, you know, I've often wondered, because that Brown's defense was a lot better, and might that have been a close Super Bowl if the Browns had managed to play the Redskins? I would have loved to have seen that Browns team that lost back-to-back years to Denver,

you know, on the drive and the fumble, with Bernie Cozar, who I always thought, was a really good quarterback and a clutch quarterback too. I would have loved to have seen one of those Browns teams to make the Super Bowl. But, you know, the thing about that Minnesota NFC championship game, so it ended the Greeks career, Jimmy the Greek's career. It was really the beginning of Joe Gibbs' turning to Timmy Smith. Because Timmy Smith had been a backup to George Rogers, you know,

that season. And Gibbs always, you know, in the postseason had, you know, always had something up his sleeve, you know, in terms of a player, you know, was Ricky Irvin's sort of in 99. I mean, Irvin's ended up getting, you know, a significant number of carries in that, in the seat cushion game against Atlanta. But Timmy Smith in that Chicago game had the most carries he had in a game, 16 carries, I think 70 yards somewhere around there. And then he became a feature back more so than George Rogers in the Minnesota game, the NFC championship game. And we had barely heard of Timmy Smith, really, before the postseason started. He had had opportunities, but he was a backup.

And Gibbs turned him into the featured back. And then, you know, the rest is history in terms of what he did in the Super Bowl and the win over Denver. You know, his 204 yards on 22 carries still. stands today, I think, as the Super Bowl record. It's amazing because, yeah, he is a Super Bowl record. And the other two great Russian performances, where he had Marcus Allen and John Riggins, they were the MVP's. But with what Doug Williams did in that second quarter, there was just no way you could

give him the MVP. Oh, yeah. Yeah. But any other Super Bowl, Timmy Smith would have been the MVP. But the Redskins got the lead by Doug Williams throwing, you know, touchdown passes like it was a video game in the second quarter in the 35 point second quarter. Here's something else if you look closely at that Super Bowl. They did fall behind 10-0. And on the play that Doug Williams hurt his knee, it looks like he fumbles on the play.

Yeah, right. The ball just laying there on the ground, yes. Yeah, yeah. And now with instant replay, Denver gets the ball, 17-0, you know, who knows? but it didn't happen that way. All right. Want to finish up with a little score and more predictions for the championship games? All right, let's do it. Time to sell the score is score and more. All right, I am, Andy, in my smell test, I didn't have an actual pick of either game with the point spread.

I played both unders because the public really likes the overs in both of these games, even with the weather in Kansas City, which is. isn't supposed to be as cold as they had predicted earlier in the week. But let's take the NFC championship game first. Give me a final score with a footnote. I just think that the older Sean beats the younger Sean here. And I think it's more of a low-scoring game than might be expected. I'm going to say that New Orleans is going to win this game 17 to 10.

Wow. I think the Saints, yes, I really do. the Saints are going to take advantage of another gutsy play, and whether it's a fake field goal, or whether it's an on-side kick. The on-side kick are just about impossible these days. But you saw what a difference the fake punt made last week. So I think there's going to be a trick play that's going to do it.

The older Sean beats the younger Sean 17 to 10. All right. Well, if the final score of the Rams Saints game is 17 to 10, Aaron, that would be under, wouldn't it? Just by a little bit. You can move those props. I wonder what odds you can get for under 30. I don't even think they'll have an under 30 for this game.

17 to 10 at 27 total points in the NFC title game. If you hit that, that is the all-timer, because I don't think anybody is predicting a low-low-scoring game like that one. I've got the Rams winning the game 27 to 26. I like the Rams, and I like their chances to win. I needed to stay under 56 and a half, which is why I've got it at 27, 26. And Will Lutz, the New Orleans kicker that missed the kick that would have given me the cover a week ago, he misses a 50-yarder on the game's final play.

The Rams win it on a missed field goal at the end. And they head on with Sean McVeigh and Jared Gough and Todd Gurley and company to the Super Bowl in at least. All right, let's go to the AFC game. Arrowhead. You know, Andy, did you know before last week that the Chiefs had never hosted an AFC championship game? Yes, because I knew that when they went to the Super Bowl, they had beaten the Raiders, I believe. Yeah. I'm not mistaken, beating the Raiders in Oakland. And the Raiders were just, you know, a great team in those days.

They just, you know, the Raiders were a team in those days. It always came up short. It wasn't until the 76 teams. team that won, and the reason they won is the Steelers who may have had their best defense ever, just had too many injuries on offense. I think they lost Franco and Rocky Blyer that year, but they were the perennial bridesmaid in those days. The team that would always have the great regular season and somehow couldn't get it done in the playoffs. So yes, I did know that. Yeah, that's crazy because it's been such a, you know, at times it's been a franchise that has been

down, but it's always been one of those franchises that you knew had that passionate fan base, you know, that loyal fan base that wasn't going anywhere that really wanted their team to be good. And they've had so many home losses. They finally broke that streak last week. All right, what's your prediction for the game with a footnote? I think that this reminds me of the 1969 Boston Celtics, where they were not supposed to beat the Lakers. Remember that Jack Kent Cook had the balloons that supposed to go up from the feeling when the Lakers won the championship. And a lot of people think they're on their last legs and Brady's 41 and, you know, why are they still around?

Weren't they supposed to disappear a few years ago? So I think the Patriots are going to find a way to win the game, though I do think this one is going to be high scoring. So I say the Patriots win 35, 31 despite the weather. All right. I've got the Patriots winning 30 to 24 that keeps. it under Aaron, under the 55 and a half. In overtime, on the opening possession of overtime, Brady drives them 75 yards, throws a touchdown pass to James White for the game winner at Arrowhead.

The Patriots off to the Super Bowl to face the Rams in a rematch of their first Super Bowl during the Brady Belichick era. 30 to 24 Patriots in overtime. And then I've got to the Rams 27 to 26. You've got the Saints 17 to 10 and then 3531 Patriots over the Chiefs. So you've got Breeze Brady and I've got Sean McVeigh against Brady in the Super Bowl in Atlanta. What a shock. And I got two old quarterbacks going at it. And I think if you look at the Saints recently, their offense hasn't been that great. There's something missing there. Yeah, I agree. that pummeled the redskins earlier in the season, that's not clicking like that,

but they're finding ways to win games. All right. Thanks. I'll talk to you next week. Okay. All right. Appreciate it. Andy Pollan, everybody.

17 to 10, Aaron, Andy predicted. That would be so. I really do want to see if anyone, if you can scroll down, find under 30 or the lowest you can get, I want to know what sort of odds. I'll find that here. Hold on. I'll find with that prop. While you look for that, I wanted to propose a question to you because I was thinking

about this earlier. CBS has the game. If you're CBS, what's the game you want? Oh, you mean the Super Bowl game? Yeah. I don't think they can lose. Right, that's the thing. I don't think they can lose.

I don't think that there's a, I think probably, see, I don't know, Mahomes may be the biggest drawl left in the field. Is it the Patriots or is it Mahomes? I think it might be Mahomes. I think it might be Mahomes, actually. And then is it, is it Breeze or is it Sean? It's the Saints. It's the Saints more than the Rams, I think.

But, you know, in the Super Bowl, this doesn't really necessarily play in. I don't think it does. I could be wrong. But, you know, L.A. is the number two market in the country. You know, so I guess CBS would probably prefer L.A. against, you know, the Patriots or Kansas City. That's my guess. I don't know.

I don't think they lose regardless. I think whatever the Super Bowl matters, matchups going to be, especially if these are two good games, it's going to be really hyped. Yeah. You know, we're not getting, there's no Cinderella here in these playoffs. And there's fascinating storylines no matter which way you go, whether it's Breeze versus Brady, whether it's Breeze versus Mo Holmes, whether it's Belichick for Sean McVeigh. Like, there's really good storylines in every possibility.

Exactly. All right, I've got some totals for you in the Rams game. All right. You ready? I've just got team totals. I've got total points. Like the lowest they have, the lowest you can play under is 26 and a half on a team,

on one of the two teams. That'll change. There will be more prop bets come Sunday. This is just what's appearing on one of my sites right now. I'm looking forward to these two games. You know, it's the final Sunday of more than one game. game. It'll be, they're two good games. I don't, here's what I hope we don't see. It would be exciting if you ended up having, you know, 48, 45 in the NFC championship game, followed by, you know,

42 to 37. I don't really want to see that. I don't know why I'm so resistant to that kind of football. I love college football because you get a little bit of everything. I don't want the NFC. to end up becoming this league where you've got, you know, over undertotals in the 70s, and 4845 is commonplace. I like 4845, you know, once every two or three weeks. Now you're sounding like Tom when he was talking about basketball. I know I am, but I like defensive football. I've always liked defenses, and I think they're at a disadvantage right now, rules-wise and otherwise. And I like when it's a little bit more even, Stephen. I think we, I think we, I,

Look, I gave out two unders. So, you know, I think two winners could have close to 30, but I don't think anybody's going over 40 in these two games. You know, the second time around, you figure stuff out defensively. And the Saints have become a better defensive team since they played the Rams. I think the Rams played their best defensive game of the year last week. I think the Chiefs played one of their best defensive games of the season last week. against Indianapolis. All right, thanks to Scott and Andy. Aaron did a great job all week long.

Enjoy the games on Sunday. We're back on Monday.