The Ringer NFL Show - Ep. 62: Talking Football Live With Robert Mays, Kevin Clark, and Danny Kelly

Episode Date: January 4, 2017

The Ringer’s Robert Mays, Kevin Clark, and Danny Kelly break down the potential road to the Super Bowl for each AFC (1:40) and NFC team (41:48) in the NFL postseason this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Mellalike. Spell different because it's a brew different. Hey guys, Robert Mays here. Today's episode of The Ringer NFL show, we're doing something a little bit different. Rather than discuss the week 17 games, me, Danny Kelly, and Kevin Clark joined forces for a Talking Football Live playoff preview video. This podcast is actually audio from the video that's going to be coming out a little bit later this week. Be sure to check out that video at their mirror.com. It also might include some clips that aren't in this audio or aren't in the big video.

We're going to have some other playoff related and NFL material coming out over the next few days. As always, we really appreciate guys listening and we hope you enjoy. Welcome to Talking Football Live. I'm Kevin Clark. Robert Mays is with me. Danny Kelly's with me. Rex Ryan will be here at any moment. He's bringing the snacks. Now, we're going to do four categories to break down every single playoff team.

We're going to do a team rundown. We're going to figure out why each team will go streaking in the playoffs, why they won't go streaking in the playoffs, and then when the playoff team will reach the end of the road. We're going by conference. We're going to go from worse to first. So let's jump right in. Miami Dolphins, 10 and 6th season, out of nowhere.

Great win against the Steelers in week 6. Inexplicable loss in week 13 to the Ravens. If you saw the Ravens at any point in the second half of the season, Marty Morningwood was the coordinator. They should not have lost this game by 32 points, but they did. I can't explain it. Anyway, J. J. Jaii MVP, obviously, came out of nowhere. Wasn't even active to start the season.

Didn't even make the trip to Seattle. He was punished. I mean, yeah, basically his coach hated him in week one. I thought he was going to get cut. Yeah, yeah. I dropped him in fantasy. That's where I was. A lot of people did.

Yeah. Yeah. And so, you know, look, he is basically a top five running back in the NFL, and he got them to the playoffs right now. I'm as stunned as anybody. So let's go through the scenarios here. If they're going streaking. We're going streaking to the gymnasies.

If they're going to win a couple of playoff games, why is it going to happen, Danny Kelly? Well, I mean, it's what we talked about just now. Jayae. I mean, he's the foundation of the offense right now. You know, he's one of the top guys in terms of yards after contact. He makes a lot of offense just on his own. And, you know, they did a good job of, you know, that offensive line kind of gelled halfway through the year, and that's kind of a big part of why he did so well.

But I think if they're going to do anything in these playoffs, it's because Jada Jai is going to go off. Totally agree. Robert Mason? I think they have a ton of playmaking. there's an offense. Like an underrated stable of guys. Jaya's had a great season, obviously, but they're receivers.

It just seems like all those guys can make a play. Devante Parker is absurdly athletic. I'm a big Jarvis Landry guy, had been for a while. And Kenny Stills has had a pretty resurgent season. So when those are your three guys that you're throwing the ball to, plus you can hand the ball off the J. Ajai,

that's how you mitigate Matt Moore being your quarterback. The one thing I noticed, I was in Miami for the past week. The one thing I noticed but that offense is they're so boom and bust. Either Jay Jai goes for 200 yards, or he can have two yards per carry in some instance

over the course of the game. Jarvis Landry creates something out of nothing, but sometimes it just is nothing. You know, you create nothing out of nothing. If your entire game is taking a two-yard gain and making it a 70-yard gain, well sometimes it's just going to be a two-third gain. That's how yards after contact works.

So for me, I think though all of those things have to fire on all cylinders, if they hit on those things, Jay-I-Jahe does go for 150 yards, Jarvis Landry does turn a short gain into 70 yards, that's where they can beat the Steelers. can beat the Steelers. If they're not going to go streaking,

why is that going to happen, Robert Mays? I mean, they were a boom and bust offense. It wasn't necessarily this monster with right to Anahill. Now you bring a backup quarterback in there. It just feels like there's way too much, there's just way too much variety with what we can get from them.

I just don't think they're nearly consistent enough. And I don't think they have the defense to really carry them on the other side of the ball if that offense isn't clicking. Yeah, their quarterback is Matt Moore. Yeah, that's pretty much it. I mean, yeah, all three of us say the same thing. I think it's just, it's so hard

to win in the playoffs in the first place, and if you're trying to go with a backup quarterback, I mean, it's just, it just really, really hurts their chances of having any consistency. Let me be clear on this, because if Ryan Tannahill were starting this game, my point would be Ryan Tannahill as their quarterback. And now all of a sudden, we have a situation where someone who is not as good as Ryan Tannahill is their quarterback. It's not a degree at this point. Yeah.

Exactly. When we get to the end of the road, what's it going to look like for the Miami Dolphins, Danny Kelly? I got them losing in their first game. I think they're going to lose the Steelers this coming weekend, and that'll be that. Big? I mean, I don't think it's going to be like a major blowout, but I don't think it's, I don't see it's going to be, I don't think it's going to be a real close game. They did beat this team 30 to 15 in week six.

That's true, but I mean, I don't know. On the other hand, they suck. Robert Mays. Exactly. I feel the same way. I think that their offense, Steelers' offense is good enough to put a points in that Miami team, and I think the Steelers' defense is much better. Yeah, I agree. Jay Jai is not going to be able to run on them like he was in week six.

and beyond that, the dolphins just don't have the horses on defense to keep up with such a deep Pittsburgh offense. And I think it's, you know, Bell is going to be able to run. Brown's going to be able to catch on. What's Tony Lipitt? I mean, Byron Maxwell, he's not even healthy right now. I just don't see any scenario in which they can keep up with the Steelers. Okay, Oakland Raiders, 12 and 4, but a very different team going into the playoffs.

They may have Matt McGuin. They may have Connor Cook, who is apparently in the NFL. Well, biggest win this season, obviously the Broncos win 30 to 20 in week 9. Their biggest loss, probably Derek Carr. They lost to the Chiefs, obviously, but the biggest loss in the season has to be Carr because he's also their MVP. They could be going streaking. Let's check this out. Robert Mays, make a case.

We have to be very generous, but let's make a case. Yeah, it's not easy at this point. I feel like if they're going to do anything in the playoffs, it's going to be because they still have a very good offensive line, the most expensive offensive line in the league, where they really threw a lot of their resources the last couple of years. And I think they're going to have to lean on that group and the running game.

That's been much better this season compared to what it was last year. If they can't run the ball, I'm not sure they'll have enough with Cook or McGloin to score it up to make up for their defense. Totally agree. And, you know, their defense has been so bad.

And Carr has been able to miraculously bail them out with a minute and a half to go with some great play to Michael Crabtree, Amar Cooper, Michael Rivera in some cases. Without that, without the sort of miracle worker type deal in the last two minutes, I think they have no chance. I think that if there's

going to be a best case scenario, it's that McGloin is somehow much better than we ever thought, and he may not even be healthy. And then you just get into a situation where maybe Latavius Murray can get, you know, a couple 50-yard runs, something like that, but I'm not seeing much of a case. Danny Kelly, what about you? Well, I mean, I'm kind of on the same page as you guys. I think best case scenario, McLeon or Cook, are going to be game managers, you know. And so what they're going to have to do is run the ball, you know, score some points. trying to keep up, but what they need is a few big plays on defense, and that's where Khalil Mack comes into play. If they're going to win, you know, if they're going to go streaking in the playoffs this year,

they're going to need an enormous postseason from Khalil Matt, kind of what we saw from Von Miller last year, where he actually takes over games. Yeah, it really is. Strip sacks, creating touchdowns, things like that. They need those types of plays for them to do anything. The problem is, though, that when you look at what happened with the Broncos last year, if you have a player like that, you can give enough attention to him to take him away a little. What Denver had were guys like Milly Jackson, that could completely dominate the one-on-one

matchups left by the attention of Payed Devon Miller. They do have Bruce Ervin. Bruce Ervin is the only guy like that, though. That's the problem with the Raiders. You can take away Kalil Mack to a certain extent, and by kind of, you know, overextending yourself in that way, you give yourself your vulnerabilities elsewhere. And the Raiders just don't have the horses to take advantage of that. Danny, why won't they go streaking?

Well, I mean, it's the obvious. You lose your most valuable player. You lose the guy that's provided so much magic for them this year. And right now they're down to their third-string quarterback, most likely, in Conner Cook. So, I mean, like we said before, it's just really so hard to win, even when you have your starter in the playoffs. And, you know, with them going with their backup, it's just I just don't give them much of a chance with them. Yeah, bad offense, bad defense. Other than that, things are fine. Robert?

I think we saw it yesterday. I mean, the way they played against the Broncos, it feels like, one, they didn't run the ball against Denver this time, which was concerning. Two, this team just feels defeated in a way. I mean, I think that they're really deflated, and it'd be hard to blame them, just with how uplifting of a season it's been overall, really that renaissance for the entire franchise for it to go the way it has in the last two weeks.

It's pretty heartbreaking. Yeah, I mean, you look at the emotions that went into this season. 13 years of being awful, the team might move. I mean, the Raiders fans had invested so much into this, and all of a sudden it comes crashing down. Carr meant so much to that team. Now, if you look at why they won't, obviously there's a case we made that Connor Cook or Matt McGloin is the reason they won't, but also just the secondary.

John Smith allowed 999 yards to the receivers he guarded this year. That's a good number. That's incredible. You got to keep them under a thousand. I always say that. Absolutely. Is it in his contract then, the claws of escalator? Yeah, he's got an escalator.

He's going to get a huge bonus for keeping him under a thousand. But, I mean, I just don't, they're not a good team without Derek Carr. I mean, I know that sounds crazy, and Colile Mac is amazing, and he's my favorite player in the NFL right now. Bruce Irvin is a great complimentary player, but they are just not a team that's capable of winning a playoff game with their third string quarterback. I mean, you look at what happened last year with the Bengals. It's kind of the comparison I've made. It's not as tragic, but it's still that great. And Cincinnati had a fantastic roster from top the bottom, and they couldn't overcome having to go into the playoffs of the backup quarterback.

It's really hard to do. And AJ McCarran is a hell of a lot better than Matt McGlellan. That's probably true, yeah. And Connor Cook at this point may be better than Matt McGloy. Which is, that's where we are with the Raiders right now. I knew McCarron was better than Cook because I knew what team AJ McCarran played for before yesterday. All right. End of the row.

Where does it come, Robert? I think they can still win this week. I mean, the Texans are, we're talking about this while watching Week 17. The Texans are bringing 29th in DVOA. They're only three teams worse than them. It's the Rams, the Browns, and it's 49ers. And the Texans are a playoff team. I mean, it's not as if you'd have to put up a great game in order to beat Houston.

Danny Kelly? By the way, I think it ends after that. Okay. That's what I was trying to say. Yeah, and I get them losing in the divisional round also. I feel like I'm being a little bit generous by having them beat the Texans in the first round. Somebody has to win this game. I think.

I don't think it's that chance. I don't think you're giving them much by saying they can beat the Texans. Right. But yeah, I don't see going much further than that. They're not going to get past Patriots. Is Tom Savage the best quarterback in this game? I don't know. Connor Cook, when we saw from him,

I know the game was already over, and he was really just in mop-up duty yesterday. But Connor Cook looked like he's played better yesterday than Brock Oswald has for most of the season. Well, that's not a high bar. I know. I know. It's the lowest bar.

Okay, I think the Texans actually win this game. I think the Raiders are done. I just think there's going to be too much of a letdown. Yeah. I'm over it. I'm over the Raiders. Next. Houston Texans, they won an NFL division.

a division that exists in the NFL, it's called the AMC South. I wouldn't study that standings very long. Best win, they beat the Chief somehow. Worst loss. They played Jacoby Brissette, Patriots' third-string quarterback, and they get dominated. Yes. 27 to nothing. Yeah, that still feels like a misprint.

Yeah, it wasn't good. It wasn't good. Their MVP, you could say a lot of guys in the defense, certainly kind of nobody on the offense, maybe Lamar Miller or Hopkins, but. It's got to be Jadabian Clowny, I think. You know, kind of a breakout season for him. Guys, the Houston Texans could be going streaking. If they're going streaking, Danny Kelly, why is that happening?

Well, I mean, it's going to be the reason that got them to the playoffs in the first place is that they have a solid, good, not great defense. And that's about as high as I can do it. All the Heming and Hogg about this team is incredible. The fact that we're talking about them right now just seems like a waste of time. They're not actually filming this, by the way. No, no, no, no, no. I mean, the reason they could go streaking is because what we talked about with the Raiders

earlier, they're playing the Raiders. They're playing Matt McGoyne or Connor Cook. I mean, that's the only reason this team can win a playoff game is because so many terrible things have happened to the rest of the teams. This is like the playing game, the NCAA tournament. We're like Murray State plays Dayton. I like the winner plays UNC and we're just like, well, somebody's got to win. And that team is really excited about getting to play one more tournament game.

No one else cares. That's probably how the Texas feels. go right now. Yeah. No, I agree. I mean, if they go streaking, it's going to be because Lamar Miller gets, I don't know, 100 yards, and then they're able to just eke out a win. They get a couple of sacks.

You know, I think that Connor Cook and Matt McGowan are both so inexperienced. Connor Cook would be the first player in the Super Bowl era to make his first career start in the playoffs. I think he's going to make some mistakes, especially if that pass rush starts going. I could see maybe like one pick six, something like that would just turn at the time. This would be a low-scoring game because of how bad the Oakland offense is. And so I feel like that kind of turnover plus a score could be the entire difference. They have enough talent in the front four to make big plays,

to kind of shift the game just because there's a sack, fumble, something like that. The way the clowny and merciless get after guys, get after quarterbacks, plus some of the talent they have in the secondary, that's just where we underrate how good the defense is at times because of how bad the offense is. And because every three plays they show JJ Watt on the sideline. I mean, I miss him, so I don't blame them. Pass.

All right. If they aren't going to go streaking the Houston Texans, why is that happening? Robert Mays. They have one of the worst offenses to ever make the playoffs. I feel like it's that simple. Their quarterback situation is as bad as it can get, and they won a division. So, I mean, that really is where it ends. I don't even know what to say.

I mean, again, this is like the Dolphins. They had a bad starting quarterback, and then they went to the guy who's not as good as the bad starting quarterback. And obviously, I think that Tom Savage, at least, isn't going to be historically bad, but he's still going to be really bad. And I just, I think the case is that the Houston Texans cannot score points. And Brock Osweiler makes Ryan's hand

to look like Aaron Rogers on the best day. So it's an even bigger downgrade than that. Right, I mean, regardless of who's playing, I mean, they're both bad. I think that Savage probably turns the ball over a little bit less, and so he's less of maybe a liability in that sense. But it's not like the Texans are, great running team either.

They just don't really have anything going on offense. They've managed to sort of take DeAndre Hopkins out of the game so long this season that you forget that last year he had over 100 catches and crazy amount of touchdowns. I think 11 touchdowns with four replacement level at best quarterbacks. And so, yeah. DeAndre Hopkins made a career out of catching passes from bad quarterbacks. And the quarterbacks have been so bad this year that they broke DeAndre Hopkins. I didn't think that was possible.

And if you have a bad offense. and you have D'Andre Hopkins, isn't an answer to fixing it throwing the ball to D'Andhaukins 200 times? I don't understand. There's just no way they can't have said, why don't we do it this? Why not?

There's no reason. Well, it's just they refuse to pass the ball down the field. I mean, like, I think the biggest weapons in their offense right now are like tight ends on little crossing routes. C.J. Fedorowitz is the Texans offense. They drafted Will 4.

They had Dianjah Hopkins. The fact that they're just not like, screw it, we're going to throw downfield on every play and see what happens. Because this is a home run league now. All you need Sunday is three passes that connect for 40 yards and you've won the game. You basically have to score 20 points to win this game. And so if they come out with a conservative game plan and they will, they're not, they're going to lose.

And that's the thing that's so disappointing about this Texan team in general. Robert Mays, where does it end? I think it may end this weekend, even with the Raiders quarterback problems. I just think that if you look at the talent Oakland still has on offense, It's easier for me to imagine them scoring 21 than it is for the Texans at this point. And, I mean, that's really, really strange to say, but I feel like we're there. Yeah, I think that the Texans probably win this game and then just get slaughtered in the divisional round. The good news is we don't have to watch.

It's six hours of football you don't actually have to watch. Yeah, I have them losing in the wild card round. I just don't, like Robert said, I just don't think that offensively they have enough to match. I think that the Raiders still, even without their MVP quarterback, can manufacture more points than them. Because the Raiders can say we're going to run the ball. That's the option the Texans just don't have. And at this point, that makes them heads and shoulders better, which is nuts.

So nobody actually cares if the Texans win this game. My question is, is Brock Osweiler at the starter at any point in 2017? I don't think he's a starter at 2017. I feel like he has to be on the roster. They don't really have any other recourse. $25 million in dead money? Yeah, it'd be hard for him to be the starter. I don't know how you could trot him out there again.

I think they give him a few more starts, but I think by, you know, week four, I think that he's on a bench again. Totally great. Okay, Pittsburgh Steelers, kind of an inconsistent year. I think we all saw them dominating story of having a gilded rise to a 13 and 3 season. That didn't happen, but they still won the division. They still seem to be firing on all cylinders with their offense. And I think there's been a lot of questions at different parts of the year with that. Best win this year, Chiefs 43 to 14 in week four.

worse loss. We now don't remember the Wenswagon, but it was once a beautiful thing. And the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the biggest victims. Simple times. 34 to 3 to the Wenswagon. Obviously, those two teams are incredibly different at this point, one's not even playing.

MVP, it's a little close between Antonio Brown and Levyon Bell, but we gave it to Levyon Bell. Guys, the Pittsburgh Steelers could be going streaking. If they're going streaking, and it will look like that, why is it happening, Robert Mays? I mean, I think it's those playmakers on offense. I mean, I know that the offense has been inconsistent, but you just see it in flashes,

those last two drives against the Ravens for me. If you just get the ball in the hands of Bell and Brown, it just feels like they're a threat to score 30 every single week, and I'm not sure there are that many defenses left in the AFC, you can slow them down. Yeah, and their ability to just do the simple things and make them, you know, Antonio Brown on a slant is an unstoppable play at this point. And I don't know, for instance, the Miami Dolphins, who's going to stop that?

You know, their defense is a little banged up right now. Kiko Alonzo is a little bit hurt. The middle of the field is going to be wide open for them. And I think that you can get Bell in there or you can just get Antonio Brown in these simple little routes. And I think that at some point you have to face an elite defense who can be able to stop that. Yeah, and I agree with you guys too. I think obviously that big three, that trio is one of the most dangerous in the NFL. But I think the other thing that you have to take into account with the Steelers is they're a pretty balanced team.

they're maybe the most balanced team in the AFC. They have a pretty good defense. They can stop the run. They've been better at rushing the passer. And I think that they just have enough playmakers on that defense to contend with some of the better offenses in the AFC. And right now, like we talked about, there aren't that many great offenses in that field right now.

So I think that just their balance makes them, they have a lot of ways to beat you. By the way, they have a healthy quarterback, which is more than most teams in the playoffs can say. And he's not even that healthy. I know, right. He doesn't look right in like six weeks. Healthier. Yeah.

I mean, that's the bar at this point. Not Matt Moore is his top trait. Right, exactly. If they're not going streaking Danny Kelly, why? Well, I mean, it's what we talked about. Which version of Big Ben are we getting? He's had a few games this season where he's just looked really bad, frankly. And I know that it has to do with injuries a lot, probably.

But still, I mean, he's thrown a few, like, potentially back-breaking picks. And in the playoffs, those players, like one or two plays can be the difference in the game. So I think the reason that the thing that could hold them back for me is if Ben shows up and has a terrible game. Yeah. Their level of aggressiveness is kind of what defines their offense. And last year, he threw some of those backbreaking picks. But they were so instant in their ability to score points that a lot of times it didn't matter.

We haven't seen that version of them this year. So the backbreaking picks are even more devastating. So that's what I'm worried about is that we're going to have that same aggressiveness that can come back to bite that. and they're just never going to hit that flow where they can score at any point on anyone. You know, I'm not worried about their offense. Their offense is going to score 30 points, I think, against, especially in the first two rounds.

For me, I worry about the defense. And, you know, since week 11, they've allowed the few of sacks and had the most sacks in the NFL. Their sack differential has been the best in the league. I've been surprised by that, but they have to carry that over against good teams. Right.

It's one thing to sack the hell out of the Cleveland, Browns or the Cincinnati Bengals or any of these teams that don't have NFL offensive lines. It's another thing to, you know, the Dolphins line is jelled. There's some good lines left, you know, further along in the playoffs. I would, if they aren't able to rush the quarterback, that's going to, that's where the trouble's going to start. Two big things from me at this point in the year for them. One, they get Bud Dupre back.

That's been a quiet addition. He's been huge. Losing Cam Hayward and then getting Dupre back has made a huge difference. And two, there was a moment that Ravens game in the last drive, where he was a lot of, where the Ravens ran a beautiful little twist and the Steelers just picked it up flawlessly. They have healthy offense flying. At this point in the year,

you've got guys that have played together for two, three years, understand each other. Having all five of those dudes matters a lot. Yeah, and you get into a situation where Bud Dupree is almost like a mini Vic Beasley. Because when a pass rusher can make the leap, when you weren't expecting, you know, Bud Dupree was not particularly good in his rookie year.

He was put on IR at the beginning of this season. We talked about it. We thought that was going to be sort of a game-changing injury for them. They went from a defense that could be elite to maybe a defense that was middle of the road. Their only route to a pass rusher was that, and then he was gone. Exactly. And now he's back.

He's productive. I think that we're sleeping on that as a sort of game-changing addition for the playoffs. Guys, if it is the end of the road, when is it going to happen? I've got that moves in in the championship round. I just think that they're good enough to beat some of these teams that are missing their quarterbacks. Obviously, the dolphins have issues at quarterback. I just think that because of their balance, because of the weapons they have on offense,

they can make it to the AFC championship. I don't see them getting past the Patriots, though. Maze, what do you think? I don't know. This one's a tough one for me. I feel like Kansas City looks like the realest threat to the Patriots right now. And so I think that the idea of Pittsburgh going to KC in the divisional round,

I could see either of those two teams winning. But I agree with Danny. Even if they do sneak by the Chiefs, I have a hard time seeing them beating the Patriots the way New England is playing right now. Yeah, I had them losing to the team. the Patriots too. And I think they'll get by the Chiefs. You know, people talk about Hill and the ability to get him the ball in space with the Chiefs, but, you know, Pittsburgh is just a

deeper offense. I think they'll be able, again, they'll be able to score 30 points in any scenario. You know, the Chiefs are really good at creating turnovers. You know, Eric Barry can get a pick-six seemingly whenever he wants. The pass rush is coming along. And so I think there's a chance that they would lose to the Chiefs, but I really don't see it. I think the Patriots is the end of the road in the AFC championship game from Pittsburgh. I think the Steelers is the end of the end of the road in the AFC championship game from Pittsburgh. I think the Steelers are well equipped to play in the cold, too. I think that's a definite advantage late in the season. And if they're going to have to go through KC,

I think that they're the type of team that can win in that atmosphere. Like cold, loud, I think that they're battle-tested enough to do that. Quite a Kali's heel for the Chiefs is that their run defense has not been good all season. Now they're without Derek Johnson. It feels like if the Steelers wanted to lean on Lambion about all a game, Kansas City is a team where they can do that. Absolutely. But one thing in their favor, if they play, you know,

everyone talks about quarterback depth and stuff. And I think that the best backup quarterback in league right now is Don Terry Poe. Yes, absolutely. Okay, Kansas City Chiefs 12 and 4 season, one of the surprises of the season, if you just looked at what they looked like in September, I think they laughed explosion. No one really knew what their identity was. They've come along quite nicely.

The biggest win of this season is the Falcons Game in Week 13, the Eric Berry pick eight, I guess you would call it. And the biggest loss would be early in the season. when we saw them maybe at their worst against the Steelers, they lost by over 20 points. Their MVP, a lot of candidates here. We're going with Travis Kelsey, but it could easily be Eric Berry.

It could easily be Marcus Peters. Could be Tyrick Hill. Could be Alex Smith. Could be Andy Reid's ability to not fuck up the clock. Yeah, that's the weird thing about this team is that Andy Reid is their MVP. I mean, just he, whatever his presence is over that entire offense is the reason they are what they are.

But it kind of speaks to their roster depth is that there's so many guys to choose. Yeah. Okay. Well, they could be going. streaking. Exactly. Now, if they're going to go streaking, Danny Kelly, why is that happening? Turnovers and the insane pass rush to that. So they have that. It's a great combination. They can really pressure, quarterback, affect him, move him, get him off his spot, and then they have the playmakers to take the ball away. And I think, you know, like we said before, in playoff

games where it's typically a close score, those types of turnovers can be the difference in the game. And so I think they led the NFL with 33 takeaways. And that's been their identity. That's been what got them here. And I think if they're going to win it all, if they're going to go all the way, that's going to be what does it for them. Yeah, I agree with you on that. You know, the cliche in the NFL is Ben, but don't break.

That doesn't mean anything. But if you give up a lot of yards and the chiefs do on defense, but then you're able to turn it around with a pick six, you know, that Panthers game where they came back in the last, what, 90 seconds, and Marcus Peters basically just ripped the ball out of somebody's hand. That was one of the best comebacks by defense I've ever seen. I've never seen a defense say, we're just going to win the game here.

I've never seen anything like that in such a small amount of time. I think that that is what has to happen if they're going to go streaking because I think that, you know, as of now, Hill getting the ball in the backfield and running 70 yards, I don't know how sustainable that is in the playoffs against really, really good defense. Robert Mays? Yeah, it feels like they have to look into big players. And they have the talent to do it.

I love Kelsey, and I think that Hill has given them a new dimension. There's no denying that. But the defense is what's going to take them there? I mean, you have that pass rush. Justin Houston's health is the thing I'm looking at more than anything else over the next couple weeks. So you're going to be around and give them that trio of guys. You add Chris Jones to that mix and what Barry and Peters give them. It's just a well-built defense to make up for what can be a spotty offense.

If they're not going streaking Robert, what's happening? I think the offense doesn't make plays consistently enough. Their running game last year was the most efficient in the league. They're number one in rushing DVOA. They haven't been that this season. So when Alex Smith doesn't necessarily have those big plays in the passing game, they don't have anywhere else to turn. So if they do hit a point where Hill just can't get loose, where Kelsey gets shut down in the game, I just feel like it's going to be a slog for them. Yeah.

I think it's just as simple as what if the turnovers never come? Yeah. What if Eric Barry can't do it? What if there isn't a good enough pass rush? Maybe Justin doesn't return to health. They don't make those, they don't force those mistakes, and all of a sudden there's just nothing. Because they have to get turnovers to win games. And if that doesn't happen, if they play an offense, you know, like Pittsburgh, for instance,

and they just don't make mistakes. And, you know, what, Rathesberger can be elusive, obviously, you can extend those plays. If that happens, and I think that they're done. Yeah, I mean, I agree with you guys. Exactly. I think they're reliant on those explosive plays. Like, they're somewhat reliant on getting like a 70-yard touchdown. Yeah.

You know what I mean? So, like you said, how sustainable is that game-in, game out? If they don't get those plays, how are they going to win in the playoffs, in the cold, when Alex Smith just flat out refuses to pass the ball deep down the field. That's what I worry about. I think that it's hard to look past them right now because they've been so incredibly consistent doing that. But I just think it's just very hard to believe that they can get that every single game.

It's kind of like the Giants in a way. Yeah. I mean, they have this need for a big play plus a very good defense. Their defense is more opportunistic than great, which the Giants' defense is. But there are parallels there. On the other hand, I mean, Odell Beckham is on the Giants. would trust him to more reliably make big plays than I think Tyra Kill at this point. Yeah, that's fair. I think it's the combination of Hill and Kelsey for KC.

So they have two guys, but neither of those guys is a know back-up. Yeah, exactly. I'd also have to put out the Andy Reid as a coach of the Ken City Chiefs. Do we think that's a good or bad thing at this point? We're doing it in a segment about why they're not streaking. Okay, all right. I mean, I think that that, I don't know. I feel like we take too much away from Andy Reid. I mean, what he's done there, he's been 11 and 5, three times in four years. There's a reason for that. But when the games do start to matter, I mean, I understand.

Yeah, I get it. I get it. End of the road for the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, this was a tough one for me because they continually just like out, they just outplay my expectations every week, it seems like. But I have them losing in the divisional round. I think that, like we said, the Steelers can go in there. They're the type of team that can beat them.

And I worry about if, like you said, if they can't get turnovers, if they can't get those explosive plays, what they're going to do to score points. Yeah, Robert. I think they do lose to Pittsburgh. I feel like that's going to be a great game. I also think that weirdly, if the Chiefs did knock off Pittsburgh, they would have a better chance against New England,

just matchup-wise. Played them okay last year. So I think that there's a chance they could go to the Super Bowl. But if I had to say right now, I would say it's a division. We're about to clinch the Chiefs winning because we're all three going to pick the Pittsburgh Steelers' neck game. I just think that the depth that Pittsburgh's doing. has, again, I don't know how sustainable Kansas City's offense is. I've got to go with Pittsburgh in that game.

New England Patriots, 14 and 2. This seems to be a yearly occurrence. Yeah. I mean, Tom Brady was suspended for four games. Didn't matter. They went 3 and 1. Jacoby Brissette pasted the Houston Texans somehow. Okay.

They're a playoff team, by the way. Biggest win, Ravens, 30 to 23. You know, they didn't really have a great schedule this year. Right. There aren't that many games to choose from. They didn't really destroy it. That Patriots or that Houston game may be it, but there was no Tom Brady, so it's hard to pick that one. Yeah, well, they would have won.

Tom Brady would have been very, very bad if they had Tom Brady in that game. Worst lost, the Seahawks game, I mean, just almost inexplicably bad, uncharacteristic mistakes from New England. So they're the only loss, though. That's the only one to fuse from. By the way, the Seahawks are not the same team because they don't have Earl Thomas anymore. So if they played again, it would be extremely. different game. MVP, it's got to be Tom Brady. He might be the MVP of the league at this

point. We don't know. I think Matt Ryan's a little better. But, you know, in those 12 games, there have been very few dominant performances like that in the NFL, which is a stretch where he was unstoppable. Now, they might be going streaking. We're going streaking. We didn't need to use that. There's probably footage he could have used. That's the only one we actually just pulled from Snapchat. Okay, if they're going streaking, and that's not much of a big if, why is it going happened, Danny Kelly. Well, I mean, Tom Brady, and it's been the same for, you know, decade and more. I think he's just one of the most dominant players in the NFL, you know, arguably the best quarterback ever. And with the way that the Patriots run their offense,

they continually just pick on someone's weakest link. And Brady is the best at executing that. Like, he's just, he's so good at changing plays at the line scrimmage based on what the defense is doing. He can see it. He gets everybody on the same page. I just think, you know, if a Patriots is going to win again, it's because Tom Brady's the, the best player in the NFL. Their offense has been so impressive to me without Grunk. I just didn't think they could be this type of team without him. And the way Brady is playing is how it starts.

You know, he always has that anticipation, just getting teams in the right, his offense in the right spots. But the way he's thrown the ball this year has been really impressive to me. He's on, he's accurate, he's on time. It just, it doesn't look like a 40-year-old guy. And then you have that with the way their offensive line has played this season. To me, that's the biggest difference between this year's Patriots team and last year's Patriots team.

is that even a team like a hypothetical Broncos from last year wouldn't be able to take advantage of them this year they did last season. I think they're going streaking for a couple of reasons, and the biggest one for me is they're just the most complete team in the AFC. They're the best team? There is nobody else out there. You know, it's almost at the NCAA tournament to me where when there's no great teams,

it just comes down to who's well coached and who has a lot of experience, right? And that's when the team with a bunch of seniors wins the NCAA tournament. That's how I sort of view the Patriots. They've been there. They've, you know, everyone said, oh, their defense isn't as good. Well, they finish the season number one in scoring defense. They supplanted the four-year streak of the Seattle Seahawks in doing so. They're really good.

And they don't have any real holes. Maybe they're secondary. Maybe they're special teams. I mean, really, once you start saying, oh, Cyrus Jones fumbles, punts, that's a pretty easy fix. Yeah, you're picking nits there. Yeah, exactly. You're just sort of grasping at things. And so I don't see a scenario which they do not win the AFC.

It's hard. It's hard to make that case now. I'm looking at some of the numbers yesterday. Even if we don't go by the raw totals, which their special teams helps with the scoring defense, everything else, there's sixth and weighted DVOA. I mean, the turnaround they've had over the last five or six weeks is pretty remarkable. There's just no glaring weakness on the roster at this point. Okay, shortest segment we might do today. We're going to get into why they may not go streaking.

I mean, I don't know how they don't go to at least the AFC championship game. But I think it's just that their defense hasn't seen in real. real offense yet. So the first time they do that if they have to play against Pittsburgh. That's not going to happen against Houston or Oakland, by the way. Exactly. I mean, so there's almost no possible way they lose before the title game. So I think that's where they wouldn't go streaky. It'd be one win. It's a shame that Landry Jones started against them earlier in the season. Because if they got the Rathusberger and they got the Steelers' offense at full health, that's where you're getting into the biggest test of the season. We haven't

seen that. That's why it's going to be so exciting when they do play an AFC title game. Danny? Yeah, I mean, the exact same reason. How are they going to respond? to the adversity when they're playing a top offense. So, like, I guess it's going to have to be the Steelers or the Chiefs because the other guys, the other teams just don't have that. By the way, the second team you just mentioned is quarterback by Alex Smith. Right. That's the top offense remaining in the ASEC is not Steelers.

I mean, you can even say basically the only chance that they're going to see an elite quarterback is if the Steelers play them in the championship game. If they don't, it's going to be in the Super Bowl. So, but to me, the only way they don't, you know, win the Super Bowl, win, get to the Super Bowl is if they start to freak out when they play a top offense, you know, if, you know, some of their young guys in the secondary start to panic, or, you know, if they can't cover guys coming out of the backfield with their, with what they have left at their linebacker position. So I think, you know, obviously they did, like you said, they were the best scoring defense in the NFL this

year. You can't take that away from them. That was a very good defense. But I just think it depends on, like, what do we, what defense are they? going to be when they finally face the top offense. The best one that we've seen in the play this year was the Seahawks and Russell Wilson kind of lit them up. And Russell Wilson's season hasn't exactly been awesome. So I don't know. That's the thing that worries me about the Patriots.

For me, it has to just be an uncharacteristic game for them where they make mistakes. You know, they almost had that against Baltimore. They're fumbling punts. They're letting guys get behind them in the secondary. If they have one of those stinkers against the Steelers, I see that as a potential. you know, three or four point loss, something like that. I mean, they could freaking rest their starters against the Texans or Raiders

and act like it's fourth preseason game basically. But I mean, in the AFC title game, I could see them if they have their worst game of the season losing to one of those teams. Think about the conversations we're having right now. For the Patriots to lose, we have to have them fumbling, puns and kickoffs. For the Chiefs to win, they have to score 70-yard touchdown.

That's how far apart they are from the rest of the competition right now. But sometimes it happens. I mean, sometimes it happens. Andy Reed is a pretty, I know we joke about his clock management, but he's pretty good coach. Mike Tomlin, Terry Bradshaw, not on this panel. Mike Tomlin is a pretty good coach.

And so I feel like a well-coached team, you know, like the Patriots have played some weird playoff games the past. Two years ago against Baltimore, they could have lost it, not for a Julian Edelman touchdown pass. You know, they could have easily lost the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. I forget what happened on the last place. I stopped watching when they were on the one-yard line. But, you know, I just, I feel like there are ways to beat the Patriots.

It's just going to require a lot of luck. Yeah. Okay. End of the road. When is it coming if it's coming, Robert? I think the first time I could see them losing is the Super Bowl. I just feel like the two offenses that they... To who?

Who can beat them from the NFC? I think three teams can beat them from the AFC. I think that the Packers, the Falcons, and the Cowboys all have the offenses to go toe to toe with the wing. Not the Giants. Yeah. I mean, well, Robert Mays is saying is that the New England of Patriots

are the worst team in the NFC. Is that what you're saying? Let's get down the record. I'm not saying they would lose to all those teams. I'm saying the NFC has a lot more teams that have the possibility of knocking them off than the AFC does. I still think they're better than all of those teams.

I would still pick the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, but I feel if it's going to end, it would be in the Super Bowl. Yeah, I got them losing in the Super Bowl also. And I think... Who can beat them in the Super Bowl? I think the Cowboys... 15 teams of Robert just named.

Well, I mean, obviously the Cowboys, to be, are, you know, their team capable of beating them. I think that that's an offense that can sort of run through that defense, just like they did just about every other team in the NFL this year. I think they're going to have, if the Falcons are going to play them, it's going to be a bow race. It's going to be, you know, a shootout. And that's a team that could beat them.

I think that it's always the Giants, you know, it's kind of their kryptonite or whatever. I think that they have a really, really good defense. that can take Tom Brady kind of out of the game. I don't see the Giants getting that far, but they're a team that could beat them. And, I mean, the Seahawks beat them this year. Of course, that was without Earl Thomas.

I don't think the Seahawks are getting back to the Super Bowl. Yeah, take it easy over there. I have to shout out my Seahawks. They're not getting back to the Super Bowl, but yeah, I see the Cowboys beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. I would be most intrigued to see the Patriots play the Cowboys and the Patriots play the Falcons, because what Bill Belichick is so good at is taking away the best option.

I would love to see just as a football fan, him game plan against Julio Jones and trying to figure out how to stop him or try, you know, how does he attack the Dallas offense? It seems unstoppable at this point. I mean, I'm intrigued to see just as a football fan how that happens. For me, there is no end of the road.

For me, they win the Super Bowl. Because, first of all, I don't agree with you. I don't think the Green Bay could beat them. The way Rogers is playing right now, I'm just putting them in every conversation. I think they're at the bottom of that list, but he's playing well enough that I'm not ruling on anything they can do. I think you could score 50 points in the Packers right now.

And they'll score 55. That's the problem. I don't agree with that. But for me, Atlanta could beat them conceivably. Yeah. Dallas could beat them conceivably. But I think, you know, I think that right now, if it was just on a neutral field and all things were equal, they would probably play a pretty close game. And then I'm just taking Belichick over Dan Quinn and Jason Garrett.

And that's how I'm viewing it. No one's how I'm viewing. I mean, maybe Pete Carroll could do something, but the Seahawks don't even know to play football anymore. Right. So I just, those are the two options, Atlanta and Dallas. and I just, I do not see a scenario in which they lose to those two teams. So I'm going to go with New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl. Hey guys, before we get to the NFC, let's see from a couple of our sponsors.

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Okay, the Detroit Lions are a team that made the playoffs, and this being a playoff preview, we have to talk about the Detroit Lions, who are a team in the NFL. 9 and 7 this year, love when a 9-17 makes the playoffs, really helps the league and helps my interest as a fan. They beat the Saints.

Now, you could say, that they won a game against a future playoff team, but they beat the Texans this year, so they are actually winless against actual playoff teams. That's accurate. Reality, functional playoff teams. They beat the Saints. It's their best win of the year, 2813.

They lost to the Cowboys, 42, 21, maybe a more accurate representation of their skill level. They lost the Packers, obviously, over the weekend. They could have won the NFC North. MVP is Matthew Stafford problematic because he is not currently a good quarterback he's wearing a middle finger cast and has to wear that while he's throwing

which has not been particularly good so let's make a case because we have to that these guys could go streaking we're going streaky! Okay, who wants to go first? I'll do it, I'll do it. Thanks buddy. Really appreciate it.

Matt Stafford. Here's the reason that they could go streaking. It's because of the magic. They continue the magic that they had in the fourth quarter of comebacks this year. I think I saw a stay yesterday, 15 out of their 16 games, they started the fourth quarter trailing.

They still managed to win nine games, so that's something. So your case for why the Lions can win a playoff game is that at some points they will be losing that playoff game. Okay. Yes. They're just making sure. They're very good at fourth quarter comebacks.

I'm just trying something. Deffert at eight, I think, this year. It's like the all-time record. But a lot of those are pre-finger. Right. And we'll get into that. But I think if there's a reason that they could go streaking, it's because they have that magic they believe in themselves,

to come back in close games. And, yes, we're contractually obligated to talk about that. Yeah, Robert? I mean, going streaking, in my definition here, is winning at least one playoff game. The reason they can do that is because the Seahawks are kind of a mess right now. Right. That's the only reason.

The Seahawks are not the same team without a game. Earl Thomas, their offense has not really been impressive over the last, I don't know how long. So because the Lions get that team that's kind of having everything go wrong at the right moment, that's why they could win. Why won't they go streaking Danny Kelly? Well, a couple of reasons. First of all, secondary issues, they're just not good against the pass at all. And they don't have a good pass rush.

It's a tough combo because they're not getting any, they're not affecting opposing quarterbacks, and that's why they're able to pick them apart. We saw last night, or on Sunday. night when Aaron Rogers is running around for about eight seconds before he finds a guy in the back of the end zone. Who was that? That is something that is going to be a huge problem for them in the playoffs against several of these NFC quarterbacks.

Obviously, Russell Wilson's a great scrambler. He's good at keeping plays alive this year. He's been hurt. But just the combination of not being able to get a quarterback off his spot and having a tough, not very talented secondary, I think they're in trouble. They made Aaron Rogers, who, by the way, is a fairly mobile quarterback. They made them look like Levy on Bell last night. I mean, he was just going everywhere.

Robert, why are they not going streaking? The defense is a good place to start. But I also just think that the way they were winning games earlier in the season, Matthew Stafford was playing great. Theo Riddick was a star for them. The Eric's not around anymore, and Matthew Stafford has that hand. The most frustrating part about the finger is that not every throw is bad. There are still times or that one beautifully comes off his hand

and it really shows off what Matthew Staffer can still do. But then every second or third throw, which is careens off in a different direction. So I think the finger is much worse than people think. And we're starting to think it's pretty bad. It's probably worse because he's just missing open guys. Jim Bob Cooter's offense is pretty good. Guys are getting open. Golden Tate is open.

Marvin Jones getting open, but he'll just sail the ball five yards over their head in some situations. And in order to beat a Seattle or Green Bay last night, you have to play a perfect game. You have to, when guys are open, hit them for the 40, 50-yard pass. And if that's not happening, the ball over guys' heads when they're open, you just have no chance. Yeah, there's some throws you made against Green Bay. It's like, oh, that's a pretty ball.

And then the next throw, you just have no idea what's going to happen. It's a really weird crap shoot. Yeah. All right. End of the road. I think they lose to Seattle. I just don't think that they have enough on either side of the ball to deal with the Seahawks team that's reeling right now, even. Yeah, I have them lose into the Seahawks as well. I think, number one, it's tough to play in Seattle, even if they are struggling this year a little bit. Number two, I said it before, I just don't know how they're going to be able to contain Russell Wilson. I think his ability to move around in the pocket, get outside the pocket on bootlegs, things

like that, I think they're going to really struggle against that. And even without Earl Thomas, I still think that Seahawks' second day will be able to shut down kind of what's left of the Lions passing offense. I just don't, it's going to take something really weird for them to get past Seattle. Game starts at 815 Saturday. Ended the road, 817. New York Giants, 11 and 5, very good season from their sort of inconsistent last few years. I think they exceeded pretty much everyone's expectations.

Ben McAdoe, phenomenal hair, phenomenal hoodie game. I think that exceeded a lot of expectations. Had some great wins. Obviously, the win over the Cowboys stunned everybody, 10-7 and week 14. They're lost to the Vikings in week four, bizarre. Odell Beckham, obviously their MVP, pretty much. their only offense for large stretches of the season. On defense, they had a lot of contributors.

But Odell is so much better than anybody else. He might be the best part of the league at this point, for Christ's sake. There's a case we made that they're going to go streaking. Okay. I'm really sad that wasn't Ben McAdoo. I'm going to be honest with you. Can we get that in post? If they're going to go streaking, Ben McAdoe and Odell Beckham,

why is it going to happen, Robert May. It starts with the defense. I mean, you look at the turnaround they've made, to go from being one of the three worst defense in the league last year to, I don't know, would you pick any other playoff-bound defense over them right now? I think they have the best defense in the playoffs. I mean, the contributions they've gotten from Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, Janores Jenkins, Landon Collins is a certain resurgence.

It's just kind of incredible that they have five or six guys you have to mention for why they've turned into a good unit. So I feel like they just have everything it takes to suffocate these really good offenses. We make so many jokes about winning the offseason, and getting all these free agents, and obviously then the team goes seven and nine, six and ten, whatever it is. I'm quite frankly stunned that Olivier Vernon is as good as he is,

that Janorice Jenkins is as good as he is, that Snacks Harrison is just stuffing the run. They have one of the best run stuffing units in the NFL. So for me, I have been so impressed with the way that defense has been coming together. And to the point that, like we saw against the Cowboys, it only needs two or three big Odell plays, maybe a little bit of contribution from the running game. something like that, for them to pull a couple upsets.

And that's sort of the scenario I see happening. Yeah, I mean, I agree with you guys too. I think their defense is good enough to get them, you know, to get them a few wins in the playoffs. Will it happen? We'll see. But that is a group that can do two things. They can stop the run and it can defend the pass on third downs. And, I mean, that really makes it hard for an opposing offense to move the ball when they can do those two things.

Because their run defense is setting them up in good situations on third down and then they're defending the pass. They're seventh in the NFL net yards per attempt. They have a good secondary. And I see a lot of teams struggling against that defense. Yeah. I mean, I thought that their pass rush would fuel them. But the way they can just line up and out-talent you on the outside, that's just something I didn't expect.

The depth on the defensive line just stuns me. Yeah. They really are what we thought the Seahawks were going to be at this point in the season where they just have so much talent, a safety corner up front. There's no real point where you can attack. them. Is anyone else is stunned as I am that Ben McAdee's good coach? For me, it's been Spagnolo. You think about the fact, it seemed like Spagnolo was on his way out.

You know, like this guy that the game had passed by, he was in his third or fourth job, he didn't have it anymore. And now he's the coordinator of the best defense in the playoffs. It's unbelievable. Okay, maybe there's a case they're not going streaking. Because they don't have anything else off. That's except for him. Paul Perkins.

How much stops and starts has defined who they've been offensively? I mean, it's hard to ignore. They have no one else that can consistently give them a threat. And that's because Eli hasn't had a good Eli season. He's been pretty bad. They don't have a running game. What's a good Eli season? I think there's some years.

I mean, even last year, I think Eli played pretty well. And two years ago, I think you were signed. It's a good Eli season. It's like almost peak Eli. Okay. So in that way, yes, it's a good Eli season. We're closer to pure Eli. But they really don't have anything else aside from Modell.

I could see them scoring 10 points in a playoff game pretty easily. Yeah, I mean, I said the exact. same thing in one-trick-pony offense. And, you know, they don't have a run game. Paul Perkins has given them a little bit, but not really. They are wholly dependent. It's kind of like the Chiefs. They're wholly dependent on getting this big, huge plays for Odell Beckham. And if those don't come, where are they going to get points? I just, I don't know where that happens. Obviously, the defense has done a good job of keeping the games low scoring, so, you know, two or three big plays can really actually win them a game. But, you know, if a defense does a good job of scheming against

Beckham, then, you know, that could be the end of it for the Giants. Their quarterback is Eli Manning. Yeah. And I think that needs to be talked about a little bit more. We probably didn't talk about that enough in the first segment of this discussion. He could just implode. He could just have three interceptions, four interceptions. Now, sometimes that doesn't matter.

You know what I mean? If you look at the numbers for how often he has multi-interception games, I think he has one of the best records in the NFL as far as wins and losses when he throws multiple interceptions, it's almost like the team expect. him to throw multiple interceptions. Okay, we got this. There's not a different thing. You do your thing.

We got it. We got this thing going on. I mean, really all it takes is Odo Beck. We talked about the chiefs, as you said, I trust O'Dell Beckham to make the 60-yard slant pass. He and Antonio Brown are the two guys where I say, actually, this might be a little bit sustainable. Just get him the ball.

Get him the ball in the back of the ends. We saw all the great, you know, his ability to come down with balls is basically unparalleled at this point. And so I do think that relying on a big play from Odell is actually somewhat sustainable. Yeah. Okay. Now we're going to discuss the end of the road or potential end of the road for the Giants. I see them losing in the wildcar round, actually.

It's tough because I think that the Packers' Giants game is going to be a good one. I think that the Packers' defense is banged up enough that Odell is going to house a couple plays. But again, Aaron Rogers is playing out of his mind right now. There's no quarterback you could argue that there's no quarterback playing as well as him right now. And he is, you know, I think even against that great defense, he's going to be able to put some points upon the board. So it's going to be a close one, but I see the Giants losing in the first round. I disagree with that. I think the Giants are going to win this game on the road.

I understand how good Rogers is. I don't necessarily agree he's the best quarterback right now. I think Matt Ryan, even if you look at the run, the table numbers, Matt Ryan is still better across the board. even if you take the small sample of the last six games for Rogers. But for me, I just think they're a complete team. And I just don't see that a lot. I certainly don't see it from Green Bay. And I agree with you with O'Dell that, you know, he could house three play.

I mean, we could see a historically good O'Dell game. There's a couple of things. Number one, he loves when he's, you know, pissed off. He loves big games. He lives for this shit. And so now he's going against a defense that cannot stop anybody in the passing game. Yeah. And that's why I wouldn't be surprised about Odell just.

just like has 200 yards, two touchdowns, and just wins a game. I think they lose the Packers for the similar reasons that Danny said. Matt Ryan's had the better season. Air Rogers is still a better quarterback. I feel like that. He's a more daunting task and more daunting challenge at this point in the year. So I think he's going to do enough even against that Giants defense for the Packers who still win. Okay.

I think they're under the Road as a Super Bowl. I think they will make the Super Bowl. Wow. Nice. That wouldn't surprise me. I mean, this is a team that, one of the only teams in my mind that I could see, losing a divisional round or going all the way to the soup. To me, it's between Dallas and the Giants.

And I think they're the two most complete teams in the NFL right. And just as far as having a defense, they can get you there and having an offense, they can get you there. And look, the offense is trailing well behind the defense at this point. But I just feel like there's just not a lot of great defenses in the playoffs right now. It's going to come down to whoever wins when the Giants play the Cowboys. And I just have a feeling the Giants are ready to do it. That would be a lot of fun in that game. the third rematch or whatever between those two teams.

You know, obviously, there's stats against winning or beating a team three times in one season, but I think that would just be a great matcher because the Giants have proven that they are built. They're the one team right now, I think, that are built to stop that team. Green Bay Packers, 10 and 6. I don't think in October, even November, anybody saw this coming that we'd be talking about the Packers' the playoff team. They were 4 and 6 at one point. They looked awful.

They got blown out by the damn Redskins. Kirk Cousins looked like, you know, the new Aaron Rogers six weeks ago. That's obviously a joke. Kirk Cousins has always been bad. So, guys, kind of a weird season. Obviously, their best win was a 38 to 10 win over the Seahawks in week 14. The loss to the Titans in week 10. What a weird thing.

It was a weird day for all of us. Their MVP, obviously Aaron Rogers. He said they were going to run the table or felt like they were going to run the table. They did. his numbers have been basically second only to Matt Ryan since that proclamation, and he's been incredible. So I think there's a case you made that they're going streaking. Streaking!

That's Aaron Rogers posing as the new host of Celebrity Apprentice, by the way. Okay, Robert Mays, give me a case for the streak. I mean, it starts and ends with that actual real footage of Aaron Rogers being from the future. It was a down, uneven season for him at some points, right? end of the year with 4,400 yards, 40 touchdowns, seven interceptions on 65% completion. It was a down year. He's not real.

And when he's playing at this level, he gives you a chance to win every single game. And I don't really know what else to say. I think he's the best player in the NFL, and he's playing like it right now. I agree. You know, if they're going to go streaking, if it's going to be in these shootouts,

and it's going to be Rogers doing what he did last night against the Lions where he's able to extend plays. He's just scoring at will. You know, I mean, I think, that there's a case we made that they could just simply get outscored because of their defense. But I feel like if Rogers has the ball with two minutes to go in a tight game, he's going to deliver. And that would be the streak for me is just Rogers winning a couple of games pretty much all by himself. Yeah, I mean, I'm in the same way. I think that he does have some guys that

have emerged as playmakers on his offense. And early on in the year, he wasn't getting the same production out of Devante Adams or Ty Montgomery, some of these guys that have come on really strong. Jordy Nelson, it seems like he's really come into, I guess he's, He's back to himself later in the season. He ended up, I think, leading the NFL in touchdown catches. To me, like, that one play where he extended it for about eight seconds and then threw a touchdown was vintage Rogers. But there's another play in that game where the Lions looked like it was going to be a blitz,

but they kind of showed their hand a little too soon. Rogers pulled back and just slinged it, basically, to Devante Adams in the corner. And it was a touchdown. I mean, that's the kind of, like, control he has at the line of scrimmage. That's the kind of way he's seeing the game right now. He's just, I mean, he's firing all, that offense is firing all cylinders right now. And with Rogers playing the way he is,

they can beat really anybody right now. Totally agree. Danny Kelly, why wouldn't they go streaking? Oh, I mean, obviously you have to look at their secondary, really banged up. 31st best secondary in the league. There's 32 NFL teams, by the way, Danny. Right, for those keeping track at home.

Yeah. I mean, they've just had a lot of injuries there. They've got guys that are just really too slow. to be playing the position. That's always a bad side. I mean, honestly, but even in the games that they've won, like when they ran the table, there were some pretty bad defensive plays

late in the game against the Bears, against the Vikings. You know, so you have to worry, like you said, it's going to be, it's going to probably be a shootout if they win, if they win any games in the playoffs, and you just have to wonder, is this a secondary that can make enough plays? I mean, I think it's a pretty bad personnel note

when you say that the people playing in the secondary should not play that position. Too slow. They should just do something. It sounds like they shouldn't play football. Should do something else. Yeah, they should just go get a desk job or something. Yeah, just go pursue other interests.

Yeah, I agree with you. I mean, their secondary can be so bad. If they run into a team that can pass, Des Bryant, O'Dell Beckham, something like that, it's the end of the road there. And that's why I pick the Giants to beat them because I just think that O'Dell has the capability. just have an extremely good day against them, Robert?

I mean, on the same page with you guys. They don't have the talent back there. They're also banged up. I mean, it's not as if they started well, and they still have the same guys. They have dudes that weren't good to start with, and now have gotten hurt. So it's about as bad as you can get back there.

So you can see them losing a game 38 to 30 pretty easily. It's as bad as it can get unless you're Oakland. Yeah. I mean, it's... Or Atlanta. Or basically any playoff. They actually have the best secondary in the playoffs. Okay, end of the road for the Packers.

Robert Mays, what's it coming? I feel like I could see them losing in Dallas if they go to Dallas in the divisional round. That's a team that could put up as many points as they want against that Packers' defense in this moment. So that could happen, but I could also see the Packers going all the way to the Super Bowl. I mean, the Rogers factor is so unpredictable that the defense may end up biting them in the end, but they have what it takes to beat really anybody that's left. Yeah, I see them losing to the Giants, but I would also, I mean,

just as a football fan, would love to see them get to the championship game and play the Falcons. That would be the shootout of all shootouts. Mike McCarthy has played in a lot of crazy playoff games with Aaron Rogers in his career. The game against Arizona years ago was probably one of the best games we've ever seen in the playoffs. I think an Atlanta Green Bay Conference Championship game would be similar to that. We saw it already this year. It was one of the more entertaining games of the season. They really just put up as many as they wanted.

They're tossing it all over the place. I have them losing in the divisional round. to the Cowboys. Again, the Cowboys just can beat you in so many ways, and that defense just isn't, I don't think, equipped to make enough stops against basically what's, it's just a juggernaut. Yes, the Packers have a pretty good run defense,

but it's just not good enough to, I think, beat, you know, hold the Packers at Bay, or hold the Cowboys at Bay for a full 60 minutes. So I think Aaron Rogers is probably, you know, apart from Matt Ryan, the scariest quarterback in the NFC right now, clearly. And he can take them far. I think that

like Mays was saying, I think that he could take them to the Super Bowl. But again, I just think that the Cowboys can just beat you in so many ways that that's where it ends for them. I'm such an idiot that I'm picking Eli Manning to beat a on-fire Aaron Rogers. It's all right, buddy. I'm the complete...

We know how all this has gone for you in the past. Yeah, who cares. We have to talk about the Seahawks now. Okay season for them by their standards, but Danny Kelly has Beast Mode Sox. The Seahawks, again, very weird year. You can basically trace it to Earl Thomas's injury,

which turned them into a completely different team. The best win they had all year was obviously over the Patriots in Week 10, 31, 24. They made the Patriots make a lot of bad mistakes. The worst loss was just after the Thomas injury. It was against the Green Bay Packers, 38 to 10. They forgot how to play football. I mean, they just got rolled.

Yeah, and started their slide into breaking their four-year streak of having the best scoring defense in the NFL. And now, Danny was just complaining about the fact that the Seahawks aren't very good, despite the fact that the third seed in the NFC. Right. You know, some teams, Danny, when their team is not very good, they're just horrible. Maybe not in the playoffs or whatever. Yeah, my team had just had their worst record in 45 years.

The Bears have left the NFL. They get relegated. They disbanded their football team. I appreciate your pain. You're upset about the three seed. The team MVP, maybe even the MVP of not only this season, but the last four seasons is Earl Thomas. I had no idea how valuable Earl Thomas was

until I saw the Seahles without Earl Thomas. He's never not been in there. I mean, that's the thing. I mean, I've never seen a team change this quickly when you remove one defensive player. Like, JJ Watt didn't play this year, and the Texans are still an okay defense. Right.

Earl Thomas is probably the most valuable defensive player in the league. They almost lost to the Niners in Week 17. I know that they had their backups in stuff, but it's the Niners. They had their backups in late in the game, but they did fall behind, I think. like 14 to 3 early on.

Like they're just kind of a mess right now. I think one, you know, you clearly have Earl Thomas is a big, huge impact in the middle of the field. We've seen teams trying to emulate their defense before and it hasn't worked. And I think now we have our answer why. You know, it's Earl Thomas. You just can't replace him.

Yeah, I mean, you go to Jacksonville if you're Gus Bradley and you're trying to replicate it and yeah, it doesn't work with a bunch of trash players. Exactly. All right, they might go streaking. We're streaking. Robert Mace, if they're going streaking, what's happening? I think it's two different factors.

One, Russell Wilson's still pretty good player. And he can make plays and kind of transcend whatever deficiencies they have on offense. Two, they still have a lot of talent on defense. You know, I know Earl Thomas isn't there. But when you have guys like Michael Bennett, Camp Chancellor. Chancellor's still there. Cliff Avril is still a pretty good player, Richard Sherman. And in my mind, their best defensive player not named Earl Thomas this season has been Bobby Wagner.

What he's done as a pass rush or everything else. So when you have guys like that, even if you're not quite the team you used to be, you still can give people some fits. Danny Kelly? Right now, I think, I'm with Mays. Their defense is still solid. I don't think it looks anything like what we've seen

in the past few years. I think if the CX are going to go streaking, if they're going to win it all, we're going to need to see out of his mind, ridiculous, awesome Russell Wilson. I think we're going to need to see him escaping sure sacks because the CX offensive line is terrible.

let's not even like beat around the bush on that. They're going to need to see him, you know, making like very accurate downfield throws. He's been a little bit off this year. You know, it's kind of like the same Matt Stafford thing that we've been talking about. Russell Wilson with knee injury, ankle injury, he just hasn't been very accurate this year relative to where he is before. So I don't know. I think we're going to need to see Russell Wilson go out of his mind. Remember the game he played against Philly in Seattle?

That's the game. Just being able to move around, extend plays. He was on a level that week. I feel like he has to be at all the time. So we can see, it's possible, it's there. It just hasn't been there consistently. The second half in 2015, he was the best quarterback in the NFL. Yeah, yeah.

And obviously, from week one, he was banged up pretty much all of the season. The offensive line has been absolute trash. Yeah. But I've been surprised. He hasn't had just a dominant stretch of games where we see like what we saw in 2015 at the tail end of that year. I'm waiting for that Russell Wilson to emerge, and I think there's about a 20% chance that happens in these playoffs. That's how they would go streaking. If he just starts playing out of his mind, he learns to play behind an absolute crap offensive line. I just, there is that chance he just takes

over the team, but I'm not seeing it right now. Okay, maybe they won't go streak. Well, where do we begin on this, honestly? There's a few things. I think to me the biggest thing is, without Earl Thomas, the middle of the field is open for opposing quarterbacks. And there's too many good quarterbacks in NFC right now. I mean, put them up against the Falcons. Matt Ryan is going to attack that. mercilessly and I just don't know if Seattle... We're putting the lions by the way in the first week so we'll get there. We're all side the way against the lions. But I mean...

You can see that Terrell Gabriel took that Taylor Gabriel touchdown. Like it's easy to imagine what they are right now. Absolutely. And so, I mean, I just don't see the Seahawks being able to go, you know, neck and neck in like a score, like in a shootout with Matt Ryan when that defense has that clear, just disadvantage. Yep. Mays.

I feel it the same way. Their offense probably isn't going to be able to score enough points to be able to make up for what they lose in those shootouts. That line is a disaster. And I really thought that Russell Wilson was the guy that could overcome it and with him being banged up and the running game being kind of non-existing. That's quite a huge problem for them. Even when they had a bad line in the past, past pro,

they've been able to run the ball efficiently, consistently. So the concerns there plus the fact that they are not that complete defense anymore. Right. They went from, I think, fifth and total offense to 16th. I mean, they can't, a middle of the pack offense is not, that's not that. I mean, their ability to create things on the ground and used to start their entire team. Their ability to control the ball, their ability for Marshall Lynch to break off big runs. Without that, without Rawls having the season he had last year, I mean, I, I, I, there's just nothing they can do offensively.

They can, they can bail out Russell Wilson because defenses know. that he has to carry them. And that fucks with their entire scheme. We're talking about Earl Thomas, Earl Thomas. Do you know who finished number one in offensive DBOA last year? Seattle. I mean, that has been the biggest drop-off for them, even with how bad their defense is playing right now.

Okay. End of the road for Seattle. Ms. I feel like if they go to Atlanta, they will lose. They assume they will beat Detroit. I don't think Detroit has it. For all their deficiencies, they're a better team than the Lions.

But that Falcons offense right now, it's a little too much to ask for them to stop them without Earl Thomas. Yeah, I have them losing in the divisional round also. One of the biggest things I see with the Seahawks, not only this year, but in previous years, is they get off to really slow starts. And if you get off to a slow start against this Falcons team, it's good night. They'll just continue to score all game. And you're going to play catch up the whole time. I just don't see them being able to do that. Okay.

Here's what happens in Atlanta play. Seattle. And obviously we're all giving them the win over Detroit. But when they play Seattle, when Seattle plays Atlanta, Julio Jones is going to be, Taylor Gabriel, going to be able to control the middle of the field. That's number one. Vic Beasley

against that offensive one. Against the right tackle, yeah. Good luck. Good luck. I mean, that has the capability to get out of hand. Really, truly. And we don't think, you know, look, the- You disclaimer before that game starts. The Panthers went up 31-0.

on the Panthers last year, and they made it a close game. So it's not like they can't go down big. I sort of see a similar thing. Maybe not 31 points, but I see like maybe a 21-0-0 start to that game where Atlanta really hands a tone. Yeah, I just can't see them getting off to a fast start. They haven't really shown me the ability to do that much this year, and in previous years really before.

Last year, I mean, the 31-0-0 deficit, I thought the game was over, but they had the top-ranked offense to come back from that. This year, their offense is middling at best. Richard Sherman's going to pull all of our credentials. He is. For this discussion. He's going to ruin our careers. Okay.

Atlanta Falcons. Unstoppable offense. Maybe one of the most fun teams to watch in the NFL this year. 11 and 5. Best win. Packers, 33, 32 win in week 8. Worst loss. Kind of a weird one to the Eagles, 24 to 15.

Still, I mean, that was sort of post-Wenstwagon. I'm not totally sure what happened there. The Eagles Front Four really dominated them in that game. It's the first time they got out. played significantly up front all season. Yeah, that was just a weird game. That was like Tom Hanks making Bonfire of the Vanity's or something. We just want to forget about it and move on.

Oh, we're back to Forrest Gump. Okay, team MVP's Matt Ryan. There's a case that's Julio Jones, but when Julio was out, Matt Ryan was still so good, able to utilize the weapons given to him. You have to give it to Matt Ryan. Guys, there's a case that the Atlanta Falcons are going streaking. Sorry, we're going to the gymnasium.

There is. All right. Robert May is. if the Falcons go streaking, if they win a couple of playoff games. Why is that happening? I mean, they have one of the most efficient offenses in the history of the lead. They had as many points this season as the 99 Rams had. It's the eighth best total since 1990.

It's crazy. I mean, they have been an absolutely dominant force on that side of the ball. And they've done it for a lot of reasons. Julio Jones is still a centaur. But now you have the Taylor-Gabriel route. You have two running backs that can attack you in a lot of different ways. The line is so much better with Alex Matt. I mean, Matt Ryan has ascended to a different plane

because there's just so much around him and take advantage of him. In my opinion, it's the best coordinated offense in football. Yeah. I mean, that's what I was going to say is, number one, they have so many great weapons. But Shanahan has done such an amazing job of utilizing all those guys.

It's like, I mean, it almost honestly feels like Julio hasn't been a big factor in, like, more than a few weeks because he's been, you know, nursing the issues with his injury. He sucks. Yeah, he sucks pretty much. is what I'm saying. I just want to clear that out.

I wrote about Julio before this season started, and I was talking to Kyle Shanahan about it, and he said that in my perfect world, we throw the ball to Julio Jones significantly less this season we did a year ago, which seems counterintuitive when you think about the year he had in 2015, but then when you see what type of offense they've been able to produce with him being just another one of the guys,

it makes a ton of sense. Yeah, I mean, for me, it's not just the offense. We know the offense can be able to score 30 points, Once it will, we know that Julio's going to get two or three big plays. We know that Taylor Gabriel will make a play and that the running game will at least be serviceable. That's all a given for every playoff game because I don't see, there's not a historically good defense like a Denver like was last year that's going to be able to stop them. So what it comes down to the X factor is going to be whether or not Vic Beasley can get the strips acts, whether or not that pass rush can force some turnovers. I mean, that's where it comes down.

That's how they beat a Dallas. or that's how they beat the Giants, is their ability to get one or two huge turnovers and then basically blow a team out? Because I think at this point, if they play the Cowboys, it's going to be a 30-32 shootout, and it's going to come down to who's able to get one or two turnovers.

I like the young athletes they've added on that defense. It's still a bad team overall on that side of the ball, losing Desmond-Trufantzell. But Beasley, Dionne Jones, the rookie from LSU, and Keanu just gives them a... a dude at every level that can make something happen. And that's enough to make them dangerous that offense. Totally agree.

If they're not going to go streaking Danny Kelly. I mean, it is because of that defense. And, you know, the offense has made it so it's almost irrelevant, how bad the defense has been. But that defense has given up a lot of touchdowns through the air. I think I saw that they're either third or fourth worst in the NFL. And that's like, you're around teams like the Browns, the Jets. Like, it's bad. So.

Sorry. No, no. Analysis. It was 100% correct. It was so correct it made me laugh. Yes, when you're being compared to the Browns and the Jeff, and those teams are barely in the fucking league. So, I mean, the bottom line is most of the time this offense is going to just win when it comes to a shootout.

But, I mean, if the offense is not on the top of their game in one of these games, then you're going to have to have the defense make a few stops, then can they do that? The crazy part, though, is that it hasn't been a situation. where we've got some monster games and then some down games. Matt Ryan's had at least 7.92 yards for attempt in every single game. So outside of that Philly game, there just hasn't been that many down games from the offense. Yeah, no, he is so consistent. And that's what I said, is that we know it's going to be 32, 30, 35, 33, something like that when they play Dallas.

And now it just comes down to that secondary. And they have to make plays. And if they're not going to go streaking, it's because their defense just lets them down. because they give up. No big plays. Their defense gives up 40 points. Dak Prescott's able to just crush it. I mean, that's the worst case scenario, is their defense allows a Matt Ryan-like performance

from the opposite quarterback. Okay, end of the road for the Falcons. Danny Kelly. I got them losing in the championship round to the Cowboys. I mean, I'm with you. I think it's going to be a great high-scoring game. It's going to be a lot of fun. A lot of offense in that game.

And ultimately, I just think the Cowboys are going to beat them. I think they can play a tougher, they have a tougher brand of football. They can control the clock. They can limit Matt Ryan's opportunities, really. And that's how they're going to beat him. Remember Mays? I think they go to the Super Bowl.

I just think that offense is that good. And for no team was getting a buy more important than Atlanta. Just being able to play that first game at home on that track and then going to Dallas. I mean, there's no outdoor game to be played for them for the rest of the season. So when you think about that offense and the way they move inside, I think there's going to be points every single game. They get to the conference championship game.

I think, and this is weird, I just see them losing to the Giants. I just think, again, the Giants are complete. I think they'll be able to score some points, and then I think they're the defense. If you had to pick one defense, it could limit Julio Jones. I think maybe they get Matt Ryan's face and cause some mistakes. I'm not, look, I think it's a toss-up when those two teams play, but I would just go with the Giants just because, frankly, I'm bored,

and I think the Giants are going to win, that. I just want to pick the Giants. The Giants had the talent up front to kind of do what Philly did. They don't have the stable of past rushers the Eagles have, but Vernon's a good player. Snacks is doing better stuff in the pass rush game than he normally does. They have enough bodies up there to give the Falcons trouble. Yeah, and I think, I mean, Dan Quinn,

I don't know what to expect from really any NFC coach with the exception. I mean, Pete Carrow you would normally say is the great coach in this conference in these playoffs, but he does never know Thomas right now, so it's a little different. You're getting in a situation where the top three teams, or top four teams are going to be coached by Dan Quinn, Jason Garrett, Ben McAdoe, and then Mike McCarthy. We're not totally sure if Mike McCarthy's a good coach still. And so I just, I think it gets down to coaching when you have that. I just, I think it's going to be a toss-up, but I just like this Giants team.

I don't understand it, but I think that they're going to go make some plays. Okay, Dallas Cowboys, 13 and 3. I think if we were in here in August and we said we'll be talking with 13 and 3 Cowboys, who wouldn't have been that surprised. Tony Romo was healthy back then. Oh, yeah, Romo, big season. But if you found out that Tony Romo was basically out for the first 10 weeks of the season, that Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott would have to carry the offense.

We would have been stunned. But right now, these guys are awesome. And everyone's bought in and everyone is drinking the Kool-Aid. Best win of the season, obviously, probably the best game of the season, was that Steelers game, 3530 win. That was a fun one. I mean, I cannot remember being more excited over a game I did not care about than that game. I was amped for that game, and I do not like either of those teams or don't care about them at least.

Worst loss, the Giants 10-7 loss, which I still think people in Dallas are trying to get their heads around. And it slightly worries them how almost inexplicable that whole game was. I think it's something to keep an eye on. Team MVP, Zeke Elliott, you can make a case for Dak Prescott, or you can make a case for the offensive line. But I think that Zeke Elliott, without his contributions, without his dominance, this would be very very good. different season. Okay, now let's go through the cases that they're going street. Beautiful. Okay. Robert Mace, hit me. I mean, this is an offense that can beat you in every single way. It's the best

offensive line in the league. They have a running game that's utterly dominant. It does Bryant is just there, which again, the fact that that's where we are with this offense. It's all you need to know. Yeah, I mean, again, they control the football. Zika-L.A. has been incredibly durable and reliable. They have, Dak Prescott's been really good in situations where he needs to make a pass on third down convert move the chains he's been really good for you know by any standard but as a rookie especially it's unbelievable um you know like like maize was saying it's like uh does is just kind of another guy in that offense they got witten in there too just a reliable future hall of fame type of guy to like make catches in the flats

um you know they just can beat you in so many ways and they wear you down physically and emotionally so again it's just hard to beat them for 60 minutes by the way we talked about the this being sort of the playoffs of the backup quarterback, if anything happened to Dak Prescott, their backup quarterback is Tony Romo. Yeah. Other teams are starting Matt Moore. I mean, Christ. Yeah, for me, there's just a million things you could talk about. I mean, the line is where it all starts. But, you know, I think the turning point for me, when I really bought into this Dallas team was the Baltimore game, when everyone was talking about how that was the top rushing defense in the NFL going into the game. This was the game. This was the game.

where they were going to stop Zeke Elliott, and then who knows what happened in Dak Prescott. Yeah, exactly. Well, guess what happened when they said, Dak, you have to beat us. Dak beat the crap out of that. They had to get through for 300 yards in that game. And so that's when you realized how multi-dimensional this offense was.

Like you said, Des Bryant, Cole Beasley is a productive guy. Yeah. How could you forget Cole Beasley? Yeah, Jason Whitten. I mean, they can do it all. It's almost unstoppable. Now, the Giants seem to have the blueprint. I don't understand.

We'll get to that in a second. This team is very capable of winning the Super Bowl. Absolutely. Okay. There are scenarios of why they're not going streak. Robert Mayes, if they're not going streak, and what happens? It's the defense, to me. I still feel like they don't have enough talent in the secondary.

Their pass rush has not been there all year. I've gotten some flashes from guys, but they don't have enough talent on that side of the ball to slow down a team like Atlanta or Green Bay. So a shootout in Dallas, in an NFC championship game against one of these teams, you can see it happening. You can pass on that. And that's the only thing you can do on them.

I mean, the past rush has been coming along as the season progresses. Maybe Raina Gregory's coming by who the hell knows about that. But, I mean, for me, I just, if you had to attack anything, if Belichick's looking at how to attack this team, it's just throw the ball 50 times and see what happens. Mo Claiborne has been banged up and who knows if he was even good to start with. That's questionable. But, I mean, I just, you know, if there had to be a weak link, it is their secondary.

And that's how teams like Atlanta, like New York, are going to have to attack them. I think those teams, I think unfortunately for them, they're going to have to realize that Atlanta and New York want to pass on them. And that's why it's going to be a bit of a challenge going deeper in the playoffs. Yeah, I mean, same thing. They just don't have the depth or the talent in the secondary. They don't have enough guys and their guys aren't good enough. Right. Other than that, though.

Yeah, everything's fine. I mean, but if you're facing a team with several good receivers and a good quarterback, it's going to be trouble. And I mean, you have to maximize If you're playing the Cowboys You have to maximize every one of your possessions But there are teams in the playoffs that can do that The Falcons are one of most efficient offense We've seen in years

So, I mean, if anyone's going to be I have the Cowboys going all the way But if anyone's going to beat them, it's going to be Because the secondary just can't hold up Guys, if there's an end of the road It's a big if When is it coming? Danny Kelly? I don't think it's coming.

I think they're winning at all this year. I mean, they've been the best. best team kind of from start to finish, especially in the NFC, you could make the argument in the whole NFL, just dominant offense. You know, they just don't have very many holes in that side of the ball, and it's really, that offense is so good, it hasn't mattered that their defense has an envelope of talent. So, I mean, I just still don't see anybody beating them in the playoffs. I said the Falcons were going to Super Bowl, and that's what I'll say again. I think that that NFC championship game would be an absolute blast, and I feel like Atlanta has enough

to beat them, but, again, if the Cowboys went to or won the Super Bowl, I don't think anybody would be shocked. Yeah. For me, again, I picked the Giants at the beginning of this discussion. It's got to be the Giants. Sticking with it. Although it would be great if every video, I'd just pick a different team to win the Super Bowl. Yeah, you should have. Yeah, just a different bit. Oh, man. Next year, next year, viewer. For me, I just think the Giants hit the blueprint. And I think that if anybody, again, this is the same way when the Giants play the Falcons, if the Giants play the Cowboys, it's going to be a complete toss-up, but I just feel like they have the horses. I just feel like, I mean, I think that the best player on the field

when the Giants play the Cowboys is Odo Beckham Jr. Yeah. And I just, I feel like that's going to be the difference. What happens if in the Giants Cowboys game that you envision that Prescott is struggling into the third quarter, are they going to put Romo in? Absolutely. That's going to be crazy.

When would you go with Romo? I mean, I wouldn't, but if Dak, I don't want to even get seriously injured, but say Dak hurts like a finger in one of these quarters just early in the game. The idea of Romo being in the biggest moment would be my favorite thing that could possibly be on.

What percentage of Cowboy fans do you think want to see Romo win the Super Bowl for them? Oh my gosh. It's probably hovering around 50 at least. I think it's way higher. You think? Way higher.

Yeah. They wouldn't admit it because there's no way they want to screw up with happening. It's bad juju, but yeah. I think one of those fans is Jerry Jones. He's been vague enough about it all year. Yeah, I know.

Okay, this has been Talking Football Live And we have reached the end of the road.