The Ringer NFL Show - Ep. 72: Live From Houston With Rembert Browne and Will Brinson

Episode Date: February 3, 2017

The Ringer's Robert Mays is joined by New York magazine's Rembert Browne to discuss the ups and downs of having your favorite team in the Super Bowl (1:20), going home to Atlanta to watch the game (5:20), the moment the Falcons earned their confidence (8:05), and how emotional Rembert will be if they win (19:00). Then, Will Brinson of CBS Sports joins the show to analyze the most interesting aspect of the game (23:25), LeGarrette Blount and Deion Lewis (30:05), and Kyle Shanahan's brilliance (36:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No team goes into the season without a game plan. The Buffalo Wild Wings knows that football fans need a game plan that's built for a game day glory. A game plan that should include 21 signature sauces and seasonings, a great lineup of beer taps, and an arsenal wall-to-wall TVs. All those details make for a game-day plan that can't be beat. So win or lose, if you're a football fan, you still win in having the best game-day atmosphere around. Buffalo Wild Wings, Wings, beer, sports. We do it for you because you're a football fan.

Hey, folks, I want to tell you about a great new sports show from StarTalk, the people behind Neil deGrasse Tyson's hit podcast, StarTalk Radio. The new show is called Playing with Science. Each episode, Pro Soccer player Gary O'Reilly, and Star Talk Radio's co-host, Chuck Nice, recruit athletes, experts, and scientists to explore the stories behind iconic moments in sports with guests like Lance Armstrong, Cream Jewel Jbar, and Hope Solo.

Learn about the science behind Steph Curry's 40-foot set shot or the technology that helped Usain Bolt become the fastest human on Earth. In the first episode, Chuck and Gary celebrate the big game with Super Bowl champion players O.C. Mniora of the New York Giants and San Antonio Holmes of the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. So check it out.

All you have to do is subscribe to Playing with Science from StarTalk in iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to The Ringer NFL show. My name is Robert Mays. I'm a writer at The Ringer. Doing something a little bit different today as we ramp up to the Super Bowl.

We're going to be welcomed a little bit later by Will Brinson of CBS Sports and sitting six feet for me, not even six feet, two feet for me in Radio Row, which is that's the noise you hear is Remba Brown. How are you, buddy? Mays. What's up, man.

This is great. This is fantastic. We're back. We're back. You have been a constant presence on the ringer media for the last couple weeks for a couple reasons. One, we love you. But two, this is a very important time for you.

This is the thing that, you know, it would have been a little bit more convenient if this would happen. I don't know, like maybe two or three years ago. But guess what? We all kept each other's numbers. And the Falcons are playing the paths. It's incredible. I wanted to, you were on Bill's show.

a couple weeks ago, I think last week, but I assume that a lot about your psyche has changed, and as we are sit, we sit like 50 hours from kickoff, I wanted to kind of get in tune with how you're feeling. As a Falcons fan, what is this moment for you? Okay, so, a couple of things. One, when I was out, I was out in L.A.,

and I had a lot of false confidence. I was, I brought, like, 11 Falcon shirts. Like, I'm wearing them all around y'all's office. I'm, like, talking a lot. I'm just, like, talking a lot of smack to build, but inside, I'm terrified. Yeah, of course.

Because... And now you're wearing that on your sleeve a little bit more. Now the fear has bubbled up to the surface. Yeah, and then once I got here, once I got to Houston, like I've covered Super Bowls. I've like covered events that involve two teams that are not my own. And so I'm not... I came here with the mindset of, oh, yeah, I'm here for the Super Bowl.

And then every now and then I would look out the corner of my eye and see Matt Ryan being interviewed. I'm like, wait, that's my quarterback. Wait, my team is in the Super Bowl. I'm having... It's almost like a defense mechanism where I'm trying to for... forget that my team is in the Super Bowl. But as time goes on, as we get closer to Sunday,

like I'm staring at Matt, like a banner of Matt Ryan right now. And Tom Brady. The Tom Brady thing makes sense. The Matt Ryan thing is a little harder to reconcile. I'm like, that's crazy. Like, this is crazy, but I'm starting to get, I can't forget about it anymore. Yeah.

Like on Wednesday, when I got here, I could have hours to forgetting that the following the Super Bowl. Now it's just like, yes. Like, the game's about to be here. And it's great. I'm freaking out, but in a very different way now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It changes when you get closer.

And I can't imagine the buildup. Like, the thing about the last time I had a team that was playing for something was the World Series, but there's a seven-game thing. You go right from the NLCS to the World Series. It was much easier to deal with because there isn't that wool. It's constant. Even from game six to game seven, it was a 10-hour period. Exactly.

So you can't just sit in the fear, which is much different than it is right now. And this has been like the two weeks is almost torturous. Yes. Just like, you have. And it has lulls. Like, there are moments where it's bad, moments where it's okay. And I feel like this is going to be the worst of it. Yeah, this is the moment where, especially like, I think I got here on Wednesday and it was very, it was very, it was very Pat's heavy.

Yes. Very Texans heavy. Just like, in terms of like the jerseys you see blah blah, blah. You're like, oh yeah, I'm in Houston because everyone's wearing, you know. A lot of shop. I've seen a lot of shop. A lot of shop. A lot.

Yeah. But, you know, it's Friday now and you're seeing more and more Falcons gear. Yeah. And that's, again. is another reminder of what is, like, what is about to happen. And, like, I'm locking eyes with people, and I'm wearing, like, and, like, yesterday I was wearing Falcon stuff and we'll see people, and, like, we would high five or tap up, sometimes hug, and we were just like, we're in this.

It's a special moment. It's a very special moment. It's a really great because, like, no, yes, we were in the, we were in Super Bowl 98. This is a very different scenario. You feel you belong here. Like, that Super Bowl that year, that was the Viking Super Bowl. They should have gone. That team was transcend.

send it. Thank you, Gary Anderson. Part of what you remember about that season. This season, I said even before the playoffs, I thought the Falcons could do this. Like, they were the type of team that absolutely could have this moment for themselves. Yeah, and I appreciate you doing that.

I do what I can, buddy. I appreciate you helping me get my tape. Can we talk about the, I've found more and more of the almost polarizing conversation I've had with people. People are very surprised that I am leaving here. I'm leaving Houston Sunday morning to go to Atlanta. to watch the game

instead of staying in Houston for the game. But I know you feel similarly. I feel strongly about it. That's the right decision. You and Bill were talking about it on Bill's show and I heard it. And as soon as I listened to the show,

I texted you and said, my two cents, I would go home. As someone who was in Chicago for Game 7 of the World Series and had thought about what it would be like to be in the building, I'm glad I was home. My buddy who works for the Cubs,

as great as it was, like being there, he said, and being around like with Theo and everything else afterwards. Part of me missed. being home. And he's not even from Chicago. So the idea of, and you said your friends are home, being in the city

if that moment happens, I feel like would be more powerful than being in the stadium. Because the stadium means nothing to you. Like being in Atlanta is home. Also, I'll be able to see Lady Gaga performance a lot better on TV. Yes, exactly. Then in the building, I'm sorry. Where are you watching? Do you know? Do you just have like a spot?

Yes, so a friend of mine the plan right now, a friend of mine has reserved like basically like a 30 person area of a bar right by Phillips Arena. Nice. And I plan on being, you know, with all my fellow like childhood tortured Falcons fans who are all, you know, like, you understand it's like my home group text. It's just like very panicked and excited right now.

I'm just sitting each other's gifts and like check it in on each other. Like how are you doing? Like what are you doing today? Like it's very fun because. I vividly remember almost feeling this moment in 2013 when we made the NFC championship game. And like that moment where it's halftime and you're up and you begin to think of what you're going to do

should you ever make the Super Bowl. So far that you start thinking like, this is what I'm about to do because we're going to the Super Bowl and then not going to the Super Bowl. I've always wondered what, like, how I would react, you know, on a Friday before the Super Bowl, you know, and now. And now we're here. And now we're here. And now I'm starting to have the crazier thoughts of, like, what happens to my body if I win?

Like, what do I do? And even that 2012 team, I feel like it's vastly different from this team. And I've talked to Matt Ryan about this, just the people who were around for that. Yeah. That was kind of the end of that era of the Falcons. Like Michael Turner was at the end of it. Tony Gonzalez obviously was older. Even the lion.

Like Todd McClure, that was his last season. This is different than that. This team has an excitement to it and a newness that's vastly distinct from what that 2012 team was. So I want to ask you, just this season in general, first of all, when do you think you knew that this was a reality, like could happen? And two, what do you think your favorite moment of the season? Was there a game? Was there a play? Yeah, I mean, so I remember, so I watched every game, which was great. you know, be it the various ways to watch the Falcons in New York,

be it the illegal stream, be the Falcons bar, be it, you know, convincing a bar to, you know, play the game with no sound, you know, all of that. But I was at a bar for the Julio 300-yard game. Against Carolina, yeah. And that was like- I was in New York's as well that we could actually. I was at Finnerty's in the East Village. Yes, you were.

I was like four blocks away. And that was the moment where I was like, okay, so Julio is this good? Yeah. And, but that was, there was something about that game also. I was like, they were a machine. I mean, that's when they thought they were literally, they turned into a doomsday machine in front of my eyes. It wasn't just the Julio play. That was the Austin Hooper Throwback touchdown.

It was so easy. They just did everything they wanted with terrifying ease. And that Panthers defense was still fighting itself. Yeah. But still seeing them do that against the team with Luke Keekely that had been in the Super Bowl a year ago. That's what was like, oh shit. Yeah. And I remember the moment, like the moment that I did.

knew it wasn't like one specific play but very early on the season i knew that this could be something because matt ryan was you know was throwing like deep balls on second so on second down yeah and like that was something that i had never really seen the sureness of the offense yeah it was like oh like this isn't like these aren't desperation throws these are like i have lots of receivers that can catch this ball and he just had a confidence in him that i had seen that wasn't even true the last time that they had that great team. Totally. And, you know, even though we were, we had some losses, all of our losses were, you know,

they were like bonehead losses. Yep. You know, like the Kansas City game. The Kansas City game is fluky. Seattle was very close and the Seattle defense was still the Seattle defense at that point. And that was my thing. I was like, I have no issue come playoff time with these losses because these aren't, like the offense breaks down completely and this doesn't look like the Falcons team that I thought

it was and maybe the whole thing's a fluke it's like you know what yes like those last second losses are frustrating but there are four losses that could have been wins with like one or one or two different plays I'll take those the Philly game is the only one where they kind of got pushed around and that's I mean that's the blip on the entire season right that's the outwire but if you look at that game and you look at Philly's defense overall Philly has a lot of talent their front seven Their secondary is bad, but they have players on the line in the linebacking core that can hurt you, and that week they did. I can't remember who it was. I think it was Andrew Hawkins, the Browns receiver.

I was talking to him the other day. And he said something that a lot of people say over the time, but it's important. Remember it's like, they get paid too. Like Kyle Shanahan's a really good coach. The Falcons have really good players. All the dudes on the Eagles get paid. And Fletcher Cox gets paid a lot. A lot of money.

I mean, there's always that game out there when you play a team with that much talent. I just think that right now they're rolling. I haven't seen an offense look like this in a while. Even the Broncos offense into 2013, they were so good. But it just seemed like it was Peyton, like really making it all go. This team has 17 ways to beat you. That's the difference. It's exciting.

I mean, I genuinely think my, in like having, based on this on no, no stats, no anything, just like my intuition, like the second half of the season, I've been very confident. It's like, if we get two turnovers, like if we get like, a fumble and an interception, we're going to win the game. They've done that. They've turned the ball over so many times in the second half.

Just because they're playing fast, man. The young guys have, they know it now. They're totally in tune now. And it used to be like the one thing that, it's almost like the spirit of that Matt Ryan hurry up office, expand it to four quarters.

Yeah. Because that was always the thing where it's like, you know, Matt Ryan was like, always known for his, you know, late game comebacks, blah, and like that was always exciting. And that was one thing that you couldn't take away from him the fact that he would like you know march down the field when games in that speed you would always like god if they could just do that for like even half of a game like it would be really

hard for a team to keep up with them and just watching that actually come true because they have like they can you know Julio doesn't have to play every drive you know he gets a lot of rest it's great and they really do they and shanahan just told me that before the season they wanted to lean on him less and you've seen why just because of what they've been able to do by having him just be a piece of the offense rather than the offense yeah i mean it's a it's i think it was good for confidence that you know the season didn't fall apart when hulio had to take out two games totally you know like the like there are things that happened that you know obviously weren't in the script weren't in the plan but the fact that when they happened the team could still you know like it was clear that

like you know like you're saying about payton's like even if you take someone out like like the system is actually working. It's like a jenga thing where it's the first two moves. You know, it's not one big block that you're taking out. It's important. So talking about and thinking about the Patriots a little bit, as your dread has started to increase as we get toward the game. Of course.

What is the area of their team who's the dude that really scares you the most? Oh, God. I mean, aside from Tom Brady. Yeah, yeah. There's always that Brady game out there. But what other element of who they are is like, uh-oh. You know, like, I'm... the freaky thing about the paths, it's like they're, like, they got a bunch of little fast dudes, too, that, you know, like.

It's really, there's comparable teams offensively in terms of how they try to beat you. Yeah, and it's like, I feel like, one of the reasons, you know, taking, like, the smallest step back, it's like, they both have some weaknesses that I think the other can expose. It's like, it's like, the Falcons don't like the idea of a team being as fast as them. Yep. In the past, so, like, the idea of a team being as fast as them. Yep. And that is, it's basically, like, it's good. I mean, this is, I think it's going to be definitely, like, an offensive shootout.

But it's like, there are going to be moments where I'm like, God, Brady just marched up the field. They look fast as hell. Yeah. Like, God damn it, like, blah, blah. And then I, but I expect, like, the next drive. Like, that's the thing I've noticed about this team. Like, like, there have been moments in games where there's been a defensive laps. And, like, they, like, they just.

get scored on really quickly, and, like, those would always be moments where that would affect the offense and defense. Yeah. And it's almost, there's, like, there's something that's happened. Maybe it's a Quinn thing where, like, when there's a lapse, it's like, they get filed away. Yeah. It's like, that's not going to be something that, like, looms over the team for the rest

of the game. It's like, okay, that happened. But guess what? Like, we can come back. Yeah. And, like, we can come back on. They legitimately, they're going to score a touchdown every single drive. Like, they legitimately do, which that's important.

Yeah. That allows you to. not take those lapses as hard. And it's also something I thought was interesting. I was talking to Vic Beasley. And we were talking about turnovers. I love you, Beasley. And just the idea of getting them.

And you think when you create a turnover, it's to take the ball away from the offense that you're playing against, is to get them off the field. And he said something that I thought was interesting. I never heard somebody say it before. No, no, when we create a turnover, it's to give the ball back to our offense.

It's like, oh, yeah. That's inherently true. But I've never heard someone frame it that way before. That is absolutely true. Because of the way they think about their offense. That's great. Yeah. I thought I was like, that's a very good point, sir.

Like, you think about this in a way I don't. That's a hot take, Beasley. I'm here for Big Beasley. I'm here for Big Beasley takes. It's going to be fun because I think that we saw this in the Green Bay game a little bit. I wrote about the defense two days before they play. And just they have exciting guys over there. We know Beasley, when you have 15 and a half sacks, everyone's going to know you.

But I love some of the younger dudes they have. And I feel like this could be a coming out party for like a Dion Jones. Somebody like that, that America has no. who they are, but these dudes are fun and they're getting good really fast. And they, like, they like, so I love, I love, I love, I love, I love,

free minute, he, like, just like, in terms of, like, from the way he plays football to, like, his smile, to just, like, there's something about the team that I think is really awesome when you get a bunch of people who are all experiencing like success for the first time together.

And they're so young. I mean, like, that's the thing. They're so young. They're, But they don't seem just, like, happy to be here. Yeah. Like, there's a. That's a Ryan thing, I think. Yeah. That's a Ryan and a Quinn thing.

I know Matt Ryan's ever playing the Super Bowl, but you can just tell him. He's been here a decade. Like, Matt Ryan's not phased by any of this. And Dan Quinn's not either. Like, the fact that he coaching two Super Bowls, I think, matters. Yeah, and that definitely has trickled down. Yeah.

It's very, on both sides. It's, like, very much, like, and I like the fact that you have Matt Ryan, and then you, on the other side. side you have all these young guys who just like it's like they want to win one obviously for themselves they want to win one for their quarterback also because they think that their quarterback is like one of the great quarterbacks but just like he can't do it all by himself like the defense wants to win for Ryan the offense wants to win for Ryan and they all want to win from it's it's it's I've never like this is the best falcons team that I've this is the best falcons team that's ever

this is best focus you ever yes I don't think it's a conversation I mean and That 2012 team couldn't run the ball because the defense was fine. But that 98 team again, that got there in kind of in a fluky way. This is the best Falcons team ever. Yeah. And I'm glad that, you know, I'm glad that it wasn't a Falcons team that, you know, started off 10 and O and then, you know, had some losses and then, you know, stumble into the playoffs.

It's like they started off, I think, like four and three or something like that. It was a very natural rise. It didn't happen all at once, which is cool. And at first it was looking like one of those classic NFC South seasons, it's like, wow, no one wants to win this division. But someone has to get in. It's like a 7 and 9 team. And then because, you know, like the bucks wouldn't go away.

Yep. And then the Saints started winning games. The Saints linger there at the end. You felt with that offense, they might be good enough. You know, no one was balanced, you know? Yeah. And, you know, like, at our best, we could still lose to the Saints by 30 points and, you know, have them ruin our whole season.

So it was, it was great to watch. that team break away, like, in the way you want in terms of going into the playoffs. Not like, like, they charged into the playoffs, which was why I was also so scared about playing against Green Bay. Totally. Because I was like, oh, no, this is also, this is how. Yeah, the team just as hot as you. Yeah, exactly.

So if they win, I need you to walk me through, like, what you feel like your Matt Ryan emotions are going to be. Like, the five stages of Matt Ryan, what's going to happen if they do win? If they do win, like, I, I. I've never teared up with like a sports win before and I just know I'm just going to lose it

and I'm going to be around other people that are losing it I one of the videos that I taped for for the ringer was me going through six years of mean tweets that I'd done about Matt Ryan and apologizing and I think

I think probably for the next six months if we went, I'm just going to say nice things. I'm like, hey, just like a tweet a day. It's like start your morning. It's like, I hope Matt Ryan had a great breakfast today. He deserves it because he's my fearless leader. Matt Ryan. You know? But again, it's like, I just don't know

what to expect myself to turn into like, like, will I become like a horrible person if we win? Do I like, do I turn to someone who's like, oh, no, no, don't even look at me in the eyes. Like, I won the Super Bowl. Like all Seahawks fans now? Like, yeah, basically Seahawks fans like keep me in check. It's like, well, I know what I won't allow myself to turn into.

So, like, at least I have that side of the coin. But I'm just like, that's why I wanted to be in Atlanta. Because, you know, that idea of like winning the Super Bowl and it's like, I won the Super Bowl. I'm in Houston. Yeah, exactly. What? There's no way you'd want that. Like, that just seems like, yeah, I support your decision.

Best of luck, buddy. I hope the best for you. I want this to happen for your sake more than anything else. It means a lot. I, you know. Some fan bases don't like the idea of Fairweather fans from other places. I love the fact that, like, Falcons fans are like, yo, we will take every other franchises fan for one day. There's so much room on here.

It's amazing. Just like the water has never been more like 72 degrees. It's like shower water. It's so warm. People are like, yo, I just hate the pets. I'm a Bengals fan. I'm like, yo, you're a Falcons fan until Sunday night. And they're like, yeah, go Falcons.

I can't think of another time that. this has happened like this. Yeah. Like everyone is just like, you're either a Pats fan or. It's the perfect opponent. It's the perfect opponent. Like there is no,

there is no organic rivalry. Yep. It's just like some people like, some people like, like you have the people from Atlanta, you have some people that like the Hawks and you have a ton of people that hate the Pats.

And all three of those people want this time us to win. It's a lot of people. It's great. It's amazing. I feel like, I feel like we got America on our side. All right, bud.

Thank you for doing this. I appreciate it. This is great. We'll enjoy our next. couple days in Houston and enjoy Atlanta. It's going to be great. Thanks, man. I appreciate it. All right, bud. All right, before we get to Will, let's hear from a couple of our sponsors. No team goes into the season without a game plan. If they did, game day highlights would be nothing more than a football follies compilation. And while follies are hilarious,

while flow Wild Wings knows, fans are for the taste of glory on game day. The kind of glory that comes with having 21 signature sauces and seasonings to choose from, or a great lineup of cold and refreshing beers on tap, or a collection of wall-to-wall flat screen so big it would make your head spin. We cover all those details, so they add up to the kind of game-day experience. fans can appreciate. And we do it because we appreciate fans. So win or lose, if you're a fan, you still win at having the best game day atmosphere there is. Buffalo Wild Wings, Wings, beer, sports. We do it for you because you're a football fan. We're also sponsored by SimplySafe. I think we can all agree that keeping our home safe is an extremely high priority,

but it shouldn't come at the expense of signing your life away in a confusing long-term contract. Thankfully, there's a smarter way to protect your home, Simply Safe home security. These are the guys I trust. With Simply Safe, there's no annual contracts and no middlemen. You get super. protection for less than half of what traditional companies charge. Built by a Harvard-educated engineer to make you safer, SimpliSafe provides professional monitoring with police dispatch so your home is safe around the clock. Plus, it's wireless and portable, with a cellular connection built in so there are no lines that can be caught by potential intruders.

Best of all, with Simpliceaf, 24-7 protection is just $15 a month, almost a third of what other places charge. It's unbeatable protection, a great value, and there are no contracts. So protect your home this smart way. Visit simplysafe.com slash ringer. That's S-I-M-P-L-I-S-A-F-E dot com slash ringer to get 10% off your system today. Go now. That's simplysafe.com slash ringer.

And we're welcome now by Wilver Incident of CBS Sports. How you doing, buddy? Good. First-time appearance. Long-time listener. I appreciate that. Yeah. I think you know that I do.

I told Kevin and I feel like you guys are improving. Well, the quality is always good because you guys are smart. and you know football. That's very nice to you. But like I feel like you guys have like made the leap. Technalot with technology. I feel like it's a well-crafted.

I say like I listen to like I do I don't want to name drop other podcasts. You're good man. But I feel like I do around the NFL. Yep. Damashek. You guys. And pardon my take.

But like that's what I don't listen to radio anymore. I just do the podcast. And it's pleasurable to have an intellectual conversation about football. We're trying. And it's been fun. I think that the season, as it's going on, we, you know, you figure things out.

It's been really fun to work with both those guys. Season one is always going to be tough. I think that, you know, you're getting used to new people recording. Yeah. There's always a process that goes with it. I've loved it. And I think it's been a fun year. Let me, here's the best way to say it.

I feel like that when you and Kevin are talking, that you're in the same room. That's great. That's the best compliment you could give me. Yeah. So, okay, I want to talk a little kind of more about the game than I talked with REM. That was all Falcons, like emotions and everything else. So what is the thing just about these, two teams about Sunday that interests you most?

I think the idea, well, first of all, there's nothing interesting about this game. I mean, there is from a football perspective. Yes. But, like, this is my seventh Super Bowl, and this is by far and away the least energetic lead up to a game. Sure. I mean, like, I got here Wednesday, but Radio Row has been quiet. Yes.

And for the most part, you haven't heard anybody say anything. You know, like the biggest dust up was, you know, the good day. Dell Press Conference and people being asked and transcripts allegedly being scrubbed by an army of interns, which is a ridiculous conspiracy. I think from a football perspective, what I want to see is which one of these teams is closer, because the only offensive number, the only number one offensive scoring team to ever beat a number one defensive scoring team in the Super Bowl was the 49ers when they, when they bludgeon in the Broncos 5510, I don't get ex-LI-X or something like that.

And in theory, the number one defensive team for Bill Belichick, with two weeks to prepare, should shut down any offense. But if you go and look at DVOA, the Patriots are like 16th on defense. They haven't played anything remotely like this. Rathusberger, Russell Wilson won who they lost to, Tyrod Taylor twice, and Tana Hill twice. Those are the best quarterbacks they played. And so I think it's hard. And this team, and I'm not trying to like say that Bill Belichick hasn't crafted a good defense. or Matt Patricia hadn't done a good job, but I think that they're a little bit, they're not,

they're just sitting in the 2013 Seahawks. No. Don't we agree on that? It isn't. And I think that we're going to, this is the biggest challenge they face. And if you look at that Seattle game, I think it's telling in a couple different ways. One, that's a zone running team in a similar way that the Falcons are. It's not the same offense, but you have similar movements.

It's the type of stuff that they're going to have to deal with on Sunday. And the Seahawks moved all okay. They didn't gash them, but they moved it consistently. And two, I feel like C.J. Precise is one of the only guys they played all season that can threaten them in a way both of these guys are going to, and he had a nice day. Explosive receiver out of the backfield, yeah. Just a guy who can do a little bit of everything, and that Seahawks team moved the ball with pretty terrifying ease, and that Seahawks offense has not been consistent all season.

So you go from that, and maybe it's a blip. You know, maybe that's their version of the Eagles game for Atlanta, but you still, one of the only decent offenses they played really did what they wanted to against them. And the thing, too, is that Seattle, so I'm concerned, I've got the, I don't want to give away the thing i i think the i like the falcons i picked them all week so i picked them i picked them i picked them to win the super bowl before the playoffs um i picked them to go and since wavered on it about seven times so i don't think i can actually own it who did you have on the other side we do england i had new england oh yeah new england o'clock was my super bowl when we did like a video beforehand

but i hemmed and hawed because of rogers like 14 times between them so i don't think i can't think you've had your dreams haunted by rogers for a lifetime so you're of course you're of course you can't have petrified of them yeah and i i just think they were i i think that people are looking at the Seahawks and the Packers games for the Falcons and saying, oh, the Seahawks and Packers were overrated. I don't think that's the case. I think Atlanta is underrated. You score 40 on NFL team?

Like, it doesn't matter. It's the playoffs. Casually. Yes. And they've scored eight straight times on opening drives. That was the big, like, that's going to be the tester for me. Because if Kyle Shanahan can scheme up something and Matt Ryan can execute it coming out of the gates against Bill Belichick with two weeks to prepare, then you know that this offense is for

real. It'd be very calming factor for them early. I think so completely. Unlike Pittsburgh's deal when they took away Brown by double-teaming Brown, right? Yes. They have to throw to Kobe Hamilton. Yep. Say that out loud.

Yeah, that's not a real thing here. Kobe Hamilton or Sammy Coates with two fingers. And Sammy Coates lives with two fingers. Yes. He's been dropping those balls that he dropped against New England his entire career. Yeah. Before he had his fingers broken. When he had ten fingers, that was the problem.

So I totally agree. And that's the thing is, when you look at the teams that have struggled in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl, they were good offenses. Talk about this with REM a little bit. The 2013 Broncos, they weren't this gash you in a hundred ways offense. They were Peyton Manning and his just owning everything. So if you cut off the head of the snake there, you're fine. With this team, if you take away, I mean, if they crush riot,

if they really get pressure on them, it's over anyway. That's different. But it's, if you look at just what you can take away, I just don't think there's been this diverse, this varied of an offense at this stage where you can say, oh, well, good offenses don't play well when you have two weeks to prepare. There's just so much to prepare for, I'm not. not sure that two weeks is even enough.

I'll credit her because she said it. It was a good comparison. I thought Cynthia Freeland of NFL Network. It was analytics. We did an interview with her this week. And she pointed out that the Falcons are not like the Warriors in the NBA. They're like the Spurs. Yes.

They're a high-flying, high-scoring offense, but they're hyper-efficient. It's credible. That's the thing. And I don't know that if the plan is to take away Julio Jones, that that's going to work. Yeah. Like, I don't think that you can double him the way that Kyle Shanahan moves him and the way that he plays physically the same way you can double Antonio Brown. That's not a criticism of Antonio Brown. It's just physically, Julio Jones is in a different stratosphere than any other receiver in the NFL.

Yeah. And it's the way they move him. You're right. I mean, the sense that if he can play inside, he can play outside. They do a lot of good things where they'll stack people. If they play man to give him some room, that's what they do. They put their guys in the position to succeed. And I think if you take away Julio, we talk about Sunu and Gabriel and everything else.

But what I'm looking for on both sides is how both teams are going to run the ball. Like this is a Brady, you know, this is a Brady, Matt Ryan sort of. That's the headliner, right. But I think that both sides, how they're both run the ball is going to be a huge factor. Because with Atlanta, I almost guarantee you that New England's going to play too high safeties. Because they're going to say, if we're going to take away Julio, we're not going to let Gabriel beat us on the other side. And if you do that, you have to run the ball into that. And I also think there's a version of this game, which I wrote about today, that New England just says,

We're going to bring two tight ends in. We're going to have Devlin come in, and we're just going to destroy you. That's the game. That is the game, and I've been saying this all week, so I agree 100% with you. That's the game if I'm picking the Falcons that I'm terrified of. Yes. But you know what's weird? The over-under in Vegas for Lagart Blanche rushing yards, what would you guess it is?

60. Right on it, 57.5. But that's kind of low. I mean, like, he's obviously not a big play guy. It's tough just because you don't know who they're going to give it to. I think when I say I think it could be the Blunt game, it could just as easily be the Dionne Lewis. True, true.

Because it's not as if Lewis is this scat-back they use in shotgun. They'll line him up and plow him the same way he was blunt. And he runs well between the tackles. So I think that we're going to see a good combination of those two guys. That's true. That's true. I could see Lewis early and then they just bring in Blount to be the closer later. Go back to that the scripting from Shanahan early on.

I think Atlanta can't get down. Yes. Because even though they can score in bunches and they can come back if they need to. You don't want the Lindo Wingo to be able to bleed the game. Matt Ryan just chunking it off his back foot is a nightmare. and le garret blunt will will they'll eat up yards and it will take what Atlanta out of their element yes which is these these methodical drives and then take shots with the play action and you beat people deep that way and like I mean that's the other concern too the Patriots the defense

we can talk about being overrated but it's been don't break yes well can Atlanta break it yeah and if they get in the red zone I think Atlanta almost needs to score outside of the red zone that's their biggest issue. And you look at Atlanta's offense, they're number one in points for drive, number one in points per game, all these things, all these metrics where is this the best offense in the league,

they're like ninth or tenth in Red Zone touchdown percentage. Which seems, okay, they're still in the top 10 that's really good, but if we're trying to poke holes in the best offense in football, that's the type of stuff you need to find. If you're looking at a team that might be, at least have an argument, I wouldn't, I don't think I'd put them there,

but if they win the Super Bowl and they hang 30 on Belichick, they're in the discussion for greatest offense. Yeah, I agree. And it's just, that's what we're seeing now. And what they did against Seattle and Green Bay, again, bad defenses, but it's the playoffs. Like, those are real NFL players on the other side, and they're running over them. They out-coached and out-executed Pete Carroll and the Seahawks defense. I mean, I know Earl Thomas in there.

That's a big deal. It was a walkover. I mean, they did anything they wanted to them. Because with that first drive from Seattle, it was, oh, whoa, like, this is going to be a game. And the answer back was, it's over. They're very, very confident what they're able to do. They are. And I think that as much, I see, I feel myself doing this every time.

The Falcons are exciting. The Falcons are new. The Falcons are the conversation we've never had. And I just would not be at all surprised if we get there on Sunday, and it's a 31-17 finish, and Pelot-Shack has the trophy again. Because the only reason, Mays, I don't think that it's going to have. I have no idea. And that's the beauty of this game.

It's like, it could, the Falcons could blow out the Patriots. That could happen. Yeah. It's probably not going to happen. I said the thing I wrote today. I said, I wrote the four versions of the game because I literally think any of them could happen. Right, right. And you look at it.

you're like, okay, it's a bad matchup from a team perspective for the Falcons because of what the Patriots do. It's a bad matchup because Bill Belichick has two weeks to prepare. Yes. You know, it's a nightmare because Tom Brady's on the other side and you can't stop Tom Brady. And he's playing really well. He's just not Tom Brady. He's just not a dude in the 12 jersey. He's engulfed in flames right now. He's the greatest quarterback of all time playing at his peak at age 39 with a chip on his shoulder because the commissioner suspended him for four games to start the season.

I really haven't given that enough credence. I'll be honest. I haven't thought about it enough, I'm thinking of the game. Okay, let me ask you this. All right, so, and this gets outside of the X's and O's realm, but Brady twice this week has gotten sort of emotional. Yeah. Is that a good or, like, I'm, like, you don't want. I think it's terrifying.

It's terrifying. It's exactly. It's terrifying. If you're in Atlanta and, like, you see him in that mode, I don't want that. He got choked up when a little kid asked him a question about his hero at Media Day. That, that screams, I'm going to uncork everything in my soul on you come Sunday. And, like, is the idea that his mom is sick. Like, I don't mean to make light of that.

That's a real thing. And I assume that. if there's anybody that's going to channel that in a way that probably works for him, it's Tom Brady. And by the way, that's probably why he shouted out his mom. Exactly. Yeah, yeah, of course. I mean, no, I think that's what the great ones do. Yeah.

Is they take these, like, if my mom was sick, I would not be here. Yeah. I would be crying at my house. Totally. You know, and Tom Brady's doing what he's got to do because you have to do your job. That's what the Patriots do, and he's channeling it. Yeah. On the other side, though, I can't help but think that Matt Ryan in a very, very quiet way,

as he should. Feels totally disrespected. I think he loves this. I'll be honest. I think that he's enjoyed the season in a way that he hasn't talked about. He hasn't really shown. But I believe that a part of him is really relishing what this year has been. Because they try to run him out of town.

Nobody wanted him anymore. And now he's going to be the MVP of the league tomorrow. I went on a video with NFL.com before the season and pointed out that he was probably the fourth best quarterback in his division. And that wasn't inaccurate for last year. It wasn't wrong in that moment. Right. And obviously it's not.

They led the league in Red So Turnovers last year. That's just something you cannot do. They wanted him out of town. He had a reputation as a guy who couldn't win a playoff game, which is, as we know, the dumbest narrative in sports. Aaron Rogers had it before 2011. Yeah. He's okay too.

He's pretty good. And he's executing flawlessly. Like, is he Brady? No. Is he Rogers? No. But he's a really good quarterback who's succeeded. Like, he took BC to an ACC championship game.

Like, he can play. Yeah. I find all of that fascinating. Just the Brady. Belichick, the Brady Ryan thing, and also the coaching side of it. I feel like there's a lot going to be a lot that needs to be said if Atlanta does the right thing here. First of all with Shanahan, I can't remember something like this where I've talked about with Kevin before, this kind of shooting star elements of their offense where this is it.

We got two years of Shanahan, but really this year we're all coalesced. This is it. We got one season of this brilliance, and now we get to see them try it one more time against Bill Belichick. Is there anything you could ask for? No, but before he goes off and tries to do it in San Francisco with no question. quarterback. It's terrifying. And I think it's underrated that Dan Quinn was in the exact same position as Shanahan two years ago when they played the Seahawks because he can provide him advice. Totally. And he says that he asks. I mean, they've talked about it. And he understands, look,

dude, you've got to take your shot. You know, you don't only get a couple shots at this. If you think you have a good opportunity, take it. And I don't, so I don't think, I'm not worried that that that's going to disrupt the Falcons. I don't think so either. And I feel like with Quinn too, we think of him as the Seattle 4-3, cover three. defensive coach, they've done so much interesting stuff over the last two weeks. He is willing to be malleable and say, I'm going to try different things if it means blending to the matchups that we're in right now. And I think you're going to see that again.

I think they're going to be really creative on offense and defense. I think you're going to see some stuff from Atlanta that we haven't seen all season, just in terms of a small wrinkle here and there. I think New England has enough faith in what they are. Danny Kelly picked him as his long shot MVP because he thought he'd catch one and throw. I loved it. I like it. If you're making choices based on wide receiver touchdown passes, you know you're having fun.

by the way, you'll appreciate this. I once placed a hypothetical wager on Devin Hester to win Super Bowl MVP, and I thought it was going to pay off after the opening kick. I know that, but I feel like as a Devin Hester enthusiastor, you would appreciate it. I really love that. I thought about that moment yesterday. I missed the Prince halftime show because I was sulking in my room. I mean, it was just a rough day for me.

I mean, it was tough. But Hester played at Miami, right? Yeah. The NC State, I would never forget this moment as long as I live either. He played, Miami came to town. first time game day had ever come to NC State and Raleigh, night game crowd is inebriated

beyond belief, so loud, just a crap ton of rednecks, just drunk off their asses, ready for this NC State team to make its mark publicly. Hester, kick your turn to the house over the game. It's soul crushing. They beat us by like 50. It's amazing. He has been a part of so many of my favorite football moments ever. The fact that he returned the punt

and the Monday Night Game against Arizona. That's how they did it. It was the perfect distillation of a Chicago Bears team. Earl strips the ball, Tullman returns it, throws it in this, or Mike Brown, throws it in the stands. Just everything you could ever want. And obviously he was a part of it.

Like, Devin Hester's my favorite part of my football life. He's a Hall of Famer, right? I would 100% think so. I think if you're the best ever of what you do, you belong in the Hall of Fame. Yeah, like, I don't get the argument that Calvin Johnson is in a Hall of Famer. That's just insane.

But, like, I mean, he was, he was the best for a stretch. Yes. If you're the best wide receiver in the league for five years, which he was. Yeah. If it's for two, I get it. Right.

Like, I don't know if James Harrison is a Hall of Famer. But I think that if you were the best at what you do for extended stretch for five, six seasons, like Devin Hester was, like Calvin Johnson was. Like, even Patrick Willis was. Yeah. To me, you belong in there. Yeah, I'm with you. Willis isn't very interesting case. He'll be a really interesting case.

Hester, I think Hester Shriver and I agree on Megatron. Megatron is a no-brainer to me. I totally agree. People are weird. No offense. I like the Hall of Fame voters. They're very nice, but they're weird. All right, buddy.

I appreciate you doing this. Yeah, for sure, man. It's going to be a great game. I'm very much looking forward to it, and we'll talk to on the road. Sounds good. All right. That's it. That's all we got.

Thank you to Will. Thank you to remember. Thank you guys to everyone for listening all season. The Super Bowl is here. I hope you enjoy the game. It is a football nerd. I could not ask for anything more. Kevin and I will be back on Monday to give you our recap of what went down at NRG Stadium on Sunday night.

So again, enjoy the game. Have a great weekend. And we'll talk to you guys later.