The Ringer NFL Show - 'GM Street' — Week 10 Rapid Reactions (Ep. 182)

Episode Date: November 13, 2017

The Ringer's Michael Lombardi and Tate Frazier discuss the Saints' trampling of the Bills (2:20), the Steelers' hard-fought win over the Colts (14:34), the Eagles' Super Bowl plans (18:00), and what's going on in Dallas (21:52). Then they address the Broncos' defense (29:00) and close out with some awards around the league (31:37). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to GM Street part of the Ringer podcast network. I am Tate Frazier and on the line live from New Jersey. Mr. Mike Lombardi, week 10's in the books. Lombardi, how you doing? I'm good, Tate Frazier. Good, long day of football, good day, you know. Got to see the Giants play the 49ers. That was really entertaining.

I mean, that was fun to watch. And then, you know, the poor Jets, poor Mickey, you know, they couldn't do anything. They struggled to get anything going. and Tampa came away. Tampa hadn't sacked anybody all year and say all of a sudden they became the sack machine.

It started sacking Josh McCallel. So, unfortunately. But it was a good day of football. We got a lot to talk about, my man. It was the Ryan Fitzpatrick revenge game that we all wanted, so I'm glad he got that out. The play of the game was Josh McCallon froze at the interception.

And then on the very next play, Ryan Fitzpatrick, not to be outdone, throws an interception right back to the jets. It was that kind of day in football. I mean, but there's so many games. I mean, the Redskin. game, Minnesota game was, like I know your boy, Jay Gruden, I'm going to give him to you, he's your boy.

He's going to rip cousins for some, but they do some of the dumbest things in football. And when they watch their season, the Washington Redskins watch their season this offseason, their inability to convert third and one is going to be the death of the reason why they don't make the playoffs or even, or competitive team. It's a wild thing to see this week. I mean, we even had the DJ Sweringer play where he almost fumbles the ball for a touchback that happened three or four times a day,

which it was just a total weird day in football. We saw some strange things happen across the... The strangest thing I saw, I would say, is Ben McAdoo not wearing the camouflage for Veterans Day. He just wore his black get-up because he's too big for that. Too big for the camouflage, our boy, Ben McAde. Well, he didn't want to jinx to me.

He was having a lot of luck in that uniform, you know? He's the Johnny Cash of coaching. Yeah, I mean, shoot, one year in... Cleveland, the year we won all those games, I was wore the same pants every week to the game. Like, I am not changing this shit. Like, I'm going to the game with this, okay? I'm sure McAdoe felt the same way. He had a nice losing streak

going. He wasn't going to give it up. Absolutely. Let's talk about it. That's the wrong losing streak. I got it. I think it's the opposite of that. He didn't quite get the memo there. Let's talk about the five performances that jumped out to you this week. Let's start with the New Orleans Saints. I mean, they go up to Buffalo. We thought that Buffalo may show some fight this week. There was a weird Thursday night game against the Jets that they didn't really show

up for, but the New Orleans Saints, they're the class of the NFC South right now, and they look like a legitimate contender in the NFC overall. You know, the thing that's striking to me about it was the fact that they did it really without breeze having like a great day. Like it wasn't breezed as unbelievable day. You know, they controlled the pace of the game. They went up there. They played complimentary football.

They kept their defense off the field. They ran the ball at Buffalo. Buffalo lives on turnovers. Buffalo lives on playing good in the red area. And those two areas, I mean, the Saints turned the ball over one time. But for the most part, you know, the Saints were able to run the football on Buffalo. They didn't turn the ball over, and they didn't make stupid mistakes. And, you know, you've got to give it, look, would you put a street together like the Saints are,

in terms of the numbers they're doing defensively, at some point you just got to say, hey, they're playing really well. And I keep hearing, and I think this is a good thing, I keep hearing how much they are a team and how the locker room is really going well, because I've never been a part of a team that was a good team that didn't have a good locker room. And I think that's what the Saints finally have now, is they finally have a good locker room. And we have Mark Ingram goes for 131 yards. We have Alvin Camara.

He goes for 106 yards. Combined, they have four touchdowns together. Camara is a threat in the passing game. He looks like he could be the rookie of the year at this point. It just seems like all things are clicking for the Saints. Sean Payton seems like he's really engaged. We had a couple years where, you know, it just seemed like he was almost not even there at times. And I don't know, this Saints team, they look pretty scary and they can obviously put up a lot of points.

And on the other side of things, the Buffalo Bills, you know, I don't really know what's going on there. Obviously, we saw Peterman today, Nathan Peterman. I didn't know if we'd watch him play football this season. Of course, it finally happened today, and it was as ugly as expected. But, yeah, I mean, what do you say for the McDermott and the bills? I mean, they had that hot start, and now they're just sort of falling by the wayside. I think if they don't, you know, the Jets didn't turn the ball over, New Orleans, for the most part, didn't turn the ball over. I think where New Orleans has really improved.

Their offensive line now, Armstead's back at left tackle. Their offensive line is control in the line. of scrimmage. And I think they dominated the Buffalo bills. I thought Buffalo going into the game could get pass rush. I thought they could get some pressure. I didn't think the Saints would be able to run the football on them. And I thought playing at home, the bills could really dominate the line of scrimmage. But it was the opposite. I mean,

Armstead back, that offensive line really was really outstanding. And I mean, they dominated the game and they were the reasons for the win. And I think this is why the Saints are so good right now. Buffalo, you know, they're an 8- and 18. I mean, unfortunately, that's what they are. They don't have enough of a pass game. They really don't can't control line of scrimmage on defense. And if they don't turn the ball over, if you don't lose the game,

they're going to have a hard time winning. And I think that's what's happened today. The Saints were not losing the game. Well, let's talk about a team that seems to always find a way to lose the game, and that's the Los Angeles Chargers. They go into Jacksonville today. They were up 17, 14 late. It looks like all things were going well.

Blake Bordles doing Blake Bordle's things throwing interceptions to trade Boston. It's unbelievable. I mean, it was unbelievable today. I mean, it was truly amazing. He had 51 pass attempts, Mardi. How is that possible? Well, I mean, and I don't know how you called passes with them.

I would have been scared to death to call a pass with him. It was unbelievable. I mean, the sequence in the game, when they got a chance to send the game to overtime the first time, thank God that Doug Marone's really good at time management. Because Marone had three time out. So when Blatannick throws the interception, that basically San Diego could have sealed the game.

And Philip Rivers now is pissed off because he's mad that he didn't get a chance to throw the ball on third and six. They ran it. They used the last timeout that Marone kept, which was really a smart move. And they were able to get the ball back. And then they made some horrendous plays. I mean, Joey Bosa's unnecessary roughness on the quarterback was deadly. I mean, really, Marquise Lee and Bordles did everything in their power to help lose the game for Jacksonville.

The charges just couldn't take it. They just couldn't take it. Marquis Lee, like, if that would have been a row game, it would have been one of those games where you want to leave him. you want to leave by the visiting state. I mean, you know, he's got a pass interference call in the end zone. Yep. That looks like it's going, you know, and he starts celebrating like it's some kind of thing. He starts to tell him, Tray Boston.

Yeah. Yeah, they pick up the flag, and now all of a sudden he's, now he puts 15 yards back on the Great Blatonic. I mean, the thing about Jacksonville that's remarkable is their defense is really good. I mean, they can run the football, but there's no way come playoff time that that's going to work. that Botanic is going to have to play in a game, and he's horrible. I mean, he was so bad today.

It was only the chargers that could really lose the game. And really, you know, and then this is so bad. I mean, Jackson was a little bit undiscipline here. This is like they're running wild. They get the interception and they take it down, and then they get a personal foul. They get unsupports for my conduct, and they have to move it back. And that kick that went through, Tate Frazier,

that was a lucky kick to go. It didn't look like it was going through ever. Yeah, it took forever. It took forever. It hung up in the air. How about Phil Rivers with that big hit on the two-yard? to save the touchdown. Oh.

That was a big boy tackle. Yeah, well, I mean, it was. It was a big boy. He put his big boy pants on that one. But, I mean, look, Jacksonville's finding a way to win. I mean, you've got to take your head off of them. I don't know how good the chargers are. Like, the question I keep asking watching the chargers is,

if Belichick were coaching the chargers, what would their record be? That's really what we should do on GM Street on Thursday is what would the record be of these teams if Belichick coached them? And what would the record be of the Denver Broncos and Belichick coached them? What would the record be of the Dallas Cowboys? That's really the one. Like what would that record be? Do you think that – well, we'll talk about that later.

Go ahead. We'll get to that later. I will say this. Bill Belichick was coaching the Chargers. Austin Echler would have gotten the ball a lot more. Another rookie running back. They look like young Danny Woodhead. It's unbelievable.

I mean, it's really unbelievable. But, you know, the Chargers, you know, they have a chance to win the game. and I'll tell you if Kate, Fraser, I didn't see that, you know, Gibson, but he picked up the fumble to ran it in for a touchdown. I never saw anybody contact them. They called it a touchdown on the field, and then they called it a, and then I could ever, did you ever see that? Yeah, I remember they did that. They went to Blandino right on that replay review and they said they got a hand on him. Yeah, I didn't hear it. Yeah. I think that's what they said. But yeah, that was a, that game at the end, there were so many times where I thought the game was over, like when Trey Boston got that second pick and he goes to the sideline with his hands up.

and he basically taunts Marquis Lee after he just had the taunting penalty. I feel like the game was going to be over, and then they come back, they don't go for it on third and six. They run the ball, like you said, the Marone play. And then somehow,

if you would just stop watching that game with three minutes left, and you said it went to overtime and the Jaguars won, I would have had a lot of questions, but then I would have realized it was, you know, the Los Angeles Chargers. And that's kind of how they do things,

unfortunately, for Phil Rivers. It just goes under one area. Like, it's the Chargers. This is who the Chargers. That's who the Chargers football game. That's just the Chargers. Let's talk about a team that's doing pretty well in the NFC North, and that is the Minnesota Vikings.

This was a really fun game. They go into Washington today, and Case Keenham puts up four TDs. Teddy Bridgewater is his first game back in 15 months. He's on the sideline. That ended up being the big story. But Case Keenum pretty much puts it out there that he is the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings for now. There's going to be a lot of questions swirling around.

I know Zimmer was getting asked questions after the game about who their quarterback is. But I think Keenom made a pretty big statement. day, if I do say so myself. I think he did, I think he did too, Tate. I mean, look, let's face it. I mean, Case Keenham has played other than, we have a memory of Sam Bradford from week one, which was really impressive. The game he played against the Saints before he got injured, it was probably Bradford's signature game, and that's kind of lingered in our memory. But Case Keenom has played better than Bradford, other than that game in his career in Minnesota. I mean, what Case Keenom had two bad picks today, dumb picks. I mean, threw the ball late,

the Sweringer out there, who almost turned it back. over, and then he threw one up, which I'm not sure what the heck he was trying to do on that. But, I mean, Minnesota put 38 points on and really never slowed him down. I mean, he still had a over. And Diggs is a good player. Adam Thielen was unbelievable. Catch the ball is quickness. His size.

I think that really the most, the unsung here is Tony Sparano. I mean, he's done an incredible job with the offensive line in Minnesota. Now, I know they spent some money and they got better, but these guys are blocking better. They go on the road. Now, Washington's a beat-up team. I think Washington is really just way too beat up to compete and win. They'll probably go into New Orleans and beat them because usually Washington does the opposite of what you think they should do. Like they should have won today.

They had a chance in this game. You know, they just don't manage the clock very well. They don't play complimentary football. And then they're really bad. Minnesota went up-tempo, which I didn't think they were going to do because of Casey Keenham playing on the road. But the Achilles heel of the Redskins is their inability to play two-minute defense. They're not very good at playing fast. playing tempo. They can't get into their checks. They can't play check with me defense when they have

to play their two-minute. And when that happened, and Minnesota went to it, they went right down the field. I think Minnesota, they're good. I think the Redskins are really, you know, I know your boy Jay is going to blame somebody. I'm just not sure who's going to blame this week. We should play that game as well. Yeah, he's definitely going to blame Kirk Cousins. That's the go-to plan. That's always going to be his plan. Until Cousins leaves, that's going to be his plan. I think so. And he's going to have Andy Dalton. Yeah, that's right. He'll get ready for Andy Dalton. Andy Dalton had 110 quarterback rating today, but his team couldn't, you know,

but they still couldn't win. So, you know, it's like you sit there and you say, wait a minute, he can't play any better and he's playing right now, and we still can't win, we're in trouble. Yeah, it's a lot of problems there. The Washington Redheads will be a lot of fun next season, though. Let's keep it moving. Let's talk about a guy that comes down and gets the win for the Tennessee Titans, and that's Marcus Mariotta.

A long drive, a winning drive here with a two-minute offense. DeMarco Murray scores the late touchdown for the Titans, They get a big win in that division, and they look like they can make a run for the AFC South now. Mariotta looked like the guy that everyone thought he would be when he came out in 2015. And that was a pretty fun game for the Titan fans, for sure, in Nashville on a rainy day. Yeah, I mean, I think this is who they are.

This is a team. They have to run the ball, and he's got to be one of the lead runners. I mean, I think Henry led the team in rushing. He was second. Mario was second. But when he could run, he's one of the best second-down rushers in the league. You've got to really be alert for him on second-down. It's kind of like he's their get back on track running.

and they run Marriota, and he led the team back. And I mean, those are two things. I mean, but they're not an explosive team. But one thing about Tennessee that you have to give them credit for, and I don't think they're a talented team, but I think they have played together as a unit, and they believe in one another. And, you know, they find a way not to lose the game.

They're going to find a way to win the game, which they did. And Mario dairies has made some plays. And if he doesn't get hurt, I'm sure they're going to beat Miami down there when they had to play Matt Castle. So this is a team that they're on a win streak. They're playing better. And, you know, the Bengals just can't get out of their own way. I mean, the Bengals just can't quite find a way to close out games.

They can't find a way to get a stop on defense or make a play on offense. It's just bad. And we should say Delaney Walker, when Delaney Walker is a threat down the field and he's making big plays and he obviously was involved in the offense today, that takes them to a different level in offense. They have an actual threat. And he told this great story. You know, Nancy told this great story about Walker, how he loved all these other sports, but he quit wrestling because a girl pinned him in school.

and that tipped him that that wasn't quite his thing, you know, for wrestling. So I love when we get a little sidebar stories from Jim Nance about Delaney Walker. That lets you know that he's really involved in the game for once. So that was fun. Nancy's great. I mean, when he walks around the golf course, he's ever going to a golf tournament where Nance is there. He's always talking to the golfers. He knows everybody's mother's name.

I mean, he's incredible. He's on the driving range. I mean, he can tell stories upon stories. He truly is America's guest. He's amazing. Absolutely. And finally, our guy, Big Ben Rothensbergh, comes back with the Steelers, gets a nice win over the Indianapolis Colts in Indiana today.

He had two TDs, 236 yards, Levyon, 26 carries. It looked like the Steelers team. And let's just say this, Juju Smith-Schuster, the youngest guy in the league. I mean, he just looks explosive. I think he averaged like 20 yards per catch today. It was a wild game for the Steelers, and they look like a real Super Bowl contender at this point. They're just figuring things out. I mean, it's not the prettiest, but they're just winning games.

Yeah, I think that's most important. I mean, look, this is a team that plays down to the level of competition. I mean, and that's what they did today. I mean, they have no business being this close. They should have really dominated the game. But the Colts played one of their best games of the season. I really think the Colts played one of their best games. They were doing a good job of bottling bell in the running game.

They did a good job of them in the passing game. I mean, Schuster just makes some place. Schuster gives this offense a dimension. And, you know, I think that was, you know, people say, well, you know, you're 11.12 point favorite, whatever the hell you were going into that game. But for me, you know, those are hard games to win. in somebody else's stadium and you can win the game. And they're hard to do at times, especially in November,

where teams kind of back up. And, you know, this is the coaching staff that knows they're on the, that knows they have to win games to keep their jobs. So, you know, it's a good win. Look, one thing about the NFL, don't ever worry about whether you win loss, how much, but the Russian judges are going to evaluate the win. You just get the win in the win column, and that's what they did. And what does it say about Big Ben for him to make the, you know,

he looked like the old Big Ben that we're used to seeing today. He made some big plays down the field. you know, avoided some problems in the pocket. He just looked like vintage Ben Rothensberger, so that's nice to see if you're a Steelers fan. Yeah, no, I mean, that's the thing. I mean, you know, look, I feel bad for the Colts. I mean, Jack Doyle last year got this big contract

because he caught everything that touched his hand. And then today he has the job for the interception. I mean, like Jack Doyle's had more drops this year than I ever think. I don't understand how it's happened, but it's really remarkable how he can't really hold onto the ball because he's got good hands and, you know, that play. You know, look, Ben's a winner. You never want to play a guy like Ben where you give him the ball with the less,

but they just know what to do with the ball when they get it there. And he can make enough plays and he can get himself in the right play, and he understands the pressure moment. Take your hat off to him. I mean, the Steelers sneak away from a win. It wasn't pretty, but like you said, it's a win. Yep. All right, Lombardi, let's get to your favorite segment of the week.

But first, let's get a word from our sponsor, Home Depot. They say life, there are no guarantees. They say there's no sure thing. Well, I'm here to tell you there might just be one. exception. In 1924, Husky started making things for people who make things, and they did it with common sense. That meant adding function, never frills, and making tools that stood the test of time. 93 years later, Husky is still making quality, crafted, durable tools. Like the Husky ratchet with a 100-positioned ratcheting design and a 10% longer handle than standard ratchets to do what

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Well, I think the top one. I mean, I've been back in Philadelphia. I think it's, you know, they're already planning the Super Bowl parade in Philadelphia, just so you know, I don't know if you're aware of this. They've already planned it. They already have planned it. And that's going to be the narrative for the whole week. Is anybody really better than Philly? That is going to be the narrative. And I think that's, you know, pretty much on, you know, Dallas losing today, you know, the Redskins losing today. And the Giants being as God-awful as they are, I mean, there's nobody in the East going to give them kind of. competition. I think Minnesota and New Orleans are good teams. Don't get me wrong. But I think everybody sees Philly as way above them, even though Philly, you know, Cam Newton had one of

his worst days of the year, and Philly was right there. They lose Kekley in that game. But right now, I think the narrative is, when are we going to build the Super Bowl? When's the Super Bowl trophy going to the Eagles? When we're going to have the presentation? We need a Doug Peterson statue ASAP. Just looking ahead at some of their games. I mean, they have the Cowboys next week, obviously. Then they have the Bears. which should be a win. Then they have Seahawks, Rams, Giants, Raiders, Cowboys. So that's how they end up the season.

So, I mean, there are some teams, obviously, some playoff teams ahead that we'll see if they're a legitimate contender. But there's also some games, obviously, with the Bears and, you know, even the Raiders and the Giants that they can sneak some wins in and really boost. I mean, they should be the number one seed in the NFC if all things play out according to the plan at this point. So maybe they are right.

It would hard to think they wouldn't be at least the one or the two seed, right? I mean, it would be hard to think that's not. going to happen, right? Yeah, absolutely. It all checks out for the Eagles fan. So Fly Eagles Fly. My other narrative is, you know, I heard this on TV before the Patriot game was, you know, that Ben McAdoo could get fired as early as Monday.

I mean, like, anybody who wants to predict when McAdux is going to get fired, you know, you're not a savant. Like one thing we know for sure based on losing to an 0-19 today, you're right, McAdoo is going to get fired. Like, they fired only for a disaster, and this is a bigger disaster than Ray Hanley. so, you know, they're going to fire him. You can predict whatever day it's going to be, but he's going to get fired. Does it, I mean, when you have the owner in the building to watch you lose to a team that is completely defeated that has no wins on the season,

I mean, does that add more insult to injury and, you know, basically speed up the timeline? Because everyone was saying since Mara was there in the building to watch, you know, Ben McAdoo lose this game to the 49ers and almost, you know, be even more embarrassed that it would expedite the whole process that he might even make the, you know, the plane ride back to New York. But as of now, as it stands, Sunday night, Ben McAdoo is still the head coach of the New York Giants. He seemed pretty much dejected at this point. And, you know, Ben has been. He's going to have the exact same face. We've seen that. But I don't know.

It seems like it's a ticking time bomb at this point. And actually, I was pulling up, you know, our little show notes for each week. And the past three weeks we've had Ben McAdoo on the hot seat. So eventually we will be right and he will be gone. We can't say that definitively. I mean, I'm blaming us too, because you have to be everybody's on the hot seat. But here's the thing I think that's pretty clear, is Mara's always going to the games. And the decision for Marrers really, these are easy decisions.

These aren't hard. Like, this isn't like a hard decision. You know, the team looks like they're playing better. I mean, look, Eli wasn't the best quarterback on the field today. C.J. Bether was. I mean, at some point, you're going to have to accept that. Like, at some point, Giant fans are going to have to swallow that. You know, and the other fact of the matter is that, you know, this is, it's over with.

I mean, McAdo, the Giants' front office have no choice but to relinquish the duties of McAdoo. They just have no, I mean, he's fired himself with the performance of the team. So, wherever you think, it's an easy decision for the owner. Let's, you mentioned this before. We want to talk about the Clapper a little bit. What's your narrative? I want to hear your net. No, I'm saving it for the clapper.

I don't want to peek too early on the clapper. Well, that's why I wanted to bring this up, because that's my narrative. I think a lot of stuff's going to go on this week with the Cowboys, and a lot of people are going to be asking a lot of questions. is this team, you know, the offense seems stagnant at this point. What's going on with Dak? Why can't they figure this all out? And there's going to be one man to blame. And that's the clapper himself, Jason Garrett. I think we're going to hear a lot of stuff about Jason Garrett. I think Sean Peyton dominating with the Saints only adds, you know, more intrigue to the whole

idea that he could end up in Dallas at some point, like people have said for the past five or six years, ever since he won that first Super Bowl in 2010. I think Jason Garrett, I think the heat's going to get turned up on him. And he's going to have to answer some questions because even after this game today, you know, they show him, he goes up to Dan Quinn. He He's doing that weird, creepy smile where, you know, the science, I call it the Scientologist smile, where you just have a straight face where nothing will affect you at any point. It looks like David Miscavage. He just shakes his hand.

It seems pretty happy and lucky about everything. But that was a bad loss for them. I mean, that hurts our wildcard odds. So I don't know. I think Jason Garrett's going to have to answer the call at some point. I mean, at some point, when does he stop becoming like a casino host? Like, is he hoping that Dan Quinn goes and plays the slot? I don't know.

Like, what is he trying to do? Is he going to comp room and beverage or what? Like, I don't understand it. Like, he's as an opponent. Like, what is he politicking for? I mean, is he kissing babies, too, on the sideline? Like, at some point, here's what drives me crazy about the clapper is at some point. He's the head coach of the team.

And he's watching this game, and he sees Chas Green not be able to block Adrian Claibor who has six. I've never heard of a player get six sacks in a game. Like, I've never heard of it before. Okay? Like, I know it's happened, but, like, six is, like, it's like hitting three, three, run homers. Like, how often does that happen, right? And like at some point, wouldn't you say in your head said after the second sack, you'd say, hey, look, I'm tired of watching Claiborne kick

Chas Green's ass. Make sure we get a guy over there. Now, you know, I'm watching the Patriot game tonight. You know, LaDarie O'Dowell is over at right tackle. You don't think they're helping him against, I mean, Von Miller didn't get a sack tonight. Brady was fine. Because what they did during the week was the number one, number one way we're going to lose the game is if Von Miller strip sacks, Brady and causes turnovers. So that's the number one way to lose. Okay? So what do they do? They make sure that they don't let that happen. Well, it's the same thing in Dallas. Like at some point, when does, when does the clapper say, we're going to protect Chas Green? He knew he knew Tyrod Smith wasn't going to play. He knew it. He knew it.

I mean, we didn't know it until Friday afternoon, but he knew he wasn't going to play. And at some point, when is he going to do it? Like, that's the thing that drives me crazy about. I'm like, people defend them. Like, I'm not picking on the guy, but be ahead if you're not calling the offensive plays and you're not calling the defensive plays and you're in charge of, and you're not calling special teams play, then do something and call and make sure the game plan set up so your team has a chance to win it. So what can he call there? I mean, obviously you get a guy like Rod Smith or Alfred Morris to chip him, right? That's all you would do it. No, he goes, he goes, hey, look, you know, basically look, let's just get the left-hand formation,

let's mix things up a little bit, let's make sure we're doing, you know, we're chipping him on the way out, we'll do, you know, we'll mix it up, we'll have two backs in the backfield sometimes. We'll be the left-hand formation sometimes. Sometimes we'll be in this, sometimes we'll be in that. But whatever we do, before we go out and a route, before we make a throw, we are going to make damn sure we're chipping our way through and we're going to work it. Because he, if we don't block him, we can't have a pass the game. And that's what happened. And that's what drives me crazy. And they lose Sean Lee today to a hamstring. Like, Sean Lee is a really good player. Sean Lee has no durability whatsoever. I mean, he's a killer, right?

So, you know, they can't. Yeah, when he's not out there, I mean, the Cowboys are, a totally different defense, and especially when Jalen Smith moves over to that middle linebacker spot. It's a glaring difference between when Sean Lee is out there and when Smith's, you know, the one calling everything out. I mean, he's just, it's, they're a, they're a complete, like, I think Dallas's the defense is really good when Charlie's in the game, and I think they're just rank and file when he's not. And so, you know, you don't have him in there. You've got to play a certain style, and yet they can't play that style. It's just really ridiculous. Like, I don't understand, like, he loses

the Green Bay at home last year. People let him off. the hook, well, it's okay, you know. Like at some point, when does the guy become a head coach and just not clap? That's why he has the nickname the Clapper. Now, these are the hard decision. Like, if you're John Marron, you're looking at Ben McAdoo, that's not a hard decision. I mean, Parcell said today,

I don't know if you listen to it, but Chris Myers called Bill Parcells today and said, you know, he had to talk with Bill Parcells, and Bill Parcell said, I have great pride about the franchise. I love the Giants. I always, I'm always, will always be a giant. It's my first head coach's job. and I'm sure the owners of the Giants will do the right thing.

Well, I'm not trying to talk for Bill Parcells whatsoever, but that's very clear that Parcells will say that it's obvious, you've got to make a change, right? It's time. That's not obvious. It's not obvious in doubt, but what becomes obvious is if you're paying somebody $5 million a year or $6 million or $7 million, whatever you're paying him to be your head coach, you want him to set up the game so that you get a chance to win.

And when you let a guy get sacked six times and your quarterback's getting a shit kicked out of him, Like that's on you. You're just saying in coaching, you're either coaching it or allowing it to happen. And Garrett stood there and allowed it to happen. It really is coaching malpractice. It's a coaching malpractice. It was really tough. And I will say for Adrian Claiborne, I mean, the last guy to do this was O.C.

You mean, you're in 2007, six sacks. He had two force fumbles to go along with those six sacks. It was a big day for Iowa football between C.J. Bethard and Adrian Claiborne. So congrats to all the Hawkeye fans out there. But I will say this. Adrian Claiborne should send some money to Tyrant Smith just to say thank you for giving him the leeway today to get their success.

He's going to get whatever his pro bowl bonus is. He should give it to the Clapper. Because the Clapper refused to put somebody else over there. I'm sure the Clapper will go over and greet him. I'm sure the Clapper went over to Claiborne and greeted him. So what a great game he played. Claiborne probably looked at him and said, weren't you ever going to double me, you dummy?

Like wasn't somebody coming over? I kept looking for a chip. Like, why wouldn't you chip the guy? Like everybody's on TV talking. I feel like bad talking about it because it's so obvious. But if it was so obvious, why didn't the clap or just chip him? I don't know. It's unbelievable.

It was a weird day. Even when Mike Nugent hit the field goal up, right, when they could have cut it to 10, 17 to 10, when he missed that. I have no faith in Mike Nugent. When he sends Mike Nugent out there, like I have no faith in Mike Nugent. Like I have no faith in him. Like I, you know, it's like he can't do it. It's good PR for Dan Bailey. Right.

Oh, no doubt. And all this is PR for, all this is PR for the incompetence of really Jason Garrett. I mean, if he doesn't have all his players, he can't coach. that's the bottom line he can't figure out a different way to play the game if he doesn't have his full team and to me that doesn't make what a great coach is

no absolutely not and let's do some I mean it's like okay I'm one more I want you to keep going keep insulting him I'm having fun Can we no I'm not I'm done with I'm done with the Clapper the Clapper's Dallas problem now

I mean he's on them I mean at some point at some point can we stop calling Denver's defense great oh yeah can we do that please yes that's been the big thing. They were talking about in the game. Even Collinsworth tonight said that. He said this team was supposed to be built around running the football

and the defense as an A-class team, an elite defense, I can win a Super Bowl on its own, and the quarterback is basically a manager or facilitator of the game. And when the defense can't step up, obviously the offense helps the defense, but they're not what they were when they went to Super Bowl 50, obviously. It's a totally different defense. Oh, no, and I wonder how much they're going to, you know, look, I wonder how much they're going to tolerate Van Shoseph. I wonder

if he's not on the hot seat. Yeah, L.A. doesn't look very happy up in the box. They keep doing the cutaways up there. Well, no, because Elway, I mean, look, Elway hires somebody that he could, Alway wants to be out there. Everybody always wants to be Al Davis, and that's what Elway wants to be. He wants to be Al Davis. And I mean, he just got beat at home.

He's been beat at home by the New York football Giants, Ben McAdoo, and he's beat at home by the Patriot. He gave 51 and 41. He gave up 92 points in the last two weeks. You can't tell me that that's a, that's a great defense. And it was, and they got out coached in every phase.

I mean, like, the perfect example of that game for me was, if you watch that game closely, this is what makes the Patriots so effective. They know the defense of the Broncos, better than the Broncos, actually. The first touchdown pass that Burkope came underneath, okay? We didn't hear this on television, but what happens is they know that guy's a man-to-man. But when Grok runs up the field, he takes the two defenders with him. and the linebacker, once he gets to 10 yards, stops and turns back because he's turning them over to the safety. They're not tripling grok.

They're double in grok, right? Gotcha. Okay. Well, the Patriots know that he's carrying him for 10. So they run him for 10, and by that time, Burkheads cut across the middle, and the middle's wide open. So what they're doing is attacking the adjustments to the coverage. So what I'm saying to you is Josh McDaniels knows Vance Joseph's defense as well as Vance Joseph knows it. Like if you put Josh McDaniels in a room and said, teach me the Denver Bronco defense and how they play it and what's their adjustments, he would have it Stone Cold.

And that's the key to being successful in offense, is not know the defense, but know the adjustments to the defense. And that play right there, that first touchdown pass was the exact what I'm talking about, which people don't really see on television as much, is that's an attacking the adjustments to their defense. Sounds like the Broncos need to bring Josh McDaniels back at this point. Why not? He knows their defense already. He probably knows it better than, he probably knows it better than some of the Broncos coaches. Anyway, let's give out some awards, Dave Fraser. Let's do it.

First up, we've got time to go on the lamb, and we've already mentioned the clapper, but let's talk about his team. Yeah, I think he's in trouble. I mean, he's got Philly coming in this week. If he doesn't have, I mean, Philly really has got the four-leaf clover right now, I mean, let's be honest, he's got, he, if he doesn't have. Sean Lee against Philly. There's no way they could slow Philly down. I mean, I don't think they could slow Philly down with Sean Lee, but it's time for him to get his toothbrushes and go on the lamp.

I mean, I think the Clapper needs to go on the lamp. I don't think there's any doubt about it. Absolutely. And what happens this year if the Cowboys go from a 14-2 season and knock all the way back to not making the playoffs? I mean, obviously, Jerry Jones is that, you know, he's not waiting around. He doesn't have five to 10 years to try to groom a program. He's trying to win now.

So I think some big changes will be made. I think he's going to ask himself the question. and do we have a head coach who can game plan? It's one thing to beat bad teams. It's another thing to be able to play a chess game and win the chess match. Do we have a chess coach? And I don't think he does. We definitely don't have Bobby Fisher, that's for sure.

No, we were in search of Bobby Fisher. Yes, sir, that is. We need to find him. They need to find him. They need to find some sort of variation in Dallas after all this stuff. Next up we have the Fred Palermo Award, and that's going to go out to the New Orleans Saints. What a game play today from Sean Pais.

Game plan. Yeah, they really did. They did a great game. They didn't try to get creative. They just came in. They were really, like Fred would have been proud of them. They came in with a reduced menu. They had very few things on the list. They ran inside zone out. They ran their stuff. And they just beat up on Buffalo and they dominated the line of scrimmage. I was really, I thought Buffalo was a better team in terms of being able to create some turnovers. And especially since McDermott knows Peyton's offense. But this is a different New Orleans offense than the past. This is more of a power offense than it was a finesse one. And with Armstead back at left tackle, my hats off to New Orleans.

I think they're really good. All right, final one. If you don't know, now you know, and that's our boy, Case Keenham. Yeah, everybody keeps thinking Teddy Bridgewater is coming back. I mean, look, I think Case Keenom's played better than any quarterback's played in Minnesota for a while. You should enjoy in relation. I mean, two of the Ram quarterbacks, Jared Gough's playing good, Case Keenom's playing good.

Neither of them could play good for Jeff Fisher last year. Both of them are playing good this year. I think that when you go on the road and you beat a good team, I think the Redskins who just beat Seattle in Seattle last week, and you put 38 on them. Now I know they're beat up and I know they were hurt. My hat's off the year. I think he did a hell of a job.

So let me ask you this, Lombardi. You got a situation here. So Case Keenham after the game, they're asking him about, you know, the Teddy Bridgewater situation. He says, you know, he brings a certain factor of cool of the room in the quarterback room. I have a Teddy Bridgewater jersey at home. I'm a fan of Teddy Bridgewater.

He says all this stuff, all this fanfare, as if he is, you know, basically putting it out there, that Teddy is the number one, he is the number two, but he's obviously playing at this high level right now. Zimmer is a fan of Bridgewater, obviously dating back to 2014, and when they made the playoff run and everything, I don't know, it just seems like a weird predicament now where every week there's going to be questions.

You know, if Case Keenom comes out and puts up a dud, everyone's going to want to see Teddy. I mean, how much of a leash does Keenham have with Zimmer right now or is it sort of, if he's not performing, we have Bridgewater to throw in and see what happens. Leash, I think he'll have one. I mean, because remember, Teddy has a play. we don't know what Teddy is. The unknown is always something we love in the NFL. The backup

quarterback's always somebody we love until he has to go play. I think the way Keenham's playing and the way their teams respond to Keenem, I think they all know he's playing pretty well. I think they're in a great situation. I mean, they have two quarterbacks that they like. Now, whether they have two good quarterbacks, I don't know that because I haven't seen Teddy play it over a year. So I don't know if they have two good quarterbacks, but I know they have two good quarterbacks that they like in Minnesota. That's important. I think that'll be really interesting to watch because Zimmer, as much as he's doesn't want to show it. I think he really has a soft spot for Teddy Bridgewater.

So I think they all do. I think they all know how hard that injury was. I think they saw what he did. And, you know, and they, and they saw these. I love Teddy two gloves. I hope we see him again. You know, the other guy we should have insulted today is John Fox. Did you see what John Fox did today? I feel like Fox. You didn't. I'm going to tell you. All right. So I don't know what back it was, but there was running down the style of the line, then the ball came out. So they ruled them out of bounds on the two-yard line. Fox challenges the play, okay? Uh-huh.

He challenges the play. What do they do? They overturn his challenge and rule the fumble, and the Packers get the ball back. Yeah, it was a touchback. It was a touchback. Yes, exactly. But they weren't going to rule with a touchback. Now, if the Packers would have challenged that they would have ruled it.

But the Packers didn't. I mean, McCarthy didn't do it. And then not to be outdone, my man Hugh Jackson. Did you see this in the Detroit game? By the way, Matthew Stafford was with this quarterback sneak? Yes, yeah, before the half or whatever? Before the half. I mean, that's, you just, you can't make this up.

You can't make this up. No timeouts. No timeouts. Yeah, a QB sneak. What was it, seven seconds left with no timeouts and they run a QB sneak with Kaiser? Yeah, I was, 19 seconds, but by the time they came out from the pile. I mean, you know, you got that pile up guys, you know, they don't get off the ground too, I mean, you just can't really, you can't make this up.

It was so crazy because then Kaiser came to the sideline and Hugh was basically reprimanding him and I could see Kaiser was just sort of confused as to what he was really supposed to do there because, you know, he was, I mean, he got hit three yards behind the goal line anyway on the QB sneak. They pretty much had jammed the line anyway and knew it was coming.

So I don't know. Poor Hugh. I don't know. We keep telling him to go on the lamb, but he keeps showing up every week. He never brings a toothbrush, though. That's very true. All right, before we get out of here, tomorrow night we have the Carolina Panthers. They're at home facing the Miami Dolphins. This will be a game to see of the Carolina Panthers who are right now.

They're the fifth seed, and I think the Seahawks for the six seed. They're both in the wildcard spots with six wins. We'll see if the Panthers are a legitimate team that can show up for this game in week 10, or maybe the Miami Dolphins have something more that we haven't seen yet. But I don't know if this would be an interesting game, is there anything we should watch out for? I think if Kikley plays, I mean, Carolina is a way different team with Kikley on a few. Yeah, same to Sean Lee with the Cowboys.

Shame with Sean Lee. I mean, it's the same thing. I think it's fascinating. I mean, look, you know, Philadelphia, New Orleans, the Rams, Minnesota, they're all good teams. I think Carolina's their shit, right? And then Seattle and Dallas, I'm not sure where they are. And the AFC, it's New England, it's Tennessee, Jacksonville, it's Pittsburgh, it's Kansas City, and then everybody else is kind of playing.

I mean, it's really a league of about 10 teams, maybe. Yep. And those wild cards are going to be fat like Dallas, losing through Atlanta. I mean, that's a wild card spot. They got to hope that they have a one-game advantage or else they're out of it, you know? So I think that's why this Carolina game is really important in Miami. I don't think Miami is a very good team. All the numbers say they're not a good team, and when you watch them on tape, they're not a good team.

So this is, to me, and Carolina, they're playing at home, right? It's a home game for Carolina? Yep, it is. It's in Carolina. Yeah, so they should, I mean, like, look, Miami's offensive line, they shouldn't travel well. I would, too. I would say the only thing to watch out for the Panthers is if Ryan Khalil does not play. then that could cause some problems for Cam.

But if he's out there, then things will go according to plan, I'm sure. But it'll be a fun one. It'll be another Monday night football game. Hopefully it will be more entertaining than the past few we've had. So we'll see what happens, Mr. Lombardi. This has been fun. Week 10. All right, the playoff picture is sort of panning out, right?

We're starting to see who the real teams are. It's been fun. Yeah, I think we are. I think there's a complete separation. There's so many teams, like, I don't know how you, you know, you can start the 32nd team with Cleveland, but it could be the Giants. I mean, there's so much competition for the 20 to 32 spots in the NFL right now.

That could be, I mean, Denver could be down there. I mean, look, Denver, who says Denver's any good? I mean, you get smoked by at home by the Giants. You get smoked by, you know, I don't know. The bottom 20 from 20 to 32, you could make one team 20, you can make one team 32. I don't know who's worst. Can you imagine that conversation? Who's the worst team?

You could say it's the Browns. You could say it's the Giants. you know, I don't know. You could argue it back and forth. I think there are a lot of bad teams. I think there's a lot of bad teams and there's a lot of teams in the middle, but then there's the Philadelphia Eagles at the top. So congrats to Philadelphia.

They did it. All the way. All the way. That is another edition of GM Street, part of the Ringer Podcast Network. I am Tate Frazier, and this is Mr. Michael Lombardi, live from New Jersey. Thank you for calling in. That was a great, arousing edition of GM Street. I will talk to you tomorrow, my man.

Perfect. We'll be back on Wednesday. Tune in. Thanks again to Home Depot Husky Tools. In 1924, Husky started making things for people who make things, and they did it with common sense. That meant adding function, never frills, and making tools that stood the test of time. 93 years later, wow, it's a long time. Husky's still making quality crafted, durable tools, including hand tools that are guaranteed for life.

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