The Ringer NFL Show - It’s Time to Start Talking Playoffs (Ep. 188)

Episode Date: November 21, 2017

The Ringer’s Robert Mays and Kevin Clark recap an exciting Week 11, including why the Falcons are in the best position to claim an NFC wild-card spot (01:00), how the Eagles are still improving (07:...00), why the horrible decision to start Nathan Peterman makes the Bills look like hypocrites (28:00), and how the Chargers have a clear path to the AFC playoffs (32:00). Then, Danny Kelly joins the show to explain the Chiefs’ drop-off from the best team in the league to a mediocre one (36:45). Finally, the Ringer’s Chris Ryan and the guys analyze Doug Pederson’s hairstyle (44:45) and contemplate whether Eagles fans should book trips to the Super Bowl (52:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 It's the Ringer NFL show. Robert Mays here with Kevin Clark. Thanks to Gamefly for sponsoring today's episode. Gamefly is a great sponsor. It's also the best way to buy and rent your favorite video games. Yep. And the best part about Gamefly.com is your favorite games are mailed directly to your door. You don't even have to leave the house. Who wants to leave the house? No one. Absolutely not. Go to Gamefly.com slash ringer and start your free premium 30-day trial today. The premium trial allows you to check out two games and or movies at a time. You can only get this offer by visiting gamefly.com slash ringer.
Starting point is 00:00:30 So sign up and start playing all your favorite games absolutely free for 30 days. To the Ringer NFL show. Part of the Ringer podcast network. I'm Robert Mays, joined as always by Kevin Clark. Kevin, week 11 is in the books and we had a fun Monday night game. I think that the best proof yet that we're living in a computer simulation is that the Seahawks didn't do Seahawks things the end of that game? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:01:03 Like isn't every version of that game for the past, Five years has been Russell Wilson hitting Doug Baldwin with 11 seconds left for a touchdown. Blair Walsh being on the other team and missing the field goal that would change the game. Yes. There's a million ways that happens, but it's never the Seahawks just quietly lose the game.
Starting point is 00:01:25 It just feels like this isn't the Seahawks anymore. No. I mean, it's the skeleton of the Seahawks. They happen to be wearing the same jerseys. I mean, by the end of that game, the fact that Shaquille Griffin also got hurt right at the beginning of that game was just like, really? Like this is what's going to happen now?
Starting point is 00:01:39 I mean, it's Justin Coleman and Byron Maxwell. I mean, at a certain point, just because they're playing in that stadium and Pete Carroll's chewing gum on the sideline, they're no longer the Seahawks. I think that's part of the problem as we kind of survey the NFC wildcard race here. I wrote a story on the ringer.com on Tuesday about how the sort of vicious coaching carous carousel is watering down the quality of coaches in the league. And I sort of offhandedly mentioned that Pete Carroll is a good coach. And now I have Pete Carroll truthers coming after me.
Starting point is 00:02:06 saying that he's how on what planet is Pete Carroll a good coach guys he's a good coach yeah i mean the fake field goal is kind of hard to defend no i know but i'm just saying let's not let no one monday night game and when you have lost half the legion of boom determine whether or not pete carroll is a good coach i mean half plus one of your other starting corner it's just because he wasn't an original member is the legion of boom like the avengers or like one of those other superiors teams were like as people die off new people come in the four whole horseman. Yes, it was just canon.
Starting point is 00:02:38 Like, we have a cannon leasing boom, and then we have the new style Leisure of Boom. How does that work? I'm not really a comic book guy, so I don't really know how the ins and outs. We're going to have Danny Kelly on later to talk about that. All right. Well, we'll chat about that. But so one amazing stat I saw.
Starting point is 00:02:52 So there are five NFC teams that are either six and four or five and five. Okay. All very mediocre teams. The Falcons have beaten all of them. That's huge. And they're four and one in the NFC, I believe, or five and one. So the fact that they have, have because interconference record or intra conference record is the next tiebreaker after head-to-heads
Starting point is 00:03:12 when you're fighting for a wild card spot right which is huge so the falcons are definitely in the driver's seat of this and beyond that just outside of positioning I like the way they looked last night I mean I think the offense is getting finding its footing a little bit I'm enjoying kind of them rehashing Kyle Shanahan just schematic stuff I mean that touchdown the throwback the tight end throwback is something we stopped in Falcons all the time it just seems like they're getting there bit. I still feel like, and against Seattle's, maybe not the best measure of this, but the offensive line just hasn't been as good as it was last year in terms of past protection. And the Seahawks pushing around a little bit yesterday and Ryan looked a little skittish at times. So I think that
Starting point is 00:03:49 there are elements that I'm still worried about, but I still feel like with the positioning and with how they look on the field, it's starting to kind of start rolling for the Falcons where you're like, okay, maybe they are that second NFC Walker team after Carolina. So Adrian Claybourne played well again last night. He had six pressures. I think that. Twain Brown didn't look right. No, I mean, they were a couple plays. He might still be a little banged up. Yeah, I mean, it's the one where Claybourne has dipped into the backfield instantly. It's just like, what are you doing to him?
Starting point is 00:04:16 Why are you stuck into your right? Either Adrian Claiborne is good or he's the luckiest person on the planet. No, he was really good. No, no, I'm just saying. I'm just saying now it's two linemen who either have been completely incompetent or have maybe be a step slow. So I think that, you know, I think sometimes pass rushing, it's a little bit all about confidence in some ways
Starting point is 00:04:39 and so I think that he's just, I think if they can get contributions from Claiborne, that changes things just a little bit. Yeah, I mean, and when they signed him, I was excited about him because I thought that he'd play that Michael Bennett role where he'd play outside on rundowns, inside on passing downs, and he hasn't really done that.
Starting point is 00:04:55 I mean, all his damage that he's done recently is as a right defensive end, which is like, that's not what Adrian Claiborne does. So it's been kind of funny. I mean, two years later, it's like the Adrian Claiborne signing is coming around but not in the way that I thought so I'm taking zero credit for it. I wasn't going to let you
Starting point is 00:05:11 take credit for it anyway, no matter what it was. I mean, I've always liked him as just like a player, but he's been good in a different way than I thought he was going to be good. I mean, I just thought he was kind of miscast as a outside pass rusher in Tampa Bay scheme. And it just doesn't seem like he is. That's what he's doing well now, which is kind of funny. I like also like Desmond Truffant. His hands are so bad that he almost dropped that interception. That's why he plays corner man. isn't that the thing? No, but he got it. He got it.
Starting point is 00:05:37 That's the key is to get so much space. Kind of like Alvin-Camar's touchdown. It's like almost blew it. You get so much space that you can just bobble it up in the air and bat it to yourself like a self-value. All right. Lots to get to today. Short week. Some big games on Thanksgiving, which we'll get to later in this week, obviously.
Starting point is 00:05:52 Danny Kelly's going to join us to explain what the hell is happening with the chiefs. Plus, I can't imagine what sort of energy he's going to have today. Chris Ryan is going to join us. Eagle Superfan in the ringer's own. Chris Ryan will be here. And I mean, I assume he just has He already has his Minneapolis hotel room down. I can't wait.
Starting point is 00:06:11 I can't wait to share that week with him. All right. First, we're going to start with our four downs. Our four biggest stories from the weekend. And we'll start with the Eagles just thrashing Dallas. Wentz gets the shotgun snap. Wentz sets, throws over the middle. Lunging for it is Alshon Jeffrey
Starting point is 00:06:27 who pulls it in in the middle of the end zone on his hip for the touchdown. Alshon Jeffrey. somehow diving to his left, finds the football in the air, juggles it but pulls it in, and the Eagles take a 29 to 9 lead. What a catch by Alshan Jeffrey for the score. It kind of hurts my soul because Alshan Jeffrey made a catch like that during his last season in South Carolina where I was like, that's my dude. I love him. And now I had to watch him do that for the Eagles as the bears have absolutely no receivers. But first down, you can't be watching the contenders of the NFL.
Starting point is 00:07:04 through the context of the bears, right? No, just some players. Just like I loved Alshan Jeffrey. I was very glad the Bears drafted him. It did not go that well post like one season because he's hurt all the time. It's nice that he's succeeding. And he's making a case. I mean,
Starting point is 00:07:19 that team is making a case, the one he's now on that they're not just the best team in the division. They're the best team in the league as they crush the Cowboys. I mean, I think that at this point, they have that title. And in a crazy way, they're getting better.
Starting point is 00:07:33 Yep. because not only are they kind of rolling just with the players they have, they're adding players. Ronald Darby coming back on Sunday and making, first of all, he had an interception that play against Des, who's everywhere, and then them getting a Jai just for nothing.
Starting point is 00:07:47 And I know that Blount is still out snapping him and out carrying him, whatever. The game dictated that a little bit, because Blanc got a lot of carries late, but we need more JJ. He has another 71-yard run. It's like,
Starting point is 00:07:57 why isn't this guy in the game more? I assume that will happen. So the fact that there's a better version of this team on the horizon, I mean, what the hell? Yeah, so, I mean, I just think when you look at this Eagles team, they are getting contributions from, I mean, just multiple waves of guys. Patrick Robinson is a good example of someone. The secondary was awesome on Sunday.
Starting point is 00:08:18 His catch rate is 54% right now. I mean, he's just playing at such a high level. I think Patrick Robinson was the highest graded PFF player on the field on Sunday night. And it's just... $775,000 this year. Yeah. And that's it. And what have I been talking about for two years on this podcast?
Starting point is 00:08:37 How do you win in this league? You have a good quarterback. You have a good coach. And you have a bunch of good contracts. If you have Patrick Robinson basically on a under rookie contract value, that's how you win. I mean, yeah, he signed for nothing. They signed him off the scrap heap because he has been an afterthought at his first three stops. This is his fourth team.
Starting point is 00:08:59 I mean, the fact that they're getting that guy to play at this level is insane. I thought he was bad in college. I mean, I have no opinion. I know he was the first round pick, but it's just like, it's funny that the Saints now, like, have an awesome corner and the guy they drafted in the first round is just destroying things in Philadelphia. And Jaylin Mills played great on Sunday night. Right. Just the overall production. And the fact that that team has been able to overcome losing Jordan Hicks and they've done it in a few different ways.
Starting point is 00:09:24 I mean, the fact that Malcolm Jenkins has played more linebacker or whatever, they just have not even hesitated. It hasn't even been a speed bump, the guys they've lost. and now they're getting players back. Derek Barnett. That's another one where it's just like, okay, now Derek Barnett is playing a little bit more. And I feel like Vinny Curry is in on their base downs at that right defensive end. Barnett comes in a nickel. But that's what they want.
Starting point is 00:09:46 They want Barnett and then Brandon Graham or whatever else. I was looking at up today. No member of their defensive line has played more than 70% of the snaps. And that's just exactly how you make this happen down the stretch run. You keep guys fresh. I mean, you just watch them play and everyone looks like they're getting shes. shot out of a cannon on every single play. And that energy is just kind of going through the entire defense.
Starting point is 00:10:08 They look excellent right now. I don't know what else there is to say. I mean, I suppose you could make the argument that the Vikings are sort of half a step behind them. But if I were to guess right now, I don't really see anybody beating this team in the playoffs. Yeah, I still think the Saints have that just, they have it. I mean, the Saints have that game in them where they can absolutely beat the Eagles. But Philadelphia just looks so good right now. Wendz played well again in stretches.
Starting point is 00:10:35 That first drive was excellent. Then he had that middle part of the game where he did not play very well. He was kind of missing throws. He was all over the place. And then late, he played fine. It was more of those escapability plays that he has. That's what's most impressive about him at times is his ability to just kind of exist outside of the offense and make things happen on his own.
Starting point is 00:10:53 That combined with the third down on the red zone stuff, he just looks really good. And the other thing that was funny about that game is that I was kind of worried they'd run out a two-point plays. Because you only come into a game. with like five or six of them. And they had to run them every time. But just how flawlessly they execute those, two point plays are 98% coaching. And the fact that they look so good doing them
Starting point is 00:11:14 is just not surprising whatsoever when you think about how in step this entire team is. Did you know, I saw this number, I number fire put it out. Carson Wentz is just outside the top 10 all time and touchdown rate already. Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, he's come back to Earth a little bit, probably.
Starting point is 00:11:30 7.8% of a. throws go for a touchdown. Although, so it's a lot of all-time greats on that list, except one not all-time great. Would you like to guess who it is? I have no idea. It's Nick Foles. During that one season in Philadelphia? During that one game against Oakland.
Starting point is 00:11:48 Yeah, I know. I mean, that year was still talking about that. He was the reverse Nathan Peterman. Which we will absolutely get to. He just had an insane statistical anomaly that this changed his career. Nick Foles' touchdown percentage all the time is 8.6%. I love it. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:12:04 McFalls. Who's their backup quarterback, which is hilarious. When's retire? You don't have the best touchdown rate on your team. Yeah. And then again, the running game is just so well designed. You saw that again on Sunday. Really good job of understanding the defensive personnel for Dallas,
Starting point is 00:12:20 letting David Irving get up the field, tons of traps, tons of pulling. I mean, they are just, it's kind of like one of those, those New England seasons where you just see the wrinkles every week. Yeah. And how they change things up based on who they're playing. just so in tune with their own personnel. And when you can marry scheme and talent together in this flawless of a way, I mean, you become really scary.
Starting point is 00:12:42 Yeah. I mean, I have some information for you. Doug Peterson is a good coach. Yeah, he is. Let's talk about Dallas very briefly before we move on here. I wrote about the Cowboys, my Monday recap, that was the lead. And the thought here is that, yes, because the rest of the NFC is kind of in disarray and you don't really know what those mid-tier teams are going to be in the wild.
Starting point is 00:13:02 wildcard hunt. Dallas is still kind of in it, but I'm starting to get a little concerned. And I think for a couple different reasons. One, we've talked about this. Tarant Smith is the bigger loss. Yep. Then as you go Elliot, you saw that again on Sunday. They were able to make up for it with just design more than than they did against Atlanta. And Byron Bell not being the worst player in the history of football. But Derek Barnett still kind of roasted him most of the time. One of those sacks he was on block, but the other one, the strip sack that kind of sealed the game. That was all Derek Barnett just being quicker than Byron Bell, being to the edge. And he was in the backfield a lot. in that game. So if that's going to be
Starting point is 00:13:35 just your baseline level of left tackle play until Tyrone Smith gets back, that's problematic. So the fact that you have that, and we wrote about this, and I know I did a lot before the season, in the idea that if Zecchio L.A. was going to miss six games, the DAC was going to have to kind of raise his level of play.
Starting point is 00:13:51 And he's been really good for stretches of the season and been very impressive. He was not on Sunday. And that's just one of those things where if Dak Prescott has that game without Elliot on the field and Tyrant Smith, there's no way the Cowboys can win. There are time, where he could have had that game last season, maybe even this year, when everything else was rolling. But the infrastructure around his crumbled to such a degree that he can't afford to be anything less than
Starting point is 00:14:12 excellent. And we knew that coming into the year, and that's going to be the challenge for Dallas for the rest of the year. How good can Dak Prescott be? Because if he's not at that level, they have no chance. So, first of all, Tyrant Smith might play on Thanksgiving. That's important, but he's still hurt. No, I understand that. But, I mean, so.
Starting point is 00:14:29 He's going to be hurt. The eight games with Tyrant Smith, DAC was sacked eight times. The two games without him, he's been sacked 12 times. I mean, that's all you need to know. Yeah. That's it. That's 17 times, I believe, overall.
Starting point is 00:14:41 I mean, that's just too many. By the way, hits are very important because, you know, those things add up. What's also about internal clock when you watched him in that game, he was so sped up in the pocket. He was airmailing throws. He just doesn't. There was that one on the left sideline. I think it was to Cole Beasley or Des, where it was just, Like four feet over his head, I was like,
Starting point is 00:15:01 Tech Prescott doesn't do that. No, he doesn't. And so, I mean, I just think that the Cowboys is current, they just got to get Tyrant Smith back, and then I'll make a decision from there. But, I mean, Tyrant Smith, here's the problem. Tyrant Smith is one of the, I mean, I would say he's probably the best player in the Cowboys, right?
Starting point is 00:15:21 But because he's a tackle, we don't think about it. And so we're not, you know, I just think it's unfair to Dax. It's a really good question, actually. I think it's unfair to DAC to say, what is life without, you know, why can't he be good with that Tyrant Smith? Because at present, Tyrant Smith is the Cowboys. And we're also talking, I mean, regression just for your offense in general usually comes. And that's kind of what I wrote about yesterday. But it's also a regression with injury luck. The Cowboys have been so fortunate over the last few seasons. The only miss Tyrant Smith,
Starting point is 00:15:48 I believe, for two games last year and those are the first two games. So to miss him for in the middle of the season like this and to have him be kind of at 80, 75 percent the entire year is not something they've had to deal with. So now you have this team that was so lucky in so many ways last year, and now it's falling back to Earth, and you're seeing what the repercussions of that are. Yeah. I mean, that's, that's it.
Starting point is 00:16:07 I mean, that's, I still believe that DAC Prescott is a good quarterback. I just think that, you know, I was on the, I was on a slate podcast yesterday, and Josh Levin was asking me about who was better DAC or Carson Wentz? And I got into, because, I mean, look,
Starting point is 00:16:23 last year, DAC looked better, and this year, Wens looks better. and who's going to look better in the future. My guess we probably went, but I'm not totally sure. I think that we're getting into, I think the golden generation of quarterbacks, and we talk with this all the time,
Starting point is 00:16:37 Breeze, Brady Manning, they looked so good independent of their surroundings that we think that everybody should be able to do that. And I think that this generation of quarterbacks is going to be a little more dependent on their surroundings. Look what happened when Carson went when Carson didn't have Lane Johnson last year. Look what happened when he had the worst, you know, one of the three worst receiving corps in the league.
Starting point is 00:16:56 Now he and Dak, who Dak was put in the best situation for rookie quarterback in history, maybe save for Ben Rathusberger. And now they seem to have switched places. And so it's hard for me to evaluate anybody in a back, any quarterback in a vacuum right now because this generation is just going to be a little more dependent on the supporting cast. Absolutely. All right. Let's get the second down here.
Starting point is 00:17:17 Talk about the rest of the NFC playoff picture. Eagles the top. Obviously, Vikings and Saints right behind them. And then Minnesota just had a really impressive win over the Rams. And Drew Breeze, vintage Drew Breeze. in those final two drives against Washington, which, you know, God, he was good in so many throws. I mean, I think those two games are linked in a certain way. And the fact that the Vikings, we've talked about their offense so much and how they're putting up points and Adam Thielen, and that stuff is fun.
Starting point is 00:17:40 And the case, Keenum Intrigue is definitely there. But this is a team built on defense. And that's how they won that game. And that's how they're going to be dangerous in the playoffs. Drew Breeze is Drew Breeze. When you're breaking case for emergency plan is Drew fucking Breeze, you're in a good spot. So as you saw kind of these true to form Vikings and Saints, along with these other kind of secondary elements that have surprised us, which of those two wins on Sunday was more impressive to you? And which plan do you kind of feel most safe about moving forward here?
Starting point is 00:18:12 So I have to say it would be the Saints because, A, it was just a, just a kooky game. I mean, it was just, it was one of those games I turned it off with, you know, midwath the fourth quarter and didn't really give it another thought until it was 31 to 23 and all of a sudden the Saints are driving. Having said that, obviously the Vikings beat a very good Rams team. But we saw, and one of the things that I've worried about, even though we knew Drew Breeze was still Drew Breeze, one of the things we worried about was exactly what you said, which is, is he vintage Drew Breeze? Is he going to be able to just, you know, even though you had the defense, you have Kamara and you have Ingram, and you have Ingram and you have all these supporting pieces
Starting point is 00:18:52 and Breeze is throwing the ball less, is Breeze going to be able to just be 2009 Breeze? And the answer is yes. It was a throwback. I mean, it was it's almost like, it's almost like Shaq on the heat where it's like, okay, he's got all he's got other players around him, he's got
Starting point is 00:19:10 Dwayne Wade, but like in the playoffs when he needs to, he's just going to put up 40 and 15 for no reason. He's like, oh, by the way, I'm Shaq. Yeah, that's a go. Like Kevin Garnett in 2000. 2012 was like that, where he was just like the best player on the court, even whoever was obsessed with Rondo.
Starting point is 00:19:25 And you wouldn't really, he wouldn't really make his presence known unless he really needed to. Yeah. That's a good comparison. Oh, yeah. I know. I'm, by the way, I'm insanely good at this sport. Breeze, there's so many throws in that drive. I mean, the fact that the one to Fleener up the seam and then the one to Josh Hill back to back, I mean, those throws are just like perfect. Like, that's true breeze. The ability to fit that ball in up the seam like he always has. and then pump fake to the flat and then come back to Hill.
Starting point is 00:19:52 Just like, that's Trebris. That's exactly what he is in the red zone. It's what he is when you need to drive. He was fantastic. Now we see injuries kind of creeping in for that team to them. Alex Okafore being off of the season, it hurts them. Their defense was kind of, again,
Starting point is 00:20:05 they formed this defense, they found this defense because they made great trapex, but also got lucky similar to what happened with Patrick Robinson. You know, you find these guys off the scrap heap that become really good contributors. And when you start losing those, you see the impact. I mean, there's no doubt about that. This weekend was big.
Starting point is 00:20:20 You know, the Rams have the sixth hardest schedule from now on. The Vikings have the fifth hardest schedule. And so, assuming that both those teams don't keep their first half pace, I think that, I mean, having a one-game lead on the buy or in a division right now is extremely important. And so pretty much all the NFC contenders have really hard schedules coming up. I mean, I think that Atlanta has the hardest. Yeah, Atlanta is brutal. If you want to consider Atlanta contender, obviously.
Starting point is 00:20:48 And I think that they're in the wild. They're in the hunt. I mean, they're in the playoff hunt. I think right now they're in the best spot. I know, obviously, as I said earlier, you know, they've beaten all of the teams are six and four and five and five.
Starting point is 00:20:57 I'm just, I'm not putting them in the, the buy conversation. Here's what I'll say. Nobody in the NFC wants Atlanta to sneak in as a wild card. No one wants to play that team. And I would have said the same thing about a healthy Seattle team, but again,
Starting point is 00:21:09 we're not going to see that for the rest of the year. Right. All right. Let's flip over to the AFC on third down here. As the Patriots and Steelers just kind of rolled this weekend. It took 11 weeks, but the AFC is where we thought it was going to be. I mean, the Steelers and the Patriots are the best. We'll get to the Chiefs and their fall from grace a little bit later.
Starting point is 00:21:26 But let's just chat about New England and Pittsburgh very briefly. That Steelers game, and we talked about it on Friday, and then what the Patriots did, does it just seem like we're headed to the same thing we were always heading for? I mean, the Broncos are in that conversation often, but with them very far out of it, it's the Patriots and the Steelers and everybody else. Isn't that what it seems like? Yeah, it's definitely not the Broncos. That's my analysis.
Starting point is 00:21:52 Thanks, buddy. Ben Rathesberger. It looked great. What's going on there? I was writing about it on Monday. I wrote about in my recap, just the idea that home field advantage is more important to the Steelers
Starting point is 00:22:06 and it is for a lot of teams. So we have this kind of looming week 15 game between these two that may determine who gets home field. And the Steelers, this year, Ben Rothsberger's splits haven't been much different because he's just been meh all over the place. But for the last two years, if you look at his numbers at home and on the road, it's crazy.
Starting point is 00:22:22 So our Joel Solomon has a theory about the week 15 game that's looming, that Belichick maybe throws that game because he doesn't want the Steelers to know what their game plan is. That's a terrible idea because if the Steelers play at home, they become like 17% more dangerous. No, I know, but that's it. That's a chess match. You'd rather play in Pittsburgh against that office? then win the game and play at home.
Starting point is 00:22:48 Belichick. Belichick's up to something. I don't think he's up for that. Did you see the thing he said about Mexico City? Yes. Just so the listener knows. He basically said, we're glad there were no earthquakes or volcanoes. Jesus.
Starting point is 00:23:05 Nice job, Bill. You're the best. That's not all that common down there. What does he think it is? Is it Mordor? Like, what the hell does he care about? I was a strange take. I mean, Pelchak has a lot of strange takes.
Starting point is 00:23:21 I think if you asked him about some. For instance, if he got him on some stuff, I think that he would say a lot of weird shit. So just, you know, kind of outside of that top tier, it kind of feels like the Jaggs might be the third team in the AFC. I mean, that is a bizarre world to be living in. The Jags did not look particularly impressive on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Their offense is going to look like that a lot, though. The defense is just winning games for them, which, I know that their offense is going to hold them back,
Starting point is 00:23:47 but at the same time, it just feels like, again, you wouldn't want to play that defense in a meaningful game. They could score two touchdowns and just completely swing everything with a series of like big plays. That's always looming for them.
Starting point is 00:24:02 So let me ask you a question. Are the Patriots scared of the chiefs? No, I don't think so. Are you, I mean, I just keep in mind that those two teams are so different than they were in week one. I mean, the fact that this Patriots corners and their secondary in general are actually playing football now kind of changes the game.
Starting point is 00:24:22 Yeah, I could see that. I think that the Chiefs are still the third best team. Interesting. I could, I mean, that's fine. I could definitely see that argument. I just feel like with the way the Jags are playing defense, again, the Jags have gotten better on defense. The Darias trade has really made a difference. I mean, they're rushing defense numbers with and without him are incredible.
Starting point is 00:24:42 I mean, it's just like one of those other really. nice trades that a team made at the deadline that's going to make a difference as we move forward here. I can't believe that Alex Smith's deep passing was unsustainable. We had 12 years of evidence that he wasn't a deep passer and then he has
Starting point is 00:24:58 four good games and then it disappears very quickly. Unbelievable. All right. Moving on to Fort down here. The wild card scenario kind of ridiculous in the AFC to be honest. You have the Ravens just rolling in Green Bay. Out of the shotgun is Flacco, throws to the left,
Starting point is 00:25:17 lofts it toward the end zone, and a one-handed grab, and it's caught. Touchdown, Ravens. Mike Wallace, what a grab. 21 yards, and it's the first touchdown of the day. So Baltimore is now 5 and 5. And they are the second wildcar team in the U.C.
Starting point is 00:25:38 How a shame should the Raiders be of themselves, the fact that this is where we are now? I mean, just it's unbelievable that, these teams are still in the hunt. Cleveland is still mathematically alive in the playoff race in the AFC. That is embarrassing. I remember an old joke about college football in the Bob Stoops era that when when Oklahoma was number one in the polls, it means the season hadn't started yet.
Starting point is 00:26:01 Like it was just like that was the baseline. Like, oh, we're just put Oklahoma number one and then we'll figure out when the season really starts. If the Ravens are still in the AFC wildcard hunt, then the season hasn't started yet. That's my view of this. It's like they are as average. I mean, Joe Flacco, that contract's actually worse than I thought. Their offense is impressively bad. I mean, even in that game, watching them, their offense is impressively bad.
Starting point is 00:26:28 The fact that they just kind of found Alex Collins has been such a huge thing for them. That wrote it on Monday, he's 11th in the league and average yards per effort, yards after contact per carry. He's just a guy who can manufacture offense for you. And that's exactly what they need because they have zero passing game and zero offensive line. So the best thing they can hope for is that Alex Collins rushes the ball like 22 times for 68 yards and their defense makes too huge plays. Baltimore is not a good football team. And that speaks to where we are with the AFC as a conference. Joe Flacco, I'll get to the AFC as a conference in a second.
Starting point is 00:26:58 Joe Flacco, $53 million in dead money this year. Obviously, that's a non-starter. Next year, dead cap, $28 million. And then in 2019, I mean, I don't even know if Earth is going to be around in 2019, but he has $16 million. isn't dead cap. The potential out, even though 16 million, especially in the context of the 2019 salary cap isn't a backbreaker, the $8 million dead cap, which is when it becomes pretty inconsequential, it's in 2020. We might go to the entire Trump presidency with Joe Flacco as the starter in Baltimore, even though he's one of the worst quarterbacks now.
Starting point is 00:27:36 The completion percentage is much better, but if you look at his numbers compared to Jared golf's last year, they're pretty much the same. He's thrown two more. receptions than touchdowns. He's averaging 5.4 yards per attempt and 4.4 adjusted yards. Are you suggesting they hire Sean McVeigh? I'm just saying that like that's how bad Joe Flacko has been this year is that he's almost indistinguishable from the quarterback Jared golf was last year statistically. So I just want to point out because I don't think we've thought about it enough. I think we've moved on too quickly. The Buffalo Bills were in one of the playoff spots heading into Sunday, and they benched their quarterback and started a fifth round
Starting point is 00:28:17 rookie who then promptly threw five interceptions and a half. This is the funniest story of the last five years. I just can't even comprehend any of it. Like, okay, I wrote this again, this is part of my recap and I'm just rehashing all that stuff. That's how this podcast works. I, you can't be saying one thing. and doing another. Have a plan. If your plan is... Is the thing you're saying is we want to win games?
Starting point is 00:28:50 The thing you're doing is starting Nathan Peterman? Yes. You can't say we want to win games if you're starting Nathan Peterman. And you can't say we don't care about winning now if you trade two draft picks for Kelvin Benjamin, who has $8 million on his contract next year. You also can't bench your quarterback because he's not throwing to open guys and then trade two picks for a guy who's never open. It just everything they're doing is in contrast to what they're saying.
Starting point is 00:29:14 And it's so baffling to watch. Peterman was so bad on Sunday. And the first pick, not his fault. The second four, pretty much his fault. Like the last four. That most of those are on him. He probably could have thrown another one too. I mean, it is unbelievable.
Starting point is 00:29:30 And the fact that, yeah, he looks really bad because there's a lot of past pressure, right? So many interceptions, Tyrault Taylor has thrown one under pressure this season? Zero. He's the fifth or sixth most pressured quarterback in the league. So, yeah, we didn't know the bill's offensive line was. this bad because Tyraud Taylor is the quarterback to combat that issue. So it's interesting to me.
Starting point is 00:29:51 There were a lot of people who were like, did you watch the interceptions? They weren't his fault. I went back and watched every single one. When you throw five interceptions, I'm going to go ahead and guess you had a poor performance. This isn't one of those tape study. Watch the film. They weren't his fault. It was five interceptions. It reminded me of
Starting point is 00:30:11 the Germany-Brazil World Cup game where I think Germany had six goals in the first half against Brazil and it just the thing after everyone you're like well that's it there's professional sports there can't be another one of those and then there just was
Starting point is 00:30:26 that's so true that is how it felt was that game I think it was the 2012 World Cup It was just like 2014 excuse me I can't remember exactly the game you're talking about Yeah they just kept scoring Like every time they kicked the ball They kept scoring And that was Nathan Peterman
Starting point is 00:30:42 And Bosa and Ingram were great. I'll get to that actually. But most of those interceptions, he certainly had a hand in them. And everything the bills have done over the last week is pretty much unacceptable. I mean, it is borderline football malpractice. There's nothing you can do to explain it away. All right. There's no line.
Starting point is 00:31:01 One is an example. Two is a coincidence. Three is a trend. Five interceptions is beyond that. And he might play him again. I don't think you can say anything other than he was an absolute train wreck. And again, I don't want us to gloss over this because I think the news cycle moves too fast now. Like Charles Manson died, nobody cared like six hours later because Trump ended into a feud with the ball family.
Starting point is 00:31:34 But I just feel like we need to talk about how funny this is how funny Nathan Peterman is. And you know what? If they play them again on Sunday, we're going to be able to keep talking about it, which is great. All right. Moving on, Kevin's craziest headline at the weekend.
Starting point is 00:31:47 What stands out to you? This is very short. This is very short. I picked up at Los Angeles Times yesterday in huge letters in the middle of the sports section was just starting Peterman was a mistake. Los Angeles Times.
Starting point is 00:32:06 Thank you. I'd say so. Appreciate that. No, that is the craziest headline. The fact that it even is, exist is the crazy part. That's it. That's all I got. All right. Let's stay on that game very briefly. My rigor of the week is Joey Bosa. And I know that that's not really digging down. But it's, I think the segmented the purpose of it is just to kind of find the hidden contributions. And even though Bosa finished that game with two sacks, including a strip sack, what he did in that game is far more impressive. He had a hand in four of the five peterman interceptions. And you could probably say he had a hand in five. On the DeMarco one, he was the one. I would argue, Nathan,
Starting point is 00:32:41 Peterman had the ultimate hand in every single interception. Nathan Peterman had two hands and then both had like a couple fingers. So on the, on the, on the, DeMarco one, he was the one chasing him in the open field. On two of them, he actually hit him as he threw it. On the third one, he was in his face. And on the fourth one, him and Ingram kind of met at the quarterback. He absolutely dominated that game. And what is interesting about that is one, one, it led to one of the worst quarterback performances we've ever seen. And two, the chargers are legitimately in this. They're four and six.
Starting point is 00:33:12 Yes. And they're in the division because they're only two games back and they play the chiefs one more time. And the chiefs are headed in the wrong direction. And the chargers are definitely on the upswing. The Chargers don't need to win the division against a six and four team to get into the playoffs. They only have to jump the Ravens and the bills at this point. Every other team in the AFC has four or six or worse. So the Titans have the first wild cards by right now.
Starting point is 00:33:37 Yeah. The fact that this is where we, we are is just nuts. I mean, I like the Chargers. I pick them to make the playoffs. I think they're playing the best of any team in that division right now. But it's amazing that they could have the start they did and legitimately do this. It's unbelievable.
Starting point is 00:33:53 I don't know what to say. I mean, I think that at what point does Los Angeles, if they have two playoff games in Los Angeles, at what point does Los Angeles realize they have a team? That's a really good question. Is it when the Rams are playing the NFC championship game? Yes, maybe. The Chargers have to win the Super Bowl. And then like a month later,
Starting point is 00:34:16 people would be like, what? So the Chargers in the next six games, okay, at Cowboys, which Joey Bosel can have six sacks in that game. Yeah, at the Cowboys on Thanksgiving,
Starting point is 00:34:25 Browns, Redskins, Chiefs, Jets, Raiders. Yeah. So games that are problematic on there are the Cowboys and the Chiefs. I mean, Washington's a decent team. But that's a slate
Starting point is 00:34:36 where they could 100% go four and two. And if they go four and two, they're sitting at 8.8 and they're sitting at 8 and 8, that could make the playoffs. Let me ask you a question. Just as far as the chiefs go going forward. And I don't really know the answer to this question, but I've seen a lot of smart people talk about it. Patrick Mahomes or Alex Smith gives them more wins going forward. Smith, Mahomes is not ready. I agree.
Starting point is 00:35:01 I agree. It's not everyone I've talked to there. I'm not ready. I mean, I just think we're seeing Alex Smith. That's it. And the idea that Mahomes would come in and be better is a little bit naive, I think. At this point. Yeah, I agree.
Starting point is 00:35:14 I feel like he is next year and beyond. I do not think that he would be a better quarterback for them at this moment in time. All right. Coming up, Danny Kelly will help break down those chiefs who went from the best team in the league, dropping four of the last five. Chris Ryan will also be here to reflect on just an incredible season for Philadelphia. But first, let's take a quick break. Between planning for the holidays and balancing the rest of your life,
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Starting point is 00:36:37 and get $35 of your first order. That's sunbasket.com slash NFL for $35 off. Sunbasket.com slash NFL. All right, now it's time to welcome in our good friend Danny Kelly. Danny, how you doing, buddy? I mean, I'm pretty good. Last night was a little bit depressing for a Seahawks fan. But, I mean, because Seahawks really...
Starting point is 00:37:00 That's what I was referring to, yes. Should have won that game. I mean, they had a couple of weird coaching decisions, bad clock management. You know, obviously, in this field goal at the end, in there. Could have sent it to overtime. Yeah, it was pretty brutal.
Starting point is 00:37:14 Pretty brutal day. Do you feel like that it's kind of slipping away? A little bit, yeah. I was just talking to some friends about that. Like, this is the first point in the season where I've been worried about making the playoffs. I'll put it that way. Because early on, I'm like, okay, I'm more worried about like what the, you know,
Starting point is 00:37:32 what seed they're going to get. Now I'm like, okay, they're on the outside looking in. This is starting to get real kind of thing. The NFC is really tough. and the Seahawks schedule down the stretch is extremely tough. Obviously, their injuries, I think, are having a major effect. And they need Russell Wilson to ball out. He played pretty damn well at points.
Starting point is 00:37:50 Obviously, in the second half, he was good, but two tough turnovers, led to 14 points. Man, there's like no margin for error at this point. It's strange to me. So last week I saw the statistic that Russell Wilson was accounting for more of his team's yards than any player in history. and I hadn't looked at it through that lens when watching the Seahawks and I watched it last night and it checks out. I think he's still leading the team in rushing yards.
Starting point is 00:38:20 That's good. It's like, man, Mike Davis came on. He's a practice squad guy. You know, he's kind of the Seahawks have liked him for a while, it seems like, and for whatever reason he was on the practice squad all year. But then he looked pretty good. Of course, he hurt his groin and went out in the first half. Yeah, don't be a Seahawk right now.
Starting point is 00:38:36 If you want just your body to stay intact, that's not the thing to do. Freaking brutal. We will have a lot of Seahawks talk here over the next six weeks or so as they kind of finagle their way into the playoffs. But one team that is currently heading toward the playoffs, but as a very different version of the one we saw over the course of the beginning of the season, is the Kansas City Chiefs. And they looked incredible over the first five weeks.
Starting point is 00:38:56 Since then, dropped four of their last five and lost just kind of a disaster of a game to the Giants. Danny, what have you seen from Kansas City that has really led to this current, amized that they're headed toward. Well, it's crazy because I don't think it's just one thing, obviously. It never is really in the NFL. Alex Smith had a really bad game last week against the Giants, and he just did not look like the MVP caliber player he did early in the year. I wanted to ask your guys' opinion on this because it just feels to me like their offense
Starting point is 00:39:30 has sort of gone in the wrong direction in terms of the creativity and everything. Obviously, you know, that's taking out. the whole double pass thing with Travis Kelsey and the fact that they did throw an interception on a shovel pass but it just doesn't feel like they're using quite as much pre-snap motion doing kind of some of the things that help open up the run game. I looked at the numbers last night for Kareem Hunt and he's still breaking tackles like crazy.
Starting point is 00:39:56 I think right now he's still first and elusive rating over the last six games first and missed tackles force per PFF. You know, he's still getting the ball a lot. He's still the same guy. I really. The one thing I've noticed that's different is right now, so over the first six games, he was averaging 2.8 yards before contact. And I think a lot of that had to do with some of the stuff they were doing
Starting point is 00:40:18 with pre-snap motion. The offensive line was doing a really good job too. But I think it kind of like, it helps open up the gaps in the front. And then over the last six games, his yards before contact is 0.9. So it's really, really falling off. They're just not opening up quite a many holes.
Starting point is 00:40:36 anymore. And so I think that, I think those things are related. Yeah, I totally agree. And I also just feel like they were able to kind of mask their deficiencies and injuries on the interior of the offensive line for a good chunk of the season. And they just haven't been able to do that over the last couple of weeks. I feel like those interior guys, you know, Morse is back now. He was hurt. Duvenary Tar d'Eef was hurt. And there's just been so much unrest in that area of their offense, I think it's really hurt them. And so the fact that they can't really lean on the running game to the degree they get dead at the beginning of the year, you know, it's kind of your second time through the league.
Starting point is 00:41:07 You know, when you're getting into the second half and teams have watched you all year, any sort of kind of creativity and newness you brought to your offense coming into the season does not help as much anymore. You have to keep adapting, and it just feels like they haven't been able to do that. And we've seen teams like the Eagles just grow where the chiefs have kind of stagnated. And then you look at the defense, they have problems over there, too. And the second cornerback spot is kind of a wasteland. Their safeties haven't played very well.
Starting point is 00:41:29 So it just feels like there's a lot of stuff that's kind of coming together to, you know, make them in a lot of ways, the team. we thought they were going to be coming in the season. I think Eric Berry, which is not a good recipe. That's tough. I mean, yeah, I mean, you look at them early on in the season, their offense was hiding a lot of the issues they had on defense because they were not a good defensive team to start the year.
Starting point is 00:41:49 Obviously, last week, well, they held the Giants at 12 points or whatever, and so you better. You got to be happy. Yeah, right? You better. I mean, you got to be happy with that. And the offense just didn't get it done. I don't think they're a particularly balanced team right now.
Starting point is 00:42:03 I think they could still get that offense back. I think they could get it going again. I have faith in Indy Reid as a play card, generally speaking, and I really enjoyed what they were doing early on in the year, but I just think they need to kind of recapture that because the defense, I don't think it's going to be good enough to really carry the day. They're going to need to outscore teams, especially at the playoffs. I think that where we are at the Chiefs right now is kind of that unfortunate spot
Starting point is 00:42:26 that we didn't think we'd be in five weeks into the year, right? It was the idea that, you know, we've seen the Chiefs make the playoffs, have been a really solid team, when it came down to it. You know, the other contenders and the NFC always felt safer to you.
Starting point is 00:42:38 And now we're back. You know, even if they managed to limp into the playoffs, I mean, no one feels comfortable about them beating either the Patriots or the Steelers.
Starting point is 00:42:45 I mean, just not where we're at. And you thought that this might be the year that was different, but doesn't look like it. I mean, yeah, we've gotten to the point again
Starting point is 00:42:52 in the season. Early on, Alex Smith was a legit MVP candidate, right? Now we're getting back to the point where people were talking about benching him again. Yeah,
Starting point is 00:43:01 which is, I mean, we just talked about that earlier. I don't think that's the right move. But again, the fact that we're even having the conversation is just not where you figured you'd be 11 weeks into the year. Absolutely. It's just, yeah, I think you're dead on, though. It's like it's, you know, Groundhog Day, I think, for the Chiefs and just for their fans and so because it feels like we're in the exact same spot as we were last year.
Starting point is 00:43:19 It's a little bit strange. The season can do that for you. It's a long-ass season. And obviously for them, the injuries have been a factor. But they need to recapture that magic for, you know, before the playoffs. in order to really consider them like a Super Bowl team. Yeah, you know it's a long-ass season, buddy. And so do I.
Starting point is 00:43:39 You're welcome to my world here. All right, but thank you very much. We'll be back. We'll see you on Friday. All right. Sounds good. Buying tickets to sporting events and concerts can be complicated and annoying, but there's a better, simpler way to buy.
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Starting point is 00:44:33 Download the Seekek app and enter the Seekap and enter a promo. promo code Ringer NFL today. All right, now we welcome in one of our ringer colleagues, one of several Philadelphia Eagles fans on our staff, but certainly the one I want to talk to you most today. It's Chris Ryan. Chris, how are you? What's up, guys?
Starting point is 00:44:48 I don't feel like that's not enough. Has it faded over the last two days? No, nothing's faded. I'm just, I am trying to ride this in a very even keel way. You know, there's a lot going on right now in Philadelphia. You've got, you've got Joel and Ben. Yeah. And you've got this football team.
Starting point is 00:45:07 But, and you know, there's this great thing that happens in Thanksgiving, around Thanksgiving. I wish I was going home for this, where there's a Sixers game, and then the Eagles walk in during the game, you know, to sit, take their court side seats or whatever, and the whole crowd goes nuts. It really does feel like there's like a hundred people in the city when something like that happens. You know, it's a very small town vibe. It's cool. But it's a really exciting time. That being said, after being through the Andy Reed Wars, I just want to keep it chill. You know what you mean?
Starting point is 00:45:33 I don't want to get too high or too low, but I was very. excited by Sunday night. So you got the Declaration of Independence. That was a good one. Ben Franklin obviously did many things in Philadelphia that were important. Yeah, discovered lightning. The Pope came two years ago. Yeah. You're going to put the Pope in there? No, I'm just trying to be current.
Starting point is 00:45:52 The first Made in America Festival with Jay-Z. Nothing has happened in Philadelphia for 300 years. So I was just trying to throw some stuff in. Is this the best time in Philadelphia history? No. There's some early 80s moments. Yeah, the 70s, yeah. The Phillies and the Flyers and the Sixers all being good. Eagles were good.
Starting point is 00:46:10 Yeah. Is this your favorite Eagles team of your lifetime, though? No. My favorite team of Eagles team of my lifetime is the first quarter of the first Chip Kelly game against the Washington Redskins. That will never, I will never feel more connected to a group of individuals playing a sport that I did at that moment. It was an incredible collection of human beings. The fact that it was Vic Deshawn and LaShawn McCoy's, it couldn't have been better. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:46:34 And Deshawn Jackson doing the. the cycle through the plays gesture like he played for Texas Tech. But I also really enjoyed, I mean, obviously, the fundamental to my personality and to my identity is Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Reggie White. So, Buddy Ryan, I actually was named
Starting point is 00:46:54 after Buddy Ryan. My last name is not Ryan. So I have an honorary Ryan brother. The best football book of all time is about those teams. Yeah? Yeah. What is it? It's by Mark Bowdo. It's called Bringing the Heat.
Starting point is 00:47:07 Oh, man. And he also wrote Black Hawk down. He also wrote Killing Pablo. There you go. Wow, Mark Bowden on a hot streak. Mark Bowden to heat check. All right, Chris, let's get a still a little rapid fire quick round of 2017 Eagles kind of favorite moments so far.
Starting point is 00:47:23 Your favorite Carson Wentz moment of the year? Let's hit. Let's go back to the beginning, brothers. Week one against Washington. He escapes, what, four sacks to hit Nelson Aguilur with a 30-something-yard strike for a 58-yard touchdown. and just a little Aaron Rogers dust on that. As soon as you saw that, you just were like, oh, this guy's special.
Starting point is 00:47:43 This guy, you know, and I think he had a little bit of a dip in the second half of his rookie season, as rookies tend to do. But that was a, if we have this guy, we have a shot moment that I think we don't get enough of in the NFL anymore because so the quarterback play across the board has been so down. It's just, it sucks that we don't get more games where guys like screw it, I'm winning this. Even if it is one of the first plays of the first weeks of the season. And he does that all the time. We talked about it a little bit earlier than the show.
Starting point is 00:48:12 I mean, he did that two more times against the Cowboys. It just feels like even when things break down and they don't often because of how good that team is, he's the type of guy that can make up for it. Yeah. And, you know, I know that they often, you know, I will, I've been watching all these games, if I can at this one barbecue restaurant in L.A. trying to sit in the same seat with the same group of Philadelphia Eagles fans. And often I will be picking through Brisket and.
Starting point is 00:48:36 look up and I'll be like, how is it third and 11 already? Yeah. But even when it's third and 11, I don't, I never doubt that he's going to convert. Yeah, I mean, that's where he's best. I mean, the fact that he just sits there and is so comfortable on third down, it's like to find their season in a way. Kevin Clark,
Starting point is 00:48:51 I can't tell if you're mad that you're not invited to these barbecue restaurants. I would not go to the barbecue restaurant. Or if you're just like, how do you have this much faith in another person? No, I just, it's such an opposite. I mean, the person I talk about football, just time-wise most is Robert Mays. Yeah. and Mays is just relentlessly complaining about the incompetent state of his team
Starting point is 00:49:08 and then to hear your optimism about it I just don't hear optimism like that around the league. Yeah, I mean... Here's the thing, Patriots fans have it, but you just tune them out. Sure, exactly. Because Bill Simmons has done it for years, but I just... How can you deal with it anymore? Bellichick on you know, third and 36.
Starting point is 00:49:24 No, this is new for me. All right, who's your favorite non-Carson-Wence member of this team? My favorite non-Carson-Wens members team is by far Fletcher Cox. Yeah. Correct answer. Fletcher Cox might be God Him and Timmy in the interior
Starting point is 00:49:39 You know what's cool is when you find a player That you love in a part of the field That you don't normally watch Yep And you are like oh That's why this is important So to watch Fletcher Cox Collapse Pockets
Starting point is 00:49:51 Has been one of the best parts of watching this season He is a beast man We own a fantasy football team together In the Ringer League And you wanted to name our team Fletcher fucking Cox Which was completely fair. I made us pick the
Starting point is 00:50:05 Eagles defense. You wanted to emotionally hedge because you were worried that if they were bad and we had the Eagles defense, it was going to be problem. I'm very glad we made that decision. I was worried Jim Schwartz was going to have like a failed midseason coup and be exiled to, you know, advising Urban Meyer at some point this season,
Starting point is 00:50:22 but it all worked out. All right. Let's talk about Doug Peterson's visor first. Yeah, sure. For or against, because I feel like the visor kind of hides how terrible his hair is. He was walking around without it before the game on Sunday. And they showed him on camera.
Starting point is 00:50:37 It's like, that is really bad. Why would you ever wear a visor that accentuates that hair? So what is it? Is it like Sam Rockwell and three billboards? What is he looking like when he doesn't have the visor on? It doesn't look like that at all. Do you remember that episode of Seinfeld where they didn't get enough water pressure in the shower and all their hair just like stuck to the front of their heads?
Starting point is 00:50:56 That's what it looks like. It's just sitting down. I just don't understand what he puts in it. He doesn't part it in the correct. Way. No, it's just like, it's like in his face. It looks like mine right when I get out of the shower and I haven't done anything with it. It's just in my head. He, I just, I don't, none of it makes sense to me. He, in that picture, Kevin just showed me a picture of him without the visor and he looks like Jack Del Rio's serious brother. Yeah. John Del Rio. John Del Rio. No, not a, not a Dell. Yeah, Jack Doe Rio's first name is Jack Doe. It's a hyphen like Carl Anthony. Um, yeah, Doug can wear a Viking helmet if he wants to. Maybe not a Viking helmet. because we might see them in the playoffs. Doug can wear whatever he wants.
Starting point is 00:51:37 He can wear like an actual, like he can go back to making Harlem shake viral videos and wear a rooster head if he wants to on the sideline as long as we keep winning. When you Google Doug Peterson, it keeps scrolling down the image searches. At some point, it's just a bunch of pictures of Michael Lombardi.
Starting point is 00:51:52 Because of the aggregation things about Doug Peterson are about that? I don't know. The real estate prices in Philly on GM Street have dropped. Chris, our last question we're going to ask you, have you booked your ticket to Minneapolis yet? For the Eagle Super Bowl, obviously, that's what the Super Bowl is in the show. Can we flip this and say, why shouldn't I?
Starting point is 00:52:16 Yeah. Because I was texting with some Eagles buddies. I was talking with Zach Barron over the weekend, and I was watching Minnesota, L.A., and I'm like, I'm not really sweating these guys. Not really. New Orleans Saints. That's what I was worried about.
Starting point is 00:52:27 The Saints of the team. That's what I was worried about. I compared Drew Brees right now to heat Miami Heat Air. Shack. Yes. Where he doesn't have to do it all, but when he wants to, when people are like, oh, Shaq's done, he'll just put up 40 and 15. Yeah, and, you know, Alfred Morris got some action on Sunday night, and I'm not dying to
Starting point is 00:52:44 see Kamara and Ingram in the playoffs. That being said, this is why I hope that we keep pouring it on to get home field because welcome to Philadelphia in January, New Orleans Saints. Chris, we can hang out at the Sucy Club where the replacements used to go all the time. That could be our plan. Have you ever been to Minnesota? Yeah. Okay.
Starting point is 00:53:05 I love Minneapolis, so it would be great to have you there. I'll see you in the Skyway. I have some information about Eagles and the championship games. They haven't gone very well. I know. I know. We've been to a few. That's the reason why I'm not here.
Starting point is 00:53:21 I'm not doing a William Wallace speech from Braveheart. I'm just, I'm trying to keep it not 100. I'm trying to keep it 70. I appreciate your tempered kind of approach to this. Can I give a quick shout out to Corey Clement? Yeah, you absolutely can. That's also my favorite eagle. He's been great.
Starting point is 00:53:37 The fact that they have like 12 running backs and all of them are good is not really fair. It's a really good team. And it's, you know, they have a bunch of guys that I feel like if we were 500, we would have an awful locker room. You know what I mean? Like a bunch of guys who were like, I'm not getting at a. Yeah. I'm even like, I don't even know if like is LaGarrett like, hey, it's cool.
Starting point is 00:53:55 He's definitely one of those guys. You win some. That's the correct incarnation. Yeah. So I feel like it's a good team to be winning. Because otherwise you get a lot of guys who are like, hey man, I need my catches for like my contract next year. Yeah, and also gym force is pretty chill. So it also extends to the coaching staff.
Starting point is 00:54:10 Exactly, exactly. All right, bud. Thank you for coming. Thanks for having me, guys. All right. Time to offer our lasting impressions from week 11 very quickly, Kevin. What's going to stick with you? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:54:19 So I just, it's going to be Nathan Peterman and that whole episode and just how bad I wrote this for the room. com. I mean, some of the coaching decisions we've seen in the NFL this year, whether it's Ben McAdoo existing. Whether it's, you know, seeing the effects of what Jeff Fisher did to the league when you see Keenham and golf now. I mean, coaching is as important as ever because of the collective bargaining agreement, because of the way young players are coming in. And the NFL is screwing with it, basically. Nathan Peterman, and this is sort of the flip side of that argument, his career is probably ruined now because the bill's panicked and benched a pretty good quarterback. and threw him into the fire.
Starting point is 00:55:04 And so I just, I don't know what the hell is going on. The NFL's got to figure out this coaching thing. And poor Nathan Peterman. Mine's going to be more Eagles. And I know that it's just beating the same drum. But I just feel like watching that team is such a blast right now. And Carson Wentz is a huge part of it clearly. But to me, it's all the other stuff.
Starting point is 00:55:21 It's just like Chris said, kind of digging into areas of the field where you normally wouldn't care. And I do care about those areas. And that's usually what I watch the most. And watching the Eagles up front on both sides of the ball, again, just perfect marriage of scheme and talent. And where there is so much bad coaching going on, the good coaching stands out more than it ever has. And I think that the Eagles are that exact team. And the roster they've built from the way they deployed, everything else, it's just so much fun. I don't know the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
Starting point is 00:55:48 I mean, again, the Saints are a really good team. They're very solid. They're dangerous. They have a couple other lingering teams in the NFC. But right now, I have the most fun watching that Eagles team. And, you know, I'm excited to see where it goes. All right. All right, buddy.
Starting point is 00:56:00 That's it for today. Three big games on Thanksgiving. We'll be here on Friday to react to those and get everyone set for week 12. As always, thank you for listening to the Ringer NFL show on the Ringer podcast network.

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