Playoff PRESSURE METER: Bills v Ravens REMATCH, JOSH ALLEN v LAMAR JACKSON, GAME of the YEAR preview

Summary

Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bills vs Ravens Playoff PRESSURE METER, Josh Allen v Lamar Jackson, Game of the Year Preview

Date: January 17, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates
Main Theme:
A deep dive into the high-stakes Divisional Round playoff matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. The episode examines the immense pressure on both franchises, the contrasting legacies of quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, head coach Sean McDermott’s role, matchups to watch, keys to victory, and lighthearted debates on fan behavior.

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Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team offers in-depth, experienced analysis ahead of this “Game of the Year” Divisional Round clash. The discussion tackles the immense playoff pressure facing both teams—especially the Bills after recent postseason disappointments—and amplifies the Allen vs. Jackson narrative. They dissect team health, tactical matchups, what’s changed since the regular season blowout, and what it all means for the franchise, while also keeping it light with jokes and behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

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1. The Playoff Pressure: Big Picture

[00:00–05:13]

• Bills’ Divisional Round Hump:
  The Bills need to get past this round—past failures (esp. at home) add weight to this game.

  “The Bills need to be past this round. … They have this at home.” — Mike Catalana [01:36]

• How Quarterbacks Are Judged:
  Both Allen and Jackson have lost to Mahomes in AFC Championship games, but Allen’s playoff losses are often seen as less his fault.

  “Josh Allen … is going to be judged [by getting to the Super Bowl].” — Mike Catalana [03:46]

• Elevated Expectations:
  Despite a rocky start to the season, the Bills have exceeded expectations and are now judged by postseason success.

  “The goalpost has been moved back because you outperformed where we thought you were going to be heading into the season.” — Jenna Cottrell [05:05]

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2. Allen v Jackson: Legacies and Pressure

[02:28–08:46]

• Who Faces More Pressure?

  • Mike and Dan agree Lamar has more to prove due to postseason disappointments and a loaded roster.
  • Josh has largely met the postseason moment, while Lamar's playoff performances have lagged.

  “Josh has been so dynamic, and he has been the best player on the field in postseason losses. ...Lamar hasn't.” — Dan Fates [00:19, 07:54]

• MVP as a ‘Weighted Vest’:
  If Lamar fails, MVP accolades can feel like a burden.

  “The MVP will be a weighted vest on Lamar if you cannot perform in the playoffs.” — Jenna Cottrell [08:10]

• Playoff Performance Context:
  They revisit both QBs’ historical playoff struggles and moments where the outcome hinged on coaching or supporting cast as much as on QB play.

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3. Sean McDermott Under the Microscope

[10:29–13:38]

• Heaviest Pressure Lies on McDermott:

  • Defensive-minded coach facing an MVP QB and Derrick Henry after getting punished by the Ravens earlier in the year.
  • Praises McDermott for adapting more than in years past, especially using three linebackers, getting healthier players back.

  “Far and away the most pressure on anybody in this game is Sean McDermott.” — Mike Catalana [07:02]

• Matchup Adjustments:
  Bills are healthier than in Week 4 blowout (Taron Johnson, Matt Milano, Terrell Bernard back).

• Aggressive Mindset Needed:

  “If I'm Sean McDermott … I am aggressive the entire game and that doesn't mean reckless. … I'm going to live and die with 17 [Josh Allen] as best I can.” — Mike Catalana [12:37]

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4. Bills Team Vibe & Locker Room Intel

[13:32–18:45]

• Quiet Confidence:
  Players and coaches appear calm, process-oriented, and unified, apparently embracing underdog motivation.

  “There is a lot of confidence that comes with that situation. … Quiet confidence is… the two words to come to mind for this group.” — Jenna Cottrell [17:01]

• This Year vs Previous Playoff Exits:
  Locker room wasn’t mentally prepared vs. Bengals last year, but loss to Chiefs hurt more due to missed opportunity at home.

• Motivation and Doubt:
  Underdog status, lack of All-Pro respect, and being written off earlier in season are fueling the team.

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5. Ravens vs. Bills: What’s Different Since Week 4?

[22:24–28:24]

• Teams Are Changed:

  • Bills have seven new starters since blowout loss.
  • Ravens defense moved Kyle Hamilton, have improved but schedule context matters.

• Ravens Defensive Statistics Contextualized:
  Ravens defense stats are slightly inflated due to weak opposing offenses late in the year.

  “There needs to be some context into how good the Ravens defense has been and how pathetic the opposing offenses have been.” — Dan Fates [26:40]

  • Their best opponent after Week 11 was the Chargers (13th in offensive DVOA).

• Buffalo’s Edge:
  Home field, improved health, and a more cohesive offense.

  “This is a different challenge to come to Orchard Park.” — Mike Catalana [28:02]

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6. Matchups, Game Plan and Conditions

[28:24–34:59]

• Derrick Henry & RPO Challenge:

  • Bills' front seven (especially linebackers) needs to be excellent to contain Henry and the Lamar-Henry run game.
  • Henry’s style and Lamar’s unique running threat demand discipline.

• Weather’s Role:

  • Forecast: ~16°F at kickoff, which may favor the Bills' experience in cold.

  “It is a little different for guys. It's a mindset… when you've done it multiple times.” — Mike Catalana [29:36]

• Offensive X-Factors (Bills):

  • Khalil Shakir, Amari Cooper, Curtis Samuel, Dalton Kincaid need to make big plays.

  “It's not about the stats at this point. It's about making plays.” — Jenna Cottrell [38:11]

  • Amari Cooper’s chemistry with Allen called into question, but playoffs are the moment to deliver.

• Defensive X-Factors (Bills):

  • Linebackers are central; safety play less critical this week.
  • Front seven must prevent Henry/Jackson from reaching the open field.

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7. Strategies, Keys to Victory, and Score Predictions

[34:59–46:54]

• Aggression over Caution:

  • Both offense and defense must generate explosive plays; playing it safe won’t win this game.

  “Be aggressive, not reckless, Mike. But… we gotta take shots, our wide receivers have to win.” — Dan Fates [36:17]

  • Expect a “track meet”; likely winner reaches 30+ points.

• Time of Possession Still Matters:

  • Listener question noted: Ravens have won time of possession in all recent Allen-Jackson matchups. Hosts still say: “Don’t play scared, play to win.”

• Injury Concerns:

  • Cold increases risk; Bills already banged up last postseason.

• Final Predictions:

  • Jenna: Bills 31, Ravens 24

    “It comes down to simply who do I trust more in this moment. I trust Josh Allen.” [45:28]

  • Dan: Bills 31, Ravens 27
  • Mike: Bills 30, Ravens 27

    "When she said, 'I trust Josh Allen in this spot'… I just think that's where it's different on the road in this case." [46:54]

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8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Legacy Pressure:

  "To be a three time MVP… and not get it done in the playoffs… it's a weighted vest." — Jenna Cottrell [08:10]

• On Bills Locker Room Mood:

  “They just feel more cohesive than they have in years past… quiet confidence.” — Jenna Cottrell [17:01]

• On Baltimore’s Defense:

  "Their defensive numbers are a little inflated... six out of eight games were against some of the worst offenses in the league." — Dan Fates [26:40]

• On Game Flow:

  “Whoever forces one or two more punts is going to be the winner of this game." — Dan Fates [36:24]

• On Weather:

  "When it gets down as single digits, you guys know, on the field, it is brutal down there." — Mike Catalana [29:25]

• On Josh Allen's Playoff Impact:

  "The most impressive performance for a losing quarterback I have ever seen in the playoffs was in Kansas City." — Mike Catalana [10:14]

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9. Light-Hearted Banter & Behind-the-Scenes

• Bills/Ravens Fan Behavior:
  Raven fans jumping into opposing team chats is called “cringy but their prerogative.”
• Vacuum Rants:
  Jenna raves about her new cordless vacuum and obsessively cleaning the house—audience joins in on the laughter. [50:04]
• "Credit to Me" Section:
  • Each host brags about personal/parental victories or correct season predictions for a dose of humility and humor.
• Listener Interaction:
  • Several super chats and clever user comments (e.g., "credit to me, I have the cleanest house", "Bills by a ba-dillion", etc.).

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Key Timestamps

• Pressure on QBs & Teams: [00:00–05:13]
• Allen v Jackson Legacies: [02:28–08:46]
• Pressure on McDermott: [10:29–13:38]
• Bills Locker Room Insights: [13:32–18:45]
• How Teams Have Changed Since Week 4: [22:24–28:24]
• Matchups & Weather: [28:24–34:59]
• Offensive/Defensive Keys: [34:59–39:00]
• Game Predictions: [45:26–46:54]
• Listener Q&A, Banter, and Picks: [49:41–58:08]

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Summary Takeaway

This episode delivers sharp, nuanced football analysis blended seamlessly with locker room insights and familiar banter. The Bills are portrayed as quietly confident, evolved, and determined not to be defined by previous heartbreak—though the panel is under no illusions about the threat posed by the dynamic Ravens duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Above all, this divisional round is framed as a crossroad for stars and coaches alike, with the chance to rewrite legacy narratives hinging on one electric playoff night in Orchard Park.

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Subscribe to Buffalo Plus on YouTube / visit buffaloplus.com for more coverage and post-game analysis.

Transcript

[Mike Catalana]

They have to get past this. The Bills need to be passed this round. And I know they did it in 2020, but, you know, it's one thing to say it was Mahomes or it was the year after everything happened with demar Hamlin that they lost in that game. They have this at home.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You got to get yourself there because that is how people, unfortunately, you are judged on that.

[Dan Fates]

Josh has been so dynamic, and he has been the best player on the field in postseason losses, so. So he has risen to the level when the lights have been brightest. Yes, Lamar hasn't. This is the Buffalo plus podcast, brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, welcome to Buffalo plus, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. I am hyper. We're talking divisional round.

[Dan Fates]

She's been singing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah, it's been bad. This game, this matchup, this pressure, this team. We're gonna get into everything, so please be sure.

[Dan Fates]

I thought you were gonna start singing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I will not. I will not torture everyone's ears to that. Please be sure to drop in the chat where you're watching this from. Be sure to like the video as well. We have a lot to get to. Bill's Ravens, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen. Sunday, we know, is going to be expected to be quite the game. But first off, let's start with big picture. A little bit of zoom out here, divisional round and the pressure that you see Mike going into this game.

[Mike Catalana]

So they've both made. Josh and Lamar have both made AFC championship games and lost them homes. We all know that. The difference is Josh has happened in 2020.

[Dan Fates]

That is correct.

[Mike Catalana]

This one happened last year. So it takes away. You've seen this thing where the Bills have lost three straight years in the divisional round and they've had the last couple at home and all that. I think that adds to it a little bit. But in reality, yes, there's this. They have to get past this. The Bills need to be past this round. And I know they did it in 2020, but, you know, it's one thing to say it was Mahomes or it was the year after everything happened with demar Hamlin that they lost in that game. They have this at home. Last year, they lost this game to the Chiefs. And say what you want about the Chiefs, they just seem to win every one of those games. That'll change at some point. It hadn't happened yet. But for the Bills, it is a monumental thing to get themselves back to the next round.

[Dan Fates]

Well, Mike, then as to ask you the question, who has more pressure on them quarterback wise? We the teams can be different than the quarterbacks. If I'm answering this, asking you this question, who has more pressure, Josh or Lamar?

[Mike Catalana]

Lamar does. And I think Lamar does because he's got Derrick Henry next to him. Y he has a team that is loaded with all pros and pro bowl players and now he is on the road for this game, which does make a difference in that case. But I think Josh is looked at somewhat with hyperbole, like he is a one man team. He does have a great offensive line. It is a well structured team. It is a team that is all on the same page. It's not like he's got a lot of nobodies, but he doesn't have stars around him. And I think Josh as a player gets a little bit of a break on it. But Josh is this year. But Josh is also a superstar player. And I think people, while Lamar has won these awards and the MVPs, I still believe most NFL people believe Josh Allen is a better quarterback as a quarterback himself and thought of as a quarterback. And so the reason I bring that up is they are judged by getting to the Super Bowl. I mean, Dan Marino had to put up ungodly numbers to be a Hall of Famer.

[Dan Fates]

His numbers are stupid.

[Mike Catalana]

Right. He made it to one as a young guy and then never made it back. And the Bills were in the way a lot of those things. So Jim Kelly's wearing the gold because he made it to four Super Bowls. It's just the way quarterbacks are judged. And Josh is going to be judged that way.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I mean, I think it is 100% that and I think that's what it comes down to. And the Bills, I do think there is pressure in general though on Buffalo in terms of the team because this has been the hump that we have talked about in the last three years. They have been eliminated in this round. Two of those being at home, Dan. And now you have another matchup at home. You have the crowd behind you. You have all of these things. And for Josh Allen to have, you know, the season that he is having and for the franchise, what do we always say? Like the window is open. But also at some point it's like you gotta, you gotta get yourself there because that is how people unfortunately you are judged on that.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, but nobody thought this window was open before the season, so. So it is tough to try and compartmentalize where they were before the season and where they are, where they are now. And it's. It's funny because I think, oh, she gave me the finger.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I'm just. No, I. By the way, it's this. It wasn't the other one. Yeah. Yes.

[Dan Fates]

It's our. It's our cue.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

When you see out the corner of your eye, you're like, somebody's going to interrupt. What is it?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree. Where we did not think this team would be here, but also you are here and you are at home.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And so I think that now you are being judged and the goalpost has been moved back because you outperformed where we thought you were going to be heading into the season.

[Dan Fates]

It's funny because I see this as the hurdle because they're both a notch below Mahomes. Right. Like in the grand scheme of resumes, MVPs, Super Bowls. Right. So whoever wins this game.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

We'll have more pressure on them next week because it's like, cool. You, you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You won.

[Dan Fates]

You won the divisional round. Especially if you're Lamar, you're back to where you were before. Would you fail again? There are. This is a game where they are going to be pressured to see who is that next tier against one another. Like, because not only is it mvp, it's who can help their team win be to get to the next level.

[Mike Catalana]

It's the level Burrow was in.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

But you have to be fair. He's dropped down a little bit. I know you could blame a lot of other things. I think Burrow is still a very good quarterback. His team didn't make the playoffs.

[Dan Fates]

You don't do that.

[Mike Catalana]

Nope. You say he. Dad, I am saying that Joe Burrow's team did not make the playoffs this year.

[Dan Fates]

That is correct.

[Mike Catalana]

So Josh Allen hasn't had that since he. Since the first year. Then he made it. He's made it every year. And they got rid of guys on defense. They got rid of wide receivers. They did all that. People said they were going to take a notch down and they won the division by Halloween. Okay. And it wasn't like this defense was elite this year.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So I'm. The reason I say that is I think this player has the opportunity. I know Burrow beat Mahomes in a championship game. That's got him that. But they've taken a little notch back and they haven't won as much. And Lamar has been great and he has moved up to this. And we're saying all this about the quarterbacks far and Away, far and away the most pressure on anybody in this game is Sean McDermott.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, before we that just finish the point. Cause I, I agree that Lamar has the most pressure. And, and why I think it is is because Lamar has failed in the playoffs. In the playoffs. Like that's not really up for debate. He has been the reason that the Ravens have lost playoff games. Josh really hasn't. And that will get to your point too about McDermott. But yeah, Josh, I think we are as a society, I hope we're realizing that stats, wins and losses are not a quarterback, solely quarterback stat. And it's kind of dumb sometimes when people say that. Shut up, Bruce. Like this is where we are. The fact that Josh has been so dynamic and he has been the best player on the field in postseason losses. So he has won, risen to the level when the lights have been brightest. Yes, Lamar hasn't.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

So Lamar needs to win this game to get that chance to get back there, to prove it. This is one stage. There's another stage after this.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I, I think of what you said a couple years ago, or maybe it was last year.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't know. I say a lot.

[Dan Fates]

You, you say a lot.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You do. But you have some good moments. You have some good points. And one of them was that the MVP will be a weighted vest on Lamar if you cannot perform in the playoffs.

[Mike Catalana]

We will see that at that point. Like let's just to say this, if Josh Allen wins the MVP and the Bills do not go on or even if they win this game and then lose the next game, it's still kind of a celebration for Josh. He's got one his team, whatever they did. But it's still the pressure of the playoffs. But to be a three time MVP at whatever point we'll notice this now he could be a three time MVP playing in the super bowl, correct?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

So you don't know. I think, you know, I think we believe, believe he is going to win based on what we've seen the way the voting has gone for other awards that he's going to win. Whether he does or he doesn't, we won't find out until then. But you are right, Dan. And I think it's a little weighted on the quarterbacks like we said to say they have lost the games because of Lamar. I think the difference is when you are Lamar Jackson, you've got to be at least good, if not great. That's been the difference. It's not like he was, you know, throwing. I mean he had some issues but I'm saying is he didn't like fall apart in those games. He just wasn't great.

[Dan Fates]

The, the Titans game. He was really bad. When they were the number one seed. Yes, they had the buy and they got blown out at home by the Titans.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, he. Yes, he also beat the Titans in Nashville in the playoffs when he was a younger player and he won last year. I know it was the first round he won in, in the game against the Texans to get there. A good example is the AFC Championship game. He had a couple of nice plays, then he made a mistake and then they just did nothing. You are right about Alan. You could say of Josh, the Bengals game, nobody was good in that one. That was a team thing and he was not great. He didn't play great in the AFC Championship game. They were a little above their skis at that point. But otherwise he has had incredible performance in the playoffs. And I'll say it because I say it all the time, the most impressive performance for a losing quarterback I have ever seen in the playoffs was in Kansas City. Not just the stats, it was the plays he made in the setting. That he made them was unreal. Gave him the lead. Gave him the lead. Gave him the lead. And that leads us to Sean McDermott.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sean McDermott and the pressure Dan that he has on him.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I don't think anybody in this entire game has more pressure than Sean McDermott. Especially because it's a defensive minded head coach that is going up against the two time, three time MVP and, and against a team that pretty much punched, that pretty much punched them in the face and then kicked them and then punched them again back in week four. So, so it's the fact of what adjustments can you make in this spot? And yes, it still is Bobby Babich's defense and I think the adjustments will be there. The reason I have more confidence in Sean McDermott in which I seemingly have always had on this channel, I end up becoming the Sean McDermott apologist. But I think his willingness and Mike Giardi talks about a few weeks ago, we've mentioned it again, his willingness to adjust as a head coach. He this is not the defense that was led by safeties and that he plays the zone defense and that's it. And we're going to play zone and if a team beats us, that's fine, but we're going to do it. He has adapted, he's adjusted. I think we'll see more Dorian Williams in this game. I think they will go three linebackers because they have healthier linebackers. And because of the fact of they know what Baltimore is going to do. I don't think this is any secret. Baltimore is not going to differ, you know, away from what has gotten them here.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

They did that last year in the playoffs. They ran the ball four times in the AFC Championship game and lost. They're going to try and run the ball down your throat. This is going to be one of those physical, as Daquan Jones says, a man whooping another man game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

A nasty mindset.

[Dan Fates]

Nasty mindset.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is what Daquan Jones says you had to have coming into this week. But also I think too, which is very important for this Bills team, is the health of this team.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Taron Johnson did not play in that Week 4 matchup. Matt Milano did not play in that Week 4 matchup and neither did Terrell Bernard. And those are some heavy hitters on this Bills defense.

[Mike Catalana]

Terrell Bernard is so important and he did not play. And Matt Milano was not playing when they lost to the Chiefs last year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And.

[Mike Catalana]

But this falls on the head coach. And they tried to play a game last year in the playoffs shorthanded to do what they can to try to keep Mahomes off the field and play that way. And they fell short. They. It was a pretty good effort, but you're not going to get a pretty good effort and get credit for that in the NFL. Yeah, they need to win. And the other part about it is let's see how this game progresses for Sean because there is going to be. This is not blowing out the Broncos here. This. There is going to be a moment in this game and if I'm Sean McDermott going up against Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson and the stakes in this game. I am aggressive the entire game and that doesn't mean reckless. But when it's close, I'm. I'm putting myself on the side of saying I am going to be more aggressive. I'm going to live and die with 17 as best I can. Not put him in a bad spot, but give him every opportunity because he's the best player on the field. Then you can live with that. Then you can. You'll get criticized anyhow because you always get criticized for the result. But Tyler Bass is not a guy to count on. You hope he's fine, but you count on Josh Allen to make those plays.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Where do you think the nerve level like nerves are at for the team, like for McDermott and all that?

[Dan Fates]

Because lower than you think.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, we've talked about all year long. Sean has Been at peace. He has been lighter. I think the players have talked about it, we've noticed it now that doesn't.

[Dan Fates]

Because he's adjusted, he's adapted, he's changed. I don't. And I think you do have to come in and set your standards and set your culture and what your philosophy is and what the type of team and integrity that you're going to be. But then if you keep doing the same thing over and over again, you're going to bash your head to the wall.

[Mike Catalana]

It's Mike Tomlin now. He doesn't have the quarterback, so it's.

[Dan Fates]

Tomlin catching ricochets on.

[Mike Catalana]

No, but the reason I bring that up is he is a. I, I see people say he's a bad, terrible coach and he's this and the other. I think he has found a level that he can have success. You need the quarterback to make it better. I just don't believe that man has adjusted enough in this league without it. And he's still a very good coach, but you can be very good and if you don't adjust, you fall behind. And that's what happened for 10 years. Yeah. Andy Reid was always ahead of the game, though. He always coached ahead of the game. At the end of his time, he just, it just was too long and he got stale at the end. But he's always been an innovative guy.

[Dan Fates]

But he had late game mistakes.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, oh, that part, like, oh, no. You know what made him a better clock manager? Patrick Mahomes. Making plays.

[Dan Fates]

That helps.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, Donovan McNabb was a very good player, not Patrick Mahomes. And Mahomes bails him out of all kinds of circumstances. Andy is still not great at those moments. But isn't it nice when you make a mistake and the quarterback just takes care of it?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Jenna, where do you think the pressure is then on this team? Because we're more around the team, See it more, feel it more. Yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I would say there's quiet confidence. That would be my general impression after being in the building for Wednesday of this week. But I, and I don't think that there's an arrogance that comes with it. I think it's just the fact of they know that they are a team, that they just feel more cohesive than they have in years past. And we've talked about it a lot on this channel, the freshness and all that stuff. But I do feel like there is a levity there. And, and with that, the process oriented group, it's like, hey, we heard them talk earlier. In the season that, like, they focus on what they can do. And it almost takes a little bit of the pressure off of, like, I prepared as well as I can. This is already going to happen. It almost is like, it's already written and you're at home and you got Josh Allen. So I just think there is a lot of confidence that comes with that situation. And also I think that this team is incredibly motivated by the fact that so many people have doubted them. None of them were named all pro. They obviously lost earlier in the season, got beat up by the Ravens on the road. I think they take it personally, the fact that, you know, Josh isn't unanimously thought of as the mvp. And I know sometimes it's funny, the cesspool of Twitter, but people will be like, if they need that as motivation, then they don't have their head in the game. And it's like, well, that's a really dumb thing to say because motivation isn't all or nothing. And any little extra bit of motivation helps. And so I think you already have a team that has been feeling those ways going into this game. And then just the. The fact of the matter of it being the divisional round, I think there is some weight that comes with it and there is some nerves, but at the same point, quiet confidence is. Is. Are the. The two words to come to mind for this group.

[Mike Catalana]

I have only seen the Bills look, and you guys were with me for all these games. I've only seen them look. I won't even say not prepared, just not mentally right for that. Bengals, the only one because you can. The Texans game, they were young and dumb and Josh was sugar high and they had the lead at half and it all fell apart. But when you look back on it, you say whatever we can say we want. About 13 seconds. They went toe to toe with a team at the prime of their greatness.

[Dan Fates]

And they did against the Chiefs last.

[Mike Catalana]

Year, should have won that game. And last year, again, you can't make excuses. They did have some reasons why they were struggling in that game, but they played tough. They hung in there. They lost a tough game. If they had been to the championship the year before or had been to a Super bowl, it wouldn't hurt as much. But in this case, it hurt because they were so close and had them at home. But I'm with Jenna. They do sort of roll that way. And being at home now and being healthy and confident, I think is a huge thing.

[Dan Fates]

Phil, that Jenna, we were in the, you know, we were there for locker clean out Last year and there was like, shock. Like, I can't believe we lost.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Correct.

[Dan Fates]

I can't believe MVS caught those passes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Isn't that funny?

[Mike Catalana]

That's when you. That's when you became an mvs.

[Dan Fates]

Maybe that was when it was. But again, after the Bengals, it was exhaustion. It was nothing left in the tank. They. They felt like they had more left in the tank last year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Absolutely.

[Dan Fates]

I was kind of laughing when you said the cesspool that is social media. And thinking about all of the Ravens people that are probably going to watch that are obviously in the chat now. And we'll clip all this. I expect us to be over, under on like two and a half hype up videos for the Ravens this week.

[Mike Catalana]

If you want to hear. I'll clip something for you. Ravens fans. We think Lamar is a tremendous player. Derrick Henry is a beast, and these teams are evenly matched.

[Dan Fates]

Nope, that doesn't do it.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, really? Should I. Should I lie? Say Lamar stinks?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, there it is.

[Mike Catalana]

Henry's a fraud.

[Dan Fates]

There it is.

[Mike Catalana]

Harbaugh's allowed.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They're probably gonna clip that part.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Clip that part. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's crazy.

[Dan Fates]

Was running his mouth. It was unbelievable the way that he was. He directed all the media to come over and he's like, I got something to say.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Because he's. Man, if he was on this channel, he'd be interrupting you. Milano every second, you guys.

[Dan Fates]

Wait, hang on. Breaking news. He's been on all the podcasts. He has been sitting next to me over here.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, there.

[Dan Fates]

He's just. He's just been so quiet.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. No, it's. It just. It. It does crack me up that it was Milano because he said about seven words there was. He's a quiet guy and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's just ironic that that's the player.

[Mike Catalana]

Somebody had a comment and they saw. I think it was Katherine Fitzgerald. So.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, it was really good at the Buffalo News. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Silence takes. Oh, takes a moment of Milano.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Jeremy White from wgr, it was. Has been phenomenal with. With all of them. He doesn't yell four on a golf course. He just holds up four fingers some about the library. It's all been great.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. No, it is really good. But also.

[Mike Catalana]

But listen, I could tell you this. If the Chiefs were to beat the Bills in this game, and they are Chiefs, the Ravens, and they play the Chiefs, I want the Ravens to win.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Like I think most Bills fans. No, no. If it's against the Chiefs I just can't. I think somebody needs to beat them. And if I was a Ravens fan, I think I would want the Bills to beat the Chiefs, too. I just think that they are the. What is it? The. Oh, wait a minute. I'm going to be Dan here.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know.

[Dan Fates]

Come on.

[Mike Catalana]

The enemy of your enemy is your friend.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I've not heard that one, but that tracks.

[Dan Fates]

That's fair.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I think it is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's a good one.

[Mike Catalana]

Who's the. Who's the one that Bill Belichick follows?

[Dan Fates]

Sun Tzu.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Art of War.

[Mike Catalana]

It might be from the Art of War. I may be really going all Dan here on this one.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you want to say the Greek?

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mythology. The Bills.

[Dan Fates]

It's not the river. Right. When you were covering the team in the 90s, they had one more river to cross.

[Mike Catalana]

That was a Marv saying to them when we were in Tampa. And then they laughed because I did a cheesy TV news story about trying to find the river. I'm driving. Oh, maybe we'll show that at some point. I'm driving a convertible. We gotta look like I'm 14.

[Dan Fates]

That's the teaser. If we make the super bowl, that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That story is gonna h. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

[Dan Fates]

Nailed it.

[Mike Catalana]

I was close.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You were pretty close.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Way to go, Todd. Is that from Sun Tzu? I don't know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know.

[Mike Catalana]

I will call Belichick, text him.

[Dan Fates]

But there was. There was a calmness around me. They. They were cliches left and right this week, but there was a calmness around the team. And the quote that Terrell Bernard said to the team this week was by a Greek philosopher.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Oh, don't even try.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Don't even try. Don't even know.

[Mike Catalana]

Because you could say really bad Heraclitus.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, we'll go with that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river, and he is not the same man. Pretty much saying. We asked a bunch of players, and some of them said they were a different team.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, no, I'm laughing at you.

[Mike Catalana]

Elliot says what? Jenna has never heard of that. She must think Mike is a genius.

[Dan Fates]

Nope.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'll tell you that Elliot said deaf as spongebob quote. No, I guess it was an Austrian psychologist, Fritz Heider.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, Fritz. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He used to play quarterback for the Bill. Oh, no, that's Fitz.

[Dan Fates]

He likes comments and subscribes, though.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. You were talking about your Greek philosopher.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, Just there was a sense of calmness around the team in the sense of we're not the same team. Was. It was kind of the common theme.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And then Spencer Brown made a point, was like, no, we're the same team. We just had a bad game. Like. And I think there's. I think there's. There's both sides of that. Like, there's no getting around the fact of. There's seven starters that the Bills have now that were not playing in that week four game. And that was just an absolute blowout. And they talked about. Josh went up to the podium right after that game. It was Sunday night. And just the fact of. I'm glad this game happened now, and that we're going to learn from it. And we asked the team, kind of quoting Josh and saying, well, what have you guys learned? And it was a lot of. We've all learned this. We've learned a lot of lessons. We've learned a lot. We've learned a lot. Michael, can you share with the class?

[Mike Catalana]

Daniel? Thanks. You were trying to say periodontist.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What?

[Mike Catalana]

When you said the name of the.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, no, Heraclitus.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it's periodontist. I don't think that's what you were trying to say. No, no.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Got a kick out of that.

[Mike Catalana]

I did.

[Dan Fates]

I just.

[Mike Catalana]

People are just cracking me up.

[Dan Fates]

Is this what it's like to be a teacher? And, like, there's a kid that's just, like, laughing in the back of the class by himself?

[Mike Catalana]

Ryan says, let's go on a revenge tour, Beat the Ravens, Houston and the Rams for the Super Bowl.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, that's interesting. Wouldn't that be something?

[Mike Catalana]

Because they are the. That's the three losses, right?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, wait a minute. They have to beat the Patriots? Well, I guess they already beat them earlier, so.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that one does not count. All right. We should respect the Ravens, though, because they are very good.

[Mike Catalana]

They are.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We know that. I mean, Lamar is fantastic. Derrick Henry is a problem. And that was really who opened up the game.

[Dan Fates]

Are we still talking about week four?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, I just mean in general.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I wanted to throw shade at them.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Why?

[Dan Fates]

Because I think all their talk about their defense is a little inflated. I think there needs to be some context to the Ravens defensive numbers. Obviously, they made changes since week four. Like we talked about. The Bills are not the same team since Week 4. The Ravens aren't either. Kyle Hamilton now back at his all proposition of more playing a free safety instead of a nickel and kind of being that box safety. And he is unbelievable. Mike wanted to draft him. If Bean was, if we, if we had been on the patio earlier, maybe Kyle Hamilton is. Is in Buffalo, but I can only do my part. Yeah, the Ravens have been the number one defense in pretty much every category since week 11, since Kyle Hamilton switched back. And everybody has been pointing about, oh, how great the Ravens defense has been and they are good. I'm not trying to sit here and say they're not. I think it's a little inflated. And there needs to be some context provided into their last eight games when three of them were against Russell Wilson and. And the Steelers. They also played the Giants, the Browns and Giants, Browns, Texas, Texans, who all by weighted dvoa. Because this week Mike and I crunched film.

[Mike Catalana]

We did.

[Dan Fates]

We did analytics.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I now know more about weighted DVOA than I ever thought I would know. And the Steelers have the 20th best offensive weighted DVOA. So they haven't played in their last eight games that everybody's been ranting and raving about how good their defense has been. And they have been good. But they played the Browns, the Texans, the Giants, and the Steelers six out of those eight games. And the other two were the Chargers and the Eagles. The best offense they have faced in the last half of the season of weighted DVOA offensively is. Night is 13th, which is the Chargers. They haven't played a top 10 offense since they faced the Bengals. Like, and they gave up a billion points to the Bengals in that wild Thursday night game. So they are good. This can get clipped by Ravens fans. That's fine. There just needs to be some context. And I'm also not saying that the, the Bills have played a murderer's row either of a gauntlet down the stretch, either you play who's on your schedule, all of those things. But there needs to be some context into how good the Ravens defense has been and how pathetic the opposing offenses have been.

[Mike Catalana]

Also, the Steelers set offense back for a playoff team. They just do. They set it for the sport. Bailey Zappi played for Cleveland. I believe in that game.

[Dan Fates]

Ando and Drew Lock.

[Mike Catalana]

It doesn't even matter who plays for the Giants. I mean, you're talking about the worst teams in the league. And now listen, the Texans and the Steelers are playoff teams, but we, we see what they are. They are not offensive teams. And well, the Texans could be, but they've got guys out of the lineup too. So I'm with you on that. That doesn't mean they're not improved. That doesn't mean it isn't smart to get Kyle Hamilton back where he belongs to. And they are. But they also thrive on being at home. They are an incredible team at home, especially night games at home. This is the.

[Dan Fates]

Why picked them back in week four. It was a bad matchup.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep. This is a different challenge to come to Orchard Park.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Why is it a better matchup now?

[Dan Fates]

Because of the health, because of the players that are on the field, and because it's in Buffalo.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I picked the Ravens back in Week 4 even though the Bills were undefeated. I said this is just a bad matchup, and I cringed when I said it. But I go. The Ravens don't lose night games at home in primetime spots. They just don't do it. This is a different beast.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, no, that's. That's fair. I just wanted to hear your reasoning now of what makes things so different. I mean, my concern, obviously, Lamar is fantastic, but it's also Mike. Derrick Henry.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, he.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He has been. He is really good. He's a monster back there. And he's the type of player that can wear on you, especially the weather. Does the weather concern you at all? So not a lot of snow expected, but it's gonna be cold, about 16 degrees. I see. It's at kickoff feel.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. It goes lower. Yeah. It doesn't concern me for the Bills unless it. I mean, it would be whatever. But Josh Allen has played in all of this. I. The Ravens haven't really played. Terrible weather. It's kind of odd being in that division. Just the way it's worked out, you know who you're playing late. I mean, there hasn't been, you know, they haven't had a game at Cincinnati, say, in. In playing. So I think Lamar was 22 degrees and Derrick Henry was like 28 degrees. You know, when it gets down as single digits, you guys know, on the field, it is brutal down there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So I think that, honestly, I think in somewhat it can be a little shock to the system. It is a little different for guys. It's a mindset they haven't done right. It helps in a mindset when you've done it multiple times.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Correct.

[Dan Fates]

Nobody likes it. The Bills aren't saying. I mean, Spencer Brown said that he wished it would be negative. Negative degrees as well as 40 mile an hour wins.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't think he really likes that, does he?

[Dan Fates]

He's crazy.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Maybe it is because of how it impacts other players too. But listen, Derrick Henry, imagine trying to tackle him.

[Dan Fates]

That's on us.

[Mike Catalana]

Sunny day on a grass field. That turf is Going to be hard as a rock. And he is. It's a problem. We have a poster up here that I'm pointing. That is. That's like Derrick Henry.

[Dan Fates]

It's the Fox robot. It's Cletus.

[Mike Catalana]

It's. You know, he looks like that. He doesn't. He. He looks like a defensive end or bigger.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. When. When they, when they're pregame warmups, it looks like he's with the wrong group.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

You're like, why is that Defensive end.

[Mike Catalana]

And on a team, when you look at Derek Henry, look at Saquon Barkley, both immensely talented that have put up numbers in their career, but in a better setting, their talent just explodes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And that way, the way they run the ball with the, with the rpo, with the, you know, the run option is so difficult because Josh is a great runner, but Josh runs in a very different way than Lamar.

[Dan Fates]

Absolutely.

[Mike Catalana]

Josh runs, you know, he's running down the field, is going sideways.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What it was it you that said Josh runs for first downs, Lamar runs for touchdowns, or was it you?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that was. No, that sounds really smart. That sounds like me.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, I would say that is the case. I would say Josh, because I would say like Mahomes runs for first downs. Those guys, Josh can take it to the house. Kamar looks to do that every time he's got the ball.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Because he has that incredible speed. You are right. Josh looks for those spots and then takes them. Then sometimes takes a little bit more and then like we saw in the Kansas City game, takes it out. But Lamar, his speed is unreal. But to have Derrick Henry next to you and to be able to, you know, in some cases when he's playing for the Titans, they're going to give it to Derek Henry and everybody knows it. And he's got to run through that. It's hard. It is hard. You know, Terrell Bernard talked about that, like dealing with that, where you're trying to figure out who's got the ball and being able to make a play is tough.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Who are the guys that you look for for Buffalo that you think will be key guys or guys you're expecting that need to step up in this game, in particular in the time it.

[Dan Fates]

Takes you to actually board that flight.

[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Mike Catalana]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Dan Fates]

So while you're waiting for them to.

[Mike Catalana]

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[Dan Fates]

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[Mike Catalana]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Dan Fates]

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[Mike Catalana]

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[Dan Fates]

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[Mike Catalana]

I mean, we said. I think it's the linebackers. I think they have to be so good in this game. I think it is the idea of them putting. Because both of them can make. Let me think about what's expected of a linebacker. Right. The D line for the lot of the point tries to control the line of scrimmage and free up those linebackers to make plays. Derrick Henry has top end speed. Takes him a little while to get there, relatively speaking. Lamar Jackson in two steps is elite speed.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And he is. He can get around any corner.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Explosive, all those things.

[Mike Catalana]

I think that's what makes it tough. I think it's. I think it's less on the safeties than it is with other teams in this game because so much more to me is in the front seven because they. You cannot allow them to get there.

[Dan Fates]

Well, yeah, I mean you'd like your safety to be able to have the saving tackle, but if they've already got through seven guys, nine guys, you're. You're screwed.

[Mike Catalana]

Monday night game, Nashville. Derrick Henry comes through point. Poor Jordan Poyer. Poyer is trying to make the play and that monster is just running him over to the end zone.

[Dan Fates]

Who do you think needs to step up?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was. I was thinking more offensively. I was kind of like the other side of the ball. I think I expect to see another level from Khalil Shakir just because of what he's been able to do this season. But I do think that Amari Cooper. This is the time and the place.

[Dan Fates]

Stealing my guy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Well, you kind of. But yeah, you did ask. But I do think that Amari Cooper is not have the regular season that he probably wanted or the Bills wanted.

[Dan Fates]

You've been disappointed by him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I have because I think the injury and that was impactful. And then when he has been out on the field, you just don't really see the fluidity between him and Josh that you would have liked at this point in the year. But that being said, I think I look to Curtis Samuel and what Curtis Samuel was able to do last week against the Broncos. Curtis Samuel probably did not have. I know Curtis Samuel did not have the regular season. He wanted to. But in a big moment in the playoffs he was able to make some really big impactful plays. And that is what I want to see out of Amari Cooper and I think it's the playoffs. All is not. I don't want to say all is forgiven, but all is forgiven if you're willing to show up in the big moments.

[Dan Fates]

I was just giggling to myself.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. That's what I was doing earlier.

[Dan Fates]

Because when you said there was a player that mvs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Oh, what were you gonna say?

[Dan Fates]

Where did MBS come from?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I'm saying he made big plays.

[Dan Fates]

Oh. I was saying the fact that for the Chiefs, when you just said if you, if you would have taken out Curtis Samuel's name and you would rewind it back two years, you would sit there and say this player didn't have the regular season. He wanted to, but stepped up. And Big Davis, there we go.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And he's been banged up. You know, he has. Curtis Hamill's been on the injury report in and out the entire season. So that, that has been a part of it for me. I'm with Jenna. We've kind of been talking about this like back in the sports office is that it's, it's the entire wide receivers, it's all the pass catchers, it's Dalton Kincaid, it's Dawson Knox, it's all those guys. Because I see this game is so often you go in a game saying you can't turn the ball over, right? And that's true in this game. But I look this as a game of you have to make big plays. Like, I don't see this as a game of, hey, last week they controlled the clock for 40 something minutes. I don't think that's the way to attack this Ravens team. And to try and keep Derek Henry and Lamar Jackson off the field, I think you have to have blinders on and realize the winner of this game is in the 30 point range. However you get there, I don't care. And this is a spot where it's like you always look up, hey, don't make mistakes. I look, this spot is be aggressive, not reckless, Mike. But. But to say we got to take shots, our wide receivers have to win. 12 yard passes are okay, but you're going to need to hit a couple 25 yarders. It's like the Rams game, it's like the Lions game. And this game, I think whoever forces one or two more punts is going to be the winner of this game.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And I defended the Bills defense in that Lions game and it was like, well, they gave up 40 points. Well, they got two stops early and they've got three and out. Touchdown. Three and out. Touchdown. And then all of a sudden you putting pressure back in the other team. I'm not saying the Bills can't come back and win games because they have shown the ability to fall behind early and come back. But this is going to be a game where I think you need to have some big chunk plays to keep pace in what were expecting a track meet.

[Mike Catalana]

When I think of making big plays too, it's sort of like the joke about the mvs, but he did. It was like last week. You look at that game and you say Ty Johnson doesn't have to be big numbers and big stats. That was a hell of a play to make that catch in a 137 game. Now take that to a game like Sunday, right, where you're in that circumstance. Now, the Bills ended up blowing out Denver, so it didn't matter. That's why I'm saying is when I say it didn't matter. Yes, it was a big play. Because if you think about it, if they don't make that play 13 6, 137 and they lose the ball now, if that's against the Ravens and it's a six point game in the third quarter, like you think about those moments, that's when I say is I don't expect. When you say I don't expect Amari Cooper's got to come out with nine catches for 160 yards.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I want to see him make.

[Dan Fates]

Five for 70, but I want to.

[Mike Catalana]

See two big play plays. Like make two. Yeah, make two to help make Josh's life.

[Dan Fates]

Help me.

[Mike Catalana]

Help me. Help you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, you're right. It's. It's not about the stats at this point. It's about making plays. What can you do to make plays?

[Dan Fates]

Like, I look at it as more of the positive plays that you can make and impact the game more than, hey, if you make an aggressive play, you take a shot down the field, it's picked off. I can live with that. Like, I'm with you, Mike, where you cannot be the Steelers and be like, well, we'll, we'll put and play field position. I think it's points on every drive. Josh Allen says, like our goal is to try and score at every drive. It's not always possible. But I like that mindset more than ever in this game because I really think every point at every possession is going to be massive.

[Mike Catalana]

Did he say it's not possible?

[Dan Fates]

He's.

[Mike Catalana]

He actually did it in a game.

[Dan Fates]

He's done it twice the Lions game too. I think they scored on every single possession. It was the Patriots playoff game. They were perfect.

[Mike Catalana]

That was. Well, that was seven drives, seven touchdowns.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

That's a special place right there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The only negative play from that Lions game is when Josh nealed it.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Shouldn't have done it. Should have made Mitch do it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Matthew C. Brings up a good. Where a good comment. Where is Keon been?

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, don't get Dan going. Make a play, Keon. Make a play.

[Dan Fates]

Keon doesn't get open. It's kind of a problem. The PFF stats. And you can say whatever you want about PFF analytics, but nobody in the entire NFL gets less open than Keon Coleman. He's right now, he's limited in his routes at times. It's at this point too. It's also, who do you trust? And in these moments, Keon hasn't been great. And also it's fighting for balls. The pass interference. Like the guy in the Denver game grabbed him and Keon didn't go up hard enough to draw a flag. Matt Collins draws that flag. Yeah, that's what he does. So it's a little bit of. They're not rookies anymore, but you're going with the guys that you trust. And I don't know if the trust is there. And also the plays that he. The routes that he runs, the 50, 50 balls and the high variance like his. His keys are jump balls and back shoulder throws. Those are low percentage completions. So that's why when I've talked about it, like, hey, he had 10 targets and two catches in the game against New England. Like that's a problem because a lot of his routes aren't in routes or 10 yard outs. Like, it's just not there.

[Mike Catalana]

I have my trust level of pass catchers for this team. I would say for Josh Shakir. Yes to right now.

[Dan Fates]

I know who you're going with.

[Mike Catalana]

I might say Dawson Knox. 3. I might say Ty Johnson. He is an elite catcher of the football. He's made some.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He doesn't drop the ball.

[Dan Fates]

Kincaid's up there too. No, no, he trusts him.

[Mike Catalana]

Not there.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And you know what? Then I would say Matt Collins.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think Matt Collins should be higher.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I'm putting him right there. I'm saying when he throws it to Ty, the dude makes a play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. And last week was a perfect example.

[Mike Catalana]

So you look at it. No, I. I think Kincaid has an opportunity to step up because this has been a disappointing year for him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I think that's fair.

[Mike Catalana]

So Step up now because this is when it matters.

[Dan Fates]

I think people are wondering where Coleman is right now. His strengths are so limited. What. And the trust.

[Mike Catalana]

Do what he did in Seattle. Make a play, take it to the end zone. Right.

[Dan Fates]

Well, the play would be in the red zone. Like, that's where I can see him winning a jump ball. But again, his biggest plays this season, and we've talked about it, have been off, broken off script plays. It is tough to draw up Josh running around for eight seconds and then throwing it up to him. Like, that's not necessarily a play that they call in the hard.

[Mike Catalana]

In fairness, they talked about those kind of plays when they drafted him.

[Dan Fates]

Absolutely. But you hope that he would emerge as slants in routes, comebacks and be able to get.

[Mike Catalana]

We'll worry about that for 25 season.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

How about Sunday? Just make a catch.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right. We're gonna do our picks and our predictions. But first, I want to thank Tim Quattro. It's very Italian. Mike, maybe you would have a better. It's a super. Get your glasses.

[Mike Catalana]

Let me get the glass. Let me see.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Quattro chia. I'm really bad at pronouncing last name.

[Dan Fates]

Let me take it.

[Mike Catalana]

I think that's right. I think it's right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's not. But super tip. We appreciate it. He said in every game between Allen and Jackson, the Ravens have won time of possession. I think one of the biggest keys to win that and keep it. The biggest keys to win is to keep it out of Jackson's hand.

[Mike Catalana]

I would say Quattro chiachi.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

That's a nice tip. Thank you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Good man.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And I'm sure we're wrong, but I was gonna give that to Dan, but no way.

[Dan Fates]

No who's, who's, who's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And then scumbag Brad with a super dip said, I'm so damn worried about injuries in this cold weather. They need to win and take care of themselves. We can't afford to go banged up to the next week already. Talk about next week.

[Dan Fates]

No, let's get to next week.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, they've already done that because a year ago they had their injuries in the first round of the playoffs and it hurt them immensely.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Mike Catalana]

When they got into the next week.

[Dan Fates]

One more quick thing that Mike and I crunch and tape.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

The old man.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

It was projector. Was that what you're watching the tape on?

[Mike Catalana]

But you know how.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you know how that's messed.

[Mike Catalana]

Do you know how Jenna pointed to you? I'm going to point to you with another finger.

[Dan Fates]

But Reggie Gilliam.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. So I. What I really notice is and Alec Anderson's been a little banged up this week. You know, he is the guy. As you guys all know, when you're watching the game or listening, number 70 is eligible, the extra offensive lineman. So I started to look at snap counts for the year and his have leveled off. It's not as many times where they go with the extra line. Doesn't mean they're not going to do that this week. I don't know what the plan is, but I kept seeing Reggie out there in this fullback role and his stats have gone in terms of snap counts, has gone way up where he is that lead blocker for James Cook. And they use him in that way and look, it helps. I think it depends on what they're doing offensively. Plus the other thing I've seen them do more and more often and I love it. And they have Dion pull all the way from the left side and come around and tape hammer people going the other way. Yeah. So that is, that is something to. To see how they approach this in terms of. It is fascinating when you look at all the different sets they use in any single drive. And by the way, the Reggie snaps. I was looking because I was trying to see if there was a pattern. Some were short yardage, some were first and 10, several were on the first and 10 runs. And it's not like it's in that tush push role because I don't think they really use it that way. So yeah, we'll see what they do offensively in that way when they need certainly to help the run game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, we want to thank Elliot too. Thank you, Buffalo plus love the show. Go Bills. Thank you, Elliot. We appreciate that. All right, let's get into bat lead.

[Dan Fates]

Off for your pick.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sure. I have the Bills winning this game and to me it comes down to simply who do I trust more in this moment. I trust Josh Allen. I trust Josh Allen being at home. I trust trust what he can do and what we have seen this team do throughout the season. I think them being home underdogs plays into that motivation we talked about earlier. I have the Bills winning this game 31, 24 and the Bills moving on.

[Dan Fates]

To the AFC championship to face the Houston Texans. No, I'm just kidding. Yeah, yeah, I'm with you. To me, I think that this Ravens defense has a. Is susceptible to high powered offenses and that's where I lean on this game too. I understand the Lamar struggles, but I just think that what Joe Brady has done and the different weapons and the everyone eats, which has at times had its players have maybe starved and this offense has struggled. They seem to be clicking at the right time. You saw Curtis Samuel get involved. I do think this is for as much as I was skeptical about Dalton Kincaid's being the focal point of the passing offense, I think that there is some space over the middle of the field against the Ravens to have some success. The vibes just seem different. There is this lightness. I think revenge is a huge factor in this spot. I take the Bills, I think they force just one more punt than the Ravens 31, 27 in this game.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I'm with Jenna when she said I trust Josh Allen in this spot. And it's funny, I was thinking about the earlier games and I thought about when they played, you know, the first round games. They're playing against Denver. Nice team, trying to build, but I thought if the Bills play well at all, they win that game. I just did not believe that was the case. There is a difference between playing the Chiefs and playing the Ravens or any other team. The Chiefs, you feel like. And I do believe there has been, you know, a couple of these games. Even last year, even with everything that went on, they did not play a terrible game. They just could not get Mahomes off the field. And I think it's just different against Kansas City in that way. I think Lamar is really good, but I don't see him that way. I don't see him in those spots. Doesn't mean he can't play great, but I think it's different. When you say the Bills take a six point lead with 43 seconds to go. Lamar is a very spectacular player, but that is not Mahomes on the other side. I just think that's where it's different on the road in this case, I think it's close. I think it's a lot of points because I think it's gonna be tough to stop these teams. I got a 30 to 27 bills.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Tom Slade saying bills by a ba dillion.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Shout out. You Tom. That's great. Okay. All right, we're gonna do credit to me real quick. There's like a Ravens fan in the chat. Oh, I just think that's so cringy to do that.

[Mike Catalana]

But they're entitled to be in there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm. I'm. You're. No, you're entitled to do whatever you want, actually. I just think it's incredibly cringy.

[Dan Fates]

But see, this is where I Think we credit to us before we get into it. Do a good job of. Of separating it. Like, fans are short for fanatics.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

They are irrational. Like, I understand that fandom and all of those things play into it. So I'm not saying I respect it, but thanks for the views. Feel free to drop a tip at a super chat.

[Mike Catalana]

Is this who we're talking about?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, well, there was a bunch of purple hearts there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's. I just. I think it's cringy. You can be a fan. I. I totally get it, but, like, golf queen searching out the other team content is kind of wild to me.

[Mike Catalana]

Is this. LJ says, imagine being so insecure that you lurk on the other team's podcast to make negative comments. See, I didn't see any of the comments. I didn't know what the person.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No. And, like, you can. If you. And someone's saying if maybe they want insight on the opponent, that's totally fine, but you don't have to comment. It's. It's pretty. It's pretty interesting. No, I just. No, it's. It just. It's. I think it's pretty interesting. I think it says a lot about the person.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

In my opinion. Okay, let's do our credit to me, Nick Wright.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, there's all kinds of good ones in here.

[Dan Fates]

Why don't you bet. Lead off, Janet, because you've been working on a credit to me since Mike called you out on Wednesday.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I needed better. You literally said in the car, I need to be better at it.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, because you said to us at our live podcast, Dan and I talked about covering the team and family and all, and you talked about liver nuggets.

[Dan Fates]

I thought it was a great credit to her.

[Mike Catalana]

It was. But you said. Oh, I said liver. I did about that. And I thought it was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I got your back.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Thank you. All right. So credit to me. I have the cleanest house on the block because getting neighbors.

[Dan Fates]

Neighbors catching shade.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Getting married this year. Had the. The wedding shower was great. My cousin bought me this nice vacuum. Finally came in earlier this week. Great vacuum. It's got cordless swivels, and the Ravens fans have left the chat. Yeah. I can put you guys to sleep. Don't worry. It has a light on the end of the vacuum, so you see every speck of dust, dirt, and hair. And I cannot stop cleaning my house because it haunts me at night. I cannot sleep. I've vacuumed the house every single day.

[Mike Catalana]

Deal with this company.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Are you getting a No, I didn't.

[Dan Fates]

Even say with, like, a headlamp.

[Mike Catalana]

So funny.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's gonna be Disney on ice in this.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, it's so good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I just. I. I can't un. If you have a vacuum like this. You know exactly what I am talking about. Everything you can see.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, that I believe, because, well, you got dogs. The dog. Winnie's great dog. She's a black lab. Oh, my God. Seriously, there's hair everywhere.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my gosh. Take you to Rob Taylor. Love your channel. Go Bills. We got this, 99.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, whoa.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Rob Taylor. Wow. Thank you.

[Dan Fates]

Maybe get a hat for Rob.

[Mike Catalana]

There we go. Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What vacuum? It's a Ryobi.

[Dan Fates]

It's like a power tool.

[Mike Catalana]

I know.

[Dan Fates]

Hey, Rob, shoot us an email because we can get you a hat. Yeah, all right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Well, what's yours, Mike, do you want to go?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, mine is fine.

[Dan Fates]

Listen, mine is fine.

[Jenna Cottrell]

My inside.

[Dan Fates]

Inside jokes on the pod.

[Mike Catalana]

You interrupted me. You, too. And I just. Let me say the first line before you. And then Dan will comment or Jenna will comment and say this. I only reason. Thing I was going to say. Credit to me. And it's not specifically for this. It's. I decided to do dry January. You know, taking off the month from drinking. It's not about that. I don't drink that much, but it was a nice little break. And then I thought about end of the month, and all the stuff was going on, and then I thought, I know how I want to celebrate. Little toast. And it's when we're in Kansas City after the Bills win to go to the Super Bowl. We are going to have nice little bourbon to sit there and celebrate the Bills going to New Orleans.

[Dan Fates]

Did you ever open the bottle we got you for the whole thing?

[Mike Catalana]

No, because that is for all of us to celebrate.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Really? You have an opening?

[Mike Catalana]

Nope. Nope. We're going to have a little party at the house, and we're all going to. We're going to open that up. But I was thinking, like, listen, we've been super busy, and it's been.

[Dan Fates]

Actually, I have not done dry January.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, you got three little kids.

[Dan Fates]

That is correct.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You need it.

[Mike Catalana]

But I was just thinking, like, oh, it's January, and then it's going to. And then I was like, oh, yeah, there we go.

[Dan Fates]

Perfect.

[Mike Catalana]

In Casey. Post game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's cool.

[Mike Catalana]

There we go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, Tim. Quattro. Quattro chokey. We were close.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Thank you to him. And then jtl. Nobody can do it like Buffalo plus. Thank you, guys. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

My credit to me, I usually, it usually seems to be parent related. Anybody out there that has young kids right now, it is a rough time. It is a rough time. Kids are coming home sick. One of my, my oldest had pink eye. My other kid just had an allergic reaction to something in the bathtub. And we spent eight hours in the hospital last Saturday because our newborn had 101 fever. So shout out to all the parents out there. I do want to give also a credit to me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, we gotta, we gotta vet this through Renee.

[Dan Fates]

No, no, no. I think I'm good at this Internet stuff. Like this content game. You always joke around that like my brain is 90 content.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I said on this channel that Josh won't use the letters MV or P in the Wednesday media press conference and he didn't. And Josh's is dialed in. If you want to talk about motivation. To your point, Jenna, about. Oh, if you need extra motivation. Earlier this year Josh went up to the podium before they played Baltimore and he called Lamar a two time MVP and all of these things. He didn't sniff the words or the letters MV or P. Credit to me. I called that out 100% that he wouldn't give Lamar any more flowers than he deserves or say that he should win the mvp. Josh has stayed so far away from the entire conversation. So I live on the Internet too much. But I also think Josh Allen knows plenty of what's going on. So credit to me. I was right. Flip your mugs that way and Mike's giving me a side eye.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, yeah, that's. That was great. I mean that was. No, but I'm saying is that Josh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Tell you in the car next week?

[Mike Catalana]

No, that Josh didn't say mvp. That was good. It was a, it was a nice prediction on your part.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Chudley716. Did he say MVS?

[Mike Catalana]

That's good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is very good. That was really good.

[Mike Catalana]

I want to say this one now because I talked about it all. Beginning of the year we were talking about the Chiefs and I said the Chiefs are not going to win the super bowl this year. And. And they are going to lose before they get to the championship game. I'm damn to one game. So if it happens, I'm going to just brag about it. If it doesn't, I'm just going to forget that I said that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Joe, Joe says thank you for the super tip. He says like Dan drinks anything stronger than Shirley Temples. No, I drink Shirley Temples.

[Dan Fates]

We got Mike a nice bottle of Blands.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, we are ready. That'll Be. That'll be time for a celebration.

[Dan Fates]

And for my drinks. Usually we go out to a bar and Renee, I'll ask for something because of that and the. Wait, the bartender. Something come over.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Ask for an old Fashioned or something like that. Or I'll say, I'm also one of those guys that says, make me whatever you want. Like, make me something with bourbon. And they'll be like, oh, do you want it sweet? And I go, I want my booze to taste like booze. Like, I want. I want strong bourbon. I want strong stuff.

[Mike Catalana]

Just tell me what you want.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I was like, all right. I'd be like, all right, here's just neat bourbon. That's what I would do.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So, yeah, I got.

[Mike Catalana]

Speaking of which, I got called out by one of my buddies. We were all drinking bourbon and he was giving us a hard time because we were drinking it rocks.

[Dan Fates]

Nope, we don't. We don't do that. We don't discriminate against and judge. If you want to have a little. I always have a small cube. Small cube in my bourbon.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I like a martini with the rocks. Ice really straight. No, I have it straight up, but then you get the rocks. Ice on the side.

[Dan Fates]

And then do you put it in?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's good. I like a. I like a straight up martini, though.

[Dan Fates]

I like a gin martini.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I like a.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay, now I'm making a extra dirty bottle.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What was the one in. In Providence? Extra dirty dry martini straight up with pepperoncini.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, that's what you ordered. And I had.

[Dan Fates]

That sounds like my coffee order.

[Mike Catalana]

And Dan makes the coffee order of a 13 year old girl.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Can I have a frappuccino? Yeah. Upside down caramel macchiato with extra sauce, whipped cream. I like it. Yeah, it's delicious. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I used to have my wife make all the Starbucks orders because I was too afraid.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, it is a little intimidating.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Mine is just black coffee. Yeah, There we go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's true. Okay. All right. Thank you so much to everyone watching. We'll have our post game coverage up on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel on Monday. On Monday. Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. It'll be first thing Monday. Also, we will be doing five players to watch. If you want to check for that on Saturday.

[Dan Fates]

Saturday.

[Mike Catalana]

When you're watching the Chiefs lose, you know you can, you know, get ready, get ready for the game on.

[Dan Fates]

And just one more thing behind the scenes. Usually this. We keep this live video up until about midnight. I take it down and then I upload this same exact form as the podcast because it also goes out wherever you listen to podcasts. If you want to just listen in the car and not watch the video. That's just the way the sausage is made.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's it. All right. Thank you so much for Mike Catalana and Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. We always appreciate it. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris.