Nightcap - Hour 1: Ja’Marr Chase OPOY, Eagles beefing, Darnold torches Falcons

Summary

Club Shay Shay - Episode Summary: "Nightcap - Hour 1: Ja’Marr Chase OPOY, Eagles Beefs, Darnold Torches Falcons"

Release Date: December 11, 2024

In this episode of Club Shay Shay, host Shannon Sharpe (referred to as Ocho Cinco) engages in a passionate and analytical discussion with co-host Chad Johnson. The conversation delves deep into various NFL topics, including standout performances, team dynamics, and player relationships. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

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1. Ja’Marr Chase’s Stellar Performance and Triple Crown Potential

Timestamp: 04:54 – 14:25

Shannon Sharpe initiates the conversation by highlighting Ja’Marr Chase's exceptional performance during the season. Chase has amassed impressive statistics, positioning himself as a frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) and a potential Triple Crown winner.

• Chad Johnson remarks on Chase’s consistency:
  "Chase got 19. He got 93 catches, 1300 yards, and 15 touchdowns last year. He's already seven catches behind last year's pace." (04:54)

• Shannon Sharpe emphasizes Chase's groundbreaking achievements:
  "Chase is the greatest banger receiver to ever play. He’s doing things that haven’t been done before in that helmet." (13:09)

The hosts discuss Chase's chemistry with quarterback Joe Burrow, drawing analogies to iconic duos in music and entertainment, underscoring the seamless connection and mutual excellence between the two players.

• Shannon Sharpe compares their synergy to legendary partnerships:
  "Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase Wi-Fi is on point. It’s a match made in heaven." (11:32)

Conclusion:
Ja’Marr Chase is not only a top contender for OPOY but also on the brink of achieving the prestigious Triple Crown, making him a pivotal player for his team’s success.

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2. Cincinnati Bengals: Offense Dominates Amid Defensive Struggles

Timestamp: 14:25 – 33:58

The discussion shifts to the Cincinnati Bengals, focusing on the dichotomy between their high-powered offense and underperforming defense. Shannon expresses confidence in the team's offensive capabilities while critiquing their defensive shortcomings.

• Shannon Sharpe asserts the offensive prowess:
  "My job is to score 40 to 55 points and get. You’re a team that nobody wants to see, especially offensively." (06:23)

• Chad Johnson questions the team’s cohesion:
  "Are you a team or not? Are you a team? Is it the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cincinnati Offense?" (06:52)

They debate the Bengals' playoff prospects, acknowledging the defense's role in their current record but maintaining optimism about the offensive unit's ability to carry the team forward.

• Shannon Sharpe emphasizes teamwork:
  "It's a team, right? But that team is broken down into three phases: offense, defense, and special teams." (07:05)

Conclusion:
While the Bengals boast a formidable offense led by players like Ja’Marr Chase, their defensive lapses present challenges. However, there remains hope that the offense can drive the team into the playoffs.

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3. Philadelphia Eagles: Player Relationships and Team Chemistry Issues

Timestamp: 15:01 – 26:19

Shannon and Chad delve into the internal dynamics of the Philadelphia Eagles, particularly the strained relationship between quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown. They explore the implications of these tensions on the team's performance.

• Chad Johnson highlights the strain:
  "The relationship between Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown is strained. Brown needs to be accountable." (15:42)

• Shannon Sharpe offers constructive feedback for improving team chemistry:
  "I need you to give me a chance. Please." (17:10)

They discuss the importance of direct communication between players to resolve conflicts, rather than airing grievances through the media, which can exacerbate tensions.

• Chad Johnson reinforces the need for direct resolution:
  "If you got an issue, you come to me. Let's not go through the media because now it blows up." (18:21)

Conclusion:
The Eagles face challenges in maintaining harmonious player relationships, particularly between key offensive players. Effective communication and accountability are essential to restoring team chemistry and optimizing performance.

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4. Quarterback Performances: Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins, and Emerging Talents

Timestamp: 35:00 – 40:50

The conversation transitions to analyzing the performances of various quarterbacks, including Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins, assessing their impact on their respective teams and future prospects.

• Chad Johnson critiques Darnold’s performance:
  "He threw four interceptions last week, then threw some more the next week. Something ain't right." (31:10)

• Shannon Sharpe contemplates team decisions regarding quarterbacks:
  "If I was coach, I'd switch to Penix anyway, even though he doesn't have the experience that Kirk has." (31:48)

They discuss the strategic decisions teams must make when dealing with inconsistent quarterback performances and the importance of supporting emerging talents with the right offensive weapons.

• Chad Johnson praises supporting casts:
  "He got guys that can make plays all over the field for him. It's really that simple." (55:53)

Conclusion:
Quarterback performance is critical to team success. While veterans like Cousins bring experience, emerging talents like Darnold require strong supporting casts and strategic management to realize their potential.

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5. Game Analyses: Rams vs. Bills and Giants’ Struggles

Timestamp: 24:11 – 33:58

Shannon and Chad provide in-depth analyses of recent NFL games, focusing on the Rams' upset victory over the Bills and the Giants' ongoing struggles.

• Chad Johnson praises high-scoring games:
  "When I go to a game, that's the kind of game I want to see. I want to see scores like 86 points, 0 turnovers, and no sacks." (25:10)

• Shannon Sharpe critiques the Bills’ defense:
  "Josh Allen had 420+ yards of total offense. They gave up six or nine possessions. That's on the Bills." (26:19)

They discuss the implications of these performances on playoff qualifications and team morale, emphasizing the significance of both offensive efficiency and defensive resilience.

Conclusion:
High-scoring and defensively weak performances, as seen in the Rams vs. Bills game, can significantly impact playoff trajectories. Teams must balance offensive firepower with defensive solidity to ensure sustained success.

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6. Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants: Team Strategies and Future Prospects

Timestamp: 35:00 – 55:53

The episode wraps up with discussions about the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback situation and the New York Giants' struggles, offering insights into team strategies and future prospects.

• Chad Johnson discusses the Vikings’ quarterback choices:
  "They got a quarterback that's a first-round pick, but I don't believe Minnesota is going to commit to a long-term deal." (36:57)

• Shannon Sharpe comments on Giants' potential rebound:
  "You might as well chalk this season up because next year you're going to have a nice quarterback." (55:53)

They explore how teams manage quarterback transitions, the importance of investing in young talents, and the impact of coaching decisions on team performance.

Conclusion:
Teams like the Vikings and Giants are at crossroads regarding their quarterback selections. Strategic decisions in these areas will be crucial in shaping their future competitiveness and success in the league.

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Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Throughout the episode, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson provide a blend of statistical analysis, personal opinions, and strategic insights into current NFL dynamics. They emphasize the importance of teamwork, effective communication, and strategic decision-making in achieving success on the field. Notably, the outstanding performances of players like Ja’Marr Chase and the complex interplay between offensive and defensive units in teams like the Bengals and Eagles highlight the multifaceted nature of football strategy and team management.

Notable Quotes:

• "Chase is the greatest banger receiver to ever play." — Shannon Sharpe (13:09)
• "Are you a team or not? Are you a team? Is it the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cincinnati Offense?" — Chad Johnson (06:52)
• "If you got an issue, you come to me. Let's not go through the media because now it blows up." — Chad Johnson (18:21)
• "When I go to a game, that's the kind of game I want to see. I want to see scores like 86 points, 0 turnovers, and no sacks." — Chad Johnson (25:10)

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This episode offers listeners a comprehensive look into the current state of the NFL, enriched by passionate debates and expert analysis from two seasoned commentators.

Transcript

[Ocho Cinco]

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[Chad Johnson]

That length of time you can fly from Miami to Los Angeles and back from Los angeles to Miami. 12 long hours.

[Ocho Cinco]

That's about how long it takes Oscar Mayer to smoke their bacon. There's no wrong way to enjoy it. So buy some Oscar Meyer thick cut bacon right now.

[Savannah Guthrie]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Ocho Cinco]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Ocho Cinco]

Check.

[Hoda Kotb]

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[Ocho Cinco]

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[Chad Johnson]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Chad Johnson]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Chad Johnson]

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[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, that boy. That boy good.

[Chad Johnson]

Hey, he's gonna be. He's gonna be a unanimous first team off and definitely so Jetta looks like he's gonna be the other receiver that's gonna be a first team off road. Not only he's not gonna be unanimous like Chase is, but Chase Chase has a chance to win the Triple Crown.

[Ocho Cinco]

A chance to win the Triple Crown. Un. There's only four or five weeks left. He's going to win the Triple Crown. Nothing is going to stop Jamar Chase. Nothing. Gonn Burrow. They might as well get whatever award it is that Chase is supposed to get as far as when it comes to winning that Triple Crown. They might as well go to Cincinnati right now. They might as well ship it on over there right now. And that's not. That's not all. Not only is he gonna win the Triple Crown, we do have the MVP at the quarterback position. Many people aren't gonna give him credit because our record doesn't.

[Chad Johnson]

You're not gonna get no mvp.

[Ocho Cinco]

Let. Let me finish. Don't do me a favor. Don't interrupt me. Next time you want to talk, raise your hand. I'm gonna call on you, okay? But anyway, like. Like I was saying, Joe Burrow should be the unanimous mvp, but due to our record this season, he's not going to be in the talk. He's not going to be in consideration. Josh Allen. Kudos. Kudos to him. Kudos to Lamar Jackson as well. But if we happen to go on a run and for some reason slither into the playoffs in some kind of. Some kind of fashion, by way of God, we are a team that nobody's going to want to see offensively. Now, I can't speak for the defense, but I'm saying if we got to score 53, we're going to score 53. If we got to score.

[Chad Johnson]

But y'all go give up 55. 45. But y'all gonna give up 55.

[Ocho Cinco]

Listen, that's. That's. Listen, that's neither here nor there. We are a team that nobody wants.

[Chad Johnson]

To see, and y'all don't want to see nobody.

[Ocho Cinco]

No, I don't nobody want to see us, especially offensively.

[Chad Johnson]

That. That's.

[Ocho Cinco]

That's the focal. Ocho.

[Chad Johnson]

But you gotta bring your Ocho. But you got to bring your entire team. You can't leave your defense.

[Ocho Cinco]

I understand that, but I can only. I can only do my job.

[Chad Johnson]

Huh?

[Ocho Cinco]

That's something Bill Belichick always said to do. Do your job. My job is to focus on offense. My job is to score 40 to 55 points and get.

[Chad Johnson]

Are you a team or not? Are you a team?

[Ocho Cinco]

What?

[Chad Johnson]

Are you a team? Is it the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cincinnati Offense? The Cincinnati defense. The Cincinnati special team. I just need to know which it is a team.

[Ocho Cinco]

Can I say something before you finish okay.

[Chad Johnson]

Thank you.

[Ocho Cinco]

It is a team, huh? It's a team, right? But that team is broken down into three phases. Offense, defense, and special teams. Now, each three of those phases has to do their job in order for you to get a W. You know, W's like Jameis Winston, y'all.

[Chad Johnson]

Y'all. We.

[Ocho Cinco]

We ate something, huh?

[Chad Johnson]

This the first time y'all ate three weeks.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, let me ask you a question. You know what?

[Chad Johnson]

When the playoffs start, which one of the Bengals are going to be in the playoff? The offense, the defense, or the special team?

[Ocho Cinco]

The whole team. The team in general.

[Chad Johnson]

Yellow. Behold. Right?

[Ocho Cinco]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Don't do that. Don't do that. The chance. Hey, can you ask Ash to give her what percentage the chance is of us making it to the playoffs. Still to this point.

[Chad Johnson]

A 80 year old getting pregnant. There's a chance, right?

[Ocho Cinco]

But come on, there's a percentage. Now, the percentage ain't that low.

[Chad Johnson]

There's a percentage the 80 year old could get pregnant. How was Mary when she could feed Jesus?

[Ocho Cinco]

83. 83.

[Chad Johnson]

So there is a chance. They put man on the moon.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson]

Yeah. Chance, I feel you ain't gonna put no money down on it though. Oh, no?

[Ocho Cinco]

How much I owe you right now?

[Chad Johnson]

Three babies.

[Ocho Cinco]

Okay, how about this? When we play the bank, when we play the Broncos.

[Chad Johnson]

I ain't betting nothing. You ain't listen, how you gonna bet me with my money?

[Ocho Cinco]

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. I'm like, you talking.

[Chad Johnson]

With my money. I bet you I owe you 3,000. I bet it.

[Ocho Cinco]

Let's. Let's bring it down a notch and let's respect the winner.

[Chad Johnson]

That's.

[Ocho Cinco]

Let's respect the winner. Circle tonight.

[Chad Johnson]

That's me.

[Ocho Cinco]

Let's respect for the circle tonight. Now you owe me 3,000.

[Chad Johnson]

How you doing?

[Ocho Cinco]

I'm giving you the opportunity to double your money. So when we play the pony, let's double or nothing that 3,000 I owe you.

[Chad Johnson]

I don't like doubling my money. I like to just take my money. I got something in mind.

[Ocho Cinco]

What you trying.

[Chad Johnson]

I want to buy something.

[Ocho Cinco]

Absolutely.

[Chad Johnson]

And it just so happened to cost 3,000. The gift I want to get cost exactly $3,000. I say you hold up. I said, sir, can you hold this for me? I'll be right back in like two weeks. So I gotta. I gotta. I gotta go in there by this week.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, hold on. Tell me, tell me, tell me what you. What you gonna get? What you gonna get? What is it? Just give.

[Chad Johnson]

Just give me the The Bengals have less than a 2% chance to make the playoff.

[Ocho Cinco]

Percent.

[Chad Johnson]

Less than.

[Ocho Cinco]

Less than 2%.

[Chad Johnson]

Yes. Actually, it's 1.9.

[Ocho Cinco]

One point. You know, that's not that bad. You know what? That's not that bad. I'm gonna just say 2%. Because I bet. I bet if you ask the chat, right when they go to Whole Foods, I bet some of them, they get 2% milk. I bet sometimes when you get a latte, you go to Starbucks and they ask you what kind of milk you want. Sometimes people say, you know What? I want 2% milk. There is a significance if you're an actor. You know, sometimes the agent. The agent fee. Sometimes the agent fee is 2%.

[Chad Johnson]

No, it ain't. It's 10, 15, 20. In Hollywood, you ain't getting no weirdo.

[Ocho Cinco]

Okay, listen, I'm just. I'm just trying to throw that. I didn't need you to correct me.

[Chad Johnson]

Okay? My bad, my bad, my bad. Okay, but they got a milk shake. 2%. Since I put it in terms that you understand, you like milk. They got a milk chance. 2%. The question is for you. Is Burrow and Chase the best quarterback, wide receiver, combo?

[Ocho Cinco]

Absolutely. Now, there are a few people that would like to argue as far as duos are concerned, but a duo that is doing what they've done at such an early stage, as soon as they started, they hit the ground running right away. Obviously, because of the continuity that they already had and the chemistry that they had already built in at LSU together, it made the transition into the NFL being on the same team that much easier. It made it that much easier, which is why. Which is one of the few reasons why the chemistry, it looks the way it does, okay? When you. When you watch Joe Burrow and you watch Jamar Tay's work, that ain't nothing but Prince and Apple Neo, Okay? That ain't nothing but Mark Anthony and jlo. Okay? You. You stand with me. That ain't nothing but Prince, Hakeem and the lady, the daughter from McDowell's. I don't remember the daughter name in the movie. What. What was the name?

[Chad Johnson]

Okay.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, yeah. You get where I'm going. You get wrong.

[Chad Johnson]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

It just. It just. It's just a match made in heaven. This is a match made in heaven. Like, when you meet somebody new, one of the key things. One of the key things, and the only key things that matters is the chemistry and whether you're compatible, okay? And when you're compatible, your wi Fi, the connection is perfect. And Joe Burrow and Goddamn Jamar Chase Wi fi is on point.

[Chad Johnson]

Yeah, I don't. I don't.

[Ocho Cinco]

I don't.

[Chad Johnson]

I don't.

[Ocho Cinco]

I don't have any other references or analogies I can think of to give to give people a better understanding on how great they are so early.

[Chad Johnson]

Chase got 19. He got 93 catches OJo 1300 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. He's already clear. He's seven catches behind. Last year's pace, he's already a hundred. 100 yards clear of. Yet last year's pace, he's already has eight touchdowns more than last year. And he has. And he has. They're five. They're five and seven. What's their record? Hold on. They're five and eight. So they got four games to go. So there's an outside chance he could get to that 1700. Marco.

[Ocho Cinco]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[Chad Johnson]

And he might. He might get to that 20, that magical number, that 20 touchdown, which only. Only a handful of guys have ever gotten there. Jerry and Randy.

[Ocho Cinco]

Not. Not.

[Chad Johnson]

Jerry got 22. Randy got 23. Nobody else is. I mean, there have been a few. 18.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah. And.

[Chad Johnson]

But nobody. There's only two guys that's ever gotten 20 receiving touchdowns in a season.

[Ocho Cinco]

And you know, that young bull man is nice, man. Obviously, even as early as it is, man, Chase is the greatest banger receiver to ever play. Chase is the greatest banger receiver to ever dawn them goddamn stripes. You hear me? You know, some of the things that he's. That he's doing, they haven't been done before. In that helmet, in that. Ain't nobody never done nothing like that, man.

[Chad Johnson]

You know, Mike Brown, you're gonna be sorry you didn't sign that, man.

[Ocho Cinco]

What are you telling. You hear me? You're gonna have to pay double.

[Chad Johnson]

Oh, he about to get 40 million.

[Ocho Cinco]

40. Make it 42. And the two is the 2%.

[Chad Johnson]

Milk.

[Ocho Cinco]

The 2%, add that on, too.

[Chad Johnson]

No, yo, he said Chase got. He said Jetta got 35. I want five more per year. And. And I want an extra 20 more million.

[Ocho Cinco]

Don't even play with me. Don't even play because you tried me. You tried me at the beginning of the season. Well, I asked you. You made me sit out of training camp, and you had plenty of appetite. You had ample, ample time to understand what you had at your disposal. You know what you get in the long run? You know what you get because I gave you a sample side of three years. Okay, I know I might have two more years on my deal, but sometimes you just know.

[Chad Johnson]

Now, I got One more now. So come up with it.

[Ocho Cinco]

And if you, and if you. Hold on. If you, if you want to play again, do me a favor. Don't franchise tag me. Let me play one more and let me go show you I can get 60 some more.

[Chad Johnson]

I'm not coming. There ain't nothing you could do. You told me, you told me you was gonna take care of me after this one. I played it out. Now you won't see my black ass if you don't, if you don't pay me my money this time around.

[Ocho Cinco]

And we ain't fit, we ain't gonna play. Cause we finna clock it. And I ain't talking about, I ain't.

[Chad Johnson]

Talking about no Higgins about to bounce on you. So go out there and try to play without me and Higgins.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, period.

[Chad Johnson]

All apparently is not well with the Eagles. According to Brandon. Brandon Graham, the team's longest tenured member. The relationship between Jalen hurts and AJ Brown strain the person that's complaining. Brown needs to be accountable. I'm just being honest. He knows this. I don't know how the whole story, but I know that Hertz is trying and Brown could be a little better with how he responds to things. They're friends before, but things have changed. Graham later apologized, said I made a mistake. I didn't add, I didn't add to it in good light. So that's my bad. I think that. See, here's the thing. When you say, when they ask A.J. brown, we need. What do you need to improve in quarterback?

[Ocho Cinco]

The quarterback who's the only one that.

[Chad Johnson]

Can throw the ball. Oo, so how, how, how is the media? How's everybody going to take that? Well, that's not how he mean it. If somebody, if, if they ask Carson what can we do better route running.

[Ocho Cinco]

And getting by me.

[Chad Johnson]

Who are you talking about?

[Ocho Cinco]

Right, right. Listen, we all know what he meant, but that's his frustration. We understand his gripes. All right. Matter of fact. Hey, Acho. Acho. You know Acho, right? Yeah, yeah. I told, listen, if any of you in the chat, I don't know if you've had an opportunity to see it. And Sean, he showed a description of plays, a description to play. And these are bang, bang plays that are just basic fundamentals of the game of football. Having anticipatory skills as a quarterback, at the quarterback position, being able to get your number one, your number one player to target based on what you see, what your pre read is as a quarterback. And I listen, it was five or six plays where 1, 2, 3, boom. Get the ball out and let it go. You know, it's like in that specific game that we talking about, where I could understand where the frustrations come from with A.J. brown, I'm like, well, okay, now I see it. Now I see it. Now I understand. But you don't do it the way you did it, not with the media.

[Chad Johnson]

That's something.

[Ocho Cinco]

You go to your quarterback. You go to your quarterback, you tell them, you pull it aside. I need you to do me a small favor, A.J. brown. If you see this.

[Chad Johnson]

That's all I'm saying.

[Ocho Cinco]

I need you to do me a small favor.

[Chad Johnson]

Young bull.

[Ocho Cinco]

When we come to the line of scrimmage and you see a certain cover and you see that receiver off, if you see him press at any point, you see that safety and the safety is in the middle of the field or he's not, or he's shaded just a little bit to the hash, and I know I can beat him over top. I need you to give me a chance. I need you to give me a chance. Please. I need. Put them aside, have that conversation, but don't do it this way. Because now all eyes on Jalen hurts now all eyes in the pressure while you're winning. You're winning. Let me add that.

[Chad Johnson]

Huh?

[Ocho Cinco]

Your team is winning, and it comes and it's going to come off. Wait. Comes off being selfish. It's going to be, you know, comes.

[Chad Johnson]

Off as being selfish.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, hell no. But he doesn't.

[Chad Johnson]

And I don't think. And I don't think. I don't think he selfish. I think he's a competitor. He wants to contribute. I think he realizes that in order for us to get to where we need to be, I'm going to have to catch more than 3, 4 balls. Devontae is going to have to catch more than three balls, but like you said, so maybe Jalen just didn't see the field yesterday. Maybe that happens sometimes. Ocho, we don't see the ball well. We bother. We bobble some stuff, and we don't catch it clean like we want to. But it's. Jaylen has a tough job. I'm not trying to use it, but I just believe. I just believe in a situation like that, I'm a. Yeah, I'm going to go to him and help. Yep. Check this out, Ocho. Donovan McNabb weighed in on A.J. brown. Potential frustration with Jalen hurts. It's two grown men. If you got an issue, you come to me. Let's not go through the media because now it blows up. And now what you said is out there in front of everybody nto responding. Now this is interesting coming from you. Now, not how I interpret it, but it's funny thing is, I agree with you on the idea of it. If you have an issue with someone that you go to them, not the media. But here's the thing. I never had an issue with you, but it's known that you had an issue with me. So maybe you should have taken your own advice here. Oh yeah, and we might have won the Super Bowl. 39. But that's another story for another day. Just my two cents. Number 317. You talk about the jacket.

[Ocho Cinco]

I like that. Hey, don't worry. You know what they. Hey, hey. T o T o and goddamn McNabb. They're gonna be like Claud and they're gonna be like Claude and Ray.

[Chad Johnson]

They gonna be the Hatfield. The hatfields and the McCoys. Right? They ain't Claudia Ray. Because Claudia Ray was best friend. Okay, bacon lovers, let me tell you something amazing about Oscar Myers Big Cut Bacon. Now I don't know if you've used a smoker before, but it's a real labor of love. You've got to put time in to get that rich smoky flavor. Now think about this. Oscar Meyer smoked their bacon for 12 hours. That's half a day. Twice as long as most bacon is smoked. So for that savory, smoky thick cut bacon, keep it. Oscar.

[Ocho Cinco]

Listen. Tired of tossing and turning all night on your old lumpy mattress? Then it's time to upgrade your sleep game with a resto form mattress. This state of the art memory foam technology will have you feeling like you're sleeping on the cloud for 12 hours or more. 12 hours.

[Chad Johnson]

That's the same amount of time Oscar Meyer smokes their delicious thick cut bacon. Yeah, while you're sleeping, Oscar Meyer is still smoking that bacon. Forget your mattress for thick cut bacon. You'll dream about Keep it Oscar.

[Savannah Guthrie]

As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom. With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn [e-mail] and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket cards issued by JP.

[Chad Johnson]

Morgan Chase Bank NA Member fdic.

[Hoda Kotb]

When it's tip off time at my house, there are a few things that are must haves on my checklist. My fellow friends and fans. Check My favorite jersey. Check. An iconic drink that's a fan favorite? Check. Hypnotic can turn any cocktail into an iconic creation. With its game changing color and tropical flavor, Hypnotic should be in everyone's starting five. I consider Hypnotic the point guard of my game day roster because not only is it versatile, like having it on the rocks or as a base for cocktails, it also finishes smooth and just like the banners in my stadium, letting people know that we take championships seriously. Having Hypnotic at my watch parties lets people know that I also take quality seriously since it's crafted with high quality ingredients for a championship level drinking experience. So the next time you need a break from the action with a distinctive timeout, look no further. Grab a bottle of Hypnotic and make your next basketball watch party iconic. Enjoy the vibrant taste with friends and turn every game into a memorable celebration. Hypnotic where every sip is a slam dunk. Hypnotic Liqueur Bardstown, Kentucky 17% alcohol by volume Hypnotic reminds you to think wisely, drink wisely.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Game on Because ESPN content is now available on Disney, you can watch your favorites on Disney. The boldest stories from Hulu and the Greatest in Sports from espn together like never before with espn. Unwrap a full day of NBA action on Christmas Day. Tip off the festivities with the spurs and Knicks, followed by the Mavs and Timberwolves. Then a clash between the Lakers and Warriors, followed by the 76ers and Celtics. And finally the Nuggets face off against the Suns. All streaming December 25th. Then with Hulu, watch the terrifying sci fi thriller Alien Romulus, where a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the ultimate horror. Now streaming and on Disney. Follow the adventures of four kids across the galaxy as they meet unlikely allies and enemies in Star Skeleton Crew, starring Jude Law. Now streaming. Finally, team up with morally flexible Deadpool and hesitant Wolverine in the blockbuster film Marvel Studios. Deadpool and Wolverine now streaming the greatest stories live on Disney. Available with a bundle. Subscription terms apply. Visitors visit disneyplus.com for details.

[Chad Johnson]

Hi everyone, it's Savannah Guthrie and Hoda.

[Ocho Cinco]

Kotb from the Today Show.

[Chad Johnson]

We love this time of year.

[Ocho Cinco]

There's so much to celebrate. That's right. Nobody does the holidays quite like today all season long. Join us for special performances with the brightest stars, plus festive recipes to whip up the perfect holiday feast and great.

[Chad Johnson]

Deals on the hottest toys and gifts.

[Ocho Cinco]

For everyone on your list. So join us every morning on NBC to make TODAY your home for the holidays.

[Chad Johnson]

The Rams pull off the upset of the week The Rams defeat the bills in a 14 in a week 14 thriller as the team combined for 12 touchdowns, 86 points, 0 turnovers and if I'm not mistaken, no sacks. Josh Allen is the second player in NFL history to record three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns in the same game. He joins hall of Famer Otto Graham of the Cleveland Browns. Pulled off the feet when the Browns defeated they won 5610 in the NFL NFL championship game over the Lions. The Bills allow scores on six and nine possessions. The rush defense allowed 94 yards rushing in the first half and the team streak lead team leading 14 game streak of at least one takeaway ended. Oh, you concerned about the Bills now?

[Ocho Cinco]

You know what? I'm really not concerned about the Bills. I'm honestly, I'm not concerned about the Bills if they were going to have a game like this. Let's get it out the way. Now obviously the Rams offense has always been high powered. Cooper cup are just coming back and just getting into rhythm as far as the offense is concerned. So you got a glimpse of what they can do when they are fully healthy. So I'm not really concerned, you know, with McDermott and the Bills. I think they're going to be fine. If you look at the number Josh Allen put up today, no turnovers, right? No turnovers day. But he played very, very well for a quarterback that needs, if quarterback that needs to win a game defensively, they gave up what, six or nine, six, nine possessions. Now that's, that's, that's, that's the back end. That's not on Josh Allen. That's not on the Bills. That can be fixed because the Bills defense is good. Outside of that, I think this, this is the game that got away from him. It is an upset. I, I consider it a goddamn trap game. I consider the trap game. But if you're going to lose, let's get it out. Let's get it out of our system now. Let's get it out our system now. So we're going to fix whatever we need to fix before we get to the goddamn playoffs.

[Chad Johnson]

You know what I think about the thing that, I think that. Look, Tom, when I think about Tom Brady, I think the thing that's most impressive about him is not, yeah, you have the Super Bowl. I don't want to say the most. Yeah, seven Super Bowls are impressive. All the records that he has are very impressive. But Tom understood early on in the game what type of game it was going to be.

[Ocho Cinco]

It was going to be, he knew that early, too early.

[Chad Johnson]

So Knowing that he knew that. You know what, guys? We can't have. We can't settle for field goals and we can't miss possessions where we come up empty handed. Remember Buffalo spotted him 2014.

[Ocho Cinco]

Right.

[Chad Johnson]

So you put yourself behind the eight ball. So now you've got a hope and your defense is already struggling. The likelihood of your defense shutting them down twice and allow you to get back in the game, and then when you got it, you didn't get a touchdown, you got a field goal.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson]

So you gotta. You're gonna have to. He's gonna have to be mindful of that. And that's the thing when I'm talking about Joe, Joe, Joe is that he knows his defense is terrible. At least, at least Josh was like, man, this is an anomaly. My defense hadn't played this bad all year. Yeah, we have played this bad all year. Joe knows his from. From the man. We, we. We gonna suck this year. I got to be. No, it's a real talk to Ocho, man. Look here, not only can I not turn it over, Ocho, guess what? Right? I've got to score damn near every possession. Because if we go down, if we get the ball first and we don't score, when I come back on the field, we gonna be down points. The question is how many? Is it gonna be three or is it gonna be seven? But we gonna be down points. Ocho. And, and Josh, I mean, look, I mean, what, he had 420something yards of total offense just by himself. Ocho crazy. Six touchdowns, crazy work. And. But yeah, you supp.

[Ocho Cinco]

You put up numbers like that, you supposed to win.

[Chad Johnson]

You should. But you can't spot a team, Ocho, you can't spot a team. Now you got. You're on the road, you spot a team. 14. You gonna catch hell coming now.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, trying to come back. Oh, yeah, absolutely, absolutely.

[Chad Johnson]

Especially if your defense is struggling like they were struggling today. But OO said he's not concerned. Josh Allen? Nah, I still think he's the MVP front runner, but Saquon is right there on his heels. Josh Allen was 22 or 37, 342, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, no sacks. He led them in Russian. 10 carries, 82 yards, another three touchdowns. Shakira was 5 of 1 for 106 in the tub. Amari Cooper played extremely well, 6 for 95. But he did have 14 targets. Ocho. Matthew Stafford was equally as impressive. 23 of 33, 22 touchdowns, zero sacks, zero interceptions. Puka Nakua 12, buck 62, one touchdown. Cooper Cup 5, 1992. One touchdown. Two, two, three for 45.

[Ocho Cinco]

Two, two, two, two. Miami's finest Dade County Liberty City legend.

[Chad Johnson]

Yeah, that's the look. When I go to a game, that's the kind of game I want to see. Oh, Jo, I ain't gonna lie. Everybody talking about defense and big heads. Damn, the big hits. I will see some points on the board, right? I go to a baseball game, I want to see 12, 11. I want to see 10, 9. I ain't coming to see no 2, 1. I ain't coming to see 1, nothing. I'm not a purist. I want scores, I want points. NBA. I want you to see y'all get up and down. I want to see a 135 to 130, 131, 133. I want points. I ain't trying to see no 85, 90, 85 to 92 ball game. I ain't no purist like that. I want to see points because that's where it's headed. That's what I've grown accustomed to. So now, don't pick the game that I come to. Now all of a sudden, y'all gonna play defense and I gotta watch us. I gotta watch a T. A 10 to 7 ball game or a 10, 9 ball game. O.J. nah, that ain't what. That ain't what I'm here for. The Vikings beat the Falcons. Oh.

[Ocho Cinco]

The who?

[Chad Johnson]

The Vikings.

[Ocho Cinco]

Well, Sam Donner earned himself a contract, boy. It might not be with the Vikings, but he earned a contract with somebody. But go ahead.

[Chad Johnson]

The Vikings beat the Falcons.

[Ocho Cinco]

You got me hyped.

[Chad Johnson]

The Vikings beat the Falcons 4220 behind Sam Darnold's first five touchdown game. The win was the sixth in a row for Kevin O. Connell's club, who improved to 11, 2K and his last four games, zero touchdowns, eight ints. Ocho, sit him down.

[Ocho Cinco]

Sit his ass down.

[Chad Johnson]

Ocho. Is it time now? They're only one game back. They're one game back at Tampa. Is it time for them to sit Cousins down and play? Penix Jr. Jr. Understanding the business.

[Ocho Cinco]

Understanding the business and how the business works, and based on what Kirk Cousins has done in his resume from the past, they probably gonna keep playing it because they only one game back from Tampa. If it was me, if I was the coach, if my name was Mr. Was. Was. Damn. What's the head coach last name?

[Chad Johnson]

Oh, you talking about Atlanta Falcons. Yeah. Raheem.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, man, listen, I was about to say Demico by accident. Listen, if I. If I was. Raheem, listen, if we won game back and he playing like that, I'm gonna switch to Penix anyway. Even though Pennix doesn't have the experience that goddamn Kirk has. And Kirk has the goddamn experience and he playing like that. Well, hell, I might as well take a goddamn loss if we gonna lose and lose this way. I'm gonna lose with my rookie.

[Chad Johnson]

He gets to get him some experience.

[Ocho Cinco]

I'm gonna lose my. My first pick, my eighth pick in the goddamn draft. Man, Kirk. Cousin, what is you doing, boy? Do you need Lasik or something?

[Chad Johnson]

Well, he played.

[Ocho Cinco]

Maybe. Maybe he played good.

[Chad Johnson]

He playing bad.

[Ocho Cinco]

I don't know what it is.

[Chad Johnson]

He playing bad. Ocho ain't no.

[Ocho Cinco]

Well, again, you can't throw four intercepts last week, right? You can't throw four interceptions. Then you go back, you watch film, you practice all week long and come back the next week and then throw some more. Something ain't right. You trying to throw the game. You bet, you bet. You betting somewhere, you. Something ain't right. Like, come on now, what you doing? Yeah, like, you guys, you got. We have a playoff opportunity at hand. You know, we think well enough to. I mean, actually, the NFC south is motherfucking horrible.

[Chad Johnson]

It is.

[Ocho Cinco]

Honestly, think about it. That's why everybody has a chance.

[Chad Johnson]

Raheem did say. Raheem Moore is the head coach. Raheem did say that Cousins is their starting quarterback after the game.

[Ocho Cinco]

You know, coaches lie all the time. Coaches and owners all the time. I mean, who. Didn't Dave Canales just say that before he bench Bryce Young? Did he say that, you know, in the next day with the next day, what happened? Or maybe a few hours later. Oh, Sam. I mean, not Sam. God damn it.

[Chad Johnson]

He benched Bryce and put in Andy Dalton. Andy Dalton.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I don't. Listen, you take anything coaches and owners say with a grain of salt. With a grain of salt. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning or maybe Tuesday in, you know, the off day, they make a change and a statement comes out. Penny Jr. Is now the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Five.

[Chad Johnson]

I would be very surprised they did that because considering they're only one game back, if they were out, if they were, you know, a couple of games back. I see you make that. Because still, Tampa has to play. Tampa has to go to play the Cowboys. They got a tough schedule. It's not like they, you know.

[Ocho Cinco]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Timeout, timeout, timeout. Did you hear what you just said? What you Just said don't even go together. You said, you just said Tampa still got to play the Cowboys. They got a tough schedule.

[Chad Johnson]

They got some games on this schedule that.

[Ocho Cinco]

Well, okay, how about you mention the, mention the tough game. Don't mention the Cowboys. How about. How about that? And no disrespect, they got the Chargers.

[Chad Johnson]

They got the Chargers next week, the week after that Sunday night, they got the, the Cowboys. On the 29th, they got the Panthers. And on the 5th, okay, they got the. They got the Saints.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, you know what's funny? What? The Saints are playing really bad right now. You know what's funny is the Panthers are making a game, making it a game no matter who they playing.

[Chad Johnson]

Yeah, we're gonna talk about the. Let's say that we're gonna, we're gonna talk about that because we got some. We got some words from Legit for Leggett.

[Ocho Cinco]

I ain't gonna jump the gun. Oh, you talking about Xavier. Leg it.

[Chad Johnson]

Leg it.

[Ocho Cinco]

Leg it. Leg it.

[Chad Johnson]

Sam Donald and the Vikings haven't discussed a long term deal. They're not. They just drafted a quarterback with a top 10 pick. What are we discussing?

[Ocho Cinco]

No, yeah, it's. But it's a good thing. No, it's a good thing for Sam because his resume. The other teams that need a quarterback. The other team that need a quarterback. So he's setting himself up beautifully. The only problem is, depending on where you go, you ain't gonna have no goddamn Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at your mother. But the fact that. Oh, man. But don't get me started.

[Chad Johnson]

Buy your. This is not to. To take away anything from. He's played.

[Ocho Cinco]

Don't mess up his bag. Don't mess up his bag.

[Chad Johnson]

He played extremely well. Yeah, he is. There's no denying that. But I hope you got similar weapons. I ain't saying you got to have those exact weapons, but you better have.

[Ocho Cinco]

Close to them, boy. It ain't too many like 18 and three out there now. Ain't too many out there like 18 and three. Yeah, yeah, we'll be at.

[Chad Johnson]

No, but I don't, I don't. I don't think. I don't think. I'm not. I think. I'm not surprised that I'm not surprised. Minnesota is not thinking a long term deal now if they didn't have a court. If they hadn't taken a quarterback in the top 10. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Or when they, whenever they took J.J. mcCarthy. Okay, I get that. But I got a quarterback. That's. That's a first round pick that I believe is the quarterback of the future. Why am I going to give this man a long term deal? A 40. I mean $40 million. $40 million.

[Ocho Cinco]

Wait a minute. Good question. I got a question for you real quick. J.J. mcCarthy. What was his injury again?

[Chad Johnson]

What is his foot? Achilles was in his foot. It might have been. It might have. It might have been. I'm not sure what it was. Ocho, don't start me lying. I want to say, okay, it was a low, it was a lower leg. So I don't know. I don't know if it was a acl. I don't know if it was a foot leg. I'm not sure.

[Ocho Cinco]

Because he's so young. Do you think they need to have security? With the way Sam Donald is playing, do you think they can rely on J.J. mcCarthy to be the quarterback of the.

[Chad Johnson]

I'm not having no $40 million insurance policy.

[Ocho Cinco]

Okay, okay. I'm just, I just want to know, just chat. What y'all think? Should the Minnesota Vikings pay Sam Darnold so they have a sense of security once JJ McCarthy comes back?

[Chad Johnson]

He tore his meniscus.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, okay. That's not bad. That's not bad.

[Chad Johnson]

Any young and that's probably his first serious injury. That's not, that's not an acl, that's not a pcl. That's not an Achilles, that's not a patellar tendon. Knock on wood. I mean, obviously any injury is all injuries are minor. When they're right, they're major. As long as they're on somebody else, on you, they're major. On somebody else, they're minor. But he didn't, like I said, he didn't have, you know, they aired on the side of caution. They like, we got Sam Donald, we got a guy that's been in the league, we got a guy that we believe we can win with with the talent that we surrounded him with. You know, you got Jetta, you got Addison, you got Hawkinson, you got Aaron Jones. Son, if you don't turn the ball over, if you don't turn the ball over with the defense, the Brian Flores got that defense flying around, we'll be okay. You just got to make sure.

[Ocho Cinco]

Well, see, that's a good thing. So that's a good thing. So maybe it's not a bad deal. You sign, you sign into a short term deal, it had to be four or five years. It could be two, it could be two, three years. Listen, and allow. And allow J.J. mcCarthy to continue to develop behind him one more year because he hadn't, he hadn't had a chance to develop.

[Chad Johnson]

J.J. mcCarthy was going to be the starter.

[Ocho Cinco]

Injury. You don't want to throw him out there, huh? After coming.

[Chad Johnson]

They was going to throw him out there out of college. He was the starter.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, but now, now you behind eight ball times too, because now not only do you not, you don't have a year on the year belt, you don't have a year on the bill. And you coming back with an injury on top of that. So it's even.

[Chad Johnson]

How that, how they looking for the Falcons? They gave Kirk curses all that money and you got Michael Penny. So, so how they looking for them now? You just said. Now you just said they need to sit cousins down. But he got 80 million. He got 80 million of their dollars over the first. No, he got 112 million over the first three years.

[Ocho Cinco]

Okay, well, he got 112 million over the 1st 3 years and he got 8 picks in the last 2 games.

[Chad Johnson]

You making my point for me now, you know that, right?

[Ocho Cinco]

But Sam Donner ain't throwing no goddamn intercessors though.

[Chad Johnson]

But you. I'm saying that before he stopped, before he got on the street, neither was Cousins. Remember how they. I'm just saying that's a very expensive insurance policy considering when you took J.J. mcCarthy, he was going to be your starter. You were very impressed with him. Do I believe Donald has played his way into a contract for some team? Yes.

[Ocho Cinco]

Absolutely. Yes.

[Chad Johnson]

I just don't believe it's Minnesota. Okay, bacon lovers, let me tell you something amazing about Oscar Meyer's big cut bacon. Now, I don't know if you've used a smoker before, but it's a real labor of love. You've got to put time in to get that rich smoky flavor. Now think about this. Oscar Meyer smoked their bacon for 12 hours. That's half a day, twice as long as most bacon is smoked. So for that savory, smoky thick cut bacon. Keep it, Oscar.

[Ocho Cinco]

Listen. Tired of tossing and turning all night on your old lumpy mattress. Then it's time to upgrade your sleep game with a resto form mattress. This state of the art memory foam technology will have you feeling like you're sleeping on the cloud for 12 hours or more. 12 hours.

[Chad Johnson]

That's the same amount of time Oscar Meyer smokes their delicious thick cut bacon. Yeah, while you're sleeping, Oscar Meyer is still smoking that bacon. Forget your mattress for thick cut bacon you'll dream about. Keep it, Oscar.

[Savannah Guthrie]

As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn [e-mail] and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.

[Hoda Kotb]

Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC when it's tip off time at my house, there are a few things that are must haves on my checklist. My fellow friends and fans. Check My favorite jersey. Check an iconic drink that's a fan favorite. Check. Hypnotic can turn any cocktail into an iconic creation. With its game changing color and tropical flavor, Hypnotic should be in everyone's starting five. I consider Hypnotic the point guard of my game day roster because not only is it versatile, like having it on the rocks or as a base for cocktails, it also finishes smooth and just like the banners in my stadium. Letting people know that we Take championships seriously. Having Hypnotic at my watch parties lets people know that I also take quality seriously since it's crafted with high quality ingredients for a championship level drinking experience. So the next time you need a break from the action with a distinctive timeout, look no further. Grab a bottle of Hypnotic and make your next basketball watch party iconic. Enjoy the vibrant taste with friends and turn every game into a memorable celebration. Hypnotic where every sip is a slam dunk. Hypnotic Liqueur Bardstown, Kentucky 17% alcohol by volume Hypnotic reminds you to think wisely, drink wisely.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Game On Because ESPN content is now available on Disney, you can watch your favorites on Disney the Boldest Stories from Hulu and the Greatest in Sports from espn. Together like never before with espn. Unwrap a full day of NBA action on Christmas Day. Tip off the festivities with the spurs and Knicks, followed by the Mavs and Timberwolves. Then a clash between the Lakers and Warriors, followed by the 76ers and Celtics. And finally the Nuggets face off against the Suns. All streaming December 25th. Then with Hulu, Watch the terrifying sci fi thriller Alien Romulus, where a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the ultimate horror. Now streaming and on Disney. Follow the adventures of four kids across the galaxy as they meet unlikely allies and enemies, and Star Skeleton Crew starring Jude Law. Now streaming. Finally, team up with morally flexible Deadpool and hesitant Wolverine in the blockbuster film Marvel Studios. Deadpool and Wolverine now streaming the Greatest Stories live on Disney. Available with a bundle. Subscription terms apply. Visit disneyplus.com for details.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hi, everyone.

[Chad Johnson]

It's Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb from the Today Show. We love this time of year.

[Ocho Cinco]

There's so much to celebrate. That's right. Nobody does the holidays quite like today all season long. Join us for special performances with the brightest stars, plus festive recipes to whip up the perfect holiday feast.

[Chad Johnson]

And great deals on the hottest toys.

[Ocho Cinco]

And gifts for everyone on your list. So join us every morning on NBC to make today your home for the holidays.

[Chad Johnson]

Carolina had a 1614 lead going into the fourth quarters. Even as the Eagles reclaimed the lead. Young led the Panthers on a final drive. Looked for a brief moment like he had won the game. Xavier Leggett appeared to catch the ball in the end zone, second down with 52 seconds left. But it turned out it was an incomplete pass as the Panthers fell short on third and fourth downs. Think about what that would have done for a young quarterback. 98 yards. One of the top teams in the NFC. Ocho, we're on the road.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson]

At some point. Okay, lick, Ocho. And I gave you a pass because you dropped that one and you did this. And you say, you gotta be a better job now. I'm tired of hearing my fault. I'm tired of hearing my bad. We'll get them next time. Well, that was the next time. Why you diving for a ball, Ocho? All he gotta do is run. He diving for a ball he doesn't need to dive for.

[Ocho Cinco]

Right? Yes. Comfortability, confidence is not where it should be. You know, I'm a little unsure of myself.

[Chad Johnson]

I'm unsure of my hands, so I want to try to get it into my body. That's why you see guys jump. I'm like, bro, why you drop for a ball that's going to hit you in your chest and you catch it in your bread basket? Because I'm unsure.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson]

So I want to try to get as big a target in front of it as I possibly can. Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Chad Johnson]

Oh, he.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson]

Can you, Ocho, can you imagine what this would have done not only for Bryce Young, but for this team? They go 98 yards on the road.

[Ocho Cinco]

To win the game and upset. And upset the best team in the nfc. Well. Well, that. That's an argument, but that's debatable.

[Chad Johnson]

But still to the Eagles, what's going on with the Eagles?

[Ocho Cinco]

I mean, you're going to have games like this. You're going. You. You're going to have games like that. You have. You got two alphas. What? They're one of the Few teams in the NFL, and I say this all the time, that have two number ones on their team. No matter what people may say, two receivers, two different skill sets, they get it one, they get it done two different kind of ways, but it's two number ones. You got two alphas in Devontae Smith and A.J. brown. But you're going to have games like this, they need to understand that. You're going to have games where you don't have the numbers you want to get no matter what you do. You're gonna have Jalen Hurst, you're gonna have games like this where the numbers are low, where you're playing against the team that you think you're supposed to be. The Carolina Panthers ain't no goddamn slouch no more. They're playing well against everybody they play to this point. If you're paying attention to them, Bryce Young is playing his ass off. That defense is playing his ass off, which is why the numbers were as low as they were today. There's a reason why you're going to have games like this, AJ devonte Smith. You know it ain't. I know it's about being on the same page. You can be on the same page and no matter which way you flip, if the other team has your number, it ain't gonna work. It's nothing. It's nothing you can do. You know what's gonna happen next year? You know, you know what's gonna happen next week? Huh? The Mother Eagles can go out there and they're gonna have a field day in the passing game. They're gonna have a field day in the passing game. It was Saquon day to day. Well, it's gonna be games like this. I've had games like this, TJ And I've had games where we playing a team, oh man, we finna go 400 yards, 20 yards a piece receiving. And it don't be nothing like that. But I understood game to game, it always varies and it always changes. You get to a game say, A.J. you know what number 11, well, you ain't catching nothing today. We don't care what you do. We gonna let Saquon beat us. If he do it, it's okay. But 11, you ain't getting nothing. There's some teams that will do that and don't care nothing about it.

[Chad Johnson]

AJ Saying, you keep saying it be games like this, but I see Saquon got 900 yard games, so why he ain't had no games? AJ say, I see three catches, I see four catches. Like in the last six weeks, I mean, I think three, four, five catches. What am I supposed to do with that?

[Ocho Cinco]

Can I tell you something? And I tell you something. AJ Brown and Devontae Smith. Do you understand? You mother are so goddamn great. The reason Saquon Barkley is still getting the numbers he's getting because he ain't seen no goddamn eight, nine man box. Because you niggas is on the field. Excuse my language. I'm sorry, My bad, my bad, my bad. I'm just getting a little passionate, huh? That's how good you are. That's a testament to you. That's why he getting numbers. He getting. Because they still w. Anyway, that's why you only have 40 something yards a day. You know what? If we gonna lose a day, it ain't gonna be by number 11. It ain't gonna be by number 6. We gonna let. We're gonna let 26 get his numbers. We're gonna let him do what he do.

[Chad Johnson]

Are you surprised that they just voiced their displeasure in the manner in which they did? Because you know when you say we need to prove at passing, you know me on the same page, you know who that points back at, right?

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, yeah, a little bit. I don't think. I don't think they, at that moment, in that present time and moment understand it, though. Emotional. Think about Jordan Addison. Free me speaking out vocally about won the ball. Look at this mother now. Jesus Christ. Ever since he said something, look at Jordan Addison going, hey, Unc, going crazy. You know what? Let's find ways to put little young bull in position to make the plays. So next week, what is the offensive coordinate going to do? All right, you know, the young Bulls are upset right now out there in Philly. Let's find creative ways to move around and have special design plays when the 15 play script. And the next game we got coming up, let's find ways to get in the ball. Getting the ball early. Let him feel and touch the ball early. So we got him the whole game. They're gonna be all right, though. They're gonna be right you. You've seen this before. I've seen it before. Hell, I've been there before, you know, so I. I understand it. I understand it. But right now, you winning, baby. You're winning. So they might say there's no room for it, but your Alphas need to touch the goddamn rock. You got to make them feel like they are part of the offense. You got to make them feel like they're contributing to the success in Helping the team win.

[Chad Johnson]

I think what. What is happening is, is that it's tough. It's tough when y'all don't get the ball early. AJ didn't get a. Didn't get a pack. He didn't get a ball thrown his way into the waning moments of the first half. That's too long. I don't care. I don't care if Saquon is going eight bananas. Come on, bro. You can't. You can't. You can't let me go. You can't let me go. 20 minutes, 25 minutes, and don't give me a. Don't give me a rock.

[Ocho Cinco]

Listen, officer. Coordinators have to be self aware. They have to be self aware. You know that. You know that. You understand the type of player you have. You understand the type of dog you have at that position. He's different. You understand? And know how he's built. You understand his DNA. You know how he is. Just let him touch it. It ain't got to be nothing crazy. It could be a slant. God damn it. Just throw me a smoke. Get it at it to me. Let me. Let me get jiggy with it. He gonna be okay. He good. But to wait 15 minutes and towards the end of the first. First quarter, and then he get a ball.

[Chad Johnson]

Yeah, it's tough.

[Ocho Cinco]

Come on, man.

[Chad Johnson]

It's tough. And, you know, the frustration starts to build. And, you know, look, people look at the Carolina like, man, they sorry. And then before you know it, you don't let them be in the game. And now they play it with confidence. And now you don't have confidence because you're not doing the things that you thought you were going to be doing because you see them on film. But the Carolina team that y'all probably watch at the beginning of the. Y'all watching tape on them, that's a different team that you watched the last three to four weeks. Now, that's not the same team. The Saints beat the Giants on a block field goal. Giants fans have had enough of losing. Even before they saw the team drop an eighth straight game, a plane flew over MetLife Stadium with the banner employing ownership to get it together. Mr. Mara, enough. Please fix this dumpster fire. Then the team went out there and found a different way to lose this time getting the game time field goal blocked in the final seconds of a 14 to 11 loss. Mar declined when asked about the plane. Why you declined asked about the plane? When they asked you about Kaepernick, you offered a lot of info. Never mind. We're going to go to Ocho. These giants are 2 and 11. And now Mr. Playoffs leveled up the past 13 seasons. The giants fell to.07 at home. This season. They're averaging 10.1 per game at home. Neighbor said they asked neighbors about, about that. He's like, hell, I ain't played for the plane. Don't ask me. I did not pay for the play.

[Ocho Cinco]

He's funny. He funny. You know, they listen Giant fans, y'all, y'all might as well. Y'all might as well chalk this season up because next year you're going to have. You going to have a nice quarterback. You have a new. A nice shiny toy. You know, I don't know. I don't know who it's going to be. I don't know who it's going to be, but it's going to be a nice new shiny toy.

[Chad Johnson]

And I know a guy that. I know a guy that had on their roster that was. That's playing really well right now.

[Ocho Cinco]

What position you got?

[Chad Johnson]

Quarterback? Geno Smith.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, yeah. You know, you know, they, they, they, they. They ain't believe in the young bull. You know, sometimes it take, it take for you going to somewhere for someone to see your true value. It takes sometime, you get it is greener pastures on the other side. Baker Mayfield, Sam Donald, Geno Smith.

[Chad Johnson]

Look, Gino wasn't gonna be that in. In New York because they didn't have dk. They didn't have Jackson, Smith and Jigba. They didn't have Lockett. They don't have no offense. They don't have a guy that can run the ball like Walker. They have a Carbono, Charbonneau Carbono. So. And look, they, and they got. Their defense is better than you would think. Now, are they the Legion of Boom? No, but the defense is playing really, really well. And quarterbacks, I mean, look, he got guys that can make plays all over the field for him. It's really that simple. And so I'm glad he's not in New York because they still say the guy can't play. And sometimes you need to get somewhere where you got some weapons. Now, he's not a guy. He's not Brady. There have been very few guys that can elevate players. No matter who the player is, he can elevate them, right? But Gino got to a place that they believed in him and they got weapons. They got a dk, they got a Jackson, Smith and Jigba, they got Lockett, they got Fan, they got, they got skill position players on Joe that can go make plays. Same thing with Baker. He got a situation with Tampa and well, we saw at Carolina, he have nothing. The COVID was bare. It was even better than what it is right now. But he got some place that guys can make plays for him and he's playing exceptionally well. Sam Darnold, right. He got guys that can make plays. I mean, should we be surprised that he didn't make it in Carolina and Baker didn't make it in Carolina? No.

[Ocho Cinco]

Right.

[Chad Johnson]

Because they didn't have anything there. There's a reason why they got the first pick of the draft. There's a reason why they had to well, they got the second pick in the draft. They traded that to get the first pick and there's a reason why the following year they had the first pick. They had to live that away because Chicago traded in the first pick the year before when they were second. But no, can't happen to a night. Hey, I wonder, he said. You know the fans, we gotta make sure the fans, you know. Cause you know the fans were not coming because of the anthem. I wonder how many fans showing up now they standing for the anthem.

[Ocho Cinco]

Ain't had nothing to do with no goddamn anthem, man.

[Chad Johnson]

The Volume.

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[Ocho Cinco]

Check.

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[Ocho Cinco]

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[Ocho Cinco]

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[Chad Johnson]

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[Ocho Cinco]

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[Chad Johnson]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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