Nightcap Hour 1: Rams KNOCK OFF Bears to ADVANCE to NFC Championship + Broncos Jaquan McMillian JOINS Nightcap + Patriots ADVANCE to 1st AFC Championship since 2018

Summary

Club Shay Shay – Nightcap Hour 1: Rams Knock Off Bears, Broncos' Jaquan McMillian Joins, Patriots Advance

Date: January 19, 2026
Host: Shannon Sharpe
Co-host: Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson
Guest: Jaquan McMillian (Denver Broncos CB)
Episode Focus: NFL Playoff breakdown – Rams vs Bears recap, Broncos OT win, Patriots clinch AFC title berth, and critical conversations on turnovers, coaching, and quarterback development.

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Episode Overview & Main Theme

This energetic playoff recap dives deep into an intense NFL weekend, featuring two overtime thrillers and two blowouts. Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco analyze the Rams' dramatic OT win over the Bears, the Broncos' hard-fought playoff triumph with heroics from Jaquan McMillian, and the Patriots reaching their first AFC Championship Game since 2018. The hosts break down key plays, quarterback performances, and defensive turning points, offering unique veteran perspectives and candid locker-room banter.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Rams Defeat Bears in OT: Instant Classic Breakdown

• Game Recap [03:43]

  • Rams win 20-17 in overtime.
  • Key sequence: Bears defer, Rams’ offense sputters, but a Caleb Williams INT tips momentum; Rams ground game seals victory.
  • "They walk it off and win by the score of 20 to 17 in overtime. Very similar to what the Broncos did yesterday." – Shannon [03:15]

• Caleb Williams: Arm Talent and Growth [06:41–08:42]

  • Praise for Williams’ arm strength and accuracy on the move, especially rolling left as a right-hander.
    • "I'm not calling him Aaron Rodgers... but in conditions like tonight, he can still make all the throws." – Chad [07:20]
  • Turnovers kill playoffs hopes—critical evaluation of Williams’ three INT game.
    • "The common denominator...every series that you have the ball, it matters. The margin of error is so small..." – Chad [08:44]

• Bears’ Outlook and NFC North Future [14:16–15:23]

  • Despite loss, optimism for Bears: "As long as they're there, you're going to be in contention every single year...it's gonna be like that for a very, very long time." – Chad [14:44]
  • NFC North shakeup—Minnesota "left behind" without an elite QB.

• Analytical Decisions Scrutinized [17:46–18:42]

  • Critique of aggressive fourth-down attempts.
    • "Analytics is ruining the game...now you leave points on the field, going for it on fourth down." – Chad [17:46]
    • "Bears went for it six times...in a season, you might have maybe five...now these teams have like 10, 15..." – Shannon [18:22]

2. Defensive Play Consistency & Confusing Calls

• Bang-Bang Catch/Incompletion Debate [19:19–20:16]
  • Frustration over lack of consistency in ruling possible catches/fumbles, referencing Devonte Adams and previous Denver game.
    • "There's no consistency when it comes to calling those...bang bang plays..." – Chad [19:28]

3. Rams vs. Seahawks Preview and Player Anecdotes

• Rivalry and Familiarity [21:27–25:08]

  • Third matchup this season, physical run games expected.
  • Cooper Kupp, now a Seahawk, seen as a crucial asset due to his deep knowledge of the Rams' offense.
    • "He knows that when they get in certain formations and you hear certain calls, he could call it out. Because he's that kind of smart." – Shannon [24:26]

• Cayenne Pepper in Socks for Warmth?! [23:18–24:10]

  • Fun anecdote about obscure player methods for staying warm, met with disbelief by Chad.

4. Broncos-Bills Breakdown: Jaquan McMillian Joins

• Game-Changing Interception: McMillian’s Explanation [25:51–34:25]

  • Jaquan McMillian walks through his split-second OT interception play, describing coverage, reading the receiver, and battling for the ball.
    • "I'm playing the sticks...he slowed down, okay, I'm like, now I'm like, okay, the ball is underthrown...just played through his hands..." – Jaquan [25:51]
    • "Once you start sweating, what it do? You heat up." – Shannon (on old-school locker room ‘rituals’) [23:40]
  • Chat about the challenge of playing the slot and mental discipline in pressure moments.

• Officiating Consistency and Surviving the Ground [28:54–29:21]

  • Clear breakdown of the 'survive the ground' rule in light of catch/incompletion controversies.
    • "To have a completed catch, the person has to come down with the ball, secure the ball, and be able to get up with said ball. And that was you who got it with the ball." – Chad [28:54]

• Locker Room Banter: Could McMillian Cover Ocho? [42:47–43:57]

  • Amusing and competitive exchange; both playfully confident.
    • "If I was playing today...you think you can cover me?" – Chad
      "Of course. 100. 100." – Jaquan
      "Anybody can get it." – Jaquan [43:56]

5. Patriots Advance: Texans Collapse and QB Dissection

• Patriots Win, Texans’ Meltdown & Stroud Regression [44:28–56:21]

  • Patriots beat the Texans 28-16; reach first AFC title game since 2018.

  • C.J. Stroud's disastrous game (4 INTs in first half, 28 QB rating).

    • "If he had taken the snap and just backed up and threw it into the ground, his quarterback rating would have been 39.6." – Shannon [45:15]

  • Stroud’s decline from rookie year, possible overconfidence and coaching factors discussed.

    • "He's regressed every year. But y'all don't want to have real conversations. Y'all want us to...Because before...you wanted guys like Ocho and myself, but then when we tell you the harsh truth...that energy." – Shannon [47:12]
    • "I want a better understanding on why he's regressing the way he is. Is it the coaching...his OC is gone? ...He has a great supporting cast...what is the issue?" – Chad [49:19]

  • Debating Stroud’s extension; "do you pay $300 million or pick up the fifth-year option?"

    • "I'mma pick up that fifth year. I'm making prove himself next year." – Chad [59:29]

• Defensive Domination and Playoff Margins [66:09–66:54]

  • Patriots’ defense and turnovers, Will Anderson's performance, and the ever-narrow margins in playoff football.

• Organizational Decisions for Houston [62:15–63:03]

  • Discussion of pending free agents, salary cap pressures, and how 'this was the Texans' year.'

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On turnovers killing playoff runs:
  "Every series that you have the ball, it matters. And in games like this, the margin for error is so small, when you turn it over three times, it's hard to overcome." – Chad, [08:44]

• On playing in poor weather and QB arm talent:
  "In Chicago, it's going to be windy...you play Kansas City...Northeast, New England...Giant...you got to have a guy that can cut through the wind." – Shannon, [11:04]

• Locker room energy (on defensive confidence):
  "Anybody can get it." – Jaquan McMillian, [43:56]

• Coaching, regression, and truth in commentary:
  "He's regressed every year. But y'all don't want to have real conversations..." – Shannon, [47:12]

• On the inconsistency of NFL officiating:
  "There's no consistency when it comes to calling those...bang bang plays..." – Chad, [19:28]

• Teasing analysis on defending Ocho:
  "We ain't ducking nothing. The whole secondary." – Jaquan, [43:30]

Fun Anecdotes

• Rams putting cayenne pepper in their socks for warmth [23:18]
• The recurring Ocho vs. Jaquan friendly trash talk challenge [42:47-44:10]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Rams–Bears OT Recap: 03:15–16:51
• Caleb Williams Analysis: 06:41–08:42
• Fourth-Down Analytics Debate: 17:46–18:42
• Catch/Fumble Ruling Frustrations: 19:19–20:16
• Rams-Seahawks Rivalry Preview: 21:27–25:08
• Jaquan McMillian Interview & Key Play: 25:51–35:12
• Coverage Technique & Slot Play: 31:00–35:12
• Locker Room Banter (McMillian vs. Ocho): 42:47–44:10
• Patriots–Texans Recap & Stroud Critique: 44:28–63:03
• Texans' Defensive Outlook & Roster Challenges: 62:15–66:54

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Recap & Takeaways

Sharpe and Ochocinco return with their trademark mix of sharp game analysis, ex-player credibility, and unfiltered camaraderie. This episode is a whirlwind tour through the highest-stake NFL games of the week, delving into everything from scheme curiosities (defenses crashing, arm strength in the cold, and play-action pitfalls) to the psyches of young quarterbacks under pressure. Jaquan McMillian’s guest segment provides a refreshing player-perspective, both technical and relatable, highlighting that even now, every play and every call still swings games—and legacies.

Bottom line:
Turnovers decide playoff football. Teams rise or fall on quarterback discipline, defensive opportunism, and coaching adjustments. With Rams, Broncos, and Patriots all advancing, and mounting pressure on young QBs like Stroud and Williams to "be about it, not talk about it," the NFL playoffs are as unpredictable and unforgiving as ever.

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For those who missed it, this episode captures all the highs, heart, and humor of another wild playoff weekend. Tune in for deeper dives and more great banter between old pros.

Transcript

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[Shannon Sharpe]

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That's code SHANNON to get $50 in lineups AFTER you play your first $5 LINEUP. Prize picks it's always good to be right. There's a reason why I talk trash doing pickup basketball even when I'm losing. Because if you don't let them know you came to play, they might forget you exist. Just like the reason why Morgan and Morgan is America's largest injury law firm. The they've been doing business for over 35 years. Fighting for people just like me. Just like all of you out there listening. And when I say large, we mean large. Morgan and Morgan has over 100 offices, more than 1,000 lawyers nationwide. That's not a law firm, that's a whole damn squad. When hiring Morgan and Morgan is like hiring an army that has your back. And the numbers speak for themselves. They recovered over $25 billion for more than 500,000 clients. Real results. Like in Florida, one client got $12 million after the insurance company offered 350,000. And in Pennsylvania, a client ended up with 29 million when the insurance best offer was 500K. Wow. If you're injured because somebody else was Negligent, you deserve to be paid. Here's the thing. If you hire the wrong law firm, you might get beat before the game even start. All law firms are not the same. If you. And there's a reason why Morgan and Morgan is America's largest injury law firm. If you've ever been injured, you can check out Morgan and Morgan. Their fee is free unless you win. For more information, go to for the people.comnightcap that's F O R the people.comnightcap. or you can dial pound law pound 529 from your sale. This is a paid advertisement. Wow, what a game. We had two overtime games, Ocho, one yesterday, one today, and we had two duds, one yesterday, one today. So hopefully we can combine and we get two very exciting games. Guys, thank you for joining us. The Rams prevailing overtime. They get the ball first. And overtime because the Bears deferred. They wanted to see what the Rams would do. The Rams didn't do anything. They punted. Caleb Williams is driving. He throws an interception. And then Matthew Stafford takes over in that. Excuse me, the running game. And they drive down the field. Walk it off. I need some water. They walk it off and win by the score of 20 to 17 in overtime. Very similar to what the Broncos did yesterday. Ojo. They deferred. Wanted to see what the Broncos would do and the Broncos wanted on the second possession. Thank you guys for joining us. Y' all know who I am. I'm your favorite unc. And that is my partner and co host, the Liberty City legend, the bingo ring of fame honoree, a former pro bowler and an all pro, he's Chad Ochocinko Johnson. Please make sure you hit that subscribe button. Please make sure you hit the like button. Do us a favor. Go subscribe to the Nightcap podcast feed, wherever you get your podcast from. Ocho and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your eyes, ears and your word of mouth. All because of you, Nightcap has become the success that has become. And only because of you, we shall continue to achieve this level of greatness. So again, thank you for your support and your continued support. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shea by La Portier. Excuse me. Head over to laportierconac.com if you cannot find it. Any state or city near you. It is a premium bsop cognac, the best tasting premium bsop cognac on the market. Don't take my word for it. Try it for yourself. Compare it against other cognacs and you'll see we have the best tasting smoothest cognac on the market. Please drink responsible and be safe. Tickets for our live super bowl show in San Francisco are on sale now. That link is pinned in the chat. The show will be Thursday night, February 5th at the Earps Theater in San Francisco. Come on, bae, show up and show out. Tickets for the super bowl live show in San Francisco are on sale now. The link is pinned in the chat. The show will be Thursday night, February 5th at the Earps Theater in San Francisco. We're looking for all Bay area to come out and support. Going to have some of your favorite people there. We've got Broncos cornerback Jaquan McMillan joining us a little later. He had to play of the. The defensive play of the game with that completion. He had a completion. A completion. Interception. That's what it was, a completion. Interception. Ocho. Yeah, he was the only one that caught the football, survived the contact and came up with the ball. But first, this game, Rams beat the Bears 2017 in overtime. Matthew Stafford, 20 of 42, 258, no touchdowns, no interceptions. He was sacked four times. Kyron Williams ran the ball extremely hard, 21 carries, 87 yards, two touchdowns, 31 rush attempts, 111 yards, two touchdowns. Kobe Parkinson was the elite. Well, he caught 3 for 56. Puka had 5 for 56. Jordan Winnington have 2 for 35. Devonte had a big catch on that last drive.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, that was nice.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Field goal range. Yeah. C dub. Caleb Williams with another unbelievable throw. Ocho. I don't know. I don't know how.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yes, again, that's two. That's two. Listen, that's two weeks in a row.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Two things can be true, Ocho.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yes, sir.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, the ball was misplayed. But to say that wasn't a hell of a throw is you just, you're just being disingenuous. I mean, for him to keep retreating with four guys in his face and throw off his back foot and then.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Most of the time, put it on the money. Yeah. And most of the time, I say most of the time, as a quarterback, once you're retreating backwards and you have pressure coming at you that obviously the ball tends to fall actually short and it's an interception.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Most of the time because you are retreating, you have pressure in your face, you're not able to. To get the kind of strength you want to on the ball. But listen, Caleb Williams is, is up there when it comes to having the arm talent and arm strength. I'm not calling him Aaron Rodgers. I'm not saying he Brett Favre, I'm not saying he's Matthew Stafford, but in conditions like tonight, he can still make all the throws. They can.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. But I think his ability to throw on the move is kind of what separates him. Because if I, if you really just watch him, he's more accurate on the move than he is in the pocket.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, he can roll. And the thing is, Ojo, if you notice a lot of his throws, he's rolling to his left.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

To his left.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So it's almost like you always try to force a guy to his non dominant hand.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Which is a right handed quarterback, you force him left, left. A left handed quarterback, you force it right. But if you, if you look at his best throws, he is rolling left, left.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He feels very comfortable you putting him in that situation. And by design, it's hard for you to imagine maybe right handed. Let's push him right. I mean, let's push him left. No, you push him kind of where he want to be. He made some throws tonight. He turned the ball over. Three interceptions, Chad. Look at the story. How many turnovers for Buffalo they lost? How many turnovers for the 49ers they lost. How many turnovers for the Texans they lost? How many turnovers for the Bears they lost?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You see a reoccurring theme.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

It's the common denominator. Uncle, you said it all the time. Especially when it comes to playoff football where points at a premium. Every series that you have the ball, it matters. And in games like this, when it's so close, the, the margin of error is so small, when you turn it over three times, it's hard to overcome that. Even though the Bears had opportunity on that last drive. I'm not sure whether, I don't know if it was miscommunication between Kayla Williams and DJ Moore. And I mean, I, I don't know what happened on that interception.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got to keep running. You can't stop. Even though if you can't catch it, you probably, you might be able to knock it down. Situation right there, Ocho. They've already had a possession. You not have a possession.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

If you turn this ball over, next possession wins. I mean, next score wins, basically. And that's, and that's, that's why you got to keep running. Because he's throwing it with the anticipation that you will continue to run. And if you don't catch it, you just make sure he doesn't catch it. Just give me another chance, Ocho. Just give me another chance. If I'm not mistaken. I think that was second down. Was that second down, the third down? I think it was second down. So at least give me another chance. If, and if it was third down, allow me to punt the ball and pin them. Yeah, but I mean, they, they, I mean, those in, in, in, in those conditions, guys were catching the ball extremely well. Oo, yeah, those DBs.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, they were. They were. Hey, listen, the DBs were catching the ball better than the goddamn receivers because there, there were a lot, There were a lot of drops there. There were a lot of drops that could have kept some drives going, I think, but not, not mistaken. I, I, I think Rome. Rome had some. Yeah, Loveland, you know, he had some, some balls that were catchable. You know, they were right there. But obviously, even with the conditions, you got to focus a little bit more, you know, practice bringing the ball in. And listen, I'm, I'm used to playing in conditions like this all the time, especially once you get to November, December, you know, everything has to change. Your mechanics, you being able to focus on the ball a little bit more, bringing it in, making sure you, you got it. And hey, that ball. Hey. And he's that ball heavy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That ball hard.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, man, it's hard and heavy. Boy. I was just, I'm just getting ready to say that. And the fact, hey, Stafford and goddamn Caleb throwing it like it's nothing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's why you kind of got. You want guys with arm talent like that, Ocho, that can cut through the elements.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because, you know, in Chicago, it's going to be windy, and you also outside in Green Bay. So if your home game is in the Midwest, so you play Kansas City. So let's just say your home, you're Kansas City, Chicago, your Green Bay, or you're going to be in the Northeast, where you're New England or you're the Jazz, you're the Giant. Oh, so you got to have a guy that can cut through the wind.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, yeah, you got to, because it's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Going to get windy, it's going to get cold. You're going to probably have to play sometime. Inclement weather, be it rain, snow, sleet, wind. I don't know why this happened. It always happened like this. As soon as I start to come on there now, all of a sudden, I can't stop coughing.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I bet. Hey, but you sure everything good over there? You coming down?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everything ain't good. You see, I can't stop coughing. But I'm looking at the Rams defense. Ocho, why y' all keep crashing and letting the man get the edge outside.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, yeah. Every time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn. Every time y' all crashing down hard. He's a mobile quarterback. You can't do that. Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You got. You got to stay. Just me. Oh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There you go. Oh, yeah. Jordan spoiled that license. I knew something was going on. I was like, damn.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I spelled Lysol, baby.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

We got.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

We got some lights on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There you go.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, let me get. Let me get that. Hey. Cause you are listening. Well, ain't no reason to be coughing like that. What? Chad, How y' all doing tonight? Y' all good? Hope y' all having a good. Hope. Have y' all having a good weekend. Y' all shouldn't have to work tomorrow if you have to work tomorrow. You need to think about changing, you know, jobs. Outside of that, we g. We gonna have a good time tonight. We go into going to the holiday tomorrow, celebrating. You know exactly what it is. God damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, but I thought.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Uhhuh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I thought the Rams defense allowed him to get to the edge entirely. Too much.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Too much.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You have to understand. You have to. You have to contain. There you go. There you go. See, this is what I'm talking about.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, I'm just. I'm just making sure.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I want.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Now. I want nothing you got coming over.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Come across this place. Who you.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, if I'm the eater, you don't see me coughing ever.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah. Yes, I did. Yes, I did. You remember when. Man, I had to. I had to call Hazmat up here and clean every. Sanitize everything. But they get the win. Look, I thought this. This win was probably very satisfying for Sean McVeigh, considering how Ben Johnson ran on the field against Green Bay and shook. And shook Matt LaFleur's head. Yes, Matt LaFleur and Sean and Mac are best friends. He didn't take too kindly to that. Oh, no. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, he didn't take too kindly for that.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You know what? If. If you're a Bears fan, you have no reason to let your head down. You have no reason to be sad. Obviously, you're sad because you want to be in the NFC Championship Game. Obviously, you. You want a chance of going to. To compete for Lombardi, but your future is very bright because absolutely. That goddamn Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, as long as they're there, you're going to be in contention every single year. And now the efc, the nfc, that division in general looks different now because of your quarterback and your head coach. And it's gonna be. It's gonna be like that for a very, very long time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, if Minnesota wants to, don't. If Minnesota doesn't want to get left behind, they better get a quarterback.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, they left behind already. They are left behind already because who are you going to find that's, that's going to be the type of, of talent or equal to that of goddamn Caleb Williams or Jordan Love.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, hey, find a Jerry Goff. Well, you had Sam Donald. You let him walk out the window. You let him walk out the door.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Because you thought your number eight pick was, was, was the answer. And you, and you, you found out quick. Not only is he not the answer, but it's hard to keep his ass on the goddamn field too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, yes, I, I, I totally agree with everything you just said, but when you the, the Rams have to feel very good. Look, we got an epic game. We got an epic matchup one Thursday night. Ocho. It was a, it was an unbelievable game. If we get anything close to that. Oh, yeah, I'll take it. As a matter of fact, I'll take a se a second helping of that because that was a phenomenal game.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hope.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let's see if the Rams have fixed their special teams because remember Rashid, Rashid Shahid got it started.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. Again.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, I've never seen a game, a game winning play the first minute of the game. Yeah, but Rashid Shahid took that play, that kickoff back. That game was over.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, take, take it with. Hey, take, take the win right up out of yourself.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It was over. Yeah, it was over. It was over. But this was a good, this was a good game. This is what the game's supposed to be. Two very evenly matched teams. Matthew Stafford, two gunslingers, two number one overall picks going head to head. Caleb looked good. I agree with you. Oo. I think with the talent that they surrounded him with, the offensive line help that they got. Now if I'm them, I'll probably go, go get me. I need a pass rush. I need another pass rusher outside of sweat. I need somebody that can consistently generate pressure. But you look at them offensive, they got Loveland, they got more. They got a dunesday, they got commit. They got Burton iii. They got Zacchaeus. They, they, they, they're loaded, man.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I like the running game with DeAndre Smith and what? Yeah, him. Hey, he Rubble. Hey. He be running people over.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, you know he don't play, he don't go. Yeah, he don't play. He gonna let you know, he gonna let you know he there. I don't care how small he may look, you know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I don't care.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, okay. He running behind his pad, you know. Yeah, we use. Hey, son, run behind your pads. He definitely run behind his pass. But I thought Swift ran the ball really hard tonight. Yes, but they turned up when they turned the ball over on downs inside, you know, VO pass gave up those points.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now that game, when it touched down, you're in the lead.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yep. Analytics is ruining the game, huh? Instead of, instead of coaches having a feel for the game, they're allowing analytics and data.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

To get in the way of the games. And now you leave points on the field, points on the field, going for it on fourth down. I mean, they were, they were more successful against Green Bay, but they do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It all the time, though. Ocho. Ocho. We used to like, okay, it's fourth and one. We kind of like at midfield or on the other side of midfield. Okay, we go for it once. I mean, we might go. We might have on fourth down, especially if we're losing. Okay, we get you going for it.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But man, they go, Ocho, the Bears went for it six times. Yeah, you might have. You might have. In a situation where you're not losing, you might have maybe five in a season, huh? Now these teams have like 10, 15, 24 down going forward.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

And you got to understand why they're going for it too, Uncle. You understand the probable cause if you do make them, the chances, if you do make them the chance you winning the game increase that much. So I kind of understand it. I understand the analytics and the data behind it and the percentage on high, how high the percentage is. If you happen to make those four downs, it give you a better chance of winning those games. But when you don't make it, that's the problem. Now you put your goddamn defense in harm's way and hoping they can stop. You know, these teams that you're playing against, especially if you give them good feel, especially if you give them a short field, that makes it, that makes it even worse.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Especially you playing a team like the Rams. Oo, I'm confused. I need you to help me out on this one.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Uhhuh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cuz we had a very similar play to what happened last night in the Denver game with devonte.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, same. Same way. But they gave him the catch.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They did.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

They gave him the catch. I mean, obviously his knee was down. Well, hell, when Brandon, When Brandon Cooks had the ball in his hands, his knee was also down as well. I guess this, I mean, it's confusing. There's no consistency when it comes to calling those, I call them bang bang plays where the receiver's catching the ball and the DB's right there and they're both, they're both handsy and whoever comes up with the ball, that's what we belong to. But devonte let the ball go. So I'm assuming that should have been what, maybe a fumble based on our logic.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Fumble or incomplete or something?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Incomplete based on our logic and reasoning from last night.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, it could have been incomplete because the guy caught the ball. So it's either fumble or interception.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, one or the other.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I, I, but I was surprised. I was surprised because I'm looking, I'm like. And they did like first down. I'm like, really?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cuz that look like a very similar play. Matthew Stafford gets an opportunity, goes back to the NFC championship game. You know, last time he was in the NFC championship game. Well, that was, gets the, the Eagles, that's what they lost. They lost last year to the Eagles in the snow game. And he played really, really well. Yeah, I thought, look for a guy that's played in a dome his entire career, he played at the university. Oh, he grew up in Texas, Highland Park. He went to Georgia. He was in a dome. He's in another dome in Southern California. He played really well. Yeah, I mean, listen, he played really well against. You said it, you say, hey, last year. What? Last year he was dealing.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Boy, he was dealing and he came, he came one back shoulder pass away from beating the goddamn Eagles.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. I mean let's, when you have that kind of arm talent, it really doesn't matter the conditions that you do play and you just hope those that you're throwing the ball to can make those catches. I get the ball to you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I get the most.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'll definitely make it happen.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But the, but the Los Angeles Rams move on. They played their division nemesis, The Seattle Seahawks, 20 to 17. They're very familiar. This will be the third time that they played. There's no love lost between these two teams. Seattle physical, both sides, they want to run the football.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

With a Walker the third and Charbono.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. Charo good. Is Charo good because he left the game.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He was nicked. Yeah, he got nicked, didn't he?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They elevated somebody up from the practice squad. If I, I, I think I read that don't show.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But look the way Kenneth Walker running, he good. We just keep running him. And you know those w. The JSN now Cooper Cup. Cup. Yeah. He made some big Catches yesterday on third down. Now you're just hoping that Sam Darnold doesn't revert back because he has a propensity to put the ball in harm's way.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got a great chance to winning if you don't put the ball in harm's way. You turn the ball over, you're not going. You're not going to represent the NFC and in the Super Bowl.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

No.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So I'm just letting you guys know, just hope Sam Darnold does do what he's been doing, which is not turn the football over. I don't think he turned it over. That last regular season. That last regular season game against the. The 49ers. They got 49ers again. He didn't turn it over. He needs to. He needs to. To repeat that song. Just play that. Just replay. Just put that on replay. Repeat and keep playing it over and over. Because if you take care of the ball, there's an excellent chance that you're going to go to the end of that. The Super Bowl. According to NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark, Rams player was putting cayenne pepper in their socks to stay warm against the Bears.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hold on. Cayenne pepper? What the hell cayenne pepper gonna do in those kind of conditions? As far as keeping.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's still pepper. It heats up.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Boy. Unk. That's a new one there, boy. I ain't never heard. I ain't never heard of that one.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, when you put a. What? Icy hot, Ben Gay. Remember they used to put that in people's jock. And when you start sweating, what it do?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, you. You heat up. Yeah, I ain't never used that before. The only thing I had, what you call it, warmers, they give you and you break.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I have those either. Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. That's the only thing I know about. And I used. I used to take the hand warmers once it got cold, Unc. I take one, break it up, let it get warm, and I put it on the inside of my glove. Yeah, I put one on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I. I could. I. I have my mean. We. If they call time out or I went to the sideline, right. I would have them, but I didn't have no pouch. I. I ain't need none of that. No.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, you know, pouch. Oh, look at you. Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no pouch. The last time the Rams won the Super Bowl, Cooper cup was the mvp. Next week, the Rams will try to get back to the super bowl with Cooper cup now on the opposite sideline as a member of the Seahawks. Look he knows this offense.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He knows that when they get in certain formations and you hear certain calls, he could call it out. Because he's that kind of smart. He's that kind of player.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How much they rely on that. The film study normally tells you. Maybe he can give us some intricacies of, like, when you hear certain calls on show, this is what that means. Because it was always interesting when we play a West coast team to hear they try to disguise it for both, bro. I know what Lucy is, and I know what Sluggo is, and I know what all that. I know this, and I know Smoke square out, come back. I know we. We knew all that and we know what y' all was trying to give us those bogey, bogey dovey calls, too. So. Yeah, get that mess out here, Ocho.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We're gonna talk about the Texans Patriots game in a bit, but first, it's time to welcome Broncos cornerback Jaquan McMillan. J. Mac, walk us through that play because I know your heart was beating fast. You let Brandon Cook kind of get behind you like, oh, my goodness, we had the ball first. If they. If he catches this ball, they're at the 20 yard line, they're in field goal range. Considering Matt Prater kicked for almost a decade in Denver and he had just made a 50 yard field goal to send it to overtime. So you like, okay, what's going. Walk us through that play. What's going through your mind? Because you look up and you see the ball. Take it from there.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, man. Who's actually in zero. We're in zero coverage, yo. And I see Josh Adam, like, pan and kind of bring to it like a 20 look, which. A protection look. Yeah. And I'm just thinking to my head, like, oh, man, like, okay, you know, they about to pick up the blitz, so I kind of back up a little bit. It was like 30:10. It was like 30:10. So I'm right at the sticks. I'm playing in the sticks. I know I got two droppers at the hook, but, you know, they ain't really. Ain't really gonna help. You know what I'm saying?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Right?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

So I'm playing the sticks.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

He.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

He running and he kept going. So I just kind of gave him a little jab and running. That's how he had me by like a yard or two. You kind of. He kind of underdo it. And, you know, I'm just running, running, and I try not to panic, man. I. I didn't panic. I seen his eyes getting big and I'M like, okay, the ball is in the air. So once he starts slowing down, okay, I'm like, now I'm like, okay, the ball is on the throne. So now I'm just playing through his hands. I'm just waiting on the ball to drop. So I'm, like, really having my hands, you know, through his hands. And once he had it at first coming down, and then once I got my hand on the ball, I'm following with him. And once we fail together, he lost control, and I just got. Yanked it out of his hands.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

And because you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like you say, okay, I'm playing through his hands. And that Ocho and I was talking about this. A receiver, sometimes they give it away, right? They give a tail away.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A receiver with late hands is very difficult for you because he'll wait till the last second and pluck it, right. Some guys can keep their eyes just, like, normal. Like, damn, when is the ball coming? And next thing you know, it's in his arms. A lot of guys can't control their eyes. It's just like, oh, my goodness. And the eyes get bigger. You like, okay, the ball's in the air. Like you said, the ball's in the air. So now you're playing through his hands. You're like, okay, I got the ball. He got the ball. But the problem is he falls. You fall on top of him and pull it. Yeah. Did you. Did you know. Did you think, like, what are they gonna call? Are they gonna give me the interception? Are they gonna say, he's down by contact? Are they gonna say, incomplete? What is your thought process? What's going through your head? Play every scenario. What you thinking?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, man. Once I. I came up once I had the ball in my hand, I kind of rolled on top of him. I get up and I'm holding the ball in the air, and I'm. You can see in the video, I'm looking at the back judge like, okay, what you gonna call? Once I see him doing this and point the other direction, I'm all right. I'm heading to the. The end zone. I'm about to celebrate. So once I see him do that, it was over with.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

The funny thing about it, too, is there been. There's been so much controversy about that play. A lot of people saying that obviously, the Bills got hold because the. The play call was wrong. But obviously what happens is, is there was a smooth transition from him catching and you coming up with the ball to where the call was made the right way. The call was made the right way. In order to have a completed catch, the person has to come down with the ball, secure the ball, and be able to get up with said ball. And that was you who got it with the ball. So I'm not sure how the people don't understand the rules. And one of the things that. That.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

That kind of gets everybody upset is because tonight we had something very similar with Devonte Adams, and there's no consistency with plays that are like that. So I think that's where the confusion comes in that it just. They. The. The refs, they have to find some. The competition committee, whoever it is, they need to find a way to have the calls always remain consistent based on the rules that those that have already played the game know and were able to call right away. When you got the interception, did you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

J. Mac, did you. Did you know the rules that if a receiver catches the football goes to the ground, he must survive the contact from the ground and to. And possess the football? Because you survived the. You. You. He could. He caught it, you took it, survived the contact from the ground and got up with the ball. That's the way Carl Cheffers. That's where all the. The. The referees that have been going on shows explained it. It's like, yes, there was a transition that on the way down that the DB3 took the ball. He survived the contact from the ground and got up with the ball. So what we have is an interception. It can be. It can't beat any. Anything but an interception. What did. What did vj What. What advance tell you? Because I know he was like, oh, my goodness. We just went bomb bliss. We just blew it up. They Max protect because like you said, they went 20 protection. They brought two extra guys in. So now whatever you come with, they can pick it up.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

They.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They got seven protectors. Yeah, they got enough to hold it off because, you know, hey, you go here, you go here. They always go in bombs. In the bomb situation, they always gonna send one player deep, at least one you and you like, hold on, wait a minute. Damn, they can pick this up. Oh, Lord have mercy. Jesus. I'm out here by myself and this guy can still run. He might not run 4, 3 like he did coming out, but he can still get on his.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

He was running, but Vijay came to me. We just. Man, he was just excited, man. He was like, hey, man, you made a play, which you always do, man. I always, you know, come up and the clutch time I made the play, man, it was just. It was just crazy, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But, Matt, it's It's. People don't understand. It's a whole different animal playing the slot as opposed. Because the slot is he can go across the field and come back out. He can start out, come back in. He can go up the scene, he can go far across, he can go sail, he can go stop. He can do so many things. And like, you're playing like you're basing it on formation down in distance or where he is on the field. So you studied the game like, okay, in this formation, this down in distance, this area of the field, he likes to run this. And so you kind of play the. But you can't get too aggressive because if he options away from you.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Ah, you out of position.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

So, yeah, like. Like I said, we had two hook droppers. You can see in the video, you see Nick Bonito, he dropped. So I'm like, okay, even though we in zero, I can line up, like head up to outside right in a slot.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

You always. You got to pick a leverage because.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You two way go.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

You got to make sure, you know, okay, he can't come this way. And if he go this way, okay, I'm already. I'm already open to run. So that's what I would. I was head up to outside.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

If they threw anything quick, I knew I had my help defending logo help defend on the hook. So he kept running. You know, I just played outside leverage and gave him a little jab and I just ran with him. Just ran and like I said, just played through his hands, man. But he was rolling, man. He was rolling. The ball was a little bit on throw. He slowed down a little bit. That kind of helped me. But he just made a play.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When he showed you the ball also, Ocho and I was talking about it last night. If he lets it. If he lets that ball. Kind of like what Marvin Mims. Marvin let the ball go over, so now you gotta run through him. He opened up and allowed you.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

He kind of jumped in the air. He kind of jumped in the air. So it came like. It helped me.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes. Because Ocho, remember we talked about a lot of times when guys jump up in the air? That's how guys punch it out. Because you got no leverage. You're not grounded.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's why it's so easy to get the ball out. When a guy's up in the air. You see guys try to go up over a running back or wide receiver try to go up. It's easier because they don't have no stability. They're not on the ground. And you said when he jumps up. Okay, now, he ain't as strong as he would be if he was on the ground.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

He was on the ground. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And plus, he got a. I know one thing as a. If you play basketball, I know the guy. He's got to bring the ball up. So he got to bring it to me. Well, he got to bring it down because he gonna try to get it to his body. That's exactly what I'm. Opportunity. You bring it to your body. Yeah, I'm gonna shoot through, and I'm gonna get it.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, that's exactly what I did. Once he. He came down with that mug. I'm already in.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

In this. In his.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You in between? Yes.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, I'm already in the pocket.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

So he.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

He brought the football to me, and I just fell with him and ripped that thing.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

In those pressure situations like that especially, understand, it's cover zero. You on the island all by yourself. Most of the time, they've all got to come out short. But you got your hook. You got the hook. You got your hooks coming up, coming to help you out, right? Most of the ball. The ball got to come out fast, even though he had that step on you, and you got. You got to play catch up. How do you stop yourself from panicking in situations like that where, you know, you beat. Because that's the hardest thing for DBs, is when, you know, you gotta catch up. You lose all technique, and all you're doing is just running, just going. How were you able to keep yourself in a relaxed mind state to make that play? You did make.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Just reading them. The receiver, just reading him. Once he slowed down, I knew the ball, you know, was short, so I had to adjust to that. And you can see in the video, I kind of like, once he slowed down, I see them jumping. I kind of turn my head a little bit.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

And got my hand up in there. But, man, it's just. It's practice. It just takes practice, you know?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Receiver.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

And that's what. That's how you stay calm. Just.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, yeah. It's one. It's one thing to say it, right? It's one thing to say it, but, you know, I'm talking about games in practice. In practice, it's easy to stay calm and relaxed. But in the game time. In game time, you know, shoot, man. Well, you see it all the time, boy. Every. Every Sunday, we always. We always panic.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

We always talk to, like, force the receiver to make the catch. You know what I'm saying? Fight them all the Way to the ground. That's what I'm saying. Like, yeah, that's what I did. Just fighting my way to the ground and, you know, I just. The ball just so happened to be in my hand, but I was gonna get the ball out regardless.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

That's what I'm saying.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I was gonna get the ball out regardless.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And J. Mack. But here's the difference between practice and the game, because in practice, it's quiet and you hear them say, ball, ball, ball, ball. You start looking. Yeah. You can't hear Ish in the game. Yeah. They could be screaming, ball, ball, ball.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You ain't gonna hear.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You hear nothing. They might as well be just because you don't hear a thing.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, but he's just reading. He's just, like I said, just reading the. The. The receiver, man. He's gonna. He gonna tell you when the ball is right there.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

And.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

He jumped up in the air. He gave me all the signs that the ball was right there. So.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Did you watch any of the. Did you watch any of today's game between the Patriots and the Texans? Yeah.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What. What do you, what do you, what do you, what do you see? What, what do you see on film? What? I mean, they got to come there. Obviously, we bought. Everybody knows Bo Nixon's done for the year. You go with your backup, Jared Stidham, who at one point in time he was a starter. He started from Patriots, started for the Raiders. So now he's been. I think he's been there for like three years. I think he's been there two or three years. So you know what you go, you know what you're going up against. You're gonna have to do what you've done all year, play to your strength, but you're gonna have to do, you know, help. Help you help your young quarterback out, man.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, they got a good quarterback, good run game. They use. They roll off the. The running, play a runoff play action. Got a decent receiver core, man. But I haven't watched too much. I just watched the game. So I don't really know too much about them. But from baseball, I see I got a good run gamer. It's kind of helping them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, in the past game, you like watching you. If, if I'm playing a team, if I know that team is on our schedule, I can't watch them on TV copy. Because I would get a false sense if they played bad. I was like, oh, yeah, we about to run through these dudes. And if they play good, I'm like, oh my goodness. Lord have mercy. How we gonna score on these? So I never watched it. I just wanted to, hey, just give me the cut ups. Just give me a breakdown and I'll take it from there. So you actually watch a team that you're going to actually play? Do you, do you, do you get the TV copy to try to hear, you know, calls or anything like that cadence if you're going to come off the blitz or anything? Do you, do you watch the TV copy and try to pick up the sound? Because some guys, some defensive linemans obviously try to get the cadence of the quarterback.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I kind of watch the TV compreconto, like on the back end of the week, you know, I, I get my cutups first, I watch all my cut ups, first, second down early in the week and then the next day I might do the third down and do that. And then towards the later the week, closer to the game, I watch the TV copies because, you know, the commentators kind of give you a lot of information when you watch. They do, you know what I'm saying? And you pick up on little signs based on like chicks and you hand signals and stuff like that. And you know, how is this guy, does he like to hard count, you know, know what I'm saying? He just, you know, I'm reading everything his first reads, you know what I'm saying? I'm just listening to the commentary, seeing how the game flow, how they, how they, you know, the flow of the game is going. But I don't watch too much of the, the TV copy. I'm more of a cut up guy, you know, Right. Watching formations and things like that.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

So based on what you've seen so far, based on what you know about them, even though you haven't got into preparing for that game against them and is there anyone on the Patriots that you see might be able to give you fits on the opposite side of you or you feeling comfortable going to that game where it ain't nothing. I got this. I just have to be technically sound.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

And be disciplined with my eyes and I'm gonna be all right.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

When I always go into a game, like, man, if I just do what I do my job and right have my eyes where it's supposed to be and playoff technique, man, I feel like I just can't be beat. But that's how I feel.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I like it. I like it. I like it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You guys got tomorrow, if you got to go in and watch film, you got anything or you got tomorrow off.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

We go in for like A team meeting, but we don't do too much. It's like a regular week now. So go in team me, and then we have Tuesday off, and then we start back Wednesday, back at it.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I like, man, congratulations, man. I was that, man. I was. I said, man, if the Broncos lose this game after getting five. After getting five turnovers, I'm gonna lose my mind. I'm lose. Man, I was gonna lose my mind, but I Talked to Pat PS2 before the game, and I think you know now is that there are no insignificant plays in the postseason. Every play matters in the regular season. You might can brush a playoff in the first or second quarter, but you can't do that in the. In the postseason. I'll give you a prime example. You. I think it was the second quarter. You remember when Coleman dropped that ball in the end zone?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And people say, ooh, glad he dropped it because it was a penalty, but if he catches it, you guys are going to have to. Gonna have to accept the penalty. Now you give Josh Allen another crack at you. You see what he did, Ocho?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now, because he dropped it, we could decline the penalty instead of giving him another crack. To get seven, he had to settle for three. See, there are no insignificant plays. People, like, try to. Well, you know, it really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Come post season, every play matters. Talk to Sean, and I know Sean was. Sean told you guys, like, Sean, hey, you've been here. You know what it's like. You're like, yeah, we ready to play. We ready. And you guys. Matt, you guys got to put that away. They come out, you get the. You get the strip sack, bonito chopsy. You get the ball. You kick a field goal. Going into. Going. Going into the half, they get the ball. Benito hits him in the back. You get the ball in 19, put him away. You get a touchdown. Touchdown. There you put them away.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. Game over.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, that's. That's one thing about, like, NFL football, man. Like we. Like you said, we got the. The force fumble right before. Have three points and then come back. You know, force another fumble. And we done all this, and the game still closes. Like, still, like. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's a long game. It's a long game. NFL crazy. It's a long game. Playoff game is. The atmosphere is just crazy. It's different.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

The.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

The tempo is different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's ebb the flows.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I mean, it's a different. It's a different world.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, yeah, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That Stadium got so quiet when they took the lead because they got. They got a field goal, and then they came back and they took the lead and they made it 24 to 23. That might have been the quietest I've ever heard. Mile High. Because they're like, hold on, we got four turnovers. We were kicking the ish out of them the whole game. How they got the lead, that's would be.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

That's would be the crazy part. Like, man, like, you would think, like, if you don't even look at the scoreboard, you're just thinking, like, man, we.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We. We going. We own them.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Like, we own them.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Dominating. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Then we. Yo, we dominate them.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

And then they score one touchdown. It's like they right back in it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right back in it, man. Well, congratulations. That's one of the biggest plays in Bronco history in postseason play. Congratulations. Proud. I think you, a. Benito, gonna probably be AFC Defensive Player of the week. Benito got two force fumbles. You gotta pick. I don't know. It's gonna be out of you and Carlton Davis, but I think one of you guys gonna probably be the AOC Defensive player of the week. But congratulations, great season thus far. Hey, I'm trying to see y'. All.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Matt, I got a question.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Go ahead, Matt.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You hear me?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, I can hear you.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, if I was playing today, right?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Like, hypothetically speaking, if I was playing today. Game.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You think. You think you can cover me?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Of course. 100. 100.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

No, I'm being serious. This Ocho you talking to.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I know who I'm talking to. I know exactly who I'm talking to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I know.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I don't, you know, I don't watch them highlights before, you know.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You talking to J. Mac. You're a Bronco, bro. You know, we do.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I know, I know. Listen, I know. I know you're a Bronco, but I mean, I. I mean, he said he can cover me. I mean, you think he can cover me right now?

[Shannon Sharpe]

What?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Oo of course we can line up when.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Got him locked up. Won't let. Whatever.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

We could.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

We could do something. Listen, your whole. Your whole secondary can come get this work now. Ain't nothing wrong with my feet.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Hey, we ain't ducking nothing. The whole secondary.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

All right, I'm in Miami. Come on down here.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'll be down there.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I'll be down there. For real?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Fort Lauderdale.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

All right, Holl at me. After y'. All. After y'.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All hold that trophy up.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Yeah, I got you.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Are you nervous? Huh? I Can hear it in your voice.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Nervous?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I ain't never nervous. One thing about J. Mac.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

One thing about J. Mac. I don't care who I line up against.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Who?

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Anybody can get it.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hold on. This me now. This ain't.

[Tide Commercial Announcer]

This ain't them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I understand.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I'm the original talker. This me.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I know.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Don't do that.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

I know who you are. Okay, But I'm J. Mac.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, damn. Bronco country. Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, hey. Have a good one, boy. Man, I salute you, man. I salute you.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Appreciate y'.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

All.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Congratulations, man. Great week. Keep it going, man. Hey, one more. We. We so close. One more. Appreciate it, man. Thanks for joining us.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yes, sir.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Appreciate it. Juan McMillan. Denver Broncos. The Patriots beat the Texans by the score of 28 to 16 to reach the AFC Championship game. New England earned their first AFC Champions trip since 2018, except for Clash with the Denver Broncos. I don't know. It always comes down to, you know, Peyton and. And Tom.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The victor keeps alive a 15 year streak with every AFC title game since 2011 has featured either the Patriots or the Chief. The last without them was Pittsburgh over the jets in 2010. C.J. stroud had arguably his worst game of his three year career, throwing four interceptions in the first half. He finished with 20 of 47, 202, 212 yards and a quarterback rating of 28. Stroud score reception in the first half tied for the most in a playoff game since at least 2000. CJ Stroud passer rating was 28. Ocho. If he had taken the snap and just backed up and threw it into the ground, his quarterback rating would have been 39.6.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey. Yep. That was embarrassing. That was embarrassing. You can't. You can't do. You got the best defense in the NFL. You got the best defense in the NFL. You, you. You got away with it last week and you watch film all week. All right. I can't go into this game. I understand the importance of this game. I can't do one thing. I can't put the ball in harm's way. I can't turn the ball over. I just can't. And the watch film to understand that. You. You got by. By the grace of God and you come back in this game and you still do. Oh, come on now. You got the best defense that can take you all the way to Santa Clara. All I have to do as the quarterback of this team is don't put the ball in harm's way.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Don't turn it over.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

That's it. I mean, it sounds easy, obviously, sitting here on the goddamn, you know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, it's not. I would have thought he learned his lesson Monday night. Ocho, we talked about it. Come on. We talked about it. Ocho, he fumbled four times. He got. They got two of them back.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So he had two fumbles and two picks, right? Or would he have two fumbles and one pick? What did he have on Monday? But he got seven turnovers in two games.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ocho, this is what Troy Aikman said on the broadcast. CJ Stroud has been chasing his rookie success for the last two years. He's not been the same player. We've not seen the development from him. There's a reason for that, and it needs to be addressed. Now, when Shannon said C.J. stroud has not been the same since his rookie year. What they say, Ocho, go ahead and tell them because they. What they say. What they say about when he. When. When I say CJ has not been the same.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

They say you hating.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Huh?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

They say you hating.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You hating. Where is that energy for the white quarterbacks? Now, what y' all say about Troy? Maybe because Troy played the quarterback position. And I give. You know what? I give you that, right? He played at an elite level. The guy with a Super Bowl MVP led a team to three Super Bowls. So if you want to say, well, Shannon Troy know more about that position, I'll concede that. But all he said was the same, exact same thing that I said. It was just a different voice. You see, C.J. stroud, he got intoxicated by the success that he had. Listen at him talk. He. This man said his rookie season, he was one of the five best quarterbacks in the NFL as a rookie. Yeah, he was going on everybody platform. He that guy. He that guy. And he's regressed every year. But y' all don't want to have real conversations. Y' all want. Y' all want us to. Because before, well, we. You wanted guys like Ocho and myself, guys that played the game, guys that played the game at an elite level. But then when we tell you the harsh truth, well, oh, word. That energy. I said something today on y'. All. I said, think about this. Think about. I said, chad, think about this. If we want to debate Peyton and Tom, Joe Montana and Patrick Mahomes. Okay, we could critique that. I say think about this here. Y' all talking about Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Neither guy has won a championship. And now we're debating who's turned the ball over the most in A playoff game, Let that sink in. Something we've never done before. We're not talking about championships where we can compare. You want to compare LeBron? Well, LeBron got four championships, Kobe got five. LeBron got four MVPs, Kobe got one, LeBron got four Finals MVPs, Kobe got two. Kobe's been the 19 have 19 All Star. LeBron has 21 All Star game MVP. If you want to debate that, we can have a conversation, but since when do we debate guys that don't have a championship? We start baking, we start picking apart. We, well, one guy turned the ball over four times, the other guy turned it over three. One guy turned it over three, the other guy turned over two. When do we start doing that?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oo, no, because there's nothing, there's nothing else to talk about. You have to pull something out the air to, to, to, to create dialogue, to, to tell the difference between two quarterbacks that haven't won a championship yet. Not back, back to the C.J. stroud thing. I, I, I want to have a better understanding on why he's regressing the way he is. Is it the coaching? Is it all, is it is OC is gone. I mean, from his rookie year, what, what can it be? What is the issue behind it? Because he has, yes, he has a great supporting cast around him offensively, where the struggles that he's having, he shouldn't be having them. One of the best chances as far as that window for them and having the opportunity to compete for Lombardi Trophy was this year. Having the defense that they do have. Yes, this was, this was the year.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I, I, I, I, I just, I just don't understand. He's been very inconsistent. He's been, you know, up and down. He has good games. Didn't he have a string that are bad? It had you, it leaves you scratching your head. Based on, on the standard in which he set from his rookie season, you expect him to continue to, to get better and keep chopping wood. Keep chopping wood. Sophomore year, okay, it's a little shaky. Okay. We can live with that. We know going into your third year, maybe things will continue to get better. And you build off some of, some of the things that you've seen that have been mistakes you learn from and you don't do them again. But now those, those same mistakes are continuously happening, those same intercessions, those same fumbles. That clock in your head has to go off sometime. As a quarterback, understanding when you got to get rid of the ball, knowing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When is he Getting better? Or is he talking about getting better? Because here's the thing now, see, it's kind of like winking in the dark. You know what you're doing, but nobody else does. You can tell us whatever you want to tell us. We have no choice but to believe you because we're not there in your most private moments. But that's not what the work says.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

But I. I will say this. I will say this. You don't get. You don't have the success he's had. You don't get to where he's gotten to and done some of the things he's done in his career without putting in the work.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ocho, how many guys got to the NFL? There've been a lot of guys that had great college careers. We've seen a lot of guys have great one years. Yeah. The trick is to do. Ocho, if you go to the Pro bowl one time, man, didn't nobody know you had that in you. But now, can you go back again?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Can you go back again? Can you go back again? When they build a game plan to stop you, Ocho, can you still have success? Okay, so now you have the outstanding rookie season. What you gonna do about it in your sophomore year?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, you gotta, you gotta keep.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What about your junior season?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You got to keep building.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Are you gonna talk about it or you gonna be about it?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Come on now. Damn, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, sometimes you have to have. You have to have real hard conversation about these guys. Like I said, I came in the league in 1990, so that means I've seen a lot of quarterbacks. I saw Mahomes, I saw Brady, I saw Manning, I saw Rivers, I saw Roethlisberger. I've seen a lot of quarterbacks. I've never, ever since 1990. So that's about 37 years of being in the NFL and covered. I've never heard a rookie quarterback talk as much as this young man did after success that he enjoyed in one season. I've never.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You know. You know, you know, it's funny. So it's hard. It's hard for me to, to be able to give my context and perspective on what he said because most of the time, the times that I've heard him talk, it's obviously God fearing God. So I, I haven't seen or heard some of the things you might have heard. So it's hard for me to get my piece on that. But I just, I just don't understand what the issue and why is as good as he is, as, as, as great of a throw of the football that he is having Nico Collins and having some of the other weapons when.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nico was out today. Ocho.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, I'm just saying in general.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Yeah. Overall. Yeah. But he had Nico the large part of the season. Yes. Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

During the season. I'm just, I, I just, I don't understand.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think what you're saying.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Maybe next year we got Tank Dale coming back. You got, you got Tank. Tank. One hell of a player. Un. Yeah, Tank is one hell of a player and he, he changes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hopefully he can come back. That was a gruesome injury.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oo yeah, it be back though.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That was a gruesome.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oo it was, it was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But, and then if he comes back, it's still going to take another year for him to get his timing and his legs. He been rehabbing all this time.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He ain't training.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. I, I, ah, I hate. My bad. Excuse me. Sorry about that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, you're good.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I hate, I, I hate stuff like that. Just could you, you understand how, how that position is scrutinized? Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

In general and, but you also understand why they get 60 million a year.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Come on now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Look at your Brady's.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Look at your Mannings. Look at your Jacksons. Lamar, Lamar this year going, chalk it up the injury. He was injured, he was in and out. And when he came back, he wasn't the same Lamar. But you go back and look at Lamar's track record.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Lamar.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Lamar is proven commodity. You look at it his first year, his, he started like six games. They make the playoffs. He come back the next year, he wins the mvp.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You look at my homeboy and it's, maybe it's unfair because Everybody in their second year, third year, not winning MVPs. Everybody can't have the level of success that Lamar Jackson has had.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Patrick Mahomes has had. Drake may have in the running for the MVP in his second year, could win. I think Matthew Stafford's gonna win that. He's in the discussion, right? Only in year two.

[Jaquan McMillan (Denver Broncos Cornerback)]

Says a lot.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Yes. Now maybe we look at the coordinator who's coaching him. What's he teaching him? And is he, is he, is he, is he processing? Is he learning what he's being taught? Because we've seen coaching matters. We look at Mac Jones when he had a Josh McDaniel and we look at Mac Jones when he had the other guys in his ear.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We look at cable on chess on. Now that he's here with Brable, he looked like a different player than what he was with the Jags.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Coaching matters. Systems matter. Organizations matter. Sam Darnold. TA da. Those things matter. So I would ask d'. Ameco. Look at you off. Who's coaching him? The quarterback who's in his ear? O.C. he's regressed. He has not gotten better. He has not. And you cannot convince anybody that's watched him his rookie year and watched him sophomore and junior year that says that C.J. stroud has gotten better at anything than what he was as a rookie.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, and I, I, I don't understand it, you know, from the outside looking in. I'm not in that building. All I get to see is I get to see the finished product like everybody else in the chat. I get to see him on Sundays, obviously, playing that position, you understand the work that has to go in to improve from your rookie year to your sophomore to your junior year. And for some reason, things haven't. It just. It just. Just hadn't done that. Now, the one thing that, that we can't hoop and holl about is a goddamn defense over there in Houston. Huh? That, that's, that's one of the best if, if not the best in NFL outside of the goddamn Seahawks and the goddamn Broncos.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Can you imagine? Could you imagine understanding? I'm just, I'm putting myself in C.J. stroud's shoes, me having a defense like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Just don't F it up.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I ain't got all I got to do. I don't gotta. I ain't gotta mess it up. I mean, it sounds easy, you know, but obviously. Oh, man, that's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's Ocho. How about just not Ocho? Look at the plays that he was turning the ball over on, though. Ocho. Yeah. What was complex? What was complex or overly complicated about that? No, just don't throw it to the other team. Hold on to the damn ball. They would have won this game if, if the Texans could have got those scooping scores like they got against Pittsburgh, they'd won this game. Yeah, they, they. Drake may fumble twice. He only lost two. He fumbled four times. What if one of those or two of those, they scooping scores, scores? Yeah, like we saw against Pittsburgh. They got a scooping score and they got a pick six.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Changes everything.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It changes everything. But when you got a defense like that, you don't have to do much. You don't.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Ah, he just.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He, he, he. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe he goes to A. Whitfield or he go to Tom House or he goes to someone, but whomever is in his ear currently. Oh, you can't regress like that. Yeah, you can't. Now, I. I promise you, we got to have real oo. They're having real conversations. Do we extend this guy for 300 million or do we make him play? Oh, do we just pick up that fifth year option and make sure he plays year four? 300 million. Or play out year four and we pick up year five.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

That's that. Oh, that's. See, that's one. I wouldn't want to be Nick Sicaria. Is it security?

[Shannon Sharpe]

No. You said you want to be a gm. You said you wanted to be Matt Ryan. That's what you said, Chad. Did he not say that? Why. Don't. Why The Bengals should call me. One of these teams should call me. So now here you are. You're a gm.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

So. Okay, I'm the GM of the. Of the Houston Texans right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Do. Do I. I pick up. Do I pay Cday Stroud? What? 300 million.

[Shannon Sharpe]

300 million.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

So do I pick up the fifth year option and. And make him prove himself one more year?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. That.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I'm. I'm. I'm. I'mma take option two.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'mma pick.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I'mma pick up that fifth year. I'm making. Prove himself next year?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

And then boom. Okay, you know what? You're the future for the next 10 years. I got you. Let's go. I can do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean. I mean, both guys were just like up the joint for a long time. I mean, oo. If you go back and think about it, Drake May got three touchdowns, but two boot touchdown and Stefan Diggs. I don't know how they held on to that. I still don't know how Stefan Diggs. Stefan Diggs was looking at his damn hand like, how did I. How did I hold on to that? What the hell? Yeah. Boot in those. In that ele. In those elements. He caught the ball with one hand against Stingley Jr. Yeah, he had him beat.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

And you know what? That was great coverage by Stingley, but great.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

A perfect ball placed will be great, great coverage any day.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, absolutely.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

That was perfect. Perfect ball placement. Ain't nobody nobody.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A perfect shot beats a. Beats a perfect defense. I don't care how. Oh, you see, we've seen Kobe and Steph and LeBron and Jordan. All these guys, the defender. I mean, bro, how you. First of all, how you kd. How you even see the basket? We watched Steph Ocho. We watched stuff last year at the Olympics. Yeah, I mean 24 at the Olympics. And you're like, hold on, wait a minute. Batun. And these guys are basically in the job, bro. How you making shots from 35 like that?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Like it ain't nothing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ain't nothing you could do. We've seen the hottest hitters and a pitch. Come pick the perfect placement. Ain't nothing you could do. That was a perfect throw, Booty. Ha ha. Survive. Oh, guess what? He caught the ball. He survived the contact from the ground.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

He got up with it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That is a catch. Yeah, but this defense, at some point in time. Ocho, you can't pay everybody on that defense now. Oh, Will Anderson Jr. Contracts up. What you gonna do with him?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hold on. That's what I'm getting ready for.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's a three time. Hey, I think he's gone to what, three Pro Bowls. Yes, two or three Pro Bowls. He's all pro this year. He's gonna be probably a top 20 of the top 100 players. He's probably gonna be in the top 20. Okay, CJ. If you get CJ 300. Oh, you just saw what a miles Gary got. You just saw what Michael Parsons got. And he younger than Michael Parsons.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you're gonna have to be looking at to give him 190, 200. Oh, you just paid Stingley and you paid the other guy. Alaska on the other side. Petrie.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Wait, wait, no, Lassiter. Petri Bullock. Hey, this was their year, man. Hey, they got a squad, man. They got them. Hey, Shazir. Shazir is up. Or he still. He got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I. I think Shazir might be up too.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, they got a squad, man. Yes, this was their year, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Look, they. They've taken care. They've taken care of Scholz, they've taken care of Nico. Huh? Stingley, they. Lassiter. Didn't they take care of Lassiter?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

No lesser. Only in his second year, ain't he?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, is he? Yeah, he only said what about Petrie?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I'm not. I'm not sure. I'm not sure about Petrie. All them, boy, man. Hey, God, wait. Hey, could you imagine? Could you imagine if I was out there at the quarterback? Quarterback at Houston?

[Shannon Sharpe]

What? Huh? Hey, I called Josh Mc. I call Mike McDaniel. Ocho blue, baby.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, that's a good one for the oc.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, oh, hold on. I. I'd rather. I mean, honestly, I like. I like. I like the idea. I like where you're going with it, but I prefer. I Prefer goddamn Mike McDaniel over there in Detroit because he has more to play with. Yeah, he has more tools to play with. He got more tools in his toolbox and that kind of offense. And it's, it's basically what he's already used to running. I like what you talk about though. I like that. I like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Check this out. This is what d' Amico said. He never considered benching cj. CJ is our guy. I believe that he could come back out in the second half and flip it. I believe that he could come play better. And, and he did that in the second half. He did play better. We had some positive drive there in the second half. I believe that we would do that. And. And he did that. As I always tell our guys at halftime, it really doesn't matter what happened in the first half.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, it's a two half game, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is two half game.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You can sting it up the first half and come back and look all world in the second.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep, yep. But it's in a game like this, it's hard to overcome four turnovers.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

In the first half. The only thing that saved them is it was that Drake May was throwing picks and fumbling the football. Yeah, that's what kept him in the ball game. And they needed their defense to get some scooping scores or some pick sixes like they got against Pittsburgh. And they had one. The guy tried to pick it up in that area of the field. You got to just jump on it.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Jump on it?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, just jump on it.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Trying to be. Trying to play hero.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Will Anderson Jr. Got one out and he almost had it between his leg. And then Campbell jumped on that one. That could have been another one that could have led to points. Maybe a touchdown, maybe a field goal. We don't know. Yeah, but there are some opportunities there for the defense. But it's just hard when your offense puts your defense on short fields and puts you. It keeps putting you in harm's way because I don't care how great you are. That's what we had to learn at the 2000 Ravens.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

As great as our defense were, if we kept putting them on short fields with a guy, oh, they gonna score. All they got to do is just kneel down and kick a field goal.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And then a busted player, a broken tackle, that's a touchdown. Make them drive 70, 80. You weren't driving 70, 80 on that defense. Not that year. I don't believe a team is going to consistently drive 70, 80 yards on that Houston Texas defense.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Nah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The only thing that would harm them or would put Them in harm's way. Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Turnovers, offense turning the ball over.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And the Patriots, hey, they got their hands on the ball. Gonzalez got it out from Woody Martin. Carlton Davis had two outstanding things.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, they intercessible night. Hey, Carlton Davis. Carlton Davis played a little receiver. Boy, he must have played a little receiver back in the day.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Those guys. Those guys played well. They did a great job. Anthony Jennings had a sack. Sangha has Tonga had a sack. Caleb on, Chase on had a sack. They got. They put pressure on him, but, man, Will Anderson Jr. Was playing out his mind. Three sacks. Danielle Hunter, two sacks. Countless pressures.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Hey, they. They supposed to come away.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, Ocho, your defense do that for you? You. You. Hey, five sacks.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You supposed to repay the favor, though. But you know what's funny is them five sacks, the. The full turnovers, counters. It evens everything out. Yes, it even. It evens everything out.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. And the thing is, the. The reason why it was a close ball game is that like you said, one team had had five, what, five turnovers? No, they had no. Woody Marks lost. Yeah. Woody Mark and four. So that's five turnovers. And the other team had three turnovers.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

It's crazy, but I.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But look, I gotta try something because something is going on with my quarterback, and I believe he's the. If I'm d', Amico. This is how I'm thinking. I'm d' Ameco Ryan. My quarterback is not the same as he was in his rookie season. Now, I need to know why. I'm not. I'm gonna. I'm. I'm not gonna leave a stone unturned. Yeah, I'm gonna scour heaven and earth. Maybe he needs to get an O.C. maybe he needs somebody else in his ear.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You know, I don't know what it is. They need to do something, because when C.J. stroud missed a few games, David Mills came in and kept their head above water. David Mills came in and kept that Houston Texans offense above water until C.J. st. Got back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He did.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

So if David Mills can do it and look the way he looked in such a short amount of time, I'm sure CJ Stroud can come back and do it. I'm not sure if his confidence may be shot a little bit. Maybe they need to have a different approach and to get it. Him getting him in rhythm. Stop having plays that are so long. Stop having plays that require play action. I don't. I. I don't know. I don't know. You know, that team d' Amico they understand with CJ Strouts, CJ Stroud strengths are as a quarterback and they understand what his weaknesses are. You need to make sure you play to his strengths and hide his weaknesses the best way you can until you can make his weaknesses a part of his strength. And, and that, that, that takes years and years and years of, of working at your craft to do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. What today was the, the. The AFC championship game in 97. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that was 97. We. I think we did pick off Cordell a couple of times. What did we pick him up? Three times.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Two times you played against Cordell Stewart.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

When he was with the Steelers.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Huh?

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, three times. Yeah. Well, I think they know he. Cause one year Cordell. I think it might have been that year Cordell finished like second or third in the MVP voting. Who won the MVP in 97? Barry and Brett far tied. Brett wanted three years in a row. 96, 95, 96, 97. Yeah. And then TD wanted in 98. And then. Kurt Warner won it in 2000. 99. And I think Marshall won it in 2000. And then Kurt wanted again in 01.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

I think, I think with the Rams.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Huh? Nah. Rich Gannon. Yeah. I think Kurt 1 in 01. I think Rich 1 in A. Rich 1 in O2.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

That's what. What, the Raiders.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah. We're Jerry and Tim.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Yeah. But Houston, you got too much talent. Don't. Don't squatted this. You got to find out what's going on with C.J. because you're about to have to invest a boatload of money in him. So you might want to make sure everything is on the. That you got. You, you. You give him the best tools possible from an offensive perspective as a coordinator and a quarterback coach to make sure you're maximizing his ability. Yeah. After the game, several fans posted Stroud's infamous post game moments with Kayla Williams from week two of last season. Stroud big brother Williams despite. Despite them being the same age and told Caleb stop taking those big hits. And then it would be a hell of a player in NFL. Well, he ain't lie. Williams did not look at all interested in what Stroud had to say since that moment. C.J. stroud 5,795 yards, 34 touchdowns, 18 picks. Caleb Williams, 6,612 yards, 48 touchdowns, 12 picks.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Tough.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He tried. He just tried to look out. He just tried to look.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

You know, that, that was, that was a genuine moment too from, from. From two players obviously knowing each other before they even made it to the NFL. Just give me some. Because you know how they were giving Caleb crap.

[Shannon Sharpe]

From California, from la? No, I'm saying Caleb is from the dmv.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

They know each other. Come on, now. I'm talking about from college. I'm not talking about when.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You'Re saying.

[Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.