Hour 1: Wild Card Weekend Recap

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode Title: Hour 1 – Wild Card Weekend Recap
Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: ESPN New York

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Overview

This episode recaps an exhilarating NFL Wild Card Weekend, with a specific focus on the wild momentum shifts, upsets, and the looming implications for both teams and coaches—especially in New York. The hosts, with their signature mix of passionate fandom and seasoned analysis, break down the games, playoff narratives (parity vs. greatness), and engage in spirited debates over coaching futures, especially the candidacy of John Harbaugh. The hour is fast-paced, humorous, and full of the kind of energy New York sports fans thrive on.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wild Card Weekend Recap & Parity in the NFL

• Thrilling slate: Most games were compelling minus one dud (“only last night’s game...didn’t really have sizzle”—Peter, 00:21).
• Parity as a double-edged sword:
  • Don: Parity creates entertaining, unpredictable games but may diminish historic “great team” narratives.
  • Alan: “We don’t like it where everybody’s kind of the same...But the Big Four is great in the playoffs because of parity.” (03:22)
  • Peter: Later-round risk—“some hackle doodle do finding their way to a championship.” (04:09)
• “Four out of six games that are classics. That is the byproduct of parity.” –Don (03:56)

2. Standout Games and Players

• Bears-Packers classic: Dramatic comeback, key for discussions of Caleb Williams’ performance and coaching adaptation (13:36–16:23).
  • “Caleb Williams has been a real, big-time, fourth quarter, clutch gene kind of quarterback.”—Peter (15:18)
• Bills narrowly advance: Mixed feelings—are they truly championship-caliber?
  • “The Bills look incomplete...Allen is great but getting beat up. It just seems like this is going to be a really hard test for them…” —Alan (04:59)
  • Ending interception gave Bills fans rare calm. (07:43)
• Eagles’ collapse: Underachieved offensively, locker room drama, relief among hosts at their elimination.
  • “Their offense has zero imagination whatsoever. And somehow they’ve been finding ways to win despite all the things you hate about them.”—Alan (12:34)
  • “Good. The Eagles are out.” —Peter (13:03)
• Patriots defensive clinic: Held Chargers to 3 points, best single-game playoff defensive mark of the Belichick era (17:34–18:42).

3. Quarterback Play, Playoff Experience, & Coaching Quality

• Josh Allen as Mahomes 2.0?—Can Allen individually “will” the Bills through the playoffs? (09:47–10:24)
  • “He can Mahomes this. Mahomes has made runs without superior talented rosters.”—Peter (09:47)
• Playoff experience debate:
  • Top seeds (Seattle, Denver) questioned due to inexperienced QBs.
  • Contradictions as “experienced” QBs like Hurts are out.
• Coaching impacts: Bears’ resilience attributed to Ben Johnson’s steadiness; contrast with Giants/Jets’ recent collapses from poor adjustments (16:23–17:31).
  • “When you’re pacing back and forth...team’s going to lose. And what is Johnson...Don’t panic. Let’s not get out of our game, man.”—Don (17:09)

4. Playoff Scheduling & TV Decisions

• Intricate debate on what makes a “sexy” primetime playoff matchup (Rams–Bears vs. Steelers–Patriots), and how TV networks and markets shape the bracket (19:04–21:54).

5. NFL Coaching Carousel – Spotlight: John Harbaugh

• Harbaugh Watch:
  • Giants’ process dissected vis-à-vis the Rooney Rule; discomfort at the “box-checking” feel of some interviews (29:00).
    • “It literally feels, like, offensive. You’re like, oh, well, they got that out of the way. Yeah, well, that’s not the point.”—Alan (28:18)
    • Possibility of Harbaugh, Stefanski, Antonio Pierce, or even potential surprises (Mike Tomlin) after playoff outcomes.
• Harbaugh’s leverage: Fielding calls from multiple teams; will narrow down serious interviews after phone conversations (39:11–40:37).
  • “He’s talking to everybody. And then he’ll pare it down to like two or three teams.”—Don (40:37)
• Eagles’ Nick Sirianni debate:
  • Don is highly critical (“not a championship caliber [coach]...riding the wave of talent and great coordinators”—34:17), Peter less convinced, Alan notes Sirianni isn’t beloved in Philly (35:47).

6. Notable Fan and Listener Calls

• Bills discussion: A caller argues Buffalo is peaking defensively; hosts agree the window is open, with Don noting the lack of a “classic great Bills team” but also “not a great league right now.” (42:06–44:15)
• AFC North future: Possible coaching dominoes if Tomlin leaves Pittsburgh, with Harbaugh’s considerations influenced by team QB situations (45:17–47:04).

7. Fun & Memorable Moments: Music, NYC Culture, and Humor

• Running jokes around theme music (“game show” vibes; Don not recognizing iconic New York rap beats—25:33–26:43).
• Alan and Peter teasing Don about his unfamiliarity with hip-hop staples (“If you were to play it in a room full of like 30- to 50-year-olds, everyone would rap along to this song.”—Alan, 26:15)
• Recurring banter and classic self-aware asides: “That is the vibe [the music]’s supposed to give.” —Alan (41:56)
• Lighthearted ribbing of each other and management (“I didn’t listen to anything you just said.” —Alan, recurring, 25:20, 41:14)

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Four out of six games that are classics. That is the byproduct of parity.” —Don LaGreca (03:56)
• “I feel pretty good about the 4 and 1, but...if I get Houston tonight, which Don has basically made impossible, him going 6–0 would be unheard of.” —Alan Hahn (02:07)
• “Don is just killing it, by the way... You might as well just hand him the trophy.” —Peter Rosenberg (01:38)
• “If this is the year for Buffalo, it’s not because they’re a classic team—it’s just not a great league right now.” —Don LaGreca (44:08)
• “That was a hell of a game, dude.” —Don LaGreca on Bears–Packers (14:41)
• “It literally feels, like, offensive...that’s not the point [about the Rooney Rule box checking].” —Alan Hahn (28:18)
• “I definitively don’t think that Sirianni is loved. I’m sure today is a mess, an awesome mess on Philadelphia radio.” —Alan Hahn (35:47)
• “He [Harbaugh]’s talking to everybody. And then he’ll pare it down to like two or three teams. He’ll go to their facility and talk to them and take seriously. He’s not going to take everybody seriously.” —Don LaGreca (40:37)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Wild Card Weekend Recap & Betting Results – 00:21–02:40
• Parity Debate & Game Outcomes – 02:41–04:47
• Buffalo Bills Analysis – 04:59–07:43; 42:06–44:41 (caller segment)
• Major Game Breakdowns (Eagles, Bears-Packers, Patriots-Chargers)—13:36–18:42
• Josh Allen/Mahomes Debate – 09:47–10:24
• Coaching Carousel & Harbaugh Watch – 27:44–41:10
• Eagles/Sirianni’s Credibility – 33:24–36:38
• Music, Humor, and NY Culture – 25:33–27:54; 41:23–41:58

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Final Thoughts

• The hosts blend humor, insight, and strong opinions—providing not just game analysis but also broader commentary on NFL structures, coaching searches, and the endemic anxiety/excitement of being a New York sports fan.
• The conversations around parity, coaching, and team trajectories set the stage for a dramatic playoff run and off-field drama, making this episode essential listening for fans following the twists of postseason football and the Giants’ hunt for a new coach.

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For listeners seeking the hottest takes and sharpest analysis of Wild Card Weekend—with an unmistakable New York edge—this episode delivers.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

Don, I had never seen holes like that before.

[Don LaGreca]

Han.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not comfortable touching it. I'm not. No.

[Podcast Announcer]

And Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not breastfeeding.

[Caller]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

But I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's too bad.

[Alan Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Caller]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Podcast Announcer]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, here we go. On a football Monday, one of the last. I mean these are fading fast, fellas. With Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg, I'm Alan Hahn. 800-9193776 But I'll tell you what, sometimes wild card weekend can go and you're like, these games sucked. We've had some bad ones. Even though it's a lot of football, only last night's game was the one that didn't really have sizzle every one of them.

[Alan Hahn]

I guess you're right. That was it. Right? Because even. Because I at halftime of Bears Packers, I go to see Natalie who's watching tv and I go, good news, Hunter. I think we'll be able to watch a movie tonight. I said, this is not looking like I'm gonna be watching all that cuz I'm thinking it's gonna go till midnight so I won't be able to hang out with you at all. So good news about 213 is we could fire up a movie. Which. Which of the Golden Globe movies want to watch?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

And then I was like, let me watch the beginning of the second half and see what happens. And you could just start to quickly feel the momentum going the wrong way for the packers or the right way. Or the right way. If you had six points on the Bears, you. I mean you talk about being lucky. Don Allen's six pointer was the Bears now. Now you and I both had the Bears, but I didn't have that many. I forget what. I had three on them. Something like that. And so you were sweating.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You had three on them. Don had a big five on. Don is just killing it by the way. Yes. Don right now is 5 for 5 with tonight if the Texans find a way to win. Not only is like just ruins my whole weekend, but Don just you. You might as well just hand him the trophy.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you. The thing is though, what a weekend for further.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You did you by the way, four and one. Not bad. Yeah, not bad.

[Alan Hahn]

To four and one. That's pretty good now, now, especially for someone who hasn't been able to pick their nose all year. I feel pretty good about the 4 and 1, but. But Alan, even if I get Houston tonight, which Don has basically made impossible because him going six zero would be unheard of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is six points.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like not only a five and oh. But his. If he nails the six pointer right now.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, listen, it's. Don's already finished everybody off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's a 21 point weekend. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

No, so that's tough to deal with. But it, but, but from your perspective, Alan, even if I get it, I still only picked up like three points on you this weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not a huge deal because you got everything else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I just need to.

[Don LaGreca]

And time be running out. But little message to Anthony Pusick. Oh. Since he likes to bet against us and I sent this to the group threaded and nobody responded.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I appreciated it though greatly.

[Don LaGreca]

What do you say that I. I bet the Steelers because I'm not going to go six zero and if there's ever one that I do get wrong, it's my allotted three point play and this is the equivalent of a three point play, this point play. So if I'm a Steeler and if I'm Danny in Long island, if I'm my buddy Carmine, your Steelers are advancing, man. I can't imagine I'm going to go six zero. But we talk so much about parody and, and I think Al and I are in the same boat. We don't like it where everybody's kind of the same. Big four is great playoffs because of the, because of the parody. Now you've got games that are completely up for grabs and four of these five games have been brilliant. The first three played the team that won with trailing at the two minute warning and Philadelphia had the ball driving for what would have been the game winning score and came up short on fourth down. So to be able to get even if it's a blowout to many. Four out of six games that are classics. That is the byproduct of parody. So that is the. I think Allen is a guy that's against parity where it does show. I understand the more handsome side of it is in the playoffs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I agree with that. When it comes to the early part of the playoff, what I worry about is when we get later on and we get, you know, some hack, as Peter would say, a hackle doodle do finding their way to a championship game.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we don't really as I'm looking, I mean who's, who's a hack team that's. Well, that's, that's still alive. Right. Like, like the Panthers Gave you a look, give them credit. They gave you a fight.

[Alan Hahn]

But oh, they give you a great fight. They easily could have won that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I Bills, Broncos, Niners, Seahawks, Rams, Bears, Steelers and we'll see what happens tonight. And the Patriots like these. This is. These are so, so quality teams.

[Alan Hahn]

So what happens? So if the Steelers win. Oh, so it's Patriots just awaiting the winner. The winner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, that'll play the winner.

[Alan Hahn]

Sorry. The way the bracket set up again is stupid and weird. So. So the Bills do worry me for the same reason I picked Jacksonville. I worry about Buffalo against the Broncos. And this is what could make the Bills extra thrilling if they were able to go on a run and win. The whole thing is they just look incomplete. Right? Like they just don't look fully like the best version of the Bills that was going toe to toe with Kansas City. Every year they don't see their weapons aren't quite the same. Allen is great but, but, but getting beat up. It just seems like this is going to be a really hard test for them that Denver defense now should they get past Denver and now Phillies out of the tournament. You got to start really dreaming about this has to be the year for Buffalo.

[Don LaGreca]

It really should be. Right. It's right there for him. And my theory of experience really took a hit. Right. Because Hertz is out. Allen need a last second touchdown. Stafford needed a last second touchdown. Remember, they were the patsies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

So I don't know who you feel good about, honestly. I guess one thing I say is whoever wins the championship. Well, I guess we'll see. Yeah, we're being unfair to the one seeds, right? Seattle and Denver because of the inexperience at quarterback in the postseason. Knicks only last year. Sam is experience was also last year and not good. But we'll see what those teams look like coming off the by trying to get healthier.

[Alan Hahn]

But man, it's not even. We all agree it's so not sexy just seeing the names Seattle and Denver because you think about that super bowl here and just go I'm good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's not. But. But that Seattle, Denver at least had Legion of boom and Peyton Manning.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like it's a lot different.

[Alan Hahn]

But this is like. But led to a terrible game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe.

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe this TEMU version though with less star players would lead to a better football game in the end because it couldn't be worse.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that game was.

[Alan Hahn]

Sorry, go ahead.

[Don LaGreca]

But all we're looking for is competition within the season. Right. Because I think the ship sailed on whoever win the championship this year as being a classic. That's. That's over way the historic value of the 25 championship, that whoever comes out of this is going to be a deserving champion, but history is not. Look finely at how great a team they are. Like you just said, if Buffalo could very easily win the super bowl, this team pales in comparison to the teams that came up short in recent years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, listen, it's all the worst Bills.

[Don LaGreca]

Team in the last decade and this might.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they should have lost. Honestly, they should have lost that game.

[Don LaGreca]

Who?

[Alan Hahn]

The Bills? Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I mean, Jacksonville still had some time.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no. Shout out to the Bills fans. I'm sure we'll hear from some today. 1-800-919-3776 Bills fans, you got to have a relatively calm ending for what we're used to these days. The interception to end it. Like, I was sure the drive was coming.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was like, all right, I didn't love the throw. Gotta be honest with you.

[Alan Hahn]

No, me neither.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't love that choice. But it was a great defensive play in the end.

[Alan Hahn]

And if you were a Bills fan, you got to chill out for the last two minutes, which relative to these other games, having two minutes apiece at the end is pretty good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was like a minute, wasn't it? It was pretty late.

[Alan Hahn]

No, wasn't it? Wasn't it? Oh, no, no. It went down to a little over a minute. But they only need field goal range. Yes, they only. So you're thinking they got into the. Oh, they got into. It's Jacksonville too. So they got to get to what, the 45. You're talking about two good completions and they're kicking a field goal and instead you get the pick and so you miss.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you could argue that that's one where it's like as much as you want to say, you know what, look at the Bills, look what they did. I still want to fight back and say, look, Jacksonville, who had won, was it eight straight, right. Going in?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they really look like they had figured things out. They have. They're well coached and you know, it was a bad throw at the end, but he has to put on the cape and win the game.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And do you think like week after week, though, he's just going to keep doing this, or is the deeper you go, the better competition, more experienced companies, whatever it is, they will find a way to make sure that he can't put on the cape and beat you?

[Alan Hahn]

If the theory of playoff experience is a thing at all. They have a great situation this weekend against a 1 seed in Denver who does not have near the experience. So they get a good matchup. Now. It's tough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You could argue a way better defense.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the thing. It's a fantastic defense. And you're in Mile, you're in Denver, which creates its own problems. But if there is a mental part, if that is a real thing, Bo Nix is going to be dealing with a lot of. Whereas Josh Allen, dude, Josh Allen shows up to these games. You know, there's not an ounce of nerves anywhere that's out the window.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now you know what he's doing. I think you know what he could do here, boys, because I can't help myself. I got to bring them in somehow even though they're not in. I think he can Mahomes this. Mahomes has made runs without superior talented rosters. Right?

[Alan Hahn]

For sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's. He has willed them to wins just because. Yeah, exactly. Because magically late in games he scares you because you just figure he's going to know he'll find a way. And maybe that's what Josh Allen showed us is all that experience in losing. Maybe he has now seen, okay, this is how you got to do it to win a game. And could he mahomes the Bills through the AFC to get to the Super Bowl.

[Alan Hahn]

And listen, obviously Shakir is a great weapon. Cooks is a great weapon. They have pieces.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The tight end, the Cooks edition was a big one.

[Alan Hahn]

So they have pieces there. I don't want to act like they don't, but let's spend a moment on the beauty of the nine yard tush push. That was a moment I wish he'd gotten in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm glad you said Don. We know the tush push thing. It's you. You. You fought the whole idea of it. It's illegal. It shouldn't be a legal play.

[Alan Hahn]

I hate it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the fact that he was carried nine yards by his own lineman, that's. Is that football done? Like, is that.

[Alan Hahn]

If you have that play, it is illegal. If that play exists. That's the point of the play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Understand? But Mike, like, right?

[Alan Hahn]

What is that?

[Don LaGreca]

That's the point. That should have gotten it deemed illegal. If anybody knew what the hell they were doing when they were pitching it to the NFL rules committee instead of acting all, we can't stop the tush push.

[Alan Hahn]

The Eagles are too good.

[Don LaGreca]

You're not allowed to aid a runner, period. It was in existence for 100 years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He had him in a baby Bjorn.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's the perfect example of why you shouldn't be allowed to do it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he's just running down the field, holding him. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Little Baby Bjorn. Just throw him in there. You're trying to get. Trying to get through Disney. You know, he's like, John Winthrough, your toddler wants to. No, not right now. We're going to put you right up.

[Alan Hahn]

Here and we're just going to power it through.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, it was hilarious. And it was also like, this is football. Like, in a critical moment of the game, this is football.

[Alan Hahn]

That's men ramming into other men like you dream about. Well, depending on your dream, there's a.

[Don LaGreca]

Lot of examples of that that I would not consider football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, sure, sure. But, like, of the things that really bothered me over the weekend, that's one of them. The Eagles. And that whole. It's almost like, are you first? I'm asking the wrong two people. Because you both hate the Eagles. Sure we do. But I almost felt like it was a good thing the Eagles got out early. I agree. Because, man, like, they look miserable. I know. You agree, right? Would the other takeaway of the weekend be like, you know what? Good. The Eagles are out because of what you have to deal with when it comes to the Eagles, which is all the drama, you could tell that they hate each other. They have an offense that has zero imagination whatsoever. And somehow they've been finding ways to win despite all the things that you hate about them. But the fact that they went down the way they went down with a predictable offense in the fourth quarter by losing to a team that had like, they were the black Knight from Monty Python.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. What are you going to do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Kick me to death? Like they had nothing left. They lost Kittle.

[Alan Hahn]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And still found a way. Why? They had McCaffrey and they still had, like, it's unreal.

[Alan Hahn]

You have the feeling unreal that they won that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How do the Eagles lose that game at home?

[Alan Hahn]

Some bad drops. Some bad drops all over the place. I really. When they had the ball late in a weekend in which you felt like every game if there was still time left on the clock. Yep, they had a chance to win it. I did not feel that way when the Eagles got the ball back. I did not like their chances of.

[Don LaGreca]

Going on a run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Any other takeaways from the other games? What do we got?

[Alan Hahn]

Take a look back at the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

800-919-3776.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the bear. The Bear game is going to go down as an absolute classic. The atmosphere we Were in a bar by the hotel in Winnipeg watching that game. It was just so captivating, the second half. And boy, did that. Did Caleb Williams answer the bell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

He was not good in the first half. And you're thinking, all right, he's a kid. He's going to fold up like a cheap suit. He rose to the. You could see the pain expression on his face, the way that they were playing in that first half. And it was killing him. But he was given the second opportunity. They overcame the whole. We've got to go for it on fourth down instead of taking it three points. I thought it was going to come back and burn him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was so bad about that.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, I get so furious.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Donnie's text.

[Don LaGreca]

Damn. Points for the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For everybody to know. Leslie. Donnie's text. When. When that happens, when a team repeatedly goes for on fourth down. I can't. I can't read them on the air.

[Alan Hahn]

Just think about the eggplant emoji.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's similar to the eggplant emotion sometimes.

[Alan Hahn]

It has been.

[Don LaGreca]

And the Chargers did it last night, too. Take the damn points. But they overcame it. And that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's.

[Don LaGreca]

That is a. That's a. That was a. I thought a hell of a game, dude.

[Alan Hahn]

I got to tell you, though, you.

[Don LaGreca]

Can blame the kicker all you want.

[Alan Hahn]

But, well, he didn't help. You know, the kicker made it tough. Two missed field goals, missed extra point. And you look back at what this packers team has had happen to them in the playoffs, guys going back to the late 90s when they lose in the playoffs, it is brutal. It is just. It always happens in the worst fashion. And this is a very. Just tough one to get up from. It seemed like guys, they just took the foot off the gas in the second half. It's like they were waiting for the Bears to come win the game. I really started like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This has been Caleb Williams all season, though.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, he really found something and he. Caleb Williams has been a real big time, fourth quarter, clutch gene kind of quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

That one ball that he threw fourth down, was it third or fourth down? That just dime that he threw on the road, he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He throws with irrational confidence. Which is why the interceptions in the first half, you sort of look on his face like he almost was like he was stunned because he's so used to making throws in that. But that's what he is. He really is that kind of guy that when you get that late in the game. Isn't that what I said when I picked him? I was just like he's good late and. But I didn't have any confidence in that second half. I thought Dennis Allen was just getting worked and they turned it around defensively, made the adjust. This is what you want to see. Here's what. When we talk about the Giants and hiring a coach, when we talk about the jets and do they have a coach, what are the two things we always want to see? Talent's one thing, but adjustments. Is your team ready to play? All right, you're losing at the half, but what did you do coming out of the half? These are things that you saw on display by the Bears and it was tremendous.

[Don LaGreca]

And I think that's, you know, take it a local spin. When the Giants blew all those games, who do they blow those games to? Superior coaches. You know Denver, Sean Payton, you know Johnson in Detroit. And what does that tell you? They're not the not great coaches. The coach get exposed, they get giddy with the lead. They don't know what to do with it. They get taken out of their game. And what happens to the superior coach? That's down. Hey, let's stick with it, guys. This is going to work. Don't everybody looks to the coach. All right, coach, what we got. And if you're. You're pacing back and forth, you're yelling, you're screaming, you look disoriented, team's going to lose. And what is Johnson that was such a great hire by Chicago. Don't panic. Let's not get out of our game, man. There's still time. We worked on this all week believing. Then you see the lack of panic in these coaches and they find ways to win games. You know, granted the Giants found ways to lose those. Both the teams won. But at this level, don't you see the coaching.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Oh my God.

[Don LaGreca]

Any other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about in New England again I've been singing the praises of Mike Vrabel and again I get sick to my stomach how much I talk about the Patriots these days. But it's because how do you not admire like how they've been able to turn out. You get the right coach. I cannot believe this stat. The three points that they. They held the Chargers to which they. I mean you talk about Herbert was absolutely just overwhelmed by their defense. And my concern going in which was a lot of people's concerns was the Patriots aren't really a big pressure the quarterback kind of defense. Yet they were all over him. Well not did not allow him to throw. So did you know that just as the it's the fewest Points the Patriots have ever allowed in a playoff game. In the whole Bill Belichick and his great defense era in a playoff game, they've never held an opponent to three. It's hard to believe, right?

[Alan Hahn]

It's pretty impressive that that that game was. That was one game that was never.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Built to it as Michael Irwin.

[Alan Hahn]

That was. That was a BTA game. Now I will say as excited as I was about the. The parody and how many good teams are there are also like the Patriots and Chargers meant made for a dreadfully boring game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Awful.

[Alan Hahn]

The Patriots depending on how they approach things. Because there are games when Drake may kind of goes off and that offense can be really explosive. But Allen Vrabel is comfortable with them playing a boring brand of football and winning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely.

[Alan Hahn]

And that is a possibility. I mean that's one of the reasons you really love to see the Bills make the Super Bowl. I do worry the Patriots in the super bowl could be dreadful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Could be a fun champion.

[Don LaGreca]

We don't have our schedule yet obviously because tomorrow's. Because tonight's game has.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no we don't. Well we already know. But it would be. It would be Steelers or Texans at the Patriots on Sunday.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm saying the time that's at 3:00 clock or 6:30.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. We don't know which.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's all depends.

[Don LaGreca]

That's the difference.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

If it's Texans Patriots, it's three if it's Steelers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Rams Bears wouldn't have any sizzle at all.

[Alan Hahn]

No, Rams Bears has some sizzle.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then why would they flip it though? Because that's also the 3 or 6:30. Why is. That's what I'm curious about here.

[Alan Hahn]

It may already be determined by network. No, that network has the slot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the network tbd. That's what it's saying on the official NFL.

[Alan Hahn]

How could the network be determined?

[Don LaGreca]

Because those are Cowboys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're trying to figure out which game will be the better game to play at 6:30. And that's wild to me because I would think Rams Bears would be that game. Clearly it's not. It's Steelers Patriots maybe as is that more.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that sexier but like not realistically. That's just in name guys. It's not Big Ben versus Tom Brady.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not. You agree to Chicago. Chicago. LA is a sexier football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Like Matt Stafford having to go to the freezing cold of Chicago to major markets. Yeah, that's la Chicago.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why are we waiting on this?

[Alan Hahn]

That's that.

[Don LaGreca]

But you're looking at it. You know, you're looking at it the wrong way from the network perspective. They just. They want the Steelers. Steelers will bring a huge number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, the other games now, unless this.

[Don LaGreca]

Has been Steelers right there with the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cowboys and Draw Anthony, this has not been updated. Right. Because the Saturday games which are set are also still tbd. That has not been set yet. What are we waiting for there?

[Alan Hahn]

Probably the networks get to choose which games they get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so we're going to probably get some news on this today because Bill's Broncos or Niners, Seahawks. Which one would you want as the 8 o' clock game on Saturday night? Which two again? Well, you got the first one is Bills Broncos. The second one is Niners, Seahawks. So the AFC games, that one, the NFC games, the other I just gave you, they're 430 or 8. What would you rather see at 8?

[Don LaGreca]

Bills, Broncos.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, you know what? Kittle. No Kittle in San Francisco. You know, Brock Purdy versus Sam Darnold. Like, let's be realistic. I think give me Josh Allen in primetime like that. No matter what, he is the most compelling piece of those games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Problem is at Niner. Seahawks at a 4:30 Eastern means that's a one o' clock game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I think that's probably a done deal. Locally, I think that's probably a done deal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sucks.

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's going to be that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The night visual round game at 1:00'.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Clock.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but it won't be. That's going to be the night game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You think that they're just making that night game just because it will be the night game. It's still the Niners. I know they're all banged up, but it's still a Niner.

[Alan Hahn]

Still the Niners. Now listen, I hate watching the Niners. I think they're generally boring and I hate them.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

I think so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I find their offense to be really interesting.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I will. I've seen it a million times. I know how good I know he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, Kidd allowed is a big deal.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that doesn't make it sexy. I just. They annoy me so much. I'm good. I'm just good. I've done how many in my lifetime in my 40 years watching football? 40. How many 4900 playoff games do I need to watch? I feel like I've seen enough.

[Don LaGreca]

I think you've had your fill.

[Alan Hahn]

I've had my fill. And by the Seattle too. The Commanders played Seattle multiple times in the playoffs. All we did was get trounced by every different iteration of that team. I don't need to see Seattle anymore. I'm good there too. Josh Allen is the, I think if you are a fan of football who doesn't have any team left, the two, the two most interesting things to watch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A great defense versus the superhero quarterback. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

That's number one. And then the other pieces I think is the Bears. I do think the Bears are very interesting right now. To see this kid finding himself and that team and that market back in business is exciting. Did you see what the crowd looked like when they panned to the crowd after they won? Like, did you get the, like the celebration, the jumping up and down? Yeah, I haven't seen that in a National Football League stadium anywhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

In a long time. It's different. Chicago, Chicago.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. But they love, they love the Bears there. And it also shows you why they need stadium there.

[Don LaGreca]

Donnie and the thing, they've been to a Super bowl with Rex Grossman, but that team wasn't any good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like this one's, no one believes this one's hitting. You can tell like it's hit. They know they've got something special with the offense with Ben Johnson, and maybe they finally hit it with the quarterback, Caleb Williams.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

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Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it and you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence. Days pass, weeks pass. You start wondering, should I send another follow up email? It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere. But now taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service expert. With Intuit TurboTax, you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything right in the app. And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real time updates on your phone. So you always know exactly where things stand. Suddenly you're not refreshing your inbox. You're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling anything other than a just checking in message because your TurboTax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app only available with TurboTax full service experts.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so before we get to the calls at 800-919-3776.

[Don LaGreca]

We in a game show with this music.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that this gives you game show. Don't. This is giving game show.

[Don LaGreca]

This gives me warm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The very beginning had a very 70s ish.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, the beginning before the beat came in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And then the beat came in and then I got like a like a highlight video from 1973 vibe.

[Alan Hahn]

You have no idea how fascinating this.

[Don LaGreca]

Is to hear because like a 72, 73 golden gophers. It.

[Alan Hahn]

This is. This. Jacob, would you. You say this is one of the biggest New York songs, like the last 20 years. It's up there, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Never heard in my life.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would say top five, if not.

[Alan Hahn]

Top three, top five or top three biggest song. Like, if you were to play it in a room full of like 30, I'd say 30 to 50 year olds, everyone would rap along to this song. It's just interesting to hear your perspective. I would have never heard what Don heard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know. Am I off? Like, I've never. I don't. I know the song.

[Alan Hahn]

If you, if you let me hear the beginning of it again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hear the beginning. It has that 70s. You're.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's hear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, sure. The thing is, I can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

HBO presents.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This week in the NFL. Right. Like, that's what it. That's. That's what it gave off at the very beginning.

[Alan Hahn]

If I had never heard Never. One of the most popular songs of all time. Well, but. But I get. But I get. But yes. I actually, I don't.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't think I've ever heard that song.

[Alan Hahn]

You have. But you wouldn't have been paying attention. It would have been like Nick's timeout and you're sitting there chatting with Monica while you're calling, you know, games like you. You've heard it. But yeah. It wouldn't make it to your. There's not a place where that song's popping up in Don Lagre's daily life.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. You don't think so if that's just gonna be a random playlist. No one of those for you.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, listen, there are. Because there are rap songs that are big enough. And I'd go, oh, yeah, Don's heard this. We gonna make. It isn't one of them, though. It would just come. It's just short, you know? But if he were sitting. One day, we're gonna be sitting in the suite, and it's gonna be a timeout, and I'm go, don, this is the song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This song's gonna look at you like.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't go the game show song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Speaking of game shows, we're just. This is. The wheel is spinning, and the Giants are waiting for their turn, and the opportunity to bring in John Harbaugh could be imminent. To have him in the feeling that we're seeing now. Gary Marzer said this like, they have now fulfilled. Which, as I said on the. In the chat, guys, I'm not comfortable with the idea that we are so dismissive with the Rooney rule that it's like, well, they've already interviewed their Rooney rule guys, so now they can just hire John when he brings them in. And they bring them in.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it literally.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because it feels. It doesn't feel right to just sweep that away, but it's kind of true.

[Alan Hahn]

It literally feels, like, offensive. You're like, oh, well, they. They got that out of the way. Yeah, well, that's not the point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're Raheem Morris, you're like, oh, okay.

[Alan Hahn]

But, yeah, great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm here for that.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm glad I got the trip.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that's why I hear what you're saying. But when you have a candidate as significant as John Harbaugh, that's the only way you're gonna look at any of these other interviews of guys that you don't have any hiring, right? Oh, no, no. Don't get me wrong.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't get me wrong. It's almost like. It's almost like I wish that if someone of that caliber came along, the rule got waived. So you don't have to be offensive and waste people's time where it's like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look, we have one guy. He's our preferred candidate, and there's a reason it doesn't work out. Then we'll go through the process.

[Alan Hahn]

Correct. But this is our process, though, where everyone wants the super bowl champ. Like, yeah, it just. It just seems silly to pretend like you're doing this process when you're not. But no, Don, I hear what you're saying. Of course, they got to just do It. I guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Don LaGreca]

But here's the thing is that the Giants do not have guarantee that Harbaugh is going to choose them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Correct.

[Don LaGreca]

So all that. So they better be paying attention to these other interviews they're doing because the guys you don't think are candidates all of a sudden might become candidates.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, Stefanski for sure was brought in with a lot of intention and consideration. And Antonio Pierce wasn't just a box checker. There is an affinity, especially from the Marist, for him. He's obviously you guys, everybody drink blood in the ground. It means something to him. Right. He wears it on his sleeve. And so it doesn't mean you bring him in for a head coach interview and like him so much that then as John Harbaugh is putting together again, a perfect scenario. John Harbaugh says I want to coach the Giants. And then you say, hey, consider Pierce. We really like him and he could be your defensive coordinator. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like that. And we'd love to have him in.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that's. See, everybody looks at the Rooney rule as a way for a coach to get an interview and become the head coach of that team he interviewed with. Yeah, that's. That's the perfect scenario. But you just lined up the ones. It was reported that Antonio Pierce really blew the Giants away. That all works to Pierce's advantage. That would not have happened if he did not get the interview. So the interview process is po. But I hear Peter like you just the way it's described. But I think that's how everybody looks at it when you've got two can't. The. The two guys that they desperately want, Harbaugh, Stefanski, that that's who they're going to hire. One of those two. It feels like. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It just feels. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Our ball. They pivot this to Vansky. So any interview they do, unless Tomlin is going to feel like it's just going through the motions.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And then if Mike. We'll see what happens tonight. Right. And that's going to be very interesting because look, for a minute there, Matt LaFleur could have been also thrown into the mix. It does sound more like after they lose last night in the way they lost. But it's. When you now consider that I guess the latest is that they probably are going to keep it or they're working on an extension with him. It sounds like they do want to keep him. So that's another option out. But still that it'd be amazing if you think about some of the. The resume coaches that would have been available if, let's say they moved on from the floor and then Tomlin loses tonight and then he's available, like, that would be insane. But right now we don't see it that way. But if Tomlin, if something happens tonight, I don't know if we're suddenly changing our tune tomorrow, if the, if the Steelers tomorrow announce a mutual agreement to part ways and now Tomlin becomes a free agent and you as a team has to battle, you know, the networks to keep him off tv so he could coach on the sideline. Here, though, the latest from Adam Schefter on John Harbaugh and his options.

[Adam Schefter]

If you want John Harbaugh in New York, I think the first thing you want is the Green Bay packers and Matt LaFleur to work out a deal. That's the first thing you want to have happen. Because if they don't work out a deal, that opens up the possibility of Green Bay as a potential favorite there. Now, again, John Harbaugh gets to sit back and call the shots here to a certain extent, and he has interest from these teams. He could go, I'm sure, to New York if he wanted Atlanta to there if he wanted Tennessee, if he wanted Cleveland, if he wanted. We're waiting to see obviously, what else transpires, namely Green Bay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Green Bay thing, there were some also more dots connected with, like his agent whose father used to, like, I don't know, it starts to get ridiculous. Doesn't it stop with that? It's exactly.

[Don LaGreca]

Everybody's going to make some sort of a connection, right? Everybody. Everybody knows everybody in this league.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's true.

[Don LaGreca]

Or you could do that. You could do with everybody in the NFL, right? Oh, this guy will coach with this guy, this guy's father.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stop.

[Don LaGreca]

It doesn't necessarily mean that connection is going to lead to him becoming a coach there.

[Alan Hahn]

But the Green Bay thing is looking good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it seems like he's staying now. And then the other one was Philadelphia. Would, would they. Would they want to move on from Sirianni? It does feel like, no, Sirianni's fine. It's obviously, they've got a clean house on the offensive side and bring in new people there because, you know, things. Things did not really go the way they wanted to go this year. Clearly. It is amazing to me, to Sirianni, after the game, talking about, like, losing and how that builds your character and it's like, dude, you just want a Super Bowl. You know what I mean? Like, what character you building? You literally are coming up a Super bowl win I don't know if that really works here. It sounds nice, but doesn't work. Don't tell me about. Oh, well, it's gonna tough us up for next year. Come on, man.

[Don LaGreca]

Every time. Every time he speaks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, boy.

[Don LaGreca]

It just reminds me of just how good a general manager.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because.

[Don LaGreca]

Because if you don't. The talent, I think masks the complete dysfunction that goes on there on a daily basis in Philadelphia. I don't think he's a very good coach. He is the exception to every rule in the NFL.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really? You don't think there's something. I think I want a Super Bowl. They've had great success, Don. He's faking it with the most talented.

[Don LaGreca]

Roster in the NFL and great assistance. I think he's propped up by his assistance and his talent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow. Really?

[Don LaGreca]

Now, I'm not saying he's clueless. I'm not saying he's a clown. I'm just saying he is not a championship caliber. So this is like Switzerland, in my opinion.

[Alan Hahn]

Is this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is this akin to Switzer? He won a Super bowl, but it really wasn't his team and he didn't do anything.

[Don LaGreca]

I think. I think he's better Switzer. I sometimes I'm not sure he knew what planet he was. So I'm not going to go as far as that. But I do think he is. He's riding the wave of talent coordinators. An amazing general manager. And I. Because he. He was two minutes away from losing his job. They got new coordinators. I don't. I don't see a lot there. But obviously the evidence points in a different direction. But there's. There are people. There are Eagle fans. Allen and Peter. You know this Peter from going back to the case show that will defend Jalen hurts to the death. You don't see that same kind of defense for Sirianni. I think Eagle fans know it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He doesn't defend anybody, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. I don't think he's loved.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He defends himself.

[Alan Hahn]

I definitively don't think that Sirianni is loved. I'm sure today is a mess. An awesome mess on Philadelphia radio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, God.

[Alan Hahn]

They did not expect that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's getting shredded, right? Like he's.

[Alan Hahn]

This is a team that was already down Warner. They were. They had a lot of spots already. A vulnerability and then they lose Kittle mid game and they. And Purdy still rolls down the field.

[Don LaGreca]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a. It's a brutal loss. And Devontae Smith had a bad drop late. There were a few moments with that that it cannot be fun. Like for a team that just won the Super Bowl. See what you forget about it when your team stink for so long. When you're a team that's good all the time. Yeah. Losing in the wild card is not acceptable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Think about the contrast right now from New York versus Philadelphia. Right. Philadelphia. They just won a Super Bowl.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Year later, losing the first round. And you want everyone fired. A.J. brown out of here. Right. Don't want him. Sirianni, sick of his face. Bring all these, like. It's like the emotion there versus right now. How we are numb. Numb. Hoping for a new coach that can change everything. Right. When it comes to the Giants, it's wild, but that's. That's what it is. It's a year to year proposition. It really is. It really is year to year when it comes to the NFL. I don't think. I don't think anybody. That's why it's remarkable that Harbaugh and Tomlin have lasted as long as they've lasted. When you think about how year after year.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The emotions change. You're great and you suck. Brian Dabel got to the playoffs, won a playoff game. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

First.

[Peter Rosenberg]

First time the Giants won a playoff game in forever. He's named coach of the year within a year. It's like, this guy sucks. Get him out of here. And it took two years to get rid of him. Couldn't wait to get rid of, like, that's unreal. But those guys lasting as long as they did. Is that stability of an organization or is that just job performance? Told you all these guys are great.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a fair point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's what. That's what you watch why you want Harbaugh, and that's why when he comes in. And now that you've. Yeah. Now they've kind of done everything they're supposed to do. They can literally. When he walks in. Hey, John, don't speak. The job is yours. How much they can do that if they want.

[Alan Hahn]

And when you lose a guy like that, everything is in flux. Like, I was. I was texting with my. My friend Jeff, who's a Ravens fan, over the weekend, and he was like, oh, man, I, you know, I'm enjoying a year, not having the heartbreak of the playoffs. I'll enjoy taking a year off. And I was like, wow, that is. That is the most arrogant. Yeah, I said, taking a year off. Yeah, I said happier. I get how you're able to feel that way because you're a Ravens fan, but just so, you know that guy who was a big part of that being the culture is gone now, who.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Took the baton from the previous guy.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's been going that way the whole time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

The team is not uber talented right now. You have a great quarterback who some people believe you can win a Super bowl with, others say is not very clutch, but you just can't be sure it's a year off. When you lose the head coach, you can't be sure it's going to continue. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Latest from Schefter.

[Alan Hahn]

Here we go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Shefty. While the Falcons announced an official interview with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, he already has been conducting preliminary and extensive phone calls with the Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders and Cardinals. This is all per sources. He's trying to determine who to meet with later this week and into next week before making a decision. He has fully expected the coach in 2026. So that's a lot. He's going to talk to everybody, everyone.

[Alan Hahn]

At least a little bit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he's already been on. He's already had some calls, he's already discussed some things. So he's not looking to waste too much time in the, in the flirtation process.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't, I didn't take it that way, Alan. No, I took it as I'm talking to these guys to see who I'm actually going to sit down with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, right.

[Don LaGreca]

So just because he had a phone conversation with Tennessee for it doesn't mean he's going to go to Tennessee and interview for the job. This is like the audition process. Do I want to even go see you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But don't you think. I think that's what I was trying to say is like he's listening to everyone and then he's going like he's not wasting time.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, I'm gonna talk to all of you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm listen, I'm talk to all of you. I'm not gonna say no to anyone. But then I'm gonna say, who am I coming in to see? And I promise you, right, if he's coming in to see you, you better be ready off from the job.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Because that's where I disconnected with you. Like, I don't think he's gonna meet with everybody. No, I think he's talking to everybody. And then he'll pare it down to like two or three teams. He'll go to their facility and talk to them and take seriously. He's not going to take everybody seriously.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So this, this again, could bleed into.

[Don LaGreca]

Next week, I'm telling you. Next Friday. Next Friday or this Friday coming up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This. Oh, this one coming up?

[Don LaGreca]

This. This coming up?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

That is the earliest. Remember I said that would be the earliest.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And wouldn't that be this. The sooner that would be the better for the Giants.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

I think Jacob's just trying to see Dom react. Classic beats.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now he's messing with Don.

[Don LaGreca]

This was just like Apollonia, the Godfather. Tuesday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Monday, Wednesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's. Come on, man.

[Don LaGreca]

This sounds familiar to me, but I feel like I'm being mocked today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. Why me?

[Alan Hahn]

I. I don't know what Jacob's logic was, but it just seemed like an interesting beat to play. That was maybe a setup to get a Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trying to get Don to say that he's, you know, now I want some pizza. You know, something like that.

[Alan Hahn]

That is the vibe it's supposed to give.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. Vibe wise, we have calls. 800-919-3776. Let's take Lorenzo in tuxedo.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up, Alan?

[Don LaGreca]

How are you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's up, Zoe?

[Caller]

It took a little bit of offense you say that the Bills supposed to lose that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I knew you'd be upset. They left time. They left time that you didn't have to score that touchdown right away.

[Caller]

Listen, I was at the. I was in Atlantic City yesterday. I was talking to a guy, Steelers fan in front of me and me and him were discussing. I said, wouldn't be crazy if he just took a knee right here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, no, wouldn't.

[Caller]

And then had three chances to do it right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they just carried your quarterback nine yards. You don't think they can get one yard?

[Caller]

No, I think they. I think they could. I think they should have, but that was just a side note. But I want to bring to light is that I believe the Bills since the. Since the bye week are number one in past defense, if not number two, and I believe seventh overall in defense by some metrics and 15 by others. But if they beat Jacksonville, which is top three, and they also beat Denver, which is top three, the only one that's really going to scare me, the number one defense is in Houston. If they go through all three of them, they got to win the Super Bowl. Just want to hear you guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, no, I. We were just talking about it. So, like, like The Bills look like when we say, is it their year finally? That's why, you know, while not everybody loves their roster, Dom Peter, like, he can mahomes this thing if he gets the right matchups and they, you know, they just continue to have that magic. This. This just could be his year to finally do it.

[Alan Hahn]

Because the path could be there that this would be. This would be the year where he proves he's truly that guy. Because they have the right teams in the tournament, but they don't have the exact right team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

If this had been the team of two years ago in this tournament.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Run through. Running through it. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's not that team. They've struggled throughout the year in so many different kinds of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've won games, but they haven't won a lot. They've won some games running away and they've won some games just barely.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And lost some doubles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lost some bad ones. Yeah, right.

[Don LaGreca]

They're not. They're not the classic great Bills team, but lucky for them, this is not a great league right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Again, he was.04 on the road in his career. Three of those losses were in Kansas City once the Chiefs were gone. And there's no Lamar Jackson and there's not that classic team. He's a good champion.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not the. They got to beat this Denver defense in Denver, Don. And then in all likelihood they'll go to New England to play Variable Vrabel and their rival, who's already played him twice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I believe they split this year. Right. They did. And so none of them.

[Don LaGreca]

That could be Kansas City. In Kansas City.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you're right about that.

[Alan Hahn]

That is true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah. Nothing scares you. But I'll tell you what, if I'm. If I'm buying, and I know again, as a Jets fan, it just makes you sick, but if I'm buying for a good one, that's got to be the championship game you're looking for, isn't it? Bills, Patriots.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, it has to be 100%. It's the best game out there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's more sizzle to it on many levels.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the best game left in the playoffs, I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I think you're right. Mark, in the car.

[Don LaGreca]

The thing is. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yes, please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mark. Go ahead.

[Don LaGreca]

Mark.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hello? Yeah, we got you, Mark.

[Don LaGreca]

Head.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up, guys? Hey, so I was just wondering about the AFC north, especially if now, if Tomlin leaves, what kind of a power vacuum is there going to be like, is. You know, would Pittsburgh be waiting for Harbaugh or would or would the Ravens be waiting for Tomlin to shake loose?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. That's why if you are. You know what's interesting Mark about that is that's why if you're Harbaugh, you're not. You're not fast playing this yet because you do want to see after this weekend what opens up. Right. Because Green Bay could have been an option for you. Pittsburgh could be another option. And that's also even if you don't really want to go, there is leverage. So yeah, no, there is definitely something there. And then the Tomlin of it all, which is who goes to the top of the of the list now because Harbaugh is right now the number one candidate. Does Tomlin become the number one candidate? Is it 1A, 1B? So no. No. Tonight's game and the end result is huge. And Stefanski, of course. Yeah. Imagine your fallback is Stefanski, who I still think is a very good coach. But you're right and that division suddenly has three new coaches. Next year with that division was at so much stability would have three new coaches.

[Don LaGreca]

But it sounds to me for Harbaugh quarterbacks important. So how is Cleveland and Pittsburgh in play? You're only going to have Rogers for one more year. Maybe. Cleveland's got a ton of quarterbacks, but are any of them any good? You know, and again, I'm not trying to prop Jackson dart to be like I can't miss. But I think that's what put Tennessee in play. Tennessee is not particularly attractive, but Cam Ward is there and if he wants to work with Cam Ward, that that puts Tennessee as really for me the only legitimate threat. If Green bay doesn't fire LaFleur, I think quarterback is going to be so important.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's it to me. Again, if you want to keep winning, it's you got to go somewhere where it's set up. And that's why the Giants have to feel good, because they do feel like they've got their quarterback of the future.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Podcast Announcer]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.