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Matt Jones
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Drew Franklin
Egg plus hash browns and a small coffee for just $5 for a limited time only. Prices and participation may vary. Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska, and California. And for delivery. NFL cover 0 with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast. Well, it is cover zero for me. Just minutes after my Chicago Bears lose a heartbreaker to the Rams, we are here for NFL Cover Zero. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin. Drew, you know, we. I don't even get a chance to, like, I don't know, I don't even get a chance to. To sort of recover. Just minutes ago, we lost this game, and it had a chance, if the Bears had won, to potentially have one of the two, three, four greatest plays in NFL history. And I wonder if it'll be forgotten now that they lost, but the Bears losing overtime.
Matt Jones
I feel for you, but what a great game. I mean, is it. Is it better that that play happened and that you got a little taste of the excitement, or would you rather just not have the. The. The false hope there at all? With the Williams Hail Mary, I kind.
Drew Franklin
Of felt like the whole playoffs, you were kind of playing with house money a little bit. Because, I mean, I felt all year, I think they. I think they were fortunate to win the division. I mean, I think they would have made the playoffs either way. Then, of course, the packers game was ridiculous. And then this game, I mean, that the Bears did a lot of stupid things throughout the game, but then, you know, he ran. Caleb Williams runs 30 yards in the wrong direction. I mean, that's a play that only works in Your backyard and it. And it works. And I celebrated. But then immediately I kind of thought they were going to go for two because Collinsworth had said earlier that Ben Johnson had suggested he would go for two. So I was kind of like I muted my celebration because I thought they were going to go for two and they ended up not doing it. You know, in hindsight would you have gone for two?
Matt Jones
I wouldn't have. But I was surprised Ben Johnson didn't. Just the way he coaches. There were what, three fourth downs he tried to convert leaving points on the board. Just the way he gambles and played that whole way being at home, you kind of had your magic there. I thought he would just try to end the game. So I was surprised that he didn't actually go for.
Drew Franklin
Probably didn't go for it because they are at home. The Rams are reeling at that moment. And I mean it kind of worked like his thought process kind of ended up correct. I mean the Rams didn't get a first down. The Bears drove down. So I mean his. The gamble was actually probably the correct play. But I thought he was going to go and I wouldn't have minded if he went. Maybe because Loveland is. Was out. Maybe he was hesitant to do that. I don't know. So overtime starts. What do we think about on the interception there? You blame that immediately. I was like that's a terrible throw, Caleb. But then Collins worse seemed to suggest he blamed it on DJ Moore. What do you think?
Matt Jones
I agree. It looked in real time like a horrible interception which the regular TV view and then they give us that. That closer angle where you see Carl make the break on the ball and DJ Moore doesn't. I mean the. Carl, the Rams cornerback he played receiver saw Williams eyes and it made the play where Moore was just completely lost. So I think it's more on the receiver. Even though a third interception in that spot is bad for Williams after he had the late heroics.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, it is tough. I mean I thought, you know, the one interception he threw was. Was really bad. I thought the other one he was trying. I mean he had to try to make a play. That one didn't bother me as much but. But you know, it stinks. I think the Rams. I still think the Rams are going to win the Super Bowl. I think if you sort of take my view that hall of Fame quarterbacks are who you take when you go to the to to when you get to the Super Bowl. The only one left right now is Stafford, although you know, May Williams Knicks, who knows, maybe they get there one day. They're not there yet, but. So I feel like I'm vindicated in picking the Rams to win the super bowl. But I'm still upset about the loss. It was an amazing year. And the people of Chicago, like what have they gotten to watch these last few weeks in home games, like these environments and these games have been insane.
Matt Jones
Yeah. And just like last week, I was so jealous of everyone there. Soldier Field looks to have been maybe the best environment of football these last couple of weeks. And to get the heroics. I can't imagine the feeling you all had when he's just backpedaling because there's no way you're thinking that's going to work. I didn't think he was going to get a throw off. It's like you all can't even just have a normal game. Was there a game all year, just went out and played football and a team one without some chaos.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. That was his third, fourth down on that one as well. And then he got one in overtime as well. The fourth. I think he got two, four. Well, one.
Matt Jones
The.
Drew Franklin
The sneak on fourth down. You know, I the only. Here's my only complaint. I do not like I think we messed up doing the run plays really towards the end of the game. We should have just given the ball to Caleb. You know, when they got stopped the possession before the touchdown, you know, they get goal and they run it three straight times, end up not getting it both times in overtime. When they do the pitch, it's a three yard loss. I think that really hurt him on that interception. He felt like he had to go farther down the field. I just didn't. I mean, yeah, Ben Johnson's been awesome, but I wish they just give the ball to Caleb. I mean like he is. He is so far exceeded my expectation. I do think Bears fans can take this loss a little better than say the Bills who will get too soon because it does feel like the start of something rather than the end of something. Yeah.
Matt Jones
And even though he had the pick, Caleb Williams late in games, there's some witchcraft going on there. He's just so fun to watch. So I agree with you. They should have gotten him more. I did like DeAndre Swift going for the jump there at the goal line from the three.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, he got popped. I think he got hit in the. Is the nether region that I. That had to have hurt.
Matt Jones
But just showing you land on the line, it didn't work. But to try that in that moment, I mean they were doing all they could to get in the end zone.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. So I am bummed. I think the. I had already picked out my nails for the super bowl and now I also won't have a reason to stay for the game. And I actually kind of objectively think Rams, Seahawks. I'm going to say something kind of controversial. I kind of hate the four teams that are left. I just kind of. I don't. I think you needed the Bears in or Josh Allen in. I mean I actually think you could make an argument that with the exception of the Patriots beating the Texans, the nf, the three teams that the NFL would have liked to have won the other games did not win them. Right. I think they would have rather had the 49ers. They would rather had the Rams or excuse me, the Bears. And then they would rather have had the Bills and they didn't get any of them. So I do kind of hate that that's what we're left with.
Matt Jones
The Seahawks. Rams gave us a couple classics in the regular season. I think maybe their two games were decided by three points. You go to overtime. So a third installment of that game's pretty exciting. But I think we have a dud across the other way.
Drew Franklin
We've been fun having the Bears did them. I mean that, you know if you, if it's Bo Nicks versus Drake May two second year quarterbacks. I mean that's. That's a great story. It's a cool matchup. You get Jared Stidham. I mean I, you know, I don't know now he. That they've had. Well, we'll get to that game. But they've had. I mean they're giving guys in this situation win in the past. We can't. Everybody's going to want to talk about the Bears. So you do have to talk about the Rams. I actually think they. I'm even more confident they win the super bowl because it was freezing. I knew Matthew Stafford didn't want to be there when he would put his coat on during the timeouts like that. Like you, he. He wanted 20 seconds of warmth and that said to me he really didn't want to be there. So for them to win in that environment, in that weather, I actually think they have a really good shot now of winning the open.
Matt Jones
Yeah. To be that high powered offense and probably our MVP here in a couple of weeks. Their first two game of the playoffs they've had to eke out a couple of wins without a great offense. The Bears defense played them pretty well. Stafford didn't throw a touchdown Not a ton of yards. It was below their typical average. So the Rams have kind of not had their best game yet still got on the road and win. You got to think they're going to have one where they light it up and it could be in Seattle. Even though that's another tough environment they're going into. One of the best defenses coming up next Sunday.
Drew Franklin
And if I was a Rams fan, I would also have a play call complaint when in their first possession on third and one when they did that pitch play. Same thing. You've got Matthew Stafford. Like, you know that play had the Bears had hit. Hit him five times before he got to the line of scrimmage. I would have hated that play. Goal too. You know, people forget with Sean McVay, you know, he's. He's considered like a genius play caller, which I think is fair. But early in his career he got criticized for this exact thing that in key situation situations he would make weird play calls. I kind of wonder if Wham. And Ben Johnson. There's just a little bit of. When you're that sort of guy, it takes you a little while to understand what to do in these situations.
Matt Jones
Maybe sometimes you're too smart and you're overthinking it. Maybe you want to show off a little bit. But you're right. When you have Stafford and Puka Nukua and Devonte Adams and all those weapons, as you saw, just dump it off to Puka and he can go get you some yards. There's nobody in the in the league that can just take a short pass and get the yards after catch like him. So they should have stuck to that game plan. Even though he's still worked out in the end for him. That's what they didn't overtime to set up that field go.
Billy
And we got the sideline reporter that said some of the Rams players put cayenne pepper in their socks to stay warm and promote blood flow.
Drew Franklin
Do they say that? I didn't hear that right at the.
Billy
Start of the game. Cayenne pepper in their socks.
Drew Franklin
Like. Like you mean like an actual pepper or did they put. Because that would seem to be uncomfortable.
Billy
It brings heat and keeps the blood flowing. According to the sideline reporter.
Drew Franklin
But like they didn't put actual peppers in there. Like what did they put?
Billy
I guess I'm guessing what season.
Matt Jones
Little powder.
Drew Franklin
So they had cayenne pepper seasoning in their socks. Yes. And that work. That works. That sounds completely made up.
Matt Jones
I saw the Bears had hot chocolate and chicken broth on their Side. So we had hot broth. We had broth, peppers.
Drew Franklin
Makes sense to me. I can see how a hot liquid would help in that circumstance. I do not see how this can't be true. All right, we've got to test this. Billy, I think you're going to have to, for our midweek show, going to have to put cayenne pepper in your socks and see if it makes you feel warmer.
Billy
From the report of Melissa Stark of NBC. I mean, I can try it, but yeah, it's the actual seasoning put into the socks.
Drew Franklin
Just, I can't. That can't be. I mean, I believe it's true that she said it, and I'll even believe that it's true that they did it, but I also don't think it would work. That's, that can't. That cannot be true. All right. Nevertheless, they move on to the next round. Can I give you one thing I was disappointed in in the game. I was disappointed in Chris Collins work in the Caleb Williams play. He was oddly muted. I thought Torico's call was great, but then he was like, Mike, that was a great throw. That might have been the greatest throw in the history of football. Where was his? And like, oh, like he shouldn't have had a record.
Matt Jones
One of those.
Drew Franklin
And I thought was too, way too calm for the moment.
Matt Jones
Yeah, especially one of the last games of the year to come down like that. All have oohs and Oz all year built up to that moment, and he didn't have it for us.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, he gave more to JJ McCarthy in week two than I got right here. Like, I, I, I, I think he was so much in shock that he didn't give his usual, his usual moaning. I was very, very disappointed in his lack of hope.
Matt Jones
He's all right. I like the, I don't know if you saw the camera angle that the reporter had from the, the back pylon.
Drew Franklin
Yes.
Matt Jones
Cole, commit. Yeah, I mean, I see that. I wish so bad it would have worked out.
Drew Franklin
That would have been so legendary if they win like that video would have been. And just on another note, just on a personal level, this had a chance to be. I mean, we talked about last weekend that that was maybe like my best sports weekend in a while because the, the Bears, the Kentucky and the, and the Carolina Hurricanes had all won during the same time. This would have been even better. Kentucky beat Tennessee in a miracle comeback. My Carolina Hurricanes, I went to the game last night and got to watch them win in person with my favorite player, the guy whose Jersey I had on got a hat trick with me sitting there and Svetchnikov and then if you get this, I would have just basically said maybe I should stop watching sports at this point. And I guess that was the God saying you can't get all all that you want, you can't have it all. And I guess that's what happened.
Matt Jones
Robbed of an all time good weekend, but what a run for your Bears. You might not want to hear it right now, but that was a wild season for them. They got the youth, new head coach, nothing but up for them and you'll get there eventually. They turned the corner.
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Drew Franklin
That's the thing. The Bears have had a lot of heartbreaks but this one I think will long term hurt less because a nobody thought we were going to win the super bowl and B it looks like you're building for the future. Now switch that with the Buffalo Bills who lose to the Broncos where I think it's the opposite feeling. I think they're even though Josh Allen's going to have many years of being good, I think there is a sense when you lose this game like you just blew your opportunity. This was the moment, this was the time for you to actually win a Super bowl. And then they don't. Josh Allen was great most the game but misses a couple throws at the end not able to get it. He's crying after the game, says he blamed himself. I actually thought it was kind of emotional to watch him. What did you think about?
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean he did play pretty bad. It is on him. But it did hurt to See him cry like that, knowing he dropped the ball. As we've said many times, with this path in front of him. No Mahomes, no Lamar, no Burrow. You just got to go be Trevor Lawrence. Bo Nicks. Like, the path was there. And it's not just the interceptions. He had some bad fumbles that aren't like him, especially right before the half. Denver just scored. There's only like 30 seconds left, and he's scrambling and kind of slings the ball. Denver ends up getting another score right about before halftime. Just uncharacteristic. Uncharacteristic of him to have five turnovers in a game like that, even against a good defense. He should have been much better on that stage.
Drew Franklin
Is that what he ended up with was five?
Matt Jones
It was a lot.
Drew Franklin
I think that was C.J. stroud. I think he ended up well.
Matt Jones
He had two fumbles and at least two interceptions. Maybe four turnovers.
Drew Franklin
Four. Okay. And even with all that, he had that pass at the end. If he hits the receiver in the hands, that's a touchdown. You know, when they got the field goal that ended up sending it to overtime, it. If he hits him in the hands, that's ballgame, and he just overthrows him. And I think that'll be the one that haunts him. Like, what happened after, you know, it is what it is. But he had him, and it was on his hands, and that's the game winner right there. And he misses it. I think that will be the one that he looks back on. Did you find yourself, like. So did you find yourself feeling bad for him? I mean, I did, which is weird because he's married to Haley Stanfield, and he's like, I should hate the guy, but, like, I kind of felt sorry for him in that moment.
Matt Jones
He's kind of in your Tom Brady category, where you got too much good for it going for you. So I'm gonna hate way too much.
Drew Franklin
The only bad thing for him is he has to live. No offense to Buffalo, but he has to. But. But. But they've got great fans at least, right? So he's in a place where people care. I. But I did. I did feel sorry for it.
Matt Jones
I did, too. He just seems like a likable guy. I've wanted him to get one for a while. No offense to Bo Nicks and the Broncos. They'll have their chances. The time starting to tick on Allen. I know he's got a lot left, but just while the way this was the year to go get it, so I did feel bad for him. Even his teammate, the big defensive tackle started crying in his interview when he saw that Alan took that.
Drew Franklin
I like the way that guy took up for him. I thought that was really good. Like, like. So I guess one of the reporters had said, josh says it's his fault. And he didn't even hear Josh Allen talk. And that was his reaction. Like, that's what I need. If Cover zero ends up like, you know, not ever winning the podcast award for best podcast the Golden Globes, I Billy crying like that defensive tackle taking up for me when I said, you know, I didn't. I just wasn't able to do it. And Billy be like, no, it's not on you. It's like, I need that from you, Billy. That amount of loyalty I saw from the defensive tackle.
Billy
Yeah, you could see some emotions. If my integrity is continued to be tested on the touchdown parlay game. We've got to get that right later today.
Drew Franklin
Oh, yeah, it was good for me to get Kyra Williams again.
Matt Jones
That was twice he didn't have. Billy was a hero for me on this game. We were at an event called Bourbons and Bubbles. I even took a picture. Billy had the game on his phone for all of us. So even though we were busy with some work stuff, we were locked into the game. I was leaning over Billy's shoulder watching his phone for fourth quarter and overtime. So he was clutch with the streaming Saturday night.
Drew Franklin
Which was better, bourbon or bubbles? In Bourbon and Bubbles, I didn't partake.
Matt Jones
In any of the bubbles, but the bourbon was good and the football was good, so we had a good time. But, you know, we were able to.
Drew Franklin
See our co host, Ryan. That's the, the most I've ever seen him dressed up. I don't know where he got that cream sweater, but I've not seen him wear anything like that in my, in my life. All right, so let's talk about the Broncos and Bills game. You mentioned the turnovers. That's obviously going to be the thing that people talk about. What about the Bo Nicks injury? I mean, you don't even know he plays one more play after he gets hurt. He even does the post game interview and doesn't even act like he's in pain. Am I crazy to say? How much pain could it be? And if he did the interview and he didn't even mention it, but he out now and you get this situation where Jared Stidham has a chance to be like Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Nick Foles, like in the backup quarterback pantheon. Do you think he'll be able to do it?
Matt Jones
I don't. You know, I don't want to write off Denver, but this just stinks. Having stood him go in, I saw he's the only backup quarterback who hadn't played all year. He hadn't thrown a pass. I mean he's really.
Drew Franklin
I didn't realize that. Wow.
Matt Jones
Completely raw for a team with real chances here in home field, great defense and I hate when have to go to a backup quarterback with no experience. They signed Ben Denucci. I thought was funny yesterday he was on a set discussing the injury I believe on CBS and then that night gets the call. So he goes from talking about the Bo Knicks injury on TV to getting.
Drew Franklin
Signed to be a backup somebody I didn't realize they were still allowed to do that.
Matt Jones
Yeah, it's a practice squad. I guess he had been there before. I don't know the exact rule, but he went from being on TV talking about Bo Nick's ankle to go on to play for Denver just a few hours later.
Drew Franklin
All right, so let me. Let me try to be an optimist for the Broncos. If you get to. He gets a week to get ready. Well, let me ask you this. Would you rather have the week to get ready or have Bo Nicks get hurt on the first play and then you come in and you don't have the time to think about it? Like which one would you rather have?
Matt Jones
Definitely. At least give me a week of knowing I'm getting the start, I'm practicing it, I'm putting my head on the pillow at night knowing the game's coming up much better than sitting there cold and looking up and you're having to run in. So you know the circumstances stick for Bo Nix. But if you're going to be situm it's the best way to work out.
Drew Franklin
But it's going to be weird that you just said he hasn't played play like that is. That is brutal man to then. And then you get a Patriots defense. That's really. That's that you know, it's been up and down but has had some really good moments. That is a tough, tough situation playing against Drake May who almost probably the runner up for the mvp.
Matt Jones
You know, Jared Stidham is from Corbin, Kentucky. So he's from your region.
Drew Franklin
That's right. I forgot about that. He is in eastern Kentucky. Where did he play in college?
Matt Jones
He went to Baylor and Auburn. He moved to I want to say Texas for, for high school. But he grew up and, and you're part of the. The state over there.
Drew Franklin
People don't know listening across the country. Corbin, Kentucky is the. It's a town. Good people in Corbin, Kentucky, not known for their football talent. Right next to where the first Kentucky Fried Chicken was down the road in London. But not used to having guys in the AFC championship. So Corbin will have to mount up and get ready. I, I actually think, though, the Broncos, as long as he isn't terrible, have a chance. And I also say this. The Broncos have had a pretty good running game. This. And they completely abandoned it in that game. They did not run the ball at all. I think they actually got away from what they should have been doing and this will make them use their running game and maybe it gets them to where they play, you know, with. To one of their strengths.
Matt Jones
That and they have the best defense in the NFL. So you can run, play defense, get stops and hate having to ask you how to be a game manager in the NFC championship. Just don't go lose it. Jared Situm, I'm looking up his stats right now. He actually hasn't completely attempted a pass in two seasons. He didn't attempt to pass last year either. So he's coming in very cold. His last pass was in 2023.
Billy
Yeah. Only four starts in seven seasons. That's the fewest ever for a quarterback in a conference championship game.
Drew Franklin
Four starts in seven seasons, but an opportunity.
Matt Jones
Think if you're him, you're just along for the ride, taking pictures, got your family there. Next thing you know, you are two wins away from being a Super bowl champion starter.
Drew Franklin
I gotta go back to that. You mean this man has collected a paycheck for seven years and has only had to play in four games?
Billy
Four stars, 20 games.
Drew Franklin
But here's it. So he has a great gig, essentially, and this has a chance to ruin it. Because if he plays terribly, he's going to be, like, known forever for playing terribly. And that's not what you want. Like, I. This is actually, I think this is the worst thing that could have happened to him. Him, he had gotten seven years and only played four games. He literally had one of the greatest jobs in America. And he's like, been in the back hoping nobody sees him. Like, he gets all the free snacks after it's over. And now they're like, hey, you get to play. And he's like, oh, good. Oh, it's the AFC championship and the whole world is going to watch it. And if you're bad, do you think anyone's going to pay you to sit in the back of the room anymore. Like, this is awful.
Matt Jones
His cover's blown. He's just been enjoying being the backup quarterback, being a part of the team. It's like if you work in an office and you've been there forever, you're just going through the motions, replying to emails, but they come up to you and promote you. You're like, I don't want to be promoted.
Drew Franklin
I like where I am right now.
Matt Jones
I just want to be right here, just replying to emails and going home. At the end of the day, I don't need more responsibility.
Drew Franklin
You don't.
Billy
You.
Drew Franklin
Some people don't want a promotion. I like somebody. You don't want to have that moment where you can be exposed to the world. Actually, that's kind of how I was when they asked me to do the play by play. You know, I'd been saying for years, hey, will you give me more responsibility at espn? And then they gave me it and I was like, wait a minute, I don't want this now. Please take this away. I was doing fine.
Matt Jones
It's exactly like this. Jared Stidham's like, I just want to sit on the bench and throw soft tosses to the receivers to warm up. I don't want to go play.
Drew Franklin
Well, he's going to have to. And then as for Josh Allen, Allen go on record. We will write it on the whiteboard and we will revisit it in a decade. Will he ever win a Super bowl or was this the chance?
Matt Jones
This was the chance, I'm afraid.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, me too. Because I mean, just look at the AFC like you're going to have. I just want you to think about the AFC for a minute. Obviously, Mahomes, Lamar Burrow, you now also have Bo Nixon, Drake.
Matt Jones
Right.
Drew Franklin
Francisco Mendoza is going to be entering it as well. You've got Trevor Lawrence, who has done what he's done in Jacksonville. I mean, the amount of what. What.
Matt Jones
I mean, the Texans are a star quarterback.
Drew Franklin
With that defense, you're going to face a Stroud. I don't know, I. I may not be able to put him on any list anymore, but I mean that you're going to have at least eight guys who are star quarterbacks in your conference. That's. That's not good, right?
Matt Jones
Yeah, I meant more so a defense you'll have to run through. I don't know if Strad will be there much longer, but a lot of good young teams that aren't going anywhere are going to be in your way as you're kind of seeming to be coming down the hill and never got to get to the top. Get to the Super Bowl.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I will. Okay, a couple moments from that game. I enjoy former Kentucky Wildcat Dion Walker. We got to see his belly jiggle in slow motion which I thought was one of the highlights of the weekend. I, I don't know how the announcers didn't mention it. Okay, they showed, they showed the other guy hitting the quarterback but no one seemed to notice this 340 pound man's belly jiggling. I think that should have been. Nancy Romo owe an apology to the viewers for not acknowledging what was an amazing sight.
Matt Jones
Yeah, everyone at home, they weren't watching the quarterback, they were watching Dion Walker's belly jiggle like that. The slow mo was beautiful and I don't know his personality personality about it, but a lot of fat guys, they love it. I would like to think he liked the attention.
Drew Franklin
Oh yes.
Matt Jones
They're not self conscious.
Drew Franklin
You don't. First of all, he was wearing a cut off T shirt. So like he has to have known that was a possibility that, that, I mean he might not have known they would do it in slow motion, but he had to have known his belly was going to be out. So I think he's probably, I think he's sad they lost, but I think he's probably pretty good with that.
Matt Jones
Yeah, he had an interception in the game and I think the belly in slow mo was the best moment he had of the whole game.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, it was his first interception of his career. I will say again, they lost. You got to give a lot of credit to Joe Brady who I've been saying someone should hire the play call where they did the little pitch back to Ray Davis that got them down. That was a heck of a play and a gutsy play at that time of the game.
Matt Jones
And our boy Ray Davis. As much as I feel bad for Josh Allen, I actually feel worse for Ray Davis. I know he doesn't have quite the legacy to protect is Josh Allen, but a good year from him and that's our guy and he had that big play and I wanted him to play more football this year.
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Drew Franklin
All right, so the Broncos make it. Let's go to the other game. The Texans and the Patriots today. CJ Shroud, five turnovers, four interceptions, and a fumble. And it's not just that he had four interceptions. It's that they were awful interceptions. And they weren't even interceptions like on the Caleb where you could go, well, maybe the receiver could have done there was like they were on him and they were in bad. I mean, they were in bad times. Twice there in range where they would have scored really just an awful game. And you know, quarterbacks in general, the third year is a huge thing because you have to decide whether you're going to extend them. Really. The third year of a quarterback is the most important year for them. And now it ends like this. And it's very likely the Texans will have to make a decision in the off season. He probably. Even if they decide to keep him him, they will not give him what they could have given him. And that game today might have cost him $75 million. Like, I'm not even kidding. It might have been that. That much of a paycheck game for him.
Matt Jones
I agree, but he was so rattled. Completely rattled. They're even talking about during the broadcast going to our. Our guy, David Mills, like Davis Mills. Should they really consider putting Mills?
Drew Franklin
I think they should have of. I mean, he's been a fan favorite of this podcast all year. But I also think it's one of the rare occasions, Drew, that maybe you should have thought about doing it.
Matt Jones
Yeah, and we joked about him and during the season, but that little stretch he had where there wasn't really a drop off kind of tells me a lot about C.J. stroud, too, that there was not really a difference between Stroud and Davis Mills playing with that defense. So if I'm the Texans, I don't think Stroud's the answer. You're in a great spot.
Drew Franklin
Now, I will say this. If you take Stroud out today, then you can't ever bring him back. Really. I mean, like, you can't take him out of the AFC playoff game and go to the backup. I mean, that would be hard to ever bring him back. So, I mean, it's probably one of those things that if you're going to do that, you got to understand what the ramifications are.
Matt Jones
And that's exactly what they said on the broadcast. They said if you sit him, this is probably the last time you see him. Because in a playoff game you can't just go to the backup quarterback and bench your starter and franchise player. So that's probably ultimately why they didn't have doing it. But I mean he looked awful, looked completely terrified of being in that situation.
Billy
But how much blame do you put on the weather? Because Drake May fumbled four times and threw an interception. They only lost two of those fumbles. But I mean both of these guys played.
Drew Franklin
I put a lot of it on the weather. But you also have to remember, I mean, I think part of it was C.J. stroud is the fact that at where he was two years ago, right as a rookie, I think most people thought he was the next guy. Right. Like, I mean I think there were people who kind of thought we're going to be putting him in that Lamar Burrow, Allen Mahomes group. I remember he after that season ranked the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Do you remember this? And he put Mahomes 1, Lamar 2, me 3, borough 4 or Allen 4, borough 5. He put himself ahead of Josh Allen and Burrow. So I think part of this is the expectations and then what has been a huge drop off of play. And I mean I don't think like I don't have any sources, but I've seen online that there are a lot of people that blame. There's a certain a sense of thought that he doesn't work hard and that he doesn't do the prep that's necessary to be a great quarterback. So I think all those things combined Drew to make it work to why he gets so much criticism for it.
Matt Jones
Yeah. As bad as he looks today, he wasn't even too good in the, in the first playoff win. And you don't want to have a guy in year 4 still chasing his rookie season where that was his best numbers. I mean his numbers don't even compare to how good he was in that year one. I know he was hurt this season, but it almost looked like that was just a flash in the pan there and that might not be what he truly is. And if I'm a Texans fan, what I saw today, I don't know if I can put much trust in that moving forward. Even if there was some snow.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. And he's on a team where you could argue if he had just been average, maybe they could have won a Super Bowl. Right. If he, I mean he didn't have to be Great. That defense is so good. I mean, he lost him the game. Of the Patriots, 28 points. C.J. stroud, you could argue, gave them 14, maybe even 21 of them, just himself. Because you're right, as Billy said, Drake May was not that great. But they win the game, so the Patriots win. I, I really hate the Patriots. I hate that Bill Simmons is happy. You know, I hate, I just hate it. I hate everything about. I hate that Jeff Goodman is happy. The college basketball reporter, he's a Patriots fan and his daughter goes to Indiana. So he gets this back to back, back to back days. Like I just, it's a bad trait that I don't want people that I even like to be happy. Like, I like Bill Simmons and Jeff Goodman, but I don't want either one of them to be happy. I don't know why the Patriots make me so mad. Couldn't we have had a few, Couldn't we have had like a decade of not dealing with them?
Matt Jones
Yeah, they, they didn't really have a drought. What was it like three years and I go to the playoffs and now they have their quarterback of the future and everybody's already making comparisons to the goat. It's completely unfair that Boston gets all the success where we root for teams that have these decade long droughts. We barely have memories of happiness and they're just every year, well, let's go have another parade because we won something else. You should.
Drew Franklin
I mean, the person that might be the saddest is Matt Jones because he'll be remembered as the guy between the two guys that was picked. But yeah, I can't stand it. And the thing is, they're going to make the super bowl and they'll have a good chance at winning it. I mean, regard. I think whoever wins between the Rams and the Seahawks will be the super bowl favorite, but I think the Patriots will certainly have a chance. It's also a bummer about the Bears because you had a chance to have. We talked about the anniversary of the 85 Bears game. I mean, there was a chance, a chance to recreate that 40 years later.
Matt Jones
Yep, there was some, some history today. Drake May is Now tied for 13th all time in fumbles in the playoffs and he's only played in two games. He has six fumbles in two games, which is 13th all time. That's pretty impressive.
Drew Franklin
I did not know that. That is amazing. So he, I think he's got a real good shot of beating that record before his career ends, don't you?
Matt Jones
Especially, especially stays on this pace that he's on through the first two games of his career. Career.
Drew Franklin
That's a really, a really good, good stat. I like that. It was, it was interesting watching. I think it was interesting watching. There were four games over the last two days on four different networks. Right. So you got four different views of the playoffs. I mean the Bill, the Seahawks. By the way, that game was. That game sucked. I mean Rasheed Shahid hits this, runs it back, it's over. So I don't even. I mean, you have anything you want to say about the Seahawks?
Matt Jones
49Ers Pat myself on the back. I thought that was going to be a blowout. I didn't think the 49ers stood a chance. It's amazing as they made as far as they did then. It was a blowout. That was a good going to get in Shahid, that was a trade they made mid year. He had the kickoff return. He's got a punt return this year and then he had a big run in that game. So I guess he's the storyline. But otherwise no, it was just a.
Drew Franklin
Whooping and they, and you know, they probably should be the favorites to win the whole thing. But you know, know, still, Sam Darnold, by the way, Sam Darnold has a chance to be the first person from his class to go to a Super Bowl. And by the way, that was the class that had Lamar and Josh Allen. Right. So if you had said that, which would be the first quarterback to go to a Super bowl with Josh Allen and Baker and Lamar and Baker Mayfield as well. I mean so all those guys get picked and now it may be Sam Dardle, Drew. What are the odds you could have gotten on that three years ago though.
Matt Jones
Wait, was Jared Stum in that class too? Maybe he beats all of them, sneaks up. No, I don't know if he was. But yeah, if there was gambling live.
Drew Franklin
Betting that he is in that class, it's pretty close. I think he might be.
Billy
It might be get him drafted in 2019.
Drew Franklin
Okay. So that was two years later because I think it was 2017 was the. But anyway, go ahead.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I was just joking about that. Yeah, if you've gotten a live bet, you know, when Darnold was on maybe the Panther or something. Who would be the first of that class to get to a Super bowl but have made some good odds there. But he's earned it this year. Not an MVP candidate, but the year he's had has been amazing.
Commercial Announcer
So.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, so the four games are on four different networks and I found Myself, sort of. And this is tough because I work for one of these networks, but I'm going to act for a second as if I don't work for one of these networks. I found it interesting to watch the ways these games are covered. I want to see if you agree with this. So for me, at this point, and I don't know why it is, I think the network where the games feel the biggest is NBC. That there's something about probably because those games are always at nine, that I feel like the games are the biggest if they're on NBC. And then I would say second for me is Fox. For some reason, just the way the broadcast is on Fox, I feel it's the second biggest. Then probably CBS and then. Or well, actually maybe then ESPN and then cbs. For some reason on cbs, I don't feel it's as big. Even though we've had so many big, like Bill's Chiefs games and stuff over the years, for whatever reason, it feels like that to me. What about you?
Matt Jones
See, I think CBS does feel big. I put CBS above Fox and this might just be what we're used to. I'm an AFC team that plays on CBS all the time, and you're an NFC team that plays on Fox all the time. Time might be a little biased there from what we've grown up watching.
Drew Franklin
My Fox one, though, though goes back to when I was younger. You know, cowboys, 49 or like. Like there was a period of time once Fox got the contract in the 90s where it felt like when John Madden was on a game, it was the biggest game. And that was Fox for those years. So I think that's probably why I feel that way.
Matt Jones
Yeah, that makes sense. And the Robots, you know, they're timeless. You get Jim Nance on cbs. If I'm ranking them, I might even agree with you on NBC. And putting Tirico above Nance in football, maybe not overall, but for these football moments.
Drew Franklin
He gave you the little hello, Friends pin.
Matt Jones
No, I'm ranking Tirico above Jim Nance. I'd say Tirico's probably first, even though Collinsworth wasn't moaning enough.
Drew Franklin
Can I also, let me say this about Fox. I got to give a shout out to Tom Brady. I think he's gotten a lot better. Like, I actually would argue that he has improved exponentially, which is probably why he shouldn't have been put on the first team in year one. He should have had some time to get his legs under him. But I actually think he's really, really good. Now. And I actually think he's a lot better than Tony Romo now.
Matt Jones
It wasn't this weekend, but I guess last weekend or two weeks ago where he was explaining about throwing in the wind. Just when you have someone that's a master of their craft, the best to ever do it like that. I could listen to them talk about anything with technique, something like that, that I never would have considered. And Brady's been doing more and more of that, and that's what people want to hear.
Drew Franklin
Well, it's hard. I mean, it says a lot about his ability that. But he has kept at it. I thought he might walk away after a year, and I think he's gotten progressively better at it. And then again, I don't know if the Romo, if the predict and plays thing just gets old, but he's not for me anymore. I think Collins were still great. Aikman and Buck are kind of like they're almost a part of your life now. They've been doing it for so long. So I think that. I think they are blessed that, like, there's nobody terrible. But I would actually argue of the four networks, Romo is the bottom last thing. The visuals of the game, Well, I think they all have, like, crystal clear. I mean, obviously they all have the technology. I don't think anybody's like us trying to get their computers to work. I do think for whatever reason, it looks crisper and, like, more perfect on NBC, for whatever reason. I think their cameras just seem to make it look crisper. Do you think that I can agree?
Matt Jones
It could be they have the benefit of all their games or night games. We get the Sunday night production. You know, night games always look better, Pop better. So that could be it. But I agree with you that NBC has the best. I don't. I don't love the Carrie Underwood intro. We have to mute that. My household. My wife's not a big Carrie Underwood.
Drew Franklin
Wait a minute. Why aren't you a Carrie Underwood fan?
Matt Jones
Well, my wife isn't a big fan, and it's like a known thing. We have to mute the intro.
Drew Franklin
Your wife is a very sweet person. Why doesn't she, like, carry under.
Matt Jones
Doesn't like the voice. Like, when I'm watching football. I gotta mute that or it's gonna be a problem. There's no Carrie Underw in this house.
Drew Franklin
Wow. I didn't realize Abby hated Carrie Underwood. That's a good rivalry. I didn't know about. He did.
Matt Jones
That's a strike. Yeah, that's a strike against NBC in this household. So other than that, I agree with you in the ranking.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, well, I do say it sometimes. Like, I've been waiting all day for Sunday night. Like it did stick, don't you think?
Matt Jones
I mean, what a lyric. I've just been waiting all day for Sunday night. I guess it's true.
Drew Franklin
It's objectively true. We have been waiting all day and it is now Sunday night. I mean, I think that's a fair. It's fair.
Matt Jones
Should say. I've been watching football all day and now it's Sunday night and I'll watch more football.
Drew Franklin
All right, so we've got this, the matchup said. We will do further predictions later in the week, but if you had to pick now, where are you leaning on the Super Bowl?
Matt Jones
I just can't believe in the Broncos at this point with st. Probably would have picked the Broncos. The Bo Nkes hadn't rolled that ankle. So that one's not even a question for me. The other one, I'm pretty conflicted. I'm going to lean. Seahawks just being home, the way the defense has played so lately didn't have much of a challenge whatsoever against the 49ers. But I also, as I said, we were talking about the. I think there's another gear that they can hit in the playoffs of that offense, but I think I'm gonna. I'm not committing now. I can update as it goes on, but I think I'm gonna go Seahawks in that one.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I'm gonna go with the Rams. I think. I think Matthew Stafford is better than Sam Darnold and that will show up. But I thought the same thing about Josh Allen, the Bo Knicks. I will say this. We were talking on my ESPN show about sort of historical quarterbacks, and it is a different tier when you win your second. Okay. Because if you kind of go look at the guys who've won two, it is the best quarterbacks of all time. I mean, it's Brady, it's Manning, it's Mahomes, it's Montana. Right. It's Steve Young and you throw those away and it's Elway. And then there's a couple that are kind of like team quarterbacks. So you're talking about Terry Bradshaw and to some extent Troy Aiken. The only quarterback out there that is considered one of the greatest that only has one title, really is Aaron Rodgers. Like, if you. He's really the only one that anybody would put in the best quarterbacks conversation. That's only one. One. If Matthew Stafford gets his second, I mean, just Think about the names. I just said those are the best quarterbacks of all time. And then I think in the cat, you know, Bradshaw Dickman considered to be the leaders of two of the best, best like dynasties of all time. Well, this Rams team is not a dynasty. So if Matthew Stafford gets his second one, I think you now have to think of him as one of those quarterbacks, which I don't think people naturally do. But if he wins it, Drew, I actually think he will need to be put in that group.
Matt Jones
Oh, I completely agree. He'll probably have an MVP after this season. Looks like he's heading straight for that. Adding that to his resume with what would be two Super Bowls. I mean, his numbers are up. There already was some of the greats still got a few more years to add to that, so. A.B. absolutely. If he gets a second ring, I don't think that's any. Any question that he's made himself into that top tier.
Drew Franklin
But I don't think most fans, I don't think most fans would just think that off the top of their head. They would not think to put him in that group. But I think when you hear that group of names, the ones I just said, you think, okay, no one would dis. I mean, no one would disagree that Brady, Mahomes, Montana Manning and Elway maybe are the five best. Right? And then I don't think anybody would. Would disagree that. Right under that you might have a group that includes Steve Young, Troy Aikman, whatever. He's going to be there. I mean, he is. And I. If he went. If he wins. And I think that's. That's kind of an interesting storyline to watch as we go. All right, let's look. Let's go back to some other NFL news. The Falcons hired Kevin Stefansk. I sort of thought he was. Since Mike Tomlin's not going to coach, I kind of thought he was like Target 2 behind John Harbaugh for. For NFL teams. Kind of impressive that the Falcons would get the second best guy, don't you think?
Matt Jones
Yeah, we knew that name would get picked up quickly when I'm sure the Browns should have let him go. It's just part of being the Browns, I guess, him not having a losing season there. But yeah, good get for the Falcons. Selfishly, I was hoping the Titans would be in the mix there for him, but they made quick and made a good move there.
Drew Franklin
I.
Matt Jones
With all the, you know, we've spent the last couple podcasts ranking those. Those spots wasn't as high on Atlanta as Maybe some others, but it's a good hire for them. I think that might be the best one they can get.
Drew Franklin
It's odd to me though. Cause like, isn't he gonna have to be Kirk Cousins court? I mean, is it Kirk Cousins gonna start next year? Like, that's a weird place to want to go start.
Billy
Yeah.
Matt Jones
He must be thinking, you know, I'll just get through this one year of whatever their quarterback situation is and however it goes, maybe the following year I'll have a draft of pick or maybe Michael Penix comes back and turns into something. But Cousins doesn't have a lot left. So it'd be weird to get excited to take a new job and you look up and Kirk Cousins is your starting quarterback.
Drew Franklin
Are you starting to feel some Mike McCarthy sexiness there in Tennessee? I mean, are you starting to. It's. I hear he went. Apparently was there all weekend, went to eat, went on Broadway, had a bachelorette party. Like, are you.
Matt Jones
Bachelorette party?
Drew Franklin
Yeah, he was. He and his girls had a bachelorette party. Like, are you. You starting to feel it. It.
Matt Jones
I'm just. All the Mike mix. We got Mike McDaniel, Mike McCarthy. Our current court current coach is Mike McCoy. I'm just prepared for some kind of Mike to be coaching the Titans.
Drew Franklin
Which one would you rather have, McDaniel or McCarthy?
Matt Jones
Daniel McDaniel. Most people would prefer McCarthy, including a lot of ones. I trust that I'm reading, but I just, I can't do that again. After watching him with the Cowboys, I know he's been a great coach. It just seems like an old high school. I would like to see Daniel with Cam Warden, that offense, even though his personality and all of that would take a little bit of getting used to.
Drew Franklin
Well, you're going to get him. You're going to get Mike McCarthy and I'm going to be excited that you get to have him in your life again. I know you liked it the last time when he was with the Cowboys. I think it'll be very exciting for you. I am enjoying watching which one of these teams is going to screw up the job. I think the very good candidate is Arizona. I think there's. There's no doubt. It seems to me, I don't know what the Raiders are doing, but I feel like the Raiders have to at least wait and try to get Signetti, even though I know he'll say no. Like, if Mendoza is going to be the quarterback, I feel like you got to try. It won't happen, but you got to try. But like, no One wants to go to Arizona, right? You have. You have nothing. So I think they're going to end up getting the worst tire, whoever it is.
Matt Jones
Yes. Nobody want to live in Arizona, though. Remember a few years ago where that picture of Cliff Kingsbury's house came out of the draft and it looks like.
Drew Franklin
But you've been there. We went out there. It's hot.
Matt Jones
It is hot.
Drew Franklin
Really hot.
Billy
Dry heat.
Matt Jones
You. You can deal with it. To coach the Cardinals.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, it's pretty hot. I mean, I got sunburned. All you gotta do is look at the picture of me from that barstool party. I look like I just. Like a lobster just walked off of me. Because you and I had played golf the day before. Still. Maybe my worst round of golf in history, too. So maybe that's. Maybe that's messing up my view of Arizona. I just don't know that's where I'd want to go.
Matt Jones
It's just. It's living in your head. Sunscreen's your friend, but that one does not look half as good as Vegas. About Mendoza, I don't think Sig would take it, but I agree with you that they at least need to make the call. Like, we're taking your quarterback. We can build on this. You've already got a ring in college. Come be the greatest ever and get you a Super Bowl.
Drew Franklin
Also, talk for a second. With Super Bowls now two weeks away, as a matter of fact, we will be flying to San Francisco two weeks from Tuesday. So I've learned more about all this because I talked to my boss at ESPN who told me, like, all of the ESPN shows are going live. Apparently, where our set is is right next to where McAfee will be live. So we will be taping this podcast while McAfee is live just, like 20ft from us. So my assumption is we'll get the same guests they do because people will want to do both shows, knowing we're they here and they're there. And then when it comes to, like, the parties. Billy, have you been working on your wardrobe?
Billy
Oh, not yet, no.
Matt Jones
But we are going to.
Drew Franklin
What do we think? Like, are you. Are you thinking about various things to wear? I mean, these are going to be some high class affairs.
Billy
Yeah, I have no idea. Honestly, I'm hoping somebody at the store.
Matt Jones
Can help me me out.
Commercial Announcer
I.
Drew Franklin
What. What store you say? The store.
Billy
We'll go to Dillard's or Macy's or something like that. Men's Warehouse, maybe. I mean, I. I feel like I've got to bump it up to a different level.
Drew Franklin
These are men's warehouse parties. Like, I don't think you want to come in, like, a business suit. You're trying to look hip. You're trying to look like you're on the scene.
Billy
Yeah, I wasn't going to wear my khakis to the Sports Illustrated party. Maybe like an all black look or something like that. I mean, I don't know.
Drew Franklin
Maybe black. Black. Do you have. Do you have, like, nice jeans? Like, nice jeans?
Billy
Yeah, yeah, I got jeans. You think that's acceptable?
Drew Franklin
I didn't ask if you had jeans. I asked you if you had nice jeans.
Billy
Well, that's subjective, so I. I'm not. Not sure. They're not acid washed or have holes in them, so you could say they're nice.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
I don't think you want acid wash. This is not 1986. Do you. Do you have, like, shirts? Are you gonna, like, try. Are you gonna go for sophisticated? Are you gonna go. You going to do.
Billy
Well, I got some extra pair of contacts, so we're going to ditch the glasses in San Francisco. So, I mean.
Drew Franklin
What do you mean you have an extra pair of contacts? What does that mean?
Billy
Like, I ordered some more contacts so I can wear those out and about in the San Fran nightlife that we're going to experience.
Drew Franklin
You don't want to go like you're trying to turn it up a notch. Glasses off. Billy's parties on.
Billy
Employee of the NFL is going to be there for.
Matt Jones
Ready to go? I don't know.
Drew Franklin
What does your wife think about all this?
Billy
Oh, she's worried.
Drew Franklin
Why don't you order contacts for her?
Billy
I don't think she knows about the parties that we're going to be going to. She just knows about the trip right now, so.
Drew Franklin
Well, don't you think maybe you ought to tell her that?
Billy
I thought she might just find out when Mario films us while we're at the club. Maybe.
Drew Franklin
Okay, well, listen, I've never been married. I would suggest you give her a hint that you're going to parties.
Matt Jones
I think.
Drew Franklin
Don't you think, Drew, she might want to know that?
Matt Jones
Yeah, tell her.
Drew Franklin
Just tell her.
Matt Jones
Get a souvenir at the parties. Just get her a magnet or something from the Super Bowl.
Drew Franklin
A magnet?
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Billy
That would go a long way.
Matt Jones
Really, the most important thing to. The most important thing to pack is a positive attitude. You have your positive attitude. Oh, absolutely.
Drew Franklin
We're gonna have a weird time frame, okay? Because, I mean, if you think about it, our KSR show will be. You're gonna go on the air at six in the morning local time in San Francisco. And then these parties, you know, some of them, they might go to. Let's say we stay out late to midnight, Billy. Then that's 3am on our bodies. Like, this is gonna be a lot happening.
Billy
Yeah, I'll sleep when I'm dead. This is a week I've been waiting for for a while so we can make it happen.
Drew Franklin
Well, the United States speaker of the House, Mike Johnson said that he only sleeps two hours a night. So I don't believe him. But he said he works 22 hours a day. I do not believe that's true. But he did say that so you could follow in his footsteps.
Billy
Hopefully we can get more than two. I'd be dragging and be a little bit of a grump the next day if I had two.
Drew Franklin
So I believe Bill Mario, or Mario Drew, do you believe that he only sleeps two hours a night?
Matt Jones
No, I believe he's a liar. I've done some stretches where maybe like three consecutive nights of two hours and about. That's about all you can do. It's really starts to catch up with you. So if he's claiming that's his regular life. No, absolutely.
Drew Franklin
Absolutely not. Yeah, I. I don't believe it either. Well, it was a great. Two really great games. Two not so great games. But overall, these playoffs have really delivered. Tomorrow's the national championship. Drew, who do you have? Indiana or Miami?
Matt Jones
Indiana is going to kill them. It's just maybe the most dominant season we've ever seen from a college football team. And they'll put the final stamp on it Monday night.
Drew Franklin
I know Miami.
Matt Jones
Miami supposed to be a home game, but Mendoza, it's a home game for him too. And I expect he's gonna have a big game.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I kind of feel like that too. I think Indiana crushes them. And I. I think Indiana will go down then as one of the great college football teams of all time. Which people don't want to say because it's Indiana. Right. They don't want to say that. But objectively, if you beat Ohio State and then you destroy Alabama, you destroy Oregon, and let's just say they destroyed Miami. Me, like, wouldn't you have to say that through? Even though it's Indiana and you don't feel like you want to.
Matt Jones
Yeah, and I've seen some stats I don't have in front of me, but they're like the first team to win five games, about 40 points or something. And their margin of victory and all these. There's a lot of stuff that's never been done before already. So if they finish it with one.
Drew Franklin
More, if they win by 15, if they were to win by 15, they would have the highest margin of victory of any undefeated team team ever in the history of college football.
Matt Jones
It's going to happen. I think the spread seven and a half. I'll be partaking in them covering that. I'll, I'll lay those points.
Drew Franklin
All right, well, thank you guys very much. Billy, thank you and your generic NFL hat. Drew, nice to see you in your Max Headroom blurry screen. And for all of you, uh, that are out there, enjoy your week and we will see you midweek. It's Cover Zero. NFL Cover 0 with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart Podcast. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
Matt Jones
Guaranteed Human.
Podcast: KSR – NFL Cover Zero
Release Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Billy
This episode dives into the wild NFL Divisional Round, focusing on dramatic endings, quarterback performances, and burgeoning legacies. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, and producer Billy analyze the Bears’ overtime heartbreak, Bo Nix’s injury fallout, Josh Allen’s missed chances, and more, framing each event in terms of its historical significance and impact on the quarterback conversation. The crew blends sharp football insight with the show’s signature humor and Kentucky flavor.
Immediate Reactions:
Matt recounts barely having time to process the Bears’ devastating loss in overtime to the Rams.
Drew revisits the emotional swing of Caleb Williams' near-miracle Hail Mary play.
"Just minutes ago, we lost this game, and it had a chance, if the Bears had won, to potentially have one of the two, three, four greatest plays in NFL history."
—Matt Jones, 01:02
"Caleb Williams runs 30 yards in the wrong direction. I mean, that's a play that only works in your backyard, and it worked. And I celebrated. But then immediately I kind of thought they were going to go for two… I muted my celebration."
—Drew Franklin, 02:22
Going for Two?
Debating Coach Ben Johnson's game strategy, the possibility of going for two in regulation, and play-calling complaints.
"I was surprised Ben Johnson didn't [go for two]… Just the way he gambles and played that whole way being at home, you kind of had your magic there. I thought he would just try to end the game."
—Matt Jones, 03:15
Overtime Breakdown:
Dissection of the game-losing interception — was it on Williams or D.J. Moore?
Critique of late-game run plays vs. giving Williams full control.
"It looked in real time like a horrible interception… The Rams cornerback played receiver, saw Williams' eyes, and made the play where Moore was just completely lost."
—Matt Jones, 04:20
"We should have just given the ball to Caleb… Ben Johnson's been awesome, but I wish they just give the ball to Caleb. I mean, he is so far exceeded my expectation."
—Drew Franklin, 06:09
Chicago's Perspective:
Despite the loss, hope for the Bears’ future with Caleb Williams.
"It does feel like the start of something rather than the end of something."
—Drew Franklin, 07:03
Rams’ Super Bowl Odds:
Recognition for the Rams and Stafford enduring the Chicago cold, still believing they’re Super Bowl favorites.
"I actually think they have a really good shot now of winning the whole thing."
—Drew Franklin, 08:34
Staying Warm:
Rams players reportedly put cayenne pepper in their socks.
Bears opt for hot chocolate and chicken broth.
The crew debates the plausibility and effectiveness of such strategies.
"Cayenne pepper in their socks… That sounds completely made up."
—Drew Franklin, 11:39
Broadcast Moments:
Disappointment in Chris Collinsworth’s subdued call of the Caleb Williams’ play.
Praise for alternate camera angles that captured the drama.
"He was oddly muted…he was way too calm for the moment."
—Drew Franklin, 12:55
"I think he was so much in shock that he didn't give his usual moaning. I was very, very disappointed in his lack of ooh."
—Drew Franklin, 13:06
Bills’ Anguish:
Discussion turns to the Bills' loss: heartbreak compared to Bears', Allen's emotional postgame, missed throws, and the sense of a window closing.
"This was the moment, this was the time for you to actually win a Super bowl. And then they don't."
—Drew Franklin, 15:49
"It did hurt to see him cry like that, knowing he dropped the ball…The path was there."
—Matt Jones, 16:41
Josh Allen’s legacy and slim future chances for a ring in a stacked AFC.
"Will he ever win a Super bowl or was this the chance?"
—Drew Franklin, 26:30
"This was the chance, I'm afraid."
—Matt Jones, 26:45
Broncos’ QB Woes:
Bo Nix's injury and the difficult transition to backup Jared Stidham, who hasn't played in two years.
"He's the only backup quarterback who hadn't played all year. He hadn't thrown a pass…he actually hasn't completely attempted a pass in two seasons."
—Matt Jones, 20:58/23:55
Comedic riff on how Stidham's anonymity as a backup is "ruined" by being thrust into the spotlight.
"He literally had one of the greatest jobs in America. And now they're like, 'Hey, you get to play.' And he's like, 'Oh, good. Oh, it's the AFC championship and the whole world is going to watch it.'"
—Drew Franklin, 24:48
C.J. Stroud's Collapse:
Five turnovers, crushing playoff defeat, and questions about his future as a franchise QB.
"That game today might have cost him $75 million."
—Drew Franklin, 31:27
Debate on benching Stroud for fan-fave Davis Mills — but if you do, "you can't ever bring him back."
"He looked awful, looked completely terrified of being in that situation."
—Matt Jones, 32:25
Patriots’ Resurgence:
Drake May’s up-and-down performance and playoff fumble record.
Collective dread over Patriots returning to relevance.
"They didn't really have a drought. What was it like three years…now they have their quarterback of the future."
—Matt Jones, 35:26
Seahawks' Blowout Win:
Sam Darnold Super Bowl Watch:
The possibility of Darnold being the first from his draft class to start a Super Bowl, despite a draft class including Lamar and Josh Allen.
"Sam Darnold has a chance to be the first person from his class to go to a Super Bowl."
—Drew Franklin, 37:33
Broadcast Networks Ranking:
Drew leans Rams; Matt slightly toward Seahawks.
Extended discussion on legacy shifts if Matthew Stafford wins Ring #2.
"If Matthew Stafford gets his second [Super Bowl], I think you now have to think of him as one of those quarterbacks, which I don’t think people naturally do."
—Drew Franklin, 45:08
"Oh, I completely agree…any question that he's made himself into that top tier."
—Matt Jones, 46:33
Coaching Moves:
Super Bowl Travel Plans:
Billy getting ready for the glitzy parties, prepping wardrobe, ordering contacts.
Trip logistics and playful banter about appropriate attire.
"Maybe like an all black look or something like that… I wasn't going to wear my khakis to the Sports Illustrated party."
—Billy, 52:52
"The most important thing to pack is a positive attitude."
—Matt Jones, 54:38
Both hosts predict a dominant Indiana win to cap arguably the most complete championship season ever.
"Indiana is going to kill them. It's just maybe the most dominant season we've ever seen from a college football team."
—Matt Jones, 56:13
On Bears' heartbreak:
"Just minutes ago, we lost this game, and it had a chance, if the Bears had won, to potentially have one of the two, three, four greatest plays in NFL history." —Matt Jones (01:02)
On play-calling nerves:
"We should have just given the ball to Caleb... I just didn't... I mean, yeah, Ben Johnson's been awesome, but I wish they just give the ball to Caleb." —Drew Franklin (06:09)
On Stidham's ‘backup life’ being ruined:
"He literally had one of the greatest jobs in America. And now they're like, 'Hey, you get to play.' And he's like, 'Oh, good. Oh, it's the AFC championship and the whole world is going to watch it.'" —Drew Franklin (24:48)
On Josh Allen’s heartbreak:
"This was the moment, this was the time for you to actually win a Super bowl. And then they don't." —Drew Franklin (15:49)
On Stroud's collapse costing millions:
"That game today might have cost him $75 million." —Drew Franklin (31:27)
Caleb Williams play call reaction:
"I thought [Chris Collinsworth] was so much in shock that he didn't give his usual moaning. I was very, very disappointed in his lack of ooh." —Drew Franklin (13:06)
On Super Bowl legacy:
"If Matthew Stafford gets his second [Super Bowl], I think you now have to think of him as one of those quarterbacks, which I don’t think people naturally do." —Drew Franklin (45:08)
The episode blends passionate football analysis with humor and regional flavor, peppered with personal anecdotes and running in-jokes. Quotes capture disappointment, excitement, and the sheer unpredictability of this NFL postseason.