NFL Cover Zero: Divisional Round Recap and QB Legacies being formed!

Summary

NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin

Episode: Divisional Round Recap and QB Legacies Being Formed!
Date: January 19, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

In this spirited post-divisional round breakdown, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin dive deep into the weekend’s NFL playoff drama, focusing on thrilling games, controversial coaching decisions, and the broader narratives shaping quarterback legacies. The hosts, joined by occasional commentary from producer Billy, balance sharp analysis with trademark humor and personal anecdotes, offering a "football for the rest of us" perspective that ranges from on-field heroics to off-field fashion tips for Super Bowl week.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears-Rams Heartbreaker & Caleb Williams' Legacy Moment

• Matt's immediate reaction: As a Bears fan, Matt is still processing the overtime loss to the Rams, highlighting the near-legendary Hail Mary by rookie QB Caleb Williams.
• Play analysis:
  • Williams’ backyard-style, 30-yard retreat Hail Mary TD play nearly redefined playoff lore ([03:24]).
  • Speculation on Ben Johnson’s OT decisions: Not going for two, opting to take game to overtime ([04:17]).
  • Breakdown of the decisive overtime interception—was it Williams’ fault or DJ Moore’s failure to break on the ball? Drew leans toward blaming Moore ([05:23]).
• Legacy perspective: “It does feel like the start of something rather than the end of something.” —Matt ([07:04])
• Bears fans’ solace: The pain of the loss is offset by hope for the future and Williams’ impressive postseason debut.

2. Rams: Grit, Weather, and Championship Readiness

• Overcoming conditions: Stafford and the Rams winning “in that environment, in that weather,” further validates them as Super Bowl favorites ([09:37]).
• Coaching quirks: Both hosts criticize Sean McVay for questionable play calls, a nod to his earlier-career reputation for overthinking big moments ([11:40]).
• Fun sideline fact: Rams players reportedly put cayenne pepper seasoning in their socks to stay warm—“That sounds completely made up.” —Matt ([13:10]).

3. Broadcast Review & Iconic Moments

• Muted Collinsworth: Matt wishes for a more excited Chris Collinsworth during the Williams Hail Mary, saying “He was oddly muted. I thought Tirico’s call was great… but [Collinsworth] was so much in shock that he didn’t give his usual, his usual moaning.” ([14:01])
• Chicago’s wild sports weekend: Matt laments missing out on a trifecta of personal sports victories, highlighting the emotional significance of the Bears game to his own fandom ([15:25]).

4. Bills’ Collapse and Josh Allen’s Haunted Moment

• Atmosphere in Buffalo: The Bills’ loss to the Broncos is painted as a “missed window” for Allen, amplified by his emotional reaction post-game ([18:59]-[19:51]).
• Critical play: Allen missed a would-be game-winning TD in OT—"If he hits the receiver in the hands, that's a touchdown...that will be the one that haunts him.” —Matt ([20:35])
• Quarterback hierarchy in the AFC: Drew and Matt discuss the daunting prospect of Allen’s future with so many elite QBs in the conference ([29:57]).

5. Broncos QB Crisis: From Bo Nix to Jared Stidham

• Bo Nix’s injury: Skepticism about the severity of the injury; surprised to see Nix calmly give a post-game interview ([23:21]).
• Backup drama: Jared Stidham enters AFC title game cold—“Four starts in seven seasons, but an opportunity.” —Drew ([27:34])
• Comedic take: Matt jokes about Stidham enjoying the “best job in America” as a career back-up, now “exposed to the world” in the biggest possible spot ([27:58-28:46]).
• Game manager blueprint: Broncos’ path to success with Stidham must rely on a run game and defense ([27:02]).

6. Texans-Patriots: C.J. Stroud’s Setback and QB Crossroads

• Brutal performance: Stroud’s five turnovers and “awful interceptions” may have cost him a massive contract. “That game today might have cost him $75 million.” —Matt ([35:54]).
• Discussion of benching: Drew notes the broadcast’s consideration of Davis Mills replacing Stroud, which would likely have meant the “last time you see him” in that uniform ([37:46]).
• Legacy questions: Concern that Stroud’s rookie-year promise has faded, and that Houston’s dominant defense is being wasted ([40:04]).

7. Patriots Back On Top—and the Hate That Brings

• Boston backlash: Both lament the Patriots’ quick turnaround: “It’s a bad trait that I don’t want people that I even like to be happy.” —Matt, re: Patriots-fan friends ([41:06]).
• Drake May’s fumble stat: In just two playoff games, May is already tied for 13th all-time in fumbles ([42:02]).

8. Seahawks Blowout and Sam Darnold’s Odd Path

• Seahawks-49ers debrief: Nothing much to say; a blowout as Drew predicted ([42:57]).
• Sam Darnold trivia: Chance to be first in his QB class to reach a Super Bowl—“If you had gotten a live bet [on that], you could have made some good odds” ([43:43]).

9. Broadcast Network Rankings & Announcer Analysis

• Game “feel” rankings:
  • NBC feels like the biggest stage to Matt; Drew favors CBS for traditional reasons ([45:34]).
  • Tom Brady’s rise in the booth: “He has improved exponentially… a lot better than Tony Romo now.” —Matt ([46:37])
  • Drew’s household mutes Carrie Underwood intros—“That’s a strike against NBC in this household.” ([48:49])

10. QB Legacy Watch: Stafford’s Potential Place in History

• Stafford’s resume: Winning a second Super Bowl would vault Stafford into an elite club, usually reserved for legends like Brady, Manning, Montana, et al ([53:37]).
• Drew agrees: “Absolutely. If he gets a second ring, I don’t think that’s any question that he’s made himself into that top tier.” ([55:14])

11. Coaching Carousel & Franchise Directions

• Falcons hire Kevin Stefanski: Both praise the hire, but question if Kirk Cousins is the guy to build around in Atlanta ([56:40]).
• Titans speculation: Will Tennessee end up with Mike McCarthy or Mike McDaniel as their next coach? Drew is resigned to “some kind of Mike” ([57:54]).
• Vegas/Arizona watch: The Raiders and Cardinals are both expected to make less attractive hires; Matt pokes fun at Arizona as a destination ([59:15]).

12. Super Bowl & Off-Field Fun

• On to San Francisco: The crew jokes about prepping wardrobes for Super Bowl parties, with Billy debating between “sophisticated” or “sexy.” ([61:02])
• Warning about party etiquette: “Don’t you think, Drew, she (Billy’s wife) might want to know that?” —Matt, on Billy’s pending party disclosures ([62:50]).
• Travel schedule challenges: Covering ESPN’s live set next to McAfee, plus punishing West Coast time changes ([63:27]).

13. College Football Final: Indiana’s Historic Run

• Both predict Indiana will easily defeat Miami in the national championship, with Matt noting that Indiana could claim "greatest college football team of all time" status with another blowout win ([64:54]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If he [Caleb Williams] wins, that throw goes down with the Immaculate Reception, with the Music City Miracle, with all of those.” —Matt Jones ([02:14])
• "He’s just so fun to watch. There’s some witchcraft going on there." —Drew Franklin, on Caleb Williams ([08:05])
• “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.” —Matt Jones, on Jared Stidham ([29:32])
• “That game today might have cost him $75 million. Like, I’m not even kidding.” —Matt Jones, regarding CJ Stroud’s playoff performance ([36:25])
• “It’s a bad trait that I don’t want people I even like to be happy… but I just hate it.” —Matt on Patriots/Patriots fans ([41:06])
• "His cover's blown! He's just been enjoying being the backup quarterback. ... Then they come up to you and promote you. You're like, 'I don't want to be promoted!'" —Drew Franklin, on Stidham’s sudden responsibility ([28:46])
• “If Matthew Stafford gets his second, I think you now have to think of him as one of those quarterbacks, which I don’t think people naturally do.” —Matt Jones ([53:37])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bears-Rams Recap & Debate on Overtime Decisions: [02:14] to [09:24]
• Rams Playoff Outlook & Broadcasting Anecdotes: [09:24] to [14:23]
• Bills-Broncos Analysis & Josh Allen’s Future: [18:59] to [29:55]
• Jared Stidham Backup QB Discussion/Comedy: [23:21] to [29:55]
• CJ Stroud Texans-Patriots Aftermath: [35:54] to [41:06]
• Seahawks-49ers & Sam Darnold’s Odd Journey: [42:27] to [44:28]
• Broadcast Team Rankings/Critique: [44:28] to [48:49]
• QB Legacy Analysis — Stafford’s Historic Place: [53:06] to [55:34]
• Coaching Hires & Franchise Futures: [56:40] to [59:32]
• Super Bowl Trip Banter/Fashion: [60:12] to [63:27]
• College Football Championship Preview: [64:54] to [66:08]

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Language & Tone

Consistently conversational, irreverent, and rooted in fan perspective, Matt and Drew combine sharp sports insight with relatable emotional reactions, inside-joke humor, and everyman skepticism—bringing listeners both serious football dissection and fun banter befitting late January playoff excitement.

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Recommended for fans wanting deep recaps, locker-room humor, and the kind of authentic, sometimes exasperated, always passionate takes found among friends dissecting another wild NFL weekend.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Matt Jones]

NFL Cover 0 with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and Iheart podcast. Foreign. 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, I feel

[Drew Franklin]

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

[Matt Jones]

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 works. And I mean, 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?

[Drew Franklin]

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 it 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.

[Matt Jones]

I think he probably didn't go for it because they are at home. They. The, 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, I thought he was going to go, and I wouldn't have minded if he went. Maybe because Loveland is. That 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?

[Drew Franklin]

I agree. It looks 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.

[Matt Jones]

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 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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 even 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 where you just went out and played football and team one without some chaos?

[Matt Jones]

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 2, 4, 1. 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 first and 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. Something.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. 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 gone him more. I did like DeAndre Swift going for the jump there at the goal line from the three.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he got popped. I think he got hit in the. Is the nether region that I. That had to have hurt.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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. 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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 when 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.

[Matt Jones]

And if I was the 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 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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 work down the end for him. That's what they didn't overtime to set up that field goal.

[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.

[Matt Jones]

Do they say that? I didn't hear that right at the

[Billy]

start of the game. Cayenne pepper in their socks.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Matt Jones]

But like, they didn't put actual peppers in there. Like what did they put?

[Billy]

I guess. I'm guessing what season.

[Drew Franklin]

Little powder.

[Matt Jones]

So they had cayenne pepper seasoning in their socks? Yes. And that. That works. That sounds completely made up.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, I saw the Bears had hot chocolate and chicken broth on their side. So we had hot broth.

[Matt Jones]

We had broth.

[Drew Franklin]

There's peppers.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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 Collinsworth in the Caleb Williams play. He was oddly muted. I thought Tirico'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 should have had a record one of those. And I thought too way too calm for the moment.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, especially one of the last games of the year to come down like that. All him oohs and Oz all year built up to that moment and he didn't have it for us.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

Cold commit. Yeah, I mean I see that we're so bad. It would have worked out.

[Matt Jones]

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 that 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 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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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[Matt Jones]

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 of 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 it?

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

That what he ended up with was five.

[Drew Franklin]

It was a lot.

[Matt Jones]

I think that was C.J. stroud. I think he ended up well.

[Drew Franklin]

He had two fumbles and at least two interceptions. Maybe four turnovers.

[Matt Jones]

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 Hailee Stanfield and he's like, I should hate the guy, but, like, I kind of felt sorry for him in that moment.

[Drew Franklin]

He's kind of in your Tom Brady category, where you got too much good for it going for you. So I'm going to hate way too much.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

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 he. 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.

[Matt Jones]

I like the way that God 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 need 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.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah. It was good for me to get Kyron Williams again.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

Which was better, bourbon or bubbles in Bourbon and Bubbles.

[Drew Franklin]

I didn't partake 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.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan, that's 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 Knicks 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's 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?

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't realize that. Wow.

[Drew Franklin]

Completely raw for a team with real chances here in home field. Great defense and I hate we 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 Nicks injury on TV to getting signed to be a bad guy, somebody.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't realize they were still allowed to do that.

[Drew Franklin]

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 Nix's ankle to going to play for Denver just a few hours later.

[Matt Jones]

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?

[Drew Franklin]

Definitely. At least give me a week of knowing I'm getting the start, I'm practicing, 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.

[Matt Jones]

But it's going to be weird that you just said he hasn't played. Ah, 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.

[Drew Franklin]

You know, Jared Stidham is from Corbin, Kentucky. So he's from your region.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. I forgot about that. He is in eastern Kentucky. Where did he play in college?

[Drew Franklin]

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

[Matt Jones]

listening across the country. Corbin, Kentucky is. 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 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 year 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

[Drew Franklin]

one of their strengths 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 complete 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 2020.

[Billy]

Yeah. Only four starts in seven seasons. That's the fewest ever for a quarterback in a conference championship game.

[Matt Jones]

Four starts in seven seasons, but an opportunity.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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 starts, 20 games.

[Matt Jones]

But here's 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 terrible and that's not what you want. Like this is actually, I think this is the worst thing that could have happened to him. He had gone 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Replying to emails, Then they come up to you and promote you. You're like, I don't want to be promoted.

[Matt Jones]

I like where I am right now.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

You don't. You. 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.

[Drew Franklin]

It's exactly like this. Jared stood. I was 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.

[Matt Jones]

Well, he's going to have to. And then as for Josh 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?

[Drew Franklin]

This was the chance, I'm afraid.

[Matt Jones]

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 met. Right. 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?

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, the Texans are a star quarterback, but that defense, you're going to get to C.J.

[Matt Jones]

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?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I meant more so a defense you'll have to run through. I don't know if Stroud 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.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

Oh yes.

[Drew Franklin]

They're not self conscious.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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

[Drew Franklin]

of the game and our boy Ray Davis. As much as I felt bad for Josh Allen, I actually feel worse for Ray Davis. I know he doesn't have quite the legacy 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]

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[Matt Jones]

All right, so the Broncos make it. Let's go to the other game, the Texans and the Patriots today. C.J. 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. 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, 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.

[Drew Franklin]

I agree. But he was so rattled, completely rattled. They were even talking about during the broadcast going to our, our guy, David Mills. Like Davis Mills. Should they really consider putting Mills?

[Matt Jones]

I think they should have. I mean, I agree 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

You're in a great spot 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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 end up 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.

[Matt Jones]

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 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, Burrow 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 to why he gets so much criticism for it.

[Drew Franklin]

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. 1. 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.

[Matt Jones]

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?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, they, they didn't really have a drought. What was it like three years of not going 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.

[Matt Jones]

You should, 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. To recreate that 40 years later. Yep.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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?

[Drew Franklin]

Especially, especially stays on this pace that he's on through the first two games of his career.

[Matt Jones]

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, I. The Bill, the Seahawks. By the way, that game was. That game sucked. I mean Rasheed Shahid hits these, runs it back. It's over. So I don't even. I mean, do you have anything you want to say about the Seahawks? 49ers.

[Drew Franklin]

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 pump 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 whooping and they.

[Matt Jones]

And you know, they probably should be the favorites to win the whole thing. But. But you 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 Darnold. Drew, what are the odds you could have gotten on that three years ago?

[Drew Franklin]

Wait, was Jared stood him 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

[Matt Jones]

betting that he is in that class, it's pretty close. I think he might be.

[Billy]

It might be him drafted in 2019.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so that was two years later because I think it was 2017 was the. But anyway, go ahead.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I was just joking about that. Yeah, if you've gotten a live bet, you know, when Darn was on, maybe the Panther or something, who would be the first of that class to get to a Super bowl would 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.

[Matt Jones]

So, yeah, so the. 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 Bills, Chiefs, games and stuff over the years for whatever reason, it feels like that to me. What about you?

[Drew Franklin]

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. Might be a little biased there from what we've grown up watching.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, that makes sense. And the Robots, you know, they're timeless. You get gymnast 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.

[Matt Jones]

He gave you the little hello Friends band.

[Drew Franklin]

No, I'm ranking Tirico above Jim Nance. I'd say Tirico's probably first, even though Collinsworth wasn't moaning enough.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

It wasn't this weekend, but I guess last weekend or two weeks ago.

[Matt Jones]

Where did you go?

[Drew Franklin]

We were explaining about throwing in the wind. Just when you have someone that's a master of their craft, the best 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.

[Matt Jones]

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. But 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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 in my household. My wife's not a big Carrie Underwood.

[Matt Jones]

You know what? Wait a minute. Why aren't you a Carrie Underwood fan?

[Drew Franklin]

Well, my wife isn't a big fan, and it's like a known thing we have to mute.

[Matt Jones]

Your wife is a very sweet person. Why doesn't she, like, carry under doesn't like the voice.

[Drew Franklin]

Like when I'm watching football. I gotta mute that or it's gonna be a problem. There's no Carrie Underwood in house.

[Matt Jones]

Wow. I didn't realize Abby hated Carrie Underwood. That's a good rivalry I didn't know about. He did.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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?

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, what a lyric. I've just been waiting all day for Sunday night.

[Matt Jones]

I guess, like 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.

[Drew Franklin]

Shazam. Been watching football all day and now it's Sunday night and I'll watch more football.

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[Drew Franklin]

tremphyaradio.com Lowe's knows Sundays are for football,

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[Matt Jones]

All right, so we've got the the matchup set. We will do further predictions later in the week but if you had to pick now where you live leaning on the Super Bowl.

[Drew Franklin]

I just can't believe in the Broncos at this point we stood them probably would have picked the Broncos if Bo Nicks 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 Rams. I think there's another gear that they can hit in the playoffs of that offense. But I think I'm going to be I'm not committing now. I can update as it goes on but I think I'm going to go Seahawks in that one.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I'm going to 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 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 Aikman. 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, Aikman considered to be the leaders of two of the 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.

[Drew Franklin]

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 with some of the greats. Still got a few more years to add to that, so. 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.

[Matt Jones]

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 disagree. 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 Stefanski. 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?

[Drew Franklin]

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 it and made a good move there.

[Matt Jones]

I.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

It's odd to me, though, because, like, isn't he going to have to be Kirk Cousins court? I mean, is it Kirk Cousins going to start next year? Like, that's a weird place to want to go start.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. 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 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.

[Matt Jones]

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 he was there all weekend, went to eat, went on Broadway, had a bachelorette party. Like, are you a bachelorette party? Yeah, he was. He and his girls had a bachelorette party. Like, are you starting to feel it?

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

Which one would you rather have, McDaniel or McCarthy?

[Drew Franklin]

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 hire. I would like to see Daniel with Cam Ward, that offense, even though his personality and all of that would take a little bit of getting used to.

[Matt Jones]

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. You have nothing. So I think they're going to end up getting the worst tire, whoever it is.

[Drew Franklin]

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.

[Matt Jones]

But you've been there. We went out there. It's hot.

[Drew Franklin]

It is hot.

[Matt Jones]

Really hot.

[Billy]

Dry heat.

[Drew Franklin]

You. You can deal with it. To coach the Cardinals.

[Matt Jones]

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. It 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.

[Drew Franklin]

It's just. It's living in your head. Sunscreen's your friend, but that one does not look half as good as Vegas. And what you're saying 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.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

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[Matt Jones]

Let's 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 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, but we are going to.

[Drew Franklin]

What are we?

[Matt Jones]

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 can help me out.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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 gonna wear my khakis to the Sports Illustrated party, but maybe like an all black look or something like that. I mean, I don't know, maybe black

[Matt Jones]

Mac, do you have. Do you have, like, nice jeans? Like, nice jeans?

[Billy]

Yeah, yeah, I got jeans. You think that's acceptable?

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah,

[Matt Jones]

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 for sexy? Like, what are 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.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Matt Jones]

You don't want to go like you're trying to turn it up a notch. Glasses off. Billy's party's on.

[Billy]

Employee of the NFL is going to be there for.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, ready to go? I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

What does your wife think about all this?

[Billy]

Oh, she's worried.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe. Okay, well, listen, I've never been married. I would suggest you give her a hint that you're going to parties. I think. Don't you think, Drew, she might want to know that?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, tell her.

[Matt Jones]

Just tell her.

[Drew Franklin]

Get a souvenir at the parties. Just get her a magnet or something from the Super Bowl.

[Matt Jones]

A magnet?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Billy]

That would go a long way.

[Drew Franklin]

Really, the most important thing to. The most important thing to pack is a positive attitude. You have your positive attitude. Oh, absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

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 6 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. Yeah.

[Billy]

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.

[Matt Jones]

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 Billy 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. So I believe.

[Matt Jones]

Bill. Mario. Mario. Drew, do you believe that he only sleeps two hours a night?

[Drew Franklin]

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 really starts to catch up with you. So if he's claiming that's his regular life. No, absolutely not.

[Matt Jones]

Not. Yeah, I. I don't believe it either. Well, it was a great. Two really great games. 2 not so great games. But overall, these playoffs have really delivered. Tomorrow's the national championship. Drew, who do you have, Indiana or Miami?

[Drew Franklin]

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. I know 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.

[Matt Jones]

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. Like, wouldn't you have to say that through, even though it's Indiana and you don't feel like you want to?

[Drew Franklin]

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

[Matt Jones]

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 ever in the history of college football.

[Drew Franklin]

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 weigh those points.

[Matt Jones]

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 that are out there, enjoy your week and we will see you midweek. It's Cover Zero.

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Foreign.

[Matt Jones]

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.

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March is here and UberEats is delivering deals all month long. Score big savings on all the delicious food you need to fuel your sports fandom, whether you're ordering in or hosting the whole crew. Uber Eats is serving up deals on wings, burgers, pizza, all from your favorite restaurants, plus snacks from top stores.

[Toyota Advertiser]

Perennial powerhouse underdog.

[Uber Eats Advertiser]

However the madness unfolds, these deals keep it going all month long. Visit the Uber Eats app for all the latest deals and start saving today.

[Toyota Advertiser]

You know how it's never really about where you're going. It's about who you're going with. With the right people can turn any drive into a great memory. That's something Toyota really believes. They design vehicles around real life and real people, the ones who make plans happen and bring everyone together inside. Everything's built with passengers in mind. Comfortable seating, smart layouts, and space that actually works so everyone can relax and enjoy the ride. There's room for the people, room for the stuff, and room for the moment that happen along the way. Because when people are the destination, your ride is important. Learn [e-mail] and find the vehicle that fits your people.

[Erin Andrews]

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[Matt Jones]

Fun.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

Let them put golden wings on a dog.

[Drew Franklin]

Good boy.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

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[Matt Jones]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.