NFL Cover Zero: Harbaugh/Tomlin and Division Playoff Matchups!

Summary

NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin

Episode Title: Harbaugh/Tomlin and Division Playoff Matchups!
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Podcast: NFL Cover Zero (iHeartPodcasts)

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin dissect two seismic coaching moves—John Harbaugh to the Giants and Mike Tomlin’s departure from the Steelers—while previewing a loaded NFL Divisional Playoff weekend. The friends deliver their signature blend of big-picture analysis, quick-witted banter, nostalgic nods, and some actionable football insights.

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Main Topics & Key Insights

1. John Harbaugh Hired as Giants Head Coach

Timestamp: 00:46–11:13

• Immediate Reactions:
  • The hosts agree the Giants scored the “best long-term job” and landed the most reliable coach on the market.
  • Matt reminisces about the Titans being runners-up for Harbaugh:
    • “I dreamed a little. I won’t lie.” (01:41)
  • Drew: “There was no doubt he was going to the Giants.” (02:30)
• Harbaugh’s Fit & Outlook:
  • Drew: “He’s not a couple year guy. … He’ll have them in the playoffs and he’ll be a successful hire.” (02:58)
  • The hosts see him stabilizing a franchise that has cycled through coaches since Tom Coughlin.
• Playoff Prospects:
  • Billy: “Are we going to see the Giants in a meaningful playoff game?” (02:35)
  • Matt: “I think so. … With the youth they have… some good pieces… tradition, I think all that matters.” (02:58)

Memorable Moments:

• Jokes about Harbaugh’s interview habits (“I’m grilling hot dogs. Y’all can come by.” — Matt, 01:57)
• Billy accidentally refers to Joe Judge as “Joe Jonas.” (08:27)

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2. Brian Billick & Herm Edwards Nostalgia

Timestamp: 05:04–11:13

• Legacy chat: The hosts riff on Brian Billick’s post-coaching career, landing on his “advisor” role at Arizona State.
• Herm Edwards Stories:
  • Billy: “Herm said I was invited to the cookout.” (07:36)
  • Matt: “He does seem like a genuine awesome guy.” (07:39)
• Fun: Herm claims he could still “get mine” in the NFL today. (07:59)

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3. Mike Tomlin Resignation and Steelers’ Future

Timestamp: 11:13–15:56

• News: Tomlin leaves after 19 years; “wants to coach somewhere warm.”
• Coaching Legacy:
  • Drew: “He’s a lot better than he gets credit for, or… he gets too much credit for being mediocre. Where are you?” (11:46)
  • Matt: "You don't coach somewhere in the NFL for almost 20 years and not know what you're doing." (12:10)
• Steelers’ coaching tradition: Only 3 coaches in 56 years, all hired as coordinators.
• Next Coach? Steelers likely to hire another coordinator (mentions Mike McCarthy, Chris Shula as possible names).
• QB Conundrum: Steelers face a tricky draft position—always good but maybe not good enough for a franchise QB pick.
  • Billy: “They're going to be just good enough to not really get a good quarterback.” (15:03)

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4. Coaching Carousel: Candidates & Philosophy

Timestamp: 15:56–24:56

• Titans’ search: Matt discusses Mike McDaniel (with fashion jabs) and Robert Saleh as candidates.
• Billy’s take on Mike McCarthy: “I just went through the Mike McCarthy retread experience… I can’t now do it again.” (18:24)
• Comprehensive candidate rundown includes: Brian Flores, Vance Joseph (“Do I not remember that his tenure in Denver was really bad?” — Billy, 19:47), Chris Shula, Jeff Hafley, Matt Nagy, Joe Brady, Robert Saleh, Jesse Minter, Clint Kubiak, and Jason Garrett.
• Jokes about “football family trees” (Shula, Kubiak, Mentor):
  • “These families just like coming like NASCAR. Everybody’s a Bowdon.” (Billy, 22:36)

Memorable Quotes:

• “If someone will rehire you (like Vance Joseph), that alone says a lot about your character.” (Matt, 24:02)

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5. Auto-Draft Theory for the NFL Draft

Timestamp: 24:08–31:43

• Billy introduces his “auto-draft” draft pick theory—skip all interviews, scouting, and simply select based on big board rankings (McShay, Kiper).
  • “Save you a ton of money… I think you would be as successful, if not more successful than the mean.” (Billy, 25:12)
  • “So we’re just copying homework?” (Matt, 25:22)
  • “Why do I need to do—because when you watch the draft, it generally follows… the mock drafts.” (Billy, 25:37)
• Parallels to decision-making research; “Ask the audience” (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) analogy.
• Drew: “Sounds like, as an owner, you would hire AI as your GM.” (28:22)
• Discussion of hiring biases and objective assessment.

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6. Quick Coaching Takes: Kurt Signetti & More

Timestamp: 32:01–33:33

• Speculation as to why more coaches aren’t being hired.
• Matt: “Sig would be locked in. He wouldn’t be distracted in Vegas.” (33:01)
• General endorsement for more innovative/underdog hires.

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Divisional Playoff Game Previews & Picks

1. Bills vs. Broncos (Saturday 4:30 PM)

Timestamp: 34:04–36:54

• “This is the best game.” (Billy, 34:07)
• Both pick Bills. Matt: “Josh Allen… there’s ever been a path… this is your year to get it done.” (34:16)
• Billy: “Bills and Rams in the Super Bowl. I’m going to be the first person… to get their Super Bowl pick right.” (35:05)

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2. 49ers vs. Seahawks

Timestamp: 37:09–38:11

• Both pick Seahawks due to 49ers injuries.
• Matt: “They’re just pulling people out of the parking lot... I think they hit the end of the road here.” (37:42)
• Drew highlights Seattle’s defense as the X-factor.

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3. Patriots vs. Texans

Timestamp: 38:16–40:12

• Texans’ fluky 5-fumble win over Steelers: “Can you win a title with defense? Billy's answer is no.” (38:33)
• Patriots favored by 3.
• Drew: “Patriots have only beaten like two teams with a winning record this year.” (39:19)
• Both lean Texans, caveat: if it snows, Billy will swap to Patriots.

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4. Bears vs. Rams (Sunday Night)

Timestamp: 41:12–43:41

• Marquee QB matchup: Caleb Williams vs. Stafford.
• Both ultimately pick Rams, but praise Bears’ season and root for upsets.
• Trivia: Sean McVay’s 15th playoff game will be against his 15th different team. “Almost impossible for him to have that stat.” (Matt, 42:57)

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Notable Quotes & Humor

• On Coordinators Becoming Steelers Head Coach:
  “They’ve only had three coaches in 56 years. All came in as coordinators. …They seem like a place to go get Mike McCarthy.” (Billy, 13:10–13:16)
• On Bleak Draft Prospects:
  “They’re always going to be just good enough to not really get a good quarterback. … They don’t want to bottom out.” (Billy, 15:03)
• On Mike McDaniel’s interview attire:
  “He dressed better on the flight to Nashville than he dresses for the games and the press conferences in Miami.” (Billy, 17:15)

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Touchdown Picks & Victory Bundle Segment

Timestamp: 44:00–49:00

• Victory Bundle Picks: Rams, Seahawks, Bills.
• Touchdown Picks:
  • Bills/Broncos: Dalton Kincaid, Josh Allen, James Cook
  • 49ers/Seahawks: McCaffrey, Jackson Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker III
  • Patriots/Texans: Woody Marks, Diggs, Drake May
  • Bears/Rams: Colston Loveland, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams
• Ongoing joking dispute over last week’s picks; Matt threatens to “put you under the table with the actual audio.” (45:23)

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Final Thoughts

• The crew commits to testing Billy’s “auto-draft” theory in April (“We’ll wait five years and we’ll see how they…” — Drew, 30:00).
• “Looking forward to the games. We’ll go live… after the game on Sunday night.” (Billy, 48:53)
• Episode ends with anticipation for both the playoff results and inevitable coaching moves.

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[Quick Reference: Important Segments]

• John Harbaugh to Giants: 00:46–11:13
• Historian/Nostalgia Segment (Billick/Herm): 05:04–11:13
• Mike Tomlin Resignation & Steelers Future: 11:13–15:56
• Coaching Carousel Discussion: 15:56–24:56
• Auto-Draft NFL Theory: 24:08–31:43
• Playoff Game Picks & Analysis: 34:04–43:14
• Victory Bundle and Touchdown Pick Segment: 44:00–49:00

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Tone & Style

Casual, witty, sometimes self-deprecating with a blend of stats, nostalgia, coaching gossip, and fan perspective. Matt and Drew keep the show light and fun, always staying football-first.

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For fans seeking the latest on coaching changes, detailed playoff matchups, and a few laughs along the way, this episode offers a comprehensive and entertaining recap of the week’s biggest NFL stories.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

This is an iheart podcast. Guaranteed human.

[Billy Singh]

NFL cover zero with matt jones and drew franklin is a production of the NFL and iheart podcast. It is NFL Cover 0, the divisional playoff round. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, ready to go here? It's a day late. It's on a Thursday, but, you know, it's hard to get Billy's schedule. He's really busy, so it's hard to get him in for all the days we need to do. And so, Drew, we're here and thanks to Billy for showing up and we're ready to go. I'm just kidding. It wasn't Billy, but Drew. Nice to have you.

[Matt Jones]

Being a day late means we were one day closer to the actual football, so our excitement's even higher.

[Billy Singh]

And if we had taped this yesterday, I don't think we would have known. The news about John Harbaugh. This is the most important story of the week for the NFL. John Harbaugh is the new coach of the Giants. The first of eight coaching vacancies to come filled is John Harbaugh. I think it was. Well, it was first reported by, like, Marty Mush, I believe on Barstool Sports. He's the first person I saw. I don't know if he gets official credit or not. Schefter, I think, confirmed it this morning. I have thought the Giants was the best of the jobs for the long term future. It's in New York. I can totally see why John would want to do it. I think it's the Giants best shot to have a good, you know, a good coach for the future that won't fail. John Harbaugh, you know, won't fail. So I like it. What about you?

[Matt Jones]

I like it, too. Kind of assumed that'd be where he'd go. The moment he left Baltimore, my Titans were in the mix. I dreamed a little. I won't lie.

[Billy Singh]

I knew they were second on the board in terms of.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, on that. He was going to do an in home interview. He wasn't going to go to Nashville.

[Billy Singh]

Never a good sign.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I played out in my head. They invited him and he's like, look, I'm grilling hot dogs. Y' all can come by. Just come in. You can talk to me for a little bit. Like, I'm not going to.

[Billy Singh]

You're not willing to go to the city you might move to, then you're probably not moving to that city.

[Matt Jones]

He's like, listen, I got family and we're watching a movie if y' all want to come by. I'll talk For a few minutes, that's where we were. However, not to make it about the Titans, but him having them second maybe makes the job look more attractive for others.

[Billy Singh]

That's interesting. So like you, you're like the school that loses the recruit but gets the hat on the table.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, we're moral victory team.

[Billy Singh]

You're a hat on the table.

[Matt Jones]

But there was no doubt that he was going to the Giants.

[Billy Singh]

Well, I will come back.

[Matt Jones]

There was no doubt he was going to Giants.

[Billy Singh]

So I think he'll do well. Jackson Dart. I think the fans and the media will like him. He'll be the coach. You know, they've had a lot of guys over the years that have had some good resumes, but really Tom Coughlin's been the last time they've been successful there. Are we going to see the Giants in a meaningful playoff game?

[Matt Jones]

I think so. They, I mean, I feel like they've had 20 coaches since Tom Coughlin had some success there. A lot of guys for just a couple years. Harbaugh is not a couple year guy. And with the youth they have and already some good pieces to the fan base of tradition, I think all that matters. I don't know if Harbaugh will take him to the promised land or anything crazy because he won't have. He doesn't have a ton left anyway. But he'll have them in the playoffs and he'll be a successful hire.

[Billy Singh]

It puts him in the opposite conference of his brother. Like they actually, they couldn't be farther away. He was like, I want to get as far away from my brother as possible.

[Matt Jones]

Could they meet in the super bowl again?

[Billy Singh]

I mean, no, but, I mean, but it's, I guess it's plausible, but I think it's unlikely. But I do, I think he will do a good job and then, you know, as far as development, he has over the years been able to win with a lot of different kinds of people. Lamar, but also before Lamar, a number of players. Who's there? What, how long Was he there?

[Drew Franklin]

18 years.

[Billy Singh]

So I mean, Mike Tomlin was in Pittsburgh for 19 and he was there for 18 and that was in my opinion the best rivalry to watch during that period. Kind of an end of an era, right?

[Matt Jones]

It is just also, I mean, Lamar was a star. They've had some stars. But just the toughness you associate with the Ravens. I mean a lot of that goes back before him too. But he maintained that and he's been a well respected coach pretty much as long as he's been there. That's why if you're the Giants, you see that news, you're like, wait, we

[Billy Singh]

can get Harbaugh the greatest, like, you know, isn't that the greatest thing that could fall in your lap of all?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Even if you were one of the few people who wanted to give day ball a little longer, you like someone else. The moment hardball is available, throw away the sheet of candidates. We have our candidate. Go get him.

[Billy Singh]

I Brian Billick was the coach before Harbaugh, Billock and Harbaugh, whatever happened to him? Like he win. He won a Super bowl, did a

[Matt Jones]

little TV for a. He was a very charismatic, seemed very likable.

[Billy Singh]

That's what did he just decide to disappear off the planet?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Billy Singh]

I'm not sure why I'm looking at you like you would like. I'm like, Billy, why is Brian Bill like not in my life, but I kind of feel like that's what I'm

[Drew Franklin]

doing, you know, I don't remember what Brian Billock's up to, but I do know he played the Giants in the Super Bowl. Okay, that's a fact as a Baltimore coach.

[Billy Singh]

But I mean

[Matt Jones]

his Wikipedia pulled up here on the wall, what does it

[Billy Singh]

say he's been doing the last decade? I'm worried about it.

[Matt Jones]

Well, there is a 15 year gap from the year 2007 to the year 2022. But in the year 2022, just three, four years ago, he was the advisor to the head coach at Arizona State.

[Billy Singh]

That's a made up job.

[Matt Jones]

That's what it says on his weekend

[Billy Singh]

advisor to the head coach.

[Matt Jones]

So that wouldn't that mean you just.

[Billy Singh]

He can call you and be like, hey, Brian, what do you think?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that sounds like he just took. That's the job.

[Billy Singh]

I thought okay, so that means if he finished coaching in this says he's 71. So that means he basically at 54 or 55 was like, yeah, I'm out. Done. Why don't more people do that?

[Matt Jones]

I would, I definitely would. I respect the guys that want to. I want to do this forever. I want to do it till I'm 80. Not me. Y' all can have it. I'll be on my couch watching.

[Billy Singh]

You don't think you get bored?

[Matt Jones]

That's what I mean. No, I would get bored in that I would want to go find new things new.

[Billy Singh]

But it doesn't look like Brian Billock's found anything. Also literally has nothing. There's no historical record of him except occasionally he gets lunch with Kenny Dillingham.

[Matt Jones]

Well actually I knew New details.

[Billy Singh]

New details are emerging.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so he was the adviser to head coach in 2022. Kennedy Dillingham took over in 2023. So.

[Billy Singh]

So he was advised.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he advised Herm on the way out. I guess he got a year with Herm, advised him for a season.

[Billy Singh]

Let me be clear. I love Herm.

[Matt Jones]

We're pro Herm.

[Billy Singh]

But the advice couldn't have worked.

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Billy Singh]

Herm was only there for one more year. So he advised Herm one year. Herm didn't need his. I listen. I interview Herm every Sunday. He doesn't listen to anybody. So he came out of his cave

[Matt Jones]

after 15 years to advise Herm. Herm got fired and he went right back in.

[Billy Singh]

Wow. Well, maybe we could get him on the show.

[Drew Franklin]

Can we get Herm on? I love Herm.

[Billy Singh]

I love Herm too. Yes, we could. I could get Herm to do anything.

[Matt Jones]

Well, he was Herm's advisor so that we have the contact there.

[Billy Singh]

Herm can get us Billik. Would you rather have Herm or Billick?

[Matt Jones]

Is that an insult to call Herman ask if we can get frowned Billick?

[Billy Singh]

No, he's my boy. Okay. Herm said I was invited to the cookout.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, really?

[Billy Singh]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Nice.

[Billy Singh]

Herm said I could come to the cookout.

[Matt Jones]

I've never met him, but he does seem like a genuine awesome guy.

[Billy Singh]

I've never met him in person, but I just saw him on the radio every Sunday for three straight years. And I love the guy. He's great. And he really. We. We give each other a hard time. He genuinely though believes he could play in the NFL and still get interceptions.

[Matt Jones]

Today.

[Billy Singh]

Present day, today.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, good.

[Billy Singh]

He said confidence. He said if he played now, he said I wouldn't be one of the best players in the league, but I could get mine. That was his direct quote.

[Matt Jones]

Is Ron Bill it going to be advisor to the cornerback? Does he need his help on that too?

[Billy Singh]

He can get his. So anyway, good for John Harbaugh, good for Jackson Dart.

[Matt Jones]

Congratulations.

[Billy Singh]

If the Giants fans, they've got to be pretty happy you got a coach

[Matt Jones]

with a ring on his finger. They couldn't have expected that after having was that one guy Joe Jonas who's

[Billy Singh]

the coach before they ball.

[Matt Jones]

No, before that they were Joe Judge. Joe Judge, not Joe Jonas. He might have done a better job. Bob something when they're a Bob. Yeah, they've had a lot of.

[Billy Singh]

A lot of. There's a Bob.

[Matt Jones]

A lot of forgettable guys. Now they have a guy with a

[Drew Franklin]

Super bowl and they got scatter Boo. And neighbors.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Billy Singh]

And they got a great defensive line. I mean, the Thibodeau and all those pass rushers.

[Matt Jones]

Ben McAdoo. That's the one I'm trying to think of. Not Bob.

[Billy Singh]

Oh, give me the Giants head coaches since. Since Tom Coughlin.

[Drew Franklin]

Pat Shermer was another one.

[Matt Jones]

So we could do this all day. They're. I bet they're all two years.

[Billy Singh]

Coughlin.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay. Coughlin was 04 to 15. Then you had Ben McAdoo.

[Matt Jones]

There we go.

[Drew Franklin]

Steve Spagnola.

[Billy Singh]

Oh, I forgot about Steve Spagnola.

[Drew Franklin]

Pat Shermer, Joe Judge, Brian Dable.

[Billy Singh]

And that's a who's who of who's not.

[Matt Jones]

Were they all there exactly two years?

[Drew Franklin]

No, Spagnola was one.

[Billy Singh]

Joe Judge. Spagnola, Shermer, Ben McAdoo. McAdoo and Day Ball. I still think Day Ball can be a good coach. I think. I think he. It didn't work out for him there, but I feel like he at some point will be deserving of another job. I don't think any of those other people were.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I completely agree. I think we'll see him again.

[Billy Singh]

I think he get. He gets. Should get another chance one day.

[Matt Jones]

Wasn't he coach of the year his first season there? I think he was.

[Billy Singh]

He was. I think he was. And he always looked to me, I thought he was a good Giants coach because it looked to me like he could also be a New York fireman.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Like he fit in. Or if you need to go over to Jersey, talk to Tony and the boys, he'd fit in there, too.

[Billy Singh]

I think, by the way, you know, I spend a decent amount of time in New York. When you walk by their various fire stations, they're always just sitting there and they just look at you and they're like, what's up? What's up, man?

[Matt Jones]

Just a little head nod.

[Billy Singh]

You think there's any place in America where people respect an institution like New Yorkers respect the fire department?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. Especially in that city with that history now.

[Billy Singh]

I don't think that's anywhere else. I think if you, you know, if you were going to be in enforcement, I don't know if they're fired men or exactly law enforcement, but if you're going to be in some. I think you'd be more respected as a New York fireman than almost anything.

[Matt Jones]

Even I own an FDNY shirt. I met a fireman who was part of the 9 11. He was one of the survivors. He's got a little charity thing and he me one of the T shirts. I'm not even from there. And you do feel like a. Yeah.

[Billy Singh]

I've been to the World Trade center fire station, the one that was technically four, and there's memorials everywhere. And when I walked by, this was just a few months ago, people were out there taking pictures with the firemen. So they're almost like little celebrities.

[Matt Jones]

I think mine was Dwayne street is what my shirt says. Dwayne street, wherever that is.

[Billy Singh]

So bye to Brian Day Ball, hello to John Harbaugh and Brian Billick. Show yourself. All right, the other news since we came on, Mike Tomlin resigns after 19 years with the. With the Steelers. He. He did not retire. Reports are he wants to coach somewhere warm, which I thought was kind of a.

[Matt Jones]

That's retiring. That sentence says you're retiring. That's a retirement.

[Billy Singh]

They say want to coach. You think he wants to be an advisor to.

[Matt Jones]

When you're picking your weather, you're retiring.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah. Maybe you should advise her. Mike Tomlin. People either are one of two ways with Tomlin. They either take the view of he's a lot better than he gets credit for, or there's people who say he gets too much credit for just being mediocre. Where are you on Mike Tomlinson?

[Matt Jones]

I think he's still great. I'd take him if he wants to come on back. I don't know how the weather is in Nashville. Compared to what he wants, he's probably better than big. Yeah, I know he said he's going to take a year off. I get why the Steelers parted ways. They needed a reset. He needed a reset. But I still think he's a very good coach. You don't coach somewhere in the NFL for almost 20 years and not knowing you're doing, whether you're part of a bigger institution with a great defense and tradition, all that, whatever, throw it out to coach. As long as he didn't have the wins he did, he's a good coach and he still has it. Even though it probably was the right time in Pittsburgh for both parties, it's.

[Billy Singh]

I think it was the right time. That's the key, is it was the right time. But I would hire him. If I had a job, I would hire him in an instant.

[Matt Jones]

The moment Harbaugh and Tomlin, after the Tyler Loop field goal and they became available, that's 1 and 2 on all on my list that I would be riding if I were any of these teams.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah, I'm with you. So what do you do? Let's Go. We've, we've been through some of these jobs. What do you do with. With the Pittsburgh job?

[Matt Jones]

Have they been reported to be leaning any direction? They seem like a place to go get Mike McCarthy. I don't know if he's on the list.

[Billy Singh]

Well but I mean they've only had three coaches.

[Drew Franklin]

56 years.

[Billy Singh]

56 years. So they're not. But all three of those coaches if you think came in as coordinators. They've never had a head coach with experience before and I saw a picture

[Matt Jones]

of Tomlin that popped up on the Internet when he first got hired. Look like a kid. He feels like a guy that had an age but seeing one that's truly 1819 years ago when he was coaching

[Drew Franklin]

for the Bucks back in the day.

[Matt Jones]

Well, this was. He has the Steelers gear on but he's brand new. He looks. Looks like baby faced.

[Billy Singh]

What do you think? What do you. Who would be. Do you think they'd go for a coordinator? Do they continue the same. The same trajectory that they had?

[Drew Franklin]

Depends on what they want to do with Aaron Rodgers. Right. Do you think he sticks around for another year because if so maybe Arthur Smith is that higher he's offensive.

[Billy Singh]

Arthur Smith has been a coach before.

[Drew Franklin]

He has.

[Billy Singh]

I want to find somebody. I want to figure out that they feel like the kind of place where Liam Cohen would have gone or someone like that. I wonder if there's someone out there that they sort of look at like that.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know what they're looking for but as an outsider it feels like Steelers are always going to have some defense and if they're going the coordinator route. The Shula with the Rams is a hot name right now on the defensive side of the ball so I would assume he's on their list if that's the direction we're going. I've just always everyone associates Steelers with good defense and I think they'd stick to that identity and go get a defensive guy and he'd be high on the list.

[Billy Singh]

I think you're probably. You're probably right about his name's popping up everywhere. Would you want that job with no obvious quarterback?

[Matt Jones]

Can I still recover? Zero. I wouldn't want to leave you guys.

[Billy Singh]

I mean they're letting Troy Eggman's doing.

[Matt Jones]

No, no. I actually like the no obvious quarterback because.

[Billy Singh]

But they're not going to have a draft pick to get one.

[Matt Jones]

I mean if Rogers I ling another year without committing to anything because this class outside of Mendoza don't expect.

[Billy Singh]

Here's the hard thing about that job, they're going to be just good enough to not really get a good quarterback. You know what I mean? Like there, I don't think the Steelers want a team that has had 19 straight winning seasons. They don't want to bottom out and get a top five quarterback or top five pick. So they're always going to kind of be middle of the first round, or at least that's probably what you hope. And you can still get your guy there. They got Ben Roethlisberger there in the middle of the first round. But I do think, like, it's. It's less obvious to get it there.

[Matt Jones]

And it's rare for a playoff team to have a coaching search. To your point about not having a good draft position, it shows your roster's good enough to get in the mix, but you still weren't happy enough. But being the Steeler, there are a few teams and it's why I had the Giants at the top of my list. Just with the tradition and just being known for a successful organization. I would happily coach the Steelers.

[Billy Singh]

This would be something. Something like Malik Willis will be the quarterback there next year.

[Matt Jones]

He came to mind. I thought you were going to ask me who could they go out and get.

[Billy Singh]

I mean, he'll be that kind of guy. But again, it's not who you want forever. At some point they'll have to nail a draft pick. I mean, if you, if you look at the playoff teams, with the exception of Sam Darnold, who's a unique situation, all these guys were either like drafted by their teams or in the case of Matthew Stafford, it was a trade where a guy you drafted had some value so that the.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah, no, they're. They're going to have a quarterback.

[Billy Singh]

Sam Donald is a very unique situation of a guy that you would sign that conceivably could go win you a Super Bowl. Usually you're going to have to draft one.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you can't go hand pick a Sam Darnold because teams are throwing them away because they think he's done. And then he goes and has a comeback. You can't. No one can spot that.

[Billy Singh]

All right, so Mike Thomas says he's going to sit out you. And I would agree with, but he, I think would have a lot of chance of jobs. So let's talk about who is being talked about for jobs. Your Tennessee Titans brought in Mike McDaniel. He flew in in a suit way to be incognito. Mike, why not just wear like you. He dressed better on the flight to Nashville. Than he dresses for the games and the press conferences in Miami. Why would you do that? Does he think this is 1954 and you have to dress up to go on a plane?

[Matt Jones]

You gotta be careful. Talking about potentially my future coach.

[Billy Singh]

Oh, gosh, I'm starting to prepare myself. Let me say that if they hire him because that will give me good jokes because I never thought he was. I mean, I'd actually feel bad for you because I think he's a goober and I think him being a goober with you would be funny.

[Matt Jones]

I gotta be.

[Billy Singh]

You would talk yourself into him.

[Matt Jones]

I've already talked myself into him. He's not my top pick, but I

[Billy Singh]

think you'd be doing tiktoks with it.

[Matt Jones]

If he's my coach, I will happily do tiktoks. You're talking to the guy who named his peloton account after Mike Vrabel here. So, yes, if he wants to TikTok, I will TikTok. But with the names I've seen, I gotta admit, I had a moment last night where I'm like, if I'd be

[Billy Singh]

the best of the group, I think, well, what are the ties? I don't know what their other choices are. Who are they?

[Matt Jones]

Anybody get. We've said a lot of the names. They're hopeful. Like, Robert Sala is one of the hottest names. He's probably my top pick. Even though he didn't do well with

[Billy Singh]

the Jets, I feel like he would fail there, too.

[Matt Jones]

It's the Titans. I'm prepared for any of them to fail. I mean, none of these are going to be a guaranteed win.

[Billy Singh]

What about like a Mike McCarthy?

[Matt Jones]

I can't do it. I cannot do it.

[Billy Singh]

Why?

[Matt Jones]

A lot of people want him. I just. The Cowboys are my second team. I just went through the Mike McCarthy retread experience with them. I did not enjoy it. I can't now do it again with my Titans.

[Billy Singh]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

There are a lot of Titans fans and accounts that want him. So I'm clearly, I'm not in tune with the whole fan base, but I would rather have maybe even Mike McDaniels. Crazy, that is to say, of the mics.

[Billy Singh]

All right, well, he.

[Matt Jones]

As goofy as he is with Cam Ward and we have some rookie wide receivers and some offensive weapons that could grow. He is a good offensive mind. I would have to get used to the Louis Vuitton stuff in the. In the joggers pulled up to his knees, but I would. I could get excited about his offense.

[Billy Singh]

All right, so what are some of the Names of people that are Billy. That are up for some of these jobs.

[Drew Franklin]

You have Brian Flores out of him in a way.

[Billy Singh]

Where is Brian Flores now?

[Drew Franklin]

Was he Vikings defensive coordinator?

[Billy Singh]

Okay, but he's had a job before.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes.

[Billy Singh]

Vance Joseph.

[Drew Franklin]

Vance Joseph is another one.

[Matt Jones]

I thought of my other titan. I'll take. I will also take Stefanski. I know he just got fired, so that. Yes, I forgot to mention him.

[Billy Singh]

He'll have a job when this all comes through.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I would take him.

[Billy Singh]

Vance Joseph. I'm shocked he's on the list, because I am. I. Do I not remember that? His tenure in Denver was really bad. Right.

[Drew Franklin]

It wasn't great from my memory. And he's the defensive coordinator for the Broncos now.

[Billy Singh]

Okay, well, then maybe he wasn't the coat. Was he not the head coach at Denver at one point?

[Drew Franklin]

Sounds familiar. I think he did have a coach.

[Billy Singh]

There's no way he. This tells you how prepared I. Sometimes I am for assistance. I don't follow them enough to know,

[Matt Jones]

but Vance Joseph was Broncos head coach

[Drew Franklin]

from 17 to 18.

[Billy Singh]

And then he went to the Cardinals, the defensive.

[Drew Franklin]

And has been the Broncos DC since 23.

[Matt Jones]

I always think that's weird when guys do that. That would have to be hard. Walk into a different office than the head coach's office.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah. And then, like, people do it. Bobby Petrino did it. Huh? Well, his defense has been really good in Denver, so maybe very good.

[Matt Jones]

No, that'd be another name. Maybe Steelers look into him.

[Billy Singh]

All right, what were the other ones?

[Drew Franklin]

Chris Shula, the defensive coordinator for the Rams.

[Billy Singh]

They literally. They just belt out shoeless. Whose kid is this? Is this Mike's kid?

[Drew Franklin]

Doesn't say here, but McVeigh assistants go like.

[Billy Singh]

So you got Don, and he had a kid named Mike, and I think another kid named Biff.

[Matt Jones]

There's a lot of them. He's the son of Dave.

[Billy Singh]

Dave. There's a Dave. So this is the Shula grandson. Now, none of the shoeless have been good except Don, but you just kind of keep giving a shoelace to do what? Go 500 football. Okay.

[Matt Jones]

All right.

[Billy Singh]

So who else?

[Drew Franklin]

Jeff Halfley, the defensive coordinator for the Packers.

[Billy Singh]

Don't want him.

[Matt Jones]

Matt Nagy, the offensive coordinator, he's also on our list.

[Drew Franklin]

Joe Brady, the offensive coordinator for the Bills, famously with the LSU Tigers. And Joe Burrow when they won the national championship.

[Billy Singh]

So Joe Brady's interesting because he's had a lot success in the NFL, but he kind of got run out of college to go and then did really well with the Bills. So that would be an interesting one. And then who else?

[Drew Franklin]

Robert Sala, as we mentioned. Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator for the Chargers.

[Billy Singh]

Is that Nuclear Minter's son?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know.

[Billy Singh]

I think.

[Matt Jones]

Did we make. Have we talked about this from having deja vu? Because I've been calling Jeff nuclear, not knowing anything about him. A little Kentucky connection there.

[Billy Singh]

Jesse Minter. How many mentors are Jesse?

[Matt Jones]

Excuse me.

[Billy Singh]

Well, okay, who else?

[Matt Jones]

He is the son of Nuclear Rick. Mentor.

[Billy Singh]

These families just like coming like nascar. Everybody's a Bowdon.

[Matt Jones]

There are names where, if you have it, your odds of getting a job in football.

[Billy Singh]

You mentioned four names that have family members.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, here's another one. Clint Kubiak.

[Billy Singh]

What in the world is happening? Like, come on. They've got. Okay, then it's going to be Frank Walsh. They just keep. You keep coming here with this stuff. Bob Belichick.

[Matt Jones]

Another name you haven't said yet. Billy, I don't know if you're going to get to it, but Jason Garrett's name is still floating around. Jason Garrett.

[Billy Singh]

Okay, so can I make the case for Jason Garrett?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Billy Singh]

What's he done wrong? He won for you guys.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, he did. And I met him in an Airport at 6am when no one wants to talk. And he wanted to talk so much me and my wife couldn't get away from.

[Billy Singh]

That's really stuck with you. You, you. You bring that up a lot. You, I think, have some Jason Garrett. Why not make him your.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I just mean friendly. I mean, from a friendly way. A lot of people be like, hey, hey, nice to meet you. 6:00am don't talk. No, he's like, what do you think of the derby this year? Who's your horse? And so just a very friendly guy, but.

[Billy Singh]

So we have nuclear mentors, kid. We have Kubiak, who was the next one.

[Drew Franklin]

Is that all for this list? All we have left is Arthur Smith and Kevin Stefanski. So those are.

[Billy Singh]

So for me, if I have a team, I'm going all in on Kevin. If I can't get Mike Tom to coach, I'm going all in on Kevin Stefanski. I oddly kind of like Joe Brady as a possibility. And then maybe it's time to give Vance Joseph another ride. You know, Broncos liked him enough to bring him back in the building.

[Matt Jones]

Says a lot. If someone will rehire you. Yeah, that alone says a lot about your character. Let you back in the building.

[Billy Singh]

I am. Let me tell you what I'm of the belief of you're going to hear this theory as we get closer to the NFL draft in April. My NFL draft theory, and I'm going to test this out this April. This is going to be a scientific test that we're going to play out. It's going to take years to play out, but we're doing it the same. What happens if you interview no one and you watch no one play and you just pick based on rankings?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, okay.

[Billy Singh]

You've heard me say this before. They spend all this time, they have everybody sprinting their undies, and they have everybody lift weights and pick up cones and throw them at each other. And then you interview them and you ask them, you know, what happened when your mom didn't give you Oreos? And then you try to act like you know who to pick. And I've always had the view. What if we just ignored all of that and I just took Todd McShay and Mel Kuyper and Mike Tanenbaum's ratings and I just use that and that's how I picked and I never talked to any of these people.

[Matt Jones]

Save you a lot of money.

[Billy Singh]

Save you a ton of money. And I'm going to go further. I think you would be as successful, if not more successful than the mean.

[Matt Jones]

So we're just copying homework?

[Billy Singh]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

You all do the homework.

[Billy Singh]

Well, why do I need to do? Because when you watch the draft, it generally follows, you know, not exactly, but the ballpark of the mock drafts, right? Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Occasional surprises, but nothing major.

[Billy Singh]

Usually surprises aren't. Don't work right. Like, usually they'll pick. Like, remember when the Raiders picked a fat guy from Alabama on the offensive line, like three rounds too early and it didn't work right.

[Matt Jones]

Or every time the Titans draft, I

[Billy Singh]

would say do a draft where all you do is copy Todd McShay and Mel Kuiper's homework. So then when it was my turn, I just looked and said, he feels like the right guy. Or. And then in five years, let's see who has the best draft class.

[Matt Jones]

Well, like NFL.com during the draft will have the best available. I just, I just pull up my phone, I'm like, well, let's see who's the best available. Oh, you want to auto draft the actual draft?

[Billy Singh]

I think there's an argument that the only thing I would do is I was look at my roster and see what I need. Okay. So I might say, okay, even though that guy's higher, I don't need that position. But then kind of auto draft, or look and go. At the end of the day, McShay knows more about this than we do. What does he think? I genuinely believe you probably wouldn't end up with the best draft class, but I bet you wouldn't end up with the worst.

[Matt Jones]

I love the idea of auto drafting. When it happens in fantasy, everybody gets mad because the clock goes all the way down. Yeah, you're upsetting all your competitors because you're on the o'. Clock. You're like, oh, Pittsburgh in April. I can't make it. Sorry. Y' all draft without me. I'll be auto draft.

[Billy Singh]

We're in the war room. If you and I were in the war room, when they go to the war room, you and I would be, like, drinking.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Billy Singh]

Playing video games.

[Matt Jones]

I think there's some GMs that already do that.

[Billy Singh]

No, but I mean, like, you and I would make it very clear we're not paying attention.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, we're up. I didn't know we were up.

[Billy Singh]

No, I would just go, jeeves,

[Matt Jones]

we're asking Chiefs.

[Billy Singh]

You tell me one minute before and I'll quickly look and see. Ah, he feels good. I bet you, Billy, you would do better than most teams. I think. I think it's all a waste of money. The NBA is even more like this. The NBA hires these old men to travel around the country and watch basketball games.

[Matt Jones]

They get the same stats. I can get home.

[Billy Singh]

And by the way, the game's on tv. I can see it.

[Matt Jones]

I sit by some of these scouts

[Billy Singh]

that most of them are just there for the free food.

[Matt Jones]

Not a lot of scouting getting done.

[Billy Singh]

They have one pick, and they'll have, like, the six pick in the draft, and they'll go, I'll pick the guy from Duke. And then the whole scouting staff claps, and I'm like, none of you people, all of you are stealing money.

[Drew Franklin]

Sounds like, as an owner, you would hire AI as your gm.

[Billy Singh]

I would just pick it or, Well, I wouldn't want to get blamed. So I'd have you as the fall guy. Okay.

[Matt Jones]

See, the problem is, so many of these GMs, they get the job and they want to outsmart the Ranchers.

[Billy Singh]

No one's smart. Like, Bill Belichick was supposedly the best at this. And in North Carolina, he has a team that can't beat anyone, which just shows everybody's the same. Now, I do think, by the way, there's difference in coaching, but when it comes to picking the draft, now, I will say there's talent in, like, the undrafted players and all that. Like, that's different. But if you're just talking about the first three rounds of the draft. Todd McShay.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, Belichick's hit rate wasn't great in the draft either. I mean, besides, thank you.

[Billy Singh]

Their brilliance was they'd find the guy who played it like East Potato State and bring him in. I will grant you, they'll do that better than me. But when it comes to top guys, I'm of the book. You've watched who Wants to Be a Millionaire? I have.

[Matt Jones]

Not recently, but I have.

[Billy Singh]

What is the best thing you have?

[Matt Jones]

Phone a friend.

[Billy Singh]

No, ask it. They ask the audience. Ask the audience. Always correct. The collective intelligence is always smarter than the individual.

[Matt Jones]

Well, my phone a friend was going to be Todd McShay. Todd, what are we picking?

[Billy Singh]

So. So we're going to test this at the draft. We're going to draw out of a hat, and I'm going to have the team that's mine.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Billy Singh]

And every time we come up on the clock, I'm going to go, all right, we need a running back. Hey, Todd, we got. Yeah, he's good. The guy bit. There you go.

[Drew Franklin]

We'll wait five years and we'll see how they.

[Billy Singh]

In five years, we will compare my draft class to everyone else's.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, we have a first round pick. We're seventh. And we need an offensive tackle. All right, one second. NFL.com desperate tackle going with that one.

[Billy Singh]

I'm gonna go with him. All right, see y' all in two days.

[Matt Jones]

Don't care what. His mom took the Oreos away.

[Billy Singh]

See, that's what.

[Matt Jones]

Don't care if he knows what 7 times 7 is.

[Billy Singh]

There are scientific studies. This is not just. You're looking at me like I'm crazy. There are scientific studies that show that companies do a better job interviewing people, hiring people with no interviews. Because when you and I talk, my biases come into place. So, like, there's a whole field of research on this that, like, you know, we tend to look for people like us just because we think we're awesome. And we skip over other candidates that are not like us because we can't relate to them. So you see it, like, with race and gender and et cetera. Like, people will. A white person might not hire a black candidate because they can't relate to them, even though that person would be better than the white candidate, but you just happen to see yourself in them. Does that make sense?

[Drew Franklin]

It does. Like, I walk in with my NFL hat. You're a big fan of the NFL, so you might hire me more than the other person.

[Billy Singh]

But that's a stupid Analogy. But yeah, it's close. But the point would be just you wearing that hat doesn't mean you're good at the job. So the point is that a lot of companies are taking the view, don't interview anybody. Just go on the objective measurements and you got a better chance of being successful than if you start trying to talk to people.

[Matt Jones]

But to Billy's point, if I work for Liberty Mutual and I'm an NFL fan, he comes to interview wearing that hat naturally. Gonna.

[Billy Singh]

Well, it's time for the Victory Bundle presented by Liberty Mutual. Nice. No, it's not time yet. I just wanted. Felt like a good tease. It was an ad tease. So anyway, stick around. Well, that's. That's your. That's our coaching updates. And good luck to all the candidates. By the time we come back next

[Matt Jones]

week, I'll be dressed like Mike McDaniel.

[Billy Singh]

You think any of these people are waiting on Kurt Signetti? Oh, because, you know, it's weird that no one's hired their coach.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Billy Singh]

So many open a week and a half and you know, the only one fit that it's been hired is the most obvious.

[Drew Franklin]

The Raiders do that and then get Mendoza.

[Billy Singh]

I think any team should try it. Outside of. If you can't get Harbaugh or Tomlin or maybe Stefanski, I would hire Kurt Signetti. Why not?

[Matt Jones]

He wins.

[Billy Singh]

Clearly is smart. And he clearly wins with just random guys. Why couldn't. Why not?

[Matt Jones]

Well, the only hiccup would be the way he coaches and the random guys. Would that work with the millionaires? Google me. But he is. He has millionaires now.

[Billy Singh]

Google him.

[Matt Jones]

It's true. Google.

[Billy Singh]

Have you googled him?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I'm not against it.

[Billy Singh]

I say give it a shot. And if I'm somebody like the Raiders, then I'm definitely doing.

[Drew Franklin]

I might go all in. Yeah. On that.

[Matt Jones]

And you. You have to worry about him getting distracted in Vegas. That doesn't look like a guy you're gonna catch all.

[Billy Singh]

He's not gonna be at the strip club.

[Matt Jones]

He might go to those. Some of those 5pm residency shows. And back to film.

[Billy Singh]

He would go see Wayne Newton.

[Matt Jones]

Wayne Newton. Who's the big. The big George Wallace comedians. He's still around.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah. He would go see George Wallace noon

[Matt Jones]

because they have a free buffet.

[Billy Singh]

The Amazing Jonathan. But I don't think he is gonna do anything.

[Matt Jones]

Wouldn't be distractions. Like, obviously it was a distraction to Pete Carol and Geno Smith. It that didn't work. Sig would be locked in.

[Billy Singh]

Big P. Carol was out.

[Matt Jones]

He went to the 900pm George Wallace.

[Billy Singh]

Oh, dude, you can't do that.

[Matt Jones]

That's way too late.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah. All right. So that's what I would do. All right. Let's go to the playoff game Saturday. Your first game, I believe is. Is it. Is it the Buffalo game? It is Buffalo versus Denver. I actually think this is odd. It's odd to me. This is the first game is actually. This is the best game.

[Matt Jones]

I was shocked. This is the 4:30 Saturday.

[Billy Singh]

But I like it. I think it's going to be a battle. I think the winner of this game wins the afc. So who's it going to be?

[Matt Jones]

This is also the closest spread of all the games too. Shows you the desert. Thinks this is going to be the better game too. I picked against the Bills in Jacksonville. I'm not now Josh Allen. This is the. There's no Mahomes, there's no Lamar. He knocked off Trevor Wallace. Go knock off Bo Nix. There's ever been a path, even though these guys have had great seasons, this is your year to get it done.

[Billy Singh]

Trevor Wallace.

[Matt Jones]

Trevor Lawrence. I'm still caught on George Wallace trying

[Billy Singh]

to think of who is Trevor Wallace.

[Matt Jones]

George Wallace was still in my brain. But of all the years, even though these are good teams, you're having to go on the road. This isn't the stars that have been in front of you the last couple

[Billy Singh]

of years picked Bills and Rams to start the season. I'm not getting off the ship now. Bills and Rams in the Super Bowl. I'm going to be the first person in the history of sports to get their super bowl pick right. Never been done.

[Matt Jones]

Wow.

[Billy Singh]

Did you know that?

[Matt Jones]

Never.

[Billy Singh]

It's a surprising stat, but never. Do you remember the New York Times once tried to predict the final score of every football game? No. And they. And Hunter S. Thompson, you know. Yeah, of course he was. He wrote for espn. Not Hunter S. Thompson. Excuse me. The guy whose brother was a federal judge. Well, something. Never mind. On the old ESPN page too, they had this guy Easterbrook and he would write Sunday morning or Monday morning quarterback. And he was kind of a smart, funny guy and he kept tabs for 10 years to see if the New York Times ever got the score actually. And they never did.

[Drew Franklin]

Not once.

[Billy Singh]

Not once. Not ever had they. Did they ever get. Because they would pick the NFL exact score and they never got it right. And his point was, why do they do this? They've never one time gotten the score correct. Why do they do this? And I think that's true of the super bowl. No one's ever gotten it right.

[Matt Jones]

My favorite part about the New York Times One is like the scores were rarely divisible at 3 or 7. It would be like 26 to 4 is going to be the score. How are they going to even get to that? Like they rarely had like a 28, 24 or a common football finish.

[Billy Singh]

And then one time, I remember it was Greg Easterbrook was his name. One time it was within one point and he said they should stop printing the newspaper because they would never be that close.

[Matt Jones]

Shut down the New York Times.

[Billy Singh]

But I. I'm sticking. Point is, I'm sticking with the Bills. Josh Allen showed me last week why I'm picking him. Comes down to the final possession. He goes and drives and gets a touchdown. Trevor Lawrence throws the interception. That's why I'm picking Josh Allen. Same thing will happen.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with you completely. Knicks hasn't been great. I feel like these young guys are going to have to take their lumps. Josh Allen has plenty of losses, plenty of heartbreak. I think it was his experience in the playoffs and the hunger of getting so close and being in the conversation every year that gives him the edge.

[Billy Singh]

49ers and Seahawks. Yeah. I mean, the first two games in this series have been very good. I don't know what to do here because I don't know which of these teams I trust less. I don't trust Bone. Excuse me. I don't trust Brock Purdy totally. But I also don't trust Sam Darnold. I'm going to pick the Seahawks just because I think the 49ers are so band banged up that that will make Sam Darnold get to the champions. So I will take the Seahawks.

[Matt Jones]

I'm big on The Seahawks here. 49ers. It's been a great run to get to where they are beating Philly last week with the injuries they've had. I mean they just pulling people out of the parking lot and calling, asking them to go make plays. I think they hit the end of the road here. Even though they've had two good games with injuries.

[Billy Singh]

Big.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Seattle's defense, what they hold them to, like a field goal just two weeks ago. As much as Darnold's exciting and Jackson, Smith and Jigba in that offense, the defense has really been answering the bell lately and I think that's what will carry the.

[Billy Singh]

All right, let's go to the next one. We've got you. Did you pick the Seahawks too? Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Big, big.

[Billy Singh]

Patriots and Texans. Texans. What a bizarre Game Monday night. Five fumbles still dominate the game. Can you win? This is the conversation we've always had. Can you win a title with defense? Billy's answer is no.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002.

[Billy Singh]

But Brad Johnson was good that year.

[Drew Franklin]

It's got to be the hair.

[Billy Singh]

The Texans are putting that to the test. Who do you like in this one? Might be a snowstorm. By the way. Early weather reports say could be a snowstorm.

[Matt Jones]

We could get a snowstorm. I'm rooting for snow. I. I didn't think the Texans would get it done in Pittsburgh. Mistakenly bet on the 42 year old. I think they go out here. The defense is awesome. But they just need more from the offense to. To get over this next hump and into the conference championship.

[Billy Singh]

Will Anderson's a beast.

[Matt Jones]

He's incredible.

[Billy Singh]

What is the spread?

[Drew Franklin]

New England minus three.

[Billy Singh]

I'm seeing it's a good spread. I'm betting that it's a good spread.

[Matt Jones]

I'm laying the points.

[Drew Franklin]

Patriots have only beaten like two teams with a winning record this year.

[Billy Singh]

I'm taking the Texans. I think C.J. stroud is maybe a notch below Drake May. But I think that defense is excellent. If you can play as badly as they did against the Steelers and still win and dominate. Then what if C.J. stroud just doesn't fumble the ball?

[Matt Jones]

There is something to getting your bad fluky game out of the way because that is an outlier. They're not fumbling five.

[Billy Singh]

They could have. They could have scored 40 points in that game if they had just held onto the ball. Definitely. We don't know about Nico Collins. All right. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Not a practice unless Billy has enough.

[Drew Franklin]

Not as practice as of Wednesday.

[Billy Singh]

But they have not said that he's out yet. Correct. So that may mean it's close. I'm going to take the Texans. Why not? And now let me say this. If it's snowing hard, then I'm flipping to the Patriots. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Dome team Houston going up there and

[Billy Singh]

all that snowing hard. I'm flipping this little to the other way.

[Matt Jones]

I'm still just a little bitter after a great weekend. Monday let me down a little bit. I was excited as in my seat. This game was like seven to three in the third quarter. Fourth quarter blew up a little bit but it. It didn't pack the punch that the other games of the weekend.

[Billy Singh]

I did enjoy the fourth quarter. It was Peyton and Eli and Roethlisberger on the Manning cast and they really just talked football like it was almost a straight football talk. And it was really, really good. Like, they. I thought they. They all balanced each other well. And I actually thought it was really, really good stuff.

[Matt Jones]

I'll check that out. You know, he. Big Ben's another one we don't hear much from since he's been gone.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah, Completely disappeared. He may have had reasons.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he's from my wife's hometown. He's a big celebrity.

[Billy Singh]

Washington Courthouse.

[Matt Jones]

No, Finley, Ohio. It's Big Bend country. Big mural.

[Billy Singh]

Why did I think you were from Washington or she was from Washington Courthouse?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. In Ohio, home of Big Ben.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah, well, I mean, in Ohio, Washington Court. It's a town.

[Matt Jones]

Gotcha. I believe you. I didn't think you made up a guy.

[Billy Singh]

All right. Lastly, Bears and Rams should be awesome. Sunday night under the lights. Caleb Stafford. This could be the highest rated playoff game of the world. I'm going to take the Rams.

[Matt Jones]

Well, your super bowl pick verse your. I mean, I get it.

[Billy Singh]

I want to be the first person to ever get the super bowl correct. But I'm still pulling for the Bears. But I just. I think the Rams are better. And I think, you know, know Bears have had a lot of good fortune and I think at some point it has to run out.

[Matt Jones]

I really like you. I love both these teams. I wish they weren't playing each other. I wish they were separated and this were our NFC championship. That's what I really want because I also run the Rams before the year and I've been loving your Bears for a while now. I'm also going to take the Rams, though. I thought about it, seeing them at Carolina, playing it close. That offense has too many weapons. I give the slight edge to Stafford, but I will be rooting for your Bears.

[Billy Singh]

I'm on the bandwagon for him as well, but I do not think they are going to win, unfortunately.

[Matt Jones]

Can we get some. Can we get some cold weather and some snow in that one tonight game?

[Billy Singh]

I think it's cold. I don't think it's in snow. If I say if I saw correct.

[Matt Jones]

I know they're not playing the packers, but I hope they bring out the cheese graters again. That was just a big part of the experience. Just keep that going.

[Billy Singh]

They could take a ram horn and just. Whatever, whatever.

[Matt Jones]

Just keep your happiness going.

[Drew Franklin]

I want to see your nails. So I'm going with Bears here.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. You got to paint your nails.

[Billy Singh]

Nails are going to be painted if we make the Super Bowl.

[Drew Franklin]

And I have a Sean McVeigh stat for you.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, Billy, I love this one. This is on my notes.

[Drew Franklin]

This is McVeigh's 15th playoff game. It is the 15th different team that he will be facing.

[Billy Singh]

Hmm. That is a good stat.

[Matt Jones]

Almost impossible for him to have that stat.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah. Because he's only been to two Super Bowls. Is that right? Which means he's played 13 of the 16 NFC teams in the playoffs. That's kind of amazing.

[Matt Jones]

You can't play yourself.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah, yeah. Also 13.

[Matt Jones]

Only two.

[Billy Singh]

Well, only two more that he doesn't do.

[Matt Jones]

That was my favorite stat of the weekend that popped up. I truly couldn't believe. I had to run to the computer and confirm.

[Billy Singh]

That's a great stat. All right, it is time for our victory bundle, presented by Liberty Mutual. Drew and I agreed on three games, so we'll make those the bundle. We picked the Seahawks, we picked the Rams, and we picked the Bills. So we will make it the Bills, Bills, Seahawks, and Rams. That is the victory bundle presented by Liberty Mutual. Start your quote@liberty mutual.com. All right, let's do our quarter. Our touchdown picks. What was the final total last week? 3.

[Drew Franklin]

3.

[Billy Singh]

0.

[Drew Franklin]

None of us hit on the Monday night game.

[Billy Singh]

So Drew got zero. Right. Because he didn't have Kyron Williams.

[Matt Jones]

Also, I had. I had two, and you gave me zero. I had Loveland, who scored for the Bears. I went back and researched this. I had Kyron Williams and Colston Loveland. Both of them had touchdowns.

[Billy Singh]

I remember Colston Loveland scoring. Did you have him?

[Matt Jones]

Yes. And Kyron Williams?

[Billy Singh]

Well, no, I had Kyron Williams, but I think you.

[Matt Jones]

No, you had Rico and Nico. Because we made a bid out of it.

[Billy Singh]

Let's give him one. So it's three.

[Matt Jones]

I'll take one. Three. Get me out of this. Made up. Zero.

[Billy Singh]

Three. Three. One. Because I. Because if he had Loveland. I think he did.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to play. Put the clip on Twitter.

[Billy Singh]

I think you had. Well, no, I. We have an Australian listener who wrote me and reminded me that I got Kyra Williams.

[Matt Jones]

You just said Rico Dowdle didn't have the right team or the right running back. Since Rico didn't even play for the Panthers, it was too over.

[Billy Singh]

All right, so let's go with this game. I'll tell you what.

[Drew Franklin]

Since he's doing so poorly, score in the packers game.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, I'm so questioning my stats. My big one is Kyron Williams. Hold on.

[Drew Franklin]

Colston Loveland did not score in the damn game.

[Matt Jones]

Okay? I'm not sure. Hold on. Look me in the eyes, Williams. Look me in the Eyes.

[Drew Franklin]

What are you trying to do to my game?

[Matt Jones]

Look me in the eyes and say, I didn't have Kyron Williams. You did not have Kyron Williams. After this, I'm going to Twitter and I'm gonna put you under the table with the actual audio. Actually, I'm gonna take a picture of you looking me in the eyes. This is Billy Singh. I didn't have Kyron Williams. And I am going to social media. I might go live on TikTok and get random people to come hear how wrong Billy was.

[Billy Singh]

Just for the record, the anger with which Billy realized there was no Colston Loveland. He had big catches, didn't have a touch.

[Matt Jones]

I can believe that one.

[Billy Singh]

I didn't remember that.

[Matt Jones]

Kyra Williams, 100%.

[Billy Singh]

I'm trust Billy because Billy's clearly proven to be 100% accurate so far.

[Drew Franklin]

Drew, back to four.

[Billy Singh]

Let's. Let's let Drew go first for the first game, which I guess is what Bill's Broncos. Drew will let you go first.

[Matt Jones]

So I can't pick the one I want because Billy's not going to give me credit.

[Drew Franklin]

So I'm writing it down right here.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to go with. Dalton Kincaid, and I'm going to hope you write down Josh Allen.

[Billy Singh]

Dog Kid G is good pick. I was going to go second. I'm going to go Josh Allen. So who do you want? Billy?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, this is tough. I think I'm going to go James Cook. I think we're going to go.

[Billy Singh]

No one's picking a. No one's picking a Bronco. Okay, so James Cook. Those are all good picks. All right, so let's go to the next one. That is that night. Forty Niners and Seahawks. I guess I will go first and I will take McCaffrey. Who do you want, Billy?

[Drew Franklin]

Give me Jackson, Smith and Jigba.

[Billy Singh]

Okay, true.

[Matt Jones]

I will go Kenneth Walker, but not just any Kenneth Walker. The third in the lineage of Kenneth Walker.

[Billy Singh]

If Kenneth Walker the second scores, do not give him credit for that. He does not.

[Matt Jones]

The third.

[Billy Singh]

He wants the Kenneth Walker.

[Matt Jones]

I want to see you write it down. I can't wait to put this clip on Twitter.

[Billy Singh]

All right, Patriots versus the Texans. Bill, you get to go first.

[Drew Franklin]

Give me Woody Marks.

[Billy Singh]

Woody Marks is the. Is the pick for Billy. I drew.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to stay with my long shot picks, and I will say, yeah, Diggs is a long shot. I'll be about plus 200. I'll say diggs.

[Billy Singh]

All right, well, then I'll go with Drake. May you all have given me Allen McCaffrey and May. I feel pretty good about.

[Matt Jones]

When I pick running backs, I don't get credit for them, so I got to get off.

[Billy Singh]

I don't know. Now I'm worried about my team. All right, we'll go to the final game, packers or not Packers. Excuse me. Bears and Rams. Drew, you get to go first.

[Matt Jones]

Colson, Loveland, obviously.

[Drew Franklin]

Wow.

[Billy Singh]

Bold.

[Matt Jones]

Stick with. Stick with my pick.

[Billy Singh]

I'll take Puka.

[Matt Jones]

No, wait. Give me Kyron Williams. What am I doing? Can I have both? Let's see. This is what happens.

[Billy Singh]

Yeah. So which one do you want?

[Drew Franklin]

What do you want?

[Matt Jones]

No, Well, I don't get credit for Williams, so I'll stick with Loveland.

[Billy Singh]

All right, so they give me Puka.

[Matt Jones]

Give me Karen Williams.

[Billy Singh]

Man, I got no diversity in my.

[Matt Jones]

Every player I have is very unlikely to get a touchdown.

[Billy Singh]

So you got. And you got Kyron Williams. Yeah. All right, so just for the record, everyone keeping score at home, Kyron Williams.

[Matt Jones]

I'm claiming him. If he scores, I'm coming in here. I'm coming here Sunday night in a Kyron Williams jersey.

[Billy Singh]

All right, so there you go. Those are your touchdown picks. All right, well, looking forward to the games. We'll go live, although you won't be able to know. You'll know when it comes out, but we will do the show after the game on Sunday night. And, fellas, thank you.

[Matt Jones]

Very. Foreign.

[Billy Singh]

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 podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.