Chris Long Talking Divisional Round, Adam Schefter On Coaching Carousel, Picks And Preview + Fyre Fest

Summary

Pardon My Take Episode Summary
Title: Chris Long Talking Divisional Round, Adam Schefter On Coaching Carousel, Picks And Preview + Fyre Fest
Release Date: January 17, 2025

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1. Introduction and Divisional Round Highlights

The episode kicks off with hosts Big Cat and PFT Commenter delving into the excitement surrounding the NFL Divisional Round of the playoffs. Joined by guest Chris Long, a two-time Super Bowl champion, the trio discusses the high-stakes matchups and the teams vying for advancement.

Big Cat emphasizes the significance of the Divisional Round, describing it as "the cream of the crop" where only the top eight teams compete after winning their initial playoff games ([04:15]). This sets the stage for an in-depth analysis of each game slated for Saturday and Sunday.

2. Coaching Carousel and Potential Hires

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the ongoing coaching carousel in the NFL, with a particular focus on the possibility of Deion Sanders taking over the Dallas Cowboys if offered the position by Jerry Jones.

PFT Commenter expresses enthusiasm for Sanders joining the Cowboys, stating, "It would be just an incredible story for the NFL" ([06:31]). The hosts speculate on how Sanders’ dynamic personality and coaching style would mesh with Jerry Jones, highlighting the potential for an exciting and transformative era for the Cowboys.

The conversation also touches on other coaching prospects, including Mike McCarthy and Ben Johnson, analyzing their suitability for various head coaching roles based on their past performances and leadership qualities.

3. Game Picks and Previews

The hosts meticulously break down the upcoming playoff games, offering their picks and strategic insights:

• Chiefs vs. Texans: Big Cat favors the Chiefs, citing their healthy roster and Patrick Mahomes' playoff prowess. He states, "Patrick Mahomes in this divisional round, you ready for this? He is 6-0" ([27:24]).

• Commanders vs. Lions: PFT Commenter picks the Commanders, emphasizing the importance of a strong defensive performance to contain Jaden Daniels. He notes, "If it's a one-score game in the fourth quarter, we can go out there and win the game" ([44:53]).

• Eagles vs. Rams: The hosts discuss the dynamics between these teams, with Chris Long highlighting the Eagles' defensive strengths and the Rams' offensive capabilities. Big Cat mentions, "Your offense looked like shit in the first half, did it not?" ([57:18]).

• Bills vs. Ravens: Big Cat expresses excitement for this matchup, considering the Bills as potential dark horses with Josh Allen leading a formidable offense. He reflects on past performances, "Their defense is incredible" ([75:16]).

Notable Quote:
"Patrick Mahomes in this divisional round, you ready for this? He is 6-0." – Big Cat ([27:24])

4. Interview with Chris Long

Guest Chris Long joins the discussion to provide his expert analysis on the playoff matchups and the coaching landscape. He elaborates on the Chiefs' strategic advantages and the Texans' defensive capabilities, emphasizing the importance of controlling the ball and capitalizing on Patrick Mahomes' offense.

Chris Long shares insights on coaching challenges, particularly focusing on how Vic Fangio can disrupt opposing offenses with innovative defensive schemes. He remarks, "You have to be really careful about where you have your second-level defenders popping off to handle the option on the pole." ([76:07])

Notable Quote:
"They can keep it closer. They had a chance in that game. You remember when they got the ball at midfield after Tank. Tank Dell got hurt." – Chris Long ([73:35])

5. Adam Schefter's Insights on the Coaching Carousel

Later in the episode, Adam Schefter, ESPN Insider, joins to shed light on the intricate coaching changes happening across the NFL. He discusses the fallout with Mike McCarthy and the potential hires for the Dallas Cowboys, including the allure of Deion Sanders and the logical fit of Kellen Moore.

Schefter provides an analogy comparing the coaching search to dating, highlighting the challenges and dynamics involved in finding the right match for a head coaching position. He states, "He [Ben Johnson] has turned down two years of opportunities... there's just too much money to turn it down again." ([125:31])

Notable Quote:
"Ben Johnson has turned down two years of opportunities. And I don't care who you are in this league, at some point you have to take the plunge." – Adam Schefter ([124:09])

6. Personal Anecdotes and Fire Fest Discussions

The hosts engage in light-hearted banter towards the end of the episode, sharing personal stories and humorous exchanges about bachelor parties, food preferences, and office dynamics labeled as "Fire Fest." This segment provides a glimpse into the camaraderie and playful interactions among the hosts and guest.

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reiterate their excitement for the upcoming playoff games, encouraging listeners to tune in and participate in their DraftKings Sportsbook promotions. They express appreciation for their guests and tease future episodes featuring in-depth interviews and further analyses.

Final Quote:
"Don't forget about Patrick Mahomes. This is the rematch of the original." – PFT Commenter ([27:43])

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Key Takeaways:

• Coaching Carousel: Potential shifts in NFL coaching positions, especially the possibility of Deion Sanders joining the Cowboys, are a major point of discussion.

• Playoff Predictions: The hosts provide detailed game previews and predictions, focusing on team strengths, key players, and strategic matchups.

• Expert Insights: Interviews with Chris Long and Adam Schefter offer professional perspectives on team strategies, coaching decisions, and the broader NFL landscape.

• Engaging Banter: Personal stories and comedic segments add an entertaining layer to the episode, showcasing the hosts' dynamic chemistry.

Notable Quotes:

• "Patrick Mahomes in this divisional round, you ready for this? He is 6-0." – Big Cat ([27:24])

• "Ben Johnson has turned down two years of opportunities. And I don't care who you are in this league, at some point you have to take the plunge." – Adam Schefter ([124:09])

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This episode of Pardon My Take offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the NFL Divisional Round, the ongoing coaching changes, and the intricate strategies that could determine playoff outcomes. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or someone looking to stay informed about the latest sports developments, this episode provides valuable insights complemented by the hosts' signature humor and camaraderie.

Transcript

[Big Cat]

Hey, pardon my take listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. All right, listen up folks. We all know sleep is the secret sauce for recovery. And here's the deal. What we need from our bed isn't one size fits all. That's why I'm obsessed with my sleep number smart bed. My sleep number 45, perfectly soft for me. My wife, she's a 65 firmer, just the way she likes it. No arguments, no compromises, just great sleep every night. Now get this. 80% of NFL players sleep on a sleep number smart bed. Yeah, the pros know how important recovery is. And sleep number has been partnering with the NFL since 2018 to deliver game changing sleep. Still waking up tired? Your mattress might be the problem. The sleep number smart bed contours to your body for unmatched comfort. Tough workouts, adjust the firmness anytime for better recovery. And here's my favorite. The new climate Cool smart bed lets you cool down up to 15 degrees on either side. No more tossing and turning, just cool, uninterrupted sleep. Bottom line, the sleep number smart bed adjusts to you, keeps you comfy all night and gives you insights to help you sleep better. Visit a sleep number store today. You'll sleep like a pro and live like a legend. Sleep better together with a sleep number smart bed only at a sleep number store on today's part in my take. It is time for divisional round of the NFL playoffs. We have our good friend Chris Long on the show.

[PFT Commenter]

Been too long.

[Big Cat]

Too long. Live of the year three times.

[PFT Commenter]

I think first two years he might have had it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

But right now, Jerry looks to be at the start of a dynasty.

[Chris Long]

Yeah, he's.

[Big Cat]

He's on fire. We have Chris Long. Then we have our good friend Adam Schefter. We're going to break down some of this coaching stuff. Is Dion going to go to Dallas? I. It seems like that's a possibility now.

[PFT Commenter]

God, I hope so.

[Big Cat]

It would be incredible. We're going to break down every game for Saturday and Sunday. We're going to give you our picks. We're going to finish with Fire Fest. And it's all brought to you by our friends at DraftKings. NFL playoffs. Playoffs. We're talking playoffs? You bet we are. Get on the action. DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner. The NFL scoring touchdowns is key to winning in NFL playoffs. And the key to you scoring big is betting on them at DraftKings. The number one place to bet touchdowns. Ready to place your first bet? Try betting on something simple, like a player. To score six, go to the DraftKings sportsbook app. Make your pick. Here's another reason to watch your favorite players crush it in the playoffs. New customers bet $5 to get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Score big during the NFL playoffs or DraftKings sportsbook. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Use code TAKE. That's code TAKE for new customers to get $200 in bonus bets instantly. When you bucks only on DraftKings sportsbook, the crown is yours.

[Chris Long]

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[Big Cat]

Okay, let's go. And my taking welcome to part of my take presented by DraftKings Sportsbook. Score big during the NFL playoffs with DraftKings Sportsbook. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code TAKE. That's code TAKE. For new customers. Get 200 in bonus bets instantly when you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings Sportsbook. The crown is yours. Today is Friday, January 17th, and Hank, you know what I'm about to say one of my favorite weekends of the year.

[Hank]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

Divisional round.

[Hank]

Hey, my sister's birthday.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no, I was not going to say that.

[PFT Commenter]

Happy birthday to Hank. Sis.

[Big Cat]

Happy birthday. Happy birthday. I was thinking about it. I might. Wild card weekend is great because it's six games more football, more better. But divisional round, this is. This is it. This is the final eight teams. These teams all have won a, you know, won a playoff game or had a buy. This is the cream of the crop.

[PFT Commenter]

This is. This is my favorite. I've been pretty consistent about this one. This is my favorite sports weekend of the year.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because in wild card weekend, sometimes you have. You get some lopsided matchups, which we saw last week, divisional round, you get the. The prestigious teams. You get the elite teams.

[Big Cat]

Correct.

[PFT Commenter]

Playing against teams where they win their wild card matchup. And even if they weren't favored to go far in the playoffs, you're like, well, maybe the Texans can do some damage this year. That type of thing so this. This is my favorite sports weekend of the year.

[Big Cat]

And also next weekend, one of my favorite sports weekends.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, the championship.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah. Because you get to take it. I mean that, like, the championship round is always. You remember who played in championship game. You don't always remember who played in divisional rounds.

[PFT Commenter]

Next week is my favorite Sunday of the year.

[Chris Long]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

This is my favorite sports weekend of the year.

[Big Cat]

But I'm pumped, and I've thought about all four of these games back and forth.

[PFT Commenter]

I. I got ways. Some people were angry at me because I was like, the commanders are final four this weekend. This is the final four. And they're like, there's not four teams left. I was like, there's four games.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, there's four games. And you're also. Are in the final four of the NFC Final Four. Yeah. Have some. Have some conference pride, people.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Come on, get with the program.

[Big Cat]

All right. We're. We're going to do our picks and pre. Do we have anything else going on? I know we're going to talk to Schefter about coaching. It does. I did see Edward's report that essentially said Deion Sanders, if he gets offered the Cowboys job, will take it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Now, Jerry Jones, will he offer him the Cowboys job? I want it just because it'd be fun.

[PFT Commenter]

I think it'd be great. And I'm not even factoring in, like, yes, I have an anti Dallas bias. We've demonstrated that pretty clearly on the show that it's been fun to see Dallas at times lose, especially when Hank's rooting for him. I want it because it would be just an incredible story for the NFL. Like having Dion in the NFL, especially for the Dallas Cowboys, would be awesome. Like, I want to see Dion interacting with Jerry Jones, how he handles that relationship where Jerry, you know, he likes to have a guy that he can push around sometimes. Dion will not be pushed around by Jerry Jones.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

It would just be awesome. It would be good for sports.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it would. It would be good for sports. So we'll see what happens there. Mike McCarthy did interview with the Bears. He. He did it in person because he wanted the free dinner, I assume.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That's not a fat joke.

[PFT Commenter]

One possibility.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Also maybe just a possibility that Mike McCarthy, he knows that Face to face is way better than Zoom.

[Big Cat]

That's true.

[PFT Commenter]

Maybe not with his face.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

Or also, wait, maybe he just knew that if he showed his face on Zoom, it would look too much like him looking at the scoreboard.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Fat, confused.

[Big Cat]

It would take the whole Zoom up.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. It's like the camera adds 40 pounds.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

So maybe him being in person was just a slimming move.

[Big Cat]

That might be. And I don't even know what the jets are going to do. I feel like the jets have been. What. What's going on? Memes and Shafter will tell us, but what is going on?

[Chris Long]

There was a report that Aaron Glenn is his.

[Big Cat]

He wants the Jets.

[Chris Long]

Jets fans want Aaron Glenn, which means.

[Big Cat]

We'Re going to make the wrong choice. Okay, so it's. Yeah, it's. It's straight. It's. It's as straightforward as possible. That one side wants him, the other side want. Like, this is a perfect marriage and they will fuck it up.

[PFT Commenter]

So the jets, they seem to be enjoying single life right now. They're like. They're doing a lot of dating. They're figuring out what. What their type is because they're meeting with everyone.

[Big Cat]

I hate. Wait, how many did you do? Did you beat the Bears? The Bears did 20. I don't even know how you could come up with 20 names, I think.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, with the jets, it's like they're.

[Big Cat]

Doing GMs as well. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It's like you're doing your own version of that. Only fans check.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

You're going. Woody Johnson is going to hold up a sign that says a thousand. A thousand candidates interview series.

[Chris Long]

I think they just also put in.

[Big Cat]

A request to interview the DC for the Packers.

[Chris Long]

I don't even know what they're doing at this point.

[Big Cat]

I think they're just. It's no. Robert Salah, I think, is finalist for the Saints.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And the Cowboys. And the Cowboys. The. Yeah. I don't really understand the whole process of interviewing, like, 20, 25 guys. Like, I get the saying of like, no, no stone, stone unturned or whatever.

[PFT Commenter]

There's some stones you don't want to look under.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. David Shaw, you didn't have to look under what. What that was. It just said a punt.

[PFT Commenter]

Bunch of weird bugs and.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it said punt from plus territory.

[PFT Commenter]

I think David Shaw is a classy guy. Yeah, he's just a class act, so they just wanted some class in that bit.

[Big Cat]

He's a. He's a. He is also a classic case of mist timing it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

Like, he was the hot name for a while and then it was. It kind of faded on him. You got to just strike while the iron's hot. All right, so we don't. We'll ask Schefter. What's going on with the Jets. Did you see also Our good friend Jim Harbaugh gave me and this podcast a shout out because he's also buying all of Justin Herbert's stock.

[PFT Commenter]

I saw that's insider trading for him, though.

[Hank]

Was he asked the question about you or. No, he just see the clip?

[Big Cat]

No, he saw the clip previous.

[Hank]

He came in prepared.

[Big Cat]

He. The question was something like, how did this game go and everything. And then he started answering it and then he was like, and one last thing. Can you play it, Max? He was like, and one last thing. You know, Big Cat said this and I mean, listen, I'm. I'm ready to buy stock. It was kind of outside of the fact that it was. I love that he mentioned me. It's kind of cool how much he has Herbert's back.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

All right, play it.

[Chris Long]

I agree with Big Cat, you know, from when he said, if you're, if.

[Adam Schefter]

You'Re.

[Chris Long]

Paraphrasing this, but Big Cat said, if you're selling Justin Herbert stock and he's buying. I completely concur with that statement.

[Big Cat]

So we're going to make billions buying Justin Herbert stock.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, if you really think that Justin Herbert is a bad quarterback. I question whether or not you watch football.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, agreed.

[PFT Commenter]

I do.

[Big Cat]

Oh, wait, Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

I do in fact, question if. Hank.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's true. You are. This is the. You're the perfect person to be sitting on that couch. Being like 02 in the playoffs stinks.

[Hank]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

He's not a bad quarterback.

[Hank]

No, he's talented.

[PFT Commenter]

He's a very talented quarterback.

[Hank]

He's got. Talented.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, he's got talent.

[Big Cat]

He's got talent.

[Hank]

Talented.

[Big Cat]

Also Harbaugh, I mean, if Lamar loses.

[Hank]

This weekend, like, again, it's kind of this.

[Big Cat]

It's like he won't make him a bad quarterback. Quarterback.

[Hank]

Lamar is obviously really good, but still, if you can't win in the playoffs, it doesn't matter how good you are. Who cares?

[Big Cat]

Two games is very early to say you can't win in the playoffs. Would you not agree with that?

[Hank]

Two bad games.

[Big Cat]

The first game. Yeah, no, it was. They were two bad games. I agree with that. They were two bad games because remember the, the first game he didn't throw like interceptions, but he. Yeah, he couldn't get first down is.

[PFT Commenter]

One and a half bad games.

[Big Cat]

But he. I still. If next year they go and they're like at a home game and he completely, completely shits the bed, I will start to possibly like, you know, do some insider trade, you know, Nancy Pelosi, unload a little bit of the stock. But Maybe not. Say it. Cannons.

[PFT Commenter]

I think that what Hank said a second ago is insane. That if. Who cares if you're a good quarterback if you don't win the playoffs? I care. I think it matters. Like, if you're a good quarterback in the regular season, you're still a good quarterback.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. You do have to elevate your game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. You just have.

[Big Cat]

You do have to elevate.

[PFT Commenter]

You just have people tacking onto it. But he can't win the playoff.

[Chris Long]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I just think two games is way too early to say. Like, he can never win in the playoffs.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Like, he. If he gets a couple receivers and they get, like I said, a home playoff game and he's terrible, then I'll be like, you know what? Maybe there's something there. But until that happens, I'm buying. I'm buying all the stock. Did you see also Harbaugh, like a hockey guy, is. He's getting a heart surgery and a hip. New hip at the same.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. He's getting the. Well, it's the heart ablation. So that's in. In a shocking twist of events, I think I accurately diagnosed Harbaugh when he had that moment on the sidelines. I was like, he'll get an abl. He'll be fine. It's like they're gonna shock part of his heart. They're gonna put electrical charge into part of his heart and kill off the bad cells, leaving his heart stronger. It's like the buffalo herd theory.

[Big Cat]

Jesus.

[PFT Commenter]

Where the buffaloes get hunted, the weak buffaloes get hunted down by the predators, and then the herd moves faster in the long run.

[Big Cat]

Damn.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That's a crazy surgery. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So it's. It's like they're gonna. It's outpatient, I think, just put, like, electrical charges on his heart, and then he's going to walk out of there feeling 100 better.

[Big Cat]

Do you guys ever think about how crazy, like, surgery is that? Do you ever do, like, even. We were talking about the other day, lasik, like, they invented a way to shoot lasers in your eye to make you look. To make you have 2020 vision for the rest of your life.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

That's insane surgery to me.

[PFT Commenter]

The crazy part is just anesthesia.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

They figured out a way where they can, like, kind of kill you for a second. You don't remember anything. You don't feel pain, and then you get.

[Big Cat]

Just come back and anesthesiologists, I think, make bank.

[PFT Commenter]

They make bank. Yeah. I want to be anesthesiologist after the Super Bowl. Every year?

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Like just put me in a coma until March madness.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Well, we, we've talked about the idea of. I really think it would do well like a, A, a pod that you could put your body into after a bachelor party for 24 hours. That's like refrigerated.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

You know when they, when there's a spinal injury and they bring your body temperature down to like 86 to, to stop the swelling. Imagine if so if you're like, all right, I just finished a three day bender. I'm gonna go lay in this pod for 24 hours. They're gonna knock me out, they're gonna cool my body down, and when I wake up, I'll feel great.

[PFT Commenter]

That's why you gotta take the buffer day after the bachelor party.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Like take that work that work day off on Monday. I had to use that to recover.

[Big Cat]

I had a friend once who did a move that is, was insane. But looking back at it was like, holy, he might be a genius. He rented a hotel room in the city we were in and stayed on Sunday night just to, Just to sleep.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And then flew back on Monday.

[PFT Commenter]

I had some buddies that.

[Hank]

You have the extra day.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

That's very smart.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. He's just like. We all were ready to go to the airport and he's like, all right, I'm going to my hotel. And I'm like, what are you gonna do? He's like, I'm gonna probably eat dinner by myself. Go to sleep at 7:00 and sleep.

[PFT Commenter]

I had some buddies. We did that for a bachelor party in, in Colorado where on the last day they just said, okay, we're gonna leave. We're gonna go up to Denver. It's when weed had just been legalized there. Like, we're just gonna get really high and sleep all day Sunday and then into Monday morning.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Go ease ourselves back into the real world.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I. Even after doing like two nights where you don't sleep that well, it'd be awesome to have that pod go in at like 6pm Right. And then wake up at like 10am the next day.

[Big Cat]

Someone invent that? Yeah, we have, we have all types of surgeries. Max, are you thinking about your bachelor party that you got to go on?

[Hank]

Or bachelorette.

[Big Cat]

Or bachelorette.

[Max]

Yeah, Yeah, I was going to talk about that.

[Hank]

We haven't got a lot of submissions.

[Big Cat]

I mean, the submission we got last night is an all timer. You want to say it?

[Hank]

No.

[Max]

Let's talk about a fire fest. This is fire fest.

[Big Cat]

It's a Fire fest. You have a fire fest this week?

[Max]

No. We can just talk about it. Talk about it then.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Why not? Just, I mean, we're naturally talking about bachelor parties.

[PFT Commenter]

It's fine. We'll circle back to the basketball.

[Max]

Yeah, we'll circle back to the.

[Big Cat]

What's. What's the issue?

[Max]

This is football. It's time to talk about football.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

I have one non football related story that, that I think it's one of the more fascinating stories of the year. And it's a soccer story coming out of Italy.

[Big Cat]

What is this?

[PFT Commenter]

So, hey, just what a lead in.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, we're talking about other football.

[PFT Commenter]

So far, I'd say this is the story of the year.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Lazio, the. The Italian football club, okay. They're in a bit of hot water right now because they have an official team. Falconer. Falconer, the guy that flies the falcon.

[Big Cat]

He does falconry.

[PFT Commenter]

He does falconry? Yeah, he's a falconer. Falconer.

[Big Cat]

He's. He does falconry?

[PFT Commenter]

Yes. So this guy, he's been with the team for years and years and years and he, he manages the falcon, flies around the stadium.

[Big Cat]

They're the Falcons.

[PFT Commenter]

Their mascot is a falcon.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

It's part of pageantry.

[Big Cat]

Dumb question.

[PFT Commenter]

Just wanted to the Syria club, Lazio. Yeah. This guy just got fired, okay. He got fired because he had a penile enhancement surgery.

[Big Cat]

Was he the falcon?

[PFT Commenter]

No, he was not. Okay, well, we don't know. Okay, we don't know.

[Big Cat]

But I can't take a story about a guy, a falcon.

[PFT Commenter]

I, to my knowledge, he has not the falcon, but it would not shock me if it went there at some point. Okay, this is a crazy story. So this guy got fired because he got a dick implant? That's not cause for firing. But right after he got the dick implant, he posted a picture of his dick with a dick implant saying what a great surgery he just had and how he needs to ejaculate at least twice a day with as many women as possible. The owner of the club said this.

[Hank]

Like in his pants or just straight up posted his dick naked.

[PFT Commenter]

I have not seen the picture. I've just, I've read the articles about he. His dick was out in the picture and he's bragging about his. His dick implant. So he was fired. The owner of Lazio was very, very upset with him. This guy apparently lives on the training ground with the falcon. He lives like in the team facility with the falcon. He was suspended in 2021 because he was doing a Benito Mussolini salute. And then they brought him Back. They said, okay, you've served your time. We're bringing you back.

[Big Cat]

So fascism. Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Fascism.

[Big Cat]

Okay. It's not.

[PFT Commenter]

So. He has been fired from the team for posting this picture. And then he barricaded himself inside the team's facility, demanding that he have his job reinstated. So he's in a hostage situation, potentially with the falcon, like, threatening to kill the falcon to get his job back.

[Big Cat]

And jerking off because he's got to ejaculate twice.

[PFT Commenter]

He has to ejaculate twice a day. The owner also fired the doctor that did the penile enhancement surgery because apparently that guy's also the team doctor. So the team doctor gave the falconer a new dick.

[Big Cat]

This feels very wrong in the fact that, like, it's an Italian league.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I mean, Italians are horny.

[PFT Commenter]

They're horny.

[Big Cat]

Why would the owner be against this?

[PFT Commenter]

This guy.

[Big Cat]

Guy's just trying to get laid and. And also lay better.

[PFT Commenter]

This guy is the owner.

[Hank]

It might be like the owner's not Italian.

[Big Cat]

Oh, and the owner's got a small. Dicker's definitely got a tiny penis.

[PFT Commenter]

The owner is 100 Italian. His name is Lotito.

[Big Cat]

Lotito.

[PFT Commenter]

So Lotito.

[Big Cat]

Claudio Lotito.

[PFT Commenter]

Claudio Lotito. And then. Then he did come out and officially say that the. The picture that he posted is worse than the fascist salute.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

And, yeah. So the story just keeps getting weirder. I don't know what's going to go on with this hostage negotiation if he kills the falcon. I'm out on this guy right now. I think I'm on his side.

[Big Cat]

Claudio. People are. The streets are saying that you're upset because you have a smaller penis in this guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Don't let that become the story.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Let this guy just keep his job and keep the Falcons safe. He's. Listen.

[Chris Long]

What?

[Big Cat]

I mean, people get surgery to get themselves better. What. What's wrong with that?

[PFT Commenter]

I agree. Like, some people on this podcast have had some elective surgeries, and there's nothing wrong.

[Big Cat]

There's no problem.

[PFT Commenter]

So he had a procedure done. And. Yeah. I just want to say I stand with the falconer as long as he.

[Big Cat]

Doesn'T harm the falcon.

[PFT Commenter]

Not the. Not the Mussolini stuff.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

I disavow that.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

But I think let's. He's Italian. Let him be a little bit horny. I think it's good for club morale. You don't want to have a falconer out there with a tiny penis.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

That's awful.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

So he's trying to better himself. He's probably trying to Improve the club's image as well. And if. If he does harm the falcon, then I'm out on this guy. But right now, I think he's reacting as. As you or I would. Yeah, we were in this situation, which is to grab a bird, take it hostage, and then barricade yourself inside your.

[Big Cat]

Employer'S facility while you masturbate all.

[PFT Commenter]

While you masturbate all the time. I don't see anything wrong with this. And yeah, we stand with him until he does.

[Big Cat]

Until he hurts the falcon.

[PFT Commenter]

Harm the falcon, at which point we wash our hands.

[Big Cat]

I also like. It sounds like. And I don't know the picture, but it sounds like he was just kind of putting out like a psa. Yeah. Like, hey, I got a. I got an awesome new dick and it needs to get sucked.

[PFT Commenter]

So that's what he was.

[Big Cat]

So could anyone. Anyone who's got a mouth let me know.

[PFT Commenter]

His explanation for it was, I was promoting self love. I was. I was promoting. I was shining visibility on a part of lives where people are generally afraid to discuss this. They're. They're ashamed, and they shouldn't be ashamed. Look, I had the surgery. It's good for me. You can too.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Raising awareness of his bigger penis and just.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Self betterment should not be frowned upon.

[Hank]

They gotta get girls. That's how you break through the hostage situation.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Send some girls in.

[Hank]

Open the doors, and then bust in.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Send some chicks in. All right, so falcon, Falconer. Falconry guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Falconer.

[Big Cat]

Keep. Keep fighting, but don't fight the falcon.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, also the. The doctor that was fired by the team claims that he was not fired.

[Big Cat]

Oh.

[PFT Commenter]

Because he's not under contract with the team.

[Big Cat]

And also probably because Claudio wants that surgery.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Is what the streets are saying.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Again, Claudio, don't make this part of the stories. You're jealous of someone else's penis size.

[PFT Commenter]

So he. This guy is the team doctor, but he didn't have a current contract in place. That's just wild to me that the team doctors putting dicks in.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

But I guess it makes sense for Italian soccer.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's exactly what Italian soccer would be.

[PFT Commenter]

I bet you that guy that goes out on the field for the cowboys with the cowboy hat, that doctor, that guy's definitely giving Jerry Jones a penile implant.

[Big Cat]

Yes. Oh, yeah, I remember that guy. He's the funniest. Any. Any guy who's wearing a cowboy hat, who's a doctor or a lawyer is always funny.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

How is Lazio doing this year?

[PFT Commenter]

I did not.

[Big Cat]

Oh, they're forced.

[PFT Commenter]

Care to look?

[Big Cat]

They're fourth, so they're actually good. They're in. They're in the right now. If they finish where they're they're at right now, they'd be in the Champions League next year. They're ahead of Juventus. So you're fucking up a good thing here, man. Yeah. I think this is a curse waiting to happen. Waiting to happen. Okay. Should we talk some football? Some American football?

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

All right. Before we do that, quick word from our friends at Kevin's Natural Foods. If you haven't tried Kevin's Natural Foods, you're missing out. I had the stir fry yesterday. I also had the Thai. I believe it was Thai coconut or. Yeah, Thai coconut chicken. Incredible. So if you want a delicious protein packed meal on the table in five minutes, Kevin's Natural Foods heat and serve entrees are perfect. These clean, nutritious meals taste like something you'd get in a restaurant. Kevin's entrees include fully cooked beef or chicken, an incredible, incredible sauces. So all you need to do is heat and eat. It's hard to believe something this tasty and healthy can be ready this fast. Skip the greasy takeout and grab Kevin's Natural Foods instead. It's a perfect meal time hack and it is faster than takeout too. Find Kevin's in the refrigerated section at your local grocery store. Listen, it's January. We're all trying to better ourselves. I had that Thai coconut chicken yesterday. It was so good. They also have honey garlic chicken, General Tso's chicken, Szechuan chicken, cilantro lime chicken, garlic chicken, Korean BBQ chicken or beef. They got it all. Kevin's Natural food. So go check it out now and you will not be disappointed. Picks and previews brought to you by our friends at Dove Men's as you prepare to host game day celebrations. We know that people are having people over doing all that stuff. What are some possible body odor related issues you may encounter that make you less confident in your hosting duties? Could be your armpits, could be your feet, could be your hair. Are you afraid to take off your shoes when you enter your friend's house? I am sometimes. So getting nervous. Your team is down at halftime. Tackle whole body odor with Dove men plus care whole body do. This whole body do defends against all your odor zones from pits, privates to feet. And it's long lasting with 72 hour odor protection. Don't be the guy that smells. You show up to a party for a super bowl party, a conference championship party, divisional round party. And you smell people are going to be like, I don't want to invite them anymore. That's where Dove Whole men's whole body deal comes in. So get it today at Walmart. Find Dove Men whole body deal at Walmart today and make sure you're smelling good. Okay, boys, let's do it. Time for the games. And I'm excited about all of these games. Saturday afternoon we're going to start. Oh, by the way, just a note. So there's two eight plus point favorites and the two so eight plus point favorites have not, not lost outright since the Ravens lost the Titans. Remember when The Ravens were the 1 seed in 2019 and then the previous one was the Chiefs and Titans in 2018. So that was before Mahomes. I think that was Alex Mariota for the Titans. Yeah. So it's been a run for eight plus point favorites in this round to win outright. So that's why I bring that up with the Texans and Chiefs because right now The Chiefs Texans versus Chiefs on Saturday afternoon the Texans are eight and a half point dogs. The over under is 41 and a half. I am not going to do the thing where I tell myself the Texans just want a playoff game. The Chiefs haven't won any playoff games this year. You got to take the Texans.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Hank is, Hank is 100 to do.

[PFT Commenter]

That thing which that's good. We need somebody that will do that, that won't be afraid. I. Yeah, the, the Chiefs defense is completely different. Like their, their defensive line, Chris Jones against that Texans offensive line. I think it's going to be an issue. And the Chiefs are healthy, they're rested, they've got all their guys. We saw him at the end of the season. Don't forget how good the Chiefs are. Don't stop forgetting how good the Chiefs are. They're awesome. Their offense is humming. Everything looks good for them. Andy Reid off a buy. Don't overthink it. It's also going to be a high of 17, low of 3 in Kansas City on Saturday. So Hank, did you count on that though? That the Texas boys going up Tornado alley to Kansas City, playing outside at Arrowhead Stadium in the cold. That should factor into it too.

[Hank]

Yeah, that's going to be a problem for the Texans.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Jalen Watson is, is supposed to be back, which is huge for their defense because that if you had to say one weakness is when he got hurt. Chief secondary could be vulnerable at times. But I think this game comes more down to the Chiefs looking at their season. They did. They did what they've done the last couple years, where they won a shitload of games. They looked not great in some of these games, so people threw doubts at them. And now they're coming into the playoffs and their offense is fully healthy. Pacheco's back. They got Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith. Schuster is getting worked in Hollywood Brown like they. The last time we saw them, eight guys caught a ball and Patrick Mahomes had 320 yards and three touchdowns. That was against the Steelers. So I think they're just going to flip the switch and this offense is going to look great. And it's playoff. Patrick Mahomes. Playoff. Patrick Mahomes in the divisional round. You ready for this? He is 6 0.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

He has 18, 13 total yards, 16 touchdowns, total touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 70.4 completion percentage. He plays in this divisional round, and he's basically just. He's. I mean, he's undefeated. He's lights out. That's just what happens.

[PFT Commenter]

It should be six, no asterisks because the Browns should have beat him that.

[Big Cat]

One year, but not actually.

[PFT Commenter]

But they didn't actually.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, they didn't actually beat him.

[PFT Commenter]

The Chiefs ended up winning that game, but yeah, Patrick Mahomes in this round of the playoffs. Lights out. Don't forget that. Stop forgetting about the Chiefs. This is the rematch of the original. Thanks for coming out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So back in 2019, the Texans were up 24 to nothing against the Chiefs.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

With 10 minutes left in the second quarter.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

They're up 24 nothing. The final score, 51 to 31, Kansas City.

[Big Cat]

That was crazy.

[PFT Commenter]

They just poured it on. They. They were down 24 nothing. 10 minutes left in the second quarter. The Chiefs were winning at halftime.

[Big Cat]

It's. It was crazy. That's. And that felt like that was right at the beginning of all of this happening and Patrick Mahomes becoming Patrick Mahomes. He is also at. How old is Patrick Mahomes now? Is he, what, like, 28 years old? Maybe find his age. He is. If he wins this game, he is tied. Joe Montes, 29 years old. Joe Montana for playoff wins.

[PFT Commenter]

That's crazy.

[Big Cat]

It's crazy. 16. He's still got a long way to go. Tom Brady has 35, but I was looking at it. I think if he wins this game, he has something like more playoff wins than. I think it's like 10 or 11 franchises. Just him, personally.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. The graphics are going to be crazy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So it's. He's Just so goddamn good. You can't forget about Patrick Rose now. Also, he gets the baby bump.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

So he welcomed a third child. Gold Golden Ray Mahomes. Who I. They're. All three of their children are Bronze, silver, Gold.

[PFT Commenter]

It's kind of crazy that he waited for the third one to be named Gold.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, Bronze is a. I think Bronze is the second one because it's. Patrick III is his son, so he's technically. His nickname's Bronze, and then that makes Sterling. Sterling sky is Silver, and then Golden Ray. Listen, people do whatever they want with their names. I mean, it's. You know, I also think when you. I think the wealthier you get, the crazier you get with your names.

[PFT Commenter]

Andy Reid calls the sun 3pm 3pm because Patrick is 2pm and then that's 3pm yeah. Do whatever you want with your names. I always thought that naming your kids various types of cheeses would work out well, too.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Colby, Jack, Pepper, Monty, Brie.

[Big Cat]

Yep. Gouda. Gouda. Gouda.

[PFT Commenter]

Who could forget baby Gouda American.

[Big Cat]

Sharp Cheddar American.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah.

[Hank]

White American.

[Big Cat]

White American.

[PFT Commenter]

White.

[Big Cat]

White American.

[PFT Commenter]

This is. This is my son. White American. That actually rocks.

[Big Cat]

White American.

[PFT Commenter]

Actually, I get to name a litter of. Of puppies for paws. Oh, nice, because we won that. That auction at Pause Gala. I might just go all cheeses.

[Big Cat]

We should go all various types of.

[PFT Commenter]

Cheeses for the dogs.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, let's. Let's at least say something nice about the Texans. I do think their defense is. They won't get rolled over by the Chiefs. Their defense is elite. I'm just nervous about the Texans offense because it hasn't been good this year, and it's. There's a lot of. There's a lot of data behind them just not being very good. And in a game against the Chiefs, you pretty much have to play perfect to stay in this game. Now, they did stay in the game when they played. What was it like, four weeks ago? That was the game Tank Dell got hurt. Did they only lose by 7? I want to say.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it. It looked. It looked close in the first quarter and a half. I want to say.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, so I. I don't.

[PFT Commenter]

But the Texans defense is capable of stepping up their game to a point where they can. They can frustrate really good quarterbacks.

[Big Cat]

Correct.

[PFT Commenter]

We saw that with.

[Big Cat]

With the Bills and the Chiefs offensive line is not great. That is another area of weakness.

[PFT Commenter]

So I do Bills and the text or Bills and the. The Lions. Right.

[Big Cat]

The Bills, the Lions, the Dolphins, Chargers. The Texans defense took those all those teams and made their. Their offense look significantly worse than it is against everyone else. I just. It's just Patrick Mahomes. That's the thing that I just keep going back to. Yeah, they lost by eight in the meeting they had a month ago. So I'm not. I'm not saying the Chiefs are gonna. It's gonna be a cakewalk. I just keep looking at this eight and a half and I'm like, it feels like a game. The Chiefs are going to be up by seven for the majority of the game, and then at the end, you know, go on one of those patented late second half Chiefs drives where they just burn clock, get a bunch of third down conversions, either kick a field goal or score a touchdown to win by 10 or 14.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Do you think there's any additional pressure on Patrick Mahomes now that his brother's biggest source of income has dried up with a tick tock ban? Like now. Now Patrick Mahomes is the breadwinner in that Jackson Mahomes was independently wealthy and now it's like all on his shoulders.

[Big Cat]

Travis Kelsey, maybe new heights. Not. I like Memes throwing. Do you see Memes tweet last night? Just showing some podcast charts.

[PFT Commenter]

What do you say?

[Big Cat]

Just bragging on our behalf.

[PFT Commenter]

I like that.

[Big Cat]

Which we don't really brag about it, but it was nice that Memes bragged on our behalf.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Just showed the rankings and it was us one. And then we had two out of the top three episodes as well. So that's a. That's just Memes being a. A good. A good soldier for us.

[PFT Commenter]

Also, all respect to the Kelsey guys.

[Big Cat]

Oh, yeah. I. I like both of them a lot. Like, I mean, Jason Kelsey is Max's vision board. Yeah. I mean, would it be his hall pass?

[PFT Commenter]

Maybe. I think technically, I think Max goes to sleep every night looking at a picture of Jason Kelsey. Like, this is. This is my goal for tomorrow to be that.

[Big Cat]

No, I. I like both Kelsey's. I also think that this is going.

[Hank]

To be three Kelsey's.

[Big Cat]

Oh, yeah. Kylie.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I do think this is where.

[PFT Commenter]

And mama.

[Big Cat]

And Mama Kelsey. No one talks about dad. It's. It really is. I do think this is where Travis Kelsey ramps it up. Like, I like his over yards. I think this is. He.

[Chris Long]

He.

[Big Cat]

He plays in second gear for the majority of the regular season. And then when you get to these points, the two things that I always look to is Mahomes rushing yards in the playoffs and Travis Kelsey yards because that is when they need a big Play. It's Travis Kelsey or Mahomes using his feet.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And it's. We've seen it time and time again, and I think that's exactly what's going to happen on. On Saturday.

[PFT Commenter]

I like C.J. stroud rushing yards too. I like it last week that hit. And you go back to back when he was in college.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

In that playoff game, Everybody's like, oh, C.J. can run.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

He can use his feet. I think he'll do it again. That might also just be a product of plays breaking down sometimes around him. And he's not. I think the Chiefs defense is going to do a very, very good job shutting him down.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

But yeah, I like.

[Big Cat]

I like the Chiefs do it now if the. So I want to. I don't want to because we've obviously put a lot of love on the Chiefs, even though I'm sure there'll be some Chiefs fans being like, all you guys do is suck off Josh Allen. And you know, you never mentioned. Or Jared Goff. You never mentioned Patrick Mahomes, who is the best quarterback in the NFL, even though statistically he wasn't this year. You'd still take him one one. The Texans. Hank, make us a case.

[Hank]

Defense makes a play.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Hank]

Control the ball on offense. Joe Mixon, two touchdowns, own time of possession. Got to get lucky.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, that's a good game plan.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Can we get a keys to the game for Hank? The cold.

[Hank]

Cold. The cold is. Is. Is. I don't like that.

[Big Cat]

Isn't it weird that I don't. This probably just goes all to. All the way back to candy ass uniforms. But like, if you told me it was cold for Miami, I'd be like, they have zero chance. For some reason, I'm like, Texans might have. Still have a little bit of a chance.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I don't know about that Houston dome.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I know. It's. I'm admitting that it's completely based on the candy ass uniform.

[PFT Commenter]

Not really a dome, though. They. They open up the. The roof a lot at nrg. Yeah, they do. Yeah, from time to time.

[Big Cat]

So there you go.

[Hank]

It snows like an inch in Houston. Like the world shuts down.

[Big Cat]

That's true.

[PFT Commenter]

That is.

[Hank]

That's a fact they can't handle. They can't handle it.

[Big Cat]

What are you gonna say, Max?

[Max]

I feel like D'Amico Ryan's feels like a cold weather coach.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that might be it. Yeah. It's very opposite. Mike McDaniel. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It's the bald head.

[Max]

I think there's something about him. Feels like he can. He can coach in the cold.

[Big Cat]

There's a toughness about.

[Chris Long]

Yes.

[Max]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That he. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

The Texans are also wearing Joe Mixon's.

[Hank]

The key to the game.

[Big Cat]

Okay. And they'll get lucky.

[Hank]

Well, yeah, that's. That's just the playoffs, though.

[PFT Commenter]

And also keep Patrick Mahomes off the field.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

By Joe mixon. Score.

[Hank]

Those 1 and 1 and 3 are basically the same.

[PFT Commenter]

Let me give you another key to the game. Somehow hope that Carson Wentz's name starting quarterback.

[Big Cat]

Hank, what would you say. Would you say it's a key to game for the Texans to get sevens instead of threes?

[Hank]

Not necessarily.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, you stop giving away all my keys to the game for commanders. I've been teasing this all week.

[Big Cat]

Fumble. You got it. You got a. You got to have a turnover.

[Hank]

That's the luck.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Hank]

Get lucky. Turnover.

[Big Cat]

Pick six.

[Hank]

Pick six. Kick return, touchdown. Punt block.

[PFT Commenter]

Can we stop? Can we. I'm not gonna have any more keys left. No, my keys are. My keys are completely different. But those are valid keys.

[Big Cat]

Those are huge keys.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. But the Texans also wearing all white uniforms, which led to a lot of infighting amongst the Texans fan base. Whether or not they should be excited about this. I found a great interaction underneath the the official team tweet about it. Okay. From Astros fade, we've never won a playoff game in all white. What are we doing? Texas uniform tracker replies, to be fair, we've never won any playoff game in white jerseys, regardless of pants. And then sad Astros posts, to be fair, we've never won any divisional playoff game. And then Astros Fade replies. And then Astros Fade replies, we've never won a road playoff game in general.

[Big Cat]

So he might not be the white pants.

[PFT Commenter]

You drill down a little bit and you find out it might not be the white pants.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. If this game was at home.

[Chris Long]

We need.

[Big Cat]

We need the Texans next year to somehow get like a two or three seed and wear white pants at home in the divisional round. And then we can kind of.

[PFT Commenter]

Then we can park exactly where we're going wrong with the uniform.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Let's do the next game. Commanders at lions. Lions are nine and a half point favorites. Over under is 55 and a half. PFT. You've been teasing your keys to the game, so I'll let you take it. Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

My keys to the game.

[Big Cat]

Should I write these down?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, okay. You should.

[Big Cat]

Hold on.

[PFT Commenter]

Number one.

[Big Cat]

By the way, people were asking what I was writing down during our vagina conversation last week. On Wednesday, I was drawing A vagina to see if I could get hard just looking at just a vagina.

[PFT Commenter]

Big Cat does take notes during episodes.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. All right, Here we go. All right.

[PFT Commenter]

Keys to the game. Number one, them up.

[Big Cat]

I love that.

[PFT Commenter]

We gotta beat the out of them now.

[Big Cat]

Would you. You can't say four quarters of you football, because that's Notre Dame, but would you like them to play four quarters of you football?

[PFT Commenter]

I'd like to play five quarters of you football because you gotta be ready for 110 them up. Really? Really? Everybody up. Number two, kill everyone.

[Chris Long]

Kill everyone.

[PFT Commenter]

Especially on defense.

[Big Cat]

Women and children.

[PFT Commenter]

Put the women and children to bed.

[Big Cat]

Women and children to bed.

[PFT Commenter]

That's. That's key. 2A.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Number three, Jaden Daniels.

[Big Cat]

Yep. I think that one. I'm gonna. You know what I'm gonna do for that one? I'm gonna underline it.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Underscore.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

And number four, the fourth and final key to the game. I absolutely need an incredible hype video.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

And I'm talking this. This has to be the best hype video that I've ever seen.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

There's a lot of. I might make my own h.

[Big Cat]

The.

[Hank]

Best one you've ever seen, but I'm going.

[Big Cat]

I'm going to make what a shot.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm going to.

[Big Cat]

That was so mean.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm gonna make the best hype video you've ever seen.

[Big Cat]

Don't let him talk to that. Yeah. Talk to you like that.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank. Hank's a loser.

[Big Cat]

Don't let him talk to you like that.

[PFT Commenter]

You're not even in the playoffs. You don't know about hype videos. Oh, I'm gonna make the best hype. I've already got an idea for it, as a matter of fact.

[Big Cat]

Well, if he makes a hype video, probably the best hype video he's ever made.

[Hank]

Ever made. Is ever made.

[Big Cat]

He's ever made.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm talking the best hype video of all time.

[Hank]

AC dc with, like, no glitter transitions.

[PFT Commenter]

No, no, no.

[Big Cat]

Hater.

[PFT Commenter]

It's gonna be. I'll just. I think it's got to be Fix you by Coldplay. Oh, I think it's got to start.

[Big Cat]

I don't know about that.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, yeah.

[Hank]

Wait, is this after they lose and, like, you're remembering them?

[Big Cat]

No, you.

[Hank]

No, I got, like, in remembrance fix.

[PFT Commenter]

You start sad, and then it's like when you're lost out there. And then you got pictures like Dan Snyder. You got picture art.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's.

[PFT Commenter]

You got picture the stadium raining on fans. You got.

[Big Cat]

Okay, that works.

[PFT Commenter]

You Try your best, but you don't succeed. And then it's a picture like the Sean Taylor statue. That's not even a statue. It's all the bad stuff. And then it goes ding. Lights. Will, guys. As Jane Daniels walking out of the tunnel. Yeah, I'm getting drafted at that point. And ignite. I will try. I fix you dunno. And then Jaden's out there.

[Big Cat]

Someone make this for pft. He just gave you the vision?

[Max]

No, I just. I just went back and listened to the song. It's more of a like after you win, like.

[Big Cat]

Like.

[Max]

Like yearbook video. It is.

[Big Cat]

It is a little bit of that.

[Max]

It's a yearbook video. It gets exciting at the end. But that's when you show like the winning Super Bowl.

[Hank]

Let's go win it.

[Max]

But for the hype, video needs to be like, that's not a Fire Me up song.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, you don't know shit about hype videos. This is my vision.

[Max]

This is not.

[Hank]

I might swear up in that corner.

[Big Cat]

Whoa. No, it needs to be like Iron Maiden and shit.

[PFT Commenter]

Run for the Hills.

[Max]

That was my first job here. Was hype making hype videos.

[Big Cat]

Really? What was your best work?

[Max]

I did them for you dogs.

[Big Cat]

I knew that. I knew that. I knew that shit.

[PFT Commenter]

Just let me enjoy my vision. You do your texting me?

[Max]

No, text him to Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

And Hank would text me.

[Big Cat]

Oh, that's the problem. Hank was taking credit for it.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I wasn't.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he was.

[Hank]

No, I wasn't.

[Big Cat]

He was taking all the credit.

[PFT Commenter]

Do we have a hype video guy now at Barstool?

[Big Cat]

The Quigs. Quigs.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Max]

Malac makes some good ones.

[PFT Commenter]

We don't talk with him. I'll talk to Quigs and we'll. We'll work on it. But right now I feel like. Just let me follow my vision, which is Coldplay.

[Big Cat]

I think people, I think this should be a fan submitted one now because, like.

[Hank]

Well, you were just taking credit. Like, if. If you. If Quigs makes it might be good.

[Max]

If Quiggs makes it, it will be good.

[Hank]

I'm going to make the greatest.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't think I can do it?

[Max]

He can direct it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, direct it. Yeah. It's what I was doing with Max. It's gonna be a PFT joint.

[Max]

That's also not.

[Big Cat]

I think you should have, I think.

[Hank]

Send you a song and be like, here you go.

[Max]

You do that like once every six videos that I made. That was.

[Big Cat]

And probably whenever he said that it was because I said it. I was like, I want this song.

[Hank]

That's probably true.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

I was playing a lot of Call of Duty back then.

[Big Cat]

He was just being the middleman. Pfd. You should just do fan submitted because now you'll have like a hundred hype videos and one of them is going to be an absolutely incredible. Like people are gonna now whether you ask them to or not.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, I let me do the Coldplay one and then. But I am interested in watching all the hype.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Like that to me that is a key for my game is to just. You got to have great hype videos going to this week because it's us against the world. Washington versus everyone. That's what they're saying about this game.

[Big Cat]

I so my take on this game, and this is a compliment, I think the Lions are going to fucking kill him. But I can't bet them because of Jaden Daniels. Because I keep thinking in the back of my head like, but what if Jaden Daniels does something crazy?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Like the Lions are better and there should. They should the Commanders play a lot of man coverage. Jared Goff is number one beating man coverage. I think Dave Montgomery is back. So I like keep going back. Like the Lions can name their score, but then I'm like, but Jaden Daniels and like everything that happens in the voodoo stuff. I don't think I can bet the, the the Lions. So that way I can root for the Commanders with you.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. A couple weeks ago I said if we do, if we win our first round playoff game, it's we're going to be very lucky if the lions don't score 70 points on us.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Like the Lions have. They've got a great roster. They've got all the weapons. They've got an incredible offense. I was shocked to learn that the Commander's rushing offense is actually better than the Lions rushing attack.

[Big Cat]

Oh, wow.

[PFT Commenter]

It doesn't feel like that though, does it? But I guess you got to take into account Jaden's legs. Yeah, it's been a big part of that. Montgomery coming back. I'm. I'm more afraid of Gibbs. Like I'm, I'm. I know that Montgomery's a great running back, but if you were to say, like, are you more afraid of a healthy dose of Jameer Gibbs or splitting time with him and David Montgomery coming off a pcl like an injury that people thought was going to be season ending. Yeah, I'm okay with Montgomery and Gibbs splitting carries. I just think that our, our past defense has to step up. Lattimore's healthy. I guess I don't Know, I think.

[Big Cat]

There'S going to be. On defense, I think we're going to have a lot of moments where Lions receivers are running completely untouched somewhere down the field.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you know that our past defense is third, is ranked third? That doesn't feel right either, does it?

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

The commander's past defense. I don't know. I don't know how that works out. But yeah, I, I want to believe in the commanders. If it becomes, if it's a one score game in the fourth quarter, that's what I'm saying. We win this game. Yeah, I think.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

But then you have to wonder what happens in the first three quarters. Like, but I mean, think about it. The Bears went into Detroit and basically beat the Lions on Thanksgiving.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Like they're, they've had games where they look human the last month or so. They have not. They've looked incredible. Our, our offensive line has done a much better job, especially with, with our center coming back. Piatas. Sam Cosby's playing really, really well. So I realize I haven't talked about any of those guys. I've just been focusing on Jaden. But we've had our, our team has stepped up. We play weird games. We will not blow anybody out. We'll be lucky to keep it within a score because Detroit is so, so good. But if we can keep it within a score, Jaden Daniels can go out there and win the game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

And the Lions buttholes might get tight.

[Big Cat]

Lions buttholes might get tight.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

The, the other thing I would say is Aaron Glenn. His defenses usually struggle with mobile quarterbacks like Justin Fields used to, you know, give them fits. So. And he's had that happen multiple times, not just once. So Jaden Daniels might be able to use his legs significantly on Saturday. What are you looking up, Max?

[Max]

This past defense thing. For some reason I've clicked on four different things and said four different websites, said four different things.

[Big Cat]

Well, what's the. Is it EPA or what did you, Is it yards, Passing, yard?

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know. I, I saw a couple things and it had us listed as the third best pass defense. And I was very confused by it. Like Max, when I said out loud, it doesn't sound right, does it?

[Max]

I mean, this says third here. I, I'm, I don't know what I'm looking at.

[PFT Commenter]

That's yards per game.

[Max]

Yeah. But then this one, I feel like I'm also looking at yards per. Oh, wait, that's postseason get together.

[PFT Commenter]

If we're the number three pass defense in the postseason, that's a much different stat. But that's not the case because I think we're like the number 30 rush defense.

[Big Cat]

I. The. The only thing I would say about that is the Lions are not like everyone else. You played on the schedule.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, correct.

[Big Cat]

So that would be. Well, they're just really good.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And.

[PFT Commenter]

But, oh, well, the Eagles pass defense is pretty good.

[Big Cat]

The Eagles pass defense. Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

And we put some points on them.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. No, I was saying the Lions offense.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, right.

[Big Cat]

Your past defense versus the Lions offense. Lions offense is. Is in that level of just. I think it's essentially the, The Bills and the Ravens. Those are the three teams where it does feel like. Like whenever they want to score, they're just going to score.

[PFT Commenter]

We're going to see ultimate dance in this showdown.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Dan Quinn, Dan Campbell, both going forward on fourth downs all the time.

[Big Cat]

Two alpha dudes.

[PFT Commenter]

And it's crazy because the history of these franchises, at least, you know, recent history, Tress Way for the Commanders has been a great punter. I. I went out there, I bought a punter's jersey. He was the only bright light on the team for a while. And then Jack Fox on the Lions, great punter. Now neither one of those guys is being used. They were both in weird ways, like the best player on each team.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

But yeah, there's gonna be a ton of punts or, excuse me, a ton of going for it on fourth down in this game. Not a lot of punts. One thing about the Lions defense, they are the fourth worst in the NFL at allowing explosive plays. So explosives, they allow on 12.4% of snaps.

[Big Cat]

Now, the only counter to that would be they did miss Alexand for a majority of their season. He does wear the green dot, so getting everyone in the places they need to be. You saw it against the Vikings, but yeah, their defense is obviously the weakness. This could. You could make this a shootout. And I feel like when you make a game of shootout, it really is the, the randomness of the game. Like if you're, if you're a nine point underdog and you. And you can score like the Commanders can score, all you need is like one, you know, one interception, one weird thing to happen to the Lions, you know, almost like breaking serve in tennis.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I'm going into this weekend thinking there's a very good chance that this is the end of the run. And if it is, what a great run it's been. No regrets. It's been an incredible season. But I do think that there's a path. I think that don't write us up, don't write us off. Because if it's a one score game, we can go out there and win the game. And the. The top seeds are 11 and 7 in playoff games since the format changed. So it's not like getting the one seed is like automatic. You're going to go to the Super Bowl.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I think the lines. I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

I just feel. I've said all year 40, I've said all year the Lions are the best team in the.

[Big Cat]

Are you going to take the commanders?

[Hank]

I'm going to take the commander's spread.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Hank]

And probably the over and just because that's the only way the commanders win.

[Big Cat]

There's Max. Left hand up.

[PFT Commenter]

Left hand up. Let's go Max.

[Big Cat]

Love that, Max.

[Max]

Let's go commies.

[Big Cat]

You're the man.

[Max]

Let's go commies.

[PFT Commenter]

I love it, Max. You've always been on my side.

[Max]

Always.

[Big Cat]

Let's talk about your game, Max. Rams Eagles. Eagles minus six over under 43 and a half. Let's first say, Max, how did. How did the class go? So you have, you have karma all the way back on your side by the way because we also got a little more into the story of the Eagles fan versus the packers fan. The Eagles or the packers fan. And this doesn't excuse calling, you know, a woman a in the. In the crowd. But the guy who was. Who, whose wife was called that, he essentially did a gofundme to try to get money to go to the game and was like.

[Max]

And antagonize.

[Big Cat]

Antagonize and like and film it. So it kind of is one of those situations where like everyone's a. Except for the woman who just. She's somehow upon in all this and like was the one who got disrespected.

[PFT Commenter]

She's like bait. Yeah, the guy's taken to the game.

[Big Cat]

The packers fan sucks too. So wait.

[PFT Commenter]

But the packers fan did go for me probably to get all the way across the country from Wisconsin to Philadelphia. You'll see this game, right Max?

[Max]

No, he lived an hour outside of me for that. GoFundMe.

[PFT Commenter]

A car ride.

[Big Cat]

Oh my God.

[Max]

So yeah, doing a gofundme as just like a normal random dude to go to a football game is insane.

[Big Cat]

Insane.

[PFT Commenter]

Especially one down the street.

[Hank]

Yeah, it's like the name of the website though.

[Big Cat]

That was what I. The funniest gofundme I saw was a few months ago some guy like got busted at a fish concert for selling. It was. It was something like you know, hundreds of tabs of acid, like a shitload of ecstasy, nitrous, and all this stuff. And he did a GoFundMe for, like, legal stuff. And people were just coming. They're like, dude, he. He was a drug dealer. He sold those drugs. It's like, I know that, you know, we all want to party, but.

[PFT Commenter]

But, yeah, like that.

[Big Cat]

I think the GoFundMe should go to someone. You know, a kid with cancer.

[PFT Commenter]

El chapo does a GoFundMe. I need to re up.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, but, yeah, that. I. I think you've been vindicated, especially with your class. So how'd it go?

[Max]

Yeah, I took the class. It was a four hour class. I learned some good information. Learned a lot about the Lincoln Financial Field and the security around it. However, Big Dom got a heard about me taking this class and was. And was unhappy.

[Big Cat]

What'd he say?

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know if he was unhappy. He was. He was concerned that. He was concerned you got kicked out for something?

[Max]

Yeah, no, he thought I got. He thought I got kicked out of the game Sunday.

[Big Cat]

And did you explain it to him? Yep.

[Max]

I texted. I told him the whole thing, and.

[Big Cat]

He was like, wait, how do you find out about this?

[Max]

He said I was tweeting about it. I at first thought that there was like an. An alert that. That there was an alert that would, like, go to his desk or something as soon as somebody took the test, which I would have been way funnier.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

But someone just, like, sent him his tweet. He was like, what happened to you this week?

[PFT Commenter]

All right, so, Max, you were saying that you were kind of panicking and you weren't sure if you explained it correctly in your text back because you were very nervous about what to write back to Big Dom. So let's just clear the air right now and reset. This Eagles fan was caught on video last week saying, bad stuff. Max, as a great representative of the city of Philadelphia, decided that he was going to get some good karma back, show that Philadelphia Eagle Eagles fans are passionate, but they're not all. So Max took the. The course that the NFL offers for fans who have been kicked out of the stadium to learn more about empathy and appropriate stating behavior in order to get all the good vibes back on the city of Philadelphia, correct?

[Max]

I was just trying to do my part.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

Trying to do my part.

[Big Cat]

I do love the idea of Big Dom having a fax machine next to his desk and just every person who has to sign up for it. It just. All it spit out was just A piece of paper that just said Max in your picture, he's like, what the hell?

[Max]

I know.

[Big Cat]

That's what I was on.

[PFT Commenter]

So watch on pmtv. But what did you learn?

[Max]

You know, you always have to put yourself in the. In the shoes of an opposing fan. Like, if you were going into an opposing stadium, how would you want to be treated? Curse words are not allowed at any moment. So use of foul language, disappointing. Drinking. It was a lot of drinking. It was a lot about the rules of how much you can drink, what your blood alcohol level will look like if you are drinking, what can happen if your blood alcohol gets to a certain level. Stress management. That was another one. It talked a lot about stress.

[Big Cat]

You need that.

[Max]

Yeah, that's big. It was not only if things are going poorly in your life, you can be stressed out, but also if things are going well in your life, you can be stressed out. So that's another thing about stress. And that can cause people to say things that they. That they shouldn't be saying.

[Big Cat]

Did they give, like. Did they do thought exercises where it's like, it's third and 10 and Jalen hurts runs to the right and throws it 20, 20ft out of bounds? Like, what are you thinking?

[Max]

No, they did not. They did not do that.

[Big Cat]

Run a simulated game for you?

[Max]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

You're down. You're down by 17 points and A.J. brown's reading a book. What do you say?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Max]

Well, that was a motivational book that keeps him locked in.

[Big Cat]

Jake Elliott missed his third PAT of the day.

[Max]

That I'm worried about. I'm so worried about.

[Big Cat]

I'm worried about that as well.

[PFT Commenter]

Andy Swan had a great idea. It was dress MMA fighters as opposing fan bases. So if you go. If you go to, like, Lincoln Financial Field, have an MMA fighter dressed up in all packers gear, and then have somebody get in a fight with them, and then those guys get their ass kicked by the MMA fighter.

[Big Cat]

I like that.

[Chris Long]

That.

[Big Cat]

I like that. So let's talk about the game. Max, it's got to be a Saquon game. Jalen Hurts has to get out of the concussion protocol, and your defense has to win this game because I don't know about your offense. Assess those.

[Max]

Disagree. It's going to be cold. You're just going to pound the rock. We're going to. Our offense will be good.

[Big Cat]

I did have that question. How. How long do you have to live in warm weather before you get soft? Because Matthew Stafford, he played in his only cold game, only game under 40 degrees in the last three years was the game against the Jets a month ago where they won 19 to nine and they did not look good. He obviously played in Detroit, had to play in NFC North. Go to Soldier Field, go to Lambeau. Is. Is there amount of time that you get soft?

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

How quickly?

[PFT Commenter]

Two years. Two summers.

[Big Cat]

Two summers.

[Max]

Especially the older you get, the older you get, the joints, they don't, they don't do as well in the cold.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Two summers. Your first summer, you're like, you know those videos of when they have a monkey and it sees the outdoors for the first time? Because it's been kept in a lab for its entire life. It's never been like in the grass and.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, this is awesome. That's your first summer in warm weather. You're like, this is incredible. Holy.

[Max]

You lived in Texas.

[PFT Commenter]

I love it.

[Max]

I just. As you were saying that, you know from firsthand experience here.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah. No, I got, I got real soft. I got real soft over the course of like nine years down there to the point where I moved to New York and I was like, what the is going on?

[Big Cat]

And now it's the flip where I think tomorrow it's going to be 40 degrees in Chicago. It's like, I might wear shorts.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Now I'm hard. Yeah, I was soft. Now I'm hard. But I think after your second summer, then you just expect nice, nice weather all the time. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So that will be big. Matthew Stafford, older, doesn't, you know, doesn't play well in, in cold weather. The other thing I like about this matchup Max is the Rams are somehow worse than the Eagles in starting games, which is pretty hard to do. But The Rams are 30th in first quarter scoring and 23rd in first half scoring. So that's, you know, the Eagles have started slow. It's. They should not. Well, yeah, I mean, they, they got a fumble 7 seconds of the game.

[Max]

Yeah, that's. That's the opposite of starting slow.

[Big Cat]

I understand. But that fumble doesn't happen. They have maybe three points at most in the first half.

[Max]

Great touchdown pass, Johan Dotson.

[Big Cat]

Right? It did happen, but your offense looked like shit in the first half, did it not?

[Hank]

They scored in the first two minutes of the game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. 10.

[Max]

It was 10. Nothing like that. Defense look great.

[Big Cat]

I think your defense is, is going to win this game. And I also Vic Fangio against. It's a small sample size, but he played them this year. The Rams scored 20 points. And then the famous game in 2018 when the Rams were just ripping through Everyone and they came to Soldier Field and Vic Fangio was the DC and they scored six points. I think Vic Fangio is going to have. He's going to dial some shit up.

[Max]

Nicobe Dean being out is a worry that. That's really my only worry. On the defensive side of the ball, we're going to have Oren Burks who's did not look great.

[PFT Commenter]

He.

[Max]

He's the one who had the. The fumble on the kickoff to start the game. But defensively he did not look great last year or last week. And then Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Is rumored to be getting a bunch of snaps this weekend and he's a rookie and hasn't gotten like any playing time. So that's Nicobi Dean's like the play caller, the, you know, middle linebacker that is the leader on the team. And not having him is going to be worrisome for the defense. But I still like. I like our guys.

[PFT Commenter]

I think your offensive line will do a great job going up against one of the Rams strengths. We'll just. I. If you were to say Rams defensive line, probably one of the better units out there. But the Eagles offensive line I think can neutralize him a little bit. Are you ever nervous on punts? I know you love Cooper DeJean, but are you nervous the way that he fields punts?

[Max]

Yes. Every single.

[Chris Long]

You.

[Max]

We watch the game together on Sunday. Every single time I just say, just catch it. Just catch it.

[Big Cat]

Don't.

[Max]

Don't. Punts are the return. Returning punts is the scariest play in football for me because I feel it has to be the highest percent percentage play of turnover.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Max]

Like it's very easy to turn the ball over on a punt and it completely changes the game because it's 60 yards of field position or whatever that number is. Just hold on to the football, get the ball back to the offense. Run the Rock, win the game. Play good defense, don't turn the ball over. Run the Rock, win the game.

[PFT Commenter]

Love that piece of the game.

[Big Cat]

Are you going to go hair down or up? You won against the packers with hair down.

[Max]

No, but I put it up right before halftime because they went into that lull.

[Big Cat]

Oh. So you got to go up.

[Max]

So I think I maybe start. I think like the first couple drives are going to be down because.

[Big Cat]

Can I make a request?

[Hank]

Yep.

[Max]

No pigtails.

[Big Cat]

Overalls.

[PFT Commenter]

Nailed it.

[Big Cat]

Come on.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

You have the Eagles overalls. The people want the Eagles overall.

[PFT Commenter]

Everybody's been asking for the Eagles. You teased them last year and he never wore the overalls. You Got to wear the overalls.

[Max]

Yeah, but if they lose, think of how bad of a look that will be if they lose. And I. For you, it'll be a good look. But Eagle Philly fans will be so mad at me.

[Big Cat]

So you're just never going to wear these overalls?

[Max]

No, I'll wear them.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I don't think that you will. You have to wear them now or never because you're not going to want to win them in the Super Bowl.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you got to work them in. You should have worked them in the regular season. That was a big mistake.

[Max]

Yeah, I know I should have, but even I. There was so many times that I thought about it during the regular season, and I was like, well, what if they lose? Then it's a bad look.

[Big Cat]

Here's what you should do. You should wear the overalls. Maybe wear a hoodie over it for the first half.

[Max]

I don't hate that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

I don't hate that.

[Big Cat]

Work it in slow.

[Max]

Work it in.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

Okay. I like that.

[Big Cat]

Feel it out.

[Max]

I like that.

[Big Cat]

If things are going well, you go overalls, then you have the overalls for the NFC Championship.

[Max]

Philly fans listening to this are mad at me, and they. And I get an overwhelming response of, do not wear the overalls. I. I can't wear the overalls?

[PFT Commenter]

No, I. I think you wear them. Put the hoodie on over. And if. If it's going good, then you can, you know.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

You can demonstrate. And then if it's going poorly, you can also take the hoodie off to switch up the juju.

[Big Cat]

It gives you multiplicity. Okay. Multiplicity in your attack.

[Adam Schefter]

All right.

[Max]

I like it. I like.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Complimentary overalls.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Okay. The last game, best game, Ravens and Bills. Bills are underdogs. They're one and a half point underdogs. The over under is 51 and a half. I'm so excited for this game. I've been trying. I think everyone knows that we're. I think everyone in this room is. Wants the Bills to win because it'd be awesome if they went to the Super Bowl. I think the Ravens are probably the better team overall. So I've been trying to make a case for it in my head that the Bills can win this game. Here's my case. The Bills defense, the first matchup was not. They didn't have guys. They have Milano Johnson, who I think is in concussion protocol right now, and Bernard. All those guys should help with the run. The Zay Flowers looks like he's not going to play, and the last thing is the Ravens defense has been incredible in the, in the last half of the season. Right. I did look back and in the last five games, this is DVOA who they played. They played the Browns who the 32nd defense or sorry, offense. The Texans are the 26th, the Steelers the 19th, the Giants the 28th and the Eagles the 13th. Their only loss. The Bills are obviously a top five offense and so maybe there's a little inflation in numbers. I don't fully believe everything I'm saying. I was just trying to make the case.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, here's another bit of data point for you. I'm all over the weather this weekend. Eight degrees in Buffalo in Orchard park. The coldest game that Lamar Jackson's ever played. Guess what it was 35, 27. Oh, so kind of cold. But this is 8 degrees. It's very different.

[Big Cat]

And he said he wasn't going gloves.

[PFT Commenter]

Also Lamar, in their earlier matchup this season, the temperature was like 60 and he was wearing a hoodie and a beanie for it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know that Lamar loves the cold.

[Big Cat]

Broward County.

[PFT Commenter]

Broward County. I think that it is a very different team that the Buffalo Bills have right now. Home field advantage is going to make a huge difference. I have no idea who's going to win the game. Absolutely no idea. I've been trying to figure it out too. I think I'm going to bet the over. I'm going to bet for football. I'm going to, I'm going to root for good football. No idea who's going to win this game. I don't know if they can stop Derrick Henry. They're probably. The Ravens are much more complete team. The Bills have Josh Allen as an all Pro. Nobody else as an all Pro. But that said, I don't know. I feel like the Bills are playing their best football right now.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I just want both quarterbacks to play out of their mind and have one of those classic games where it just comes down to whoever has the ball last. I'm so excited for this game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Hank, you think the Ravens are going to kill him?

[Hank]

No, no, I think the Bills can win. I want the Bills to win.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. But I do, I do think the Ravens on, you know, in totality are the better team. And Lamar's been out of his mind. Lamar is probably going to win another mvp.

[PFT Commenter]

Might be his best season ever.

[Big Cat]

He's an incredible, incredible quarterback and he's, you know, he. Last week in a playoff game was awesome. Yeah. I'm rooting for The Bills. But I, I, this is going to be a tough game. Game.

[PFT Commenter]

I was shocked to find out that Jim Nance.

[Hank]

I think the weather matters more in the playoffs. People give it credit for it to PST's point.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

And Josh Allen, he loves that cold.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So Jim Nance is, quote, stoked for this game. Oh, I never thought that Jim Nance was capable of being stoked.

[Big Cat]

Did he say that with a stucy shirt on?

[PFT Commenter]

He said it twice. He said, I am stoked for this matchup.

[Big Cat]

That is the Cali in him.

[PFT Commenter]

It is.

[Big Cat]

How old are Jim Nance's kids? That's definitely.

[PFT Commenter]

He just found out his kid is like 12.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he lives in Cali, Tony. No, I think he does have, I think he remarried and has a younger kid and he's probably a Cali teen.

[PFT Commenter]

Tony. I'm stoked. No cap.

[Chris Long]

Bruh.

[Big Cat]

Imagine if he dropped a bruh. Lamar has an incredible run. He's like, bruh, bruh.

[PFT Commenter]

He, he did not just do that fam.

[Big Cat]

And Lamar Jackson. Bruh.

[PFT Commenter]

He's different. He's different. Tony.

[Big Cat]

You just, you just don't know how to spell Jim Nance's name. Max.

[Hank]

Daughter born in 2014. Son born in 2016. 16.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, so he's got a 10 year.

[Big Cat]

Old and a nine year old.

[PFT Commenter]

He probably.

[Big Cat]

That's getting there. I mean, nine, nine is a nine year old. Maybe skating. Yeah, he's getting those words. Stoked. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Tony, you know, he's famous for calling plays before they happened. Last week he called that they were going to get this game. At the end of the last game, he's like, can't wait to be up in Buffalo next week. And I don't know if the network executives got bullied into making that the Nance. No, it was always going to be Jim Nance and Tony Romo for this game. Always, always.

[Big Cat]

What are you gonna say?

[Max]

I don't know if kids still say stoked.

[Big Cat]

Oh, they don't.

[Max]

That seems like kind of, I don't.

[Big Cat]

Know what they do in California.

[Max]

So maybe I would, I would assume that stoked is probably out of.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, vernacular.

[Max]

I was not saying that I'm in vernacular.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I was assuming they say stoked.

[PFT Commenter]

I was assuming that stoked was big in like the 90s, maybe early 2000.

[Max]

That's what I'm thinking.

[PFT Commenter]

Then it went out and I was assuming that maybe it just started to come back.

[Big Cat]

I think Cali, I think Cali is just part of the language. Definitely some Cali. Awls hit us up. Do you still say stoked? I feel like they still say hella too. Hella.

[Max]

This Twitter account that is just covers the world of ski lifts. Said so stoked to be adding Norway.

[Hank]

That that sounds like a universal.

[PFT Commenter]

I could also see Jim Nance being big time into skiing. Yeah, he probably spends a month in Aspen each offseason.

[Big Cat]

Stoked. Okay. I'm so excited for this game.

[PFT Commenter]

After the game tribute to our darling Jake Marsh. I predict sportsmanship of the year. I predict the handshake between Lamar and Josh is going to include some form of now go out there and win the big one. Win it all.

[Big Cat]

Go take care of it. Go beat the bad man.

[PFT Commenter]

Go beat the bad man.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Okay. Should we do our parlays? Cause we have them very close last week with the Jaden Daniels having the kneel down. That hurt. But we are you guys are going to do the Commander's Lions. We'll do The Eagles. Rams. DraftKings the NFL teams playing to see who's the king of the gridiron. Get in on the playoff action. See who's the king of the end zone at DraftKings Sportsbook an official sportsbook partner of the NFL playoffs, DraftKings has been the number one place to bet touchdowns all season long. And NFL playoffs aren't keeping them out of the end zone. They're gonna. They're going all in with $2 million in bonus bets up for grabs every game day during the NFL playoffs. Here's how it works. Place a five dollar pregame bid on an offensive player to find the end zone and if they have the longest rushing or receiving TD that day, their king of the end zone and you win his share of 2 million in bonus bets. DraftKings sportsbooks crowning a King of the End Zone every NFL game day download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Use code TAKE. That's code TAKE to compete for a share of $2 million in bonus bets. Only on DraftKings. The crown is yours.

[Chris Long]

Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-78-97777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas.

[Hank]

21 and over.

[Chris Long]

Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Boyd in Ontario. One token per customer. Tokens expire at the start of the final game each day. When offered, use token on days longest touchdown scorer to receive equal share of 2 million in non withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 168 hours. Additional wagering restrictions apply. For additional terms of responsible gaming resources.

[Big Cat]

See sportsbook.draftkings.com promos okay, I'll give you ours. This is max and I put this together. It is a AJ Brown, anytime touchdown. Over 35 and a half. Dallas Goddard receiving yards, the Philadelphia Eagles to win the game. And Kenneth Gainwell over nine and a half rushing yards. It's a four leg parlay and it is plus 950 in the DraftKings sportsbook.

[PFT Commenter]

I like that. How much for Kenny?

[Big Cat]

Kenny over nine and a half.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, I like it.

[Big Cat]

Nine and a half.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank and I put together a juicy one. Jameer Gibbs, Anytime Touchdown.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

Zach Ertz, anytime Touchdown.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

Austin Eckler 25 plus receiving yards.

[Hank]

Plus 800.

[PFT Commenter]

Plus 800. I like it. I love it, love it.

[Hank]

Points bonanza.

[Big Cat]

Let's get some games going, boys. So excited, so excited for this. Bill's Ravens. I'm just gonna soak in it. Lay down in it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

We need to upset Saturday.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Hank]

For the vibes.

[PFT Commenter]

Gotcha.

[Big Cat]

For your bets. All right, let's get to our interviews.

[Hank]

Everyone's been saying these playoffs have sucked.

[Big Cat]

Like it's just the first round.

[Hank]

Get an upset Saturday, like where the weekend's made.

[Big Cat]

That's crazy. Okay, let's get to our interviews. We got Chris Long and then Adam Schefter.

[PFT Commenter]

We're going to get to Chris Long in a second, but before we do, he's brought to you by Kevin's Natural Foods. I've got the Sichuan chicken right here. It's super easy, takes about seven minutes. It's a nice stir fry. It's a stir fry kit that only takes seven minutes. And it's delicious and it's healthy too. You know that you feel your best when you eat well, but life is hectic and it's hard to find a healthy option that's quick and easy. That's where Kevin's Natural Foods comes in. Kevin's is honestly getting the barstool team through the crazy busy playoff season. Made with clean, healthy quality ingredients, Kevin's heat and serve entrees. New stir fry kits are packed with protein and they're ready to eat in just minutes. No prep prep, no mess. Kevin's entrees are shockingly delicious and they're available in tons of tasty flavors. They got Korean barbecue, cilantro lime chicken. The stir fry kits even include fresh veggies. My favorite is the Sichuan Chicken. It's awesome. I love that they're made with clean, simple ingredients. The whole barstool team loves them. They really do make a healthy meal possible, even on my busiest days. Kick off 2025 with Kevin's. Make it your healthiest and tastiest year yet. Find Kevin's Natural Foods in the refrigerated section at your local grocery store. Now, here's Chris Long.

[Big Cat]

Okay. We now welcome on our very, very, very good friend. It is two time super bowl champion, Chris Long. You can see him on his podcast, which is incredible. Anyone who loves ball should be watching, listening to the Green Light with Chris Long. He's also doing a bunch of media inside the NFL. He's everywhere. He's everywhere. It is Chris Long. Chris, we wanted you. We've been trying to get you on for a couple weeks. It was my fault on a lot of the scheduling, but.

[Chris Long]

No, no. Well, that was kind of my fault too. I was like, oh, I have a procedure. I'm going under.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And I showed up to the doctor's office. They're like, no, it's just a consultation.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. You didn't eat for an entire day before.

[Chris Long]

Just a mess over here. But it's good to see y'all.

[Big Cat]

Yes. Great.

[PFT Commenter]

First guest in part of my take history. Right?

[Chris Long]

Yeah, I know. I was going to point that out, but I didn't want to toot my own. That's, that's, that's a big deal.

[Big Cat]

We're so bad.

[PFT Commenter]

Why did you ever come back?

[Chris Long]

Because you guys became really popular.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's, that's a good answer. Nine year anniversary coming up.

[PFT Commenter]

I feel like you came on part of my take and we were so bad that you were like, I have to start a podcast because these.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Are doing one. I'm way better, dude.

[Chris Long]

I just remember it was so fun because, like, we got my dad on. I, like, I was doing it on my phone, I think, or maybe my laptop. It was like 2000. And what. What year was that?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

So we were in the dark ages of technology, but I was doing it in my living room. My dad came to the door mid interview and I, I got Howie on the pod and I was like, hey, it's the guys from Pardon my take. And he was like, oh, cool.

[PFT Commenter]

Podcast that doesn't exist yet.

[Big Cat]

Awesome.

[Chris Long]

Yeah, you're gonna be sorry. And now he's been on your show.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And now full circle. All right, so let's talk some ball. Because you, you know the NFL better than anyone. You know playoff football better than Anyone. I want to go through every game. And we. We already taped our preview, the Texans versus the Chiefs. And I have to say, we didn't really give a path for the Texans. So I don't know if you see this game differently, but we didn't give a full path for the Texans to win this game. We just kind of were like, patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes, and this is what he does, especially in the divisional round.

[Chris Long]

I hope it's not a blowout, as a fan, because if it is, you're going to be like, damn, we're going to have maybe be. Maybe. Sorry, pft. Maybe two blowouts Saturday. I don't know. I'm hoping that both of them are close.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Honestly. But here's the path. The path is now they've got Aziz Al Shayer back, who is legitimately a leader for them, and patrol in the middle of the field next to. Nobody's fast as him at the linebacker position. You also get Christian Harris. They played together for the first time, I think, all year last week. So two really good players in the middle. I like the corners. The corners played really well. And also for the Chiefs in that game, like, they just got Hollywood Brown back. Right. And to me, that gave them a new look that maybe Houston wasn't ready for. So not saying it's going to be close, but the path is if they can take care of the Mahomes scrambles, which they didn't in that first game, that killed them. They can keep it. They can keep it closer. They had a chance in that game. You remember when they got the ball at midfield after Tank. Tank Dell got hurt.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[Chris Long]

And they were all just like. They were crushed. You know that really, some injuries you can kind of move on from. I felt like that one kind of killed them. But they got the ball at midfield with a chance after stopping Kansas City on fourth down to take the lead, I believe. And they weren't ready for the moment. They. They botched a screen. Schultz drops and out. And you're like, you know what? This Kansas City team's been here in this game a thousand times. Houston has not. And I think that was really apparent watching in the first game. We'll see if. If they got better.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, we. We always make the case because, you know, people will say, oh, Kansas City's lucky. And. And, you know, they get the flags and all that stuff and we don't. Yeah, we've always been on the side of. It's not luck, it's the fact that they've been in all these situations and when you get and. And. And if you make a single mistake, they will pounce on it. And that's the difference between a championship team and a team that's just a playoff team team.

[Chris Long]

That's right. And I think also when you watch like Kansas City's offense, and it might be different now, they started to open things up a little bit more. I think part of that is having Joe at tackle. Joe Tunney, who makes a big difference like that left tackle spot was revolving door. They couldn't figure it out. At some point they said, hey, we'll put a guard out here who's pretty good. He's an all pro at guard, but we'll put him out here because we're going to prioritize our best player being able to operate. And so I think what they were doing to that point was let's get into third and manageable, which they're so good at. If they're in third and three or third and four, you feel like you can't get off the field. And so I think that's the key to the game. If I'm Houston, you kind of say it like, let's be aggressive. Early, early downs, like get them behind the sticks a little bit. If they burn us, they burn us. But we'll see. I think the slow start is another, you know, little hopeful nugget for them. You know, the fact that, that the Chiefs haven't played and it feels like a month. And you know, if you remember, the last team to jump them in divisional round off a buy was Houston. It's a totally different team now. But you remember that game, coincidentally, on the way to New Orleans, that trip we were just talking about.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

That's 24 nothing in the second quarter.

[Chris Long]

I watched her on the plane. Yeah. On the way to New Orleans.

[PFT Commenter]

And then it was like immediately over after that moment. So as a defensive end, you were talking about, like keeping them in the pocket, limiting the scrambling stuff. How has there ever been like a game plan that you've had going into a game where you're like, okay, we've got a great idea of how we need to limit this quarterback. And you get like really detailed with your preparation and then you get in the game and it absolutely does not work.

[Chris Long]

Yeah, like anytime we ever played a running quarterback, like the coaches, I mean, and now it's more the norm, like where guys, if you can't move, there's not many like you. And so I think more guys are like, Jaden not many like Jayn Daniels, but where third and short, you know, some element of quarterback run is a threat. And I think with Mahomes, it's very, it's very unique because he drifts if you watch him and it makes playing offensive line for him a little bit difficult. It's like best job in the world. But he might be at 9 yards, he might be at 11, he might be at 12. He's going to step up. So rushing him is not as simple as like, you know, staying down the middle and power rushing a tackle, which can piss a defensive end off. When all week you hear we got to cage this guy. Right. Which is basically like we got to keep him in the pocket. That kind of takes your fastball away. And a lot of times at the end of those games anyways, you get, you get your throat ripped out by, you know, some quarterback that you gave him too long to throw the ball and then the DC is yelling at you like, why didn't you rush him? You know, so it's frustrating. And then you'll play guys who do the read option. You see, like Lamar, you'd have coaches that would say, hey, just blow up the mesh, get both of them. Yeah, just tackle two guys physically impossible.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

So, you know, like just having a running quarterback, you, you allot so much time during the week to things that might not even happen, you know, to scenarios that might not come up and that can take you away from doing the meat and potatoes.

[PFT Commenter]

Makes sense. So you sound like you're on the.

[Chris Long]

Texans too do well, inevitably. I'm not gonna bet it. Like a nine point favorite. That's not fun, right?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right.

[Chris Long]

Like. Yeah, you know what I mean? I'll probably end up doing something stupid like a teaser or some dumb like that.

[PFT Commenter]

So that's actually not about tease.

[Chris Long]

What?

[PFT Commenter]

You would tease them down to a point. Point and a half.

[Chris Long]

You could tease Kansas City down.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Then that means you probably gotta find a dance partner and that's probably Detroit. But Vegas knows a lot of teasers.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Saturday are gonna be just that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's gonna be everyone.

[Chris Long]

Somebody's gonna keep it close Saturday and I don't know, it could be this team. I don't know, it could be your guys.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So let's talk about that game. I gave my keys to the game already. You probably know a little bit better. You're going to get a little more granular than I did. My keys to the game were basically just kill everybody.

[Big Cat]

You said them up.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, kill everybody. And Then Jaden Daniels, to beat the.

[Chris Long]

Detroit Lions, you have to be the Detroit Lions.

[PFT Commenter]

Right.

[Chris Long]

So you got to go for it every fourth down.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Right. Which you guys are very good at. I mean, like, you were 87% the other night before you got stopped, so it's probably down like 85. But on the season, I think the key to this game is y'all gotta get stops in the red zone. Like, Detroit's gonna move the ball. Can you. Can you get them to be, like, two of five in the red zone? Or. Or, you know, like, there was a game last year versus Vegas where they totally shit the bed in the red zone. Like, can you recreate that. That issue for them? I don't know that you can. It's just going to come down to being aggressive. And if Aaron Glenn wants to play so much, man, I actually have a lot of faith in Jaden. You know, you got. You. You're probably going to have to a lot of spy. Right. And you can't take Anzalone out of coverage. He's too good. You know? Is it Jack Campbell? Is it somebody else? Like, I don't know. But Jaden Daniels, with his legs, I kind of feel like we're just. We're just building a path for the underdogs here. Yeah, the path for Detroit is bludgeon them.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

You know, like, David Montgomery, he's on track to play.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Crazy.

[Chris Long]

It's like nuts. Like, this team is so tough. Everything they've been dealt this year, they've just dealt with it. I mean, and. And Dan Campbell, you guys, I know you guys love him, but as a football player, the longer he coaches this team, the more I'm impressed with him.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

I mean, they really have not flinched all year long.

[Big Cat]

I got a question about the Detroit defense, and you can explain this a lot better than we know. Green dot is important. Alexander Loney comes back, week 18. He puts a green dot back on. What? What? Like, explain it to us why it's so important and how much it can change if you lose the guy who is your defensive captain, getting everyone in the right spot.

[Chris Long]

Well, look, you get home field advantage. That's a big deal, right? Like, it's a big deal for a lot of reasons, but it's really loud in a playoff game at home. And you talk about communication. Like, I remember being in St. Louis and we never played in the playoffs, but there were a hundred instances of me screaming at James Larinitis, like, what the is the call? Am I stemming? Like, what's happening? Here, like, there. He's like a. He's like a service agent on the phone. Like, a bunch of people are calling him at the same time, like, whether it's me, the other D tackle. Somebody needs to call in the secondary. We need to. We need to figure out what that call was tagged with. There's just a ton of, like, communication issues. But then, not only that, like, he's a great cover guy.

[Big Cat]

Right?

[Chris Long]

And in the NFL now, you know, we kind of went through this thing where, like, backers, not important. Coincidentally, running back's not important. They're important again. But backers are really important. You play. And we're not talking about the commander so much, but any of these, like, souped up west coast offenses, like, you got to have guys in the middle that are rangy and that can cover. I mean, like the Eagles. We're going to talk about them in a second. They lose Nakobe Dean in a game where, you know, Matt Stafford is going to be trying to chunk the intermediate, intermediate part of the field all day long. And you see it like when they played Minnesota. Minnesota gives up a lot of chunks in the middle. Having a dominant backer in the middle of the field. Like, imagine if you have, like. I'm not comparing Anzalone, but to illustrate the importance of the position, Fred Warner changes the entire game.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Chris Long]

You know, and I think, like, for the Bills, when we get to that game, one thing we'll talk about is they were down three backers in that first game. So it matters not just having the green dot, but having good players in the middle field.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. You think?

[PFT Commenter]

Any chance the Lions break out the Todd Bulls defense, The double quarterback Spy where Todd did that at one point. I've never seen that before. I don't know. I don't know why I. It doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. It didn't work.

[Chris Long]

I don't know why. Todd Bowles did a lot of things he did down the stretch. Like, I was really disappointed in that Bucks team.

[Big Cat]

Like.

[Chris Long]

Like, I kind of. You know, when you. When you pick a team to win the division, you kind of get married to them and you fall in love with them and you justify all their mistakes. And you're like, well, that wasn't that bad with what they did in Dallas with the season on the line. Like, they're better than that. But in the biggest game, they kind of pissed down their leg with procedural stuff. And the point I want to make is the commanders, they've won a lot of close games this this year, including that game, I mean, when they beat Chicago, Stevenson was being an idiot. When they beat Atlanta, there was bad clock management by Raheem Morris. And then last week, the Bucks with the third and inches with the jet sweep that they drop on the ground. Like, there's a lot of teams that have been fucking it up. Not to take anything away from the commanders in close games. Detroit doesn't do that. Like, they're as well coached on both sides of the ball as any team in the league.

[Big Cat]

Do you. Are you worried when you. When you talk about the red zone? Obviously, I assume that Dan Campbell's going keep coaching the way he's coached, and anything fourth and four or less, he's going to go for. Are you in the mindset? Because I've seen people be like, oh, I can't wait till Dan Campbell fucks this up again in the playoffs. I've been a big believer in, like, dude, he knows what he's doing. And it's also not a secret to his team. Like, I think when we're sitting on our couch, like, what is he doing? It's going to be so deflating those guys in the huddle. They know the, like, what he's going to do, so they're prepared for it. If they don't get it, Dude, I think.

[Chris Long]

I think it's twofold. Like, number one, the schematic part of it, which is, like, the plays they're calling on fourth down are working even when they don't execute it. The plays were there last year in those big moments against San Francisco. It's like Shane Steichen last year with the division on the line, giving the ball to Gardner Minshu and throwing the ball in the flat, right? And everybody second guesses the call, but it's the execution of the call, so the. The right calls are being made. Made. And I think also you listen to his players after that game. Their faith in his way of doing things was unwavering. And so, like, that's a big part of it. And I. I liken it to, like, if you have a. A dad who walks around beating guys up and, like, if he turns down a fight, you're like, dad, wait, that's not who you are.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Chris Long]

I feel like every time Dan stares a fourth down in the eyes, like, it's like a game of chicken. And all his kids are watching, and if he turns it down, they all look at him like, what the was that about?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, this game is like, literally, my Dan could beat up your dad.

[Chris Long]

Yeah, my dad could beat up your dad.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And, and, and exactly what it is, defensive perspective. Like, I, I know people will say, like, oh, the defense must be, you know, deflated when they don't get the fourth down. I feel like the defense knows that what the offense is going to do, like, that's part of. It's complimentary that they know you're going to probably steal a couple and you might have a couple where you get put in a bad field position.

[Chris Long]

Well, that, that's what it comes down to for me is, like, when you play Detroit and being on a defense knowing it's a lot of the reason. I think Greg Olson has spoken to this, like, decisions to force a team to drive the length of the field or have to kick a field goal at the end of the game, like, what you do offensively dictates the tone of the next possession. The tone of a possession where an offense has four downs is uneasy for a defense.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Chris Long]

You know, like, everything you do is different. And I think you're always in that mode playing them, and it can create a lot of discomfort. That's why I think, like, early down pressure, you know, like, when they play Buffalo, the reason Buffalo won that game is because they got him off the field like, twice in the first half. And if you're to believe that the commanders are going to beat man coverage and run up some points, then all you have to do in this scenario to keep it close is get them off the field once or twice. The way you do that, in my opinion, is time up a blitz when they're going to play action, and get Jared when he turns his back and try to, you know, cook something up on second down, get him in third and 12, get him in second and 13, something like that, and then you got a shot.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's gonna be a very tough battle. The lines are obviously a great team. I think Dan Campbell has done a great job playing into the whole Macho man Dan thing. And he throws, like, a lot of red meat out to the press a lot. He's like, yeah, I do push ups in the shower. That's where I work out.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

He said he gets his workouts in when he's in the shower. He says, you know, he'll bite a kneecap off. We're going to drag you down. We're going to drown you.

[Big Cat]

I heard that.

[Chris Long]

I think I'm more concerned with, like, walking into the shower to try to get a shower. If I'm like the O line coach, I think Dan's doing naked push ups in the shower.

[PFT Commenter]

I think he means like at home.

[Big Cat]

That he works, not in the communal show.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but again, I don't, I don't necessarily buy into everything that he says like that because I think he does a very good job of playing to this Persona and then hoping people underestimate him. And he's a super smart guy because if you look at, at how aggressive he is, he actually just goes for it when you're supposed to go for it based on math. So like he, he knows those numbers.

[Chris Long]

He's the guy that, like, you know, what you see is what you get. But there's also a totally different element to him as you, you just talked about and like, think of who he learned from. Sean Payton's one of the most aggressive guys in the NFL, like faking a punt last week, stuff like that, the super bowl, the onside kick. So he's got that like, Sean Payton edge to him. And he's also got the intellect that comes with. Sean Payton's one of the greatest coaches to ever coach, in my opinion. And, and he's so ball smart. He got all those situational nuggets from him and then he puts his very physical, like, caveman edge on it. And you kind of. I liken a team to a Ferrari with mud tires. Like they're. They can do. They can do anything. You go four wheel drive, they can go 200 miles an hour, and that's what the Ben Johnson element gives them. The offensive line's awesome. Everything they do looks the same. It's all in sync. They're incredible. Yeah, but they could lose two coordinators.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, good point.

[Big Cat]

They could lose two coordinates. All right, so Sunday. What's wrong with Jalen? Hurts. What's wrong with the Eagles offense?

[Chris Long]

Well, in this scenario, I thought it was the game plan. I thought the passing concepts look like last year. And any Eagles fans know what I'm talking about, Zach? Like spacing, very vanilla, not enough quick game. But I also think the game kind of played out in a way where they knew when they jumped on that football and turned it into six in the first five minutes of the game. Jordan Love can't hang. He might be dinged. Our defense is. I mean, they're physical. They're really good. And I think they just kind of played the game out in a way that suited that, to be honest, very shitty game plan right now. They're not going to be so lucky this week if they do that. In my notes here, I got written down. McVeigh's script versus Philly. Slow starts. Yeah, that is it. You know, like, to me, how do you start this game? And I think if you look at the second half, especially that first game, Brandon Fisk is like 290. He's a great player. Love him. Turner. Great player. Love him. 297. The ends, they're really good rushers. I don't know if they can set an edge for 60 minutes. And, you know, we saw that last game with the interior, that. That defensive line. Landon Dickerson, Jurgens. Jurgens is huge, man. You know, he's standing next to the other guys. I was just there last week. He said, next to the other guys. He looks small, but he's like a WWE wrestler. Like, he's got that kind of build. And, you know, the guards are big, powerful. Tackles are big and powerful. I would just lean on these guys.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

So that's it. The concerns I have is, like, with Nicobi Dean down, as I alluded to Stafford in the middle of field. If he's got time, I think there could be some uncomfortable moments in past defense.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Where's your heart at in this game, Chris? This is the. Chris Longbow.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it is.

[PFT Commenter]

The Rams Eagles.

[Chris Long]

My heart's with the. My heart's with the Eagles, man. Super weird, because. Because, you know, playing there the last two years of my career, when St. Louis cut me after eight years and moved, it felt to me like, all right, well, I am a Ram, and I do feel a lot of pride when I watch, like, Jared Verse play or Nico. You're not Nicobi D. I'm all over the place. Or Byron Young or the two interior guys I just talked about. I take pride in, like, oh, there's another group in horns, like our D line back in the day. Like, there is a sense of pride there. There. And I still talk to people in that organization. I have no bad blood. But when the team moves across the country, it's just. It doesn't feel like home as much. You don't get out there. And then Obviously, being a St. Louis Ram, I'm always real cognizant of, like, they have super bowl parties without the game on. That's how much they hate Stan Kroenke and the LA Rams and the concept of it. And for me, I don't. I don't have that same vitriol. But I was actually supposed to go out last week and be legend of the game. And then, of course, the game gets moved. Forest fires, the whole thing. So that got rain checked and then I end up in Philly. When I go to Philly, man, it just feels like home, you know? It's like the most recent thing I did. And that. That city, like, what we did there. Excuse me for really enjoying being there.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it makes sense.

[Chris Long]

It makes perfect walk around that stadium. Bo told a story on our pod this week. We're like, it's legit. Like, the people in the Yellow Jackets are like, wherever you want to go.

[Big Cat]

I don't know.

[Chris Long]

They want to hear that. Like, Dom's like, where do you want to go? Come on. But who? He walked me in the locker room. Supposedly Bo was in there before the game, Sat Bo down in the coach's locker room, gave him a cannoli. He has, like, a stack of cannolis in his locker.

[Big Cat]

Big Dom does.

[PFT Commenter]

That's so awesome.

[Chris Long]

And. And he just pulled out a cannoli. He's like, hey, just you and Kelsey just take a seat. Wait. Chris will be down here soon. So I just. The feeling you get when you go back. It's hard for me to say my heart's with anybody but the Eagles, but I think it's gonna be a great game. And I think Matt Stafford's one of the best quarterbacks left in the damn playoffs.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Future hall of Fame.

[PFT Commenter]

He looked good last week. He looked kind of shaky in December, but. But what we saw last week, like, my concerns with Matt Stafford, I think they're gone. I mean, him playing outside, that's kind of a different story. But yeah, yeah, he looks so good last week that now I'm like, yeah, the Ram. The Rams could do it.

[Chris Long]

They're scary, man. Like, when you. This is the one matchup for them. Like, if they can win this game. Oh, look out. Because the one matchup I worried about for them was versus this offensive line in Saquon.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Okay, quick break from our interview with Chris. Long talk to you about our friends at Doritos with Patrick Mahomes. Help. Doritos just revealed the top three ads that are still in the running to win the Doritos crash the Super Bowl. We played them on last show. Now it is up to the people to choose which creator will win 1 million and have their submission run as Doritos 25th Super bowl ad by voting for their favorite fan made [e-mail] now until January 28th, fans can visit doritoscrash.com and cast their vote for who they think is the winning ad. Will it be Abduction barbershop or charades. 11 days left to vote. Vote for the next super bowl [e-mail] and go get some Doritos. We got the Cool Ranch here. What is this?

[PFT Commenter]

Sriracha.

[Big Cat]

Golden Sriracha. Really good.

[PFT Commenter]

Just tried those. The Cool Ranch. The Goat Chip.

[Big Cat]

The Goat Chip. So go right now. Visit@Doritos crash.com and vote for your favorite ad. And thank you to Doritos. We're gonna eat Doritos every single day because I love Doritos. All right, now here's more. Chris Long. How. How much does. We were talking about it when we're doing our preview that we don't probably take into account cold weather enough when it comes to these playoff games. How much does it really suck and who does it suck most? For?

[Chris Long]

The fast guys, really? I think, you know, I. I like, we got more meat on our bones. And for me, as a guy who was like, like, quick, athletic, but not fast, I always felt like when it got cold, if I could just run the same speed.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And I was as fast as the other guys. And I just think playoff football is better in the cold. Like, I'm one of these outdoor freaks.

[Big Cat]

I agree.

[Chris Long]

Like, you know, I'm watching the Miami Dolphins play, and, you know, it's complicated for me, anyways, in Kansas City last year, and everybody's like, it's inhumane. Like, people getting frostbite. They lost. People lost limbs. I'm like, hey, that was incredible. Yeah, it's just. There's something about it. And, yeah, I'm a little twisted. I played football. But where you see people have to adapt to, like, totally unnatural shit and how they respond. Like, you know, and in some ways, the best team doesn't always win in that circumstance, but that's what it's about in football is, like, reacting to whatever's on the plate that day. And I think it's cool as hell to, like, turn on TV in January and see smoke coming out of people. People's helmets and, you know, to. To see quarterbacks wearing gloves. And, like, I. I do think it affects the. The fast guys more. I think the. I think the big guys like it. And then we always have our conversations about, like, do you wear sleeves? Do you not wear sleeves? That sort of thing.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So is Derrick Henry a big guy, or is he a fast guy?

[Chris Long]

I think he's both.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So that's problem.

[PFT Commenter]

So he.

[Chris Long]

Unfortunately, he's both. I was just looking at Brian Baldinger's social about. About, you know, them running wildcat and it was like all 22 end zone and it was from Pittsburgh side. So he's the furthest guy from the camera, but he's dwarfing Patrick Queen and Landon Roberts. He looks so unnaturally damn big and he doesn't slow down, man. And so, yeah, they got to have 11 hats the ball this weekend.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So the Bills linebackers you talk about, it's a big difference from the first time they played. How do they slow down? Derek Henry, you, you ha.

[Chris Long]

You have to commit to. I mean, it's like, listen, I understand last week, I think part of running Lamar is to put something on tape where you're saying early in the game, hey, we're not always going to give. Like he's going to pull this ball. And that happened at the cost of, you know, eight, ten quarterback runs in the first half. I would force them to pull the ball in the options. You know, when all things are considered like it's 50, 50. There are times where I saw Pittsburgh and their linebackers up on the line. It's really hard to have the quarterback, especially Lamar, from a place on the field like that. You got to be really careful about where you have your second level defenders popping off to handle the option on the pole. I would be crashing on Derek Henry and forcing the key to the entire game to run the ball 15 times. Like, like, you know, the attrition of that, you never know. And so I would force Lamar to run the football. I think obviously you're gonna have to play some bass, but you feel a lot better about it. It wasn't just Milano. They were down Bernard, they were down Taron Johnson, who's a really important box player. He's a little guy, but he'll play big. And so you know, when you, when you run out Spectre, Dorian Williams and Morrow, I think it was to play linebacker against the, the Baltimore Ravens. And the first play of the game is a trap yards. That changes everything. The mood of the game, the tone of the game, how you call the game. It was like Baltimore got whatever they wanted after that. And a lot of it is because they just play the numbers game. If you're going to stack the box, they're going to play the numbers game outside. I think Monkin's done a great job with the RPOs with screens, Jet motion. So it's not just a slugfest. Like you also have to tackle on the perimeter. But if Zay's down and Orlovsky pointed this out on espn, Dan, a guy knows ball.

[Big Cat]

He does.

[Chris Long]

I Love, Dan. Yeah, okay. But he pointed this out. With Zay Flowers down, not only can you play more, man, but the run fits are better off for that. So I, I think this team's changed a lot. And for Baltimore fans, I'll say this is the best team in the playoffs coming in.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And they played fantastic down stretch. They've changed a lot too. You know, Hamilton moving to safety, putting Washington safety, putting the fire out at safety was huge. I think your guy Eddie Jackson was there at some point this year.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And in one of those games it was like, man, the safety play was bad. So they improved that. I think another thing is, you know, that game was one of those games for Buffalo where it became apparent they got to go get an outside guy to pair with Coleman. And so they get out and they get Cooper. They don't really have a number one. I think their number one is Shakira.

[Big Cat]

Agreed.

[Chris Long]

I think he's the most important guy and he left that game in the second quarter. I believe it was. So he didn't get a full day's work. I'm not making excuses for the Bills, but I think even Harbaugh said it like this. You can throw that first matchup out the window. And usually you can. I remember 2018, we're defending the Super Bowl. We played, we started 4 and 6 and we played down in New Orleans. They beat us like, like rent a mules. It was like 47, 7 and Peyton didn't let off the gas pedal. Fucking ran the score up and we play him a second time. It's a low scoring ball game and we're a couple big mistakes away from winning that game and going back to the NFC championship. So things change a lot in three months.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, the so. And I also think Sean McDermott's great defensive coach. Like, I think he will. He will figure out something. A wrinkle to throw at the Ravens. When you are talking about like a wrinkle, so to speak. Let's even go back Week 18, the Vikings and the Lions. It felt like the Lions had a. Something they hadn't shown before. And they did a great job with Sam Darnold. How long. When you go in with a game plan, you're like, we're going to throw something at them that they haven't seen. How long does it usually last where it's like, you know, until it's like, all right now they're going to be able to adjust.

[Chris Long]

Well, if it's one thing, it can be fixed pretty quickly on the sideline. On tablets. And usually that was above my pay grade when I was a player. You know, they were usually arguing about it in the linebacker circle or whatever. It's like this motion means this or hey, they're trying to out leverage us doing this. And you make one adjustment. But I think a lot of the times it can really, that counter punch can knock you off your feet for the entire game or the halftime. I felt like, I felt like Detroit, you brought that up. And the Rams took that same game plan to play Minnesota. And you know, I think when you watch Minnesota, for instance, they knew that like the longer in the down you go, the more dangerous Minnesota is. Your zones expand, they find creases, but they also know that, that as good as Darnold has been statistically against the blitz, this offensive line was in bad shape. And so I think you come into the game and you're worried about protection, but you don't think they're gonna, they're gonna blitz that much. And I think then you go play LA and it's in the back of your head. And this is what makes you know what happened to Minnesota. So like, it wasn't going to change. They knew coming to that game the same thing could happen. And they didn't call their best game, but it still happened.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Chris Long]

And so sometimes it's just like, hey, we got you where we want you and we're going to find out early in the game if you can block the edges. Like the other night there was a sack on Sam in the first quarter where it was like a sandwich.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And both of those ends just fucking ran through the tackle. Tackles, that's like a code red thing, right? And sometimes you don't know how Brian O'Neill's anchor is going to hold up. You don't know how the left tackles anchor is going to hold up. You should have from the first matchup, but yeah, it can really knock you off your feet.

[Big Cat]

That's, that's my favorite. One of my favorite parts about football is like a Sean McDermott can throw a wrinkle in there. You can even steal one possession. Kind of going back to like your, you know, the Commander's Lions game. You can get them off the field once and a half. That could be the difference if you're, if. Especially in this game where it's Josh and Lamar who could score every possession if they, if you know, if they're.

[Chris Long]

Playing well, I think it could be a lower scoring game. I don't know. Like, you know, I think for Buffalo, the key is going to be being able to run the football, obviously. And I think they've done a great job. Both of these teams. You kind of get lost in the shuffle. Talking about Baltimore, who does a great job, obviously, but Buffalo, and shout out to their offensive line coach, Aaron Cromer and that whole group, like. Like, they've done a great job. And they were in a lot of gap scheme last week and just kicked it. If you didn't watch the Denver game, and most of us did, and I was drunk and tailgating watching, but then when I went back, I was like, holy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

It was like. And this is an example, like, oh, early and often in the game, Vance Joseph probably had to contend with, oh, we can't stop the run.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Which puts you in a bind. And I think for Buffalo, what makes them good is I alluded to them not having a number one. They really do. And that's why people were doubting Josh beginning season. He's got a lot of good options, whether it's the tight end, whether it's Shakir, whether it's Coleman, and they're all different. And now you got Cooper. And another thing is the backs out of the backfield. The backside of the backfield can be a problem in this game. So I would look for that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, Shout out. Aaron Cromer punched a kid.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. It's interesting because he doesn't, like, have a true number one, but I look at it like he just doesn't have a receiver. Where everybody is asking, why isn't this guy getting enough targets?

[Big Cat]

Right. So.

[Chris Long]

Which is nice.

[PFT Commenter]

It's good. He's got really good options. Like, Coleman's been pretty good as a rookie. And Shakira, the more I watch Shakir, I'm like, yeah, this guy is a legitimate star. He's awesome.

[Chris Long]

He's awesome. He is awesome. And, you know, when you look at the Ravens, Hamilton is the guy. You got to know where he is. And it's easier now with them moving him to safety primarily, you know where he's going to be. I think this is a game where you could get after Brandon Stevens.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Not to call somebody out, but, like, if you're playing the Ravens, you take your chances outside. Whereas last week with the corners they have, they were like, hey, it's going to be run game. We're working the middle of the field. And that's what Josh did this week is about outside the numbers.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So if you're looking at all the coaches still remaining and we're just talking about, like, during the game X's nose during the game and being a tactician in between the white lines, what's. Who is the best coach that's remaining?

[Chris Long]

Well, I got to give my respect to Andy Reid, number one. Right. And. And part of that is the extension of who you have as your coordinator. He's got Steve Spagnolo, who is a total stud and, you know, has turned down opportunities to go back and interview as a head coach before. So I put andy Reid number one and then number two. I think Sean McVeigh is a wizard. I really do. I think Sean McVeigh Is one of the best coaches of our generation. I think he's that good. And, and I gotta put. I gotta put Dan up there because of his coordinators and his cutting edge kind of decision making in game.

[PFT Commenter]

Dan Quinn. Yeah, I agree.

[Chris Long]

You know, and then. And then I'm not gonna ignore my boy Sirianni. You know, I know that, I know that there's a hook here and I got the Eagles hat on, but you're asking about tacticians, and he doesn't call plays. But I just want to point this out, like, you know, the record is the record. And I think anytime you listen to players talking about his way of communicating, motivating, having a team ready to play, he's had some bumps in the road, but he's also like our age, dude. Like, not, not say McVeigh's not young, but, like, I think he can grow. And he's grown even in this year alone, I think. And hiring Vic Fangio was fantastic. I mean, Vic has been like, you know, you think if you had to take a head coaching job tomorrow, like one of us did, we would probably hire a former head coach to be on the staff somewhere.

[Big Cat]

Right, right.

[Chris Long]

And I think Vic adds a lot in this game and on defensive side of the ball. So I just think it's Reed McVeigh, in that order. And then you. You've got a lot of guys that don't call plays. Harbaugh doesn't call plays. Sirianni doesn't call plays. Dan Quinn's a defensive guy. You know, it's fun to see that defensive guys are back in. In the NFL and, like, culture guys, too, and they're showing up, up this deep into the season.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah, it is. I had a question about coaching because we have the coaching hiring and firing going on right now. When you. You went through a few different coaches with. Yeah. With the Rams. What is it like when you're sitting there waiting for the new coach and like, what. What. What are you hoping for? And. And. And what happens when. When that new coach gets hired and, like, how quickly they can maybe change the culture or maybe they don't.

[Chris Long]

Well, there's two things. Number one, you want, and this isn't the most important thing. Number one thing is winning. Right. But number two thing is, like, what kind of scheme do they run? You know, who's going to be the coordinator? How am I getting along with my new D line coach? Is the scheme going to be prohibitive of me? Like, taking that jump? Like, when I was a young player and watching Spags getting hired, I was really excited, but we weren't good enough to turn that thing around. And the thing I didn't think about was, like, what kind of defense does he run? Like, that's what I should have been thinking about. And that was different. Like, I had to play in a six technique and, you know, like, the defense is a little bit different than the one I played in the year before. And then when Fish came, you know, I'm like, okay, I'm back in a wide nine. This is a lot of fun. You start calling players that played for him, you know, or played for him. You know, if you got somebody in a Rolodex, you hit them up, up. But it's usually like. It's like opening a Christmas present. But you have to do it, like, every week. If you're a St. Louis ramp.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Chris Long]

You know, like, it feels like it happens way too much. But by Jeff Fisher, I was like, hey, whatever happens, happens. And he ended up being, like, my favorite coach that I had in St. Louis. So, you know. Yeah, I think I had a total of, like, five or six head coaches if you include, like, interims and guys that came and went in St. Louis. But, you know, it keeps you hungry if you're on a bad team and the coaches change all the time because you got to prove it to the next group.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, that's true.

[Chris Long]

It makes it harder, but it also keeps you hungry.

[PFT Commenter]

And I feel like we're right at that. That time in the cycle where Spags is starting to go. He's going to get some interviews. People are going to be interested in having Spags as a head coach at some point.

[Chris Long]

I feel like the thing I mentioned, culture, guys, defense, I mean, that's kind of back in vogue, and I think at some point, like, things can get stale. It hasn't with him. I think maybe the day Chris Jones moves on, I would consider it. Yeah, but. But I think the interesting Job right now that we're talking about is Vegas. I texted Dan the other day. It's kind of wild card, but it's starting to shape up a little bit. The fact that y'all. Would y'all send a private plane down to pick him up to come interview in Chicago. Yeah. You know, I don't think it'd be the worst hire in the world. Like, I think. Think court of public opinion has eventually come around on. On McCarthy. There's some guys that are never going to like him, but the players like him. And at the very least, I think they have a high floor with him. Yeah. But what that tells me is that Ben Johnson might not be the guy. And it makes sense because of the. The GM alignment.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

You know, you guys have a GM in place. Like, Ben has made it, and Ben's done a really good job. Sometimes you can make yourself really valuable, not just by your play calling, but. But turning down the job last year, it adds a little bit of mystique. Right. Like, you're like, I don't put out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right, right. Everyone wants you a little more, but you're exactly right. Like, this is going to be a very interesting test case because if he takes the Raiders job without a. Seemingly without a quarterback, turns down the Jaguars and the Bears, he's basically saying, like, you guys should have fired your gm, Brady. Yeah. And you should. And you should have fired your gm. You should have given me a shot to bring in my own gm. Like, that was stupid of you.

[Chris Long]

And hopefully you're not kicking yourself because, you know, if he's like, as good as people say he's going to be like, then maybe you are. But I think what's interesting about the Vegas job is, like, Mark Davis is not, like, known to be a cash fluid guy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And I hate to talk about me and PFT's good buddy, good friend that we met at the win.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

By the koi pond.

[PFT Commenter]

I was so high on mushrooms.

[Chris Long]

I was, I was, hey, we had just come from. I don't know where we had come from, but. But I was like, there he is. Let's talk to him. But. But there is a rumor that he's floated like a really big number. And if he did that, what a burn the ships, like, move that would be, especially considering all the. The coaches that he's had to buy out. And, you know, I think the Tom Brady effect is real for Ben Johnson. He must really think, like, this is a valuable thing and he must have been given some assurances along with the fact they, they fired Tom Tesco, the gm last week. Week, you know, I think that bodes well for Vegas. But, you know, the most interesting thing is this weekend, Tom's gonna be calling that game.

[Big Cat]

I know.

[Chris Long]

It's gonna be so funny to hear him try not to talk bad or, you know, like, just listen for the dynamic as the game goes on.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It's interesting. Big Cat's never said a bad thing about Mike McCarthy before, so I think he's never, he's totally cool.

[Chris Long]

You'll be fine.

[PFT Commenter]

He'll be good.

[Big Cat]

How do we, how do we feel about.

[Chris Long]

I, you remember we talked, talked midway through the season and, you know, you were getting excited off the Jacksonville game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And I tried to bring you back down. I think he's going to be okay, man. I, I like the kid.

[Big Cat]

It was the way I'd say it is. Like, you can't script a worse set of circumstances. And that, that obviously makes me look stupid because I said it was the best set of circumstances, which I'm a moron. But I would, you know, next year will be very telling because it, you, I mean, like, he literally went through three OCs. A head coach change.

[Chris Long]

You.

[Big Cat]

The, the head, the interim was his OC for three games. He looked good, so it was a mess. Hopefully. Hopefully the answering gets figured out.

[Chris Long]

Dude, I, I, I was impressed with him this year. As bad as things were and as bad as he played at times. Like, I was impressed with his mentality. I was impressed with his toughness. I was impressed with his, his, his just his, like, leadership. It looked like for a young player, like, just the fire in his belly, like when things are going wrong to, to give a shit.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

Like the winning that game at the end of the season, like, means nothing. But that meant a lot to him, Right?

[Big Cat]

Absolutely.

[Chris Long]

And so, you know, I, I look forward to seeing him with somebody competent and, you know, we got to work on, like, maybe not answering every phone call.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

Uhhuh.

[Big Cat]

Yep. That was unfortunate. That was very unfortunate.

[PFT Commenter]

I also think he played that off pretty well. Exactly. Like, that was a good response to. It rolled with the punches. I, I've been telling Big cat that Mike McCarthy I want to see it just because it's very funny, considering everything Big Cat said in the past about Mike McCarthy.

[Chris Long]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

To have him now be the head coach.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

That's an interesting dynamic.

[Chris Long]

But I, I, when you get him on.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I'm read them all. I'm going to read all the tweets. Yeah, I'll read all the tweets.

[PFT Commenter]

But the more I think about it, it is a safe choice. And when you look at his history, he's probably going to make you pretty good team. But Caleb, in my opinion, physically has the tools to be special, like an incredible quarterback. Mike McCarthy, if you're looking at him as like a high floor play. Yeah, I. I don't know. I think you can do better. I think that if you really want to maximize what could be a great quarterback, like one of the best, if not the best, in the history of your franchise, you kind of should take a shot at that.

[Big Cat]

Ben Johnson.

[Chris Long]

Who would be. Who would be the high floor plan to put y'all on the spot? I know Ben Johnson, but how do we know.

[Big Cat]

I think.

[PFT Commenter]

I think McCarthy is. Is going to be good. I don't know if he's going to be great.

[Big Cat]

Ben Johnson's a swing for the fences. Yeah, it could obviously swing for the.

[Chris Long]

Fences, but there's also like, hey, see, we have to build that offensive line that you're two running backs have been running behind. And Jared Goff's actually pretty good.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, no, he is. And it's. You're right. Like, you don't get Ben Johnson's offensive line. When you get Ben Johnson, that's a pretty big deal.

[Chris Long]

Can he bring the guy with him?

[Big Cat]

Right, right. That's a pretty big, like, stark.

[Chris Long]

What about, like some wild card?

[Big Cat]

Todd Monkin? I like Todd Monkin. I don't know. I mean, there's some names out there. It's McCarthy.

[Chris Long]

Oh, my God.

[Big Cat]

I mean, they interviewed Matt Campbell. All right, I got one last question for you, Chris. It' awesome. Everyone, like I said, go, go listen to Chris's podcast. Greenlight Podcast. They do a great job. Roback.com r h o b a-k.com promo code take 20 off your first purchase. Q, Zips, polos, hoodies, joggers, shorts. I got new hoodies that are super comfortable.

[Chris Long]

Great company not to step on the ad read.

[Big Cat]

Great company. All right. Putting you on the spot. Favorite bet of the weekend.

[Chris Long]

Ooh, favorite bet of the weekend. Geez. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Favorite bet of the weekend.

[Chris Long]

Golly, I am on the spot, huh?

[Big Cat]

I'm going to bet it.

[Chris Long]

Please, Don.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Favorite bet of the weekend.

[Chris Long]

I went like 55 and 31. Picking five a week this week or this year or whatever it was. And I want one in four last week.

[PFT Commenter]

So playoffs. Different. Different games.

[Chris Long]

Can you read me the lines at this point?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, the. The. The Chiefs are seven point favorite or eight and a half Point favors. Excuse me? Me. The Lions are nine and a half point favorites, the Bills are one and a half point underdogs, and the Eagles are six point favorites.

[Chris Long]

That's a lot of points in Philly.

[Big Cat]

I know, but you want to do it.

[Chris Long]

What's the first half Rams line? I mean, I'm not gonna say it. I'm not gonna say anything about Philly and the Rams.

[PFT Commenter]

We can connect the dots based on what you've already.

[Chris Long]

You know, I'm inevitably gonna bet Buffalo. Like. Yeah, you're gonna do it anyways. Why don't we just do it?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Plus one and a half at home.

[Chris Long]

Just. We're gonna bet Buffalo.

[Big Cat]

I am. I know that game's gonna come around because I've said it. Like, I have no idea who's gonna win, but I know when the game is about to kick off, I'm like, yeah, it. Let's go, Buffalo.

[Chris Long]

Or you could tease the Buffalo Bills.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[Chris Long]

With the Eagles. Philadelphia Eagles.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I like that one, too.

[PFT Commenter]

Or.

[Chris Long]

And then. Yeah. Close to the heart, you know. Yeah, on both. On both things.

[PFT Commenter]

So I like teasing them with the Chiefs because I feel like Chiefs. You tell me that they win by one point or one and a half points. That feels like a pretty good chance to take.

[Chris Long]

Yeah, it does feel good, but it's not. It would make it so not fun if, like, you're like, trying to celebrate, like, seeing an upset.

[PFT Commenter]

Right.

[Chris Long]

And you know that's. That's the biggest enemy I have betting during the playoffs.

[Big Cat]

Right. Yeah.

[Chris Long]

I always love seeing the dog.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. You don't want the guy. You don't want to be the guy who took the. The one seed against a 16. And then like a UMBC happens.

[PFT Commenter]

I did that.

[Chris Long]

Yes. And then you can't even. Well, you. You want a title the next year.

[Big Cat]

It doesn't matter.

[PFT Commenter]

You bet against.

[Chris Long]

Gone.

[Big Cat]

I know, I know.

[PFT Commenter]

You bet against umbc.

[Chris Long]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

What's the big deal?

[Big Cat]

But I was at.

[Chris Long]

I was at a wedding that weekend and it was in. It was like a Baltimore wedding, and there were like 10 UMBC people. @ least that's how that's got to.

[Big Cat]

Be the most UMBC people in one room ever.

[Chris Long]

In one room. Room ever. And they just happen to be, like, at this wedding. And I'll never forget, like, waking up so hungover the next day and all the people that. That gave me the. Like, hey, you know, tonight on the way in, they. Oh, they didn't even mean it.

[Big Cat]

Oh.

[Chris Long]

And they were right.

[Big Cat]

Oh, that's brutal.

[PFT Commenter]

I like C.J. stroud over 14 and a half rushing yards.

[Big Cat]

I like that as well.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

You know what? Hey, Shameless plug. You could check it out on. On our show. I'll have my together by then.

[Big Cat]

Love it.

[Chris Long]

Gambling.

[Big Cat]

Love it.

[Chris Long]

Because I. Because I, I. It's too early in the week.

[Big Cat]

Okay. So, yeah, check it out.

[Chris Long]

Out Sharps. We wait.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

You know, I've loved watching you on tv, Chris. You've been very good on tv. You've worked with. With Coach Belichick. What's that been like behind the scenes?

[Chris Long]

Dude, he is the funniest ever. I mean, he has the advantage of, like, surprise because, you know, you don't think of him that way. And even having been coached by him, I knew he was funny in his own dry kind of way. But, like, the production meetings in the morning, my face hurts from smiling.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Chris Long]

And it's also. He's like. He's like a football dad. Like, you just want to follow him around and ask him questions. He's been fun, man, you know? And they took the UNC job. The morning he took the UNC job, we were all like. He walks in the production meeting, we're like, coach, oh, you know, I'm playing the UNC fight song. And he sits down. He's like, you believe everything you hear in the media. And then 4 o'clock that day when we all leave, he takes the UNC job.

[Big Cat]

So good.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, he hasn't signed the contract.

[Big Cat]

Has not.

[Chris Long]

He's a steel trap, dude. Oh, what?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, Technically.

[Big Cat]

Signed the contract.

[Chris Long]

Well, you know, he likes. He likes to make things interesting.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, always. All right, well, Chris, you're the best. We'll see in New Orleans, man. Thank you so much, dude.

[Chris Long]

Can't wait. Let's get after it, man.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

We'll have a good time. Part of my take is sponsored by BetterHelp. Every year, January brings you 365 blank pages waiting to be filled. Build in 2025. Maybe you're ready for a plot twist. Or maybe there's a part of your story that you've been wanting to revise. Life isn't about resolutions that fade by February. It's about picking up the pen and becoming the author of your own life. Think of therapy as your editorial partner. It helps you write new chapters and creates the meaningful story that you deserve to live. I've personally experienced growth through therapy in the past. It's helped me get through periods of loss in my life and helped me focus on what's important for me and things I need to prioritize when things get too heavy tactic. I've really benefited and enjoyed going to therapy. I think a lot of people out there could also benefit from it. Better Help is fully online, making therapy affordable and convenient and serving over 5 million people worldwide. You can access a diverse network of more than 30, 000 credentialed therapists with a wide range of specialties. Write your own story with Better Help. Visit betterhelp.compmt today to get 10 off your first month. That's BetterHelp Help. Chris Long is also brought to you by our great friends at UberEats. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes you want to eat this football season. UberEats has the best deals on game day food no matter what you're craving. From two for one pizza. To buy one get one wings. UberEats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. UberEats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL, order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See the app for details. And now here's Adam Schefter.

[Big Cat]

Okay. We now welcome on our very, very good friend Adam Schefter. He's ESPN Insider. Now I just want everyone to know that this is not going to cover our yearly combine tradition where we just go backwards into the entire year of tweets and stories. This is solely because we need to know what the heck is going on with the NFL coaches hiring, firing, where everyone's going. And I think we have to start in the most intriguing spot and that's the Dallas Cowboys. And what let me start with this. How close was Mike McCarthy to staying and how did that all fall apart like, you know, in the last couple of days?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, before we get to Mike McCarthy and falling apart first, I'll have to say say that one of the coolest things of my career so far has been to watch my daughter on the Nickelodeon broadcast.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[Adam Schefter]

Introduce you guys and make you a part of the of bikini. Bikini bottom.

[Chris Long]

Right.

[Adam Schefter]

That was pretty cool.

[Big Cat]

It technically wasn't us. It was big catfish and PF Manatee.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. She did a great job though. I appreciate that. She introduced us before she introduced LeBron James. Yeah, I thought that was the correct order.

[Big Cat]

I should have started with that. You're absolutely right. She, she did it. She did a fantastic job. And that was. We were the Leo meme. We were explaining we were watching it because we had the main TV was the main broadcast and one of the side TVs, Nickelodeon and PFT and I both just looked up, we're like, what the heck? And she crushed it.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah, well, you know, the funny thing is, is that was the first game that she's done. She's done four or five games that I haven't been right there with her. I had to be in Bristol on Sunday morning for Sunday Countdown. And I tried to figure out all these ways to get to Houston. And there are no late flights out, no early morning flights out. And so my son took her. And so I'm sitting there at home like a regular viewer watching her, and she pops on the screen. I think her first hit, our very first hit that day was you guys kind of showing you guys at the game. So I hope you guys enjoyed the.

[Big Cat]

Oh, we loved it.

[Adam Schefter]

Bikini Bottom.

[PFT Commenter]

And she did a great job. You must have been a very proud dad.

[Big Cat]

Yes, yes.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, and the great part was I'm sitting with my wife and I know that she's going to do the post game interview. And I said, yeah, we'll see. What is. I don't think it'll be Joe Mixon because I just don't think they're going to do it. And they said, let's go down to Dylan Schefter standing by with Joe. I'm like, they did it, they did it. Joe Mixon uses the word ass in hell.

[Big Cat]

Very funny. All right, so cowboys, give it to us. What, what happened with Mike McCarthy and then are they going to actually hire Dion?

[Adam Schefter]

I first of all, I know a lot of people felt like Mike was going to be back, including myself at one point, like, okay, the players are coming out and supporting him. Jerry's coming out and supporting him. He wants to be like, it was going that way. But it's one of those things where I guess it's like a couple dating. Well, yeah, they're going to get married. They're going to get married. They're going to. Except the guy never gives, gives up the ring. And after a while, at some point in time, the woman's like, you know what? Either you're going to give me the ring or I'm moving on. And I think they sat down, they went over football stuff all week long, and it became apparent that Jerry wasn't committing long term. They never, ever got into negotiations. They're moving forward with insights and observations about the football team. Now, was there something that was said or done in those few days between the end of the season till the time where both sides said that they parted? Were Going their own ways. I. I don't think there was. I just think it became apparent over the course of those conversations that the Cowboys weren't entering into negotiations. Like, okay, at what point do you realize, like, wow, he's eligible to talk to teams? Tuesday at midnight, and there's been zero negotiating. Like, we're going to wait till midnight on Tuesday before you realize he's not going to be back as the Dallas Cowboys coach or what?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

And I just think it went in that direction and to the point where both sides knew that was the way it was going to go. And then they memorialized it, made it.

[PFT Commenter]

Official, because when they blocked him from doing other interviews, it felt like that's a move that you would make if you were progressing towards a new contract. Right, Right.

[Adam Schefter]

Yes, yes. But. But here's the thing. I think sometimes you're trying to explain actions that aren't so easily explained with certain people. And also, they knew that it wasn't like they were denying him the right to go take the Bears job. Right. Because in person, injuries can't even occur until after the divisional playoff round. The Bears have been all over the map, and if Mike McCarthy is going to talk to the Bears, he's gonna be able to do it next week. Whether there's. It then or now, I almost feel like it's like, again, to use that dating analogy, you know, okay, the girl wants you to propose, you're not proposing, well, can I go out with, no, you can't, but now a week later, you can. It applies there, too. And so I just think that in the end, ultimately, that's what they decided to do. Each side went its own way, and when they said no, you didn't know whether that meant that they were going to try to get something done or whether they were just kind of being Dallas. And that's what they were doing, being Dallas.

[Big Cat]

So who's who? If you had to handicap three. Three. Three names that you could see going to Dallas, who is it? And is. We're all just intrigued about the. The Dion part.

[Adam Schefter]

Of course, everybody is right. And I think that, again, we're going to hear other names come up, but I think, like, Kellen Moore is a logical name because he fits there, knows how it works, can do the job on Jerry's terms. Wouldn't cost what it would cost to hire Mike Vrabel. It fits in so many ways. But then you also have the allure of a guy like Deion Sanders, and it's not like Jerry. I don't think has to interview Deon. He knows Deon, and Deon knows him. Although you'd want to hear. Hear his ideas for the program and what he would be thinking going forward. And. And so, look, I think Jerry changes mind a couple of times on McCarthy going along this, and I think it's possible, probably likely that he, like other teams, you go through this process and you think, you know what? I think I kind of like this guy. And then you talk to this guy. Well, I like that guy. And then this guy makes up ground. So it's. It's hard to forecast exactly how it's going to come out. I would just say, like Helen Moore, square and contention. Deion Sanders. If that's the way Jerry wants to go, square and contention, could we get a guy like Leslie Frazier or Jason Whitten come. Yes. I. It's possible, but I. I think that Kellen Moore is the logical name, and Deion Sanders is the really fun, intriguing name.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

Seagulls, they go.

[PFT Commenter]

It's like the two. The two Angel. The angel and the Demon on Jerry Jones's shoulder. The Splash hire is always going to be in Jerry's mind. He's like, you know, Dion, instant excitement for the Dallas Cowboys. Good for the brand. Kellen Moore makes the most sense.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, but, but. No, but. Pfd. The Splash hire may be the logical hire here. Yeah, the logical hire here. We, you know, we just. I. Dion has got something of the Midas touch. He's. He's. He's incredible around people. I. You know, I think he'd be great. I really do. I. And in fact, again, I said this on get up this morning, but I go back to this call that I got in October of 2023. GM calls me up and he's like, hey, write this down. The next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys is going to be Deion Sanders. I'm like, really? He's like, take it to the bank. I'm like, okay. Why do you say Jerry loves him? He loves Jerry. It's going to happen. Will it happen? I. We're all waiting to see. It'd be unbelievable for everybody. Be great for the Cowboys. Be great for Dion. Be great for shows like yours and this.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, big time.

[PFT Commenter]

Do you think that Dion would. Would want his son to play for the Cowboys if he was going to be the head coach?

[Adam Schefter]

I don't view that as a viable option right now. That doesn't mean that at a later date that that couldn't happen. But first of all, Dak Prescott's got a no trade clause in his contract. He's the highest paid player in football. They just paid him. Like it's not practical to move off Dak. And I don't think they're thinking of moving. They want Dak to be there. And by the way, like, are the Titans who have the number one pick where you potentially would have to be to take Shador, are they going to go trade that pick for Dak? The highest? I don't know about that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

And just it's. To me, that's more fantasy football. I know, I know. Deanna's talked about the fact that he'd want to be with his son. Well, okay, but that would be ideal, but it's not practical right now unless the Titans wanted to do something. So I think it's more along the lines of he's got great respect and affection for Jerry Jones and it's the Dallas Cowboys. And. And I don't know if he still has his house. I still think he does. He's had a house in that area.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah, it was the franchise. Like, I mean, it's a no brainer. So that, that's one that I think could get him to change his mind.

[Big Cat]

Okay, so other, other spots. Are the Bears going to lose out on Ben Johnson? It feels like there was a lot of momentum of Ben Johnson in Chicago and now all the momentum has switched and it's Raiders for Ben Johnson and Mike McCarthy for the Bears. Is that fair? Where is it, where's it at?

[Adam Schefter]

I would just say this, that there's a lot of Ben Johnson, Raiders talk. Right. A lot of conversation about that. Right. And that may happen like it could, but I don't think the Jaguars should be dismissed and I don't think the Chicago Bears should be dismissed.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Adam Schefter]

I really believe. Belief that all of them have something of an equal opportunity. I don't believe there's one ahead of the other. And I think there are three potential options and we're going to see how that goes.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And what is it with Ben Johnson? Is it. Is it he wants the most money? Is it, you know, obviously the two, the two out of the three of those have quarterbacks that you would think, you know, Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence. The third has Tom Brady as part of partial owner. What do you think he prioritizes?

[Adam Schefter]

I think when you're going through one of these job searches, it becomes obvious to you and apparent to you over time who wants you most. And I don't mean in the form of money. You guys have been through this yourselves in your life. Just think back to people who have wanted you and how that became evident to you. And I think that Ben Johnson is going to be in a situation here, here where I believe he's going to be open to any one of these situations. And the landing spot will make itself apparent and evident to him over time through the conversations that either he or his agent have with that particular team. There are drawbacks, questions. With each one of those openings, he's going to have to get sufficient answers before he proceeds forward. There's not going to be a perfect spot, but there's going to be a good spot in the end. And it's up to him to pick really the best of the that are out there that are after him. And. And I think, I really believe right now he doesn't know what that will be.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

But again, it will over time materialize and become clear. You know what? Boy, this, this team's. This team is doing what I want in the front office. This team is handling this the way they're going to structure this, the way they're saying they're going to. This team's giving me more years. This team's giving me more money. This team is saying, come do that. Like, these things become apparent to you over time. And I believe the same will be true here of Ben Johnson. And I don't believe there is a favorite right now. Now. I really don't.

[Big Cat]

Okay, Okay, I like that.

[PFT Commenter]

What kind of questions? Maybe not in the. The sense of the Ben Johnson interviews, but if it's a coach that is not seen as, you know, someone who gets to pick their destination, what kind of questions are asked to a coach, prospective coach, during an interview for the head job?

[Adam Schefter]

You know, I've never been a part of the process, so I don't exactly know, but I know that a lot of that time is spent going over staffing and their visions for the team. And, and if you're a team like the Jets, I'm sure they're asking, okay, if you come in as the head coach, the gm, what are we doing at quarterback? Like, they want to know their plans. And by the way, the jets have asked for permission from basically every candidate out there except for Robert Sala, which at this point in time, I wouldn't be surprised if they turn in commission for him at this point. But I'd want to know the ideas of everybody, like, what are you doing? What do you think that we should do at quarterback?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

Because somebody may have an idea that you hadn't thought of that can help you at that spot. So I've never been a, I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of these head coaching processes. It would be fascinating to see. And again, just like, just like we're talking about the team over time distinguishing itself and becoming obvious to a guy like Ben Johnson. I believe the same is true in turn where a candidate, it distinguishes himself over time and makes it such that that team believes that that guy is the right guy to go get.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

We'll get back to Adam Schefter in a second. He's brought to you by Kevin's Natural Foods. I've got their General so's Chicken right here. One of my favorite meals in the entire world. I love General so's Chicken. And Kevin's Natural Foods makes an awesome General so's Chicken. And it only takes seven minutes to prepare. It's easy, it's healthy and it's super, super tasty. Kevin's Natural Foods is the perfect alternative to takeout. It's just as tasty, but it's faster and it's healthier. The stir fry kit includes the meat. It's got the veggies in there. It's very, very easy to make. Again, seven minutes to make General tso's Chicken. Their heat neat entrees and stir fry kits are packed with protein and they're ready in under 10 minutes. Kevin's has paleo and keto certified options, so there's something for any lifestyle style. If you're big on taste and convenience, Kevin's is a no brainer. You can find Kevin's Natural Foods in the refrigerated section at your local grocery store. The general shows is delicious. This is the best meal that you can make yourself at home and it's so fast, so tasty, so easy and it's healthy. All right, now here's more. Adam Schefter, we saw Rex Ryan. Your colleague has, has distinguished himself a lot on the airwaves. Is he, is that, is that going to happen or is that ship sailed?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, I don't think the ship is sailed. Listen, Rex is so passionate and so confident and he's so unique. And you know, I love working with the guy so much. I'd love to see him give the chance. I, I told the story to somebody. I'm like, I'm sitting at the kitchen table and the local news comes out and they say, and Rex Ryan's interviewing for the jets today. And you know, my wife and daughter, they don't know Anything about football, like, where Rex Ryan, like, didn't he coach there 10 years ago? I'm like, yeah. They're like, didn't they fire him? Yeah. Well, why are they talking to him now? I said, well, they haven't been back to an AFC championship game since they fired him. Yeah, yeah, right. So Rex knows what's worked in New York, what succeeded. I would never. I would never underestimate Rex. I'm personally rooting for the guy. But let's see how the process plays itself. I think. I mean, I think a guy like Aaron Glenn. Glenn is a favorite in New York, and I believe Aaron Glenn is absolutely going to get one of these head coaching jobs, whether it's in New York or New Orleans. So if it happens to be in New York, well, that knocks Rex out of the jets and he doesn't get the job. Then if it doesn't happen with Aaron Glenn, does Rex come into play? He's got a lot of friends, a lot of relationships there. And. And. And I'd love to see it, although I hate to lose him from ESPN because he's so great. Great to work with, but we'll see how it all plays out.

[Big Cat]

Is there. I want to go back to the Cowboys real quick. Is there anything to do with Belichick still possibly looking at the Cowboys?

[Adam Schefter]

I know people keep bringing this up. Yeah, I know it is. Lingering out there. I just don't see it. I just don't see it. Like, I mean, I'm going to take Bill at his word. He said, we didn't come to North Carolina to leave North Carolina. We came here to be here. He said all kinds of things along those lines. He's in high schools every single day. I don't care that his contract isn't formally signed. I don't care that he's connected to. Here's my question, a better one. Let's do it in basic common sense. Give me a place right now where you believe he fits naturally, as a head coach. Coach. Go through the openings, and I could blow up every one of those places for a different reason. Like, there's not even a logical fit for him out there right now.

[PFT Commenter]

Possibly the Raiders with Tom Brady.

[Adam Schefter]

No, don't see it.

[Big Cat]

The Cowboys, the only one that comes.

[Adam Schefter]

To mind for me, by the way, I understand why people would say that. I don't see it. I think Bill obviously had to be aware that that job could open. Like, he's not an idiot. Everybody knew that McCarthy was in the last year. I'm sure that a Close look was taken at that situation. For whatever reason, he took the North Carolina job. I just don't see a fit for him with these current openings anywhere.

[PFT Commenter]

For me, that's one of the things that I was looking at when the story came out. I think it was Jonathan Jones reported that he has not signed his contract contract officially at UNC yet. I don't know how common that is. I don't know if it's. If it's one of these things where coaches frequently get to work before signing on the dotted line. I know he signed a term sheet which is different and it's not legally binding to him. But I mean, Bill has signed a napkin before and said this is legally binding.

[Adam Schefter]

Right. The way it's been explained to me is they have an offer sheet agreement which is common as the state of North Carolina works out out the details. It's a process there to get a deal finalized. There isn't a gray area, but they have an offer sheet agreement which is common in that state right now.

[Big Cat]

Got it, got it.

[PFT Commenter]

So who would be a good fit for the Raiders?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, Ben Johnson, I believe they're definitely interested in, you know, whether or not see that remains very much in question. And then if they don't get Ben Johnson, what do they then do? That's where I think it gets really interesting. Interesting. Who is their next choice? I don't have an answer for you right now. Like again, they haven't met face to face with a lot of these candidates.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

We could just throw people up at certain spots and talk about it, but I don't know how much that makes sense right now.

[Big Cat]

It feels like there's maybe too many teams and I count myself as part of this who are just banking on like, well, we'll get Ben Johnson.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, let me say this. I. I believe that Ben Johnson is the big domino here.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

And so I think the Raiders are waiting to see what happens with Ben Johnson. I think the Bears are waiting to see what happens. I think the Jaguars are waiting to see. So right then and there, the process is slowed down. Then we have the NFL and its clunky process slowing it down even more to where no face to face interviews are even allowed with coaches under contracts at teams until after this upcoming weekend division. So that slows it down. I mean, you know, again, it's great to talk about and wonder about and speculate, but this is still really early in the process.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

And there's a lot that's going to play out and a lot that's still going to change.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Let me ask you this. Is there a possibility that Ben Johnson does what he did last season and just says, I want to be a line?

[Adam Schefter]

I don't say it this year. Year. I don't see it. Ben Johnson has turned down two years of opportunities. And I don't care who you are in this league, at some point you have to take the plunge. The money is too great, the opportunities are too great. You can't keep turning down jobs year after year. And again, the Lions might be this good again next year. They might be, but this is the NFL. They might not. And if they're not and he doesn't take one, well, all of a sudden you're on your coordinator salary as opposed to a head coaching salary of anywhere between, I don't know, 10, 11, $12 million a year. There's just too much money to turn it down again. I don't believe it's going to happen. I believe he's taking a head coaching job this year.

[PFT Commenter]

You think maybe, maybe Glenn and Ben Johnson a little bit too focused on doing outside interviews, maybe taking their eye off the ball this weekend?

[Adam Schefter]

You have agents, though. That's why you have agents to go over that and gather all the information and find out the answers to the questions while you're coaching the game. Like, that's an agent's job. And he presents everything to you, boiled down so that you can then sit down with your wife and figure out what's best before you're going into.

[PFT Commenter]

He.

[Adam Schefter]

He has an idea of all. Like, we're not oblivious to this. He knows what each organization is about. And by the way, yes, he's getting ready to coach in an incredibly important postseason where the Lions can make history and have an unbelievable, memorable run for that city. But. But he's a human being. He also is aware that there is a career altering option in front of him. So of course there's going to be some thought given to that.

[Big Cat]

Is it. Is the NFL going to do anything about Tom Brady being an owner of the Raiders and calling that game this weekend and then. And then being able to interview Ben Jones, Johnson before.

[Adam Schefter]

You know, here's what I say to that. Honestly, like, Tom Brady has spoken to Ben Johnson. He'll go through this in the interview. Do you think he's going to sit down there this weekend? Well, Ben's getting ready for the biggest game of the season and be like, if you come to Vegas, here's what we're going to do. And what do you like, Tom Brady is A professional. Ben Johnson is a professional. They're not doing that this weekend. I know there are sensitive people, but I think you have to be practical about it. What are we talking about?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And it also feels like. I assume I've never been in one of those big production meetings, but aren't there like. Like 10 people in there?

[Adam Schefter]

Correct?

[Big Cat]

It would be correct.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

It'll be time for the.

[Adam Schefter]

It'll be Kevin Burkhart. It'll be all the producers, the directors, Aaron Andrews, Tom are like, they're all around there.

[Big Cat]

So if he does it, we'll find out there will be a leak. Now, if he actually does that. Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

They wanted me for a glass of wine later to like. Do you really think they need to do that? What are they going to go over there that they haven't before or couldn't in the future? What do they have to do at that moment that has to get done the night before the Commanders play the Lions? Like, come on.

[PFT Commenter]

Maybe Tom just flashes him that winning smile and charms him with his eyes.

[Big Cat]

I was getting nervous about it. Yeah, I was. Because I think the Bears are going to end up losing out on Ben Johnson and get Mike McCarthy, which they'll be fun.

[Adam Schefter]

I'll just say this big cat.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

I don't know how it's going to go yet, but here's what I would say. He may not be a Bear. Absolutely. That's possible. But I would just say right now, at this stage of the process, right now, don't lose the faith.

[Big Cat]

Okay, I like that. All right, so, Chef D, I got one last question for you. This has been awesome. Again, we're going to do it. We'll do our full sit down in Indy, which we always love go through.

[Adam Schefter]

Did anything happen this year that there is to go over? I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, we'll find two things.

[Big Cat]

Stuff. We got some stuff. Some beefs. Rollback question. R H O B A C K.com promo code. Take 20% off your first purchase. Q, Zips, Polos, Hoodies, Joggers, Shorts. Roback.com promo code take. Please tell me that the NFL is not going to change how the seating works. Because one season The Vikings won 14 games and had to play on the road.

[Adam Schefter]

It's never happened before. I don't see them changing it anytime in the future. The league is always looking at ways to. To innovate and improve. But I've heard this complaint. Remember the year where the Seahawks won the division with a horrible record? It was like 500. And then the Saints had a much better record and had to go to Seattle for the opening wild card game. And that turned out to be the Beast Quake game where Marshawn lynch had one of the most memorable runs in NFL history. And the sound level in that stadium match, a new world record. The league is intent upon rewarding division winners. I, I don't see that changing anytime soon.

[Big Cat]

Okay, good, good, good.

[PFT Commenter]

Division should matter.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[Adam Schefter]

Now, now, now. Could the league, nobody said this, but we're just talking out loud. Logically, could they then say, okay, we're going to have the division winners post games and then after that we'll recede? I, I don't know. Does that even make sense? I, maybe, I don't know. But I've never heard any momentum or movement to change the way the playoff seating system works.

[Big Cat]

Okay, perfect. That's what I wanted to hear. I appreciate that response.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep, that's the correct response.

[Big Cat]

All right. Well, Shefty, you're the best. We'll see in. Maybe we'll see in New Orleans, but we'll also see.

[Adam Schefter]

Hold on. How nervous is PFT about Saturday night?

[PFT Commenter]

I'm nervous. I think the Lions have a great team, but they don't have Jaden Daniels.

[Adam Schefter]

They don't, period.

[PFT Commenter]

That's how I feel about it. Like, if we can keep it within, if it's a one score game in the fourth quarter, I think that Jaden Daniels will go out there and do something special and win the game.

[Adam Schefter]

That's where he's most dangerous, right? Six comebacks in the final 10 seconds of games this year. No rookie quarterback ever has done that. He's become like a modern day Joe Montana, John Elway with the ability to improvise and run around. Guy's been incredible and one person there said he covers up for a lot of our sins.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, yes, he certainly does. On that note, Cliff Kingsbury, is he going to get a job offer, do you think? And would he accept a head coaching position? Because he said, you know, when he left the Cardinals, like, maybe it's a good thing that I'm not a head coach. You know, that's a lot of stress that he dealt with. Do you think he's going to get an offer and would he accept.

[Adam Schefter]

Let me start by saying this. If I'm Cliff Kingsbury and I'm happy, right, I'm in no rush to leave Jaden Daniels. I know I've got arguably the best young player in football on my roster. And so if something materialized and it was ideal and it was great, sure I don't know that he's looking to rush back into that world. Right. I think he's still being paid by Arizona. He doesn't have to. It's not going to impact his bottom line, and there's a lot of stress on that. I don't know that he's going to get one. I don't know that he really wants one. I don't know that he cares about one. I think he cares about playing the Lions right now, and we'll see how that process plays itself out. Like I said to me, Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn getting two of the six openings. Now we're down to four openings. You can go try to figure out who those other four guys are going to be that are going to fill up those head coaching jobs. One of them is Dallas wild card hard. We'll see how Jerry Jones thinks. Now we're down to three. So we got Brian Flores, we got Joe Brady, we got Liam Cohn, we got Todd.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

There are a lot of guys. And. And again, these guys are under contract. They haven't even met with these teams yet in person.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Adam Schefter]

Hard to say how that's going to go.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. All right, well, Shefty, you're the best. We'll see you soon. We really appreciate it. And tell you, tell your daughter congrats on a great broadcast and thank you for. For giving us the respect we deserve going in front of LeBron James in fish form.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[Adam Schefter]

That had. That had to be a career highlight. Like, I've never been called out on a. On a bikini bottom. Slime. Slime.

[PFT Commenter]

It was great. Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

That's big time. That, that. That. I know you guys have done a lot, but that's when you know you really.

[Big Cat]

Yes, absolutely. All right, thanks so much, chef.

[Adam Schefter]

Thanks, guys. See you soon.

[PFT Commenter]

Thank you. Good to see you.

[Big Cat]

Okay, let's wrap up. We got fire fest of the week. Henry. Yes. Yeah. Give it to us.

[Hank]

Yeah. Good friend, longtime colleague, coworker, collaborator, brother, PFT commenter who's in the room with us right now. He's. He's trying to spin a false narrative against me and you. Kind of big cat that. That we don't like V. That you don't exist.

[Big Cat]

Oh, yeah.

[Hank]

And it's I love V. I love V. Love V. Remove the content context from the conversation.

[Big Cat]

He did. And he basically just going around saying, these guys are gay.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I did.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I didn't say that. Oh.

[PFT Commenter]

Because I.

[Hank]

In the moment, leading a gay witch hunt.

[PFT Commenter]

Again, this is interesting, because in the moment, I. I Felt like an outsider because I was the only one putting my hand up and saying I love V. It's.

[Hank]

We were talking visually.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Just as itself.

[Max]

Yeah, I think I was on your side. Pft.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Max]

I think I was talking about how I like full. Full V pictures.

[PFT Commenter]

Listen, hand up. I'm sorry. I like vaginas. I'm willing to die on that hill. Me too. I'm willing to die.

[Hank]

Now I have to, like, say, like, I have to clarify knowing that you and you have memes in your pocket with the clip army, and it's like, I gotta say, I also love vaginas.

[Big Cat]

I do too.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, great.

[Big Cat]

But I also love tna.

[Hank]

But yeah, if we're talking about strictly pictures, which we were like, visually.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Like, the question is tits are ass. And you would say V. That's what you're.

[Big Cat]

You would rather have a picture of V than T?

[PFT Commenter]

I. I love look. Yeah, they look great.

[Big Cat]

I'd rather see a picture.

[Hank]

What would your answer be?

[PFT Commenter]

T or A? You would say V. No, if you ask me. Tra. That's a two part question. It's A or B.

[Big Cat]

How about this? For example, the.

[PFT Commenter]

I would say T. The nice young.

[Big Cat]

Lady at the Oilers game, you would have preferred her to flash her V?

[PFT Commenter]

No, because that's different. That's way different. No, it is way different. Flashing V in a public setting is. That's a little low class, even for me. But the tea were. The tea was great.

[Big Cat]

I loved the tea.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And there's a bunch of people that are using the. The super bad argument of like, oh, yeah, I'm gonna say what Jonah Hill said. Jonah Hill's character in Superbad also had an obsession with drawing dicks everywhere. He loved dicks.

[Big Cat]

I don't even remember super bad.

[PFT Commenter]

Where he was like, you ever seen a V on its own? Not for me. Ah, yeah.

[Big Cat]

Got it.

[PFT Commenter]

Listen, Hank, I believe that. That you like V. I'm not saying that you're gay. I'm saying that I felt like you were saying I was gay for liking vaginas.

[Hank]

Well, you made the. The wings analogy, which it's. You said that A is celery, which if you're looking at, you know, the wings, the sauce, celery, you're ranking A last.

[PFT Commenter]

What do you mean?

[Hank]

Like, if you're talking about a plate of wings, you're. You're like, maybe that was power ranking. A wing of plates. It's blue.

[Chris Long]

It's.

[Hank]

It's the wings, it's the sauce, it's the celery. It's last.

[PFT Commenter]

Might have been a clumsy analogy. Maybe the ribeye steak, a Mac and cheese, the tea, maybe.

[Hank]

But we're talking just mashed potatoes, loaded.

[PFT Commenter]

Baked potato twice. Baked potato is what it is. That's what the TE's are.

[Hank]

I don't know. I just didn't. I didn't. I didn't appreciate it. I. I've had people, you know, coming up, talk to me and be like, do you. You don't like V, Dude? I'm like, no, this is all. Pft. Spin. Spin doctor.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I'm just saying, in the moment, I felt like I was a weirdo because I was the only one that said, hey, I. I love V. V.

[Hank]

So do I, for the record.

[Big Cat]

Me too.

[Hank]

Now. Now you. Now you've put me in a spot.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, well, yeah, we all have our preferences. I'm just a V guy.

[Big Cat]

I like brains. A woman's brains.

[PFT Commenter]

I like. I like her soul.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I agree.

[PFT Commenter]

Like kind souls. So wait, I'm not talking about feet.

[Big Cat]

Just to put a bow on it. Gay.

[Hank]

No. Oh, V. Okay, v. I'm pro v1. Pro v1.

[Big Cat]

Pro v1.

[PFT Commenter]

That's what they call you.

[Big Cat]

D. D?

[PFT Commenter]

You like D cups?

[Big Cat]

No.

[Hank]

No.

[Big Cat]

Oh, not even your own?

[PFT Commenter]

Sure.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

All right. So your fyre fest is that everyone thinks that you're gay.

[Hank]

My fire fest is today in our office, which is against. I don't even know what's inappropriate. I had to defend my stance on liking V's around a bunch of co workers.

[Max]

Who's attacking you?

[Hank]

Yeah, a lot of people were there. Women, Women, women, maybe. Rick, it was. It was a. It was a. Everyone was getting lunch, and I was just, like, trying to make my lunch, just being like, nope, I love V.

[Max]

So Rick got you this rattled?

[PFT Commenter]

I think.

[Big Cat]

Boy, Rick.

[PFT Commenter]

I think it was the Internet. I think the Internet.

[Hank]

It was PFT's tweet being like, I don't like V. Henry Lockwood.

[PFT Commenter]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Let's back up, because Memes posted the clip, and then I.

[Hank]

But you took it out of context.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I posted out and I said, fellas, is it gay to like vaginas? And then Hank was like, that's not what I said. Then I directly quoted you.

[Big Cat]

Right?

[Hank]

That's what we were talking about. Pictures.

[PFT Commenter]

What was your quote?

[Hank]

I don't know. You said it.

[PFT Commenter]

No, it was your quote.

[Hank]

I don't know that I get it turned on by straight V. Visually.

[Big Cat]

Okay, a picture of it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, I do. That's. That's a. We all have differences.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I don't think a picture of it does. I'd rather see a picture of tits. Pictures. We're talking strictly pictures.

[Hank]

That's exactly. That's where the context. You were. You were selectively choosing context.

[PFT Commenter]

I was just quoting you. I'm sorry for.

[Big Cat]

I go tav for pictures.

[Hank]

Yeah. Definitely not me.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Pft. Good firefight. Great firefight. I'm glad we cleared that all up. My week's been pretty good. Overall. I would say that my fire fest is mostly something that I realized last week watching football and really in. As the College Football Playoff began, I started to realize this, that there are only like, five commercials in the world. Only five commercials exist. And I'm sick of all five of them. And I've seen all of them. And the commercials. You basically have your pick of, like, the State Farm Cinematic Universe, which includes, like, Derrick Henry, Mahomes, all that stuff. You've got some. Usually a product with shack in it.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

Is one of the options that you have. Then you've got flow and just like a lot of insurance out there. There's only like five commercials anymore. We used to have lots of commercials.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And you get.

[PFT Commenter]

Now they're all gone.

[Big Cat]

And you get cut in these. Caught in these times where you're like, re. You know, we watch a lot of sports, but, like, when you're really like March Madness. When you're really watching sports wall to wall and it's like, yeah, that's it.

[PFT Commenter]

And that's all you get. And you see them over and over. And I feel like it's gotten more limited it in scope too.

[Big Cat]

Shout out YouTube TV. By the way, the Zen. Yeah is the best.

[PFT Commenter]

And I don't.

[Big Cat]

I don't. It actually, like, cools my brain down.

[PFT Commenter]

It's really good. And I don't want to sound like I'm talking about the NFL or their corporate partners or their messaging. I. I respect the NFL's ability. I would never.

[Hank]

They priced out the little guys.

[PFT Commenter]

I. I used to be racist as. Until the NFL painted end. Racism in the end zone.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

And so I. I pay attention when Roger Goodell speaks.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And I just want to say constructive feedback. Roger good. L give us different commercials. This sucks.

[Big Cat]

I'd agree. I'd agree. All right. My fire fest is. I. I'm solo dadding this weekend, so I'm probably gonna miss the Commander's lion stream. Apologies. Pft. It's okay. I'm gonna try to be in for the Texans Chiefs where I have a little help. But the Menu is gonna get. It's gonna get tight. We're gonna do a chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets and Mac and cheese. And that. That's it.

[Chris Long]

And that.

[Hank]

Is it Annie's?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Got to hit Annie's Elite, but yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

What kind of silverware and. And cutlery and plate situation are we working with?

[Big Cat]

The two older ones use regular plates and silverware. The youngest still uses his hands mostly and plastic plate. He likes to throw everywhere.

[PFT Commenter]

I would just lay down a tarp.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Garbage bag. I should put. I just put a like a trough out.

[Hank]

Are you hoping for like bedtime by the Commander's game or are you hoping like halftime?

[Big Cat]

I'm going to probably be watching the first half of the Commander's Lions game. No sound while we watch Minions on the top tv. So yeah, that will be my reality. But just being honest. But it's only that one game. I'll be in on Sunday all day Sunday. So. But yeah, I got to just power through it. But yeah, that's why. So if you tune on the stream on Sunday night and I'm not there or I might not even be here for the Saturday afternoon one, I'm going try to make it in. That's why. So yeah, wish me luck.

[PFT Commenter]

I. I got this good luck.

[Big Cat]

I got this good luck.

[PFT Commenter]

We're going to have the Beef is going to be on from hard fact that Kate's Mr. Beef is going to be there giving me moral support. A fellow Commanders fan.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, love that. Also Reverse Fire Fest. I just love everyone in this room and all of our listeners so goddamn much. That's really just been a tough couple weeks. But it's. It's cra. I got a little teary eyed actually last night driving home because I was just like it was a nice perspective of being like damn, you know. You know, it's a scary place, tough place. But there's a lot of people who care a lot about us and it's. It's good to have that moment and then everyone in this room, I'd die for it. Take a bullet for.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, we love. I know it's been, it's been a tough few months for you.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's been a few months.

[PFT Commenter]

I didn't realize that you lost how much much?

[Big Cat]

Like £15. I just not been eating.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I literally. And it's not like it's not even conscious. It's like lunch happens and I just walk right by it. I'm like I have no appetite and it's stress but gotta just. We're. We're powering through.

[Hank]

I. I didn't even tell you this. This is just a funny. If we're doing reverse fire fest, it's just an anecdote that's made me laugh since it happened, but I went out to dinner with Stu on Wednesday or Tuesday, just me and him, and. And, you know, a few months ago, I was talking about quitting smoking. I have quitting smoking. And he also used to be, like, the biggest pothead of all time. He has also quit. So we were talking about that and, like, talking about how, like, weird dreams and. And I was like, you know, do you think you'll ever, like, start again? He's like, no, I can't. Like, the. His diabetes or whatever it is. He's like, I just can't smoke. Like, I can't eat carbs. After he had just eaten, like, two appetizers, like, a massive pasta meal, and then ate, like, half of my chicken parm.

[Big Cat]

I was dying.

[Hank]

He's like, yeah, you know, I just can't eat the carbs. And I was like, stew, you just wolf down, like, two. An Italian dinner for three.

[Big Cat]

It's like.

[Hank]

It's like, yeah, you know, I just. I can't smoke, and I can't do cobs.

[Big Cat]

Wait, what? It's like the. Remember the mincy picture of him at the barbecue joint? He's like, no, sugar. All the barbecues are. The barbecue. Yeah. Wait, Max, you didn't do your firefighters about the bachelor parties?

[Max]

You didn't say. I didn't say anything.

[Big Cat]

Go ahead.

[Max]

Bachelor parties. Lot of bachelor parties.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

That's basically it. And I also can't. I'm not picking the bachelor party.

[Big Cat]

We are. Or bachelor.

[Max]

Correct. So that's why everyone. The amount of texts that I've gotten from people that I've met, like, one time six years ago, being like, you have to come to my bachelor. I. It's never been more of a thing in my entire life, and I can't keep track of it all. I guess if you guys want to do that one, we can do that.

[Big Cat]

I, like.

[PFT Commenter]

I like giving you the illusion of having a choice, but ultimately, we're gonna be the ones that decide.

[Max]

But that's why I think we need. I need. I'm putting out a Google form. So then it's just organized in one place.

[Big Cat]

Who's going over the Google form?

[Max]

Not. Not me.

[Big Cat]

Not me.

[Hank]

I will.

[Max]

Oh, I don't want Hank doing either.

[Hank]

I will.

[Big Cat]

Are you gonna go over the Google form in Vanny? Woodhead when it's driving down the street.

[Hank]

Vanity Woodland's buzzing.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, yeah, I'll do that.

[Big Cat]

I'll. I'll.

[PFT Commenter]

I'll be in charge of the Google Doc. And as my first act of being in charge, I'd like to delegate that task to Hank.

[Hank]

Done.

[Big Cat]

Actually, you know what, Hank?

[PFT Commenter]

I need you to report to me though, and then I'll report to Max.

[Big Cat]

You know what we should do is. Because, you know, we. We have a lot of work, I think we should delegate the Google Doc to one Stephen Che. No, he's a Google Doc master.

[Hank]

No, but he'll do. He'll like give Max. He'll be like, oh, like, you know, go to Chicago.

[Big Cat]

No, but he'll get us down to 100.

[Hank]

True. I honestly haven't seen that many people send us dms.

[PFT Commenter]

I haven't either.

[Hank]

Yeah, I'm surprised with the lack of. Awl is getting married.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Here and there. I get a couple.

[Max]

Most people are just sending them to me and I just have to say I can't.

[Big Cat]

So keep sending them, I guess that's.

[Hank]

What have you gotten, like 10?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that's our way of saying that.

[Big Cat]

What do you.

[PFT Commenter]

We'd like to see a lot more.

[Max]

What's going on? What's going on?

[Big Cat]

You got five bachelor party requests.

[Max]

I've gotten like 5,000.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I've gotten a shitload.

[Big Cat]

I have two. All right. Good show, boys. Football this weekend. Can't wait. Only. What? How many games left?

[PFT Commenter]

It's the final four this weekend.

[Big Cat]

Seven, seven, eight. Counting the national championship, eight games of football left. Enjoy the out of every second. Okay, numbers.

[PFT Commenter]

5, 3, 11, 17.

[Hank]

A.J.

[Max]

Brown'S gonna have a game 11 hype.

[PFT Commenter]

Video coming out Friday.

[Big Cat]

100.

[PFT Commenter]

It's already started. 99.

[Big Cat]

Puck 54, 29, 98. Right on it.

[PFT Commenter]

Love you guys. Also, Shane wants a nickname.

[Max]

Leader in the clubhouse is Graphics Guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, Shane has requested a nickname.

[Big Cat]

Shane wants a nickname?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, he. He said I'd like a nickname. I've never had a nickname before, so. Memes posted a picture of him, I think a pretty up to date photo, like yesterday.

[Big Cat]

I have one for you.

[PFT Commenter]

Tom Fornelli had a great suggestion, which was Graphics Guy.

[Big Cat]

That's good.

[PFT Commenter]

That is so far the leading vocator. I suggested Zane Shane.

[Big Cat]

I have one for you, but we've discussed it. I don't think it would be Poppy. No, let's hear it. You know which one I'm gonna say? I can't say it.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, don't.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, why not?

[PFT Commenter]

Graphics guy. Lot of votes, GG Love you guys.

[Chris Long]

It.