Loading summary
Transcript152 lines
- [00:02]
A
Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. We're on one hour early today. Tony, you like this early start?
- [00:08]
B
I'm Tony Kornheiser. Yeah, I even woke up an hour.
- [00:11]
A
Early at 3am that means you were waking up at about the time I was finally getting a wink of sleep. Yeah, a wink.
- [00:20]
B
Well, I got a lot more than.
- [00:22]
A
A wink, you know.
- [00:22]
B
You know I got a wink and a nod actually. Welcome to PTI boys and girls. We will get to the Bills firing Sean McDermott, the injury to Zach Charbonnet and tonight's colle football title game in a moment. But we begin today with the Chicago Bears finally actually losing a football game. This came in overtime as the Rams kicked a game winning 42 yard field goal last night. But that came over the most after rather the most remarkable play in years. On a fourth and four with only 18 seconds to play, Caleb Williams ran backwards while being chased by a bevy of Rams and floated a Perfect pass some 40 yards to Cole Comet who was unbelievably unguarded in the end zone that forced the overtime. Wilbon, you were physically there after that touchdown pass. Did you expect the Bears to win?
- [01:08]
A
Not exactly. Then. And the touchdown pass is not possible? No, it's not possible. And yes, I'm sitting there seeing the whole thing play out and I'm thinking he had not been sacked Caleb Williams last night. The Rams did not get to him, they did not get home as the analysts like to say now. But they called a beautiful play defensively where they just got after him and he is sprinting in the other direction like Carl Lewis.
- [01:35]
B
Yeah.
- [01:36]
A
And now you're gonna throw the ball, whatever. 60 yards in the air. 45 Tony. When Kamek catches the pass, I didn't have words, I didn't scream, I didn't shout, I didn't hug anybody, I just sat there cause it's not possible. But I thought we were going to win the game in the plays subsequent to that, stopping the Rams in overtime and then moving the ball in a position where two short passes are going to get us in field goal position to win the game and get to the NFC Championship game. That's when I thought we'd win.
- [02:09]
B
So I am sitting in my living room and I am watching this game and that play happens and I pull out my phone and I text you the following words. Just these three words. Unbelievable, unbelievable, inevitable with a lot of exclamation points. And I used inevitable. Cuz we had talked on Friday about the inevitability of either the Rams winning or the Bears winning. And I said I thought if it was inevitable, then the Bears were going to win. Well, yes. Well, okay. I've got a few things to say here. I'd never seen anything like that. Nobody was guarding him. The pass was not challenged. It's in the end zone. I can't believe that. Which led me to this. And you're the Bears fan here. I'm not. Should they have gone for two? Should they have gone to win it? Right there. Because the Rams were dispirited right there.
- [02:57]
A
Because previously against the packers in overtime. And I'm cheating here. I'm taking some wisdom from Richard Denton and Otis Wilson who played many games together defensively in that uniform. And their philosophy is, no, you go into overtime, particularly at home, and you don't want the ball first. You want to play defense first. Because if you can stop them, but if you can stop them, then any score wins the game.
- [03:26]
B
Did you think in the moment he should have gone for two because of that reason? He never thought that.
- [03:30]
A
No.
- [03:30]
B
All right. So Caleb Williams had. You know, Caleb Williams has it. He's really good, but he throws a pick and he threw three picks the.
- [03:38]
A
Only time in his career.
- [03:39]
B
So I think, and I'm going to my notes here, he wasn't the only bad quarterback in bad weather. Matthew Stafford did not have a touchdown pass. He was sailing the ball. He didn't have a touchdown pass for the first time in 19 games. Look, I think. I don't know what you think. I think the Bears are not as good a team as the Rams. But I think this, and I need to ask you this, I think this play lives forever. Had they won the game. It becomes the pass, the drive, something like that. So the mythology is different. I still think it lives forever. Do you?
- [04:08]
A
Yes. Because I find myself resigned today. I'm not angry, I'm not disappointed in the team. I'm not walking around going, yes, there's a what if quality to it because two short passes, field goal range. Field goal. Let's go to Seattle. On to Seattle. But Caleb Williams is in his second year, right? There's some things he's got to improve on. He's got to learn to take short routes and take the cape off and take the six yard pass to the tight end over the middle or Manungai, who. Who I think was open and you just keep matriculating the ball down the field. He's got to get to that point. It's his second year. It's his first with Ben Johnson. I hope there's time. You can't presume there's time, but the. The play lives forever. You just said Chris Collinsworth. I went back, I couldn't sleep. I watched the broadcast, and Tirico and Collinsworth, of course, are great. Collinsworth said he'd never seen anything like it. Like you just said, never saw it. That's why I'm. I'm still wear my colors today.
- [05:03]
B
It's fine.
- [05:04]
A
Let's move to the fallout from the other overtime game this weekend. The Bills this morning fired head coach Sean McDermott after Buffalo fell to Denver 33, 30. The Bills lost this game after a hugely controversial interception by The Broncos, Jaquan McMillan and OT and Denver lost Bo Knix for the season with a right ankle fracture. So where's all this put the Bills? And how do you see the Broncos road ahead now with Jared Stidham?
- [05:36]
B
Let me deal with the Broncos first. I think it's going to be very hard for them to win the next two games in a row, the AFC Championship Game and the super bowl if they get there, and maybe they can beat New England at home. This guy hasn't thrown a pass in the NFL in two years. It's a hard ask to come and win those.
- [05:54]
A
That last pass, you know what happened to it?
- [05:57]
B
Okay. And let me get. Let me get quickly to the Bills. The firing of McDermott. It just, it feels like they were waiting for him to lose a game, and when he lost a game, they were going to fire him. It feels like a John Harbaugh situation in which the die was cast. Okay. The irony here, of course, is that Josh Allen could have saved him by being Superman, which he has been many, many times. But he had a bad game for him. Right. Four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles. I believe that was. He now has, if I'm correct on this, 15 fumbles in 15 playoff games. It's a lot.
- [06:30]
A
Yeah.
- [06:31]
B
And he's also got the most self.
- [06:32]
A
At harm's way, to be fair.
- [06:33]
B
Yeah, he's got. Yes. Oh, he's trying to do it all, and he should because he doesn't have much around him. He's got the most wins of anybody in a playoff situation who's never been to a Super Bowl. Among quarterbacks, he's. He's got eight. But I'm going to say this because you mentioned this earlier and they showed video of it. I think the Bills got hostile. I thought that was a catch.
- [06:50]
A
I thought it was a catch.
- [06:51]
B
That was a catch in the Rams Game. Why wasn't that a catch in the Bills game? And I also thought the first pass interference was a bad call, although there was roughing the passer on that same play. But it put. It put the team in position to get a field goal, an easy field goal. And I mean, I just. I guess Josh Allen picked a bad time to not have a great game.
- [07:11]
A
There was a pass interference called. It should have been made. They could have won the game for Buffalo against Denver. It wasn't made but yet. And it was pass interference. But you didn't call it earlier. What happened to some evenness here and officiating? I didn't see that. It's a catch. Once he has control of the ball, they establish that. And his knee is down. It's a catch. So basically, Sean McDermott got fired because of an officiating call. Because if they win that game, he ain't fired. They're still playing.
- [07:41]
B
Nobody's fired the next time they lose. Okay, but that's what it feels like.
- [07:45]
A
And I agree.
- [07:45]
B
They don't lose. No.
- [07:46]
A
Okay. I agree with you that this is Josh Allen. He didn't have anything around him. And so you promote the GM even though you're lacking in talent, you've the last 56 players you've drafted, you got two or three Pro Bowlers. Huh? That's Sean McDermott's fault.
- [08:03]
B
It's a good job. The Buffalo job is a good job. Because Josh Allen's only 29 years old, his motivation level is going to be.
- [08:11]
A
Through the higher than him. By the way, hiring offense is gone. Emotional show after the game. It just made me really like warming. Yes, absolutely warming. Easier to root for him. And I was already rooting for him 100%.
- [08:24]
B
Let's move to the Patriots beating the Texans yesterday 28 16. In this game, C.J. stroud had four interceptions in the first half, including a pick six. And Newsom was only down 21 10. Ultimately, the difference in the game was a touchdown pass from Drake May to k' Shawn Booty, who made a great catch in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for New England. Wilbon was the story of this game. The Patriots successes or CJ Stroud's struggles?
- [08:49]
A
Well, it's hard to have one without the other. And the picture of that snow and the fact that Drake May had turnovers. He had fumbles. They could have been.
- [08:57]
B
He had four fumbles.
- [08:58]
A
So. So? So no. So I'm not going to. Both quarterbacks had trouble handling the ball in awful weather. The weather was. The weather was A bigger story in Chicago, but the weather was worse in New England. It was worse in Foxborough.
- [09:11]
B
That's fine.
- [09:12]
A
So no, I'm going to give. I'm going to choose to give New England credit. You and I are about the only people who picked the Patriots going in. Everybody else looked at Houston's defense, but my whole thing was you don't have Nico Collins, you don't have an offense I can count on. You got a quarterback coming off five turnovers. I'm not going to pick you at New England, right?
- [09:32]
B
No. And then this just makes sense. And again, I went to my phone at the half and I texted you and I texted you this. I don't think New England will win. They should be up by 25 and they are up by 11. Houston's had a marginal offense all year. If I have this correct. They rushed for 48 yards on 23 carries. You know, I don't know. So. But here's that pass to Booty is a great passing catch. Let me ask you a question. There's 4:17 to go. You're Houston. You're down 12 points. You have a 4th and 18. It's a lot. 4th and 18 is a lot. But you punt. Would you have punted there when you're a defensive.
- [10:12]
A
I think I expected that at 4th and 18 and you're playing let's get the ball.
- [10:16]
B
Don't you have to go fourth and 18 if you kept your quarterback in the game? Right.
- [10:21]
A
If kept him in. And by the way, you were wondering in real time.
- [10:24]
B
Yes. Would they go to the guy who had won what, two or three games?
- [10:27]
A
I think three and oh is in relief.
- [10:29]
B
Yes. But then that could be a career under. If you do that.
- [10:32]
A
Houston's situation is a bigger picture situation. There's some teams that have to do things already in their draft agendas and their off season free agent agendas are set. The Bears have to go get pass rushers in the defense. They do. Plain and simple. The Houston Texans have to get offense. You can't just have Nico Collins out there by himself. You got to go get a receiver, a lead back if you don't think you have one. And some peripheral.
- [10:59]
B
You have to get a quarterback.
- [11:00]
A
I don't. I don't know. I do. You. You don't have to pay.
- [11:03]
B
What is his mental state?
- [11:04]
A
You don't have to pay him yet. He's eligible. But you can wait and he has such a great. I know rookie year is the first to go.
- [11:11]
B
Rook.
- [11:12]
A
Rookie is great. You know, I know it is. But how about giving him some help and let's find out that way, because he didn't have.
- [11:17]
B
Can I mention one thing? We talked not at great length, but at some length about coach of the year candidates. And I had mentioned Vrabel and I'd mentioned Ben Johnson, I'd mentioned Liam Cohen. And then last week you put in Kyle Shanahan.
- [11:28]
A
Yeah.
- [11:28]
B
You know, the only guy still standing is Rabel. Right now, he's the only guy still standing. They went from 3:14 to 16. 3. That's pretty good. Let's take a break. Coming up, bad news for the Seahawks today. How could it affect them moving forward?
- [11:42]
A
And should Indiana be a big favorite over Miami tonight in the title game?
- [11:47]
B
So you wouldn't have gone for two and you would have punted the ball?
- [11:51]
A
I'm not sure about punting. I would not have gone for two. But I'm persuaded. But at least I'm persuaded by people in gold jackets, right? Right. Come on now.
- [12:01]
B
I never got on the text chain. What happened? Why am I there with Dent the model?
- [12:04]
A
What happened? Okay, we gotta fix that.
- [12:06]
B
Yeah.
- [12:06]
A
Oh, wait. The season's over. You can get in on the draft.
- [12:10]
C
As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop.
- [12:41]
B
By Rich Eisen here. You know that feeling of handing off your taxes and then hearing nothing? Total radio silence. Well, not anymore. Now your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service expert who checks for every deduction and keeps you in the loop with real time updates on your phone. Just match with your dedicated expert, upload your docs and go live your life confident you're getting every dollar you deserve. This is how taxes should be. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app only available with TurboTax full service experts. Let's find out what's on the minds of the minions and mail time 3ms. Let me get to the first one. Put on my glass alliteration. Holmes, have Sam Darnold and the Seahawks addressed any skepticism you had about them?
- [13:36]
A
No. You know I have Less skepticism than most because the trade deadline day, we talked about who we thought was the number one seed or not. Not number one seed, but the best team in the league. And I said Seattle definitively. I would take Seattle over San Francisco and la, which was a bit much at the time, but still. No, no. Sam Darnold had these games last year, key games. It was a turnover machine. His career with a different team, with a different team, with Minnesota, different team. His career is marked by less than success. Okay, so no, you have to win at least this one. I'm not even saying he's got to win the super bowl, but he's got to win this game at home against a hated division rival.
- [14:22]
B
So I don't like to root against anyone.
- [14:25]
A
Right.
- [14:26]
B
And Seattle demolished San Francisco two times in three weeks. So. Kyle Shanahan has coached 163 games for San Francisco. Only four times has his team been held under seven points twice in a month by the same team. Now, they didn't need anything from Sam Darnold in those days.
- [14:47]
A
No, they didn't.
- [14:48]
B
Now they play the Rams. They have played the Rams twice. The total points back and forth in those two games to establish two different wins or three points. So they may need Sam Darnold to be great in this game.
- [15:00]
A
They may, if not great, really good.
- [15:02]
B
So we have not addressed this issue directly. It is fair. It seems to me, to wonder about Sam Darnold in. Maybe they won't need him. Maybe they'll beat him by 25.
- [15:14]
A
But I they great defense.
- [15:16]
B
You know, they might.
- [15:17]
A
I mean the Bears defense, which is not great.
- [15:20]
B
No, it's not.
- [15:21]
A
Held the Rams to 7 to 2017 in regulation.
- [15:24]
B
Charbonnet now out for the year.
- [15:25]
A
Charbonnet out. I still think Seattle. That's one.
- [15:29]
B
Well, you know who I picked four weeks ago when you picked the Rams? I did.
- [15:32]
A
And I picked. We did pretty good on the show. How about all the other pundits?
- [15:36]
B
Not as good.
- [15:36]
A
How'd they do this?
- [15:37]
B
Not as good. Yeah, They've taken the pun out of pundits.
- [15:41]
A
They have CFP title game. You see Indiana as a big fave over Miami?
- [15:50]
B
A big favorite. No, for two reasons. One, they're playing at home.
- [15:54]
A
Yeah.
- [15:55]
B
So that means this whole week has been spent in relative relaxation because they haven't had to go anywhere and do anything. More importantly, they don't lose by a lot of points. They've lost five games in two years, none of them by more than seven. This year they lost by three. And a big favorite to me, is 10 plus this year they lost by three and by six. Do I think Indiana should be favored? Absolutely. Indiana is undefeated. Indiana is doing great. Can I see Miami winning the game? I can. I don't want that. I gotta be honest. I'm a sports writer in my heart. The better story is Indiana.
- [16:28]
A
I don't know.
- [16:28]
B
Indiana. Oh, yes. Indiana coming out of nowhere. 100 years of losing and suddenly with a new coach, suddenly in two years they're undefeated and they win the national championship.
- [16:37]
A
I'm a Big Ten guy and I don't know that that's the best story.
- [16:41]
B
Look, how do you think Miami's a better story?
- [16:44]
A
Let me tell you. Because Miami would be returning to waking up the echoes. I was around and so were you.
- [16:50]
B
I was around.
- [16:50]
A
We covered games where Miami was thought to be some up and comer. People didn't want them. Division 1A people did not want the U. They didn't. And the U came up and they beat Oklahoma and they beat Notre Dame. They won those games. I was there.
- [17:07]
B
They beat everybody.
- [17:08]
A
They did?
- [17:09]
B
Yeah.
- [17:09]
A
And they beat them as an.
- [17:11]
B
These other guys haven't beaten anybody.
- [17:13]
A
Wait a minute.
- [17:14]
B
So can Miami be undefeated? No, they can't be undefeated.
- [17:17]
A
Indiana can be undefeated. Undefeated team out. And by the way, what do you want?
- [17:22]
B
I'm admitting I want Indiana.
- [17:24]
A
I don't know.
- [17:25]
B
Oh, that's not fair.
- [17:26]
A
You know, I usually tell you and I'm again, I should be rooting for the conference team. Yeah, but there's something about this. There's something that reminds me of those games in the early 80s when they beat Nebraska, when Nebraska was being called the greatest team ever with Irving Fryer and those guys. And the U beat Nebraska had 20.
- [17:45]
B
Years of history going into that. Indiana has zero years of history.
- [17:49]
A
Where do you win that game against Nebraska?
- [17:51]
B
I don't know. In the same stadium.
- [17:52]
A
Orange Ball.
- [17:53]
B
Orange.
- [17:53]
A
Not the same stadium, but same place.
- [17:55]
B
Enough email. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Giants and Falcons lock up new head coaches and final.
- [18:01]
A
45 year old Venus Williams comes very close to doing something remarkable at the Aussie.
- [18:07]
B
Oh, Big Ten should throw you out if you don't root for anything.
- [18:10]
A
That's why I didn't really go all the way to the.
- [18:11]
B
They should throw you out.
- [18:12]
A
They should.
- [18:13]
B
Yeah.
- [18:14]
A
Yeah.
- [18:14]
B
You should be a trustee of Miami. Go to Coral Gables. Go with Levitard. Go with levitard.
- [18:20]
A
Hey, Danny. Prime 112, baby. Let's get a reservation.
- [18:24]
C
As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge. Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the Thumbtack app. Download today.
- [19:26]
B
Happy time people. Happy 27th birthday. Jonathan Taylor, the Colts workhorse running back had the most carries in the NFL this past season, 323, third most rushing yards, 1585 and the most rushing touchdowns. 18. He averaged 4.9 yards per attempt for the first half of the season before Daniel Jones got hurt. Joe Jones and Taylor had the Colts surprising everybody. Taylor was a second round pick by the Colts out of Wisconsin in 2020 2021. He led the NFL in rushing attempts, 332 rushing yards, 1811 and rushing touchdowns again, 18. Taylor also had 360 yards worth of catches. And it's not like Taylor snuck up on people at Wisconsin. He set an NCAA record for rushing yards as a freshman, 1906 77.
- [20:14]
A
Yet I think he's undervalued and halfway through this season he would have been my mvp. Yeah, before it all fell apart. Indianapolis. Not that he had anything to do with that. But wow, when he and Jones were going, yes, they're going pretty damn good, weren't they?
- [20:28]
B
Happy Anniversary Patrick Mahomes on this day six years ago, Mahomes led the Chiefs to another come from behind win. This time after trailing Tennessee early 10 to nothing, Mahomes had three touchdown passes, but his most memorable play was this 27 yard run in the second quarter. Mahomes is currently recovering from surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee. He says he hopes to be ready by Week 1 next season. The upcoming AFC Championship Game will be the first without Kansas City since 2018. Before that, the Patriots were in eight straight championship games from 2011 to 2018. Brady and Mahomes Remarkably, by beating Houston, the Patriots have extended this streak to 16 straight AFC title games for the Patriots and or the Chiefs.
- [21:15]
A
By the way, wasn't Vrabel coach Vrabel who helped extend that streak, Wasn't he the coach of the Titans? Tennessee at that time, when Mahomes made that run.
- [21:23]
B
Tennessee at that time leading 10 nothing.
- [21:24]
A
Yeah.
- [21:25]
B
A melancholy trails to Wilbur Wood. The knuckleballer passed away on Saturday at the age of 84. Wood had four 20 win seasons for the White Sox in the early 1970s. In 1972, the lefty threw a preposterous 376⅔ innings, the most since 1917. In 1973, he started both games of a doubleheader. He once told the New York Times, quote, I'd much rather start on two days rest than sit on the darn bench for a week. Unquote. In 1976 he was hit on the knee by a line drive and never again reached the same level of performance. Wilbon, he was the star of your youth.
- [22:02]
A
Yes, he and Dick Allen. Don't call me Richie.
- [22:06]
B
On the White Sox.
- [22:06]
A
On that fabulous White Sox team, Bill Melton and some other guys. Tony, you know, back in the day, when I was a teenager and I was 13, 14 years old, you could go to the players parking lot and just talk to the players after.
- [22:17]
B
Really.
- [22:18]
A
And I, there are two pitchers who taught me how to grip a ball, to throw a certain pitch. Ferguson, Arthur Jenkins, I believe it was a sinker. And Wilbur Wood, knuckleball. And I could throw a knuckleball a little bit in high school. In the wind in Chicago can be effective. Wilbur Wood with 24, 20. I remember those days. He was indestructible.
- [22:38]
B
That's correct.
- [22:39]
A
Now he's pitching 100 innings. That's 100 innings more than guys go now. 100.
- [22:43]
B
Let's go to the big finish if we could. The Giants officially hired John Harbaugh, while the Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski. Okay by you?
- [22:50]
A
I think so. Time will tell, right? When the seat gets hot so early these days for coaches. The Steelers say they're open to Aaron Rodgers returning at quarterback. This has got to surprise you.
- [23:01]
B
It does. They don't have a coach yet. Doesn't the coach have play in that? Venus Williams was up four love in the third set at the Aussie Open, but lost your thoughts?
- [23:09]
A
I just think it's cool that Venus Williams is somehow the main draw playing singles at 45 years old at a slam event. Chris Goderup won the Sony Open. Is that significant?
- [23:19]
B
He's really good. He kills it. He carries 315 on average. His ball speed.
- [23:23]
A
That's some ball speed.
- [23:24]
B
Last one. Matthew Tkachuk makes his season debut for the Panthers tonight. Is that a big deal?
- [23:28]
A
Yeah. Tony there a little bit off the second wild card spot. They're gonna need him in the long run here. We are halfway through.
- [23:35]
B
We are out of time. We will try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheim.
- [23:39]
A
I'm Mike Wilbon. Back at 5:30 Eastern tomorrow, knuckleheads.
- [23:42]
C
As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by.