James Palmer (1:29)

Oh, you should keep going back and forth throughout the entire show. Yeah.

Chase Daniel (1:33)

Here, this way, back and forth this way. I think this way is the way to go.

James Palmer (1:40)

That's the way to go. Man, that was a. That was a thing for a minute.

Chase Daniel (1:43)

Yeah, it was, man. Just so bad.

James Palmer (1:47)

I was a real tight guy, by the way, like high school baseball. Super tight. And then like, started realizing, like, why the hell am I doing that? But I certainly did.

Chase Daniel (2:00)

My go with no hat, actually.

James Palmer (2:03)

Okay. Looking good, looking tough. Well, Merry New Year. James Palmer here with you with the Scoop City show on a Thursday. Happy New Year to everybody out there. Don't forget to like and subscribe. We're going to tell you everything. Not that, just you need to know for week 18, but not just seeding either. What really matters in week 18 to give you a better concept of what your team might be doing in the postseason. Now, what we're going to go through today, we're going to go through that number one seed is still on the line in the nfc. Sam Darnold, Brock Purdy. Who really can rise to the occasion in this one and give their team a better opportunity With a buy to go through the postseason, Caleb Williams can get that number two seed. How important is that to him in Chicago? We'll get to that as well as we are going to go through everything that's happening with New Year's resolutions. Maybe the Bills, maybe the Rams, maybe the Packers. What could be New Year's resolutions for those organizations? I am joined by Chase Daniel, who's really still deciding whether he wants to wear a hat or not a hat. But he's in Miami. He's going to call a brilliant game today. Chase, what are you working on later today? What do we got?

Chase Daniel (3:16)

We got. We got Texas Tech, Oregon. So they asked me to do the College Football Playoff for radio so ESPN national radio and it's going to be a blast, man. I've. I'm literally wearing so you come on this morning, I'm literally wearing like two and a half, three day old sweats with like I'm sweat all over them. And you come in here in a tux because you're celebrating the new year and you look good. Is that a real bow tie or is that a clip on? Bow tie?

James Palmer (3:41)

It's a clip on. Yeah. Yeah. You're ask this man to tie his own bow tie. Are you telling me really quick, Oregon quarterback, nothing more. What do you think about him really quickly? Because obviously everybody at the top of the draft jockeying for. For possibly a quarterback, whether it's the Raiders who sit in that number one seed right now. What's your thought? Because he hasn't declared yet.

Chase Daniel (4:02)

Yeah, I think he'd be silly not to.

James Palmer (4:04)

Right.

Chase Daniel (4:05)

I think he's going to be probably the number one taken. Look, it's between him and Fernando Mendoza, but I think Dante Moore's stock has really been rising as of late. He's had some injuries at receiver. He's still been playing really well. Prototypical college quarterback. Right. But can move a lot and he's really good in the pocket. More athletic than Mendoza, a little bit of a stronger arm. Mendoza is more accurate. But I think that what scout see in this guy and this game will be a big test with Texas Tech is that they see the ceiling for Dante Moore is a little bit higher than maybe the ceiling for Fernando Mendoza. And I think that's what scouts like obviously like there's still a lot to be said in the process and going through all that stuff. But he's trending in the right way in my opinion.

James Palmer (4:47)

Yeah, I Think a really dominant run perhaps in this playoff could be. Who could be big for. For him and, yeah, what happens and lies ahead for him. All right, let's go with the guys that are already still in the NFL right now. We have Chase, still have the AFC north, the AFC south, the NFC south, and the NFC west still to be determined, and we still have the number one seed on both sides to be determined, and we're going to start with the one that's in the same division. This is a massive showdown between the Seahawks and the 49ers. The division's on the line. The number one seed is on the line. This is the one that I have circled. What I am curious about is who has impressed you more this season, Sam Darnold or Brock Purdy? Yeah, that's.

Chase Daniel (5:31)

That's a tough one. But I think the more. The more I think about it and the more we actually just put, like, the film on and the tape on, it's got to be Brock Purdy, like, without a doubt. Like, I love Sam Darnold, and I think it's been a great comeback story. 13 wins for the first time ever with two separate teams in two separate years or whatever that stat is. It's crazy. He wins and he's had good defenses and he's had good offensive coordinators and coaches and stuff like that, and he's played well. He's turned the ball over a lot, though, this year. 14, just interceptions, a lot of fumbles taken, a lot sacks and. And they're winning despite him. If you look at what San Francisco is doing, like, I, like Kyle Shanahan has got to be skyrocketing up the coach of the year category because, look, it's so easy to say, hey, every single year, okay, this is Kyle Shanahan's best coaching job. But if you really just look back and you see what he's been able to do with this injury ladden team, I mean, it is unbelievable. They've been without Kittle. They've been without Purdy. I think Purdy missed eight games. They were able to win with Mac Jones. Fred Warner's out. All sorts of stuff they didn't KD in Chicago. I mean, all this stuff.

James Palmer (6:34)

And.

Chase Daniel (6:35)

And it just seems like when Brock Purdy came back from his injury in his toe, right, He. He played that one game, I think, against Jacksonville and missed some more. He has looked unstoppable. Like, it took him a few games, maybe a game or two, game and a half to really understand and feel the pocket around him. But since then, man, I, it's been hard pressed to find a quarterback that's playing as good as, as Brock Purdy. And it's stuff's not just like wide open like it used to be, right? They got Ricky Pearsall, they got Juwan Jennings, has almost double digit touchdowns. CMC is still obviously CMC awesome. Kyle Shanahan is, is, is, you know, dialing it up. But when you look and you really watch, and especially that Bears game, it's just really impressive to watch Brock play. He's, he's, he's, he's buying time with his feet. But it's, it's got to be Brock Purdy. This type of Brock Purdy. In my opinion, this Brock Purdy can lead the team to, to a Super Bowl.

James Palmer (7:33)

I really agree. I love what Sam Darnold has done. You got to remember this is a new team, a new offensive coordinator, you know, a new weapon to build chemistry with. And all of it has worked well. JSN is arguably the best receiver in football. He's played in stretches in this offense to where at times. And you know, this offense, Chase can be somewhat unguardable and unstoppable if it's run to a tee perfectly in the way that Clint Kubiak runs it. And he's getting a little bit of head coaching buzz. What I do like for Sam Darnold is he's getting a redo. He gets an opportunity to redeem himself from last year. If you remember the way it finished, that was two teams with a combined 28 total wins. That's the most in NFL history for a regular season game. And it was the Lions and the Vikings for the number one seed in the division. What happened? Well, the Vikings and Sam Darnold laid an egg and then they play the Rams and get eliminated. Lay another egg. Now he goes into this game. 25 total wins between the two teams. 2nd most ever for two teams in a regular season game. The division and number one seed on the line. It's like he gets a complete redo to see if he can improve on what happened a season ago. I agree with you though with Brock because this is what I had my eye on. This is in the last six weeks, the best defense in football giving up the fewest points and the best offense in football scoring the most points. So to me, I'm watching this Niners offense against this Seattle Seahawks defense. What I wanted to ask you about Purdy and I think this is what's misunderstood and I love that you say he can carry a team to the postseason, throughout the postseason and into a Super bowl. Because I agree, it almost feels like he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It almost, when everybody watched him, goes, well, he's not this freak athlete we're seeing with these other guys that play the position. He doesn't have wow throws. Chase. I think he does have wow throws. And from a quarterback perspective, I want you to kind of glean a little light on these throws with anticipation. The placement, layering the football into certain spots. They may not wow the average fan, but for somebody that really knows the position, these are incredible balls that he's throwing out there over the last several weeks.

Chase Daniel (9:36)

Yeah, I mean, look, it's. And that's. That's exactly what I've. I've been doing with these quarterback breakdowns right on. On my YouTube is I just. I just did Brock Purdy and I. And I usually break down 10 plays from every game and I pick the best plays and some of the worst plays and try to Show I had 15 plays at Brock Purdy. I had to cut it down because all these throws were amazing. And so it's just one of those things where we know what he does with these layered throws. He's been doing that over linebackers in front of safeties for a long time. That's sort of his superpower. What I think he's added here is he's not really throwing blind, but he's manipulating defenses a lot more than maybe he has in the past. Meaning, hey, like on the Joanne Jennings touchdown, he looks right at Tongass and he's just dropped back. If you watch the back view of it, he's just staring at his tight end and he knows where Juwan Jennings is going to be. And as he's staring at the tight end, which they already threw too early in the game, all three underneath defenders collapse on. On Tongas and he's able to, without even really looking, just turn his head slightly. His feet are toward Tongas and throw like this layered throw between the. That ended up being the game winner. There's a lot of these and I think his arm strength has gotten stronger. You look at what he's been able do in play action. I, I've seen a lot more. I don't know if it's me or I don't know if it's. It's Kyle Shanahan or maybe I'm just. I'm just wanting to see this, but it seems like he's throwing the football to the field a lot more. Maybe he didn't as much in the past because he's really always lived in between the numbers. That, that, that's a very difficult place to, to play. But I've seen him throw a lot more to the field outside of the numbers and they're doing more like post corner routes or doing more grab routes, which is like a post over top. And he's just been extremely accurate throwing the football. He's never going to wow you with his arm strength. And that's not his game. He's. His game is timing, anticipation, inaccuracy.

James Palmer (11:39)

Did you see the.

Chase Daniel (11:41)

The Alex Smith interview with Brock Purdy on ESPN Countdown by chance?

James Palmer (11:47)

I saw a clip of it. I missed the entire thing.

Chase Daniel (11:49)

Well, the clip was pretty. I mean that's. But he had these glasses on, these Ray Ban glasses. Brock Purdy. And then they had tackle dummies in front of them. They had five tackle dummies to say, hey, there's five offensive linemen. They put the glasses on. I thought this was so good. Brock's only 6 foot 6 one. And when he's going, they tell their guys. In San Fran, Kyle Shannon tells Brock Purdy, you're only going to see the receiver about 75% of the time. We have to get you that other 25% to trust your timing, to trust the accuracy and to throw open. And so they just showed like different windows that are. I mean, I know it because I've played, but I think it's really cool for somebody who doesn't know just how difficult that is.

James Palmer (12:31)

Yeah, that's awesome. It is true. Because if you talk to anybody in San Francisco and when I do, it's his just feel for the game. Chase is just the nuances of it. Just the knack for just being a football player and kind of just knowing space so well is one of his kind of superpowers.

Chase Daniel (12:45)

I feel like he's gotten more swaggy too. Oh, you know what I mean?

James Palmer (12:48)

Certainly. And he kind of just turns on once, once the lights come on. Yeah, it's like it's not during the.

Chase Daniel (12:53)

Week, I guess it's like you sign 200 plus million dollar deal and then you're doing the. Dougie, you're doing this like, you know, and I'm like, dude, for. That's a big deal though because like he's. He's Iowa guy, like Iowa State. All this stuff. You can tell maybe that's not how he was, but that's how he sort of turned it. And you know, the teammates around him, I mean, you Know, the San Fran is always used to that boombox and stuff. When you got your quarterback out there doing the dougie and has two rushing touchdowns, like, tell me you're not going to play your heart out for that guy. Yeah.

James Palmer (13:22)

He told Melissa Stark that after the game and he was like, back to subdued Brock. He was just like, well, I think it gets everybody fired up and it gets the team kind of going. And if you know anybody from Iowa State and you know Matt Campbell's program when he was there and you've been there for pro days. I have been. It's just those guys just know how to play football. They're taught how to play the right way. And Brock is a big example of that. All right. Sticking with the NFC and the number two seed, if the Bears beat the Lions, they get that two seed. Philly still has a chance to do it. So let's talk about these two quarterbacks. Chase, I want to know if you're more impressed from what you've seen with Caleb Williams, which I know you are, or are you more concerned about what's going on with Philadelphia's offense and Jalen Hurts as they enter the postseason. Man, that's a tough one. That's a tough one.

Chase Daniel (14:06)

I mean, that is a tough one. How about we just talk both? How about we talk first? Because the Hurts thing is interesting because a lot of defenders of Jalen Hurts will say, hey, you know, stats don't matter. Wins matter. And yeah, it does.

James Palmer (14:23)

He does win. I mean, I think there is something to being a winner.

Chase Daniel (14:26)

Yes, there is question that. But James, when you throw for zero yards, at least. I mean, was it four times in the second half?

James Palmer (14:34)

Let's do this.

Chase Daniel (14:34)

Let's. What is it?

James Palmer (14:35)

He has won, okay? He has won two games this year without completing a pass in the second half. How, maybe that's the most impressive aspect of all of this.

Chase Daniel (14:46)

How like, like I, I, I, I just, it blows my mind. Look, I think that tells you this was against the Reading mvp, and I think that tells you all you need to know about Vic Fangio and what he's done with this defense.

James Palmer (14:57)

Very true.

Chase Daniel (14:57)

And I think that, that they finally figuring out the run game for Philly that, you know, I've, I've learned over the years, like, never to doubt Philly because they just always find a way, even though it doesn't look right. And eventually, well, maybe eventually they're just going to get on this run where they're going to start hitting these shots down the field. I just think that the offense is boring and, and that's okay if you have the defense and that's how you're going to win. You have to take the football and put it in Saquon Barkley's hand. You got to get, you know, A.J. brown involved and he's trying to do this. And look, that, that game on, on Sunday was, was a wet mess. And that's hard to play quarterback. Yeah. Monsoon. But it's just something to see. Like, I'm not, I'm not concerned about. People are like, well, Chase, you're a biggest. I'm not concerned about them. I just think they got to figure it out. Like, it just, it seems to be going and going. I don't think anything's going to change for the playoffs. If they're going to win, they're going to win these tight score games because of their defense.

James Palmer (15:59)

Yeah, it's, it's, it's a, it's the highest rate of a three and out at 29.2% in the NFL. So it's very hard to play offensive football like that through the post season. And I know that in Philadelphia there's a lot of issues with saying, hey, we're struggling on first down and we're having second and long and then that leads to third and long and we got to figure that out. I mean, listen, a lot of teams overcome a negative or just a no gain on first down. It happens. It almost seems like Phillies offense struggles with that. What I want to see from Hertz going into the postseason is this offense is different when he runs the ball more. If they're going to be in the gun and they're going to run that read option. But you need to have a threat, you know, this Chase of the quarterback actually running the football. And when they go empty, it seems like that's helped them of late. And when they go under center, it seems like that's helped them of late. And they get away from it sometimes. And when we see it, I feel like the offense plays well. I don't know. But he does win. You're right. He certainly does. And let's get to Caleb here because I, I just, like I said this to Diana on the show earlier this week, Chase, I feel like I might trust Caleb over the vast majority of quarterbacks.

Chase Daniel (17:04)

Yeah.

James Palmer (17:04)

In a gotta have it drive already in year one with Ben Johnson in year two in his NFL career. What I know the defense relies on turnovers, but this is offense with Caleb. I mean, how impressed have you been? Because it just seems like it's building every week with Johnson.

Chase Daniel (17:21)

He's really comfortable in these situations. Well, I think that's the biggest thing that I've seen is like he, it's not too big for him. And that's sort of how they've played the entire year. Right? Six come from behind wins, under two minutes in fourth quarter, in overtime, whatever. And they almost had a seventh versus.

James Palmer (17:36)

They just ran out of time, honestly.

Chase Daniel (17:37)

They ran out of time and I think I came away from that game. Even though with the loss, like the Bears are for real, meaning, like they can play with anyone in the AFC. I think right now the, the 49ers are playing the best ball out of anyone in the nfc. Including like the Rams have sort of fallen by the wayside, including the Seahawks, all these guys. And so when you go on the road in a hostile environment and you're down, I think they was fourth down and he's scrambling around and he's almost making a play to win the game. I just think that it was. You don't like moral victories. But the way Caleb has been playing as of late, I think that's a big sign. Like they were already good on defense. They've gotten Colson Loveland involved, Luther Burton. I mean they've been doing this without Roma Dunes a DJ Moore hasn't been fully in. But like think about when they're fully healthy, if they get fully healthy and what they're doing. I mean this is a big game, big bounce back game for the Lions. I mean the two seed will be good. And we talked about this in the pregame meeting is like, man, I just don't know if, if they match up well against the Packers. Packers are locked into the seventh seed and it's like a third time playing your, your division. You get them at home, I know you beat them at home, but it's just always tough. Jordan Love will be bet like all that stuff. So it'll be interesting to see how everything shakes out.

James Palmer (18:45)

Yeah. And that final drive, even though they came up short, I love that you brought that up because to me, Chase, it was. There weren't like crazy runs or crazy throws like he worked the ball down the field playing within himself, like playing like a quarterback. And there's still just some efficiency things where people go, oh man, a couple of these layups, these intermediate throws that are there and he just seems to miss them. If that happens, look out with all the pass catchers that you mentioned. And he does have that just elite talent of throwing the football. Not too many People can place a ball into a receiver's hands 60 yards downfield, but he might, you know, he has to be doing it.

Chase Daniel (19:19)

Yeah. And Daniel Jeremiah said, put something on Twitter and I. And I retweeted it because I actually, I think DJ Does a great job. He mentioned he's like, Caleb Williams is up there for the strongest arm in the NFL after that free play touchdown to Colson Loveland. Dude, I don't doubt that. Like, it's.

James Palmer (19:36)

It's a.

Chase Daniel (19:36)

It's a crazy thing to say with Josh Allen and all these other guys. Trevor Lawrence, the dude. The dude. For whatever reason, this year, the ball jumps off his hand more so than I've ever seen it before. It's impressive.

James Palmer (19:49)

Interesting. He might be the best quarterback rolling to his left, too, that I've seen.

Chase Daniel (19:53)

Just the ability to.

James Palmer (19:54)

And that's so hard from a quarterback's perspective. You know, it. How hard that. That throw is the last division in the nfc. I'm just going to say this Chase, so everybody at home knows it. We know that we have the Panthers and the Bucs, and apparently somebody will win this division and they're going to play. If the Bucks win, they are in. Also if the Panthers lose. That's not exactly true that the Bucks are in, because if the Falcons beat the Saints in the last game of the season, and we know that coaching staff is coaching their tails off for their jobs right now in Atlanta in the end of the season matters to Arthur Blank. If the Falcons win that game, Carolina could be essentially just in. Even if they lose the game to Tampa Bay. Just a fascinating turn of events in that it's very, very, very losing to the Falcons, though.

Chase Daniel (20:40)

Tyler Shuck's playing. Unbelievable.

James Palmer (20:42)

Are you loving Tyler Schuck right now? Yeah.

Chase Daniel (20:44)

Yeah, it's unbelievable.

James Palmer (20:44)

I gotta.

Chase Daniel (20:45)

I'm breaking him down right after this call on. On the YouTube. So check it out.

James Palmer (20:48)

Just keep me on. I won't say anything. I'll just stay on while you're breaking it down. Listen. Yeah, I just want to listen to the live. I just want to listen to the live breakdown. All right. We also know that a division is up for grabs. Not as complicated as the NFC South. It's the AFC north, and that is the Ravens, and that is the Steelers. In Pittsburgh, the winner goes to the postseason, the loser goes home. Chase. I also think asking around the league, there's just a different feel around both of these organizations than there's been in years past. Could this be what happens if the Steelers lose and an aging roster and Mike Tomlin decides, you know, guys, I might want to step away, try something different. Does he do TV for a year? Do they want him to be part of the rebuild? They'll never fire him, but just a different field. In years past with one of the best coaches in football, you could say the same thing for John Harbaugh. When a lot of people had them as their super bowl pick, myself included, I think Diana on the show did as well. With as good as that roster has been. What do you think about this matchup? What are you looking for specifically? Not just in this game, but moving forward. Maybe whoever gets it will get the four seed, the loser eliminated. Let's start with the Ravens, and I'm assuming we want to see Derrick Henry.

Chase Daniel (21:57)

Well, Derek Henry, I mean, it's just like, hey, like, just feed him the rock. Forty carries, like, this is a winner.

James Palmer (22:02)

Go home game.

Chase Daniel (22:04)

Just give them, give them the ball. Like Lamar Jackson is going to play. I don't know. Sue Puntley. I don't know, but like, I just think that's sort of what the Ravens have not done this year. They've gotten away from it. Obviously. Lamar has been hurt in and out. Just hasn't been a good year for them. He's, even when he played, has not looked good. But my thing is, like, I think a more interesting point to this is, do you really think, James, that if the Steelers lose or the Ravens lose, both those head coaches, do you think they will actually, like, happen to go? I hear all this stuff about going into tv, like, that's even more crazy to me is these are legendary coaches.

James Palmer (22:40)

Why do you think that? Why do you think that's on the table now? Who did it work for?

Chase Daniel (22:44)

Well, I mean, I know Sean Payton. I got it.

James Palmer (22:46)

But, but I mean, along a very long tenured coach with one team with a lot of success, and when a team needed to go through essentially a change like, like New Orleans was going to go through, because that's the team that maybe kicked the can down the road more than anybody in terms of just never admitting that we need to kind of rebu this thing. Sean kind of lets them reset. Kell Moore comes in, who I think has done a good job. They might have their quarterback, like you mentioned in Kyler Schuck. He takes a year to evaluate and figures it out. I, I think, I'm, I'm just saying, I think, and I know this because we work in television, that everybody would be clamoring for Mike Tomlin to be a part of the broadcast. Oh, yeah. 100%.

Chase Daniel (23:24)

You think he'd call games or you think it'd be studio.

James Palmer (23:27)

Studio analyst. Yeah, 100%. I mean, a little more time to talk. Yeah.

Chase Daniel (23:32)

More time with your family.

James Palmer (23:33)

Cool 10. You know, cool 10. Just. I mean, but also. And you call games and you've done. Yeah, he fits studio better just because there's more time. Obviously, you're not in much of as much of a rush. You have to be really snappy on those games. Chase will do that during the Orange bowl. Certainly. I. I'm looking at. Honestly, whoever plays quarterback, and we've seen this from Snoop Hundley is don't turn the ball over. Yeah, that's. I really think that's how the Ravens will win this game. This defense in Pittsburgh relies on turnovers big time. I mean, that's how they play defense. They're fourth in the NFL with a plus 11 turnover differential. They have 98 points off of turnovers. Only the Bears and the Jags have scored more. Snoop Huntley hasn't turned the ball over in any of his action this year. I think that's massive. The other part is if TJ Watt does return, they want him to. Obviously this isn't an injury. This is a medical procedure. And it's obviously a different type of thing. And that's why Mike Tomlin wants him to practice in full for a week before he returns. I think whether it's Snoop or Lamar, I think his ability to read the read option, read the option game at the edge might be the best in football. And that's a difference maker in how this Ravens offense could operate. What do you just.

Chase Daniel (24:42)

Yeah, I just don't know how the Steelers are going to score points.

James Palmer (24:45)

That's what I wanted to get to. Yeah. What's your take on what? Aaron Rodgers, obviously maybe the greatest thrower of the football of all time. What do we see with no DK Metcalf, which in this game, when they played each other last year, last time this season, I believe he had seven catches for 148 yards, 12 targets. He was their passing offense. He has been their passing offense. What does Aaron do? Do they use this tight end room that he loves? But also, oh, no. Darnell Washington is out with the broken forearm. It's very interesting to see what they're going to do. Any takes on what the week has been of. How do we do this?

Chase Daniel (25:20)

Well, look, I just don't. They just. They're not explosive. I think that's the biggest thing in this offense is that Baltimore is going to be able to sit in a two high shell looks, try to stop the just keep everything in front. Look, Rogers is really good getting the ball out of his hands quickly but you got Adam Thielen and MVS out there as you're starting receivers. Donna Washington's out, DK Metcast, Scotty Miller is Scotty Miller and I just look, they have to be really good at drawing up plays that get open. They got to figure out a way to get the football down the field. They can't just live in the quick game. They can't just live in a 43 year old quarterback scrambling out and talking crap to the Ravens team like we saw him do early this year. It's just, just it's one of those things where if the Ravens defense comes to play, like I just don't know how many points the Steelers are going to score that to be completely honest with you, it's going to be hard.

James Palmer (26:11)

I think that's the toughest part because also in the la, you know we remember how, how terrible this Ravens defense started the season. Right. Chase we were talking about through the first five, six weeks. Well after that, I mean they have like arguably the best third down defense in football. Arguably the best red zone defense in football from like one definitely played better. Those are two things that the Steelers are going to have to do. When you can't have explosive plays, you got to convert third downs and against this Ravens team that you may be limited possessions. If they do run the football with Derek Henry well, which by the way, if Lamar's not playing, he gets 8.1 more yards, 8.1 more carries per game this season when it's a backup quarterback compared to Lamar. So we'll see what happens.

Chase Daniel (26:49)

So you're saying take the over in rushing yards on Derek Henry?

James Palmer (26:51)

I would say that might be the smart play and it is kind of ironic I'll say with George Pickens and everything he did off the field and all the issues they had with him. They said we got to get him out of the building. Well, he has an all pro season in Dallas and now we have Deacon Metcalf suspended due to off the field issues. In this last game. The receiver you brought in to replace him, Irani. Irani Ironic.

Chase Daniel (27:12)

Iron ii.

James Palmer (27:15)

How do you say it? Iron ironic. There we go. Ninth time's the charm, James. Coming up on Scoop City on a Thursday, we're going to talk about some New Year's resolutions perhaps for the Rams, the Packers, the Bills, what do they like to have happen in 2026. Happy New Year everybody. We'll be back. Think enterprise software is too costly, too complex and takes too long to get up and running? Think again. Workday Go makes simplifying your small or mid sized business simple. HR and finance together on one powerful AI platform right at your fingertips. Workday Go gets you live fast and fits the needs of your business. Find out what Workday Go can do for you. Go with Workday Go.

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James Palmer (28:32)

Stand clear of the closing doors, please.

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James Palmer (29:08)

Happy New Year. Welcome back to Scoop City on a Thursday. James Palmer, Chase, Daniel with you. We're going to talk some New Year's resolutions. I'm dressed for it, so I'm going to dish them out. Chase, we're going to start with Los Angeles Rams. At one point, just a few weeks ago, they were controlling their own destiny for the number one seed. Now they're sitting at possibly the sixth seed in the NFC postseason. They end up losing to the Falcons. There have been some issues of late. Perhaps, maybe a leaky run defense. Perhaps Matthew Stafford turning the football over like he didn't earlier in the season. What would be your New Year's resolution for the Rams, who I still believe might be the most dangerous team in the postseason if they have everybody healthy and put it all together. New Year's resolution for Sean McVeigh and his group is what?

Chase Daniel (29:51)

I don't. That's a. That's a tough one because it's like they looked unbeatable for a while, then all of a sudden it's a little bit of a leaky run. I mean, but you're playing Bijan Robinson.

James Palmer (30:00)

And then I know I did. I will say I did text some people. I was like, hey, Is. Is. Is there an issue with the Rams defense or is that the best player on the planet? They're like, dude, best player on the planet. 176 yards after contact. They didn't block anybody.

Chase Daniel (30:14)

That's crazy.

James Palmer (30:15)

That's Bijan right there. So maybe that's part of it.

Chase Daniel (30:17)

That. Yeah, that's part. But also, like, the easy thing would have been to say, hey, a better special teams. But then they scored and their Falcons game, right? They blocked the kick, right?

James Palmer (30:28)

Blocks it, returns it himself.

Chase Daniel (30:30)

Blocks it, returns it himself. Jared Verse, they're an interesting team. I think, obviously, like, the. The easy thing would be like, hey, Matthew Savage, stop turning the football over. You know what's crazy is, like, they had the number one seed in their site. They had home field throughout out. They had an MVP locked up. And all those things are, I think, probably gone the way you think.

James Palmer (30:51)

He's on your. Dude.

Chase Daniel (30:52)

I think when you. When you throw three interceptions. Yeah, when you throw three interceptions. And it's just if Drake ends up continuing to play hot, I mean, Drake has been really steady all year long. And same with Stafford. There's really no dips or anything like that. I. I just think. I mean, obviously, the betting favorites. Drake may. I think it's very close, but I think would just be like, hey, like, when they get behind, they're not as good.

James Palmer (31:16)

And they.

Chase Daniel (31:17)

Look, here's the thing for. For all that being said in all these issues, they almost came back and won. Like, Puka almost had the best catch ever.

James Palmer (31:23)

That was unbelievable. I mean, people got mad at me on Twitter when I was like, oh, that's a catch. And until we saw the last replay, and everybody's like, yeah, you're wrong. I'm like, okay, bro, I saw the next replay. When you saw the next replay. Relax.

Chase Daniel (31:34)

Just causing Twitter beef over here. But, yeah, I just think this thing not. Not like turning the football over. And they. They know who they are. You know what's interesting, too, is, is like, for at least the last three years, we've seen the Rams sort of struggle early in the year, and then they get going late in the year. This year's a little different, where they got going early in the year. Then as the playoffs are here, they're sort of starting to struggle a little bit more. Hopefully that's not an indication. Hopefully they can keep it going.

James Palmer (32:02)

Yeah, you know what? That's a great point, because what did Sean McVay do when he took the podium down there in Atlanta immediately after that game? Oh, we're Playing our guy in week 18. That was not what he did, obviously, last year. Remember, they rested them in week 18 and then they wanted to be healthy going into this postseason run. I think he has a sense chase of exactly what you described of, hey, we're playing great football early. We've kind of had a couple missteps here. We need to play Everybody in week 18, get back to this Rams football that we're used to seeing. And I think it is difficult on Stafford. We know how good him and Devonte Adams are in the red zone. With Adams off the field, it's just a little bit of a different. Different offense from the 20 and in. Especially in the short area. Yeah, red zone. And then you're missing your two best offensive linemen as well. Let's not over, you know, overlook that at all. What's happened there for. For this Rams, Rams offense as well. I still think they're very, very dangerous, but I think the. The New Year's resolution would be, hey, we changed. We changed what we're doing in our first game of the new year from what we did last year. And let's see if that carries over into the postseason. All right, how about the Bills? Did you like that? They decided to go for two very quickly. Yes or no?

Chase Daniel (33:08)

Yeah, yeah, I did. I did. And it was not even like a.

James Palmer (33:12)

The throw.

Chase Daniel (33:12)

Was there a thought. And McDermott was like, let's go to even before that, you know, so I did like it. The throw was there. Just missed it.

James Palmer (33:20)

Yeah. Okay, so New Year's resolution for Josh Allen and the Bills, as they will have in week 18, their final, perhaps final game at Highmark Stadium. I've spent many days there on that sideline just absolutely, just frozen to my core.

Commercial/Announcer (33:37)

Yeah.

James Palmer (33:37)

What do you want to see in terms of a new resolution heading into 2026 in this postseason from Josh Allen and the Bills?

Chase Daniel (33:43)

I want to see someone else step up other than Josh Allen. James Cook. I want to see a receiver. I want to see somebody else take over the game and be like, I'm going to make a play. Josh Allen. You can just feel the angst in Josh Allen when it's like nut cutting time. It's just like, hey, you're going to sit there and you're just like, I got to make a play. I got to make a play. And more often than not, he does, does. And for how horrible he looked. I mean, they look bad, James. They looked bad for three and a half quarters. All of a sudden, the last two drives a game, boom, boom, Boom.

James Palmer (34:11)

Touchdown catch.

Chase Daniel (34:12)

Yeah. David Tyreek, catch all that stuff. I want to see someone else take over and be like, I can be that guy. Like, just, just. It's a mentality and they got to work on it and it just hasn't happened. The receiver room is a lot to left to be desired, I think. And it's one of those things where Josh Allen just feels the pressure to be perfect every single game. And more often than not, he has been. But when he's not, someone else needs to step up.

James Palmer (34:41)

Yeah. And he still leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards. Obviously all quarterbacks and rushing touchdowns. He's third in the NFL in that. The foot to me would be a New Year's resolution. Like, we keep getting an X rayed after every game, so obviously something is really bothering him. And you're right, that plays into, I think, this weight on his shoulders going forward. Like, I feel like I gotta do a lot before I move on. I have a really quick question for you because I talked to a defensive coach who went against him in the last several weeks and he said, you know, the funny thing about Josh is he is a magician, a warrior. Unbelievable what he's doing this year. When he's off script, it is. It is nearly impossible for us to figure out defensively how to defend him with everything that he can do, how long he holds the ball, how he can wait at the line of scrimmage but still burn you with his legs, all these things. But he said it's something interesting going. But when he's in structure and the play is within the pocket in structure, we don't fear him a ton.

Chase Daniel (35:33)

Yeah.

James Palmer (35:34)

What does that mean? Is that part of what's happening with the offense, with lack of production from the outside? What do you think that means when I'm being told that?

Chase Daniel (35:42)

Well, I just think that obviously his superpower is extending plays with his feet, obviously rushing yards, rushing touchdowns in the red zone, all this stuff. But when he's in rhythm and going, it's not like they're throwing the ball deep down the field. I mean, they got some play action stuff, but it's like, hey, 1, 2, 3, let's throw a hit shot. 1, 2, 3, let'S throw an in route. It's one of those things where you almost want him to stay in structure because he's not.

James Palmer (36:04)

Yes. It's not as detrimental to you as a.

Chase Daniel (36:07)

It's not as detrimental to you. You can continue. Like, that's how people have gotten the best. I think of Buffalo is like when they just make Josh. When they don't allow him to escape the pocket, they make him play in structure, and they don't give up the big play outside from these scrambles. That's when Josh Allen has struggled because it's really for anyone. It's like, hey, when you continually doing that, you get a little bit bored. Like, the whole thing is like, don't go. Don't go broke taking a profit. Which means, like, as a. As a quarterback, just take completion, take. At some point, you're going to get bored. And he wants to make these superman plays. That's when he's dangerous. I think defensive quarters are trying to get him to play boring because the big play is not there as much.

James Palmer (36:46)

Yeah, I love that. And I always thought, and I still believe it to this day, that is what separated Tom Brady from everyone, because he never got frustrated, never got bored, ever. You're going to give me the check down. I will take it 100 times in a row, and I will never get bored of doing it. I still think that's the different part of him from Manning to anybody. All right, how about to the Green Bay Packers? We know they're the only team essentially just locked into where they're at right now. And that's the seven seed. I believe, for the third consecutive season, they are the seven seed. What would be a new Year's resolution for Matt LaFleur and his group as they head into the postseason, who I still think are a dangerous team? Chase, I don't think anybody wants to play the Packers.

Chase Daniel (37:25)

Yeah, this one's. The packers are the weirdest team. Like, I want to believe in them so much because you see their roster, they look unstoppable. So my mind would be consistency, right? My mind would be consistency offensively and defensively. Get Jordan Love healthy. I think Jordan Love has actually played really well this year. He's been pretty consistent. Healthy for the most part of the year. I think it's just the consistency level. Early, like middle of the year, they tried to get too tricky on offense. Just run your base, Chase. 10, 15, 12 plays and do it a bunch of different ways and just do that. There's a lot of motion searching this.

James Palmer (38:03)

That was that them searching Chase. When they lost, remember, they lose Tucker Kraft, who was kind of their best weapon, was that stretch them trying to figure out, okay, this is our intermediate passing game. This is what we do with this. Is that them searching a little bit, you think?

Chase Daniel (38:16)

I think so. I think they're searching to try to find their. I think it took a long time to find who they were, were and I think that they, they know who they are. That's a run first team. They, they do a lot of really cool stuff running the football. But as long as Jordan Love is out there and LaFleur is out there, like he's still one of the better offensive minds in the game. They just got to be consistent. Like in, in just. It's, it's going to always come down to consistency with the Green Bay packers because one week they look good. Obviously, you know, losing Micah and that's, that's never a good thing, especially for a playoff run. But I think that defense has played pretty well for the most part.

James Palmer (38:51)

Yeah, I think it's just going to fall on Jeff Hafley shoulders and you look at what he's tried to do, whether it's simulating pressure, pressure, a lot more pressure. He's brought more blitz type stuff since they've lost Micah Parsons. Trying to figure out a way to get some of that, that pressure on the quarterbacks. But I think he still leads the team in sacks, tackles for loss, pressure. I think still is that good. So. Yeah. Was he doing all right? I think he was fine. Before we, we go to break, I do want your take on Malik Willis and obviously Chase. You've played the position for a very long time. This is a small sample size, but when I ask around the league, people are going, this might be something like there were some things I liked. And now it seems like he might have went to a very good, let's just say it. And maybe people, you know, Ed Policy should listen to this. Matt lafor is a very good coach and a very good offensive mind. It was nice to sit there and maybe learn a little bit from Malik Willis. What have we seen from him? Because we might not see him again in a Packers uniform, honestly. And he might get paid this offseason.

Chase Daniel (39:49)

Yeah, you're not going to see him in a Packers uniform. He is going to get paid for sure. He's the top free agent quarterback in my opinion. And I think the thing that I like about him is early in his career just wasn't sure about how he was as a passer. It was like, oh, okay, he's a good runner. But when you get into a system and when you get into an offensive play caller like lafleur and you can actually sit there and learn and you don't have the pressure as a young quarterback to play and play often and play early and you can sit back on the sideline and just sort of see how Jordan Love runs it. Oh, that's how it's supposed to look.

James Palmer (40:21)

Okay.

Chase Daniel (40:22)

Now it'll be interesting to see where, where he goes. There's not. There's not a lot of teams that need quarterbacks that are as well set up as the Packers. Right. Like the Colts come to mind a little bit. I'm just saying, like, you know, we'll see, but I don't know. I mean, I think this is going to be a good guy. I wonder what the contract contract will look like. Is it going to be like that 12 to 18 million dollars range one where you're the bridge starter? You're going to get like Justin Field contract for the jets, like, are you going to get 20? Like, it'll be interesting to see, but hopefully as a good agent.

James Palmer (40:58)

Yeah, hopefully it's going to. Yeah, I asked around about that yesterday a little bit, going with a couple of GMs, assistant GM, like, what do you think would be in play for Malik Willis for contract wise? I said 15, 20 million. Is that going to be reached? And they were like, like, that's a little reach, but with incentives that could be reached. And that could be essentially. That was an interesting way. It was put to me that that's how the contract could be structured. You mentioned 12, 14. Maybe it's somewhere in that range. And he has the ability to get to 20 or something. He has the ability to get to 18. That seems to be where teams are at. It was funny. I did talk to a team that said, man, we really liked him and we have a quarterback. We're kind of hoping we could bring him in as our backup. That's now completely not happening. They're like, that is not happening for us now. And we really like him. Him thought he could come in, but that's. That's not happening here. All right, I am dressed to the nines. I am going to tell everybody what my plan always is with the family on New Year's. I'm curious what Chase's is. Do we lie about when the ball drops? Do we show the one that happened in London sometime mid afternoon and just say, oh yeah, and then you got to go to bed. We're going to talk about New Year's and whether it's still important or not. Ryan Seacrest, cover yours. Coming up next, Scoob City. We interrupt your regularly scheduled podcast with some breaking news. Millions of people are now playing the mobile puzzle game Royal Kingdom. This is not a drill. Royal Kingdom has thousands of levels and is incredibly fun. What's that? I'm hearing from my producer that it has no ads and it is completely free to download. What's next? You're gonna tell me it doesn't need wifi?

Chase Daniel (42:31)

This just in.

James Palmer (42:33)

Royal Kingdom doesn't need wi fi to play.

Chase Daniel (42:35)

Hey.

James Palmer (42:35)

We will continue to keep you updated as this story develops, but get it today and see for yourself. Download it on the Google Play or App Store today.

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Chase Daniel (44:21)

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Chase Daniel (44:58)

We do.

James Palmer (44:58)

I know you guys like to spend a little time out there on the ranch. Maybe that's where I picked it up. How about this, Chase? What is the take on the Daniel household? About, like, New Year's? Does it still matter? Is it fun? Do you do anything? What is. What happens?

Chase Daniel (45:16)

I mean, obviously not. We're not getting dressed up in a tux like you, but. No, we. It's over.

James Palmer (45:22)

Overrated. Dude.

Chase Daniel (45:23)

It was cool. High school in high school.

James Palmer (45:26)

Oh, yeah, right.

Chase Daniel (45:27)

Like, it was. It was like a job. My parents would get dressed up and they'd go out. We'd have a babysitter and be fun and it'd be, you know, we'd stay up and stuff. Honestly, our kids, I don't know if our kids. Our kids are 8, 5, and 4. I don't know if they've ever seen the ball drop. Like, we're on the west coast, so. Ball drops nine. We watched the New York Ball drops nine. I'm in. I'm in bed. Most times by nine, I'm right. I'm calling a game today in Miami. Like, I wasn't home yesterday. I wasn't any of that stuff. So I think my wife would love for me to be there, but it's even. She says it's over. If the wife says it's overrated, then we're good. Like, I just. I don't know. I just, for whatever reason, it just doesn't hit the same anymore.

James Palmer (46:09)

I don't know.

Chase Daniel (46:09)

It's not like I'm going out and partying at the clubs and seriously, I.

James Palmer (46:14)

I'm just that I didn't know you had a babysitter in high school while New Year's was happening, which I thought was a bit interesting. We always knew the house that you would go to for New Year's, right? In high school, you're like, you know, those parents are throwing a New Year's party and everybody's cool if they stay here. And that was always the situation. But, like, as I got into my career, in our careers and ways, the number of times I have been trying to sleep with a pillow over my head in a hotel room on New Year's Eve because I'm getting up at like 4 in the morning to do game day morning for NFL Network, and I'm at a stadium. I remember one time, oh, this is great. I was in Miami doing a game at Hard Rock. Hey, on New Year's Day, Dolphins. I can't remember who they were playing, but my drive to Hard Rock stadium at like 4:30 in the morning to be there early enough for. For all the work I have to do at the stadium was terrifying because I'm like, am I the only sober person on this road?

Chase Daniel (47:08)

For sure.

James Palmer (47:09)

I was like, I need to get to. I need to get to the stadium, like, now. Who else is out on the road right now other than me at four in the morning going to work?

Chase Daniel (47:17)

So getting the party started in Miami.

James Palmer (47:19)

That time, people are just, yeah, you're there right now, man. You know, I don't know. I. My son's gonna.

Chase Daniel (47:24)

He'll.

James Palmer (47:24)

He'll stay up. He's become a night owl now that he's 13, so he'll. He'll be up, but it's not the same as it used to be. But it is still fun if you go like we go to a friend's house, have like a nice dinner, somebody cooks nice and everything. And then like, I think everybody's out of gas. And at like 12:05, everybody's like, all right, we're ubering out of here. We're getting home. Home.

Chase Daniel (47:43)

That's late for me, man.

James Palmer (47:45)

You're not hanging.

Chase Daniel (47:46)

Yeah, well, yeah.

James Palmer (47:47)

I'm not saying it doesn't affect me the next day.

Chase Daniel (47:51)

Yes, absolutely.

James Palmer (47:52)

It's. It definitely. Yeah. You know, it's just. It might be a little slow. I need a workout the next morning and sweat it out. Chase, have a great call tonight.

Chase Daniel (48:02)

Appreciate it.

James Palmer (48:03)

I'll be listening. I'm not gonna lie, because this is a big deal. So enjoy that. We will see you next week when we're going to be chatting postseason football. Who's playing who? What are we looking for on Scoop City? Enjoy it, everybody. Merry New Year.

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James Palmer (48:22)

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Chase Daniel (48:40)

One sec, sweetie.

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James Palmer (48:43)

Mommy, I think your kid is walking up the slide. Kyle. Again?

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