← Sharp or Square
Sharp or Square
NFL DIVISIONAL WEEKEND REACTIONS: Rams-Bears, Texans-Patriots, Broncos-Bills, Niners-Seahawks
00:34:10
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- [00:00]
Narrator/Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
Chad Millman
Guaranteed Human.
- [00:04]
Narrator/Announcer
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- [01:03]
Podcast Promo Host
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- [01:33]
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- [02:34]
Chad Millman
Welcome to Sharper Square presented by Hard Rock Bat. We are part of the Volume Podcast network. This is the show that makes the square sharper, makes the wise guys pay attention. I am Chad Millman. I am joined, as always, by my bff, my co host, my companion, my compadre professional better Simon Hunter. Hello, Simon.
- [02:59]
Simon Hunter
Chad. How we feeling, buddy? You doing all right? The highs and lows of being a Bears fan. All in. All in one game.
- [03:05]
Chad Millman
Listen.
- [03:07]
Simon Hunter
I'm listening.
- [03:09]
Chad Millman
I watched that play and as you can imagine, I'm like, oh, no, oh, no, oh, no, oh, no. And when he throws it 50 yards to the back of the end zone over two Los Angeles Rams, and it's a touchdown. I called my house because, you know, I'm in Miami. So I called my house because my son is still home from break and no words were spoken because he's got a bunch of people over at the house. And it was. It sounded like it was Soldier Field. There was so much screaming going on. And because I'm in hotel, I can't do the same thing. But I'm like, did we get Patrick Mahomes? Did we get Michael Jordan? Did we get Josh Allen? And then I felt it again when he got that third down and short in the overtime. I'm like, the guy is just so cool. And then he throws a pick and the Rams kick a field goal and they cover and they break our heart because the Bears don't go to the NFC title game and we don't cover. So, Simon, we're going to get into that game. No doubt. Just glorious. I have so many thoughts. I have so many thoughts. A wild weekend of football. You know, we didn't even bet the Broncos and Bills in the contest. But we're going to probably want to talk about that game more than any of them. Pour one out for our buddy Matt Mitchell. I feel terrible for him. So we're one and four again this week. Back to back. First time that's ever happened. Lost in the most gut wrenching ways so many times. Seattle, San Francisco under 45 and a half. San Francisco plus seven and a half. New England minus three and a half was the win. New England, Houston under 40 and a half. And of course the Rams minus four and a half. I think our last ones out were the Broncos, Bills over which of course cash by more than two touchdowns. So that was a kick in the dick. You ready to get into this thing still, brother? You know what? Let's just. All right, let's start with Seattle, San Francisco. The under was 45 and a half. The side was seven and a half. You know, we talked a lot about this game. We thought it would go one of two ways. We thought Seattle would blow them out and the way the. The game would go because of the injuries for the Giant, for the Niners, they just wouldn't be able to score that much or it'd be really close. It's why it was Chad's choice. And it would be tight and low scoring. It was the former. The problem was when you give off a kickoff return, then you give up a field goal, off a fumble and then you give up a touchdown and off interception later in the game. They still only covered by the overall only overcover by one point. But it's like the Niners were doing everything they could to help the Seahawks score touchdowns. And the Seahawks were doing everything they could to not score touchdowns.
- [06:17]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, that was just another total meltdown by the 49ers, which I can't believe just because the game beforehand. You know, two weeks ago, you know, the obviously only scored three points 49ers. You just thought Kyle would figure out a way to attack that defense. Right. He's one of the smartest minds in football. But you know, he struggled, Purdy struggled. And just like you said, the. The start of the game, I thought the under was going to be dead. You get a kick return like that with low totals, it's like, okay, gonna need a little help. Gonna need one quarterback to not show up today. And I mean, I'm not saying Darnold didn't show up. I think he only had 12 completions. Neither quarterback had a great game. Just the defense. The Seattle defense was so dominant. Every possession was on a short field for their offense. And yeah, I mean they're looking like the best team in football right now. 41 points. They absolutely dominated that entire game. And bad, bad. But it's not so much on the total. Like you said, bad beat on the total. But 49. Her side. We joked a little bit, or at least I did that. You know, I had a couple people asking, is this just like the Carolina number? Right? That number was -7 half on Seattle. They nailed it, right? There was just no contest. Seattle totally bit beat the bricks off that 49ers team. And you know that's. It's tough. You know, like you said, it's. It's never. It's never that easy when you're taking big dogs like that. But we had the seven and a half, the clothes and a lot of books. Six and a half. And it's like didn't even matter. Those. Take your good number and go. Go home with it. It's. We're going to absolutely dominate this team. So it was what was 17? Nothing. First quarter. Never felt like we ever even had a chance getting even, a back door. I think they settled for the first field goal. They go down again and kick another field one. It's like, okay, that's how Shanahan's playing this game. He's settling for. For threes here. And that. That was it for the 49ers team just totally outclassed by, you know, a healthier, better team right now than Seattle.
- [08:07]
Chad Millman
Look, it was so frustrating. I landed in Miami last night at 10:30, and I think when I was in a cab on the way back from the airport, the Seahawks went up 34 to 6. And I knew next touchdown. And there's still a quarter left in the game, and they still barely scored another touchdown. They were only doing it because the Niners were giving them zero choices. Like they had to do something with the ball, right? They, like, they were just too close not to move. So I do think it'll be curious, you know, now we got a Rams, Seahawks NFC title game. The two probably best teams in the NFC all season are. Are playing each other, which is great. You want that to be the case. But Wild, man, totally wild. And. And like. Well, we'll talk about that. We'll talk about that in a second because I do want to get back to the. To the Bears game in a second. The other game, the New England Houston game. Another one. Simon, let me go through this. Matt Mitchell, I apologize, I'm jumping around on the. The rundown here. But. But we're gonna go to New England for a second. It was the second time this weekend we had the under 40 and a half. We had New England minus three and a half. Good call by you, by the way. For the second time, our total completely undone by turnovers. Simon. Eight turnovers, plus a couple more fumbles that were recovered by the fumbling team. Wild game. Let me give you some context here. First touchdown was off of a fumble, a 27 yard drive. Second touchdown was a pick six. Then there was a field goal off of the pick. These are the scores. 17 points directly after a turnover. 17 of the 44 points the rest of the game. 13 punts and a turnover on downs. So if not for the turnovers, I don't even know if there were 30 points in this game. Like, we were so on about this game, except neither team seemed to want to let the Other team have to drive the length of the field. It was. It was excruciating. Completely excruciating.
- [10:34]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. And honestly though, I. I thought CJ would struggle in the weather. That was, like you said, shocking because of how bad he was with the ball the week before. You would think the biggest thing they would they coach into him this past week is just like, hey, you can take risk if you need to, but just be safe. We have the best defense. Like, if you don't give short fields, we're going to be able to put our weight into this New England team, which they did. I mean, they're down. Their defense was dominant in that game. Like you said, New England had 21 points. I think they had 130 yards, though. It was like the most bizarre stat they were showing. But yeah, I mean, can we not give a ton of props to Drake May? Three touchdown passes against that defense, you know, big time again, again. He was stupid too, with the ball. What do you have? Two fumbles he lost. I mean, he was terrible holding on to the ball for too long and, you know, that was just a game where we were just trying to survive with the under. And I honestly always felt like eventually New England would break through and they were going to cover that number just because it just felt like CJ was totally lost, like he was never going to find it. Another stat they put up there. I think in his last seven pass attempts, he had thrown three picks. It was just a total anomaly. So, you know, I know Bears fans have been running around that meme since. Since he tried to tell Kayla Williams he's gonna be a great player this week. Which once again, he was right. I don't know why they beat him down about it, but the stats are insane about how bad CJ has been. So I know what they're gonna do. It's a quarterback that is a rookie. He was incredible. And from having bad offensive line play, it feels like they've ruined him where it's like he's got happy feet and his decision making was really pissed poor because like you said, their defense was so good, like they don't have anything. And yeah, New England now a game away, playing a backup quarterback for to the Super Bowl. We would talk all the time like a quarterback with the right head coach. It's just crazy how it just changes everything. And yeah, I, I think Milan Williams was talking about he never thought in his life coming obviously from the Eagles to that team for a bag of money. He was like, I thought it was gonna be A three, four year rebuild, not two years. And I know Caleb didn't do it. He didn't come through obviously and they didn't win that game. But we were a play away from him not throwing that pick away. Throwing that pick that we would have four quarterbacks all in the championship game. All brand new basically to these teams. All them have been on these teams for less than two years. So it was a pretty wild. I mean no Stafford's in there now, but still. Yeah, these, these second year quarterbacks. Incredible. Almost have three of them the championship finals.
- [13:08]
Chad Millman
Well look, we would have been if not for Bo Nix breaking his ankle on the second to last play of the game before they win that game in overtime. And look, that was a great call by you. Simon says was the Broncos plus one and a half. And of course the very first thing that I said this week in that game was I feel like I want to take the over. I know we're talking about the best defense with the Broncos, but these two teams lighted up in the second half and, and then we completely chickened out on that bet when it came to putting our picks in. And look, we're all going to feel terrible for Josh Allen, but I do want to point out at the end of the game that the tools he was working with were me call Hardman who if he had run that route a little bit flatter to the left instead of fading a field then he probably catches that ball. That was the one right before. And by the way, Michael Hartman, who had just gotten off the practice squad so he's barely got any practice time. He hadn't been on the team all year. And then Brandon Cooks who caught that ball and then didn't catch that ball. He's been on the team for a month. I mean if I'm the Bills, if I'm the Bills, I don't care what it costs. I know I have Josh Allen and I've seen what Josh Allen did with so little help this year. I'm giving up whatever it takes to get the Steelers to let me have Mike Tomlin. Because you just said it, Simon. The coach makes such a difference and we've seen what a difference he makes with such bad quarterbacks, what he could do with Josh Allen.
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Simon Hunter
I don't care who else is on the team potentially. I mean the man is 0 and 7 or whatever his last playoff games. Tomlin. So I don't know what they're going to do. But the first step is what you just said, firing Sean McDermott. I mean if you had an owner with a pulse as a Bills, he never would have got off that plane. Especially when he's calling up a reporter on the plane complaining about the refs where it's like, dude, own it, own it. Like Josh Allen. Yeah. Was that sucked that he cried? Because it's not a good look. I know you probably have compassion because once again Chad has kids. I don't love kids. So seeing a grown man cry like that, get your together. But I get why he's so hurt. Four turnovers. He is. No, there's. You can't blame the refs in the game. You have no where 3 points decides the game.
- [15:34]
Chad Millman
3 points off of a fumble at the end of the first half.
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Simon Hunter
That's my point right there. That, that to me you just now where it's like, that's why you need to fire your head coach. If you maybe a Tomlin does have the ball, just say hey man, we have 17 seconds, no timeouts. I get it. You want to get every point, just take the knee, go into half. And yeah, they're just, you know, he, he, he knows that he missed the guy there at the end too where you know, he probably could have got a touchdown or whatever with Kincaid. But you know, like you said Josh, they've been failing them. We've been talking about, they've, they've tried to get him a number one receiver. It just does not work since they let Diggs go. You know, even Gabe Davis, I know he's not obviously that great, but you see Diggs making plays for New England, it's like couldn't they use a digs? They could use a digs type. It's just Josh Allen's are missing that. So I don't know. Gotta fire the coach. Gotta spend a ton of capital obviously. But that, that, that game to me, I mean it sucks. Obviously the Broncos fans, but Bo Nix, what a game by him. I, I honestly, yeah, a roller coaster of a game where it's like, you know, the Bills defense were getting stops, they kept getting those turnovers and the Bills kept holding them for field goals which again that was the most shocking part of that game. They kept getting stops and bonix big time at the end of the game, you know, they couldn't run the ball lick. I think he had to throw the ball 46 times or 45 times and they won that game. So I, I really couldn't get over watching it. Like you said, you know, I'd bet it. I, I think I had or at least I gave on the show them first half as well.
- [17:06]
Chad Millman
Yeah, we did do the, the Broncos.
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Simon Hunter
First half and that to me was the game changer of the game where I was just hoping for three and he took that deep shot for a touchdown. It's like, okay, this is, this is a moment. Bo Nix is living up to it. That was a big time throw before the halftime and obviously they got gifted to three and that was just a total game changer. So, yeah, sucks we. We missed on that one. I will say I went back to. Look, I did give you a 5050 chance. I said it's up to you, Chad. Rams or Broncos? Unfortunately, you. You, you went Rams. Which again, I, I get it, you're trying to protect against your feelings. But. But also I do think we're scary betting up against the. Getting against Josh Allen is terrifying. So.
- [17:49]
Chad Millman
Yes.
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Simon Hunter
So even with whatever that was, you know, four turnovers by him and Cooks, a turnover, still a three point game. Josh Allen, he's just, he's, he's terrifying.
- [17:58]
Chad Millman
The dude was ahead, was behind. He came back with a minute down to tie it. And if not for a quirky 50, 50 ball, they win that game. I mean, that game came down to so many millimeters of judgment calls. Meanwhile, you know, Matt Mitchell and I were talking this morning and he made a really good point. He said if anyone thinks the NFL is rigged, then the NFL would have made sure that Josh Allen, who has created some of the most exciting moments in the NFL playoffs over the last six, seven seasons, who has been in the middle of some of the most exciting games in the NFL playoffs the last six, seven seasons, would make sure that he gets to the AFC title game instead of Jarrett Stidham.
- [18:46]
Simon Hunter
And again, another. I know the reason of fire, Sean McDermott. We all agree Josh Allen's not the problem, even though I guess you could say he was a problem in that game. Four Turners, obviously, but he is the first quarterback and the first coach in NFL history to have eight playoff wins and zero super bowl appearances, which, again, it's. At the end of the day, you look at all the stats over his career in the playoffs, you cannot blame Josh Allen. You just have to fire this head coach. I can't believe he sells a job right now. It's crazy.
- [19:15]
Chad Millman
We're going to dig deep, deep, deep into the Jarrett Stidham starting for the Broncos in the AFC championship game against, excuse me, against Drake May when we get to the show on Tuesday. But for everybody in the world who is freaking out that it's Jared Stidham, starting in the AFC championship game and saying, oh, my God, the Broncos are in serious, serious trouble. I think we all agree. But don't forget, we have all been saying we're not even sure Bo Nix is the answer for about two seasons. So I don't know if we want to overreact to the fact that it's not Bo Nix. I'm not saying it's good as Jared Stidham, but Bo Nix has not been Joe Montana yet. So to me, the reaction in this is just hilarious that all of a sudden it's like. Because it's. But it's Bo Nicks and it's. It's not Bo Nix. The reactions have been enormously funny.
- [20:10]
Simon Hunter
To me, that was very disrespectful to Bo Nicks. I think Stenom is one in three in his career. And he's just.
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Chad Millman
I'm not saying. Listen. I'm just saying for two years, people have been ripping Bo Nicks saying he's not even that good.
- [20:23]
Simon Hunter
And.
- [20:23]
Chad Millman
And now all of a sudden, everyone's like, how can the Broncos get to the super bowl without Bo Nicks? That's all I'm saying.
- [20:28]
Simon Hunter
It's true.
- [20:30]
Chad Millman
Matt Mitchell has a statement that he likes to make at the end of every year. He's unable to get on the camera right now, so I'm just going to make it for him. Producer Matt Mitchell had his guts ripped out by another Buffalo Bills playoff loss because both gamblers and Buffalo fans know that. That it is only through suffering we can truly feel alive. He's asked me to read our annual quotation from 19th century Russian novelist and friend of the show, Fyodor Dostoevsky, because don't forget, we are the most literate sports betting podcast in America. Let me get my glasses on to make sure I don't miss anything here. I exist. In thousands of agonies, I exist. I'm tormented on the rock, but I exist. Though I sit alone in a pillar, I exist. I see the sun. And if I don't see the sun, I know it's there. And there's a whole life in that, in knowing that the sun is there. Matt Mitchell speaks for all gutted football fans, as does our friend Dostoevsky. Hat tip to you, my friend. Hey, listen, don't forget, Simon, I am in Miami right now thanks to our friends at Hard Rock Bet, because I am going to see the Hoosiers play the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Not far away from Hard Rock Stadium, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, home of the Guitar Hotel which is in incredible. I've stayed there, I've played there, I've eaten way too much there. I loved it. They are sponsoring the prize in our pro football pick them contest which is a trip at that exact hotel. I'll be in the sportsbook tomorrow mid afternoon hanging out before I go to my IU tailgates. I'm going to be betting on the Hard Rock bet app. I started doing it today when I got unpacked in Florida. It's been amazing. It's the only legal sports book sports betting app in the state of Florida. Hard Rock will also be handing out profit boost tokens to use at the game. And select VIPs will get instant bonus bets dropped right into their accounts. So be sure to check it out. All right buddy. One last game. We had the Rams minus four and a half at Chicago. Look, the good news is that the bet we really loved we kept telling people to take all week was the under in the first half. 25 and a half, 24 and a half covered. No sweat. Fantastic. 14 quick points. But then things settled down and then as always with the Bears, pure freaking chaos. Holy tamale that Caleb. It's just we talk about coaches, right? Last year he had Matt Eberflus. Can you imagine what a waste of a year it was to have Matt Eberfluss coaching that team. I can't no one tell me the GM knew that Ben Johnson was going to be available and that's when we were going to get him. Like what a waste of a year. And how glorious is Caleb Williams at quarterback? It's, I hope it's not, I hope it's not a Josh Allen thing.
- [23:58]
Simon Hunter
He's good but he's got to find consistency somewhere eventually. That was just the type of game where it's like your defense gave you super bowl worthy game like Brisker. How many times did we hear his name in that game? Just incredible safety play. And McVeigh and Stafford, they acted like they'd never seen a corner of blitz before. It was bizarre. They should have let let you guys up for 400 yards passing. They couldn't figure it out. And on top of that it felt like they could get seven yards a pop anytime they ran it.
- [24:31]
Chad Millman
But they didn't.
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Simon Hunter
McVeigh couldn't stop trying to drop back and just throw the ball. It was very bizarre. You know I, I, I'm, I'm, obviously I'm hurt that we didn't get the COVID I mean that was brutal. But the end of the day, it's like, what are you going to do, people? It was 4th and 4, 25 yard backdrop off his back foot to what probably was a push off. But at the same time, you can't throw a flag there. Even if they. Even if Ran's fans are like, dude, that's clear a push off. Which it was. It's like, dude, you really want them to throw a flag on that type of play. Like they. That's what. Like again, the Bills game, I know, ruined a lot of bad taste in people's mouth. You can't let the refs dictate this stuff. And like, as a bitter Eagles fan from the chief super bowl three years ago, I hate it. So it's like, I love. They let the boys play in that one. They let that play stand because they would have called a penalty there. It just would have been awful. Like again, brutal. We didn't get the COVID But yeah, that, you know, that stat I gave out whole held true. Basically, these. These teams that are dogs in the wild card round, that are dogs again, divisional round. It's just so hard to win whatever it is NFL. It's just so brutal to win as a dog. The books know and you know, coming into this game since 2018, those teams in that exact spot were three and 20 straight up. They went oh and three this weekend. Right. 49ers lost, Bills lost and obviously the Bears lost. So, yeah, that was, you know, Bruno first to get the COVID That one hurt. But yeah, that's, you know, playoff football. It's crazy. And like you said, thank God our biggest and favorite bet on this game was that first half, under which I won't lie to you, Chad, that first drive of the Bears, I'm like, my God, Bears might put up 21 points themselves in this first half, but what happened is that what do we expect, right? They get jitters. You know, I think they failed on the fourth down down the red zone as well. The Bears. And. And at 10, 10 first half, so went way under. I think we got. We gave it out 25 and a half and might have closed at 23 and a half and still hit, but.
- [26:27]
Chad Millman
We gave it out 25 and a half. 24 and a half. It was Chad. It was my choice in sharp versus square, which we'll get to in a second. Let me ask you a question as a. As an impartial better and a professional.
- [26:44]
Simon Hunter
Yeah.
- [26:45]
Chad Millman
This game, that play, it's magnificent. It will go up there as one of the greatest 4th and 4. It's one of the greatest playoff plays that we've seen in a generation.
- [26:55]
Simon Hunter
Anything still? Still no. I'm sorry, buddy. He blew with that pick. It was an incredible play. I mean if you're a Bears fan, that's again, you get, you get, you get 15 more years. I'd be happy. But maybe they shown the highlight reel, but it means, it means nothing. I mean it was an incredible play. But come on now it's.
- [27:16]
Chad Millman
Here's my point.
- [27:17]
Simon Hunter
You're a pick in overtime. Like you should just.
- [27:19]
Chad Millman
No, no, no, no. You're missing it. You're missing it. Hold on. The point is as a sports fan, the opportunity to see that play so you have that happen and actually experience it.
- [27:31]
Simon Hunter
Oh, it's all timer.
- [27:32]
Chad Millman
It's. It was all timer.
- [27:33]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, it was the best.
- [27:34]
Chad Millman
Is it worth it to lose the bet to having seen something like that? Never seen.
- [27:42]
Simon Hunter
I should have. I should have a ton of money in my account. That was a. That's the dumbest way to lose money. It's like an improbable pass. He was deader than dead. Just, you know, he's like we talked. I said come in the league. He's got the same type of ability that. That Rogers Mahomes type, right? This.
- [27:58]
Chad Millman
Yeah.
- [27:59]
Simon Hunter
Weird contortion of their body, back foot. So much raw talent and power in their arm and that's why you love the guy. It's like he. That was not. That's just a true God given ability play. Right. There is no thinking he's thrown off his back foot. Last second corner of his eye. He sees just a flash of color of his own team in that corner and just threw it up like that. Easily could have been a pick as well. So it's just incredible that talented is. He threw it to the only spot his guy was going to be where everything else is going on. So now like you said, it's an incredible play, but it's for nada. So that's what, that's what kind of sucks where it's like, you know, if they would have won, I mean, come on, we'd be talking about that play for non stop for six days. Like it would just be all we could talk about. It's incredible. But yeah, that was, that was a tough loss, brother.
- [28:43]
Chad Millman
I normally, I normally don't feel this way, but I do feel like we had three there. Like last week was a bad week. This week feels like we had just three fluky bad beats this week with those two totals and the rash of turnovers. And losing that Bears game, which I'm happy to do given the thrill and the opportunity to keep playing on that 4th and 4. Hail Mary, we blew a dead Denver game.
- [29:11]
Simon Hunter
We should have stuck to our guns of the over. Should have stuck to our guns. But you know, that's why this contest is so fun and hard where it's like, I think we would have three plays, we'd have Patriots first half. We would have had Denver first half. We would have had the Bears under first half.
- [29:25]
Chad Millman
Yes.
- [29:25]
Simon Hunter
In our contest. And that's why I like our contest because it's so hard where it's like, no, you don't get those easy outs. You got to pick side or total. But yeah, like, like you said, just, just not did not bounce our way this week. And hopefully, you know, another week next week, we, hopefully we can turn it around.
- [29:40]
Chad Millman
All right, quick, quick word from our friends at Hard Rock bet. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet. With Miami making the national championship, you know Hard Rock Stadium will be rocking. And if you're going to the game, Hard Rock Bet is giving you a $10 bonus bet to get in on the action. If you're watching the game out in Miami, head to the Hard Rock Cafe, Miami, Duffy's, North Miami Beach, American's Social Miami, and Batch Brickell. Hard Rock Bet is dropping $10 bonus bets there, too. You can turn that free $10 bonus bet into a big win by placing the same game parlay. Or even if you're just watching the game at home, there's still no better place to bet than Natty than Hard Rock Bet because it's Florida Sportsbook, so they're going crazy with promos for this one. If you haven't tried your first bet on Hard Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get $150 in bonus bets. If you win, just place a $5 bet. And if it hits, you get not only your winnings, but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. Even if your team may be out of the playoffs, that doesn't mean you have to sit on the sidelines between same game parlays, live betting, a can't miss welcome offer, and new promos dropping every day, Hard Rock Bet has you covered all postseason long. That's Hard Rock Bet. Download the Hard Rock Bet apple and make your first deposit today. Payable and bonus pass. Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida, offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC and all other states must be 21 or over and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1833, playwise in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-with-IT gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.
- [31:37]
Ed Helms
If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering. With on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
- [32:06]
Narrator/Announcer
On June 11, 1998, a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department went missing.
- [32:12]
Chad Millman
It's an all out manhunt for John Awjay.
- [32:15]
Narrator/Announcer
Every search and rescue team in LA county has been called in to help. Within days, tips started flooding into the Sheriff's department.
- [32:22]
Chad Millman
The rumor around the drug scene was that a deputy was taken care of.
- [32:29]
Narrator/Announcer
Is this the story of a man who just got lost in the desert? Or of a cover up inside the nation's largest sheriff's department?
- [32:37]
Simon Hunter
A homicide captain saying detective, do not.
- [32:41]
Ed Helms
Find out if this guy's guilty or innocent.
- [32:43]
Chad Millman
Who does that?
- [32:45]
Narrator/Announcer
Valley of Shadows a new series from Pushkin Industries about crime and corruption in California's high desert. Do you have any advice for us while looking into this disappearance?
- [32:57]
Chad Millman
I wouldn't do it alone.
- [33:00]
Narrator/Announcer
Listen to Valley of shadows on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [33:08]
Ed Helms
Hey everyone, it's Ed helms and I'm.
- [33:11]
Simon Hunter
Kal Penn and we are the hosts.
- [33:12]
Ed Helms
Of Earsay and the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?
- [33:41]
Simon Hunter
I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.
- [33:57]
Ed Helms
Listen to Earsay. The Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, guys.
- [34:10]
Simon Hunter
Finding the perfect gift for the food lover in your life is easy thanks to Gold Belly.
- [34:14]
Ed Helms
Gold Belly ships America's most iconic foods.
- [34:17]
Simon Hunter
Straight from world famous restaurants right to your door. So if you want to treat someone to Joe's Stone Crab from Miami, Franklin Barbecue from Texas, or desserts from famous foodies like Ina Garten or Martha Stewart.
- [34:28]
Ed Helms
Gold Belly has you covered.
- [34:30]
Simon Hunter
Just go to goldbelly.com and for a limited time, get 20% off your first order with promo code gift. That's promo code gift.
- [34:38]
Chad Millman
All right, Simon, TR1 is asking something that I meant to ask. I'm glad he's bringing it up and he's in the live chat right now. I don't know what direction. I was going to be really excited to talk about CJ Stroud when we do our previews next year because I think he's gotten the benefit of Doubt the Doubt the past two years, but he has not progressed. He's regressed consistently. It's been a couple offensive coordinators. It's been bad offensive line play. He's had issues with his receivers being injured. But when we're talking about CJ Stroud in the summer, are we talking about CJ Stroud as a quarterback who can lead his team at the super bowl, are we talking about C.J. stroud? This is the question being asked from TR1. Like, are they, are they excited to pick up his fifth year option? Do they have him play into it? What's your take on that?
- [35:26]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, you got to pick it up. You got to pay him. If Kirk Cousin gets paid millions and millions of dollars, you got to pay C.J. like, this is, yeah, he's looked bad and he's underperformed, but he's now won a playoff game every season. He's been a pro in the NFL. And we talk all the time. Like, I know we poo poo it when it comes to Jalen Hurts. But these other quarterbacks, the playoffs matter. It really does. You see how hard it is. It's so intense. Every little play matters. And you know, C.J. something's up with him for sure in these playoffs. Right. You can't ignore how bad he's been in the playoffs. And, you know, in a meaningless game against the Colts in October, he lights them up. But when he's playing a legit defense here in the playoffs, he's just every time seems to struggle. He just can't play smart. And with that defense, yeah, it's a big weakness, but I think they're stuck. Like, I don't know what they could do. You got to pick up the fifth option. I think you got to give them a contract and you just got to let it play out. But they just have to every year draft offensive lineman. Like this offense, he's never had a good offensive line. So to me it's a built in excuse, of course, but it's the same thing we say with Justin Herbert, like, give the man time. I think he'll be better in the playoffs. And the same thing with cj. I think if CJ has more time, he loses some of these bad habits. I think he can get back to what he was. But yeah, I, I mean we do a top 10 list. I don't know if me neither. Either of us grab our top 10 next year. It's. It's definitely not, not been a good two seasons now for CJ.
- [36:53]
Chad Millman
Definitely below Justin Herbert. Simon says was Denver plus one and a half. Chad's choice was Seattle. San Francisco under 45 and a half. Brass balls was New England. Houston under 40 and a half. Rock and a hard place was Chicago and LA. First half under 24. Sharp versus square. I had Chicago, LA, first half, under 24. I can't remember who you had and I left my notes in Connecticut. Do you remember who you had?
- [37:20]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, sure. For square. I was on the Patriots, baby.
- [37:22]
Chad Millman
Oh, that's right. You had the Patriots minus three and a half.
- [37:24]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, great. Bad.
- [37:26]
Chad Millman
All right.
- [37:26]
Simon Hunter
Honestly, I didn't do the spread that I said. I just did the money line. But still, you bet big enough. That's. That's the way to go. Play it safe.
- [37:32]
Chad Millman
Patriots minus three and a half. That was the win this week. New England, Houston under 40 and a half. Loser San Francisco plus seven and a half. Loser Seattle, San Francisco under 45 and a half. Tough loss. Rams minus four and a half. Tough loss. This has been Sharper Square presented by Hard Rock Bet, part of the Volume Podcast Network. We will be back with our next Sherper square on Tuesday to go over the.
- [38:01]
Simon Hunter
Wait, wait one sec before you run out of your chad. Why are you feeling the numbers now down to minus seven and a half on your Hoosiers? Sharp money coming in on Miami. How you feeling? 24 hours out.
- [38:11]
Chad Millman
Well, listen, I bet the Hoosiers at minus seven and a half while I'm here in Florida because I've been getting that number here. I feel great. I feel fantastic. Like I have no reason not to I was, I was nervous before Alabama. The way we played against Alabama and then the way we played against Oregon made me remember that we're a super disciplined football team with highly skilled athletes. And so I'm going to continue to believe and be confident and I'll have more on that tomorrow on my social channels. From the Hard Rock Casino Sports book in Florida, the only legal place to bet on sports in the state, by the way. We're going to talk about this in much more detail obviously, but early lines Denver plus five and a half at home against the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams plus two and a half on the road at the Seattle Seahawks. This is a bit Sharper Square presented by Hard Rock Bet, part of the Volume Podcast Network. We will be back with our Sharper Square on Tuesday to go over the entire NFL slate. Watch or listen on YouTube at Sharper Square like this video. Subscribe to the channel. Also download some Spotify, Apple Pods wherever you get your pods. Rate, Review, subscribe, leave 5 stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Until next time. Love you.
- [39:33]
Simon Hunter
The road to the super bowl is like a mythic quest. It's a demanding journey, an adventure that creates heroes.
- [39:46]
Ed Helms
Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.
- [39:49]
Simon Hunter
Kal Penn and we are the hosts.
- [39:50]
Ed Helms
Of Earsay, the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?
- [40:19]
Simon Hunter
I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound is especially if you're listening in headphones.
- [40:35]
Ed Helms
Listen to Hearsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [40:47]
Podcast Promo Host
Social media trend is landing some gen zers in jail. The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired and the massive TikTok boycott against Target. That actually makes no sense. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online in media and in politics with the Brad vs Everyone podcast. Listen to the Brad vs Everyone podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts on June.
- [41:18]
Narrator/Announcer
11, 1998, a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department went missing.
- [41:24]
Simon Hunter
Hey, if they'll kill a cop and.
- [41:25]
Chad Millman
Bury him, what are they gonna do to me?
- [41:27]
Narrator/Announcer
What really happened to the missing deputy? Valley of Shadows a new series from Pushkin Industries about crime and corruption in California's high desert. Listen to Valley of Shadows on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [41:47]
Podcast Promo Host
And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is.
- [41:50]
Ed Helms
You can decide who takes home the 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards Podcast of the Year by voting at iHeartPodcastAwards.com now through February 22nd. See all the nominees and place your vote at iHeartPodcastAwards dot com Audible is.
- [42:05]
Narrator/Announcer
A proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award.
- [42:08]
Ed Helms
Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts.
- [42:11]
Narrator/Announcer
And originals all in one easy app. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen.
- [42:15]
Chad Millman
Sign up for a free trial@audible.com this.
- [42:19]
Narrator/Announcer
Is an iHeart podcast.
- [42:21]
Chad Millman
Guaranteed human.