NFL WEEK 14 REACTIONS - Bengals-Bills, Steelers-Ravens, Rams-Cardinals, Saints-Bucs, Broncos-Raiders and more

Summary

Sharp or Square – NFL Week 14 Reactions: Bengals-Bills, Steelers-Ravens, Rams-Cardinals, Saints-Bucs, Broncos-Raiders & More

Podcast: Sharp or Square
Episode Date: December 8, 2025
Hosts: Chad Millman & Simon Hunter
Main Theme:
Chad and Simon, betting experts and football obsessives, dive deep into the NFL Week 14 slate, breaking down key games through the lens of sharp (“wise guy”) vs. square (“public”) betting. They examine critical moments, trending teams, and what the betting lines—and on-field action—say about where the NFL is headed. The conversation is rich with stats, sharp banter, betting angles, and lessons learned (the hard way).

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Episode Overview

This episode is a spirited, sometimes painful, always insightful review of Week 14’s most bet-heavy and narrative-packed NFL games, including surprise blowouts, weather games, betting heartbreaks, and moments that reinforced (or shattered) conventional betting wisdom. Chad and Simon unpack their contest picks, dissect why certain teams keep fooling them, and highlight trends and actionable insights for bettors.

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Key Discussion Points & Game Breakdowns

Bears vs. Packers

Opening Banter & Heartbreak

• Chad opens with hopeful but devastated Bears-fan energy, mourning another close loss but seeing growth in rookie QB Caleb Williams:
  • “He made brilliant throws. He made gutsy throws except for that last play, which was devastating.” (03:26)
• Simon reflects on the pain and inevitability (“Vegas strikes again”):
  • “Six and a half lines right on seven. Doesn’t matter how it gets there, it always gets there somehow.” (04:01)

Contest Recap & Picks

• First week of their Hard Rock Bet-sponsored pick contest:
  • Picks: Jacksonville +2.5, Cleveland –3.5, Jets +2.5, New Orleans +8.5, Rams –9.5
  • Result: 3-2, with some picks “never really in question,” others pure pain.

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Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts

• Jags betting angle: Early control, dominance, and a crucial injury to Colts’ Daniel Jones.
• Simon on Jacksonville as a “sleeper” in the AFC:
  • “They just dominate this Colts team. Doesn’t matter…If Trevor Lawrence is playing within this offense, you see what he can do.” (06:15–08:02)

Notable Moments:

• After Daniel Jones injury, Jonathan Taylor fumbles, Travis Etienne scores, and Chad jokes he just wants Lawrence to "stop throwing" it from there.
• Chad credits coach Liam Coen and Jacoby Myers with unlocking new routes/offensive looks.

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Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans

• Browns come out flat; Titans exploit them with a ruthless run game.
• Simon bemoans betting on Tennessee:
  • “Your job is not to let me bet these damn Titan games…Whatever I say the opposite will happen.” (10:39)
• Shadour Sanders (Titans QB) amasses 364 passing yards; Tony Pollard torches Browns for 164 rushing yards.

Notable Quotes:

• Chad: “It's just. Even the Browns defense, which deserves a lot of the blame today, all of it, could not, could not stop anything. It was atrocious, honestly. Atrocious.” (13:25)
• Simon: “Tennessee bullied that Cleveland team, which was just the most shocking part of that whole game.” (13:55)

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Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets

• Never in doubt for Miami; two TDs in 7 minutes, Jets’ only spark is Isaiah Williams’ punt return TD.
• Tyrod Taylor injury dooms the Jets. Miami dominates, especially on the ground.
• Simon: “Miami…ran for over 230 yards, so dominated. And that was without HN, by the way.” (17:01)

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New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Saints were big underdogs (+8.5) but deliver behind gritty rookie QB Tyler Shough.
• Weather a major factor; Simon surprised by how bad Baker Mayfield looked (“14 completions out of 30 attempts, 122 yards. That’s insane how pedestrian that is.” 19:41)
• Saints’ defense steps up, and an in-division road dog trend continues: “...9-0 on the road as an underdog…just being continually undervalued in the market.” (21:27)

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Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

• The Rams steamroll, and late money on Arizona is a non-factor. Rams choose the right time to “hammer” the line.
• Simon: “McVay owns the month of December, just always gets his guys…That Rams team…they could have done whatever they wanted offensively anytime.” (24:18-25:39)
• Rams offense nearly perfect first half (330 yards, one third down, 9.2 yards/play). Stafford with three TDs, benched early in the fourth.

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Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Game of the Week)

• Spread was 5.5 to 6, most “wise guys” on Cincinnati; crazy scoring in the fourth (34 points).
• Chad: “There are games that are drunk…then there are games that are drunk that also dipped in the alley, probably shot up some smack…” (33:25)
• Simon drops the key Joe Burrow stat: “I think it’s now 19-3 when Joe Burrow is a dog of over three or greater.” (34:22)
• Game swings:
  • Bills down 28–18, Josh Allen 50-yard TD run, Burrow pick-six, another pick, Bills take control and then a late Bengals cover.

Notable Moment:

• Chad: “Bills were down 28, 18 midway through the fourth. They had no business coming close to covering 5.5 or 6 at all. And then Josh Allen does what Josh Allen does…” (37:04)

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

• Simon calls their Ravens pick “brass balls—more like brass brains.” (39:07)
• Steelers come out firing, Aaron Rodgers in “beast mode,” DK Metcalf huge game, Ravens look flat.
• Off-field drama in Baltimore gets discussed: Simon notes rumors swirling about Harbaugh losing the locker room.
• Mike Tomlin love/hate; fans want change, but Simon pleads for appreciation:
  • “Once again, this man's about to win a division where the quarterbacks are Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. He’s going to win with Aaron Rodgers. Potentially.” (45:33)

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Betting Angles & Team Assessments

• Green Bay Packers: Stats say they should be elite, but inconsistencies haunt them.

  • Chad: “For a team that is dominating the most important stats…they just don’t feel like a team that puts it all together…Now they’ve got two good wins…but I trust the Rams, I trust the Seahawks a lot more…” (47:54–48:58)

• NFC landscape: Rams and Seahawks feel more legitimate than Packers, but the NFC is wide open.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There are games that are drunk, and then there are games that are drunk that also dipped into the alley, probably shot up some smack. …It was totally just completely Belushi-esque, unhinged.” – Chad Millman, on Bengals-Bills (33:25)
• “Your job is not to let me bet these damn Titans games.” – Simon (10:39)
• “Miami…ran for over 230 yards, so dominated. And that was without HN, by the way.” – Simon (17:01)
• “I remember the good old days where Red Zone was great…today there was crazy static, couldn’t listen through red zone…Shame, shame, shame on you on Red Zone…” – Simon, “Shame on You” segment (50:13)
• “Tyler Shough…The boy was not pretty…But in the second half, he was 6 of 9. He ran the ball, as you noted, 77 times for 55 yards, two touchdowns. His first two rushing touchdowns of his career…He gave the Saints the upset moneyline win.” – Chad, “Hero of the Week” (59:23)
• “I legit not only sent them an email, I sent them a handwritten letter [about RedZone commercials].” – Simon (54:06)
• “Are they going to go for two here? Because we all felt like the Bears were that playing that well. Caleb was having that big time of throws that they were going to score with whatever 20 seconds left. But yeah, it’s big, big time. Step up by the defense to get that turnover that has really saved Green Bay a lot of games this year.” – Simon (50:04)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:26] Bears heartbreak and contest picks
• [06:15] Jaguars-Colts breakdown ("sleeper" Jags)
• [10:39] Titans-Browns misery/Simon’s Titans rule
• [15:38] Dolphins-Jets blowout, Miami’s dominance
• [19:31] Saints-Buccaneers: weather, rookie heroics
• [24:18] Rams-Cardinals: McVay in December
• [33:25] Bengals-Bills: wildest game of the week
• [39:07] Steelers-Ravens: a total miss, Tomlin debate
• [47:54] Packers-Bears: Packers are an enigma
• [50:13] “Shame on You” segment
• [59:23] “Hero of the Week” (Tyler Shough)

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Heroes & Goats

Hero of the Week

• Tyler Shough (Saints QB)
  • “Gave the Saints the upset moneyline win…You deserve your Epsom salt bath tonight, old man.” – Chad (59:23)
• Honorable mention: JJ McCarthy (Vikings rookie QB) for a comeback shutout of Washington.

Shame of the Week

• NFL RedZone (commercial overload, glitches)
• Cleveland Browns D (“Shame on you, Cleveland Browns rushing defense. …Have some freaking pride.” – Chad)

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Early Leans for NFL Week 15

• Bills (-1.5) at Patriots: Chad leans Patriots, Simon leans Bills—debates inexperience vs. Allen December magic.
• Bucs (-4.5) vs. Falcons: Both hosts like Bucs, wary of low spread and pro money’s love for Atlanta.
• Rams (-4.5) vs. Lions: Eyeing Rams if line holds; public narrative watch on Jared Goff as underdog.
• Vikings (+6) at Cowboys: Simon considers Vikings with a big spread.

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Recap of Actionable Betting Wisdom

• Don’t fall in love with your own process to the point you ignore trends—sometimes, dogs are just the side (Bengals, Titans).
• No more betting Titans (personal rule, Simon)!
• Sometimes, late-week leans are gold; early-week likes lose steam.
• McVay in December and oddsmaker respect for Saints as divisional dogs—ride the trends unless something massive changes.

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Closing Thoughts

The NFL slate is wild, trends get smashed and reborn weekly, and being a sharp (or a square) is sometimes just a coin flip away. But with humor, humility, and relentless stat-tracking, Chad and Simon guide listeners through the labyrinth—win, lose, or push.

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Find the episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Transcript

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[Chad Millman]

Welcome to Sharper Square, presented by Hard Rock Bat. We are part of the Voluum Podcast network. This is the show that makes the squares sharper. It makes the wise guys pay attention. I am Chad Millman. I am joined as always by my co host, my colleague, my companion, my compadre, my bff, Professional Better Simon Hunter.

Hello, Simon.

[Simon Hunter]

Chad. How we doing, buddy?

[Chad Millman]

Dude, that was. You know, we're talking about the Bears game, obviously. Um, they looked so good. It looked like they were going to pull it out. I'm a little bit devastated just because I want so much for this team. I want so much for Caleb. I thought this was the best second half he's had as a bear. He made brilliant throws. He made gutsy throws except for that last play, which was devastating.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, it hurts, buddy, but lucky for you, you're in a line of business where you knew for about five days you're probably going to lose this game, let alone by a touchdown. So Vegas strikes again. Six and a half lines right on seven. Doesn't matter how it gets there, it always gets there somehow. So that was crazy game. I'm right there with you. I thought the Bears were going to win that game a different million different ways. Jordan Love kept finding ways. And yeah, like you said, it's. It's tough. It's a bad loss. But Caleb has his moments, man, he makes plays that. Yeah, you're just like, man, this kid is an absolute stud. So I know it's painful, buddy, but, man, what a crazy great game that was.

[Chad Millman]

I'm trying to parent right before going on the air and I'm trying to parent, I'm texting with my son who's like, oh, that one. That one sucks. And I'm like, you know what? I love the spirit. Good lesson. I'm like trying not to be like mother. God damn it.

We move on our final five for the first week of our final nine week contest with Hard Rock. Bet that we got launched for today was Jacksonville plus two and a half, Cleveland minus three and a half, jets plus two and a half, New Orleans plus eight and a half and Rams minus nine and a half. So good for us, three and two week to start the contest. A couple of gimmes in there that were never really in question. Our last ones out of the mix. Baltimore Buffalo, Atlanta, probably Green Bay. You ready to get into it, brother? Let India, Jacksonville, Jacksonville plus two and a half. Look, this game was going our way from the beginning. Jacksonville, before Daniel Jones blew out his Achilles, looked like the better team that they were playing better. I thought Trevor, Trevor Lawrence was having his best game. And like in the first quarter on their second TD drive, he had a brilliant sort of teardrop pass to Brian Thomas Jr. And then the one thing we've always gotten a Trevor Lawrence for is his touch around the end zone. He throws these lasers instead of sort of finding a nice easy, soft landing for the ball into his receiver's hands. Did that today with Jacoby Myers. They were running away with it. And then Daniel Jones.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah. Brutal, brutal day. If you're a cold span just these last couple weeks, I mean, I guess since the trade deadline. Right. Since they went all in. Feels like everything is going wrong.

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[Simon Hunter]

So, yeah, I just. Like you said, it was probably never going to be in doubt. We, we had history on our side. It was just a crazy day too for trends. If you fought a lot of the trends, we gave out and faded us on that Ravens game with the Pittsburgh, every, like every trend, very basic hit came through and this was one of them. This Jags team, it's bizarro world. They just dominate. This Colts team. Doesn't matter if it's MUU or Trevor Lawrence, they. They keep winning this matchup in this games and it's not like a close game, right. Like you said, they dominated. Where Daniel Jones, if he was playing, you saw he was just limited. Like his whole playing style is so limited. Where Trevor Lawrence, the good days, where he has it going, he looks like a number one pick, right. Running the ball well, get outside the pocket, off balance, throws downfield, right on target. Just had it all working. The run game was really working too with etn. So if you're a Jags team, this is a kind of a sleeper team where if they play like this in the playoffs, we know there could, they could be a good team right in this afc. They, they can be a good team, especially if they keep winning and they somehow get, you know, some type of home field advantage. So if I was a Jackson, I'd be, I'd be happy because most of us don't take you serious, but you have real potential where if Trevor Lawrence is playing within this offense, you see what he can do. But I'm trying to react because they just have dominated this matchup. And this was another one, we talked about that this Colts Team tons of money all week being the favorite. And this Jags, the number just held them in as a dog all week. And like you said, it was probably over within the first quarter and a half when Staniel Jones went down.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah. Then you know, right after Daniel Jones goes down, Jonathan Taylor fumbles. The Jags score on a 25 yard run by Travis Etn. They go up 21 7. My only hope was that for the rest of the game, Trevor Lawrence did not have to throw a pass.

And he. All credit to Trevor Lawrence. All credit to Liam Cohn. This team has been different with Jacoby Myers. They have been a significantly different team with someone who can run different routes. That makes Liam Cohn more comfortable running these in routes that are so key to him running his offensive scheme. And good on Trevor Lawrence. He's been hitting him in tight windows and he did it today. Hit camp Strange for a bunch or Brian Strange for a bunch of. For a bunch of throws. Really good catches. They move the ball downfield like they were just impressive. But again, we're not overreacting. We're not jacks.

[Simon Hunter]

Crazy rain. Ugly, sloppy game.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah. One one throw. Trevor Lawrence had a horrible, inaccurate throw. Immediately he looks down at his hand as if it was the rain's fault. Like my hand's wet. The that's why this ball didn't go exactly where I wanted it to go on a simple screen that I overthrew by 75 yards.

[Simon Hunter]

I mean, I think he only completed 55% of his passes, so it wasn't like he was incredible. But yeah, it was. It was.

[Chad Millman]

He made the throws he had to make in the moments he had to make them. He made them. And 55% in. In driving rainstorm. We're going to get to the other game. That was driving rainstorm that went our way. Tennessee A. Cleveland. Maybe we should only bet Florida games in driving rainstorms from now on. Tennessee or Cleveland. Cleveland was a 3 1/2 point favorite.

We were kind of net like I can't say we were never in it. The titans in the first quarter I think had 140 yards. And until the Browns hit a long screen from Sanders to Quin, Sean Judkins, they had 17 yards. So the Browns defense, this is what we were betting on, came out very, very flat. And yet somehow Shador like made some decent throws, got this team ahead. They're up 1714.

It was on the. It was on a razor's edge this game. Either the Titans were going to do something to backdoor it or the Browns were, like, just so close to breaking it open. I think if the Browns score another touchdown, it's over. The Titans aren't going to be able to get close to the number in this. It went the other way.

[Simon Hunter]

Chad, what the hell? If you're so lucky, this is the holiday season. I am so mad at you. Your job is not to let me bet these damn Titan games.

[Chad Millman]

And every week we tried, dude, we tried to talk ourselves out of it this morning.

[Simon Hunter]

I'm begging you, stop me from putting this in you. You have the power now. You're putting the pics in. And luckily in our other contest, the one we were holding on to, I didn't let us put it in that one. But for somehow in this one that I care more about now, because our own contest, you let me put it in. It's ridiculous. I told you, I. I cannot get a read.

[Chad Millman]

We can't get a read.

[Simon Hunter]

Whatever I say, the opposite will happen. We'll get to the Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh game, but I'm. I'm banning us legit. I'm like, I'm gonna kill you if you make. If you let us play this Titans team again. But I'm. I'm just like, I. When they drove the field, like, I got. The announcer said, like, oh, they haven't scored an opening drive touchdown all season. And then they scored. Yeah. And you're just like, what do we. Why did we do this?

[Chad Millman]

Why did we do this?

[Simon Hunter]

Sanders, he. He has an insane day. Throws for 364 yards, three touchdowns, and we still lose this bet. So just absolutely atrocious and hating myself every second watching that game that just once again bet a Tennessee Titans game and lost a ton of money. Just huge negative in every way for me being involved. So, yeah, just. I honestly, I might not even talk about it and just mute my mic next week and let Chad say whatever he wants about whatever Titans game there is.

[Chad Millman]

Well, here's the thing. I think Shador Sanders threw. His numbers in this game were insane. But if you look at it compared to Cam Ward, I think they basically had the na.

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[Chad Millman]

Same number of completions. He just had a couple of crazy, crazy long throws. The one to Judkins, there was a long one to Jerry Judy. It was. It was pretty nuts. I think. He also held the ball for an average of 364 seconds on just about every time he dropped back, including the play that kind of ended the game. Like he had a play. Hung the ball forever. Hung onto the ball forever. Almost was like standing still, waiting for the rush to get to him and then just flung it, flung it into triple coverage in the middle of the field. The Titans intercept it and, and the next play, the next play is Tony Pollard running for what, 65 yards and a touchdown. So you know, that was before the end of the third. And that went from 1714 Browns to 2117 Titans. And then it just sort of cratered from there. And it's just. Even the Browns defense, which, which deserves a lot of the blame today, all of it could not, could not stop anything. It was, it was atrocious, honestly. Atrocious.

[Simon Hunter]

Once again, Shador Sanders threw for over 350 yards in NFL game. I know you could piece it any way you want that. The fact that he did that we lost this bet is just blowing my mind. And you just nailed it. Pollard, he dominated this game. Tennessee bullied that Cleveland team, which was just the most shocking part of that whole game. Like Cam Ward comes in here, throws 14 of 28 passes and has 120 yards and we lose this bet. I just, again, I can't get over when I look at the numbers, it just doesn't make sense.

[Chad Millman]

It makes no sense.

[Simon Hunter]

It does when you back away and you just realize Cleveland's just a very bad team. And you know, it's. It's late December, bad teams just sometimes lay down and you saw, if you just take it out a little bit like Tennessee wanted a little more today, they bullied him on that. Like, I cannot believe Pollard ran for 164 yards. So, yeah, hats off, Tennessee. A team we truly cannot get right. It's incredible.

[Chad Millman]

They really did bully him. It was embarrassing and it was like a game where a team from the south coming into Cleveland, into the dog pound against that defense in winter weather should not have had a chance to win that game today. And, and they like, they just, they blew him off the field from the beginning of the game in the first quarter. And it changed the entire and outlook for this team. Another game that was pretty much dead.

[Simon Hunter]

From.

[Chad Millman]

From the second. It kicked off Miami at the New York Jets. The jets plus two and a half. The two teams that we were so sure of all week, which seems to be a trend this year. The teams that we're liking later are the teams that we end up winning with. And the teams were liking early end up being the ones that do us wrong. Unfortunately, this was never. Neither of these team. Well, Cleveland almost was in contention for getting that. The jets never were. The Dolphins easily move down the field for a touchdown on their first drive, easily moved down the field for a touchdown on their second drive. So now they've got two touchdowns in less than seven minutes. Next series, jets get picked off inside their own territory off of a bobbled dropped pass.

Dolphins score again. They're down. They're up 21 nothing. This is before the first quarter is over, but then, really before the first quarter is over, the jets get a brilliant punt return from Isaiah Williams, who, by the way, this is a beautiful story. Simon. Are you ready for some beauty in the ugliness? You ready?

[Simon Hunter]

You're by the Reguss Johnson moment.

[Chad Millman]

Isaiah Williams, who muffed a punt in the first game against the Dolphins in Week 4, got waived, then came back on the practice squad, returned a punt for a touchdown to make it 21 7. The jets still never came close in this game because then Tyrod Taylor got knocked out. Brady Cook.

Did you watch any of it?

[Simon Hunter]

Nope. You didn't?

[Chad Millman]

What, you don't watch a play of it?

[Simon Hunter]

I probably saw that opening touchdown you talked about out of the corner of my eye, and I was just like, well, that's probably a dead bet because we talked about, like, leading up to. It felt like we were hitting on black one more time. We probably shouldn't have. We. We just. We kept hitting it on the roulette wheel. And, yeah, it's, you know, it's a type of game where that jets team, if I feel like if Taylor was there, there was a possibility of a comeback. Like you said, once he got knocked out, they're bringing the backup. It's just totally dead. And Miami, you know, talking about bullying a team they ran for over 230 yards, so dominated.

[Chad Millman]

And that was without HN, by the way.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, you got banged up. So just, you know, two of here has not done anything, it feels like, for a couple weeks. So I don't know this Miami team, like we've. I talked about coming in this game. They've been winning a lot of games, which is pretty impressive just because we all thought they'd quit on this team. And, you know, six and seven for this team is pretty shocking because they were. And they basically have had a run where they lost to the Ravens, Chad. And then they beat Buffalo, Washington, the Saints, and the Jets. So Buffalo is a tough win, but the rest of those teams, you know, they're not great. But still, I mean, you're talking about a team that was in dire straits, and now they've won four straight. Pretty impressive coaching job down there. So, yeah, there's tons of credit to the Dolphins. Like we said, we thought they were going to falter here. They won this one. Now they're on the road again, heading to Pittsburgh next week.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, they were, they were winning this one from the beginning. All they had to do was hold on because once Brady Cook came in, the jets offense could do nothing. They, he fumbled one of his first snaps on a third and one. Uh, they then had to punt. He threw a pick when they were in the red zone. Easy pick into the Dolphins end zone. That killed a drive at the end of the half. The, the Dolphins were trying to do nothing. Like, it's almost like they were continuing the playbook that they had against the Saints the week before where the Saints were able to get in the back door. I kept hoping like maybe this is it, you just need like one more play. One more play and you can maybe squint and see it. And they just couldn't get a play. Brady Cook was terrible as to be expected. Nothing on him. They were dropping passes everywhere. It was just. I took that one out of the multi view before it was over. That's all I'm going to say. Because you know what? I wanted to focus on.

The New Orleans Saints. I told you this morning I took a little taste of the money line, a little like burrito bowl taste in the money line of the New Orleans Saints at +8 and a half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This game kind of played out exactly the way their first one had in the first half. Remember in the first half we talked about this morning like the score was 73 in the first half of the first time they played. And the only reason the Bucs had seven was because of an interception. Right? In this game it was 10 7. The only reason the Bucs had 7 was because of an interception. And then the Saints. Did you watch this game?

[Simon Hunter]

Of course it was. My, my sharper square bet is one of my favorite bets this week.

[Chad Millman]

That's right, that's right. What did you think, what did you think of this game?

[Simon Hunter]

Just another game where it's hard to take much away for, because of the weather. But we, we talked a little bit going into it how this kid Shuck, you know, has some weaknesses, but there are some strengths to his game and this game. Basically anytime we need to make a play with his legs, chatting, made a play with his legs for us. So he was great. We weren't banking on him having seven carries, 55 yards and two touchdowns, but that's what he gave us and you know, we knew it was Gonna be bad weather. We talked how this Bucks defense is a little suspect. I was really honestly shocked by how bad Baker played. I know, again, once again the weather was bad. But you know Baker, looking at his numbers here, 14 completions out of 30 attempts, 122 yards. That's insane how pedestrian that is. And ugly. Ameca Buka, as incredible as he's been, we talked about he's really cooled off these last six weeks and I think the show to steady has had one touchdown these last five games. And you just think to yourself, okay, they're just offensively not clicking. And in this game the Saints gave him a couple opportunities to get back into it and could have capitalized right a couple times they went for no fourth down, got stuffed in the run game. Two of those were crucial like midfield plays. So yeah, yeah, great, great bet on the Saints team. And we talked about that crazy trend. The Saints team in division now 9, 0 on the road as an underdog. It's. It's been a hell of a run for the same team just being continually undervalued in the market. So yeah, that we didn't expect the shuck game but we expect him to keep being a guy that I think the Polk underrate where he's not that bad for a rookie. Like you're looking at this rookie class. You know, as much as respect as we're giving a Cam Ward or Store Sanders right now, Chuck has been on a really bad team playing really well for a couple weeks as well. So he's kind of a sleeper guy I think for rookie of the year that if we'll see how the end of the season here. But I think he's been playing just the same high level as those guys has.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, he was, he was amazing. Foreshadowing he might be one of our heroes of the week. So I'll give more depth to his stats and sort of. He was incredible pulling the curtain back a little bit because like you said, it wasn't the prettiest game. But what he did when he did it was.

[Simon Hunter]

I thought he was. When you saw that rain coming down sideways, I'm sure you're watching, it was literally at one point they couldn't even show. They were showing B2B on the sideline. He couldn't even keep his eyes open. It was raining so hard.

[Chad Millman]

It's like it was. It was brutal. But look, the Bucks, like you said, they turned it over on downs three different times and they could not stop the Saints on third down in the last, last Couple of drives. So super impressive game by the Saints, whose defense played really, really well. Obviously start even like in that second half when they really started to roll. Starting off with picking off Baker two and a half minutes into the second half, he just, you know, one of his receivers, I think it was Tess Johnson, just didn't finish the. The pattern and was supposed to keep going and he stopped and Baker threw it right to a Saint defensive back and the Saints scored on that drive and all of a sudden they're leading the game and they were in control for the rest of it. So good for the Saints and by the way, good for Kellen Moore. Like, this team has been competitive all season long. They've been a tough out. So, you know, I don't know if people were skeptical of Kellen Moore and him getting hired, but he's done a pretty nice job.

[Simon Hunter]

I talked about last week, my favorite schedule left where the Carolina Panthers, who are at the Saints next week.

[Chad Millman]

Y.

[Simon Hunter]

They go bucks, Seahawks, bucks. I love when the schedule breaks that way for certain divisions, and this is just the best. Like that there is a two and two, three in one path there. So it's really exciting. If you're a Panthers fan and just like we've been people that bet on them every year and for them to win the division, I think it might finally come through. Chad. We'll see.

[Chad Millman]

But seven and six, seven and six, it's.

[Simon Hunter]

It's crazy.

[Chad Millman]

It's phenomenal. It's great. They're playing each other twice in the next four weeks. Los Angeles Rams, we were betting them early in the week when they were 7 1/2 point favorites against the Cardinals. It closed at 9 1/2, 10.

[Simon Hunter]

They actually got bet all the way down to like seven and a half before kick.

[Chad Millman]

Oh, it didn't have any. See that? Okay.

[Simon Hunter]

So on a late professional money came on Arizona. They got smoked.

[Chad Millman]

Well, that's too bad because we, we decided last minute, you know, in a rare moment of clarity and common sense where we, we didn't let the numbers scare us off. You had been, you know, hammering. We got to take the Rams in this spot all week.

[Simon Hunter]

That was before we knew all those injuries that we talked about Sunday morning.

[Chad Millman]

And so even though it moved from seven and a half to nine and a half in the contest, we hit the Rams and there was about five minutes where I was worried and then I wasn't worried anymore.

[Simon Hunter]

You in the books? I couldn't believe it. Like, I'm.

[DJ (NBA on Prime Host)]

I'm.

[Simon Hunter]

I'm in the book. And that line moves to five and a half live after that touchdown opening drive by the Cardinals. It's like, oh, man, I gotta go hit this window again. I mean, how are they going to give me a five and a half on this Rams line? And you just saw that Rams team. It was just what we talked about, the perfect spot after a bad loss on the road. McVeigh owns the month of December, just always gets his guys. That gets them prepared, and that was a very unique spot for them. And we've talked this Arizona team, they. They've been in a lot of dog fights when they play these juggernauts in their own division. They've just gotten smoked these last three games. So, yeah, it's probably one of the hardest divisions in all football. And yeah, Arizona is going into total reboot mode. So it's, you know, a type of team where you just got to burn it all down. Right? Like, that defense has so many holes, so many issues, and watching that Rams game today, they just felt like they could have done whatever they wanted offensively anytime. So it's. It's wild. Like watching the Rams, watching the Seahawks, as an Eagles fan, it's just like, how can we compete with these guys? They just seem like they're on totally different levels right now in the nfc. So really, really impressive what the Rams did today.

[Chad Millman]

Well, the Rams could do whatever they wanted to right in the first half, they scored on all four of their drives. Stafford ended the game with three touchdowns. He was pulled with 11 minutes left at one point. Stafford was 12 for 12. In the first half, they had one third down. It was in the middle of a drive in which they scored a touchdown. In the first half alone, 330 yards on 36 plays, averaging 9.2 yards per play. Just in the first half, it was. It was like. It was so extreme. It was obnoxious. In his last 20 games. This is a crazy stat. In his last 20 games, Matthew Stafford has 46 touchdown passes. How many. How many interceptions do you think he has?

[Simon Hunter]

Six?

[Chad Millman]

Five?

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah. No, he's been incredible.

[Chad Millman]

That's insane.

[Simon Hunter]

And it's unique for them where they basically have Detroit, the Seahawks, these next two games, which is like, you know, obviously really tough. Two playoff teams.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Simon Hunter]

And then they get Atlanta and Arizona, then the season. So I'm interested to see what he's going to be like for mvp, because to me, obviously, Tim or Drake Bay, they just been both in playing at a really high level all season. So we'll see if Drake make it. Keep it up because this is really going to be the true test December. And on the flip side, I gave you all the stats. McVeigh, he just, his teams get better in this month. So you assume if you could still get him under minus 200. Stafford feels like a pretty safe bet at this point if he stays healthy. He's just been so oppressive.

[Chad Millman]

There was a minute, it was 45:10. I think Arizona had just scored. It was 45:17. And they bring in Jimmy Garoppolo.

[Simon Hunter]

And yeah, there's like 11 minutes in.

[Chad Millman]

The fourth quarter, 11 minutes in the fourth quarter. And I think the first play, it's a delay a game. The second play, it's an illegal shift. And I'm like, oh, my God, the Cardinals are going to find a way to cover this game. I was like, I was doing the math in my head. I'm like, can they score three more touchdowns right now? Like, you never know if they, if they let Jimmy throw it, maybe there's a pick. And all of a sudden this thing, you know, turns into a track meet for 11 minutes. Thank freaking God, because my heart couldn't have taken it. Not with the Bears game going on on the other side. Quick word from our friends at Hard Rock Bet. Cause the games on the other side of this were truly insane. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet. The holidays are here and the sports schedule is packed tighter than Santa's gift bag. Week 15. Football, bowl games, NBA, college hoops, hockey, the whole sports slay.

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[Chad Millman]

All right, brother. The next game, Cincinnati Buffalo. We were going back and forth on it all week. It was five and a half, six. I don't think it ever touched six and a half. But you know, there was mostly wise guys on Cincinnati. Our debate all week was how is either defense going to stop anybody in this game? In the fourth quarter, there were 34 points scored. There are games that are drunk, and then there are games that are drunk that also dipped into the alley, probably shot up some smack. And maybe when they got back to the table at the wedding, they did like seven lines of coke. And that's what this game was. It was totally just completely Belushi esque, unhinged. It was insane. Poor Matt Mitchell. Oh, my God.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, you're right. Poor man Mitchell. He's the luckiest man that would have in Josh now as a quarterback, but it's the best. It's like, you know, there's always certain games where you just fall in love with football over again. And I just. As soon as that game kicked off and you saw the snow, there's just nothing like it. I'm so glad their new stadium open roof. It's just. There's just something about Buffalo in the elements. And yeah, we. You were. You nailed it with what you talked about with the Bengals where the number is probably too big with Joe Burrow and we've given it out now. I think it's now 19 and three when Joe Bro is a dog over three or greater. So just a crazy stat, baby. I just have to start blindly betting it because it Just keeps hitting every week. And you know this Bills team, honestly, not to say the game went that way I thought it was but it did. Like I thought the Bills would get down like they did against Tampa and they would come back, score and then get some fluky late touchdown to cover the number. And you know, Joe bro didn't do what I thought he was gonna do, which is this close. Go three and out. Oh my God. Like you didn't deserve it though if you had the Bills where like we had. We got really lucky we had Bills in our another contest of four and a half.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah.

[Simon Hunter]

Like when you win, anytime you win a contest line when the. The two doesn't hit the two pointer, it's honestly the best. It really is. There's nothing more sickening when it goes against you when it does hit and the they missed a dew pointer. It's the best. But I, I know people hate their coach. The Bills fans, they're, they're, they're like most fans where they just hate their coach and him not kicking that field goal to put him up seven and going for the touchdown on fourth down. I love it because people in the moment are like, I don't like this call where it's like, I think he gets it where it's like Joe, Joe's not, Joe's not going down in this game. He's going to come back and get a touchdown if he gets that ball back. So that was a gutsy call on 4th down trusting your quarterback and he made an insane play where he's drifting back and you're never in doubt where it's like someone's going to get open. Whenever he drifts back like that, Josh Allen always just finds someone wide open in the back of the end zone and he did and put him up two scores and just Joe can only do so much and you know all the stats up there. We've talked about it when Joe Flacco took over. Whatever happened between Joe Flacco and that O line, it's carried over with Burrow since he's been back. They've been way better protecting the quarterback. And you saw it today, like even where he had a little bit of pressure, he was never uncomfortable. Felt like Joe Burrow and played a great game. But unfortunately for him, he just ran into Josh Allen. And you know, Josh just waits you out. He waits for you to have those turnovers and those two really fluky bad turnovers by Joe Burrow just cost him the game. So pretty, pretty insane game. And both sides like I said I'm happy to get there with the Bills money line, but anyone out there had the Bengals number. You deserve the COVID They're covering that entire game.

[Chad Millman]

Bills were down 28, 18 midway through the fourth. They had no business coming close to covering five and a half or six at all. And then Josh Allen does what Josh Allen does. 50 yard touchdown run untouched against the defense that we thought, all right, how are they going to stop the run? They're probably not going to be able to. Turns out at the end they couldn't stop the run. The next series. Just to give some details for people who didn't get a chance to see it to what Simon was talking about, the next series, the bills are down 28, 25. Joe Burrow, first pass, pick six. So now the bills are up 32, 28. Next series, next pass. Joe Burrow throws another pick. That's where the Bills get down to the goal line and on fourth down, instead of kicking the field goal to put them up seven and give them the COVID with time left, they go for the touchdown. They get it. So now they're up 38, 28 I think. Right. So no, they're up, they go.

[Simon Hunter]

They're up 11.

[Chad Millman]

They were up 11. They converted. They converted to take a an 11 point lead. There's three minutes left. They had 21 points in the span of about four game minutes. Joe Burrow goes down the field for a touchdown. He went back for. It was four plays, 66 yards, 50 seconds on the clock. That's insane.

Absolutely insane.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, it was.

[Chad Millman]

So the Bengals cover. The Bengals cover that game. Truly a miracle of a game. So much fun in the snow. Like you said, it's.

It'S just a true football fans game. Like you could barely see Joe Burrow in the snow when they were doing close ups. It was, it was awesome. Pittsburgh at Baltimore. This was our brass balls.

More like brass bands brains, Simon, because we got everything wrong about this one. The Steelers came out throwing non stop Aaron Rodgers downfield to D to DK Metcalf. They were reborn in Baltimore. He was scrambling. He had a rushing touchdown, keeping drives alive. He had 284 yards and a touchdown pass. Metcalf, 148 yards receiving.

What, what is this Ravens team going to do right now? And one of the questions we have.

Let me make sure I'm getting the name right here from. I think it's TRX. TRX. Maybe it's tricks in the YouTube comments right now.

What does Baltimore do going forward? Their defense isn't Getting better like it did last year. Lamar doesn't look great. He had some moments but this team just is not producing and now they're 6 and 7. They might not make the playoffs. They got probably got to win their division to make the playoffs. They're the Dolphins.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah. This could be a sliding doors moment that Isaiah likely is it a catch and a touchdown, Not a catch, not a touchdown moment.

[Chad Millman]

So true.

[Simon Hunter]

It will forever carry weight. And that football is stupid. It comes down to those moments. But that's a total chain game changer where you know the amount of people that sent me stuff this week of basically this girl who was hooking up with a guy on the Ravens has been putting out all this info from behind the scenes stuff, like real stuff and it's been verified like she's been posting really interesting stuff. But basically the whole team hates horrible and people are like well that's just some bitter X, blah blah blah. And it's like she's sending, she's showing texts and she recorded stuff and it's like heading the whole next level. Ravens fans are going crazy where I think they already kind of wanted Horrible out and now that they know that the players potentially hate him and there's like a semi mutiny in there, it just adds to it. But I just. They're. They're horrible defensively. I mean how many stats do we give about Aaron Rodgers pushing the ball downfield today? The man could not miss. He was in full, full beast mode and you know, we got got. I. I'm just so embarrassed where it's like I blindly so upset with us. Yeah. I blindly bet this dog in this matchup every year of my professional career and just rarely get take the losses. It's just like well, even if it does lose, who cares? That means next year it's a guaranteed hit and got sucked into it because Lamar has been covering these big numbers their last two matchups and this totally went the other way. All the voodoo. Pittsburgh Tomlin Voodoo. What's. What makes him so special again? He's getting run out of town right now. They are 7 and 6 at top of their division. Yeah. Again, I know Eagles fans are the most insane fan base, but Pittsburgh fans take a breath. You. It's just this is what he does. So I'm. I'm so mad at ourselves. I can't believe we. We gave up on him. We got the best of us.

[Chad Millman]

I'm so, so disappointed in us that we talked ourselves out of this that we let ourselves be fooled by what we had Seen that we didn't do what we always do, that we didn't play this professionally. We just didn't play it professionally. That was the problem. Bad, bad, bad, bad badness. And like, you know, here's from Joe Connolly in the chat right now. Mike Tomlin is a good coach, so maybe they can, maybe he can go coach the Bills.

[Simon Hunter]

Well, like if he gets fired.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, like people, people are always complaining about Sean McDermott.

[Simon Hunter]

I think it's just again they're, they're organization. They just don't fire people.

[Chad Millman]

So I don't want them to fire him. We talked about this the other day.

[Simon Hunter]

I know.

It's just I get where their fans are coming from. They just want something different. Everyone wants a change in life. But as someone that got rid of a Hall of Fame coach, as an Eagles fan and Andy Reid, I get it. Like Andy Reid had to go and it worked out for both parties. We won two Super Bowls since he's won three or four. So it worked out. But at the back of my mind I'm just like Tomlin, Pittsburgh, you want to move on from Tomlin. I don't know if that's the move. It's really. You just need you. What you do need is him to get suspended for a year and like some type of spygate thing. Go three and whatever.

[Chad Millman]

Appreciate Tomlin that.

[Simon Hunter]

Appreciate him and also get the quarterback like you, just like your guy Mendoza, I would love for him to have fallen to them at the end of the first, maybe early second. He's probably gonna be like a top three, top five pick now because he's such a clutch, high level player with a great body. I mean I know that interview didn't do him too, too great, but still I love it. I just think he's a, he's a really gritty kid. So I just. Pittsburgh, they're a quarterback away once again, but they might win the division somehow at 8 and 9, 9 and 8. It's just bizarre world.

[Chad Millman]

I'm a little tired of the interviews with Fernando Mendoza. I've watched all of them. After every game he. It's like they're.

[Simon Hunter]

That was my first one, Chad. I was shocked I had not heard that kid speak and I was very taken back.

[Chad Millman]

They're too practiced and too. It's almost like he's running for something and because he'll immediately stare into the camera, he says the same thing every time. I. I am not against people giving all glory to God. Give it to who? Give it to whomever you want to give it to but it's a little bit too rehearsed for me.

[Simon Hunter]

And that was my problem. Him his voice cracking and him being so excited. I was just like oh my God, I can't believe this is this killer clutch kid who like literally got murdered in this first place.

[Chad Millman]

Did get murdered.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah. He's so tough. And I could not believe again, I not heard the kid speak. I was just so taken back. But obviously you're used to him being all rehearsed and saying the same thing over again. But my God, I was loving it. I rewatched that interview.

[Chad Millman]

Couldn't get enough flipping. You watched that flipping interview four or five different times.

[Simon Hunter]

I was like, man, I hope the jets draft this kid. I love him. I want to see how he handles New York media.

[Chad Millman]

That's my quarterback.

[Simon Hunter]

For now.

[Chad Millman]

For now.

Yeah. They'd be crazy to fire Mike Tomlin. How about you just get Mike Tomlin some players that are under 30 and maybe have more than one season rentals tied to their contracts and get them a real roster so you can actually compete in the AFC which is so freaking competitive right now because they're getting passed and it's not because of their coach, it's because of their roster.

[Simon Hunter]

Once again, this man's about to win a division where the quarterbacks are Lamar Jackson and Joe Bro. He's going to win with Aaron Rodgers. Potentially. It just came wrap your head around. It doesn't even sound real.

[Chad Millman]

Chicago Bears, they were six and a half point dogs today and.

Man, in the first half they had 71 total yards and it was the lowest amount of yards for any Ben Jones. Ben Johnson coached or coordinated team during his time as a coach and coordinator. And then I was in the text chain with the boys and I said I feel like they're just beating down the defense. They're just trying to get them tired, get them feeling like it's going to be an exhausting matchup. And in the second half that's exactly what they did. Like they were just running it down their throats. They had that 17 play, 83 yard drive, eight and a half minutes, they tie the game. They forget how to tackle Josh Jacobs on a third down where they could have stopped him from getting the fourth down. Instead the packers scored that touchdown. Why Simon? Why did Ben Johnson not just call a running play when they've been running it down their throats? Except for that one time right before that. Why did Caleb not just run for the first down? Why? Why? Why?

[Simon Hunter]

It's easy to ask that after the Fact. But I just. You got the coach, man. I just can't get over how good of a coach he is. And this was the type of game where you guys should have got smoked. It was looking that way. Like you said, first half going exactly how honestly I thought it was going to go, which is just. You guys are a very fun story. You've been punching above your weight for weeks now and I just cannot get over. I was not caught up to you. And once again, this game, you almost got away with it because it's just that run scheme is incredible and just wears teams out. On the flip side, the offense can never get into a rhythm because you're just sitting there. But Jordan Love in these matchups, it's amazing. Yeah, he makes big time throws and like again, somebody had money on him today. It feels so good when you're on that side where he is cooking that way and you know, Josh Jacobs is making insane plays and it's all hitting. But I just, I think we're all in agreement. I just cannot trust this Green Bay team. I don't know how I'm going to bet on them come January. There's just something off about this team. There's something missing.

[Chad Millman]

So it's so weird you say that.

[Simon Hunter]

It's bizarre.

[Chad Millman]

It's so weird because they were throwing these stats up during the game. You know, Green Bay tops and third down conversion. Green Bay tops in the red zone. It was, it was one other thing that Green Bay was number one in. And I said to myself, so why is this team not 13 and oh, why is this team so. But I mean, like, why is this team so inconsistent? Why do I feel like for a team that is dominating in the most important stats. Oh, and I think they had the fewest turnovers for the team that is dominating the most important stats that for any other team, it feels like when they are winning in those situations, they are, you know, 10, 2, 11, 1. It's clear Jordan Love would be the MVP in the NFL. And they just don't feel like a team that puts it all together every single game, every single time. Now they've got two good wins, you know, the last couple of weeks between the Lions and the Bears in the division. But I agree with you. Like, I trust the Rams, I trust the Seahawks a lot more than I trust the packers right now.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah. Which again, that's not a bad, that's not a bad company to be in. They're definitely the third team that I've seen right now. They've earned it like they're one in this division. They're going to Denver next week which again, another great spot to find more out about Jordan Love and this offense against good defense on the road. But they're just something a little off for. It's just the wet. They have such good receivers. Everyone was healthy today. Like they have such good weapons with Jacobs back there. But I don't know, just something about this team where I'm just like something's a little off where like you said, it feels like they should be more dominant and they're just not. So another sleeper team though that coming out of the nfc, it's wide open. Could easily see the packers making that type of run. We've seen Jordan Love have pledge success, but it's a, it's an interesting team where they, it just feels something like they're off. But huge, huge win for them. Where you know the Bears, like you just said, that pick at the end there, I don't know. We were joking but we're having a real discussion. Are they going to go for two here? Because we all felt like the Bears were that playing that well. Caleb was having that big time of throws that they were going to score with whatever 20 seconds left. But yeah, it's big, big time. Step up by the defense to get that turnover that has really saved Green Bay a lot of games this year.

[Chad Millman]

Impressive. Impressive. All right, Simon, give me your. Shame on you.

[Simon Hunter]

Shame on you. NFL red zone.

For something we're paying for. They promised us maybe one to two 30 second commercials last week, then bombarded us with commercials and if I wasn't so upset about the refs, I was definitely going to say something. Then I moved on my life, I go, you know what, it won't be this bad this week. They've heard from the fans even worse. So there was some crazy static. Couldn't listen through red zone for the first 50 minutes of the game because he had some crazy, you know, whatever it was, connection to the microphones and tons of feedback and then the commercials. And I'm thinking to myself, so we're paying for something that doesn't work right? The one 17 or 18 weeks we need to work right and they're more throwing more ads and again, I'm not trying to crush Scott here because it's. It's my job to on these people behind mics. But he just, there was a couple of times where they cut to him and he seems totally lost and it's just what has happened to my product. I remember the good Old days where Red Zone was great and I'd have the volume on that. And today again, I don't watch tons of four box TVs. When I get back to my place where we do the show, I like to put it on. There was other times where I just switch it over to the games, listen to broadcasters, which is rare. Usually I listen to Scott. So it's just shame, shame, shame on you on Red Zone. I just cannot get over how bad the product's been this season.

[Chad Millman]

Simon, I think I told you early in the year I don't watch Red Zone anymore. I do.

[Simon Hunter]

I'm jealous. I can't kick it yet. I'm still addicted.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, I do four box on my TV and then I'm on my laptop and there's usually five games that are of high leverage for us between the games that we have in the contest and that we've given out and games that we thought about doing that I want to keep an eye on and hope that they don't cover when we decided not to put them in. And so I never have to worry about Red Zone anymore in the afternoon games. Like there's so few games you can just two box it. Like today I had the Bears and the Rams and I haven't watched a single minute of Red Zone this year.

[Simon Hunter]

I'm at the sports book, so I have to, unfortunately I have to have the Red Zone on in my ear. So I basically will be watching it with plugged in so I can hear it in my one ear and have my other ear open to talk to people. But I just needed to follow along because I just get lost. Like I get sometimes I forget I'm watching football because you get and you start talking about whatever betting lines with people and you forget, oh, touchdown just got scored. I need to track my bet. So I, I listen more than I watch it, honestly. But the, I just, I can't get over the ad stuff like, as someone that, like this whole paid surface stuff we've entered into, we always know it's going to be, it's more and more in their corporate advantage but my God, please, Red Zone give us just one or two commercials a week. We're paying a lot for your, your product and we only get 18 weeks out of the year. It's just, it feels like it's too much.

[Chad Millman]

It is amazing how quickly they went from no commercials to oh, don't worry about it. It'll be limited to apparently by your account. I haven't watched a second to wow, it's truly disruptive.

[Simon Hunter]

I hate it. Like, again, I don't want to go too hard, because I know we work for a company that puts ads on our podcast. It's the whole part of the business. But the commercialization of everything, it's just like the MLB jerseys having stuff on and everything. It's literally. I'm becoming that old man where I'm like, you just keep yelling, hate change.

[Chad Millman]

Just keep yelling at the commercials. Just keep doing.

[Simon Hunter]

I. I do think the shame works that there was less commercials, in my opinion, this week on Red Zone because we just as a collective group. Like, again, rarely do I go on social stuff and go off on these companies. I legit not only sent them an email, I sent them a handwritten letter. How upset I was.

[Chad Millman]

Come on.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, no joke. I was like, dude, you guys, this is ridiculous. And I know just because I've worked in media handling writers, handwritten letters actually still work people because no one sends mail anymore. So that's a fun fact.

[Chad Millman]

Who did you send it to?

[Simon Hunter]

I'd have to check the address, but they have Scott Hansen. No, I told you, I'm right down the street from NFL headquarters.

[Chad Millman]

That's right.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah. Yeah. Hand delivered.

[Chad Millman]

You could just drop it off.

[Simon Hunter]

Oh, I drop it off. I'm a psychopath.

[Chad Millman]

Then they're opening it. They're like, what's inside?

[Simon Hunter]

Well, the funniest is, like, I pulled the way I pulled up. I was like, this woman. It's definitely not definitely. And she did it. She, like, walked up. Are you lost? Or like, are you okay? I was like, I have a letter here for the NFL.

[Chad Millman]

Oh, my God. The poor lady in Mount Laurel is just trying to do her job and let people in to go do NFL films. And here's some psychopath walking up with.

[Simon Hunter]

I know the guy who runs shop there. So I just knew if I put his name on there, it would get to him. So I'm. I'm trying something here.

[Chad Millman]

That is classic South Jersey right there.

Shame on you. I'll go a more traditional route. Shame on you, Cleveland Browns rushing defense. Cause if you're giving up 290 total yards in the game, and 184 of those are on the ground. And Tony Pollard gets 161 yards, including a 65 yard rushing touchdown. And you give up 140 yards and 14 points in the first quarter to the Tennessee Titans, who are a rock bottom, who've won one freaking game, who this week, like, couldn't stop talking in the locker room about how miserable they were. You're supposed to be an elite defense. You've got the greatest defensive player of his generation who did get a sack today, but come on, come on Cleveland Browns have some freaking pride.

[Simon Hunter]

Agree.

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[Sophie Cunningham]

This is Sophie Cunningham and Wes Wilson.

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[Sophie Cunningham]

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[Chad Millman]

Do you want to hear my hero of the week?

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, give it to me.

[Chad Millman]

Tyler Schuck. We talked about him. The boy was not pretty. 13 of 20 for 144 yards. But. But in the second half he was 6 of 9. He ran the ball, as you noted, 77 times for 55 yards, two touchdowns. His first two rushing touchdowns of his career. Multiple third down conversions of those six completions to keep drives alive. And he gave the Saints the upset. Moneyline win. Forgot what they were. Something like +360. Whatever it was, I'm glad. Go Saints. Nice job, Tyler Schuck. You deserve your Epsom salt bath tonight, old man.

[Simon Hunter]

I can't give it to this guy, but I got to give him props. Hero of the week. Shocking. Most shocking game in my opinion. JJ McCarthy is my hero of the week.

[Chad Millman]

Chad, we were going to get to that. And Simon says we were going to talk about Washington, so give it up.

[Simon Hunter]

I just. Tons of respect to the kid. Like, you know, you can't avoid all the stuff. He is one of the most memed quarterbacks I can remember in such an early career. And it's. I don't know if you've seen the meme. And basically he made this weird face when he talked about how he's an alter ego. Nine.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, nine. I thought that was so stupid.

[Simon Hunter]

And like there was a clip of him like, like, I don't even know. It's like a stank face or whatever it is, but basically anyone that stinks, like, like Herz had laid an egg, whatever that was. Last game, they basically imposed Hertz's face over the sky's body. He's become that type of meme where he's just getting absolutely killed. And it came out today and played within the system, which we've talked about now, where he's had good games like that Detroit Game, the game they won. He's had different games where when it's on script I get what I get with Koc sees like he's good with his feet, he has a good arm and you know, today, you know, didn't have a ton of yards. 163. We threw three touchdowns. Like he was really impressive in the red zone using his tight ends and really playing sworn the offense. Like having the game in the read where he had a couple pressure in his face, didn't panic, back foot right to the guy in the end zone and you know, just got to give props to the kid where I talked about they have to play them the rest of the year because you have to keep building on whatever this is and yeah, go get a veteran in the summer. So we know this isn't who he is. Right. He's not a 16 of 23 and three touchdowns type of guy. But there is something there that they can build upon where everything felt lost a week ago and think there's some crazy stuff. They're like the first team since, you know, last 30 years to basically get shut out the week before and then shut another team out this upcoming week. So you know, pretty incredible. They got embarrassed on the road, they come home, he comes off, you know, being a concussion list and really puts up a great game. So yeah, big win for the Vikings. 31. Nothing in the sense that a little bit of peace of mind heading into the off season if he continues to play this way, J.J. mcCarthy at least, at least you have something to hope on rather than him just being an embarrassment. So he's my hero of the week.

[Chad Millman]

I'm impressed. I'm impressed that you called that out. I was wondering how we were going to address Minnesota winning 31 to nothing over Washington. Washington was the Simon says, not a. Not a great week. Not a great week. Chad's choice was the New York jets plus two and a half. Brass balls was the Ravens minus five and a half. Rocking a hard place. We did go with New Orleans and so good on us for finding the diamond in the rough this week. Sharp versus square. I had the Jags, you had the Saints. A rare push for us.

Underdog parlay, the Jags, the Jets and Washington. I could not remember or find in my notes who our moneyline parlay was. I feel like it was the Rams minus five and a half. I think it was Seattle on everything.

[Simon Hunter]

Except we might either had Cleveland in there or the Ravens, which.

[Chad Millman]

Oh right, it was Seattle minus five and a half, Rams minus five and a Half. Baltimore, Denver and. Oh, no. KC And Denver. That's what it was.

[Simon Hunter]

Oh, nice.

[Chad Millman]

So we got a shot. We got a shot with KC Even though I'd like the Texans to at least cover that game.

Some exciting games next week to look at. Obviously, the Lions and the Rams is one of them. Buffalo is playing New England. Interesting game.

I feel like. Well, you want to start? You got any leans here? Because I got some. Some early opinions.

[Simon Hunter]

You can fire away.

[Chad Millman]

Well, I want to talk about that Buffalo game. Like, the Bills are one and a half point favorites right now.

Which I don't love.

Because I kind of want to bet the Patriots.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, I'll. I'll be patient. See what the market does with that. My. My initial gut instinct is just to hammer the Bills. That's like, I keep saying that the Patriots are a good team, but they're just totally overrated, over inflated. And, you know, it's a scary thing to get in front of because they are a legit contender. But Josh Allen in December under a field goal against an inexperienced team in New England. So to me, it's. This should be a Josh Allen spot, but I'm with you. I'm a little scared to bet against this Patriots team, shockingly so. I'll be patient, see where that number goes.

[Chad Millman]

What do you think of Tampa bay as a 5 1/2 point favorite at home against Atlanta right now?

[Simon Hunter]

I love it, but I don't get why the number is so short. Like, it's the. The pros just keep betting. This Atlanta team, they keep attacking Kirk Cousins. It's very bizarre. So I thought this would be seven. Seven and a half. Like, it's just. Falcons with shuck are no worse than this Atlanta team with Kirk Cousins, so. And no Drake London once again. So I don't know. It's. I'll hit this number early, but if Drake London gets cleared, maybe this drops down more and I'll take a large position. But this is, like, one of the first lines I hit when it opened. I just. Anything under seven, I'm gonna hammer against this Atlantic team. They're just so bad.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, I think without Drake London, they really can't function. We saw it today. It's why we were talking about, do we want to take Atlanta? Seven and a half. You were on Seattle. I liked Atlanta, but only if they had Drake London. So that's why it was sort of a pass for us. The wise guys phenomenally were all over Atlanta this week.

[Simon Hunter]

They loved them.

[Chad Millman]

They loved them this week. All right, so you hit The Bucks.

[Simon Hunter]

Nothing crazy. I just took a little position on them.

[Chad Millman]

Washington on the road at the New York Giants. They're underdogs right now. It can't be worse than what it was today. It just can't.

[Simon Hunter]

That's fair. I mean, once again, it feels like that's a Giants line, so I'll probably think it was on the Giants because it's just. There's no way they let Jen Daniels play again. I think he got. He re injured, so it's gonna be Mariota for sure, which might be better for them because Daniels didn't look that great anyway, but.

[Chad Millman]

Right.

[Simon Hunter]

Yeah, it's interesting you went to that game. I just. If I could avoid that game, I'd probably be happy right now. I asked a strong opinion on it yet.

[Chad Millman]

What do you have opinions on?

[Simon Hunter]

So just again, like you just said, really, really early lines here. And actually I'm seeing Bucks now moving to minus four and a half. So pretty, pretty interesting. The professionals love that Falcons team.

[Chad Millman]

They do.

[Simon Hunter]

I might be an overreaction, Chad, but we can get the Rams minus four and a half against Detroit.

I just, I. Once again, I feel like Detroit. I know it's, it's. It's golf indoors as a dog. He's. He's covered this number a thumb. But I just feel like these are totally, totally different teams where they're just. The Rams are a class above. And I'm interested to see what the. The public does with this one because I think most people are going to see those golf stats about him as a dog and him covering as a dog indoors in this position. So another number I'll be patient on because I think I might move to a. A better spot for me. But.

Yeah, that's that game in the Saints like the Saints were plus three. A couple books are down to plus two and a half.

[Chad Millman]

Two and a half.

[Simon Hunter]

That's another one I'm gonna be patient on. I just think the public will come in on that Panther side and maybe I'll get a better number on the Saints. And yeah, another game that just jumped out to me right away. Can't believe it, but Minnesota's plus six on the road against Dallas.

[Chad Millman]

I was just gonna ask you about that one.

[Simon Hunter]

I hate it, but I think. I think I'm supposed to. So I'll just. I'll take the six in case the professionals bet it down to five and a half. But talk to you about. I just. That that Dallas defense is so suspect. I know they'll get theirs offensively, but I Could see a KOC scheming up and them getting them points for this Viking side as well. So I just. I feel like that number's a little too big for the Open.

[Chad Millman]

I was gonna mention New Orleans. That felt sneaky to me. It felt a little bit trappy.

[Simon Hunter]

Also, I got hit off the three.

[Chad Millman]

I know the other one that felt trappy to me. Before we get out of here, there was another two and a half that I was looking at. Hold on. It was right below that one. Oh, Green Bay and Denver. Green bay is a 2 1/2 point favorite on the road against the Broncos.

[Simon Hunter]

Early line, I would grab, I guess Denver, I suppose, but I'm probably gonna end up on Green Bay. They're just. They're just the better team. Like we already talked about. I just. There's something messing with them, but they have so much talent across the board. I love this matchup. It's a great test. So it's. It's already down to one and a half at a couple books now. Green Bay. So if that flips and LaFleur becomes a dog. You remember that. Yeah, exactly. So. So let's just be patient, take that position here. But yeah, if you want to grab the two and a half early, I think Denver's definitely the sharp side.

[Chad Millman]

Just breaking news from Schefter on espn. Daniel Jones undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles, so his season is done. That is a bummer for the Colts, who gave us a good run this year. Not that the season's over for them, but that was a bummer. You know. You know, I don't want to ruin it for everybody. All right, this has been. Let's. Let's remind everybody what we had. We had the Rams, minus nine and a half today that cashed. We had the Jags, plus two and a half that cashed. We had the.

New Orleans Saints plus eight and a half that cashed. We lost with the Cleveland Browns minus three and a half in the New York jets, plus two and a half. Three and a two, three and two. For our first week in the new contest that we're all playing together, I can't wait to see who's in first. This has been Sharper Square presented by Hard Rock Bet, part of the Volume podcast network. We will be back with our next Sharper Square Tuesday to go over the entire NFL slate. Watch or listen on YouTube at Sharper Square. Like the video, subscribe to the channel. Download some Spotify, Apple podcast, wherever you get your pods. Rate. Review. Subscribe. Leave us. Five stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Till next time. Love you. Together we can do it.

[DJ (NBA on Prime Host)]

Nobody can do it alone, but together we can do it. Let's play our kind of football and we'll come out of it with a win. Let's go.

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[DJ (NBA on Prime Host)]

This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. When you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network, so you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked out at the biggest moments. It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really does have your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. Visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless Store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Sophie Cunningham]

This is Sophie Cunningham and Wes Wilson.

[Arby's Advertiser]

From Show Me Something.

[Sophie Cunningham]

The second the weather drops, I'm instantly in holiday mode. Sweaters. Comfort food. All of it. And nothing hits better on a cold day than unwrapping an Arby's.

[Arby's Advertiser]

Classic Roast Beef Facts when that tender, slow roast beef is warm and juicy, it's like soul therapy. And if you're feeling a little extra like we usually are, go for the.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Double Dude Double Roast Beef, Double Beef and Cheddar. Twice the meat, twice the happiness.

[Arby's Advertiser]

You know what you want? Get an Arby's Double Roast Beef or a double beef and cheddar in store or delivered today.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Available for a limited time at participating locations while supplies last.

[Chad Millman]

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[Simon Hunter]

Is an iHeart podcast.

[Chad Millman]

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