Hour 1: BANGALS

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Episode Summary - "BANGALS"
Release Date: January 5, 2025

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1. Navigating the Snowstorm: Preparedness and Regional Impact [00:35 - 04:09]

The episode kicks off with Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf discussing the severe snowstorm affecting Middle America, particularly Kentucky. Myron emphasizes the rarity and intensity of the snowfall in their region compared to more accustomed snowy areas like Minnesota and Milwaukee.

• Snowstorm Preparations:
  Matt underscores the importance of having a comprehensive snowstorm kit, listing essential items such as a blanket, sand, shovel, hand warmers, and non-perishable food. He explains, "The sand is for traction if you get stuck, and the shovel is to dig out” (02:03).

• Regional Challenges:
  Myron shares anecdotes from other regions, highlighting how areas like Kentucky and Missouri are unprepared for such heavy snowfall, leading to significant disruptions. He notes, "Missouri shut down yesterday, Kansas City almost couldn't get out of the city to go play their game today against Denver" (04:09).

2. Bengals' Playoff Hopes and NFL Dynamics [04:09 - 21:35]

The conversation shifts to the NFL, focusing on the Cincinnati Bengals' performance and their prospects in the postseason.

• Bengals' Rising Performance:
  Myron celebrates the Bengals’ recent victory over Pittsburgh, which keeps their playoff hopes alive. He humorously remarks, "You better hope you don't see us in the first round in Providence" (06:50).

• Quarterback Spotlight:
  Both hosts discuss Joe Burrow's exceptional season, positioning him as a legitimate MVP candidate. Matt states, "Joe Burrow could legitimately have the greatest season we've seen from a quarterback that didn't make the playoffs" (07:38).

• Playoff Predictions and Team Dynamics:
  They analyze potential playoff matchups, including the Chiefs with Carson Wentz and Aaron Rodgers’ status. Myron posits, "The Chiefs will be a close game against Denver... there's a lot of intrigue with Carson Wentz at quarterback" (11:48).

• Impact of Player Rest and Injuries:
  The duo debates whether teams like the Chiefs should rest key players, discussing the balance between preparation and risk. Matt argues, "If I'm Gerard Mayo and all of a sudden people think I won't be back, I'm going to win the game" (39:15).

3. Pronunciation Showdown: "Bengals" vs. "Bangles" [20:31 - 26:13]

A lighthearted segment ensues where Matt and Myron engage in a playful debate over the correct pronunciation of "Bengals." Myron insists on saying "Bangles," leading to humorous exchanges and listener participation.

• Listener Poll:
  They conduct a poll with listeners from various regions to determine the preferred pronunciation. Despite initial disagreements, the majority settle on "Bengals," with Myron conceding, "Sweep Chris. Thank you, Chris" (25:32).

• Cultural and Regional Nuances:
  Myron highlights how regional accents and backgrounds influence pronunciation, adding, "It's like Louisville... you become a different human being" (25:07).

4. Lamar Jackson and MVP Race Analysis [26:13 - 32:23]

The discussion narrows down to individual player performances, focusing on Lamar Jackson's historic achievements and his standing in the MVP race.

• Jackson's Record-Breaking Season:
  Myron lauds Jackson’s performance, stating, "He is the first player in history that has had 40 pass TDs and fewer than five interceptions" (27:50).

• MVP Voting Dynamics:
  They delve into the complexities of MVP voting, considering both performance metrics and postseason outcomes. Matt comments, "Voters are counting against him what he hasn't done in the postseason" (31:48).

• Comparisons with Josh Allen:
  The hosts compare Jackson with Josh Allen, debating who poses a greater threat in the postseason. Myron asks, "Would you be more scared of playing against Josh Allen or against Lamar Jackson?" (30:36), while Matt weighs in, "Josh Allen is going to be battling Joe Burrow, Lamar Mahomes, and maybe someone in the NFC for the next decade" (32:16).

5. Engaging with Listeners: Personal Stories and Feedback [21:35 - 33:25]

Throughout the episode, Matt and Myron interact with listener feedback, sharing personal stories and addressing audience comments.

• Listener Stories:
  A touching story is shared by a listener who met his wife after Myron helped her with a car in a ditch, prompting Matt to reflect, "For every good story like that, there's a bad story out there" (22:36).

• Terminology Debate:
  They address listener opinions on the use of "old" vs. "elderly," with Myron expressing, "One person writes elderly is way worse. I'm still good with old" (33:03).

6. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Topics [33:25 - End]

As the episode wraps up, Matt and Myron preview upcoming discussions and topics, maintaining their engaging and conversational style.

• Upcoming Games and Strategies:
  They hint at analyzing future NFL games, team strategies, and the implications for the draft, ensuring listeners stay tuned for more in-depth sports analysis.

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Notable Quotes:

• "The sand is for traction if you get stuck, and the shovel is to dig out." — Matt Jones (02:03)

• "Joe Burrow could legitimately have the greatest season we've seen from a quarterback that didn't make the playoffs." — Matt Jones (07:38)

• "You better hope you don't see us in the first round in Providence." — Myron Metcalf (06:50)

• "He is the first player in history that has had 40 pass TDs and fewer than five interceptions." — Myron Metcalf (27:50)

• "If I'm Gerard Mayo and all of a sudden people think I won't be back, I'm going to win the game." — Matt Jones (39:15)

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Conclusion

In this episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron," the hosts seamlessly blend discussions on regional weather challenges with in-depth NFL analysis, particularly focusing on the Cincinnati Bengals' playoff aspirations and the ongoing MVP race. Their dynamic interaction, coupled with listener engagement, provides a comprehensive and entertaining overview of the current sports landscape.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate first. Like, you know, to check the date of the big game first before you accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding anniversary and have to spend the next 20 years of your marriage making up for it. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. This is Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

It is Captain Kickoff here on ESPN Radio on a snowy day where I am. For those of you that are in the various coasts, those of us in middle America are seeing massive snow. As I look out my window, the snow is piling up outside in Kentucky and it is countdown to kickoff. You can be a part of the countdown to kick off Nation on the Dr. Pepper. Call in line. 888. Say ESPN. That's 888-729-3776. ESPN nations, presented by Dr. Pepper. It is not football season without the delicious taste of an ice cold Dr. Pepper. College pep. College pepper. It's a football thing. Or college football. It's a Pepper thing. I'm Matt Jones. He is Myron Metcalf. Myron, you come from, you know, you're, you're Minnesota, Milwaukee, as you remind us a lot guy. You've seen a lot of snow. We in Kentucky, we get the shut the city down snow about once every year or two. And we're getting it right now, 6 to 10 inches. I'm looking out my window. This cripples us. We can't even move for a week. And it's starting as we speak.

[Matt Jones]

You know, I never. Don't make fun of those places because I mean, up here we have all the resources, the salt trucks, all that. When you don't have those things, man, it's terrifying to travel on those roads. I hope everybody has their snowstorm kit. Do you all know about the snowstorm?

[Myron Metcalf]

First of all, I'm looking at you. Push your mic down so you. We can hear you. You got it literally in your eye. There you go. Now talk.

[Matt Jones]

You can't hear me. You can't.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's a lot better. No, put it in your mouth.

[Matt Jones]

Put that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. I mean, just take that. Don't use that drop. Take that and put it down next to your mouth.

[Matt Jones]

You have a picture of my.

[Myron Metcalf]

And you can't hear you.

[Matt Jones]

No, you can hear me.

[Myron Metcalf]

You can hear me.

[Matt Jones]

That was a weird secret. But like I was saying, do y'all know about your snowstorm kits? Do you? I want to know what's in a snowstorm kit. Okay, So a snowstorm kit. And I'm being seriously like that. People should have this. You should have a blanket. You should have a blanket.

[Myron Metcalf]

Everyone has a blanket in their car. Need a kit in their car. I'm not gonna be in my car. We are stuck. We can't get out of our house.

[Matt Jones]

Listen, blanket. Sand. A bag of sand.

[Myron Metcalf]

Bag of sand.

[Matt Jones]

A bag of sand. A shovel.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, okay.

[Matt Jones]

Hand warmers.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Right. And some sort of non perishable kind of food item.

[Myron Metcalf]

What am I doing with my sand when I'm in my car?

[Matt Jones]

The idea is, if you get stuck on the road in an emergency like this, first respond is hard to get to people. Right. So you could be stuck for a while. You run out of gas, that's the blanket. You get stuck in a ditch, you put sand behind your rear tires so it doesn't spin. And then you put sand to give yourself some traction as you're pushing, get some people to push, get out of that ditch, get out of that hole, wherever you are. So the sand is the traction, and a shovel is to sort of dig.

[Myron Metcalf]

You out of the way. I'm supposed to carry around. Like, you're acting like I'm like an astronaut. I'm supposed to carry around, like food that's non perishable. Like I'm preparing for the apocalypse in my car.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So up here, you prepare for the possibility that you're stuck on the side of the road in a snowstorm and you run out of gas.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

So that, like, that's how we operate. Well, we will shut down those things in your car.

[Myron Metcalf]

We will shut down, like the entire state of Kentucky will shut down. Missouri shut down yesterday, Kansas City almost couldn't get out of the city to go play their game today against Denver. They were. They were stuck, I think, on the airport on the Runway for four hours. Myra, do you think that will happen, have any effect on the game today?

[Matt Jones]

No, I mean, they. They weren't on spirit, you know, I mean, they're. They're on a luxury private.

[Myron Metcalf]

You don't think the Chiefs fly Spirit? Who flies spirit? You think. Do you think the Panthers fly Spirit?

[Matt Jones]

The Jags, definitely. Jacksonville. Jacksonville, they just load them with everybody else, you know, and they got to go through Atlanta.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, you think Jacksonville flies commercial?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah. They got to go through Atlanta.

[Myron Metcalf]

They got to go through. Oh, Jacksonville doesn't have to go Atlanta.

[Matt Jones]

No, they dropping some people off in Atlanta and then they got to go wherever they have to go. They got it.

[Myron Metcalf]

They got to go to Atlanta. Go to the Cinnabon and wait, make sure. Listen, you're in D gate, you're in B right now. We'll need you to take the tram.

[Matt Jones]

Got to sprint all the way down to their. To their gate. But, yeah, I mean, it's not fun, but it's a lot different when you're on a private charter. You know, it's probably annoying more than anything, but I think it also shows just, like, how bad the weather is. Oh, that part of country.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, first of all, it's like you said, we're right in the part of the country that both gets snow but is not prepared for it. Yeah. Like, so that makes it hard. We don't have the equipment and salt and all that. So it piles up. I will tell you, one time I was in Dallas, Myron, Kentucky played basketball in Dallas, and they had a snowstorm. You. It was more ice storm than snow.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

You want to talk about people that are not prepared? Were people in Dallas, There were people. Just the moment a drop of snow hit the ground, they just immediately drove into the ditch to save everybody the trouble. They were like, you know what? There's no reason for me to, like, spin out. Let me just drive in the ditch now just to make it easier on everybody.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, again, people just. It happens up here, though. You know, people. People up here will tell you how good they are when they're driving. In the first snowfall of every year, there's a bunch of people in the ditch, like, just slow down, man. Like, where. Where are you headed? Do you want to get there? Like, that's always my question is, like, what's your goal? Because if it's to actually get there, you better slow down on those icy roads.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I'm inside. If you lose me at some point, it will be because the power goes out, because it is almost a white out outside of my window. Nevertheless, big day yesterday in the NFL. Big day for my Kentucky Wildcats. I won't dwell on it, but we won 160 to 100, and it was a lot of fun. And the people here are also happy because then at night, the Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive, won it at Pittsburgh, who is now lost four straight to end the season. The Bengals are playing well. Zach Taylor, when the game was over, Myron said, you don't want to see us in the tournament, which that's the first time I've ever heard people call the playoffs the tournament. Do you agree, Myron, that people don't want to see the Bengals in the tournament?

[Matt Jones]

Does he think they're playing, like, McNeese State or something in the opening?

[Myron Metcalf]

He's like, we are a dangerous 13. You better hope you don't see us in the first round in Providence.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, he is right, though, right? I mean, every team in the AFC is hoping that Miami or Denver finds a way to win so that they don't have to deal with the Bengals in the postseason. Man, I mean, this is a team where you go, if you just win that opening game against New England, there are a couple opportunities here and there. This is a playoff team because they're playing top 10 football right now in the NFL. You know, there aren't that many teams that are better than what the Bengals are doing. Joe Burrow, I think, is a legit MVP candidate, certainly, if they get into the postseason. But they could be the most dangerous team outside of the top couple of seeds, if they find a way to get.

[Myron Metcalf]

Do you think one of those teams that, if they got in, could do, like, the Giants runs with Eli or, you know, could they be like, when Arizona did it with Kurt Warner, where they get hot at the end of the year, they get going, they pull a couple upsets. If the Bengals got in now, that requires a Miami loss and a Denver loss. So that is. They're going to need two dogs to pull out. They need the Chiefs to win with Carson Wentz at quarterback against Denver, and then they need Aaron Rodgers to go, you know, read, rejuvenate himself one last time before he gets his podcast. Like, they need two big things to happen. Do you think it's plausible? And then if it did, do you.

[Matt Jones]

Think they're dangerous if it happens? Sure. Yeah. I mean, if they get in, I mean, he's better. He's playing better than Eli or Kurt Warner did those seasons. I mean, Joe Burrow could legitimately have the greatest season we've seen from a quarterback that didn't make the playoffs. Like, that's how good he is right now, and that's how good this team is. Nobody wants to see them, especially Kansas City.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, if you wouldn't play Kansas City at first, they'd play Mills.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. But I mean, the idea if. If there's one team in this field again, where, if the Bengals get in that's not afraid of Kansas City and Kansas City, it's Cincinnati and the way they're playing Right now they have all the confidence in the world, I think.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think the team don't want to see him as Buffalo because you can't lose that first game. Right. And Buffalo sitting there as a two seed. If Buffalo saw Miami in the first round of the playoffs, I think they'd feel pretty good about their chances. Even if Buffalo sees Denver, the Bo Knicks is not going on the road to Buffal. That'll probably be, you know, 20 degrees and win in that game. But if they saw Cincinnati, that would be one of those. The people would start. I think, Myron, to be a little nervous if you had to host Cincinnati in the first round next week.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Now that. That'd be a whole different thing, man. Now, granted, you know, you have a Miami team. No tua. So. So what happens there potentially?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I mean, nothing happens. That's why, I mean, I'm picking today. I think the jets are going to beat Miami because I know. So what I'm sitting there looking at is can the Chiefs. Well, let me just ask you this. Do you think the Chiefs have the winning pedigree to go out there with Carson Wentz? No. Kelsey, you know, no. Pachinka? Pacheco. I mean, no. None of the stars but, like, have enough pride to go out there and beat Denver.

[Matt Jones]

No. I mean, they get that pride. I don't think they have the personnel. I think that's the biggest thing is, like, they're resting everybody. So it ain't just Kelsey and Mahomes. I mean, it's. It's all of the meaningful players on that roster.

[Myron Metcalf]

Some of them have to play, though, just by the sheer roster. Some of those guys are going to have to get in because you can't. Unlike in college, you can't really sit everybody in the NFL, you talking to players.

[Matt Jones]

No. That's fair. And I mean, you know, if you're. Carson Wentz, you're going. If I ever wanted to show everybody that I deserve another shot in this league, you know, here's the moment. But I think Denver wins that game. However, if they. If they don't. And also I think Aaron Rodgers maybe wins his last game in the NFL. There's a lot of intriguing storylines today.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let me. I'm just gonna say something. And you know, as the records show, I've been better at predicting this stuff than you have. Pretty significant.

[Matt Jones]

Why you gotta say it like that, though? Just. Just make your point. Like you don't have.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, but I mean, people need to add like. Like when we're talking financial advice, like You're Jim Cramer, I'm Warren Buffett. I just want people to understand what we're saying.

[Matt Jones]

Okay?

[Myron Metcalf]

This game, the Chiefs will, will be with five minutes to go in this game. They'll be in it. It's a one score game. I think they have a shot of winning in Denver. They're that the pedigree is too good. Denver's their rival. They'd love to keep those dudes out. That's one of the things you got to remember as well. Chiefs, Broncos, that's a rivalry. They'd love to keep them out of the playoffs. Yeah, that's going to be, that's going to be a close game. Now three teams all have a chance to make the playoffs, one of which of course could be on the hands on the shoulders of Carson Wentz. We'll talk more about that, more about his Myron snow emergency kit.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And more. That's next here on Countdown TO Kickoff.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

Hey there, Ryan Reynolds here. It's a new year and you know what that means. No, not the diet resolutions. A way for us all to try and do a little bit better than we did last year. And my resolution, unlike big wireless, is to not be a raging and raise the price of wireless on you every chance I get. Give it a [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront.

[Matt Jones]

Payment required equivalent to $15 per month. New customers on first 3 month plan only. Taxes and fees, extra speed slower above 40 gigabytes on unlimited. See mintmobile.com for details from ESPN podcast and Omaha Productions. Coach is a new groundbreaking educational football podcast hosted by NFL legends Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and Michael Lombardi. In each episode, the coaches break down game changing situations and front office management tactics, sharing insights from decades of coaching experience and opening up the Bill Belichick Encyclopedia of football knowledge created by football legends for football fans. New episodes of Coach Drop weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Is countdown to kick off here ESPN Radio. Those of you in the Midwest dealing with the snow like me, you got a friend in me. We were talking about snow. You were saying Myron. And by the way, you can text the show at KY SportsRadiogcalf by ESPN or there's a number where you can text the 772-7745254. Stephen wrote in and said, matt, no lie. Last time I flew through Atlanta, I saw Trevor Lawrence on my Delta flight connecting from Jacksonville. See, there you go. The Jaguars fly commercial in our minds. They have to connect in Atlanta, they're.

[Matt Jones]

Probably on multiple flights too. You know, they probably just get, you know, like different airlines.

[Myron Metcalf]

And then they get Delta to their next destination.

[Matt Jones]

They're paying all the baggage fees, man. So. Yeah, you know, I wouldn't.

[Myron Metcalf]

What did you say? You said you, you carry around boots with spikes on them.

[Matt Jones]

I've got, I mean, this is, this is the upper Midwest, man. So I have everything, man. So I've got spikes on my boots to put, you know, if I need extra traction in a snowstorm. Like, remember, you got to think pushing cars and things like that.

[Myron Metcalf]

So you go out of your house like already planning to push yourself out of a ditch before you even leave. You put spikes on your shoes just to like for regular drives.

[Matt Jones]

And a snowstorm. Yeah, no, with a snowstorm coming, 100%. I got an ice pick. I got. I mean, I got everything. Yeah. Just again, the sand.

[Myron Metcalf]

It sounds like you're like Dwight Schw when you go out, like you take every form.

[Matt Jones]

It's not that out here, man. In a snowstorm like you're talking about, people still keep going. Right? Until it's just absolutely impossible. I can't tell you how many people I've helped push out of ditches and, you know, make sure they're out strangers. Are these strangers all the time? All the time.

[Myron Metcalf]

Byron, you're gonna get killed one day doing that.

[Matt Jones]

No, we. You stop and help somebody on the side of the road that you don't know. It's not Harlem. What do you do? What are you talking about?

[Myron Metcalf]

You're driving down the side of the road. You see a car in a ditch.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Myron Metcalf]

You just pull over all the time.

[Matt Jones]

In that, in a storm situation, 100% people get stuck. What kind of human being. You don't stop for people? No.

[Myron Metcalf]

First of all, I would stop, but I have no skills. So like, I would make the situation worse because I would get stuck then too.

[Matt Jones]

But do you, you think pushing is a skill? I mean, like.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, yeah. Because I wouldn't want my Jordans. I wouldn't want to get snow on them.

[Matt Jones]

That's okay, that's. So let's, let's, let's say the real thing. The real thing is your shoes are more important than helping 82 year old Gertrude.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's not true.

[Matt Jones]

Stuck in a ditch.

[Myron Metcalf]

If I'm trying to get back on the road, I knew it was a granny then. I'm there. I have a, I have a soft spot for old women. That's my thing.

[Matt Jones]

But under 60, you're just like you're on your own.

[Myron Metcalf]

Under 60, I feel like you got triple A, don't you? Like, you just give them a minute.

[Matt Jones]

They'll be, are you an agent? What are you talking about? You're not helping somebody.

[Myron Metcalf]

When I see old women, I think I like my grandma and I don't want to. I want to help old women, but like old men. The reality is an old man on the side of the road, There's a good chance he has a profile pic on Facebook with sunglasses. And he tells me, shut up, liberal. Like.

[Matt Jones]

Like that's.

[Myron Metcalf]

There's a good chance that happens. So I'm not gonna be as quick to pull over for that guy.

[Matt Jones]

He might say something worse to me. But if he's in a ditch, I'm still gonna be a human being and go, how do I get you out of the ditch? I'm not gonna ask him who we voted for.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm gonna say, hey, man, that's a good point. You know what?

[Matt Jones]

You're in a ditch. I would try to get you out.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm just saying there are certain bumper stickers that would lead me to another bumper.

[Matt Jones]

I've never met somebody who has eight conditions before. They're willing to help you get out of the ditch.

[Myron Metcalf]

If you're an old lady. If you're an old lady, then it doesn't matter what you.

[Matt Jones]

Elderly, not elderly.

[Myron Metcalf]

What do you mean? Come on, say old. You have to say elderly.

[Matt Jones]

Old is 1974 elderly. I was seasoned.

[Myron Metcalf]

Stop it. Listen, I'll be as PC as you want, but I get to say old. You cannot take home from me. You.

[Matt Jones]

You call people. You call older people old. Like, you will see a lot, look.

[Myron Metcalf]

At their face and say you're old. I'm just saying, like, if I'm talking about there's an age where you're old. I'm.

[Matt Jones]

I'm middle aged.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't sit there and say, you have to call me, like, halfway. I mean.

[Matt Jones]

No, no. I just. I think elderly is. Is the way we should. We should probably describe.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, fine. Well, the Chiefs have some elderly players, all right? And so a lot of them are going to sit out today. How about that transition? They're going to sit out today against the Broncos in a game that does matter. Here's who's out. Hardman, Jalen Watson, Pacheco, Juwan Taylor. Doubtful. Although, I mean, they don't play out. Yeah, is Mahomes and Kelsey. Then we have to wait and see what happens with Chris Jones, Kareem Hunt, Nick Bolton, and Other guys. If you were. If you were Andy Reid, would you play any of those dudes at all?

[Matt Jones]

Well, so the question is going to be some of those guys have some contract incentives where they may try to play, you know, and it's the last chance to get them. But if there's nothing like that, I'm going to lie. None of those guys are going to play, man. I mean, there's nothing on the line.

[Myron Metcalf]

Something is. Let me ask you a question. If they were to win their third super bowl and be, I guess they would have to be, what, 19 and one to do it, doesn't that one look better than if it's a two when your starters weren't playing?

[Matt Jones]

No, I don't think it mattered at all. I don't think anybody, anybody, no one cares about that. What, what will matter is the potential to have three weeks of rest. You know what I mean? If you rest too many weeks.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, in college football, every team that had a buy loss.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that's the question. I mean, remember, you know, Baltimore a couple years ago had to buy and didn't look great. I still think you would prefer that. And, and Kansas City has had that multiple times in one super bowl. So I think they'll take the rest over risk. In a second loss, they would join.

[Myron Metcalf]

The 2007 Patriots as the only teams ever to win 16 regular season games. Does that matter?

[Matt Jones]

No, none of that matters to them. They're going after if they could be the. The team, the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row. That's how they'll be remembered. Like, no one will care about anything else attached to that team. It'll be three in a row.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I'll tell you who's rooting for him, and that's the people in Cincinnati. I mean, everyone in Cincinnati. There's never been a bigger set. People in Cincinnati have never been able to stand Mahomes, but even though he's not playing today, Carson Wentz. This will be one of those situations where an entire city will donate to his charity if they can find a way to win this game.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, no, it's gonna be a big deal if you're a member of the fan base or the team. Are you watching today? Are you off doing something else and just not paying?

[Myron Metcalf]

How do you want to see the second string? And I mean, hardcore fans are watching. I'm watching all those.

[Matt Jones]

But I mean, in terms of superstitious, like, are you, you know, if you're superstitious, do you just want to.

[Myron Metcalf]

Cincinnati fan yes. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Cincinnati fan. Like, no, I mean get away for the day.

[Myron Metcalf]

Cincinnati watch parties all over the city today of people have snow. We were going to have a Cincinnati watch party at my bar for people to cheer, but. But with the snow, it'll be hard. One person writes. Matt, please have Myron say the name of the team in Cincinnati.

[Matt Jones]

It's the Bangles.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why?

[Matt Jones]

Do you know how y'all say Bengals?

[Myron Metcalf]

You always say bangles like you're from. From the sticks. You. You.

[Matt Jones]

You always act like I'm saying like a Southern Baptist preacher. I don't say Bengals.

[Myron Metcalf]

Cincinnati. What?

[Matt Jones]

I say Bangles. That's what they. That's what they are.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's B.

[Matt Jones]

You say Bingles. There's no B I N G. That's how we.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's why we say it. We don't. You. You, you.

[Matt Jones]

I think that's how you like the.

[Myron Metcalf]

Way you try to say Louisville.

[Matt Jones]

It's just all of a sudden you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Become a different human being.

[Matt Jones]

So Bingles. Bingles is the way to say it. I've never heard Bingles before I met you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Ask the people out there. 888C SPN if you're a Cincinnati fan.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Is it Bing Bengals. Or how would you say it?

[Matt Jones]

Bengals.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, no, no. That's not how you said it.

[Matt Jones]

Bangles. Bangles.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's what you say. You say bang, and it is not. It is not bang. Lamar broke another record last night, but does any of it matter unless he wins in the playoffs? There's a. It was. He was an amazing. He played amazing yesterday. Will it matter in. In the next round? That's next on ESPN Radio.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron, the podcast foreign.

[Myron Metcalf]

Kickoff here on ESPN Radio. Interesting comments coming in. Matt Jones, Meyer, Metcalf. Some people are telling me that elderly is much worse than old. One person writes, matt, I am as you would describe old. I don't like elderly. It makes me think like I'm decrepit. But you have old basketball players, you have old football players. Old is descriptive. Elderly is a slur. How about that, Mark? See turns out you trying to be went back to offense.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't saw elderly is worse than old.

[Myron Metcalf]

I can see that. Let me ask you a question. If I say old, LeBron's old, right? LeBron's an old. Aaron Rodgers is old. But are they elderly? No, I thought elderly was more old and not be elderly.

[Matt Jones]

I thought elderly was more delicate.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I think that is incorrect. 8 8, 8 say ESPN Text Machine is 772-774-5254. One person writes, matt, I know you're gonna think I'm making this up, but this goes to Myron pulling people over. I met my wife when she was pulled over on the side of the road in a ditch. I helped her move her car out, got her number, we went out and later were married.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, wow, that's amazing. That's a. For every good story like that, there's a bad story out there.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, there's also a person who.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can'T write the text machine because they got murdered when they pulled over.

[Matt Jones]

Y'all watch too many. Y'all watch too much Dateline. Y'all gotta stop watching some of that stuff, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

You can tune in for football action. Today, the Broncos host the Chiefs. Coverage begins at 3 Eastern on select ESPN radio stations. As we said, the. Really the only. There are two storylines in today's games. You got the game tonight, which we'll get to later. Vikings and Packers. Major game for the 1 seed in the NFC. But then you also have this question of who's going to be the last team into the afc. Is it going to be Cincinnati, Denver, or Miami? Now, Myron says the Cincinnati. What? What do you say?

[Matt Jones]

Bangles.

[Myron Metcalf]

Bangles.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Myron Metcalf]

Who won yesterday might make the playoffs. I insist that's not how you say it. It's Bengals. We have people on here who are Cincinnati fans. Interestingly, the first four are not from Cincinnati, but nevertheless, they're gonna go in. Let's just take a quick poll because you're wrong and I'm right and Brian is in New Mexico. Brian, how do you say Cincinnati's name? That's a really hard one. First of all, I wanted to say love to show long term listener Bengals. I don't really know a song of pronunciation like either either. Yeah, no, you said Bengals, though, so that's one. Thank you. No, he said Bing. He said Bing. I heard it. Let's go.

[Matt Jones]

What did you mean? He didn't say that.

[Myron Metcalf]

I heard it. He said Bengals. I don't want it. We don't need to reverse time. Let's go to Jesse in Florida. Jesse, where you live in Florida? Fort Myers. Originally from Northern Kentucky area. Florida. So you know a lot of old people if you're in Fort Myers. So how do you say it?

[Matt Jones]

Bengals.

[Myron Metcalf]

Thank you. There's no. Let's go.

[Matt Jones]

Slow it down, please. I'm not. Hold on a second.

[Myron Metcalf]

I haven't heard one. Ang. Yeah. Let's go to Jonathan in California. How do you say it?

[Matt Jones]

This Jonathan.

[Myron Metcalf]

California. So I'm originally From Cincinnati. If you slow it down, it is Bangles with.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you, Bangles. It sounds like an A.

[Myron Metcalf]

Now just say it though. I don't want you to slow it down like you're speaking, you know, Mikey, I want you to just say the name. Okay. Who they think gonna beat them? Bangles. I win again.

[Matt Jones]

Let's. He's not saying Bengals, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

Danielle, what is it?

[Matt Jones]

What are you doing? He's not saying Bengals, man. He's saying Bengals.

[Myron Metcalf]

Danielle. And I say.

[Matt Jones]

You own the black. She called us from 1996, I think.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, unfortunately, she's on the car phone. She's on one of those phones you got from. No, she on the. She on the car when you first did it. Let's go to Chris in Ohio. What's your vote, Chris?

[Matt Jones]

Well, being born and raised from Cincinnati, it's Cincinnati Bengals.

[Myron Metcalf]

If you can't say that, say who they. There you go. Sweep Chris. Thank you, Chris.

[Matt Jones]

You said Bingles. Bingles.

[Myron Metcalf]

There we go.

[Matt Jones]

I. I don't. I. I think it's Bengals. I think most people say Bangles.

[Myron Metcalf]

You just lost four of them.

[Matt Jones]

No, I did, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

You. You.

[Matt Jones]

I would never trust any poll that you ever were in charge of. If that's the way you do it. Why.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why is that?

[Matt Jones]

Because bad. I would want to recall on everything.

[Myron Metcalf]

Because, look, I saw you went through.

[Matt Jones]

All of those calls and didn't give me time to ask follow up questions. For a lawyer, you should know that's not even. That's not how you do these things.

[Myron Metcalf]

First of all, I saw the hanging chads in this poll all went towards Bing, not bang.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't get a chance to cross examine the prosecution or not. That's. What did they say? Cross examine the witness. You get.

[Myron Metcalf]

You can get some dude to make you a mov to try to stop the steel. Let's go to Ravens and Browns. Last night The Ravens won 35 to 10. I was in Louisville kind of before the snow started and I went out and I said there were people, you know, Lamar is so huge here. Lamar has created a city in Louisville where there are just tons of Ravens fans because of him. I mean, the Bengals are probably still the biggest team here, but the Ravens are almost certainly second because of Lamar. And watching Lamar is just amazing. 217 pass yards, 63 rush yards. He's the first player in history that has had 40 past TDs and fewer than five interceptions. He has only had four interceptions this season. That is unbelievable. I mean, that is unbelievable. He is the first reigning MVP to throw over 40 past touchdowns the year after he wins the award. So after that game, there is a. I mean, is it a race? Like, does Josh Al. Am I going to have to look at the voting for this NFL mvp?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, I think, listen, if it's just performance, I think Lamar Jackson is a very strong case. Like, if you pick Lamar Jackson's mvp, I don't think a lot of people could argue with that. But. But it's. That's not the issue. The issue is how the vote unfolds. Like, these are human beings who vote. And what happens is if somebody who's voted in a lot of national awards, you kind of decide, you know, maybe week 10 or something like that, this is the guy, and then everyone else.

[Myron Metcalf]

Committing to not go in the full year.

[Matt Jones]

No, that's not what I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. At that point, you have enough data where you're like, all right, this is. This is the guy that I would pick today. And then from there, the other candidates usually have to do something fairly overwhelming to change your mind.

[Myron Metcalf]

And I think that's fairly overwhelming. I mean, here's a quarterback that famously, Dan Orlovsky said couldn't play as. And I told him in the first year he was wrong and was considered to be. I mean, not considered. He's the best running quarterback of all time, and yet he also became the first throwing quarterback to have over 40 TDs and less than five interceptions. The combination of that is simply stunning to me, Myron.

[Matt Jones]

So it's two different things. I'd vote for Lamar Jackson. Let me be clear. Okay, I would vote for Lamar Jackson. But the way the 50 voters work, they probably had Josh Allen on their ballots five, six weeks ago. And as good as Lamar has been, Josh Allen has also been good. Right. And I think that the third MVP thing matters. I do think there is an element.

[Myron Metcalf]

In sports that should matter. Like Jokic clearly gets punished for having 12 before in the NBA, and it makes it harder for him. Do you think that should matter?

[Matt Jones]

It's. It shouldn't matter, but it does. And I think that's probably the more important part of the argument is I think that does matter to people. I do think there's a. There's this sort of idea of if not now, then win for Josh Allen. I mean, he's going to be battling Joe Burrow, Lamar Mahomes, and maybe someone in the NFC for the next decade.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, let's put it like this, all right? Because. Because I Think I like to approach these questions in a slightly different way. You're coaching the Myron Metcalf ditch pullers or ditch pushers, the team pushing people into the ditch. No, no, you're pushing people out of the ditch.

[Matt Jones]

The ditch.

[Myron Metcalf]

Group of guys who would pull over and push your car out of the ditch. So it's the Myron Metcalf ditch ditch pushers. You have to play a game. Would you prefer. Would you be more scared of playing against Josh Allen or against Lamar Jackson?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, right now it'd be Lamar Jackson in the postseason. Josh Allen. So I don't know.

[Myron Metcalf]

You would have a different regular season.

[Matt Jones]

And postseason, but I do think that affects Lamar as well. It's that we've seen this before, right? We. We've seen him put together an MVP season and look like the best player in the NFL and then do nothing in the postseason. So I think that factors.

[Myron Metcalf]

You don't think. But, I mean, you don't think the postseason is just in part a sample size thing. I mean, like, it's like.

[Matt Jones]

No, it's everything you do. It's every. It's his whole legacy.

[Myron Metcalf]

But, I mean, Josh Allen, how much? I mean, what. What does he want in the postseason?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, but it's his legacy, too, though. I think the Lamar Jackson narrative about what he couldn't do, I think we got to end that. Right? Anybody who doubted him looks foolish at this point. Anyone who said the wide receiver stuff, they shouldn't even be in football, like, we're past that. This is clearly one of the greatest football players we've ever seen. However, if that's the case, we've got to move on to the next stage and say, what has he done to solidify that legacy beyond individual awards in the postseason? He hasn't done it at this point. And to me, that's where you are a legend is can you get it done in the postseason, whether or not.

[Myron Metcalf]

You'Re a legend, determine who wins the MVP this year?

[Matt Jones]

It shouldn't, but it does. All I'm telling you is voters, I think, are counting against him what he hasn't done in the postseason. They're saying another mvp, the third MVP thing matters. I think Josh Allen and this feeling like it's his time. Also, to Josh Allen's credit, he's been great, but also he lost everybody the offseason. He lost multiple key players. And then you have Lamar playing next to Derek Henry and some of these other guys that people know.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's fine. He also got a Mari Cooper which is a name that people ultimately did.

[Matt Jones]

But late he got. He didn't get him right away, essentially.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I. It's a good question. I mean, both these guys are playing for the word I hate the most. The Legacy. Lamar Jackson's 2 and 4 in the playoffs. Josh Allen, by the way, is 5 and 5. The tank is on for several teams in the NFL. There are a lot of teams playing today that could get the one seed if they lose. But do they still try to win? Can you Tank? Will these teams tank? And would the Myron Metcalf ditch pushers Tank? We'll do all that next here on espn.

[Matt Jones]

Rescue People, Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's kind of kickoff here on ESPN Radio. We are presented by Progressive Insurance, Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf. Text Machine. 772-774-5254. One person writes elderly is way worse. I'm still good with old. It could still get it. But elderly sounds like I'm waiting for the grave. Tell Myron just to call me old.

[Matt Jones]

But I wouldn't. I wouldn't say that. That doesn't sound right. I don't know. But I guess if people want to be called old, fine, I can start. You can start calling people.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm with you. Maybe old people want to chime in, let me know. Would you prefer old or elderly? I mean, you and I are both going to be at one day if we make it to that point. Would you rather be calling you old or elderly? If I called you elderly right now, you'd smack me. But you're already old.

[Matt Jones]

He's already like 40.

[Myron Metcalf]

What? Old.

[Matt Jones]

But, like, I don't feel like older. No, no, I haven't reached out with like, old and black is like when I get my Cadillac and my Kango. You know what I mean? That's what I. That's. That's the old.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, so let's do the definition.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

How old are you when you're no longer young?

[Matt Jones]

I don't. I don't know, Socrates. I mean, I'm not sure your opinion.

[Myron Metcalf]

I would think young for me is 30 and under. That's young.

[Matt Jones]

35, I think 35 and under.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay. What's middle aged?

[Matt Jones]

35 to 50 to 60? Ish.

[Myron Metcalf]

See, I would put middle aged in. Like, I would. I'd go. I think 30 to 40 is no man's land. Like, there's no. I think you just say you're in your third.

[Matt Jones]

They just don't exist. Like, what?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, they exist, but I don't Think they're young. If you're in your 30s, I don't think you're young.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

But I also don't think you're middle age. I think you're just in your 30s. I think middle age is like 40 to 60. And then after 60 you're like kind of old and then you're just old. I think like that's what you do. Yeah. So if I saw somebody said a dude 62, I'd go, Good for him. He's, he's, he's kind of old.

[Matt Jones]

Good for him for breathing. Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like another one.

[Matt Jones]

Good for being alive. That's how you talk to people.

[Myron Metcalf]

What age is it? You get congratulations for getting to 80 when you black.

[Matt Jones]

It might be 32, but yeah, I mean it's. Some people be like, oh, surprise, you're still here. Didn't believe it.

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't think it wanna be technical. Life expectancy in the US is 78.

[Matt Jones]

So it's going up too. Right.

[Myron Metcalf]

You're like, well done. So middle age would be 39.

[Matt Jones]

So I'm middle aged.

[Myron Metcalf]

To me, 39 is the last year you get to be like, I'm still in theory young. Because the day you hit 40. I did it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

The day you hit 40, it's like you don't feel young anymore. It's just not young. Like the moment you get 40, your body starts to get pain in different places. You know, Myron, you wake up and sometimes you're hurt when you wake up. That's how you know you're full.

[Matt Jones]

After 40 is when you get like weird injuries.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Like if you sneeze the wrong way. Yes.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean that could be you throw your neck out.

[Matt Jones]

Like I didn't.

[Myron Metcalf]

There's never a moment in my life that my neck had a pain until 40. And then you, then your neck might hurt a little bit.

[Matt Jones]

Plus you get those middle aged hill balloons. I don't feel comfortable calling myself middle aged. That's a different.

[Myron Metcalf]

But you are middle aged.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but like that, that's 50 and up. I think 49, 40s are middle age.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't want to hear it. And I'm in it. Okay, I'm in it. But I don't want to hear you deny who you are. 30s is the one where you kind of floating around. You're not really in a, in a group. The first pick of the NFL draft is going to be one of these three teams. It's either going to be the Patriots. See, they're going to be the Titans. See they're going to be the Browns now the Titans are starting. Will Levis might be the last time he starts for him. Kind of giving them a one last. Let's see what you can do. Who have they now? Who are the Browns starting? Do we know who? The Browns.

[Matt Jones]

The Browns play last night.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, I'm sorry. So they're out. Forget about them. So really we're talking about the Patriots and the Titans.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Drake May. You playing him or you're not playing him?

[Matt Jones]

I'm not playing them. You know what I mean. But just because, you know, I don't think you want to be coach.

[Myron Metcalf]

You don't know for sure if you're coming back next year. You don't know if it. Jared Mayo. You don't know if they're going to. You don't know what they're going to do. Don't you? I mean do you want to. What's the point of tanking if you might not even be there?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean like Brian Dabel. I don't know if coaches think like that. Right. You know and I also think like there are these decisions are above. It's not just the coach's decision.

[Myron Metcalf]

So you think GM or the. Or the owner comes in and says lose.

[Matt Jones]

I think he says lose. But. But I do think it's maybe you suggest that Drake may doesn't play. I mean Drake may may want to play. I also don't know. This draft feels weaker and weaker, excuse me, by the day for me, like I don't know what the prizes are necessarily in this draft outside of me.

[Myron Metcalf]

Still the 1 pick. I mean the Patriots don't need a quarterback. So part of the reason they would want the one seed is they would like to be able to be in a position where if somebody does look, the Titans are going to go to. Right. Assuming they lose today, the Titans are going to take a quarterback almost certainly. So if you're the one seed, you would have a sense where you could hold the keys to a trade of somebody who wants to jump Tennessee to get the quarterback they want. If you were the coach or the gm, would you lose on purpose?

[Matt Jones]

Well, you're not allowed to do that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, I mean you could do it by playing the worst people you have.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean I wouldn't try. I wouldn't make a grand effort to win. You know what I mean? I don't know what you know because.

[Myron Metcalf]

The Bills aren't going to be trying either. Right. Like they're going to be playing. I mean this is Backups. If the Patriots play their full starters, they have a really decent chance of winning today. So the question is, you're not giving me a straight answer. Are you doing it or not? Are you going to try to win or not?

[Matt Jones]

I. To me, if I'm Gerard Mayo, I try to win because I think if you're a coach, no matter the situation, because of what you said, not knowing if you'll be there. I'm always trying to build my own resume. Like, I'm always trying to show who I am as a coach, and I don't think losing ever helps that. Cause it is interesting to me, though, that, like, the dried Mayo train has heated up this, you know, move on from him kind of thing after. After one year, which is interesting. I'm losing if you're Gerard Mayo.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, well, I mean, I'm telling Gerard Mayo to lose because I. There is.

[Matt Jones]

He can't make me, though. I mean, you can't make me.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, I could make you. I can say, you know, well, I mean, I can't make him. We're not gonna fight before the game, but I'm going to instruct him that I want him to wink, wink, play all the third strings, because you have.

[Matt Jones]

You'd have to guarantee I'm back. Then you'd have to guarantee you would.

[Myron Metcalf]

Use it as leverage if you were 100%.

[Matt Jones]

Everything in life's a negotiation.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's kind of funny, because he'd be using leverage. He could lose even if he tries.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, 100%. But to me, that's the kind of thing you do if you announce an extension or you announce. Or an owner comes out and says, this guy will be back. That hasn't happened.

[Myron Metcalf]

You're like, only I'm not. I'm only going to lose if you bring me back.

[Matt Jones]

I don't believe in selfishness until it's time to negotiate. Then you got to look out for yourself. You know what I mean?

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, you don't believe in selfishness until you believe in selfishness.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, that's. That's my theory on life, man. Sometimes you got to look out for number one.

[Myron Metcalf]

There is zero reason for the Patriots to win today. Zero. I mean, they actually are in a little bit of a catbird seat because the Titans and the Browns, the teams that are likely to have the 2 and 3 pick, and then maybe even the Raiders who sit below them, they all are very likely to pick a quarterback. And if you're the one seed and you don't want a quarterback, you are going to be taking three to four teams at least negotiating with you for that pick. If you drop to 2, then you're really not in a great seat. The Titans are going to take who they want, and then you're probably just going to take who you would have taken anyway and without the trade material that you would have gotten if you.

[Matt Jones]

Lost on purpose to put you in a favorable spot. But again, if I'm Gerard Mayo and all of a sudden the last couple of weeks, people are acting like I won't be back and the owner has not said you're definitely coming back, there hasn't been that kind of a message. I don't care what anybody thinks I'm doing for me, I'm going to win the game. Y'all can figure out the rest from there.

[Myron Metcalf]

Wow. I didn't realize. So is this gonna happen with you and I. At some point you just could be like, I'm. I'm here for me, Matt. Like this Myron, they might fire him, Squire.

[Matt Jones]

Like, they might fire him tonight. You know what I'm saying?

[Myron Metcalf]

Like, but they're probably gonna fire him whether he wins or loses.

[Matt Jones]

But the means. Okay, so what's my, what's my allegiance to that, you know, while doing your job? My job is to win games.

[Myron Metcalf]

There you go. Now you know the employee you would get. With my respect, Coach Herb Edwards, we'll see if what he would say. I know he wouldn't lose on purpose. That's next.

[Matt Jones]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the Podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM Channel 80. Matt and Myron the Podcast.