Hour 3: Dan Graziano, ESPN NFL Reporter

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Episode - Hour 3 Featuring Dan Graziano

Release Date: January 19, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" hosted by Myron Metcalf and Matt Jones from ESPN Radio, the duo delves deep into the NFL playoffs with a special guest, Dan Graziano, an ESPN NFL Reporter. The conversation spans from light-hearted banter to in-depth analysis of key playoff matchups, leadership dynamics of star quarterbacks, and predictions for upcoming games.

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Pre-Game Discussions and NFL Playoff Predictions

The episode kicks off with Matt and Myron engaging in their signature humorous exchange about unexpected Twitter interactions and perceptions about their appearances. This light-hearted segment transitions into a discussion about the NFL playoffs, specifically focusing on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Myron Metcalf expresses confidence in the Chiefs' performance:
"I'm picking the Chiefs to the AFC title game." ([03:35])

Dan Graziano concurs, emphasizing the Chiefs' consistent prowess:
"They make it to the Super Bowl yesterday. Not a surprise to me." ([03:35])

The hosts analyze potential Super Bowl contenders, debating matchups such as Eagles vs. Chiefs and Rams vs. Chiefs, assessing each team's strengths and weaknesses. They discuss the Chiefs' resilience, particularly highlighting Patrick Mahomes as a formidable opponent.

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Interview with Dan Graziano: Ravens vs. Bills Showdown

At [12:14], Dan Graziano joins the conversation from Buffalo, providing firsthand insights into the high-stakes game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills.

Weather and Game Conditions in Buffalo

Dan Graziano discusses the weather conditions in Buffalo:
"It's like Buffalo in January. About as good as it's going to get." ([13:02])

He notes the unpredictability of the weather and its potential impact on the game, including the possibility of snowflakes affecting field conditions.

Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen: Stakes and Leadership

The core of the discussion revolves around the star quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (Ravens) and Josh Allen (Bills).

Graziano highlights Lamar Jackson's relentless pursuit of a Super Bowl:
"He's obsessed with winning. He doesn't care about MVP. He doesn't care about stats. All he talks about is winning a Super Bowl." ([14:00])

Conversely, he describes Josh Allen as a calm and composed leader:
"His teammates keep saying the word calm. Everything's under control." ([14:00])

The conversation delves into how both quarterbacks manifest their leadership within their respective teams, with Jackson exuding confidence and Allen embodying stability.

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Leadership Dynamics of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen

Dan Graziano provides a comparative analysis of the leadership styles of Jackson and Allen:

• Lamar Jackson: Seen as a highly confident individual who radiates self-assurance, making him a central figure within the Ravens' organization.
  "In Baltimore, he's the son at the center of that organization right now, and teammates just, you know, he's just very authentically him." ([17:33])

• Josh Allen: Portrayed as the glue that holds the Bills together, fostering an "us against the world" mentality.
  "Josh feels that way. He always feels like he's been underrated." ([16:16])

Graziano emphasizes the mutual respect both quarterbacks command from their teammates, attributing their teams' successes to their leadership.

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Game Predictions and Picks

The episode progresses to game predictions, where Matt and Myron, alongside Dan Graziano, analyze the upcoming matchups:

Rams vs. Eagles

Myron Metcalf and Dan Graziano discuss the factors influencing the game, including home-field advantage, team morale, and recent performance.

Dan Graziano leans towards the Eagles:
"I'm going to pick the Eagles." ([35:28])

However, Myron Metcalf presents a counter-argument, considering scenarios where the game could tilt in favor of the Rams:
"If Jalen hurts has to be better than he was last weekend... I think the Rams win." ([35:28])

Ravens vs. Bills

The discussion shifts to the pivotal Ravens vs. Bills game, focusing on the quarterbacks' performances and team dynamics.

Dan Graziano favors the Ravens, citing their strengthened defense and Lamar Jackson's efficiency:
"I have to pick the Ravens to go into Buffalo to win." ([38:16])

Myron Metcalf counters by highlighting Josh Allen's home-field advantage and composure under pressure:
"I think Josh Allen and Bills get it done at home and get the win." ([40:02])

The hosts express concern over the immense pressure both quarterbacks face, acknowledging that the outcome will significantly impact their careers.

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College Football Playoff National Championship

Shifting gears, the conversation touches on the College Football Playoff National Championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Dan Graziano predicts a decisive victory for Ohio State, citing their dominant performances throughout the season:
"Ohio State wins this game and I don't know that it will be that competitive." ([41:33])

The hosts agree, noting Ohio State's depth in talent and coaching prowess under Marcus Freeman, projecting a strong finish to their playoff run.

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Final Thoughts and Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Myron Metcalf and Matt Jones recap their game picks and discuss the broader implications of the playoff outcomes on the NFL landscape. They emphasize the high stakes for the quarterbacks involved and the potential shifts in team dynamics based on the results.

Dan Graziano underscores the significance of these matchups, stating:
"For one of these two guys who are elite talent, things are not going to be great today." ([40:02])

The episode concludes with a nod to upcoming coverage and additional sports programming, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating the playoff outcomes.

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Notable Quotes

• Dan Graziano on Lamar Jackson's mentality:
  "He's obsessed with winning. He doesn't care about MVP. He doesn't care about stats. All he talks about is winning a Super Bowl." ([14:00])

• Dan Graziano on Josh Allen's leadership:
  "Everything's under control. This is a matter of routine." ([14:00])

• Dan Graziano on predicting game outcomes:
  "I have to pick the Ravens to go into Buffalo to win." ([38:16])

• Dan Graziano on Ohio State vs. Notre Dame:
  "Ohio State wins this game and I don't know that it will be that competitive." ([41:33])

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This detailed episode offers listeners a comprehensive analysis of the NFL playoffs, enriched by Dan Graziano's expert insights. From quarterback dynamics to team strategies and game predictions, Matt and Myron ensure fans are well-prepared for the high-stakes action ahead.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

This is Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

Welcome back. It is kind of kickoff ESPN Radio. One of the things I like about this show about the best insurance is I don't know why you're out of nowhere. Like, this guy just wrote me on Twitter. He said you said you're from Middlesborough, Kentucky. My family was from there. I used to go visit as a kid. I didn't know anyone ever existed from that place. Well, how about that? I'm one person. So you just find a random person with connections to Middlesbrough out there in America.

[Guest Speaker]

That's good, man. That's good. That's like.

[Myron Metcalf]

You'd be more excited than that. That was not the excitement I was hoping for from you. One person writes, matt, I just looked up both of your pictures online and neither of you look like what I thought. I thought. Matt, I thought you would be balding and overweight. Yeah, well, it's not nice of you to say I lose my hair a little bit, but, you know, and Myron, I thought would be a lot taller. See, man, people think you project tall.

[Guest Speaker]

I don't. I don't think. Because my. I think when they hear my voice, they think like, Idris Alba or like one of those tall.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, they don't think Idris Alba. Don't give yourself that credibility. You can't just pick the sexiest pike dude in America to women and then go, people think I'm him. Like, I may have skipped a few steps.

[Guest Speaker]

I may have skipped a few teeth.

[Myron Metcalf]

First of all, he's also British, which.

[Guest Speaker]

I don't like that part.

[Myron Metcalf]

I like that you think that people think you're British.

[Guest Speaker]

No, I'm just saying you're not one. My voice is rich, so I think people hear my voice.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's not at all British.

[Guest Speaker]

No, I'm not British. It's rich. I can do British.

[Myron Metcalf]

Your voice is rich.

[Guest Speaker]

I don't like that British brothers come over here and do American roles. So I'm kind of against Idris Alba. It does.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's been like that for a long time.

[Guest Speaker]

Idris Alba bothers me a lot because he's allowed to do it because he's hanging out.

[Myron Metcalf]

Were you disappointed when you found out Stringer Bell was British?

[Guest Speaker]

It changed how I saw the show.

[Myron Metcalf]

Is that right? You did.

[Guest Speaker]

It changed a lot for me because I thought, like, we don't go over there and do it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, we do.

[Guest Speaker]

I don't go over there and be like, oh, I spot to the.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's true. But we don't go over there. That's true. We don't go over there and get a British accent.

[Guest Speaker]

We don't. Yes, but they get to come over here and it's like, oh, wow, look at what this guy can do. He's doing our accent.

[Myron Metcalf]

But don't you think. I mean, let's be fair. He did it well, though, right?

[Guest Speaker]

But it's all a lie. Everything he did was a lie.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, he actually wasn't Stringer Bell. He doesn't actually sell drugs in Baltimore.

[Guest Speaker]

I mean, that's.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's all acting is, to some extent, a lot.

[Guest Speaker]

You didn't. You didn't have a reaction when you found out he was.

[Myron Metcalf]

I was surprised. I was surprised. There's a few of those, like, on Succession. Did you watch Succession?

[Guest Speaker]

I haven't watched it yet. It's on my list.

[Myron Metcalf]

If you watch Succession. Shiv, the woman is also British. And when I heard her talk for the first time, it really threw me off because she sounds like the most American ever. And then I heard her in a regular voice, and I was like, whoa, what is. What is happening here?

[Guest Speaker]

Why are we outsourcing for our move? Like, why are we going beyond our borders for. For talent in some of these key roles?

[Myron Metcalf]

It's a good question. All right, so the Chiefs, they make it to the super bowl yesterday. Not a surprise to me. I'm picking the Chiefs to the AFC title game.

[Guest Speaker]

You said?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Excuse me. Afc, AFC title game. Let me go over who's left in the playoffs, and you tell me, whenever they were to play the Chiefs, whether it's in the championship game or in the super bowl, can they beat the Chiefs? So I'm going to start with the AFC team, since all both of these teams will have to go into Kansas City. So part of this equation is, can they win in Kansas City? Can the Ravens go win in Kansas City?

[Guest Speaker]

Yes. I mean, you know, can isn't. Can's an interesting word, Right? You know what I mean? It's like that. To be or not to be.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can is an interesting word. It is.

[Guest Speaker]

Because we can all do a lot of things.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, they Can't. No, we can't. If I got nine people from espn, we're not winning at Kansas City. Like, there's a lot.

[Guest Speaker]

No, no. But.

[Myron Metcalf]

So the question is, did they. Are they a can? Like a real can? Like, let's say you. You know, you play the game three times or five times, can they win a majority? Like, are. Do they. Are they. They do. So you do think the Ravens can. Can win there?

[Guest Speaker]

And if you tell me that again, if you tell me all the remaining teams for the rest of the playoffs play to their potential, play their best football, play their yes. I think there's a world where the Ravens beat everybody by double.

[Myron Metcalf]

So the Ravens are a yes. What about the Bills? Are they a yes? After last year, Kansas City went into Buffalo and beat them. Can they flip the script and do it this year?

[Guest Speaker]

They got the first win off Kansas City this season. Right? I mean, like, I think. I think they certainly can do it. The balance that Josh Allen has had, just the way he's used different targets.

[Myron Metcalf]

But, you know, since. Since Mahomes has become Mahomes, only one person in the playoffs has ever beat him there, and that was Burrow. And Cincinnati's been the one team that's kind of had Kansas City's number over the years. Josh Allen's never done it. Like, winning there is tough. You know, you got Caitlin, you got Taylor Swift up there, you got Brittany. Like, they're all said, like, it's hard.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes. And I mean, but I think. And you said this earlier, last year was such a disappointment for those teams for the Bills and Ravens, because it was like, when else do you get this shot at a. At a Kansas City team that just looks like they're kind of all over the place? Having to go on the road for the first time with Mahomes, and you can't get it done this year. They look like a team that stumbled into a few wins. You know, I mean, my homes has been really good. He's not a Pro Bowler, so, like, when else do you get a chance to play them where they look human for the first time?

[Myron Metcalf]

Let's move on to the Super Bowl. Then you go down to the super bowl in New Orleans. Can the Eagles beat the Chiefs in a Super Bowl?

[Guest Speaker]

No, no, no.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can the Rams beat the Chiefs in a Super Bowl?

[Guest Speaker]

Maybe because. Because to me, to me, in that scenario, then the Rams beat the Vikings in Arizona, which. That game, you know, you can take away the fact that they.

[Myron Metcalf]

Come on. The Vikings are not the Chiefs with Patrick, Mom, Sam Darnold, is not Patrick Mo.

[Guest Speaker]

I mean, up until the last two weeks, the Vikings were a team that looked like a Super bowl contender.

[Myron Metcalf]

You.

[Guest Speaker]

We had these conversations. Come on. You can't.

[Myron Metcalf]

You can't go back and change the narrative, though. There's.

[Guest Speaker]

I get it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Sports. This is true in every sport. Maybe not baseball, but in basketball and football, both in the college and pro level, there's the regular season and there's the playoffs. And Mahomes is a different beast in the playoffs. Travis Keller. There's. There is no way the Rams are going to go beat them. I feel the same way about the Commanders. No offense, but they're not beating the Chiefs in a Super Bowl. I feel like the only chance for the Chiefs to lose is next week when they play either the Ravens or the Bears.

[Guest Speaker]

I disagree because again, you tell me Matthew Stafford, if he wins today, he has gone on the road and done what few west coast teams have been able to do. You beat Philly in Philly. That would be significant.

[Myron Metcalf]

And then you would have had to beat Washington. So you're right. He would have had a heck of a rush.

[Guest Speaker]

So that's my thing. If you tell me that version of the Rams shows up to play Kansas City, yes, maybe they can. Right? I'll use that word. Your word. They can do it. But I do agree that tonight's game, that's the team that has the real chance to beat Kansas City.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why are you so down on Philadelphia? I feel like Jalen hurts. I feel like he's been, like, whispering too much in your second grade classroom and you're disappointed in him. Like, you're giving him a whispers too much check on his report card. Like, why are you so. You're oddly down on Philadelphia. When I think objectively they're the best team left in the nfc.

[Guest Speaker]

Their best receiver was reading a book during a game.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why does it bother you so much? They still won the game.

[Guest Speaker]

It doesn't bother me. It's odd.

[Myron Metcalf]

It is.

[Guest Speaker]

And then for everyone to act like it's normal is odd.

[Myron Metcalf]

It is.

[Guest Speaker]

For people to buy his excuse about. Oh, yeah, in the middle of the game. Sometimes I read a book to get focused is nonsense.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, it doesn't.

[Guest Speaker]

Right? I mean, you were doing that and you knew the cameras would capture it and you knew what the backlash should be as a result of that. So that's just odd. And I'm always. I'm always a believer in teams where weird stuff happens like that are not okay and you don't hear about it till later. On sometimes you don't hear about it to the documentary years later. But when that kind of stuff happens to teams in these moments, there's something wrong. And I've just felt that way about Philly. I don't think they believe in Jalen hurts as a team. They can say whatever they want to say. I don't think they believe he can get them to a Super bowl, but he has. And I think that's the challenge. He has this version of him. I think there are doubts about whether this dude. And guess what? He has to get them there today. I think they're going to slow Saquon.

[Myron Metcalf]

Down two games today. Which one will be closer in the end?

[Guest Speaker]

Bill's Ravens.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, so you think that game is a shootout down to the final possession no matter what?

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, that. That's whoever has the ball last. I mean, that's one of those games. You tell me who has the ball last.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think with the Bills, Ravens, there's going to be a play, right. That a mistake one of them makes.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes.

[Myron Metcalf]

That you. And it's going to be Lamar Josh. And I hate it for whoever does it. But one of them is going to make a mistake today in the fourth quarter, maybe late third quarter. It's going to be the mistake that probably is the difference in the game. And it's going to hang with that guy for a long time. And I like both those dudes a lot. That's what worries me is that that's going to happen in one of them. Who's going to raise the trophy? You can find out tomorrow night. College Football national championship presented by AT&T. Coverage begins at 6:30 Eastern on ESPN radio and the ESPN app. According to Myron, that's the event tomorrow. The Bears are waiting to see what happens before they do. Coming up, the Bills have a true home field advantage. But is it enough to stop Lamar? We'll talk to somebody on the ground in Buffalo. That's next. On ESPN Radio.

[Matt Jones]

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

[Guest Speaker]

Everybody would ask me why I came to Notre Dame. The truth is, I came here to win a national championship.

[Matt Jones]

The Ohio State Buckeyes.

[Myron Metcalf]

You'll be a Buckeye legend for life. I just want to win a national championship.

[Matt Jones]

The College Football Playoff national championship presented by AT&T. Coverage begins tomorrow at 6:30 Eastern on ESPN radio and on ESPN. Matt and Myron the podcast.

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[Myron Metcalf]

It's kind of a kickoff. Presented by Progressive Insurance, Matt Jones. Meyer Metcalf. I am excited because we haven't had this dude on in forever. Graziano, ESPN NFL reporter. He used to be like a regular guy on our show and we haven't gotten to talk to him, I think all year. He is in Buffalo. Dan, it's great to have you on after all this time.

[Dan Graziano]

I didn't realize it's been so long. You guys can call anytime you want. Like, I'm always available for you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, we were told you were like, I don't want. I got bigger things to do, so. I'm glad to hear that's not the case.

[Dan Graziano]

You got bad information. I don't know who's telling you that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. All right, so tell me what it's like in Buffalo today. I mean, you know, there's cold and then there's Buffalo cold, and then. So what's it going to be like for the game?

[Dan Graziano]

I feel like I've. I don't know, I feel like I've kind of been, no pun intended, numbed to it all. Like, it's like 21 degrees here. It is not windy. It is not snowing. Like, I feel like that's a win, right? Like, that's like Buffalo in January. About as good as it's going to get. Now, I've also been to Buffalo enough to know that the weather can change multiple times in the course of an hour and the forecast can change. So, look, I think by the time the game kicks off, there's a chance you could be seeing snowflakes falling. I don't know what the wind is going to do if it stays like this and just gets colder. You know, once the sun goes down, then I think the players would take that, but they don't want as wind and they don't want slippery field.

[Guest Speaker]

Dan, obviously this is a mega matchup that everyone will be watching, but it also feels like there's this separate conversation about what this means for Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. What are the stakes here for these two guys and what have people said about that?

[Dan Graziano]

So, you know, both teams obviously believe in their guys. The Ravens players I talked to said Lamar is no different than he has. They said, Rashad Bateman told me, you know, if anything, he has a chip on his shoulder that gets bigger every year. But he's obsessed with winning. He's all about trying to win. He doesn't care about mvp. He doesn't care about stats. All he talks about is winning a Super bowl, getting a championship, and that hasn't changed. And then Josh Allen on the flip side, you know, for the Bills, when I ask his teammates about him the last couple of weeks, they keep saying the word calm. Like, he's just very calm. He's not. He's not. You don't feel like, you know, a couple bad drives happen that he's got to force something like he may have done in the past. You know, everything's under control. And that, to me, is what the Bills feel like, is their biggest difference between this year's team and previous teams they've brought to the playoffs. They just feel like this is a matter of routine. They've been here before, and that their quarterback and their coaching staff and their veteran players have it under control. So what's at stake, you know, the loser this game is going to have to deal with a whole off season of, oh, can they get it done in the clutch? Will it will. Is their window closing, et cetera, et cetera. Both strong organizations that have shown an ability to avoid the closing windows. Both quarterbacks that are signed long term. But the winner, obviously gets another shot at Patrick Mahomes, who is the, you know, is the boogeyman, right, for both these guys, like, and the one that keeps them out of the Super Bowl. And, you know, you don't want your career to be defined. You don't want to be Karl Malone, you know, you don't want to be like, the guy that could never beat Jordan. And so they'll get another. Whoever wins this will get another shot at it, whether they, Whether they like it or not.

[Myron Metcalf]

Talking to Dan Graziano, ESPN NFL reporter, you know, I don't really. When Lamar was here in Louisville in Kentucky, he was kind of. He didn't talk a Ton. He seemed like a really good personality, like a really great guy, but you didn't really. You didn't really get to know him as a person. Josh Allen, maybe a little bit bigger personality. But let me ask you this. You've been around both these guys. How do these guys manifest their leadership on the team? Like, around their locker room? What are they both considered? Because, like, I know what Mahomes is, but I don't feel like I know what they are quite as much.

[Dan Graziano]

Yeah, it's a good question. I think, you know, here in Buffalo, they really do have kind of an us against the world mentality, and I think Josh feels that way. You know, wasn't recruited out of high school, you know, went to junior college, got one offer, it was from Wyoming. You know, like, he kind of. He has always sort of positioned himself as the underdog because, you know, he always feels like he's been underrated. And I think, you know, his teammates feel that way about him. Josh Allen has, he has Amari Cooper now, but it's been very rare that he's had another player on his offense throughout his career that was a first round pick, but just him. So I think they look at him as a guy that holds it together, a guy that, you know, maybe the outside world doesn't. Doesn't think as highly of as they do. And I think they rally around him in that respect. And Lamar is just. Lamar, man, like you said, like, he's got, he's just, he's just his own guy, like, and he has, he radiates confidence, I think. I think his teammates enjoy being around him. I think they, both of these teams, they marvel at what their guy can do, you know, athletically and the way that he can help them win games and give them an edge. So they respect that. But I think in Baltimore, you know, it's been true for years. Like, he's the. He's the son at the center of that organization right now, and teammates just, you know, he's just very authentically him. And I think teammates gravitate.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's interesting you said that. I like the word marvel. I've gotten a sense from both of them that while their teammates do really like them, I don't want to say that they're in awe of them, but they're all. They're not like one of the guys. Or am I wrong about that?

[Dan Graziano]

Yeah, I think, I think they are in some. I mean, like, it's very different atmospheres. Right? Like they're two different organizations. But yeah, I think Lamar, very much so. Like, in that locker room is one of the guys, you know, he's always had this sort of overgrown kid kind of personality. And I say that in a. In a complimentary way. He's enjoying himself and should be. And then, you know. No, I think it's. I'm talking more about on the field. Right. Like, when you. I've had guys over the years on both of these teams say to me, like, sometimes you just turn into a fan watching what our quarterback can do. And I think that's more like it. And obviously they appreciate it. It gives them the best chance to win. It makes them all money. It's just, you know, it's cool to be around people that can quarterback, that could perform at the level these two can.

[Guest Speaker]

You have two teams that are made up differently sort of in this moment, obviously, Baltimore and Derrick Henry and how great he's played and, you know, how long can he do this? Buffalo's a bunch of young guys. Which team is in the better position going forward to get back to a moment like this in the years ahead?

[Dan Graziano]

Yeah, it's a tough question, right? Because like you would have said last year, like Buffalo, that was its chance, right? They had the Chiefs here and even Baltimore. They had the Chiefs at home in the AFC Championship Game, but they're both such stable organizations that I'm not sure I buy into the idea of either one sort of window closing. Buffalo kind of took its medicine this year in terms of moving on from some contracts, trading Staphon Diggs, losing some guys on defense that have been here a long time. So maybe that's the answer because they've already kind of gone through their sort of rebuild, and it didn't seem to set them back at all. I haven't dug in really, on, you know, the Ravens cap situation and what awaits them this offseason, but they always manage it so well. I just. I don't think I'd be surprised, either one of these teams back in this round or moving on further next year as well. But I think this was, if you. Look, if I have to give you an answer, Buffalo, this was the Take your medicine year. This was the year that they were supposedly going to take a little step back. They didn't. And that tells you a lot about how they run this organization.

[Myron Metcalf]

Dan Graziano, ESPN NFL reporter, Glad to have you back on here. And now that we know. My pleasure, Dan. Like it. We'll do it again.

[Dan Graziano]

I didn't know you were missing me like that. I mean, I'm not surprised. But I didn't realize actually wrote me.

[Myron Metcalf]

Byron actually wrote me and asked like, was something wrong? Like, were you, did you hate us? And I said I thought he maybe.

[Guest Speaker]

Upset you or something. Dan. You know, he does that sometimes.

[Dan Graziano]

Anytime, Anytime. You got my number.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, thank you very much. Appreciate it. Dan Graziano. You know, I was sitting here thinking, when's the last time there's been a game with so much at stake for both quarterbacks? And I, I don't know. You rarely see a situation with a game like this where neither do. Like Peyton Manning had some games that he just had to win. Yeah. But Tom Brady had already won. Right. So it meant more for Manning than Brady. I can't remember a time that two quarterbacks have had the same exact pressure on both of them at the same time.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, it's, it's a unique moment, man. And this is so much bigger than just tonight's game. You know, I think the winner will feel like, okay, they got a shot, you know, going forward and the loser, you'll go, what else do they need? You know, Baltimore losers, you're gonna say, okay, how much better can it get for Lamar? Like what, what else can he have? He can't play better than this, most likely because this is legitimately some of the best football we've ever seen in this league. I think if Josh Allen loses and Buffalo loses, you're like, how will they overcome a three time mvp Joe Burrow coming back and Patrick Mahomes. My other thought though, Matt, was there are so many compelling stories in the AFC and I don't know what to say about the NFC moving forward. Jaden Daniels is such a big deal because who's the guy in the nfc, you know what I mean? Whereas the AFC just has so many great quarterbacks to talk about and it's.

[Myron Metcalf]

And what's wild is, you know, the, the teams that end up with the. I think you're going to get more AFC quarterbacks. You know, I mean you're going to get quarterback in o probably going to get a quarterback in Cleveland. Like they just, these quarterbacks that are high pick continue to go after AFC teams. It's almost because the NFC is so mediocre, all their records are good enough that they don't end up getting the high picks. You know, Drake May is there as well, Bo Nicks, I mean it's just, it's, it's amazing how many of them are there. Now the Eagles won the most games in franchise history, but could their coach still be on the hot seat. We will let you know. That's next year. I count down to kickoff.

[Evan Cohen]

Hi, this is Evan Cohen. Join us Monday, 6am Eastern for unsportsmanlike. The Kansas City Chiefs advanced their seventh consecutive AFC title game, but it's not without controversy. What are the Houston Texans saying about why they lost and who caused that loss?

[Matt Jones]

We'll discuss Matt and Myron, the podcast 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.

[Myron Metcalf]

It is cat down to kickoff here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. All right, so the Eagles, it's going to be cold. Do we know what the temperature is in Philadelphia today? It's like it's, it's very cold. It's going to be. And for the Rams, who are coming all the way from the west coast, had to deal, as Myron talked about with all the fires and was in Arizona, the cold is probably going to hit a little bit harder. But you also have to sit there and use your mind and think about, okay, what if it doesn't work out right? Like, what if the Rams do win? Rams have a pedigree of having won some big games over the years. They got a coach who I was shocked to hear that McVeigh is only 38. Myron isn't that shocking.

[Guest Speaker]

It feels like he's been coaching for 15 years and he got the job at like 32.

[Myron Metcalf]

He's 30. He got it at 30. He was 30 when he got that job. So that's crazy. But anyway, what if the Rams win? Philadelphia has seen their path open up. The Lions have lost. They could host the NFC Championship game next week. Even after spending a lot of the year early being criticized, Sirianni being booed on the field. Let's say they were to lose today at home in what would be, I think, a pretty major upset. What happens then, Myron?

[Guest Speaker]

I think it's over for Sirianni. I don't think there's any question he's out in that circumstance. Remember, I mean, he was fighting. There were conversations about his job coming into this season after they lost to the Bucks. Remember last year they had that winning streak and then all of a sudden they fell apart. So I think it's his job. Like when I think about what coaches are going to stay or what coach gets fired, it's not like a universal thing. It's according to the expectations around your franchise. And Sirianni, they gave Jalen hurts $200 million and they gave Saquon Barkley money and they paid AJ Brown to win a Super Bowl. Like that is the thing. And if you can't go through the Rams and the Commanders to at least get there, they're going to move on to somebody else, as they should, I think.

[Myron Metcalf]

You think they would move on now?

[Guest Speaker]

They have to. Wow. What. What kind of path do you get that's more favorable than what you have right now?

[Myron Metcalf]

Very true. But is there not something to be said for being in this position?

[Guest Speaker]

No.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, no, no, there's.

[Guest Speaker]

Nobody can be said if you're, if you're Philly. Because we, because we can't make Philly. The Commanders, if you like the, the money they have invested in this franchise, in this particular team is super bowl money. You go out and get Saquon Barkley, who has an historic season because you're trying to get to a Super Bowl. A.J. brown, Devontae Smith. You paid everybody.

[Myron Metcalf]

Salary cap era, though. You know, all. All the teams except for like four or five are paying super bowl money. I mean, everybody's paying essentially the same.

[Guest Speaker]

Amount of money now. Everyone's not, though. They're not all paying quarterbacks that much money. They're not all. They're not all paying receivers that all.

[Myron Metcalf]

Investing that level of money in the top handful of guys.

[Guest Speaker]

But that's my point.

[Myron Metcalf]

But they're all spending that level of money over.

[Guest Speaker]

Collectively. Yes, but I'm talking about when you go out and sign stars, what you're saying is we're right there and if we go out and get this guy, say Quan Barkley, we're going to move up another step to compete for a Super Bowl. That's Philly's goal. Like, that's the realm they are in right now. Call it a window, Call it whatever you want. If you don't, if you lose tonight and all you had to do was get through the packers who were coming to you, the Rams who are literally coming across the country to you, and the Commanders who would have to do the same thing. A division team that have to come to your ass.

[Myron Metcalf]

You couldn't have asked for a better path. Yeah, you could. You could not have asked for a better path for Philadelphia. You could not have asked for more of a. Of an opportunity I, I remember I watched Sirianni's opening press conference.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And we talked about this. I think when we were on this was, how long, how long has he been there? Next year, five years, four years? Like that. I watched his introductory press conference and I remember thinking, this dude is an absolute clown. That's what I remember thinking. I remember thinking, there is 0.0 chance he will be successful. And then he went to a Super bowl, right? Like, he didn't just. He didn't just have success, he went to a Super Bowl. And if you look at the entirety of his career, he's had not just more success than I would have thought, he's had much more success than your average coach could even fathom. And I'm always amazed at teams and coaches where objectively you look at it and you say, I mean, this dude took Jalen Hurts second round pick and made like him a quarterback that at one point we were talking about as one of the top five in the league. And I see that level of success and go, granted, I'm not in Philly, but there's a part of me going, I don't understand why people get so mad at him. I don't understand why losing today, while it would be a disappointment, I don't understand why that would get him fired. Now, maybe I'm missing something, but Myron, I just don't get it. Like, I feel like you look at his career on a sheet of paper, he's done a pretty great job.

[Guest Speaker]

Well. Well, first off, he's In Philly, where 5, 30 in the morning, the whole city wakes up and they're mad about what? It doesn't matter. That's just the demeanor of the city.

[Myron Metcalf]

They're always mad.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, they just, they just wake up.

[Myron Metcalf]

They have reason to be mad.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah. But I mean, literally, as a city, they wake up and think about the three people they can't wait to fight before the week is out. That's just a Philly thing. Right. But you also mentioned something that helped and hurt him. The Eagles win a Super bowl, they beat Tom Brady. Right. Not that long ago, seven years ago, I think it was.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes.

[Guest Speaker]

Big moment for the franchise.

[Myron Metcalf]

Big moment.

[Guest Speaker]

Doug Peterson is gone. You bring in Sirianni, he gets to a Super Bowl. So now it's like, you know what? This is just what this organization does.

[Myron Metcalf]

But that's so crazy because that super bowl, while it was an awesome thing, was a little bit lucky. I mean, Nick Foles gets really hot and like, it's, it's kind of A weird thing. And in his first four years. Think about this stat for a minute. I don't know that anyone in America listening to this would have thought this was true. Nick Sirianni has the second most wins in the history of the NFL in his first four years as a coach.

[Guest Speaker]

That's amazing. Now that's incredible.

[Myron Metcalf]

And the idea that there would be a serious conversation after what I just said about firing him, is that not. I mean, I don't understand how that's not crazy.

[Guest Speaker]

It's not crazy when he's already set the standard of we can get to a Super Bowl. He's done that and now you've added pieces to try to win another Super Bowl. And now what hurt Nick Sirianni was what happened last night in Detroit that really hurt in terms of the pressure that he's facing. If you tell me they had to go to Detroit to get to a Super bowl and they lose the Detroit, fine. But now everyone's coming to them. Matt, this is the most favorable run to a Super bowl that you could ever have. And if he misses out tonight and you can't get past a Rams team that was 4 and 4 at one point, that had lost all those games, and you can't get past a rookie quarterback, I don't care how good he's playing right now, the Philadelphia Eagles will move on because the standard for that organization right now is a Super bowl because that's what they've invested in.

[Myron Metcalf]

I, I mean, again, I think you're right, but it just seems crazy to me. Now with that said, you. Well, we're going to pick the games here in a minute, but like, this is a game they definitely should win. I mean, they just played these guys a few weeks ago and pummeled them. I mean, Saquon Barkley pummeled them. This should happen again. And that was in nla.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah. No, it. You look at everything the Rams have had to do to prepare for this game, that coming across the country they should win this game. But you know, it's a six point line which despite what happened a couple of weeks back, despite all the circumstances the Rams are facing, it's not 9 or 10.

[Myron Metcalf]

Speaking of lines, what did you think of the Chiefs punter running out of the end zone, making it to where for some people, they lost their cover.

[Guest Speaker]

Do people be like, that's connected?

[Myron Metcalf]

No, no, I don't think anybody's like suggesting it was. But I mean, that's one of the all time worst beats of all time. I mean, if you Got. If you got. Can't, you know, at one point it was minus 8.5. So if you had that, you won. But if you had minus 9.5 and you lost it because he ran out of the end zone, would you just, would that be the worst break of all time?

[Guest Speaker]

It would be tough, but, but I always say when it comes to betting, you better bet money. You can afford to lose at the end of the day.

[Myron Metcalf]

Are you, are you don't get in.

[Guest Speaker]

The game if you ain't got. I'm not a big gambler. I'm not a big gambler, but if I've done it, it's not, it's not money. I can't afford to lose, man. I think that's how you approach it.

[Myron Metcalf]

But you're not really a risk taker at all, right? Like you're somebody like you, you color inside the lines at like, you know, a regular grocery store. You eat baked potatoes for. You are.

[Guest Speaker]

Nah, I shop at the grocery stores where they, you know, get a little bougie. But I mean.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, you, you shop it like, like.

[Guest Speaker]

The Trader Joe's ones with the salad bars and the, oh, you know, and they got the people in the uniforms.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oats, like they have that, you know, you're in one of those. When there's oats that you could like put out of the little.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, when they got like flavored oat milk and stuff, I go, yeah, there's.

[Myron Metcalf]

A dried fruit section.

[Guest Speaker]

I go, But I mean, these people who are like, you betting the rent or the mortgage on this stuff, I mean, that's on you, man. I don't, I don't know. Have fun, gamma, but do it. What do they say in the fine print? Always response.

[Myron Metcalf]

They say gamble responsibly.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes.

[Myron Metcalf]

Call 1-800-GAMBLER Blah, blah.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, responsible. Responsible.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's good advice from Uncle Myron now.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, Uncle Myron, what is that?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, you're kind of the older, wiser person, kind of the younger, fun, hip, the host. Coming up, we're going to make our picks for divisional weekend. You know, I mean, you know, listen to me, don't listen to Myron, but nevertheless, we'll do it next here on.

[Matt Jones]

Countdown to Kickoff, the NFL playoffs on ESPN Radio.

[Myron Metcalf]

Touchdown Lamar. The latest news, everything he said they.

[Matt Jones]

Needed to hear, plus predictions and reaction.

[Guest Speaker]

We have to see Lamar and Josh.

[Myron Metcalf]

And we get it. Thank you.

[Guest Speaker]

Football.

[Matt Jones]

The NFL playoffs. Continuing coverage right here here on ESPN Radio. Matt and Myon, the podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

It is Cat Kickoff here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. As you know, there have been terrible wildfires in la. If you're able, please help those affected by the California wildfires 2025. You can donate at RedCross.org ESPN RedCross.org ESPN to help the Red Cross respond and help people recover. The amount of work being done there is really amazing. And the amount of people you're seeing the best of people in America and you can participate. Redcross.org ESPN now, last week we did our first round of playoffs. Pick them. If you remember, in the regular season, I beat Myron by like, I think it was 41 games. So last week we got started, I went 2 and 2. Myron, you went 1 and 3. Your pick, that was odd was you picked the packers over the Eagles. You. We just heard your rants about the Eagles in the last segment. There's a little anti Philly thing coming through with you.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, I mean, I just don't really believe, I don't believe in Philly like that. You know, today could change that. But I just, I don't think they've given us a lot of reasons to believe in them.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, well, we will find out. So now it is time to pick the two games today and then we'll pick the national championship on Monday. It is time for my take your pick.

[Evan Cohen]

Take your pick.

[Myron Metcalf]

You take your pick.

[Matt Jones]

It's time to take your pick. Rams at Eagles.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, Rams and Eagles. What do you like, Myron?

[Guest Speaker]

I mean, I have two sort of thoughts on it. Right. I think if you told me this was happening under normal circumstances, maybe on a neutral site, I probably picked the Rams. But I do think Philly would be a lot more comfortable at home. I do think with the cold weather LA coming into that won't be a lot of fun. And again, you know, I mean, you mentioned the wildfires and obviously, you know, we're thinking about everybody who's involved there, especially the firefighters are out battling that. But they literally had to uproot their families and move them to Arizona to prepare for the Vikings game. So I always wonder how that affects a team when they're thinking about everything happening back home. We know the numbers about a team going from the west coast to the east coast and how challenging that is for a team in the Rams position. And then you mentioned this. I mean, there's the familiarity of knowing that you just beat them a couple weeks back. So there's just a lot up against the Rams. I think it's possible they can go to Philly and win. I think Jalen hurts has to be Better than he was last weekend. But that said, the way that I think they can just kind of control this game with the run game and put Jalen in sort of these no risk situations, I think that's what they'll attempt to do. That definitely favors Philly and I think because of that, excuse me, I'm going to pick the Eagles, but, you know, I don't feel great about it.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is one of those games where I think you're going to get one of two results. I think either we're going to come out at the beginning and we're going to see that the Eagles are just significantly better. And all the things you've talked about are affect, affect the Rams, right? Basically what you saw seven weeks ago or eight weeks ago when the game was in la, if that was just how it is, they're just better. They're able with Saquon Barkley in that offensive line to just run at will. And then the next thing you know, Philadelphia wins this game by 24 points. The other option is this game is close, it's ugly. The score is like 13 to 10 going into the fourth quarter. And then all of a sudden, Myron, all the other stuff you're talking about, which is the, the, the sort of, you know, pressure on Nick Sirianni, Jalen hurts is kind of on and off again, struggles. All of a sudden all that stuff starts to matter a lot. And all of a sudden everybody kind of gets a little tight and there's a throw that doesn't go the. The Eagles way. And then all of a sudden I think the game becomes pro Rams because Matthew Stafford is used to these situations, has been in them, and he's got some receivers he trusts. So I say in that case, the Rams win. But I think it'll be more the former than the latter. I'm taking the Eagles. What's next?

[Matt Jones]

Ravens at Bills?

[Guest Speaker]

The show, man. I mean, this is the main event. And that's amazing on a weekend when you have Kansas City going for its third Super Bowl, Detroit trying to make history, getting to an NFC championship game as the 1 seed. Obviously what Jaden Daniels did to spoil that. And then, you know, obviously Eagles and Rams is interesting as well, but it just feels like this is number 1a, 1, 1b, 1c this weekend. And I get why. I mean, Lamar Jackson versus Josh Allen, We've talked a lot about that. You're going to Buffalo where the conditions will favor Buffalo as they always do. That part's not new. I also feel like this is the Best Lamar Jackson we have seen. And that says a lot for a guy who's won two MVPs. And I think this is the best supporting cast that he's had. The thing that makes me favor Baltimore is that if you look early in the season, the Baltimore defense was really, really shaky. And that was the reason I think a lot of people thought they wouldn't get to the super bowl. And then they turned it on, man. And you know, Roquan Smith and those guys are doing, they become one of the better defensive units in the NFL in the second half of the season. That will be a big factor in this game. Derek Henry. Henry will be a big factor in this game. I just don't think you can stop Baltimore even the way that you could maybe a year ago. And Lamar isn't making the same mistakes he made in past years. He is a more efficient quarterback. That's why I have to pick the Ravens to go into Buffalo to win.

[Myron Metcalf]

The rise of the Ravens defense has been pretty amazing. I mean they were. They go back to what was the Raiders game.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, they were bad.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean they were absolutely awful. And now it's gone from being the weakness that we thought might take away Lamar's great year to now being one of the kind of co strengths of the team. You know, this is a toss up on a lot of levels, but at the end of the day, this game is in Buffalo and you, you take two guys that are equal and then you put one of them on their home field in a game that matters that much. I got to take that. Last year people had the same conversation with about Mahomes and Josh Allen and they said home field is going to do it. Well, Mahomes ended up winning and I think that's why for me, Mahomes took a notch above Josh Allen. If Lamar comes in today and wins, I think it, it's a notch for Lamar. But at the end of the day for both of these guys, whether they say it or not, there's so much pressure on them. They are the two, two of the three or four faces of the league and they are two guys who've really never won anything. And for one of them, it's going to get much worse after today. For the other one, they have a chance to go play in Kansas City, get all the accolades of that. But for one of these two guys who are elite talent, things are not going to be great today. And Myron, that honestly makes me sad because they're two awesome dudes to watch, two super talented ones, but for one of them, it's going to be bad. I think it's going to be bad for Lamar because I think Josh Allen and Bills get it done at home and get the win. What's next?

[Matt Jones]

Number eight, Ohio State versus number seven, Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national championship. Presented by AT&T.

[Myron Metcalf]

Presented by AT&T. Got you say it like that. Well, you just got to say, presented by AT&T. Wait, what do you got?

[Guest Speaker]

Tomorrow thing, though? That whole thing was different, man. Like, okay, so I feel like Notre Dame has peaked, right? Which is okay. Like, it doesn't matter in terms of Marcus Freeman and how he's viewed what happens tomorrow night. He has already succeeded at such a young age getting his team to a national championship game. I think if you're a Notre Dame fan, you feel like as long as he's there, the team is in good hands. And. And I think that that's incredible what he's been able to achieve thus far. I think Ohio State.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, what'd you say? No, go ahead.

[Guest Speaker]

Well, I think Ohio State's a team that we, we largely judged off that Michigan game, which Michigan is always going to be a weird game for those two rivals and for some reason they haven't been able to beat them. But it was a three point game and then they lost on the road to Oregon in a one point game. Right. Beyond that, everything for the most part on their schedule was just a ridiculous blowout. And I think that to me is the edge. Texas is a good team. Ohio State made them look like an average team. Oregon's a good team. Clearly. Ohio State made them look like an average team. Tennessee is a pretty good team. Ohio State made them look like an average team and they'll do the same to Notre Dame, I think tomorrow night when they go into that matchup, I think they do the same thing they've done to everybody else and they beat Notre Dame. And then it kind of gets interesting from there for maybe Marcus Freeman's future in the NFL. But Ohio State wins this game and I don't know that it will be that competitive.

[Myron Metcalf]

First of all, where do we switch to drum music here? Mike, Are we on the field from NFL College?

[Guest Speaker]

Are we on the field?

[Myron Metcalf]

There's a different music when you're talking about college marching band practice, like, little marching band, like, I don't think this is gonna be close. I think Ohio State's gonna win by a lot. Notre Dame's had a great year, but you just look at the talent, you know, look how many guys from Ohio State are gonna get drafted? Look, how many guys from Notre Dame are gonna get drafted. It's gonna be a lot more from Ohio State. So this is, this says a lot about Marcus Freeman, what a great coach he is. But Ohio State wins, wins the national championship, and a fan base that wanted to fire their coach four weeks ago has to now hang up a banner. Well, I guess that's basketball, but put up a trophy in his honor. Thank you, folks, very much. Playoff preview with the pros. Who are the pros, by the way?

[Guest Speaker]

It is Chris Canyon. Harry Douglas.

[Myron Metcalf]

Chris Canyon. Harry Douglas. That's next here on ESPN Radio.

[Evan Cohen]

Hi, this is Evan Cohen. Join us Monday at 6am Eastern for unsportsman like Jaden Daniels and the Washington Commanders are in the NFC title game, arguably the greatest rookie season of all time for Daniels. Plus, what's next for the Lions? Will they lose both coordinators after not winning a single playoff game? It's Monday on Sportsmanlight 6am thanks for.

[Matt Jones]

Listening to Matt and Myron the Podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10:00am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM Channel 80. Matt and Myron, the Podcast.