Why Winning is Hell: Chris Long on Tua & The "Pick Your Opponent" Playoff Draft

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Why Winning is Hell: Chris Long on Tua & The "Pick Your Opponent" Playoff Draft
Date: December 19, 2025
Host(s): Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Dave Dameshek (guest host), Mike Fuentes ("Gino"), Chris Long (featured guest)

---

Episode Overview

In this insightful, wide-ranging episode, Dan Le Batard’s crew, with Dave Dameshek leading the charge, dives into the evolving nature of sports fandom, NFL and college football playoff excitement (or lack thereof), and the rollercoaster of being a fan, player, and critic. Two-time Super Bowl champion and Green Light podcaster Chris Long joins to offer a player's perspective on everything from locker room losses to playoff formatting, athlete mindset, and the challenge of maintaining decency and perspective both on and off the field.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Changing Excitement Around the College Football Playoff

• Dameshek opens with his lack of enthusiasm for the new playoff format, despite his team's high seeding:

  “It just feels like a less important version of the upcoming NFL playoffs, which I am excited for and which I don't think my team's going to make...” (02:22)

• He contrasts past debates about top teams with current debates about which two or three-loss teams deserve a spot (02:00–03:19).

2. NFL Week 16 Preview & "Pick Six" Segment

• The group offers touchdown predictions and observations:
  • Josh Allen, Bijan Robinson, Jameer Gibbs, Gardner Minshew, C.J. Stroud are top picks for touchdowns.
  • Mike Fuentes observes: “Gardner Minshew... not that bad. He definitely one of the better starters.” (06:58)
  • Playful banter on new lingo:

    “Wait a minute. Piggy. Not piggyback. He just said... piggy banking, which is a new turn of phrase, that when you're tailing somebody, I'm piggy banking.” (07:23)

3. Tua Tagovailoa’s Future & Dolphins QB Situation

• Debate on Tua’s benching and contract implications.
  • Mike Fuentes: “...this is don't get hurt so we don't have to pay you $20 million in 2027. He has a clause in his contract says if he gets hurt, that money's guaranteed...” (08:25)
  • The group speculates on possible destinations and the business side of quarterback moves.
  • Dameshek: “He feels solved by NFL defenses. There's nowhere to really go with him. If Mike McDaniel... can't make it work, who really is out there?” (09:36)

4. Athlete Camaraderie and the Fan-Athlete Disconnect

• Lively discussion about post-game fraternization between NFL players.
• Dameshek laments athletes “playing grab ass” and trading jerseys immediately after losses, suggesting the league should maintain a more “WWE villain” vibe for the fans (11:11).
• Mike Fuentes: “That is your oldest man take... Not everybody has like this Brady Michael Jordan competitive streak in them... Some guys just want to go out there and get paychecks and that's it, you know.” (11:51)

---

Feature Interview: Chris Long

5. Chris Long Reflects on Winning, Losing, and Decency

• On the Super Bowl 52 win and NFL culture:

  “We felt like we had a better team... It’s the whole nothing to lose thing that makes you dangerous.” (18:45–20:03)

• On showing support for Malcolm Jenkins’ protest:

  “Everybody’s heart was in the right place... just trying to be decent, you know. As you fast forward eight, ten years later, we are less decent than we’ve ever been as a country...” (21:18)

• On the difficulty of NFL success versus fan perception:

  “Respectfully, I don't think fans know how hard it is to. To succeed in the NFL and win football games.” (28:45)

6. Coping With Loss, Emotions, and Locker Room Reality

• After big losses:

  “After my last game in the NFL, I cried like a baby... it was a damn. I'm in the shower like a damn child.” (26:38)

• On players’ varied emotional responses:

  “Everybody deals with disappointment differently… there’s people that think it should be like a morgue, there’s some people are going to say like, 'well, if we were so pissed off, why didn’t we play better?’” (24:26)

7. Player Perspective on Post-Game Interactions

• Chris defends player friendships post-game:

  “You have to understand from the player’s perspective is like, we have nothing to prove. We just played the game. Like, we’re putting our health, our livelihoods on the line...” (25:12)

• Shares anecdotes about losing, emotional aftermath, and—humorously—nude post-game brawls in the locker room (32:58–34:07).

8. Running Backs, MVP, and Offseason Overreactions

• On running back productivity drop-offs:

  “Since 2000, there's a threshold of a certain amount of carries... Those guys were not able to get back anywhere near to where they were the year prior. It’s just kind of like a rule with running backs.” (36:58)

• On MVP conversations:

  “I think Stafford should be the front runner, but you know me... I think Josh Allen's the best quarterback on the planet.” (38:47)

  • Playful critique of the NFL MVP’s lack of branding and the need for a “cool statue” like the Heisman (39:35–40:18).
• On the true challenge of winning in the NFL playoffs:

  “The NFL playoffs are the best thing in major professional sports. I think Stanley Cup... is incredible, but I think from an entertainment value standpoint... the NFL is king.” (41:12)

9. Playoff Format Debate & “Pick Your Opponent” Draft

• Chris Long suggests an “at-large” bid for hot teams who are peaking late but missed out due to early losses (44:46).
• Dameshek proposes a “choose your playoff opponent” wrinkle:

  “The two teams with byes get to choose who they play... You wanted us? Oh, now we're going to give it to you real good for that one, right? How great would that be?” (45:24)

• Chris Long: “It would be incredible... If you pick a team and lose it, it's even worse because you picked it.” (46:21)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why players don't always act devastated post-loss (Chris Long):

  “As much as I've had issues with two of the player... him and Jalen Ramsey were teammates before. I think maybe that's the blind spot for him optically... But you have to understand from the player's perspective: we have nothing to prove. We just played the game.” (25:08)

• Locker room stories:

  “I was in a disrobed prison style fight in college... 45 of the people in it were just getting out of the shower.” (32:58–33:53)

• On decency:

  “We are less decent than we've ever been as a country... It really transcended politics. It is about decency. It's about patriotism. And I don't feel very patriotic right now.” (22:15)

---

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:29 | Dameshek on College Football Playoff malaise | | 04:07 | NFL Week 16 "Pick 6" predictions | | 07:52 | Tua’s future and Dolphins QB discussion begins | | 11:00 | On post-game fraternizing and fans’ perspectives | | 16:48 | Chris Long joins the show (main feature interview begins) | | 18:45 | Eagles Super Bowl, team mindset, post-season memories | | 21:18 | Protests, decency, and the NFL locker room | | 23:55 | Dealing with loss, players vs. fans on emotions | | 28:45 | Why fans don’t “get” NFL difficulty | | 32:58 | Locker room brawls, athlete vulnerability | | 36:58 | Jameer Gibbs, running backs, and MVP debates | | 41:12 | NFL playoffs versus College Football and playoff flaws | | 44:46 | Idea: “At-large bid” and “pick your opponent” playoff draft | | 47:02 | Playoff draft idea and roundtable reactions | | 48:32–end | Week 16 picks, Tomlin/Steelers speculation, closing picks |

---

Tone & Language

The tone is candid, irreverent, often self-deprecating, and laced with humor and insider banter—true to both Dameshek and Chris Long’s styles. There’s a mix of deep football analysis, old-school fan nostalgia, and a meta-commentary on media/fan culture. Both sports and broader themes (decency, patriotism, the culture of sporting success and failure) are blended seamlessly.

---

Takeaways

• Excitement around the College Football Playoff is lagging for some longtime fans, who see the NFL postseason as far more compelling.
• The Tua situation is emblematic of the cold business side of the NFL; the show raises real questions about his future and how teams manage big contracts vs. on-field results.
• Chris Long offers unique, authentic insight into what it really feels like to win, lose, and move on as a pro athlete—and how little fans and the media sometimes grasp of the true emotional toll and reality.
• Inventive playoff ideas—like letting the top seed choose their opponent—highlight the show’s blend of analysis and out-of-the-box thinking.

---

For anyone who missed the show:
This episode is a thoughtful, funny, and occasionally poignant look at football fandom, athlete experience, and the strange joy (and pain) of both winning and losing. Chris Long’s stories, especially about the emotional aftermath of games and the realities of the locker room, are highlights, blending raw honesty with the light-heartedness that makes this podcast much loved by fans.

Transcript

[A]

Today's episode is brought to you by Venmo. Look, no matter how your favorite team does this season, there's still one way to feel like a winner, and that's with Venmo. That's because when you use venmo to transfer 50 or more to a DraftKings DFS account for the first time or the first time in three plus months, you'll get $25 in DraftKings bonus credits. Terms apply. Just go to draftkings.com venmoffer to activate your offer. Then choose Venmo to add Funds to your DraftKings account. Add $50 or more and boom, 25 bonus credits will appear in your DraftKings account if you're eligible. This offer is only good through February 15, 2026, or while supplies last, so don't fumble your chance before time runs out. Here's the deal. Venmo is a fast, easy way for you to add money onto DraftKings. And if you don't have a Venmo account yet, don't sweat it. You can download the app and sign up in minutes. So what are you waiting for? Just add $50 or more to your DraftKings DFS account with Venmo and you'll get $25 in bonus credits. Go to DraftKings.com venmoffer and go get that bonus. Gambling Problem Call 100 Gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPE NY or text Hopeny at 467369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org 18/plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per customer minimum 50 transfer from your Venmo account to DraftKings DFS account. 25 reward issued as non withdrawable DK dollar site credits that do not expire while rewards last 20,000 total transfer redemptions available. See [e-mail] Venmoffer ends 2-15-2759pm Eastern we.

[B]

Have Chris Long coming up, along with the Week 16 edition of the NFL Picks Countdown, so we don't really have a lot of time for this, but can we talk for a second here? You and me, we're people, after all. I want to confess something to you real quick, and I don't want to be a hypocrite because I hate those people who can never let a Star wars debut go by without announcing to the world I'm not into Star wars or when A new soccer tournament's about to kick off. People who say I am into real football fed soccer. This is not contributing to the conversation. And yet here comes the Grinch in the Christmas season. I feel like I'm about to announce I don't believe in Santa, but I'm just not into this College Football Playoff. And my team's the number one seed in that tournament. Maybe it's just because Oklahoma v. Alabama looks like a scrimmage, but probably it's not just that. Obviously I'm going to watch. I like football and I like TV after all. And what else do I have to do with myself? But I think the people who were so upset about the bull system they pounded the table fore about the need for a playoff are like the dog who catches the car. Congratulations. Can you honestly say there's real buzz about the start of this College Football Playoff? It used to stand out. And Maybe the late 20th century debates about who was better between 1v2 were a little unsatisfying, but in hindsight, they were better than arguing about which two loss team deserves a title shot more than a three loss team does. Now it just feels like a less important version of the upcoming NFL playoffs, which I am excited for and which I don't think my team's going to make, but I hope to be wrong. Let's see if we can figure that out right now. Start the show.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Hi and hello and happy holidays, my fellow football Americans. Welcome to NFL Week 6 16. Welcome to the College Football Playoff. Welcome to Football America. Episode number 35 were presented as ever by our pals at DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours. And as we jump in here, appreciate it if you would do me the gift of subscribing to the pod and on YouTube. We appreciate that. And we start out by honoring the player who wore the episode number best. Mike and Gino. Gino and Mike Fuentes. I got bad news. 35 sucks. At least where NFL names are concerned. Some good luminaries beyond the NFL, but Christian Akoye, I think is the best ever to ever play in the NFL and wear the number 35. That's pretty grim, right?

[D]

I mean, I got some Earl Campbell here according to, you know, the Internet.

[B]

Well, the Internet is wrong.

[D]

I'm gonna 35.

[B]

I think when he was the Tyler Rose at Texas, maybe 35, but he was 34.

[D]

I'm going Kevin Durant.

[B]

That's a good one. Yes.

[E]

I'm gonna go for new genics. Number one salesman, the big hurt Frank Thomas. Sell me those testosterone pills, Frank Thomas. Let me know. Tell me I have low T. You stand up there with Doug Flutie and you fix my testosterone with your snake oil pills.

[B]

Yeah. Tony Esposito and Tom Barrasso in puck. Two great hall of fame goaltenders there, Justin Verlander. And do yourself a favor. Next time you see Fluty and the big hurt out on the practice tea, watch the woman. Not the guy's wife, but the other woman. He's like. And she'll like it too. The wife looks at him, but then the. But then there's another woman who's the friend of the woman, presumably, and she starts making eyes like, what? What the hell are you doing? Who are you, Burl Ives now? Like somebody waits for you. Kiss her once for me. What's up with you, you old creepo? Go get your old your own lady. All right, listen, we have to talk about football here. Let' started off. We're going to do our picks in just a second here for the most pivotal games in NFL Week 16 that still remain before we get to that pick six presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours. I'm going Touchdown scores to start off with, fellas. Josh Allen against the Cleveland Browns. I think he is now making officially as they also try to secure their spot in the playoffs and maybe have an outside shot at catching the Patriots. Still, I think he also understands where he is in the MVP chase. I think they find a way to get him in the end zone. Bijan. Oh, my beloved Bijan. We came up short in the fantasy playoffs, but he's still toiling away in meaningless football. Now that the cool Cats are out of the fantasy playoffs, he'll get a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. Jameer Gibbs is always good for a touchdown. Pretty much he wasn't last week, but most of the time he is. He has the Steelers. He'll get into the end zone there. And then two touchdown throws from Gardner MUU against the Tennessee Titans. Right? I mean, that feels like. Like a feel good story waiting to happen. And C.J. stroud, four touchdown passes in his last two. He'll throw two at least against the sad Vegas Raiders. How say you fellas?

[E]

Listen, Gardner Minshew, right? A lot of people were saying Chiefs are in trouble. They're going to win that game. Yeah, and not only because Tennessee Titans is because if I'm going to pick a coach to have a guy like Gardner Minshew ready to play, I'm probably going to pick Andy Reid. Exactly. So I Like that pick. I think someone around here in the office was kicking, like, some kind of suicide pool thing. And I'm like, bro, take the Chiefs. The Tennessee's. Tennessee's bad. Gardner Minshew, not that bad.

[D]

Don't forget Gardner Minshew's college coach, Mike Leach. So he knows how to sling.

[C]

No.

[E]

And. And not that bad. He definitely one of the better starters. But when it comes to pick six, ja' Marr Chase hasn't scored a touchdown in six games.

[D]

Now you're doing the scarcity thing.

[E]

Yes, I'm doing the scarcity thing. He cost me a big parlay not too long ago. I'm still getting over it. So this is going to be the year against the hapless Quinn Ewers Dolphins.

[B]

Okay.

[E]

This is going to be the week where Jamar Chase cashes in.

[D]

I'm going to piggy bank off of you. I'm going Joe Burrow. Maybe it'll be two to Jamar Chase. Who knows?

[B]

Wait a minute. Piggy. Not piggyback. He just said, Gino, piggy banking, which is a new turn of phrase, that when you're tailing somebody, I'm piggy banking.

[E]

I like that you're doing this wrong, Gino, because you're, like, saying, oh, man, like said something wrong. You go, no, Dave, I meant to say it because you think I said piggyback, which is also true. But piggy, take it to the bank. Joe Burrow is going to do it. You know, you got to put some pizzazz behind it. You got to make people believe your lie, just like our president does. Just talk that shit. But if you're confident about it, they'll believe it.

[B]

All right, Incisive political commentary from Mike Fuentes there. Now let's hear some more incisive commentary on your former quarterback now that he's been benched. Tua. I don't know if you heard the news down there in south beach, but it's a wrap. I get the sense from every Dolphins fan the. That the. The. The number one emotion is relief that it's now over with.

[C]

Right?

[B]

I mean, that's. That. That's. That's the vibe I'm getting from you guys. He really was an atrocity. Football in Pittsburgh. Yeah.

[D]

I have a reason to watch now. We can scout maybe the future.

[E]

I wouldn't. I wouldn't get too comfortable. I feel like this, you know, he's owed $54 million next year. You're not going to want to have that money on the bench.

[B]

The.

[D]

So the best way to be okay with that is if you have a quarterback.

[E]

But people think that this is like some kind of like, oh, we're moving towards the future. No, this is don't get hurt so we don't have to pay you $20 million in 2027. He has a clause in his contract says if he gets hurt, that money's guaranteed for 2027. They're trying to be rid of him after $54 million next year. So while it does give you a chance to see what Quinn Ewers is, which is he was the highest, the most highest rated recruit ever coming out of wherever he came from, I don't even know. But sure you get to see what he has. But it's also, hey, to let's not get to a hurt. And then it's completely wasted. The funny thing to me in all this is, is reports coming out that Zach Wilson is frustrated to not be named the starter. And in the words of Jordan Belfort, a La Leonardo DiCaprio, Wolf of Wall.

[B]

Street, who gives a shit? I agree with that. And obviously if you're the Dolphins, I think that what this is a reminder of that December, especially with that 17th game now that a lot of these games get super weird, that a lot of teams are trying to evaluate what they have at the back end of their roster. And so they're not really, I mean, they, they, they want to win the game, but their goal is to evaluate these individual pieces. It really sets up for some lousy games coming down the stretch. I don't know how, what, what, what you do to fix that. I do wonder if Tua is done. What, what I think, to Mike's point, I'm not the first one to say this. Yeah, they want to keep two healthy so that they can viably move him in the offseason and we can make jokes about whether or not anyone's going to want them. We saw what happened with Russell Wilson a couple of years ago. There's always a team out there that needs a QB. Maybe it won't happen until August of 2026, but somebody, if the Dolphins are willing to eat a portion of that contract, I suspect that we will see Tua once again. But man, then again, the Devil's damage check of this is Tua really does feel outmoded. He feels solved by NFL defenses. There's nowhere to really go with him. If Mike McDaniel, who embraced him a couple of years ago and encourage that contract, can't make it work, who really is out there? So maybe I'm overstating things by saying somebody will be desperate enough to throw him in there. Right.

[E]

I think maybe as a starter.

[B]

Correct.

[E]

But for a guy who led the league in passing just two years ago, he's going to land somewhere.

[D]

You know, I mean if the Raiders weren't going to have like the number one or number two pick, they would take him in a second. They take him right now like you.

[E]

Kind of think as a backup for the right money, not next year, but the year after that, he kind of be perfect for San Francisco. You know, obviously with his, with his cap number next year you're not really going to want to have that guy floating around, which is why I think he'll be right back starting from the Miami Dolphins at the beginning of next year.

[B]

Well, that's why he doesn't make sense as a backup because no one's going to take him on with that. With that. Yeah. The, the weight of that contract. The thing that is also fascinating to me and I've seen Jonathan Zaslow talking about this on the LeBatard show and really a lot of people have been bellyaching about this, especially if they're Dolphins. Reuters is and I've always been driven crazy buying the, in the post game right out there on the field right after the stage where, where, where pigskin war was just fought and now they're playing grab ass with each other. The, the trading jerseys and all that crap. I don't care for that. To a yucking it up with his old pal. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about a lot more stuff.

[E]

That's such an old man take. That is your oldest man take like, like I, I, I, I just don't believe like that this like ultra. Not everybody has like this Brady Michael Jordan competitive streak in them. Some guys just want to go out there and get paychecks and that's it, you know.

[B]

Jim, listen. Iron Chic. Iron Chic and Hacksaw Jim Duggan were arch rivals in the squared circle way back when. 11 loved America and the other one hated it. At least they got arrested. Burning Tree and drinking beers in their car. But at least they had the dignity to do that out of eyesight of the fans. They didn't go out there and do it in the ring after their, after a match. They need a little WWE. Listen, you know who is a voice of reason I suspect on this? Chris Long, our old pal. Let's talk with him right now. Ho ho ho. Hi and hello. My fellow football Americans. We have officially arrived at the holiday season. And you know what that means. It's Dave saying ho ho ho. Also, family food and football. The holidays aren't about stuffy get togethers, dinner parties or work parties you have to be at. They're about those unexpected side quests and spending time with the ones you love. And if you're lucky enough, doing so at a bowl game, I'm going to the Rose bowl this year to watch my Indiana Hoosiers. TIS Miller Time. Tis always a great indicator that it's the holiday season. Miller is the original light beer. It's the taste you can depend on and has been trusted by beer lovers everywhere for 50 years thanks to its clean finish, simple ingredients, and iconic golden color. And this year, the there's another holiday we're celebrating. Well, I mentioned the Hoosiers in the Rose bowl, but that's not what I'm getting at here. It's Miller's 50th anniversary. That's what I'm talking about. And with only 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces, it's a great choice to let loose without weighing you down like all that food will. The best holiday beers are the ones you don't expect. Miller Light Great Taste, 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com fba to find delivery options near you if you want to stay at home. Or or you can head out among the people and you can pick up some Miller Light pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Tis Miller time. See Tis. And please always remember to celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tis 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. I got a question for you, my fellow football Americans. If you walked into a stash house and found $20 million, how much would you steal? That's the question. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, both of whom I've heard of and you probably have too, they have to answer it. In Netflix's new movie, the Rip, they play a team of Miami cops alongside Teyana Taylor. Worth the price of admission for me after seeing her in one battle after another. Dynamite Plus Steven Yun and Catalina Sandino Moreno and Kyle Chandler and Sasha Calle, all trying to decide, are they the good guys or the bad guys? This movie is an edge of your seat 300 ride the entire time, keeping you guessing till the end. Don't miss the Rip. Only on Netflix on January 16 hi and hello and happy holidays, my fellow football Americans. As you well know, the holidays are heating up and they're doing so Even more on pick 6 DraftKings newest fantasy pick him game. Make your NBA picks for a shot to win big cash prizes this holiday season. Here's how it works. You just choose more or less on two or more player stats. The more accurate your picks are, the bigger your payout's going to be. It's the kind of upside you'll only find on Pick six, not those other pick them sites. And it's available in most states, including Texas, California, Georgia and more. Download the DraftKings Pick Six app now and use code Damashek. New DraftKings customers can play just $5. Get $50 and pick six credits with Coach Damashek. D A M E S H E K Ride the Upside in partnership with DraftKings pick six, the crown is yours. Well, yes, it truly is. The holiday season here in football America. When this guy shadows our door, it's better than Santa Claus. All right, I don't want to get in any trouble there. Maybe it's not as good as Santa, but just the same, I'm very excited here. He's a two time super bowl champ, a Walter Payton man of the year, the kingpin of the Green Light podcasting empire, a Shecky Award winner. As our favorite football playing guest, and also as a man of justice, I have to mention this every time we ever KibBitz, the rightful MVP of Super Bowl 51. After all, he's the guy who drew the holding penalty on Jake Matthews that pushed the Falcons out of field goal range, thereby allowing for the Edelman catch and the comeback and overtime and all the rest of that crap. He's number 91 and number 56 and number 72 and number 95. What in the hell? It's Chris Long. What's the poop, fella? Long time no see. How are you?

[C]

What up? Yeah, you need to remind Jeff Schwartz who drew that hold. You know, some people forget. I, I, you know, I, I didn't get a Christmas card this year from Brady or Edelman or any of those guys, so.

[B]

Is that right?

[C]

Yeah. No Christmas card.

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

You know what's going on with that?

[B]

Outrageous. Outrageous. Maybe it's, maybe it's because of what, jealousy? Or, or maybe it's what you did to them in Super Bowl 52. Oh, maybe.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I remember asking you if in between those two Super Bowls actually, on the eve of that second super bowl win, if after just teaming up and drinking beers in celebration with Tom Brady, if you were going to feel bad if he had to smack the old man around In Super Bowl 52, you said.

[C]

No, no, not at all. I mean, like, it's part of the business. It's part of the business. He's been, he's been smacked up before and honestly, he did more of the smacking in that game. But we, we ended up with the W. A lot of people are like, yeah, you know, you guys shut down, you guys beat Tom Brady. I'm like, I didn't beat Tom Brady. Nick Foles beat Tom Brady. Because in that second half, we were, we were fighting for our lives.

[B]

Dave, you know what, I don't want to get in the wayback machine here about that super bowl, but a couple of things, the thing I always point to is sometimes, I mean, I think winning the trophy is everything. QB wins in the postseason are more important than just about any other measurement of how great a quarterback is in the quarterback league, especially in this millennium. As important as they have become, more so even than they were in the 80s and 90s. I thought that was maybe Brady's greatest job. That roster for the Patriots was, was bum level excep him. He hoisted them. And as far as that goes, I was told on the eve of that super bowl that people who are close to the Eagles coaching staff, that everybody on the Eagles knew that you guys were going to win that game. Is that true? I don't mean just like, puff your chest out.

[C]

We can do it.

[B]

Like you, in terms of X's and L's, you knew you had them.

[C]

Listen, like, we felt like we had a better team, you know, leading up to the game. I can remember incessantly bothering all the guys on offense and saying, how many points can you score? You think, you know, which is not an admission that like, hey, we're going to get our, our doors kicked in. But, you know, it would be nice to know, like, what's the magic number? Because I thought that New England would probably be able to score a little bit on us. You know, there's no good matchup for Gronk. It helps certainly when I think Malcolm Jenkins knocked knock Brandon Cooks out of the game. And that wasn't like a dirty player, an intentional thing. It just was a football play knocked him out of the game. And I think from there it was like once we got to the half, you knew they were going to come out of the half with some, some heat and they did. And it was hard to get stops. But, you know, it just makes, it's all, you know, it makes we're even luckier for just taking the risks we did in the first half and, and, and that was the way we played. I mean Doug was that kind of guy. So I think it was a total clash of styles, man. That's what made it so interesting. We were just happy to be there. Kind of happy. Go lucky. Like we weren't picked to be a top 15, 20 team, our MVP caliber quarterback gets hurt and we're still here. It's the whole nothing to lose thing that makes you dangerous.

[B]

Yeah, it really was magical. You know, as that falls into in the, you know, history now yesterday.

[C]

We are now. Dude.

[B]

It kind of. Yeah, but, but I mean I really do love that season for the Eagles. And as I've told you before, and I'll say again to anyone within the sound of my voice, for everybody who says keep the politics out of football and stop talking, I mean it's amazing that it is okay to talk about them when they're saying things that you like. But keep it out when I don't like what you're saying. But you putting your, I mean, for real. Colin Kaepernick's back in the news with some of the things that Malcolm Jenkins did his own thing. He didn't take a knee, but he put a fist in the air and then caught heat for that. And then the next week Chris Long, a white guy goes over and puts his arm around Malcolm Jenkins as a show of support. And I remember a decent percentage of self proclaimed football fans said outrageous. This ends, you know that you can't have that kind of crap going on on the sideline. It take, it distracts from winning games and everything else. As we just discussed, you wound up with the Lombardi trophy. So for all.

[C]

Maybe it is true. Maybe it is true because Harrison Bucker couldn't hit the broadside of a barn this year kicking the football.

[B]

Interesting.

[C]

I feel like we, I feel like we definitely everybody's heart was in the right place, man. You know, just trying to be decent, you know, that's all. And that's why some of the praise I got was a little uncomfortable for me because like I'm, you know, I'm just being decent, you know. And I do think like, you know, as you fast forward eight, ten years later, we are less decent than we've ever been as a country. And you know, I got two takes landing pretty well this week. I think one of them is that Tua wasn't a starting quarterback and the other was that, you know, I didn't want to go to the White House to meet that, that individual twice And I feel like a lot of people owe me apologies for some of the criticisms and, and the messages I got because it really transcended politics. It is about decency. It's about, it's about patriotism. And I don't feel very patriotic right now. I don't think a lot of people do.

[B]

Yeah. And this is a man who is supported, who wore on the side of his hat a bald eagle and a patriot. After all, I mean, who's. What's more American than those two things? Yeah. And I know you weren't trying to be political, you were trying to be supportive of your teammate. But that's what it's all about. And so lovely stuff there. Okay, now let's get a little ugly here. And you mentioned Tua, and now he's benched and Quinn Ewers is getting the start this weekend. And I mean, he really didn't look like a starting quarterback in Pittsburgh. And a lot of people, you know, despite Mike McDaniel kind of sort of for the last couple of months, even after having been all but fired, it felt like was on track to save his job. But the limitation is the starting quarterback. And then we see on the field, as their playoff chances go away and all the two A playing grab ass on the field with Jalen Ramsey and laughing it up and everything else in the bigger picture, what do you think about this, this crap? Because you're, you're, you're a lovely fella and we just talk about, you get along with teammates and you get along with other football players. To me, as a football fan, I have to speak up on behalf of fans. I think the NFL thinks it's adorable after the game, like these warriors go at it for 60 minutes, but in the end they're on the same team and they shake hands like, that's nice at the end of a playoff series if you're in the NHL. This is different. Stop with that crap. Get some WWE going in there and don't, don't do that out, out in plain sight with the red. Go do it in the bowels of the stadium. That's your business. No one wants to see that. We hate the opponent. How say you?

[C]

Well, I would say fans have less to lose in the situation. Like, it's a weird thing. Like, you know, like I can say, hey, fuck you guys, I hate you, but I'm gonna see again, you know, and the fans, they don't have to answer for that. And the fans also don't have the respect that you. That is earned when you run into somebody at 15 miles an hour for 60 minutes. And so you know, like, and I'm pretty old school where, hey, when the, when the game's going on like it is, you know, I don't say the word war because it ain't war, but it's. We're gonna be at our throats, we're gonna be at each other's throats. And you know, like, I'm all for the violence and everything. Like, it's a beautiful game because of that. Like, it's one of the only places you can really like increasingly less. So you can try to not hurt in a dirty way, but you can try to, you can try to fuck up your opponent and, and that's a great thing. And I think what that does is this is the player's take is I don't have anything to prove after the game about being a tough guy. You should be disappointed when you're eliminated from the playoffs. And I think everybody deals with disappointment differently. Everybody deals with like, you know, on the plane ride back, there's like certain people that are going to laugh and joke after a loss, after a. And there's certain people that are going to be dead quiet and there's people that think it should be like a Morgan there. And there's some people are going to say like, well, if we were so pissed off, why didn't we play better? You know, and why do I have to sit here and fake an existential crisis? Because we lost a football game, right? So I think it's a mixed bag. And as much as I've had, you know, I've had issues with two of the player and you know, the, the idea of how good he is or he isn't like him and Jalen Ramsey were teammates before. I think maybe that's the blind spot for him optically as he's thinking, well, I'm talking to an old teammate. And of course if you've been sitting there spending your hard earned money on going to Dolphins games or buying to his jersey or you know, spending on the red zone package or NFL YouTube or whatever it is, like you're pissed when you see that. But you have to understand from the player's perspective is like, we have nothing to prove. We just played the game. Like we're putting our health, our livelihoods on the line. Like I, you know, after games I used to, if there was somebody that on the other team that I respect, I'd tell them, you know, and, and I don't think too many people would have questioned my effort or, you know, my commitment to the game. Like, you know, after my last game in the NFL, I cried like a baby. You know, maybe because I knew it was over. It was a, it was a damn. I'm in the shower like a damn child. And so it means something and it hits everybody differently. But when I was on the field after that New Orleans Saints playoff game, I'm pretty sure it's all a blur. I'm pretty sure I hugged a couple guys that I respected and told them, hey man, way to battle, you know, and then I went in the shower and, and lost it. So everybody is different and, and you know, like, I, I understand, I understand the sentiment. I do think there's a thin line.

[B]

Well, because your character, because to some degree we have to keep you as characters. I also understand you as a human being need to rationalize away the loss and you can't own it every time you lose a game to a severe degree or you'd be a head case. You can't just torment yourself. I do think, though, think of the Chris Long nude in the shower, crying, I wasn't naked. You weren't nude?

[C]

No, I went in the shower because that's where nobody is. Yeah. Oh, I see you're in the shower and I just, you know, I just lost it. But you know, this is my last game, so I think I'm, I know I'm done. I'm, I'm pretty sure I'm done at that point. Yeah, you go in there because you don't want to be in the room like ballin, dude, you know, not that anybody's gonna judge you. You ain't the only one with tears in your eyes after your season ends. But, you know, I'm a 33 year old man and so, you know, it's, it's a delicate thing, man. It's. If you're an NFL player and you go in and I've seen, I've had teammates that like beat the, out of the bathroom stalls for 15 minutes to the point where I gotta go in there and get my buddy and the coach is like, hey, you got to go in and like there's banging in there. You can hear the, you can hear screaming, you can hear doors slamming, things breaking. Like, do fans want that? You know, do fans want us to go?

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

I think they set our houses on fire. And like, you know, it's like, right.

[B]

Well that's, I think, right. It's easier to point fingers. Well, you see that all the Time. It's way easier to blame anybody else and to put your emotions, like, to defer your. The. The blame. Obviously, as a fan, you're blameless. You just wanted something to happen, and then now these guys let you down. So you want them to at least match your emotions.

[C]

Well, I don't think fans.

[B]

I think that's.

[C]

I think the disc. Here's what hit me, Dave. Like, and I've been trying to say this the right way. I respectfully, I don't think fans know how hard it is to. To succeed in the NFL and win football games. And so, like, when I'm sitting there on the couch watching my favorite team because I'm biggest sports fan is everybody. I grew up Panthers fan, painted my face. Used to cry when the Penguins lost. I remember the Penguins lost. I think The Florida Panthers.

[B]

96.

[C]

Yeah. And I was 11 years old and I, you know, I was. I was crying like, you know, here I am crying again. Damn. This guy, he can't stop crying.

[B]

Went to the showers. Where are you going, boy? Like, don't worry, old man.

[C]

My dad's like, good. Cry more. You should care, you know, like, take.

[B]

Off the sweater while you do it.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And beat up some of the kids at school, too.

[B]

So.

[C]

No, but it, you know, like, I've been a fan and I know how hard it is to watch, like, UVA basketball, uva football or, you know, like, I mean, we lost to UMBC and, you know, 161 seed. I'm enraged, man. And I'm like, super upset. I have no recourse. I'm a fan. And I also don't know what it's like to be out there in that night and feel like, hey, I tried my very fucking best, but those guys were just better. And so I think as a player, you get sometimes as mad as you are, as upset as you are about the game, and as much as it hurts to lose, you comfort yourself subconsciously because you're like, dude, I laid it all out there. Like, these guys get paid too. And they're so. Like, they were just so good today. Or, you know what, dude? Recently I looked back at that 2018 loss to New Orleans, and it's so funny because it doesn't haunt me. You know, this is our. The year we were repeating or trying to repeat, and we started 4 and 6 and we were terrible. And then all of a sudden we caught fire again and we end up in the divisional round down in New Orleans. We jump out to a 14 nothing lead. Okay, the way I Remember that game is. It was heartbreaking at the time, but in the years after, I kind of forgot about it. Like, you know, like, it doesn't haunt me. But when I felt like you were.

[B]

Gilding the lily a little bit there because of out. But if Alshon Jeffrey makes one more catch for you, probably you're gonna win that game, right?

[C]

Yeah. And I'm not. I don't like the whole like. Because I didn't like it when the Saints the year before were like, we would have beat the Eagles. The Minneapolis man. No, the. You wouldn't. We were. We were a badass group and it would have been hard to beat us. It would. And. And so I'm not doing though we should have won it or anything. But what I am saying is when I look back at that game on YouTube, I watched the full game for shits recently. It was so painful to watch, it was almost more painful than it was to play in it because you have this vantage point where it's like, damn, dude. Like, it was 14 nothing. Fake punt, you know, fourth down, conversion drop at the end of the game. Like, I was sad.

[B]

Back to you nude in the shower. No, I was gonna. I was gonna actually mention that's the saddest football thing since Brendan Frazier and Matt Damon got into a nude fight. Why? The director, the. Or the screenwriter or whatever in School Ties. Of course I'm ref.

[C]

They got a nude fight.

[B]

Yeah, Brendan Frazier. Matt Damon announces because he's raw that. That Brendan Fraser stole his girl. And so he announces. Brendan Fraser's a Jew, everybody. And nobody likes that at the prep school in the mid-20s.

[C]

Oh, so this is in the movie.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, no, no, not. I don't mean that they had a fight for their. For their pleasure.

[C]

I mean the characters and Jamie Foxx or whatever. Do you remember that? The story about. No. Any given Sunday, they were supposed to be like a fight and LL Cool J, like, whoop Jamie Foxx's ass or something.

[B]

In real life?

[C]

Yeah, like a real fight.

[B]

Ah, no, I didn't know that.

[C]

And I was in a. I was in a disrobed prison style fight in college.

[B]

Really? With whom and who won teammates a new. You got into a nude fight with your melee.

[C]

But it was a fist fight, not a wrestling match. So. But here's the problem. When guys are. There was like a disagreement that spilled over into something more. And it was after like a workout and dudes are in the locker room and there's like, you know, and, you know, you're not thinking about, oh, all I have is a towel on. And, and I remember seeing naked old lineman who will go unnamed fly across the room and do a flying scissor kick.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Into a guy's chest and like people are getting punched in the face. There's, there's, it's a melee, man. And, and you know, the craziest thing about that fight is 45 of the people in it were just getting out of the shower.

[B]

So.

[C]

So it happens.

[B]

Matt Damon, the nude fighting as a decision, like that's real life. Which is. I wish there was video of that. Not for, I don't, not for perverted reasons. I don't think it would make laugh.

[C]

It's way too burning my brain to see a 310 pound man horizontal to the ground in the middle of a scissor kick into a guy's chest. And I could see the guy's balls and it's just like, it's like, are.

[B]

They, are they used as a weapon or. That's what you go to. Like, if you're, if you're the right endowment, you could like, you use that as a way you choke a guy out with it, wrap it around his neck.

[C]

Nick Foles wasn't in this fight.

[B]

Oh, no. Okay, so that's all true. All right, let's move on. Here's another thing. I bring up movies. I bring up movies because of course, among the, the honors that I mentioned at the top there, I didn't mention that you're the progeny of Howie Long who started Broken Arrow, who kicked out of a moving train by Christian Slater.

[C]

This is such.

[B]

It is a shame that it happened. Show business is a rugged business. You talk about football, that ain't nothing compared to the entertainment industry. I recently heard football legend Howie Long say Jamir Gibbs is the best player in football. Your response?

[C]

He said that? Yeah, I said that too.

[B]

Did you really? Maybe stole it from you?

[C]

Maybe. No. We do talk a lot. Me and dad talk ball a lot. But I think if.

[B]

And you and I talk balls. Apparently.

[C]

Yeah, evidently. No, I, I think Jameer Gibbs is now because of the, their offensive line and you know, some of the scheme turnover that they had to deal with this year. I think at times like he hasn't been the player he could be in the perfect system. But, but I think if you're looking at running backs in the NFL, if I'm preparing for an offensive player, a non quarterback, he's as scary as anybody this year. And of course, you know, the caveat is there's a year like the year where Jamar Chase half the time is not catching the football from Joe Burrow. You know, Justin Jefferson's catching the ball from number nine. Now he was improving a lot. But like, you know, that's been hard to get. On the same page, do you think of some of the traditional best start offensive football player Saquon Barkley is following up his awesome year with the year that predictably is not the same. I mean like when you look at Saquon last year, the offensive line he was running behind and then just the law of averages since 2000, there's a threshold of a certain amount of carries and I don't have it offhand. This is. I did this before the season. But if there were a couple guys that crossed that threshold, it was like Eddie George, DeMarco Murray. Those guys were not able to get back anywhere near to where they were the year prior. It's just kind of like a rule with running backs. So I think bankable.

[B]

Right from a betting standpoint and otherwise, whenever you see that, that over under rush total the following year after the after 2k, always bet the under even if it makes you feel like a cynic when you're doing it.

[C]

So I'm not saying like, you know, I think like best player in football is so hard to every year. It's just so much context you got to take into account around every player. So like, you know, it's this year it was puka for a while. Right. And then Devonte starts getting some of the target shares and you know, and I think Jameer, there's an argument to be made that he is the best offensive non quarterback in the league or the most dangerous. You know, there were times where I thought Lane Johnson was the best non quarterback in the league on offense.

[B]

Sure seems like as you as you know, the Jenga theory, he sure seems like that Eagles offense Jenga piece. Take him away and they become very mortal immediately.

[C]

He's a big Jenga piece. I think when you look at the Eagles, you got two guys on the interior who are awesome players. But we're limping into the season like they were limping into the super bowl. And you know, like Jurgens and, and Dickerson, you know, so they've had some injuries, they've had, you know, the, the scheme change. Yeah. It just goes to show every year is different. And, and so that's the fun thing about the nf. It is such a team sport and even when you're talking about individual accolades, it's so hard to like you're talking about the mvp. Now. I think Stafford should be the front runner, but you know me, I think I'm John. I think Josh Allen's the best quarterback on the planet. And, and, and I think like, when you do the. Hey, is value just who's the best quarterback, who's got the best stats? Or is it like, put Matt Stafford on the Bills. How does that look? Put, put Josh Allen on the Rams. How does that look?

[B]

Right. I did the same thing earlier this week with Drake, May and Josh Allen. If you want to make a case for May as the mvp, given where that team sits and if they do hold on and win the east, there's a case there. But if you're talking about straight up value, swap those two guys and see which team winds up better. Obviously the Patriots would, would wind up on the right side of that.

[C]

And I think Drake's the other guy. To be fair to any Patriots fans who are listening. Like, I hear you scream into the screen. I think he played himself into the conversation this year. I mean, and I'm, I'm also not a guy that really cares about the MVP that much. I know I brought it up, but like, it's, it's a hot topic this time of year. Like, I don't know who won it five years ago. I don't know one. At three years ago, I don't know how many times Drew Brees won it. I don't know how many times. Lamar's one. I think he's won it twice. But I only know that because. Has he won it twice?

[B]

Well, the reason, but I'll tell you, the answer to that is largely owed to poor marketing. You have the NFL mvp. It's by far and away our most popular sport. But you know, probably who won the Heisman five years ago because it has a cool name. We need a good name for it and a cool statue for it. The Walter Payton trophy by itself is the coolest trophy going in pro football. It's the only one that measures up with the Heisman. What we need to figure out is Chris Long and I've made, done some work in this regard. We need to name the mvp, make it to Tom Brady. I don't care what it is.

[C]

That's interesting.

[B]

But if you gave it a cool, if you made a cool eternal trophy, casting that guy in an iconic pose, now it's something you would remember.

[C]

Well, I think it's interesting. I think the Heisman to me, and I'm no college football expert like it seemed to me like this year was a down year for the Heisman. Not take anything away from, from our Hoosier Buddy Mendoza, I thought, you know.

[B]

He, but dork, I love him.

[C]

Yeah. You know, like where the alternative is this, this guy Pavia, it's just like, hey, bro, enough, all right? You know, both of them in different ways. Like, enough, man. But, but yeah, like, I just look at the Heisman as like this, you know, they, they talk about it differently. Like, it's just hard to compare. Like the Heisman, you can have a Heisman moment. What's your Heisman moment? Like, we never talk about the mvp. Like, what's your MVP moment? It kind of feels like the MVP is like stats, team success and, and who the best quarterback is.

[B]

That's right. It all comes down, right? The people, when they do. The thing about Jonathan Taylor's the mvp. Come on. I mean, do you pay attention?

[C]

Obviously, it's fun for fodder.

[B]

That's, that's right. I refuse to engage in any MVP conversation until the midway point in the season. I forbid it here.

[C]

Also, America, does it matter if your MVP doesn't play well in the playoffs? I think the playoffs are such a different thing in the NFL than they are in college football. Like, college football playoffs are in their infancy, but like the college football playoffs, like, come on. Like, I know, like, who did I see yesterday? Like Joel Cloud or somebody. And I'm not taking shots, but like talking about, you know, how great the playoffs are in the, in college footballing. No, they're not. They're not. Like they never have been. They've barely ever been close. You know, like they lead the sports in double digit margin of victory in the playoffs. Like you couldn't buy a good first round game for eons. The NFL playoffs are the best thing in, in, in major professional sports. I think Stanley cup, if you're a hockey fan is incredible. Right? And it's a marathon. And I would argue it's just as hard or even harder to win than a Super Bowl. But I think from an entertainment value standpoint and just like an unpredictability standpoint, and that's why the NFL is king, like wild car weekend. Pull up a fucking chair, dude.

[B]

I agree. I go divisional round and I would get rid of the seventh team. It's, it's one too many and it's a little exhausting. It's just too much. You don't need. I mean, because the games are so close already that you don't need to throw another team in there to make it more the vibe, more of a coin flip. I think the merit of a seven team or, or 16 or ultimately it's going to be 18, obviously. I, I think the merit achieved over the course of those four months is enough. You don't need to jam another team in there to muck things up because what you want ultimately, at least in my opinion, as a man of merit, I la who believes in, in merit, I think that you should have, you should get buys for winning at least the top two spots. If you, if you throw them all into a jumble, it leads to a mess, in my opinion.

[C]

Well, here' question that we kind of, you know, one day I was looking for something to talk about and I was like, you know what? And of course this is, this has gone to now in the last couple weeks. But like there was a point this season where I thought Dallas was really dangerous and there was a point, and I still believe it, that Cincinnati, if you told them, hey, tomorrow, like, hey, you're in the playoffs, like, everybody be like, Cincinnati's in the playoffs. You know, like, should there be an at large bid in the NFL playoffs? And how would you, how would you, how would you. Because think about, like, think about this. Bill Belichick used to say this and I'm pretty sure he still says it.

[B]

Name drop.

[C]

No, but he used to say this. It just happens to be my coach and my co worker at Inside the NFL, so. But Dave, it's like not who you play, it's when you play them.

[B]

Sure.

[C]

And I think that's like. And if the hoodie agrees, then most people should probably agree. And I think we all know it to be true. We all know that at the end of the season, some people slide in and you're like, they're not that good anymore. Like they're not playing well in December. Not to say they shouldn't be in the playoffs, but how about the teams that because of an injury or circumstance in the beginning of the season were dog, but then down the stretch they're dangerous. Are we being too.

[B]

Well, that's why college football used to be better and now it's, now that's gone out the window too. But you know, when you lose a game, even if it's the first game of the season, if you get whipped like Notre Dame or like Alabama did by Florida State, like, that's it, you have no claim to being in a tournament for the best team because that game counted in the regular season. So I hear you and I love this Broader idea. My spin on what you just said is how cool would this be be. Especially when you only have a number one seed. But let you could do this before the wild card round as well. The two teams with buys get to choose who they play.

[C]

Oh yeah.

[B]

How about that? These are the teams on the board here. You're the number one seed. The wild card weekend has now finished. You're the number one seed. Go up to the board now, LA Rams and choose. Oh, that's who you get to play. Because that would be such a pisser because you would take the worst team, but now that team would have a chip on its shoulder of of all the six teams you could have played. You wanted us. Oh, now we're going to give it to you real good for that one. Right? How great would that be?

[C]

It'd be incredible. It would be incredible.

[B]

And the moment of Belichick and Chris Long or Brady or whoever going up to the podium. So that would finish wild card weekend. Like maybe you give him the night to meditate on it. And then on Tuesday morning or Monday morning, even better because we're getting rid of the seventh team already. But like at this, the morning of like we announced that we are going to play.

[C]

That's so good.

[B]

The San Francisco 49ers. Like what, you know, you did it.

[C]

That's so good. And it makes it harder in a way on the, on the number one team because yes, it feels like a little like, a little like, hey, we just called our shot. Oh. And it's the gravity and it's the gravity of like, like if you're the coach that becomes a decision, like an in game decision or you know, like a roster decision. Like this is a very meaningful decision. If you don't, if you pick a team and lose it, it's even worse because you picked it.

[B]

That's right. Right. You would have to own it. And a game that you probably see is the number one seed against the worst remaining team. Probably doesn't feel that juicy now. It has all the juice in the world.

[C]

That's really. Dave, that's good.

[B]

See, I told you Chris Long was good. Mike didn' but, but I thought he was great there. Here's good news for you. More Chris Long coming for you on the other side of the football weekend. More kibbutz in with him to come. In the meantime, Gina, what do you think? Wouldn't that be a great thing if you had the number one seed at the end of the wild card get to choose your opponent. Let's Say the Broncos are the number one seed in the afc. Who would they choose?

[D]

Well, first of all, that's like a made for TV event. Who's not tuning in for that right after the first round of the playoffs?

[B]

Exactly.

[D]

Okay, so I would. Of the teams that are available, I got to say, man, I'd kind of be rooting for the Steelers to get through that first round. 41 year old quarterback against the Denver pass rush. I mean not to throw any shame.

[B]

He wouldn't like that. He wouldn't like that.

[D]

Now wouldn't be very.

[B]

If Jacksonville, if Denver beats Jacksonville. It would be extra juicy if they took the Jags again because they would have a chip on their shoulder. And that brings us to the NFL games. Kip Countdown. That's what we call it. The countdown here. The most consequential games in week 16. Who's going to win it? Them and by how much. And it is those Jags playing those Broncos. Broncos laying just three, 46 and a half is the total on this one I've got a Jags victory recalling what was it, 1997 when they went in there, Mark Brunel and company went in there and picked off the number one seeded Denver Broncos with John Elway, one of the biggest upsets in postseason history. Jags win this one 24, 22. Mike Fuentes, how say you?

[E]

I don't love the Jags. Everybody knows I hate the Jags. But the problem is is that we're at a point Here where Denver's 1 is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 games in a row. They can't keep that going. They're not going to go into the playoffs winning. What, what is this 14 in a row? Whatever it is. So as much as I dislike the Jags, I think the Jags are kind of in a groove now. Trevor Lawrence is playing the best football that he's ever played. So I'm going to say at the Jags go up there and find a way to beat the Bo Knicks. Denver Broncos.

[B]

Whoa. That's again from a self proclaimed Jags hater. Trevor Lawrence, doubter boy. Now I. Now you're making me question it. The Jags with their, with their turquoise tongued cat. I don't know what goes on with that. I think America really isn't all that enthused. I think that's why people are not picking the Jags that much because. Because they don't want the reality of the Jags being a real factor come January other. Either way, like it or not they are going to be. If the Broncos win this one and the Texans win, though that division remains in play on the number three here. It's the Buccaneers, it's the Carolina Panthers. It's the other south, the NFC kind, the Carolina Panthers. How about this? Minus three total, 45 and a half. I think the Bucks get right here finally. I think they have kind of circled this two out of the last three games. They catch Carolina head to head. Whatever else has gone wrong in the last month or six weeks is erased. So long as they hold on and win the NFC South. They do 27 to 19. Geno Fuentes, how say you?

[D]

I think I'm going to agree with you, man, that that offense all got all its pieces back now. They got Bucky Irving going. We saw Mike Evans and how well he played in his first game back. And I think Tampa Bay's coach just ripped them a new one after the last game. So. So I've got to say they react to that. Baker's not going to sit around and take that. So he's going to. I think he's going to lead them to a victory. So I'm taking Tampa.

[B]

All right. At number two, a big game on both sides of the ledger. AFC and nfc, the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Detroit Lions. The Lions of course, lost Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn and desperately need this one. And I have a hunch the Steelers, no matter what goes on the rest of the way here, are entering a new similar era themselves. Why else would Adam Schefter tweet out the Pittsburgh Steelers are not going to fire Mike Tomlin, but they do have a significant decision to make early next year based on the option year in his contract. Sources tell espn here are the options. Here are the possibilities of those sources. The Worldwide leaders transcriber in chief, last seen running cover for his pal Sharon Moore, suddenly found God and is now pouring over the fine print in the contracts. I don't think anybody thinks that that or like I say, someone told him that. And who would do that other than someone in the Steelers organization or maybe the agent of a coach who wants the gig if Mike Tomlin does go add this to the intrigue, I highly doubt Ryan Clark, who is tied in close with a number of people in the Steelers organization, would say, I believe this marriage between the Steelers and Tomlin is in the stage where they're both discussing if it's the best thing for them as a couple. I don't think he would say that sitting on the field in acrisure on Monday night if he didn't have conversations that indicated that was the case. Either way, the Lions laying 7:51 and a half is your total. I think Detroit gets it in a game that they just pretty much got to have to stay alive. 33:24 Mike Fuentes, how say you?

[E]

The Lions started the year 4 and 1. Ever since then they've traded wins and losses all the way down. The last game they lost to the Rams in a high scoring affair in Los Angeles. Now they're going to be at home in perfect conditions against a Steelers team that we both know is mediocre at best. So I'm going to take the Lions in this one. But they don't cover because the Steelers find a way to muck games up.

[B]

I do want to say, I want to put this asterisk down and not sound like, you know, I'm fully glass half full quite yet. The Steelers have to win this one to impress Dave. So extra pressure on you, Coach T and Aaron Rodgers and everybody else. If the Steelers can go up there in a game like I say that the Lions are going to be desperate to to get if the Steelers somehow win that game. Now I'm a believer that they can do some stuff in January, but as it stands, we saw what happened last December. I know that they survived the Ravens. Some fluke to that one. The 2A game I think you throw out. You knew that they were going to flop when it was 10 degrees 2 it wasn't going to make it there. That brings me to number one. The Patriots and the Ravens. The AFC north remains in play. The Ravens are laying three 48 and a half is your total. I say that the Patriots, even after the gut punch a week ago, go up there and win 29, 27. Why? My primary reason. I just don't think the Ravens are all that good. I don't think they have a pass rush, they don't have a great secondary and something is off with Lamar. He I think is physically not right. That's my pick. Gino, how say you?

[D]

I think you're right, man. I think the Patriots have been really good this year. I think. I think it took some Josh Allen magic for them to actually lose that last game. Now if. If that score is. Is what you're saying it is then. And then it's a cover right for. For Baltimore or what's the line again? I maybe didn't hear you right the first time.

[B]

The ravens are laying three.

[D]

So you said 29, 27. So you.

[B]

I'm just saying patriots, straight up winner, man.

[D]

Straight up winner. I'm gonna say, patriots, straight up winner, too, But. But I think it's going to be a close one. I think it's going to be Baltimore covers.

[B]

All right, listen, enjoy it, Gino. Mike Fuentes soup up there in Seattle. Enjoy the College Football playoff. Enjoy week 16. We'll be back, like I say, on the other side, with some more noise from Chris Long. Until then, thanks so much, my fellow football Americans. It's been a thin slice of heaven, Sam.