← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd Podcast - Broncos SILENCE Doubters, Mahomes Tears ACL, Philip Rivers Returns, Bills STUN Pats
01:00:40
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What a matchup we got, y'. All. This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance, echo, drum beat, everybody. Showing that school pride game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there.
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C
Mmm.
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D
Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.
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This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules. For the second season in a row, I partnered with T Mobile's Friday night 5G lights powering up hometown football across America. This year, T mobile invested over $4 million in prizes to help schools take their Friday nights to the next level. Now it's time to crown our $1 million grand prize winner. A huge congrats to Derrick's High School in Derrick's, Arkansas, home of the outlaws and your 2020 5T mobile Friday night 5G lights champion. They scored a home field upgrade, Gronk Fitness weight room, a 2026 tailgate party and an all expense paid trip to the SEC championship game to every school that competed, posted and rallied your communities. Thank you. And a big thanks to T Mobile for making it all possible and and helping communities shine under the Friday night lights. This season may be over, but the story isn't. Stay tuned for season three in 2026. So you're telling me that the AI that's meant to make everyone's job easier to manage. Just adds more to manage. On top of the thousands of apps the IT department already manages. Funny how that works. Any business can add AI. IBM helps you scale and manage AI to change how you do business. Let's create Smile to Business IBM. The volume doesn't watching football without food just feel, you know, wrong? Have you ever tried it? It's weird. Like you're missing part of the experience. The game's still great, but I don't know, something's off. Luckily you can prevent this from ever happen with Uber Eats. Just open the app get great game day deals all season I got fries. Chicken McNuggets 2 orders barbecue sauce today when you buy one on Uber Eats right now, 10 piece Chicken McNuggets you get another 10 piece free. That's 20 crispy golden McNuggets for the price of 10 delivered straight to your door. And they were delivered straight to my door. And as the official on demand food delivery partner of the NFL, Uber Eats keeps the deals rolling all season long. Burgers, chips, dips, tacos, pizza. Whatever you crave. So don't make the mistake of watching without food. It's weird. Get some McDonald's McNuggets. Your favorite sauces on Uber Eats today. Terms apply. See the app for details. Picking your favorite sauce is like trying to pick your fantasy team. All right. John Middelkoff, former NFL Scout three and Out Podcast Wild day blowouts as well. I was reading some of the scores today. Jags 48 to 20 over the Jets 31 three bears win 24 nothing. Ravens 31 nothing. Eagles. But there's also some great matchups. Let's start with Denver 3426 over Green Bay. Not only a loss for Green Bay. Christian Watson he had been so important the get back. He's a great deep threat, big target, hurt looked ugly. Micah Parsons kind of a non contact injury looked ugly. You could say it right now if Micah and Christian Watson are out. They've been such a part over the last month of the by the packers offense. At least Christian Watson also we'll get to it. Bo Nix had a really good day and I've got thoughts on that. But you know we keep saying with the Bears prove it to us. But this was really a prove it to us game for Denver. I thought Beau Nix was really sharp. He and Cortland Sutton are a great tandem. Consistent pass rush. Bo Nick's clever, deceptive moving constantly. You know John, we've said this before. It's so important for a young Cordon quarterback to get the right coach. It feels like Bo Nix over the last couple weeks, I just, I'm watching him make play after play, rolling right. And I mean, clever stuff. Last second, finding the guy, his accuracy has gotten better. I was kind of blown away by, I mean, today I think Bo Nix, four touchdowns, no picks, four different receivers, 300 yards, 22 or 31. And this defense is one we've talked about in Green Bay for weeks.
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He probably had some games in Oregon that would match this statistically, but this had to be the best game I've ever seen him play. He was remarkable. I mean, the accuracy over the middle, down the sideline, on the run, the playmaking, it was 23 to 14. And it felt like Green Bay was kind of had a stranglehold on him. They got a pick, then both were a touchdown, then they got a couple injuries. And on that interception, what happened was Christian Watson got injured, then they score, then Micah Parsons gets injured chasing Bo Nix, who was excellent with his feet today. This was what we said early in the season, Sean, let him move around a little bit. Let. Let him move around or Bo just move around. And today, you know, obviously when Micah goes out, that has to be a huge blow. But that, that defense still from a speed standpoint, from a defensive back standpoint, is excellent. Yeah, I mean, I listen, I'm sure in high school he's a huge recruit, but that's as good of a game when you factor in the opponent the guy's ever had in his life. Don't you think?
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Yeah, and I think, I mean he generally rolls. Right. Sean Payton again, rolls him to his favorite side, whether it's ad libbed or design. But what I like about him, he's very deceptive. Like he won't John Hill roll right and you'll think he's going to run it and then he'll dump it off. He's got. Now, I'm not comping him to Patrick Mahomes, but he's got a little bit of that late cognitive ability at the very last second to go from running to throwing or throwing to running. Like he's really quick upstairs and that's like a skill. Mahomes was one of the first I ever saw, like, you know, just be able to change what he was doing very quickly and be accurate. So I think there's a lot of questions on Bo Nix and certainly the roster helps, but I thought it was a prove it moment and I thought Green Bay, Green Bay had 250 yards in the first half. They came out with a very solid game plan, but Denver, again, second half team. You know, second half's the coaching half, right? First half and the second half is also kind of the roster half, because how much depth do you have? I don't know. I. This was a game I thought Green Bay would win. Close. When it was over, I was like, yeah, Denver is the better team. And again, I'm not discounting the injuries, but I thought Denver answered the bell.
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I love Denver in this spot simply because that game last week for both teams, Chicago and Green Bay, was one of those where they probably didn't get out of the ice tub for a couple days. Clearly, Chicago was unfazed. I mean, they obliterated, you know, Cleveland, but this game on the road, you know, then Green Bay has to go on the road again. I thought it'd be a little bit of a look past spot, but they didn't. I mean, they came out fast. They were flying around. I do think that game really flipped, though, on that interception over the middle to Christian Watson. And then because they were in trouble, let's face it. I mean, Green Bay, they were unfazed by last week. They were fresh, they were flying around. They did not sack Bo Decks all game. Now, he made some plays with his legs to get away. He doesn't play sacked.
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No.
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Even the play Parsons was hurt on his mobility. I think the play you're referencing on the Patrick Mahomes scrambled to his right. He puts it right between two defenders, but he only had what probably a foot worth of. Worth of area to fit it through. There's no question on Denver's defense right there on the short list right there with Houston, elite defense is best in the league. In a league that doesn't have great defenses anymore, you know, the Rams are an excellent team. Their defense, secondary is a major question mark. Right?
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Yeah.
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Denver's defense is super bowl caliber. It just came down to is their quarterback good enough? We know their coaches, we know their coaching staff is. And if he plays like that. And now with New England losing, you go to Denver, I mean, how many times, you know, Belichick. Their rival early on was the Shanahan. Denver teams going to Denver and even they lost their late with with Peyton Manning, it's hard to go there and win. You know, the elevation, the crowd. It's kind of got a collegiate feel to it. So if they can get home field, obviously there will be a lot of pressure on Bo Nicks. But look at some of the quarterbacks. I mean, look at Some of the teams in the afc, a lot of question marks. I think you got to be pretty really excited. If you're a Denver Bronco fan, go. If we can get this thing going through Denver with our defense, we don't even need Bo to do that. I mean, that was, you know, I don't know, like young Elway, like before. You're throwing four touchdowns against an elite defense. You can't ask for that. But if you're. If he can just give you a couple and they can run the ball and play defense, you know, they can win the AFC for sure.
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Yeah. And he had all sorts of. He had an over the top, beautiful throw to Sutton. He had that one at the goal line. That was low. That was a perfect pass. Doesn't make the highlight reel. It was a great pass. Then he finds Franklin. He just did a lot of different things today. If you look at the dexterity of Bo Nix and his ability to throw it short red zone, deep timing move, coachability, durability. He takes no sacks. I feel terrible for Green Bay because I really felt you could make an argument they were the most complete team. But I mean, the Micah Parsons injury, even when he doesn't get sacks, Micah's really disruptive. He stands out on television. He's always have to double team him. Don't have an option. And I also, I think Christian Watson gives him a bona fide big body. You got to put a big corner on him. Watson's just a straight down the field burner. And by the way, I thought he was going to catch that ball that Patrick certain intercepted and then caught his arm and pulled it back. He has been injury prone a little bit, but if those two guys are out, it is not the same football team. I know that most players are not even worth a point, but Watson, I think the fear of getting beat deep with Watson is significant for their offense. He gives them a component, a deep threat that they don't have anybody of that size and speed deep down the field. So really bad day for Green Bay.
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I'm not trying to be hyperbolic, but that's a crippling day for Green Bay because look at the NFC. Seattle one, LA won, Chicago won, the Niners one. You could look up. I mean, all of a sudden you have these injuries. You come limping into the Chicago game. In Chicago, you lose that. I mean, you could be looking at the seventh seed. That's how quick it could. Could flip. Because what was Seattle in the. The Rams, one of them's going to have 10 the other one's going to have 11 by the end of the next week. Right. Because they play each other.
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Yeah.
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The. For the 49ers get Philip Rivers. So all of a sudden you look like you might only get to 10 wins. Their next two games are the Bears. The Ravens definitely look like they had a little more life today. They could lose the next couple games. And then when you factor in Parsons, you know, it's knock on wood. But if he's out for the season, like you're just no longer the same devastating defense.
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All right, let's talk Philip Rivers. Seahawks and Darnold come back to win 18 to 16. Actually a wildly entertaining fourth quarter was 13 to 6, Colts at half. Philip Rivers outplayed Donald for a lot of it. Philip finished 18:27, only 120 yards, one TD, one pick. Darnold, 22 with 36, 270 yards, got a W, no interceptions. Seattle gets that Myers field goal to win it. I had said this Friday on the Herd, I said, listen, would it be because I bet the under on this. I said, Seattle is not going to show you anything. Seattle's going to come in. They look, looking ahead to the Rams, huge favorites. They want to play a fast, clean game, run, win, get, get out of that thing injury free. Well, they just didn't have any idea the Colts were going to start dominating the clock and moving the change. I think it was much. It was a 13, 14 point spread. But I said, this is going to be an ugly, quick game. It actually was a very entertaining fourth quarter. But Philip Rivers, I said this Friday, I said, guys, did you see Kirk Cousins on Thursday? Like old guys that don't move from the pocket, that know the offense can move the chains, they just complete the ball. They don't throw for a lot of yards, they pick up first downs, they keep your offense off the field.
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I'm.
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I'm not shocked. I'm shocked that it was a close game. I thought Seattle would win by a couple touchdowns. I am not shocked that Philip Rivers wasn't awful. I mean, you watch the old quarterbacks. I mean, we've got pocket quarterbacks in the last couple of years winning a lot of games and having. Remember the Kirk Cousins Thursday game a couple years last year you're like, it was like an MVP game. Were you shocked? Forget the score. Were you shocked that he was this efficient?
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Why? I think when the story breaks and everyone goes, this is the craziest thing we've ever seen. And by the end of the week, his high school Players are getting quoted saying, we run their offense, we watch their film. Him and Shane Steichen are like, you know, like what Adam Gase and Peyton Manning. Sometimes you meet a guy in football as an older quarterback that you mesh with that's a younger coach, and they become lifelong. Brady's like that with Josh McDaniels. They talk all the time and so like the understanding of the offense. Okay. But then they see pictures of him before the game. He looks like he weighs 275 pounds. You know, he definitely looks like. So I would have said, when you factor in Seattle's defense at home. Mike McDonald, I hear you looking ahead, but even if they kind of went through the motions, I would have expected him to be sacked four or five times. He's only sacked one time now. A couple of those, he kind of went down on his own and got rid of the ball. But I think part of it was, this is their team was dead, right? It wasn't leaking oil. It was dead. So instead of signing some Desmond Ritter or whoever, some random quarterback is out there, this does give a little life. The one thing you notice in the first half, because this was a game, you know, if they would have started, some random quarterback, they probably lose by 20 and no one's even paying attention. I thought it gave the defense life. I mean, they were flying around Darnold, the numbers don't look bad, but the first half, he was atrocious relative to the way he was, not good. But their defense was trying so hard because I think they kind of believed. And I. And I bet when Ballard and Shane Siken met and they decided to do this, part of it was to show the locker room. It's almost like sometimes you make a trade at the traded line in baseball or basketball to just show your guys you believe. And that was kind of this. Even though I think some of these older players like this crazy, I think it's less. They're out of options. This was their only Hail Mary. And listen, he never had a powerful arm in his prime. He's never been able to move when he was 30. So he still honestly kind of looks like he did five years ago.
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No, he didn't quite.
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He looked exactly like he looked the last couple of years with the Chargers and that last year with the Colts. I thought.
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Yeah, I thought. I didn't think he quite had the velocity on the ball. I thought his sideline throws kind of died a little bit. It was, you know, again. But I didn't think Seattle played a really aggressive defense. Because John, their take was, wouldn't you think this make Philip Rivers Drive 80 yards and score on our defense. So Seattle didn't have a hyper aggressive game plan. They gave the receivers a Pittman or a Pierce. They gave them room to, they're like Philip, go ahead. Complete seven passes on this drive. And I thought, I thought the just I figured it was going to be an ugly, low scoring game. Think about what Seattle's thinking, Sam. We're going to keep this simple. The only way they beat us if we turn it over. So Darnold had a very vanilla game plan and I thought defensively they were not going to let Philip get a, get a freebie over the top. They gave him plenty of cushion. I bet you next week Philip Rivers may not play as well next week as this week because now people have some film. That was kind of my takeaway that Seattle will get beat up for this. And they didn't play very well.
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They got a little lucky Colin. I mean if Shane would have been a little more aggressive. He kicked the 60 yard field goal. I thought listen, with this new kickoff rule, they get the ball at minimum at the 30 but it's pretty easy to get to the 40. All of a sudden you're a completion away. Myers doesn't miss many kicks. They had 40 seconds on the clock. They got an explosive offense when they do try. So I thought listen, they got nothing to lose. I understood you felt good about your kicker making a 60 yarder but that's a lot of time in this new modern day NFL. I thought you could have gone for it. Now I know what he's saying. We don't get it, the game's over but you give them a chance. You know I would say now when you give a team the ball back with 30 plus seconds that's a lot of room because you're starting, you know before, right. You just kick it out of bounds, you start at the 20. It's hard to get to the 50 now give or take. It feels like everyone's starting minimum the 35. If you get to the 40 you're one 15 yard completion away from this new these kickers now have the ball. So they are all kicking 60 yard field goals. I mean the cultural that a kickery looks tiny drilled that thing And I thought Indy, given that you were already there, no one expected you to win. I thought and I get it, Rivers been here for three days. I thought they could have been a little more aggressive because let's face it, their season's on the line. I mean, like you said, they're not going to. This was their best chance. Catch you sleeping. You don't really know what to expect. He's dinking and dunking you to death. They're probably going to lose out.
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Yeah, it ended up being a really, really. I mean, there were some ugly games today. I mean, the Baltimore Cincy game. I mean, Jamar Chase came up after that game and said, I'm going to have to start for the first time ever, like, Joe was flat, a linebacker for the Ravens. Said first series of the game, Cincinnati wasn't prepared to play. I mean, there were. You got some performances today where you're like, teams are done. Like teams are done. So I think we got some.
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We got some bad teams. Right? I mean, the Jets Raiders titan showed a little life against the Niners, but I mean, there are some Arizona, the Jets are the jets and the Raiders. I think you combine those two rosters and those two coaching staffs, I don't think they'd win five games. I mean, they are. The Raiders are really, really bad.
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- [22:13]
D
What a matchup we got y'. All. This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The Bear is rocking and the crowd lit Chance echo drum beat everybody showing that school pride. Game like this, yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.
- [22:59]
B
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More at applecard.com PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite processors are made to go the distance with blazing fast performance, next level efficiency and multi day battery life. Snapdragon processors are built to tackle it all from highlight reel editing to intense player research so you can be at the top of your game wherever the day takes you. Learn more@snapdragon.com laptops Snapdragon the heart of your PC. Battery life varies significantly based on device settings, usage and other factors. All right. LA Chargers 16 Kansas City 13 Mahomes ugly season, ugly injury. He'll have to have an MRI before we get into Kansas City. I mean this is between they beat the Chiefs and they beat the Eagles. They are using backup offensive tackles at one point on a third string running back. They lost to Bosa right? Quarterback's been hit more than any other quarterback. This is a yet they have 10 plus wins. They'll finish with more Wins what the Chargers are doing. Kansas City is now 6 and 8. The Chargers have a decimated offensive line. They're 10 and 4 in a division with Sean Payton, Andy Reid. It's a remarkable job of coaching. Derwin James had the pick to seal it. But, you know, Kansas City got knocked out of the playoffs, obviously. I mean, Patrick Mahomes mri, you cross your fingers on that. But as I, as I watched him walk off the field and Gardner Minshew come in, the fact the line today was Chiefs favored by four and a half. I think everybody, we just couldn't believe what we were watching here because Brady made the playoffs every year. He was upright in New England. Kansas City was not a good team. They couldn't get people off the field. Chris Jones isn't the same player. They struggle to have long, successful drives. I think it's one of those things. This has not been a great football team, I mean, like a decisive football team all season long. And I think Broncos, Chargers finishing 12 in this division feels right. I just feel like I have more players and better situational football. The Chiefs were known as a great red zone situational team. They've been a bad situational team all year.
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C
Well, the other thing is, and clearly he was banged up before, even before he hurt his knee is. Mahomes hasn't quite been the same this season. He hasn't been. Herbert's a better player. Herbert was a better player today.
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A
No question.
- [26:12]
C
I mean, you watch Josh Allen play today. He's in a different universe than Patrick Mahomes right now. So part of their superpower early on in the run was they had the best player in the league in Patrick Mahomes. Well, he hasn't really been that really, you would say, over the last three years, during the season, now in the playoffs. He's flipped in today. I mean, he just kind of looks like a, you know, better than a marginal player, but he's just right. He's not good enough to take an average team above. And like you said, defensively, they're not as good. And listen, I mean, they lost some crazy games earlier that they won last year, and they found themselves behind the eight ball and clearly they're just, you know, you're not going to score many points when it's. I don't know what the, what was it, 7 degrees, 10 degrees? Daniel Jeremiah saying the field felt like concrete. You knew that was going to be a game in the teens. Jim Harbaugh's been dreaming about playing games in the teens since he was A teenager, like, that's like, here's the other thing. Jim Harbaugh is an elite coach. Like, we've known that for two decades now. Like, he's, he's big time. And one thing he always does, whether it's Fangio, whether it's, you know, the guys throughout his time in Michigan to whether it's now Minter, who came with him from Michigan, their defense is always really good. You know, I mean, so, so defensively they just ugly the game. And Herbert, I think he's really kind of earned the Harbaugh stamp of like that, the toughness these last couple weeks, like, holy shit. I mean, geez Louise. The other thing is too, like, they draft this guy in the first round, that they've been lucky that this late round pick, Videl, has been good. But they need Hampton to be solid. He had some big runs today and they need him. I think it's going to be hard, depending on the matchup, for them to win a playoff game just because they are. I mean, even Keenan Allen, they didn't play great. They had some drops, they had some plays that went against them. But yeah, I mean, I just think this is a classic Jim Harbaugh. You give a random coach in the NFL, this roster, what do they win? Six games. You know, I mean, they've been missing their tackles, their quarterbacks getting crushed. I will say these last games have been remarkable.
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They're, they're. Trey Harris, lad. McConkey. Trey Harris. I went to dinner with their GM, the Chargers GM, last week, and he said, Jim loves Trey Harris. He's really emerging as a player. I don't think he's dropped a ball in practice all year. So McConkey Harris, Quinton Johnson, their tight ends are okay. They're, they're kind of, you know what I mean? They're kind of, you know, it's, it's, they're kind of making it work offensively, but they have a way to win. And it's Dicker, the kicker. Play good defense, Herbert. Run to pick up first downs. I will say, I believe I wrote this down. 14 of Mahomes, 16 completions, seven to Kelsey, who's probably retiring, and seven to Rasheed Rice, who I don't trust to stay healthy or, you know, I just don't trust him yet. I think he is talented, but I think it's more of a rebuild than a retool. And my take is everybody keeps saying, well, there's Reed and Mahomes, this division, now Denver, and the Chargers. If the Chargers Bring their offensive tackles back. Those are elite teams.
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C
So.
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And I look at the Denver's roster right now, I think it's much deeper. Look at the wide receiving. Even guys like Franklin who get forgotten had a touchdown catch today, I think they got to retool their offensive line. Carloftis is probably a bit overpaid. He's a big cap hit next year. Chris Jones isn't the same player. I mean, the good news for them, they're going to draft in the middle of the rounds now, which they haven't done for seven or eight years. They need to hit on three or four draft picks.
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C
Well, I think for the first time in a long time, they're not going to be drafting 32. They're better off now losing out and drafting 12th. Because it's not just 12th or 13th, it's then you draft 40th and they have not had that luxury because they've been in the super bowl every year. So I listen. Travis Kelsey's probably going to retire, right? He retires. I think I was looking at Chris Jones doing podcast stuff this week. You're probably trading him this off season because you're not going to extend him again. His cap hit is massive. He would still have value, you know, for the teams that have some cap space, I would imagine. Look at Joe Tuney when they traded him to the Bears. Andy Reid said, he's like one of my favorite players I've ever coached. It's the crappy part of the business when you got some guys making a lot of money. We couldn't keep them financially. So you got Simmons, who's on injured reserve because he's injured. You hit on some draft picks, you know, you try to finagle the cap. Get some guys to try to come with Mahomes. We'll see the Mahomes injury and try to retool it. But you might be two years away from being back to really good then, you know, next year. This is. Denver's got a little window right now this year and next year because they got this cheap quarterback and they've hit on a bunch of defensive players. I mean, who. Funga is as good as any player that that Kansas City has on their day and he's just a free agent that they added to one of the best defenses.
- [30:57]
A
It's been confirmed torn ACL for Patrick Mahomes, so that's possibly out next year. I mean, I always say with young athletes, they always recover faster than you think. And you're talking about the Hunt family. Doesn't go cheap. It'll be the best doctors in the world. You think he's out next year, or does he come back somewhere? Trade deadline eight, game eight, game nine, game ten.
- [31:26]
C
Well, when you say young athletes, I mean, he's been around a little. You know, he's not 24. I mean, he's 30. A lot of wear and tear on those legs. You just. To me, I think we kind of got jaded by Adrian Peterson when he came back in like two months. And you see guys randomly come back in eight, nine months. This guy's kind of the key to the franchise, right? I think you, I think you treat this a little different than you do most players. Does this impact, you know, you know, Kelsey, who most of us assume is going to retire, does this kind of lock that in? You just never, you know, Coach Reed's getting up there in age, late 60s. What, at this point in time, what does he have to prove? I, you know, I think just brings in a lot of question marks with a lot of different things. Obviously he was. He's been banged up, and that's a devastating injury. I mean, it really is. Especially late, you know, December 14th, on the day you get knocked out of the playoffs. I would assume, you know, based on this injury that we've come a long way that he'd be ready to go, you know, early on in the season. But aren't you a little more careful with this individual than you would be with 99% of other players in the league?
- [32:33]
A
And you've had so much equity built into the franchise and the fan base. Right? Like, I think you, you, you play it cautious, you know, you don't rush this stuff back. You've built in, built up so much credibility with your fans. I mean, nobody's. It's like almost, you know, when Jordan left and came back, you know, it's just like. It's like he never left. Did baseball for a couple of years. Nobody was giving their season tickets up. Right. Like, it's just, I think, I think Kansas City. Andy's always been a good early season September coach, if he comes back, week seven, eight. I'm not going to speculate too much. They'll be fine. They just have to hit on some draft picks. And I think it was just sort of the lost year. You hear about economy sometimes. The lost decade. A lost year. It just felt like everybody was tired, everybody was fatigued. They lacked a little energy, consistency. They started the season without Rasheed Rice. You know, Worthy gets banged up, left Simmons, Josh Simmons, left tackle Couldn't get it right. Not available. Joe Tuney had to move off him, goes to the Bears. This just didn't feel right from the.
- [33:36]
C
Very beginning, you know, listen, I know Andy and Veech and I know they don't think like this, but if he's not able to play till let's say late in the season, what if you could kind of do next year as a reset year? You know, you end up drafting 13, 14 this year and he's not ready and maybe he gets the red shirt almost next year and you kind of bottom out, get to retool the roster. So you're almost looking ahead to 20, 27. Maybe you get like the 6 pick now, he's probably too good of a coach to be that crappy, even if they had a Gardner Mitch. But maybe you're just drafting 10th again, back to back years of good drafts and kind of get to siphon out some of these older high price guys. You get him back fully healthy in 27 again, he would fall out of his chair if he doesn't, you know, they don't think like that. But like you saw this year, they were like a car out of gas and you could feel it when you watch it. And now this injury, I mean you have to imagine the wear and tear on Patrick Mahomes, how, how much have they depended on him to scramble around the hits he's taken the last couple years. And if you probably add up all their playoff games, borderline extra season over the last five years. So yeah, I mean, I think it's also just a devastating. As long as it's not, you know, him and Parsons like there are a lot of. Devonte got hurt. We had a lot of star power today go down and maybe it's just the wear and tear of the season. These guys don't practice quite the same as they used to. So you're just playing these games at warp speed. People have never been faster. But you looked up at one time today over a course about 30 minutes. I mean there are some big time names, some big time salaries. Walk into the blue Tanner locker room.
- [35:11]
A
And now for our next segment, whiskey business. Yes, whiskey business. Brought to you by Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the Colin coward podcast. Buffalo 35, New England 21. Patriots up 21 nothing and 24 seven. Completely dominate the first half. Now this is an interesting one because I stay. I was going to bet this game. I like New England. They just dominate the first half. This is the fourth time Josh Allen is 4 0. I'm not sure if any other quarterback's ever done in this, the history of the league. When he has to score 30 points to win, he's 4 0. He had a sensational second half. But the two things, my two takeaways on this game is, I've been saying this all year. Vrabel, Josh McDaniel, when you have an elite coach and then a top two or three coordinator either side of the ball, that is, that's a handful. Like right now, Shanahan, Robert Sala, you have an elite coach and a top two or three coordinator. You have Josh McDaniels a coordinator. He's probably the best offensive coordinator, one of the top two in the league. And then Vrabel is. They were great on script, great, great game plan. But in the end, you can't stop Josh Allen. But Buffalo, like Kansas City, Greg Coselp said on my show this week, it's hard to watch their defense and go, oh, bunch of exceptional players. It's just okay. They have James Cook, Josh Allen, Kincaid. I mean, this is, I think, how they have to win. They have to win shootouts, which, considering Sean McDermott's supposed to be the defensive guru, they're just not very good defensively.
- [36:42]
C
Yeah, I mean, I talked to a buddy in the league this week, and he's advanced them, and he said one issue they have is they're not very big, so you can really lean on them. And I mean, New England was rushing all over him. I think one mistake New England made in this game is the last couple drives they had a three and out and obviously the four and out, the turnover on downs. They only ran the ball one of those seven plays, and they hit multiple big plays on the run, obviously with Henderson. And they kind of tried to have Drake may turn into Josh Allen, and it kind of bit him. And I thought that they could have leaned on Buffalo a little bit, that you had timeouts, you had time, and they got a little pass happy those last couple drives. And listen, I don't know if it's trying to match Josh or, you know, just thinking that Drake's had a great season, he can make plays and their offense just sputtered at the wrong time. But it doesn't it feel like I'm like you. I don't care that much about awards, you know, MVP coach of the year. It's pretty clear who the best guys are, whether they get the award or not. It does feel a little bit like Michael Jordan in the NBA. It's like you give the MVP to someone else. If you want this year. But Josh Allen's the best player in the league, you know. Oh yeah. You know, it's like I see all these, the odds and maybe they'll end up changing these last couple weeks. Like Jordan Love was near the top. And listen, Jordan loves solid, but he's not Josh Allen, not even close. Right. And this year it feels like especially down the stretch, I mean it's 21 nothing on the road. I don't know about you, but you just. Even if Josh is remarkable, it's like, how are they going to win that game? This defense is getting shredded. And then they, they had a stretch where they, they had five straight drives, five straight touchdowns. I mean they're down 21 to three. All of a sudden they have, you know, a commanding lead. So it was these last month for Josh Allen is like one of the defining moments of his career. He's just, he's. The franchise was teetering on like they might miss the playoffs. And he said not so fast guys, I'll take care of it. And listen, Cook, Kincaid, Knox. Knox made some big plays. Shakir had some big plays. Their receivers and the, the rapport they have with Josh in these freezing cold games. It's not like they're playing. You watch golf and Stafford today, I mean what's it inside SoFi Stadium? 72 degrees is perfect.
- [38:54]
A
Right.
- [38:54]
C
You know, you're hot. These games. He's playing down the stretch of the season in inclement weather. He looks, I don't remember, like Peak elway in the mid-80s. But it has to look something like this, doesn't it? And he's even a better runner.
- [39:08]
A
And I think New England, the second half kind of confirmed it. Travion Henderson had a huge game, but I did think the second half confirmed. And this is something I think we both said multiple times. They're still kind of John in a, in a small rebuild. It's a good roster. They don't have a number one receiver. They had. They're banged up on their offensive line. They have missing two starters. I think they need, I don't. I think athletically on defense, Christian Gonzalez is great, but they could probably use another edge rusher. Like I think New England's four to five draft picks and a free agent signing away from being like a Denver.
- [39:41]
C
Yeah.
- [39:42]
A
Or a Rams. So. And I think in the second half you're like, there's not a lot of juice. There was a couple of great catches today by Booty like, but there's not a lot of juice in that receiving core. And you solve that in the off season, you go out and draft somebody high. But I think, listen, New England has overachieved by any metric. But I thought when I watched the second half, I'm like MVP of the league. A team that still needs about four to five players to be a. To be like a number one seed and feel like Denver, where you may have six, seven, eight Pro Bowlers. I don't think New England has five.
- [40:17]
C
Well, I agree. I mean, today was their opportunity to win the division. I mean, this was. And to be up 21, nothing. To be up 21 3, to be at home, the place going nuts. You get two runs. Even the second run, right? He had taken. Retaken the lead the Bills did, and they'd come storming back. And then. And then Henderson just makes a play that he probably would make in high school. I mean, that was remarkable. I mean, the play was stuffed. Him run around, he'd go. I mean, he said he's been huge for them the second half of the season. I think they said today that he had ties the rookie record for four rushes, four rushing touchdowns for over 50 yards. Ties like Saquon Barkley in his rookie season. So I. That's a. That's a loss. If you're New England, that I don't want to say like ruined your season because like you said, I mean, how they have been. It's not just last year, they were bad. The last couple years of Belichick, they've been bad for a while. But this was an opportunity to kind of end this run for Buffalo. Now they still got the jets and we'll see how the Dolphins look tomorrow to end the season. But next week at the Ravens, Buffalo's got a ton of momentum now. I think this is one that you lose some sleep and, you know, variable tough guy running offense. I think to get so pass happy down the stretch when you were rushing with ease on these guys, I think that's something. Even if you run like a quarterback, power to Drake maybe is something because like you said, they don't have Randy Moss and Gronk and Edelman out there. That's not real. They're dependent on Diggs and, you know, Hunter Henry to make some big catches. So when you put it on a young quarterback and let's face. He's a human being, he's got to get a little tight as the game. All of a sudden we're killing him.
- [41:50]
A
And now we're down. Well, he's looking at Josh Allen, the MVP of league on the other side, that is.
- [41:55]
C
And this is. You start seeing the way this, like Chargers, obviously, very flawed. The Jags are actually playing really well right now. Same with the Texans. You know, Denver, they still got, you know, Bo Nix, a young quarterback. It's, it's still pretty open. No one's going to be shocked at any given outcome in a playoff game. And Buffalo's got to go. Well, we're going to have the best player in every one of these games that we play come January. Now, do we have the best roster? No, but this guy has proven that, you know, that that's where their defense isn't good enough. Like that Thursday night game when Houston just sacked him like 50 times like that. That's. New England's not going to have the capability to do that. And you just, if you can't do that to him, he can just take over. I don't know. I mean, I've been alive 40 years. I just don't remember many people with the, with the combination. Like we've seen Cam Newton the physical runner or, you know, got Brady and Rogers the unreal passers. He can do them both. He's just an unstoppable force when he gets, when he gets rolling.
- [42:51]
A
No, you get the best of Elway's arm, you get the best of Cam Newton size, but he's better with both. He's just, he's the best quarterback talent I've ever seen in my life. When you want to enjoy life's simpler pleasures, reach for Green River Whiskey. Whether it's rye whiskey or single barrel bourbon, you're getting over a century of craftsmanship packed into every bottle. Hop on over to greenriverwhiskey.com and discover a legend in a bottle today. All right. Chicago Hammers, Cleveland 313 again. This is several weeks in a row now where Caleb Williams, very balanced offense. Running pass. Caleb, couple of touchdowns to DJ Moore. One looked like an optical illusion. I still don't know how he got it. Caleb, 112 passer rating 17 of, what is it? 28. Two touchdowns. He doesn't throw a lot of picks. He had one last week against Green Bay. Shador, a little bit overwhelmed. I mean, listen, it was a. It was not, you know, one of the balls that was intercepted by Jalen Johnson was actually a great throw and Jerry Judy had it pulled out of his hands. It was another optical illusion.
- [44:03]
C
You couldn't even tell like what just happened. The announcer didn't even understand.
- [44:08]
A
So I think, I guess my takeaway on the Bears Is from game planning to second half adjustments to the weapons. John, they look and feel like a playoff team. There's three things that are very important to be a playoff team to me. One, they're a physical team. Their physicality on offense, running the game, that matters in the postseason. Finesse teams. There's never been like a sunshine dynasty in the NFL, even a dome dynasty. You've got to be a physical team. Second thing, they're explosive. You know what they can, you know Seattle, the Rams, they can, they can get themselves back into a game. Detroit's got that. They can get themselves back into a game very quickly with their big time playmakers. Buffalo can't necessarily. It's all Josh Allen. They don't have a downfield threat, but they've got, you know, DJ Moore and Caleb Williams. They're all so balanced. They're not dependent on anything. The other thing is they're a cold weather team. They're not going to be a warm weather team going north and feeling like out of their element. They're playing in cold weather, they're comfortable, they run, they're physical, they're balanced. You know, this was one of the many blowouts today, but I think officially going to Philly and win blowout here. Green Bay final series. This is the playoff looking team to me.
- [45:23]
C
Well, it's a division winning looking team to me. I mean, I'll take the L. Caleb, the last month has been fantastic. That, that throw, he mad the optical illusion throw that you still couldn't tell where it hit DJ Moore, I mean that, that, that was, that was Josh Allen, John Elway in his prime, I mean Roland to his right, the absolute cannon across the field. I mean that was pretty elite stuff. What's crazy about him, right, is like now I get it, new offense. Ben's pretty intense. You would have thought that as it got colder, if he was being pretty inaccurate, it could get a lot worse. I mean, how many degrees was in Chicago today? Single digits? It was, it was not warm 4.
- [45:59]
A
Degrees when I woke up.
- [46:00]
C
Yeah, he looks in, in complete command to come off that. I mean that, that was a really good loss. But sometimes a loss, you're playing a crappy team. You're playing the packers next. The packers now with these injuries, Detroit loses today. I mean Chicago wins this game this week in, I think it's a Saturday night game or Saturday, all of a sudden they have a two, they have two more wins than Green Bay. I mean Detroit is in trouble and Minnesota's dead. So after that, Green Bay Game you went okay. Green Bay is probably going to win this division. Chicago is going to be a wild card. That's a phenomenal season. I think you could look up at Chicago could be a 12 win division champion. That to me would be my bet right now that Chicago at least wins two of the. You know, I think I like them a lot more. Assuming these injuries are bad against Green Bay they just lost two of their best players. I mean their best player in Micah Parsons and Christian Watson who completely changed their offense because the balance of his speed with Josh Jacobs Chicago, the mental fortitude. Today you're playing a brown seam, which is a complete joke. I wouldn't even held it against them if I looked up. And it was 10, 10 in the third quarter and they won like 20 to 10. It's the NFL, you know, you kind of sleepwalk after that game. I give Green Bay and Chicago a lot of credit. Both those teams off that game last week came today flying to start the game and obviously Chicago was playing an opponent that had no chance to get back their defense. The other thing is a couple of those passes, you know, the one was not Shadors fault. He did also Matt some bad picks. So he and their defense creates turnovers. I mean, every game I think they lead the league.
- [47:33]
A
Yeah, they. I mean again, if you look, if you check the boxes of what wins in the playoffs, it's usually win the turnover battle. They do these days. Offensive head coach who's clever, dynamic, you know, if you're trailing late, can run the ball physical, comfortable in cold weather. I mean, there's again, this is, this is what playoff teams do. And you know, the other thing is. Is Ben Johnson the best hire since Sean McVay in LA? I mean, Sean McVay turned around a complete S show in one year. Jared Goff looked like a bust and then it was. All of a sudden, you know, his career not only blossomed, but exploded. I'm watching the weekly improvement of Caleb Williams. This defense isn't as good. I mean, they give up yards per play. It's not as good as the results. They shouldn't. I mean, the jets have a defensive coach. They have no takeaways.
- [48:32]
C
Oh, they're terrible.
- [48:34]
A
They're terrible. You know, Aaron Glenn's a genius defensively. They don't take the ball away. The Bears have buyers, obviously Jalen Johnson, but their pass rush is hit and miss. They take the ball away from everybody. I don't know. I think Ben Johnson is on a short list. In the last five to 10 years of best hires.
- [48:54]
C
Yeah. To me, when you factor in the hype, you know, McVay did. A lot of people thought it was crazy to hire a guy at 31 years old. I did. He's my same age. I'm like, this is. He's going to be an NFL coach, you know. So to me, he didn't come in hyped up. Shanahan had a lot of hype, but their team was bad for a couple years. You don't usually get the combination of all the hype. The coordinator and then come in and they immediately. Again, Colin, they win this weekend, which I. Who knows what the line's going to be as we find out more about some of these injuries. It would not. I probably going to pick them to win. They're going to win the division. So you came into the year with a division with the Lions, who have been one of the best teams in the league last couple of years. Kevin o', Connell, who's viewed as one of the best coaches in the league. Green Bay trades for Parsons right before the season and the Bears win the division especially. It was kind of weird to start the season right. It was like, oh, something's a little off. I mean, what do they. I guess they lost last week, but they had won nine in a row. So what do they want? 10 out of the last 11? I mean, they just. They are. They feel more complete the way they play. Like then I would say the Patriots like both these two teams, right? Great hires. The good coaching staffs elevate these two teams. I don't want to say the Patriots are smoking mirrors because I think they're good. But you watch the Bears play, it's like this really translates the way they play come playoff time. And that game against Green Bay last week in Lambeau. I think it's like one of the best losses of the season for any team. So same. And to parlay this into Cleveland because it's. These players are human. Like coaches are pretty dialed in. No matter. But they're looking at the Browns like this is. We're playing these guys. And to come in and just do what they did to him. That was. I think they'll be Green Bay and win the division. I never would have imagined saying that. I mean, a week ago and now it feels. It would be shocking if we think Parsons and Watson are out. I think Green Bay could just fall off a cliff just because what that does to you psychologically. How do you keep your head up and keep fighting?
- [50:56]
A
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B
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- [53:05]
D
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- [53:51]
B
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- [54:17]
A
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- [54:55]
C
And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go.
- [54:57]
A
To help someone customize and save on.
- [54:59]
C
Car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means playing in a football game. Boom. 42. You're going down, Doug. Oh yeah, your price on car insurance when you customize and save is going down. Hey Limu, what are you doing on their team?
- [55:16]
A
Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty Liberty, Liberty Liberty. Rams 41, Lions 34. Really entertaining game in the second half, especially the fourth quarter. Rams pulled away. Now Devonte Adams has a hamstring injury. He's battled that for a month. He'll, he'll be around for the playoffs. They'll probably sit him for the next three weeks and just get that right. With the win, they're going to, they're going to win the division.
- [55:49]
C
I think you know the Lions big game this week. They play Seattle Thursday.
- [55:54]
A
Yeah, I'll say this about the Lions. God, I feel like they can't get the defense right. John it's been like six years. I mean, no, they lost Brian Branch so the back end's not good. But I'M sitting there watching Puka today. He is, he is one of the best 5th round picks. George Kittle's the other. I think Max Crosby was fourth, not fifth. I could be wrong. Brock Purdy in the seventh round is pretty damn good. I mean the Rams are. Here's what you worry about if you're the Rams. Amaron St. Brown had nine catches in the first half. Like if you have an elite receiver, the Rams can't stop you. And that's their real issue because their pass rush, they have good personnel up front but their pass rush isn't as dominating. I think it's not quite as dominating as it should be for the personnel. Again, it's a really young team but Amaranth St. Brown, The Lions had 200 yards in the first half. Amaranth St. Brown had 126 yards. That's what worries me. I mean the good news is, and remember the Rams play in a comfortable environment. So if they have home field jsn, what's he going to do against the Rams in the playoffs?
- [57:12]
C
Yeah, I agree. I mean looking at it, the Rams secondary isn't very good. Now Puka, like, he's like George kittle in number 12. He's breaking tackles, catching balls in contested areas. But you look at St. Brown and Jameson Williams Today, they had 20 catches, 200 yards, three touchdowns. Now that's a pretty good one, two combination, right? How many teams that you're going to play in the playoffs? You know the Eagles, they had, they played the Raiders today. I mean they got two good receivers. The Lions will not be there now that Watson's out the packers, that's not really the way the Bears play. Like they're not going to have throw for 350 yards. So they might get lucky. But their secondary is an issue.
- [57:51]
A
You and okay, yeah.
- [57:54]
C
When Devonte is on the field, I mean their offense is dominant. Right. Because they can run the ball. They have two elite wide receivers. But you removed the one Stafford pass. Rayden Hutchinson basically took it to the house and then they score. Right? You remove that. I mean the, the Rams, I mean once they got going in the second half, the Lions defense is even worse. I mean they're terrible.
- [58:15]
A
The Rams offense, Blake Corum popped about three weeks ago. So now you have Kyron Williams, Blake Corum, they've got three tight ends I like. By the way, Terrence Ferguson's now starting to get open. The young kid, Colby Parkinson came from Seattle and Pete Carroll, he's been productive. Devonte will come back off the Hammy Pukinakua. They have the best guard tandem arguably in the league. Stafford McVeigh. I got to tell you, if they get and on a fast track and they've proven they can go play in Philadelphia but on a fast track they're going to score in the 30s. I just think they are. If you give them 10, 11, they don't have a weakness offensively. Their tackle haven't Stein at right tackle. He'll be done after the year. They're a little weak there but when I watch the Rams offense, from intellect to diversity to speed to, they can literally do anything. They'll play four, they'll play three tight ends. All can catch, all can move.
- [59:17]
C
Well, if they win this week, they'll swept Seattle and they play the Cardinals at the end of the season. They'll go five and one in the division. They finish with the Falcons and the Cardinals so they easily could, you know, win out. The one thing going against them is they don't really have a home field advantage from a crowd standpoint. Now they are built to play inside. I do think when it comes to just to the Rams, I mean one thing that they held that they hung their hat on last year down the stretch was the defensive line and like you said, it's just not quite been as good and you need that area to dominate in the playoffs because I don't think you can just. They're like a better version right now of the Lions and that doesn't translate always in the NFL like college. Why is Indiana really good? It's not just Fernando. Their defense is dominant right in college. To win in Division 1 football and to win in the NFL, you don't need Denver, Houston. But I don't think what the Rams have going, they can win the Super Bowl. The way they're playing defense right now, I don't think because they can't cover people. I mean, and that's a problem because even if the games aren't as high scoring, you're going to be in a tie game. Fourth quarter, it's third and seven. Do you have faith the Rams are getting off the field? You don't.
- [60:30]
A
And it's funny because they have Young, they have Jared Verse, they have Kobe Turner. Is it Puna Ford?
- [60:38]
C
Yeah, he's a run stuffer, but I mean he's run tougher. They like him.
- [60:44]
A
I mean they've got, they've got personnel up front, but again, it's a. Landman's a stud. It's a Landman's not young. Everybody Else is like in their second or third year. It's like a really young group. So my takeaway is last year that defense got really, really good by about 13, 14, 15. They're young, they don't get penalized. They're a little bit like the Bears. Like they win the turnover battle, they don't get penalized really good after half. You know, I just watched them today and I just thought, God, they're, they're so clever. They like at some point, Ben Johnson and Sean McVeigh and Kyle Shanahan, they're just smarter than other coaches. When you watch their offense like today. Let's, let's segue to this. Niners 37, Tennessee 24. Brock Purdy had an excellent day. Jennings, Kittle, McCaffrey, Pierce. Like I think their old line's okay, but I looked at the rating a few weeks ago and it was like much higher rated than I would have thought. And outside of Trent Williams, do I love their offensive line? I just when I'm watching some of these offensive coaches, John, it does not feel like a fair fight. I mean Sean Payton today, some of their situational play calling in Denver. I mean, four touchdowns, four different receivers. They don't have great receivers. I've always been a Cortland Sutton fan. I mean, take it away on the Niners, but I was kind of blown away. I thought Brock Purdy today, it was the first time I've watched him this year. John, even the Arizona went on the road. I thought he looked like he was 100% healthy with this movement.
- [62:18]
C
Well, their offensive personnel is really good now. Pierce hall got injured toward the end of the game, but I think Kittle looks as good as he's ever looked. He's a dominant force. McCaffrey isn't quite as explosive as maybe his heyday a couple years ago, but he is just looks like a 1988, you know, just bell cow running back. You just hand him the ball. Purdy running around. They are going to be a team no one's going to want to play in a one game, obviously a playoff situation right now. Do I think if they are a wild card team if Seattle loses this weekend and the Niners beat the Colts, the Niners would be the five seeds. And I don't know about you, but I like the Niners against Tampa or Carolina in that four or five and then they're just a team that their defense, they were playing with a lot of me and use out there. You know, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Mikel Williams. So when they played us, you know, a staff, a good offense. Like, they play the Bears in a couple of weeks, that's going to be really hard on their defense. Now, can they get into a situation. The one thing Kyle can do is he can just ugly up the game, run the ball, control the clock like that. That's where the top coaches. That's what Ben Johnson's doing this year. Like, we. It's on our terms. Like, that's how they've won so many playoff games over the years. Like, they dictate the terms and they ugly up the game. But listen, this thing is, they're not dead yet. I mean, if the Rams lose this week in Seattle, the Niners still got the Colts, the Bears, and then they play Seattle at the end of the year, who they've already beat. So. And they get them at home. It's. This is. If the niners end up 12 and 5 with all these injuries and just win a playoff game. I know he's made the Super Bowl a couple of times, but Google some of the names they're rolling out on defense. I mean, it's. It's pretty remarkable because you see these teams, you know, just completely fall apart when they have injuries. They. I don't know, off the top of my head, I think Mac Jones won, like four or five games this year for not. Not like one. Not like Tanner McKee or not Tanner McKee, but Davis, Mills and Houston, he won two, and that saved their season. But that's two wins. You know, Mac Jones went like four or five and started for like eight. You know, that's usually a team. Look at the Bengals. Burrows out. The whole thing just fell apart during the middle of the season. And the 49ers just kind of kept on ripping. And that's the power of Kyle, and he's him. And getting Salah back, who I think they could lose immediately. I mean, I think.
- [64:30]
A
Oh, yeah.
- [64:30]
C
You know, I read a story that, you know, the Raiders desperately try to hire him as the defensive coordinator this year. And I would imagine Pete's done like I. But the Raiders would be all over. Some of the Cardinals will be all. I mean, he's just a. He's going to. I'd be a little stunned if Saul was not a one and done these back. Once you start looking at the landscape, all these jobs coming open. The other thing is, like, Sol is the type guy. Let's say the Steelers are wanted. You know, they trade Tom into the Giants. Doesn't he just feel like he'd fit right Into Pittsburgh. You know, I, I think Salah, the Titans, he's going to interview with every job in the league. You look at the jets, the more and more they play each week, it's like, well, that probably wasn't his fault, you know. So I, I think the moment you leave the jets, everyone's like, yeah, maybe Aaron and Salah weren't as bad. Maybe it's the Jets. So yet what Sol is doing this year, I, I've been saying I didn't think he'd get a job, but you start looking at the landscape like who's he really interviewing against?
- [65:27]
A
Yeah, the, Yeah, I think the Raiders blow it up. It's a mess of a franchise. I will tell you when I, when I look around and I'll do it right now, I'll pop up, pop up your NFL standings right now. As we look at it, I mean I look at every team, I mean it's funny. I think the Chargers can win a playoff game. I think Denver can win several. I think the Jaguars. And I think that I'll say this again, listen, if I had to guess right now, I'd probably go Denver and the Houston Texans in the AFC championship. That I think Houston's defense, you know what Stroud today and I know people are hit and miss on him. God, he makes, when he gets protection. Jesus, does he throw a pretty ball.
- [66:23]
C
He's played well the last like month. He's, he's been really good. Their defense has been elite. I think the Chargers and the Niners are kind of similar operations. There's a lot of coaching, a lot of mental toughness, a lot of championship mindset.
- [66:35]
A
Maybe can win a playoff game.
- [66:37]
C
One, it's going to be hard for them to win three. If they were both healthy, they could win the both conferences. Right.
- [66:43]
A
I think I would take the Rams. Jesus. John.
- [66:50]
C
Seattle looked a little off today. I mean that didn't scare me. I mean I would say that the Niners play Seattle. I don't think there's a difference right now.
- [66:58]
A
So I think Rams got me Bears.
- [67:03]
C
It's crazy as to say, I'll say this now. The Raiders, it's. The Eagles had been one of the worst looking teams for a month and they played the Raiders. Their schedule does open up now to get some commanders. They get some Raiders, they could get a little mojo back coming into the playoffs. They still have, I mean it's a lot of A.J. brown, Devonte Smith. They got Vic Fangio, an excellent defense. They do have a lot of talent and they have a Lot of guys that have won a lot of games. You assume Jalen Carter, you know, comes back sometime this season. I, they, they are not a team that, like, I don't look at the, the Eagles like I do Tampa or Carolina. Like they are a real playoff opponent. They're going to win the division, meaning they're going to be playing in Philly. You know, that 3, 6 matchup probably be like Philly, Seattle or San Francisco. And that will be. That's got like Saturday night NBC written all over it, doesn't it? Wild card weekend.
- [67:57]
A
Oh, it'll be just absolutely incredible. All right. Our Hard Rock bet Monday Night Football picks Miami Dolphins getting three in the cold weather at Pittsburgh. There's been a real. I think I would take Miami plus the points. I think they played with a ton of urgency. I saw some video of them playing around. They landed in Pittsburgh snowstorm. They went out and played on the field and practiced. I have been really impressed with Mike McDaniel's game plans. Tua's still not playing great football, but there's an element of physicality to their play over the last month that's been noticeable, at least watching on television. Pittsburgh's all over the map. I always like Tomlin as an underdog more than a favorite. I think it's really, really close. I'd probably take the three points in Miami. What say you?
- [68:47]
C
Have you ever heard of dry needling before, T.J. watt? Because I can't imagine doing that. That sounds like it did. But in all seriousness, glad he's okay. But that's a devastating loss for them. So he's not playing in this game. I listen, Miami, we all wrote them off in that franchise and blow that thing up. This guy, all of a sudden, you could look up Monday night and he's seven and seven. That is a remarkable accomplishment. I'm with you. They've been running the ball. They've actually been playing decent defense.
- [69:17]
A
They're physical.
- [69:18]
C
Yeah. I mean, what's, what's the difference between them right now and Pittsburgh? So I'm with you. I'm going to listen. They haven't been relying on Tua. He's been throwing for 120 yards a game and they've been winning. So I'm with you. I'm gonna, I'm gonna ride with the fighting Mike McDaniels.
- [69:36]
A
John. Middle cough. Chopped it up for an hour. Former NFL scout, as always, John, Great stuff.
- [69:43]
C
See you, Colin.
- [69:46]
A
The volume.
- [69:50]
C
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D
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C
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D
What a matchup we got, y'.
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C
All.
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D
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- [71:37]
C
Mmm.
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D
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C
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A
Not diamonds.
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C
Her lawyers.
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A
From executive producer Ryan Murphy comes a fiery new legal drama.
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B
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A
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