Jay Mack (4:14)

Oh, wait, you said we got. A lot of people got sick of these teams. I don't remember. Oh, the Yankees, they're back again. Like that team was beloved nationally. No, Derek Jeter was like a wholesome leader of the. Of the franchise.

Colin Cowherd (4:27)

George Steinbrenner was loved nationally.

Jay Mack (4:28)

Wait a minute. George Steinbrenner was not on the field.

Colin Cowherd (4:30)

They were lying. People get all upset in New York about what the Dodgers are doing financially. That's what the Yankees did. They were. They were called the evil empire.

Jay Mack (4:40)

I think that's more a Steinbrenner thing. I don't think they were like, hated. Like, again, I mean, people.

Colin Cowherd (4:44)

I think people liked Jeter.

Jay Mack (4:47)

So did people love the San Antonio Spurs?

Colin Cowherd (4:49)

No, they were bored out of their minds.

Jay Mack (4:50)

Okay, understandable. Lakers, I don't think they were hated. Because Kobe and Shaq were utterly dominant in their prime.

Colin Cowherd (4:55)

Well, they were kind of cocky.

Jay Mack (4:57)

Yeah. So are any of these dynasties likable, do you think, or are all of them?

Colin Cowherd (5:03)

I like dynasties.

Jay Mack (5:05)

I do, too.

Colin Cowherd (5:06)

I like them. I think they feel special. But most of these are resented by people. And now the Kansas City chiefs are. Greg Cosell, 45 years, NFL Films here we go. So, you know, next week we're going to talk about some Kansas City stuff and some Philadelphia stuff. So I'll get to that here in a couple minutes. But I do want to start with this. I don't think it's crazy to say from what my eyes told me that Jaden Daniel, the NFC over the last 11 years has had 10 different teams in the Super bowl and 10 different quarterbacks. The AFC, it's becoming pretty, you know, it's, it's Brady, it's Mahomes. And I said the NFC needs a Mahomes. The NFC needs their Mahomes. And watching this kid, Greg, I know it feels hyperbolic here. I know he struggled against Philadelphia. What did the film say? But boy, he feels special. He feels different for his age, you know.

Greg Cosell (6:05)

Colin, first of all, I love Jane Daniels. I loved him coming out, but I think we always have to be careful. Think back one year ago, when everybody just assumed that C.J. stroud this year would be a top five quarterback in the league based on his rookie season.

Colin Cowherd (6:21)

Right.

Greg Cosell (6:21)

And sometimes it doesn't work that way. Now, obviously, Stroud and Daniels are totally different players, and I love Jaden Daniels. I mean, I love the way he plays. I love the way he plays from the pocket. I just love his feel for the game because he's not a runner per se, even though he can run and run very, very well. I think he throws the ball really, really well. There's clearly a savvy to his game. I wouldn't expect him to, to regress in any meaningful way. But I think that teams, certainly in the NFC east and certainly when the schedule comes out, we'll really study him in, in great detail and look to see better ways in their mind to defend him. And then we'll see as, as time progresses, because that's what coaches do. But there's no question that he has a feel to him in the way in which he plays the game. Just a savvy, a natural savvy about him that, you know, not many have at that young an age.

Colin Cowherd (7:16)

So I want to. One overriding question on Philadelphia, and I've said this, and I don't Feel. I don't feel this about any other team. There are moments watching the Eagles offense that I think to myself, why do they ever punt o line weapons, Saquon Goddard. Yeah, they get. But there are also times this year, Greg, they get out of rhythm and I tend to look at Sirianni and go, how can this happen? Is a lot of their success simply based on Jalen Hurts ball security?

Greg Cosell (7:51)

Well, I think that's a huge factor and cannot be overstated. The fact that Jalen Hurts never turns the ball over is so critical in the context, Colin, of their entire team. Because keep in mind, putting aside the long drive that the commanders had to start the game is teams don't go a long distance with a lot of plays against the Eagles defense. That's the way Vic Fangio has always played defense. It's very difficult to sustain long drives. So now if you're the Eagles offense, if indeed you do have to punt or even if you give the ball up on downs, and by the way, they are a four down offense, which is also a big deal and a very important part of who they are offensively. But if they do have to punt, then what happens is the opposing offense has 75, 80, 85, 90 yards to go for a touchdown. And that's a big deal. That's really hard to do. So very often, I know some fans in Philadelphia get upset when they see Jalen Hurts run out of the pocket to his right and throw the ball away. Yeah, maybe he misses some throws, maybe there are times he holds the ball too long. But the bottom line is he does not turn the ball over. And in the context of their entire team, that is a really, really big deal.

Colin Cowherd (9:03)

All right, let's talk Buffalo, Kansas City. Let's just get to the film. I thought Josh Allen looked very nervous on his first drive. I didn't think he was in great rhythm throughout. But that's, you know, you're playing a great defense. I don't know if Spags allows you to get into a great rhythm. What did the film say on Josh Allen's afternoon?

Greg Cosell (9:23)

Well, it's funny you mentioned that he looked like Brett Favre on the first series, but, you know, remember how Brett Favre used to come out in the first series? There'd be all those rocket balls and. And then he'd settle in. Yeah, I thought that Josh Allen did settle into the game. You know, games like that. First of all, it is a very difficult defense to play against. There's no question. And the thing about Spagnola is he's very situational in what he does. People probably think he blitzes at a really, really high percentage because they're so successful with their blitzes. But he doesn't necessarily blitz at a really high percentage. He's just so good as to when he blitzes and how he goes about doing it. And he obviously does it in really critical, high leverage game situations. They came out the Bills in the third quarter and they ran the ball. They had a really nice drive running the ball predominantly by the way, out of 11 personnel versus the Chiefs nickel defense where they had Shamari Conner as their nickel corner. Only one of the runs came at a six zero line. But you know, the Bills did score 29 points and they never really had a short field. So I thought their offense ultimately if you score 29 points in the AFC championship game on the road, you probably feel pretty good about your chances for winning these games. As you know come down very often to individual plays. It was that way for the Chiefs. I mean the Chiefs made the Chiefs have settled into offensively Collins very interesting given this season. Who knows what's going to happen in the Super Bowl. But the Chiefs have settled this season into being a third down offense and a red zone offense. They don't get big plays in the past game. I mean I was amazed in doing research over the last number of weeks. Do you know Xavier Worthy only had, I'm talking regular season now. He only had four catches of 20 or more yards in the entire regular season. Think about that for a minute. They don't get big plays in the passing game. That's not who they are. They convert on third down. They're phenomenal with their schematics and their tactics on third down and you've got the Mahomes factor with his legs and then they get in the red zone and they're really, really good.

Colin Cowherd (11:34)

Yeah, Annie Reed told me yesterday, he said there's no question that Patrick is a better quarterback today than three to four years ago. How do you see that on film?

Greg Cosell (11:45)

I think that he's a credibly aware player. You know, obviously the talent level is high and when he had Tyreek Hill there were a lot more big plays down the field and it looked great, but I think just the way he controls the game. See, keep in mind that even though they were not a big playoff fence in terms of explosive 20 plus yard plays, he had the second most drop backs in the entire league this year. So they are a pass first team. So the ball is in his hands. He controls the game. At a really high level mentally. And I think that that can often be overlooked because we're so used to the physical plays that he makes. But I think mentally he really controls the game. And we've talked about this through the years. His feel for spatial awareness is just ridiculous. The way he just understands intuitively and innately where people are on the field. And he's another quarterback. I mean, I know they had the one fumble against the Bills in the championship game, but he hasn't thrown an interception in what, eight or nine or 10 weeks. Another, you know, he doesn't turn it over either. He just has a tremendous feel for the game and what's required in given situations.

Colin Cowherd (12:59)

So let's go to your big play. I want to watch the breakdown here.

Greg Cosell (13:04)

Yeah, well, this play ultimately was a great example of their red zone, what they do in the red zone. It was not third down, but it was a red zone play and it was the touchdown to Worthy. So if we could take a look at it, we'll see because these are the kinds of things that I love when I watch tape. Just the way teams are so schematic in what they do. And I think that's what I love about football, the schematics of it. So here they're at the 10 yard line and Mahomes is in the gun and they go into an empty set, meaning that there's nobody in the backfield with Mahomes. Now on this particular play, what the Bills chose to do was they chose to play a single high safety in the middle and they played man coverage. So this is cover one. So it's a single high safety and man to man across the board. So now what we want to focus on here is to the trip side on Smith, Schuster and Worthy. And they're basically in a stack formation, tight to the offensive formation. And as we said, it's man to man. And they actually have Hamlin, a safety who's matched unworthy because they're a nickel defense. So they have Hamlin on Worthy. So what they end up doing here is they run a natural pick concept. This is not illegal. Smith Schuster releases vertically and he basically is going to pick Hamlin and now Worthy's going to break outside. So Hamlin has traffic to work through. He has to decide, do I go over the top of this, Do I try to get underneath it, what do I do? There's a pick right in front of me and you can see that. And what ends up happening is he waits. And so what happens? He waits and then he's late. And now there's another element to this as you can see because he's trying to get, he ends up going underneath it but he's late. And then you have Hopkins who's clearing out here. He's not really part of the play, he's just clearing out. And that creates a lot of space. So it creates space for Worthy. They run the natural pick and it becomes a pitch and catch touchdown. This is just beautiful, beautiful design in the red zone where they're so, so good. And you know, by the way, they scored in the red zone. I think four out of five times, I think they ended the game in the red zone but that didn't count. Yeah, the first touchdown of the game, Colin, which was Kareem Hunt and the last touchdown of the game which was Patrick Mahomes, which was his run were the exact same play. The exact same play. They just gave it to Hunt on the first one and on the second one Mahomes kept it. So they're really good on third down and in the red zone and with Mahomes feel for the game, they're a really good offense in kind of a non traditional way because they don't really get explosive plays in the pass game.

Colin Cowherd (15:42)

As we're showing it here. Nice guy job by the guys in our control room showing those as you talk about it is the exact same ball.

Greg Cosell (15:49)

It's the exact same, same formation, same action in the backfield, same pulling tackle and guard and Hunt carries on one, Mahomes keeps the other. So they're just, you know, they're really good situational football in breaking down defense on both sides of the ball.

Colin Cowherd (16:06)

By the way, great stuff. Greg Cosell, NFL Films we'll see you and talk to you next week Greg. Thank you.

Greg Cosell (16:12)

Thanks Colin. Appreciate it.

Colin Cowherd (16:13)

Tom Brady Bottom of the hour. If you've been thinking of home security, check out SimpliSafe. 50% off if you sign up for a new professional monitoring and there is no Safe like SimpliSafe. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. I'm somebody that likes to experiment with food. My son, my daughter, the same thing. But even when I go to get a traditional meal like steaks, the best chefs know that grass fed grain finish beef delivers an exquisite marbling that produces rich steakhouse flavor you crave even with steaks. Keep your eye on it. With all the football this weekend, it was a Great time to bust open my Omaha Steaks assortment. Pack air Chilled boneless chicken breasts, ribeye and steak burgers Gourmet jumbo franks. They're great Butcher's cut top sirloins, Steakhouse fries and for dessert, caramel apple tartlets. Football plus Omaha Steaks it doesn't get better than this. Every bite at Omaha Steaks is backed by their 100% guarantee. And now's the perfect time to shop during the Omaha Steaks Big Yum event@omaha steaks.com plus get an extra 20 bucks off. Use the promo code Herd H E R D at checkout. Winter is a perfect time to indulge in classic comfort foods, but it's also a great time to discover something new. And during the Omaha Steak Big Yum event, you can do that. They offer unrivaled quality and variety, and every bite is backed by their 100% guarantee. Every steak is extra aged to maximize tenderness and hand cut by master butchers In America's heartland, the fan favorite Filet mignon has earned the coveted distinction of USDA certified tender. Five generations of uncompromising quality dating back to 1917 bring home the world's best steak experience with omaha steaks. Visit omaha steaks.com save in your favorites and discover something new during their Big Yum event. And for an extra $20 off, use the promo code herdherd at checkout. That's omahasteaks.com an extra $20 off with a promo code herdherd at checkout. With Amex Gold, you can experience the gold standard. You get access to exceptional dining +4 times Membership Rewards points on eligible dining purchases. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Cap applies. Learn more@americanexpress.com withamx you can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile, keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.

Bobby Bones (19:32)

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times best sellers and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with The star. So where else are you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit everything. Because we got lots to say. I. I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like, it's all colored. They changed it and the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm gonna be honest, it was a little pink.

Colin Cowherd (20:15)

There was something sentimental when you, like when you send it, it was like, do I send the heart now?

Bobby Bones (20:22)

I don't like the color of this.

Colin Cowherd (20:23)

It's extremely pink.

Bobby Bones (20:24)

Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Colin Cowherd (20:31)

Tom Brady, bottom of the hour. First though, J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, turn on the news.

Peter Schrager (20:38)

This is the Herdline news.

Jay Mack (20:41)

Some interesting stuff happening with the Rams. Colin, remember we just talked yesterday about less needle? We don't know Cooper Cup's coming back. We don't know about Matt Stafford. Well, interestingly enough, Matt Stafford, he really wants to play again. According to Ian Rapaport, Stafford has made a decision and he plans to play in 2025. Rap Sheet adds that the Rams have no immediate plan to replace Stafford. What is going on behind the scenes here? It almost sounds like not everybody's on the same page.

Colin Cowherd (21:07)

Well, my sources tell me they love Stafford and Stafford loves them. If it was a really strong quarterback class and they had maybe a second round pick, which they don't, they may draft the future quarterback, but it's not a strong quarterback class and they don't have a second round pick and they're not going to draft a quarterback with a first pick. So my take is, from what I'm kind of being led to believe, they love Stafford. They would love to have him for a couple more years. Next year they'll draft a quarterback.

Jay Mack (21:39)

Not this year.

Colin Cowherd (21:40)

I mean, again, Jackson Dart, who's working availability again. So they kind of know there's nobody in this draft that they think is in the same stratosphere of Stafford. So what they're going to do is try to add depth. Draft picks. The Rams would love to have a lot of picks and go draft depth this year because they know they're going to have to give up so many picks to get in to the top 12 next year. For the best quarterbacks. So it's sort of like let's go all in. Let's give Stafford. Let's, let's, let's get more picks, load the roster up next year. We may have to trade most of our picks to get the quarterback but they're all in on Stafford. They want him back. Of course they love, you know, listen, these good well run teams renegotiate contracts to free up cap space. I think there's three or four needs in the draft. I think they Cooper cup is one I think they'd move off of. I think they would have moved off him this year.

Jay Mack (22:34)

Who is like Stafford's best friend on the team.

Colin Cowherd (22:36)

I know.

Jay Mack (22:36)

Or one of the best. Stafford has a 49 and a half million dollar cap hit next season and they can save 27 million by trading him post June 1st.

Colin Cowherd (22:46)

For who?

Jay Mack (22:47)

Well that's where it gets interesting. We know the McVay tree has historically loved Kirk Cousins. I, I, I'm not sure how that happened. Stafford of course went to University of Georgia. Penix is there. Could the Raiders get involved to get a quarterback here? Kirk Cousins or Stafford in some way, shape or form? I don't know. Feels a little like musical chairs at quarterback.

Colin Cowherd (23:09)

I think that's, that's actually a great call. If you're the Raiders and you're looking up at Mahomes, Herbert Peyton and Bo Nicks and nothing in this draft that's close to that. And Kirk Cousins is so, I mean if Pete Carroll now is at 72, 73, he wants to win. Stafford's got two great years left and the Raiders also have both their tackles, a dominant weapon and their center for the future. It's not a bad old line. It's not like Stafford would go and be running for his life. The Raiders is a fascinating call and.

Jay Mack (23:38)

The, and the Rams would then go after Kirk cousins who isn't 90% of Stafford, you know, coming off the injury. But play action McVeigh offense. Maybe you can make the playoffs with Kirk Cousins.

Colin Cowherd (23:51)

Remember if you make a deal for the Raiders and could get a second round pick, then you go get one of those quarterbacks I like in the second round.

Jay Mack (23:58)

You know we have a Raiders executive coming up shortly. Maybe you could ask him about my, my hot take there. Just kidding. Next story is the Bengals. I'm just telling you the Bengals are ripe for implosion. Sorry to a producer on the show who loves them. Obviously Jamar Chase is getting an extension. And then what happens with T. Higgins since he's director of player personnel says extending Chase is a priority and he's very important. Regarding Higgins, although they want him back, they want him back at the right number for his experience. That is not what I want to hear. If I'm a Bengals fan, Higgins is gonna. He can name his price on the open market. He can. Anybody would be glad to have a superstar receiver. And don't forget. How about this? Trey Hendrickson asked for a trade last season. By far, their best defensive player, led the league in sacks. Asked if they want him. Duke Tobin said, we can't have guys at the top of the payroll in every position. Right.

Colin Cowherd (24:50)

Well, actually, Philadelphia does. So figure it out. I mean, seriously, Philadelphia does. The Niners did three years ago. Figure it out.

Jay Mack (24:59)

Imagine getting to the super bowl, getting super close to winning it, and then just three years later, appearing kind of sort of clueless as to how the hell to build a roster and stack chips in Cincinnati. Colin, this is bad. Yeah, I. I don't. I don't think this is good at all. A final story is, apparently they told me you want to talk about this? And that would be Riley Leonard.

Colin Cowherd (25:18)

Riley Leonard, very good.

Jay Mack (25:19)

Yesterday, he lost in the Natty. Vomited after one drive.

Colin Cowherd (25:23)

Look at this.

Jay Mack (25:23)

Oh, look really sharp. Throwing against air down there, snapping those throws off.

Greg Cosell (25:29)

According to.

Jay Mack (25:30)

Speaking of reporters, Riley Leonard, your guy. Oh, that's a. That's a dime. Riley Leonard says my best is yet to come. I have more confidence now than I've ever had in my career.

Colin Cowherd (25:40)

Honestly. It's like one of those highlight YouTube video, a man against kids.

Jay Mack (25:44)

It almost looks like Joe Burrow dropping back in the pocket. Just dropping down.

Colin Cowherd (25:47)

You go ahead and laugh. I'm not.

Jay Mack (25:48)

I'm not.

Colin Cowherd (25:49)

My track record in finding the old Jemaruski in the draft. Okay. He's such a good kid. I see a lot.

Jay Mack (25:59)

Listen, I like Riley Leonard, obviously. You know, he's a nice player.

Colin Cowherd (26:01)

Sounds like it.

Jay Mack (26:02)

I just. I'm not as bullish on him as you, I think.

Colin Cowherd (26:05)

I think he has development. He needs the right coach. But look at this thing. How do you throw a frozen rope in the heat? There's an example.

Jay Mack (26:12)

I don't even know what you just said. Frozen rope in the heat. Oh, dear.

Colin Cowherd (26:18)

All right. J. Mac with the news.

Peter Schrager (26:22)

Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the Herd line.

Colin Cowherd (26:26)

Peter Schrager next hour. Tom Brady is around the corner. Live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We, we talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, That's Covino and Rich with AMEX Platinum. Welcome to the Centurion Lounge. You get access to the Centurion Lounge, so the sounds of vacation start before you get there. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn more@american express.com With Amex, you can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile, keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Cart has no cash access and expires in six months.

Bobby Bones (28:29)

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit everything. Because we got lots to say. I I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like, it's all colored. They changed it and the, the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm going to be honest, it was a little pink.

Colin Cowherd (29:12)

There was something sentimental when you, like when, when you send it, you like, do I send the heart now?

Bobby Bones (29:19)

I don't like the color edition.

Colin Cowherd (29:20)

It's extremely pink.

Bobby Bones (29:21)

Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Katie Couric (29:28)

Hey, everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch and I'm exhausted, but turns out the end is near. Right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next Question. This podcast is for people like me who need a little perspective and insight. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like an oxymoron. But we'll do that thanks to some of my friends like Samantha bee, Roy Wood Jr. And Charlemagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Power to the podcast for the people. So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on, this season of Next Question is for you. Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jay Mack (30:34)

Super bowl party with performances by Jean Baptiste and the Tubi red carpet with Olivia Culpo. The Super Bowl 59 pregame show live at 1pm Eastern on Fox and streaming on Tubi.

Colin Cowherd (30:47)

Gronk and Jean Batiste on the same show. I never thought I'd see that in my life. I'll be honest with you. Let's go to Tom Brady, 23 seasons, 7 time Super bowl champion. So you're one of the only. I mean, literally, you're one of the only people on the planet who knows what it's like to be the face of a franchise going to another Super Bowl. The pressure's on. To me, the pressure's on Kansas City. It's always on the favorite. How did you zone out for two weeks now you have your install day pretty quick. Did you hide? Did you. I mean, everybody's talking. You can't go outside.

Greg Cosell (31:22)

Did you.

Colin Cowherd (31:23)

Did you like that? Or are you like, could we just play this Sunday? Did you like the extra time?

Peter Schrager (31:29)

I like the extra time a lot because it gave me extra time to do all the prep that I needed to do. And I loved kind of the. The studying. I love the. The minutiae of the game plan. One of my best kind of memories from the Super Bowl 2014, we're playing the Legion of Boom. And it's Friday night before the Super Bowl. We've, of course, had, like, 11 or 12 days to prepare. And I come back from dinner, and it's probably like 9:00, and I wasn't feeling great about the red area package we had. And I went in and Josh McDaniels is in the staff room. And I said, hey, we got to go through the red area. I said, it's just too hard down there. They play too much zone. And if I look to the left, Earl moves to the left. I look to the right, Earl moves to the right. I was like, we need a few easy plays where I could just stick the ball in there on a play action pass, get everyone, linebackers to step up and let me just rip something to the back of the end zone. So we installed three plays on Friday night. After two weeks of preparation, all the practice is done, and one of the touchdowns is to JoJo Lafel, the first one of the game, and the second one is to Danny Amendola later in that game. And we hadn't practiced them at all for 11 days. And it was just. I like to use every minute of prep going up into those games because they're the hardest ones to win. And it's so great to get here. And both the Eagles and the Chiefs have had incredible seasons to get to this point, but it all goes for nothing if you don't win this game. And that's what makes the drama so.

Greg Cosell (33:02)

Spectacular, the two or three.

Colin Cowherd (33:04)

I mean, I've got so many memories of you in Super Bowls, but I do remember this. You guys were like a big heavyweight champ. You would feel out the first round, the first quarters, and maybe this was Belichick or you, but in the first quarters, you weren't terribly dynamic. You really did let the game come to you. Was that. I always wondered, was that by design? Was this you saying, let's. Let's not unveil much here? Or was it just nerves? Or was it like, that was Belichick's ideology? But you didn't. Historically, you didn't have robust first quarters.

Peter Schrager (33:37)

Yeah, they, it was not intentional. Let me say that we weren't trying to go out there and suck in the first quarter, but most of the time we did. There's, there's, there's definitely a little nerves. There's, you know, I think both teams are feeling each other out and we never really got behind too much. Atlanta, one that was kind of got away with the, got away from us there in the first half. But I think for the most part we were just, we didn't execute the plan exactly the way we wanted. And you're going up against a team that's got a lot of good players and they got a lot of juice and energies a lot in the stadium. It does take a little bit of time to settle into that game. It's, it's an interesting game to play in. It's, it's unique because, you know, most all games you start at 1:00 on a Sunday. On regular season it's done at four. This is a six o'clock start Eastern time. It finishes at 10pm It's a four hour game, you know, 33% longer than normal. I often thought of the super bowl as too games. There's a first half game and a second half game.

Colin Cowherd (34:40)

Yeah.

Peter Schrager (34:41)

And it was really important for us as players not to go out there in pre game warm up and lose all your energy because it was so built up from these couple weeks of prep that you had and you waste all your energy in pre game warm up knowing that you still had, you know, a four hour game ahead of you. And I think that's why a lot of the defenses really die in the second half. It's just such a long day.

Colin Cowherd (35:02)

Sure.

Peter Schrager (35:03)

There's so much emotional energy that gets kind of put out and then it's really. Who can survive the fourth quarter of the game?

Colin Cowherd (35:10)

Yeah, the, you know, you've watched so much of these teams you had. This will be your fifth Eagles game and their offensive line to me and I think Jalen's great, but the offensive line's insane. You had good offensive lines. I don't know if you had four hall of Fame offensive linemen. Have they gotten better? Do you feel like every time you watch the Eagles it was a different version or do you kind of know what you're going to get when you call their games?

Peter Schrager (35:41)

I think they've been, you know, I don't. Sirianni is, has done a great job with the adversity this year. And dealing with the adversity and you know, I see him hot tempered at times. I really like that attitude that he's got. There's a lot of consistency you see that week to week. And I think there has been a lot of consistency over the course of the season from this team. When I think they're really unstoppable is when Jalen Hurts is playing in rhythm in the past game. Because I look at that defense, the secondary has been consistent. They're been great all year. Fangio scheme, Zach Bond's been as consistent as anybody. That D line, Jalen Carter, Sweat, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, those guys are consistent. So the entire defense is consistent. The running game's been there all year. That's consistent. A.J. brown getting open man coverage and Devontae Smith, that's consistent. Goddard getting open, that's consistent. The line blocking, well, that's consistent. When they can string a consistent rhythmic passing game together, I think they're pretty unstoppable.

Colin Cowherd (36:42)

Yeah, you know, there was a moment last night and, and, and I've, I've talked about this. I think Drew Brees and you were really good at this and I think Mahomes is. And, and this is not a knock on anybody, but it's. So much of what you did as a quarterback was to avoid mayhem. It wasn't always the over the top place. It was. You just got him out of trouble. I always say this about the great presidents. It's not always their policy. It's being ahead of a potential problem. That's what a good CEO does. And on that blitz, yeah, always when Spags brings the corner blitz, listen, it's. I mean, nobody saw it coming. Would you. I don't want to compare you to anything, but is that hard to identify or is that a quarterback's responsibility? Because corner blitzes, Tom, they may happen once every two weeks. It's rare. So I saw that play and I thought Josh has kind of got to see that. Or am I being a sports guy who just doesn't get it?

Peter Schrager (37:40)

Okay, so it's a great question. And this speaks to a lot of things you and I have talked about over this last year. And unless a quarterback has total operational control of what he's doing, it's going to be very hard against the Spagnulo defense because Spags is going to put so much pressure on the protections and on the offensive line and on the quarterback to sort things out after the snap because some things look a bit unconventional. They're all on the right and they come to the left, they're all on the left, and they come from the right. And everyone's spinning the defense at the snap of the ball. And it gets very difficult for the quarterback if you're not anticipating where the problems might be. And you may get lucky every once in a while to make a play work. But I just remember the Super Bowl. I played against Spags when I was at the Bucks late in the career, and I felt like I had studied so much film for two weeks. There was really no blitz he could use that I wasn't going to be prepared for.

Colin Cowherd (38:39)

Yeah.

Peter Schrager (38:40)

And when something looked a little funky, based on my film study, I had an answer for it. And I had tried to have answers to his pressures, but that took a veteran quarterback who had a great understanding of the protections, who could apply a lot of different tools to get it protected. And then I was able to go out there and play with a lot of confidence. But again, this is. You know, blitzing in the NFL now has been very effective. I don't think many quarterbacks have understandings of protections. I don't think we're allowing them to develop and that now they're kind of learning on the fly. And it's a. It's a rough place to learn out there on the playing field against a team that has as many talented players as the Chiefs.

Colin Cowherd (39:19)

Yeah. You know, it's funny. I think this. The story of this game is Reed and Mahomes and Spags against the green wall of talent. And Philadelphia is a little like that Seahawk team you faced. I remember that because I'm from the Pacific Northwest and everybody thought I was a Patriot homer and a Brady homer my entire time. I've always been like, Brady Homer guy, which is not. Not a bad guy to be a homer for. And I said, I gotta be honest, I don't know if they can beat Seattle. Like, I don't think when you go and Mahomes is going to face a Philadelphia team, Tom, they may have nine hall of Famers. I mean, Jalen Carter looks like. And that Seahawk team was insane. Go back. Go back to that game. Did you ever privately say to yourself, I don't know if we have the dudes for that? I mean, they are. Did you ever. You wouldn't say it publicly, but what was your mindset? Like Mahomes this week when he watches film and goes, they don't have a hole. They don't have a weakness. How did you think about Seattle?

Peter Schrager (40:17)

Yeah. Well, that's a good. That's a great Example that defense was stacked from the pass rush to the backers, to the secondary, to the scheme. And not only that, offensively they had, you know, Marshawn, a young Russell playing great, dynamic guys in the past game and they were. It took all of us to, to win. And I think when you. And when I look at this game, if you're going to beat the Chiefs, it has to be the ultimate complimentary game because you could score to take the lead with 45 seconds left in the game and give the ball back back to Patrick in that offense. And the whole world believes that Patrick, including himself and including the defense, he's going again, that he's going to drive right down the field and score and take the lead again. So it's like how Buffalo beat him in the regular season. Buffalo was aggressive even though they were up two points to, you know, take the ball and go for on that, whatever fourth and two and. And Josh made a great play and scrambled in for the touchdown. But it was almost like you got to get up two scores in the end of the game to feel like there's any relief because Patrick has, has an amazing ability to perform his best in the biggest moments. And there's a lot of fear that's in the other opponents late in the game. And that's a good feeling to have if you're the opposing quarterback.

Colin Cowherd (41:44)

Oh, I know. And you, you Tiger. I always said this Mahomes, you Tiger. When you could hear the gallery cheering and Tiger was in a different foursome and you knew he just hit a great shot. It got completely in your head, as you knew. Oh, he just, he just, he just hit a birdie. And I think there's part of that is that you do get so. I mean, you faced Mahomes in a Super bowl, if I recall, it was a pretty good game for you. Did you go into that game thinking, guys, we got to score blank. I mean you got in everybody's else. You spent a career getting in everybody else's head. Were you aware of Mahomes and was there discussion that week on fellas, we can't even give him 13 seconds here, that kind of thing.

Peter Schrager (42:24)

So yeah, and we played them in 2018 in the AFC Championship game. They were a high flying offense, Tyreek. And we played a great kind of first half of football in Kansas City and they come storming back like in the second half and take the lead. It was almost like it evaporated.

Colin Cowherd (42:45)

Yep.

Peter Schrager (42:45)

Now that was a very different offense than they have now when we beat them in the. In the Super Bowl a few years ago, three years ago now, we played a great complimentary game. We played really well on offense. Defense played the best game they had played all season. You know, they were struggling in pass protection. I thought our defensive line's ability to get after him and all the blitz schemes that Coach Bowles came up with were really exceptional. But to me, it took a great team effort. And that's the only way you're going to beat a great Chiefs team. Now the Eagles have the team to do it. I mean, that's why I'm so excited about calling this game, because it's to me, the two teams that have been consistently great all season long that are in this game, which is exactly how it should be. And the outcome of this game is going to be determined by a few plays. And no one knows which plays they're going to. Those are going to be. That's why you got to be on it from the moment that you walk into the stadium. This is a, this is a great matchup for a lot of reasons. There's a lot of stars, there's champions, there's coaches, there's tremendous scheme and then there's tremendous players that have played well under pressure. And it all kind of culminates in this great performance, you know, played out in front of the whole world and all these players that get to be involved in it, this is a highlight of their life. And it's going to be a highlight of my life being there to call the game.

Colin Cowherd (44:12)

I gotta. I'm gonna talk about this because when you and Belichick were in the middle of your dynasty, he hard coaches you, he calls you out. He's rough. That's part of the culture. But since you've gone your separate ways. Oh, he's like a soft serve vanilla ice cream. He's a cream puff now. All he does is he's a teddy bear. And he said yesterday, he's like, you know what? Just call the Lombardi Trophy, the Brady Trophy. I remember a piece of video when he gave you the game ball, it was near your end in New England. And we made fun of it on the air. I said, that was so hard for Bill. I said, he was so uncomfortable. But I kind of got it, Tom. I understood it. It was the culture. It's the reality. It's like sometimes you have to be a tough parent when you're a dad, right? And it pains you is when you look at Belichick and you now, is there a warmth now that maybe wasn't possible when you're in the middle of a dynasty?

Peter Schrager (45:09)

Well, there's an intensity to our jobs, naturally, that. I mean, look, we always had a great relationship. We still do. And I know there was a lot of things later in my career that people would say or to try to create division. I think there was always a great respect for each other, and. And I was never. I always saw him as someone that I was trying to please out there as. Yeah, as my coach and. And I wanted to be the best I could be for the team. And he was always trying to deliver for. For our team in the role that he was in. And were there times where we didn't see everything eye to eye? Yeah, but, I mean, that's 20 years of a relationship. And I said this thing in one of the documentaries, like, I'm not characterizing our relationship based on, you know, a few moments that weren't perfect for either of us. I mean, we had as great of a relationship as you could have over a long period of time with tremendous amount of success. And there's no coach I would have rather played for than him. He taught me so much. And you're right. I think the role of that coach is very much like a parent. You know, if you're not performing well and your grades are below standard, you got to tell your kids that. And if they're. If they're putting forth the effort, you got to tell them that, too. And you got to teach them, and you got to develop them, and you got to be there. And there's a sophistication to being a parent, and a good parent at that, expecting that. A lot of these young kids today, they don't know what the right parents. Ways to do things are. And you know what? Sometimes to have a little bit of fear in people is a good thing.

Colin Cowherd (46:45)

Yeah.

Peter Schrager (46:45)

People should have to wake up and go, oh, God, I got it. I got to do a good job today or else. And I think that's very motivating. I think we're in a culture now where everyone's. Hopefully it can be a little more balanced that, you know, to be rewarded for bad behavior, to be rewarded for being selfish, to be rewarded for thinking about yourself as an individual in a team sport. Like, I loved playing against those guys. I never wanted to play with those guys. You work too hard for too long to think about yourself in situations in team sports. And. And I think the culture that I was a part of in New England embraced the team first attitude. And what are the rewards of that? Well, Championships were won. But more importantly than that, I have relationships with my teammates that go way far above and beyond what they ever were on the football field. I look at the best experiences I've had in my life, and they're with these men and women and probably way more men in a football locker room. But the coaches that contributed to my life taught me in a very significant way that allowed me to be the best I could be. And that's what team sports are about. That's what shared experience is about. That's what relationships are about. That's what ultimately the meaning of life is about. And we form that bond under an intense intensity about what we were trying to do, and we got to do something we love to do, which was play football.

Colin Cowherd (48:23)

Yeah.

Peter Schrager (48:23)

So I have looked back on those moments as the best moments in my life outside of being a parent, as the things that have shaped me into who I am today. And if I do anything in football and I'm going to be involved in football for a long time, it's going to be to give back in the same way. And there's no. I mean, I am who I am at this point. I'm going to do things a similar way. I always want to contribute to other people's goals and to help them achieve what they want to accomplish.

Colin Cowherd (48:50)

Yeah. So Tom's going to be with me next Friday in New Orleans, a city that it's hard to go to bed. It's hard to go to bed early in New Orleans. I'll somehow make it. You don't have the responsibility, Tom. You can have, you know, you can go out and have a couple extra oysters in New Orleans now. Good. First time you can ever.

Peter Schrager (49:07)

Hey, no. No Aaron.

Greg Cosell (49:09)

Yeah.

Peter Schrager (49:09)

No Aaron. Donald trying to hunt me down. This preparation is way easier. No lesion of boom I was getting for. I could be looking at where the best beignets in New Orleans are. What a hurricane is. Be down on Bourbon street with you. But it'd be quite a different super bowl prep this time around than the last time.

Colin Cowherd (49:25)

I love seeing you again, my man. We'll see you next Friday, Tom.

Peter Schrager (49:28)

Thanks, Colin. Good to see you, man.

Colin Cowherd (49:30)

All right. Tom Brady. Yeah. I mean, what a breather. Like, I know it's his first super bowl as a broadcaster, but good Lord, going into games and how fascinating was his first answer? How fascinating was that? That in their. That super bowl against the Seahawks on Friday night, they put in three plays and what did he say? Two got touchdowns. I mean, literally two weeks of prep on Friday before the game, he's like, I don't. I don't feel great in the red zone. I don't. They put in. They put in three plates and two got touchdowns. I mean, that is that. And by the way, that's what Kansas City feels like. Not Buffalo. Buffalo's like, yeah, we do the quarterback sneak the way we do it. Kansas City feels like they're staying up the night before and they're like, here's what we're going to do on fourth down to seal the win. And that's the difference in these big games.

Jay Mack (50:14)

I have faith that Nick Sirianni can be doing something similar the two days before the game. Right. Don't you?

Colin Cowherd (50:20)

I'm not going to get into ad homine attacks, but no, I, I think this is why I like Kansas City. I think it's going to be a situational football game, and I'm not. I tried last weekend to outthink the room and, you know, you were right there.

Jay Mack (50:35)

I mean, Bill's had the lead in the second half and we're driving to go up by eight or nine before the unlucky. Fourth down.

Colin Cowherd (50:43)

13 minutes to go in that game. Yeah. Bitterness doesn't solve anything.

Jay Mack (50:48)

Who's bitter?

Colin Cowherd (50:50)

Who's bitter? No, it's. It's just. What?

Jay Mack (50:52)

Fairness and equality.

Colin Cowherd (50:53)

Fairness. Yeah. Because the league is. It's so tilted toward the Midwest. You know, that's what the. That's what the owners said. You know what? We've had enough big city stuff. Let's make New York terrible and send Harbaugh to la. That's a good story. And have a Midwest small market team dominate the sport.

Jay Mack (51:09)

Let's have the Midwest make the Midwest great again. You like that?

Colin Cowherd (51:13)

What. What are you, Robert Kennedy? Permission to hit.

Jay Mack (51:15)

Permission.

Colin Cowherd (51:18)

Wow. The world's changing. Right in front of my eyes. Peter Schrager stops by. You've got your tomorrow's headlines today. It's, you know, it's. It's. It never gets old to me watching Brady. He became my favorite football player of all time. And I never take it for granted that Tom Brady stops by for 15 minutes. And I love it every time. Little nerves every time. I gotta make sure he's a good storyteller, that guy. He's pretty good.

Jay Mack (51:44)

Listen to him. He's just riveting stuff.

Peter Schrager (51:46)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (51:46)

Great stuff. Okay, two down, one to go. It's a Thursday. That means tomorrow's a Friday. That's how it works. Third.

Bobby Bones (51:54)

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with a Star. So where else you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Katie Couric (52:24)

Hey, everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch right in time for a new season of my podcast, Next Question. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun thanks to some of my friends like Samantha Bee and Charlamagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Colin Cowherd (53:02)

What's up, everyone? It's Justin Pennik from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast with Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We roll three times a week on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays, breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL. We're gearing up for the NFL playoffs. I hope you can join us. Join in with us three times a week. Listen to Football Today on the iPhone, heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and you will be glad you did. What's up, everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virkin Demers, Jason Demers here.

Peter Schrager (53:39)

And after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out.

Jay Mack (53:43)

Hey, I got a lot to say here, too, okay?

Colin Cowherd (53:45)

Each week we'll get together, chat with the sport that we love.

Greg Cosell (53:48)

Tons of guests are going to join in, too.

Peter Schrager (53:50)

But we're not just gonna be talking hockey, folks.

Greg Cosell (53:51)

We're talking movies.

Peter Schrager (53:52)

We're talking tv, food, and Adnan's favorite wrestling. It's all on le table.

Colin Cowherd (53:57)

Listen to NHL Unscripted with Vir and.

Bobby Bones (53:59)

Demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.

Colin Cowherd (54:02)

Wherever you get your podcasts.