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Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to but not limited to personal takes, rumors not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? It's your boy Nav Green from the Broken Play podcast. Look, it's the end of the season. The playoffs are here. Guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play podcast with Nav Green on the Black Effect podcast network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The chief. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to Sharper Square, presented by Hard Rock Bat. We are part of the Volume Podcast Network. This is the show that makes the square sharper, makes the wise guys pay attention. I am Chad Millman. I am joined as always by my bff, my co host, my companion, my compadre professional better Simon Hunter. Hello, Simon.
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Chad. How we feeling, buddy? Doing all right? The highs and lows of being a Bears fan. All in all, in one game.
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Listen.
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I'm listening.
A
I watched that play and as you can imagine, I'm like, oh, no, oh no, oh no, oh no. And when he throws it 50 yards to the back of the end zone over two Los Angeles Rams and it's A touchdown. I called my house because, you know, I'm in Miami. So I called my house because my son is still home from break and no words were spoken because he's got a bunch of people over at the house. And it was. It sounded like it was Soldier Field. There was so much screaming going on. And because I'm in hotel, I can't do the same thing. But I'm like, did we get Patrick Mahomes? Did we get Michael Jordan? Did we get Josh Allen? And then I felt it again when he got that third down and short in the overtime. I'm like, the guy is just so cool. And then he throws a pick and the Rams kick a field goal and they cover and they break our heart because the Bears don't go to the NFC title game and we don't cover. So, Simon, we're gonna get into that game. No doubt. Just glorious. I have so many thoughts.
B
I've so.
A
I have. I have so many thoughts. A wild weekend of football. You know, we didn't even bet the Broncos and Bills in the contest, but we're going to probably want to talk about that game more than any of them. Pour one out for our buddy Matt Mitchell. I feel terrible for him. So we're one in four again this week. Back to back. First time that's ever happened. Lost in the most gut wrenching ways so many times. Seattle, San Francisco under 45 and a half. San Francisco plus seven and a half. New England minus three and a half was the win. New England, Houston under 40 and a half. And of course the Rams minus four and a half. I think our last ones out were the Broncos, Bills over, which of course cashed by more than two touchdowns. So that was a kick in the dick. You ready to get into this thing still, brother? You know what? Let's just. All right, let's start with Seattle, San Francisco, the under was 45 and a half. The. The side was seven and a half. You know, we talked a lot about this game. We thought it would go one of two ways. We thought Seattle would blow them out. And the way the. The game would go because of the injuries for the Giant, for the Niners, they just wouldn't be able to score that much or would be really close. That's why it was Chad's choice. And it would be tight and low scoring. It was the former. The problem was when you give off a kickoff return, then you give up a field goal, off a fumble, and then you give up a touchdown and off interception later in the game. They still Only covered by the overall. Only overcovered by one point. But it's like the Niners were doing everything they could to help the Seahawks score touchdowns. And the Seahawks are doing everything they could to not score touchdowns.
B
Yeah, that was just another total meltdown by the 49ers, which I can't believe just because the game beforehand, you know, two weeks ago, you know, the obviously only scored three points. 49ers. You just thought Kyle would figure out a way to attack that defense. Right. He's one of the smartest minds in football. But, you know, he struggled, Purdy struggled. And just like you said, the. The start of the game, I thought the under was going to be dead. You get a kick return like that with low totals, it's like, okay, gonna need a little help. Gonna need one quarterback to not show up today. And I mean, I'm not saying Darnold didn't show up. I think he only had 12 completions either. Quarterback had a great game. Just the defense. The Seattle defense was so dominant. Every possession was on a short field for their offense. And yeah, I mean, they're looking like the best team in football right now. 41 points. They absolutely dominated that entire game. And bad. Bad. But it's not so much of a total. Like you said, bad beat on the total. But 49er side, we joked a little bit, or at least I did that. You know, I had a couple people asking, is this just like the Carolina number? Right. The number was -7 half on Seattle. They nailed it. Right. There was just no contest. Seattle totally bit. Beat the bricks off that 49ers team. And you know, that's. It's tough. You know, like you said, it's. It's never. It's never that easy when you take in big dogs like that. But we had the seven and a half, the close and a lot of books, six and a half. And it's like didn't even matter. Those. Take your good number and go. Go home with it. It's. We're gonna absolutely dominate this team. So it was what was 17? Nothing. First quarter. Never felt like we ever even had a chance of getting even. A back door. I think they settled for the first field goal. They go down again, then kick another field one. It's like, okay, that's how Shanahan's playing this game. He's settling for. For threes here in the. That. That was it for the 49ers team. Just totally outclassed by, you know, a healthier, better team right now in Seattle.
A
Look it was so frustrating. I landed in Miami last night at 10:30 and I think when I was in a cab on the way back from the airport, the Seahawks went up 34 to 6 and I knew next touchdown. And there's still a quarter left in the game and they still barely scored another touchdown. They were only doing it because the Niners were giving them zero choices, like they had to do something with the ball, right. They like they were just too close not to move. So I do think it'll be curious now. Now we got a Rams Seahawks NFC title game. The two probably best teams in the NFC all season are, are playing each other, which is great. You want that to be the case. But Wild man, totally wild. And, and like. Well, we'll talk about that, we'll talk about that in a second because I do want to get back to the, to the Bears game in a second. The other game, the New England Houston game. Another one. Simon, let me go through this. Matt Mitchell, I apologize, I'm jumping around on the, the rundown here. But, but we're going to go to New England for a second. It was the second time this weekend we had the under 40 and a half. We had New England minus three and a half. Good call by you by the way. For the second time, our total completely undone by turnovers. Simon, eight turnovers, plus a couple more fumbles that were recovered by the fumbling team. Wild game. Let me give you some context here. First touchdown was off of a fumble, a 27 yard drive. Second touchdown was a pick six. Then there was a field goal off of the pick. These are the scores. 17 points directly after a turnover. 17 of the 44 points the rest of the game. 13 punts and a turnover on downs. So if not for the turnovers, I don't even know if there were 30 points in this game. Like we were so on about this game, except neither team seemed to want to let the other team have to drive the length of the field. It was, it was excruciating. Completely excruciating.
B
Yeah. And honestly though, I, I thought CJ would struggle in the weather. That was like you said, shocking because of how bad he was with the ball the week before. You would think the biggest thing they would they coach into him this past week is just like, hey, you can take risk if you need to, but just be safe. We have the best defense. Like if you don't give short fields, we're going to be able to put our weight into this New England team, which they did. I mean they're Dom, their defense was dominant in that game. Like you said, New England had 21 points. I think they had 130 yards though. It was like the most bizarre stat they were showing. But yeah, I mean, can we not give a ton of props to Drake May three touchdown passes against that defense, you know, big time again, again. He was stupid too with the ball. What do you have? Two fumbles he lost. I mean he was terrible holding on to the ball for too long and you know, that was just a game where we were just trying to survive with the under. And I honestly always felt like eventually new breakthrough and they were going to cover that number just because it just felt like CJ was totally lost, like he was never going to find it. Another stat they put up there. I think in his last seven pass attempts he had thrown three picks. It was just a total anomaly. So, you know, I know Bears fans have been running around that meme since. Since he tried to tell Kayla Williams he's gonna be a great player this week. Which once again he was right. I don't know why they beat him down about it, but the stats are insane about how bad CJ's been. So I know what they're gonna do. It's a quarterback that is a rookie. He was incredible. And from having bad offensive line play, it feels like they've ruined him. Where it's like he's got happy feet and his decision making was really pissed poor because like you said, their defense was so good, like they don't have anything. And yeah, New England now a game away playing a backup quarterback from going to the Super Bowl. We talk all the time like a quarterback with the right head coach. It's just crazy how it just changes everything. And yeah, I, I think Milton Williams was talking about he never thought in his life coming obviously from the Eagles to that team for a bag of money. He was like, I thought it was gonna be a three, four year rebuild, not two years. And I know Caleb didn't do it. He didn't come through obviously and they didn't win that game. But we were a play away from him not throwing that pick away, throwing that pick that we would have four quarterbacks all in the championship game. All brand new basically to these teams. All them have been on these teams for less than two years. So it was a pretty wild. I mean no Stafford's in there now, but still. Yeah, these, these second year quarterbacks, incredible. Almost have three of them the championship finals.
A
Well, look, we would have been if not for Bo Nix breaking his Ankle on the second to last play of the game before they win that game in overtime. And look, that was a great call by you, Simon says. Was the Broncos plus one and a half. And of course, the very first thing that I said this week in that game was I feel like I want to take the over. I know we're talking about the best defense with the Broncos, but these two teams lighted up in the second half and then we completely chickened out on that bet when it came to putting our picks in. And look, we're all going to feel terrible for Josh Allen, but I do want to point out at the end of the game that the tools he was working with were Mikol Hardman, who if he had run that route a little bit flatter to the left instead of fading a field, then he probably catches that ball that was the one right before. And by the way, Miko Hartman, who had just gotten off the practice squad, so he's barely got any practice time. He hadn't been on the team all year. And. And then Brandon Cooks, who caught that ball and then didn't catch that ball. He's been on the team for a month. I mean, if I'm the Bills, if I'm the Bills, I don't care what it costs. I know I have Josh Allen and I've seen what Josh Allen did with so little help this year. I'm giving up whatever it takes to get the Steelers to let me have Mike Tomlin. Because you just said it, Simon. The coach makes such a difference and we've seen what a difference he makes with such bad quarterbacks, what he could do with Josh Allen.
B
I don't care who else is on the team potentially. I mean, the man is 0 and 7 or whatever his last playoff games, Tomlin. So I don't know what they're gonna do. But the first step is what you just said, firing Sean McDermott. I mean, if you had an owner with a pulse as a Bills, he never would have got off that plane. Especially when he's calling up a reporter on the plane complaining about the refs, where it's like, dude, own it. Own it. Like Josh Allen. Yeah. Was that sucked that he cried? Because it's not a good look. I know you probably have compassion because once again, Chad has kids. I don't love kids. So seeing a grown man cry like that, get your together. But I get why he's so hurt. Four turnovers. He is not. There's. You can't blame the refs in the game. You know where Three points decides the game.
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Three points off of a fumble at the end of the first half.
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That's my point right there. That, that to me, you just now where it's like, that's why you need to fire your head coach. If you maybe a Tomlin does have the ball, just say, hey, man, we have 17 seconds, no timeouts. I get it. You want to get every point, just take the knee, go into half. And yeah, they're just, you know, he, he, he knows that he missed the guy there at the end too, where, you know, he probably could have got a touchdown or whatever with Kincaid. But you know, like you said, Josh, they've been failing him. We've been talking about, they've, they've tried to get him a number one receiver. It just does not work since they let Diggs go now, even Gabe Davis, I know he's not obviously that great, but you see Diggs making plays for New England, it's like, couldn't they use a digs? They could use a digs type. It's just Josh Allen's been missing that. So I don't know. Gotta fire the coach, Gotta spend a ton of capital, obviously. But that, that, that game, to me, I mean, it sucks, obviously, the Broncos fans, but Bo Nicks, what a game by him. I, I honestly, yeah, a roller coaster of a game where it's like, you know, the Bill's defense were getting stops, they kept getting those turnovers and the Bills kept holding them for field goals, which again, that was the most shocking part of that game. They kept getting stops and Bo Nicks, big time at the end of the game, you know, they couldn't run the ball lick. I think he had to throw the ball 46 times or 45 times and they won that game. So I, I really couldn't get over watching it. Like you said, you know, I'd bet it. I, I think I had, or at least I gave on the show them first half as well.
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Yeah, we did do the, the Broncos.
B
First half and that to me was the game changer of the game where I was just hoping for three and he took that deep shot for a touchdown. It's like, okay, this is, this is a moment Bo. Bo, Knicks is living up to. That was a big time throw before the halftime and obviously they got gifted the three and that was just a total game changer. So, yeah, sucks. We, we missed on that one. I will say I went back and look, I did give you a 50, 50 chance. I said, it's up to you. Chad Rams or Broncos. And unfortunately, you. You went Rams, which again, I, I get it, you're trying to protect against your feelings. But, but also, I do think we're scary. Betting against Josh Allen is terrifying. So.
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Yes.
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So even with whatever that was, you know, four turnovers by him and Cooks, a turnover, still a three point game. Josh Allen, he's just, he's, he's terrifying.
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The dude was ahead, was behind. He came back with a minute down to tie it. And if not for a quirky 50, 50 ball, they win that game. I mean, that game came down to so many millimeters of judgment calls. Meanwhile, you know, Matt Mitchell and I were talking this morning and he made a really good point. He said, if anyone thinks the NFL is rigged, then the NFL would have made sure that Josh Allen, who has created some of the most exciting moments in the NFL playoffs over the last six, seven seasons, who has been in the middle of some of the most exciting games in the NFL playoffs the last six, seven seasons, would make sure that he gets to the AFC title game instead of Jarrett Stidham.
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And I got another. I know the reason of fire, Sean McDermott. We all agree Josh Allen's not the problem, even though I guess you could say it was a problem in that game. Four turnovers, obviously, but he is the first quarterback and the first coach in NFL history to have eight playoff wins in zero super bowl appearances, which, again, it's. At the end of the day, you look at all the stats over his career in the playoffs, you cannot blame Josh Allen. You just. They have to fire this head coach. I can't believe he sells a job right now. It's crazy.
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We're going to dig deep, deep, deep into the. Jarrett Stidham starting for the Broncos in the AFC Championship game against, excuse me. Against Drake May when we get to the show on Tuesday. But for everybody in the world who is freaking out that it's Jared Stidham starting in the AFC Championship game and saying, oh, my God, the Broncos are in serious, serious trouble, I think we all agree. But don't forget, we have all been saying we're not even sure Bo Nicks is the answer for about two seasons. So I don't know if we want to overreact to the fact that it's not Bo Nix. I'm not saying it's good as Jared Stidham, but Bo Nicks has not been Joe Montana yet. So to me, the reaction in this is just hilarious that all of a sudden it's like. Because it's. But it's Bo Nix and it's Transdid and not the Knicks. The reactions have been enormously funny to me.
B
That was very disrespectful to Bo Nix. I think Stenham is one in three in his career and he's just.
A
I'm not saying listen. I'm just saying for two years people have been ripping Bo Nix, saying he's not even that good. And now all of a sudden everyone's like, how can the Broncos get to the super bowl without Bo Nix? That's all I'm saying.
B
It's true.
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Matt Mitchell has a statement that he likes to make at the end of every year he's unable to get on the camera, so I'm just going to make it for him. Producer Matt Mitchell had his guts ripped out by another Buffalo Bills playoff loss because both gamblers and Buffalo fans know that it is only through suffering we can truly feel alive. He's asked me to read our annual quotation from 19th century Russian novelist and friend of the show Fyodor Dostoevsky, because don't forget, we are the most literate sports betting podcast in America. Let me get my glasses on to make sure I don't miss anything here. I exist in thousands of agonies. I exist. I'm tormented on the rock, but I exist. Though I sit alone in a pillar, I exist. I see the sun. And if I don't see the sun, I know it's there. And there's a whole life in that, in knowing that the sun is there. Matt Mitchell speaks for all gutted football fans, as does our friend Dostoevsky. Hat tip to you my friend. Hey listen, don't forget Simon, I am in Miami right now thanks to our friends at Hard Rock Bet. Because I am going to see the Hoosiers play the Miami Hurricanes and in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Not far away from Hard Rock Stadium, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, home of the Guitar Hotel, which is incredible. I've stayed there. I've played there. I've eaten way too much there. I loved it. They are sponsoring the prize in our pro football pick' em contest, which is a trip at that exact hotel. I'll be in the sportsbook tomorrow mid afternoon, hanging out before I go to my IU tailgates. I'm going to be betting on the Hard Rock Bet app. I started doing it today when I got unpacked in Florida. It's been amazing. It's the only legal sportsbook sports betting app in the state of Florida. Hard Rock will also be handing out profit boost tokens to use at the game. And select VIPs will get instant bonus bets dropped right into their accounts. So be sure to check it out. All right, buddy. One last game. We had the Rams minus four and a half at Chicago. Look, the good news is that the bet we really loved we kept telling people to take all week was the under in the first half. 25 and a half, 24 and a half covered, no sweat. Fantastic. 14 quick points. But then things settle down. And then as always with the Bears, pure freaking chaos. Holy tamale, that Caleb. It's just, we talk about coaches, right? Last year he had Matt Eberfluss. Can you imagine what a waste of a year it was to have Matt Eberfluous coaching that team? I can't. No one told me the GM knew that Ben Johnson was going to be available and that's when we were going to get him. Like, what a waste of a year. And how glorious is Caleb Williams at quarterback? It's, I hope it's not, I hope it's not a Josh Allen thing.
B
He's good, but he's got to find consistency somewhere eventually. That was just the type of game where it's like your defense gave you super bowl worthy game. Like Brisker. How many times did we hear his name in that game? Just incredible safety play. And McVeigh and Stafford, they acted like they'd never seen a corner of blitz before. It was bizarre. They should have let, let you guys up for 400 yards passing. They couldn't figure it out. And on top of that, it felt like they could get seven yards a pop anytime they ran it, but they didn't. McVeigh couldn't stop trying to drop back and just throw the ball was very bizarre. You know, I, I, I'm, I'm, obviously I'm hurt that we didn't get the COVID I mean that was brutal. But the end of the day it's like, what are you gonna do people? It was a 4th and 4, 25 yard backdrop off his back foot to what probably was a push off. But at the same time you can't throw a flag there. Even if they, even if Rance fans are like, dude, that's clear a push off. Which it was. It's like, dude, you really want them to throw a flag on that type of play. Like they, that's what like again, the Bills game, I know, ruined a lot of bad taste in people's mouth. You can't let the refs dictate this stuff. And like as a Bitter Eagles fan from the chief super bowl three years ago. I hate it. So it's like, I love. They let the boys play in that one. They let that play stand because they would have called a penalty there. It just would have been awful. Like, again, brutal. We didn't get the COVID But, yeah, that, you know, that stat I gave out held true. Basically, these. These teams that are dogs in the wild card round, that are dogs again, divisional round. It's just so hard to win whatever it is NFL. It's just so brutal to win as a dog. The books know, and, you know, coming into this game, since 2018, those teams in that exact spot were 3 and 20 straight up. They went oh and 3 this weekend. Right? 49ers lost, Bills lost, and obviously the Bears lost. So, yeah, that was, you know, Bruno out there at first. Get the COVID That one hurt. But, yeah, that's playoff football. It's crazy. And like you said, thank God our biggest and favorite bet on this game was that first half under which, I won't lie to you, Chad, that first drive of the Bears. I'm like, my God, bears. My 21 points themselves in this first half. But what happened is that, what do we expect, right? They get jitters. You know, I think they failed on the fourth down down the red zone as well. The Bears. And. And at 10, 10 first half, so went way under. I think we got. We gave it out 25 and a half and might have closed at 23 and a half and still hit.
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Well, we gave it out 25 and a half, 24 and a half. It was. Chad. It was my choice in sharp versus square, which we'll get to in a second. Let me ask you a question as an impartial better and a professional.
B
Yeah.
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This game, that play, it's magnificent. It will go up there as one of the greatest. 4th and 4. It's one of the greatest playoff plays that we've seen in a generation.
B
Anything still? Still, no. I'm sorry, buddy. He blew with that pick. It was an incredible play. I mean, if you're a Bears fan, that's. Again, you get. You get. You get 15 more years. I'd be happy. But maybe they showed the highlight reel, but it means. It means nothing. I mean, it was an incredible play, but come on now. It's.
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Here's my point.
B
Through a pick in overtime, like you should just.
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No, no, no, no. You're missing it. You're missing it. Hold on. The point is, as a sports fan, the opportunity to see that play. So you have that happen and actually experience it.
B
Oh, it's all timer. It's.
A
It was all timer.
B
Yeah, it was the best.
A
Is it worth it to lose the bet to having seen something like that? Never seen.
B
I should have. I should have a ton of money in my account. That was a. That's the dumbest way to lose money. It's like a improvable pass. He was deader than dead. Just, you know, he's like we talked. I said coming in the league. He's got the same type of ability that. That Rogers Mahomes type, right? This.
A
Yeah.
B
Weird contortion of their body, back foot. So much raw talent and power in their arm and that's why you love the guy. It's like he. That was not. That's just a true God given ability play. Right. There is no thinking he's throwing off his back foot. Last second corner of his eye. He sees just a flash of color of his own team in that corner and just threw it up like that. He's a Covenant pick as well. So it's just incredible that talented is. He threw it to the only spot his guy was going to be where everything else is going on. So now like you said, it's an incredible play, but it's for nada. So that's what, that's what kind of sucks where it's like, you know, if they would have won, I mean, come on, we'd be talking about that play for non stop for six days. Like it would just be all we could talk about. It's incredible. But yeah, that was. That was a tough loss, brother.
A
I normally, I normally don't feel this way, but I do feel like we had three there. Like last week was a bad week. This week feels like we had just three fluky bad beats this week with those two totals and the rash of turnovers and losing that Bears game, which I'm happy to do given the thrill and the opportunity to keep playing on that fourth and four Hail Mary.
B
We blew a dead Denver game. We should have stuck to our guns of the over. Should have stuck to our guns. But you know, that's why this contest is so fun and hard where it's like I think we had. We would have three plays. We'd have Patriots first half. We would have had Denver first half. We would have had the Bears under first half.
A
Yes.
B
In our contest. And that's why I like our contest because it's so hard where it's like no, you don't get those easy outs. You got to pick side or total. But yeah, like, like you said, just, just not did not bounce our way this week and hopefully, you know, another week next week we hopefully we can turn it around.
A
All right, quick, quick word from our friends at Hard Rock bet. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet. With Miami making the national championship, you know Hard Rock Stadium will be rocking and if you're going to the game, Hard Rock Bet is giving you a $10 bonus bet to get in on the action. If you're watching the game out in Miami, head to the Hard Rock Cafe, Miami, Duffy's North Miami Beach, American Social, Miami, and Batch Brickell. Hard Rock bet is dropping ten dollar bonus bets there too. You can turn that free $10 bonus bet into a big win by placing the same game parlay. Or even if you're just watching the game at home, there's still no better place to bet the natty than Hard Rock Bet because it's Florida Sportsbook, so they're going crazy with promos for this one. If you haven't tried your first bet on Hard Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get $150 in bonus bets. If you win, just place a $5 bet and if it hits you get not only your winnings but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. Even if your team may be be out of the playoffs, that doesn't mean you have to sit on the sidelines between same game parlays, live betting, a can't miss welcome offer and new promos dropping every day. Hard Rock Bet has you covered all postseason long. That's Hard Rock Bet. Download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit today. Payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC and all other states must be 21 or over and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1833, playwise in Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Dinner time. It's more than just a meal. It's when work comes to a halt, where macaroni masterpieces are made and little moments turn into lasting memories. With the Blue Cash preferred card, you can get 6% cash back at US supermarkets so you can bring home the flavors that bring everyone together. We did say everyone make the special moments even more rewarding. Learn more@americanexpress.com Explore terms and cash Back cap apply with blue cash preferred.
B
Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio.
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And podcast host and Harry Potter super.
B
Fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?
A
I always loved reading about the Quidditch.
B
Matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you. It is surround sound is especially if you're listening in headphones. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app.
A
Or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up man? It's your boy Nav Green from the Broken Play podcast. Look, it's the end of the season. The playoffs are here. But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcast with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Another team who ain't going to the playoffs? The Chiefs. What's a wrap? It's time to rebuild. Who your MVP right now then Drake.
B
May up there, Josh Allen up there still.
A
Oh my boy Matthew Stafford. Where did Bo Nicks at?
B
He ain't too far behind.
A
He did all this stuff talking.
B
What Matthew Stafford is doing statistically bro is crazy.
A
Bro, you know I ain't no Josh Allen fan, but Matthew Stafford got better weapon. Caleb Williams.
B
Hey, he should be in that conversation.
A
In what conversation? He should be in it. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. On June 11, 1998, a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department went missing. It's an all out manhunt for John Ajay. Every search and rescue team in LA county has been called in to help. Within days, tips started flooding into the Sheriff's department. The ruler around the drug scene was that a deputy was taken care of.
B
Is this the story of a man.
A
Who just got lost in the desert? Or of a cover up inside the nation's largest sheriff's department, a homicide captain.
B
Saying, detective, do not find out if.
A
This guy's guilty or innocent. Who does that? Valley of Shadows, a new series from Pushkin Industries about crime and corruption in California's high desert. Do you have any advice for us while looking into this disappearance? I wouldn't do it alone.
B
Listen to Valley of shadows on the.
A
Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, Simon, TR1 is asking something that I meant to ask. I'm glad he's bringing it up. And he's in the live chat right now. I don't know what direction. I was going to be really excited to talk about CJ Stroud when we do our previews next year because I think he's gotten the benefit of doubt, the doubt the past two years, but he has not progressed. He's regressed consistently. It's been a couple offensive coordinators. It's been bad offensive line play. He's had issues with his receivers being injured. But when we're talking about CJ Stroud in the summer, are we talking about CJ Stroud as a quarterback who can lead his team at the Super Bowl? Are we talking about C.J. stroud? This is the question being asked from TR1. Like, are they, are they excited to pick up his fifth year option? Do they have him play into it? What's your take on that?
B
Yeah, you got to pick it up. You got to pay him. If Kirk Cousin gets paid millions and millions of dollars, you got to pay C.J. like this is, yeah, he's looked bad and he's underperformed, but he's now won a playoff game every season. He's been a pro in the NFL. And we talk all the time, like, I know we poo poo it when it comes to Jalen Hurts. But these other quarterbacks, the playoffs matter. It really does. You see how hard it is. It's so intense. Every little play matters. And, you know, C.J. something's up with him for sure in these playoffs. Right. You can't ignore how bad he's been in the playoffs. And, you know, in a meaningless game against the Colts in October, he lights them up. But when he's playing a legit defense here in the playoffs, he's just every time seems to struggle. He just can't play smart. And with that defense, yeah, it's a big weakness. But I think they're stuck. Like, I don't know what they could do. You got to pick up the Fifth option. I think you got to give them a contract and you just got to let it play out. But they just have to every year draft offensive lineman. Like this offense, he's never had a good offensive line. So to me it's a built in excuse, of course, but it's the same thing we say with Justin Herbert, like, give the man time. I think he'll be better in the playoffs. And the same thing with cj. I think if CJ has more time, he loses some of these bad habits. I think he can get back to what he was. But yeah, I, I mean, we do a top 10 list. I don't know if we need either of us grab our top 10 next year. It's. It's definitely not, not been a good two seasons now for us.
A
CJ definitely below Justin Herbert. Simon says was Denver plus one and a half. Chad's choice was Seattle. San Francisco under 45 and a half. Brass balls was New England. Houston under 40 and a half. Rock and a hard place was Chicago in LA. First half, under 24. Sharp versus square. I had Chicago, LA, first half, under 24. I can't remember who you had. And I left my notes in Connecticut. Do you remember who you had?
B
Yeah. Sharp for square. I was on the Patriots, baby.
A
Oh, that's right. You had the Patriots wins three and a half.
B
Yeah.
A
Great bet. All right.
B
Honestly, I didn't do the spread that I said. I just did the money line. But still, you bet big enough. That's. That's the way to go. Play it safe.
A
Patriots minus three and a half. That was the win this week. New England, Houston under 40 and a half, loser. San Francisco plus seven and a half loser Seattle. San Francisco under 45 and a half. Tough loss. Rams minus four and a half. Tough loss. This has been Sharper Square, presented by Hard Rock Bet, part of the Volume Podcast Network. We will be back with our next Sharper Square on Tuesday to go over the.
B
Wait, wait one sec before you run out of your chad. Why are you feeling the numbers now down to minus seven and a half on your Hoosiers? Sharp money coming in on Miami. How you feeling? 24 hours out.
A
Well, listen, I bet the Hoosiers at minus seven and a half while I'm here in Florida because I've been getting that number here. I feel great. I feel fantastic. Like I have no reason not to. I was, I was nervous before Alabama. The way we played against Alabama and then the way we played against Oregon made me remember that we're a super disciplined football team. With highly skilled athletes. And so I'm going to continue to believe and be confident and I'll have more on that tomorrow on my social channels. From the Hard Rock Casino Sports book in Florida, the only legal place to bet on sports in the state, by the way. We're going to talk about this in much more detail, obviously, but early lines Denver plus five and a half at home against the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams plus two and a half on the road at the Seattle Seahawks. This has been Sharper Square presented by Hard Rock bet, part of the Volume Podcast Network. We will be back with our Sharper Square on Tuesday to go over the entire NFL slate. Watch or listen on YouTube at Sharper Square like this video. Subscribe to the channel. Also download some Spotify Apple Pods wherever you get your pods. Rate, Review, subscribe, leave 5 stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Until next time. Love you.
B
The road to the super bowl is like a mythic quest. It's a demanding journey, an adventure that creates heroes.
A
On June 11, 1998, a deputy from.
B
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department went missing. Hey, if they'll kill a cop and.
A
Bury him, what are they gonna do to me?
B
What really happened to the missing deputy?
A
Valley of Shadows a new series from Pushkin Industries about crime and corruption in California's high desert.
B
Listen to Valley of Shadows on the.
A
Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
B
Hey everyone, it's Ed helms and I'm Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio.
A
And podcast host and Harry Potter super.
B
Fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?
A
I always loved reading about the Quidditch.
B
Matches and and and I think the audio really gets it because it just.
A
Plunges you right into the stands.
B
You have the crowd sounds like all around you. It is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or.
A
Wherever you get your podcast. This show contains information subject to but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up man? It's your boy, Nav Green from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season. The playoffs are here. Guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcast with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The Chiefs. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartrade radio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Whether it is getting swatted or just.
B
Hateful messages online, there is a lot.
A
Of harm in even just reading the comments. That's cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloster on the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. Every season is a chance to grow and the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence. This episode, we're breaking down what really happens to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
B
This is an iHeart podcast.
A
Guaranteed Human.
Episode Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Chad Millman & Simon Hunter
Network: The Volume Podcast Network
On this episode of Sharp or Square, Chad Millman and Simon Hunter react to a wild NFL Divisional Playoff weekend, dissecting key matchups: Rams-Bears, Texans-Patriots, Broncos-Bills, and Niners-Seahawks. They break down betting angles, emotional swings (especially for Bears and Bills fans), and the impact of coaching and quarterback play in the playoff gauntlet. The conversation is authentic and passionate, with betting wisdom, hard truths, and some literary flair.
Chad (on the Bears heartbreak):
Simon (on coaching and quarterbacks):
Chad (on NFL rigging conspiracy):
Literary Moment:
| Segment | Content | Timestamp | |-------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------| | Seahawks-49ers | Betting/Analysis (Seattle blowout) | 03:42 – 07:25 | | Patriots-Texans | Turnovers, Defensive dominance | 08:20 – 12:26 | | Broncos-Bills | Allen heartbreak, Bo Nix, coaching hot seat| 12:26 – 19:28 | | Rams-Bears | Caleb Williams magic, heartbreak, defense | 21:38 – 28:01 | | Dostoevsky Quote | Annual fan commiseration | 22:00 | | CJ Stroud Future | Texans QB debate for 2026 and beyond | 34:21 – 36:42 | | Betting Recap | Rapid-fire picks, record, contest talk | 36:42 – 38:01 | | Next Episode | Teaser, early lines for Championships | 38:01 – 39:23 |
This episode of Sharp or Square offered a real-time lens into the agony and ecstasy of NFL playoff betting—adrenaline-charged results, wild quarterback play, coaching critiques, and the unending search for sharper angles. The heartbreaks were plentiful, but so were the lessons for next week’s wagers, with more sharp/square matchups and betting breakdowns to come.