Colin Cowherd (2:52)

Now, let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Colin Cowherd (3:02)

You know, jmac. You. You were always very critical of Barkley. Do you see? He's complaining he's not getting on the air anymore. ESPN buried that show.

J. Max (3:10)

Why am I. Why am I critical of. Of Barkley? He was critical of the league.

Colin Cowherd (3:14)

Yeah, but it feels.

J. Max (3:16)

What did Barkley say? I don't think I.

Colin Cowherd (3:17)

He. He doesn't. He wishes he worked more. And my. My feeling is this is just conjecture, is that ESPN has a great relationship with the NBA, and they said, yeah, we'll bring that show over. You won't see it as much. Put it on the shelf a little bit, huh?

J. Max (3:30)

I mean, during football season. No, sorry. Nobody's, you know, nobody's caring. But NBA from February, March, April, May, June. I'm sure he'll be on a lot, right? I haven't seen a second of it this season. I watch the games. I don't, you know.

Colin Cowherd (3:44)

Yeah, I do. It felt very, very big at one time, and now it's invisible. So I don't know. I, I, you know, I'm just saying conjecture, but I. I know there were people upstairs in the NBA office that didn't like how they lampoon the league and some of the players.

J. Max (3:58)

You were talking to, Adam Silver there.

Colin Cowherd (3:59)

I just. I would say people upstairs didn't love. Sometimes they would say NFL shows don't make fun of the players. Why are we making fun of the players? I heard that before. Somebody have.

J. Max (4:09)

Yeah, that might have. Might have started here. I don't know. I'm an originator. What can we do, you know?

Colin Cowherd (4:14)

No, I'm just saying. It's just. Charles is complaining. It's like, it feels obvious to me that, you know, you have these new deals, and there's a lot of understandings that don't have to be contractual. There's. David Stern didn't like when people were critical of the NBA either. They're very sensitive in the NBA. Remember Adam Silver saying, my players are miserable? Twitter. It just feels. It feels like it's a thing. But, you know, you're right. In February, they could be on every night. We'll see J. Mack with the news.

Colin Cowherd (4:45)

No, no, no.

Colin Cowherd (4:47)

Turn on the news.

Colin Cowherd (4:48)

This is the Herdline news.

J. Max (4:51)

All right. Shout out to our staff. They keep finding these interesting nuggets.

Sponsor/Ad Voice (4:54)

How about this one?

J. Max (4:54)

The New England Patriots in their franchise history. Rich history. 0 and 4 in postseason games in Denver, all time. Now the line, four and a half. I'm seeing some fours emerge in the desert. I'll have my pick here shortly. There is an. An altitude situation in Denver that has to be addressed. You know, New England has looked. They got fat and happy playing at home against bad offensive lines. Will they look as good on the road? I mean, now maybe, maybe anybody can look good against Stitty. I can't believe we're calling him that. But this is a big home field advantage for Denver. And I'm assuming you think 5,280ft above sea level is an edge for the Broncos, right?

Colin Cowherd (5:36)

Well, I think if you have a quarterback that hasn't played in two years, I'm going to. And who isn't as athletic, you know, Bo Nix picks up some first downs with his legs. My guess is New England will get an extra possession in this game, maybe a little field position edge because the Denver offense isn't quite as consistent, isn't quite as potent. And that gives you a little field position edge, which needs playoff games. That is huge. Also, Denver's defense gets a lot of sacks. I don't consider it close to Seattle. I don't think it's as good as the Rams. I don't think it's as Philadelphia is. I thought. No, I mean, to be honest with you, I thought the Bears the last six quarters were defense. We're doing it with smoke and mirrors. I think Denver's defense, there's. There's ways, there's ways to move the ball in Denver. Josh Allen, by the way, they weren't punting a lot.

J. Max (6:27)

They didn't punt at all. I am curious, like, I don't know how you game plan for Stidham if you're the Patriots again. He hasn't thrown a pass in the NFL in two seasons. I mean, if they come out with three tight ends, that might happen. If they come out, I know anything's in play here.

Colin Cowherd (6:42)

I think you look at Sean Payton's schemes and Sean Payton's habits and you just, you scheme against it. My take is they're good. They're not going to reinvent the offense. I mean, Stidham is somewhat athletic. He can move and, and he's, you know, he's a little bigger version. Maybe a Bo Nix, not as talented. But my guess is you're going to run the same offense. I just don't think you'll. I don't Bo Nicks takes off running more than Stidham would. But I think you'll run a lot of the offense. I don't think they're going to shift. It's too late in the season. You don't have enough practice time. We're going to install some new. No, you're not. You're just, you're going to play what you do, you're going to do what you do. And hopefully Stidham can make, you know, because Bo Nix had two huge downfield throws for touchdowns. Consider him give you a couple. If he does, you may win the game. I mean, the Lions only four.

J. Max (7:29)

Let's move on to a team that stinks. The Miami Dolphins. Colin they are in a rebuild mode. Tua was benched for Quinn Ewers over the final three weeks of the season, but he's still under contract. At the Dolphins press conference yesterday, new GM John Eric Sullivan acknowledged that the team is still undecided about what to do at quarterback moving forward.

Colin Cowherd (7:51)

I have a lot of respect for Tua. He's a good football player. He's accomplished a lot in this league. I think whether it's, whether it's Tua or anybody else, it's unfair and irresponsible for me to sit up here and talk about anything specific before I've talked to the player himself. That's fair. That's a reasonable answer. I mean, you got the draft in 90 days, so I mean, you're going to take a quarterback at some point. Maybe second, third round, maybe. Listen, it wouldn't. I mean, where's Miami drafting?

J. Max (8:23)

Not high enough to, not high enough to get Mendoza. Halfley looks very serious there. I mean, he looks like he just got a haircut. Looks like he's going to basic training. I mean, he is locked in. You see the stone face for that guy.

Colin Cowherd (8:35)

Let me throw this at you. Rams have like what, Atlantis pick number 11 or something like that. Rams move up and get Ty Simpson because they still have another number one pick where they can address corner and offensive tackle. Their, their, their real needs are offensive tackle and corner quarterback. They could get next year. And the Rams in the building say, listen, we view him as about the 23rd best player. We have two picks. Let's reach on Ty Simpson and then we'll just get Stafford another tackle, another corner, another receiver. I mean, I, I could see a team like the Rams saying, we're not going to have two firsts again. We've only had one first round pick in nine years. Jared Verse. I mean I think it's very interesting. The Rams are one of the few really good teams that are drafting in the top 15, like really special teams. Do you wait, do you say to yourself, we have him as like the 23rd player but we're not going to be in this position again because next year if you, if you say to yourself, no, let's get a tackle and then a corner. Do you know what the Rams are going to have to do to get up into the top two quarterbacks next year? Give up multiple first. So it could be the Rams are too good. So my take is reach on the quarterback. Now you're not going to play him. Stafford comes back for a two year deal, he plays one, maybe they move off him. But I think, I think it's very interesting what the Rams do with that first pick they don't get. They rarely have first round picks. Now they have two. If they don't get a quarterback now look at what the Rams are going to do drafting 30th the following year to get to the seventh pick. Two ones. Two twos. You got your draft capital.

J. Max (10:16)

Yeah, so I, you know, I've been pretty plugged in on Stafford and Rams here last few years. Gave everybody the puka stuff and the ugly contract you did. So I did ask my people, I said, hey, so if Stafford wins the super bowl, is it over? And they're like, he's cooking, he wants to play again. I wonder if that changes Colin, if he wins a Super bowl and his wife's like, listen, come on, you go out on top like Elway, maybe he changes his mind. But if they lose this game, I would say he's definitely coming back next season. I just, I don't see a trade up for Ty Simpson. I personally think we're overrating him because there really aren't a lot of attractive quarterbacks after Mendoza. Do you really believe Ty Simpson's a guy like when he pick.

Colin Cowherd (10:53)

What I'm saying is if your scouting department, the Rams scouting department's good, finds him to be like the 24th best player in your draft and whatever they're drafting, I could see them saying, guys, in one year there are better quarterbacks potentially. We don't know. We thought Cave Klutnick was going to be great this year. We thought Nussmeier was going to be great. They weren't. We didn't think Mendoza, I mean, before the season, did we think Mendoza was going to be an easy number. We thought it was like Arch Manning, Dante more.

J. Max (11:18)

You just don't know, let me ask, what about. We just mentioned Tua. Could you see Tua fitting with the LA Rams?

Colin Cowherd (11:25)

C.J. stroud? Yes.

J. Max (11:27)

All right, final story. Let's go to Robert Sala. Everybody likes him. Great defensive coordinator with the Niners. Didn't really get a good chance with the jets because of Aaron Rodgers. Anyways. He had a lot of interest from folks and he ultimately picked Tennessee. Here's what Salah had to say. For me, this was the most desirable location, the most desirable team. The team here are the people here are unbelievable. They're the type of people you want to work with. I'm really excited about the city of Nashville and bringing a winner back to the city. You know, they call it Nash Vegas. I think there's a world here where Salah's pretty damn good pretty quickly. Colin, we're believers in Cam Ward. We both liked him. Yeah, they just have to, you know, they got some cap money, cap space to spend. Yeah, they were 3 and 14. Offense wasn't great, defense wasn't great. But they have a couple pieces in place. I think this is a good, good spot for Salah.

Colin Cowherd (12:20)

So do I. I, I, I think, I mean, listen, it's been kind of a wonky political job through the years. I mean, I let Vrabel go. I don't think that was terribly dumb. Yeah. J. Mac of the News.

Colin Cowherd (12:34)

Well, that's the news.

Colin Cowherd (12:35)

And thanks for stopping by the Herd LIE news.

Colin Cowherd (12:39)

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

Colin Cowherd (12:47)

Hey, is Cavino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio.

Sponsor/Ad Voice (12:50)

Now, in addition to hearing us live weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern to.

Colin Cowherd (12:54)

4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, we're.

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Excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for the show.

Colin Cowherd (13:00)

Yup, that's right. You can now watch Kovino ENRICH Live on YouTube every day. All you got to do Search Kovino and Rich FSR on YouTube Again.

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Go to YouTube Search covinoenrich fsr.

Colin Cowherd (13:13)

Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe Hit that thumbs up icon and comment away. The new year brings new health goals and wealth goals. Protecting your identity is an important step. Your info is in endless places that could expose you to identity theft leading to lost funds. Lifelock monitors millions of data points per second. If your identity is stolen, Lifelock's restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Resolve to make identity, health and wealth part of your New Year's goals. With Lifelock, save up to 40% your first year visit lifelock.com sports terms apply.

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All right, big news. Liquid IV's got something huge coming this February 8th. Have you heard about it? Yeah, you just told me a second ago. Fair enough. I'm guessing it has something to do with fighting dehydration. Speaking of, do you know seven potential signs of mild to moderate dehydration? There's thirst, obviously, and six more, right? Fatigue, brain fog, nausea, headaches, irritability, and there's one more that I can't remember. Does that mean I'm dehydrated? Maybe. But I think I'm dehydrated because you're irritating me right now. Then drink some Liquid iv. I like the sugar free raspberry lemonade, but mango pineapple is great too. Liquid IV Sugar Free is the only sugar free hydration product on the market clinically demonstrated to hydrate faster than water alone. And there aren't any artificial sweeteners or colors. You got to stay hydrated. Well, that's my crash course on dehydration, but no doubt Liquid IV will have something more to say on February 8. Anything else happening that day? I don't know. I have to check the calendar. Stay hydrated. Stock up on Liquid IV at Liquid Dash IV and use the code nuthouse for 20% off for a first time purchase.

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Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the it screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra, SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures breaking.

Colin Cowherd (16:22)

News not Everything's terrible. We repeat, not everything is terrible. The ripple effect is proof that the Internet hasn't ruined humanity entirely. Hosted by Jenna Kim Jones, it's funny and uplifting. Podcast spotlights the quiet, powerful ways people still choose good. Each episode features real stories of kindness, of barbers changing more than just their client's haircut, of the secret life, of leftover hotel soap, of vending machines that dispense just the help somebody needs, like magic. If you're tired of outrage, if your thumbs are sore from doom scrolling, or if you just need a reason to smile again, this podcast is your new favorite scroll break. It's heartfelt, hopeful, a gentle reminder goodness is still out there. Surprisingly contagious too. So put down your phone, pick up your faith in humanity and join Jenna for the ripple effect. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything. Listen to the ripple effect on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 13 years in the NFL. One of my favorites. Baldi's breakdowns make us all smarter. And he's joining us live right now as we get ready for Ram. Seahawks and Patriots. Denver. Let's start with this. Let's just start. Rams, Seahawks. Let's cut to the chase. Who do you got and why?

Colin Cowherd (17:38)

Well, I like Seattle. I like Seattle. I like their defense. I know what Matt Stafford did the last time they played. He threw for 450 yards just a month ago, so that's on take. But you know, the Seattle, I mean, Stafford didn't make a mistake in that game. He was unbelievable all the way to the touchdown throw to Pukinakua and how they attacked him. I mean, it's smart what they did. Seattle tried to blitz. Every time they blitzed, he carved them up. But it's a different game. It'll be played differently. They know they got to get to Stafford, which they didn't do the last time. And so I think it'll play be played differently. But I like Seattle. I just, you know, San Francisco, if they had the ball 10 more times, they wouldn't have scored a touchdown against Seattle. And so that's just where they're playing right now. They're. It's an elite group. I think defense wins championships and I think their defense will be up to the task.

Colin Cowherd (18:30)

What Stafford, you liked him when he was in Detroit. Everybody likes him now. I said this earlier. It sounds crazy. I said if he wins two Super Bowls, I'm putting him right next to Aaron Rodgers all time. And I think Aaron's a top 12 quarterback. Stafford's on a 7 and 2 playoff heater. And I could argue out of his prime. I, he. I feel like his first NFL family was dysfunctional. He got adopted by the Rams and he's been. He's been arguably the. The second best quarterback to Mahomes in the league during this period, is he not?

Colin Cowherd (19:04)

Well, maybe he just needs another back condition in training camp next year where he just sits there and mothballs for four or six weeks and then comes out and just balls out. I mean, the Rams used to do that with Jackie Slater. Jackie Slater used to say, every year I don't go to training camp, I get two more years on in my career. And I always say this, Colin. I, I know it sounds kind of silly, but you play as long as you can and then two more years and I figure that's what Stafford is going to do.

Colin Cowherd (19:30)

Yeah. Hey, do you trust Arnold? Where are you on Donald? When you look at the film more, you know, you look at it uniquely. You're a former player. Do you trust Darnold implicitly?

Colin Cowherd (19:41)

Well, it really depends on what the defense is doing to him. When he's under siege, he makes mistakes like a lot of quarterbacks. Like we just saw C.J. stroud and, you know, we saw Drake May. They made mistakes when they were under siege last weekend. The thing is this team, and it is a real team, Colin, being around that team, you can feel it. They know that they wouldn't be where they're at without Sam, and they feel like they're good enough to overcome if there are mistakes. And I feel that's where Seattle is right now. I think as a team, they're good enough to overcome a mistake or two, whereas a lot of other places they're just, especially in a championship setting, they're not good enough to overcome.

Colin Cowherd (20:22)

So Drake Mays had some mistakes. Four touchdowns, five giveaways. Now it is the Texans and the O line is struggling. But Nick Bonito on the edge for Denver should be a problem. Zach Allen could be a problem. I contend New England, still a draft away. They're the only team left that has. They're almost done with a rebuild, but they just need to fortify their linebacking core, their offensive line. When you watch Drake May, of all the things that you look at baldy and go, as a former offensive lineman, wow, that's good for his age, what impresses you most?

Colin Cowherd (20:58)

I mean, just overall poise that he played with, like that touchdown to Stefan Diggs is not an easy throw. Colin, that is a stick throw. It's a great catch by Diggs, but it's bracket coverage. It happened fast. It was an important play. They finished the drive like that. Throw in that spot is huge. It looks like, okay, you go back and play stakes. It's a, you know, seven yards. That was a difficult throw. He makes difficult throws. Look routine, and that's. That's impressive. But you can't. You can't rattle him. I mean, Will Anderson got the ball out of his hands a couple of times. Will does that to a lot of players. He never looks rattled. And part of it is because of how Josh McDaniels coaches him all week long, like he looks prepared for whatever's coming next.

Colin Cowherd (21:44)

Yeah, okay. John Harbaugh goes to the Giants. All the years you've been watching Harbaugh on the Ravens teams in the trenches, you're watching O line play. I'm not watching O line play. You're watching the stuff differently. What sticks out to you? If I said to you, oh, it's a John Harbaugh team, the Giants will be a John Harbaugh team, what defines his coaching to you?

Colin Cowherd (22:07)

Well, I think there was a toughness. Like, I'll tell you a quick story, Colin. I remember when John got there and they were led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. I mean, hall of Fame players. And I was out at practice one day in training camp. John Madden was there. He had his cruiser out there. It was a big deal, a scrimmage. And literally, together, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed came up to me and go, you got to talk to this guy. First of all, he's killing us. So I did. I went up to John after the practice. I'm like, you're two stars. John are really complaining about how hard things are. He goes, that's fine. That's fine, baldy. He goes, I'm trying to get these younger guys ready for December and January, and we got to train them this way. Now, Ray and Ed, if they need to get out of the drill, they know how to get out of the drill. If they got to save themselves for the season, they know how to do that. But I got to get my guys ready. And so you go out to a John Harbaugh training camp, you feel like it's in the 80s, like it's guys are taking their shoes off because they sweated through the shoes in training camp as they walk off the field. Like, he trains them hard, and when you win, nobody really complains. And so he's going to get these younger guys and new guys, that there's going to be a way that they practice and that's where it's going to start. The other thing I'd say is I know John since he was a special teams coach in Philly. He said two of the great kickers in the NFL, the Giants, have had kicking issues forever. They will get that fixed. Randy Brown will be his kicking coach. They'll find a kicker, they'll develop a kicker, and that problem will go away. And as we know, if you're kicking issues keep like it's a problem, they'll get that part fixed as well.

Colin Cowherd (23:46)

Great point. Finally, Sean McDermott out. I liked him, but I did think they kept loot. They kept finding ways to lose. 13 second game, couldn't get the Tush push right. Bo Nix beats him down the field twice. You know, in the six playoff losses, they, they gave up 33 a game. Some of it may be personnel. You tell me, is Buffalo's defensive personnel bad or. I mean, they gave up a lot in big games. Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (24:09)

No, no, look, I mean, teams run the ball against them. Everybody said, every analyst out there said, you can run the ball against Buffalo. Now they, they play. They try to plug a bunch of rookies in there. Dion Walker, some of these guys, Sanders, they put young guys in there that take up a lot of space. But they never really fixed it. It was always an issue in big games. Teams could run the ball against them. Look, I mean, the owner could do whatever he wants to do. It's about winning championships. And if you don't feel like you keep getting there, you keep getting the postseason. But you can't get over the hump of some of these other teams, sometimes as good as Sean McDermott was, and winning in a weak division, all the stuff that they've done. At some point you say, let's, let's try a different guy. You know, let's. Let's see what you know. I mean, Mike Fragel's coming in. He might get his team to the Super Bowl. In the first year, first year, Liam Cohen turned the team around right away. What a playoff game. At some point you just go, let's try something else.

Colin Cowherd (25:05)

By the way, you were in a. In the 80s, you were in an NFC championship game. What do you remember about it?

Colin Cowherd (25:11)

I remember that when you play in Washington and they play, you know, I know we're in a different world, but when they play Hail to the Redskins after they score, that song never leaves you calm. Like you hear that in your sleep 30 years later. Hail to the Redskins. Losing, losing an RFK stadium like that. After we whipped them during the regular season and then they went on and won the super bowl that year. Like that was Joe Gibbs. First team that won a Super Bowl. That, that's. You get that close and you can't get it done. It stays with you a long time.

Colin Cowherd (25:46)

Great seeing you, baldy.

Colin Cowherd (25:48)

Yeah, thanks, Colin. Enjoy the games this weekend, buddy.

Colin Cowherd (25:51)

You bet. 70 it's, it's interesting when you talk about that. That was in the early 80s. I, I grew up in the 70s and 80s when I fell in love with sports and Washington was unbelievable. I mean I remember they would always talk like Summerall and Brookshire or something like his part. They would say like, oh, it's a 42 year waiting list for season tickets. Like they were on tv. That was my favorite team when I was, when I was young. They were on TV every week. Honestly, like, like the Eagles are now or the Niners are now. Like those Washington teams were great for so long and then, you know, it's amazing what bad ownership can do. J. Mac, he is ready to roll a couple bumpy weeks. He's he's back though. Next, the Herd.

Colin Cowherd (26:42)

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

Sponsor/Ad Voice (26:51)

Support for the show comes from Public the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you try transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures breaking.

Colin Cowherd (28:00)

News not everything's terrible. We repeat, not everything is terrible. The ripple effect is proof that the Internet hasn't ruined humanity entirely. Hosted by Jenna Kim Jones, it's funny and uplifting. Podcast spotlights the quiet, powerful ways people still choose good. Each episode features real stories of kindness, of barbers changing more than just their client's haircut, of the secret life, of leftover hotel soap, of vending machines that dispense just the help somebody needs, like magic. If you're tired of outrage, if your thumbs are sore from doom scrolling, or if you just need a reason to smile again, this podcast is your new favorite scroll break. It's heartfelt, hopeful, a gentle reminder. Goodness is still out there. Surprisingly contagious too. So put down your phone, pick up your faith in humanity and join Jenna for the Ripple Effect. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything. Listen to the ripple effect on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Jonas Knox from Two Pros and a Cup of Joe and Are you ready to tackle your financial goals? Kick off your journey Webull who makes it simple to start investing powerful tools, next level data and an easy to use platform for stocks, ETFs, prediction markets and more. Whether you're on the go or trading overnight, we bull is built for you and your schedule. Don't sit on the sidelines, visit webull.com or download the app and take control of your financial future today. Start with just $1. That's weble.com Webull Financial LLC member SIPC FINRA investing involves risk. For more information, visit webull.com disclosures all.

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Right, time to break down the stats.

Colin Cowherd (29:43)

From this week's major games.

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Mike, let's talk about switching up the lineup.

Colin Cowherd (29:48)

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Colin Cowherd (29:58)

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Colin Cowherd (30:05)

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Colin Cowherd (30:31)

If you pay off earlier, cancel contact T Mobile. Two games left and then the Super Bowl. Lot of questions. J. Mac thinks he has the answers to all of them. We like to call it tomorrow's headlines Today, Patriots at the Broncos. What is the headline? J. Max?

J. Max (30:57)

You're right, Colin. I have the answers. The answers to the test are right here. The headline for Patriots Broncos can't wait for it. Will be Arm Pat stains. Broncos lose BO But AD Stidham stink. I'm going to go with the Patriots here winning on the road, but a close one. I did just bet the Denver Broncos to cover the spread, but I got to go with the Patriots. I don't know that Stidham could pull off the win. But Colin, I do think the element of surprise here from the Denver Broncos and Sean Payton is something that I don't think the Patriots can prepare for. I do think this is one of these Sean Payton games. Hey, people doubted me. They thought I had Drew Brees and a superstar. You watch what I'm going to cook up. And I think he's got some interesting stuff here. Fun stat that I dug up. So Peyton with backup quarterbacks in his career. 147 against the spread. Now, a lot of that was Teddy Bridgewater in New Orleans, but I do remember, you know, when the starter goes out and you got to go to the backup. A lot of people want to fade backup quarterbacks. Not against Peyton. He's a really good X's and O's guy and a schemer. I just don't know if their offense is going to be enough to keep up with May. And Drake May is fascinating. Colin, I think we talked about it earlier this week. So he was the number one quarterback in EPA this year. One of the more important stats. But EPA dings quarterbacks who are sacked a lot. Drake May was sacked the second most in the league after Herbert. So you're like, how does that work? So what he's doing, he's like a Texas hold' em gambler, right? He's taking sacks, but he's countering with huge plays like he's. Nobody hits explosive plays like Drake May, however, of course, Denver gives up the fewest explosive plays with this great defense. And the pass rush led the league in sacks. It's a really interesting X's and O's matchup. The question is, can Stidham and they're gonna need to do it early. They can't come out and go like three and out or punt on the first couple drives. Then it's probably over. I think Denver keeps it close early and we're looking at like 27, 23.

Colin Cowherd (32:48)

Patriots game of the year. Tomorrow's headlines. Today, Seahawks hosting the Rams. One for the ages. J. Mac, what's the headline?

J. Max (32:56)

Yeah, you remember my first year on the show? I doubted the Seahawks could make the playoffs. Had to shave something in the side of my head. That was fun. Well, the headline for Rams Seahawks here will the Samorama Ding Dong Darnold ditched off playoff porch. Gimme the Rams and Chris Shula's defense going into Seattle and pulling off the upset. I like the Rams to win this outright. Colin, this, this is such a great matchup. So there is some negatives for the Rams. Besides the fact that they played an overtime game last week. Their defense was on the field for 81 plays. Right. And they have a day less because Seattle played on Saturday.

Colin Cowherd (33:32)

No question. That's what worries me a lot.

J. Max (33:34)

That's a big one. But this is one of my big counters. Colin. I'm not hearing anybody talk about it. We haven't touched it. Okay. The starting left tackle for Seattle, his backup and the third stringer all missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Your left tackle going against Jared Verse. All of them missed practice this week. Now, there's hope that the starter is able to play, but the backup plan, according to Seattle insiders, is, oh, we'll move Gray Zabel, our guard, out to left tackle like the Bears did with Joe Tuney last week. And Tunney did great. Colin Tuney is a veteran all pro. Gray Zabel's a rookie now. He's going up against Jared Verse. And compounding matters, you got the Zach Charbonnet injury, he's their best blocking back. You keep him in the backfield to block against the blitz. Kenneth Walker can't block anybody. Now, Kenneth Walker's explosive on runs and pass catching, but I'm just telling you, this Rams defense with Chris Shula, I'm just blown away by how good he is. I'm on record. I think he's going to be the next Pittsburgh Steelers coach. I think it's, it would be a phenomenal hire. He's going to get a job in this cycle. He has done masterful work against Caleb Williams, by the way, against Sam Darnold in the last three games. Chris Shula's defense, seven interceptions, 13 sacks. Now, one of that was when he was with Minnesota in the playoff game and Shula just had him seeing go. Sacked him nine times. But I like the Rams here. Devonte back, Dotson full go. Give me The Rams and McVeigh winning tomorrow's headlines today.

Colin Cowherd (34:57)

Let's talk about a couple of these new coaches. Oh, Harbaugh, the Giants. Let's see what Max J. Mac has to say about the team he hates the most.

J. Max (35:05)

Obviously the show's fun when we agree. Right? But it's also fun when we disagree. The headline for the New York Giants next season will be big blue suede shoes, New York royalty still waiting to be king. I'm sorry, there will be no playoffs. Colin, I'll give you eight wins, maybe nine. But I have looked at the opponents. Now the schedule order is not out yet. This is one of the toughest schedules in the league. Seven of their 17 games against playoff teams. Okay, at home they get San Fran and Jacksonville. You know, timing will matter. Jacksonville going to New York in December could, could be big. These are a couple of their road games at Seattle, at the Rams, at the Texans, and I can't read my handwriting on the other one, but they basically have brutal. Oh, at the Eagles, obviously they have the home and away. Colin. Oh, Houston is the final game. This is going to be a very tough schedule. He's got to work out some kinks with the, the offensive line. It's good. Well, I'm not willing to call it great, you know, scam, scatter. Boo. Are we really banking on him being like a difference maker, like a Barkley or C. Mac? I think we need to pump the brakes a little bit. Eight or nine wins, second or third in the division?

Colin Cowherd (36:16)

Third.

Colin Cowherd (36:16)

Okay.

J. Max (36:17)

What are you laughing at? Okay, Cowboys, Cowboys, Washington. Who's in the cellar in the NFC East?

Colin Cowherd (36:24)

Not going to be the Giants. All right, tomorrow's headlines today. Well, what about Stefanski and the Falcons? What say you, man?

J. Max (36:32)

I, I can't quit these damn Falcons, Colin. I mean, you know, you laugh at me every week. I bet on them. So now they bring in Stefanski, two time coach of the year. The headline for Kevin Stefanski and the Falcons will be NFL New Falcon League. Falcons put the fun in Stefanski. Oh, yeah, baby. Michael. Michael Bennett's returns. Listen, I'm just telling you this. Bijan Armstrong, Drake London combo. That's one of the best receiver running back combos in the league. I looked at their free agents. They're not losing many dudes. Couple older guys. Kyle Pitts is the one to watch. Do they tag him? Do they bring him back? He'll have interest from the Chiefs and others. I just. The real reason I like this team is that the Falcons defense really showed up this season, Colin. They got very good. Remember that win over the Rams at the end of the year. The kid Pierce they drafted out of Tennessee showed. Well, I think this is the division winner. Clearly. I know the Saints have improved and you like Carolina and Baker Mayfield's over here talking trash on Twitter. Give me Stefanski and the Falcons to win the division.

Colin Cowherd (37:34)

Okay, that was a fun headline. Finally, Buffalo Bills still in the middle of their coaching search. Tomorrow's headlines today. I'm told you have a sixth mystery headline.

J. Max (37:48)

Yeah, well, we're trying to keep that a secret. Buffalo Bills. You know I said their super bowl windows closing. You couldn't brush that off fast enough. Like it was a garbage. Take the headline for Buffalo. It will be the Daybowl is in the details. Hot seat finds cold comfort. I'd like Brian Dabel to go back to Buffalo. Come on, this Phillip river stuff, is this misdirection? What the hell's going on here? Seems goofy. I do think the Daybowl fit is good. My only concern is, is that viewed as too safe of a call. Hey, Josh. It worked with Josh. Let's bring him back. Do they need to go away from the quote unquote family? But I think Dable is a really sharp offensive mind. I'll remind people Jackson Dart didn't do it by himself this year. Jackson Dart emerged and Brian Dabel had him kind of rolling on offense. Remember, they went and hung 32 on the Broncos in Denver. I think Dable is a sharp mind. I think Dable will be good with Josh Allen. I just. I don't think they're ever going to get to a Super Bowl.

Colin Cowherd (38:46)

All right. That'd be disappointing.

J. Max (38:47)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (38:49)

Good stuff. Tom Brady, speaking of good stuff, was on for 20 minutes earlier. It is. It was funny because I was writing this morning, I was looking at the Seahawks, Rams, the 10 best players, and it is remarkable. You get to like Kobe Turner at 11 and Devonte Adams at 15. I mean, it did Leonard Williams Murphy, the defensive tackle. I mean, Seattle is just. These teams are incredible. I mean, the Rams literally have two great interior defensive linemen. You got Young and Jared Verse on the end. But it was the offense last week that was virtually perfect. You know, you're not. No turnovers, no drop passes.

J. Max (39:26)

Can I remind you, devonte Adams led the NFL in receiving touchdowns and you had it behind Kenneth Walker.

Colin Cowherd (39:32)

Well, I'm just. I'm just telling you, I. Quentin Lake, if you. If you were banged up for a stretch, it was hard for me to put you on. And devonte, I love devonte and that. That dude takes shots. I mean, I swear to God, winning.

J. Max (39:46)

His first NFC championship game. He's 0 and 4. This is his fifth trip. He's got to get to a Super Bowl. We need Devonte in the Super Bowl. I mean, that guy's a stud. I, I'm projecting a big game from Adams.

Colin Cowherd (39:58)

Here's, here's Brady on the Rams momentum going into this game.

Sponsor/Ad Voice (40:03)

You give the Rams coaching staff so much credit for a performance like that in Chicago last week. You're talking about a team that probably had a 70 degree temperature difference from leaving LA to landing in Chicago. That lack of penalties, obviously no turnovers and the drop passes, that's just, I'm very jealous of receivers that don't drop balls too, by the way, that's a great stat for any quarterback, but they're doing all the right things. This is a surgical offense. They have so many weapons. Everybody touches it. You've got to account for everybody. They have a precise passing game. They have a ball control offense. There's a lot of ways the Rams can win too.

Colin Cowherd (40:44)

Yeah, it's. Their special teams are a little dicey. It's, it is, it's just incredible. These two organizations out west have just drafted the hell out of April. God, they just, I mean the Rams, Puka is a fifth rounder. Kyron Williams is a fifth rounder. I mean they have a, they have a six round receiver in Jordan Whittingham, seventh round receiver from Pittsburgh. Their left tackles undrafted. Landman was undrafted when he was at Atlanta. You know, you know, Verse is a first rounder. Matt Stafford was a number one pick. The Rams have found tons of talent in the mid rounds. The Seahawks have found some of that. But what Seattle's done well is they don't miss on their first and second round picks. They're all studs. So, so much of this league. That's, that's why the. I've always loved the NFL draft. Nobody has aced their first two or three picks on an annual basis better than Seattle. The Rams have not had a lot of first round picks. They have crushed in round four and round five. Even Cooper cup was a third round pick. He's now a Seahawk. So speaking of draft, Fernando Mendoza has officially declared for it. He will be the number one pick. I asked Tom, he was at the Natty. What do you make of Mendoza?

Sponsor/Ad Voice (42:07)

He's played tremendous, you know, all season 16 oh leading his team. And again, he's another guy that, you know, when you hear him speak, you know, I always kind of judge quarterbacks and go, how would I have answered that? And he's just a very mature young man and he's got a bright future. And you know, everybody coming into the league, there's still so much room for development. Nobody's a finished product. I don't care whether you're a won the Heisman or you're the 199th pick in the draft. It's what do you do when you get there? How important is this to you? Are you obsessed with your job? Are you obsessed with being the best you can be? How can you be the best teammate? How can you work hard? How can you play smart? How can you play tough? How can you play well under pressure? How well can you play in tough conditions? And then ultimately, how well can you play in championship games? And all those things remain to be.

Colin Cowherd (42:55)

Seen for the record in the College Football Playoff. If you look at Mendoza's numbers, he was just incredible. Completion percentage above 70. And I said, I, I thought he was good all year. When I saw him that road game at Penn State, it was like, in that last drive, it was like, wow, that is different level stuff. That is really hard to do. All right, thanks to Tom Brady, Brian Baldinger, J. Mac. See you Monday.

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