← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
What's Wright - Best Of - Ravens FIRE John Harbaugh, Top 5 NFL Playoff Storylines + Wild Card Predictions | Nick Wright
00:59:19
Loading summary
Transcript133 lines
- [00:00]
TJ Maxx Advertiser
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human New Year.
- [00:06]
Nick Wright
Same extra value meals at McDonald's. So now get two snack wraps plus fries and a medium soft drink for.
- [00:13]
CarMax Advertiser
Just $8 for a limited time only. Prices and participation may vary. Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska and California. And for delivery in the heat of.
- [00:20]
Lenovo Advertiser
Battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech@lenovo.com Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't flip. Push your gameplay beyond performance. Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power up@lenovo.com lenovo.
- [00:46]
Nick Wright
Lenovo.
- [00:50]
Odoo Advertiser
Running a business is hard enough. Don't make it harder with a dozen apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. That's software overload. Odoo is the all in one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, E Commerce, hr. Fully integrated, easy to use and built to grow with your business. Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you try Odoo for free at o d o o.com that's odoo.com@tj.
- [01:22]
TJ Maxx Advertiser
Maxx feel more you than ever without compromise because we never make you choose the quality you want, the styles you and the prices you love. It's all at TJ Maxx so you can focus on just being you. With so many fines arriving daily, that means so many ways to show your unique style. Shop in store and online@tjmaxx.com and Max, what makes you you?
- [01:51]
Nick Wright
Welcome to the Best of the Week for what's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy. The Steelers beat the Ravens in just an epic final game 272 of the 2025 NFL season. And before I get to how seriously I'm taking the Steelers, the real story is of course this season from Baltimore. And the developing story is that at the moment it's 10:45am Eastern on January 6th. What was happening five years ago? Today at this time it's 10:45 Eastern or six years ago. It's on at this time, I should say. And John Harbaugh still has a job. So right now it's status quo in Baltimore and we'll get into that piece of it as well. But first, I do want to show actual empathy. And I mean this. This isn't tongue in cheek this isn't me being a smart ass, this isn't me doing any subtle I told you so stuff about Lamar who had such an interesting game Sunday night. But over the last 10 years it is hard to find a franchise that has dealt with more end of season stomach punches than the Baltimore Ravens and it's literally nine of the last 10 years. So if I may go through it just quickly because this does the Ravens, because they've had such success compared to mediocre or bad franchises and because they've got a two time MVP and a coach people historically have really liked and they've won two Super Bowls this decade. I'm sorry, this century people don't look at them as like a cursed, cursed franchise. But here are how the last 10 seasons have ended in Baltimore 2016 the 8 and 6 Baltimore Ravens are playing the 9 and 5 Pittsburgh Steelers. It is on Sunday Night Football with the de facto division title on the line. The Ravens have a three point lead. I don't know if it was a three or a four point lead. I'm going to check because I want to make sure I have it right. They have a three point lead with 10 seconds left and Ben Roethlisberger throws just short of the goal line to Antonio Brown who gets hit and stopped and Pittsburgh has no timeouts. He stopped short of the goal line and as he's going down he turns around, reaches the ball over the back of his head. Touchdown. Division title. Baltimore loses the next week and misses the postseason. The next year Baltimore is in a win and in scenario in Week 17 against the GoT nothing to play for Cincinnati Bengals and Andy Dalton they have them in a 4th and 12 with 40 seconds remaining and the Bengals hit a 60 plus yard game winning insane touchdown pass to end the Ravens season. The next year is the one year the reason I said nine out of ten with heartbreak. The one year that didn't end in heartbreak. The next year the team's not good throws a figurative Hail Mary by going to Lamar Jackson at the mid. You know, late in the year Lamar rips off a bunch of wins, they sneak into the playoffs, they get absolutely crushed in round one. But you had real reason for optimism. Didn't expect necessarily, you didn't expect to look as bad as you did in round one against the Chargers, but whatever. But 2016, you lose a week 16 game for the division in the final seconds. 2017 you lose a winning urine game on a fourth and 12 to Andy Dalton. 2019 you have the number one seed, you have the unanimous MVP and you get dog walked by the Tennessee Titans in your first playoff game. 2020. It is a 103 snowy cold weather defensive battle in the divisional round. You are inside the 10 yard line going in for the game tying touchdown. Is the waning Moments of the fourth quarter. Approach of the third quarter. In the waning moments of the third quarter, Lamar Jackson, pick six. You lose the game right there. 2021, you're eight and three. Lamar Jackson gets banged up. His coach thinks he'll be back soon. He never comes back. You finish 8 and 9. 2022, you're having another solid year. You're 9 and 4. Lamar Jackson gets banged up. His coach thinks he's coming back. You limp to the finish line but make the playoffs anyway. And you're 17:17 in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals with Tyler Huntley at quarterback. You're on the goal line. You run a quarterback sneak, Fumble return, touchdown, 99 yards. Lose that playoff game. 2023. You're the number one seed again. You have a home playoff game. You're the number one DVOA team, the number one DVOA defense. You have the MVP of the league at quarterback. You turn the ball over three times in that game, including a goal line fumble by Zay Flowers, an in zone pick by Lamar Jackson. You lose 17 to 7. 2024. Lamar is the best year of his career, arguably despite not winning mvp. You get the Buffalo Bills again. You have a furious second half comeback culminating in a two point conversion attempt to a wide open Mark Andrews. He fumbles in 2025. You have a season from hell, but you can make up for all of it by beating your hated rival Pittsburgh Steelers. And you have another unbelievable fourth quarter by Lamar, including a fourth and seven conversion to Isaiah likely to give you a chip shot field goal and your rookie kicker Tyler Loop gax it. That is nine out of 10 years of utter heartbreak. And the one year that was not included in the heartbreak was getting just annihilated in a playoff game. Lamar's rookie season. That is torture. And I got real empathy for Ravens fans, honestly. And it's one of the reasons I'm so surprised John Harbaugh still the coach, because even if that's not his fault, there's too much scar tissue at this point and it sure feels like a change needs to be made. Now on the game itself, how do we evaluate Lamar's play such a weird game? Because for the first three quarters, and Collinsworth said it on the broadcast early in the fourth quarter, Lamar's 5 of 10 for 67 yards and wasn't running the ball and had done nothing. And then in the fourth quarter he played the best quarter of his life including two of the best plays of his entire career. The two free rushers sandwiching him him him avoiding that sack and then hitting Zay flowers on a 50 plus yard touchdown. As amazing as that was, I don't know if that was a better play than the fourth and seven season on the line. Perfect throw and even better catch by likely to set up the chip shot field goal so Lamar, you In sports it doesn't matter how big of a hole you dig yourself. Ask my guy Trevor with his four interception playoff game if your brilliance digs you out of it. The last two years, the game ending losses for Baltimore, it is felt like Lamar helped dig them a big hole and then dug them this close to out of it with brilliant play and then mistakes by other people cost him the full vindication. Mark Andrews cost him a shot at overtime and Tyler Loop cost him a win. But how do we do the math on that? It it'd be ridiculous to pin the loss on Lamar, but it would also be ridiculous to give him credit for coming through in a game that they lost. And in part they lost because in the Bills game last year and the Steelers game this year, really really shaky first half performances including a turnover or in the Bills game a couple turnovers. So that part is hard to parse and history probably won't remember the details as much as more big games that the Ravens were favored in. And that's the other piece that I even mentioned in this favored in that game against the Chiefs, favored in the game against the Bills, favored in the game against Pittsburgh. Lost, lost, lost. Now the very end of the game, Should John Harbaugh have attempted to put Tyler Loop in a better position? The easy answer is yes. Why didn't he? The uncomfortable answer is because Derek Henry had a fumbling problem this year.
- [14:44]
Odoo Advertiser
And.
- [14:47]
Nick Wright
All of that matters. The the fact that the Ravens moved on from Justin Tucker to a rookie kicker mattered this year. The fact that Derrick Henry fumbled early in the year and seemed to be in his head about it, despite how brilliant he was. If it wasn't in his head, it was in Harbaughs. Because you had 14 seconds, you had one timeout and you were staring at a 41 yard field goal in the toughest stadium to kick in in the sport. And instead of asking Derrick Henry to make it a 35 yard field goal or maybe a 0 yard field goal, if he pops one, you made it a 44 yard field goal because you don't want to risk the turnover. Also, Lamar told us that not long before Tyler Looped and I don't know if Harbaugh knew this, not long before Tyler Loop goes to take the kick that will define his entire NFL career. Most likely Lamar flipped out on him on the sidelines. He kicked the ball out of bounds. That's got to be tough for the rookie kicker. I don't know how confident he was walking into that kick and we only the cameras didn't catch that. Lamar told us that after the game. But ultimately the, the reason the Ravens lost was because they were not a good team this year. They were an 8, 9 team in every fashion. They had moments of brilliant defense and moments of horrific defense and that was over the course of the season. And in, in the final game of the year, their quarterback had moments of brilliant play and moments of the shakiest play of his career. That was all season. And in week 18 they are coached by a special teams coach and the special teams were shaky throughout the season and then they lost it for him in week 18. That was not a great football team and that was not a team that had they won they were going to be super dangerous, even though people tried to convince themselves they would be. That was a team that needed the Cleveland Browns and Shador Sanders to win a week 17 game just to make week 18 matter for them. And so why will this team be different next year? Well, right now as I keep checking my phone for an update, it doesn't look like they're going to be which Lamar was asked after the game if he wants Harbaugh back next year and he said, I can't focus on that right now. We just lost. Which is a damning and telling answer. And I have been of the informed belief that Lamar is over John Harbaugh. Lamar's answer to the, to that question just furthered that belief, which again is not naked speculation. And if I were the Ravens, I'd almost always pick the player over the coach. It doesn't seem like they have any interest in moving on from Lamar, so I just assumed they knew they had to move on from Harbaugh. And again, by the time you listen to this, maybe that will have happened. But it has not happened yet. And the Lamar contract situation becomes very tricky because he has got two years left on what is now a drastically under market deal that averages $52 million a year. The top of the market's now 60. Also, they need to rework that deal because it's got a cap hit of $75 million next year and the year after, which is completely untenable. And lamar, who turns 29 tomorrow and is coming off his worst year as a pro and a year with five injuries, is going to want a top of market, fully guaranteed contract. And if the Ravens keep John Harbaugh, what was already going to be a very tough contract negotiation for the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar I think will get that much tougher. So I don't want to spend too much time right now on the Lamar future Harbaugh future angle just because I still feel like this could become dated in hours. Because I still feel feel like the Ravens are probably moving on from Harbaugh, but it hasn't happened yet. We will get Deman's thoughts on this and I will explain why I think the Steelers are an actual threat in just a moment. But first, today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet, Florida's Sportsbook and the official sportsbook partner of your favorite Florida team. Like my teams like my Jags, the Bucks. They were my Bucks. Man oh man, the Heat, the Magic and hey, the Panthers. Playoffs kick off this weekend. If you've got the script on how it's going to play out, build the same game parlay on Hard Rock Bet and turn game day into payday. Or if you're more into hardwood than the gridiron, you can put up shots on the NBA in college every night on Hard Rock Bet, your home for hoops action all season long. You can even combine your football and basketball bets. If you've got a playoff parlay, add an NBA bet or player prop to it and turn up the payout. And if you missed the start of the game, don't worry. Hard Rock Bet has live in game betting, so you're never too late to bet any football or hoops game all season. Find a winner or grab that player prop you had circled and bet live in just a few easy taps. 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. The Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook app is the only legal sportsbook for whenever you're in Florida, and it's also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. Coming soon to more states too. Plus Hard Rock Bet offers new promos every single day, so whenever you're listening, just open the app and check out what they've got. Any day of the week, download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. To play terms and cond. Apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call 1-833-play- wise in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 1-800-9 with it gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia let me tell you about.
- [23:31]
Richard Sherman
Ready or Not, the tactical first person shooter where you take command of a SWAT team and feel the weight of the badge. Recently I reunited with my Legion of Boom teammates Cliff Averill, Cam Chancer, Michael Bennett and Walter Thurman. We partnered with Ready or Not to go through actual SWAT training and film the whole experience. Watch it now at the Richard Sherman Podcast YouTube channel. Here's what makes this game different it's not just mindless run and gun. Just like the Legion of Boom built an elite defense on strategy and teamwork, Ready or Not demands the same mentality you're commanding a SWAT team, clearing rooms, protecting civilians, making tactical calls as a coordinated team with 18 missions that challenge you in completely different ways. Every operation demands that same discipline and teamwork. Best part? Try it for free for a limited time on PlayStation and Xbox. Go solo or squad up with five players in full crossplay support. If you want strategic, high stakes action that rewards elite tactics and fast thinking, then this is the game for you. Try Ready or Not for free today on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Want to sell your car your way?
- [24:49]
Nick Wright
Who wouldn't?
- [24:50]
CarMax Advertiser
That's why CarMax offers a car selling experience designed just for you with online and in store options. Want to know what your car is worth quickly? Get an online offer in under two minutes. Want to think it over? Use OfferWatch to keep tabs on your car's value over time. Plus, CarMax offers flexible selling options with express drop off in store or pickup at home. Selling your car is in your control with CarMax. Want to drive CarMax pickup? Not available everywhere. Restrictions and fee may apply. See carmax.com for details.
- [25:18]
Odoo Advertiser
Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder With a dozen different apps that don't Talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. Before you know it, you are drowning in software instead of growing your business. This is where Odoo comes in. Odoo is the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that handles everything CRM, accounting, inventory, E commerce, HR and more. No more app overload, no more juggling logins, just one seamless system that makes work easier. And the best part? Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. It's built to grow with your business with whether you are just starting out or already scaling up. Plus it's easy to use, customizable and designed to streamline every process so you can focus on what really matters running your business. Thousands of businesses have made the switch, so why not you Try Odoo for free@odoo.com that's o d o o.com in.
- [26:19]
Lenovo Advertiser
The heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech@lenovo.com Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. Push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power up@lenovo.com lenovo lenovo.
- [26:50]
Nick Wright
All right Damanze, let's get to Harbaugh before before we get to some of the other games.
- [26:55]
Damanze
All right. So sadly after 18 seasons, 12 postseason appearances in a Super bowl ring, the Ravens are parting ways with John Harbaugh. You everything but called this on Tuesday but now that it's official, where are the Ravens going?
- [27:09]
Nick Wright
So it's really interesting Interviewing Brian Flores found that out today. I I would be really Interested in Mike McDaniel just got fired and a lot of people are connecting Harbaugh to the Dolphins.
- [27:27]
Damanze
Couldn't see him coach.
- [27:29]
Nick Wright
Couldn'T see who coaching was.
- [27:31]
Damanze
I couldn't see Harbaugh coaching in Miami.
- [27:34]
Nick Wright
Well I I think there's like a weird Steve I think I should know this. I think there's some Michigan connections, Stephen Ross, but doesn't matter like the I think it'd be hard to go from Lamar Jackson to two but they're not even going to have to like what are they going to do? I don't know. Miami's in a tough spot. I what's funny? Not funny but what's interesting is I thought Mike McDaniel as the Ravens offensive coordinator was an awesome idea. Like that running game that he developed. Except you have Lamar and Derrick Henry. Like that would be, you know, Mike McDaniel as I would like Matt Nagy's leaving the Chiefs. I know it's different systems and everything, but man, oh man, Mike McDaniels the Chiefs offensive coordinator is something I'm super intrigued by, even though I think it's very unlikely now. Maybe McDaniel thinks he's going to step into a head coaching job. That would surprise me. I don't. I don't think he's going to go right, but maybe he will. His record wasn't terrible. The team didn't quit at the end and some people might be like, look at what he did with tua. As far as the Ravens decision on firing Harbaugh, I there was no decision guys. The and I've done enough victory lapping on Twitter so I don't need to and it's not, not, not victory lapping about someone losing their job. To be clear. Victory lapping on I told you guys all year there was a problem between Lamar and Harbaugh and you guys thought I was just I spun a wheel. People thought like oh, Nick just decided today he's going to create this out of thin air as opposed to a paying close attention to the incredibly odd objective fact that they didn't communicate about how hurt he was and also having a little behind the scenes insights. So their ability to ensure Lamar was a Raven for life and was a Raven next year was going to be kneecapped had they kept Harbaugh. So they didn't. So they move on. And even though tell me if this makes sense to you to Monze the odds are the next coach of the Ravens is not nearly as good of a coach as John Harbaugh. But that doesn't mean that coach won't be the one to get him over the hump. He might be a worse coach, but also like that they just need something new or better luck or whatever it is and that it felt like you couldn't just run it back again with Harbaugh. So I felt like the move needed to be made. Even though I think Harbaugh is an excellent coach. That track to you?
- [30:38]
Damanze
Yeah, I definitely don't think the next coach that we would get will be better or as good as John Harbaugh. I think that's going to be pretty hard to find. Belichick wanted them to coach. Yes, 100%.
- [30:50]
Nick Wright
Yeah. So it sounds contradictory. The Belichick Thing so interesting. Had he not had this embarrassment of a year in his coaching, he'd be.
- [31:00]
Damanze
First in line, I imagine.
- [31:01]
Nick Wright
Yes, I really think so. And you wouldn't care that it. That he's old, that it's not long term? Because it's like, no, we just need to get over the hump. Lamar for Harbaugh, obviously, I think he could have his pick of jobs. If I'm John Harbaugh, I don't know that I want any of these jobs. I certainly. Because it was reported yesterday that he's going to wait a week before he starts taking interviews. I think that's smart because I'd be awful interested in if the Eagles, Bills or Packers lose in round one to any of those teams. Ownership decide we're going to fire our coach to hire Harbaugh now. On that note, I think Cincinnati should reach out to Harbaugh's agent today and be like, if this job was open, would he take it? And if the answer is yes, I'd fire Zach Taylor. Now, that's not really Cincinnati style. For Philadelphia, it might sound harsh. Sirianni is literally the defending super bowl champion, but Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Laurie have never cared about being harsh. They drafted Carson Wentz number two overall, gave him a huge contract, moved on from him. Doug Peterson won a Super bowl with Nick Foles, then won a playoff game the next year with Nick Foles. They moved on from him. They moved like they will. If they think they can get better, they will move on from somebody. And I think Harbaugh, who came, like, started coaching in Philly. I think that's really interesting there. Buffalo, less interesting. And he. Danny explained. I didn't quite follow it. He has some real, like, Green Bay ties about, like his. Who his agent is and the Green Bay. I don't totally follow. It doesn't matter. But it seemed like lafleur midway through the season. There was a little scuttlebutt about LeFlore not being quite as safe as people thought and how he hadn't gotten an extension. So if I'm horrible, I just want to wait and see. Do what does a job come open where the quarterback is set? Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love? Or am I going to have to roll the Jackson Dart dice or Atlanta with Michael Penix? Like, so that's what. That's what I think is those places.
- [33:46]
Damanze
If you went over there, will be more likely to move off the quarterback though, right? Like, it's like, oh, he's obvious. It's not the coach that's the problem. It's the quarterback more likely to have a little bit more control over who's coming in.
- [33:57]
Nick Wright
Oh yeah, I mean I think John Harval get whatever he wants because there's also not another great head coaching option out there. Yeah, it's not like there's also Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh waiting in the wings. It's or Ben Johnson, you know that that guy doesn't seem to exist this cycle. Now let me say this about what this means. Pardon me guys, what this means for Lamar.
- [34:29]
Damanze
Come come with it next year too.
- [34:32]
Nick Wright
They have changed defensive coordinators multiple times since he's been there. Again, no culpability on his end for that. Just stating a fact. They've changed offensive coordinators multiple times and they're about to do it again. They've now changed head coaches. They brought in Derrick Henry who has been nothing but dominant since he became a Raven. We can argue about how good these picks were, but since Lamar has been there, they have spent three first round picks on wide receivers. They perennially lead the league or near the top of the league and Pro Bowlers on the roster. And now I believe with reason to believe he got what he wanted and he's getting a new head coach. Gotta go be awesome now. And more than being awesome, you gotta be available. You want to know a shocking fact Damanze? In the last five years, Lamar Jackson and always injured brittle Joe Burrow have played the exact same amount of games.
- [35:53]
Damanze
No.
- [35:56]
Nick Wright
That'S true. I'm not making that up.
- [35:58]
Damanze
That is an insane stat.
- [36:01]
Nick Wright
In the last five years, Lamar Jackson has played 70 regular season games and four playoff games. And Joe Burrows played 67 regular season games and seven playoff games to the tune of them both playing in the last five years. 74 games in the last five years. They both have played in the playoffs two years and either missed or not been healthy for the playoffs the other three years. For context on that, in the last five years Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have also played the exact same number of games. 93. So 19 games more of more than a full. A full season of playoff run of more availability. And the Lamar stat is stunning, isn't it? Because we look at Burrow as injuries always out.
- [37:01]
Damanze
I thought Lamar way more football than him.
- [37:04]
Nick Wright
Right. And with Joe we also like and they're very, what do you call it, like significant injuries, you know what I mean? Like Joe Burrow like oh he's out months with a turf toe. Oh he's out the end of the season with the ucl Lamar, they it's. I couldn't when I, I didn't know that when I was looking it up I was just like I'm curious.
- [37:31]
Damanze
They're a little ticky tack. Well I feel like with Lamar they are less crazy crucial injuries than they are.
- [37:37]
Nick Wright
Well, they're not. It hasn't been like needed surgery like Joe needed on both of his things. Right. But the it's stunning 74 games each. So he's got to be available. He turned 29 yesterday. He's going to get the biggest contract in NFL history this off season. He's got to go perform and I'm not sitting here saying he can't do.
- [38:00]
Damanze
It, but it'll be a good offseason.
- [38:04]
Nick Wright
He's come. Yeah. Pretty big off season. Pretty, pretty big off season. By the way, if you're thinking about upgrading to the all new iPhone 17 Pro, designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever, but you're also thinking about the traffic on your way to the store or transferring all your data. Good news. When you order a new phone online with Boost Mobile, they'll send an expert to your home. How about that? Or home. Or work to deliver your brand new iPhone pro and get you set up on Boost Mobile within minutes. No hassle. So you get the new iPhone, it comes right to you and a tech comes in. Get all your stuff transferred, get you set up on the network. Visit boostmobile.com to get started. Delivery available for select devices purchased@boost mobile.com terms of course do applied.
- [38:57]
Damanze
So the playoffs are officially here. Wild card weekend coming up. A lot of the big dogs are missing out of the playoffs. So with that being said, in the teams that you see, what are some of the big storylines that you'll be following in this postseason?
- [39:10]
Nick Wright
So top five storylines in order. I think I reserve the right to revise it. And I know, listen, I saw my friend Mina Kimes and Dominique Foxworth mocking this idea. But respectfully, they're wrong. The most interesting story about these these NFL playoffs are is this the year Josh Allen breaks through. I understand they're the six seed. I understand they are a flawed team with a bad run defense. But this is not Josh Allen on the Washington Generals. They have the rushing champ. They have an excellent pass defense. They have a great offensive line that there it would be. It's going to take greatness from Josh Allen to make it through on the road this playoff field, but it's doable. And I wonder I for Bill's fans forget for Josh, would Bills fans rather have a better team, the best Bills team, whatever year you think that is, but have mahomes and burrow in the field. Or a flawed team but have no Mahomes and burrow. I think Bill's fans would say give me the flawed team on the road without the boogeyman plus Joe Burrow sitting in the bracket and I think the Bills can do it now. I also think the Jags are a very dangerous team. I the I said this on tv. I don't know if I said it on here. And you'll find, you'll find out who I'm picking in this game later in the show, but I believe the winner of this game is going to win the afc. I believe in both of these teams more than I believe in the top two seeds, the Patriots and the Broncos. So that is to me storyline number one is can Josh Allen break through? That's the most interesting storyline. Storyline number two is will any of these year two quarterbacks go on a run? You have Caleb, you have Drake, you have Bo. Drake has the most well rounded team. Well, I don't know, the Broncos might be a more well rounded team than the Patriot. The Broncos. Let me re. I take that back because I actually part of the reason that I think the Patriots are better than the Broncos is because I think Drake is so much better than Bo Nicks. But if you were to, if you take the quarterbacks off of it and evaluate the rosters, it's probably Broncos number one. The Bears are an interesting one because the offense is so good, but the defense of those three teams is the shakiest. But here's what I'm getting at, De Mon. And listen, you know I don't believe in B. Knicks, but it's the number one seed and if he goes on a playoff run, I don't know what I'm going to say. Yeah, we live in a world where momes missed the playoffs and just tore his acl. Lamar missed the playoffs, his coach just got fired. Joe Burrow missed the playoffs for the third straight year. Okay, if one of these second year quarterbacks goes on a real run, wins multiple playoff games, shows up in the super bowl, whomever it is, assuming again. And I, I don't even really want to include Bo Nix in this, but I have to be fair. Assuming that it's not the 2000 Ravens way to the super bowl, that the offense more than carries its weight, which obviously would have to happen with the Patriots or the Bears, right? Does that top of the NFL, not the very top but the top ish of the NFL quarterback pyramid have to start to include one of these kids.
- [43:42]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [43:43]
Nick Wright
You know what I mean? Like the. If. If Drake May and the Patriots make the Super Bowl. I already think Drake May is probably a top five quarterback. Then it becomes undeniable if Caleb puts it all together, God forbid, if Bo Nix wins two playoff games and makes like so which of these young quarterbacks are any of them going to go on a run? And are any of these young quarterbacks, Bo at least has been to the playoffs going to have, you know, those first playoff game jitters or first real expectations in the playoffs, you know, stumble. That to me is the second biggest storyline. Go ahead. Seem like you want to say something.
- [44:24]
Damanze
No, I mean but Bo, Nick's getting there. I feel like you'd attribute that, you would attribute that to the defense carrying. I think it also depends on how they, how they do on the run.
- [44:36]
Nick Wright
Right. You gotta see how the game plays out. I think the third biggest storyline is. And again I know that I'm quarterback centric in this but because the storylines are typically. Third biggest storyline is what if Aaron Rodgers goes on a run. I don't. I don't think it's likely but after that game against Baltimore, I don't think it's impossible.
- [45:00]
Damanze
Does that elevate anywhere another Super Bowl? Yeah.
- [45:04]
Nick Wright
Yeah. I mean the guy's got four MVPs. The guy as regular season wise he's a top three quarterback of all time.
- [45:16]
Damanze
And.
- [45:18]
Nick Wright
So I obviously winning a Super bowl puts him in a. The. It's a totally different world worry to win a Super bowl. But I don't Even if he just. They break the. The Steelers break their decade long playoff win drought, pull off some upsets. They show up in a conference championship game. Be unbelievable.
- [45:42]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [45:42]
Nick Wright
And so I. And the Browns game was an abomination. But aside from that, he's been really good for the last five weeks and he gets DK Metcalf back. So.
- [45:53]
Damanze
No DK did that to us with insane.
- [45:57]
Nick Wright
I know the. And not having DK almost cost their season. Yeah. I think the fourth biggest storyline is and maybe this should have been bigger is what if the Eagles repeat.
- [46:10]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [46:10]
Nick Wright
What nobody's talking about the radar.
- [46:12]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [46:13]
Nick Wright
They've kind of been flying under the radar as a defending super bowl champion and I think it's because they have seemed flawed, so flawed all year. But if they go back like if they go back to back what that means for everyone involved on that team. All of a sudden Jalen Hurts is a no doubt. Hall of Famer. The. You know, the Howie Roseman and the Eagles. Maybe they got an argument that they, not the Chiefs, are the. The dynasty franchise. Well, I listen. The Chiefs have been to five Super Bowls in seven years now and won three. The Eagles would have been to three and four years. One, two. And then if we extend it back to Foals. It's hard to call that, like part of this. It's a different coach, it's different quarterback. But yeah, it would have been. They've been. If they win this year, that in nine years, Damanze, they went to four Super Bowls. One, three.
- [47:23]
Damanze
Right.
- [47:23]
Nick Wright
That's pretty unbelievable.
- [47:24]
Damanze
It's so hard to imagine them repeating given how this season.
- [47:27]
Nick Wright
That's the thing. I just don't. It doesn't seem possible. But.
- [47:32]
Damanze
Maybe.
- [47:32]
Nick Wright
But. But they're big favorites, relatively big favorites. Against the Niners in round one. No one would be shocked if they went on the road and beat Chicago in round two. And if Chicago loses in round one, then Philly would be home for round two. Like it. There's a path there. And then number five is which of the two NFC west juggernaut teams is able to in the playoffs look the way they did most of the regular season. Which is like the best team in football for either of them, the Rams and the Seahawks. The Rams path is harder, but their quarterback is so much better. Yeah, the Seahawks, though, being at home, being rested, being healthy with that defense, in that crowd. Dude, I am not dismissing at all the very real possibility of the Seattle Seahawks winning the Super Bowl. I think that's Sam Darnold. The Seahawks can win the Super Bowl. I can't believe it. I think right now my pick would be Matt Stafford in the Rams, but I think Seahawks can do it.
- [48:50]
Richard Sherman
Let me tell you about Ready or Not, the tactical first person shooter, where you take command of a SWAT team and feel the weight of the badge. Recently, I reunited with my Legion of Boom teammates, Cliff Averill, Cam Chancer, Michael Bennett and Walter Thurman. We partnered with Ready or Not to go through actual SWAT training and film the whole experience. Watch it now at the Richard Sherman Podcast YouTube channel. Here's what makes this game different. It's not just mindless run and gun. Just like the Legion of Boom built an elite defense on strategy and teamwork. Ready or not demands the same mentality. You're commanding a SWAT team, clearing rooms, protecting civilians, making tactical calls as a coordinated team with 18 missions that challenge you in completely different ways. Every operation demands that same discipline and Teamwork Best part? Try it for free for a limited time on PlayStation and Xbox. Go solo or squad up with five players in full crossplay support. If you want strategic, high stakes action that rewards elite tactics and fast thinking, then this is the game for you. Try Ready or Not for free today on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Want to buy your way?
- [50:09]
CarMax Advertiser
Of course you do. That's why CarMax offers an experience designed just for you. Want to start online, then visit the lot, then go back online? Sure. Want to talk to a real person or chat online? Either works. Want to take your time and compare all the makes and models?
- [50:22]
Nick Wright
No problem.
- [50:23]
CarMax Advertiser
Then make up some time by filling out the paperwork at home and schedule express pickup or home delivery. Done. When it comes to how you buy, CarMax puts you in the driver's seat. Want to drive? CarMax delivery restrictions apply. See CarMax.com for details.
- [50:37]
Odoo Advertiser
Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other? One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. Before you know it, you are drowning in software Instead of growing your business. This is where Odoo comes in. Odoo is the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that handles everything CRM, accounting, inventory, E commerce, HR and more. No more app overload, no more juggling logins. Just one seamless system that makes work easier. And the best part? Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. It's built to grow with your business whether you are just starting out or already scaling up. Plus, it's easy to use, customizable and designed to streamline every process so you can focus on what really matters running your business. Thousands of businesses have made the switch, so why not you? Try Odoo for free@odoo.com that's o d o o.com in the heat of battle.
- [51:39]
Lenovo Advertiser
Your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech@lenovo.com Dominate every match with next level, level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. Push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power up@lenovo.com lenovo lenovo.
- [52:10]
Nick Wright
In order to keep the 500 or better streak alive, I think four of the five years on this pod we've been 500 or better.
- [52:21]
Damanze
Yep.
- [52:22]
Nick Wright
We needed to go three and two or better the final weekend. Let's go through it because we laid two and a half with Tampa. They won by two. So now we got to go three and one down the stretch. Seattle minus one felt great the whole way. Raiders plus five and a half. I told you guys. My God, that Chiefs offense was just so bad. So now we just need one win in the late windows. Miami plus 12 felt dead pretty early. So it all came down to Pittsburgh against Baltimore and you have. I was rooting for Pittsburgh to win outright. That's great because I picked them. I know it makes you sad, but I picked them and I, and I just the. So I was rooting for it. Despite that. You should have seen how I reacted to Boswell's missed extra point. Because Boswell's missed. Missed extra point. I'm like, oh my God. Plus three and a half is home.
- [53:31]
Damanze
Yep.
- [53:32]
Nick Wright
Like now, now there's no overtime, there's no funny business. Now we the. It's either going to be a Ravens two point win or a Pittsburgh. I'm sorry, a Ravens one point win or a Pittsburgh two point win. So we got it 44. 44 and 2. Nothing to write home about. You would have lost money on it because of the vig but, but still going 500 picking games is. I'll call it difficult. I would have liked to do better. The only, the only piece of our gambling show that was dominant and we'll get to it more in a moment was Demons teasers which I am considering next year to Monze putting real funds behind like I am. I'm. I'm considering having a huge portion of my 2026 football gambling portfolio be Damanz's teasers.
- [54:34]
Damanze
I appreciate man, that's.
- [54:35]
Nick Wright
I mean you really did a great job. Well, you did a great job. You. I. It was just impressive. We'll get. We'll get to that in a moment. But now all lines are of course from Hard Rock Bet but I'm told something that there's a twist this year.
- [54:55]
Damanze
Yeah. So we're going to be picking on all the games but I'm going to be going head to head with you in picking. Picking games as well. You stepped over to the teaser landscape. I'm going to step over to the pigs landscape.
- [55:07]
Nick Wright
Okay. Love it. And so I don't know where we agree or disagree. So why don't you. So you set up the. You say the game, I'll say my pick and then you say where you stand on it.
- [55:18]
Damanze
Okay. So first we got the Rams -10 and a half at Carolina. You're taking the Rams there.
- [55:25]
Nick Wright
Listen, this is a, I believe a square play. The home favorite, home dogs, big home dogs in the playoffs are always cover. The producers tell me there have only been nine home dogs in the playoffs since 1970 of greater than four points and they're one and eight. The road favorite is one and eight against the spread. I understand that. And ten and a half is a ton of points. I just believe Carolina is not only the worst team that made the playoffs, I don't think they're a good team. I think that there were five or six teams that missed the playoffs that right now, this week I think are better than Carolina.
- [56:21]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [56:21]
Nick Wright
And the fact that the Rams played them and lost to them will give the Rams just enough appropriate fear to know it doesn't matter that we're double digit favorites. We have to take care of business. I will swallow this huge number and lay the ten and a half with the Rams. Your thoughts?
- [56:41]
Damanze
I'm taking, I'm taking Carolina there.
- [56:44]
Nick Wright
I knew you would.
- [56:45]
Damanze
I'm. Yeah, no, I'm, I'm. I trust Carolina and that's. It's a lot of points. Honestly.
- [56:52]
Nick Wright
Yeah, I was going to say you just like the points.
- [56:55]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [56:55]
Nick Wright
Which is totally fine. It's a lot of points.
- [56:59]
Damanze
So that's, that's where I am there. I mean.
- [57:01]
Nick Wright
All right, next one.
- [57:03]
Damanze
The next one. You got Chicago plus one versus Green Bay.
- [57:08]
Nick Wright
Listen, Chicago's at home and I think they're better than the packers and they have played the packers twice. Both games came down to the final moments but the packers are the, are not the same team from an injury perspective.
- [57:28]
Damanze
And Jordan Love is coming off not playing in a minute.
- [57:31]
Nick Wright
Right. Jordan, Jordan Love hasn't played. The packers obviously don't have Micah, don't have Tucker Craft. They don't have a lot of key guys. They, when they played the Bears the first time, Caleb had a pass into the end zone to potentially, you know, tie the game. I think they probably would have gone for two. He threw the pick and when they played him the second time he had the pass in overtime to win the game. I, I think the Bears are better. The Bears are home. The Bears are healthier. I did not like how the Bears played this weekend. I still think the packers won nine games because they were about the quality once everybody got hurt of a nine win team. I'll take Chicago plus one.
- [58:10]
Damanze
The Bears might have the better coach for all we know these days, but yeah, I Took Chicago there too. I don't know if you said that the.
- [58:18]
Nick Wright
Okay, so we're on the same page there. All right, next page there.
- [58:21]
Damanze
Jacksonville plus one versus Buffalo. Yeah.
- [58:27]
Nick Wright
So I'm taking the Jags plus the points and you might say what points? It's point. I gotta be honest with my dear friends at Hard Rock Bet I'm disappointed that I can't. That this isn't one and a half. And I really want that half point because I think. So let me explain my pick here, okay. I. I think Jacksonville is the more well rounded team and the team that currently is playing better. I also think Buffalo's tendency to play poor early and then rally late could be a problem for them in this game. If Jacksonville is able to shorten the game by efficient passing and running the ball with etn. I also. The reason I said I want that half point is for some reason or another deep down kind of think Buffalo is going to win this game by one. And. And so like that a 24, 23 bills win.
- [59:48]
Damanze
And.
- [59:50]
Nick Wright
So I know this is the definition of kind of having it both ways. I get that. I don't have a super strong conviction. I really liked when I thought I was going to be getting. I thought when this game I thought it was going to be Bills minus two and a half. But it was Bills minus one and a half and now it's Bills minus one. But I will take Jacksonville plus one. And to be clear because I see what the producers wrote, said number one storyline was Josh breaking through. To me those storylines were not all predictions. It was what the biggest storyline is. Will Josh break through and this bet can you know Bills, the Bills win by one. There is no way to win this pick in either direction. It would mean the lines exactly right. I just think, I think the jags there are 13 win team that's at home, that's healthy, that's playing great. They shouldn't be home dogs. So I just, I, I'm obligated to.
- [60:53]
Damanze
This pick has you scared. You're.
- [60:56]
Nick Wright
I don't love it. You never love. You never love picking against the team that you think is more likely to win because you're getting the points, but the points you're getting are one.
- [61:07]
Damanze
One.
- [61:09]
Nick Wright
You don't, you don't love that. Well, you really don't love that. But it is, I gotta say Jacksonville plus one.
- [61:15]
Damanze
I took Buffalo minus the point just because if Josh Allen does not go out there and it's going to be really bad for him, it's going to Be really bad for Buffalo, I think if they don't go out and get this win. So I took with minus the points but San Francisco plus four and a half at Philly.
- [61:32]
Nick Wright
Yeah, I'll take the Niners plus the points. Yeah, I just, I think that, I think this should be Philly minus three and it's Philly minus four and a half and I think San Francisco can win. I certainly just, I don't trust Philadelphia to look impressive offensively again against teams that had a pulse down the stretch. Beat the Bills by one. Lost to the Chargers by three in overtime. Lost to the Bears by nine. Beat the Lions, who had a pulse at that point in time, by nine. Beat the packers by three. Lost to the Broncos by four. Like they just even early in the year. Beat the Cowboys by 4. Beat the Chiefs by 3. That Rams game that you'll. Oh, they beat the Rams by seven. Not really. They were beating the Rams by one. The Rams were attempting a game winning field goal and then it got blocked and returned for a touchdown. They beat the Bucks by six. Like their wins by real margin this they're. How about more than one score wins the Giants, the Raiders, the Commanders. So and I understand it's not like I'm getting seven and a half. I'm getting four and a half but I do I thought the Niners defense played its best game in forever against Seattle and I think that if they now Trent Williams not practicing Wednesday I don't love. I've got to imagine he will play in this game Sunday. I like that this game is Sunday instead of Saturday for that purpose. I think San Francisco can win. I'm getting more than a field goal against a team whose offense is broken. I'll take San Francisco plus four and a half.
- [63:32]
Damanze
I'm riding with you there. Very. Yeah.
- [63:35]
Nick Wright
Easy side. All right.
- [63:37]
Damanze
Chargers plus four at New England.
- [63:42]
Nick Wright
I think the Pats win, but I think the Pats win by three. I'll take the four points. I. I'm underdog. Heavy but I just, I can't. This is, this would be traumatic and I understand his offensive lines. Brutal. I get it. This would be traumatic for Herbert if he lays another egg. He doesn't have to win. Like I'm not going to that they aren't as good as New England. They're on the road. I'm not going to. If he, you know, plays a normal Herbert game and they just lose, he now he's not going to get like bonus credit but I'm not going to kill him for it. But he can't lay another egg. I don't imagine he will. He's been carrying this team on the offensive side of the ball throughout the year. The defense. But the real, the real reason that I like grabbing the points here to Maze is Drake May has not faced a defense as good as the Chargers defense. I don't know if he's done it all year. Like I'm trying to think who's the best defense the Patriots faced. I, I can't find a good one. I mean, the Steelers, I guess you could argue they turn the ball over five times when they lost the Panthers like early in the year. I don't know, like the Bills. The Bills pass defense has been really good all year. Drake May threw zero touchdowns against them in two games. Now listen, this isn't me. I'm. I think the Pats are going to win, but I get four points and what I think will be a low scoring cold game at night and I just don't think it's going to be a prolific passing attack. I also think Vrabel can shorten the game if he needs to. I'll. I'll take the four points with the.
- [65:46]
Damanze
Chargers taking the four.
- [65:49]
Nick Wright
Okay, so right now our only difference is you've got Carolina plus ten and a half and you've got the Bills minus one. Other than that, we're on the same page. All right, last one.
- [66:01]
Damanze
Last. You got Pittsburgh plus three versus Houston.
- [66:04]
Nick Wright
I think Steelers are going to win. And I understand Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game in a decade. I get it. They get DK Metcalf back, they're coming off that type of victory. Houston's offense never got fixed. It got a pulse, but it never got fixed. There is this weird stat that only I care about, which is that Mike Tomlin's the greatest Monday Night Football coach ever. He's 22 and three in his career on Monday nights and 12 and oh, at home. He's been, he's been the head coach for 20 years. He's never lost a home Monday night game. This is a home Monday night game. And I think that Rogers is going to be for the first time all year to monze willing to stand in the pocket and get hit if he needs to be because they're in the playoffs. And again, just like a kind of auto gambling rule. I know it has not been a good rule in the playoffs the last decade, but Mike Tomlin at home getting points, I just gotta, I gotta be on that side of it.
- [67:19]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [67:19]
Nick Wright
So I'll take Pittsburgh plus the three.
- [67:21]
Damanze
Rogers might get mangled though.
- [67:24]
Nick Wright
He might. That would be a concern.
- [67:25]
Damanze
Yeah, I'm with you on I'm with you on that too. Pittsburgh plus three Great.
- [67:30]
Nick Wright
So we only have two differences but my my picks are the Rams minus ten and a half and then all the underdogs. Chicago plus one Jacksonville plus one the Niners plus four and a half the Chargers plus four Pittsburgh plus three this.
- [67:46]
Julian Edelman
Is Julian Edelman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jewels Sunday mornings I've got my game day ritual, coffee, lucky socks and now new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches.
- [68:00]
Nick Wright
It's all about that 12 gram protein boost with the new Uncrustables Bright Eyed Berry or Up and apple flavors.
- [68:09]
Julian Edelman
Bright Eye Berries Got a flower, Feisty receiver Energy up an apple.
- [68:15]
Nick Wright
Your classic do it all tight end.
- [68:18]
Julian Edelman
Soft, pillowy, packed with protein and easy enough for Gronk to grab from the freezer.
- [68:24]
Nick Wright
Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room, new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches are the MVP of snacks.
- [68:37]
Julian Edelman
Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here with new Morning Uncrustable sandwiches packed with 12 grams of protein.
- [68:48]
TJ Maxx Advertiser
At CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.
- [69:22]
Target/Shipt Advertiser
I already love same day delivery with Shipt, but it's so much better since I signed up for target's circle 360. Why? Because I no longer pay price markups from the majority of stores through Shipt. Only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. That means no markups on groceries, pet food, even home goods and makeup. So to recap, I have more time to catch up on life while someone shops for me and I spend less. It's a win win. Order now@shipt.com 360trees apply in the heat of battle.
- [69:53]
Lenovo Advertiser
Your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech@lenovo.com Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit Push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power up@lenovo.com Lenovo.
- [70:19]
Nick Wright
Lenovo.
- [70:22]
TJ Maxx Advertiser
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.