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The Pat McAfee Show
PMS 2.0 1275 - OVERREACTION MONDAY, NFL Wild Card Round Recap, Vikings vs. Rams Preview, Adam Schefter, Bill Belichick, Travis Kelce, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk
03:01:45
PMS 2.0 1275 - OVERREACTION MONDAY, NFL Wild Card Round Recap, Vikings vs. Rams Preview, Adam Schefter, Bill Belichick, Travis Kelce, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk
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- [00:02]
Pat McAfee
Hello beautiful people. I am live in San Jose and the boys are back in the Thunderdome on this glorious wild card overreaction. Monday, January 13th. Program starts now. Football it is wonderful. I'm live from the Shark Tank over here, AJ Hawk. And they're obviously piecing together the arena for an electrifying Monday night raw that is right around the corner live on Netflix this evening at 8pm Eastern. But also tonight, the minister Minnesota Vikings will do battle with the Los Angeles Rams in Arizona. Vikings as a two and a half point favorite. They will be wrapping up this wonderful wild card weekend in a huge way as Sam Darnold, who has reignited his entire football career with the Minnesota Vikings this year getting paid only $10 million in base salary, will battle the old grizzled veteran Matthew Stafford, who has had like four or five different conversations about whether or not he was going to retire. He had a broken frickin neck. He had won the super bow. He has all the money in the world staring down another concussion that could potentially pain him for the rest of his life with a litany of children and a wife that loves him. Does he want to continue to play? Oh, hell yeah, he does. Stafford's a football boy. So is Cooper cup and Puka Nukua. And this Los Angeles Rams team after the trade deadline came together in the most healthy fashion that they've been that they might be the wagon that could maybe go topple the Detroit Lions, who obviously be taking on the Washington Commanders next week in the divisional round of the playoffs. A lot happened over the weekend we missed on Friday. A lot happened in College Ball. That's A.J. hawk. He's live at the Thunderdome back in Indianapolis, Indiana. He's a Super bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers. He's the all time leading tackler for that particular franchise, but also he is a national champion with the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are back in the national championship. AJ Congrats to you.
- [02:04]
AJ Hawk
Work is not done.
- [02:05]
Ty Schmidt
You know that Pat. Work's not done. They still have four more quarters to go.
- [02:08]
Pat McAfee
Okay, first it was four more games after the Michigan game. Now it's four more quarters that we got to get it accomplished. I appreciate the fact that there still is a massive amount of work to be done for both of these teams if they want to become national champions. Now obviously we've had the incredible opportunity to be on the sideline for these guys. Journey to this particular moment. This Ohio State Buckeye team looks different. They look like they're better than everybody. They look like they on offense obviously have enough weapons to be maybe an NFL team. And I'm joking, I don't mean that for real. And on the defensive side, they got dogs up front that disrupt the game. Old Jack Sawyer, Copton Jack Sawyer takes a 98 or 92 yard strip sack and scored to seal a Cotton bowl dub for this Ohio State Buckeye team with a high IQ defense that Knowles has been running over there. JTT J in them have been dominant. AJ Four more quarters for this team. It's going to be an honor to watch. But they take on former Ohio State Buckeye Marcus Freeman, the freshly turned 39 year old in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish that I have not had enough respect for all season. I might say. I didn't think they were going to beat Penn State, I didn't think they were going to beat Indiana, I didn't think they were going to beat Texas A and M. I didn't think they were going to beat any team that they were on college game day to be picked about. But Mitch Jeter, with a little kiss maybe from Jesus Christ himself, blowing that thing back inside the upright. Just like what maybe happened with old Gonzalez as he banked one home for the Commanders yesterday. Jesus helps Mitch Jeter and this Fighting Irish team get to the national championship. AJ I know you said it's four more quarters of work to do, but you got to feel good taking on this Notre Dame team. If you're Ohio State and if you're Notre Dame, you're right where you want to be. Nobody thinks you can win yet again.
- [03:59]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I mean, for Ohio State, obviously we were talking on the plane ride home after these games Thursday and Friday, like what a gauntlet you have to go through if you want to find a way to win the national championship game. You got to go win four tough games against unbelievable opponents. But I mean, this is what this is. Like you said, this is why you lift all them weights. This is why you do all that stuff you don't want to do to get into this position. And man, Ohio State, Notre Dame, I think this matchup is beautiful. It's like there's so many different people that have ties to this game, to both these great universities. And I can't wait to be there, man, it's going to be amazing.
- [04:31]
Pat McAfee
Nine year NFL vet is joining over there in the Thunderdome. He's been on the sideline alongside us. What a massively magical couple. Moments that we've got to have. Darius Day Butler, ladies and gentlemen, debut. They're testing the Spotlights and such for the big show tonight. So if you see me turning to one of these numbers, that's because there's like a spaceship type light going right, a beam going right into my face. Tonight is going to be electrifying. But to AJ's point there, you got to win four straight big games if you want to. Now, the bye week was supposed to be something special. All the teams that got byes, they lost immediately upon it. But that's four straight weeks your team has to show up. Four straight weeks you got to beat a very quality opponent. Four straight weeks you got to play your best game. But Ohio State didn't even do that. They didn't even come close to playing their best game and they still beat Texas by two scores. Do you think Ohio State feels good about this whole thing or whose position would you rather be in? Debut?
- [05:28]
AJ Hawk
Oh, I mean, whose position I'd rather be in? There's no pressure on Notre Dame, no pressure at all with Marcus Freeman and that squad. But I'd rather be on the Ohio State sideline with that talent, with those coaches. You saw how the game was back and forth with Texas and it was, I feel like probably three or four plays, especially this screen right here, right before half, this was huge. Obviously in momentum and getting that seven point lead back. And then Captain Jack at the end of the game with that strip sack coming off the edge, scooping and scoring and taking it to the crib. So they have those five star players everywhere and they're kind of hitting their peak. They hit their peak throughout this playoff. You talked about all those different things you need clicking and going the right, right way for you. They also been healthy, you know, in a lot of the main positions. JTT got banged up a little bit, he was able to come back. Cody Simon got banged up, he was able to come back. Jeremiah Smith is still healthy. All their playmakers, their big time playmakers are still healthy. So yeah, I would definitely rather be on that Buckeye sideline right now. But look, Fighting Irish, they're there for a reason and now, you know, nobody's giving them a chance up to this point. And I know that's going to be the message going into this game.
- [06:31]
Pat McAfee
Two great games for the College Football Playoff semifinals, both in the Orange bowl and down there at the Cotton Bowl. But I do fear that the wild card weekend was very similar. First couple rounds of College Football Playoff, 1/2 of the Hammer D Cowboys AP Town. I saw you put a tweet out there, brother. It said, oh, isn't that interesting. Sometimes even if you have the perfect system to to find out who should make it into the tournament or into the playoffs, there's going to be blowouts because maybe there is just two different levels of teams each year. Not saying every team is going to remain at the same level that it's at each year but each year it seems like there is a little bit of a separator which is why we can deem champions. Is that what you were pointing out?
- [07:14]
Darius Butler
Yeah. Was whether it's a committee or we are just playing games, we're going based off of record and that's what gets you in the playoffs. There are, there are levels to this shit, Pat. The first round of the CFP 19 points per game was the winning margin through the first three games. After I put that tweet out yesterday of super wild card weekend the winning margin There was also 19 points per game. It finished at 14.6 point per games for the super wild card weekend thanks to the game last night that that was finally you know a close one between the Commanders and Bucs. But no, there are definitely levels to this shit. You have to be good to really good to get in the playoffs. But there are also you know the great teams in the playoffs that show up and just trouts people.
- [07:53]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And it feels like a lot of people are kind of bored with super wild card weekend. They said maybe that's why the NFL wanted to pull the word super from it. Maybe they knew that it was about to be a dud for most of those games. Now last night obviously goes into a thriller meeting two big time field goals late in that game to make it something special. And congrats to the Commanders moving over there in the NFC side. We'll talk to about here in a matter of moments especially because what's happening tonight with Adam Schefter. But let's stay on the AFC side. Let's go to the talks table have Boston Connor and anti Schmidt con man. I know you remember the glory days. The good old days with the New England Patriots were the topic of discussion when it comes to the AFC side of the playoffs. But now that we look ahead to the divisional round same four teams from the AFC are being represented and obviously the Texans over the Chargers was a surprise by a lot of us because how the Texans ended the season they beat the hell out of the Titans. But what the Texans defense just did to Herbert four interceptions for Justin Herbert who we have fallen in love with and we are a massive fan of and I think Harbaugh is about a year or two out, you know, putting that culture in. Great head start in year one over there, but Texans get a massive win. Ravens look awesome. Buffalo Bills look awesome. Con man. My question is the Chiefs are coming off a buy. We'll be talking to Travis Kelce, I think.
- [09:11]
Boston Connor
Yeah, let's hope.
- [09:12]
Pat McAfee
I think the last couple times we've said this, it ended up not working out because of a scheduling situation. But in the next hour we'll be talking to Travis Kelsey. And I know, you know, older folks in the NFL, you know, grown ass men guys have been around town a little bit. You know, the knees are worn down a little bit this late in the season. The ankles, the bye weeks killed the teams in the College Football Playoff. Are we worried about the Chiefs having a bye week there? Do we feel like the final four are going to be playing their absolute best ball this upcoming weekend?
- [09:41]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I think best ball for sure. I think with the NFL, especially with the Chiefs who have done this song and dance with the by and having that time off, getting kind of fresh almost. Andy Reid goes back into his bag, bruh and maybe draws up a few different plays. Especially after watching that Chargers Texans game. I mean the Texans, they showed it earlier today. Last time they played the Chiefs in the divisional round it was 24 nothing Texans. And then they lost 51, 31 to the Chiefs. So it's one of those things too where Chiefs might start a little slow. Who knows? Probably a little different than the Lions on the other side where the Lions have that by and they got so many dudes banged up. But with the Ravens Bills game, I think we should do a kind of pink slips almost where whoever wins gets the mvp. I think this is probably the game of the weekend at the current moment. Even after tonight's game, I think it still will be. I think between these two, it's what we've all kind of been waiting to see. And also I saw a theory on X where there's the whole 12 year theory with the Ravens. You know, every 12 years they win a Super Bowl 2000, 2012 and now 2024. There is also kind of an extension, that theory where the Ravens the year before they won the super bowl lose in heartbreaking fashion. After being the one seed, which happened last year with the Chiefs, the Ravens were the one seed. Chiefs come to town, they lose in heartbreaking fashion. Ladarius Neb punch out Zay Flowers right on the goal line. Then in, you know, the year after that would happen, the Ravens have to go on the road and win two games to then go on and win the Super Bowl. So the stars might be aligning for the Ravens, but I do believe that this should be an MVP game. If Josh Allen wins, he can get the trophy at midfield right after. And if the Ravens win, Lamar can get the trophy at midfield right after and in front of all Buffalo.
- [11:29]
Pat McAfee
I assume they'll be able to get that done. You know, I assume the NFL will be able to kind of slide the MVP determiner into this particular game as opposed to the normal vote, because we all saw the vote that came out Lamar Jackson, first team all pro quarterback, I think, for like the last 100 years or something like that. Since a running back has won it or any other position has run it, won it. Any quarterback that has been the first team all Pro or AP quarterback has also won the mvp. Is that the right stat that I was reading, Tone?
- [11:58]
Darius Butler
Yeah, you are correct. For the last billion years.
- [12:00]
Gumpy
Yes.
- [12:01]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. So it feels like Lamar Jackson has won that mvp. Congrats to him.
- [12:06]
Ty Schmidt
When did we find out who Tone voted for?
- [12:08]
Darius Butler
That's a good question.
- [12:13]
Boston Connor
Muted.
- [12:14]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, I think Pat got muted over there. Pat, I don't know if you can hear yourself or not. I believe you got muted.
- [12:19]
AJ Hawk
Oh, we can't hear you.
- [12:20]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, yeah, we cannot hear you. What if we were messing with him? What if we were doing what we do to guess something?
- [12:24]
Boston Connor
That'd be screwed up.
- [12:25]
Ty Schmidt
It would be, but. But we're not doing that.
- [12:27]
Boston Connor
Obviously, we cannot hear you.
- [12:29]
AJ Hawk
It's another layer to that Baltimore theater.
- [12:31]
Pat McAfee
There you are.
- [12:31]
Darius Butler
You're back.
- [12:31]
Boston Connor
Boom, you're back.
- [12:33]
Pat McAfee
We are back. That is great news. Great news to be back. So congrats to Lamar and obviously what he was able to do on Saturday. That ball to Bateman, that touchdown, we just showed what a perk, the timing, the precision. Is that a third or two the amount of sauce that you needed to have on that particular. And then obviously, anytime they're just handing a ball off to Derrick Henry and just continuing to run the rock. Run the Rock, run the rock. Like, Lamar doesn't have to throw as much. And then when he had to step up and make a throw, he did. And it was like not just he did. There were tough throws, perfect throws. He was running all over the place. I think they had TJ Watt crashing on running back for every single rpo, as opposed to maybe what they had done in the past. I don't remember Lamar. Lamar having that much free access all the time on an rpo, but that was fun. To watch. I was old school Lamar. So Lamar showcased everything that he is and everything that he has become as a quarterback. Obviously, the conversation with Deion Sanders after he gets draft number 32 to the Baltimore Ravens was one that was awesome. Like, this dude's driven. They can get all I got. They're going to get a Super bowl out of me. Was exactly what Lamar Jackson said. Every single day he comes into the NFL behind Joe Flacco, then he takes over the Baltimore Ravens. Invest in Lamar Jackson style. What was Lamar Jackson style out? Well, he's going to run a lot because when he has the ball in his hands, he's different. We all remember the highlights, the jumping spin, spin moves on people in the middle of nowhere. I think it was against Cincinnati. Then he's got some down the sideline, then he's pulling away against people. And then every single year he went to work in the off season, not only shaking and baking jet skis on beaches, but also throwing the ball all over the yard. What his arm has become in the moments that they've become him is special. I mean, he's making the right decisions. His team is loaded. Mark Andrews, who is a friend of the program, is a monster, likely is an absolute beast. Derrick Henry goes bananas. They got a team in Baltimore, and then when they take on this Buffalo Bill squad, oh, get off me there. Likely said, by the way, nice. Get off of me. Derek Henry to his former teammate. Did he play with Minka at Alabama?
- [14:35]
AJ Hawk
I believe so.
- [14:36]
D. Buck
I think so. Yeah.
- [14:37]
Pat McAfee
Well, that was first drive, wasn't it? That was first drive. Tough. He went hand to throat to him. I mean, that was the Baltimore Ravens just. I mean, they pummeled the Pittsburgh Steelers. They just. They just met Pittsburgh on a street maybe down there in the south side and just punched them right in the mouth. And then when the Steelers stood back up, they punched him in the mouth again. Then when he stood back up, they punched him in the mouth again. They just physically beat the shit out of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tone Diggs, Minka, Fitzpatrick, obviously getting tossed there by Derek Henry. I saw Bill Carr say it wasn't that they lost, it was how they lost is what Bill Cower said. And then I saw Billy Bones, you know, and his reactions on the Internet. And I think they echo a lot of Pittsburgh. Was it because it was Baltimore that just manhandled you that was the problem? Or is it that it was any team that just manhandled you guys in the playoffs and you lose yet again in the postseason that is drawing this Massive reaction of their embarrassed by this Pittsburgh Steeler team. They want change with this Pittsburgh Steeler team. And obviously we keep doing the Tomlin thing. This ain't working. Looking for where we want to go.
- [15:50]
Darius Butler
No, I, I, it was. Embarrassing is a, is a light word. I don't know if embarrassing is strong enough. And you, the only thing out. You said everything perfectly. Except for. The only thing I'll disagree with you about is you said they kept getting back up. Nope. They, the first time they got knocked down, they never get back up.
- [16:06]
AJ Hawk
What, they fought?
- [16:08]
Darius Butler
No, there was, there was, it didn't seem to be much fight, especially on the defensive side.
- [16:14]
Pat McAfee
There's no fight.
- [16:16]
Darius Butler
Just look at the, the effort at some of, some of the players here. I mean it just it, that, it, I, that put me over the edge. That play right there. I mean, second and 20.
- [16:25]
Pat McAfee
That's not the offense. That's not the Pittsburgh Steelers offense there. That the defense. Cam Hayward just got.
- [16:30]
Darius Butler
I mean, no, that is the. Look at all. Everyone's jogging. No one's coming in hard. We talk about rallying the tackle and wow.
- [16:38]
Pat McAfee
Like Cam Hayward.
- [16:40]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, yeah.
- [16:42]
Darius Butler
Cam fights. Cam's had a great year. But no, it was the.
- [16:44]
Pat McAfee
We love Cam. We love Cam. But I'm just saying, that whole play, you go from start to finish.
- [16:47]
Darius Butler
Oh yeah, all of them.
- [16:48]
Pat McAfee
I think every single, every single player potentially has a moment where it's like, that's regret. I mean, I mean, Cam doesn't deserve that there. But yeah, normally you'd see this from like an offense, not want to jump on a fumble or something. We're kind of stand around, let it happen. And that's not what the Baltimore Ravens do. Baltimore Ravens would have pummeled there. Yeah, I get a little injury maybe. Hey, let's, let's give an extra little shot here. Let's make sure they feel us, you know, because in the end, this is a physical game. This is a violent game. We're going to want to, you know, make them feel us as opposed to just sit around and watch in a playoff game. Tony, you're right. I did not love any part about it. What do you think happens? What do you think happens? Hey, you're not gonna get rid of my tongue.
- [17:28]
Darius Butler
Coach T will 100 will be back.
- [17:31]
Ty Schmidt
Do you want him back?
- [17:32]
Darius Butler
Well, they just gave him an extension. I believe it's a three year extension. So I'm.
- [17:36]
Ty Schmidt
And it's about 50 Steelers fans want him back. Tone, we know he got an extension, but they're talking. There's all this talk of them possibly trading him, which I don't think I would.
- [17:43]
Darius Butler
I would say based on the Internet, everything that I've seen, everything I talk to back home, it's about 95% would like to see major changes at that position.
- [17:52]
Pat McAfee
Wow.
- [17:53]
Darius Butler
It's not going to happen. There may be changes at the coordinator position or some, you know, like, offensive line coach, stuff like that, but, no, there is not going to be a change. So I'll see you boys here same time, same place next year. We'll have the same conversation. It'll be great.
- [18:06]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so we'll talk about who's going to end up with the Pittsburgh Steelers here in a matter of moments. But the point that I was getting to is the Ravens are playing their best ball, physically dominating people in Buffalo. I mean, they just. They were down seven, nothing. Oh, no. Oh, no. Is this going to be a Josh Allen again? Is this going to be a heartbreaker for Bill's mafia? Is this. Is this awful days up here in Western New York? Then they rattle off 31 straight, 31 to 7. The Buffalo Bills end up winning this particular game. And we watch Bo Nix drop some in a bucket. We watch them run around a little bit. We even watched them get some stops on Josh Allen whenever there was a little bit of a joust going on, a little bit of a spar going on. But inevitably, Bill's wagon would get rolling, and that wagon revolves around Josh Allen. Now, James Cook is a hell of a back. That certainly is a asset for everything they got cooking up there. And Shakir can do it all. And Josh and Dion Dawkins in that offensive line can literally just control an entire game if they want to. He's big, he's strong, he's fast. He's got an absolute cannon. I don't know how he kept his foot up there. That was.
- [19:13]
Boston Connor
Yeah, come on.
- [19:13]
Pat McAfee
Doing crazy and big booms. We're doing booms all over the place. I don't know if you see those booms. Todd Johnson doing the booms. I respect it. A lot of people on here, and I did not necessarily love this call, they said his foot clearly touches out of bounds, and we're just going to say that he secures the catch within, what, an eighth of a second of touching it. Gene Steritor came out and said, I am saying that. And then he doubled down and he tweeted it. So I will go off of what Gene Steor said. But if they didn't score here, we assume they would have scored in another fashion. It's like this Buffalo Bills team is playing their best ball as well. A.J. bills, Ravens. I mean, this is dream matchup this year. Especially with how the storyline has gone for the last two months about the mvp. Both playing their best football.
- [19:57]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, they're both playing the best football. I think it was, it was good for the Bills to get down 7 nothing. Obviously it's not like a huge hole to dig yourself out of, but I think it's good you're at home all of a sudden people might freak out a little bit. This team showed that, hey, we can handle it. We'll find a way, like you said, to get 31 unanswered points. But Josh Allen is just different like he is. He seems like he is super duper confident. And to think of Josh Allen, Lamar, playing this early in the playoffs almost feels like, hey, we need this one one. One game later, let's go AFC championship. I would love to see that to get to the super bowl. But the fact that these two studs are going to face off here shortly, I'm juiced. I can't wait. I don't know who's going to win. I know we'll make picks eventually later, but this game right here, this is the one you got to circle, I think. Is this a special one that we.
- [20:37]
Pat McAfee
Might get to see see very special debut. Whenever you think about these two teams, which defense is playing better right now? Obviously the Buffalo Beals were able to hold the Broncos to just seven points and Pittsburgh Steelers especially had some long, explosive plays against Baltimore Ravens. George Pickens had a few. Russ was able to drop a little. Maybe bring Russ back. By the way, pretty well though.
- [20:58]
Ty Schmidt
Like Russ, honestly, he didn't play bad.
- [21:01]
Pat McAfee
I agree. Maybe bring Russ back.
- [21:03]
Ty Schmidt
Give him like 45 a year or.
- [21:04]
Travis Kelce
Something to bring him back.
- [21:05]
Boston Connor
Three year, 120?
- [21:07]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I think so. Maybe, maybe even 60 million one year. Go all in. But nonetheless, you look around, how do you feel about, how do you feel about the defenses there? How do you feel about defenses?
- [21:18]
AJ Hawk
Both these defense are playing well. Milano being back and being healthy for the, for Buffalo Bills, big, big time. Von is healthy as well. But that Ravens defense, man, when they're clicking, when they're humming, when they're applying pressure that Grady gets to run, they have big time playmakers on the back end as well. That edge I gotta give to the Baltimore side on that defensive side of the ball. But both of these quarterbacks obviously playing phenomenal. That Steve Young comment kind of sticks in my head when I look at what Lamar has been able to do this year. Him saying like, look, we'll never get the best of Lamar until he's put in a situation where he's in a sophisticated passing game and he has to do it rep in and rep out. Obviously it starts with that run game and been physical, but eight can sit back in that pocket and make big time throws. And that makes a huge difference when you're going up against, against the Baltimore Ravens. Because the game plan for so many years was, hey, make him beat you from the pocket, make him beat you with his arm. And now he can do that. And then having Derrick Henry and the threat of Lamar running as well. You saw Derrick Henry, a wildcat with Lamar coming around, you know, being a wide receiver, taking the eyes of linebackers like they are so, so tough with what they're doing. So Todd Monkin, what he's doing with Baltimore in that offense, then what Joe Brady is able to do with the offense in Buffalo as well with Josh Allen, where he doesn't have to be Superman every down, he can hand it off because they really impose their will on, on the Broncos running the football. And then Josh had to be special when he had to be. But yeah, this is going to be an absolute great, great matchup with two great ball clubs.
- [22:42]
Pat McAfee
Joe Brady and Monken are both in their bags, bruh. Okay. I mean, I think that is very evident and that's why they have made it to the divisional round. Now. Congrats to the Commanders getting a massive win. Congrats to the Texans getting a huge win. We cannot wait to watch this evening as the Vikings and Rams play in Arizona. Joining us now is a man who might have more information on everything. Senior NFL Insider for ESPN Michigan. Man. Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Schefter. What's going on, Shefty? Happy wild card overreaction Monday to you, brother. As we tighten you down a little bit, we squeeze you in. You're like a panini there. You know, you start as a sandwich and then a panini kind of flattens the bread. That's. It was a Schefter sandwich, okay? We had thin, white, white bread. I wouldn't say it was Texas toast at all. Without small and I think a break.
- [23:35]
Gumpy
Boom.
- [23:35]
Pat McAfee
Now we found you right in the middle there. Their sandwich is now double dipped. How you doing, Shefty? Good to see you. First things first, I know it's been a few days and we're kind of assholes to bring this up, but we would be assholes if we didn't bring it up. Much love to you and your family for the passing of Benny. We apologize. Okay. That is, we're all dog people on this particular show. We understand very much what you went through there, losing your dog. Know that Benny had an incredible life and you were a phenomenal to Benny. Okay, Please, from all of us.
- [24:03]
Adam Schefter
Thank you, buddy. I appreciate that. Yeah, it was a rough week.
- [24:06]
Pat McAfee
Now let's get into the NFL. Okay. Let's get into the distraction from those types of things. Looking ahead to this evening, anything we need to think about before we pick tonight's game? Vikings, Rams in Arizona. We heard the contingency plans a couple weeks ago, like week and a half ago. This game could be played in Arizona if the air quality index is not proper. It did get moved there. It has since sold out. Can you tell us about the behind the scenes on how that came together?
- [24:34]
Adam Schefter
Well, look, I think everybody recognized the tragedy unfolding in California and Los Angeles and people losing homes, the devastation everywhere. It's hard to imagine that you'd even contemplate playing a football game there at that time. And they made the decision officially Thursday, early evening on the east coast, late afternoon on the west coast, to move the game to Arizona. I don't recall the league ever moving a playoff game in the post season due to a natural disaster. I think this is unprecedented, as best as I can tell. And so The Rams, obviously, 24 hours later, had over 400 people on buses and planes to Arizona. Their organization uprooted their. And they've spent the last few days here. And the way it's been described to me for them is it's been like a Super bowl week because you're in another city, you're getting ready. It's a strange feeling, but really I think the Rams are a microcosm of that city and representation of the city. Everybody, many people in Los Angeles are going through it. The Rams themselves are going through it. There are people in the organization that lost homes. And obviously this is a distraction, this trip, this game. And then they'll go back to the reality of it all in Los Angeles. And you just hope that everybody there is okay. Obviously the images, the pictures, everything that's going on there, it's unimaginable. And so they get to play a football game tonight and not have to think as much about it for a three hour window before they get back to reality.
- [26:21]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And obviously our positive thoughts and prayers, we said it last week and we know it's not enough, but we are watching along with everything you're going through over there in California, down south of where I am right now. So, so sorry. Massive shout out to the Cardinals, the Cardinals equipment managers, everybody in that particular building for making the magic happen. In our source inside the Rams have said obviously it's been a very difficult, difficult week for our families out here. Arizona has been a net positive an environment for players, staff and families to get away, bond and focus on football and not fires and or evacuations, which was all they could think about. I think even pets we were just talking about made the trip. I think everybody's trying to make this as conducive as possible to try to make sure this game is as fair and on a level playing field as possible. Bowl, we cannot wait to watch. And thank you to football for being a great distraction this weekend. Go ahead. A.J.
- [27:20]
Ty Schmidt
Shefty, what's the latest with Mike McCarthy and his whole situation with Dallas? I know just as the show started, there's reports that Mike McCarthy is no longer going to be back in Dallas. Can you tell us what the latest is?
- [27:31]
Adam Schefter
Yeah, the two sides officially are parting ways. They met over the course of the last week and basically had discussions about football. No business discussions. They never got to that. There were no contract discussions. And the longer it went on, the more apparent it became that clearly with Mike McCarthy's contract set to expire, him eligible to talk to teams at midnight on Tuesday, there was no movement towards a new deal. Clearly there was a direction in which Dallas wasn't going there. And so a short time ago Cowboy official says the two sides are parting ways. Mike McCarthy is going to become a coaching free agent. The Bears and Saints are expected to have interest in him and to talk to him. The Cowboys are now going to be in the market for a new head coach. So obviously a seismic shift in the NFL landscape. That, by the way, Pat, would be the seventh team. What did we talk about all season long?
- [28:31]
Pat McAfee
You feel real good about it. Obviously. Obviously you said these guys all have families and everything. So it's sad and devastating, but it's going to be seven quarterback. Quarterback spots are going to be up in seven probably coaching positions that are going to be open. Okay, so Mike McCarthy is now head headed into, not the firings, but not getting another contract with the Dallas Cowboys. If we've kind of been hanging in limbo, the Patriots have already given out their head coaching job to Mike Frable, which I know Connor will want to ask you about here in a moment, but does Mike McCarthy say to Jerry Jones, hey, go yourself for making me wait through an entire hiring cycle already seemingly for coaches that have already had interviews and chit chats and everything like that with Mike McCarthy, if he wants to coach again, would have been a part of, we assume in some of those places. Or is this standard operating procedure and Mike McCarthy understands the business.
- [29:21]
Adam Schefter
I think Mike McCarthy understands the business. He's going to get to Chicago a few days later than expected. It's not like the Bears have hired somebody. Ideally, you know, you would have liked.
- [29:32]
Pat McAfee
What if they had though? What if they had though? Like, what if, what if Patriots already hired their, their coach. Chicago already hired their coach. The jets, we know they, they interviewed 150 people shout out to the 33rd team putting that list together.
- [29:44]
D. Buck
Hey, smart.
- [29:45]
Pat McAfee
This person's been around football before. Potentially could coach. You should interview them. Let's do 70 interviews. What if they hire somebody already? Like, is this, is this common how this whole thing worked out? How there was an exclusive negotiating window for a week after their. His contract already ended. Like, like, is this normal? And maybe we just never see it because coaches never make it to the finality of their contracts.
- [30:09]
Adam Schefter
I, it's a little unusual. A little unusual. You haven't seen too many situations like that. I, I don't know if it's ever occurred before, certainly not in recent memory. It is unique. And this is kind of the way that it's worked out. I think. I don't think it's going to hurt either side. And you know, the whole thing with Dallas all along was this the way I was thinking it. Okay, clearly they're not moving forward with a deal for Mike McCarthy. So, so what are they doing? It wasn't ever going to get to the point in my mind where all of a sudden Tuesday was going to come and all of a sudden Jerry Jones is going to say, okay, we're not doing a deal with Mike McCarthy. What am I doing? Like, again, my question.
- [30:54]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, he missed Brave, he missed out on Braves, which could have been a possible perfect coach for them down there. He's already got this seems like more Jerry Jones stuff, which is like, I'm gonna do it my way, okay? And I'm gonna do this how I do it. Now I want to do it. And it's like, well, Jer, it might have worked back in the day. Now, now things are moving. Rabes may be perfect Dallas Cowboys coach. I mean, I don't know if that's the way they want to go, but you're right, con man. And Connor's going to ask about that but it's like I, I thought it from big Mike McCarthy Yinz McCarthy standpoint like you basically held me in purgatory for a week here when other jobs have already been given out that they want a coach like me at that place. Culture builder, you know, tough guy from Pittsburgh, you know, that whole thing already a job's already been taken. I didn't even think about it from the Cowboys perspective. Like you don't even get a chance talk to Braves. Braves are already gone because you didn't even wild Cowboys are so different chefy Cowboys always operate set different f. Again.
- [31:53]
Adam Schefter
I, I think, I think, I think Mike Vrabel having his history with the organization that he did, probably that appealed to him being in New England even more so than Dallas. And I think probably people in Dallas know that. Although I think Dallas might have been an option for him if you were a coaching free agent still out there. But he's not. So he's a Patriot head coach. And there's one fewer option, one fewer coach for the Dallas Cowboys to think about. And so, so, so now we could start wondering about all the names who could be in line and be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
- [32:28]
Pat McAfee
Who, who, who, who, who are some. We should think about list. Yeah.
- [32:31]
Ty Schmidt
Who's the top of their wish list?
- [32:34]
Pat McAfee
I.
- [32:35]
Adam Schefter
You know what? I. I do not know that factually.
- [32:37]
Pat McAfee
I really don't because they're thinking about trading. Wow.
- [32:44]
Adam Schefter
I, I don't. I don't see the Steelers trading my Tomlin. I just don't see it. I don't see it now again, things can always change, but I don't see them being interested in trading my timeline, no matter who calls them and who checks in to see whether or not he's available.
- [33:01]
Pat McAfee
Okay, well, that's just Jerry Jones doing hiring here, right? Not. Not Stephen or anybody.
- [33:06]
Adam Schefter
Well, it's Jerry's organization and obviously Stephen assists him and we'll see what they decide to do. But this is going to be a fascinating hire because now also, by the way, you missed out on the window to talk to some of these coaches like Ben Johnson, if you want to talk to them. You can't do that now.
- [33:25]
Pat McAfee
I'm so confused by it all. But hey, that's Cowboys, isn't it? The thing about Cowboys is the way they're run is because they want to work with their family. You know, when they're laying down on their deathbed, they're not wishing to see a couple more sons come up. They're thinking, I did the right way. With my family. You should be listening to over here, Slappy. All right, I'll see you guys later. Jerry Jones needs to get into acting full time. Yes. And let his family maybe run his team. But that's my personal opinion. Let's go to Boston, Connor. Because we just chatted all around it here. Yeah.
- [33:53]
Boston Connor
Chef D, let's be real here. Vrabel is going New England no matter what. And guess what? The Patriots won the coaching cycle once again. This is a perfect hire. We're bringing sigs, we're bringing dips, we're bringing beers. All the way back in New England. Up. What are the expectations for his staff? Seen a lot of. Josh McDaniels is going to come with him. Have also seen some other rumblings of different guys. Tommy Reese, because the connection in Cleveland as well, because Vrabel was there last year and so was he. Is that probably going to happen with McDaniels or is maybe Big Mike going to say, hey, I want in on that. I'm going to go up to New England, maybe call plays for a year and not be doing the head coach and shit after how the Cowboys went this last year?
- [34:34]
Adam Schefter
Well, I think Josh McDaniels is an obvious candidate and I would say potentially the leading candidate for that job, if for no other reason. He's got great success as an offensive coordinator. He's been with that organization. He knows Mike Vrabel. He lives in Foxborough. The Raiders still own three more years of money. Like, it's so logical. But there is a process that you have to go through before you can hire a coordinator. But look, you know, Josh McDaniels is as obvious a choice for Mike Vrabel's offensive coordinator as Vrabel was for the Patriots head coach. So we'll see how that turns out in the end. But would it be a surprise if Josh McDaniels is the offensive coordinator there? No, that would not be a surprise in the end, once they go through.
- [35:22]
Pat McAfee
The process putting the band back together potentially up there in New England. I know Boston, Connor and all the rest of the revolution region are going to be excited, especially with Drake may being as great, seemingly as he looked his rookie year. Congrats to Braves. Proud of you, bud. After you're back in the NFL as a head coach. And it's going to be good to see him have to put a half a ten in his mouth to go coach the Patriots up there in Foxborough. Gonna bring back the mystique he needs to do the half spat right there. He wouldn't do the full spat because of a shoe deal. This guy knows business, has known business for a long time. Love everything he's about. Offensive player, defensive player, head coach, position coach. Vrabe's been there, done that as an Ohio guy, done good. Can't wait to see what the Patriots become yet again. And you know, everybody in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, no fly zone, Vrabe says there. Everybody in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh and Baltimore and the cities that had rivalries against the New England Patriots. I'm not saying the Patriots felt like they were rivalries. The other directions, all these cities, but all these cities that hated the New England Patriots for all those years are like, great, now they're back. I think that's just a common belief is that Rabe is going to lead them right back to the promised land. A.J.
- [36:30]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, no question. I wonder how Shefty Shefty thinks with this whole Mike McCarthy situation, though. She I want to get back to it real quickly. This Bears.
- [36:38]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [36:38]
Ty Schmidt
Do you think he's the leading candidate for that Bears job?
- [36:42]
Adam Schefter
I think Mike McCarthy is going to be a strong candidate in Chicago and New Orleans both, and that has implications on other teams as well because to me, Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson are getting jobs in this particular cycle. Both of them are going to be head coaches if that's what they ultimately decide to do in the end. And Aaron Glenn is in play in a number of places, but most notably New Orleans and the Jets. So if all of a sudden the Saints are in on Mike McCarthy and if he gets that job, then Aaron Glenn and the jets would become a logical match down the line. Ben Johnson's going to get a job here, whether that's in Jacksonville or Chicago or the Raiders, but he's going to get a job, too. So we'll see how that one works out. Mike McCarthy now gets put into this mix and he'll be in play in Chicago and New Orleans. So again, you're going through all this and waiting to see how it turns out, but that's how some of this is shaping up at this point. But again, back to the Cowboys. I said to you, Aaron Glenn, Ben Johnson, they're getting jobs. If the Dallas Cowboys wanted to talk to them right now, they cannot talk to them until their season is over.
- [38:01]
Pat McAfee
They can't. You can't. You missed the week.
- [38:04]
Adam Schefter
They missed the window.
- [38:06]
Pat McAfee
A.J. i just, I'm happy you didn't want to give variable a thought at all there during that conversation. I'm happy we also went back. Oh, happy you went back and clarified some things on the big Mike McCarthy, you know, job search because, boy, if you wouldn't have said that. And then Shefter wouldn't have hammered home the Saints opportunity. Can you think about big Mike down there on Bourbon Street?
- [38:27]
Ty Schmidt
I was on staff before, so he'd be coming back. Back like he was there before.
- [38:32]
Pat McAfee
Oh, my God. What are those cakes down there that they eat? One of those French. The beignets babies.
- [38:38]
D. Buck
Yep.
- [38:39]
Pat McAfee
Oh, my. Big Mike McCarthy in New Orleans would be awesome. I, I, I just thought of that now. He'd be so hot. Oh, it would be so hot. He'd be Brian Kelly's face all the time as he ends her down in Louisiana. But we're excited to see where Mike McCarthy ends up at. Let's go back to some player stuff. Debut has a question for you.
- [39:01]
AJ Hawk
Let's go to Balt. Obviously, a big divisional matchup coming up with the Buffalo Bills. Their Pro bowl wide receiver, Zay Flowers, been dealing with an injury since their last game. Any update on him if he'll be able to come out this week or the following week if they're able to win?
- [39:18]
Adam Schefter
I think essentially he's gonna have a chance to get back for this game. I know the Ravens felt like if they could win this past week, that Zay Flowers would have a chance to be back for the divisional playoff. Now, it's a tough injury, it's a knee. No guarantees. Let's see how the week goes. But on Monday, leading up to that huge matchup Sunday night, 6:30, I would say that there is a chance that Zay Flowers is going to be back in that game.
- [39:47]
AJ Hawk
Okay.
- [39:48]
Pat McAfee
They don't need it, seemingly. I mean, if they were to get more weapon, this Baltimore Ravens team. Fun to watch. That Bills Ravens game is obviously going to be hyped up immensely. Tone has a question for you, Shefty.
- [40:00]
Darius Butler
Yeah, I do. Shefty. Another game this weekend between the Commanders and Lions. Coincidentally, Ben Johnson is the OC for the Lions. Tom Brady's calling that game. Tom Brady is reportedly trying to bring Ben Johnson to to the Raiders. Is this a tryout for Ben Johnson with Tom Brady in the booth? How's this all working out?
- [40:20]
Pat McAfee
Tampering.
- [40:22]
Adam Schefter
Well, what I say to that Tone, number one, is I think that Tom Brady is professional enough that he's not going to look to violate our scrutiny rules. And from Ben Johnson, he doesn't have to do. Ben Johnson doesn't have to do anything to impress Tom Brady any more than he already has. Tom Brady is broadcasting Ben Johnson's game. That's the way it kind of goes right now. We could come up with these scenarios. Not a lot to have contact. And by the way, if the NFL hands out a memo, maybe it will, saying that Tom Brady and Ben Johnson are not allowed to talk. I can tell you this. I don't think Tom Brady really cares. Doesn't need Ben Johnson to speak to him to get ready for this broadcast on Sunday. The idea of that is absurd. But again, people get very sensitive and touchy, and so if there are rules that nobody wants to violate, fine. Look, I think we're all adult enough to know that Ben Johnson is a primary head coaching candidate in multiple places, including Las Vegas. I don't believe that Tom Brady needs to recruit Ben Johnson any harder. And he's going to woo him on his trip to Detroit this weekend while nobody else is allowed to talking to. And Ben Johnson is getting ready for his most important game of the season. Again, call me naive, Homie Silver, silly, call me ridiculous. I think that everybody involved is professional enough to do this the right way.
- [41:50]
Pat McAfee
All right, well, you're ridiculous. No, you just told me to call you that. My wife. Ridiculous. All those. I'm envisioning it now. I'm envisioning it now. Cliff Kingsbury makes a bad decision. Third quarter. Ish. Tom Brady goes. And that's why Cliff Kingsbury, who's been a head coach before, is not nothing in comparison to Benjamin Johnson. This Ben Johnson guy just serenades him over the air in front of 30 million people, 40 million people, whatever the number is that's going to be watching that particular game. And then you start to wonder yourself. Ben Johnson's family starts texting them, saying, hey, you know, Tom Brady was complimenting you. His mom said, hey, it was nice to hear the greatest of all time say what he said about you. And then they'll cut to the thing and maybe Tom Brady's wearing a Ben Johnson for president pin. Maybe he's even wearing one of those. And they're like, you know what? Tom Brady really likes you. He's. He. He seems like he has your back. He understands you. He starts talking about Ben Johnson, the man and the family. And now you got agents and family. There's a chance Tom Brady could sway this thing in their favor, even though Ben Johnson is picking and choosing which particular job he wants here. I hadn't even thought of it until Tom just brought it up. Wow. It's a real conundrum. The NFL is in shifter. It's a real conundrum. Yeah, there it is.
- [43:06]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [43:07]
Pat McAfee
Isn't it ridiculous? There's so much ridiculous stuff that could happen. I feel like Tom Brady has done a phenomenal job getting better each week, by the way.
- [43:16]
Adam Schefter
I think Tom hears those comments and sees those comments and is laughing and it's like, are you serious? Are you effing serious? That's Tom's reaction. Okay, let me speak for him there. Let me speak for him there, if you don't mind.
- [43:29]
Pat McAfee
Okay, good. Well, I'm happy that the greatest of all time is on the call, but they have been calling for conflicts of interest basically all year. It's seemingly going off without a hitch. He's very hands on. And this hiring process, they've been reporting that a lot. And then I saw somebody say that some GMs and coaches might not like that. It's like, well, who gives a if you don't like what the greatest of all time thinks? Like, what. What are we talking about? Is that real shifter? There's some people saying they don't like that. Tom Brady, who is that anything sweet? Was that Mike McCarthy?
- [43:55]
Adam Schefter
Yeah, that's. Well, people are very sensitive. No, people are just very sensitive about, you know, rules and wanting things done a certain way and. And so Tom will listen to the rules. We'll abide by the rules.
- [44:07]
Pat McAfee
And forget that you missed it. You were reading a text. I was asking you. There were some coaches allegedly in GMs that said allegedly. I forget who reported it. Might have been you might have been another insider. That is not at your level, obviously. Shaft. Do we talk about that? Somebody said that some coaches and GMs don't necessarily like how hands on Tom Brady has been. Is that true? Is that real.
- [44:30]
Adam Schefter
Hands on? I don't think he's been very hands on at all so far.
- [44:33]
Pat McAfee
Not in the interview process, he's not. Tom Brady's not involved in the interview process.
- [44:38]
Adam Schefter
He isn't. He is. He is involved in it, but it just got underway. How can we even say that he's too hands on? And by the way, like, isn't that why you brought in Tom Brady to be involved? Like, I don't understand. Like, that's why you included him in your ownership group and made him a part of the process is to have him involved. And we're getting underway with an initial wave of it. He's already too involved. Like, what did he do in virtual interviews that he's involved? Like that.
- [45:08]
Pat McAfee
Got it. So he is, though, very involved in the hiring process that we all agree he is.
- [45:13]
Adam Schefter
He yeah, well, very. He is involved.
- [45:17]
Pat McAfee
He.
- [45:17]
Adam Schefter
He owns a piece of the team. He's Tom Brady.
- [45:20]
Pat McAfee
He's doing.
- [45:21]
Adam Schefter
He's doing work the way he would.
- [45:23]
Pat McAfee
I don't.
- [45:23]
Adam Schefter
Him who Involved. Very involved. He's involved. He's Tom Brady.
- [45:29]
Pat McAfee
Okay. He's involved. Guys.
- [45:32]
Ty Schmidt
You're too close to it, chef. You know, you're two Michigan guys, two pals.
- [45:35]
Pat McAfee
Well, it sounds like Tom Brady. Whenever he gets. When he. When Tom Brady gets involved in something, he's pretty, like, not all in. Does feel like that, doesn't it? He hasn't had sugar in, like, 15 years or something like that. If he's in there running that interview, though, and being an actual owner, I'd be excited to hear how he questions people, what he's trying to learn about people who he thinks is going to be the next head coach. Like, I'm very intrigued if Tom Brady's making this. This decision on who he thinks would be the best head coach, like, legitimately. I'm kind of. I'm kind of pumped to find that out because. Does he want a good play caller, culture setter? What is he. Is Big Mike McCarthy in play for the Raiders? Yeah.
- [46:12]
Ty Schmidt
What about that?
- [46:14]
Adam Schefter
Look, it just happened. I hadn't heard his name there until now, but it's certainly possible to go.
- [46:21]
Pat McAfee
Like, he's like, we need a culture guy in here, and he brings in Big Mike, you know, and we can find a play caller. Anyway, like, how Tom views it. I'm very, like, very intrigued to see how it works out.
- [46:32]
Adam Schefter
I think there are certain guys that absolutely have Tom's respect and curiosity. And look, he's had an unbelievable opportunity this year to go around each week and meet with people. Like, he gets to observe himself, who's impressive and who's not. If you're in a different building and you're with two different organizations every week over the course of 18 weeks, that's 36 different weeks that Fox has paid you to get to know people around the league and to see who has and hasn't impressed you. Just by doing his job himself, he's been able to glean all kinds of insights and information into who he believes are the best coaching candidates out there.
- [47:11]
Pat McAfee
There.
- [47:12]
Adam Schefter
And now when they're putting together the list, when they're going through the candidates, he can apply everything that he's seen from this year. I don't know, has Fox done as Tom done? And I don't know the answer to this alliance game yet so far this.
- [47:24]
D. Buck
Year, as he, I'm sure, believe they Did Lions, Packers.
- [47:29]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [47:30]
Adam Schefter
Did they, did they do Lions, Cowboys? I don't know about.
- [47:35]
Boston Connor
I'd assume at 425, game of the.
- [47:38]
Pat McAfee
Week, probably Cowboys, 425 on Fox. We'd assume at some point it was there. I think they did.
- [47:44]
AJ Hawk
Is Tom both going forward? He's going to beat his hands on in Vegas. Is he going to stay in the booth with Fox?
- [47:53]
Adam Schefter
That's his call. I have no idea how he's going to work it, but I expect him to be involved. As the Raiders owner? Yes. As a limited owner.
- [48:01]
Boston Connor
Sounds like he's kind of cheating a little bit.
- [48:04]
Pat McAfee
I mean this is all the conflicts of interest that everybody's been talking about. That's why a lot of people don't think the Tom Brady contract is going to end up being fulfilled by Tom because they think it's going to get too loud. But if he's an actual owner, I'm pumped to watch him, you know, whatever the case is. Good luck, Tom. Let's talk about another coach that's name has been thrown into the NFL coaching search. Even though Chuck Pagano accurately predicted feels like this might be a little bit of a business play by Notre Dame head coach who just signed a four year extension. Go ahead.
- [48:33]
D. Buck
Yeah, Shefty. It seems like it is kind of a fougaze, but the Bears have reached out or expressed interest in interviewing Marcus Freeman for their head coaching job. And obviously, you know, with what Notre Dame's doing, I think it probably is more of a business play. But then also a couple weeks ago you mentioned, you know, keep an eye out for Steve Sarkeesian as well. And when you look at the Cowboys because they are kind of so late in the game and it seems like a lot of these marquee coaches are almost already spoken for. Do you think the Cowboys potentially would reach out to like one of these hot college coaching names that are up and ultimately Marcus Freeman, like he's not even going to entertain that at all. Correct.
- [49:14]
Adam Schefter
I have heard that Marcus Freeman is happy in Notre Dame. He did sign that deal recently. I don't know whether that's leverage or not. I have no idea. I don't have direct information beyond that. Steve Sarkeesian is a name that has swirled around out there in NFL circles for weeks now. His season's over. If there were a team that wanted to talk to him, they obviously could go do that and we'll see whether or not he has interest in going back to the NFL. But that's a name that's been out there for a little while that there will be NFL teams that would have some interest. So we'll see if that actually now happens.
- [49:52]
Pat McAfee
Okay. When's the first hiring? Who does the first hiring?
- [49:56]
Adam Schefter
New England today. Mike Vrabel.
- [49:58]
Pat McAfee
Boom. They're set off a jet in here. Shifter. I don't know if you're hearing it. I'm live at the SMP Shark Tank over here. It is. It's been a blast. Good luck tonight. Where are you at? Are you at the game in Arizona?
- [50:13]
Adam Schefter
Yeah, I am in. I am in Arizona right now. I am literally going over to the stadium as we speak. As soon as I hang up with you, I only have 26 missed texting calls here. So we'll be on the phone here and getting ready for tonight's broadcast. Vikings at Rams in Glendale, Arizona.
- [50:32]
Pat McAfee
26 missed calls. Is that producer. Is that like Mike McCarthy's camp? Is that the Cowboys camp? Who would that be on this particular overreaction? Monday?
- [50:40]
Adam Schefter
That's a zito tie tone. Everybody wants to know, you know, about their own football team. Teams. A lot of angry fans, pissed off, Steeler fans.
- [50:51]
Pat McAfee
Nice out of those. What's going on there? What ends up inevitably happening there? Pittsburgh.
- [50:58]
Adam Schefter
My. My guess would be, look, they're pretty easy to predict. They. They're a pretty stable place. So I think if you bet on things not changing all that much, you're probably going to be right. And obviously they're going to have to make some changes. They've got two quarterbacks who are free agents, and we'll see how that works out.
- [51:18]
Pat McAfee
All right, we appreciate the hell out of you. Ladies and gentlemen, senior NFL insider from ESPN who missed 27 text messages. Now, we would assume because he talked about the Steelers again. Adam Chef G. It's wild in here.
- [51:33]
Boston Connor
Got pyro going on, lights are going.
- [51:35]
Darius Butler
Shark Tank.
- [51:36]
Pat McAfee
I don't know. The Shark Tank is obviously the home is San Jose Sharks. It's a beautiful arena here, but they're testing everything as we speak. And, you know, I think last week at the Intuit Dome, there was like a day off of production beforehand. And the Intuit Dome is like, so damn great, you know, like the Intuit Dome, brand new, a lot of space. So I think right now is the exact time where everything has to get tested. So going forward, you know, we're gonna have to readjust. You know, that is. That is kind of what life is. Did you see the. Did you see the piece on Justin Her? Nope. Josh Allen on NFL Network Game day morning. Maybe it was about he's from Fireball, California. B A U G H there. Not Fireball. Fire B.A. california. I think in farm. He comes from a farm and farming country and everything. I guess his high school coach, who was also wrestling coach, coach basically had this mantra, APO which is adjust, persevere and overcome. And that's kind of like his life mantra. Apo. APO apo. This was a good piece on him, talking about his work ethic, talking about how he comes from this tiny town, but he played every single sport. I guess he wasn't like, he was bigger and more athletic than everybody. But in high school, I mean, maybe as a sophomore, wasn't playing like the tough guy he was. So the coach, who was also a wrestling coach, took him into the wrestling room and basically they just played kill the man with the ball. And Josh always had the ball like that is. And they told this story on NFL Network. They're like, basically we took him into the wrestling, the mat room and just told him he wasn't allowed to lose the ball. And then we threw everybody at him. It's kind of how I took it. I don't know how they actually worded it. But then, ever since then, it's like he takes a lot of pride in his toughness, is what his coach said and everything. Josh Allen's special talent, man, we're watching, we're watching. We're watching a legend here. And the way he handles himself and the moxie has with his teammates and the shit that he talks and the way they fly around in the city of Buffalo. It's like a perfect match. And then that Lamar Jackson and Baltimore marriage. What a beautiful one. I mean, what a beautiful one, that city. Obviously we see the videos coming out of training camp when the entire youth of Baltimore is at training camp and he's running down the line, line and slapping their hands and the way he's going to work for them every single year. It's like two perfect quarterbacks drafted to perfect places that have gotten behind them in such a way that have led both of their teams to a position of, hey, let's go win the big one. And everybody obviously talks about Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen having a rivalry strictly because they've met a couple times deep in the playoffs. And obviously Patrick Mahomes is one and Joe Burrow is another guy who's going to have rivalries on the AFC side. It's like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have become the rivalry that it is in the highly anticipated fight this upcoming weekend because we're both like, all of us are thinking, which one of these guys is going to be the next one? Which one of these guys is going to finally get over the hump? And I'm eager to watch it. You know, it took a long time for a lot of guys to win their first super bowl, and we obviously are in a world, in a society, and we're part of it.
- [54:43]
Ty Schmidt
Yep.
- [54:44]
Pat McAfee
We're on mic, fans, every single day. Day where you. You got to judge and you got to talk, and there has to be something to say and not all the time is it going to be positive. So both these guys have heard an immense amount of talk, but obviously have built up massive fan bases. What a perfect stage for the NFL to have next weekend.
- [55:03]
Ty Schmidt
AJ yeah, it is. And was it always this way, like, judging quarterbacks by Super Bowls like you? You truly cannot get into that next level of quarterbacks, like, when you're talking about if you don't at least have one super bowl ring. I know Dan Reno is a big guy that everyone talks about. He never got a ring, but he was obviously one of the greats. I mean, now you, you kind of have to have at least one, don't you, if you're a quarterback, Ty?
- [55:23]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, without a doubt.
- [55:24]
D. Buck
I mean, that's the, that's the whole. That's the Rogers thing. We talk about him being a Mount Rushmore guy, like, arguably one of the, you know, two or three most talented quarterbacks of all time. But he only won one super bowl. And you look at the packers and it's like, man, if he would, if he would have won three or four or whatever, then you're, you're putting him, you know, right below Brady. And now it's. It's kind of up for discussion because he only won one.
- [55:43]
Ty Schmidt
Lamar and Josh. Yeah. What do you think, Pat? Lamar and Josh. Are people not going to continue, like, I guess put them in that top tier, even though lamar already has two. Two MVPs, maybe a third coming up. Are you, Are they going to talk about them differently until each of those guys gets a ring?
- [55:56]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's just how it is. That's just literally the conversation because they always got to hold something against you, you know, why? He's most valuable player, like three times. Okay. Does that matters? Team sport. Base. Team sport. They win super bowl or not, then if you win a bunch of Super Bowls, they didn't win any MVPs. This guy stinks.
- [56:14]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah. This guy on his defense, in his run game, no matter what he's a.
- [56:18]
Pat McAfee
Product of the system. He's product of the system. Brock Birdie. This guy stinks. What are you talking about? His team. What stinks? So there's always going to be something to about for these two guys. I'm happy we get a chance to bite about how damn great they are. On the opposite side, the NFL is cooking. Obviously. College football is on a buzzsaw like run with how the Orange bowl and the Cotton bowl wrapped up. As we wrap up hour one here in the second hour we'll have Bill Belichick joining us and I think Travis Kelsey. Wow. Okay. You think the actor Zito just said yes? No. Yes. Yes. The actor Travis Kelsey. Yes. The Paul podcast host Travis Kelsey. Okay, yes. Mount Rushmore tight end of all time Travis Kelsey. We'll be back. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life.
- [57:06]
Ty Schmidt
It's playoff time and it's now or never.
- [57:09]
Pat McAfee
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Pat McAfee
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Ty Schmidt
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Pat McAfee
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- [58:00]
Ty Schmidt
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Pat McAfee
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- [58:03]
AJ Hawk
Visit prizepix.com for restrictions and details from.
- [58:07]
Ty Schmidt
ESPN Podcast and Omaha Productions. Coach is a new, groundbreaking educational football podcast hosted by NFL legends Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and Michael Lombardi.
- [58:19]
Pat McAfee
In each episode, the coaches break down.
- [58:21]
Ty Schmidt
Game changing situations and front office management.
- [58:24]
Pat McAfee
Tactics, sharing insights from decades of coaching.
- [58:27]
Ty Schmidt
Experience and opening up the Bill Belichick.
- [58:29]
Pat McAfee
Encyclopedia of Football Knowledge created by football.
- [58:33]
Ty Schmidt
Legends for football fans.
- [58:35]
AJ Hawk
New episodes of Coach drop weekly.
- [58:37]
Pat McAfee
Listen wherever you get your podcast. Hour two starts now. Football is the greatest. We're so lucky we get to talk about it every single day. That right there is AJ Hawk. AJ how's the weather back in the Midwest, fella?
- [58:57]
Ty Schmidt
It's not too bad. We had a little bit of a little snow, a little cold, but you know, this is what it is. It's January.
- [59:02]
Pat McAfee
We're okay. Yeah, I'll tell you what, it's cold as hell over here too. What? Really?
- [59:06]
Ty Schmidt
It's like legit colder.
- [59:07]
Pat McAfee
Like California. California cold, California cold, Miami cold. You know what I mean? Like. Like those types of things or a little chilly.
- [59:14]
Ty Schmidt
Definitely chilly.
- [59:15]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, a little chilly down there in Miami, which is the home of a man who is a nine year NFL vet and the founder of the all everything DB team. Ladies and gentlemen, Derek J. Butler, D Butch, member of the all everything DB team. Derek Stingley won ham ski for the Houston Texans. How was the weekend for you, pal? Week?
- [59:35]
AJ Hawk
It was great. Great football. And yes, Derek Stingley Jr. Did do his thing. Now my guy on the other side unfortunately threw four interceptions. So it's been tough defending him this week. But this defense over there in Houston, led by Will Anderson Jr. Led by Derek Stingley Jr. And then Lassiter, even on the other side, like they did their thing. And this is kind of what I was talking about last week with his ball skills, never panicking, making great plays on the ball. But yeah, I'm excited to watch this defense. Defense obviously go up against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelsey and the boys up there.
- [60:06]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I am excited. Chit chat there with Travis Kelsey in a few. If you go back to the beginning of this dynasty for the Chiefs, I believe it started with the Texans. Is that right? It kind of started with the. The Texans in the playoffs. Is that. Or the Titans.
- [60:21]
Boston Connor
That 2019 year. Yeah, the 19 nothing.
- [60:25]
Pat McAfee
It was the Texans, right? Yeah.
- [60:26]
Boston Connor
That was their first Super.
- [60:27]
Ty Schmidt
Super Bowl.
- [60:29]
Pat McAfee
I love that. The Texans who are representing the AFC south, which everybody knows.
- [60:33]
Darius Butler
Wagon, just wagon.
- [60:35]
Pat McAfee
Yep, that's Choo choo choo Choo. That's the AFC South. Trains coming through. Don't get in the way because the AFC south will have it Stay. Okay, that's great. Listen to what I say. Hey, sway come all these things. Texans are balling. And C.J. stroud looked early, didn't look comfortable. But then the reminder was put out. Nico Collins exists and he wasn't around all year. He went ham ski con man.
- [61:03]
Boston Connor
Yeah, Nico Collins is fantastic. And you thought too like my big thing was hey, of course, you know, the Texans did beat the Bills, but that was when they had Stefon Diggs and that's when they had, you know, Tank Dell healthy who were. Who were both in the building but obviously in street clothes. Nico Collins believe Joe Mixon also went off. He is a freak of nature. And you think aside from the packers, really those teams that added running backs, mixing the Ravens with Derrick Henry and of course the Eagles with Saquon, like they are making a huge impact. You know, as these playoffs have started so far and you know the teams with those best running backs, you got to be careful. Especially when you think about these guys going on the road. Like having Joe mixed Mixon when they go to kc that's going to be massive if they're able to run the ball.
- [61:49]
Pat McAfee
Still remember Joe Mixon and Stefan Diggs whenever they came over to the Houston Texans said we have reservations and we're late and they're talking about for a Super Bowl. That's what they were thinking. Aziz Al Shayer is back. He punched a guy in the head D. But you see that.
- [62:05]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, I think he was going for the ball. You know, things move.
- [62:07]
Ty Schmidt
Definitely going for the ball.
- [62:08]
AJ Hawk
Going for the ball.
- [62:09]
Boston Connor
Definitely going for the ball.
- [62:10]
Ty Schmidt
People that lost their mind about that one I come ass dirty player.
- [62:13]
Pat McAfee
Well, yeah.
- [62:14]
Boston Connor
Well, you know how people.
- [62:15]
Pat McAfee
Anything. Yeah. Anything A's does, they're gonna be watching. I do appreciate that. He didn't dial back at all. He still threw that punch. You know what I mean? He still swung that bat. He. He didn't even. I'm playing me. This is how Aziz Al Shi here plays football and this is how this is going to go now. I don't know. We talked about the Pittsburgh Steelers a little bit. We certainly did. But let's go to one half of. Of the toxic table at Ty Schmidt. Ty, the other devastating loss in the office was the the Packers. Now, buddy. Hey, pal. Friend.
- [62:50]
D. Buck
Yeah.
- [62:52]
Pat McAfee
About a year away, right? Is that what we're thinking or. Or is Jordan love.
- [62:58]
D. Buck
No, you know what?
- [62:59]
Pat McAfee
Still the guy speaking right now.
- [63:02]
Ty Schmidt
You can see his brain working.
- [63:03]
Pat McAfee
No, I'll see.
- [63:04]
D. Buck
I'll stick with A.J.
- [63:05]
Pat McAfee
I talked to him a little bit during the game, after the game, the whole thing. And I don't know if he's still feeling the way that he was feeling during that conversation or if he slept on it here a little bit and feels differently. Tie about a year or two out. We feel like we're going to be okay. Young team, young team. Yeah.
- [63:19]
D. Buck
I think year two out is. Is still what I'll stick with the. The thing that's so frustrating or that what stinks so much is for my entire Life. Anytime the packers choke or get beaten the playoff playoffs, it's when the offense is putting up, you know, 38 points or whatever. But the defense, the defense gives up 45 or 41, and they just. They finally fix the defense. Someone tweeted out all the metrics this year of how much better they were year over year since they hired Jeff Halfley, so they finally fixed that. But then when they fix the defense, and then now it's the offense that can't. Can't score. I don't think anyone was too surprised. I mean, with how bad they were down the stretch. Like, it. It would have taken a miracle to. To beat the Eagles in Philadelphia. But just the way that, the way that game started, I mean, they. They fumble the opening kickoff. They were banged up, but that's no excuse. They, they. There are a couple key positions that they need to spend some money on this off season, which isn't something the packers typically do, but it just, you know, Love made a lot of stupid decisions in terms of the interceptions he threw. It's kind of the same thing that we've been saying all year. Like, he doesn't know when it's okay to just throw a check down and get six yards as opposed to on first down. Just feeling like, oh, I got to take a shot here, I got to take a shot here. And every time he did that, he threw a pick, it just. I don't know. It was one of those things. And it was kind of like every time they played a good team this year, I mean, the score, it. It was 1610 at one point after.
- [64:49]
Pat McAfee
That was a punt right there.
- [64:50]
D. Buck
Exactly. That's another thing, you know, two minutes left. Not. Not exactly. Like, you know, they're. They're in a great spot, but you go down there and score, kick an onside kick, who knows? But.
- [65:00]
Pat McAfee
And terrible pedigree. I mean, John, you're supposed to be an exciting white, at least. Wait for the move.
- [65:05]
D. Buck
Not a good pedigree. But. But the thing about them being.
- [65:08]
Pat McAfee
Great interception, though.
- [65:09]
D. Buck
Great interception. They're incredibly. They're just super undisciplined. Super undisciplined. Same thing. A bunch of penalties, stupid turnovers. Obviously in the playoffs, you can't lose the turnover battle 4 to 0 and. Except expect to win. But that's the thing is like, they. They were. They were. They only lost by 12 and. And it was a one possession game for a good majority of the third quarter there. So there's a lot of things they need to clean up. Obviously, Jordan Love needs to play much better. And in these big games, Matt LaFleur needs to figure out how to not get out coach, because that. That was kind of the story this year, too. They were 0 and 6 against the Lions, Eagles and the Vikings. Those are teams that you're just gonna have to beat if you want to win a Super Bowl Bowl. And they haven't really proved that they've been able to do that in, you know, in this new era of the team thus far.
- [65:52]
Pat McAfee
Big deal. Got a couple wins against Bears, though, you know, that's good, you know. Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. You lost at the end of the suit. Yeah, I forgot about it. Anyways, Eagles, though. Jalen Hurts goes 13:21 for 131 yards with two TUDs and then 36 rush yards to boot. Jalen Hurts, obviously. Fresh out of the concussion protocol, hadn't played in a few weeks. D Botch, what did you see from Jalen Hurts in this particular game that says yay, super bowl or nay? Not sure if he's a guy that's going to be able to get it done. Saquon is going to have to be the house for that team.
- [66:25]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, I still think the Detroit Lions are the team to be on that side, but they would be right there next to him, in my opinion. Jalen definitely a little rusty, you know, hasn't played in a couple weeks, looked a little rusty in the past game. I think Dan O put out some clips about. About maybe being more creative in the past game, helping getting these guys open. Now you got absolute dogs on the outside, but this play right here was a huge, huge play. Seeing car zero, making a check, getting in Dallas Goddard's hand and letting him do his thing in the open field one on one. So he made the plays that needed to be made. And then you lean on that run game with Saquon. Jalen was scrambling when he needed to. Saquon did his thing, and then once again, Saquon, just being a classy guy that he is, didn't take the all the way to the house. I know it probably killed some parlays at the end if he would have got. Got all those yards and got that touchdown. But that was kind of the recipe. It seemed like this game to come in here. Run the ball, control the ball, don't turn it over and win this game. Green Bay, I think they wasted a great defensive effort, you know, because with all the turnovers and things, they still had their team in a position to win this ball game with how good that defense played. So they got banged up a lot on offense too. I feel like receivers were going down probably every five plays, it seemed like. So in a critical situation, you're throwing the pass to Heath, who couldn't get two feet in and bounce to give yourself a chance. So it was tough all the way around for the packers, but I think the Eagles are still primed to continue this run to the Super Bowl.
- [67:46]
Pat McAfee
I like this Eagles team. Saquon's so much fun to watch. And also we like promoting literacy around here. We had a book club. Remember that Aaron Rodgers book club had a couple years back? People were saying it was like the second, maybe third largest book club on earth. Oprah obviously has her book club. Sure. And then there's somebody else big in the, in the book club. And then we.
- [68:07]
Ty Schmidt
They put him.
- [68:09]
Pat McAfee
They're two that no. They'd be number one over Oprah's then, right? Probably. I, I, I don't know.
- [68:14]
Boston Connor
Oprah reach. I never want to doubt it.
- [68:16]
Pat McAfee
The Mormons got books everywhere too.
- [68:20]
Boston Connor
Hold on now.
- [68:22]
Pat McAfee
Reading Rainbow is a show that showcased books. I don't know how their book club was always a good show. I appreciate that show. That show broke things down enough for me to understand what the hell is going on in books that we potentially had to read for class that I wasn't able to get to. AJ Brown reading on the sideline was awesome. Then he comes out afterwards all the time. What are you talking about? I do it all the time. Inner peace. You ever felt it? I'm trying to find it. You ever being a part of a football game? Yeah, it's chaotic. There's some doubt every once smile. So I got a page 147. You know, find my highlighted section and go to a different service. This is actually page two here. And we've all had times when everything came together in perfect harmony. Sacred moments when we were totally immense, immersed the experience and felt fully alive. When these moments something we wish even for a split second we had the courage to something the risky path with all our heart pursue. Okay. And we can often, often though fuck these writers. And we can often though we're so hard on ourselves, amplifying all our failures and regrets that we neglect to see what's still possible. A life of freedom filled with deep contentment, joy and confidence. Independent of circumstances. We're all human. The same deep desires and concerns. You drop a ball. You read that paragraph right there, you're right back in the damn game.
- [69:44]
Darius Butler
There you go.
- [69:46]
Pat McAfee
In the pursuit of extraordinary performance, it's easy to make it a full screen again. To succumb to anxiety. I don't know if that was in the book or not. To anxiety and pressure because so much is out of your control. When you learn to live a life that is fully engaged, however, then you can perform your best and love the challenge. Every performance, presentation, or problem you face is an opportunity to learn and grow and vividly experience each moment. You will find as you take this journey with me, that your best moments always come from a clear mind in an unburdened heart. Hell yeah, Jim.
- [70:23]
Boston Connor
Hell yeah.
- [70:24]
AJ Hawk
That's James Snap, number one seller now.
- [70:28]
Boston Connor
Hey, man, I got one catch for 10 yards, so I need to do.
- [70:30]
Ty Schmidt
Something about the best market situation ever.
- [70:32]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, let me get a page. I like this.
- [70:36]
Pat McAfee
I just had a drop. Let me go to page. We got a page two real quick. I just had to drop what I need to go to Jim Murr, 45, paragraph two. Yeah, let's get to this one. This one's good. Sometimes you're going to drop a rock, a ball, a fumble, you're going to stumble in an opportunity. I like that messaging, though. And you're right, D Butch. Notes have been taken. Things have been highlighted. He's going through that on a daily basis. He's working on him. I respect it.
- [71:01]
AJ Hawk
I respect. I never seen this during the game. I've seen guys read books, maybe before the game. We always get clips of like LeBron after the game. He reads a lot of books on, like, the first page. I like the fact that he's actually reading. That thing is worn. He's got highlights, he's got underlines. I like that. AJ is locked in. He knows. He's aware that the cameras are on him on the sidelines. So not losing it, not cussing somebody out about the targets, you know, and people are still running with, hey, he's reading the book. He's not engaged. He's not this. I like it. I like where AJ's at right now.
- [71:30]
Pat McAfee
Team guy, he didn't read page two on a sideline. He looked to be a little bit deeper. Oh, yeah. I don't know what page 47 or 100, whatever he was on is saying. Page two sounds like an okay thing to be reading on the sideline. Maybe kickers ain't do more of that. You know, maybe kickers need to be like, listen, you're not the worst person on earth. Yeah, I'm not. Turn the page. You're an okay human being, actually. And then all of a sudden, somebody two Feet away from you. You're not God. Time. It's good little battle. I love reading on a sideline. Promotes literacy. Everybody should be reading. Find your own inner peace. Maybe he has found his. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is the greatest NFL coach of all time and the greatest general manager of all time. He is currently the head coach for the you University of North Carolina Tar Heels football team. Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Belichick. Yeah. Oh, that looks cool. You look cool, Coach. You look cool. How you doing?
- [72:26]
Bill Belichick
Good to see you.
- [72:28]
Pat McAfee
Hey, good to see you as well. What are you doing? Are you on the road recruiting again? What's life bringing Bill Belichick on this particular Monday?
- [72:35]
Bill Belichick
Coach, we can't recruit for these three days. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Those are dead days during the NFL or the AFCA convention. So no recruiting, but out taking care of some other stuff.
- [72:49]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so the afca, the American Football Conference of America, I assume, Is that what that association. Yeah, yeah, there it is. Okay. Okay. I remember the fired Football Coaches Association. Gruden was always watching film. The American Football Coaches association is clearly what Gruden was mocking during that entire thing. Okay, it's all coming together. Maybe get that guy back in the league for more reasons than not. Let's talk about you down to unc. How do you feel about where the team is and are you watching these college football playoffs and trying to see how you can build a team that could compete and beat these squads? Orange bowl was awesome. Cotton bowl electrifying. Four best teams on display. Are you watching and judging or how are you treating all this for college ball right now?
- [73:35]
Bill Belichick
Yeah, well, I've watched the college games, you know, kind of as a fan from the outside, but we'll, we'll take a closer look at them and break them down when we, you know, get to the film and get into all season program. Most of my focus now is. Is on recruiting at North Carolina. January is the one month when the head coaches in college can be on the road. And so I'll be out on the road most every day in January to do that, other than these three days here that are. That are, you know, days we can't be recruiting.
- [74:04]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so you're just casually watching, trying.
- [74:06]
Bill Belichick
To get things organized. Yep.
- [74:09]
Pat McAfee
Okay. How do you feel about putting a staff together? Because now you're competing with volume for guys. Is that. Have you heard the news? I know you've been on the road here in January. I know you've been recruiting, trying to put everything together. Mike Vrabel is now the Head coach of the New England Patriots that was announced officially. How do you feel about the move and what are your thoughts on Mike Vrabel since he has become a coach after leaving as a New England Patriot, a multiple time super bowl champion?
- [74:35]
Bill Belichick
Yeah, I think Mike's done. Done a great job. Certainly his entry into coaching was no surprise to any of us that knew him and you know, and coach, they coached him at New England. You know, I talked to him when he was at Ohio State and then when he went to the Texans and then of course at Tennessee and we practiced against them and, you know, stay in pretty close contact with Mike. So I have a ton of respect for Mike. I think he does a great job. He prepares his teams well. They're very good in situational football. They're tough, they're competitive, they're smart, just like he was as a player. I think the teams that he's coached and the position he's coached follow very much in, in his playing style and in his preparation style. So, you know, I love Mike. I love everything that he stands for as a football coach. And, you know, I have a lot of respect for him. I'm sure he'll do a great job.
- [75:26]
Pat McAfee
There's the clip running around of whenever he ran those delay of games with more than five minutes left in the clock. He kind of pulled a Belichick to you. And I think that was the moment that I think the whole world was like, oh, we get not just a meathead who loves little nicotine. This is also a football genius. Do you remember that moment and what are your first thoughts when you think back on it?
- [75:48]
Bill Belichick
Yeah, I remember the moment and the way it was. The play was explained to us prior to that by the office. The league office was a little bit different than the way that I thought it was officiated. Yeah. And I understood the role. We did the same thing earlier that year, but the. It was kind of between me, myself and. And what my understanding was from the officials on the way that was going to go. So. But yeah, no, what he did was completely within the rules. As I said, it's something we had done. But that's Mike. Mike does a great job. You know, he. He changed the game. You know, when in the Colts on Vanderjest Miss in the opening, you know, started the season opening game when he called the second time out and Vanderjett missed. And then, you know, Polian and the competition committee changed the rule the next week. So Mike's always been one to, to take advantage of Those situations. He's a head, heady, smart player and coach.
- [76:36]
Pat McAfee
I think so too. And you know, we're all happy that rule was instituted. You know, we don't have time just to be calling timeout 10 construct. Sorry. Three consecutive plays. Nonetheless, love the way VRA operates. Taylor Thean, he put out a video basically as a heads up to all the Patriots players on what life is about to be like with Vrabel. And in there he mentioned, hey, you need to know, obviously the three keys are the keys to the defense, offense and special teams. Does not matter what side of the ball you're on. You need to know the janitor's name, okay? Because in team meetings, he's going to pop somebody up there and he's going to put your ass on the spot to know everything that's going on. He said your life's going to suck. Okay, boys, it's going to suck for a while, but you are going to be better because of it in the end. Is that similar to how you ran and why are those little things you think so important to running a successful operation, Coach?
- [77:28]
Bill Belichick
Well, I certainly think it's important to know the people that are, they're in your organization, whoever they are, not just your teammates, but the other people who support you. And, you know, just to know the, the history of the franchise or the team, whatever it is. But that just, you know, makes communication and, you know, respect for each other, other flow much more smoothly. But again, we've always been big on preparation. Mike did that as a player. I'm sure he'll continue to institute that as a coach and that's part of the player's job, just to be prepared for the opponent, but also to know everything that you do internally so that you can take advantage of all the opportunities that you have on your team with your teammates, your playbook and so forth.
- [78:11]
Pat McAfee
I can't wait to watch. I think we all just assume that the Patriots are about to be all the way back in. Of course they are. AJ Has a question for you.
- [78:17]
Ty Schmidt
Coach, I'm sure you've been watching, obviously, the NFL playoffs and everything that's been going on this past weekend. We hear, we've heard people talk about, hey, just don't beat yourself, try not to, don't, let's not do things to, to lose this game. Do you see that playing out when you watch this first round of the playoffs?
- [78:33]
Bill Belichick
Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think a couple of these teams, you know, got to feel terrible today. You know, Green Bay, I mean, fumble the Opening kickoff spot the Eagles seven points. I mean, that's really hard to do on the road against a team like Philadelphia. Then, you know, then miss a field goal, which has been a problem for him all year. That showed up. Tampa, you know, they fumble a handoff on a jet sweep action play that didn't really have anything to do with the defense. Then they fumble another short yardage play and screw up the handoff and get stopped and get held to a field goal. You know, that didn't really have anything to do with Washington's defense. It was just bad football. Football. And those are the kind of plays you look back on when your season ends that you say, well, we, you know, we, we really messed those up. You know, Pittsburgh, you know, trying to get, get their guys on the field on a fourth and one, end up with, you know, struggling to get lined up on a short yardage play and, you know, give up a conversion to Baltimore on that. You know, those kind of plays where you, you feel like you beat yourself and you know that they're just really hard to overcome when your season ends that way. So. So I think that the number one thing is, as you said, is to make sure that, you know, you're doing everything that you're doing right, and you know, that you execute what you can execute and make sure that you don't just, you know, hand the game away on something that isn't a great play by the opponent. It's just more of your inefficiency or just, you know, screwing something up.
- [79:58]
Pat McAfee
Feels like that's the difference between great and good, you know, and ball always has been, always will be. Especially in the NFL with the amount of parity, the team that doesn't fuck it up more is normally the team that goes on to win it. Now, speaking of those, there's multiple things that popped up in college football with the bye week. Connor has a question for you.
- [80:15]
Boston Connor
Yeah, Coach. Obviously, the college bye weeks did not bode well for the teams on the bye. But for the NFL, the Chiefs and the Lions, what are their weeks like this past week and now, you know, leading into game week? Are they watching all the games? Are they watching the potential teams they're going to play? And are the coaches like, is Andy Reid and Ben Johnson obviously been at interviews, but is Andy Reid drawing up a bunch of new plays or what are those bye weeks like for the one seeds?
- [80:41]
Bill Belichick
Well, look, it's great to be a one seed, and congratulations to Kansas City Detroit for winning the playoff game last week, because that's Effectively what happened, they move on next round without even having to play.
- [80:51]
Darius Butler
And that's congratulations.
- [80:55]
Bill Belichick
But, but I'll say this. When you're the number one seed, like those two teams were, you have the least amount of predictability on who you're going to play. So if any of the wild card teams win, you could play them whoever the lowest seed is. If all the wild card teams lose, then you play the lowest division seed, right? So, or so you can end up playing the 4, 5, 6 or 7 seed based on, you know, how the weekend comes out. And so I'd say from that standpoint, there's less predictability on who you're going to play when you're the number one seed than when you're at other positions. Certainly when you're at the bottom. You know, if you win, you pretty much know how those games are going to match up going forward. But, you know, I think it was interesting when you looked at the, at the Eagles game, the Philadelphia game against Green Bay. You saw the Eagles run three or four plays offensively that were really, really, I would say playoff plays. You know, they faked the tush push, you know, try to launch a post down the field and hit a big play on third and inches. They ran a couple of deceptive plays, quarterback runs with Hertz off of, you know, off of action to Barkley, knowing that, you know, the defensive be keying heavily on Barkley, you know, at this point in the season. So I think that that Detroit and Kansas City probably would be working on a couple of plays that, that they've probably been working on all year. But now saying, okay, here we are coming down to, you know, critical games. What plays can we maybe use that are a little bit different, a little bit of a deceptive. Maybe it's a new blitz from, you know, Aaron Glenn or Spags that they've kind of cooked up, maybe some look that they've been given and now they can give that same look and run some type of different pressure on it, or maybe it's a punt, rush or fake kick, something like that. I think those kind of plays could come in into the, you know, into the action here for those teams because they do have a little bit of time to work on them. And honestly, those are the kind of things that keep your players interested, too. You, you do something that's a little special, a little bit different, you know, another handoff, the stool or whatever it is, and, you know, keeps the practice energy up a little bit.
- [82:58]
Pat McAfee
Hey, how come everybody said, like the Patriot way Patriot way is so hard, so tough, which it is. And it was obviously, but you pulled out trick plays all the time. Time. Is that because the players you had, or is it a part of like keeping players like kind of interested and also adding little wrinkles for maybe other people have to deal with?
- [83:17]
Bill Belichick
Yeah, well, I, I look, I think those plays, Pat, what, what I always said to Josh and, and Josh did a great job of it. Josh McDaniels did a great job of it. We said, you know, look, going into the playoffs, let's, let's get a play that can either score points, you know, so maybe a, a goal line pass or something on the two or three yard line, a red area pass pass or something that's going to gain a yards, gain, you know, a chunk play of yards, 20, 30 yards, something like that. You know, I don't want to work on another run that's going to gain three yards. Let's work on something that could really, you know, impact the game. And so, you know, that came up in the Ravens game in 14 where we ran the double pass, ran a couple of oddball formations, we were down by two touchdowns in the third quarter and were able to come back and, and tied and eventually win the game. So Josh and I always thought about plays that would really, really, we thought could make a difference in the outcome of the game or, or could actually score points, you know, get a touchdown instead of a field goal in a close game like that. So look, Pat, when you say Patriot way, I don't know what that is. I don't know what the Patriot way is. That's kind of a buzzword that everybody else uses. You know, to me it's about preparation. It's about, you know, being a good teammate, team building and then performing well under pressure. That's what winning football games is it? I don't, you know, the tag that goes with that is, is really, I don't know, that's a big marketing tool. I don't know what that is. I believe in preparation, performance, discipline and consistency.
- [84:43]
Pat McAfee
And that's the Patriot way. Boom. I appreciate the hell out of you. Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest of all time, Bill Belichick. We appreciate you, coach.
- [84:52]
Bill Belichick
Thanks.
- [84:54]
Pat McAfee
See ya. Can't recruit these three days, okay? Don't be putting me into any jackpot here, Pat, please. Jeez Louise. There he was going. When we talked to him last week and he was traveling around the high schools, I was like, so are you walking right in that front door and just like, hello, insert name of high school Bill Belichick's here. Are you causing a little bit of a scene, a little bit of a buzz, a little bit of a stir that you could cause whenever you go places, he goes, no, that's not really my style. And also it's not legal. I'm not allowed to take pictures with anybody that is underclass. Anybody that could potentially be a college football player, which could be anybody, I guess. Could be anybody 20, 25, could be anybody. Not allowed to take photos with because then that could be considered or construed as recruiting somebody that they're not allowed to recruit. That was literally what was said. He was like, there's rules for everything. We're trying not to up anything. We're just trying not to. We're trying not to get in the doghouse with anything. Especially now because I think those little tedious things are potential. The only thing that some people at the NCAA are allowed to attack because everything else is kind of wild, wild west, you know, the wild wild west.
- [86:00]
Ty Schmidt
Imagine him walking in. Imagine it's the teachers, it's all the other teachers and principals. That's who's going to take his time wanting pictures. Because word will spread very quickly. You know, when Bill, I'm sure the word spreads before he gets there. Hey, I think Belichick's coming. And then once he's there, everyone's peeking out their doors, looking, checking around and.
- [86:17]
Pat McAfee
Steve's wearing that Carhartt black long sleeve shirt swag Bill is wearing. Was he in a trailer right there? He was shooting a commercial right there. Yeah.
- [86:26]
Ty Schmidt
What is that?
- [86:26]
Pat McAfee
I don't know.
- [86:26]
Darius Butler
It's a nice jacket.
- [86:28]
Ty Schmidt
That J.
- [86:28]
Pat McAfee
Is that asack?
- [86:29]
Ty Schmidt
He probably had Michael Jordan. Probably doing something with Jordan.
- [86:31]
Boston Connor
It may be a new billboard at unc. A Bill on it with.
- [86:35]
Ty Schmidt
With mj Bench press and he's benching or something. And Jordan spotting him possibly.
- [86:39]
Pat McAfee
Oh yeah, maybe. Maybe Jordan is. Maybe they're golfing in the cold. I don't know why they'd have that jacket on. Maybe it's. Maybe it's one of the biggest college sponsors. Dr. Pepper. Maybe it's because he's in college now. So all the college companies are going to want him. Affleck, that has Affleck written all over it. Especially with Saban. Yeah.
- [86:58]
Darius Butler
And prime, who you know might be the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
- [87:02]
Pat McAfee
I saw that people are talking about maybe even Shedeur going down there because you got a quarterback on a big contract in Dak. You get Shador on a rookie contract, then you got coach prime coaching back in Texas, obviously as a former Cowboy legend. Now we're talking of the Cowboys back office and you know, and the way Coach prime coaches, a lot of people don't give credit for it.
- [87:20]
AJ Hawk
He's.
- [87:21]
Pat McAfee
He's a hard ass. He's a bit of a hard ass. And obviously the team overachieved this year. They had a lot of talent, but I think they were only scheduled at five and a half wins. What was it going into the year, Tone?
- [87:29]
Darius Butler
It was four and a half or five and a half. I can't remember exactly.
- [87:32]
Ty Schmidt
It was really.
- [87:33]
Pat McAfee
They end up putting, what, nine or ten? Yeah, whenever it all said and done after winning the bowl game.
- [87:37]
Darius Butler
Yeah, nine. So, yeah, not. Yeah, byu. Heather.
- [87:42]
Pat McAfee
Bad, bad, bad. And remember, we picked Colorado because everybody was playing, playing. We said, them boys ain't gonna want to go out like that. Sorry, Mormons, you know, the prime time crew is coming through. And they did not. Instead, it was by Jew Jake Retzlaff, the Jewish quarterback in that BYU team. They overperformed this year as well. College ball has been awesome this year.
- [88:07]
Boston Connor
So good.
- [88:08]
Pat McAfee
College ball has been absolutely awesome this year. I mean, first round of college football playoffs, I think everybody would say, kind of crop. Yeah, all the home teams did their thing, kept it moving. But boy, Orange bowl cotton ball delivered. I think Orange bowl cotton ball delivered in a huge way. Bowl season, without the college football playoffs, the bowl season delivered great in a massive way. Like, I think there was. I think college ball was fantastic this year, aj. Legitimately legit.
- [88:34]
Ty Schmidt
The level of play is only getting better and better because the players are getting better and better. And I guess, although people don't love it, that they can transfer and pop around teams, more guys are getting opportunities that may be stuck behind some studs at other schools in the past, I think so more guys are having opportunities. Some guys, there's less opportunities as well. You're starting, like, say you're a solid starter, transfer in a couple guys, boom, your starting job is gone. You might have to find a way to play somewhere else. I don't know, Connor.
- [89:00]
Pat McAfee
I think what AJ's saying is more players are getting a shot to shine. Ain't that right?
- [89:04]
Boston Connor
Yeah, it's pretty awesome. We started with 12 and counting down to two now. It is a huge bummer. Like, I feel like that kind of set in this weekend where it's like, oh, shit, like, we only have one college football game left. We really only have what, five, six NFL games left. Like, it this time is the best because of how awesome. The football is. And it's the best teams. Like, we're talking about the Bills playing the Ravens next week. That's going to be unbelievable. But it just blows because we are also staring down like, hey, where's this free agent going to sign in a month? And that is kind of what the reality of the situation is. It's. It's sweet for me, because when you have a poopy team that is looking to get better, this is kind of where your season starts. But when you're just talking about actually watching and, you know, football ending, it's. It's tough. It's bittersweet.
- [89:50]
Pat McAfee
Well, to. To look ahead to the off season. Not that we need to do that or want to do that. I think we're going to be in town for the combine this year. Hell, yeah.
- [89:56]
Boston Connor
Hell, yeah.
- [89:57]
Pat McAfee
Remember that age. I scheduled our vacation right around the only thing that happens in our city.
- [90:02]
Boston Connor
We have the NBA All Star Game.
- [90:04]
Darius Butler
Well, we planned ahead this year. We planned ahead.
- [90:07]
Pat McAfee
That's right. That's right. We looked ahead. And I don't know if it means anything, to be honest. A lot of unanswered emails going from our end to their end. I don't know how it's going to go at combine. I. I know we're in the same city as the combine, so I think that is. I think we will certainly be able to breathe the same air. I think people will stop by. I don't know if we're going to be at combine, though. Just. Just as a age we're pitching. Let them come here to be at combine.
- [90:35]
Ty Schmidt
Okay.
- [90:35]
Pat McAfee
Up there on the. Up there on the terrace.
- [90:37]
Ty Schmidt
Would we have to be quiet and speak like we're at a golf event?
- [90:41]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I mean, that's normally what I do. Right in the comments. It's kind of normally. It's kind of normally how it goes. I think they know what's coming. You know, know if we're. If we're coming in there, but with the action behind us, you know, all the NFL teams, they just have all their suites there, so we could potentially just get a GM just to accidentally wander right over to the set. Like, I think combine week with where we are now, with the relationships we have around the league, if we're able to just get in there, I think it could be awesome. And I. I still have hope, but.
- [91:08]
Darius Butler
Who'S not answering emails? Who do we need?
- [91:10]
Pat McAfee
Who.
- [91:10]
Darius Butler
Who do I. Hmm. Who do I reach out?
- [91:13]
Pat McAfee
Down here's down. Here's the thing. And. And we talked about this being a problem with our particular business, with the way we run, huh? It has allowed us a lot of freedom to say and do whatever we want. But whenever you do that, every once in a while there's a stray. Go yourself to this person or one today's person directly to their face. And then those people, all of a sudden, guess what they do throughout their careers, they move on up into positions of power. And all of a sudden you wonder how somebody that dumb could get put in that position. That's what you're thinking, but on the other side, they're thinking, hey, this is the person you're going to have to. And it's like, well, we ain't going to be able to do that because four or five years ago I typed up an email that I thought was one of my best, laying out potentially, you know, all the faults. Reddit to crowd. You know, good pop, good bop from crowd. I, I think basically every time. Is that true, boys?
- [92:09]
Boston Connor
Nailed it.
- [92:11]
Pat McAfee
You got to do that though, age that. I don't love doing it, but every once in a while, you got to tell somebody who's terrible at their job that they're terrible at their job and that you don't want to work with them ever again strictly because they are terrible at their job and that you think they're a disrespectful prick and the way they talk is not the way you should talk to anybody. And then you re edit that and you Google some other words that are sinning whims of words. So then you really start typing up an email that at the end of it basically gets the point across, go yourself, you are a piece of trash. And then you find out three, four years later, well, that is actually the gatekeeper for anything you potentially need to do. And they did read the email and it probably was warranted, but they don't see it that way. And that's just, that's life in the game, you know, that's, that's kind of been our business since the beginning and it'll continue, but it has affected, affected us. It has affected us. On that note, I would like to let the world know I was not trying to murder Kyle Brandt like that. I think whenever they put us on the split screen, it looked a little bit more combative than if I was just speaking to the entire thing. But Kyle Brandt not knowing who Lil Wayne was, and then talking to Lil Wayne like, you got talent, man. I was impressed. I, I couldn't take it as a fan of Kyle Brandt, as a I don't want to. I don't think we're technically friends because I don't know if we've ever hung out before. But like, as somebody high energy white in the football world watching, I have a lot of simpatico with Cal Brandt. Like when I watch him do his stuff, I'm like, this dude is a talent. When he was talking the way he was talking to Lil Wayne, I like, I just couldn't take it. So I had to, you know, I had to let him know that that was absurd and we can't be doing. He didn't know. He was talking like Metallica or like Guns n Roses or like the Beatles of her. He was, he was acting like Lil Wayne. He got a couple. Oh, you died. When did he talk to Lil Wayne?
- [94:05]
Ty Schmidt
Because I saw you, I didn't see the little he interview Lil Wayne.
- [94:09]
Pat McAfee
It was earlier with Colleen Wolf. They were doing a pick segment. Lil Wayne's on every week on this show. Kyle Brandon is not. Lil Wayne's on every single week. Seemingly on the show. They do, they do like game. They do a game, like a late night show game. And then he also makes picks or whatever with Colleen. And this time Kyle Brandt went in there and Kyle put out that tweet was like getting to work with song shotless. It's my first time, you know, he was like, your fans are rabid. It's like, kyle, Kyle, come on, man. Come on, man. Come on, man. Was all I was thinking. So then I just kind of went with it. And as my brain was rolling, it was like, I can't believe this is happening. I feel like somebody's got to stick for Lil Wayne here a little bit. And not the Lil Wayne needs it, obviously. 26 time Grammy nominee has a couple songs with over 600 million streams, a billion streamer on Spotify. So just somebody being like, I was impre. You got some talent, man. I was all right. Can't have it. But I love Kyle brain. I'd like to let the world know that legitimately, I just thought I had to speak up for an era that got a chance to experience the Wayne train on every single song from about 2004 to 2010. Now joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is an icon, okay, not just in the sports world, but in the world world. Because how he has represented our sport in gentlemen around the world with his chivalry and excitement and loyalty to his partner has been nothing short of fantastic. You would think. How can this guy get any better? Oh, yeah, he's a Mount Rushmore tight end gonna go down potentially as the greatest of all time. He is one super bowl after super bowl, looking to win three straight for the first time in a modern era. From the Kansas City Chiefs, tight end, Ladies and gentlemen, host of the New Heights podcast, Travis Kelce.
- [95:59]
Travis Kelce
That gang. It's been. It's been a while, baby. We miss you, man.
- [96:04]
Pat McAfee
We miss you, man. We've been watching, though. You've been dominating. We miss you. We love you. How are you doing? Walter Payton, man of the year for the Chiefs, continuing to make the world a better place while breaking records. How are you doing, brother?
- [96:15]
Travis Kelce
I'm doing good, man. We're. We're fired up, man. We got the Houston Texans coming into Arrowhead this weekend, and, man, ain't nothing better than NFL playoff football, baby. I've been fired up all week.
- [96:26]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so let's talk about it. In college football, have you been playing, paying any attention to the college football playoffs?
- [96:32]
Travis Kelce
Of course I have, baby.
- [96:34]
Pat McAfee
Come on, now.
- [96:35]
Travis Kelce
Listen, if football's going on, I'm watching it, man. Especially when the Buckeyes are making a run at it.
- [96:41]
Pat McAfee
You know what I mean?
- [96:43]
Travis Kelce
Ohio guy, man, I'm cheering for all Ohio football, baby.
- [96:48]
Pat McAfee
Obviously, I think we all are because how cool that team is. And in the moment that they were in but the college football playoffs, every team that had to buy ended up losing. Now, granted, it was, like, three weeks before their first game. You're coming off a buy. You guys are no stranger to that. How did you spend the buy? How does the team feel? And how does your old ass feel at this moment? Going into.
- [97:06]
Travis Kelce
I'm fired up, man. I'm feeling 22 all over again, baby. Let's go.
- [97:09]
Pat McAfee
Hell, yeah.
- [97:10]
Travis Kelce
Fire me up.
- [97:10]
Pat McAfee
I'm about you. I'm feeling 22. Hey, she had us do this thing, Trav. She had us do this thing right here.
- [97:19]
Travis Kelce
I was hoping you caught the reference, baby. Man, I'm ready to rock and roll, man. It's the big. The biggest thing for me is, is trusting Coach Reed. He's been doing this a long, long time. And when it comes to getting the bye week, we've had a few of them over the course of my career. Career. So the big. For me, it's just making sure we put the pads on at least one time throughout the week, make sure we. We get our physicality in and get that in check. Play with some low pad level throughout the week. And then on top of that gets. Put your feet up, man. Watch some football and get ready for some. For Some playoff action.
- [97:53]
Pat McAfee
Go ahead, A.J.
- [97:54]
Ty Schmidt
Does it matter who you play, Trav? Obviously you watch the games and playoff games. Do you ever think about, okay, we match up better with this, this team, with that team. Did you ever do that anytime in your career? I would assume you, you don't. And also, are you going to be, you know, punking some kickers out of their warm up situation again if that happened again?
- [98:10]
Travis Kelce
I don't know. I don't know what you're talking. I felt like he was trying to punk us.
- [98:13]
Ty Schmidt
He was punking us. Hey, you were in and I just.
- [98:16]
Travis Kelce
I was just defending my guys. I was making sure, you know, Pat's ankle was good. I was making sure my guys had had some space, you know. No, I think, I think I've never really, really gave it much of a thought in terms of who we should play or who I want to play. You know, I just want to, I just want, you know, whoever, whoever. We got to give us their best ever, man. I love, I love going up against the best and in that challenge, week in, week out, man. So I know we're going to get Houston's best, man. It's a hell of a football team.
- [98:45]
Pat McAfee
Houston's obviously had a year that's been like this a little bit. Then last game of the year, they beat the hell out Titans and they get a massive win over the Chargers. Your guys have seen season even though you're the number one seed in the afc, number one seed in the best record in the entire league again as back to back super bowl champs. We haven't got a chance to chat with you much. Obviously we've watched new heights all anybody who said is this team ain't good, this team ain't good. This ain't the same Chiefs team undefeated at one point, 151 at one point number one seed in the AFC. Have you heard all that noise? And what is this year's team like versus maybe years past?
- [99:24]
Travis Kelce
Well, we're finding, we're finding different ways to win and more ways to win early on and throughout the season. I think last year we dealt with finding ways to lose and you know, you can learn from both, but learning, learning from the games you win is a whole lot more fun. And I think we got a lot of confidence in this team and a lot of guys that are willing to go that extra mile, man. And we've definitely heard all the chatter and guys like, you know, Rex Ryan saying that, you know, this team can't win in the playoffs and he's seen it before. And you know, we hear everything, but at the same time we know what's real and what's in this building. And that's, that's guys that want to be accountable for the one next to him and are going to keep finding ways to be accountable week in, week out.
- [100:07]
Pat McAfee
Rex pissed off the Texans too. Last week. He said the chart. The Chargers had a buy week playing against Houston. Rex also pissed off the Chiefs. Rex, hey, keep doing it, Rex, keep doing it. Great work. Let's talk about your team before the boys have their questions as well. Patrick Mahomes, obviously, another year he cemented as one of the goats, just like you. What have you seen from him this year that's different? Or is Patrick Mahomes now found exactly who he is, Leadership, playing style, everything like that?
- [100:37]
Travis Kelce
Well, I've seen him weather the storm. You know, everybody's mentioning and you know, the protection and who we've had up front, we, I think we figured that, that puzzle out. And on top of that, I've seen Pat, you know, weather that storm and become better because of it. I think, you know, when, when the team needs him the most, he steps up in ways that he hasn't before. And it happens year in, year out. And it's just so much fun to be a part of, be a part of the team with him because he's always going to take the bull by the horns and be the most accountable, be the one that puts it on himself more than he puts it on anybody El else. And that's true leadership right there.
- [101:15]
Pat McAfee
Man. He's awesome to watch you. You both are. When something needs to happen, he's going to do something absurd and then he's going to find that big handsome bastard from Ohio wearing 87 who's running a Travis route. D. Bu has a question for you, Trav.
- [101:31]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, Trav. We got Mount Rushmore guys all over the place up there. Talk about you, Pat, like spags, Dave, and then obviously Andy Reid, your head coach. What, what separates Andy Reid from, you know, the other guys? I feel like he always has you guys prepared for every situation. Is it the competitive practices? Like what goes on into the preparation with you guys week in and week out that you're always preparing any moment to win a game in any type of way?
- [101:55]
Travis Kelce
You know, I think you're. I think you're onto something. His, his competitiveness and his ability to challenge guys. And then, and that's not an easy thing to do, is to challenge grown men in a way that's respectful, in a way that you can get the best out of them. I think he relates to everybody in such a way that he get, he gains that respect as you're in, as you come into the building just by being relatable. And with that being said, I mean we were in full pads and going ones versus ones last week and that's the type of competitive practices that are going to get you ready for the playoffs. Knowing that every single week of the playoffs it gets a little more physical, it gets a little bit more fast, faster as you get deeper and deeper. And it's just, I, I love the guy for so many reasons, but the, his ability to challenge everybody week in, week out just makes everyone that much better.
- [102:44]
Pat McAfee
Do you guys tuck in every right? We always chat about how like Andy Reid's an accountability driven coach. It's like at practice it's always just get said but I don't think I've ever actually heard or not. We're tucking in jerseys, we're doing the whole thing around the building. Like that is Andy Reid old school tuck?
- [102:59]
Travis Kelce
Oh yeah. Old school, old school mentality. Kind of a military feel to it. You're gonna look sharp as you go to it. But he's kind of gotten a little, he's kind of, it's kind of relaxed a little bit on that. I think he gives, he gives. He might be prejudiced towards skinny guys because he gives the, the big boys the ability to keep the shirts on top.
- [103:18]
Pat McAfee
Well, he knows big guys. Let's just get down to Sunday. Let's just get these dudes to Sunday. Let's win. Ty has a question for you about that beautiful city you play football in.
- [103:28]
D. Buck
Yeah, Travis, a lot was made last year during the playoffs against the Dolphins about how cold it was. You know, you had people, you know, getting hypothermia in the stands and stuff like that. And obviously the Dolphins couldn't deal with it. We have a winter storm ripping through the Midwest right now. What's it supposed to be like, weather wise? Do you know this weekend and would you prefer a situation like that where you're lining up out there with a stack of dimes but you know, you, you got a team, you know, from Houston or from a warm city coming in that's probably not going to be able to handle the climate the same way you guys are going to be able to.
- [104:00]
Travis Kelce
I'm not going to lie, man. I'm, I'm, I'm an Ohio football guy, baby. I love it when it's just cold and snowy and you just get the all the elements. All the elements mixed into one. And I'm not. I'm not going to say that I'm hoping for that, but I. I definitely love it when it's. Because it adds a little bit more to how dramatic the game can be, be, or at least feel. But at the end of the day, I don't care if it's raining snowing, if it's at Arrowhead, somewhere else in the Walmart parking lot, you can take.
- [104:28]
Ty Schmidt
Put the.
- [104:28]
Travis Kelce
Roll the balls out and let's play some football, baby.
- [104:31]
Pat McAfee
Is there going to be an aura in that place? A little extra? You know we're talking about. You know we're talking.
- [104:36]
Travis Kelce
Oh, yeah, you know it, baby. You know it's playoff football, man.
- [104:41]
Pat McAfee
Hey, she's. Is she undefeated? Hey, she rolls in that stadium. I just want to let you know what live betters do. I just want to let you know what live betters do. They see her walk into that stadium, immediately open the phone, it's like, yep, Chiefs are about to win. I mean, that is just literally the feel what you two are. Hey, you're a gentleman, pal. You need to know that you continue to represent football in a beautiful way. Trav, we appreciate you legitimately trying to.
- [105:06]
Travis Kelce
Represent the boys, man. Just trying to represent the boys.
- [105:09]
Pat McAfee
So many fuck boys out there. I've heard about them all, because my wife. Now. I've listened to all the albums. Albums. I've heard about them all. I appreciate you, dude. You. And also, I think there's one coming where it's, like, gonna be great. Like, hey, guy, good thing, you know? Like, that'll be great in my house.
- [105:23]
Travis Kelce
There might be a few. I don't know. There might be a few.
- [105:27]
Pat McAfee
Have you heard any? Have you heard any? Do you get a cashier?
- [105:30]
Travis Kelce
You know, I can't. I can't say any of that. You know, I can't say.
- [105:34]
Pat McAfee
I don't.
- [105:36]
Travis Kelce
I hear. I hear music everywhere.
- [105:39]
Pat McAfee
Okay, let's just say you're hanging out. Say you're hanging out. Have a little dinner. No, we're having a little dinner. All of a sudden, the creative juice sparks in the absolute beast that you're sitting with, who is going to go down as maybe the most famous icon in the history of music? And she starts thinking something, and you go, oh, I like that. Are you. Are you a. Are you a motivator at every single time?
- [105:57]
Travis Kelce
Are you on now? You know it. You know it.
- [105:59]
Pat McAfee
I don't. I don't.
- [106:00]
Travis Kelce
I'll never. I'll never chime in, but you already know it's. It's full. I'm. I'm here to support it. I'm here to see where it can go. You know what I mean? Mean.
- [106:09]
Pat McAfee
And I'll tell you where it went. That stadium was bananas that we were in Lucas Oil stage. We were talking about it early. When you said you're feeling 22. They had those lights on their arms. She had every single person in there. It felt like it was moving. The actual state. It was electrifying trap. I. I mean, I can't. It was awesome. I know you have a great time.
- [106:27]
Travis Kelce
I thought the European crowds were crazy, man. But I'll tell you what, man, Lucas Oil. I got to go to the last night over there in India, and they were. They were going nuts. They were more. They were. I mean, I think I've seen that thing rocking when the Colts are playing. They might have. They might have had that thing rocking even more.
- [106:46]
Ty Schmidt
Might have. I mean, okay.
- [106:50]
Pat McAfee
I don't think you have to question that. I think you can say definite. Speaking of off the field, before we let you go, we know you have a lot of work. Connor has a question for you. Yeah.
- [106:58]
Boston Connor
Travis. Also representing on the silver screen, Happy Gilmore, too. You are now part of the Sandman squad, I assume. How was that? How was working with Sandler and how many lines are we working with here after your incredible debut on FX as.
- [107:13]
Travis Kelce
Well, man, I appreciate that. I'll tell you what, man, that was a dream come true. I thought SNL was going to be, you know, the peak of my acting and showman or entertainment career. Working with, with, you know, Happy Gilmore himself. The Sandman and Happy Productions, it was. It was off the chain, man. They're so professional and yet so fun to work with. I felt like I was working with like the Andy Reid of the. Of the acting world, man. He is. He is every bit as cool off the off the screen as he is on the screen, man. And that was a dream come true, man. That was awesome. I'm in, I believe, a few scenes. I gotta. I got a pretty, uh, pretty hefty load in there.
- [107:52]
Pat McAfee
Oh, hefty load.
- [107:58]
Gumpy
Oscar.
- [107:59]
Pat McAfee
Okay. Yeah, maybe. Hey, we. We up for any awards in this entire thing? We think may. What is that called?
- [108:05]
Ty Schmidt
That isn't Best New Actor, maybe.
- [108:09]
Travis Kelce
I don't. I don't think I'm. I don't think I'm up to. Up to those. I don't know that caliber of acting yet, and I don't even know if I'm in that much of Happy Gilmore to even be, you know, Hefty loads.
- [108:22]
Pat McAfee
Hefty loads. Get awards. Hefty loads. That certainly. Did you guys play any hoops in your downtime? Yeah, in your downtime, did you take any oops from the Sandman?
- [108:32]
Travis Kelce
Man, I wish. I wish I was only there. I was there on the bye week, so I wasn't. I didn't get too much time to really hang out. But you already know we got to get on the court with the Sandman.
- [108:41]
Pat McAfee
Hey, the Chiefs are still the Chiefs. We can't thank you enough for being awesome and thank you for swinging by, brother. Keep crushing life.
- [108:48]
Travis Kelce
Always love coming on here with you guys, man. You guys are the best. We'll catch you.
- [108:52]
Pat McAfee
How's New Heights? How's New Heights? I didn't even ask. How's New Heights? We love.
- [108:54]
Travis Kelce
We're rolling, baby.
- [108:55]
Pat McAfee
You guys are great.
- [108:56]
Travis Kelce
We just had. We just had another great Will Ferrell on there last week, man. It was cool as hell. Just chopping it up with him, talking about Frank the Tank and Anchorman and everything, man. It was awesome.
- [109:07]
Pat McAfee
And then Walter Payton, man of the year, giving back to the world, making the world a better place while growing a fantastic beard. Right now he's just. Playoff beard.
- [109:15]
Travis Kelce
You just a little playoff beer. It's going to get. It's going to get real ugly if I, If I make it to the.
- [109:20]
Pat McAfee
Super bowl like your brother. Do you have like your brother's beard too there if you wanted?
- [109:24]
Travis Kelce
Oh, yeah, it gets a little, just a little, I don't know, different shades right there. Just little flavor savers right here.
- [109:31]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it looks great. Can't wait to watch it all the way through another Super Bowl. I hope you're the man. Ladies and gentlemen, Travis kelsey. He's feeling 22. Dude. Yeah. When's.
- [109:45]
Ty Schmidt
When's the new Happy Gilmore come out? We should have asked.
- [109:47]
Boston Connor
I think it's this year.
- [109:48]
D. Buck
Summer.
- [109:50]
Pat McAfee
July 4th is summer. Do summer movies do well? This one, is it going straight to streaming or is this going.
- [109:56]
D. Buck
Are they doing. As far as I know it was made for Netflix, but I, I could see that being the kind of thing where it's in theaters for a couple.
- [110:03]
Ty Schmidt
Weeks and then didn't say 10, 10 piece Netflix. Netflix deal or something.
- [110:08]
D. Buck
He did.
- [110:08]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Because if the movie theater gimmick, we don't need it. You know, like, hey, I appreciate. Just make me up charge and then send it to the movie theater. Make me pay an extra ticket worth 12 bucks or 15, 20, whatever the hell it is on top of it. So I Could stream it at my house and send it to the theater, let it count as the box office. I. There's no reason that I gotta leave my house in 2025 to watch any of these movies, man. Tom. Whoa, Nick. I still want movie theaters to exist though.
- [110:39]
Bill Belichick
No, you got a great idea there.
- [110:40]
Pat McAfee
That's a good compromise for everybody.
- [110:42]
Boston Connor
They do it with the rentals now where it's like you can rent a movie that's still in theaters, but it is like 20 bucks, but it's not immediate.
- [110:49]
Darius Butler
I think Happy Gilmore 2. Sure. It could go straight to Netflix.
- [110:53]
Pat McAfee
Okay.
- [110:53]
Darius Butler
Something that Tom Cruise is starring in, that's, that's made for the big screen.
- [110:56]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [110:57]
Pat McAfee
Like you need feed out on immigration. Imax. You need to go see it on imax. If Bradley Cooper's in it, we're going to watch that on the big screen, you know, because, because Coop's in it. If, if our guy Glenn is in it.
- [111:09]
Darius Butler
Bingo.
- [111:09]
Pat McAfee
Probably if it's streamable, gonna watch it. If it's meant for streaming and it's a series, gonna watch it. But if it's a movie and it's a movie theater, gonna go there. But Nick, you wanna kill all movie theaters. I don't want to kill movie theaters. I like a good little date night.
- [111:23]
Ty Schmidt
Full lay down seats now. It's way better than it used to be.
- [111:25]
Pat McAfee
Full later. I can't. Oh yeah. I'm asleep. I'm asleep.
- [111:28]
Ty Schmidt
I do fall asleep. Yeah, do.
- [111:30]
Pat McAfee
It's great.
- [111:30]
Ty Schmidt
Take a nap.
- [111:31]
Pat McAfee
I don't need date night. I'm on a nap. You watch a movie you like. This is perfect. We're.
- [111:36]
Ty Schmidt
We're doing it, I guess. Not dating. I'm talking with my kids. I take my kids to the kids movies. I take a quick 40 minute nap.
- [111:42]
Darius Butler
You don't like watching the movie?
- [111:43]
Ty Schmidt
I love it. I could fall asleep through my own. If you show me a video of my own death, I could still fall asleep through it.
- [111:49]
Boston Connor
Excuse me?
- [111:49]
Pat McAfee
What? Yeah, like it.
- [111:51]
Ty Schmidt
People say, oh, how'd you fall asleep? I could fall asleep through anything.
- [111:53]
Pat McAfee
How long is your death for your own death though? Why would somebody. What do you. What is that even? I don't think I fully show you.
- [111:59]
Ty Schmidt
A video of like, hey, this is when you're going to die and how you're going to die. If I'm tired, I will fall asleep at some point throughout that video.
- [112:05]
AJ Hawk
I don't.
- [112:06]
Pat McAfee
So they can't capture your attention if they're telling you exact information that you're going to need to know. I love that about you. That's why you should never drive. And the fact that you drove over to Indianapolis today to be in a Thunderdome. We're very grateful for this show will continue on ESPN + Disney + YouTube and Tik Tok Live, which is still going. Still going. And we'll continue over there. We'll see you tomorrow for Aaron Rodgers. Tuesday. What's he gonna say? We shall see. Ron Netflix tonight. Wild card tonight. Have a good one. I think I really nailed that one, boys. I feel like well done in the history of those things. I was in the middle of that one. I'm like, this one's a one, you know. And then I finished it with a little less sauce than I could have hoped for. So I dropped it. Probably seven, probably seven out of 10, you know. But those things are all happening in my head while I'm speaking. I hope everybody understands.
- [112:53]
Darius Butler
You reminded me that there was a playoff game tonight. I completely forgot. So that was, that was a nice little reminder on your sign off.
- [112:59]
Pat McAfee
You want to know something? That was fun, fun little game.
- [113:02]
Darius Butler
I. I bet I could. I could take a guess.
- [113:05]
Pat McAfee
Go ahead.
- [113:06]
Darius Butler
You also. Wait, you either didn't know it was Monday or you also didn't know there was a game tonight.
- [113:13]
Pat McAfee
Well, I know it's Monday because it's Monday night raw, brother. I obviously knew that last night and yesterday, what days of the week it was as we had football just non stop. Completely forgot about that wild card game until 8th of a second before it came out of my mouth. Obviously because this is a big deal. Vikings Rams is a good game. This is a very good game. Especially with where this Rams team is. I think a lot of people are thinking that maybe, maybe the Rams have a lot better chance to win this game than a lot of people are giving them credit. A lot of people are saying wait, Stafford puka and the boys are healthy and rolling and we know the Minnesota Vikings have been electrifying. But if that defense for the Rams is able to get a few stops and Matthew Stafford is able to be opportunistic on the offense, go score some hold the phone. And it happening over there in Arizona. I know that takes it out of beer. Whose house? Rams house. I don't think anybody thought it was gonna be Rams house anyways. Minnesota Vikings fans infiltrate that place probably very quickly and that becomes a skull chant quick in LA now it's like understood that this is probably going to be a lot of Minnesota Vikings fans. I think the Matthew Stafford led LA Rams understand what they're doing. For the city in which they represent and everything that's going on, I think this is a nice getaway for them away from the chaos that's been taken away in la. It's almost like a bowl week, you know, Schefter said, like a Super Bowl. But obviously nothing compares to what a Super bowl week is like for teams. But it is like a bowl game whenever you take a trip away and it's only you and maybe your close family and there's no distractions. And although the world is potentially in a much different place outside of that building, inside you're just locked in on ball. I think moving the game to Arizona actually helps the Rams more than it hurts the Rams. But that doesn't mean I don't like the Minnesota Vikings tonight with Van Ginke in that be flow defense able to absolutely cook.
- [115:06]
Ty Schmidt
AJ yeah, speaking. We see a helmet right there with the guardian cap fall off and I don't want to detract from the game, but you see yesterday, a guardian cap concussion we had happen.
- [115:15]
Pat McAfee
What?
- [115:15]
Ty Schmidt
Unfortunately, I don't know about concussion.
- [115:17]
Pat McAfee
I don't know. I can't.
- [115:18]
Ty Schmidt
I can't say exactly what happened.
- [115:21]
Darius Butler
Wait, that can happen.
- [115:21]
Ty Schmidt
That was scary. That was very scary. For real?
- [115:24]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it was very scary. Scary was very. A very different game than the game that's happening tonight that I was just talking about. But I do appreciate in that clip.
- [115:31]
Ty Schmidt
You see it pop off the helmet. I don't know if you can see it or not. It got me, dude.
- [115:34]
Pat McAfee
The Tampa Bay guy, the big offensive lineman that has it. It's always so obvious. The guardian caps are always so obvious. What's that tone?
- [115:42]
Darius Butler
I said that one blends, right? In the Tampa Bay Bucks, guardian caps are some of the best.
- [115:47]
Pat McAfee
The helmets look like they're your cowboy hat on top of a helmet guardian cap. It's just like you want me to look at it like it is a zoom in feel to it. But beef flow in that Vikings defense could potentially have a day against his Rams offense. D Bucks, how does B Flow's defense, you know, kind of match with what Matthew Stafford and Rams have cooking?
- [116:10]
AJ Hawk
I mean, they mix it up now with that offense is Puka. You know, Puka is the guy that you have to stop. He is the game record. They do want to run the ball too, but B Flo mixes it up and they intercept the ball at a higher clip than anyone else. So if it's one, I guess thorn in the side for Matt Stafford is throwing interceptions or pick sixes on this stage, but if you look at this game, you look at the head coaches, two very, very good head coaches, especially on the offensive side. Two good defenses. I think the Rams defense is a lot younger, great up front against the run, but probably could be exposed a little bit bit in the past game. And I don't see him blitzing as much as we saw like Aaron Glenn do and makes Darnold very, very uncomfortable. So I, I don't know which, which way this game's going to go. I think it'll be a great one, though.
- [116:53]
Pat McAfee
I do too. Like, I, I'm legitimately befuddled about how tonight goes. I don't think I've even made a pick yet. Tone, where's all the money at for this particular game? Old Vikings and Rams Monday night wild card game, which a lot of people aren't happy about. I've seen ex players.
- [117:07]
Boston Connor
Oh yeah.
- [117:08]
Pat McAfee
Talk about how stupid the Monday night playoff game is. It's like, I understand the broadcast is going to be amazing and it's a primetime game and it's Monday Night Football and it's part of a deal. We get it, we get it, we get it. But even if you move them to Sunday instead of Saturday, early game on Sunday, whoever wins this, it's like, why would you risk a less. People aren't thrilled about the Monday night, but I'm excited there's a primetime game on. I'm excited. People aren't pumped though, about the scheduling and the rest and everything after that.
- [117:36]
AJ Hawk
I can see why. Makes sense. You, you, you disadvantage and then you got to go up and you know, see one of the best teams in the next round. So.
- [117:43]
Darius Butler
Yeah, at least have them play on Sunday.
- [117:46]
Pat McAfee
They're.
- [117:46]
Darius Butler
They're playing on Saturday, right? Aren't they? Isn't the vikings.
- [117:49]
Pat McAfee
Not Sunday, 3:00. Oh, okay.
- [117:52]
Darius Butler
I think, Okay.
- [117:53]
Pat McAfee
I think Sunday, that's correct. Okay.
- [117:55]
Boston Connor
They already played two earlier in the year. This was the Darnold face mask and the game by Thursday night. Thursday night, yeah. And then also I believe the. There was a report that the Rams have a photo of MCDC telling Kevin O'Connell after last Sunday night's game, hey, we'll see in two weeks. So the Rams are very pissed off to getting counted out. And granted now the commanders won. Even if the Vikings were to win, they wouldn't see the Lions, actually.
- [118:21]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Yeah. But I guess mcdc did say the Rams. You got no chance. Tone, what are the better saying? Who's winning?
- [118:28]
Darius Butler
54% are on the Vikings.
- [118:31]
AJ Hawk
That's close.
- [118:32]
Pat McAfee
All right. So let's make our picks, shall we?
- [118:36]
Darius Butler
And this week.
- [118:36]
Pat McAfee
Toxic table. I'm sorry, go ahead.
- [118:38]
Darius Butler
I was just going to say this Weekend favorites were 3 and 2 against the spread. The under was 4 and 1 and the public went 4 and 1 for the majority of those picks.
- [118:51]
Pat McAfee
Public went 4 and 1 for those picks. AJ and I both went 3 and 2.
- [118:55]
Ty Schmidt
I think you. They said you went 4 and 1.
- [118:59]
Pat McAfee
I did not see the updated graphic. I want 4 and 1.
- [119:04]
Ty Schmidt
I picked the Broncos, I guess to cover.
- [119:06]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah. It looked like they were going to early. 7 nothing, brother 73. They even had the lead made Tyler Bass come out and kick a field goal. Hold a second. Or the Broncos going to be able to do this thing. B Knicks connects for a long ball. Oh, my God. The Buffalo Bill Bills. We knew they didn't have enough talent. They shouldn't have traded everybody away. They should have paid somebody. The bills lose again. 31 straight points. 31 7. Everybody shut the up, please. Yeah, that's what the Bill said. That's literally what the bill said.
- [119:36]
Boston Connor
Awesome.
- [119:37]
Pat McAfee
What did D bunch go I didn't see down there at the bottom? D bunch, what did you saw? Bad boys. Everybody above 500. We're making money. Hey, I'll tell you what, that's still good to be me on this graphic. But I am happy that we're all above 500. We're all above 500, you know, cuz them utter shows. Ain't that right?
- [119:57]
D. Buck
Yeah. Yeah. Well, and he was kind of flip flopping. He almost went to the other side on a couple of those. So I'm glad he, you know, stood Pat. And three and two. Not bad.
- [120:05]
Pat McAfee
Not bad. Nobody.
- [120:06]
D. Buck
Everybody over 500. You kidding me? Seeing the board at the most important time of season.
- [120:10]
AJ Hawk
Love that.
- [120:11]
Pat McAfee
Let's have another night like that. Yeah, right. Let's. Yeah, let's have another one of those. Vikings. Rams. Vikings, 2 1/2 point favorites in Arizona, taking on Matthew Stafford and the Rams 8pm Eastern on ESPN and ABC. Peyton and Eli will be doing a Manning cast on ESPN too. Who are the guests? Have they announced the guests yet, boys?
- [120:32]
Ty Schmidt
Or is there no guests?
- [120:35]
AJ Hawk
It's only two guests, which is good.
- [120:37]
Pat McAfee
Jared Allen will be on. Hopefully he's on a horse. That'd be sweet. Bill Belichick will obviously be on for the first quarter. He's prepared. He's on a seemingly in a movie trailer set right now. Either shooting a commercial or just maybe that's what his house looks like. Maybe he lives in that could be.
- [120:55]
Darius Butler
Down there Maybe it's grind.
- [120:57]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Just like Jim Harbaugh. Just like Jim Harbaugh. Lived in an RV out there in la. Remember whenever he became a Chargers head coach. Rough ending to the Charger season, by the way. Rough ending.
- [121:07]
Boston Connor
Yikes.
- [121:07]
AJ Hawk
I didn't see that coming.
- [121:09]
Pat McAfee
People are killing Herbert right now, boy. And I heard you say it earlier, Darius, it's tough to stick up and be a Herbert guy right now. For the last few days, let's not look past the incredible year that he had. He had a bad game. Okay. That's gonna. He had a bad game. That's gonna happen. Right. That's why we need to be viewing his debut.
- [121:24]
AJ Hawk
That is. That is correct. And not. And you also need to view it as, hey, let's get. Let's get some more talent on the outside. I think that was the conversation coming into this game. And all year long, even though they were winning games, it was kind of like, hey, you know, they haven't beat a ton of good teams yet. But, Yeah, I think nine of his 14 completions with the lab Makonkey, who almost had 200 yards receiving. So get some more weapons for him on the outside, but I think they will be just fine going forward in the hardball era.
- [121:55]
Pat McAfee
Congrats to Ladd McConkey. He ended up with the most receiving yards a rookie has ever had in a playoff offset to believe. So 197 yards, including a very long one there in the fourth quarter. But then blocked extra point. Two points go the other way. Never seemingly had any momentum or any thought that, yeah, we were going to win it, Gumpy. Not a terrible year, though, for the Chargers.
- [122:17]
Gumpy
No better than a lot of people thought they would.
- [122:20]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. They're behind schedule. They haven't really. They're ahead of schedule. I'm sorry. They. They.
- [122:24]
Gumpy
Some of the team is. Yeah, for sure.
- [122:26]
Pat McAfee
Well, you mean.
- [122:27]
Gumpy
I just, you know, there's a lot of comparisons between two and Herbert all the time. And, you know, if TUA had a game like that on Saturday that Herbert did, Twitter would have exploded.
- [122:39]
Pat McAfee
Are you doing the. You're doing the. Hey, let's make sure we act the same towards all parties, no matter who they are, I think. Is that what you're doing?
- [122:47]
Gumpy
Exactly. Debut knows.
- [122:49]
AJ Hawk
Yeah. Oh, yes. I was watching that game with Gumpsey Gump Dump on Saturday. He was. He. Trust me.
- [122:54]
Boston Connor
What.
- [122:55]
AJ Hawk
What was the name. Who was the last quarterback for the Charger?
- [122:57]
Gumpy
Stan Humphries.
- [122:58]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [122:58]
AJ Hawk
Okay.
- [122:59]
Gumpy
San Diego Chargers legend.
- [123:00]
Darius Butler
Didn't. Didn't to throw three picks against The Texans this year.
- [123:04]
Gumpy
He did throw three. Yeah, they throw four.
- [123:06]
Ty Schmidt
Are you defending or not here?
- [123:08]
Gumpy
How many. How many turnovers? Chargers force eight turnovers and two playoff games. They win at either of those games.
- [123:13]
Pat McAfee
Jeez Louise.
- [123:15]
Gumpy
Did they. They blow. What were they up on? The Jacks out of the first.
- [123:19]
Pat McAfee
What's your point? Problem.
- [123:21]
AJ Hawk
He's fired up.
- [123:23]
Gumpy
Well, I take it on the shins every day for TUA so.
- [123:26]
Pat McAfee
Remember how good those Chargers.
- [123:28]
Gumpy
Chargers are ahead of schedule. They're a good football team. But also too.
- [123:31]
Pat McAfee
And he would like to have Justin.
- [123:33]
Gumpy
Herbert should be hold accountable for playing. Like, what do you want him to do?
- [123:37]
Ty Schmidt
What are they supposed to do to him?
- [123:38]
Gumpy
Not throw four interceptions.
- [123:41]
Ty Schmidt
Accountable.
- [123:43]
Pat McAfee
Way to hold him accountable. Thank you for doing what you're doing. We appreciate you doing it. It's going to make better.
- [123:49]
Gumpy
Do it.
- [123:49]
Pat McAfee
It's going to make her better. Dumpy's holding him accountable. Yeah. Got to do it.
- [123:54]
Gumpy
Nobody else wants to.
- [123:55]
Pat McAfee
We shout out to the Chargers. You know, there was a couple times where I thought to myself, man, if Keenan Allen was on this team.
- [124:00]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [124:01]
Pat McAfee
Sir. Might have maybe, you know, just. And they'll be able to do that going forward. All right, let's make some picks, shall we, here on this lovely wild card Monday. There's one final game of wild card card weekend happening. Vikings and Rams, Gumps. Did you see all the records? Did you see mine? AJ's debut and the other guy, Stanford. Steve's record on the weekend.
- [124:22]
Gumpy
The other guy. Yeah. Four, one. Pretty good.
- [124:26]
Pat McAfee
Thank you. I feel pretty good about it.
- [124:27]
Gumpy
I can't believe the Bucks lost that game. They threw that thing away. What happened? Was their center doing.
- [124:33]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. What happened there?
- [124:34]
Gumpy
Seemingly the timing was off about a. No.
- [124:38]
Pat McAfee
And there was somebody yesterday too. There was a guard for the silent count. Forgot what the count was. You know, we always talk to like AJ or aq. I mean, where he's like, here's the center's job. Got to get the play call, got to get everything like that. But also there's a fumble, obviously in the fourth quarter. That was one of the massive errors that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made late in this game. And the Washington commanders took advantage of. But, like, having to remember what the count is on is a massive part of the center's job. Then when they go to silent count, the guard has to remember what the count is on while also remembering the play. And I forget what game it was yesterday. Guard looks back, does the arm thing, and then the guard literally falls backwards and nobody else moves. And I just thought to myself like oh, that's a whole nother added. Like hey, we're going on three of me as opposed to also having to do it. The silent count changes games. What happened there at the end with the Tampa Bay in the center snapping it and just Baker and everybody else.
- [125:38]
Gumpy
That'S being at home too on the road would be one thing, but it happened twice at home.
- [125:43]
Pat McAfee
Can't have it.
- [125:44]
Gumpy
But commanders five straight wins. Last possession of the game, last play of the game. Dogs pretty impressive.
- [125:51]
AJ Hawk
Jaden Daniels. I like unreal.
- [125:53]
Pat McAfee
So good. So good.
- [125:55]
Gumpy
Lions don't like playing against mobile quarterbacks either. Boxing knows.
- [125:59]
Pat McAfee
What do you mean? 100% facts. My favorite bet of all time for the last probably three, four years has been opposing teams quarterback rush yards and I'd say it's hitting at a pretty good clip and I'd say Jaden Daniels is the most mobile quarterback we've played all year. So this g be very, very interesting on Saturday night. Jaden Dano is a real deal brother. I mean he is debush. There's a couple times he was making decisions where I'm like dang, what a decision. And then there was sometimes he was getting the edge like in the fourth quarter to seal the game pretty much. It was third down, Tampa still had a timeout. He gets the edge, picks up the first down. This thing's going to end on a Bankton field goal. I don't think they were expecting Bankton field goal, but he gets this edge here. He's supposed to be tackled down, supposed to be down, gets the edge, gets first down, heady play, stays in bounds and understands just won it with his moxie and his confidence. Malik neighbors was there celebrating alongside of him. It feels like his teammates love this guy, you know, like he is. He is everything. And for Gonzalez here I saw a lot of people talking, you know, obviously he stands like Cristiano Ronaldo before his field goals, which is excellent. I love that he does that. A little swagger, a little moxie for a lineup. He banks someone home obviously. How you doing? Keep it moving. We win the game. Great snap. Great hold there. By tress way a lot of people talking about always nervous tick. Seemingly before he does his kick he. He has the helmet in the fix of the hair one. He has the socks. Where he fixes his socks and his cleats. I don't know if he does this on every single attempt or if this was just this particular attempt because of how big of a deal it was. How often are we paying attention to Gonzalez's actions there. And then the helmet one was the one that really drew a lot of attention because he doesn't have a lot of hair. That's fixable. So every time he would touch his helmet, then do this, and then he would do it again. Is it time? Nope, not time yet. Let me go ahead and do this. And then he. I think he gives it one more go. Yeah. And then. Then he kind of almost one more. They caught it all and they captured it all, and then they put it on. All right, So I think what he was trying to do, I think he probably does something of this nature before every single kick. And I think as he was walking, timing wise, was trying to figure out the perfect timing on when he thought it was right. He's not the only one, though, that has built up these things to do before a kick, because you got to remember, like, kicking is such a mental thing. You're trying to get yourself in the same exact mental frame and mindset every single time, so you can execute something that you know is dependent upon you being this accurate while you're hitting a ball. So people develop a lot of these things. I used to lick my fingers before I punted because I didn't want to drop the ball. And I guess it was kind of a nervous tick because I would feel if my fingertips were dry and if they were dry at all. My immediate thought was like, oh, I'm about to fumble this ball, everybody. So I'd lick it. Then if we didn't snap the ball quick enough, I lick it again. There's videos of quarterbacks, I think licking their fingers a lot could be considered a nervous tick. Could also consider being, I want to feel perfect before this particular rep. It's not just in football. It happens in other sports as well. Obviously golf, we have the video. Harmon, he does the waggles, which really became a part of the conversation whenever he was becoming, like a top three golfer in the world. And we were trying to watch it on tv and it was impossible. Gumps. It was tough to watch on TV because all you keep thinking is, hit the ball, guy. But all he's thinking is he's trying to feel exactly perfect at a moment he has no idea how many waggles. He probably knows that it's going to be a good bit. Hopefully it's not 12, 13. Isn't that hits it pure right there? Hold the pose, too.
- [129:28]
Ty Schmidt
Imagine if you scold that thing off someone's head after doing all that.
- [129:31]
Pat McAfee
Well, that's what the Miz does. Which, but for These people that are able to execute at a very high level, it's. I think, in their head, they're just trying to get to, like, the perfect mindset. And obviously, we all remember what Jason Kid used to do before every single free throw where you'd have his routine and then he would do the kiss. I don't know if we ever shook up from that, if he didn't feel like the kiss was delivered properly. It's also in baseball, I think, before guys enter the batter's box, there's a lot of stuff with, like, the gloves and the tape and everything. Just trying to make sure everything feels perfect for you to go and execute your job. Who's this lad?
- [130:02]
Gumpy
No. Mark Garcia, Bar Red Sox legend.
- [130:05]
Boston Connor
Me and husband.
- [130:07]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [130:07]
Pat McAfee
Oh, I don't know. More. Yeah.
- [130:11]
Ty Schmidt
Every single pitch, Sean Casey's boom, boom. Unstraping, unstrap and stretch. Stretch, dude. The whole routine. Pitches between.
- [130:18]
Pat McAfee
Oh, yeah.
- [130:18]
D. Buck
No more did it.
- [130:20]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, it's more like. It's like a routine for a lot of these guys where they're doing the exact same thing.
- [130:24]
D. Buck
That's why they started the pitch clock, so guys stop doing like that legit.
- [130:29]
Pat McAfee
In pitchers, there's another thing. Pitchers have some of these, too. There is routines that some guy get into. And I. I think it's a form of ocd. I believe it is a form of ocd. I'm not a psychiatrist. I just saw a lot of people talking about that. It's like. But whatever makes you get into the proper frame of mind to execute your job that's going to be able to feed your family and help your team, I'm okay with. But boy, TV people can help by not showcasing the entire thing, you know, that would. Because I assume he's pretty embarrassed that the whole world. Witness what he has to go through.
- [130:58]
Gumpy
It was the helmet touching his head. It kept going back. That was. That was the killer for me. Like, the. The hair thing's one thing, but he let the helmet touch his head, like, five times.
- [131:08]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, there's four right there for keeping dry. We don't shut it next game.
- [131:12]
Ty Schmidt
You know, they're finding him next game. No question.
- [131:15]
Pat McAfee
I know. But for the golf, they stopped with Harmon. They stopped showing all the waggles. They started catching him a little bit later in his routine, so we didn't have to see it, because I think they thought about that. But it's like, in these sports that are so, like, you know, you got to execute down to the eighth of an inch or whatever, there's some people that Overthink it. I city and have to feel absolutely perfect. I'm just, I'm so thankful that that went in because somebody that is will has that in their mind of perfection. That type of miss could be you.
- [131:46]
Gumpy
Hit a game winning field goal to go to the next round of the playoffs. You do whatever the you want, brother.
- [131:50]
Pat McAfee
Bingo.
- [131:51]
Gumpy
You know what I mean? You're gonna keep hitting legit as long as it goes through the uprights.
- [131:54]
Pat McAfee
Who gives a Like Adam, Vin and Terry didn't have much in it before pregame. Matt Stover had a few things that he had to do before every single kick. Kick, you know, he had to do a couple things. Then Vinatieri had nothing. Nothing. He would just walk in like a damn zombie. Yeah, I have no idea. Those big ones, you know. Cause like, I don't want to say normal kicks, but let's say first 3/4 kicks, games, still undecided. We don't know how important every point's going to be, but we do know have to make the kick. It's all jovial. He was all up. He would jog. We were jogging on the field, hey, go old man. You know, point at somebody in the crowd in between the uprights. If there's a little right to left wind, you know, maybe we go right center. I point out somebody in the crowd. Just a little give and take. You know, it could be something as easy as how about fatso right there? Whatever. I think that's where we want to keep it, right? Or he would say, I think we're going to give it up a little bit. I go, all right, perfect. I'm on your side here. I'll deal with the, the little bit of lean. I'll try to do my job and get the hell out of your way. Normally it was a nice little jog on in the field, you know, nice little jog on the field. That first time when it was, I think it was a game tire was the first one we're jogging on that field. Like, all right, old man, we'll find something, we'll find something. Just nothing. Just like, wait a minute, am I out here alone right now? Yeah, it does feel like. There's certainly two bodies, but only one soul at the moment. Okay, that makes sense. That makes sense. And then I get down, you know, and every single time was, you ready? All old man? And he nod his head. Yep. You ready old man? You ready old man? Nothing. Staring right through my soul. Just. We're talking about almost wanting to stop in real time. Look at him. And go, holy. This is it. This is the snow game. This is the Super Bowl. This is the reason, like, this is, this is why this happens. And then obviously, boom, bang, pow. Next thing you see is this one right here from Adam Venator. And it's like, wow, I was just in the, I was just in NFL films right there. I, I, I was just, I was in the super bowl kick. I was in snow kick. I was just in, like the most clutch person, I think, in sports. I think people would consider him in the conversation of up there, at least.
- [134:03]
AJ Hawk
On Mount Rushmore, for sure.
- [134:05]
Pat McAfee
And it's like, yeah, I just witnessed. Why? Because he had an ability to go to a place that I could not, you know, I, I could not get to that point right there, there. And he was a machine, so he had no real pre kick stuff. It was very different. Just wanted to kick a ball into the net. Then you want to jog out, strap it up, and kind of do his gig. But then there's some guys like Zane who have a lot of things they want to get to, to feel perfect so they can execute. You make a kick, who cares?
- [134:30]
Gumpy
Fourth kicker of the year for the commanders, too. Like, they went through some guys as well.
- [134:35]
Pat McAfee
Need them.
- [134:35]
Gumpy
Yeah.
- [134:36]
Pat McAfee
Number 47. Don't love that. Yeah.
- [134:39]
Boston Connor
Get him a new one.
- [134:40]
Gumpy
The late edition.
- [134:41]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. What's that all about? Age?
- [134:43]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I mean, like, said fourth kicker of the year. Correct. I'm guessing he's not, they're not gonna slide him with prime numbers. He's not getting any, any single digit away from a DB or something.
- [134:52]
AJ Hawk
So, you know, you're not changing it now.
- [134:55]
Pat McAfee
You think he walked in? Here's the equipment room. Hi. Yeah, I'm the new kicker here. Equipment room turns around, just throws a jersey. Adam 47. 47. I think you guys threw the wrong number. No, that's your number. I'm, I'm a kicker. 47 is the number. Yeah, that's it. All right. Thank God. I got a job. You guys got a helmet? I guess. Can I get this, Can I get this thing?
- [135:24]
Ty Schmidt
I need.
- [135:25]
Pat McAfee
He had no options. He had no options there, 47. That's what I heard. But he can earn himself a lifetime job thinking about that. Think about that for a moment. That is the kicking world. They're on their fourth kicker right now. He just hit a game winner. Let's say he hits another game winner on a miraculous playoff run. Then he has a great game. Let's say they don't win at all. But let's say he has A phenomenal game. This guy might have a job for the rest of his Life.
- [135:45]
Gumpy
Hit a 52 yarder earlier in that game too. Like he was 3 for 3 in the game. And they don't, they don't ever, they go for it on 4th every time. Like the Commanders refuse to punt. And they literally. Quinn at the start of the year, he literally said, my biggest fear is not going for it is what he said at the start of the year.
- [136:03]
Pat McAfee
And who, who are they playing against?
- [136:06]
Gumpy
Did they, who did they lose that game?
- [136:08]
Pat McAfee
They got the Dan Campbell led Detroit Lions.
- [136:11]
AJ Hawk
No punt.
- [136:11]
Pat McAfee
Do you know how many balls are going to be punted?
- [136:13]
Darius Butler
None.
- [136:14]
Pat McAfee
In that particular game? Zero. Zero. If I'm Jack Fox, I'm potentially showing up with my tennis shoes on, maybe sweats whatever makes me most comfortable to get down and hold for an extra point and that's it. Maybe a 70 yarder. Hey, we might try a 70 yarder. Hey, Jake Bates, good luck out there. And that stresses even more the teams that are like that. And people are going to think this is ass backwards. The punter and kicker for those teams that never punter, never kick have to be good. Like they have to be very, very, very, very, very, very good. Because if you only punter kick every once in a while, it's probably whenever you really need it. It's probably only when it's a necessity. And if you have somebody that's not good, trot out there, they're going to be cold, haven't really repped much, no idea what they're doing and they miss. That's catastrophic.
- [137:01]
Gumpy
Got to have good dudes just ready for one game.
- [137:04]
Pat McAfee
That's like Jack Fox for Detroit Lions. He might be the best in the game, he might be the best in the game, but he only punts, what, once a year or game, Twice a game. I think he's had four games, I think he's had four games where he didn't punt at all. And he was still first team all pro. And I want to say he broke the record for net average of punts this year, whatever that means. You would know more than me, Pat. But yeah, he's outstanding. And he only gets a couple tries a game. So gross, gross average is how far you kick the punt whenever the person catches it, the returner catches it. So from line of scrimmage, even though we're punting it from 11 yards, 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, we only get credit from the line of scrimmage. Field goal kickers get credit from where the ball spotted. Okay, okay. Sounds like bullshit. Line of scrimmage to where returner catches it. That is just your average gross average. Net average is after return, where it ends up at from line of scrimmage. And net is the one that matters. Net is the one that matters because that's how much you actually gain for your team. Now granted, if you have a high inside the 20 number, that's potentially because you don't have a lot of full fields to work, work with. That could mean your offense stinks. So you're able to pin, then you're able to stop, then they punt back. Your offense isn't able to move. So now you're punting into a short field a lot. So your gross average can't be that great and your net average can't be that great. But Your inside of 20 number should be gigantic because you don't have a full field. Like there's a lot of guys who have huge gross averages like punting to the returner and then their net average is crop and probably tells you that either the coverage team is, which could be the case, or they're hitting balls that are out kicking coverages, which means not a lot of hang time, low.
- [138:44]
Ty Schmidt
Hang time, low liner.
- [138:45]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anybody, anybody in the NFL can low line one like 60 yards if they wanted to. That is just like sometimes you'll see punters do that and like even in training camp there'll be guys trying to get jobs or whatever and they're like low lining balls and you'll see the preseason game and they're trying to get that number up, but everybody sees it and it's like, that's going to the house. That's going to the house. That's going to the house in the NFL. So those guys that can boom it, hang it and get big net like Jack Fox, that's why he's first team all pro. I remember Tony and I were looking at the numbers. It was hard. He didn't have. He didn't have anywhere near the amount of punts as everybody else. So I didn't love that because he didn't have to showcase it. But all the punts that he had, he made most of. And it's like, that's even more pressure. That's even more, even more pressure. So he's a dog. He won't have to p much. Let's go to tonight's game, shall we? Let's make our picks. Gump, who do you think, how do you think this particular wild card game.
- [139:36]
Gumpy
Goes Everything to me says Vikings. But I worry that Flores won't be able to confuse Stafford the way he confuses other quarterbacks. Give me the Rams plus two and a half, man.
- [139:52]
Pat McAfee
Okay, Gump.
- [139:53]
Gumpy
Like I think S I I. I'm off the Sam Darnold wagon after what happened. One game that was bad, dude. It was bad. It was old Sam.
- [140:03]
Pat McAfee
He was overthrown. He got the, the jitters.
- [140:05]
Darius Butler
Worried.
- [140:06]
Gumpy
I'm worried about that. I'm worried about it. I think the Rams, I think Stafford, I think Stafford has a big game. I think the Rams defense does enough where they can get this done.
- [140:14]
Pat McAfee
Connor tell Gumpy he was waiting all day for Sunday night.
- [140:20]
Boston Connor
I mean, I don't know. I've seen. I've seen a lot of Sam Darnold since, you know, his time with the jets and now. I also definitely think the Rams and just the McVeigh Ko J. I do. I mean, their D line is awesome. I can't wait to watch Jared Verse tonight. He is such a dog. But no, I would go Stafford and Puk. I think I trust them a little more than Sammy Ghost Darnold. I just don't.
- [140:42]
Pat McAfee
I just don't believe Sammy Ghost is not back. He had one night for the NFC first overall scene. He was overthrowing some guys because he was zeked up. Okay, sue him. What you guys are. You're holding this against them. Dutch, how do you see this one going?
- [140:56]
AJ Hawk
You know what? I've been on record in the past saying Sam Darnold absolutely stinks. And Jesus years have gone back. He's going to other places. You get around a guy like KOC you get the talent around him. You get the, the, the, the road that he's went and he's matured. I'm still in on Sam D. Darnold now. Obviously the last time we saw him, it was bad. I think that was more so of a Aaron Glenn absolute master class, which I don't anticipate the Rams will give him tonight. So I'm going. Sam Darnold. The Vikings -2 1/2 over the Rams are nice.
- [141:27]
Pat McAfee
Okay, okay. Sam Darnold absolutely stinks is what Darius.
- [141:33]
AJ Hawk
Said in the past. And that that was true at that point. Now we got new information. He's a new guy. He's a new cor quarterback. I like him. Win team on the road. I like them.
- [141:43]
Pat McAfee
I think Sam would say that actually. Right. Don't you think about who he was? Don't you say I was playing bad football? I was crop football player back then. You Think he would say? I think so.
- [141:50]
AJ Hawk
Yeah.
- [141:51]
Boston Connor
I think definitely.
- [141:51]
AJ Hawk
I think we know as players before anybody else knows and we hear it in the meeting rooms, we see it on TV and then you got to respond, you got to react, you got to learn from and that's what he did.
- [142:01]
Pat McAfee
Okay. Debaches with Minnesota. Vikings. Vikings. Darius is very loudly with the Rams. So is con man. Ty, who do you like? I'm sorry? Gumps is very loudly with the Rams. Ty, who do you like?
- [142:17]
D. Buck
Seems like everyone was on the Vikings and then now it's kind of starting to turn towards the Rams. Vikings are very good. I saw it firsthand a lot of the year. I think, you know, it'll be a good night for Sam Darnold to kind of put last week to rest and, and let every know, hey, I am going to be a 55, 60 million dollar quarterback next year.
- [142:37]
Pat McAfee
I, I like, I think there is a lot of money to be had for Sam Darnold who's about to be a free agent. Will you return to the Minnesota Vikings maybe with a franchise tag or will he test the market? Tone Diggs, are you rolling with the money or are you picking the Rams?
- [142:54]
Darius Butler
I'm going to go with the Vikings minus the two and a half and I'm probably going to ultimately spread at the Vikings -12 and a half. I don't know if it's going to even be close tonight.
- [143:03]
Pat McAfee
Jeez. To feel good. AJ there's been a lot of different opinions on how this game's going to go tonight. You are three and two on the weekend thus far. Congratulations to you and to debut and to that other guy, Stanford. Steven, do you get a 500 on wild card weekend or do you go to 4 inches? AJ who do you like? How do you like it?
- [143:26]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I plan on going to 4 and 2 on wild card weekend and I am riding with the Minnesota Vikings -2½. I think Flores, you know, throws some exotics at him. Even though I know Matthew Stafford's awesome. He's seen everything. He can make every single throw. Love what he can do. I think Harrison Smith maybe gets a pick tonight. I think Sam Darnold gets back on track. I don't have the recency bias as much. I'm not worried too much about what happened last time he took the field. So give me the Vikings.
- [143:52]
Pat McAfee
Okay. I love that. Also love the fact that this game's being played in Phoenix, Glendale. Is that where it's at?
- [144:01]
Ty Schmidt
Is AQ going? AQ should go do the coin toss.
- [144:04]
Darius Butler
Maybe they might do the.
- [144:04]
Pat McAfee
They said the tickets were going like hot cakes if Debone was in a drive thru. Wow. They said, they said these tickets were flying out there. And I don't know if it's just Los Angeles, those people who have had to evacuate. And once again, we can't stress enough how sorry and devastated we all feel for what you guys are going through. That, that is. Some of those pictures before and after pictures are just like devastating. I don't even know how you even get back or what is the even thought of potentially getting back. But Phoenix hosting that is going to be wonderful. And remember, the turf is going to be pristine because that thing rolls itself outside and then it comes right back in to get wilder. It's going to be a magical night in Phoenix for this last game of the super wild card weekend. But I disagree with Bubba Gumpino. I think Sam Donald spends it tonight. I think Justin Jefferson goes crazy. I think he got the jitters out at the right time. Which is the last game of the season for the Minnesota Vikings. There's some Minnesota Vikings fans, you know, that I've talked to that have given up hope on this Vikings team. They said this is the team team. We knew this was the team. Even though they won 14. I don't love that at all. I will take the Vikings minus two and a half. Even though I love Matthew Stafford. I appreciate Matthew Stafford. I love Oost too Pukinapua. I love Cooper Cup. I love that young D line. But I like the Minnesota Vikings tonight to win. I think, I think they're going to get it done. And boys, I believe, I believe that is if you can see what I can see. All right. It's a little bit of a dark arena, you know, so there's people appearing out of shadows. Yeah. Oh, my God. Can you show that? Can you show what is just baffling at us right now?
- [145:51]
Boston Connor
Holy.
- [145:52]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Kind of a horse head. Thank you. Sharky. Sj. Sharky ceramic mug. We got a sharky mug. Be careful. He looks hungry.
- [146:05]
Travis Kelce
Holy.
- [146:06]
Darius Butler
That's a hungry, hungry, hungry shot.
- [146:10]
Gumpy
Oh, look at that.
- [146:15]
Pat McAfee
This is pretty nice.
- [146:17]
Darius Butler
They got a. They got an incredible P on. Young P on playing for that team.
- [146:21]
Pat McAfee
Look at that, Jack. Yeah, but they like, they stink. Not as bad as they stunk last year though, right?
- [146:25]
Gumpy
Got some young guys back.
- [146:27]
Pat McAfee
You guys are back. You're back this year.
- [146:30]
Gumpy
Oh, put that on.
- [146:33]
Ty Schmidt
Mouth move. He's not.
- [146:35]
Pat McAfee
Guys. It's kind of like a horse head. Do you have a.
- [146:38]
Ty Schmidt
Very much so.
- [146:39]
AJ Hawk
Ricks.
- [146:40]
Pat McAfee
Where's The.
- [146:41]
Ty Schmidt
Are his teeth sharp? Can you feel those Gump?
- [146:42]
Pat McAfee
Oh, it's in the back. It's in the back. I forgot that's where his fin.
- [146:47]
Boston Connor
I think he said he's going to eat.
- [146:48]
Pat McAfee
Oh, you kick. You kick. Good goal. You guys need to be scoring goals. Whoa, whoa.
- [146:59]
Gumpy
Gordon Bums.
- [147:01]
Pat McAfee
Oh, he's making it rain on you.
- [147:03]
AJ Hawk
Thank you.
- [147:03]
Gumpy
Yeah.
- [147:04]
Pat McAfee
Hey, Shark. Hey.
- [147:06]
Darius Butler
Oh, that was sick.
- [147:06]
Pat McAfee
It's very nice of you, Sharky. Thank you.
- [147:08]
Gumpy
Holy.
- [147:09]
Boston Connor
They suck. Don't tell them we said they suck.
- [147:11]
Pat McAfee
What's that, Sharky?
- [147:13]
Gumpy
These guys say you suck, Sharky.
- [147:15]
Pat McAfee
No. You want me to put the jersey on, Sharky? What's the record? What's the record again here for the shark.
- [147:22]
Boston Connor
It's not good. Pure shite.
- [147:24]
D. Buck
Yeah, Golden Knight beat him like 10 times this year.
- [147:29]
Gumpy
At like, plus 200 on the money line. You'll.
- [147:31]
Pat McAfee
They're saying that sharks are shite. That's what they're saying in my ear right now. Yeah, you don't have ears. Okay, Got it.
- [147:37]
Gumpy
Holy. You see that muscle boys?
- [147:39]
Pat McAfee
Jeez, that's. That's a neon mentality, bro.
- [147:42]
Boston Connor
I. I will say, I mean, even though. Unbelievable, this is a zany mascot. I'm a fan shark.
- [147:50]
Gumpy
He's got the.
- [147:51]
Pat McAfee
He's very zany.
- [147:52]
Gumpy
He's got.
- [147:53]
AJ Hawk
The thing about him, the merch is the gear is complete.
- [147:57]
D. Buck
Needs to be.
- [147:59]
Pat McAfee
Sucks.
- [147:59]
AJ Hawk
Yeah.
- [148:00]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, what happened to his m. Oh, okay.
- [148:02]
Pat McAfee
Oh, there it is.
- [148:03]
Darius Butler
I don't like the Finn logo. I'll be honest, I like the old shark logo. Like, he's got on his chest, the.
- [148:07]
Boston Connor
Old one so much.
- [148:09]
Pat McAfee
I don't love this. This is like a whale almost.
- [148:11]
Darius Butler
No, the one on one on. Sharky.
- [148:13]
Pat McAfee
Sharky.
- [148:13]
Gumpy
Thank you, Sharky.
- [148:14]
Pat McAfee
Thank you. That was very kind to you.
- [148:16]
Gumpy
You're a good man, Sharky.
- [148:17]
Pat McAfee
Rookie team might not be good, but you're great.
- [148:22]
Gumpy
I like the fan. I like the fin on the back. No number, though, because of the fins.
- [148:26]
Pat McAfee
This reminds me of, like, going whale watching.
- [148:28]
Gumpy
Yeah, yeah, it's the old orca.
- [148:31]
Pat McAfee
This looks like an orca.
- [148:32]
Gumpy
I don't know.
- [148:33]
Ty Schmidt
It does, right? I mean, they've changed that, haven't they?
- [148:35]
Boston Connor
Yeah, no wonder they're shite.
- [148:38]
Gumpy
They're not that bad. They're getting better. Boy, the Whale Tank, they got some good young talent.
- [148:42]
Pat McAfee
Oh, I heard about a paisana.
- [148:44]
Gumpy
They said sharks are like plus 200 to plus 300 every night. You bet them on the money line, you'll make some money.
- [148:50]
Pat McAfee
Thank you, Sharky.
- [148:51]
Gumpy
Sharkies do. It's a hungry, hungry Shock.
- [148:54]
Pat McAfee
And they gave me a jersey. This is very kind of them. They even gave me strap. They even gave me the strap thing. Oh, my legit.
- [148:59]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [149:00]
Adam Schefter
Yeah.
- [149:01]
Pat McAfee
I don't think it's gonna fit.
- [149:02]
Boston Connor
That's a game jersey.
- [149:03]
AJ Hawk
It is a good tarp.
- [149:04]
Pat McAfee
Oh, yeah. I'm in a good spot, boys. I'm a good spot.
- [149:07]
Gumpy
Was the coach of the guy that went against Gordon Bombay, Bay Wolf.
- [149:11]
Pat McAfee
The.
- [149:11]
D. Buck
Dennis.
- [149:11]
Gumpy
This is the cod. Yeah. This is the code he used to wear.
- [149:14]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Team on the side here. Sjs.
- [149:17]
Boston Connor
That's shite, Junior Shite.
- [149:22]
Gumpy
That what it stands for?
- [149:24]
Pat McAfee
I don't think that's what it was.
- [149:27]
AJ Hawk
Santos.
- [149:28]
Pat McAfee
Good.
- [149:29]
Gumpy
Good coach.
- [149:29]
Pat McAfee
Could be the San Jose shite, boys.
- [149:31]
Ty Schmidt
Would they beat Utah?
- [149:33]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [149:33]
Ty Schmidt
Sorry.
- [149:33]
Gumpy
Oh, yeah. Utah Hockey. Shite.
- [149:35]
Pat McAfee
What? Oh, no.
- [149:38]
Gumpy
Like, three nights ago, they lost 2 to 1 to Utah. Yeah. You want to talk about shite?
- [149:42]
Boston Connor
Oh, Utah.
- [149:43]
Pat McAfee
Utah.
- [149:44]
Gumpy
Oh, yeah.
- [149:45]
Pat McAfee
What about the Pens? Are the Pens still shite or.
- [149:47]
Gumpy
No, they were. They had a bad weekend, but they've.
- [149:49]
Bill Belichick
Been playing good lately.
- [149:50]
Gumpy
Before that.
- [149:51]
Pat McAfee
What? They're good.
- [149:53]
Darius Butler
They're in the playoffs.
- [149:54]
Gumpy
You know who is?
- [149:55]
Pat McAfee
Like, we're in the playoffs.
- [149:56]
Gumpy
They're lurking teams in hockey is the. The Broadway Blue Shirts. The New York Rangers absolutely stink.
- [150:04]
Pat McAfee
Oh, sorry about it, Bruce. Hey. Hey, Bruce. A lot of Giant shout outs this weekend from the field pass. I don't know if you got a chance to hear any of those.
- [150:13]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, no, I. I did.
- [150:15]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. It's. It's tough times. Michael Strahan was taking shots now, too, but, you know, we've turned the Xavier McKinney. Yeah, he was saying, like, oh, we.
- [150:23]
Ty Schmidt
Let Xavier McKinney walk and Saquon walk.
- [150:26]
Pat McAfee
And they're, you know, lighting it up on us on wild card Sunday.
- [150:30]
Ty Schmidt
But, you know, know, I'm.
- [150:31]
Travis Kelce
I'm kind of over it.
- [150:32]
Pat McAfee
Happy for Saquon now that he gets to live with the. With a guy. You guys are the Pittsburgh Pirates. You guys are the Pittsburgh Pirates. That's cool, isn't it, to watch your guys go succeed. No, it's.
- [150:42]
Ty Schmidt
It sucks, but nah.
- [150:44]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it's fun. Come on.
- [150:45]
Gumpy
Malik Neighbors was having fun watching the Commanders.
- [150:48]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, he's watching his guys succeed. He was, like, dapping them up mid game while the Giants are down, like, 21 points. So, you know, yeah, it's great.
- [150:57]
Travis Kelce
It's all.
- [150:58]
Pat McAfee
It's all good.
- [150:59]
Gumpy
Tell me how that LSU team didn't win with Neighbors Thomas and Jaden Daniels.
- [151:04]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [151:04]
Gumpy
Riddle me that.
- [151:05]
Pat McAfee
There's an.
- [151:06]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [151:06]
Gumpy
Two words, and it's why Notre Dame's in the national championship.
- [151:10]
Pat McAfee
Marcus Freeman.
- [151:12]
Gumpy
Somebody said, I. I mean, I gotta. I gotta get this out there. Somebody tweeted yesterday that he's barely a good college ball coach. Come on.
- [151:21]
Pat McAfee
All right. Marcus Freeman said that.
- [151:23]
Ty Schmidt
Who?
- [151:24]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, one of the last two coaches coaching.
- [151:27]
Pat McAfee
What was said? What was said?
- [151:28]
Gumpy
Omar Kelly. So there was.
- [151:30]
Pat McAfee
Oh, this is Miami Dolphins beat reporter.
- [151:32]
Gumpy
Yeah, this is Omar Kelly. So the Chicago Bears report came out about Marcus Freeman. Omar Kelly quote, tweet and said he's barely a good college ball coach. I mean, the guy. Marcus Freeman's unbelievable. Notre Dame's in the national championship.
- [151:45]
Pat McAfee
He's only been a college coach for a little bit, though, I think is probably what he talking about. Like, he just started in his entire career, potentially. I'm not. Omar Kelly has given us a lot of information. I know. I agree with what you're saying. D. BU But I think he's probably saying. Just started his diary thing. Guy has no idea what head coaches. I'm not agreeing with him at all. I just think, you know, Gumpy potentially reads tweets as if they are personally attacking him. And sometimes that's not.
- [152:10]
Gumpy
I don't know what you're doing. Well, D. Bucks actually sent me the tweet, so you. He knew. Knew. D. Bunch knew.
- [152:17]
Pat McAfee
You're the one. I just said it.
- [152:19]
Travis Kelce
I just.
- [152:20]
AJ Hawk
I had to send it to. Is this real?
- [152:25]
Gumpy
It was real.
- [152:26]
Pat McAfee
We get on these planes. We get on these planes for four and a half hours, and I'll tell you what the is. This question is gone. Just everything is real. And it's like, boom. This morning, by the way, on the flight 48° in that plane.
- [152:39]
Gumpy
Yeah, it was an ice box, Absolute ice box.
- [152:43]
Pat McAfee
So cold. I had three blankets on. On Three blankets on. Couldn't go up to the front, though, and ask him to turn it up, because this has been a little bit of a thing between me and the pilots. It's a little bit of a thing because the pilots all live in Florida. Okay? So these pilots, you know, when they come up, pick us up in the cold, they want to heat up this plane because of how, you know, they don't like the cold at all. You know, like Tennessee, going up to Columbus. But I get on a plane, I'm sweating. I'm like, hey, excuse me. Can we cool this. We cool this thing down? And they're like, it's really cold outside. I'm like, I. No, but we need to. You know, I'm sweating. I don't want to be sweating. You know, it's There has to be a happy medium. So now there's a little bit of a standoff. So I think today was like, is that right? To us. I think that's what it was.
- [153:21]
Gumpy
I couldn't. I could not adjust it. I pressed that button a hundred times. It did not budge.
- [153:26]
Pat McAfee
So there's no. There's no way I was going up there to, you know, because there's. I can't give up any leverage right now. I can't give up anything. It was so cold. Could see our breath in there, but see our breath in the plane. Plane. It was awesome. It was great. I slept, like, first time ever sleeping. Just passed out. Whoa. Three blankets on top. Foxy. Three hours.
- [153:46]
Darius Butler
It was nice, wasn't it? It was nice.
- [153:48]
Pat McAfee
Wasn't it good?
- [153:49]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [153:50]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. I watch you bums sleep on the plane all the time.
- [153:53]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, yeah.
- [153:53]
Pat McAfee
And I'm always like, these guys.
- [153:55]
D. Buck
It is.
- [153:55]
Pat McAfee
These guys are so entitled and spoiled. They get on a private plane, let's go to sleep. Let's not enjoy this and at all.
- [154:03]
Boston Connor
One time, and then all of a.
- [154:04]
Pat McAfee
Sudden, I did it. Connor, I want to let you know. Snoozy mc. So you were two feet away from me. You were snoring in my ear.
- [154:12]
Ty Schmidt
I knew.
- [154:13]
Boston Connor
I knew that's what it was. I was like. I was definitely snoring.
- [154:19]
Pat McAfee
Right in the ear. It was awesome. No, it's been fantastic traveling around, but, yeah, I think. I think I might have been exhausted this morning. I think there's a chance. But I'll tell you what. I need to start doing that more often. You guys are right. It is pretty good. It is pretty good to wake up on the other side. Be like, we're here. Holy hell. What? What? It's like a time machine. It was like a time machine this morning. Skip all turbulence.
- [154:40]
Boston Connor
It's like blacking out without booze.
- [154:42]
Darius Butler
Bingo.
- [154:43]
Pat McAfee
No, Hang on.
- [154:44]
Gumpy
Well done.
- [154:45]
Pat McAfee
Well, I need. So let's keep that thing at 47 degrees, maybe. It was so cold. It was so, so cold. Walked in. Couldn't give it away, though, to the pilots. Could not. It's a good group. Okay, we'll be out of here. We'll be back tomorrow. Raw tonight on Netflix. Wild card game on espn. I can't wait for all of it. We'll be back tomorrow with Aaron Rodgers. What do you think he's gonna say? H. What's going on?
- [155:16]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I mean, I know he's going through situations out there with the fires, everything.
- [155:19]
Pat McAfee
I don't know.
- [155:20]
Ty Schmidt
Who knows where he's.
- [155:20]
Pat McAfee
Oh, yeah. What he's doing sounds like everybody's evacuated.
- [155:25]
Ty Schmidt
Is that there's, like, mandatory evacuations in a lot of areas. I don't know. Like, who is like, is there. There's gotta be certain spots where it's voluntary where some parts of the neighborhood leave and some don't. I don't. Has anything contained yet? Have we heard anything?
- [155:37]
Pat McAfee
I don't know. Every time they show a map, I just think it's the whole, like, what hasn't been hit almost is like, more of a question. They're showing entire.
- [155:45]
Ty Schmidt
I'm seeing all these helicopter footage of, like, picking up the big buckets of water from people's pools and stuff.
- [155:51]
Pat McAfee
Like, have.
- [155:52]
Ty Schmidt
Have we gotten water there yet? Are we. Have we figured any of that out?
- [155:54]
Pat McAfee
I have no idea. But. And hopefully. And I know that's a big. That's a huge thing that can't be happening in our United States of America in 2025. Who are we? What are we. Let's make sure we're taking care of all of that type of stuff. But those helicopters turn that some sideways, spraying that water. How about those planes, the Canadian planes that are on top of water and they're scooping up thousands of gallons of.
- [156:16]
Gumpy
Water they always use for those forest fires in Alberta. They're incredible, man.
- [156:20]
Pat McAfee
Because you can't go too deep in there. You crash. Yeah, but you got to skim enough to grab what it is. Like, become an idea.
- [156:27]
Ty Schmidt
Think about. All of a sudden, you're what, 40,000 pounds heavier too? And he's trying to take back. Get back out of there. Like, I. Those dudes. I would not want to ride on that.
- [156:35]
Pat McAfee
Incredible work by all of the first responders and firefighters. Although we're not seeing it all, but. Yeah, here was the. I think that is the Canadian. I forget the number. See something Canadian where it just scoops up water on the bottom of it. And if we're using ocean water from the begin with.
- [156:54]
Darius Butler
Don't.
- [156:54]
Pat McAfee
I don't. I don't think I understand any of it. But I hope it gets taken care of for the sake of everybody. We'll be back tomorrow. Can't thank you all enough for allowing us to do this for a living. We were talking about that a lot with the field pass where we're able to stop, stand on the sideline of these games, these massive games. It's the dumbest life of all time. We're lucky to do it. Gumps, you look so cool.
- [157:12]
Gumpy
It's a good coat.
- [157:13]
Pat McAfee
You look like a sharky pal.
- [157:14]
Gumpy
Awesome.
- [157:15]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [157:15]
Gumpy
It was really cool to see the. That's the most emotion I've ever seen out AJ Hawk on the touchdown at the end. That was. That was awesome. Pure joy from A.J. hawk.
- [157:25]
Pat McAfee
It was legitimately H. And then Jack Sawyer throwing up your hand signal right in your face. That was cool.
- [157:31]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I texted with him, but about that a little bit. The. His little celebration.
- [157:35]
Pat McAfee
Texan Jack Sawyer.
- [157:35]
Boston Connor
Whoa.
- [157:36]
Pat McAfee
This guy.
- [157:38]
Ty Schmidt
It'S a old school throwback that he threw out. Throwback I've seen in a long time. So. Yeah, I haven't done it a long time.
- [157:44]
Gumpy
He is a throwback.
- [157:45]
Pat McAfee
What was he, two years old when you were doing that? Zero.
- [157:48]
Ty Schmidt
He wasn't born. No way.
- [157:51]
Pat McAfee
But that's the thing about him. He feels like he would have been.
- [157:53]
Ty Schmidt
You know, they were dipping, ripping the edges all night. Like their D line. Yeah, their. Their defense is humming.
- [158:01]
Pat McAfee
AJ Talk about the blocking. You lost your mind for the boys blocking back here?
- [158:05]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I had a whole conversation with all of us, but yeah. How his guys had the. The awareness to turn back and look, because, look, there's one guy that could probably catch him. And you see Sonny Stiles right there, puts his arms up. I'm not going to clip. Here we go. Just continue to get in his way and know that somebody is back there. There's always like a little. There's always a wide out or a run. Running back chasing. That's going to probably catch a D lineman or whoever has the ball. Have some awareness and just set a pick. That's all you got to do. Don't just. I see four guys run and none of them look back, and all of a sudden a guy squirts through him and tackles the guy in the 10.
- [158:37]
AJ Hawk
Everybody just celebrate.
- [158:38]
Pat McAfee
And there was a moment where you've done that before, right. And you felt pretty proud of yourself. If you would like to elaborate.
- [158:42]
Ty Schmidt
Will Allen, whoever.
- [158:43]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [158:43]
Ty Schmidt
One of my favorite moments of my football life, I just blocking for one of my teammates. I turned around, I was running, running. Can't keep up because this guy, Will Allen, who I forget, whoever it was, was so fast. And I sit there, I turn around, I see somebody give him a little point, and then I. I get. As I push him, I like, fall into the end zone as I'm pushing a guy. And I thought, like, man, that was a heady play by me. I'm glad I did that.
- [159:05]
Pat McAfee
Smart player. Glad I did that. Yeah. Hey, there's no way I was going to catch him, but he might have. But I could get this little guy.
- [159:12]
Ty Schmidt
Would have definitely outran me and got up there. So I'm glad I turned around.
- [159:16]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And he's. Any football that's any football. Okay, let's do these overreactions and let's hit the road, shall we? Every single morning on Mondays, I put out a tweet, and we don't have many of these left, so let's make sure we enjoy all these. Oh, yeah. I said, hey, listen, fans, football fans, not just NFL fans, because the CFP semifinals were so electrifying and so many decisions were made. Just football fans as a whole. Why don't you utilize this tweet as a therapy session? Why don't you go ahead and put a tweet out in there, somebody your grievances or maybe your thoughts, whether they're good or they're bad. All you're going to have to use in the tweet is, I don't want to overreact, but. All right, we don't want to overreact, but let's ride the wave of football fans from around the globe. This one's from Con man, Hashtag, I don't want to overreact, but football this weekend made me miss watching my team in meaningful playoff games so much. That's exactly why Mike Frable being hired to New England is such a monumental day in Patriots history. Horror hats, lunch pails, and cigs are here. Pats are back. Pats are back. Pats are back. That's how you feel, huh? I think that's how all of us feel, Connor.
- [160:31]
Boston Connor
Yeah, it feels fantastic. And obviously a lot still has to happen. All that free agency, bullshitting, combine stuff that you know will be needed for the team to be better. But just Rabel in general, being the coach is so much hope. Like the press conferences that were being kind of recycled from when he was with Tennessee, so awesome. He just takes no shit. And then, like, you referenced the Taylor Lewan video, like, they're just going to be a tough team, and that's something you can get behind. And then seeing the games this weekend, it really did kind of remind me of when the Patriots were playing in games like that. And not even wild card weekend. Usually it was divisional or conference championship. But just wanting to have your team be in the playoffs again, again is something that I think Mike Vrabel gives a lot of hope for, for all of New England.
- [161:12]
Pat McAfee
Congratulations to you guys.
- [161:15]
Boston Connor
Hell, yeah.
- [161:16]
Pat McAfee
We're bummed out when you didn't get to enjoy it for, what, three years? Okay, let's go to the next one, shall we? This from Time Diggs Hashtag. I don't want to overreact, but I'd commit war crimes for Josh Allen to be my quarterback. You name it, I'll do it. Ton, I don't think you're the only one or only team or only city that feels that way, pal.
- [161:36]
Darius Butler
Yeah, I mean waterboarding, dirty. You want me to drop a dirty bomb on a small town? I'll do it. It's fine. Chemical, Chemical weapons, I don't care. Because if you don't have a quarterback in the NFL, you're certainly, certainly are no doubt. And starting to realize that pretty heavily, pretty hard. And you know, Josh Allen is just my cup of tea. You know, he's got some seven in him. He could also run like a son of a.
- [162:01]
Boston Connor
Something about him that you trust, right?
- [162:04]
Darius Butler
I would love to have Josh Allen on my football team, but you know.
- [162:07]
Pat McAfee
All right, you're not the only one. We'd all love to have Josh Allen as our quarterback. I think as we go forward, can Buffalo win one with him? We shall see Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen do battle next weekend. Let's go to the next ever reaction, shall we? This one's from Buddy. Hey, McGuy. E&R. Hashtag. I don't wanna react, but the entire city of Pittsburgh is disgusted, embarrassed, but not shocked. This entire Steelers roster needs drowned in the mawn and left to rot. Jeez. Some say if you listen quietly, you can still hear Derrick Henry clapping the Steelers defense's cheeks. Geez Louise. Tone, it sounds like. Like McGuy was echoing your MC sentiments.
- [162:55]
Darius Butler
Yeah, I think that's the sentiments of basically every single Steelers fan in the country. You guys were telling me, hey, you know, be positive. You guys are in the playoffs. We knew we fucking. We knew what was going to happen. Because it's the same thing every goddamn year. And we'll do it again next year because like I said earlier, nothing's going to change. Just the. The effort. The effort was the most surprising and shocking and disappointing and embarrassing part of that football game.
- [163:20]
Pat McAfee
Old buddy said he's packing dip tins and cigs on you guys. That's what old body said Derek Henry was doing here. Defense.
- [163:30]
Darius Butler
He was.
- [163:30]
Pat McAfee
He was clapping him.
- [163:31]
Darius Butler
He did.
- [163:32]
Pat McAfee
Geez. Could have done whatever he wanted. They said he was right up the middle.
- [163:35]
Darius Butler
He could do whatever he wanted because we decided, hey, you put three, four guys wherever Derek's not.
- [163:39]
Gumpy
That'll work.
- [163:43]
Pat McAfee
Pittsburgh Theers fans excited that their team has made the playoffs yet again. Again in the Dance in the dance in the dance. One more week, football. One more week of joy. Right?
- [163:54]
Boston Connor
A lot of people go to the.
- [163:55]
Pat McAfee
One more week of football. 10 more double Y is what's happening in Pittsburgh. Let's go to the next overreaction, shall we? Kevin Davis at Kevin Camacho. Because Kevin Camacho was taking. Taken. Hashtag. I don't want to overreact.
- [164:15]
AJ Hawk
But.
- [164:17]
Pat McAfee
But should have been disqualified there.
- [164:19]
Gumpy
Yeah. Double.
- [164:20]
Pat McAfee
But the way the Eagles played yesterday, they will be gone next week. All right. Heart sucks. Please, for the love of football. God's bench, Jalen hurts. And put in that dog, Tanner McKee. Oh, by the way, this is a better cheese head than that yellow the packers wear. Ty, what was this all about? Where'd this come from? And did a lot of people call for Tanner McKee to be playing football next week?
- [164:44]
D. Buck
Not a lot of people called for Tanner McKee. A lot of people saying Jalen hurts. Stinks, though, and that the Eagles can't win any more games because he just isn't the guy. And I was. I was rather surprised by that because Hertz looks pretty good at the start of the game. He didn't play great, you know, in the second and third quarters. But I was. I was shocked as many fans were saying, hey, this guy stinks, were because he's going to be starting next week.
- [165:08]
Pat McAfee
They're calling him Jaylen stinks. That's rude. Wow. I think he. I think he's a guy who's won them a lot of games. I think throughout his life, he's won a lot of football games. Keep doing your thing, Jaylen. Good luck out there.
- [165:19]
Ty Schmidt
Got dong in the head. He's coming off a concussion.
- [165:22]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Bingo. Big dong in the head. 2 weak dong ahead. 16 day. Dong the head. I mean, that's. That's a little different. He's worked the rust out. Obviously, they're going to do. Do their thing going forward. The Eagles are such an interesting team because if they don't win the super bowl, it's going to be loud regardless. They win another game, who cares? They win another, who cares? They lose in the Super Bowl, Philadelphia's gonna be loud about that team as a whole.
- [165:42]
Gumpy
Jalen doesn't have to do much. Their defense is unbelievable.
- [165:45]
Travis Kelce
Light.
- [165:45]
Gumpy
So.
- [165:46]
Pat McAfee
So good. Lights out.
- [165:47]
Boston Connor
Blankenship flies around. We're talking about that.
- [165:51]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, sure. Tackle.
- [165:52]
Pat McAfee
He is exciting, isn't it?
- [165:55]
AJ Hawk
Very, very exciting. White. But they lost to Kobe Dean for the rest of the playoffs. I think he had a patella injury, and he has been a dog this year alongside of Zach Bond. They had some tackling issues once he left the game too. As far as leverage wise go, but I think definitely overreaction with Jalen. Hurts but losing a key contributor like that on defense. Still a bunch of dogs over there but I think the Eagles will be just fine.
- [166:17]
Pat McAfee
Any exciting whites creeping their way into the all everything DB, postseason season team?
- [166:22]
AJ Hawk
You know what Cooper DeJean he hit the ground running next year like he did from next year 5.
- [166:27]
Pat McAfee
There's not a postseason team.
- [166:31]
AJ Hawk
You know what it will be a postseason. Yeah it's only one game so I guess the guys who continue to play because Durbin James, he had a great game but they're out so that's your 10 dude. Everyone do that Certain didn't have a goal.
- [166:43]
Pat McAfee
Oh he didn't have maybe Gonzo should have been first.
- [166:46]
AJ Hawk
Gonzo Cabo right now. But I like that there's a lot.
- [166:52]
Darius Butler
Of teams in Cabo talking this week. I wasn't there.
- [166:54]
Pat McAfee
Yeah well everybody's paying attention to football. I like that. Let's go to another overreaction, shall we? This one's from absolute scoundrel at Bengali card is that that would be good. Name Hashtag I don't want to react Todd Monkin better not that this up like last year in the AFC Championship. Run the ball. Derek Henry is the X factor going into the next round against the Bills. The Ravens don't need Lamar Jackson to prove he has to outdo Josh Allen. Hashtag run it. Remember against the Chiefs last year? That was the big flaw. Baltimore Ravens refused to run the ball. Also ball got punched out at the half yard line in an incredible play by Justin Reed. Now I think they understand that lesson. I think they've learned that lesson. D. Bunch they're running the rock at the beginning of the year. I don't think they were believers. Remember Harbaugh said you don't run the ball with Derek Henry 20 times a game at this stage to win it. Yes you do. This dude's unbelievable to watch and him and Lamar Jackson as a tag team with Ricardo there and likely and Andrews and the amount of meat they got on that offensive line, let alone the outside weapons. That offense is tough to stop. But they got to run the rock. Old buddy's right got to run a rock.
- [168:04]
AJ Hawk
And I think what what's I think Lamar, I feel like he's hit the over on his own rushing prop every week since his mom cussed him out. So I think Todd M. Todd Monkin will get it right. He'll run the ball but also you got to be able to pass the ball especially this down in this time of year. I think it'll be an all hands on deck situation when you going to battle with the Buffalo Bills and then you would assume probably the Chiefs in the next round.
- [168:27]
Pat McAfee
Okay. I love that they'll be able to continue to run the hopefully and you're right, Lamar's mom said hey listen, start running the ball. Well speaking of running the ball, Tone, how come that RPO hasn't worked like that every time the Ravens play against you guys? Why don't they do it like that all the time?
- [168:41]
Darius Butler
I mean traditionally the Steelers would just run TJ water whoever's the end directly at Lamar and then make the running back do something. Now in the past they didn't have Derek Henry so that that's probably the biggest difference now in these games the last couple games where they have have had the success because I believe Derek has gone over 170 in the last.
- [169:00]
Pat McAfee
Two games against he's the X factor and his Bengali card. So let's get another of reaction, shall we? Ty it was a lot of them went up to the number one trend in the United States, right? If I'm not mistaken.
- [169:10]
D. Buck
Yes, it did.
- [169:10]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [169:11]
D. Buck
Today was prime prime time. I mean it's the playoffs, you know, everyone was geared up and ready to go. There are a lot of good ones today.
- [169:18]
Pat McAfee
Here we go. This one's from Josh Zimski at Josh Z 11:51. This guy will do some landscape.
- [169:25]
Darius Butler
Yeah, it will.
- [169:26]
Pat McAfee
And some killing. I don't know if he just got done hunting or murdering Bushes, but Josh will go out there and get the job done. That's either a big old rake or something special. We appreciate Josh and his hard work ethic. Hashtag I don't want to overreact but the packers stink gut the team. Fire lafleur trade love he Willis. We would have been better off fielding a team using kids from the Green Bay Area Technical college. They showed no heart and no fight last night. Hashtag Rebuild 2025 Ty Wow, you picked these. It's about your team that you own. Is this how packers fans are feeling? I thought we're about a year away. I didn't know we were gutting the whole thing and starting over again with Malik Willis.
- [170:11]
D. Buck
Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen. They just paid Jordan love $55 million so I think it's safe to say he will be sticking around. A lot of people want him to be Traded or cut or whatever. The little floor thing is interesting because all year we were talking about how good he was doing, you know, scheming up the offense and especially winning with Malik Willis when Jordan Love wasn't healthy. But he just, he, he kind of just doesn't show up in big games. Hasn't in the last couple years. Seems to get out coached quite a bit. And again, I said it in the, you know, the first hour like you just. It sucks when they waste that good of a defensive effort from, you know, because they just. Those are so few and far between. But yeah, I mean there's, there's three or four position groups that they need to spend some money. They're going to have money for the first time in a long time because Rogers contract is finally off the books. So I don't think they're going to be gutting the team. You know, I think it's safe to say that they're probably just, I mean, again, you can make as many excuses as you want. They're still, you know, the youngest roster in the NFL. So hopefully one more year. And Love not, you know, thinking he has to throw a 90 yard touchdown every single time he drops, pops back to pass like that. Price serving pretty well next year.
- [171:19]
Pat McAfee
All right. All right. Good. That'll be maturity. Maturity. That happens as you go. Last time packers won a Super bowl, what they had a top five defense or something like that. That's a stat. Last time they had a top five defense as well. I think that guy was leader.
- [171:35]
Ty Schmidt
Monsters up front. Some monsters in the back end.
- [171:38]
Pat McAfee
That guy.
- [171:38]
Gumpy
Gump dog.
- [171:40]
Pat McAfee
Point at him.
- [171:41]
Gumpy
Gumption Jack saw.
- [171:44]
Ty Schmidt
Yep. There you go. No.
- [171:45]
Darius Butler
Yeah, there you go.
- [171:46]
Ty Schmidt
You gumps got it.
- [171:47]
Darius Butler
There we go.
- [171:48]
Gumpy
Nailed it.
- [171:54]
Pat McAfee
Yep. All right. All right. You did it. You did it. You nailed it. You nailed it. It was that guy though, was awake.
- [172:02]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, IO, of course.
- [172:05]
Pat McAfee
Remember, he left one. He.
- [172:06]
Gumpy
He circled back.
- [172:07]
Ty Schmidt
I circled back.
- [172:08]
Gumpy
David.
- [172:08]
Ty Schmidt
I circle back.
- [172:09]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, smart. We're in the middle of a national championship.
- [172:13]
Gumpy
Four more quarters. Four more quarters.
- [172:15]
Pat McAfee
That's right. Four more games. Now we're down to four more quarters. While the boys got Captain Jack and boys ready to go. Let's go to another of reaction, shall we? It's from JTB at JTB 1012. Looks like he's a Texans fan. Hashtag, I don't want to overreact, but. But I was wrong. CJ Fraud. Nah, dummy. CJ Stroud. He is the next big thing in this Texans defense. Swarming. Herbie had four interceptions for his Worst game of his career. We coming for the Chiefs. We slaying the Dragons, says jtb. I'd like to have a conversation with him in real life. Sounds like he's a bit electrifying. We doing this, we doing that. Do we feel like that's accurate age? We think the Texans maybe have a chance to go on a run, maybe go slay the draft that is the back to back super bowl champions over there in Arrowhead.
- [173:05]
Ty Schmidt
Well, I would imagine if they would find a way to beat the Chiefs in the Chief's house, then yeah, that would give them the momentum, the boost, the juice that they need to make a run. But I just don't see him beating the Chiefs here. I think the Chiefs coming off the buy we had Trav on earlier. Like those guys seem to be doubting they were in full pads last week. They'll be in full pads again this week like Andy Reid. I don't think will let those guys relax or feel comfortable ever.
- [173:26]
Pat McAfee
Okay, we're excited to see if that's true. Let's go to another overreaction, shall we? This is from from Christian Boy hamilton at hamilton pro4. This guy's a pro bolt.
- [173:38]
Gumpy
Go boat.
- [173:39]
Pat McAfee
Go boat.
- [173:39]
Boston Connor
Go boat up.
- [173:40]
Pat McAfee
Go boat.
- [173:41]
Gumpy
Go boats.
- [173:42]
Pat McAfee
Hashtag I don't Owner of React Liam Cohen should be named Buck's head coach by the time the program has gone live. He brought this team back to life while Bulls has been slowly killing it for years now. We merrily win our shaked destiny division every year just for that mindless idiot to it up. What? What is he talking about? A couple fumbles. Little mis booty center and quarterback Mike Evans won ham yesterday. It's fun to watch him kind of do his thing. But yeah, they lose a playoff game at home. The only one of the year of.
- [174:14]
Gumpy
The weekend dumps third and six game on the line only sent three bolt. Bulls always die sending the blitz and I don't know what happened there, but he was wide open across the middle.
- [174:24]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Yeah. I would like to be the person that just, you know, states the obvious, which I think Kyle Brandt was trying to do yesterday with Lil Wayne. I think he could have done it a little different way, but the way he did is I've not watched enough of the Tampa Buccaneers this year to understand if Todd Bowles has this one up or not. But Mike Evans got a thousand yards his halftime.
- [174:46]
Gumpy
His halftime interview didn't do him any favors.
- [174:49]
Pat McAfee
What'd he say?
- [174:50]
Gumpy
He was talking about left and right and he didn't really know what was going on? It was. It was tough.
- [174:56]
Boston Connor
There's a bunch of gibberish.
- [174:57]
Darius Butler
Clock management.
- [174:58]
Gumpy
There was a bunch of gibberish.
- [174:59]
Pat McAfee
Well, they're saying they're the sucking ears. Is that what they're saying?
- [175:02]
D. Buck
That's what they're saying.
- [175:05]
Pat McAfee
Well, I like the Buccaneers. That's a good name, Todd.
- [175:08]
Gumpy
Ram truck.
- [175:09]
Pat McAfee
Oh, what? Baker did Ram truck. Bobby Wagner.
- [175:12]
Gumpy
Yeah, legit.
- [175:13]
Pat McAfee
He ram trucked Bobby Wagner. Bob Baker did call him all night.
- [175:17]
Ty Schmidt
A disruptor or a Collinsworth. Continued to come back to what he called. He called Baker a disruptor, I believe, or something like that. And he kept. He made. He actually made Toriko say it one time. He said, because he is the. And they paused for like three seconds. Trigger said disruptor. Like or. I don't know if it's disruptor or not.
- [175:34]
Pat McAfee
It was.
- [175:34]
Ty Schmidt
That was a word like that.
- [175:36]
Pat McAfee
How about Tico losing his. When that kick goes in? I mean, he was. He was going bonkers. Hey, way to show that we like that to Rico. We like a little emotion. All right, let's go to the next overreaction, shall we? Got two left. This one's from @GJN. @GJN15. Hashtag, I don't want to overreact, but this Chargers team got exposed. Sure, Herbert had the worst game of his career, but it doesn't help when his supporting cast are a bunch of circus clowns. And get that fatso Greg Roman off the team. Wow. On the next year, hashtag, bolt up. I think on to next year is the right idea. I think they were ahead of schedule here. They get rid of a lot of people, culture is implemented. I love what they are doing down there in Los Angeles legitimately for the Chargers. Can't wait to see what they do next year. And last overreaction here from jack Lau at Logic6. Hashtag, I don't want to overreact, but the Commanders are a team of destiny this year. And the doink heard round the world encapsulated it. Commander and clutch Jaden Daniels put the cape on again last night and showed why he's the rookie of the year. Time to bite kneecaps on Saturday night. Man raise hail. You think about the Hail Mary deflection. You think about the doink in to win in wild card weekend. You think about the change of ownership. Maybe it is the football God saying, hey, this team has been starving. This fan base has been yearning for this since they were named the.
- [177:10]
Ty Schmidt
Football team.
- [177:12]
Gumpy
No, before that.
- [177:15]
Ty Schmidt
I don't remember before that.
- [177:17]
Pat McAfee
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. The Redskins this team has been yearning for that, and they're getting it. They are fun to watch. Jaden is immaculate. And the new ownership seemingly representing in a fashion of we're going all in here to win, and their fans deserve it. All right, we're going to get the hell out of here.
- [177:32]
Gumpy
Cookie and Magic are going to be there on Saturday night as well.
- [177:35]
Pat McAfee
And Detroit is going back home.
- [177:36]
Gumpy
Yeah. Back in for Cookie and Magic.
- [177:38]
Pat McAfee
Heard the announcement, so that's going to be taking place. Commanders are rolling, as are any team that is still alive in the playoffs, both in the NFL and college. And tonight, will it be Minnesota or will it be Los Angeles? We shall see. All right. We can't thank you enough for allowing us to do this for a living. You're the greatest people. Thank you so much. We're living a very dumb life right now. We don't know what day is which. And I'm saying we because I'm acting like I'm speaking for everybody. I'm definitely speaking for myself. If I'm not speaking for you boys, go ahead and say something. We don't know what day of the week it is. We have no idea what is next. But we do know that in the moment that we're in, we're the luckiest group of dumbass motherfuckers on earth. Thank you all so much for allowing us to do this for a living. Let's continue to enjoy because we have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. We're in this thing together, boys. Great work, aj. Thank you for traveling. D Bucks. See you tomorrow, boy. See you tomorrow.
- [178:31]
Darius Butler
Hell, yeah.
- [178:31]
Boston Connor
Good luck tonight.
- [178:33]
D. Buck
Crush it.
- [178:33]
AJ Hawk
Yeah.
- [178:35]
Pat McAfee
Raw on Netflix, 8:00pm Eastern. Vikings, Rams, ESPN, ABC, 8:00pm Eastern. You got a tablet, you got a phone? Let's enjoy it all. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team. Goodbye.