Beating The Book: 2022 NFL MegaPod Week 18 Preview

and first time guest, longtime listener to the Megapod. Mr Frank Schwab is our guest this week. Frank is the senior NFL writer for Yahoo Sports. They're betting analysts, a regular guest on on Odds On and the Nuts, and and from time to time on a numbers game with Gil, and one time NFL MVP voter. Good morning Frank, Yeah, I got it in that once. Hey. Happy to be here.

I've listened to all the best of Guil. I've listened to his show for years and it is an honor to be on here with you guys and chop it up for a Weekend. Okay, tell that story. What how how are you one time an m v P voter and no longer an m VP. That's interesting. This was, I mean it was. I can't even say it was back when I had hair, because that that would like thirty years ago. But I yeah, I got a shot one time in two thousand nine, UH voted for Drew Brees.

He was the right call for m VP. Peyton Manning one instead. I'll die Toto Grave saying I made the right boat there. I got one shot because one of the it was a long story. One of the voters couldn't do it because the paper didn't allow it. But my paper is like, sure, go for it. It was pretty awesome. It was pretty awesome to be a part of that panel. Do you think, before we get into the format of the show, do you think, Frank, that hub Arkish will have his rights revoked after this year?

I do, I honestly do. I don't know how that well. I've met him a couple of times, but it's just one of those things you can't come out and say I dislike this guy and I'm not gonna vote for him for m VP because of it. You just can't like it's it's that's not that's not the spirit of m VP. It's not I think that MVP should be about so well, you know that maybe there was a discussion somewhere in there about hey, Aaron Rodgers let his team down by missing a game and blah blah blah.

You can't come out and say it's the biggest jerk in the NFL and I won't like, you just can't. It's so yeah, I think the I think the panel there, they at the Associated Press can have to look really really hard at that. I also find it incredulous that Aaron Rodgers has never heard of hub arc Is though. Yeah, right, like Aaron Rodgers has rabbitters Man, he hears everything, he knows everybody like, yeah, he's he's definitely, but he's an

absolute bum. I guess what what a great like old school like the insult with a guy, you're a bumb Oh he's played for the Dodgers, Like that's great. So, as we normally do, we start to show off with some survivor talk where it here it is the last week of the year started out with close to fort entrants and we are down to five. All five advanced from last week. Three of the five are eligible for the million dollar bonus because they still have one of

last year's two Super Bowl teams available. Two of the entries have Kansas City available, one entry has Tampa Bay available. Now should they the three of them use it, and it's a great likelihood they'll all use those picks in Kansas City and Tampa Bay win. Let's just say all five win. They would split the six million five ways, one point two million each, and then those three would put the bonus state each get three hundred and thirty

three thousand. So the person sitting there with I think a scheduling advantage and survivor are those that have Kansas City available. Since it's the first game on Saturday. If they win with Kansas City, the worst they can do is win one point five three million, and I think on Sunday they could then take the other three selections.

Let's say it's Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington football team and make a three team money line parlay and hope to lose because if one of them loses, your the worst you did is just go from go up from one point to the one point five million. Thoughts on that, Todd, Oh, I thought you were you were asking, Frank, I think obviously that that seems to be the way to how much can they win? What's the ratio on the three team money line parlay? Well, we'd have to we have

to see what it what it would be. I mean right now, here's what I'm assuming. I'm assuming those three used. They use Kansas City, who's who's a ten point favorite ten and a half point favorite? And Tampa Bay who's this eight point favorite was a sixteen point favorite on the look Ahead. One of the two other Syracuse Hawkeyes has the Titans available. They're also a ten and a half point favorite on the road against the Texans. And then the other entry, Chris Piper, he doesn't have much left.

The biggest favorite he has left is the Wolf tis the football team? UM, who are who are laying six six and a half at the Giants? So if those were the picks and the guys that took Kansas City parlayed on the money line, uh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington. I'm looking right now at the odds. Washington's about to sixty. The Titans are around UM five dollars and the Buccaneers about three fifties. So you're looking at a three team money line parlay. That's that you can put. Yeah yeah,

maybe a little less than that. We can do the math here, but you could do that, or you can bet the games individually. The thing is all of the games go early, right, so they're all I think. So, No, the Bucks is a game, so you can wait with that. On the East, you could wait. You could do a two team money line parlay in the first game, see where you're at, and then decide what you want to do on the Bucks. But what a great position to

be in for all these folks, um. Obviously four of them advanced with Green Bay on Christmas Day and one advanced with Tennessee on the Thursday before. That's how all of them got here. As we whittled it down, uh in that group from sixteen to nine and then from from nine to five. Todd, you want to update everybody on the performance last week and where we stand with the records. Sure. Absolutely, the huge week by Mikey Mr Michael Palm going three and oh, a very very solid

week over fifty one in Cincinnati. The Chargers was a no doubter, and the Bears, which was a no doubter, so you basically had three no doubter wins. You also want your teaser to go to six and one on the regular spread and nine seven and one on the teaser. Gil keeps the lead because he went twenty He went two and one against uh the spread last week to go to twenty six, and he had the Bengals Tennessee and almost got there with the wolf Tis they they

he had plus three and a half. They lost by four. He lost his teaser though he is now eight eight and one on the teasers. Looks like I have the teaser championship locked up. I went to in one last week. Also, Jacks in New England was the only one that didn't get there for me. Unfortunately, uh I. I knew the Jags weren't going to score more than seven to ten points. Unfortunately, the Patriots rolled up the score like they did against the Browns, and that was the one thing I was

concerned about. And of course the Patriots did it again. So I went to and one to go to twenty one and thirty. I am eleven and six on teasers because I won my teaser pretty easily with Green Bay and the Charges, So that's where we are. You could still catch Gil. I got all of guilds picks here. You could still catch Gil, especially because we're going through the playoffs. You're only uh have one game back in

the lost column. Yeah, one and a half overall, and the guests Will Hill had Bengals winner, Tennessee winner, Steelers winner, and Chargers uh in Seattle. So he went four and all as well. So a great week for little Hill. Who does that New York City podcast asked on visa and it's a regular on the Lombardi line. Okay, Frank, the formatt are three best bets against the spread. You can take a side or a total. It's based on

the consensus number right now. Then a two point two teams six point teaser, and then we'll ask a couple of questions to end the show off. You're the guests, so you have the honors this week, Frank. You know I'm gonna start off with all three of my picks are going to be about the same point spread range, and all of them are underdogs because I like the underdogs of this final week because we've lines get inflated because we hear all the time of oh this team

has nothing to play for. Well that's garbage. Most of the time they're out of playoff contention, but there's something to play for. My first pickens, he laughed, Falcons to four and a half. Look, we all know by now this is one of the great NFL rivalries. It's underrated, maybe not even underrated anymore. Falcons Saints is a huge deal to those teams. And I think the Falcons, like a couple of other teams I like this, are going to want to knock the Saints out of playoff contention.

We all know their scenario. The Saints wins, lose, the Saints are in and I think that that is push this line up a little bit. I don't trust the Saints offensive score a lot. Look, I was watching that Panthers game last week and I'm like, oh wow, it's still you know, ten nine Panthers and I was twelve ten Saints, and they just can't pull away from anybody. This is not a team. It's gonna put up a lot of points. I don't think Falcons are a good team by any means, but I think that this is

their super Bowl. They put everything into this game. We see we year after year final week of the season, teams come out and even if they're not in playoff contention, under say we got one game left and we can go golfing on Monday. Let's put it all on the line here. Let's play hard. We see underdogs do pretty well. If if they've been game the season, they played pretty well,

they'll take the Giants at all. But if a team like the Falcons who has played hard, they did play hard at Buffalo last week, I think that the Falcons give them all they can handle. I think they even have a shot to win here and give me four and a half home with them, I think they're gonna be fired up. Falcons plus four and a half is my first best pat here Todd couldn't. I couldn't agree anymore with Frank Brother. I have that. I have that circles my number four one. But and I think he's

saying something that we should warn everybody. UM in the last two years, I think I just saw on Twitter teams that need to win in the last two weeks versus teams that have nothing to play for, the teams that have nothing to play for against the spread, something to that, something to that range. So UM, if you're a novice at sports gambling and you think you're going to win because you're going to take the team that

has to win, be very careful. That is not a good strategy, Todd, Can you read gils first pick and then give your own Yes, gills first pick is the forty Niners plus four and a half. It was another one that I kind of liked. I'm gonna assume he's banking on the fact that Niners have really dominated the Rams uh in the last couple of meetings. I think they've won the last five or six straight. Um. I

kind of agree with that pick too. I like the Niners, especially if Jimmy She's gonna play Jimmy g always scares me. But I am not a fan of the Rams. I think the Rams are shaky. Look at last week, they barely squeaked by. They're just not Matt Stafford. You know, he is a tremendous talent, but he is not a guy you feel comfortable with when you absolutely need it. And that's my feeling, and that's probably what Gil's thinking to here, and he has Niners plus four and a half.

I don't know what you guys think about that one. Absolutely that's gonna be a mess. I could play because look, even if it's tray lads, tray lads, he started slow last week and then he really heated up, and he can make some play. Look that, throw a Deebo Samuel and touchdown. I'm sure Kyle Shanahan looks at that a film and goes, my main quarterback can't do that. Like I can open up the playbook when I got this rookie in there and the forty. The Rams most of

this season been front runners. They beat bad teams, but against good teams they're not great that you know. We saw last week they almost lost to a depleted Ravens team. I don't trust this Rams team really and the four be Niners, but now we know they need to win. They need to win. If they don't win, their their faith is in the Saints hands to make the playoffs. So there's a playoff game for the Niners. I think we get everything. I mean, I think they win. I

really do. I think that they're gonna go in there. We notice Shannaham mcbathing, so yeah, definitely agree. I think it's real important that Jimmy g plays rather than the lance. I was not impressed with Lance at all. Um. I actually had a bet on in game bet on that game on the team total under, on the type of the Texans. I thought Lance was against a really bad team. I thought he was and he may end up being good, but he did not impress me at all. He hasn't

impressed me all season. But you know, like you said, we're probably gonna get Jimmy G anyway, so that it's not you wouldn't be as Frank. Let's put it this way, if Lance was playing, you'd be a little more concerned, especially because the Rams defense is pretty good, and I might be as well. I think a little more variance for sure. But I look, you said that I was watching at first half say woa, Trey, Lance can't do this, And then the second half he did play well. I'll

give him credit. He made some plays. I think he got really comfortable, and we saw that in the game where Jimmy G went out. I can't remember who they were playing. It was early in the season before he started against Arizona and Trey. The same thing kind of happened first couple of series. He's shaky and then he really warms up, and I just think that's a young kid. But yeah, definitely more various for Trey. But I feel fine either way, quarterback. I really you're right, Jimmy has

played a lot better people given credit for. But I feel good either way. Quarterback. I think you're referring to the Seahawks game in San Francisco. Seahawks. Yeah, yep, yeah, I couldn't remember who their pone was, but yeah, it was one of those where you're like a few series and you're like, Trey Lands is in trouble and then he got a hot light in the game, and the same thing happen against Huston. I'm I'm more with Todd

than you about Lance. I mean, the first half of that game last week was an under in game Underbetter's Dream between Trey Lance and and Alec Mills. Uh. Davis Mills Uh, I mean Todd I had it under seventeen and a half, sixteen and a half, fourteen and a half, thirteen and a half, and ten and a half. I mean, it's just who could punt quicker? I mean it was. It was unbelievable. So I'm gonna have a play on this game as well, but it won't be the same one. Okay, Todd,

your first pick, my first pick. I am gonna go with the I'm gonna go with the over in the l A Chargers game. Um, I think. I think the Chargers are just one of those beautiful over teams where they're tremendous on offense. We all see the Herbert and in the whole story with him. I think obviously, if he's not a star already, he's a future star and will definitely be in, you know, top three quarterbacks in the league for time to come. I think the Chargers

are outstanding offensively, and I think they're horrendous defensively. Uh. The only thing that gave them the blowout last because they happened to be going against Drew Locke, who is not ready for prime time. So I don't I don't think. And by the way, I took the over last week, it's still got there because the Chargers scored so much. I think the Raiders are the Raiders are pretty good on it. I mean, I'm not gonna say they're their their world beaters, but you don't have to be a

world beater to beat the Charge. Remember, the Steelers scored thirty four points against this team. The Steelers can't score thirty four points against anyone. I mean, I just keep going back to game after game after game where the Chargers look horrendous on on the defensive side of the ball. And anybody remember the Browns game where guys were running like it was a college game. It was ridiculous. I don't think the Chargers can stop anyone, and I think

that they can score on anyone. So I'm gonna take over forty nine and a half in the Charges against the Vegas Raiders. You know, nothing says more about the Chargers defense than the fact that they scored with fourteen seconds left and a half and Drew Lock was able to get a field goal for half. I mean, it's it's incredible. It is incredible. That's the standalone game on Sunday night. Raiders Chargers winning. You're in uh should be a great atmosphere and ticket prices are going through the

roof here at Allegiance in Las Vegas. All right, I'm gonna taked. This is your first pick. First, my first pick. What's the number you have on the Cowboys and Eagles? I have six. Oh, it's going even lower. I had six and a half a second ago. And now it looks like five and a half. Yeah, I think there was just news about something. Yeah, Parsons and Tyron Smith. Yeah, I'm gonna take whatever this number is, six or whatever

you want to give me here. I'm taking say it's actually five and a half, but it's not going to make a difference. I'm taking the Eagles here, Todd, because I don't think either team has anything to play for. I mean, really, Dallas, what's the reality here that they can play their way up. They don't own any tiebreaker. They don't own any tiebreaker with Tampa Bay because they lost that opening night game. There. The Rams playing for a lot, as you said, with the forty Niners. I mean,

the Rams are playing for the two seed. Really, the two are possibly the five fars owners should win and they lose to the forty Niners. So I mean, I think Dallas is pretty much locked into the four and knows their faith. They're gonna have to win a game at home and then probably go to Lambeau and not that that's the worst thing. Maybe winning the game at home is that is the bigger problem. I think of all the NFC teams, Dallas might actually have the best

shot to go into Lambeau and win that game. I don't think they risk playing anybody if they're they're starters. Start, they may go a quarter, a quarter and a half. We know Philadelphia is not. They're locked. They're into a playoffs scenario. They're going to be a wild card already. Um. I really think this is just a glorified scrimmage with either team making sure nobody gets hurt. And I'll take the home team getting more than a field goal in that spot. I have that circle does my second picks,

and I might have to switch that one. But I actually like that too. I mean, it's ridiculous. Who are the Cowboys? Right? Who are the Cowboys to be giving them that many points on the road in a in a glorified scrimmage? What are you gonna say? Frank Football Outsiders has that the Cowboys get the four seeds, So you're pretty much. The only think I'll push back on, though, is I remember that came again some Giants a few years.

I think it was a Giants when they made no sense for the Cowboys to play their guys and they played him the whole freaking game. And you can say, well, it's a different coach, it doesn't matter. Jerry Jones called shots there. So I wonder if they are going to play their starters a whole game. I don't agree with it. I think it's dumb. But it's the Cowboys that dumbly a couple of years ago, so maybe they do it dumbly this time too. But even with their starters, are

they so great that they're gonna kills? I get that there's no motivation there, there's no and then he goes about playing well, like, look, I get next seriality a lot of credit. I wondered if a couple of months of the season, I was like, this guy might be a donkey, but he actually has turned that thing around. And how about Hurts? How about Hurts? This guy might

actually be good. I remember thinking this guy is horrendous and he actually looks I really think as far as improvement goes, I don't know if you guys agree with me on this. I think he's improved. I can't think of any quarterback who has improved more than Jalen Hurts this year. I don't know what you guys think, but what I mean, he really looks a lot better. Yeah, he's good, is really good if you just put out in a good tape of him, it's like, WHOA, this

guy is something. Then you put on the bad tape, you're like, oh, like no, no, don't about this. So you just got to get that in the inconsistency out of his game. But the good is really really good if you I'll give you guys this question. If you owned an NFL franchise, and I gave you the choice of these four, which one would you want going into next year? Is your quarterbacks? You like this, You're ready, You're ready. Jalen Hurts to Taga Violoa him, Mac Jones,

Bryce Young. I gave you all four Alabama quarter the last four Alabama quarterbacks? Who do you want? And I know, Bryce Young, you're only one year in college. But who who would you have the rights to heading into next year? M hmm. That's a good price for me, just because the upside, because I know what the other guys are and Hurts might be good, but I know the other two guys are great. I don't know if Hurts is ever gonna be great. I just root for the unknown.

They're looking for the I mean, the obvious answer that everyone would say was Mac Jones, but I think, see, I think a lot of Mac Jones being good. Is Bill Belichick really Daniels great offensive quarter Well, yeah, I mean the Patriots. I mean the Patriots large. The Patriots organization writ large has decided we are going to protect mac Jones and make him give him the opportunity to

succeed with the least amount of risk possible. I don't know, you know, maybe that's a controversial opinion, but to me, it seems very clear their first step in every game is we're going to run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, and try to protect Matt Jones. Do you agree with that, Mikey or do you think that's crazy? I agree with that. And I wonder if these other rookie quarterbacks that haven't been as successful, how they would

have done if they landed in New England. How would Trey Lance have done if he landed in much better? How would much better Trevor Lawrence done if he landed in New England? Right? Yeah, you put Matt Jones. Put Matt Jones on the Jaguars. What happens? People would be screaming. People would be screaming. Matt Jones is the worst quarterback in the history of the NFL. You know, they would be saying that he probably would have been injured by

now exactly. Yeah, but I would out of those guys, I would probably take just talent, just a loan of what I've seen. I'm gonna say something crazy. Hurts is impressing me. I'll take Hurts. And the thing about Hurts is he can make you hurt with his legs and and if he gets the throws down, which he's starting to get down, and he gets the reads down, look

out because he has that extra ability that not everybody has. Now, maybe he's going to be like a Calling Kaepernick who had the that one year when he was amazing and then all of a sudden he fell apart. You know he I can't. I can't. I can remember Kaepernick on third and eight in huge games, like making those first down runs, and it seems like Hurts can do the

similar thing. But well, we'll see. Obviously, I was listening to an interview with Rod Jaworski a couple of weeks ago, and he was really lavishing the praise on Hurt, staying he's one of the best natural leaders of a young man to come into the league in many many years, and he's really high on Hurts and doesn't and think it should be a question if they're playing Minshew or Hurts, it's clearly Hurts just the number one there. Okay, Frank

gave his second pick already h with the Niners. Nay, So Todd, can you read gil second pick and give your second Yes. Gil's second pick is the Woofties minus six and a half. I'm just gonna guess that Gil thinks the Giants have packed it in. How can you really argue against that? It seems to me that that the Giants have decided that the season is over and

they're already on vacation. Uh. Some teams, you know, one there's always one or two teams that have really checked out for the season, and it certainly looks like the Giants, certainly on the offensive side of the ball, have completely decided to check out. Not that woof he is any good, but it's only six and a half. I don't know what you guys think. I think Frank, you you already told us you thought the Giants were done. I mean last week I was. I don't think people are talking

about this enough. Last week, in the first half against Chicago. The New York Giants ran the ball twenty three times, have passed twice, and they were down a half. That's Joe Judge give up. That is JoJo's quitting on his team and saying, you're gonna give me this crappy roster. What here you go. I'm gonna run the clock out on the first half and we're just gonna take our l and go back to New York. I thought it was shameful. I thought that the game plan they had

last week was literally shameful. I thought he quit on his team. And he's got these bizarre rants after the game, talking about guys calling him up multiple tized of weeks that you wish told stay there and blood. I think he's losing his mind. I think he's given up on this team. I think this team is pretty much given up on him and his talent. Wise. I got I mean, I get it. My punt stinks like it. It's hard

to watch that team. I totally agree. I think I think washing WFD just totally gets over on them, and and just and and also if you needed anything else, George Judge colleg Washington a clown show organization, Roberver is gonna bring that up. He's gonna be anything you can get from motivation the last week. He's gonna bring this stuff up. And so I think Washington at least trying, and the Giants are so yeah, Belly, what about Sat

Kwon Barkley? How good would say Kwan Barkley? Beyond Sat Tennessee? Would he run for Derrick Henry numbers? No, nope. I look whenever I watch those Giants games, and I watch him every week. Obviously, Davante Parker looks like the more explosive running back. It's kind of sad. I don't know if if Sake Kwan needs another year. I don't know if, but every time I look up, it's like se might not even be the Giants best right, Like it's it's hard to watch. I hope says back has got right now.

I don't know. How about the original Sake one? How about the original Sake one before the injury? Oh yeah, yeah, he was unbelievable. Yeah the rookie, you're say, Kwan and Penn State say all day, I mean he I don't know if he'd be Derrick Henry level or Jonathan Taylor level, but he'd be in that. He not oper for sure. I just feel some of these running backs they lose their careers because they're on the wrong team. I see it happening to Naja Harris because I think Naja Harris

is a real talent. And uh, even though he broke my heart last week when I had both team total Steelers under twenty one and a half and the Browns plus seven and a half. And well, by the way, Mikey, tell me, what are the percentages of NFL teams breaking a touchdown run with one nineteen to go and they're just running it into the line? Does it happen more than one out of a hundred? It probably does not anymore because they're all trained to go down at the five.

He's gonna go down and then he's like, no, screw, there's like free runoff had all year. I'll take a touchdown, by the way. Even besides without that though, and we know they all do know that they have to jump out go down at the five, but even without that, they almost never break a long one. Like I remember that Chub one a couple of years ago, but you don't really remember. It's not like college. You know, in

college It happens all the time. We see it in the NFL earlier this year, and Jonathan Taylor did against the Patriots. You're college, if they get past the linebackers, they can't run them down. But in the pros there's always dbs that are gonna run them down. They don't

break it, and I couldn't. I was driving home from the game because we had already left trying to beat the big Bend traffic, and we thought we had it when when we got the back door touchdown by Baker after a fourth and fifth team pass interference, we thought, oh my god, we're gonna get the back door and we're gonna get the team total under And then they give it to Najy and he's running free and I'm like, you cannot be kidding me. Naji, fall down, fall down.

You can't blame him. Though he's gonna get three on my light of privilege every play, he's like, oh my god, this is what open field. That's why I brought it up because I feel like he's gonna his career is being ruined already with the team with no offensive lines. It's hard. It's yeah. He has had a season like I have I haven't seen him have one easy run all year except that one against He makes four yard runs that are spectacular. Sometimes you know, makes like five,

it's incredible. So anyways, Mikey, are we up to me your second? My second pick? I had Philadelphia written down here, but I'm gonna pass that for now. I'm gonna take the Titans. Do you have the Titans minus ten? Is that we have the Titans that? Yeah, Okay, I'm gonna

take the Titans minus ten. Um. I've watched a lot of Uston this year, and of course I watched all the games that I'm saying as far as games that I really pay attention to just because I'm always seemed to be on their team total under And last week I think I had the Niners and millions. By the way I'm gonna be, I'm forty nine and thirty six and millions and going nowhere. Right, There's no way I can catch even if you're gonna be like you're gonna go five and O and be four games out of

the money. Unbelievable. Okay, So anyways, last week I had Todd. Right now, the last person that's in the money is fifty five and thirty and they're and they're in a twenty way tie for that, you know what I mean. So I'm mathematically eliminated, of course. But anyways, so last week I had the Niners and I had Lances watching that nonsense in the first half, and I'm thinking there's no way, and then they get there in the second half just because Houston's horrendous. I mean, do we really

have to go over why Houston is bad? I mean, they have no quarterback, they have no nothing. It's it's a joke of a team. And they and I think they're still trying. That's the thing. I think the Titans are still trying. They looked like they were trying against the forty Niners. They just can't do anything. They're just not good enough. And I think the Titans, you know, Vrabel is a serious coach. I've always liked Rabel and they I think they need to win it for the

for the one, number one overall seed. I think they're gonna be serious, and I think they're just gonna go in there and just plow through them, just run the ball right through them, and it will be you know, Titans, It'll be a typical Titans game. Uh, you know, I mean the typical Houston Texans game where it's like twenty four to seven or twenty seven to seven, give me the Titans minus the ten. It was real quick. Why what I look at these Coach of the year odds.

Can somebody explain to me what Zach Taylor's How do my fable? What I mean? Mike f Abel is gonna get the one seed without Derrick Henry being there half the year, without a j Brown being there for a one or so, with Julio Jones being a corpse like Zach Taylor I had because like the Bengals were to one to win their division, I think who cares? It's always miss Price before the season. Maybe, like recently, I hate coaching. I hate so much. I was just gonna

ask you guys this question. Who you would have to me, it's only Zach Taylor Mike Vrabel that should voted for. I think La Fleur no, because look, he was exposed in Kansas City when Rogers didn't play, they couldn't do anything. It's not about him, that the Green Bay Matt. It's not the coach, is he the Matt? La Fleur? The Rogers is the coach but the floor is not the real coach. Push back on that. I pushed that. Look look at my McCarthy's last few years versus Matt Lafleur

winning of his games last three, I vote four. I would I think at some point you just need to say, well whatever like that, this guy's gonna get the one seed in the NFC, has done great job. Well you know you O you Google, Oh you're saying la Fleur should get even over for Abul and Zach Taylor. Yes, yes, I I think I just think cook of the Year as a stupid award. Josh Passers when acc Basketball Coach of the Year before mitro Chef's like, I mean, it's

a dumb award. But I think at some point results just need to matter, and the Packers have been the best team, so why not be great? And I wouldn't even have a problem with anybody voting for him. But I think when it comes down to is the Packers have been the best team. And la Flora's dealt with some things now, like Aaron Rodgers drama. He handled that really well. Vante Adams drama, He's handled it. They lost Sire Alexander, they lost David Boccieri, they lost Darius Smith.

It's not like they've had no adversity. I vote La Flora because I think that's not just Aaron Rodgers and roll the balls. I'll look at that win at Arizona and nobody and they won that game. So I think Flora's done a fine job, and I vote for You can't go to the NFC Championship every game year and lose and be considered a winner by America. It's not gonna happen, asked Danny White. Okay, unless you become the greatest.

Unless you become Jim Kelly, asked Jim Kelly. Well, he won the conference, he didn't win the Super The only exception is if La Fleur becomes the greatest color commentator in the history of the NFL, then it was okay for madd And to lose seven a f C Championship games, but not I think I vote it's not even not even close. And and the Zach Taylor do Zach Taylor fourth down nonsense that he did it against Minnesota in

Week one. And then why you won't kick a field goal with forty eight seconds left in Kansas City doesn't have a time out, He got so lucky twice there. Well, I mean, you think you've got to think, what's the other side of what he's thinking. He's thinking, if he kicks the field goal, he's up by three with forty eight seconds and no time outs, and for sure, Kansas he's gonna get field he's thinking, I don't think. I'm not saying I'm not saying it's for sure. I'm just

saying that's what he's thinking. So he's thinking, we've got to win this game right here. Otherwise, and by the way, you could do the percentages out there's probably what is the actual percentage of Kansas City getting a field goal with forty eight seconds and no time outs? What's the percentage I'd say less? Well, if he had tried the short field goal and missed it, then it would have been eight seven percent they scored a touchdown. Well, that's

only because we don't that's a whole another story. But seriously, what is it you think it's less than really no time out? Pretty good? Bucker is a great kicker, I said. If that's Aaron Rodgers in the same spot, though, I think Rogers and Brady better at managing the clock that Mahomes though. Okay, I think it's pretty it's higher than you guys are giving it credit for, but obviously there's no way to know. Okay, I'm gonna go to the game that that that you that Gil and Frank already took,

but I'm gonna play it a different way. What do you have as the total on the Rams game? Ram Rams against the Niners? The Rams against the Niners are four and a half and forty four and a half going under their Todd is my second pick under forty four and a half? Under forty four and a half. Okay, if it's Lance, then you won. I think I win. If it's Garoppolo, it depends on is a good Jimmy g or bad Jimmy? Look at this is a playoff game.

It's the two versus the five seed for the Rams, it's to win and get in for the forty forty Niners and Shanahan have owned McVeigh. Okay, their devas have been very good. You saw it, even with the change to Stafford at quarterback in the first meeting. San Francisco was dominant in that game. I think this is a low scoring game, a playoff type atmosphere that both teams

will play conservatively and try not to beat themselves. Stafford tried to give away that game in Baltimore last week, a pick six and a fumble in the red zone. I mean, that's how good the Rams defense is, though, that they could still win a game like that that Baltimore was desperate to win. I think this game is seventeen seventeen. I'm not sure which way, but I like it under I think if Lands goes, you can just catch the ticket right now because you know they're going

to protect him. They're gonna try to run the ball and and and shorten the game. But with Jimmy g it could be a whole another story. What do you think, Frank, Yeah, I agree. I do think you guys hate on Lance too much. This guy's got some skills. Man, I didn't see Wait, Frank, I didn't say he might here, Frank, I didn't say he wouldn't be good in the future. I just said right now, sure, I get it, I get it, but you've seen some things on it. Well, let's see him. Let's see see like look back and

look at the second half last week. Let's see him against the real NFL defense. Though, we really haven't seen it. I mean, whatever he does against Montana State and the Texans is one thing. Let's see him go against this Rams, this Rams defense. Okay, Frank, it's how many games, Mikey? How many I remember the Seattle game? Didn't he play another game where he was horrendous? Also he played he played against Arizona and they just ran the ball, ran the ball, ran the ball. Remember, it was not a

good game. Play was not a good Yes, yes exactly, I had that game. But I think I think Shanahan screwed that game up. But I think he did admit it. I think he did admit I had a gag. Okay, Frank, it's time for your third pick. I'm gonna go with the Pittsburgh Steelers plus five and a half because you know I talk I said this before by the Cowboys. Who are the Ravens to be giving five and a half right now? They've been terrible lately, They're beat up.

I love Horrorba, I love the infrastructure of that team, but they've lost five in a row, including one of the Steelers. And we know when the Steelers are right now, we're gonna get a great at the game. Ugly they're gonna keep a little scoring, and I think five and a half is way too much here. I really don't understand the angle of well, they just left it all in the field last week because Ben's last game quarterback.

Who canna be wrong? But he's not exactly from reputation and I know this is a lot of narratives street, he's not exactly the guy in that locker room who everybody just loves unconditionally, like he's the quarterbacks back, come and whatnot. Respect him. But it's not like everybody at the Pittsburgh Steelers was like, well, let's win this one for Benn, and who cares if we make the playoffs?

Like no, no, Like the Pittsburgh Steelers are gonna come out in this and they don't other chances of making the playoffs pretty low. Yes, but you're still gonna play it out. He still gonna act like, hey, let's win and see what happens with the Colts. I think the Pittsburgh Steelers a stuffort we can out of them. We know they're gonna play defense. We don't t J. Watt is a beast. He's gonna win DEFENSI Player of the Year. Uh so I think this is this line was just

totally It's surprised. It surprised me that the raven that the Steelers were so far well against this Ravens team that has shown really honestly nothing for five or more weeks. Can I say something about the Picksburgh Stollers, Todd, I'd like you to say something, and then I'd also like you do um enveloping your comments, your partying thoughts on what Big Ben has meant to you as a younser. Well, I'll just say it right now. The Picksburgh stores are.

We were in love with Big Ben, Rotha Burger and that and uh, look sure there were some issues early on, maybe some mistakes made off the field that don't seem to be exactly what a good person might be doing and at but we got over that. He became a family man and we love Ben roethlis Burger, Big Ben. Let me just say I just want to say something. I want to give a shout out to the sweet people down at the hines Field because somebody took me to the suite against the Brownies and wow, what a spread.

And I am obviously struggling. Now I'll go out of Pittsburgh e's for a minute. I'm obviously struggling with the food right now, and it did not help at all to be in that box because they had every kind of food available. It was unbelievable. The only bad part about that whole night was that Nagy Harris run on me. But no, Big Ben Roethlisberger. I mean, how can you

look obviously, my friend. When we drove home, we had a whole discussion about the the mistakes that Ben has made in the past, and that was an interesting discussion. But just as a football player, I think he's been amazing. Obviously, you know, Super Bowl winner. Uh he was never good enough to get us past Brady, but he was, Uh he was. I mean, come on, how can the Steelers get Terry Bradshaw and Ben Rothsburger all in the last forty years. I mean, it's a tremendous thing to have

a quarterback for that long. I mean it's almost like Rogers and Farve Tody got Tommy Maddox and you had Mark Malone and I mean just a lot of malicious keeps going on and on. What about Charlie Charlie Badge for I mean, they've had they've had break we had some lean years. I remember Mark Loan was the quarterback and we couldn't score a touchdown for like four games in a row. Oh my, and Mark Malone was the local TV sports guy afterwards, Oh my gosh, he was horrendous.

Mark Malone. Well, no, Donald took it to a super Bowl, at least, I mean it was Donald. He was decent, just good enough, but not good enough to beat the bootleggers Son and the Super Bowl and get get get Bury a championship. But as far as as far as franchises go, to have both Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger, that's pretty good. I mean, how many other teams can say they had too Hall of Fame quarter x And the Broncos John and Peyton was about looking seventy years

for a quarterback. I mean, yeah, they get to the eyes like that, back to back or not back to back, but in the same lifetime. Basically, Yeah, that's unbelievable. Well, the forty Niners had Montana and Young back to back for God's sakes, Well that was yeah, that was too much over the slappy like Jeff Garcia was okay too, They've had a nice Jeff Garcia would have been okay if not for Terrell Owens and what he did to destroy Jeff Carcia. I think I really believe that, Todd.

It's time to read Gil's second pick or third pick. Sorry. Gil's third pick is the l A Chargers minus the three. Um. Not positive why he likes this other than I know he likes their coach a lot um. We've talked about the analytics to add nauseum. All I'll say is just because it goes over three doesn't mean anything. Guys, but the Chargers minus three. I I assumed he likes it because you know he likes the coach matchup. Maybe okay, Todd,

time for your third pick. My third pick, I have Eagles circled here, but you took Eagles, So I'm just trying to see if I got on the fly come up with something different. Um than that, I don't really see anything. I uh, you know what, I'm gonna go with the Falcons. I kind of like I like what Frank had to say about the Falcons and the only thing, you know what, forget that. I can't. I can't bet on Maddy Ice. I'm just gonna take the Eagles. Forget

it Philadelphia Philly plus five and half. I I just I just had a flashback, Frank, to all the bets that I've made on Maddie Ice, and I just feel so horrible in the last two minutes when he's at the thirty two yard line in field goal range and takes a sack to put him out of range. And I and I had last year, I had a thing where I camp it. I went to Philly Rivers anonymous, and I decided I would no longer bet on Phil Rivers, and I am no longer betting on Maddie Ice. So

I'm gonna stay. I'm gonna go with Philly plus five and a half for the same reasons, Mike, you said, First of all, I don't think that the cowboy should be favored by five and a half on the road against the decent team. I really like what Hurts has done. We talked to add nauseum about that. I'm just gonna take Philly plus five and a half. Okay, then we need your third Mikey. I'm taking the Chiefs Chiefs, and let's see what the number is here, ten Chiefs minus ten. Yeah,

that's the consensus number. Is that because the guy with Survivor told you it was a lock. No, I think it's because. I think it's because you know, Denver has really faced all these COVID issues. I think they've packed it in. I'm not sure if all of the city will turn out to the last salute to the Commodore Fangio, his last game in Denver. This team is really bad. Um. They were serviceable with Bridgewater, they were competitive in games.

They are not anymore, and I think they're just devastated. Look, Kansas City doesn't want to look. Kansas City loses the tiebreaker with all the other a f C Conference winners. They've lost to all of them. They lost to the Bills, they lost to the to the Bengals, uh, and they lost horribly to the Titans in Nashville. So they if they lose their risk falling to the four or even the three, that means you don't get a second home game.

They'd at least like to get two games at Arrowhead and maybe if somebody, if the Bagels could upset the Titans or something like that, they could have the a f C Championship game and Arrowhead for the fourth straight season. An accomplishment zone It means something to Kansas City here, I don't know what it means to Denver. I don't know how many people they're even gonna have, how many bodies they're gonna have available. They certainly don't have a quarterback.

I'll lay the points down the road here in a game, um that's fairly important to the Chiefs. Let me ask you this, how stunned were you guys when I had the over team total thirty eight and a half on the Chiefs. They had twenty eight at the half and they scored three points in the second half. Can somebody tell me how that happened? How did I just have a ball? They they I think they went pun punt field goal their last three the only three possessions of

the second half. That's correct, By the way, Mike, I'll push back a little bit just because I think this lines have played it. I think that the Broncos on Sunday Night a couple of weeks ago, and I get it was Bridgewater and they have had COVID issues, but a few weeks ago that felt like I had the Bronco's neck, and that felt like a right side because the Broncos played with them, and there was a there was a defensive touchdown and all that, but I didn't

feel like the Broncos got run off the field. What are we saying in this game? If if it's plus ten at Deenver, that what it would be fourteen and a half of Kansas City. I get it's just wait it lines, just wait. You're talking about the twenty two to nine game, friend. Yeah, yeah, if you look at the yards and all that kind of stuff, it was like that wasn't a thirteen point lost for them. That was the game they should have covered, but they didn't

because they thought a couple of breaks. Look, they were listless against one of the worst defenses in the league last week. I don't think they have anything left. I just really don't. You saw that line go up, up, up because of the COVID issues, which which are still a factor. Yeah. If this game was played three weeks earlier, the lines probably six. Right. I know I'm playing the premium here, but I just think Denver is totally done. Fangio has done. The lockers are packed, the offices are

cleaned out. It's over and it's time to move on there. Okay, Drew lock Mr Jeff George's is not going to be an nfocal. It's not even a backup. He's not even you know I I talked I was on with when Mintioned Paul were off the vacation before Christmas. I was almost stormy and Shaun King he told me off air, he said, you have no idea how bad this Drew Lock is. This guy is an embarrassment. I mean, outside of the quarterbacks that haven't played in the league, he's

absolutely the worst. And he hasn't been wrong so far about his performance. He said to drop off between Bridgewater and Lock might be the biggest gap of anybody outside the Packers, and I think he's right. All right now, Frank, we do our two team six point teaser, Yeah, and I'm gonna take one of them. Is gonna be Washington just because I don't know that they're gonna need it, but you get them down to one served by five.

I I like that. I think the Giants, as I talked about just packing in, they are the one team I can look at and say, yep, that team is quit. They do not want to play football anymore. They have a countdown in the locker room about how any days left until we can go play golf any other one's Cardinals. I think, Look, the Cardinals go into this game NFC West hopes still alive. They need the forty Niners to

beat the Rams, but that could happen. I think you're going to see the best out of the Cardinals and the Seahawks other you know, yeah, they beat up lines, they beat up the Texas when else Russell's look terrible against good teams. The Aks have looked terrible against good teams. So if you can give me the Cards down to minus one, I like that minus a half. Were you even going to give you minus a half? Because I think there's six and a half. I agree with you.

I think Seattle's I don't know what's wrong with Russell Wilson. Is this just his injury or something that's his injury. I don't think that he's bad early in the year like so, I think it's I think it's just injury related. And he came back to quick, and that's off to him for doing it to be tough and saying I'm

gonna try to bail my team out of this. But he came back too quick, and that now he's paying the price, right, So we're we're going to learn a lot about Russell Wilson in the first four weeks of next season, I think, because if he's back to the regular Russell Wilson or if something structurally. I tend to agree with you, Frank, I think it's just an injury thing. Because you have the lead in the teasers, you go

before me. Okay, I'm gonna go with my beloved Patriots. Uh, their beloved to me because I have him thirty two to one and forty one to one to win the Super Bowl, and not that they will, but at least I could probably head that I'm gonna take Pats minus a half. I think that Miami is fraudulent. Miami one a million games against bad teams, and hats off to Flores for writing the ship. And by the way, they don't have a lot of talent to a tag of Baloa, I don't know. I'm not a fan. I just don't

see it. I don't see two a tug of loah, and I think they have a pretty decent defense and Flores, you know, rights the ship so they can beat the teams that they they should beat. Uh, they did win the one game against the Ravens, but who are the Ravens. The rest of those wins were against horrible teams. Now we see them come out against the titan Is last week. They play a real team. It's a real team. It's a real game. Now it's okay, are you really good,

Miami or are you just Miami jokers? Well, here's what they are, their Miami jokers. They couldn't even keep this game closed. This game was over before it started. I had everything tied, all my pregame stuff that I had tied to, like money line parlays. I had them all tied to Tennessee moneyline because I was just and I wasn't concerned about it one bit at all. And and in betting, you're never not concerned, and I wasn't concerned. It looked like there's just no way that Miami can

compete with Tennessee. I don't think Miami is good. And now they're gonna go against the Patriots team throw out that first game of the year when it was seventeen sixteen. Um, you know that was the first game of the year. I think the Patriots are just their different level, uh than Miami, and and Bill Belichick will get a will find a way to win it, and my second team is going to be the Niners plus ten and a half because I agree with um both Gil and Frank

on this game. Um, I just and if I get Jimmy g I think there's no way they're losing by more than ten and a half. If I get Lands, I'm gonna be a little nervous, but even then they're gonna run the ball lot. It'll be tough to lose by ten and a half. So give me Pats minus a half Niners plus ten and a half. That will be my teaser. Uh, coronation, do you want to read

gills teaser? Gill's teaser is Las Vegas Raiders plus nine, which is interesting because he also has the Chargers minus three in the in the other in the picks, So that's interesting that he likes the Raiders Raiders plus nine and he has the woftis minus a half. And that's the Giants quitting story. Okay, I have the Wolf. Thee's as well. Agree with Frank. Everybody's on the Wolf. And then I've taken the Falcons up to ten and a half. I think the Falcons win this game. Actually, Hill is awful.

It's really bad. I mean they beat. They beat a god awful Carolina team because of their defense. I mean, this could be a look at the total in this game of forty. I mean, I think this game is gonna be a little I just think the Falcons in the snow and they were down two scores and Buffalo was about to go up by twenty before half, and somehow they found themselves ahead and they fought in that game.

I think I think that Atlanta is better here. I didn't use him as one of my place because four and a half, but I'm gonna use him in the teaser. I think I think they win this game. I would be shocked if Taysom Hill and company can put up twenty plus points here in this game. I don't think Taysom Hills an NFL quarterback. I think they always knew he was in an NFL quarterback and they're just holding on for dear life with Taysom Hill. But they have

a good defense. Taysom Hill is not ready to be an NFL quarterbacks, So how can you lay a million points? It's ridiculous. I mean, this is I totally agreeing. How good do you think the Saints would have been if Jamis had been healthy off better. Actually, like for as for as bad as Jamis bad, Jamis's he he didn't make plays, I mean throw five thousand yards on the season like he He's not just incompetent, he just falls apart at the wrong time. So I think they would

have been you know, ten eleven wins by now. If if it takes him to dr I think they pass him and Trevor simeon this far, I think Jamis would have been better for him. Okay, We're gonna go with the final two questions that we do every week, Frank, which of the big favorites is most likely to lose this week? It will define the big favorites? Is uh seven or more? So here are your choices, the Chiefs,

the Colts, the Bills, the Bucks or the Titans. All these teams favored by more than a touchdown, which one is most likely to lose? Out right? Yeah? I did think about the Titans, but it's hard to come back Houston. I just I'm just gonna say the box because I know arians are saying, we're all gonna we're gonna play this, We're gonna block what do the Bucks have to play for this week? And there if they lose. Mike Evans

were drunk this week. Their offense is dust at that point, like they are very thin on offense, and I think it's point the Bucks are just gonna say, all right, well we'll get a series out of Brady and just get everybody out of there. Let's let's prepare for next week. It's tough to back the Panthers. They're awful. They're really really bad football team. I mean, my goodness, it's tough

to watch them. But I think if there's one team that's out of those big papers are just gonna lay a egg because they don't really care that much and they don't have anything to play for, and they're just trying to get out of this thing without an injury. And they've also dealt with this whole An Totio Brown circus all week. I guess the Bucks are locked into the three. Right, they can't go down because they own the tiebreaker with Dallas. So yeah, I think they could

move up to two. Yeah, that's a really narrow runway they got to land on there. Todd, what if what if the Bucks actually have something structurally wrong with them? They lost nine nothing, right, I mean, how did they score zero. I know, I know Saints are good, but nine nothing. Then they had to for all for everything they owned. They had to get that Jets game. And I was, you know, I had a money line parlay in game on that. I was like, I can't believe this,

but they might lose this game to the Jets. I mean, that is unbelievable that their life and death to beat the Jets. Maybe there's they're just not that good. I mean, it's quite possible the Buccaneers are not this vaunted team that everyone thinks that they are, you know, especially with all these injuries at the receiver position. So you know, I'm with you on on that one. Frank, I think I think to make some great points about the Bucks. So that's spend a little shaky, a little shaker, and

anybody watch it. I'm todd. I was watching that game. I thought that Sala did a lot of things to lose that game. One, when you're up to scores in the ball in a second, if you can't run against the Bucks, so there's no point of trying to run the ball to kill Clark. Start to keep using your passing game advanced too. Yeah, I did think about that. Fourth and that was the one that I was questioned like,

I didn't questioned Cincinnati want is much. I thought that one was worth Yeah, I would have kicked the field goal and make Brady score and then have to go to overtime and beat you because you're you were moving the ball on Tampa Bay, throwing it the whole game, the whole game. Absolutely, I agree. I thought that was questionable. I honestly didn't hate the decision. I hated to play like you're trying to sneak it up forth and now, like, but the decision like let's knock Brady out right now.

I didn't hate it. I really, alright. I agree with both of you guys. I think it's by the way one Mike, you one more thing. What about the b y U quarterback? Maybe you could be okay, I'm starting to think maybe. Look, I know you just rolled your eyes and me, but maybe he's maybe he's got something. What do you think seems nothing? Seems small to me. It just seems small. Frank, What about you? What do you think about him? Do you think you could be? Okay?

I think he might be the talents there, But it is troubling that the Jets A played three other quarterbacks this year, and all three looked better than than the kid. I mean, even Joe Flacco for that game he had to play, was like, oh Mike White, who had never heard of I literally was like, who's like White? Oh? I watching here? And then Josh john And played too,

and against Indian he looked fine. So when you've played four quarterbacks in the year and Zach Wilson's the look fourth best out of those guys, it's a little trouble, really tumbling, really troubling with Mike White. I mean he let Illinois to the roast Bull forty years ago and still look better. That's a great God, that's a great I just thought the last couple of weeks. I thought early in the season looked horrendous. The last couple of

weeks I thought he looked okay. And the talents. I'm not giving up on anybody after what ten starts like how many? Yeah, I'm not giving up on anybody. But there's some problems like bigger honestly, I think a bigger question Trevor Lawrence, Like everybody wants to give him a pass urban the Jaguars, He's got to own his stuff at some point. He has missed every throw I've seen

him make. He has not looked at any point like, hey, this is Trevor Lawrence Hubert prospect, Like maybe we're just giving him a pass for no good reason and he's not as good as well. That's the thing. If you played for Clemson and you get to stand back there and nobody comes anywhere near you in college, how do you even know if these guys are going to be good? You know, that's the whole, you know, crazy thing. He also had great running games at Clemson with him too, right,

I mean, that's and that's what he was. He was feuding with Urban about about not using the running game at all and throwing the ball times a game. He's used to going into the two set where they had to respect the running game, and they couldn't, you know, they couldn't just drop back five guys in nickel all the time against him in college. You're right, Toddy had a lot of open throws. Kenny Pickett also, by the way,

be very very very careful. I'm not a Kenny. I love pitting football, of course, you know, I mean, I'll bet against him all the time. But um, by the way, that ball game is unbelievable loss. I don't know if you guys were watching the Pit Bowl game when they're getting three and a half and they're ahead by eleven and the fourth quarter and somehow didn't cover because that interception at the end. Thank god I didn't have that. I had Michigan State plus six and haf thin game.

But the Kenny Pickett. I don't think Kenny Pickett is gonna be a big time quarterback. I know he's the best either, considering him the best coming, I don't see it. I think he's gonna be like they'll think, oh Kenny Pickett, and he'll end up like an NFL backup. I don't. I don't see it with Kenny Pickett. What do you think about our doozy? I think nar Doozy is okay for I think he's okay for Pitt. I mean, remember Pitt can't recruit the way these I mean, this is

a city school. It's not like one of these big power, you know, teams like Clemson, and it's certainly not an SEC type of team. You know, Pitt's a city school. It's not really you know, it's it's Pit's really more like Cincinnati is and Cincinnati was like, oh wow, it's amazing Cincinnati made made the college football playoffs. I think Nardozy remember how bad Pitt was before Nardozy. Pitt had some horrendous seasons, absolutely horrendous. So you know, I thought,

our joy is not that bad. You You obviously don't like him. Is that why you're asking me that? Like he does some questionable things? Yeah, I know, I'm not saying he's great. I'm just saying for Pitt, it's you know, who are they gonna get? Was going to Pit to be the coach right and hold out to Paul Chris. I mean, yeah, Paul Chris isn't even great Chrisconsin Wisconsin alone, so he's good for what Wisconsin is gonna I'm sure they're mad at him this week because of what happened

in the last four downs. He had to cover the spread seven and a half. That was Anyways, Mikey, what are we up to? And we're up to that Bizarro question where if you could bet every body every game on the board, but you could only pick one. You had to bet every game on the board, but you could pick one not to bet which game would it be? Which game do you want no part of Frank's vikings. This is easy. This might be out of all however, many games around the entire schedule, this that might be

the one. How could you even have an angle here? And then today Justin Fields goes on to COVID so we're not even getting him. We're getting holes and the vikings. Both coaches are gonna get fired the Viking My quit on Mike Zimmer after Telemanto to the bus, who knows what you're getting out of this game? Please? No, I have no no desire Todd Bengals Brown's obviously by the line, it seems like the Bengals are not going to be trying um and the Browns? Who what is this team?

This Browns is they're confounding this team. You know, Baker Mayfield, I don't. I didn't. I never liked Baker Mayfield. But now they're just like going to the entire other way. Now he's like the worst quarterback of all time. He actually could be okay if he would stop throwing the ball to the other team. You know, he he's really not that bad. If he would just stop the interceptions. They have a running game. Why are they not pounding the ball with Chubb. I don't understand this team. I

don't want any part of that last ridiculous game. I'm going to agree with Frank bears vikings here um meaningless game. Very disappointing for Minnesota. They thought there would be a playoff team this year. I know we talked to Paul Allen before the year. He said he'd be shocked if they didn't win eleven games. And they had, you know, all those games that came down to the final player early and then the unvaccinated Cousins is out and the

season just they they just got behind him. They were always but behind the chains in terms of a season, uh for the Viking. So I really want I want no part of it. I agree with Frank. I think they're both out. But what about Jackie Cheryl? I thought Jackie Cheryl recruited pretty well at pit. That was in our heyday. That was in our heyday before it all fell apart in the early eighties and our heyday we were serious, of course, but that was before the you know,

college football landscape changed. You know, that was when they're you know, I don't know if you ever watched these youtubes, And sometimes I get stuck on YouTube. I'm looking watching these nineteen seventies seven Tony Dorset against uh, you know, or against Notre Dame and Dan Marino against Syracuse, and I'm like, I remember that when I was eleven, and it's like, it's just but that was that was a different world when it wasn't. It wasn't Jackie Chryl the

wan that castrated the bowl in front of it. Yes, that was a m that was okay, that one of the Alzheimer's, one of the all time great stories, like, hey, let's fire these kids up. Okay, And you know, Pitch should have won another title with Jackie Sherrow. Of course, they won under Johnny Majors. Then Johnny Major's left and they had Jackie Cheryl and Pitt was like number one a couple of those seasons and just couldn't get it

done to win the national title even with Marino. And we had a couple of times we were finished just barely, you know. Well, but they beat they beat Duly and the Bulldogs in that Sugar Bowl. Remember with Marino, they beat Herschew Walkers, John Brown. Yeah, of course that that was but we weren't. But we weren't playing for it because they lost. Yeah they were eight or something like that. Yeah, but we we took the leader. That was I remember

that was a huge game. Pit Pen State. Pit Penn State used to be like a serious thing and it was like Auburn and uh, you know Alabama. It was like a serious, serious rivalry and you know whatever. They called it the Or Bowl at the Iron Bowl, but the Or Bowl. Uh, all right, Frank, we want to thank you for joan us today. You've been at the River a guest to the megapod, and you are continue to be for our show odds on and as well as across the Vista landscape. So thank you for taking

the time. There's a pleasure, guys. This is a ton of I'm talking about with you, guys. Todd, Thank Todd. Thank you for all to help you've been to Gil through this very tough time, and for and soldiering on and getting the megapod done. For all the trip trip tempers and the RAJ bodies that really you know, live

only by vicariously through this megapod. So we were we were able to do it, and we thanked them, and of course Gil is in our thoughts and our prayers, as well as his whole family as they lay his dad to rest today. That's it for us, Week eighteen of the NFL, the Beating, the Book Megapod. Thank you, Frank Schwab, Todd wishing IF and Mike Palm wishing you all the great weekend.