2019 Week 12 Preview

by the United States Marine Or. My name is Dan Hands as I'm joined in a room filled with heroes, Mark Sessler, Chris Westling, and Greg Rosenthal. What is up? Boys? Hey? I mean, let's be real about something. What most of us have stepped off the idea of playing fantasy football? Right? We don't play it. But if you just dropped any one of us, and I'm not trying to be a braggart here into a group of civilians and gave us time to prepare, draft and and work on a fantasy

team week to week, we would incinerate individuals. That's how I feel. It doesn't feel it isn't. I'll tell you one, and I'll tell you one thing that you're showing, uh a lack of understanding of I will have a follow

up to that comment. Um, you are still completely, on some level vulnerable to things that you cannot control, even if you have a great draft, like, for instance, I'll use my own team this year where I am buried in the standings, where I drafted Ben Roethlisberger and Juju Smith Schuster and uh t y Hilton and x y Z. And you know, sometimes things don't work out. You know, Carson Wentz made perfect sense as a draft pick for me. My I'm just I never talked about your fantasy team,

but in this case, I'm honey. You know that you could pick a great team in August and you could supplement it with pickups during the year, but it could really haunt you where you can't have a dominant team that you and I are different. The last time I participated, I dropped an absolute mega ton bomb on nine other haughty individuals who thought that they were all that I played under the guise of my wife's identity and absolutely obliterated the competition. That was five years ago. I've not

touched it since. I was gonna say do it again. Well, no, because then my then my theory would be blown to bits. I'd come in seventh place. I don't actually think it. Almost always I'm in the playoffs in competitive and that is obviously the help because of all the NFL work we do. But you're not. You're not involved, invulnerable, You're just not. I would I you know when I when we did Fantasy West, but we would often say or I would at least, you know, the most important equation,

you know, part of fantasy is luck. It's just like gambling, Like sixty seventy of it is luck and the really good players you work on that other thirty percent, which over time gives you a pretty significant, you know, advantage. But in any one given season, forget about. Luck is mostly the thing. Also, one other thing we learned is that fantasy football analysts aren't really great at fantasy football, not all of them. Some are, some are good, some are bad. You can you can join an expert league

and win right away if you're good at fantasy football. UM. Can't wait for the hate tweets to roll in on this one. Wait, but I thought you just said it's a luck No, that's I think it's like I'm just saying that this camp over here is sort of standing on the fact that you draft Big Ben. Well, no, Big Jen is not someone I draft to begin with. Let's start right there. What are you up to yesterday? Fired out of a cannon right now? I don't know.

All right, it's gonna be an interesting show With Mark Sessler. We are at week twelve. The preview show. Tonight, Wes and Greg will be handling Thursday night football recap called Texans. After that we just did before we started to a lovely interview with Cynthia Freeland, the analytics expert UH and UM, you know, star of many NFL media programs, both on

the network and digital side. So we had a nice talk with her about how UM she's built her career and also how she uses her model as it's called UH to figure out what's going on in a league that's often difficult to figure out. I feel like it was one of those, you know, Marvel movie or some sort of thing where you introduce a new character to the audience. Has got like a guest role today, but it's just it's a promise of future appearances to come.

It's like, here's here's Cynthia Freeland you guys are gonna get used to her. Now get ready for her model and her computer to take over your life at some point. Skynet baby, That's that's what um alright. So, as we always do, it's a draft, it's a snake draft, and Greg, you have the first overall pick. Uh this week we have we have a thirteen games to get to. Uh, so let's do it. M hmmm, fourteen games. Excuse me? I really wish I had, uh, you know, known that

going in. No. UM, let's common theme here, like, let's go Seahawks Eagles ten am on Sunday, that first big slate of games. Want to make sure I'm watching a fun one, and I'm fascinated to see this Seahawks team coming off of by and an Eagles team that you know desperately needs a win. And if they don't have Lane Johnson, who has missed practiced now for the first uh two days of this week, which usually is a

pretty bad side if you're coming off a concussion. I do worry about them because to me, that was their identity running the ball on the right side of their offensive line, you know, turning into a run first team, which I don't think it is the worst strategy against the Seahawks defense, which has been having some holes. If he's out that that's where Jenevan Clowney's gonna be lining up a lot of the time. He'll be on both sides.

Jason Peters isn't a hundred percent either, and Clowney as after that performance, they just he's turned into one of the most fascinating players in the league to watch snap to snap. Oh yeah, I don't know about this Eagles offense's. Is this the worst wide receiver corps in the league. I think when they're banged up. Yes, they have the second most drops and we heard Romo last week called Miles Sanders special, called him outstanding. Why are they not

making him the focal point of this offense? If the receivers are so bad and he's so good, it's a good question. I mean, I I feel like the Eagles right now. They do have the Dolphins, Giants and Redskins after this game, But if you want to be taken seriously in the NFC at home, I need to see them put up a fight because they have been one

of the more lackluster dullard teams. And I totally agree that Clowney in a season of trades that have worked for good teams like Minka Fitzpatrick, Marcus Peters, Laramie Tunsil Clowne. He's right at the top of the list with those guys because he has fit right into a Seahawks defense that is not great at all by but they've got some players that have been They got some pass rush going against the Niners last week. I just trust this team to go anywhere in the country and be there

in the fourth quarter and win. And I think they're gonna take care of the Eagles. I mean they If I'm a Seahawks fan, I'm so excited about that performance defensively because that was their best defensive game of the season, and so can that carry over Because if this defense turns into a Peak Carroll type defense, which is at least closer to being a top ten defense, then watch out. This team has a really good chance to win a

Super Bowl. And one of the things that was different that week was their addition of Quandary Diggs, who had a great game. And now their safety position, which has been a problem for much of the year, maybe is solidified with quadri Digs and McDougald together, who is now healthy again, and it's like, Okay, you're starting to fix some of the problems you had. But they the the defense worth talking about this game is Philadelphia's, which is the best in the NFL over the last three weeks,

enforcing punts consistently. Almost every possession, they're forcing punts. This defense has been turned around, and I really think they're not gonna lose two games in a row at home. I really I like the Eagles in this interesting way that is that's very interesting. I mean, what do you see Because you could make this statement and you were

just saying Eagles one point favorites. I think you were just saying that the uh, the wide receiver groups as bad as you get the feeling that this offense might be a little busted. I worry about their ability to score points against the Seahawks, and really anybody at this stage I agree. I think it'll be a low scoring game. But I think that the Eagles defense is the best unit in this game. Every week Carson Wentz gets the ball at the end of the game, and that it's

become like a trope in Philadelphia. Now, it's like, well, here's Carson Wentz's chance to make a signature drive, like he needs that signature drive, like we need that holds onto the brake, and they haven't. They haven't had that moment. Whereas the Seahawks, like every week is the signature drive. They don't know how to do anything but win close

games in the fourth quarter. That's all they do. I just say conversely, the Seahawks, who keep losing tight ends, for instance, turned Jacob Hollister in to a star player over the cause. I feel like Dan could go into the Seahawks offense and put up an eight line without any issues. And then you know, Josh Gordon showed up at the end of that Niners game and could be a factor for that team. They're adding these players at the right time. I I trust the Seahawks until they

show me that they should not be trust. Tyler Lockett is uncertain for this game. Pete Carroll believes he will play, but Pete Carroll has been overly optimistic about players before. He didn't practice Wednesday. That's huge because, as West mentioned, it is a different Eagles defense since they've gotten Jurnagain back, they're better upfront, and then Ronald their cornerbacks are healthy, Mills and Darby and Darby especially played really well last

week against the Patriots. Alright, uh, I thought about locking up the Seahawks. There, go for it. Kind of talk me out of it. I should do it together. I mean, don't listen. No, they were on different sides of the defenser. Don't listen to the guy that's four and seven. Let letting you talk. I'm gonna six game streak. Mark. What about the idea that the Eagles, even though they've been kind of on and off this season, they have a couple like out of nowhere big wins at Green Bay

at Buffalo as another one coming. I I said that the Eagles would open six and oh, and I thought they were the most complete team in the NFC, and they just have been very underwhelming. I think that they're unpredictable and untrustworthy. It's a it's a weird lock. But if you and I went down Seahawks lock Boulevard, the one thing I say is, I just don't care if the Seahawks are on the road. I don't care if you put them in the middle of Russia. Out. Let's

lock it up. Let's double lock up. There another double lock that. I feel like that is becoming a theme of the season, and it's nice. I think it's a nice thing. We're gonna win, all right, Next up, West, you have the second overall pick, West, who every time he would play in an expert league would come out with a W every time. First and the title. It's gonna a lot of part of fantasy. I'm gonna let

that stand as the narrative because it's true. So, yes, we we got those those flat screens West from that I won, the league, got a flat screen. West took over the spot. The road spot got a flat screen. Still have it? You got the hardware, You're winning prizes, expensive valuable prizes. What do you get for winning it every year? Or winning it once? They won? You just had to keep passing it along the line to new road to World people because the road World people kept

winning it. No, it was not a violation of company policy at road World where they didn't have rules. All right, West, you're up. I'm a little flam mixed, a little non plushed by Greg bypassing cowboys at Patriots. And the only explanation I have for it is that he's afraid of the cowboys. And does not want to watch the Patriots losing this game. You gotta learn how this game works, the picking the There's only two games in the afternoon, so it does. I'm gonna be watching it regardless. That's

how you know. You gotta play the game in good faith though. That's all Okay, no, no, no, I'm saying it is. Just My point is there's a way to tritchy. I want to make sure I have the ten am games that I want because ultimately I'll work it that I'm covering this game. I miss red, Greg. He has a lot of confidence in his quarterback, who has a lower touchdown to interception ratio and passer rating than Mitchell Trabiskie and Mason Rudolph over the last seven games. Seven games.

That is quite a sample size, Greg Rosenthal, and I don't think Brady is the problem. I think he's playing fine. I think it's everything else around him. Last last week, I think he was part of the problem. But that would be the first time I thought that all year that I think he had a really poor I think weather played more into that than we could see on TV, and I was I was thinking, Okay, this week, you know, maybe you get healthier, you do get Isaiah win back.

He's going to be activated left tackle. Uh yeah, Isaiah Munus And that's fine. It's not really the past protection that's totally killed them. It's the running game. And to me, Burkehead is not an asset, and they need to get Sony Michelle going because he's the only one that can make people miss maybe on a running down, but the line. You know, your boy, Dante Scarnecki is having a tough year with some of these injuries that they've had, and they haven't been able to overcome it. In theory, this

should be a matchup. Maybe you can run the ball a little bit. If I'm the Cowboys, I would be a little concerned that I saw both Scarborough and Jeff drisk Will be able to run it so well, especially Scarborough in the red zone. And I think what Tom Brady said about wanting to play to their defense, you need to have a running game for that. I mean you need if you want to have some longer drives like they are to one dimensional. I'm not saying that's

everything they've gotten by with this. Okay running games over the years, but their thirtieth in the league and yards per carry and it's just it's hard to watch that they can't survive these second and eleven's third in in in Nines because they don't have guys on the outside who can catch and fillip their setser and Mohammed Sanu hurt his ankle that looked like a pretty serious ankle injury.

I do not expect him to play multiple I mean, you're right, the Patriot, it's and you've been harping on this and I just naturally, because of we've been watching New England do this forever. I just expended expecting to round out and get through whatever known on paper issues

they have. But their last four games on the ground seventy four, seventy nine, seventy four and seventy four yards, and it looks that way they they even the past, have been able at this time of year to start to pound on teams with a hundred and sixty a hundred and eighty two hundred yard performances where they dominate the time of possession, they dominate the clock, and I think that's obviously led to some of Tom Brady's issues.

And you know, we can always point to Tom Brady is the guy unlike Peyton Manning back in the early two thousands that had no talent around him and still made it work. You get to a point where they their roster and their injuries and the depletion around him is is gonna put too much pressure on him to make plays that he's not making right now. Statistically, I think they can still turn it around though. And this yeah, I'm not sure if the Cowboys are an easy matchup

or hard matchup on paper. You know there there, Look, they look pretty good up front to me. They certainly have a lot of talent. Defensively, it's really on their defense. The Patriots are fighting ways to win games. I do think they can get better offensively, but their defense, who we've talked a lot about this year, They're gonna be tested here in the span of five weeks, they play the Ravens, the Cowboys in the Chiefs. For my money,

those are the three best offenses in the league. Kyle Vannoy is their best player up front, which is wild on. On a defense this good, they're gonna have to find a way to get pressure on Dak Prescott because there's just so many weapons. I I always trust offense in the NFL, not defense. That's why I don't I don't feel great about this game, at least not them as

a heavy favorite. If you figure what Belichick usually does, I would imagine he puts Gilmore on Gallop and double teams of Marie Cooper and then says, beat me with Randall Cobb and Jason Witten. Sounds that sounds about right. Well, Zeke Elliott might beat you because you're getting up like five point two yards per carry. I think that is probably the risk they would take. You gotta try to

stop this Cowboys passing attack. And I'm not saying Zeke looks bad, but he led the NFL and yards per game in his first season, is a rookie as a in his second season and in his third season, and he's nowhere nearer that this season. Second level, they're not as good a running team. They're they're a good running team. They're fine, but they're not what they used to be. And the Patriots at home, they have four held teams to fourteen points or fewer in seventh straight and it's

that is legite not going to happen. I'm not sure. I mean, I I'm with you that this is a tougher matchup the most. But what they've done to quarterbacks four touchdowns to nineteen picks this season, and their defense is not the defense earlier in the year that was scoring points left and right. But I love the matchup of Kellen Moore verse, not Bill Belichick, but Kellen Moore

versus Steve Belichick. This is the future of the NFL coming at us right, more vers there you go more Verse the moment, perhaps it's perhaps it's an injury, but why are we in week twelve and Zeke Elliott is still not Why is he not making people miss? Like? What what's changed right now? I don't know. That's a

good question. I don't think he looks as explosive. I also think some of those linemen are not blocking a ty Tyrant Smith find as a pass blocker according to ProFootball Focus, not having a good run blocking, and he's not healthy either. Trey Flowers really beat him pretty good last week. And Lyle Collins is questionable for this game,

which I think is big for the Cowboys. Yeah, last week, watching the game, I thought you gotta keep Pollard in there because you can do a few things that Zeke can't, absolutely including make people miss that easily in the open field. That is a great backfield, But you gotta keep Pollard in the mix. That see money right now. That had to be one of the takeaways from last week's Cowboys game, as Pollard is underutilized. Moving on, I am going to go with a game in the NFC South, a Dirt

Knapp game for one team. They gotta win the game, and it's a really tough assignment because they got the Saints. So it's the Panthers and Saints, um matchup between were the best young running backs in the league. Oh, that was the other mistake I made. You know, in hindsight it's a mistake, but picking third, I took Alvin Kamara, picking fourth Christian McCaffrey. One guy has a high ankle sprain, doesn't do anything all year. The other guy can't. Can't

beat yourself up for that one. If you got the Alvin Kamara of last week starting a week one till now, it would have been exactly He's back for the money time of the fantasy season. Um. Anyway, so you got Kamara versus McCaffrey. The problem, I guess is Drew Brees is against Kyle Allen. If you're a Panthers fan, and Kyle Allen is coming off um a game where he was not competitive. It was a twenty nine three loss to the Falcons. And I know Atlanta's revitalized on defense magically,

almost suspiciously over the last two weeks. But you you wonder if if Kyle Allen this version, this slumping version of Kyle and Allen. Remember it wasn't so long ago we saw him in London. They had won five of six. He little juice to him. Maybe he wasn't, you know, playing extremely well, but he was part of a winning team. Do they have it in them to go to the

Superdome and keep their season alive against the Saints? Team eight and two got back on track a little bit last week, uh in Tampa thanks to Jamis Winston a lot of help from him in that game. UH So, I think this could be a good game because one team is very desperate. Uh And we'll see how it plays out. I don't think they can the Panthers, to answer your question, because the Saints are superior in the ways, uh, like on the offensive line and the toughness of their

defense and even rushing the passer. I would say that the Panthers used to be better than the Saints. These two teams have played a lot of good games over the years. They played in the playoffs a few years ago, and that was the Panther's edge was they were a little tougher, they could protect pretty well. And now it's

the Saints. To me that Okay, Breeze throws those sideline creepers that uh that West said, and I gotta I gotta give West credit because there were a couple last week that back to back outs that he threw to the opposite halts that you were like, oh wow, I mean that was interesting. Uh. And they didn't try anything like that the rest of we But it sort of doesn't matter. They they have turned the ball over less than any team in the league. They have a great

offensive line. They now got Kamara running in full flow. It's a very complete team. I'm not that worried about breeze arm strength because I think it's just a really good team so much more completely. I throw in Jared Cooked. Two looked healthy and athletic last week and they needed they needed that. And you know, they've gone through this stretch with a with Kamara not at full strength, without Jared Cook without Drew Brees. They're getting healthy at the

right time. And they when they went up twenty nothing on the Bucks last week. I mean, there's a lot of Tampa Bay issues going on there, but to me, I that was the Saints team I've been waiting to see all year and you have. I don't if Carolina wins this and you're I think teams are getting more and more tape on the quarterback there, and and that's different than when he was making his second or third start.

They're learning about how to get to him and how to deal with You know, if you're Christian McCaffrey is their entire offense, and if you can if you can keep that in check, you're good. I don't want to see any more Curtis Samuel breakout articles next offseason. I'm done with the Curtis Samuel break out. How come d J. Moore can get a hundred yards every week with Kyle Allen at quarterback, but Curtis Samuel hasn't gotten a hundred yards in a game all season. Well, mars a more complete,

solid receiver. He's the guy that you know, Steve Smith said, reminds me of me. Uh and he's I don't know if he's a top ten in the NFL receiver at any point, but he's a really good about runner and a solid starting receiver. He makes more sense to me as a true number one type of guy for them, And and David Tepper says he doesn't want to do with mediocrity. This isn't mediocrity there five and five, But they're twenty seven in d v O A. They're down there with the dregs of the league. It's not a

special defense. And to you know, to defend Allen a little bit, it's like Greg Little. They put back in the lineup last week and left tackle and he just got destroyed. I think They're line has struggled, and sometimes that is partly on the quarterback, Like I think Donald's ruggles some of this year at least like a little bit on because when you're that young, you're not used to being able to set protections and do all these sorts of things that a veteran like Cam Newton could do,

and you don't. You just don't even expect a second year guy like Alan or Donald to be experts at doing at this point, Uh, did we fork the Panthers on two yeah with with without looking back, no no concerns. They go and Mark, you're up all right? Well, uh, I'm gonna just say this and you can disagree with me. This slate of games this week is I feel like the first time we've hit a point where there is not a lot of hotness to choose from. Some of

these are matchups between two teams. All the good ones are in the prime time games are great. I think there's some time there are five great games for once, but that means that there's a lot of well they've

been picked at this point. So I I'm gonna go where my heart is, and it's you know, we talked about another team right on the edge of existence and potentially close to extension extinction if they don't make it happy, and is the Browns at home against Miami, and I what I want to see is how they respond to obviously a Steelers game full of tumult full of chaos, and what came out of it was the tipping point.

And I've expected this in many ways, and it's not everyone, but for those who wanted to just finally unleash on the Browns experience of this season for multiple reasons. The Miles Garrett scenario at the end of Thursday Night Football, which was a total circus, gave you full right to because this is a team that the B line and I look at the Dolphins and the Browns is very different in a couple of ways. The Dolphins, you can look at them the first couple of months and say

they were an absolute mess. You look at the last month. They are disciplined. The Browns are not disciplined. The Dolphins do not kill themselves with penalties. The Browns have been doing that up until a couple of weeks ago. I I truly wonder who the better coach in this game is because what I'm seeing week to week and having tracked the Dolphins, you know, just out of curiosity, is that Brian Flores is one thing they can build on

now that can change by next season. I just believe in that coach and Freddie Kitchen's week after week in game, I believe has been outdueled and their defense was dominant against a bad quarterback Mason Rudolph and again at Pittsburgh last week. What they had to do in this one is make up for the fact that you lost in the course of three hours, Miles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi your safety, Morgan Burnett and I realized this player is not valuable, and they made the decision on their own. But depth

of wide receiver in Antonio callaway. You've lost three core defenders who were starters and major contributors. Myles Garrett had a higher pressure rate than basically anyone in the league. I was doing more for Cleveland than almost any defensive player is doing for their own team. At this point,

he is a huge unmask double loss. And at this point you just take Nick Chubb and say we're gonna run you and use Kareem Hunt the wave in using him, and you attack Miami from start to finish on the ground. That's my guests, and I think it's gonna be a closer game than anyone in Cleveland would want, and they will take care of business. But they're not gonna win

games and blowouts. They're just not gonna do it. If we lowered the bar of the Texans when J. J. Watt went out, I feel like it's fair to do the same thing with the Browns. How important Garrett is to that defense, I'd say even more so, though, But it's not this game. The Dolphins have an XFL caliber offensive line, they are brutal, they are terrible, and all those players you mentioned the Browns missing, so now they're only five times as talented as as the Dolphins, and

they've not been living up to their drive. That's my issue with Cleveland. I don't care about the talent, they've not lived up to it outside of the running backs. But I understand what Mark saying, because if you have Garrett and Ogan job, this is a game that because of that defensive line, and because Fitzpatrick, even when it's going well, has to overcome so much. That's why I think he's really just played outstanding this year, even a game like last week. I mean, he this year is

a feather in his kid. He did what he could. You would just think the Browns would dominate it so much, kind of like they did against Pittsburgh. Then it almost doesn't matter what happens on offense, they'll get enough. Whereas now you're missing a couple of pieces. Could Fitzpatrick make up the plays and and make this one uncomfortable? I I respect Floris enough to think it can. He's he's he hasn't found many players to to hold onto for

next year. But one of them that he has his Nick need Him, an undrafted free agent rookie who since Week seven is tied for the number one cornerback in the NFL in Pro Football focuses ratings, And so how about the need Him Beckham matchup? That would be big time. One of them is not Calin Balage. I watched him, and I want a refund. I want to watch a real running back. Nine carries for nine yards. I believe this week he has a chance to set the all time record for yards per carry. No one over a

certain threshold, maybe it's a hundred. Uh has ever averaged under two yards per carry? Which is where he is at for the season, So he can make some history. Uh. And let's give a little credit to DeVante Parker after seven different making the leaps, uh, you know offseason tropes, he's finally made the leap in his sixth season. I believe Mark Walton was a big loss in their backfield when he's been did well. They needed to after what

happened last week. And then yeah that he had a domestic violence incident that he was connected to which led to his release. And I'm just seeing four hours ago posted on TMZ nfls Mark Walton bizarrely skips and sprints out of jail after battery arrests. So, uh, that's no something's going on there. And to be clear, we're taping this before we know the appeal. Uh answer on Ogan Job and Garrett, which the league plans to put down or notify everyone before this game, so they'll probably have

an answer for it on Friday. Maybe there's a chance oken Job plays. By the way, I think I thought open Jovis was held up, but they are waiting still. On Miles Garrett, I have been I am corrected. Let's do a little breaking news. As we were taping Myles Garrett, it's indefinite band has been upheld and Markue's pouncey of the Steelers had his reduced to two games. So little date. There you go, Uh, Mark, let's go through it. They have six games to play, they've won two in a row. There,

four and six. Just give me win or loss? You ready, home Miami at Pittsburgh. That game is gonna be crazy. Um loss? Okay? Five and seven home Cincinnati? Oh yeah, six and seven at Arizona win. I don't feel great about even in seven home Baltimore loss, seven and eight? Are you going against Cincinnati on the road win? Oh? Yeah, so eight and eight is what you say? Yeah, I don't think they're a playoff team with the way that they've gone through this season. That's not exactly going out

on a limb. All right, it's snakes to you. Where do I claim? Right? Just what I see? Uh wow? In another just a corner copy of excitement to pick from here. But I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna take the late Jacksonville at Tennessee game out and now you know what I'm good. Yeah, you guys are critical of my uh four pm? Anyways, go ahead, No, I mean, I hope that didn't step on your toes with that pick. But I'm interested in this, and you know this is low hanging fruit. But I want to see Nick Foles

and uh him progressing. You know, I thought about one thing is that to go through what Nick Foles went through, to suffer broken bones and come back and want everyone wanting him to light it up right away and be the super Bowl nick Foles on a team that he was with the Eagles that had the greatest you know, tight end duo in a while to play in the Super Bowl, and he's got nothing at that position right now.

They just lost Josh Oliver has been sent to I R. They've got nobody playing at that position, and D D. Westbrook is not expected. Well, he didn't practice Thursday, so he could be out. So it's Fules and DJ Shark. And what concerns me about the Jaguars is how they were absolutely run over stampeded last week to run defense two sixty four yards by the Colts. And now you got Derrick Henry and I just trust Tennessee's I will almost wanted to lock up the Titans, which I don't

think I've ever done on this show. But we have to lock a game. We do at some point you do. But I, I just this feels to me. If Tennessee wants to go flip flop win loss, win lost, if you at one point want to start to build some momentum, this is where you do with with Derrick Henry and you get the job done. And Ryan Tannehill has been more of a big play quarterback than we've really ever

seen from person number two in that position up the Titans. Yes, I I lost the lock on Titans Jaguars back in Week three, very different teams back then, Gardner Minshew and Marcus Mariota in a rainstorm that Jack's d had Jalen Ramsey back then, and although they didn't because he was sitting out right, who knows. I think they really miss

even as much as Jalen Ramsey Telvin Smith. Uh, that's part of like the read like their linebacker core has been totally victimized in the running game and sometimes in the passing He Miles Jack is a guy who they believe in as a core guy who's not having his best season, and maybe it's partly because he doesn't have his tag team partner Telvin Smith, he retired out of nowhere, who just made so many plays in pursuit for that team. And you're right there. Their defense just isn't it's not

even it's an average defense. And it's just another reminder it's tough to build around epic defenses because who have been the most epic defenses in the last few years. Jaguars in seventeen, Bears in eighteen. You know, those those were one time thing. It's so hard to ruin it back the next right, they ran it back that as good and then now they're just now, they're just back to kind of normal. Even when the Jaguars had Telvin Smith and they were the best defense in the league,

they had issues with the Titans. The eight and eight, nine and seven Titans whatever they were, would go in and beat sweep them when they were at their best. And I think that Derrick Henry is gonna be a handful for this defense, which allows I believe, five point three yards per carry on the season. One the reason Henry where Henry went off. Henry's had a good year, and uh, I think they lean on him now more

than ever. They don't even play Deon Lewis barely. And one of the reasons why I worry about Nick Foles keeping up in a shootout is just Cam Robinson and Joan Taylor. Their two tackles are ranked fifty two and sixty nine out of about eighty, you know, tackles, So that's what that's also one of the worst tackle groups

in the league. And if you wanted to make an argument for Minshew, it's it's Foals getting hit last week, which he did quite a bit, just kind of standing there and it reminded me of that kind of trope where people are always like those running quarterbacks. You know it's a risky they're gonna get hurt at some point. It's just like guys who get hit hard a lot

are the guys who get hurt. And it's like, now there's no rule to it, because like Tom Brady doesn't get hit because he gets rid of the ball or he moves. Peyton Manning was good at that. The guys like foals who have no mobility but stand there and choke some courage but then just get destroyed. I mean, that's one way to get hit hurt too. Derrick Henry feels underrated. He is since last December he leads the league in rushing and touchdowns. He's also I believe set

to be a free agent. Seems like a guy that the Titans up. There's some Leonard four Nette to his game, where the script has to be to his liking in order for him to dominate, and he can disappear for long stretches of time. Better version than of four net though he's shown. Um all right to the old Zeuser Raiders at Jets is my pick easy for a couple of reasons. Um, I do want to see the Raiders in a trap game once. The last time the Raiders have been in a trap game two two. It was

week fifteen of two thousand two. The Raiders were in the trap. No they it's been it feels like it's been a minute and uh last week. That may actually be the case, unless you go back to the playoff year from a couple and they play the Bengals last week, if you wanted to make a case for that. But a trap game and you're looking ahead to the next opponent, that's good. Isn't that what a trap game is? Well, I view a trap game, is you, Yeah, you look at they would look past the Jets. I mean the

Bengals slung around that. It's just like a game you're expected to win, but this much more dangerous because the Jets actually have a quarterback and it's on the road. Alright, So here we are here, here are the Raiders. Yeah, coming off a game against Cincinnati. Cincinnati gave up more points than anyone in the league on a weekly basis, and somehow at home, the Raiders scored seventeen and squeaked

by UM. And I wonder what that's about, um, Because as good as a story as the Raiders are are they a team that could be vulnerable to I know they're six and four, um, but on the road against a Jets team that is by no means a good team but has shown flashes of confidence. And they're coming off back to back wins off teams that are combined three and seventeen, So that's important to keep in mind.

But also, um, it seems like we're starting to get some actual progress on the offensive side of the ball. Their offensive line has been better. Ryan Khalil to two big swings and missus by Joe Douglas, which I don't kill him for because he kind of had to hit the ground running and improvised to try to find ways to improve the line, and neither move worked. Colletchi assembly didn't work at guard and then it led to behind the scenes drama about an injury and he eventually was released.

Matt Khalil. They gave him eight million dollars, said we need a veteran center to stabilize the line and also work with our young quarterback. And on paper again and and logically it was like, oh, this is a good move, this was a smart It was a disaster. Not only was Khalil Uh not close to the player he was UH with the Panthers. Apparently his his style of play

in his the way he goes about the position. UH led to some confusion and was part of the reason why that line seems so out of sync is what we're hearing coming out of the Jets. So Jonathan Harrison has replaced him at center. So there's some stability now UH on that line, which should help again against the Raiders. Max Crosby as a guy to look out for it. You want to talk about this the baby Raiders man every week It's it sounds like a tired storyline, but

it keeps happening every week. These guys come out and have big games. And Max Crosby had four sacks last week. He had a huge Thursday night game the week before UH. In terms of pressures. UH. He is a rising guy and just another example of what Mike Mayock and John Gruden have been able to do building a young core

very quickly. I feel like that's the difference between like the Raiders and the Jets is having a rookie class come in on both sides of the ball and stay you know, outside of the safety, stay healthy, and contribute every one of them. They what would the Raiders be without Josh Jacobs right now? I mean they they They are leaning on these guys and they're contributing. He runs downhill like the field is tilted. I get more impressed

with him. Every week there's six and one in one score games the Raiders, which means they haven't won a single game all year UH by more than eight points, which to me is a sign of a team that's you know, had the right schedule and has learned how to win close games, but is beatable, that has had some good fortune. And I do think this is the trap game. I picked the Jets uh in my game Picks column because I don't think the Raiders have much

of a pass rush. I think if you've got a pass rush, I just don't trust this Jets offense to do anything. But I don't think the Raiders really do. I think Crosby has been really good, but he's not gonna keep me up at night. He did a lot of his damage against one of the worst tackles in the league last week, and it was nice to seem Sam Donald do Sam Donald things last week. A lot of beautiful throws. They got him on the move more,

they're throwing the ball short more. You know, it's less Robby Anderson, which is, you know, bad for him, he's having a terrible free agent uh contract a year if he was looking to get paid next year. Good for the community. But I just think it's is like a coin flip game. In the Raiders luck is, uh is they don't feel like a team that's gonna like win

every single week. It's where don't I mean, I don't feel that good about typical trap game because next week the Raiders are at Kansas City, and think about that. If they don't, if they stumble and get beat by the Jets, they're staring at six and six, uh potentially if they don't um stage a big win on the road in Kansas City. So this is a big They did a nice job. They had that home stand out of that long, long, long road trip, and they swept

the homestand against Lions, Chargers Bengals. But now this will be a real challenge, well know, three weeks from now, whether the Raiders are a team that you know could make suse I would say this flip forget. On the other side of the trap game is the Jets, who are probably in the wrong division because they just went three and one against the NFC East, But you could change the vibe of a season that's gotten pretty dark

at times if the Jets knockout Oakland. I'm not saying that there are answers here or that you necessarily want the coach to stick around and outa casee. But if they can pick up from here, and the Raiders have been one of the teams that have given up more twenty plus completion yards and forty plus you can you can strike on them through the air. Would be a three game winning and by the way, after that, they go at Cincinnati whole Miami, So yes, everything changed. The

whole narrative around this Jet season changes. If they win against Oakland's would make me lock them up like I'm that this week? Well oh yeah, let's I want to see if if this game shows us exactly why Levian Bell did not get traded, did not get the paid a he thought he was gonna get because Josh Jacobs is so much better than him. I don't know if there's a more boring running back in the league to watch right now than Levion Bell. A lot of three yard runs a year. There's just doesn't have a yard

run uh this year. I mean you're right when you when you saw Billy Powell and last week you're like that a little extra Josh Adams gotta gotta carry and I think it was called back on penalty, but he shot out of a cannon compared to Levy on Bill. Alright, moving on, it is now time for Chris Wesley to make a selection. I'm gonna go with the Broncos at the Bills. Broncos at the Bill. Fun game. It could be a fun game, and the Bills might be right

for the picking. I liked how well they played last week, but they are riding so high, beating a bad team to a pulp, talking about comparing it to a Thanksgiving feast. That's how much we ate out there today against the Dolphins. Give me a break, Bills. That's the that's the only offensive line that could make your defensive line look good. Oh wow. And they were talking up this Tremaine Edwin's speech speech and I like a second year linebacker kind

of you know, stepping into a leadership role. But after the game they were talking about it like it was you know, it was new Rockney or something. Uh, yeah, you're playing the Dolphins, like if they if they beat the Broncos. I mean, it's the best team they've beaten. Is this the best team they've beaten all year? I don't know. I guess they beat the Titans. The Titans would be the best team they do. And I I expect the Bills to win at home, but I just

don't think it'll be easy. I think the I think these teams are much closer than their records would suggest they are. I think Denver's offense. So we've all seen this and talked about it over the last couple of weeks. Their parts are starting to play the way that you would have hoped with Philip Lindsay, Cortland, Sutton has been awesome obviously. Noah font finally has woken up and had

big plays. You know, this is a tough game for the Bills and they've only crossed thirty points twice all year, and it's to the Dolphins built times, to your to your point right there, and you just can't trust them. Yeah, they had long touchdown drives last week and it's really the only time all season where you could count on them to score touchdowns versus field goals. But the Broncos can make this tough. I could see this being like

sixteen to thirteen. Buffalo ekes it out, and Stephen House has not exactly been an ace in the whole either. I like the aggressiveness though. Two things that the Bill's coaching staff did, which is just they blitz a lot more. They're not getting much pass rush pressure, and you have such a good veteran secondary get creative, which I think you can do against Brandon Allen in a in a

pretty bad offensive line. And then more importantly, I think they leaned into Josh Allen's running nobility a little more elastic. That's what he does best, and he sells the hell out of a fake. You know, I'm always killing Josh Allen, but man, he is one of the best that those run action plays where the defense gets confused because he's so great at faking it. He's very good at running. That's why they're so good in the red zone. It's like, that's what he does the best. Just lean into it.

Let him be Cam Newton, you know, not right, label was creative, Like that's when they've been at their most fun, and that's when I'd be the most afraid of them is when they're running him as much as possible. Sixteen of their twenty two first downs came by his arm or his legs. He was sort of a one man gang. I mean, John Browne had a great game too, but

that was Devin Singletary's worst game, I think. And he's playing snaps and I think four straight weeks, which means Frank Gore has used, like Greg said, only in short yardage unsolicited advice to the Bills. They bought themselves a nice little bit of rope here with the seven and three start. Win this game, get the eight and three because it closes out pretty tough at Dallas home, Baltimore

at Pittsburgh at New England home Jets. Get yourself that eighth win and give yourself a little bit of wiggle room if things get hairy in December. I think it's a big week for the a f C wild Card race because of that. The Bills and the Raiders both in spots where if they don't win this week where they're favored, then that they could really fall off the map. And team like teams like Mars Brown's rise up. Who knows, maybe the Jets do it with that. We talked about

potentially forking the Browns. They're not dead yet. Like wait, I thought you just said there eight and eighth this year. Yeah, but that's a month plus from now. That's not forking them yet. And I, by the way, I could either for either. Well, what a lucky guy I am. I've got the best team in football still on the door. It's the Atlanta Falcons at home that I can here about this. Well, technically we haven't gotten to it. We haven't gotten to the first ones. That was Dan, that's

on you. You just look sleepy. When I looked over to you. Dan immediately name drops the producer. I'm just in the comments section. Oh, what's going on over there? Let's let's take a quick pause, Greg to check in with the comments. This is streaming live on YouTube. Get excited. Yeah, someone said I lock up Greg giving a hot take and then backing out of locking it up, and they were correct. WHOA, what do you mean? No? I mean, how is that that's not a hot time. I'm just

saying they're gonna win a game. He doesn't mean you could? Was that? Nick Wesley also trying to get right up the you know they want a lock so bad. They want a spicy lock. Here we go. How about let's go down to lock up the Falcons. You know I was doing that the whole time. When you can lock up a three and seven team, you gotta do it every time. Twice on Sunday. The Falcons have a plus sixty scoring differential since halftime of the Seahawks game to

half weeks ago. How about that. I don't think they'll necessarily keep that up, but I do like the matchup against as the fantasy heads would say, a pass funnel as strong as the Bucks, which is like you've gotta you've gotta running. You know, great run defense, but terrible passing. That's a pass funnel. Oh you want to invite Matt Ryan to throw the ball fifty times? I love it. I wanted to make sure Julio Jones is playing in this game. He did return to practice on Thursday. That's huge.

They still without Austin Hooper, which worries me, but I do think they're just a much more complete team than the Bucks. Maybe they're not gonna dominate defensively the rest of the year, but I do think Matt Ryan and the offense is gonna be really good, and they're going up against Jameis Winston and they'll get pressure on him. And I think the most disappointing thing as a Winston fan, based on what I thought about him as a rookie, is his pocket presence. As West would put it, he

called him a gangly giraft back there. I thought his pocket presence was kind of one of his strengths because on some place he does have that great movement where he buys time for himself. But I think as he's gotten more mature in the league, he seems more frenetic, uh, and that skill set has gotten worse. And I think that's not gonna work. Mark that. I mean no disrespect. You know I love you. I'm jumping out of our lock and I'm jumping over to Falcons Nation. I'm I'm excited.

I want it. I love this game for the Falcons. And you know what, you know what else he needs to be known right here? He's going for a double lock. Wait, no, that's not a thing. What needs to be remembered here, Not only there is the Atlanta Falcons defense. Now West bears some people, Um, Jamison Winston is coming up on a very Uh, sobering century milestone. He has ninety eight

turnovers in less than five seasons. He's gonna set that mark in the building where you can get a hot dog and a beer for five bucks in the in the modern risk averse NFL, it's hard to have that many turnovers, uh, and not get bench. They've had endless um faith in Winston to turn around. He just he's just so sloppy. And it's it's proven now that Bruce arians as respected as he is as an offensive he

couldn't fixed him either. One of my not looking too far ahead and we're in the middle of the seas still, but who is gonna buy in on Jameis Winson in the offseason? And what will they buy in him as as a backup quarterback or like the guy like A with a first round pick that's ultimately gonna be the guy. I would like to see him at some point with like A. I don't think he's the worst starter in the league. He's just he's closer to that. He does

make a lot of places. He's just they've given up twenties. Here's another record breaking day that they could have on Sunday. They've given up twenty seven points in eight straight games. They're only the third team ever to do that. They can break the record by giving up twenty seven on Sunday. That's what reminds me the Bucks. To me, they are production, not wins, points not wins. It's like you get you get these big numbers years in a row, and they

see to be the same thing. This year, you're getting pass rush, but it's not changing the game either. Went to your point on Winston, his eighteen picks are the second most by any player through ten games in over two decades. I mean he's killing them with his blackup pocket presence with you never keep your job this long to be able to throw thirty interceptions. It's it's got to be a couple of different factors in place to let it happen. And that could be where we like

his tenure, unless he does get benched. Uh finally, but who knows. If his tenure ends with a thirty interception season, it would be so fitting uh and the and two for the Bucks, as as bad as that is, and as the idea of oh my god, we invested so much time in this guy and believe them for there's no decision It's like, we're not gonna be on the fence about this guy anymore. It just didn't work and you gotta move on. You get a compensatory pick for him.

How about that one question, Greg about your Falcons as of week? Do you have more confidence in their defense or in an offense with no running game and no Austin Hooper. I would say the offense still because it's Matt Ryan and Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, trust that passing game, trust that quarter. And I never thought I'd be asking that question, but but here we are. Don't get them to what back out of this lock that is due? Feel really good? I felt conflicted about that one.

Are our lock? Mark this one? There weren't a lot of obvious ones on the board. I don't feel this isn't the safest one in the world. I'll agree with that Mark. Coming out of Sunday, people are gonna be talking about Brian Schottenheimer was getting head coach interviews after they wax the Eagles. All right, now we snake back. Oh yeah, and um, I really did not do a good job drafting. I take I take take it back, West. I should have just taken that Cowboys. Uh, I didn't

see whole that's your whole story. Yeah, I blew it because I'm taking because I didn't realize I'd be owned up with three ten am games and now I'm doing. Now I'm doing Assessler strategy and taking the worst game possible and that's Lions Redskins. And I'm sorry that Jeff Driscoll that I'm saying you're involved in the worst game possible because you know what, You've given me a little something. You've made these game passes experiences without Matthew Stafford enjoyable.

You made a lot of throws last week. Jeff Driscle made more quality throws last week than eight, ten, twelve starters out there in the NFL. So credit to him and Darryl Bevil And uh, I think Jeff Dristle is gonna get a win as a starting quarterback this week. Why not? You can move to ate some plays with his feet. Oh, he moved the Bengals moved him the wide receiver. At some point, he might be the most Scarborough.

He might be the most athletic quarterback other than Lamar Jackson, Hawk, Kyler Murray Hawk with you know Andrew Hawkins who does the game to have you show with me. Bengals player, the Bead mcgost players would just like rave about drifts call on the basketball court and just like everything insane thing that he was just like the best athlete on that. So he's the new Josh McCown. There you go. The Redskins have the worst home field advantage in the NFL.

Yes or no, Yeah, because you can get We have people telling us and tweeting and us saying that they're getting into the game for like thirty bucks. This is a you know, in whatever. But the Redskins feel like an operation that almost needs to be taken over by the Commissioner's office at this point. The same way, wasn't that a Milwaukee Brewers thing that happened way back when in baseball? Uh No, he was just the owner. He was, Yeah, well that was weird too, and finding nothing about baseball.

But they've done it, and I think they've done it in all the major sports at one time or another. It's a crisis bubbling up in so many different ways on the field, off the field, in terms of a great fan base that's been left by the side of the road like a dead corpse. I mean, come on, I would like to make a an apology to the Lions and their fans my theory that the line should be flexed out of Thanksgiving. People do not like that. It's unfair. Dave Feldman, uh, big social shadowy league figure

here um and fellow Peloton rider. He came after me really hard. He was not happy with me, and it was a similar Everyone that has been upset has the same thing. Don't take this from us. And then I thought to myself, the Lions, you know, sad franchise, my team, the Jets. What if the Jets got Thanksgiving? Would I

want that taken away? Now? I wouldn't. So I'm sorry and I and listen, would it be better if Would it be better if the Cowboys and Patriots, for example, this week we're playing on Thanksgiving like a game of that caliber. Yeah? Probably, But um, I understand traditions. So I'm sorry. There's no there's no jokes. I just I didn't mean to backhanded compliment. Well, I think you're your strategy. There are your comm initial comment and I got off Scott for because I strongly back to you and didn't

hear about it from anyone. But uh so I thank you for apologizing for both of us. But I thought that was earnest and well done. Yeah, thanks man, I know you mean it too, I do. I know you mean it. No, I like I'm I'm happy that the fans of Detroit have that. I know you mean it. Back to this game for a second. I think Haskins has replaced Mason Rudolph as the hardest quarterback to watch. He makes a couple of plays, though, but yeah, they at least I don't think he knows what he's doing

back there. They need a developmental league for guys like him because he is not ready to play in the NFL. This would be the week to get a win, though. Trey Flowers is hurt. He's been the only pass rush that they've had. He's played pretty well over the last month, and it looks like he's gonna miss the game. They're missing another starter up front, and I don't know this line's defense. You got Darius guys in there. Your boy Adrian Peterson, I don't know if he's ever gonna break that.

Walter Payton now he's not getting snaps and now he's hurt. You don't think they'll bring him back as a sometimes starter for next season two, and well, he's not done for this season. He's just gotta I mean, I think he entered the season three behind Peyton for the touchdown mark. It's not even first place. And I don't know if he's gotten a touchdown you this season. Maybe one. They might want to take that outside pitch out of the playbook.

He's not making anybody miss laterally, it's fair dog Lighten lines released tackle dance skipper. I want you guys to know that he came across my wire. Game changer. All right, up next, Chris westling Oh back to me. I'll take uh, I'll take my boy Mason Rudolf, who like, how many different ways can the We can West take the Broncos and Mason Rudolph every single week? Well, you guys are just gonna leave him out there. I mean, what did the other options take? M r Bisky? How about the West?

The guy on the roof, Um, he's still there. He needs that he needs that w to get off the roof in Cincinnati. I'm not see I'm so not plugged into this story. Everyone keeps sending me this guy. It's it's a copycat. This happened in with wild Man Walker who lived on a billboard for sixty one days. Wild Man Walker a famous local entertainer. This guy just some jamoke walker. It's happened a few times, stuff like it was a trope in very Yeah, late eighties, early nineties

attention Grabber West, usually for a radio promotion. Yeah. West sent me a photo um of wild men walk around the roof and he actually had a mailbox on the roof. I thought it was a really nice touch, with the lightful touching. You're right that that is commitment to the bit. And wild Man Walker was that kind of personality where he was from the roof. I believe he did well, what's the point endless hits up to the billboard in the business place he had, they had built like a

man cave up there for him. He was actually living on the billboard. It was amazing. So West, does he come off the roof? This guy whoever this jamoke is this chooch, this guy that's just taken off the wild Man Walker's angle. I don't think so, because because Ryan Finley's bad uh Bengals quarterback. I mean, he's as bad

as Mason Rudolph. Probably all their throws are scripted one read quick throws early in the game designed you know, this is what good coaches do, get the ball out of the rookie quarterback's hands, and those coaches don't go, those players don't go anywhere. He's off the mark on his checkdowns like it's it's a awful offense to watch. And I know Greg tweeted about this. They are Zach Taylor didn't really answer the question when they asked if

he's playing his best quarterback. He's certainly not playing his best quarterback, not even by a long shot. So I mean, I understand why they wanted to get a glimpse at him, but that's probably what like late December is for. What was his answer? So they asked him, does Ryan Finley give the team the best chance of winning? And his answer was, we wouldn't play Ryan if we didn't feel like he gave us a chance to win, which is,

you know, a clear non answers. It's not a bad answer, but it's of course he can't say that he is him the best chance to win because his players would know he's lying. I mean, of course Andy Dalton's better. I was willing to be surprised by Finley, but then he threw you know, under four yards per attempt against the Raiders, so that you know, Andy Dalton could have probably won that game if you wanted to. You know, really,

I think he would have too. And I've killed Dalton and I and it's a sort of a be careful what you wish for, because I've wanted to see someone else play quarterback. But I like quarterback switches, when you go from type of quarterback A to something drastically different and try to liven up an offense that they brought in Zach Taylor. You know, it couldn't be more of an opposite Sean McVeigh effect if you tried, because nothing's changed has gotten worse. He seems relatively powerless to me.

The team is so ultra lifeless and also looks no different than the same issues and the same cast of characters as last year. And I don't need Trent Green telling me thirty five times during the game that Joe Mixon's family all bought tickets and how great it is and how they believe in the Bengals. It's like, give

me a break. This team is going nowhere. So annoyed at Tred Green all last Sunday for Blow and Well, because they refused to even criticize an operation that is that is launchly saying we are not going to keep up with thirty one other teams. We're gonna do it our way, and it's gonna be a problem for if you're a fan of this. I don't think they're chanking.

I don't think they're trying to lose. But as upset as everyone was in September about Miami, I think playing a quarterback that's worse and maybe they do think that he could have had a future and you want to evaluate him and now is the time to find out,

or else you get the number one pick. It's kind of like win win if you're the Bengals, or I think that's a little more egregious that you're you're you're playing a guy that you pretty much know is not is going to hurt your team's chances of winning if you're not tanking, and we haven't heard that connected to Cincinnati, certainly not even close to the level of Miami. Uh, then it was just a huge mistake to bench Dalton

because you got well, I think they are. I think this guy's this head coach has to win a game. I mean, we're now they put themselves in position by putting this kid in the quarterback where they can potentially go own sixteen and that that sticks with the organization forever.

It's in its Cat Tarrell, who once covered the Bengals, suggested after I tweeted about it and now she covers the Saints doesn't does an awesome job on the athletic that it suggested to her just from the outside that he's the one not making that he's not the one making the decisions. That's the type of answer you make when you're not the one that making the decisions. And that made a lot of sense to me. And that goes back to why Chris Wesseling quit and on the

Bengals all those years ago and made that dossie. I give Brian Flora has a lot of credit for playing his best quarterback when the Redskins are not, the Bengals are not, the Steelers arguably are not. I mean, yeah, we gotta see a little more a Duck Hodges, but but but definitely, the Bengals and Redskins are not playing their best quarterbacks and the Dolphins are, um right, yeah, how many games and rude off by the way. Erase that stingfest that you made us watch last week, Missa Rudolph,

please the demon two and eight at the Bears. Ooh, this is a rough one. This one will not be getting a lot of love nationally, so I will try to do my best for our national podcast to give it the respect it deserves as a game that features professional football players giving it. They're all, um, Mr Rbiski has a hit pointer, but apparently he will be playing this week, looks like, so we'll see where that goes. Now.

Is the toothpaste out of the old container, as they say, the tube by taking him out of the game, um, because he could have I still think that something was still weird about all that. And they said, oh, he was injured, but the the intimate sideline exchange between Naggie and Trabiski and fact that you know he could have played for three more minutes of game time and survived. So I think there was some naggy dr Shall win

in on that. What did Shall say? I need to other quarterbacks with more egregious aches and pains played through them least so James and Mitchell Trobinsky. The injury occurred in the second quarter. Right, So Peggy's explanation made sense. He pulled Trabinsky once he saw the injury started to affect the quarterback's decision making. Okay, that made sense to me. All Right, well, let's hope it's better because if this hip pointer comes back, I guess he'll be taken out

of the game again with an injury. But I just wonder if if this is just the beginning of the end. We'll remember the Sunday night game and as kind of, oh, they are not going to get better with him. And this is just because that was kind of like a referendum game. I know they had the season had already kind of spun into a bad place already, but maybe they could have kind of gotten it back together in prime time and they didn't even come close. So I

think we're seeing the end of the Trabinsky era obviously. Uh. And then on the Giant side of it, there's been a lot of talk this. You know, we've had our disagreements with the injury stuff, Greg about whether you should say a guy should you know, rest a little bit longer that I am all anti this. Let's shut down se kuon Barkley for the rest of the year talk, because no one is saying that he's actually um still injured.

I don't know where that came from. That was just something that was being brought up a lot, I guess by the media and they were being asked it, and both side, both the head coach Pat Shermer and Sae Juan Barkley shot it down and said that we have no interest in in um shutting this thing down. So it will be interesting, I guess, to see how Barkley looks, because that has been one thing that's been missing from this season compared to last season, was how explosive and

exciting on a week by week basis. Sat kuon Barkley is maybe he gets back his mojo against the Bears. Bears defense that is good but not great. Sterling Shepherd is on act at least to return for this game. It's not official. He's gotten close before and then there was a setback, so we'll see. That would help Daniel Jones a lot. Uh. I don't I don't think it matters like picking this game, whether Trabiski plays or not, there's not much of a difference. They they're last in

the league and explosive plays. They're not using Alan Robinson nearly to the you know, full capability. Like Blake Bortles did a better job hooking up Allen Robinson with with big plays than than the Bears are doing. With that said, the Bears could be the ultimate false hope team because I still think they're the favorite in this game, and then they're on Thanksgiving Day against old Jeff Driscoll get

ready for that at nine thirty. Uh, and you know they're Bears are capable of losing any game, but they're probably favorites right now to go six, to get to six and six and still be just hanging around before the schedule gets very hard and then the bottom falls out. So in a in a painful season for Bears fan, I feel like they might tease them a little more over the next couple of weeks by beat a couple

of bad teams. My boldest note was this game makes me sad, because it does because it's it's you know, and the Giants. So the Giants, and we're probably looking at the final weeks of Patch Shermer and I I always felt like he was brought into carry forth the message of ELI and the ownership and do all that, and I'd also think that it's been a tough situation for him, and I don't I hope that doesn't happen

to him. Giants fans may disagree, but Matt Nagy, I mean, we are not too far removed from a last season and Andy Reid prior to last season singing long songs about the creativity and what Matt nig brings to offense no matter who the players are, and this has been one of the least interesting attacks in the league. And to look at the regression from last year to this, when you brought in Matt Nigi to light a spark under a Bears offense that was that fired the previous

coach because the offense was so boring. He was brought in to fix mr business. He won Coach of the Year doing it, and every cause of the defense, every single position. He was one of the best coaches in the league. It's Trabinsky was not one of them. Not fixed. The whole point is Nega did an amazing job creating opening every single position on this offense is worse than it was last year. It's one of the craziest I just think it's on Trabisky, though sometimes it's not on

the coach. I want to see him get a chance with the different quarterbacks. One of the craziest storylines of this week is when you saw it popped up. He was being asked, Naggie, are you going to give up play calling? This guy a year ago was being He's part of that, Sean McVeigh. The young coaches that are gifted with their offensive game planning. That just to me, in a nutshell is how awfully this season has gone.

That's why I don't need two weeks from now. Oh there's six and six and they're back in the shut it down. It's like this, I don't need the bear. It's they need an off They need an off season as much as any team out there right now. All right time now for Road to Victory, presented by the United States Marine Corp. I love our Marines are troops both here and abroad. Okay, the Packer the excuse me Packers, Yes,

oh man, the Green Bay Packers. They travel to the Big Ballot Bottom to face the Niners eight and two against nine and one. What else needs to be said? Chris Westling, This is has potential to be one of the games of the year. If the forty Niners have some semblance of health, sure, but I don't think they're the same team they were three or four weeks ago. When George George Kittle's not playing, Matt Breed is not playing,

Emmanuel Sanders is banged up. Um, Deebo Samuel has banged up in Deebo Samuel, I think you had eight for a hundred and back to back games, first time in franchise history. That guy was playing well, he's like a running back with the ball in his hands. I just like, who are the forty Niners? If all these guys are are out? Their defense has not been dominant for three straight weeks. I think the defense has been great, really,

I mean they're given up twenty five points a week now. Well, I mean against Seattle they basically didn't have up an offensive touchdown until late in the fourth quarter. This the Seahawks had twelve thirteen drives. They couldn't move the ball at all. That the turnovers are putting them in a bad spot there. They're not compare that when they were

giving up three, seven and zero. Right, They've they've stepped up in class in terms of opponent and the Cardinals, for whatever reason have played them well, but even the Cardinals have punted the ball a ton, and to me, it's been more on their offense. But I've got some news for you West. George Kittle and Deebo Samuel returned to practice Thursday wearing non contact jerseys, so it sounds like it's a baby step and they're neither one of

them is guaranteed to play. Emmanuel Sanders did play through that injury. Not you know, you didn't finish the game. But if you have those three guys on the field and Kittles, the key one Kittle, to me is is gronk because it not only kills their passing game, it kills their running games. You know, some some people were pointing out just how the tight ends that replaced Kittle doing well catching some passes, but have been blown up in their running game and they have not run the

ball very well. We haven't seen Green Bay in a ball because that there was that snow game before their bye week, and they two things. I thought their pass rush came back to life in that attack a little bit against Carolina, and they ran the ball well. They slashed Carolina's defense. And they're not the first or last team to do that, but that's a good formula for taking care of business against San Francisco. Will not be as easy to do that against the front of the

Niners defense. I know. Jimmy Garoppolo had a couple of turnovers UM, including the second pick pick, which was credit to the Niners defense for getting that three and out, because if they don't get a three and out, the game is over and the Cardinals have a huge win. And everyone's looking at both teams a lot differently, but credit to Um that stop and then Garoppolo making the big drive and beating the blitz the zero blitz at

the end for the touchdown to Wilson. So he's just been a lot more fun to watch UM for me the last few weeks, and I just wanted he's becoming a storyline to me, like not Kirk Cousins esk West, but kind like all right, let's figure out who Garoppolo is. Is he a kind of premier field general type guy. Is he below a Kirk Cousins type guy, Like where does he fit in? And we're starting to get, for the first time ever, an actual sample size of this guy because he's either been a backup to Tom Brady

or an injured quarterback. We're finally getting a collection of games that is lasting months upon months, and he's just kind of a fun guy to see develop. He's now started more games this year or equal than he did the entire rest of his career. I mean he's he's started the same amount of games as Donald. That's just where he is. And and I think you're right that he's getting better each week. And I give the four Niners a ton of credit if you think about what

they've lost throughout the year. It's not just this week. I mean they played without their tackles for a while. Remember Jerick McKinnon. I mean he was supposed to be part Remember Jason Barette, he was supposed to be part of it. Kwalan Alexander's long gone and Kelly with Witherspoon, their starting cornerbacks been in and out. Ronald Blair's on injured reserve. It's like d Ford's hurt. Deford's barely played and this team has battled through it to get to

nine and one. That's why I've been leaning Packers all week. And now this news that Kittle and Samuel are back at practice, I think they've been the better team for the most part this year because of all they've withstood. The Packers are the exact opposite, maybe the healthiest team in the NFL. Have had virtually no significant injuries in

the entire season, which is which is almost impossible. At least right now, all the guys on their team are healthy and they haven't lost anyone of real value for the whole season. I want to see how their defense plays in this game. We were down on their defense before the bye, uh before that Panthers game, and they were all right against the Panthers. But I I want to see in this game this defense played like they did in September and not in October and early November.

I don't know if we're getting that defense again. We'll see. I got some news for you guys. If the Packers do win this week and then moved to night and two, I think you're there the first seed in the NFC after this game at Giants home, Red Skins home Bears, as opposed to the forty Niners, who play three straight teams that currently have an eight and two record. The Ravens and the Saints are after them, and and there's a lot of these matchups. We also who's after that?

Say it? You could say it all the Falcons the toughest game on the schedule, yet I didn't even know that. And uh and we also have Seahawks forty. It's great that all these BY teams are all playing each other down the stretch, tasty Sunday night game. If you noticed that BY teams have not been playing well coming out of the By, especially the London ones. I think there's I think no one won coming out of there by after London. But if you look a lot of people

were tweeting. If you look at who some of those teams played, it wasn't like the we weren't crazy. Results were like suddenly an a f C title type team doesn't show Goodbye in general is overrated as like a positive factor. I mean, of course it gets you healthier, but there's no like stats over the years that say it makes you better. It's just you're just the same team when you come back. If you if you got to take a week vacation, everyone's like, oh, are you

were fresh now? It's like no, now, I just know that I want more vacations. You don't come back doing your job better, said you know who should have gotten a bye coming out of London. You're on the NFL podcast. Didn't happen, not gonna happen, did not happen. We have a bye coming up. We have a bye week schedule. That's what they want to hear from us. Uh. Next year they it's like, not only send us, Yeah, we're gonna take that next week off. Sorry, stay in London

for another week. And that was the road to victory presented by the United States Marine Corps supporting your troops. Uh. Finally, Monday Night football, the Baltimore Ravens eight and to travel to the Coliseum to face the Rams. So the Rams get back to back primetime games here Sunday night. Last week, got the win against the downtrodden not quite moribund, but down trodden Chicago of Bears. Uh, and now they get

the Ravens another game. I thought very hard Mark about locking up, because God, I mean, for who, what do you mean the team that wins every week and has the best quarterback in the league this season. I don't think you could look yourself in the mirror locking up the Ravens against the Rams. I agree with Mark on that. I go, I go by the Vegas test and no, I always go by the field goal to look in the mirror. Well, that would be controversial, but more per

I've always done it. I disagree just because because of that, Like we think it's so predictable. But there's a reason that you're like halfway on the Rams payroll. So there's a reason though, there's a reason why. Let's say, for instance, the Rams or the Ravens are not that heavily favored in this game, because the Rams are at home, and there are six and four team that has something going on to them, and it really wouldn't be that crazy to me to see the Rams and the Ravens in

the fourth quarter of this game. I know you can take every game apart like this and say the other team is a chance, right, because it's almost always true, So like we should just be able to lock every one. I say, if it's it's more than I would say this the Rams. The Rams are are the Ravens at this point, thirty thirty seven in a row. They had some issues at times. They are playing at the height of their powers right now, issuing death blows to teams

midway through the second quarter. And if you tell me. You look at Jared Goff at this point in the season and what happened against Chicago last week, and you give me Lamar Jackson, and which one of these two is changing the lives of every single person inside the organization and about to have two hundred people fitted for Super Bowl rings. That's much closer to Lamar Jackson than Jared Goff right now. And I hear you, Greg, it's in l A. But that doesn't feel like huge November.

I think is is the bigger thing. Not that the Ravens need to be worried about you. It's not like they need to play worse, but they're peaking right now and two months from now, you know, will they still be peeking. Teams change? And I think the Rams especially tried to change last week. It was against the Bears. You're not gonna go crazy, but I think they max protected. They changed the way they did some of their running game. The offensive line played well, they had a good game,

and they opened up some holes. And so if you're the Rams there now kind of it's funny. They were the eight team a year ago at this point when they were on Monday NFL. Now the Ravens are the team and the Rams to me, are kind of just trying to, you know, play to their defense and run the ball and not turn the ball over, and that's probably their best route of of winning this game. Robert Woods not in the building right now. Practice on He

returned Thursday. He returned Thursday. Brandon Cooks is going to play. Uh. Todd Gurley said, I guess I felt like the old Todd after the game, and I thought the first half was his best half of football all year. And then I went and watched Christian McCaffrey right after. Todd Gurley said, that's not the old Todd, Like, that's not the old Todd, because Christian McCaffrey looked like totally different player than than than two thousand nineteen Todd Gurley, So that guy's gone.

Can the guy that's in his place be productive he was last week? I think you have total yards? Like Greg said, they changed some things up. They went with Johnny Munt their third string tight end as as kind of a lead blocker on a lot of plays, which they never did in the past. So they were trying some new things and Gurley did look good, and they protected goffwell for maybe the first time all year, and

I don't know if that was what that said. Well, they barely passed for That's maybe not the worst idea ever. If if you're ahead in the game or competitive, how about a legit revenge game Marcus Peters revenge game. I think this is closer than some of the ones that have been tossed around as anyone who have employee play. I blew it because my favorite revenge game of the year was the one before. I'm still going to talk

about it. Kyle Sanahan, I mean, Matt Lafleur tried to hire Mike Lafleur, his brother over the We're back in the road. Let's get on the road. Give up the Marines. He tried to hire his brother. What a great story, Mike Lafleur. We're gonna be the la Fleur brothers and take over the Kyle Shannon said, Nope, I've got the best la Fleur. I know. Mike is better than Matt. He's the La Fleur I want. I'm keeping him in San Francisco, maybe even against his wishes. He's gonna be

my co ordainer. And now Matt Lafleur gets to commit trat side against his brother he's gonna kill him. I don't care. Hey, we have bits. Can we close out

this Rams Ravens thing with a what's more likely? Before we do that, can we just give Marcus Peters a little bit love for how how incredible he's been on this events, because that was another trade that didn't get that much pub when it happened, was like, oh, Marcus Peters, the Rams aren't gonna sign him anyway, the Ravens go get him and he's He's not been making Fitzpatrick great in the secondary, but he's been an impact player. Good teams stay good. Bad teams stay bad. Wes, Wow, this

one is kind of geared towards Mark Sessler. What's more likely? Wink Martindale wins Assistant Coach of the Year, Greg Roman wins Assistant Coach of the Year, another or John Harball wins NFL Head Coach of the years One. Well, I think two out of three is very possible. Assistant coach. There a voters. I don't know how if they ever went Wink Martindale and not Greg Roman and Lamar Jackson

pipes this up, there would be a revolt. Just this is someone I think Greg Roman has not had to reinvent himself, just that he was a hot commodity kind of vanished into the mist, and that was back with Lamar, a superpowered version of anything Colin Kaepernick would have ever given you times ten in Lamar Jackson and Greg Roman was ten, let's calm down. Colin Kaepernick took the league by arm for six games. It's not a Colin Kaepernick thing.

But I would say the reason that John Harbaugh deserves it is because John Harbaugh, unlike a lot of coaches, was able to look in the mirror and say let's change everything and have the boldness to do it. And the whole staff at least looked at Lamar Jackson had said he's a quarterback. I know there was the press release that like Greg enjoyed very much this week about uh, their former offensive aid. But Lamar Jackson is a quarterback and we're gonna roll with it when a bunch of

other teams didn't. And also, by the way, oh Joe Flacco, who we are all married to and the owner loves, is broken down at this point. He's gone. Har Jackson well, but he They always were backing Flacco and it took it took some guts that some head coaches don't have to make the changes they did last year and become electrifying, and then a full off season of saying this will never carry over, Lamar Jackson doesn't do enough. Well, everyone's gonna figure it out and bang there twice as powerful.

So give everyone coach a year, rum and hard Boswe Martindale. Martindale's defense is number one in UH efficiency according to Football Saider since Week seven, So since week seven they have the number one defense in the NFL and the number one offense. I have no idea how long assistant coach has been around that award, but no one's ever no team's ever swept this, right, that's impossible, not yet. I think it's only been around for a few years years.

I mean very important. This is very like. I want to say that the Ravens are playing incredibly right now, and perhaps we're getting caught up in the excitement of that that they they're so unstoppable and perfect right now. I would worry that they're peaking. Well maybe not, maybe they keep winning. That's finally, I totally hear what Greg and you were saying that it's not gonna go week after week after week here, But why are we starting

to diminish them? I would never do that. I think it's more common on like how awesome they are right now that you could have this conversation and you could say, oh, I pick all three of them, and West would agree, and that the Ravens are the talk of the league. Right well, how awesome are they? They beat Russell Wilson, Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson by double digits. Bang. To answer your question, Dan, the assistant Coach of the Year has been around for five years, and uh, the Bears

swept it last year. Next year, Naggy and Fonio. There you go right there, that's not special and uh, the first time it ever was an award. Sweet. It was also a sweep back in two thousand fourteen. Bruce Arians and your boy Todd Bowles. Wow for the two thousand four I would call it especially narrative driven. Well, it makes sense. The teams that have a great coaching staff, they you know, they get awards or they have a great year I mean assist and you go on to

become head coach typically too. Yeah, I think almost except for way to think you have to be a coordinator. No, because Scarneckia got some votes. You know there was a there was like a year of some dark course. You know SCARNECKI a buzz, but uh, I don't think beat bowls. When you got him to your New York Jets, they didn't and that didn't work out so well. Greg Roman is the prohibitive favorite right now, whereas I think for the Coach of the Year, Sean Payton would be right

up there for me with John Harbor. Um, all right, we will be back uh tonight, as I said, Colts Texans and then Cynthia Freeland. That's fun. And then on Sunday we will recap every game we just previewed. Here the wheel goes round and round. Stand hands to signing off for a quiet storm, the mailman, the old Boss, Ricky Hollywood, right on, Marlin, Christie Zack, who all is back there? Tell Sunday s