2020 Week 14 Preview

I used to tell you. I was telling you about the um gigantic sling shot that um some gentlemen used to use on a college campus where there were people sunbathing like four yards away, and you put the water balloons in it, and they were pelting uh parents on a parents weekend and people sunbathing with these balloons. So uh, totally factual. Drop right there by money, Thank you money. Somehow we ended up back in Mark's college experience again,

something we can't escape. Somehow. Yes, this is the Around the NFL Podcast, presented by the United States Marine Corps. I am Dan hans As, I am joined by You've already heard two great heroes, Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. What is up? Boys? I'm really into this Week fourteen Slate. I had to do an article on NFL dot com, the Debrief, looking at the ten biggest games the rest of the year. This slate, this week, the prime time games, it's the best prime time slate all year. But overall

it's the best group of games. That the next three weeks they're gonna be a little bit of a letdown compared to what Week four teen gives us. I mean, way to sell the rest of the season. There. I don't should I just fun I'm just saying this is it get ready? Like get ready? Well, this makes sense. We've done this long enough where when you get to a week fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, there's gonna be some dogs because the with each passing week, naturally more and more

teams are playing essentially looking ahead to one. That's just the way this works. But you're right, this has some really saucy games, Uh this week looking forward to it. We're gonna go through each one as we always do,

draft style. But before we get to the draft, let's get through the primetime games, because we've got a killer prime time slate, uh, starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills, and Mark, I don't want to say the Bills eclipse the Steelers after what we saw in week third team because that would be recency bias and

that wouldn't be fair. However, if there was ever a time not to catch the Bills, I feel like this is it for the Steelers because the Steelers are in a little bit of a funk, obviously come off their first loss, but have not played well the last couple of weeks, and the Bills just like looked like a world beating team um against the Niners with Josh Allen

just playing absolutely out of his mind. I think it's well said, and it's okay to have a little recency bias because you want to see teams peaking now, and that's that's the Buffalo Bills. To me. I just think that Sean McDermott um, he's just got this smooth leadership style. I look at Brian Dable and what he and Josh Allen did their mind melding right now. It's a mental machine.

And I think that Brian Dable heard all the flowery words for me and others about Kyle Shanahan before that Niners game, and he decided to conduct an orchestra of his own against the Niners. And I'm just watching Josh Allen in that game and in general, sort of just this complete calm, almost as if he's, you know, meditating in the middle of the forest. I think this is a team right now that is in sync and uh

I Pittsburgh is not right now. This is a Buffalo team that I think is peaking and at the right time. So I would be very concerned for the steel Um. I have another lot coming, but I feel very good about Buffalo. I think that you and I feel the same way. I don't know how Greg feels. I think it's a tough one. I do like the idea of Mark a Us suggesting that Brian Dable was thinking of going into San Francisco with a bunch of vanilla like run,

run pass, let's just get through this game. But then he heard sessler Um talking about him and cut talk about Shanahan. He was like, I guess I'm got to bring out the big guns. I just accredited to that, so you're probably not factual think I like this matchup for Pittsburgh, though, I really do. It kind of when you're thinking about the how you want to predict games, like what do you put more stock into the whole season or the last two weeks? The last two weeks

the Bill has been the better team. That's been the best defense they've had all year. But I think when you look at what Pittsburgh does well in terms of their defensive line against this Bill's offensive line, which I think is their biggest problem, I think they match up well. And then you think about what Pittsburgh does an offense. They dink and dunked down the field and they're a team that Buffalo is defensively that'll let you do that.

They're not gonna come after you. So I think the matchup after a loss does not set up that poorly for Pittsburgh. Yeah, and there's a reason like Tomlin has been at five hundred or better with Super Bowl appearances during his long run in Pittsburgh because he's a good coach and it's a great staff, and that I would think, sir, this is a bit of a wake up call what

happened on Monday. And Greg, I think you and I are on the same page with the idea that it's pretend it's possible that the Steelers that loss will help them, and there you will see some of this tightness, uh disappear that we saw all the drops, unbelievable, how many drops, But then you think about maybe the reason we're seeing so many more drops from this particular team is because all they do is pass the ball because they can't

run it. It's been a real mess. James Connor has missed the last two games on the COVID nineteen list, and they have not had a one yard game since weeks six. They had three in the first five games, so things there was great balance to begin the season, but Benny Snell has not picked up the pace he's he He is averaging about three yards a carry and it's putting Pittsburgh in a situation where Ben has to throw it over and over and over again, and he's

throwing short more than ever. Yeah, it's not what you think of Steelers football. So I'm with you on that. The lack of balance last week against Washington, Um, well, I would put it in the category of disturbing. But how about a little appreciation for Cold Beasley who right now has more yards than a J. Brown, He has more receptions than DK Metcalf and more hundred yard games.

And Tyreek Hill. I thought he was fascinating against the Niners and this wide receiving group, Um, I think they can do damage this may be the a f c's best group of wide receivers. M It's it's weird that Pittsburgh and Buffalo are playing and Buffalo is clearly the past first team. Like, if you trust that defense matters, it's Pittsburgh. If you trust that the passing game, which is what I usually trust, matters more, it's obviously Pittsburgh.

Beasley is great, but to see the buy in with Stefon Diggs blocking on the goal line and making ridiculous catches, it all like lines up because Diggs is number one. I just think this matchup is as as good as the Bills have faced. If you look at the defenses they've faced this year, it's a it's a pretty tough slate, and it's so big for home field advantage for Pittsburgh and it's big for the a f C East for Buffalo. It's kind of like a which way are these two

teams gonna go down the stretch? Uh? Two notes on the Steelers defense. They have three of the top five pass rushers in terms of QB pressures this season, but they just lost one of them. If I do pretty in Week twelve, went out with the a C L Obviously that's that's an issue. Uh. And t J Watt Uh he is he should be the front runner for Defensive Player of the Year at this point. He leads the league in sacks, QB hits, tackles for loss. Uh. He is just doing it all. And I never thought

this would happen. Uh. And maybe it's not there, maybe we're not there yet. But T J. Watt and J J Watt, J J Watted his peak was a dominant player, one of the most dominant players in defense we've seen in the last twenty years. T J. Watt is starting to knock on the door of entering that stratosphere. Some good, uh, pretty good bloodline there in the Watt family. Nice jeans, brother, two brothers winning Defensive Player of the Year. Like it's

it's outrageous, poor Derek what he's like. He should be feeling great about himself. He's having a nice NFL career. What are the odds? And his brothers they're just it's like making him look like chopped lever. On On the positive end, he doesn't need to pay for an airbnb. He just goes to JJ's log cabin toss his corn hole. Have has a couple of Bruis. Take some girlfriends there and life's not so bad for him either. Solid benefit right there. We're just oh, let's pick this game real quick.

I've taken the Steelers. I think they bounced back. You know what, I'm going Buffalo one. A lot of people will be agitated with the Steelers, and the Steelers fans are very agitated group right now. They'll get back on track. But I believe in Buffalo. All right, I think this is gonna be one of the games of the year. Let's say Steelers by a field goal thirty one. All right, let's not transition to the other big prime time matchup this week, and it's a gorgeous one. The Baltimore Ravens

traveling to Cleveland to face the Browns. Ravens seven five, Browns nine in three and knocking on the door their first double digit win season in a dozen years. And I'll start this way, Mark, Do you think, well, it's remember what happened Week one? It was a blowout. The Ravens destroyed the Browns thirty eight six, and you thought it was more of the same from both teams and hasn't played out that way. Do you think we're seeing two very different teams now thirteen weeks later. I do.

I do, specially on the Cleveland side that I think that you know, you're able to look at the Browns and say, what is their identity? It's easy to do to see, I mean you could. That's not true of almost every other Browns team this century, and I don't think that was super clear in Week one. Um to me, I think the Cleveland Browns experience this year is a

cleansing of some sorts. I mean, they've been through so much and the Ravens were a team pulled from their belly and left Cleveland sort of dead, like the alien coming out of Sigourney Weaver and other people in that show. It wasn't Sigourney, but you know, it's like that's how it feels to me. With the with the move, well, you know, look like here's the thing. The Titans game I think changed perceptions. But you have to deal with the Baltimore Ravens. If you're Cleveland, this is a huge

game for who they are. If you go and get stamped, I think a lot of people will look at Cleveland again and say close not close enough. And it starts with stopping the run. I'll look at with someone like Sheldon Richardson last week what he did to Derrick Henry on those first two drives, stopping him on fourth and one, causing a fumble on the next drive that through Tennessee

completely out of orbit. If you can get plays like that against this running game and be as physical as Baltimore, something the Browns have not been in the two thousand's at all. Uh, that would be the formula to shaking them up, roughing them up, and being their equal. I'm so excited. This is my game of the year. The rest of the way, I'm usually not into like, you know, just hashtag and narratives. But if the Browns lose this game, they're kind of still the little brothers. They They've never

like this is Ravens. Brown should be a great rivalry, partly because of bad reasons, because of what Mark said that they ripped, you know, they broke poor Mark Sessler's heart and a lot of other Browns fans by leaving town. And they've never had a meaningful December game between these two teams where they're both good. The closest thing I have is they were both seven and seven and two thousand and two, and the Browns ended up making the

playoffs that year. That's the closest we get. But these teams are better, and my head says, actually, the Browns have more going on with them right now. It's a f C North. It's too great running teams. It's two teams. I think you can attack the other one's defense on the ground. So it's just as like perfect as it could possibly be. And you're not gonna slay dragons in week fourteen? But Mark, wouldn't it be good to just knock the Ravens out of playoff position right now? I

made it be a bit of payback. Would be a magnificent thing, right Mark, Yeah, I think they will slay dragons. And you know what I I have um uh in our lock world, I've gone with with my head all season long, and one came behind Greg. But I do think that the Cleveland Browns um are the equal of the Baltimore Ravens. And so I am, without too much hesitation, I'm gonna go for it. I'm locking up the Cleveland Browns. Let's do it. What could go wrong? What could go wrong?

That's what I'm talking about, Mark Sessler. I love it. Uh. The Browns obviously looked awesome in the first half against the Titans. A big part of that obviously was Baker just playing out of his mind and a clean pocket and spotting receivers and throwing it right on the money. The Browns have allowed only six sacks since week seven, UM, and they've only allowed thirteen QB hits since Week seven, So they're protecting Mayfield and when you do, I think

that sets them up very well. On the other side, the Ravens only have six sacks in the least six games, so this could be set up well for Baker to stay hot. I want to see that. I want to make sure that this isn't a one off monster performance in the first two quarters against the Titans. UM. And there's the other side of it here, boys, and listen on Tuesday's podcast. I did say that the Ravens were

gonna win out. I said it. I said it before they played the Cowboys, and we saw what happened that night. They absolutely looked like a dominant three rushing yards. They got their swagger back, and I think for that reason, the Browns are in a tough spot. I have to stick with my premonition when I looked in the future and listen, Mark, you can't take it personal because this is bigger than both of us. It's bigger than anything.

In week fourteen, we got a certified lock off because I got the Ravens continuing their playoff push and beating your Brownies, spanking the hin knees of the Brownies. And you'll be okay because you'll be nine and four after this game. But this is Baltimore's time to rise, and I'm sticking with that. I won't take it personally. You know, we're we're normally in our show. By week thirteen, fourteen fifteen, we're waving goodbye to Cleveland, wondering who they're gonna hire

as a coach. Um. I I understand they're gonna They're gonna trip up at some point here. I like this lock off, Dan, an honorable one. Wow. I The only thing I disagree with what you said there, Dan, is that Mark will be okay if the Ravens win this game. You know I won't be okay. Is that gonna be okay? I'd be a little worried. I don't know if I'm whether whether I'm impressed or worried about the Ravens that they against the Cowboys, that their defensive line doesn't look great.

There's there's certain issues, but Lamar just kind of took over. The thing that would scare me the most is like all the honk and Lamar is doing. He's seeing J. K. Dobbins running up the field and there's and you can hear him because he has the mic on and he's just going crazy. And to me, that's what it's about. It's those first round picks from kill Lamar just take over the game and just run like crazy and break Cleveland's heart by his like force of will, because otherwise

I think Cleveland might have the better team right now. Yeah, I think you're right. I think Lamar scoring that long touchdown run. Getting back on the same page with Hollywood Brown a little bit, Mark Andrews, I believe is gonna come off COVID here the COVID list and that's a that's a huge edition. It just seems like things are kind of come together here for the Ravens um So

that's why I feel good about this. And and Greg a little bit of pressure knew because what an excellent job by both Mark and myself and locking up a team a very close, narrow game. I don't want to. I don't even think about you know some you know, Saintslaca or anything. We need you to bring it this week. No, you're not going to pressure me to move off. Alright. With the primetime games out of the way, let's now dig into our draft and Greg Rosenhal, congratulations, you have

the first overall pick. What do you got? It was a tough one this week, so many good options, but I am going Chiefs Dolphins early. That Tony Romo. Romo is the ultimate tiebreaker. Dan, I know you were trying to guess where I was going. Is that what you got? I thought you were going with a different game and coming back that's right. No, I can't come back because the TV show will be over and I gotta make sure I watched this Brian Flores team. I like what I saw out of to a tongue of Iloa last

week against the Bengals. I know it was a quiet game overall, but if you saw what he did in the second half with the up tempo offense, I think that was the best half of football he played the entire year. You saw a little more of what they did at Alabama. You saw some empty sets, you saw the hurry up, and it's tough. He's being asked to do a lot. It's not a great offensive line. They're banged up. They've got three rookies starting for them right now.

They're counting on Lynn Bowden to come off their bench and make play. Gaskins back in the lineup and he really helps them out. Jachem Grants a big part of this team. It's not the most talented offense in the world, and so I like that they're slowly building them up. And I think Brian Flores and to a tongue of LA can make this entertaining. I want to hear what Tony Romo saying. So that's why I'm watching it. Well, I'm genuinely annoyed. This was the game that I wanted. Um,

nice work, Greg. I think this matchup is as intriguing is anything out there this week. The Dolphins, to me, they are adventurers. Uh, They're up for anything. I just think this is a very unified club. And you know, well, I just like, what do you mean either up for anything. There's this energy to them where I have no idea what they're ceiling is and who they can beat and no one has put much heat on Patrick Mahomes. Can this defense that's averaging allowing only fourteen and a half

points a week do it? Um? My concern is if they get into some sort of a track meet, I don't know if this Dolphins offense can catch up. They've scored over thirty points uh once in the past seven games. The offense is my concern, But they find so many different ways to affect the enemy UH that I just trust them to play a complete game, I really do. And they do a nice job of forcing quarterbacks into their second reads. Can they do it here against Patrick Mahomes?

Very few can. But I think the Dolphins are a different type of team and I trust them with Brian Flores to coach this thing up. So one of your reasons why you believe the Dolphins can hang in this game is that if you force Patrick Mahomes into a second read, that there's gonna be trouble. Patrick Mahomes eats that up. He doesn't care about going through progressions. He's patch my Homes and he's playing at an insane level. This is I mean, this is an unlockable game. I

don't think and I've already locked anyway. But like, here's the thing, I never have been all the way in on the Dolphins. I think it's clear if you've been listening to this podcast. I watched their game against Cincinnati, and again it's the Bengals, and I saw a Tina did not look very good at all in the first half,

turned it on in the second half. Give him credit for that closing out that game, but nineteen seven over Cincinnati doesn't like fill me with hope that they're now gonna charge into a game with a chance and and light them up. And I think when you look at the playoff picture of the a f C, it just seems to me that Miami is gonna be on the wrong side of this. Their final four opponents are combined thirty three and fifteen this season. That's almost a seven

winning percentage. So, uh, you obviously you've got to steal one of these games or you're a big you're a big underdog. I just think it's too tall of the task to ask to happen at the hands of the Chiefs. And I am not saying that because Patrick Mahomes has to go to his second read that the Dolphins are going to win this because of that alone. That's not my top bullet point. But I am just saying I think they're a very click your second. I love I

love the challenge of it. I I don't think that they're the better team, but I think that they can do weird things to offenses. We've seen it, we've seen it, and I think that they can do something to Kansas City that other teams have not. And we'll find out if I'm wrong. No one will will remember a single thing I've said here. This is a good enough for you, because if the Chiefs do do their Chiefs thing, you're

absolutely right. But if the Dolphins do step up, Mark, you look like a defense, you look like a genius. The Dolphins have the third highest blitz rate in the league. That's another part of this. So the Dolphins love to blitz. That's a big part of their scheme and how they've flung a certain quarterbacks this year. But no one devours the blitz like Patrick Mahomes, who has twelve touchdowns and no picks and a one forty pass rating against blitzing

this year. It's just like it's very hard, and I commend you, Mark to get behind the team that's playing the Chiefs in general. He look, what is the Chiefs thing though? It's not winning games by a lot. They They've four straight weeks, they've been in close games. It's not running the ball. They They're one of the worst in short yardage in the league. I'm waiting for them,

uh to steamroll an opponent. I think there's some reason for the Dolphins defense to have confidence because of what Brian Flores has done against Patrick Mahomes in the past. The Patriots defense did a good dot job relatively putting the clamps on him during his MVP season. Patriots defense this year, which has a lot of similarities but not as good as Miami, did a pretty good job against Patrick Mahomes. They can keep it close. This dolfense team. Don't give up on them, Dan hands this, come on,

I like giving up on them. They could, they could lose out and it's still a season where you feel good when the game by two scores. Chiefs win a game by two scores? How about that? Do that once? All right? I think they will? How about that? All right? Let's move on now the old Zeuser picks and I've just been happy with my drafts all season long. I just have to be honest with you. You do great job.

When it comes up, I end up picking a game that's great and uh I thought, Greg, you were going inde Vegas with the second overall pick, and uh so I will welcome. I will run to the podium and draft that game. It's a playoff game. How about that? I like this. The Raiders need to win this game to to stay alive in the a f C playoff race. And the Colts maybe it's not that dire for them because they are in a division uh showdown right now with the Titans, but it's a huge game for them

as well. Right now, this is the seventh and eighth seed in the a f C playoffs squaring off and two teams that did not that were very fortunate last week, and everyone is hung up and killing the Raiders for what happened against the Jets and getting this miracle play obviously that got Greg Williams fired. They needed a miracle to win the game in the final seconds, uh, to avoid an embarrassing loss. Oh but hey, guess what you

know there's another team that fits that exact description. It's the Indianapolis Colts, who had a six point lead with Deshaun Watson if a two yard line going in for the game winning score and the damn center fires the ball at his shins for miracle fumble recovery for the Cults. Otherwise, the Cults are coming off a bad loss and people are talking about that. So I'm not going crazy about the Raiders. Obviously, my faith is shaken over the last

two weeks. I was a big Raiders booster on this podcast. I understand now that I can all go south after what happened against the Jets, But to two pencil and the Colts is a team that will roll over the collapsing Raiders. I think that's a bit rich. I don't I don't. I don't question that these are these two teams are very even and players matter, and the Raiders

are getting back three of their best players. Trent Brown, their right tackle has been out for most of the season, Jonathan Abram wasn't out there against the Jets, and then Josh Jacobs. It's like teams can only take so many hits. That's absolutely huge. It kind of gets me to the point of how much does do defenses matter? You know, the whole thing like running, running, backs don't matter, well

how much the defenses matter. And because to me, if defenses matter at all, like if you have to be above a certain point, then the Raiders are just a house of cards. It's gonna fall apart um. But if you can just survive with like a lousy defense, which they've been all year, especially when playing a team like the Colts, then then they'll be okay. The Colts are just a different team when DeForrest Buckner's on the field. You saw that last week, and they are a much

more complete team than the Raiders. Well, I mean, for me, you know, I think it's huge to get these guys back. For the Raiders, they were missing their identity on offense without Josh Jacobs some degree. But Derek Carr mentioned how they didn't practice well before the Falcons game. I wonder how they practiced before the Jets game. I mean, the Jets opened up with a twelve play, seventy four yard touchdown drive. Um they scored. You know, they ran for

over two hundred yards on the day. Uh, that's an aberration for New York and and that is, you know, less than one for the Raiders, who have the least sacks in the NFL, so they can't rush the passers. So Greg, to your point, mean, there are most of these defenses in the NFL right now are are are solidly half baked. But the Raiders one is is a little extra on that front. And that's my that's my area of concern, um. But I'm not all out on them.

I think that they are a team that uh, they've show an incredible fight at different times, getting healthy, getting these some of these guys back. The Raiders are fighting for their season. If they lose this one, thirty eight puts them at a two percent chance of making the playoffs.

So this is your year right here. Yeah, they need they need to win, and I guess I just I'm gonna go down with the USS growd in here, uh if it comes to that, because I it's a week to week league and everyone thinks the Raiders are done now. And meanwhile, they did come off of winning their seven and five and they're playing a Cults team that is not, you know, far superior to them at home. I know home doesn't matter that much this year. I'm picking the Raiders.

I think the Raiders win this game. Greg, I imagine you picked the Colts in your pick them column. I I did take them. I'm wondering, Mark, like, are the Cults a team that's down for anything, like the up for anything like the Dolphins? Does that mean like what you call them on Friday night and they're ready to go out. It's more it's more like you're already in

and they're like, you want to go hiking anything? Dan and I once went to a Super Bowl I believe it was a bud Light Super Bowl party where the tagline was up for anything, and we enjoyed ourselves. So the Dolphins. I enjoyed the Dolphins. The Colts, I don't get that vibe from then. They're like, you know, Midwestern. They're very like, let's do things by the book. Um tough team, but not up for anything. Now I remember vaguely they're being like a rapper. Oh shack was the

bowl part. There was a unicorn um that they had fresh bowls of paint. We painted a statue of a unicorn. Other things happened all right. Time Now for Road of Victory, presented by the United States Marine Corps. Up next in the draft, Mark Sessler, I don't think this is a game. I would have picked a few weeks ago. But it's a game I'm picking right now Arizona at the New

York Giants, the frisky New York Giants. They kind of like the old lunch paill du It's and I you know, I don't even know if children know what lunch pails are anymore. No one's caring those things around at this point. But they are. They are morphing into a tough team. And I love the idea of of Kyler Murray in a tough spot here, having to show who he is

and who this offense is. I mean, if you take away that fifty nine yard touchdown strike to Dan Ordered last week, he opened that half two for eleven for fourteen yards. I know they got a little hotter down the stretch, but I'm a bit concerned about the Cardinals. You take away the Hail Mary against Buffalo and they would have lost five in a row. They are, they are in a position right here. We've talked about the Raiders as a team that absolutely needs to win. How

about the Cardinals. You know, this was this was a quarterback talked about as an m VP candidate at the start of the year. This Giant's defense is not going to allow you to walk over them. They made life very difficult last week, very difficult, and I think that they have a chance to do the same thing to uh the Cardinals. Um, this is my NFC East team. I know that Greg is very high on Washington. Um.

For me, it's the Giant. Well. I started thinking this week, Mark, you know, we haven't done team of the Around the NFL podcast this year or in a few years, and I started thinking, if we had to have one this year, I think it'd be a big Blue. If Chris wesleyan would allow it, I think it'd be the New York Football Giants. Chris wesley will never allow a New York team to be the team of a t N So you have doesn't matter. There's some there's some New York bias in there as well. He's he's fed up with

the Northeast. That's part of that. That might be it, But I've I've enjoyed watching this team all year. Their defense, they play hard. I'm excited that Daniel Jones is expected to be back. We don't know that for sure um for this game, but that makes a big difference and it gives them a chance. Their defense has gotten better as the season has gone along, and I kind of think about them like I think about the Dolphins and

the Patriots. The more time that they have together and the more time that they know what all of their teammates are doing, because it's a complex defense. The hear that they are and they're definitely bigger and better than

the some of their parts. I think it's a really tough matchup for Kyler, and I know there's a range of outcomes in the NFC where maybe even a five team can get that seven seed, but even even still, I think the Cardinals need to win this game to get their season back on track and just get out

of this free fall. Uh and Murray over their last three games, and they've all been losses, averaging sixty fewer past yards per game, almost fifty fewer rushing yards per game compared to the first nine games of the season, which it tells you two things. He hasn't been the same player, and he was playing at an outstanding level before that, and that has been kind of my criticism

of Arizona for the last month and a half. I think what we've seen is that this team can win games and compete for a division and get everyone excited when Kyler Murray is in a godlike state as a football player, but when he can't be that guy, and you can't ask a second year player unless it's Patrick Mahomes to consistently be that guy, is just an average team that needs help on both sides of the ball,

and there at least a year away. So I think that's how they've been exposed at this point of the season. I don't I don't see them pulling up the nose here. I think we're going in for a crash. I mean, it makes sense the teams would gather knowledge on Kyler Murray, on guys like Lamar Jackson who are so dangerous on the ground, and put everything, every effort into not giving Kyler Murray those opportunities. And you know we've talked about them in the show before. The Kyler Murray is seeing

it with defenses. They are forcing him to hand the ball off. They're not allowing him to just prance around yards of open field and do the damage he was doing. Can I jump in on that, Mark? You can? Can I jump in on that? I'm hearing that a lot lately. Kyler Murray is not able to run anymore because defenses are now keyed in on that. Isn't that the whole Cliff Kingsbury thing though? Wasn't that what they signed up for? That Cliff Kingsbury was supposed to be this gifted offensive

mind and the Sean McVeigh mold. And meanwhile, all I'm reading abo this week is how Calumbury can't run anymore because defenses have adjusted to the game. Oh and by the way, DeAndre Hopkins, if you look at his route tree this year, it's kind of absurd that he's not being used the right way. One of the great wide receivers in the league. Click Kingsbury, do something. Help this team. They need you. They're going down his place and they need you to be the genius that you were sold

as to everyone. You're not playing Rice University right now. So it's the NFL coordinators catch up to this stuff, you know. And so much of their offense was Murray scrambling. It wasn't even the called runs. There was a good stat by Stephen ruiz On for the win where basically they have the lowest amount of yards per attempt on r p o s in the entire league. That's a

big time disappointment. And let me give a shout out to Leonard Williams, the former Jet who never reached his potential in New York traded to the Giants or a third round pick, a move that Dave Gedtleman was laughed at over. He has been awesome this year. He has been at all pro level talent when you look at his production, and it was never better than against the Seahawks. Two sacks, five QB hits, the big I'm happy for him. I hope he gets paid. All right, Mark, it snakes

to you, my friend. All Right, I'm gonna go somewhere that it's not gonna surprise you. I'm gonna go Washington at San Francisco. Uh, this game is intriguing. Now we've forked the Niners, and I do believe their season is done based on our actions there. Dan, But uh, you know what I love about this season and the whole um. You know, twelve thirteen weeks of NFC East jokes that grew tired that things change in the NFC East suddenly

is frisky and it's the two teams. No one thought about the Giants in Washington and what Washington did against Pittsburgh that makes me a little concerned for Nick Mullins. You got Montes sweat tipping balls all over the place causing chaos. And I need to see a Niners team that gets out of the gate a little earlier than they did uh last week when they were ravished by the Bills. How about we got Deebo Samuel involved a little bit differently and earlier on here and the running game.

I don't know if we need eighteen different people with Carrie's here. Let's get someone hot and let's move on this thing. UM Washington to me is an incredibly resilient and strange team. I enjoy watching them. Honestly. I think this is the first this is the first time that I can really remember good energy around uh Washington. And I would say they should keep their weird name and keep their helmets. Don't go on the search committee to

read your identity. Keep this one. I enjoy it. You know, I was thinking the same exact thing a couple of days ago that just through repetition, now Washington football team, it just kind of is a thing that it works for me as well. And I also may I say that this is the second time this week mark that you're Golden boy Kyle Shanahan, You've just been levying criticism Adam for his usage of certain players, and I'm here

for it. I mean, he knows more. He could tell you more in thirty seconds about football than I could tell you in six hours. So I'm not it's not really critique of him. Um. I do have Rahey mostered on my fantasy team. That could be part of my messaging. I almost feel like it's generous of you to say that it would take six hours for you to match him in that. You know. I I look at this game and I wonder if Washington can do it again. Okay, it's one thing. It was the game of the year

for them. It was a magical moment. I I I truly believe I will remember that game forever. Washington Pittsburgh. I think they will to beating the last unbeating and Alex Smith like that is that's a big deal. I'm not. I'm not laughing. Think about how bad this. It's the most great thing you've ever said. I will remember that game forever. On on Monday afternoon at two o'clock for Alex Smith to do that, don't you think they will do?

You don't remember anything what's up. But you don't remember anything, but you will remember this, and I believe it. Yeah, I remember. I do remember football games, especially like where I was when I saw Cam Sims pulling that one hander and a team without Antonio Gibson getting it done. I don't know if they do it again. I think this matchup is tricky just the way that San Francisco runs their offense. Washington is not so much a team that's gonna come after you, um and get a lot

of blitzes in big stops. They really rely on the red zone defense and tackling, and this is one of the toughest teams to tackle San Francisco auk mostre debot and defensively, you know, San Francisco is kind of a coverage team that will take away the big plays. They don't have a great pass rush right now. But just because Washington won that one game, I don't think they're necessarily gonna go steam roll on the other side of

the country this week again. You know, I want, like a it's a fine line here, because you want to respect what Washington has has managed the last few weeks. But also I'm with you. I think the reason, for instance, the Niners went in the tank on Monday against or Tuesday or whatever day it was against Josh Allen. Was because once Josh Allen and Brian day Ball cracked the code of Robert Sala and that defense, it became a situation where it was Nick Mullins versus Josh Allen in

a shootout, and we know what's gonna happen there. But in this situation, you know what's gonna happen with Washington's offense. They are going to dancin dunk you. This is a team that when it's uh third and nine, we'll throw it four yards. I mean, there's no way we're gonna have a shootout and you're gonna put Nick Moans in that situation again. So then I feel like just the game script is gonna be much better for San Francisco

than it was. And even though Mark we did fork the Niners, which means they have no chance of making the postseason, we stand by it. I still think the Niners have a have a w here and it's gonna be at the expense of the w team. Yeah, forking them doesn't mean that they're not gonna, you know, cause some chaos down the stretch. They are, That's who they are. And I and I know that Kyle Shanahan nobly would

not mention this. But I think having to relocate to Arizona, and you know, having to tell players you're not gonna spend Christmas with your families, I think that took a toll against the Bills. I really do. I mean, these are human beings in a really weird um. Maybe they're a little bit more in a calm place um centered in together this game. And I don't think they're gonna go to sleep though, Daniel, Right, all right, let's move

on the old jus Er picks next. I picked one game that felt like a playoff game my first pick. I have another one here, the Vikings at the Bucks. So alright, so the Vikings on this podcast, we've we've been calling him the team of Zeus t L because I got behind them when they were one in five and now they're all the way back to five and right now where they sit is in the seventh and

final playoff spot. That's all good. However, there are things about the Vikings the last couple of weeks that are that make me feel differently than I felt a month ago. And I don't. I don't necessarily think this is a team that is gonna steamroll to that playoff spot. I think the Bucks are an opponent that could give them a lot of trouble coming off the by uh, Bruce Arians, Tom Brady. Hopefully they get on the same page Byron Leftwich and they have a game plan that is more

tailored to what Brady can do. And I think that's the other big subplot here, one of the bigger or more interesting soap opera subplots of the rest of this regular season boys, which is Bruce Arians and Tom Brady. Can they make this work? Uh? They're still so much to be settled. But if this team flames out, who

knows what happens come January. I love the Bucks in terms of that it's all or nothing, like I either think they're gonna win four straight and steamroll everyone down the stretch, or it's gonna unpload they don't make the playoffs. And you're right, maybe Arians is the fall guy because Tom Brady is guaranteed that money he's still throwing. He's not going anywhere. I like this matchup for them though, too, because you look at the Vikings. If they can't run

with Dalvin Cook. What do they have? Not a lot? And I don't think you're gonna be able to run against the Bucks. And then you look at the Vikings offensive line. I think they've been struggling lately. I don't trust their communication. And you gotta play of Todd Bowls defense that gives you all sorts of looks, all sorts of problems. And that's why I feel good about the Bucks bouncing back and I'm locking it up against the team of all Right, I like that. That's a good pick.

I think you're a little strong of the Bowls of Sons. This defense hasn't been quite what it was. And did you say, if you take away Dalvin Cook, what are the Vikings that? What about Justin Jefferson and Adam Feeling maybe the best one to punch at wide receiver we have in the in our league. They're asking Kirk to do all this third and thirteen stuff, and he's getting it done each and every week. But I don't I

don't think that works against Tampa. I mean, they didn't throw a deep ball until the second half last week. I would maybe, you know, test this defense in that in that nature earlier on in the scheme because I don't know, it's not a great scenario for Dalvin Cook. I have to wonder if the Vikings, who you know, the only teams that seemed to impact negatively the Bucks. You have to be able to get to Tom Brady. That's an age old. Uh, we know that whole situation.

But they traded away Yannick and Gokway when it felt like they were sort of selling the farm, and he still leads the team in sacks. He only played six games there. I do wonder if they regret that trade because they are alive, um, but they can't rush the passer very well right now, and that's just a formula for them getting nipped in games. Uh. You know, they seem to constantly be alive in the fourth quarter, but then then too many X factors, uh, you know, ring in.

So I would like to see Minnesota like show up in this one. Um. I the Bucks to me, I'm still trying to figure out who they are. I don't think that the some of their parts on offense, does this qualify as the fallacy of the predetermined outcome? Because in Gockway went to Baltimore, but now he's injured in

his a reduced player. If you would have stayed in Minnesota with his foothurt, someone's gonna take me through the science on that or in Gockway, I think if you do, his record right now is three and ten on the year he's played in extra games. The problems keep losing. He trade him to Baltimore and they start losing. It's not your fault. Yeah, don't tell like Steven A. Smith about that. It's gonna lead to an epic rant against

the poor man. All right, let's get continue to roll through Week four team, But before we do that, I have some developing news to share. Uh. This week, Bob Costas joined Twitter or did he? Mark Sessler's boyhood hero, Mark Sessler's teenage hero, Mark Sessler's twenties and thirties and forties hero appeared to jump on Twitter as at real underscore Bob Costas, but no, it was debunked by his

son Keith and his agent confirming it was fake. And then Bob Mark went on The Rich Eyes and Show to further clarify there that he wants nothing to do with social media in the twenty one century. Yeah, I mean, like his son basically said, unless my dad has done a basically like an identity switch. He would never do this, and so there is argument um rich argument to suggest that Bob Costas is not someone that is uh totally willing to advance with the times in terms of um

how he would express himself on social media. He's he's a ghost on that front. That song though, that little NFL Live song you played it there, that gets me. I don't. That's emotional. I can't. Let's let's let's get out of the way and just listen. I mean, if there's one thing that speaking of social media tendencies, mark if he's not posting pictures by the Colorado River everyone in flannel looking like uhi and the other guy uh from the Walsh family. It is Bob Costas old school

NBC video clips from NBC. I was just annoyed at all the people who are like, hey, Bob was it was a classmate of years at Syracuse Journalism. It's great to see like a million people with blue check marks, thought Bob cost this was like, hey, I don't know how this tweeter works. And he puts up a corny background with a bunch of people from NBC as if he didn't have, you know, a little bit of a break up there at NBC, Like he's putting those pictures

up as his background. It was pretty easy to de bunk. I did it that night. I came after after him and just took a chance that it was fake and and it absolutely Greg, Are you at least proud of the fact that I did not try to communicate with Bob cost It was just like, hey, do you remember me from that you know Syracuse classes, Like you think Bob Costas is out here without a check mark, just popping in on a Friday night or whatever it was, come on mark where you did. For a split second,

you were filled with joy. I imagine though, when it looked like Bob Costas had joined Twitter, I was freaking out. Um. But but actually my way into it was learning that it was a fraud. So for like less than half a second, um, I just took it. The look at the picture and I thought, he is he has arrived. He has joined Twitter. Middle school. All right, Well, we will continue to track this story because who knows, maybe Bob will say, man, all this hullabaloo, this has made

me relevant again. I'm in the news again. Maybe it's time to get on social media. This is in a weird, roundabout way, this is what I need to get my career back on track. Bob Costs, I'm not listening to any of that, alright enough, I don't know if Bob Costas will always be fertile fertile ground on this joke. I hope he knows. He doesn't, but I'm sure that would be a highlight for him. Just like Bob. We're not going to move along with the times. This Bob

cost Is joke. We're gonna be doing it in fifteen years if we're lucky. Alright, as long as you two keep showing an utter lack of respect, it will be a bit. All right, let's let's continue with the draft. Mark, I think where we left off. Actually, no excuse me. Greg Rosenthal is about to make his second selection. I'm excited. I need a late game. I'm gonna take Jalen Hurts is first career start against the Saints. What what a

great situation. It's a good value. That's a good value pick. Yeah, I mean, Taysom Hill looks like he will start again. Drew Brees doesn't sound like he's ready. And you think about what Jalen Hurts is stepping into here. Okay, well, you know, let's hand the ball off to Miles Sanders. You're going up against the best run defense in the

NFL right now. Let's drop back to pass against the Saints defense that's playing better right now than they have all season, going up against an Eagle's offensive line that's mostly been a mess. It's a tough spot for Jalen Hurts. That's that's what I am, I guess anxious about when it comes to this game, that you could see the Saints just blowing them out of the water, especially when the Eagles have the ball, because the Eagles coaching staff has not shown me much to believe in that they're

gonna cook up anything for Hurts. I thought Hurts needed to start when said basically benched himself. It had to happen, and Hurts me a couple of nice plays put him in there. But this is about as tough of a first start as he could possibly have. I mean it is, and it shows you, like how well uh the situation has gone for Taysom Hill because of all the strength

surrounding him. But I wonder if the bar actually is relatively low for Hurts in the sense that this offense has been one of the most boring things that has occurred in professional sports in uh that even a little bit of life, any sort of sign of life, Um, he will be praised for. And you know, I mean if he if he doesn't succeed, Uh, you still have Doug Peterson hanging out there is your sort of Lee Harvey oswald Es scapegoat to just blame. So I mean Hurts.

You know, it's not a good matchup, but I could see Hurts doing just a little bit of anything and people thinking this guy's fun. Yeah, this was the right move. And I think it was a move that Peterson was loath to make because he knows he's tied two Wentz and by benching Wentz, it's an admission of failure that everything that this season was built around on the offensive side of the all was bad and wrong and failed. And now you have to pivot and hope Jalen Hurts

uh delivers something in this audition. I would hope they give Jalen Hurts the rest of the season. The Eagles are all but dead in the NFC East at this point, and whence it does doesn't seem like, I'm not saying. I'm not saying that Wentz is going to forever be this guy now, although that's certainly possible. But I think it's clear this guy needs to, you know, take a seat, maybe have an offseason build up some things, work on some things physically mentally, and and and come back wherever

he may be. I mean, they ranked Wentz ranked thirty feet out of thirty three qualified qbs and passer rating. This season, he had more giveaways than any Eagles quarterback through twelve games since nineteen. The Eagles went three and out thirty six times this season so far, most in the NFL, more than the Jets. I mean, it's it's still hard to believe. So now you get a chance to get Hurts in there, and it's a tough spoty the Saints, who have been awesome obviously on defense this season,

but it's it's not a moment too soon. The Saints have allowed eight point eight points per game since Week nine. I am not excited about. You know, this is coming a bunch of whit crackers with their like word play jokes about hurts the last name, the fact that whether you know if someone gets hurt or if if he hurts the defense with a nice pass um, can we stay away from those? If you're someone that's inclined to use that type of humor on Sunday, um, please check

yourself at the door. Just a public snouncement. I'm not really deeply. Despite Colleen being one of our favorite people and we love John Gonzalez and Philadelphia, I don't know Philadelphia very well. John Renald Gonzalez port Marks twelve nine is an American sports writer. Was married NFL media broadcaster Colley Wolf. Johnho was a Poces resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two dogs, despite the proximity growing up to the city. So I don't know if they're

they're dailies. Uh, Tabloids have the same zeal when it comes to headline writing that the New York Post in the New York the News, uh do, but love hurts feels like one that's bang if he if he plays well, love hurts, that's not bad. A lot of everybody hurts. I mean, we're getting off. At least, you know, you

don't have to worry about dying. On Taysom Hill Hill seems like he's in a nice, nice spot here made some good throws last week thought I thought, um, he's getting a little too much credit for a game where he fumbled twice in the fourth quarter and one of them could have been was as bad as Mitchell Drabinsky's fumble. I think worse really, if you look at the play that he had at the end, it's just he got

lucky and it went out of bounds on him. He has nine fumbles on the year, so the only two players who have fumbled more than him our Carson Wentz and Jared Goff and Taysom Hill's barely played. I mean that that's a pretty that's a pretty big issue for him. He reminds me a little bit here. I wish West was here to check this one of like a poor man's rookie RG three, because he can make the throws. The running ability is his next level. He's so physical. If he's got the first read there, he can make

those throws and you're gonna scheme him up. I think that's only gonna last so long. But he reminds me of kind of like a good rookie, you know, the good RG three. The rookie people forget about RG three, especially like you saw him most recently, and it was sad. It was like a old thoroughbred that needs to be

put out to past year. But I mean, I remember one game in RGC three's rookie year, might have even been his the opening game where he just went nuts, where he got to the outside and then just toasted everyone because he was the fastest guy on the field. Tayson Mill doesn't strike me as the same type of almost there. I mean to me, he's there just the peg below. You know, Kyler and Lamar as runners, but pretty much right right next you said poor man. So it's like it would cost a lot less money for

that player and he would do lesser things. That's fair, I want to say before we move on Alvin Kamara. Listen, fantasy owners out there, a good job. We got the w we got the touchdown last week, but it should be noted that it is no longer just a blip on the radar. Alvin Kamara has seven receiving yards over three games with Taysom Hill, his lowest amount of receiving yards. He ever had in one game with seven yards, and

it happened once his whole career. Now he has seven total in three games, so that's just not part of this offense with Taysom Hill. But as I said, I think on Tuesday Show, this is a huge start for living on Taysom Hill. If he lights up the Eagles, it gives Sean Payton a lot to think about down the stretch. So very interesting game there, even if the Eagles aren't so interesting this year. Greg, it snakes to you. Oh, I'm really struggling with this one. It's uh, I need

another early game. I kind of like banging out games that I don't want to watch on game Pass, just like get it out of the way. Let's go Texans Bears, which I think will be the first time we do something. Hey, Ricky, let's for these games. Now that we're later in the season. We have so many games to get to. We're gonna start a two minute drill for certain games that are not as saucy in the back half of these previews episodes. So let's set the clock at two minutes to talk

about Houston Chicago. Hit it right, I mean, don't blame us Bears fan, you guys did this to you. The Bears Lions game last week was one of the first games all year I was watching on game Pass, thinking like it reminded me of you Mark, Like there was kind of a Quentin Tarantino cut about forty five minutes on game Pass where they're showing a lot of replays of second down and nine eight yard games. It's like,

I've seen enough of this Bears team. Part of it is because Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn are doing nothing combined. One quarterback hit between the two of them in the last four weeks. How about that. Yeah, it's like we you know, if you don't watch the Bears, you think all their identity is defense, and they're actually like they're not there. Takeaways are far far lower than they were

in previous years. They just got smoked for about four hundred yards through the air from a Matthew Stafford Lions offense that has struggled to do things in previous weeks. Uh. Yeah, I don't. I don't know who the Bears are right now. I don't think they know who they are. Yeah. If the whole thing with the Bears was we knew their offense was gonna be good going into the season, they needed the defense to be special. The defenses and special. It's just like, what, what's there at this point, Matt

Naggy his job security. He's in a tough spot right now. This is a tough game for Bears fans because it's all gonna be about how they didn't draft Deshaun Watson, which I think should get to the point that Texans fans, you know, aren't thrilled with their lives right now, and there's a lot of drama in their front office. But just be happy you're not the Bears. Be happy you have Deshaun Watson because you know that that's a pretty

big difference. Knowing that he's there is still a great gift, right. I mean, he nearly beat the Colts on his own. You take away that errant uh snap at the end of the game, and we're talking about both those teams differently, especially the Colts. Kiki Kote that is a nice free agent pick up if your fantasy playoffs are picking up, because Deshaun Watson is going to continue to find receivers

and and pile up points. And Brandon Cooks, I guess is the is the number one guy are But Kiki had a really nice game, I believe a hundred forty yards in that near win over the Colts. That's a pretty good Cults defense. Keep an eye on that. I like it all right, Let's move on the old zeuser will grab Jets at Seattle a late game Sunday. Uh. We touched on it very briefly on Tuesday, but that the Hail Murray, Hail not Hail Murray. The Hail Mary

basically from Derek Carr got Graig Williams fired. Uh. And it did prompt my favorite Keith Hans's text of the year. Let me find it because I haven't. Dad and I have obviously been in touch about the Jets as um we always are, but it's been such a sad year that there's just been less of it because what is there to talk about when the team literally loses every week? But this is the text I got from my dad on Monday morning at ten twelve am. Gaze five is Williams.

Are you kidding that? Fool fire and someone else? Uh. I do miss your dad on the show, but I think it was an act of extreme mercy to not force him into this. UM. I I would hate to be the Jets this week. I think you're getting an angry, annoyed Seattle team that you know for all this business about how they can't rush the pastor and they can in many ways they can't. They lead the league in sacks since Week nine, and I a lot of it has to do with Jamal Adams, and there's the Jamal

Adams verse, the Jets thing. I mean, it's like these are some of these now. I think some of these revenge games are totally absurd. It's like a, Uh, you were paid a ton of money. Um, you're you started to get extremely mouthy. They got value for you. You got what you wanted. I mean, maybe you wanted to prance off to Dallas, but you're probably happy you're not there now. And and so the revenges, you're gonna go lay a hurt on on Sam Donald, who doesn't deserve

anymore ill will this entire season. I don't. I don't buy the narrative. He has been He has been a really good addition to their defense. Gotta you gotta give you, gotta give him that when he's been on the field, even if he's not maybe the best cover guy they use him. This is an interesting staff. They use him as a pure pass rusher on a quarter of his snaps on the field, just about which is you know, notable completely out of um. It makes him a unique player, uh,

and he does his job. The average is about a sack of game that he plays in, so he he feels that void, which obviously they needed somebody to get to the passer. But has is their defense any better this year than it was last year? Maybe it is better than it's been the last few weeks, but I guess Greg, I'm keeping an eye on. This offense for

the Seahawks. Is very rare that you remember seeing Russell Wilson be so frustrated, uh and looks so frustrated as he was against the Giants when he got sacked five times and hit a bunch, And there was criticism after the game that, yes, the Seattle offensive line is a liability, but Russell Wilson, with his playing style, basically passed himself into some of those sacks totally. I think it was the coverage that confused him. I think he's held the ball a ton that was not on the offensive line.

Last week. You've seen more of those Russell Wilson running around like crazy hoping to make things happen plays in the last few weeks than I feel like we've seen in a few years now. That used to be a big part of his style, but now he's more you know, get the ball out on time, and all the people who are anti you know, let rust cook like heay, we gotta run the ball there. Crowing right now because he's second in the league and sacks take and fifth and fumbles. He's not in the top ten in QBR

right now. There's been a lot of negative plays. I still think you want to make their passing game the biggest part of their offense. But they gotta come up with something against these um deeper defenses that take away their receivers. They need Josh Gordon to help them out. I don't know, they need some more weapons. I think other than just lock it in metcalf in, you need more than two guys. How old is Josh Gordon at

this point? He's not playing exact way next week he I think he kild returned by week sixteen, by the way, but uh, he's not that old. He is twenty nine years old. DK metcalf could have two hundred yards against this Jet secondary it won't match this week. I mean the Seahawks of average less than twenty points a game in the last month, which is kind of hard to believe, but I think that changes. And you mentioned Josh Gordon,

a former Baylor standout. Denzel Mims one of the guys you look forward to watch as a Jets fan, one of the few things you have to look forward to. We had a family emergency, had to fly home to Texas, and because of the COVID regulations, uh the fact that he flew out of state, he can't get cleared to play Sunday. So I mean, so he's just not gonna play. So you lose Denzel Mims from that offense. Good luck

to the Jets. Uh see how Seahawks looks like a chance to get healthy al Right, up next to Mark Seiler, all Right, I'm gonna go Tennessee at Jacksonville. That's an early game. I you know, I think a little bit lost in the in the whipping by Cleveland, which is really a first half affair because in the second half, I mean, Tennessee's offense was awesome, um on stoppable, and I think that's been kind of the case with the Titans on a weekly basis. It's what I expect to

happen this week against Jacksonville. Defense that has not held opponent under twenty one points since Week one. You know, their defense is not terrible, by the way, but I just don't. I don't. I think Tennessee playing for their lives right now, is going to come in. UM highly agitated Tannehill through for nearly four hundred yards against Cleveland last week, and it just gets a little bit lost in the weeds. Um that they they a few weirder things had happened. Um, they could have won that game.

And I think they are certainly the equal of the Browns. Um. And I wouldn't want to I wouldn't want to see what would happen if Cleveland played them again. I really just think that I like this Titans team a bunch, And UM, this to me feels like sometimes you know, Daddy needs a blowout on something. Let's I don't need all these games in this game in this case, Yeah, Like, do are my needs ever addressed? Met? Even thought about? Um?

Often not? But let in this case this, I'm asking for a very small thing to blow out in his tummy exactly, you know, because I didn't get the yummy yummy thing correct last week. That game was all right, but it was not what I was expecting. So you know that was the San Francisco Buffalo game that you wanted in your tummy. Yes, yeah, that was one thing that Um. When that got tweeted out, a lot of people thought it was slightly odd that the Marines are

sponsor were attached to that ten second sound clip. I don't think it's what the Marines are going for from an image angle, but it was. It hadn't. It was not a commentary on the Marines weeks. Don't don't. Don't be so quick to think that that might be exactly what they were looking for. Um, I'm surprised to hear you put so much into that second half by Tennessee because they were so thoroughly I mean it was seven at halftime, and Tennessee is allowed thirty plus points in

six games this season. Only the Bengals of fewer sacks than Tennessee. And John Robinson he's gotta eat it because this is a team that was a step away from the Super Bowl last year. The needed help on defense, especially in the past rush and he went out and got Vic Beasley, and he went out and got Jadavian Clowney, and neither of those guys did Jack squad for him, So they feel like they're in the same spot. They're not any better. And I like the Titans too, because

I really love the offense. There's just so many studs on that side of the ball. But with a compromised offensive line and a defense that can't really play, uh, that just seems to be a ceiling on this team. They just seem like a team that needs to play with the lead. There's a couple of teams like that out there. They might get a Dory Jackson back. They've been hoping. You know, he's missed the whole year, I think,

or maybe he played Week one or two. I remember you say, how I forget everything, but you know I could. I remember this Jaguars Titans game in Week two very well because that was at the point of the season when I was completely overrating the Jaguars coming off a Week one win, and they outplayed this Titans team in Week two. They ended up losing thirty three to thirty because of a bunch of turnovers, even though they put up about five hundred yards with Gardner Minshew, who's wasted

away on the bench. But it was kind of the start of this Tannehill season that I'm really I'm just so impressed how he's changed his career because you know, we we talked. Yes, he has weapons, but he doesn't have much of an offensive line, and he certainly doesn't have a defense, and he's a top ten quarterback. There's not You're right, there's not a lot of reason to think Mike Glennon can keep up. Mike Glennon's played okay. But if you're gonna look for like a team that

you know might be, they're not. They're not tanking on the field. But if the front office is the one deciding that Glennon is playing, that a little tanking. This is to me the last stand of the Manchuvians, where you know, he's had his chance as a starter, he didn't play very well, didn't leave the team anywhere, and then he gets hurt and the coach doesn't want to put him back in. But the Manchuvians can say, well, you know, they just would have put Gardner in, things

would have been different. You get to have that hypothetical and take that into another off season. So I don't I don't think the Manchuvians are very loud right now. I mean I I think this is a scenario where like they're not playing him because he gives them too of a chance to win games. I played, okay to be fair, like a fine backup quarterback, not a good one,

but a guy who should That's kind of point. It's like this idea that the only possible explanation for Gardner Minshew not playing is because the Jaguars are tanking, because Gardner Minshew obviously so much better than Mike Lennon. No, I don't believe it, but I don't like I think Actually, if you're real about Gardner Minshew, he is who he is. I think he is going to be in the league for a long time as a backup quarterback. He could make spots starts. I don't know if he's a starter.

I thould be a Fitzpatrick. I think he could be too. I think it could be too. But I don't think anyone is saying that this incredible coaching staff has come to the conclusion that Gardner Minshew is the worst quarterback on the roster. That that's absurd. If that's the conclusion they've come, just to me, there's something a little going on behind the scenes. Something I don't hate it, Mark, I don't hate it. It's it's a It's a perfect late season storyline for you. Anyways, my team is oh

and twelve. Mark, give me what I can get. Whatever you can, I will give you something that you won't enjoy. Next I'm gonna go Dallas at Cincinnati. I believe this would qualify as a quicker conversation. All right, I want to tell you something about the Cowboys that really annoys me. Um and it's not news to most people, but while you know, Dann, we covered that Ravens Cowboys calamity for Dallas,

I saw a team that just basically gave up. And the body language as they were panting along the Cowboys bench at the end of that game, Defenders just sitting there with their helmets half off, scowls on their faces, no energy. And you know what the problem is, I've seen the Cowboys look this way multiple times. It wasn't just that game where the season is completely lost, multiple games. I don't think they've ever bought into Mike Nolan's scheme

at all. Guys like Jalen Smith, who were productive in past regimes, guys you you build your defense around, have been completely lost this season. I see no argument for this coaching staff to keep Mike Nolan next season. It's not personally, but but here's the thing. Do you trust Mike McCarthy to say goodbye to one of his boys? Like I just think this feels like a very gerald saying it is. Uh. Sometimes this can cause a problem

with the coach. I just I I wonder what happens to this coaching staff because frankly, the argument does not extend to keep Mike McCarthy for all he's showing us, but get rid of Mike Nolan. I get that there's injuries and stuff, but other teams with injuries have been much craftier in terms of game planning everything than the Cowboys. They feel like a coaching staff shot to us from there's it was a dark, dark night for the Cowboys, and hearing Troy Aikman just be so sad, just told

the whole story. I want Troy on every Cowboys game from now. That was highly entertaining. I like this, He's great. I have no problem with Troy wearing his emotions on his sleeve. He is Mr Cowboy, and especially at this time. I would imagine if you're a Cowboys fan, it actually it feels good. It's like Joe bin Ingo moaning about the Jets on w F A and A two in

the morning. Uh in the nineties lose their this game, big big one for the number three overall pick here that the Cowboys can actually lose and get ahead of the Bengals. Can you imagine? And Dass got up for a trillion dollar contract and the Cowboys and position maybe keep an eye on all this. Um uh. Speaking of

that Bengals, uh team they played the Dolphins. I just want to quickly share before we go on my favorite thing I've seen on the most impressive thing I've seen on a football field in I want to give the man credit, Ron Torbert. He's been an official in the NFL forever. And let's listen into after one of the melee's that happened in this game. What Torbert pulled off

well by both teams both and after the play. During the playing personal foul interference with the opportunity to catch the kick by the kicking team number eighty during the return personal foul illegal blond side block by the return team number eighties six. By rule, Miami is elected to enforce the kick catch interference file from the previous spot

replay fourth down after the play was over. Personal foul, unnecessary roughness by Cincinnati number thirty six Miami number eleven also unsportsmanli conduct by Cincinnati number two, Number thirty six from Cincinnati, number eleven from Miami, and number eighty six from Miami are all disqualified from the game. Will be fourth down. That is now if you are if you are listening to this podcast, you didn't just see that video.

You may think he's reading off a note card. Ron Torbert just gave a sixties second update on everything that just happened in that game with Naria Narius Stumble and just nailed everything. And I'm just like, legitimately not I'm not joking here, amazed that an official can do that, also knowing he's on national television as it happens. I love that you brought that up because if you remember on our recap show, uh, someone was asking I think it was you, Dan, like why player X wasn't removed

right right? And and in in my takeaway was a I would never want to be a ref. I would be a huge hot mess in that scenario trying to memorize all that business. But Secondly, his poise and even the announcers were like, wow, he handled that really well, because you're right. It was like it was like a State of the Union address, no teleprompter. He delivered it flawlessly. Yeah, they the State of the Union. They have a teleprompter that you're just looking at the you're told the transit

official face this direction of the field. That's where the camera's gonna be on you, and just start talk. And I'm glad you pointed out that was one of those things on Game Pass. I always, you know, pressed the forward ten second button whenever you see a penalty. It's like I don't need to see, you know, to save some time, and then you just okay, hit it again and hit again. It was like, how long is this? They go on, hit it again, hit it again. It

was I've never seen such a thing. All right, good stuff, Mark, I believe it snakes to you again. I well, I'm happy to do a third straight. You already all right? That's up. That means that I wouldn't be happy to do that. So it's back to the old zeuser and uh, let us go. So you took dall since he oh yeah, yeah, okay, let's go with hell. I watched Aaron Rodgers about that

Green Bay at Detroit. Uh in one of the late games Detroit, A nice little moment there for Darryl Bevil, who took over for Matt Patricia and what's been just another deeply disappointing season in Detroit. And the Lions with Matthew Stafford throwing for over four hundred yards, wipes out at ten point deficit thirty. They beat the Bears. After the game, Stafford hands the game ball to Bevil and Uh, Bevil says, my emotions right now, I can't even think straight.

I'm just trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. What just happened. And there there's your reminder. And everybody's like, oh, Doug Marone, he's he's working with the Jags the tank. No no, no, no, no, Doug Marone, he's playing the quarterback. He thinks gives them the best chance to win, because these guys are deeply prideful, the coaches, the players. Uh an old uh an old. Colleague of mine at The Journal News, Jeff Gold tweeted me recently in response to

talking about tanking. He said, and I thought it was a good point fans, tank front offices, sometimes tank coaches and players, and the Lions that was a nice moment in a time at a time in their history when

there's not a lot of nice things. But now they won't have anything nice against the Packers because Aaron Rodgers is steaming towards another m v P. It's unbelievable what he's doing this year when now with the numbers as they as they pile up, because when you essentially throw for three or four touchdowns with a one ten to one passer rating every single week, by the time you get to the middle of December, there's some like oh wow stuff going on. And that's what we have with Rogers.

The differences. He used to hold the ball so long, I think because he didn't totally trust what was happening on offense or there's just not guys open, and that was basically his downfall for years. And now he's getting the ball on time, in rhythm, and that's a credit to Matt Laflori and to Aaron Rodgers. I am hoping at least the Lions make this a game because the bevolution is here, you know, that's what we're calling the bevelution is here. It will be televised. This Lions offense. Wow,

you like it? I can't. I mean, this is gonna be hard to it's a show because that is that just changed everything. They were different last week. They played up tempo. There, they went bombs away, they stopped handing the ball off. I almost felt like they just decided, our defense is so bad, let's not worry about like keeping the ball and keeping it away from him. Who cares if they give up thirty points the Mitchell drubisky.

Let's just make old Bevil look good. Let's have some bevolution and uh, let's bring in DeAndre Swift back this week, so maybe they'll be a little frisky. You know, Bevil has wanted to be a head coach for so long. I think he's embracing it. He told the players like, go have fun. And I know that sounds like super simplistic. But the few times that I kind of tweeted about the Lions when I was trying to jump on that

bandwagon a terrible idea. Back in August, I had someone we trust very closely, it has been on our show before text me and say uh, and I was like why, I mean, why can't the Lions because he was like, you don't you don't understand, like these players, that's insurrection time against like Mapatricia. There's just zero fun in that building and it is. The atmosphere is rough. So I think there's something to bevel come in in and saying like come on, like just enjoy yourselves, let it all

hang out. As Greg said, forget about the defenses issues. Um, maybe that gives this chance, this game a chance to be to be interesting. I will say one thing about Davante Adams. I read this incredible stat about him. Of the players with a thousand receiving yards and twelve touchdowns in the first ten games of a season, which he has done. Here is the list along with him, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, and Jerry Rice. I mean, there's just you can't say it in many different ways, how

brilliant this receiver is. He's got a shot to join him in Canton, I think, I mean, I think it's early. It's like we don't need to talk Hall of Fame Canady in the middle of his career, but he has, he's got a chance. He's definitely on that path and here's the staff that tells me this is gonna be a blood bath. Aaron Rodgers, as you might assume under when he's not under pressure, will absolutely carve a team up.

This year, He's completing sevent his passes a pass rating of one touchdowns, and the Lion have the sixth lowest pressure rate in the NFL. So they don't get to the quarterback either. But uh, that's it, Green Bay will romp. I see it, I feel it, and I think you guys agree. Up next in the draft, right, so I get these two dogs as a snake at the end. I mean, I'm basically drafting for Shook and we're gonna hit two minutes is maybe too many for these last

two games. Let's go Falcons Chargers. You want to do two minutes for both games? Yeah? I think that's what we got left right where total total? Now, we'll give him two minutes each. We'll give him too minutes. You know, we gave like five minutes. Uh. These poor fans if they've made it this far into the show. I think one thing that would think about with the Chargers. Someone brought this up to me that Eric b enemy this would be the perfect spot for him Herbert in the division,

these offensive weapons, I like it. If I'm Eric b Enemy, I like this Chargers uh fit I I do would be a little word Herbert just getting out of this season healthy. The way their offensive line play has been playing, they've they've gone from kind of mediocre bad to worse. And that's not usually a problem against the Falcons, but you just don't want to see him get hurt down the stretch. I also think, like the matching with the Enemy and Tom Talsco, I think they should keep Tom Tallesco.

He is, he's hit it on the He's done a lot of good stuff with the draft. I don't think he should be swept out with the rest of the business here. Um. I think it's it's important to see how Justin Herbert kind of bounces back from a ghastly team loss forty five to nothing like and I trust that he will. He doesn't seem to like hold onto his bad places three out of four weeks now, right,

he think he's come back down. It felt like that was rock bottom obviously of the Anthony Linn era, and just to put in perspective, um how bad they were on special teams by one measure. It was the worst special teams game in the last twenty years. They missed the forty six yard field goal attempt, they surrendered a seventy yard punt return for a touchdown, and then they allowed a block field goal try to be returned for

a score, all in the first half. And the Patriots at a sixty one yard punt returned just for good measure in the third quarter, and they and they pinned him inside of the ten three times. The Patriots. Oh my, none of this reflects well on Lynn. I think he needs he needs a miracle at this point, right. Well, and so Lynn is taking over special teams. But along the lines of what you just mentioned, well, I'm not saying it's fixed. It's just that clearly there they understand

that there are issues. But Football Outsiders has them ranked right now as the second worst special teams unit since insane. It doesn't supprectly this has to be two minutes. Where are we at, Hadad? We're dying here? Uh, there we go? How about Raheem mark four and one against non Saints teams? Alright, close it out? Alright, finally, what is still on the board. I'm losing track. Carolina Denver, Oh, it's the COVID Bowl.

Hit the clock, Ricky on the COVID We're now We're now at the point of the season where the Panthers have nine players test positive after they come back from their bye week, and it barely makes a new news ripple um. Technically, not all the nine players tested positive. There were some close contacts. Curtis Samuel is expected to play. Gross Mottos is off the list, but they're missing a bunch of players four and eight. It's a big story, right,

and it's because they were hanging out together. According to they were they were all together at some I don't know what they were doing exactly, but it's trouble. I do wonder this if how this stretch run affects Teddy Bridgewater's future. There he's he has guaranteed money into next year. I think they're going to bring in another quarterback, a young quarterback probably no matter what he does, but he he's probably played his worst games, I would say the

last two or three games that he played. I think to Broncos players that have shown up the last couple of weeks. Shelby Harris on defense leads the league of deflected passes, which seems to be like the like I'm seeing more deflected passes this year than and then almost any other season. And Tim Patrick, I mean, this guy is developed into a true weapon on It's not a

guy anyone talked about. He's there. Number one. He has the most yards of anyone on the team, of all those young good weapons in Denver, he is the most yards. He's a good player. That's Dan No Christian McCaffrey finally ready to come back. And turns out he tweaks his quad last week in practice and now he's he's questionable at time of his taping, and it's like, geez, well, I guess part of it is like, why, you know, if he's kind of banged up, what are you pressing

him for? When they true, I guess they should be very concerned about that, but they've been Mike David has been good on the ground. Well alright, three, Mark, are we gonna go crazy about Mike Davis? Is I asked the question? No, I just simply think that he's It's one thing, like you lose a player in the whole offense falls apart. Their offense has been one of the more fun attacks to watch and I mean it's it's

not that one side of the pretty balanced. Hey, Ricky, before we go, and I'm not calling this into question although I don't have any evidence because I didn't do the research that you you did correctly lock up a team after and really it was a scandalous move to try to lock up the Browns when they were ahead by double digits on Sunday with the excuse that you had woken up at by the way to get up. It's football Sunday. You're the producer of podcast World. I need you up. I need you up at ten am

for kickoff. I mean, what do we need to do? But you then locked up someone I guess from the Monday or Tuesday. Right, nice job. See the next I should get two game lock. No, no, you should know. But let's let's now instead of this all this ridiculous things where we have to track you. UM, just lock something up right now. But the schedule is so lock it, lock team. Am I allowed to lock up the Saints over the Eagles. That's just that's just out of the window.

I'm amazed that that would be one of my that would be one of the Rainmaker's lock even with all those points that I like the Saints there. You can't look in the mirror on that. Well, actually, you know what you can. It's up to you to look in the mirror if you want to do it. Now. Right, that's over. That's over. The number is that I thought it was six and a half seven and a half. Right, Oh okay, all right, I'm gonna be ballsy because you guys never are. And that's why my schedule is so bad.

That's why my locks are so back. You just pick something that's not like Greg's picking the Box over the Viking, like please, I picked the Browns over the Ravens, like Lamar Jackson's wash bro Okay, you should take the Browns too, Yeah, do it. Okay, I'll take the Browns. I was going to do the Giants over the Cardinals. Wait a minute. If I'm making the same lock as Ricky, I'm very concerned. Do you want me to I'll take the rain You're

that you're easily persuadable. Giants the Giants was the one I debated with very closely, either Giants or bucks Erica. The Browns are home. The Browns are nine and three, coming off an incredible game where Baker just played out of his mind. They're they're ready to make a statement. That is the team to lock that feels super manipulates. It's a triple it's a triple lock off. I don't know if we've ever had that. So that's that's cool

for that reason alone. That's good. All right, what's your choice? Who are you going? I'm going with the Browns? Sorry, yes, no, I like it. You're on a street alright, versus the thirty second draft. Let's see. That is the difference I find in this game. Um, Ricky and Mark lock up the Brownies on Monday night. I got the Ravens on the other side. Big lockoff. Check out at lock it up? What is it? Lat and lock ups on Twitter? Uh and and Greg with a nice lock of his own

this week. So we're gonna track all these on Sunday and we'll recap every game we just previewed. Thank you to everybody. And remember the television version of this show is on NFL Network. It airs Sunday morning or Saturday morning, first thing in the morning. I think six am, No, it's five am Pacific, but eight am Eastern, five am Pacific. And if you miss that, airing. Check out your local listings because it does re air during Saturday and maybe

even into Sunday. So flip through your TV guide. You know it's probably on like page twenty eight of the TV guide. Tv R game Pass. The people do watch it on game Pass, and I think they put it up there. Find it, watch it, support us. We love you. This is Dan Hanson signing off for FID Storm the old boss Ricky Hollywood until Sunday. It okay, just feel like you know, Taylor, Swift and Ham putting out a collab on the new album tonight just be the will.

That woman is prolific five months since the last one. Once you put on an album last year two. But the only concern is it it sounds like it might be leftovers from the previous session. It's the same writer. It's the national guy, That's what I mean. That's a little problematically. I've looked at the track list. There's like fourteen. Well they see that happens a lot though and sometimes and that you always picked the best ones for the first But as I've as I've said, maybe not in

this podcast, but I throw it back a lot. I find her to be the Bruce Springsteen of her generation, and when Bruce was at his peak, he was so prolific that he would have an album and write forty tracks for an album and there would be a lot of stuff on the cutting and four that was still really good. I think she could be you know, she could do it. I would not be surprised if this is good. Also, if you think about it, fourteen song, it's like every year. Is not that that's huge for

a singer and songwriter. But it's not like it takes seven billion years to do that. Oh wow, that's a take. Yeah. No, I'm just thinking like where you I wrote three songs this morning. No, it's like you like, we're I I think she's the not too, I mean we're we've done it, We've done in a band with the girl I hated back to Glorado. It's not it's not an anti take on her. I think she's the best. But did you watch her her live playing it at in the Long

Pond Studios in New York. Well, I watched the Apple special, the Apple Plus Special, which was great. What was that? Oh, it's awesome. If you have Apple Plus, check it out. It was just the whole the making of that album and then the guy from the Nationals in it, and that's where I watched. That's what I meant, Disney plus yeah thing, Yeah, you gotta watch it all. I got to see that. Yeah, I have to. I texted you about it, Mark, you you said you're going to watch it.

I know I'm not. I don't have endless, like endless time to do this, like a wheel you have time to tweet clips of her playing clean on the piano, you know what, Like I realized, like everyone else is like the biggest music experts on the planet. I have certain songs of hers that I love and like they may not be the same ones as everyone else, but I love that song. And there's not a single song from her that I don't. Nobody was, no one was, no one's going after your clean take there clean is

like the is like amazing, It's great. I think that ver like her. That version of it with her is super badass. It's a good take, Mark, it's a good take. Good. I feel validated. I'm putting this at the end of the episode,