2021 NFL Championship Weekend Preview

to the four bangers. We got divisional round weekend. Um, how you feeling, Greggy has the rainmaker feeling? How you feeling as a football fan? Do you think we have more greatness in store this weekend? I do? And you you hope that there's not a letdown after last week? But yeah, it's early in terms of forecast. But there is that or easter here, you know, on the East coast, and there are some Doppler reports about potential rain this week. And is it an is it a year, I don't know,

some precipitation. It's a climate change year. You know it's all coming nailed it? Mark? How are you, buddy? I am doing quite well. I um, I have been kind of thinking about these two matchups, and you know, I've we got a lot of chiefs in our life, but the idea that the Bengals exists this weekend is extremely new to me. And I've been a Niners guy from wire to wire, so I've got a lot going on

in both of these games. I'm plugged in and by wire to wire, you you're leaving out the part where you took them out of your prediction for winning the Super Bowl halfway through the season. I was leaving that out until you mentioned I think had you you know, maybe if you not mentioned that, it would have skated by some of the listeners, new listeners especially. But but the truth out, we did a great job. I was

with you, Mark Me, you Adam Rank. I remember we were on the vanguard of picking the forty Niners to win the Super Bowl, only too unlikely games to go. I think the only thing that that must be super annoying about it is that you you jumped to the Cardinals. It's almost like if you had it in reverse, it would have been glorious, but it want the other way. I think in general, and you know who am I to tell the people running NFL dot Com what to do. But the mid season, UM, the option to go in

and rejigger your picks. I've fallen for it, eurue to your as it lacks courage. I'm now never gonna do it again. I'm not changing anything. Um And but you fall into traps, and I fell into a horrendous um

Mark sized Mark shaped trap called the Arizona Cardinals. Well it all ended up where you wanted to be because you get Kyle Shanahan with the chance to go back to the Super Bowl against his old buddy McVeigh in Los Angeles, and we're gonna get to that game second before we get And we're also gonna, by the way, we're gonna get some updates on what's going on on the personnel carousel as the coaches are starting to find new homes nine you know, nine jobs, nine new coaches.

Like that old hard hard knocks thing where you have to check the box for three different things to be hard knocks eligible. There's only three teams that are hard knocks eligible now because there's just so much churn right now in our league. So we're gonna get into that. We're gonna get too obviously both games this weekend, but I just want to before we get into the championship

game previews. Starting with the a f C, let's first formally say goodbye to one of the more important figures of the American Football Conference of the last fifteen to twenty years. Ben Roethlisberger has retired after a long time run with the Steelers. He almost certainly is a Hall of Fame player. He has the pelts on the wall, a great talent, and now we say goodbye, Ricky. Yeah, I just wanted to paris respects as we say goodbye. Are you going to speak any words or it's just music? No,

We're just saying goodbye, a moment of silence to some degree. Okay, it's called a solemn respect. What if I'd like to say words? You know, I feel like we ended on a bad note with all this big Ben talk. What you for only assassinated last? You kin? You kind of think about Roethlisberger first winning those super bowls, right, and by the way, he was not There's this idea that he was carried along for the first one, yes in the super Bowl, but he played fantastic in the playoffs

before that, which I think gets forgotten. Well that Super Bowl was an and you think about one of the greatest throws in NFL history to Santonio's, and then you think about this end bit, which was ugly. But in between, he was weirdly underrated for for a guy who was as famous and um talked about as anyone. I actually think like the average fan often like had him a tick lower than he actually was. Like there's been debates.

Today's like who's had a better career? Him a real I man, He's like, it's like, let's let's be real, like like Tom Brady. Roethlisberger played his best football the best stretch of his career in his mid his young thirties, when he wasn't winning super Bowls. I went, I went. I can look at the QB Index, for instance, from eighteen he was ranked top five every year but one

he was ranked top three like three times. That that is like a level and that was like when his physicality and kind of his mind were all messed together. That I feel like people kind of sleep on like he was the man hold on, Like how I do feel like hordes hordes of football fans of the past, you know, fifteen plus years. Saul big Ben as a Hall of Famer in his career. I mean, I just mean that he was at that level. There was still this idea that he was just he brought total terror

adult life. As a fan. Let me share um one more time. The Simpsons corollary here, that he was a very good quarterback, a Pro Bowl quarterback, a Super Bowl winning quarterback, and then he started to get old, and then he blew out his elbow, and he came back last year and he was okay at best and sometimes bad. And then there was this year which he was pretty consistent le terrible. So he was out of the limelight as a honest to goodness, very good to great quarterback

for like four years. And I think that sometimes shades memories immediately after the fact. They think when people that are old enough, you see the bigger picture. But for people that have a shorter memory, or maybe our younger fans, he's not a very this guy that deserves any type of look back or retrospective on his career. But certainly he does right and he was to me, he was a Hall of Famer without winning a Super Bowl. That

I guess that's where the difference is. Like there's no comparison with him and Eli Man and he if you're if you're a top five quarterback that many times in your career, like Roethlisberg, you're a Hall of Famer. He didn't even he didn't even need those Super Bowls. And it is crazy to think. There was this report this week about how the forty thought they had a deal

for him. You know, he was trying, you know, the Rooney's tried to trade him after the sexual assault stuff and they couldn't find the right deal, and that the forty Niners ownership wanted to do it, and supposedly say Ingle Terry thought he owed Alex Smith the chance and that he didn't want to go down that road because he had been talking about characters so much. That is a crazy moment uh in NFL history, when Ben Roethlisberger was available for a trade. That like, just what would

have changed if that had happened. I do like that, Dan, This started as a moment of silence, and I think, you know, if you're gonna take the last time, if you you know, if you're gonna take Greg to a public function and is to pay respects to a dead character or a dead figure, has gone on, and you know, the entire stadium is hushed, and Greg is suddenly unfurling like a twenty five minute diet tribe on the individual that somehow didn't turn as negative as I thought it would. Here.

Everything was very on brand for the Around the NFL podcast, just exactly, and I hope people enjoyed it. All. Right, So big Ben gone, But we get a lot watch a lot of quarterbacks right now in their prime. And let's start with two superstars. One a superstar who established himself most immediately from the chance he got a starting job in Patrick Mahomes. And on the other side of the field, another guy who ascended in his second year.

His first year ruined by knee injury halfway through, but now Joe Burrow is fully formed playing at an elite level. And now we have the Cincinnati Bengals, the upstart Cincinnati Bengals twelve and seven, the fourth seed in the a f C, traveling to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs fourteen and five, the second seed, both teams obviously coming off victories.

Um the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the top seeded Titans nineteen sixteen on a last second Evan McPherson field goal the Chiefs got by the Bills six and one of the great games of all time. So let's start here, Mark Chiefs hosting the AFC Championship Game for the fourth year

in a row. That's a record. And it seems to me that all of a sudden, with all of this, the ups and downs and potholes on the road for the Chiefs this year, to me, I enter this weekend looking at the three weeks remaining to the season and say, this is the chief Super Bowl to lose. Am I alone? Are you with me? How do you feel about that? It's it's hard, you know, with the visual evidence that we received over the past two weeks, to feel differently

than what you just said. Because what they did to Buffalo's defense, which we had spent months talking about, UM, they devastated them. They to me seem like they flipped the switch. Patrick Mahomes At this point, UM is operating in a different dimension of human development. All the doubts that we've had about Kansas City are gone. I mean, I guess you could look at the defense and say, yes, the defense remains an issue to some degree, But I look at this game and I'm trying to find the

advantage for Cincinnati. What's the thing you can point to and say, if you if, if this is not the end, this is not where the rainbow ends. Because I'm struggling with this matchup for the Bengals as much as I my heart is with them to make this a great game. Um, you could point to Week seventeen. Uh you know, they they held Patrick Mahomes who I think fifty yards passing in that second half. It was one of his uh less impressive halfs of the entire season. No team outside

of uh. They they put up more yardage on Kansas City in that Week seventeen win in Cincinnati than than than all but one other team this year. And Jamaar Chase had his way. He broke the rookie single game rookie record for receiving. So if you're the Bengals, can you recreate um the big play magic. There was a lot of yards after the catch in that game, which is what they specialized. That happened against the Tennessee last week. I I remain concerned because my one thing is, yes,

this is not Jeffrey Simmons. This is not the Titans who were such a bad matchup protection wise for the Bengals. But there is this like figure in the midst Hakim aDNA Je who there's the right guard who's been getting mentioned by everyone because he was flamed by Tennessee. And now you've got Chris Jones coming in, and I just wonder, if you're the Bengals, you almost are gonna probably have to go. If you get last week's version of the Chiefs,

maybe you have no chance. But if you can coax them into mistakes, that's great too, because they did They did that with Ryan Tannehill. That's this isn't Ryan Tannehill. But secondly, they're gonna have to score drive after drive after drive and that's not been their DNA over the last two weeks. It just hasn't been. But this is an easier matchup, isn't it. Defense? That's what I mean. I guess you're saying you're looking for something to believe in.

How about the fact that every time the Chiefs play a good quarterback, they gave up about thirty and it comes down to the last drive. The biggest games of the week, that's what I mean. In the biggest games of the season, Chargers, they were very lucky to get out of that alive total duel offensive fire show comes down to last possession, same exact game against the Bengals. Uh, they got some pressure against the Bengals, but Burrow made plays against pressure, and they're not nearly the past rush

that the Raiders have or the Titans have. And then last week against the Bills, when when this defense, which is awful in the first month and month plus and pretty bad here down the stretch, plays a big time quarterback, They're pretty bad. I mean it. It goes to my point that defense, you know, matters, but only so much. And to me, the Chiefs are a mediocre defense. Frank Clark hasn't made a play in two months. He's killing them. Uh. Ingram has been a godsend and Chris Jones actually has

been a little quiet. For Chris Jones since that Bengals game. It's only been a few weeks, but he hasn't made a bunch of big plays. So if I'm Burrow, I look at this matchup and think, Okay, this is a defense that might take some chances against me, might send pressure, and even if they don't, I like my matchups on the outside, and it's A. It's a it's the defense that I last played my best against, and I think

that would give him some confidence. I see all that, and it's that is the way of defenses in one at least, where even if statistically you you rank pretty well, when you face a big time offense, it's very easy to get lit up because some of these quarterbacks are just so good and they have weapons around them are so good that they're just gonna eat. And that's what Joe Burrow did, of course with Jamaar Chase and that amazing UH win over the Chiefs late in the season.

I do I put something in personally because I've seen obviously it makes sense a lot of connecting the dots with this matchup to the last time we saw them. I just think it's different. Once you get to this stage of the season. It is you're playing for the super Bowl, You're playing at Arrowhead. That place is gonna

be going bonkers now to UH. For Cincinnati, it's good that they had that Tennessee game because that crowd was loud there in Nashville as well, so it's not gonna be like you're not gonna be able to adjust on the road against the frenzied crowd. But I still think these things matter. I think the the amount of UM repetition Kansas City has had in the spot I I

believe in that. I think that will matter now. The other the other way to look that, of course, is Cincinnati now is that young, upstar team that just believes,

and it's just building and building and building. But ultimately, this is where I have the concerns greg and everyone's been pinpointing it um for a week now, and I watched the game again this morning, and I just it's hard to believe how bad the past protection was uh for Burrow against the Titans now, he was sacked nine times, and he had one sack that got wiped off by a delay of game and another sack that got wiped away.

I'm trying to remember what happened. There was a oh I wish I remember, But basically you could easily gotten up to eleven sacks on him. And I just think, if you're gonna have to score five touchdowns to win this game, you have to be very clean and very effective upfront. And the last time we saw them, they simply were not. It's fair, but they haven't really been any different all year. It's not like it's new players

or new injuries. They gave up I think the most amount of sacks in the NFL in the regular season. I just thought I saw a different aggressiveness out of Cincinnati in that Chiefs game, and I don't think they needed it the last couple of weeks. I guess I'm I'm looking at this team more as a whole, and just when they have the ball, they have a big time advantage, I think, and and I think the opposite is obviously true and maybe even more so. But if I had to choose which defense I trust like a

little bit more right now, it's actually the Bengals. Now, if I choose the offense I trust more, it's absolutely the Chiefs. But I don't think it's some sort of crazy mismatch just because it's because it's two, because the Bengals have this office, and because Jamaar Chase changes everything. I almost think his greatness because it's a little hard to figure out, like why is he so great again? You know, like he he doesn't jump off the screen

in terms of just raw speed. It's sort of like the subtle movements he makes, you know, kind of like an Antonio Brown almost where guys just take the wrong angle. Like in the first game, you know who he crushed a couple of times was Tyron Matthew. So even if Matthews back in this game, and we don't know if he is very well, might not be because of that concussion. Like they flamed, he flamed Matthew who took terrible angles

chases shown he can run the entire rout tree. And when you have a guy that good and he is historically good, uh he he is right there with Randy Moss as the as the best rookie receiver of all time, and he shows he can do everything. That's a great place to start with a mismatch. And I just feel like when they have the ball, it's a mismatch. So I kind of like them to put up a lot of points in this I'm with you that it's I could see it being high scoring. Like I'm not looking

at a blowout. But the Chiefs team that I saw last week has moved into a different world than the team we were dealing with for a long time. I mean, they effortlessly had put up forty plus two weeks in a row. That's the first team to do that in the in the playoffs. Since the Buffalo Bills, I mean, that's that's there's been a lot of good teams since then. They're on fire. And I don't know if I trust

this Bengals defense. Yes, they they generated turnovers last week, and I think they confused Ryan Tannehill and played a great game and helped that gave they gave their offense a chance. But I don't know if you stop Kansas City more than twice in this game, I just don't with the way that they're operating right now, Like how like what it? To me? This Bengals defense is fine. They're middle of the pack type squad to some degree.

They had one sack and five pressures last week. And to Dan's point about the protection, when the Chiefs played the Bengals the first time, they had four sacks and twenty two pressures. So I don't I hear that Frank Clark and Chris jones Um have not been at their prime selves. But this is the kind of game where one of those guys probably will blow up and have a chance to be a total game changer, and they did. They did get pressure on the Bengals last week. Now,

Burrows awesome against pressure. And I think the one thing that the Bengals have, to Dan's point, and just sort of they are daring do their fancy free right now. It maybe they don't belong here, but it certainly seems like they do some weeks. And it's something about Burrow, like their offensive coordinator basically said, look at if Burrow's got to get hit at this stage, Joe Burrow is fine with that. We're gonna do whatever it takes ron the razors edge. We're gonna get out of these games.

It's not gonna look perfect, it's just who we are, and Burrow does seems completely unshaken. That's what I love about the most hit the way he's responded to those nine sacks a week ago. Other quarterbacks would have been in a completely different world. They didn't. I mean, they didn't uh break twenty points last week, so they were slowed down absolutely uh. And if the Chiefs are able to do anything close, it's gonna be lopsided now by

the way. I do think even though he got put in a blender the last time they met, I think um Tyrone Matthew is a very important part of that defense. He um returned to practice on Thursday, and you read on Wednesday spoke optimistically, So I think Honey Badger is going to be back, and like Mark saying, like guys like Honey Badger, guys like Chris Jones. These are guys that you know, the big time players tend to step up when it counts most, so invisible efforts from them,

I would be surprised. Uh. We we should hear from the Westling Brothers, by the way, because they've been handling their Lock of the Week picks and that lock of the lock belt is wide open after mark big lock off victory in the divisional playoffs. Uh. The spoiler to this is the Westling Brothers. Let's see what they have to say about this game. Hey guys, it's Nick here. After another quality lock last week, we're down too with

two to play in the competition. It's amazing. All I've heard this week is how the two best young quarterbacks in the league had to play each other in the divisional round and it's such a shame one of them had to lose. All you media types drolling over Alan and the homes, Oh, we feel so blessed to be able to watch these two of Hall of Famers, answering their pride. Enough of it. I told all three of you before the playoffs, this was the beginning of Joe

Burrow being the best quarterback in the league. And he's gonna show it again this week. Grady and Rodgers on their way out, Burrow on his way up. That's why I'm gonna lock it up. Oh yeah, I'll be in l A next week. Hopefully we'll see you there. Oh look at that get together with Nick Westling next week. I don't know. He just told you to suck on it, so I'm not sure where you're relation. That's all right,

that's all in. That's in good sport. When I when I assassinate him on the cornhole boards when he's out here, and then we'll, uh, I'll settle that battle as well. I love that. I love the confidence. It's it's confidence. It's just like Cincinnati. It's just like the Bengals themselves. At this point. It's like, Hey, we're playing with house money. We're feeling good, we're feeling confident. I think his point.

I see his point. I think Alan and Mahomes personally are at a higher plane than Burrow, but that can change as soon as Sunday. If Burrow does light up the Chiefs and take this Cincinnati team from the seller last season and complete knee reconstruction recovery in the off season to the super Bowl, oh yes, he has reached the upper reaches of the superstar club. That's fun. That said, uh I, as I hinted to Mark or told him out right, I am locking up the Chiefs. I do

it with a little bit. It's a little bit of trepidation because I would absolutely be down with Cincinnati going to the Super Bowl. I love it. I love the West High into it. I know Lakisha is rooting hard for it, so um that part of it makes it a little bitter sweet for me. But at the end of the day, I'm trying to win a title. I'm trying to put that trophy right here, and I'm riding my home. So I'm locking up the Chiefs and I'll

put it at thirty eight. I think that's you know, you've gotten this far with completely respectable and admirable um played in so it's it's it's in your natural right to lock up the Chiefs. And you know there's only one thing, like you didn't think it was admirable a few weeks ago, and Greg went after him struggled. Maybe that turned the tide? Is that how? I hope that translated that correctly. Um, there's only one thing I can do.

But you know what, I kind of feel wonderful about this because A we're all we've all been thinking about um Wes in in joined fashion. Whenever we think about the Bengals, we think about his brothers, we think about it all. If this is where I go down, UM, I couldn't be more excited to lock up the Bengals and just test faith and tell the football gods maybe for once you do something that pleases me, not just you. Let's see what happens. You know what. This is the

threshold for Joe Burrow. This is like watching the rise of Jim Kelly. This is like watching Mahomes bloom, Like what young Aaron Rodgers. This is the next version of that. Will it happen this weekend? We'll find out its last. The last couple lock championships were clinched there by Patrick Mahomes. I believe the round before, but generally I was just riding the Chiefs throughout the last three playoffs. I remember West was annoyed with it initially, um and uh and

they they deliver that that's what they do. And it is crazy too to root against them, which I will be on Sunday because mahomes right now is it's like the rest of the game is in slow motion for him. He didn't have he didn't throw a pass over twenty yards last week, which is crazy for the first time in his career. It's like they did the too deep safety thing and he he solved and he ran and

he's so hard to get down. I thought that was like the kind of the sneaky key to that game was they actually got pressure on him and he's just like he's like in the matrix or something where everything is in slow motion. It's like, how do you beat that guy? Uh? And maybe you beat him with Jeremy Bates and a Whoosia and Hilton They made other things in his life are like that. It's like he drive in slow motion? Does he play like a video game? Is everything slow when he sees it that way too?

I'm curious when people say that these great quarterbacks the game slows down like him almost more than any other player was like guys were just like flying around at his feet and he was about to do some crazy arm angle and it was just like he was in total control. He was. He got almost overshadowed in that game,

and he was perfect like he was. I would say not more than any other player, because when I think of like everything operating in slow motion around a quarterback, I think Aaron Rodgers at the top of the list. He was right there unless since January, right, and Rodgers is patting that ball, patting that ball, he's staring at Devote Adams, right, Aaron Rodgers can slowly work on his mullet for the next five months. Sam Howard's got to step up. Hendrickson's got to step up. They got to

create some pressure. They're on the field every down. Bates has been great, he's got to step up. And Joe Burrow, it's just gotta make us. They just gotta make like one or two times. And Joe Burrow has got to do something that Nick spoke to it where when everyone's talking about the others, it's like, even coming into this game, no one really believes in Joe Row at this level.

I just mean to like win this game, to cover, to be at Mahomes level, to outduel Mahomes even though he just did it three weeks ago, and one of us people Greg and it's like you kind of got to see it. So it's like you could say, oh, he's already as good as Mahomes and Johns, Well, why don't we wait until Sunday? And if he is, then he is. I'm not there yet, but I'm there that he can do it for one week. And uh, I'm there that this Chief's defense is gonna be disappointing again.

And I'm there that we're gonna get another classic game coming down to the wire. And that's why it's gonna be raining in on Sunday in Cincinnati. Seven points is a slap in the face to the West Lan. That's a slap in the face that Joe Burrow. He's covering that spread. They're gonna win this game too, but they'll definitely cover seven. Wow. I love it. Um Hey, Ricky jump in a second. Do you watch um Euphoria on HBO? I don't, actually, I quite like I know you watch it. Mark.

It's upsetting. I like don't want to believe that high school could be like that nowadays. Hey, Okay, well then Ricky I'm done with you. Then I'm surprised and a little disappointed that I can't speak on this. Are you caught up Mark on euphor you I have? I have only missed the most recent episode, which I played even this afternoon. Episode three, season two is the best of

the series so far. And at one point, one of the high school girls is laying by the pool wearing like these pink Designer sunglasses, and they're the exact Designer sunglasses that Joe Burrow wore during his postgame press conference on Sunday. I love that. That is unbelievable, a symbol of something. I want to read a quote just quickly from from Burrow this week. I'm tired. I'm tired of the underdog narrative. We're here to make noise. Teams are

gonna have to pay attention to himself. Like I said, we're really good team with really good players were coming forward off. I like that he throws that underdog stuff away. You can do this, you can. Did you lock up the Bengal? Sorry? I know the rain Now, I just want I did pick them um on my game, picks on on the website. But let's be real, it's partly just because I want to be rooting for us and linkside why not? And I do believe that they'll cover.

So if you're gonna, if you're gonna believe in that, then why not just go on. I do feel like the Mussolini of this podcast now these I believes the Raiders, and I wasn't really on the Raiders. I was trying to. I was trying to search for an upset in that week one, the wild card round, and it just never really appeared. Well, I'm not saying you're coming from like a sinister angle again start feel good mission on any level, but I um, you'll be proud of me this time

around on multiple platforms. I'm keeping the same pick across the board. I'm not doing the old whatever it's I have, and I'm very much like Greg maybe wish casting. I have thirty five thirty two Cincinnati, align with my lock in overtime, check your later smell your latter cases. I love the over here too. I love the over even even more you you have thirty five what was it,

thirty thirty two? In ot So, the Chiefs get the ball, kick a field goal, and then the Beaver stop the Bengals would get Yeah, the Bengals would win with one field goal in overtime unless they change the rules between now kickoff. I have thirty three thirty one, I believe on the old website over time, over time with the seven, I think they're gonna go one last. I think they're gonna go for four. Remember how that game ended in week seventeen, how they didn't let my homes if if

nothing I was. I kind of think they're gonna lose big or win because I think they're gonna go for fourth downs. They're gonna try, They're gonna have all the daring do as Mark would say on Andy, Reid's been punting a little bit on these fourth downs. An opponentary, I think Cincinnati knows they're gonna give up thirty and they're gonna play like it on offense. And whether that works. Because if I have thirty eight thirty two, Marcus thirty two,

you have thirty three thirty one. My last thing was gonna be this could be forty two. It could. It absolutely could. The way the Chiefs play, they can run teams out of a building in the playoffs. Will see if it happens again, all Right, that's the a f C. Before we get to the NFC title game, we're gonna do some news personal carousel. But before that, let's take a break. All right, we are back and it is time, gentlemen,

to hop aboard the NFL personnel carousel. Nine vacancies entering business hours traditional banking hours on Wednesday, but now they're starting to fill. The first one's up, Biggie, the Denver Broncos. They hire Nathaniel Hackett as head coach. How about that, Hackett who just a couple of weeks ago couldn't even get a head shot on NFL dot Com, leading to a lot of internal consternation for one particular on camera

reporter uh. Three emails uh, you know, and around the NFL podcast speculation and conversation with David Eally at the news desk. That got taken care of. And now Hackett, the Packers offensive coordinator previously, is the head coach. Hackett has worked with the quarterbacks at all phases on the development curve in his career. Uh. He was scheduled to interview with the Jags on Thursday, but the Broncos stepping

Wednesday night get that deal done. And this is Greg Hackett's first stint as a head coach replaces Vick Faggio. Do you buy into any of the hype here that the green Bay quarterback coach might be able to lead Lore the green Bay quarterback? Yeah? I do. I do think that has to be the extra you know, drizzle of syrup on top of this Sunday, you know, like they know that might not be the difference or not, but absolutely they they want to go after Aaron Rodgers

and this is a huge plus. And they were deciding apparently between Hackett and Dan Quinn. Kevin O'Connell from the Rams was also another finalist, but it seemed like it was Hackett or Quinn and choosing the offensive guy just makes more sense. And oh, because you're gonna need a quarterback anyways this offseason if you don't get Rodgers, you need someone that can develop a quarterback. And Hacketts, you know,

done it with Bleak Bordles. You know, they had a pretty good offense at some points and and Rogers loves them. So I just how could it not be a factor, right, I don't know, how could that not be? Did Denver make this higher, like making on the chance that this happens,

because that would seem maybe he was a finalist. Jacksonville too that the reason they hired him today was Jacksonville was bringing him back for a second interview, and Ian reported at that point Denver was like, we gotta, we gotta make our decision now, and they wanted to get it done. You know, he he's actually I know it's you know, Blake Bortles and the Jaguars is just a constantly, you know, point and laugh scenario. But um, he did a really nice job that year they went to that

AFC title game. Nathaniel Hackett showed creativity. Um he's really the one thing you hear over and over he is in incredibly smart, organized, and I thought, if you even go back to his earlier days with the Buffalo Bills, he kind of helped create Tyrod Taylor into something as well. I mean, he's shown I know, I know, I know. I'm just saying that whoever he's had to work with, he's done a nice job maximizing them. But I don't I'm so with Greg and I assume you as well,

then like, how do you take this job? If you're Nathaniel Hackett? I love to know what he knows about I take the job. Ares there's a lot of great play. No no no, no, no, no, but but Greg, Greg, Greg, you all last season we're all about the Broncos with a what what I saw as a ceiling zero scenario quarterback. You lose jobs if you don't get that quarterback, you lose them in two or three to what you're saying, Mark, like when I talked about on Tuesday show the dan

Quinn scenario. Who, by the way, it looks like dan Quinn now is going to stay in Dallas. I'm more men, if you are like you've already been fired once, you usually don't get more than two chances at it. Choose very carefully, ya. Daniel Hackett to me is maybe a little bit of a different category where you don't know how many chances you are going to get, how many

bites you get out the apple. Now, you could say, maybe he should have given more thought or taken that extra interview with Jacksonville where you have a young, potentially dynamic quarterback and Trevor Lawrence. But perhaps there's more to this story than we know. I guess on the service

that doesn't really move the needle. To me, as a higher if if you're we're throwing out names like developing of Blake Bordles and Tyrod Taylor, unless the Broncos and Hackett have a more grand plan that involves a certain number twelve. Otherwise I'm like, I guess good high well. And he comes from the coaching tree that's kind of dominating right now in the NFL. I mean, now he's part He not only was his dad, you know, Bill Walsh's right hand man, but he's now coming from the

La Fleur Shannon. You know, he's had a mix of different influences and he's coming from that La Fleur experience, which is a plus. Connor Or wrote a great article about him. Uh, he seems he seems to be well liked by the media, which always makes me a little a little skeptical. You can tell, you can tell he does some work with the you know, pressing the flesh media wise, behind the scenes. But I do think it matters that they brought in the Packers quarterback coach for

a head coach interview as well. I just think that there's something else happening here in that Nick Nathaniel Hackett not not seeing inside information. But you don't take this because Vick Fonjo just got fired for the no quarterback problem. Sorry he did, he wasn't because of his defense. And if you're Nathaniel Hackett, who is a lower level higher he's been in the league for just doing other stuff forever, you've got to know that there's a possibility that you're

bringing the best quarterback and football to your team. I got Yeah. My my feeling on this is if that's if that's just you made this higher because it gives you the possibility of getting Rogers. Be careful there, but it's not like he's done enough and he has enough for resume where you're not like shipwrecked if you don't

get Rogers. But at the same time, I wonder how much this really led to him getting this chair in Denver, and how desperate the Broncos are to finally solve their quarterback problem, even if that means going all out for a guy that's turning thirty nine or however Rodgers. Is this weird situation because there there should be new ownership this year, which is just difficult for everyone. I um.

The Chicago Bears also have found their man. It is Matt eberf Loose, the Colts defensive coordinator Ira Fus is fifty one year old. He was also in the running for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. He joins new manager Ryan Poles in taking over a Bears team that went six and eleven last year under Matt Naggy, Chicago team that is dreadfully boring, that's missed the playoffs nine in the past eleven years, but does have justin fields there.

So when we talk about this again, all right, you have a dynamic young quarterback, very raw, but a lot of potential, So Ebra Fluce gets to come in and maybe keep that defense where it is or take it up a notch um. He could use some more players on that side of the ball too, But you also have this young quarterback. So this this is a Greg to me, a better job opening than Denver on some level. But also there's a lot of dysfunction in Chicago and it's been that way for a while, so buyer beware

here as well. Yeah, one question that they're not going to answer is how much influence did Ryan Poles the GM have in this higher They were already they already interviewed finalists before they had a GM. We've talked a lot about I think the way to do it is have your coaching GM aligned in the same hiring cycle.

But I also think that the GM should be, you know, part of the head coaching higher and you just don't know if how much influence Polls had, because for instance, he's had experience with other people that interviewed for that job. We don't know if ownership was making the decision. I think that's a safe assumption, or if it was his

polls and he was helping to pick the tiebreaker. The most important part of any head coaching job, I think is something that's impossible for us to evaluate before they're hired or even after. Frankly, it's like, how do you lead a team? How do you organize, how do you plan? How do you hire? Eberflus's scheme in Indianapolis didn't blow you away. I mean, they were aggressive and had forced a lot of turnovers, but they weren't a great defense. They were fine, you know what I mean. So it

doesn't get you too excited. But people seem to love Maddie for Flus, he was maybe gonna you know, he was a finalist in Jacksonville. Two people around the league love this dude, So maybe he's great at all that stuff and they and they see that. Yeah, I mean, I'm with you. It's not like we understand the eber Flu scheme is something that's taking revolution that you know over the league. But I think the thing is, I mean a it's very Bears like to replace Matt and

Ryan with another Matt and Ryan. It's it's a very um on Brandon for the Bears. And some Bears fan was anticipating this moment. Did you see that tweet? We got it right before we started. I believe he was very he was very upset. I can't wait to hear the hard hitting, in depth analysis of this Bears pick. His name is Matt. I don't like it, Dure Well, I'm sorry, I didn't mean I. First of all, it might be a guy. I like the analysis. I don't like this guy. I I would say this, like you.

The only thing about hiring a defensive coach in in two um, I mean, it's worked for the it's worked for the Bills, and they found the right see the groom, Josh Allen. So it's like the whole point here was we finally have a quarterback. Who are you going to marry with Justin Fields for the next five seven years in theory, and it's Matt Eberflus is not the first person I would have picked for that journey. So it's

really important what they do. And to your point, where like these guys, they have to in these interviews explain here's who I can hire as as my staff. You don't find out after you hire, so they must be impressed. Although I don't know who they is because Bears upper management seems totally lost in the forest to me. But there must be some answers to what the plan is for Justin Fields reports that the Eagles passing game coordinator

Kevin Patulo is okay. I mean they ran the ball more than any team in the league and we're lost as a passing team. But will I have a nice favorite. I know who they can hire, get Ben Macadoo to lead their offense. Well, he was hired from the trade Forum, from the piece of rock Star. It really is funny to think of that. Jay Glazer report that they need to hire a rock Star coordinator. Also, Um was close

with I'm forgetting his name. There is there are some weird rumors about who we might hire Okay, Well, stick a pin in that. Mark and Jason Garrett, that's on my mind that he was take out the axe again. Give me a tasty lick, Ricky, Jason Garrett. I there's people concerned that he'd do that. I'd um. And since we've mentioned the Jacksonville Jaguars twice now and both these um head coach coaching carousel, personnel carousel scenarios, where are

they at? You know, they hired they fired Urban Meyer like what feels like about three years ago. Long time Cardinals beat man Mike directly reports that the Cardinals executive Adrian Wilson will become the next general manager of the team. And that's important because reports have it that Byron Leftwich was all set to become the head coach of the Jaguars.

The Jags wanted him, but he said, I want to be the coach of the Jaguars, but I won't do it if Trent Balkys the GM, which obviously was quite a wrench for a shot Khan and Jacksonville, who for some reason remain committed to Balki for the time being. So let's see how this all shakes out. I just thought we could wait and talk about this when it becomes a final next week. But it seems like something that could be eminent, and it all is connected, So Greg,

where do you take all this? There's been some premature reporting and and I would put the directly report in that it might prove to be correct, but at least our network. Other networks are saying that's not finalized in terms of Wilson, but yeah, it's us and he like what everyone said that Balki was a a wrench here in what the Jaguars are trying to do has proven true.

Supposedly multiple coaches turned down the interview at all, and uh I appreciate Left, which kind of standing up for what he believes in and it doesn't want to get caught in a bad situation. Balki has been a little bit of a coach killer, and he worked with Adrian Wilson who was a badass player with the Cardinals and now is apparently a badass GM That would be a

very likable combo. And supposedly they're interviewing Vic Fongio to maybe be the defensive coordinator give me Left, which Adrian Wilson two guys I enjoyed watching play, you know, now we're old enough. Like that was while we were actually working in this in this business and Fonio and I'll be a Jaguars fan. I like that likability. It doesn't put Lombardi trophies in the lobby, I mean, but it's what else do I know about this thing? You know?

Left Which could do it? Why not? He? It seems great so strongly about Adrian Wilson, but he really I covered that. I was the NBC like guy covering the Cardinals that week, and so I sort of fell in love with that team. And he was the captain of that team in the leader in left Wich? Who doesn't like Byron Leftwich? Come on, in Vic Fongio, you get left Which on offense? Why do I have to love Byron Leftwich? I don't know. He was a likable player. He was a fun player. He was a likable guy.

He's he was a likable one of the more enjoyable, you know, tremendous personality. He's funny, just garius as hell. Remember when they carried him down the field that Marshall That was unbelievable on a bum leg. He was a warrior on that Marshall team, the Thundering Herd. Alright, I'm just being um alright, that's what's going on in the news. Let's now move on to the a f C Championship game.

Unless anybody else had any other nug from around the league. Well, we've actually got a developing situation here, Ricky hit It Hall. There's been a surprise press conference called oh where for Dan Hansas. Oh, Dan Hansas is closing in on the Locks championship and uh, he's just gonna take some questions from the crowd. Wow, what's going on here? Um? Dan, You've you had a five game or a three game lead with five to play at that point, looked like it was all but your trophy to win the leads

down to one two weeks ago. Um, what is your confidence level after giving up this big of a lead? A little Rams like? Yeah, it is little Rams like Greg, But also see, I'm like one of those guys that I know the name names of the media guys and that makes me more likable and it actually gives me a little bit of gravity toss. Uh yeah, Greg, I understand that. And um, but you have to remember the Rams won that ballgame and nobody remembers the collapse anymore.

Because here they are playing for the right to go to the super Bowl. So while things have gotten more interesting, I certainly feel confident. Who's that, Erica? Hey Dan, I just wanna great season. By the way, it's been really a joy to watch you play. However, I do kind of want to dig in a little bit. Do you have any remorse looking back on some of your picks where maybe the mainstream media was sort of saying that you you walked a fine line of you know, let's

say ernest look in the mirror picks. Hey, Erica, that's a fair question. Uh. You know, I played by the rules and the rules of the lock challenges, keep it under seven points, but most importantly, pick the team you feel most confident about and whatever that uh fell under those two categories. That's typically where I went, and that's why I have a winning percentage north of seven hundred. So, Uh, I have no regrets. I feel like I played the game the right way and hopefully things go my way.

I'm just gonna do my best. Thanks anything else, um, Uh, Dan Gregg and the other guy, the other guy. All right, So I think that sets up my question, Well, do you think that you know as essentially pr focused host of the show, that the contest essentially never had any chance to go to anyone but you, because we would have cooked up various other scenarios had I gotten into

a tie situation. I sense a lot of overconfidence. I do think there have been some weeks where your picks have been Had I made the pick that you picked, would there have been maybe, Haymark, where is your mirror? But when Dan picks it, the mirror is put into the closet and we are going arount this. I just do things to win. I just am a results or in an individual. I don't even know what the question is answer, although answer those charges please, Thanks for the question. Mark. Again,

I played by the rules of the game. I make sure it's within the spread. I picked the team that I feel good about, and I understand your journey and this competition maybe is the one that people get behind. UM. It's more up and down. There's certainly more peaks and valleys. I'm just trying to bother you that I'm sort of the what you know, the people's they're backing this sort of mission. They see this this UM, this joy for sport. As I picked these games week after week. Thanks so

much for the question. Mark. You know it doesn't bother me because I think you're a great competitor and I consider you a friend, and I just I think if people see that you're um someone that's fun to track in this way, that makes me happy because I think that you deserve that and I want people to be on that right path. Anyway, I'm just gonna do what I do. I'm just gonna do my best. One game, one more, I got time for Dan's got time for

one more? All right, Dan? Greg Um, you know you've probably been the longest biggest proponent of the locks competition through the year, according to lock it Up a t M lock ups on Twitter. Um, you've actually never won the trophy by yourself. You've only shared it with others only only Greg, two time defending champion by the way, uh and Mark has won it by themselfs Uh do you need this trophy to fill a hole in your resume?

In in your heart? Thanks for the question, Greg, I you know I have two titles in they're both ties, and nobody likes a tie. Uh. You know when Steve McNair and Peyton Manning shared m v P. Let's be honest, that was a disgrace. Neither won it. I would say incinerate at the award. Uh So, yeah it does. There is a hole in my resume, and that's why, in fact, I'm just gonna clear it right now. I'm gonna move. I'm moving, making the space on the shelf behind me

because I think I need that. I think, and I think I know that's not maybe something that the answer that I should give. But if I don't have it, if I don't have that trophy, I don't think I'm full and complete as a man. So I'm just gonna at a time, one game at a time. We want our athletes to be honest, and so I think you know, whether athlete or or front office type figure or whatever it is you are. Uh. We appreciate the frank responses

to these questions. You are a great competitor. Greg, Thanks, Gregg, and Mark, thanks so much, and uh, you know, I hope to see uh down the road. Thanks everybody. All right, we'll be right back. All right, It's time to get to it. Man. That press conference, that one caught me by surprise a little bit. Not too often you're actually on the podium for a surprise press conference. Right. That was I think it was necessary and you know it's it is a process and the I got behind the

Packers and I felt really good about it. But uh, I got double crossed by Aaron Rodgers. But who hasn't asked his family and literally everyone else close in his life. Sorry, Greg, No, I mean that you you finally made this is now the breakout group, you know where that you do a podium thing and it's like, uh, the PR guys like all right, just the beat guys, Just the beat guys with Dan. And it's in the little the little circle with the beat guys. And and I'm giving you a

little bit more. And now I'm sharing that Aaron Rodgers profoundly to me, and I'm not going to ever forget it. That's where the little fodder comes from. The six yards away from the podium, didn't Mr Drayton was I forget his first name? The special teams coordinator of the Packers also didn't help you out very much. He certainly didn't. Yeah,

let's get to it. The NFC Championship game. Oh boy, you know I think it's uh, well, it looks like Mark Greg is gonna lock up one of these teams but Greg obviously has been playing out the string for roughly three months. So this is a game that's very tough to feel strongly about one way or the other here, Greg, because the Rams on the surface here we've got Rams, of course, and the Rams on the surface feel like the better roster. They have the quarterback that's playing at

a higher level. They're well coached there at home. And yet it's hard to look the other way for uncertain things. It's hard to look at the less six meetings between these teams how it turned out. It's hard to look the other way on Week eight team, what happened in that game. It's hard to look the other way on what happened at so FI Stadium in Week eight team when the Niners filled that building up. All these things put together makes you think that San Francisco has it.

And yet the Desert has the Rams as a favorite right now. Yeah, and they they became a slightly bigger favorite during the week. It went from three to three and a half, which indicates the public has actually been or the sharps as they would say, I've been betting the Rams. Who knows. I can understand it though, because despite the matchup going the opposite way. One's got an injured quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo who's thrown u two touchdowns and

six interceptions in the last four weeks. That's his aggregate totals, and it gets even worse if you you know, include some of the turnover worthy plays, including many in Green Bay last week. And then more importantly, Stafford is on a heater and I think that week a teen game after looking at it again this week, he played great against the forty. He was the reason they made it

to overtime. And I know he threw two interceptions in that game, but he also made five or six throws against pressure, a couple of them to Cooper Cup on third downs that not many quarterbacks can make. And so I think he comes into this game feeling very confident. And I liked the way that Sean McVeigh early in that game and early against the Buccaneers against a good run defense, and that's what they have, just like the

Bucks went very past heavy. I think Stafford's had a nice balance of knowing when to be aggressive and when to be patient. It just comes down to protecting him. I think the game comes down to the Rams offensive line, that's been the the difference in this matchup over the last three years. It was definitely the difference in Week eighteen. His offensive line got worked, they got pushed around in the running game, and they got too much pressure on Stafford,

who had to make plays despite all that pressure. If the Rams offensive line plays well, they win. I think it's as simple as that. If they don't and they keep losing this matchup, then I think it comes down to the end and it's a great game. I'm with you because you know, the the Niners, who are not a big blitzing team, lead the all postseason teams in pressure rate. They've had ten plus QB pressures in seven straight games, including the playoffs, ten sacks in the postseason.

They have been wrecking quarterbacks. They have been causing chaos, and yet the Rams in reverse, Aaron Donald has not really shown up this season against the Niners. It's been his two of his four worst PF grades to have come against San Francisco. We know, outside of the seventeen nothing start that the Rams had in that last game, that they've been essentially dominated by the full team of the Niners, and it's it feels a bit like we say this about sanf Cisco week after week, but it

does come down to you. I think which quarterback in this game makes the more killer mistakes. Stafford has two picks in each games against the Niners. One was that terrible pick six, But but Garoppolo has been They've been winning to spite him, and I mean, I kind of love the Niners for that, because it would be a reason to like eject or seat any other team out of the playoffs entirely. I mean, he's gonna throw two or three passes a game that utterly assassinate you, and

you've got to get past it. But they have shown total ability to get past it. I mean, they should not have won that game last week, but it was a total team effort, special teams, the whole thing. And I do feel with the Rams team a little bit that that last game, they got up seventeen and nothing and you had watch Sean McVeigh running down the sidelines to congratulate Stafford in the end zone. It was like this huge emotional release. Then they blew the lead and

you go pack. Last week they looked like they had done the same thing to the Bucks and they blew the lead. So I just don't know psychologically in a stadium where they're saying right now certain ticket vendors that they project a sixty Niners crowd and you've got Sean McVeigh at the podium begging Rams fans not to sell the ticket. I don't love the juju around that. UM. I do think this is a case where one team

has got into the head of the other team. But maybe the Rams, who have been so special in certain ways in this postseason, are past all that. None of that matters if they can take care of business here. But I don't like the fact that they built that lead in a perfect first half and then fell apart last time. I'm I'm on the side of I think

the Niners are in their heads. I think that I think that you could look at the end of that game against the Bucks and say, wow, that's amazing with Stafford and Cup were able to do there and steal that game after almost giving it away. And that's true,

and you have to give a lot of credit. And maybe Sean McVeigh learns from how that game played out when he got super conservative just trying to run the clock out, UM, and he probably would have He probably would have been fine if if not for the cup fumble and the second fumble by Acres, But that's not

how things work that sports. And it's just like I just think, no matter what happens early in this game, the Rams know and the Niners know that this game, even if the Rams go ahead, that the Niners are gonna keep coming. And it all all comes down to because I think Garoppolo was bad last week in Green Bay, and there were reasons for that beyond just that he's

not that great. Maybe the weather green based defense. They had two field goal drives on offense, and they were bailed out essentially by special Team's miracle in the fourth quarter. Ken Garoppolo make enough plays and get it to his playmakers were saying it every week, and we saw last week even when he didn't, they still won. But I think the difference here is is that I don't think the Rams are going to gag the way the Packers did last week. So I think this is a game

that they're going to have to score points. Do they score points? Greg? Do you think they could score the let's say twenty four necessary to win this game? I had I had him on twenty four. I have the under. I like the under in this game. I like both defenses to make this a little more of a defensive game because I think both pass rushers should win. I mean, the Rams front is just as good as the forty Niners right now. Von Miller is playing incredible and and

we we've talked about the rest of the group. Obviously, Shanahan does a good job going again away from their strengths Ramsey, he kind of avoids Ramsey. Ramsey did not have a good week a team game, particularly against UM San Francisco, and yet I think their pass rush is gonna be great. Jimmy g has to get rid of the ball so quickly. It comes down to tackling for the forty Niners, like when you play the forty Niners. And that's something I'll be curious to see because wet

All came in and played sixty snaps last week. He's too good now to take off the field. It's crazy. And that other dude, Nick Scott's like making plays all over the field. And both these games their safeties, even though they lost their starters during that comeback, by the way, that was a pretty big factor. They lost their two starting safeties during that come back and now they're they're all set up. They have Taylor wrap back for this game.

Can you tackle? I think this Rams defense is really good, and that's that's why, Like you know, when I look at the matchup, it's like you have two great defenses. You definitely don't have two great offenses. You have a great head coach in Shanahan, you have some great offensive players, and you have Shanahan. I think maybe has shown he's a little better at a justin and managing the game

than McVeigh. I mean, fortys would not be in this game if McVeigh, you know, didn't turtle up and run the ball three straight times at the end of the Week eight team matchup, or didn't let the clock run out. I don't know if you guys remember, and this is a total tangent, but remember I got on him a little bit for not taking a time out to try to score at the end of last week's game. Rewatching the game, I noticed they were at the thirty four

yard line with about eighteen seconds left. So now, after seeing Mahomes do it, like no coach should be allowed to do that ever again, because we've seen what you can do with thirteen seconds. The Rams were like ten yards ahead of that with more time, and he didn't do it. I think I hope he's learned from that and will be a little more aggressive in terms of

his game planning. Do you worry about Matthew Stafford his butt getting a little tight if they're in a tight place here, because I mean, look at like he's been awesome. He's been absolutely magnificent, and he's looked like a Super Bowl quarterback. And Cooper Cup has been fairly unstoppable, and I mean he's he had a hundred and eighteen plus

yards and both matchups against the Niners. So I think that they're stars can be their stars, and that's sort of been the journey of the Rams right now that the von miller O b j all this stuff is

working out really well for them. Um, But I'm also looking at a Rams run defense that's been really good except when they play the Niners, and the Niners ran all over him the last time, and it's kind of it's to me where you get into the head of another team, it's embarrassing when the Niners tell you and tell everyone on national television in that first matchup, we want to run the ball forty times, and like, if you know someone's going to do that, you can adjust

and stop it. They couldn't. They couldn't do anything. And then you had Deebo Samuel catching those crossers where Jimmy G. You know, he makes his mistakes, but he did pretty well in that game. And it's just like, if you get that version of Jimmy G, who has more turnover worthy throws than anyone in the league other than Mike Glennan percentage wise this year, I mean that it is remarkable that they're here with Jimmy G in general. Accept that every game he also makes three or four great

throws along with the mistakes. And if you can think it's been a lesser version, though, don't you think he's been better. He's been better in San Francisco in previous years than this year. And I mean, I don't know whether the weather might have been a little bit of a factor in Green Bay, but I don't know. I mean, like both quarterbacks didn't look good in that one, but Jimmy G is a liability that they've found a way to win around. I think it's a fascinating team because

of that Week eighteen. I put more into this week eighteen UM for this game that I do for the week seventeen or wherever it was, the Cincinnati Kansas City game. I don't know why, I just do. It was a playoff game for the forty niners, and it it felt like one for the Rams. Or it's a continuation of the nine. It's in the same stadium and it's going to be the same dynamic with the crowd and everything. But I look at that game. Garoppolo did average ten

yards per attempt in that game. He led them on that lightning quick drive to tie the game at sentence overtime, UM. And then I look at some of the big players from that game. I'm gonna highlight a couple of years. So Deebo Samuel, what else needs to be said about him, but he was unbelievable in that game. He had four catches for ninety five yards, eight carries for forty five yards and a touchdown, and he threw one pass for

a touchdown for twenty four yards. That's that's him. That's peaked Deebo, and I expect to see something potentially similar to that on the other side of the ball, and it will be interesting because now it's this huge moment uh in the season and in the career of this player. I want to see which odell shows up here. I think Beckham is a fascinating guy um to track in this game because he absolutely as much love as he's getting right now. The last couple of weeks is Oh,

he's back. He's been revitalized. He's bah bah bah, and he has had moments he created. In week eighteen against San Francisco, he killed them, including basically torpedoing the final drive when they were trying to uh tie the game and overtime. Which O'Dell shows up Does he have a big impact, because if he doesn't, I could see the Rams being a little bit of trouble that game was. I think this game is going to be right around there.

I'll even match same team wins San Francisco finds a way, Dan, I gotta tell you, And this this was a pick I filed earlier for an online thing. I have the exact same score with the Niners winning. We're locked in. We're in sync completely, just like me and your wife have the exact same birthdate, right down to the year right. I mean, that's where the of your wife, so ohesion.

Uh only starts with that factoids a big Niners fan. Well, I think she's been like, you know, football has not been the number one thing, um all season, but it has been the last couple of weekends. And I got to give her a lot of credit, UM because I'll be in here, you know, doing work when we're home and stuff. I can hear her like screaming down the hallway UM on a slight tape delay compared to what we watch UM with anything that happens with So she's

very enthusiastic. Do you have any did you like after the game last week, did you grab her and embrace and you pulled back and looked deep in her eyes and said, these crazy Niners they did it. They really did it. That was the exact transcript, And that's that's how I said it, and that um, that's how I delivered it. I'm torn because this Niner team is badass.

Like we kind of talk about it, but you know how every defensive coordinator starts every like opening press cover and saying like we're gonna be fast, we're gonna be physical, we're gonna be aggressive. It's like that team they're talking about is this is the forty Niners like they are just a group of badasses. And it's both. It's both sides of the ball. It's offense and defense. Like I just you just love the way they built their team.

But I'm with you on O b J. I think that's the mismatch here deep down the field, some of these throws against these forty Niners cornerbacks, I think, oh b J can make a difference. And I think Trent Williams not being a percent, he hasn't been able to practice this week, He's probably gonna play, but you're, you know, maybe not a going against von Miller. And then on the other side you've got Tom Compton going going up

against the rest of the Rams. I just trust this Rams defense to really hold down a pretty mediocre uh forty Niners offense on balance. And that's why I'm gonna lock up the Rams. Funny, Hey, listen, if this all plays out the way we see it, we're gonna get some good ass football this week and a little g a f It's gonna be two blowouts, I hope not. Sometimes the conference title game day does feel like a letdown from from division around, but not always, not always,

Can you guys. See on camera here, how there's a light in my room flickering on and off. Yes, it's see I'm about to have a faint soon. Yeah. It's like when they before a show with bright flashing lights, like, hey, heads up, if you've got an issue in that department, turn the channel. Bro. By the way, half the time you don't realize you have an issue in that department until you have an issue. So it's like, you know,

it's not something to make light of. That's a serious I'm not I'm saying I'm if anything, I'm too serious. Say I'm adding to the gravity of the p s A. I'm going to add the p s A here that kickers matter. A lot of people are jumping on this bandwagon that I've been driving for really years on this podcast, um, getting all excited about the Kickers. But I'm going to tell you right now, the real analysis starts right here on the Around the NFL podcast because I got the

final edition of the Kicker Power Rankings. Hypheno hit it, Ricky. Let's get behind the velvet ropes. This is what people have been waiting for. Boys coming in at number four, and I mean no disrespect, and I know you've got a Pro Bowl, but player, hey, playboy, when you missed short from I'm noivous Matt Gay. He was hurt, he heard himself in pregame warm ups. I thought he said he wasn't though, and it hit a game, game winner. I don't know that's what they said, alright, Polite plause

there for Matt Gay a number three. You know, a lot of kickers are at the top of their game last week, and this guy kicked made one of the biggest kicks of his life in sending an all time game to overtime. And yet you miss a pH t, you miss a field goal, you're gonna drop from number one of my power rankings. Harrison Butker number three, Kansas City Chiefs loving this so far. He did the military thing, you know, in the in the Super Bowl, in the Snowball,

miss early, make it late, then you're the hero. Yeah, that's true. Did salvage the day for him, but didn't keep him at number one, number two. And this was tough because both these uh kickers deserve credit. But good as Gold he is. Robbie Gold never missed in the postseason twenty still only good enough for the silver pause for applause. Finally number one, Yes, there's only one left. He's the rookie, he's the fifth round pick. Mick Fearless, Evan McPherson, come on down, your number one in the

kicker power rankings. That kid unbelievable for eight in the first two weeks of the postseason. Fifty yards coming out of his buttocks. The guy you know the comment that he made to Burrow when he said or he said it to Uh, I believe the backup quarterback said, I guess we're going to the Super Bowl, then kicks are going to then FC Championship. Then kicks that field goal.

He's stroking it and he believes. Ah. Yeah, when you you mentioned a fifty yard or coming out of someone's buttocks, I mean visually, I'm struggling to figure out what hell that works, but I should. He was, you know, very very unpredictable Divisional round weekend. But it's very predictable that Dan took offense um that someone else likes kickers. Rach Rachel Banetta you're referring to had that she had a great kicker song on podcast. Yeah, I don't take offense

to it. And and by the way, I love that Rachel song. She's very talented and check out her new podcast, Bench with Banetta on the NFL Media Podcast. I'm a big Benetta fan. I like that song. I'm just saying from it just feels like everyone is now coming around and understanding the importance of these players. But it's no, it's always been that way. It's not just that way now. I think you're taking back the real estate that was yours.

It's not just hey, everyone, come live on you know, inside the Kickers Club, which you built from you know, brick by brick, Greg built the Grooda World. You built the Kickers Club that needed bricks. What have you built? Mark? Well? You know what I like to do is sort of in these situations, take a step back so that we can magnify your guys accomplishments. That's very important to me. Oh that's really nice. I'm gonna remind you of this when mc pherson is lining up for a fifty seven

yard or to send them to the super Bowl. Now, and now I can feel it. That's how now it's gotten end that that works with my score that went in by two, right through the uprights breaking what could go wrong? Indeed, all right, everybody enjoy all this amazing football. We'll be back on Sunday night. We'll be back at Stage five at NFL Network recapping both of these games, any other NFL flotsam that might come across our world before between now and then, And so we hope you're there.

Thank you everybody that's listened to all season long. You know, I just got to look at the numbers, own the listener numbers. Oh yeah, extraordinary. They are very very strong that we we are gaining an audience, Like when you're in your ninth season, Like, look at a show like Friends, I think went that long. You're maintaining a core audience,

but you're not growing, which we grown. Yeah, I I would say that the like by season nine, they had looked at the people that had taken Friends, um from you know nothingness into the biggest show around, and they adequately rewarded them with with um dead presidents and greenbacks. And that's the part that the company and us don't seem to be totally jelling on on some level. I'd just throw that out there, you know, I was, I was gonna hold my tongue on this. But since you

kind of you're adjacent to it and out. So Greg, you're a guy that you know famously, nothing really matters. You're my that's a miscurrent characterization and my issue with that, you don't even know me. The NFL Net, the NFL Network posted their Game Day Live Super Or Conference Championship Sunday coverage and it's it is there obviously their biggest telecast of the year the way they're building it up.

And they have a graphic that has literally twenty seven people, um right across the front, like we have every angle covered. And then when you start to check off the boxes of quote unquote talent, the eight t N boys the only ones feeling left out. Um. I tend to see that is, oh, what do we need to do to get on the radar with the SLFs in a bigger spot? But tell me to step away from the ledge and

that would be helpful. Well, first, yeah, I think of the thirty plus talent, you know, some odd talent that wasn't on that photo to you know, we're not the only ones. Um, But is that what you want? I like doing our show frankly, Um, I mean, if if we if they needed us to help out, that's great,

But um, I think we have more fun. Let's say we should replace like mooch rich and urban we maybe Hey, now we're gonna throw it to our most successful venture, the podcast on the podcast group take it Away, guys, that would be just would be fine. But I was at the beach the last two weeks before the game starts with my kids and that that seems pretty good too, to be on national television. So you know, your mental health is just off the charts that day, and I'm just, no,

you're healthy. It's a healthy mindset. I'm very happy here at the NFL. I just I'm just saying, you know, I wanted to be in the image. I don't know if that makes me a bad guy, but yeah, that means that means you have to be on the show. Though. That's the trick, that's the thing, right, everybody on the show. Yeah, that's the show. So you know, if you look like there's a lot of people that aren't on that show.

You know, a lot most of the reporters, right, and a lot of the as Connie was in the image, is Connie on the show. Yeah. So I think they have like a game, you know, they go to the Saturday crew. I don't even know, like the Saturday Good Morning Football worked for us. He's in the image. I mean I think Jack Ruby was in the image, and I think he's coming in. He's coming in for yeah, for special. I'm a current player analysis, I don't know, you know special. It does seem like they they didn't

want us to be a part of it. It's like, here's a hundred and six people, um and there it's you know what had it been? We were talking like a two minute round table. Throw it to us. We argue for two we get to an ad break forget about me or Mark being in the image. But Greg, what if they like put you on Calias's shoulders like in the image. I have seen him in person. He's a he's in a normal know you have to He's the largest man I've ever seen. Enormous human. He was,

wasn't he on that Cardinals? He was largest human he was on the he was on the Carson Palmer teams and he was I think I don't think he went back beyond that. Um. But he was not only one of the largest people I've ever met, he is super nice dude. So I'm sure he'll do great. Anyway, We wish him well and he seems to already be into a he wasn't his career. He was a rookie starter playing against Big Ben and the Steelers, and that's how

nailed it. Um. So how about this, we will close it this way because we are all on the same team. Watch Game day morning on Sunday. Check out that content. It's going to be stellar with Eisen and the whole crew, literally the whole crew. Then enjoy all the football and then you can watch the more NFL network. But then close it out with you Around the NFL Podcast Championship Sunday recap. There you go, Greg, that that just cleans up all the loose ends there. Watch the Around the

NFL broadcast too. Did you say that on Saturday? Job on Saturday? And if you're in the UK and Ireland territories, check us out on Sky Sports this weekend. We're part of the nel UH coverage with their gang over there. Well, they do want us, I mean they seem willing to UH to put us on air here and there, so there's a different relationship there. Vice President of International Henry Hodgson did reach out and say we are on the image for Sky Sports. I love it all right, that's enough.

Thank you to everybody for listening, enjoy the football, let's have a nice, safe weekend and we'll see a Sunday night. Until then, feed the car, s S S S S