2021 Super Wild Card Weekend Preview - Pressure Points

The Houston Texas, this just went down just as we were getting going today, have fired David Culley. They waited four days after the season ended to decide to cut ties with the sixty six year old who went one and done with Houston and Greg Cully. As we talked about ad nausea both before the season started and then in our most recent show and even Sunday, that it felt like he was being set up to take the fall and handle a very rough season in the organization's history,

and that seems exactly how it played out. Cully did a very good job with a team with almost zero talent comparative to other teams in the league, and yet he gets booted. Anyway, the Texans are looking for a total refresh and Cully got caught up in that wash. Yeah, I mean, dysfunctional teams do do dysfunctional things. I I can't believe it because Adam Schefter reported that Cully was only guaranteed two years on his five year contracts. So all these tweets are coming out, you know, we do

this thing. You know, he gets fired and everyone is kind of disgusted because the Texans knew what they were doing. They knew her. They were hiring a guy to fire him probably in one year, like they knew that. But I was like, well, you know, he's he gets the five year guaranteed money and all that. I mean that it's kind of gross behavior, but there's that. But no, they actually knew when they signed him, and they basically let him know when they signed him, we're probably gonna

fire you after one year. And it's like, what are we doing here? Because this is a team that espouses these values of brotherhood often Christianity like other things. When they're they're talking about what the teamwork and organization means, and this is how they like go about things. And I wouldn't be surprised if by the next time we we tape that it's widely reported floors as the next coach. It just feels like people that know things are saying

that that is going to happen. Right Like you, you don't go through all this unless you've got a target in a target that you believe you can acquire as the next head coach. Because I find it UM with eight vacancies now a pretty tough job to sell on its face value, based on the wackiness of the organization UM, the way operates, the way they've operated over the last year plus, the Deshaun Watson situation, the roster in general, and what they just did to the last head coach.

I don't think that David Culley took the job of thinking I'm a fall guy. I'll be out of here in a year. Look at me. I mean, everything about him and who he was sort of said that he thought that he could weather the storm. I mean, otherwise, it's a strange move by David Culley. I just think the Texans are a bizarre organization that comes out of this with Jared Mayo, Flora's or Josh McDaniels and good luck to them. It's it's all about leverage and whatever

the businesses. But usually you don't really drop the hammer when you can unless you're an organization that doesn't care about what optics mean. Because when you when you give him two years guaranteed, you give a sixty six year old NFL lifer, say hey, we'll give you a chance to run this team, but we're not going to treat you like every other head coach who gets a job where you have that financial security built into your contract.

We're just gonna give you half of that, and we know you're gonna take it anyway because this is probably the only chance to be a head coach. All of that feels very icky to me, and I just hate the way the whole process run out. And that's what we're talking about it Tuesday. Like if the Texans fired Callie one and done, but he got four years of guaranteed money like a lot of other guys do, or whatever the amount is, then it's like, Okay, I still don't love it, still seems a little bit tacky, a

little shysty, but you know he's getting paid. You don't even do that. You don't take care of the guy that way either, so it's great. It was advertised as a five year contract to like when they announced the deal. So so I just don't know, like if and again these there there's a finite amount of these jobs, these big chairs as the coaching carousel spins here. But at the same time, like, what is it about the Texans job that is compelling to you? If you're Brian Flores,

remember these guys that got fired. You usually get two chances at this, So you get fired once. Okay, if you have a good reputation and have some six says, you'll get a second job. But if you fail on that second job, you're you're a coordinator for life most likely. So if I'm taking my second job and this is my last chance, probably at this level, to be the head coach, do I want to go to Houston with

all that dysfunction and all the weirdness in the organization. No? No, But I don't think you wanted to go a year ago either, And David Culley accepted it, which tells me

someone somewhere will say yes to the job. But I bet it's it sounds like who knows if if the reporters who are texting each other right now, and you know, adding little like I'd be shot, you know, little notes on Twitter without reporting it to our Sure, sin sure think it's Flora's who worked closely with Nick Cassario, and h if it was Flora's, just to get a little

ahead of ourselves. You do wonder about Deshaun Watson's future, whether there would be any scenario where he would end up staying with a coach he reportedly wanted to play for in Miami and that Flora's report did you want to playing? Did you want to play? Or play? It was not already Stephen Ross or anything. I wonder what the connection is there between those two guys that it's just a guy he likes the cut of his jib and plus Miami. Who know? I mean, that's getting ahead

of ourselves. He was pretty adamant about um his issues with ownership. But you mentioned leverage. Someone that does not have any leverage right now is Deshaun Watson. And yeah, whoever is walking in there, it's a mess. And so maybe it's someone that has a personal relationship with Casario and then can look past that. Alright, So yes, as the coaching carousel spins, we will track what happens next

with the Houston Texans. Very strange job to take because obviously, unless Deshaun Watson admires Brian Floores so much from a distance that he wants to now stay in Houston after basically begging off the team before his he also might be suspended for all of next season that that never even he might be in jail. I mean that those things are in a say, a dearth of talent on the roster they do now finally in the post uh in the pellost Bill O'Brien era have draft picks again,

so you can start building up a roster. But we'll see what happen. Don't really have any players though they have Davis Mills. I was trying to think of like what young players they got this year or that they like that there's not many on this roster that that they is gonna get traded again. By the way, all right here we go, let's now move What is that eight? Is that eight guys? Now? Eight got got that is that's the high end. And listen, you know what happened

back in on my state mandated math test. But I know that eight of thirty two four of the league got canned. That's the turnover at that position is outrageous. Find this narrative that you are struggle at math. That was that was well, that was pretty that is pretty good. I mean, you know what I struggle with more. It's like once we got into here's a quotient x times, why you know, involves like can we calm down? Because guess what? And I'm not breaking news here. You get

out into the real world all that. I don't know if it really is something that helped anybody that was good at it, I don't want to get I mean, I think it helps some people, but yeah, it's a pretty small subsection of people using that it helps. But there are many I mean there are many engineers and and certainly people in math fields and programming all this,

you know, stuff like that. But it's like the professor Goodwill hunting like that was huge for him high by tenth grade, you knew that you were not the target audience. A fair point, you know, it's it's a fair point, um, all right, and I pulled the way. One of those jobs might be filled by the way already, maybe Pasaca is the guy in the future. Doesn't change the eight coaches got fired, but we might not have a hiring in Las Vegas. All right, we'll see what happens. Good call,

good call. All right, let's get into it. Super wild Card weekend is upon us, and since you mentioned Rich Besaccia, let's start with the early game West of This with a twist. Now, people some people who want to know like what or maybe just to be refamiliarized with it West of This? What got West so excited about it? It wasn't necessarily just the Bengals going down. It was more that it was something he could depend on, like it would show up. It would be as the hometown team.

They would always be that he would know what what was coming. So as I remember it, and guys correct me if I'm wrong. West would build that Saturday morning around you know, some bloody Mary's get you know, get up nice and early, nice good mood because you got to kind of enjoy football in a way that's a little bit different when you were certain of the outcome. Well, and we don't tape on Saturdays, so that was always nice.

It's like kind of a rare spot where we're watching a big time game, but you don't right any writing necessarily, maybe early days we had some writing, but usually you had that day off. Yeah, you could watch it. It does seem a little diabolical in hindsight because he was, you know, rooting against the Bengals very clearly. He wanted them to lose. He never bought in in any way of like half halfway to enjoy the Andy Dalton Bengals experience,

and he was always right. They did always lose. The Bengals Deelers game will be the one I think we remember the best. But but losing the T. J. Yates was also pretty pretty low moment there. For the thing, I think it backed up the dense, uh and meticulous folder that he had created to watch them go down

in flames over and over. But there was absolutely a West Angled sort of party vibe to some of those as well, because I remember him sending out, you know, he he actually went out and watched one of the West Of visits at a very swanky um place that served expensive drinks, I do recall, and he was just

enjoying himself. He also got tagged one time having to work during what was not West of his because it was the late night game against the Steelers that turned into total chaos and he wrote an incredible right up from that game. You know, that was the one year where they had a chance and then Dalton got injured, so they didn't even have their starter in the game. If I'm if I recall correctly that season, that was

their big Dalton's big year in Cincinnati. So they were snake bit and let's let's face it, that one that game though, that should have won that game, they blew in fifteen times over. They were. The last big Cincinnati season was that Dalton fifteen year. I believe it was he gets hurt at the end of the year. The previous big season for Cincinnati was, of course, the two thousand five I believe playoff game where Carson Palmer blew out his knee early in that game where they were

heavy favorites. So there's some you know, if you want to get into like scary juju involved with this game. Here here are the Bengals again on the rise, viewed as the favorite against the Raiders team that had a win out in close fashion for a month just to get to this spot. Will something bad happen to the Cincinnati Bengals in this game? You hope not. You hope not. You hope there's no there's no type of curse around

this franchise, and Joe Barrow hits the ground running. I'm curious, Mark, what you think one thing, because I think I said Tuesday, and I'll repeat this here that I think this is a game. I think that the Raiders are going to come into this game loose. And I just wonder if a two week layoff for Joe Burrow and the offense essentially will be seen early on this game, because that team was as hot as any team has been all year in Week sixteen and seventeen. Will we get that?

Will they pick up right where they left off on Saturday? I'm curious or these Bengals, the ones that I trumpeted prematurely that went up and down after that, including that Raiders game, which was not Uh, the score, I don't think it's totally indicative of what happened in that game.

It was think sixteen to thirteen. Late late in the fourth the Bengals capped to touchdown drive and then got a Derek Carr fumble that's set up a short a short following touchdown drive, But the Bengals had a hundred and twenty nine net passing yards in that game, Joe Burrow was sacked three times, and I realized, now, look

at they look. They look saucy and unbeatable. But I do think that the one way in for the Raiders in this is if someone like Max Crosby pulls a T. J. Watt type performance and I mean he's been doing that all year against the Bengals line that is better than we thought, but not perfect and causes mistakes for Joe Burrow.

Flip side I look at in that game, also, not a single Bengals receiver had more than fifty yards, So that you know, the Raiders statistically have done a good job against wide receivers all year in spots, and so I wonder if it's a good matchup for the Raiders, who also just seems sort of spiritually feisty right now. But from a flip side, if you get the Bengals that we saw over the last fourteen days, they look fairly unbeatable. If you get if you get that peaked

version of Incinnati. Wait did you just go double flip side? Because I think you did a flip side. And then going back we're back to the Sessler uh take that this was a fiery Bengals team. At least I am.

When it was gonna be Patriots Bengals, I would have convinced myself that this team, this Bengals team, did have the feeling after that Chiefs win of like we just we just won our playoff game on some level, like it was the biggest win in Cincinnati in a decade, you know, at least and and I would have convinced myself. But now that it's a I don't want that result. I'm I'm not gonna get too worried, and I'm gonna switch to something else, which is that the Raiders just

played ninety three defensive snaps Sunday night. I don't think that's incidental. That is an incredible amount of Max Crosby had eighty two. I'm not saying he's gonna that They're not gonna be fired up for this game, but it's a short week. That is an advantage I think for Cincinnati. I do worry about the past protection it. Yes, the offensive line was better, it wasn't that that that much better.

He they led the league in sacks aloud. I think that's one reason why they didn't even consider playing Burrow uh in week eighteen, and this is a really good pass rush with Crosby and gock Way. I think they'll missfile on but that that's key for me. And I think that's why Zach Taylor maybe was conservative in that first game. I just hope he's not now. I think he's found religion since that game. The two games before they they rested everyone was their past heaviest games of

the entire season. They finally kind of let Joe Burrow cook. That's where the mismatches are on the outside, whether it's true font or face on. One of those guys is gonna be on the outside on the other side of Casey Hayward, who's has been really good this year. And one of those guys gonna be matching up with Tee Higgins or Jamar Chason. That's a mismatch. You've got mismatches, hopefully for the Bengals all over the field on Sunday. So and you know, I think you guys have both

hit on it that and Ricky hit it. We're gonna bring these up occasionally throughout the show. Press your point. That's a pressure point of this game. It's the Raiders pass rush um that led the NFL according to Next Gen Stats, with thirty three point six QB pressure rate despite blitzing at the lowest level of any team in the league. So they can get to the quarterback generate pressure without blitzing. And the Joe Burrows lit up teams

um when he's under pressure. But a lot of that, I would imagine came from teams that were blitzing, leaving matchups down field. The Raiders. They don't have to do that the Raiders because they can just generate a pass runch up front. And if you watch that game against the Chargers, uh, it was, you know, a testament to Justin Herbert and the line hanging in there. But every snap they were caving in that line and and I just think that is how the Raiders are gonna win

this game, if they could change things up front. I pickings, I'm I'm not picking the Raiders. I I thought about it. I'm not picking him. But I think this is going to be whatever they cover that spread, I think I think they're gonna put the heavy you know what, screw it, I will pick the Raiders. How about that? Why not? You gotta pick this is if there's any year that there's going to be one of those playoffs where things just don't go chalk and things get weird. I feel

like one has that in him. So I think this is a field goal game. And if we get to the point where it's a field field goal game, anybody could win. And the Raider. Raiders got a hell of a kicker. I like the rookie McPherson and Cincinnati also, but Carlson is absolute nails. Let's say, m hm, three Raiders. What I have the Bengals to twenty. I think a factor in this game. It's gonna be like twenty degrees with lows even lower than that. And I you know,

it's Las Vegas. It's Derek Carr. He's not been great in cold weather. I think it's not going to maybe be the shootout, that's something. But um, I have I have the Bengals. In fact, I'm considering locking them up. But I need to I need to think a little more deeply about that. All right, you only got about an hour, but the during the show, I had the same score on my game picks, by the way, the exact same score. Uh. Car has not played his best

football the last month. It's been really strange. I've been banging the drum all season. How I think he's been underrated. I had him, you know, around six or seventh in the QB Index for a lot of the year. I mean, I don't even think there's a question. I think Sunday Night was one of his worst games. Had an unbelievable third and eight throw to go win the game, and that can't be forgotten, But was one of his worst

games of the year. Before that, he had a three straight game streak where he had at least two turnovers and you know, a couple of interceptions fumbles, like I think seven or eight turnovers last four games. Hasn't been as accurate Darren Waller. They need to to get going. But that is a big difference to me, is that Burrows coming in playing his absolute best and car could turn it around. But I think he's taken on a

little bit of water late in the season. His offensive line, UH isn't very good either, and don't necessarily, you know, trust them to protect him. He kind of killed them Car in that Sunday Night game. He missed so many throws, including game ending throws. Za Jones, Darren Waller and Waller, I think it wasn't quite himself obviously in his first game back, but I think it helped to have him back on the field, so maybe you get a better version of Waller. I could definitely see him making an

impact in this game. Josh Jacobs, who had a huge game hundred and thirty two yards. He has been limited in practice with the ribs, but I don't know if that's more just maintenance after a long week, obviously after a big Sunday night game with all those snaps. So uh yeah, it's it comes. Because this could also go the other way, where it's Cincinnati comes out on fire. It's fourteen nothing in a blink, and the game's thirty

eight ten. I think that's in play. Also, keep an eye on the first quarter because if it starts out in a certain way, I think that's when Cincinnati gets into trouble, similar to what happened to Indianapolis. Um. All right, before we move on to the next game, we're gonna take a break. But before we do that, the Westlings are back. Apparently they have not. Boy, they cotted the pics um competition. So let's check in. Hey you around the NFL. This is Tim again. Wanted to take the

Patriots over the Bills. But it is west of this and as much as Chris loved West of vis I think he would have known it would have come to end this week. I'm taking the Bengals over the Raiders. And this is the reason why Chris always compared Burrow to Montana. And I'm gonna take it a step further. A friend of mine compare Chase to Randy Moss. I'm taking it even further and suggesting that it could be the next Montana Rice duo. And I'm going to lock it up. Yeah, Tim Timmy Westling in a big spot.

And he didn't even say we're gonna lock it up. He said, I'm gonna lock it up. Once they are united? What are they? What is it? The whole is saying divided? United, we stand, divided, we fall. Yeah, there's no there's nothing united about the Wesley. Now they're divided, will finish in the middle of the pack. That's where they are. All right, They're ahead of me, They're well ahead of me, so good job. All right, let's take a break, all right,

welcome back. Before we get to the second Saturday game. You mentioned, uh the A T N standings, all right, Mark, you picked up a game on Sunday night. What was going on in that garage? And one can only imagine, but you pull it out in overtime. So we enter the playoffs. I'm thirteen and five, Marks, eleven and seven, two out the listeners on the subreddit or ten and eight. So are the Westling brothers, Greg seven and ten and

Ricky listen. I don't know what to say, Ricky, I don't have one last game, right, all right, well we'll give it to you eight and ten. I got the Saints last week. I'm saying I wouldn't have one less game than ever one house. I got the Saints. Tough sits here over on lock it up at a t N lock ups on Twitter. You've been removed from the standings entirely. You can't be stunned by that development, though, No, not at all. Yeah, I got what I deserved. We

need we need you back this week. We need you back on the Bills, you know, yeah, yeah, yeah, Well That's where I'm going. So all right, let's we'll get to that right now. The New England Patriots, the sixth seed in the a f C, travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills. And Orchard Park. Weather is a thing. Weather is a thing. In fact, is it a pressure point? Yeah? Why not? It's a pressure point. Pressure point because it is supposed to be cold as a mother up in

western western New York. And there are, of course, as you would imagine, a lot of stats flying around about how the Bill's offense is going to perform in cold weather. And that led to Bart Scott over on ESPN on their morning show sharing an interesting take. Ricky play that back the cold he doesn't play well and he says the reason is because he's got bad circulations, so his toes get cold. And guys, you know what's gonna Can I get your suggestion for him listening? Can people get

this mentionable by agra take some biography the game? Baby, you gotta put that circulation going right? Yeah? Stop there a second. You know what I love? First of all, Bart Scott played in the league for over a decade. He's not making this up like he's not working blue here. He's sharing something crazy. But I love uptight people on TV. It's like, oh god, Bart, and then and then uh, what's his name? For Monday Night Football? Is like I

don't know how to move off of this. It's like he's sharing something from inside the game that it's about getting circulation in the body. I don't know how it works in the zone, Mark and the old you can tell me the old derogenis zone. I do not. I do not take that particular substance, So I cannot tell you how that works. But so I don't know if that's an issue for the guys playing once they pop it, or if it has to be you know, particular one Mark. Are you more like a sealist guy or I do not.

I do not partake in any of that stuff. But I think in general you're talking about anyway. I just I liked. I liked how everybody's clutching their pearls play the rest of the drinkie have any medical backgrounds that I can't. I don't really have a response to that, but you you played A lot of us take right because opens up the blood. A lot of us take what do you mean at a lot of NFL players, at least in my day, took biography, open up the blood.

Bess's been doing athlete because for heart medicine there's no lines, makes sense. I mean, I also don't know. For all I know It's just like one of those things that got to asked there out among players um and has no benefit whatsoever. But I love this world. I love that Dawson Knox, like the Bills tight end, was brought it up or was asked about it and was like kind of like Mark just now, like immediately was like high, I've never taken it though I never would take it.

I never would take it and I and I would have to get a prescription and I don't have a prescription, so I'm not gonna take it. That was That was Dawson Knox's stance. I don't know how to move off this. Lewis Reddick having a meltdown. Oh my god. He mentioned the Boner pill, which I mean, by the way, the ads are nonstopped during football games for that product, So I mean we just relax. Everybody's so uptight. He's sharing a really interesting nugget there No, definitely play the first

part again. I just want to get Riddicks response again. That's what drives me crazy, is that's who it was. I can't I don't really have a response to that. But you you played a lot of us take right, because I ever opens up the blood a lot of us take what do you mean? A lot of a lot of NFL players, at least in my day, took bioggrastive the blood Belts because first heart medicine. I don't know how to move off with that. Relax. That's good insight.

Isn't it crazy that what these players do to try to get the best out of their I think it's it's the It's probably the only thing you'll learn from the shows, right. It's definitely the first time get up has been clipped off on this show. So it's been great for promotion. It's Bart Scott's biggest moment since uh January of two thousand and twelve, an all new meaning of get up. Yeah, well, that nailed it right. Vicky's locked in right now, all right anyway, so it's gonna

be cold as hell and we'll see how that plays out. Now. These two teams, obviously they've played twice the Vision Rivals, each winning in their own home. But as Mark, it pains Mark that the Pats didn't get enough credit for the Monday night game when the conditions were fierce. Well, this maybe sets up again here Mark, for the Patriots. Perhaps I don't want to say it, but I'll say it the tougher team, the team that can handle something a little bit out of the norm better than the Bills.

Based on that outcome, maybe this helps the Pats this weather situation. We'll start there. I mean, I think I think Bill Belichick having a third chance that the Bills helps. Also, you know the Bills have a great coaching step two. But that weather game, the first one was was chaotic. But also you know, New England can't duplicate what they attempted to do in that game. Having Mac Jones throw the ball was at three times. They're gonna need to

get some big players from mac Jones. That's where I get a little concerned with this entire third rematch is just the mac Jones of the last couple of weeks has I think been exposed a little bit, And are they gonna be able to run the ball that you know, I think Isaiah Winn being out that's not good for them. You have initially questionable question. They have a bunch of guys who are definitely banged up but limited in practice.

So we'll see how they are. But I do think that there's a slight edge whenever you get Bill Belichick three times coaching against the same opponent. Well, it's not just three times, but three times in seven weeks. It's weird. And uh, I do think that's like, that's the that's a source of optimism. I think if you're a Patriots fan, just that it's a division game and three times in seven weeks, and then if you win it, it'll be a Belichick type of coaching game because every other logical

trend is working against the Patriots. Josh Allen's playing his best football of the year. I would say, I know he had that game against Carolina, but even in that game, they're running game has been on fire since the second half of the Bucks game. Said playing his best football. Yeah, I thought he played incredible last week. Interceptions on three straight drives against the Falcons of all teams and weeks,

I get it. I said in that game that he did run the ball well, they did score four touchdowns in seven drives. Cup one of those interceptions was a fluke. The other two were bad throws, obviously, but the throws he made against the Jets were just that rageous. The play the play in Tampa was as good a half as any quarterbacks that all year, and I think the game against New England was as good a game as any quarterbacks had all year. He's he's trending up in general.

And more importantly, their running game is like they finished sixth in the year in the league and yards per carry uh in e p a um in yards in yards overall, and he's a huge part of that. Singletary is running well and so I think that makes them a little more complete. More importantly, the Patriots have been terrible over the last month and and especially their defensive line, where to me that was the difference this year was Barmore in Judean. Barmore is now coming off an injury,

although he was limited practice. Judean's coming off a month where he hasn't done anything and he's probably been a liability. And right it's what's changed to me. It doesn't mean that it can't flip in a wild card game, but I think lately, you know, other than the Jackson game, like they have not played well defensively, and and that it's a concern going up against Josh Allen. You also might be down there starting corner Jalen Mills as COVID

by the way, you know, it's your point. The Titans ran for two seventy on New England, the Colts two twenty six. Last week the Dolphins put up on them. So if you're Buffalo, whether it's you know, engined obviously through Josh Allen, you have to have that balance, you have to be able to run against New England if you go back. I think the Bills are gonna take care of business here. I think they're the better team. And I think this sets up very well for the

Buffalo defense. Everybody's like focusing on the weather and everything with Josh Allen, Buffalo's defense, with Mac Jones in a big spot, having to make plays, playing at not a high level right now, I think is the recipe for a very ugly offensive performance for New England. And if you look back, dating back now to the infamous weather game on Monday night in Buffalo, all right, Jones through

for nineteen yards on three attempts. They hit their bye week, the Patriots, he comes and he's bad for three quarters. Against the Colts, has a really nice fourth quarter. They come back but lose that game. Then the Buffalo game, he plays poorly all game. Uh really gets exposed I thought by the Bills Jacksonville game, all right, good job, fifty to ten, classic late Patriots season blowout against the bad team. And then in Miami he again looks very rough.

I thought in that game he was very upset with himself. He he gave it a very strong term and he was I don't know if it was embarrassing or whatever. He lost the fumble near midfield, he threw a pick six, and I just think I like Mac Jones, and I still think he has a very bright future. A rookie year on balance has been very good. But I think this is a bad draw for him, and I think

the Bills are going to take advantage of it. He looks I mean, I don't know about exhausted, but he's not like a physically imposing guy, and I think the ware of the NFL season at times mentally physically has maybe gotten to me. He also sounds like a perfectionist, like he beats himself up in those postgame press conver and says like can't you know He's very hard on himself, and it's it's a tough matchup, like the Bills are number one in defense, you know, I know, yards and

depending on how you want to look at it. They've had a very easy schedule, but there's still a very good defense. A rookie quarterback hasn't won a playoff game since Russell Wilson, and the one before that was the guy I mentioned before, t J Yates. It's like it

is hard to do. I still think it's possible, though, Like I don't count out you know, Ramandre Stevenson, Kendrick Borne, some of the guys who have been really good with the ball in their hands making plays, and this thing turning into a little bit of a defensive game, and and it's close at the end. And in Belichick is the difference. I don't think it's impossible. I do not think it's impossible at all. In fact, I'm locking up

the Patriots. Wow. I am tired of the disrespect. Although I will say that they have not been the team that I was so favored, so, you know, excited about over the last couple of weeks. So this is dangerous. Um. That is, while they dangerous, they're like four, you know, they're underdogs here in this one. It was that is that's gutsy. It's this to me, looks this is I see it as the Patriots struggling to get into double digits, and the Buffalo Bills because I don't totally trust their

offense right now. I don't think they were impressive at all uh down the stretch in the last two weeks. That could all get wiped out, obviously, but with the conditions and Belichick and New England's defense, I don't think they have a big scoring weeks. So they're gonna score twenty to twenty four, but I think that's gonna be enough. UH. The and the Bills move on. It wouldn't be a disaster, by the way. It would be a disaster if the Bills go one and done this year and lose to

the Pats like they need to win this game. That's the one other you want to talk about pressure points. Buffalo is in this like the Steinbrenner doctrine. UH. In the old days of the Yankees, anything short of a championship is failure. Anything short of an a f C title for the Bills is going to be considered failures. You gotta take care of business. Well, they feel that pressure on Saturday night, or they like a team that's

been there. And I guess this is how I've seen the Bills all year that like, if they can just get to the point where they're into the playoffs have have a home game, would be nice that I was kind of expecting them to rise up a team that's been there, like really good, better, they're in that sweet spot of continuity, talent, all that stuff. That said, I picked the Patriots online just because I didn't want to

like root against my picked. One last very quick point is Ed Oliver has been playing out of his mind. We just did. We just did an entire break that I don't even believe it. I this is one I admittedly don't believe it. But I'm just gonna pick the Patriots because I don't want I don't want to, like, I just want to be a line to what I'm rooting for. Something good here, right, That's what I mean. It's like, here's the reality. No one has any clue. So in a case where it's you're rooting for your

team in a playoff, I'm not. I probably will never pick against them in the playoffs in my entire life. I mean that's the Certainly the Patriots could win this game, it would not be some crazy upset. But when I hear you off your analysis for ten minutes and it's basically all pro Buffalo. I'm worried. It actually warms my heart a little bit to see you. Then I'm worried they could get blown out. But maybe that's my fandom.

I've been totally off on this team all year and never know when they're going to be good or bad. Mark's making me feel good. Formally, Yeah, I just really feel like the Bills are the better team. I think the cold will be an issue, and I just don't see Mac Jones and Bill Belichick, you know, winning the third the third time. You know, we it's split right now, and I just think that the Bills are gonna definitely get this one done. See now, I'm there was thank you,

I'm very that was. It was like she was like building up for special powers over the last four or five weeks sitting out the pics. It was all stratgi so that this one could be even better. I had a little like doctor Strange vibes to it. You put like a witch his hat on. I would be certain that also hasked me backing off my lock, because like Ricky's powers on this front have been tangible. Side last time we talked about it at do not know how it works at A well, Plus, the bills are all

gonna be running around with these huge boners. It's gonna be super distracting. I don't know how to move off of that. They're actually guess what, TV guy, you actually your program, your morning show actually has something interesting that just popped up, something that the audience didn't know about.

Why don't you actually listen to the former player? The former pro bowler is a former player, so he should he should double down on listening to the former player Viagg back in the nineties, Uh, the nineties Browns, who knows what you know? Maybe they wouldn't have moved to Baltimore if if they did back then, All right, let's move on Sunday. Let's move to Sunday. Philadelphia Eagles, the

seventh seed travel of Tampa to take on the Bucks. Now, this sets up obviously very well for Tom Brady and company. Tom Brady does not lose Tom Brady Greg. How many times did Tom Brady go one and done? I think the year after his knee reconstruction, the Ravens got him. Has it ever happened well, that Jets game that was a one and done wasn't it when you get a buy. I don't think that's typically I don't look at it

that way, but yeah, I guess you're right. Well, the Titans got him in the last year of New England as well, so it's not unprecedented. So that kind of blows up my theory there. So it's not like Tom can't be defeated in the first round, but I can't see the Eagles doing it in the wild card round. I think you might be right. I don't think he's ever lost in the wild card round other than that Tennessee game. Yeah, Tennessee in the Baltimore game in two

thousand nine, right idea? Uh No, no, you're not. It's just that was a long time ago. We're very mute. The Eagles here, they need to me Mark, they need to be in this game for Jalen Hurts to be dynamic with his arms and his legs. That's the pressure point to this game for me. Pressure point. If he is not making those plays, and he hasn't been doing it really at a consistent level since he came back, I don't think they have any chance. But if he does,

then it could get interesting. The way Tyler Heinek made things interesting last year this time, um, but it really is going to take something special from Hurts. That's my belief with this game. I'm with you. I think you know when they played the first time, that was before Philly really went through its metamorphosis on offense and became

what they are and why they're in the playoffs. And you know, I know that we like to just look at the Bucks and say no one can run against them, but it's it's it's not true if you look at the splits between trying to run between the tackles and run outside the town les, and Jalen Hurts is one of the best around doing that. I think that he

can make plays against this defensive front. You know, the Bucks have a lot of guys right now that are practicing who how do we know what they're gonna look like. I mean, you don't have Antonio Brown or Chris Godwin, but you look at like Lavant to David Shack, Barrett is coming off the COVID list, Jason Pierre Paul. They're on the practice field. But COVID has told us we don't know what that guy is gonna look like. Necessarily, days later in a game and in general what this

Buck's defense will look like. I trust the offense even with out you know, your star guys in there, because it's brady to put up to basically get a lead early and put the Eagles into a situation where they're playing from behind. It's gonna be very rainy too. I think that kind of favors the Eagles a little bit if it becomes sort of a sloppy run oriented game, because you look at who the Bucks have, that's going

to diminish their passing attack. But maybe that means a lot for Rob Gronkowski or something they're gonna I think whether it will be again, whether it will be a factor in this one. Right they the forecast right now and things change in Florida pretty quickly. Is there could be a big thunder and rainstorm. It could all be done by the time the game happens, and it's just like a little bit of a wet field in a

colder game. I think that would absolutely help Philadelphia. They they they slow down the pace of play as much as any team in the league offensively and defensively, like they they gave up the shortest yards per completion of any team in the league. But they give up one of the highest percentage of completion, so it's like their defense is built to just like give up a bunch

of seven yard throws. I worry that they're not a team that changes what they do like post snap, and I feel like you kind of have to do that against Brady. That's what Belichick did in Week four, I think was very telling to try to slow Tom Brady down. And they don't have that sort of defense. So I'm not worried about the Bucks offense at all. You give the Bucks offensive line, uh healthy, Tom Brady fine, and uh he'll roll. But I think Hurts will play well.

I think Hurts through the ball well. Late in the year, he's still he still had key running plays. And you mentioned to Mark this Tampa run the defense has been averaged for half the season. It's sixteenth in e p A in terms of the run defense for half the season, going against one of the best offensive lines, one of the best running games, and I think that's kind of

a recipe. You even saw it last week against Carolina, just for not many possessions, Like Tampa was down in that game, partly because they didn't have the ball at all in the first half, and I could see this being like a seven possession game for each team, where it's actually pretty close at the end, and in Philly covers that eight and a half point spread. And I know you like the Eagles, Greg, but I just can't. As I watched them week after week, I just couldn't

get invested in the team. They made the playoffs in the back of a four game winning streak that beat Jets, Washington, Giants Washington, they got blown out fifty Burger and week eighteen they were starting some of some of their guys. So I'm not gonna get crazy about that. But if there's ever a team to me that feels like, hey, we went nine and eight, we went to the playoffs in year one with a new head coach in the

first full season, a starter with Jalen Hurts. Uh, Yeah, we got killed in the playoffs in the first round, but it was Tom Brady Like that feels like, how this is gonna play out now? Again, this is weird. This is a weird season mark and you don't know there's gonna be maybe an outcome here that doesn't make any sense. But to me, if this, if I had to pick what the final score and this one is this one feels thirty four seven something like that. I I think it's and I'm gonna lock up the bucks.

I'm all about the defending champs here and taking care of business. So there you go. Can you even do that based on what the desert is saying? Do we still oh, we still ad here to the desert in the playoffs? I thought we waived that. I could certainly move off it. I want to not gonna, you know, be a schoolmarm about it. I think in the in the past we started just forgot about the mirror in the playoffs. If it's playoffs, if you want to kill the mirror, kill the mirror, throw it out the window.

But I think it's gonna be closer than that. In fact, I think it's gonna have a weird um element where it's the same exact score is the first time they met two. That was a weird game. Yeah, I was. I was going to base my locks off of, like where you guys are going. It's like, well, if we were allowed to take the Chiefs, you just take the Chiefs. I mean, let's seem but Mark taking his minions on me now on Twitter like, well, now Marco eating Dan is not looking in the mirror. I was like, I

have to pick a real game. I would come up because the spread is enormous, But what is the spread a half or something? No, no, it's this one is a eight and a half. Vegas is kind of like Philly all year um, and I think it makes sense. I think your point mark about the injured players is really important. Those aren't just like guys coming off of injury, and even the COVID list Shack Barrett was hurt too. They're they're coming off of serious injuries. David is as

important to their defense as any player. Are they gonna be themselves this week? First of all, they're gonna play this week, we don't even know. But are they going to be all the way back? I think this might be the right week to catch them. Leonard Fournett is another name you didn't mention, and he's coming off of an injury that kept him off three or four weeks. So these are their best These are the best players,

you know. These are some of their best players, Shack Barrett, Leonard Fournette, Lavante David and so I think that that's a huge factor in this one. You you're gonna have to get something out of Breshad Perriman. You know your guy Dan who you like to You know, he just to talk about his hairline a lot. You know. Now he's turning into a playoff hero here for the bucks.

He looked good. I tend to I like to do it just arbitrarily, and I do a cut and paste of Rashad Perriman's head shot and send it to the gang on text with no other explanation other than I just like to look at it, because, uh, it's like he's stuck with the Dreads, even when the forehead was racing up north. Uh. And I don't think that's what he looks like anymore. But now, yeah, but they never

they've never updated it. So it's more almost in a remembrance of when he was twenty two and was like, I'm not willing to give up the Dread battle yet now it's over. He made some real plays. He made a catch last week that was incredible. Mike Evans looked really good last week. He was someone someone I think that gets to the point I was making about the injuries, like he didn't look like himself for a week or two coming off that injury. But last week it looked

like the old Mike Evans again, which is big. So you put Darius Slay on Mike Evans for you know, the game, and I do think that puts Tom Brady in a tough situation. If if, if the weather and wind and rain are a factor here, I I think it changes what they have to do a little bit. I think this is going to be closer than what you mentioned seven in um we'll see Tampa by the

way seven and one at home this year. And Tom Brady has been an absolute stud and Bruce arians in a playoff week, started his availability on Monday by basically calling out anyone who says it makes any sense not to give the fourth m v P Award to Tom Brady. Let's listen to Bruce. I think it's if he didn't get it, it's a travesty. I mean, most completions ever, five thousand yards, touchdowns, the whole, the whole nine yards. I mean, I mean to me, it's not even it's

not even a close race. I like it any he's got a great case. I think Rogers would probably be my pick. But if Brady wanted, there's nobody that can say, oh, that's a travesty, because he absolutely has delivered this year in a big way. I think he was a little more consistent. I think he was definitely better in the first half of the season, and so it's a little bit of recency bias. Rodgers clothes stronger. Although Brady played great the last three weeks against bad teams, and I

think volume should matter a little bit. Like he dropped back to pass a hundred and seventy more times than Rogers, and to me, they were pretty close in terms of their effectiveness when they dropped back to pass. He also didn't miss a game, like a game is a significant portion of the season, a seventy extra times. I'm giving it to Tom Brady. I'll get to Tom's who. But think if you're the Saints, thinking what you did to both of these m VP candidates over three games, Yeah,

that's fair, Saints. The Saints. Saints with Jamis Winston would have been a fun seven seed in this game, for instance, or in in a in a different wild card game, they would have been fun. They would have made the playoffs, that would have won a game, they would have won an extra game with I guess I agree with you, Like Winston would have given a little bit of sizzle. But I was okay with the Saints not being in the playoffs. What about Jamis back on the Bucks. We

just insert him into that situation. I don't like that at all. So it's a classic middle of the road guy. Is Jamis a free agent? By the way, Yeah, that would be amazing if the Bucks won another Super Bowl and then they traded Brady and signed Jamis Winston. That would be surprising. This amazing, amazing. All right, let's move to the uh, the middle game on Sunday right after this break. All right, we're back. This is to me

the best game of the weekend. The San Francisco forty Niners pipe and hot after that really impressive ze comeback win uh here in l A to beat the Rams there the six seed. They travel now to Dallas to take on the Cowboys. The Cowboys are the three seed. Um and Mark, Uh, this game to me profiles as

a Dallas team that's gonna be favoriteed to win this game. UM, I would imagine they're getting probably about three and a half or so, greg Um three and Uh they have all the firepower and this this team really when you consider all that they have, which is a five thousand yard passer, a one thousand yard receiver, a one thousand yard rusher, a linebacker with ten plus sacks or twelve plus sax and Michael Parsons cornerback with ten interceptions, Pro

bowlers all over the place. They're supposed to win this game. And yet doesn't it feel like the Niners are a really tough matchup and to me feel like the team that's gonna come out of this game. I think you've got to be annoyed if you're the Cowboys that this is who you drew in this first round, because I think the Niners are a tough matchup for Dallas. It's it's guys like Deebo, Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon. I you

the way he's playing their run game. They're just one of the more original teams in all of football, the way that they operate on offense. And I know that, you know, I it's not just my Shanahan, you know, fascination. I think that we're starting to see what it was that did fascinate about about them to me, and it probably comes down to the splits between the Jimmy Garoppolo. Games where he's clean, he doesn't turn the ball over

and cause massive headaches, they're pretty much unstoppable. If you get the game where he fumbles around, causes problems, you know, misfires a ball into the lap of a Dallas Cowboy Micah Parsons, then you've got issues. But I am flat out picking the Niners to win this game. And I'm going, you know what, I'm switching my lock to a team that I really really support, the Niners, unlocking this team up. Forget the page pots. This game should be Monday Night football.

I was impressed, you know, with your faith. But you are taking another underdog now, and this is one where I feel like they're actually getting picked by the majority of people this week because everyone you want to pick like one underdog, and like, logically they've played better than the Cowboys, So I like the Cowboys here. I don't feel strong about it. I do think they're their matchup on the outside in terms of when the Cowboys have the ball is so great for them, Like that can't

be discounted. The forty Niners defense, and I think with d v o A a second against the run, first against or in the top five, I think in passes under fifteen yards and dead last uh in passes over fifteen yards, which is like something when you watch them, just seems almost obvious that they just don't have guys

that can cover deep down the field. And I just think, Kellen Moore, we'll know that, we'll see the mismatches and that it's just a day for Doc to be great, be great, Ceedee Lamb, be great, Amari Cooper, be great. You're You're much better than your counterpart Stack. You're much better than Jimmy G. I mean, everyone's you know, you guys are going crazy to give Jimmy J a lot of credit. Yeah, he made a couple of nice plays in that game. He also had two interceptions, including one

in the fourth quarter in a fumble in that game. Like, you make that those sort of mistakes this week, I don't think you you get away. That's what it's about. To me. That's the pressure point of this game. Damn pressure pressure. Because if Jimmy G does that stuff, I think that's gonna do in the Niners. But if he plays a clean, efficient game, that's all he has to be. It's a it's a cliche, but with the Niners. Be a game manager. Get the ball into the hands of

your playmakers. You don't need to make dynamic throws to do that. Good because Jimmy j doesn't really make dynamic throws. He doesn't have a big arm. But get the ball in Deebo's hands. Uh, They're running game has been very good. Um. I think Elijah Mitchell actually finished seventh in the league and rushing despite missing a lot of times like this is this is a loaded offense. They just need a field general guy that can just get the ball in

the hands. So I think that's certainly possible. To your point, Greg, Yes, when you go back and you watch um that Rams game, you get caught up in the moxie that that team showed and how incredible that last drive was to tie the game late in regulation. But yeah, but Jimmy g almost buried him in that game. It was the defense that kind of bailed out, uh the Niners and allowed them to get back into the game. So he needs

he needs absolutely to be cleaner. And I just think, like, here's the thing with the Cowboys, and you mentioned it, Greg, like step up, Doc Bedac, all right, but don't don't just be Dac when you're playing Phillies backups, or when you're playing the Washington football team that has three quarters of their guys on the COVID list, Like, be doc when it matters, when the competition is there, step up

and be better than the best. And I'm a little concerned when you look at the way their season played out in the back half, that this team was a bully and when they get when they get a team that punches them in the mouth, they start to press, They miss als, And is that going to happen in a playoff spot? And you're gonna get to all those cuts to Jared Jones looking forlorn and nervous in the booth. I can just see it now that the Cowboys are

gonna come up small at home here. So I hate to be like the guy that's on board with everyone else being on board with the underdogs. But I'm with you too, Mark. I just think that the Niners gonna come in here free and easy and steal a win here. To your point, in nine wins, Jimmy g had four giveaways over those nine wins. In the losses, he had eleven. So it's not just that we always want to talk

about the quarterbacks, but his mistakes matter a ton. I do think though that this Niners team right now, even if they get into if they get down a little bit to Dallas. I I look at that Rams games as something that tells me so much about who the Shanahan led Niners are. And I think they're gonna be an impossible tough out for three plus quarters here. And I'm telling you this game comes down to two words. Greg's rline we're gonna be talking about when we come

out of this thing. Oh my gosh, I was hoping, Um, there wasn't those two words. If it comes down to they're they're probably in trouble. Although like that they're kicking situation isn't isn't too good either, You're right like the Cowboys think. Look they have in one playoff games with with Dac, like they this is something that they need to Like, it's a massive game. You have Blake Jarwin back, and I do think when forty Niners have the ball,

like that's kind of football porn. This is a great matchup first of all, Like I would like to get rid of the you know, let one of these teams play the Raiders and one of them play the Steelers and like let them both advance because I like them both. But when when the forty Niners have the ball, it's a rare time where the Cowboys athletes on defense Lawrence and Gregory and Micah Parsons of course, are going up against like equal athletes like in and I don't know

who has the advantage. And I don't think either side is used to playing another team that is just physically gifted as the forty Niners offenses. We didn't mention Jowan Jennings, who has been like incredible for them as a third receiver too. It's just like to like physically imposing sides that are just have like specimens on it. It's about as good as it gets. It's it's a ridiculous wild card games. There's only some some players or athletes on

the Dallas defense. I think they're all fine athletes. My point is they are another let another level of athlete. Lawrence and Gregory and Parsons, and I think the Kiddle, Iuk Debo, Jwan Jennings Mitchell in terms of what they do after the catch is another level of athleticism. Like these two teams are just like big, bad bad men. But are they bad people? Like bad men? Like I don't feel like. I just mean they're they're probably really

they're good people. Just played they're like there are the two teams that look good coming off of you know, they're just two teams. Those they are two teams. Mark, welcome back. You had stepped away? What happened? Well? Have this? Um my voices have gone? You sound good? No, it's probably you might have lost some weight, Is that true? Yeah, I think I have. I mean it's been along, it's been a long couple of months, but you know, gonna

be all right, getting back on the peloton soon. So but my voice is so shot in, like I feel like it must be highly annoying to And I thought of that, like COVID couldn't be. You already don't like food famously, so COVID plus not liking food is not a recipe for a lot of food. COVID took about eight pounds off me, which I was not expecting. And I mean I got that, I got that cough that

turned into like a lost voice. So uh yeah, remember this ideal situation for someone trying to attempt to broadcast a message. We do appreciate you remember the San Francisco Dallas games in the early nineties. That was my favorite rivalry of the nineties, when Dion was bouncing around with both teams and it was so this is gonna seem crazy to younger fans, but there was this crazy run where the a f C was just a lamb being

left to slaughter for the Super Bowl. NFC was winning every year for like a twenty year period, so when the NFC Championship game came around, that four PM game between the Cowboys and forty Niners would just decide who was the champion. And uh, I remember those games well at Old Candlestick and of course, uh what was it the Dallas Stadium? What do they call it? Texas Stadium? Got a Bernie Kozar neel down in the NFC title game that put him into the Super Bowl after Bill

Belichick cut him saying that he had diminished skills. So a little bit of a win for him. But the other issue that obviously just Greg why do you Greg? I I don't disagree, but why do you need to just well, you just made it. Belichick was way off base, I think, right, but did just run out the clock. It's not like general leading them to the NFC title. But you know, I think anyone watching it felt a

moment of justice for Bernie. But I thought maybe you left some you left it a little open ended to make it seem like Bernie was responsible and got revenged by playing well. He played a huge chunk of one of those Cowboys playoff games and did well. Hey, I'm backing off. I'm not aware of that. That was sort of the whole thing was that Bernie came into an excellent job for them. So, Ricky, I need you to go on Pro Football Reference and look up Bernie Kozar's

playoff outing in around what so would that be it? Okay, all right, let's move on. Do you have Dallas? Mark greg I did take Dallas, but it was more like that's what I wanted to happen. So, and it's a coin flips. I took him. It would be fun. I think it'd be fun to see the Cowboys win this game. Alright, Late games Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers Zombie Steelers. You know, I saw I saw something today that Juju Smith Schuster was you know, designated to return from i R. And I

was like, well, that doesn't matter. They don't play until September. I was like, wait a second, the Steelers are in the playoffs, roaming the countryside looking for a new host to feed on. They want brains. Why was this put into prime time? I'm I'm so baffled with how they buried Dallas San Francisco in the middle of the day versus a putting it on Monday night football or at least in this spot. Well that gets that gets the biggest ratings. Technically for some reason, they don't like no

one cares about daytime ratings. But that's the game Fox, you know, wanted or no? Who has that game? Is it? Romo? I think it's CBS. Everyone was fighting I'm sure over that game, and maybe CBS was first in mind those those afternoon games. Dude, just as well there, I mean, I as all do very well. I just I don't want to watch the Steelers, you know, when the sun goes down. But also you have to understand, like, zombies at night better visual than zombies during the day, so

you gotta factor that in. And also the idea of the dead versus the living versus the undead in a in a football match like that feels like that's something people are gonna want to tune into. You want to hear what Bernie Cozar did in this game? Yes, alright, so he came in for an injured Troy Aikman went five for nine for eighty three yards in a touchdown, no mistakes. Take that belt check you bum you know who was again? So yeah, the forty nine Ers, wow

at all? All sets up beautifully, all right. So the Pittsburgh Steelers, by the way, the Pittsburgh Steelers a little quick aside here they're playing because the cults blew it. I don't know if you guys um had a chance to check it out, but I did make a point to watch the Hard Knox finale last night just to see the post mortem of how that slow motion car crash took took shape around the Colts, and uh man,

it was not pretty. It was it was you know, everyone miked up on the Colts sideline and they're cutting two Frank Reich and he's like talking to himself, like everything's fine, stick to the plan, stick to the plan. And then they cut to Carson Wentz, who is a He is a nothing burger Chrisma wise, there's nothing about him that tells you, I'm going to get the sideline motivated. As they're falling behind, He's like going down the sideline being like, it's okay, guys, it's okay, it's okay. And

there's just like this creeping dread on the side. I highly if you're interested in the house something like it is. And by the end of the game, Darius Leonard's like kneeled down during a TV time out and he's like, I can't believe this happened. I can't. Like everyone was just shocked. And then m Chris Ballard, uh general manager of the Colts, what's your favorite type of fraud? He was, Yeah, that was I was connected to Chris Ballard. You might have to dig through the archives, and I don't even

remember what it was anymore. But they were asked about what's the future for Carson Wentz, who obviously was very bad in that game, and here's what he had to say, Well, mate, when we made a decision after Philip retired and we made the decision to to make a move on Carson, at the time of the decision, we felt good about it and I still don't regret the decision. At the time. I'm not gonna just sitting here today, just so y'all know, I won't I won't make a comment on who's gonna

be here, going to be here next year. That's not fair. I think that is very notable. That is the translation of that, having seen this enough, is that if they really were all the way in on a we're running this back will be okay with a quarterback. You say it right there and you end it when you leave

it open ended. To me, that tells me they are going to kick some tires and they might be in a similar situation to your Brown's mark, where it's like, if we end up with Carson Wentz behind center, it's gonna be because nothing really came a better thing didn't come along, and we felt it was still it was

a workable situation. But it also feels like if something comes up, they are going to make that move and I can finally get you can finally get him on the Browns mark like you wanted back, and I'm not longing for that on any level. I mean, I think there's a supply problem, so you've got to like sort of back the guy you have now. Although that didn't feel like the same way that the Brown's back Baker Mayfield that common on wins, but then kind of walk

it back if you find someone better. I mean, I just don't know where you're finding someone better in the veteran heap Right the soundclip didn't sound as bad I thought as it looked on Twitter, where it sounded like, oh, this guy sound great, though now it didn't sound great, and Right didn't really back him any stronger either, and that's his guy. But I think the odds are more likely that Wentz is back just because it's tricky. Now.

Maybe they'll they'll draft someone. Maybe not. The thing that I found most interests from all this post mortem was that Jim Ursay never, according to The Athletic, essentially never

stopped being pissed that Carson Wentz was unvaccinated. And he's the owner of the team, and he he he made um Ballard and Reich show up to work Sunday night after flying home to basically do the season postmortem, where he was still like, you know, furious essentially of what happened, and like, if the owner of the team was pissed about that the whole time, you can you can probably guess he's not thrilled with Carson Wentz in general, because why would he be I wonder if if all this

is because in that postmortem just speculation, or is like get this guy off my team, like he doesn't want anything to do with him. I wonder if that that that's where we're headed. So it's already kind of decided at this point. And that was just the opening salvo. Um, all right, let's take a break. All right, let's get now. So the Pittsburgh Steelers, the zombie Steelers go to they go to Kansas City now and they get the Chiefs. So we have a set can see Chiefs team. Um,

that feels like a really good draw. Does this have, Greg? Do? Do you have any vibes that this could turn into this big Ben's last game? Most likely a Dan Marino's last game situation back in nine with the Dolphins where it's seven, Like, is that a possibility here? Yes? Yes, And I've tried to like wonder if like could this game because of course it could be. It's the NFL that like even the worst and best teams aren't quite

as far apart as you as you think. On a given day, it's possible, like the you know, the Lions beat the Cardinals that maybe that's not a good example, but there, you know there the Jaguars beat the Bills. But the Chiefs just played the Steelers three weeks ago, and it's hilarious that Mahomes said they were still looking for a complete game and then he left that game in the score was thirty three to three with eleven minutes to go. They totally dominated Pittsburgh upfront on both sides,

offensive line and defensive line. And that's where it's just hard to imagine Pittsburgh scoring here because the Chiefs pass rush, Jones, Clark, Jaren Reid. I've just been playing great lately, and I know they're their their secondary isn't very good, but I just don't see the Steelers as the team to make them pay for that and Big Ben under pressure like in that game. That was the game where Romo and and you know, fans of the Steelers are just like, well,

why is he just throwing the ball right now? Like he was just throwing two yard passes on third and eight because he was didn't want to get hit and didn't want to hold the ball. And I just can't I can't see on any other outcome this week. Yeah, I mean Andy Reid noting that every Chief practiced. I want to see what version we get of Tyreek Hill. But this could even be a game where you get an opportunity to rest Tyreek Hill if it gets out of hand early and and and maybe anyone else. It's

kind of banged up. I know what we said before they played the Steelers the first time that we love to see them run the ball against one of the worst run defenses in the league. If your Kansas City didn't really do a ton of that. They tried. They ran the ball thirty five times for about a hundred and forty yards that first game against the Steelers, but

it just didn't really matter. And I think this is one where you know, from the outside, you'd say, look like unless t. J. Watt goes absolutely ballistic and causes hellscape for Patrick Mahomes, you mix in a defensive touchdown, and you get a couple of early mistakes by Patrick Mahomes that put the Steelers into a good position. How

is this not twenty to three? You know, in the third quarter at some point or ten, and the Steelers as zombies do sort of hanging around, but they never deserved I'm not deserved because they got in, but they don't feel or look like a playoff team. They look like something far uglier. That's yeah. That to me, that's the pressure point for this game, which itssure that's t J. Watt needs to be a monster and that pressure has to lead to pressure that has to lead to turnovers.

I know it has to be a flukey weird game, but you know what, the thing about Kansas City, we want to act like that version of the Chiefs is dead and buried, but I can see it popping up again here. It happened enough during the year where we're trailing in Denver last week. Yeah, ball is getting deflected at the line of scrimmage, ending up in the arms of linebackers uh mahomes trying to do too much or receiver clanks offer Nicole Hardman's hands. Uh, and it's taken

back the other way like all that stuff. But that's what it has to be. I think that the talent disparity, and really the quarterback disparity, it's the biggest disparity of any matchup. Because Ben Roethlisberger has been to the playoff fourteen times and he's going to the Hall of fame and he's got multiple rings, but he can't play anymore. He stinks and Mahomes should just be the difference here in this matchup, even if they'll never share the field, right.

I think there were a couple of games this year where Pittsburgh just tried to just chuck it deep all game just because they have Deante Johnson and maybe Juju Juju does play in this game. Not that he's a deep threat, but it sounded like he has a chance.

But you you have him in Claypool, you have a defense in Kansas City that likes to leave their cornerbacks on island, and you just give it a shot, and maybe that's a high variance thing where you have some early turnovers and you do lose thirty eight to three, or you actually hit on a couple. It could work that. The Ben Roethlisberger press conference this week really cracked me up, though, Um, Ricky,

why don't why don't we take a listen to that? Yeah, I mean, we're probably underdogs and we're going to the number one, the number one team that I know nothing see, But there's the number one two is one d AFC. The last two years, um, arguably the best team in football. Um, we don't have a chance, so let's just go in and play enough fun. He had a big build up to that too, like he didn't hit the sarcasm like hard enough. I know what he was trying to do.

He wasn't being serious, but it sounded too much like he actually believed that, and it really cracked me up on Instagram. Uh, those words were written out in a post and Naj Harris sent it out um with some words casting doubt on what Ben said, saying like what are you talking about? I won't say what what he said exactly. He deleted it right away, but it was hilarious. I don't know what warfare, you know. Yeah, I don't know what else to say to this game. I think

we kinda we're all on the same page. It would be stunning if if it turned out any other way than the Chief's winning by multiple scores. Uh. And I think also part of Roethlisberger is kind of like if it vibe there is like I think everyone's on the same page, including the stew was like, we're not supposed to be here, like we did our business and one game's down the stretch and then some team totally gagged

on a historic level down in Jacksonville. Now we're in the playoffs, and it's like, Okay, I believed him, because I think part of him actually would have been pretty happy ending his career beating the Ravens and Browns ending their seasons and back to back weeks. Would you rather do that? You rather go go play another week in the cold against some team that you're probably gonna look like. It's not like Ben has played well the last week.

He's played poorly. He's he's already done the thing where you know, go circular around the stadium giving everyone a high five. I mean that happened two plus weeks ago. At this point, I don't buy that. Though. Great, I know you're not a Ben fan, but he's a great competitor, and I'm sure he's happy to be in the playoffs. But when it's thirty one three in the third quarter, yeah, he might have been. He might be thinking to himself, Man, how about about that game ends in a tie on

Sunday night? That would have been fine. Steelers fans are gonna be all over us and everyone if they actually alright this game. Deante Johnson said this week, don't jump back on the bandwagon when we win this thing. Who was on the bandwagon in the first place. No one's thought this was a big time team. All right, Monday night football, first time ever, we're gonna have a primetime game like ever ever, right because Super Bowl is not even primetime. That that's a game that kicks off between

three o'clock and six o'clock. There have been there have been four previous Monday games, Monday playoff games. I don't know if they were Monday night games, but there were four previous playoff games. I was surprised by this, and they were all in Los Angeles except for one. This was um, you know, said by our our our friend Andrew Siciliana on NFL. Now, I don't have any more information on the Monday during the day. Feels like an odd time to have a Yeah, it's probably it probably

was Monday night game. They said there was one in the seventies and stuff. I don't know. Alright. The Cardinals, the fifth seed, travel here to Sophie to take on the Rams. Um Rams coming off really a bad beat to the Niners. But because the Cardinals blew their game against the Seahawks, the Rams now are the division champs, which means they are hosting the Cardinals. But guess what, it's probably all for the best for the Cardinals, who went three and five at home this year and eight

and one, I believe on the road. So the last time the Cardinals were on the road in the game we were all doubting them. They won and beat the Cowboys in Dallas. So is it gonna be that version, that scrappy version of the Cardinals that shows up or they just gonna get blown away here, Greg, because as they have been trending downward for about a month and a half now, and this is how these things end

for these teams that typically play like this down the stretch. Yeah, they had that that win against the Cowboys, but other than that, they've lost four or five three to non playoff teams now, although the Colts you know, felt like they should have been one there. Since Week eleven, which is when Kyler Murray came back, they are fifteenth in offense and e p A and twenty three in defense. That's a pretty long stretch, and that's with Kyler Murray.

That's a mediocre looking team. And the biggest problem I think is up front in terms of their offense. I just can't see them protecting or being able to run consistently on the Rams. Now. The Rams have run defense issues, but I really am impressed with this defensive line in general, especially rushing the pastor lately. Dj Humphries, the left tackle for the Cardinals, has really struggled. Just their offensive line in general is requiring Kyler Murray to be so special

play after play. It's a hard way to to live. And I think Von Miller played his best game last week. Greg Gaines has been good, a Sean Robinson has been on fire. I just think that mismatch alone is gonna make it very hard for a Cardinals offense that just hasn't been explosive to score and too and to keep up with the Rams. Yeah, the Cardinals defense that was very special early in the year got absolutely obliterated by

Rashad Penny a week ago. You're now dealing with Aaron Donald, who had three sacks on Kyler Murray when they last played in Week fourteen and blew up that game plan. And you still see Kyler Murray every game doing incredibly special things that only Kyler Murray could do. But the offense in general We've talked about it a ton of times, seem confused, cannot get out of their own way. He

has seven passing touchdowns in his last seven games. Without DeAndre Hopkins in there, his QB rating has dropped by almost nineteen points. And so there are legit real problems. I'm with you that the offensive line have a lot to do with it. The Rams secondary is a little banged up to the point where they had to go sign Eric Weddle who hasn't played in like seven hundred days.

So maybe there are opportunities here for this to be not a blowout, but we have to get a Cardinals team that looks completely a typical to what they've looked like the last three or four weeks. Well, quickly, on the defensive backs, I do want to mention, like, it's not just that they lost Kendall Fuller, who's a captain for the rest of the season. They have a shoulder injury for their cornerback Darius Williams, and Taylor wrapped their

other starting safeties in the concussion protocol. That's suddenly a lot of defensive backs. Uh. And that's back to back weeks almost that they've lost the guy who has the green dot on his helmet, like that was Ernest Jones their linebacker. Then it's Kendall Fuller and they lost that back to back weeks. Like guys who are their defensive plaque college, So that that is pretty significant in the

back end there there could be some opportunities. There are opportunities, and yet who who's the dynamic playmaker left now on the Cardinals? And I think this has been exposed a little bit that it didn't go as deep as maybe we thought initially assuming a bad decision. He's banged up, so you have a guy that he could be limited by injury. A J. Green, Rondelmore, Christian kirk Zacher. It's these guys aren't making big plays, and it's it's putting Kyler Murray in a situation where he, to me, he

looks mortal. I know he has moments every week or he's like, oh man, this guy is special. And I agree with that. But I think it's gonna be a point of emphasis for this team, uh in the off season, because I think their season does end on Monday Night. UH, to say we can't just bank on DeAndre Hopkins being healthy this year and we're we're fine. I think they need to kind of retool this thing a little bit.

And there they've been. They've learned the hard way over these last few weeks that the offense isn't good enough. They just don't not have enough playmakers. The Rams go through issues when they lost Robert Woods, and had they lost Cooper Cup instead, I mean they'd have they would be a completely different offense. And you know, the Rams are the better team in this I think from head to toe, and you've got these guys, they're very star heavy.

I mean, someone like Aaron Donald would have shock you if he's like two plus sacks in this game and is absolutely turning Arizona into a mess. That said, I mean Matthew Stafford. I know it's like we're almost allergic to talking about the Matthew Stafford turnovers, but there are games where Matthew Stafford's mistakes have put the Rams into a terrible position, and I just I don't trust them to every game in the last four weeks. Well, I

don't think we're allergic to it. But he also threw forty one touchdowns this year, so it's I mean, I don't mean us escapes critique to some degree for the fact that there have been two or three games I can think of were like he buried them in a hole. You know what's funny, I thought like, um, because I think that Robert Woods injury is continuing to rear its ugly head here. O'Dell gave him nothing in that game last week. That was a big spot, and I just

think that's the Odell experience at this point. He's not a big time player. I think that the fact that they still don't really have that compliment to Cooper cup Um in the wide receiving game is something that's eventually going to get them. But thes and I like the Rams. I just think this is a really good pull for them matchup wise. Uh, their confidence is a little bit shaken coming out off Sunday maybe, and now you get this team Arizona that clearly you would think is doubting itself,

even if they've been better around the road. I like the Rams in like a to you know, twenty type game, maybe seventeen. That's where I'm at on this. I'm similar, I'm gonna lock him up. Marc inspired me not to take the Chiefs. You know, when he went he went for an underdog. He went bold. I was like that that would be shameful. And I do think the Rams, well, when this is a game, you need O. B J and and Van Jefferson to step up. Van Jefferson did get eight hundred yards, but he's kind of in that

you know, deep trick, deep guy. You know, that's the one thing he does. Oh b J has been a disappointment. He hasn't uh total a hundred yards combined in the last four weeks. There's been a lot of miscommunications. And this is a spot that the Cardinals cornerbacks right now have been injured. And I think that was a huge part of that Seattle all game was they have guys off their practice squad trying to cover Tyler Lockett and

DK Metcalf. What could be the same this week with O b J. That that should be a matchup that you could take advantage of. Al Right, there you go.

That is Super wild Card weekend preview. Um, we'll be back on Sunday night where we're gonna recap let's see until the five of the six games, and then we'll be back Monday night and we'll do immediately following Cardinals Rams will do a recap of that as long, along with any other updates with the coaching carousel, So keep an eye out for that and keep an eye out

on NFL Network. The return of the Around the NFL broadcast on Saturday morning at airs on NFL Network, and uh it actually airs back to back at re air, so if you miss it the first time, if you're not up bright and bright eyed and bushytail that four am here in California, you could still catch the five am. Or anyone who really he is a true fan of the show would just watch it two times in a row. That's another option. Or set the DVR. Yeah, DVR and sleep in. I think it's fine, but what you know,

you's preferable. Straeger families all gathering around around the hearth and they're watching. Oh they're they're all around that hearth. Little Schrieger, little Man Schrieger, is a big fan of the broadcast. So check that out. And um, thank you everybody for listening as always, All right until Saturday on the TV side, Sunday night on the pod side, enjoy the football, Enjoy West of this he the fault s