2021 Week 13 Preview + BTS is still here

they're coming. All right, we're back. Good job because Gregg as a peacemaker there built a bridge. Good job. Then we locked the doors. Okay, still here, one more day, one more concert. I couldn't believe it. No, I mean I texted you because I didn't know if you were trying to take the same There's a street that Dan and I take called Prairie Avenue, which is poorly named because it's clogged. I mean, a prairie generally is a wide open space and it couldn't be more clogged generally

with construction. But then this BTS scenario got dropped on us, and there's like hundreds of um girls in like cosplay outfits. You know, crowding the entry way to the building. So so okay, so I was stunned to see that there's still people and you know, got here around ten thirty in the morning. Concerts at what eight pm, I don't know. So I did some reporting. I pounded the pavement and

talk to some people. And this is what the insider came back with, inside side inside the day before, the truth to the user in the morning, the dolphin, the merch. They're here for the merch. The merch goes on sale at five am on the day of the concert, so people would come to the concert eight ten hours, twelve hours, fourteen hours before it starts for the merch. Even on the non concert days, the merch would go on sale.

And if you got here and I was checking this on Twitter, I just seeing if I could go it, yuh, if you showed up around six thirty, you'd have about an eight hour wait, six hour away to get the merch. What what is the merch? Just to a T shirt with their like their faces played some of these glow lights that they are only useful tonight, that it's like SYNCD up with the actual concert. But yeah, some concert stuff that you could only get the gross national product

of the BTS nation. Those my other I had other sources that told me those are sixty dollars those flashlights, and they're selling them from the break of dawn through the concert. It's impressive. And when you got money, you got power. And that's why this building is vulnerable. That's and that's why would happened earlier. I was at the World World Aids Day concert last night. Yeah, at the Forum, and it was Jennifer Hudson and Christina Aguilera. It was

like the most amazing thing ever. But Jet and I realized when we were leaving that BTS Army was getting out. We sat in bumper to bumper traffic for one hour before it took us two hours to get home. One hour was in park with all these people with you know, their their bunny ears walking past my car in those lights. I thought that we were going to be under attack at some point. PTS Army is legit. I mean, I just say we are from an angle. From one angle. Um,

a boy band of our own maybe not. The boy boy might be strong, but it's like new kids on the block are still touring, right. There's no kids in that group anymore. I mean, we could square off the Sopi Stadium four nights in a row, like I don't do you even think the Rolling Stones could be swift? I think they could have done eight. I think based on like the resale, Oh my god, pretty good, pretty good? Watch out all right? Maybe Zach Wilson will be our leader,

you know, the boy who shall lead us. He might be looking for a job soon. He might need to fall back plans. It's not that's not funny, um, but it does look like it looks the part. That's why he certainly does. And Baker Mayfield could be the manager. I mean, you know we hit it, probably know why did? I didn't even make the initial jab at your quarterback who's underperforming. It wasn't intentional, but it was a sitting there. It's it's fine, my defenses are up with the boys.

I didn't need that on any level. Uh it does You can pack imagine if Baker lost his hair so he just has the middle aged bald ring and then he put him in a pair of those like colored aviators and a toothpick in his mouth. He could be a manager. He could do that. But I mean, he's got a great head of hair. So I don't know you're that you're wish casting something there. All right, let's get to it. Enough of them a larky week thirteens here coming up later. Greg's gonna recap Cowboys Saints with

Henry Hatchson. Don't even get Alvin Kamara there. That's annoying what's going on with that season in New Orleans. But we're gonna spin forward to the games to be played on Sunday and Monday, and uh, strange week, only one game between playoff teams, that's the Ravens at Steelers. And

even that game doesn't have to juice. Only one game between one playoff teams if the season, if the season, and then uh, we have seven divisional games, so that that obviously has uh big impact potentially in division races and whatnot, and uh, you know, conference tiebreaker stuff. So we're gonna get into it all. Let's start though, as we always do before we get to our draft. Let's start with the primetime games. Uh, and it's a solid one.

They got flexed. The Denver Broncos are six and five. Um, surprisingly they're six and five. They had that three and oh start. They weathered some storms. They've been up and down, and it it just so happens that they are six and five as the calendars turned over to December and a year where the Kansas City Chiefs have been trying to figure things out. Now did they figure things out? Greg?

We will find out. There's seven and four, one game up, and I'm kind of rooting Greg for um chaos because the Broncos beat the Chiefs, forget about it, the a f C West becomes a complete grab bag. It is up for grabs. Let's see if that happened. At least give us an entertaining game on Sunday night. I know these teams seem very unpredictable to me. I kind of know what the Broncos offense is. They got some injuries this week at tackle and in Melvin Gordon. That's not ideal.

We know who they are. I know the Chiefs defense has been better lately and they're ultimately good. It's like the Chiefs are gonna put up. I mean, the Broncos are gonna put about twenty points in this game. That's my preview for you. On the other side of the ball,

I have no idea what's gonna happen. These are and I looked on football outsiders, these are two of the highest variances in terms of the Broncos defense and the Chief's offense of any signs on of the football in football, like the Broncos defense two out of the last three games put it to the Cowboys and did a fantastic

job of the charges. Could they be one of those groups that closes and finishes much different than they looked for a big chunk of the season, Because if they are, I think they have a chance to slow down the Chiefs at least Andy Right, Andy Reid is great coming off of bye, but will he take what's given to him? And Vic Fangio kind of started this whole trend of all around the league, everyone's playing the Chiefs this way. This is they're they're playing the way the Broncos play

every week, which is they beg you to run. They're they're begging the Chiefs, who are good at running, They're begging them to thinking dunk. Will Andy Reid take what's given to him? Will Patrick Mahomes do that in this game? If they don't, I don't know. I think it could be fun. I think if you're Vick Fongio, and you came in at some point and said, here's what I envisioned for my team. I mean a little more on offense. But this is what the vic Fongio, this is what

you're selling. I mean, they've allowed under two hundred and thirty yards passing in four of the last five games. Outside of that Eagles mess. They are shutting air attacks down. And Patrick Mahomes has never lost to Denver, has not faced this version of Denver's defense that we're seeing right now. So I I think that you know, when this got flexed it was like really like the Broncos it it's

turned into something that has become much spicier. What got flexed out it was Seattle, San Francisco, smart, what a state of affairs. Gotta get russ out, Teddy, come on in, Teddy. Well, I don't think that was the selling point. Get Pat into prime time more. And that's why it's like, you look at this game and I say, I root for chaos because I don't really have a dog in the fight.

But at the same time, do I really think, and I know it's been a weird year for Kansas City, that Patrick Mahomes is gonna lose in primetime in December against the division rival that has flickering hopes of stealing the a f C West away. I don't see it. And one thing that does surprise me because there's been so much handwringing and it's, you know, worthy handwringing because the Chiefs that have have had major issues on offense. But what have I told you? They haven't lost since October?

Like this is the Chiefs that everyone it's been a crisis. And it's because you don't get the sense that they're on a four game winning streak and haven't lost in a month and a half almost because, uh, their defense

has been picking up for the offense. So even though throw out that Raiders wine on Sunday Night, those other three wins around the bye, they scored twenty thirteen and nineteen points, Big Faggio can do cook up everything he could cook up and and hold the Chiefs to one points or so there's a chance, a good chance that Casey is still gonna win because their defense has proven now over the past month plus that they don't need a shootout, they don't need Mahomes in the offense to

be elite to get it done. They're getting a pass rush. I mean, Chris Jones, who we talked about on our show last Friday, has been phenomenal for them, and they are I mean, they're just It's okay if teams kind of change their identity a little bit during the year. I mean, who would have thought that their offense would have scored only twenty points against the Giants. They won that game, but it's like, this is not the Kansas City team we're used to, but they're also coming off

of bye. Andy Reid has that great history. You do kind feel like at some point Mahomes specifically is gonna figure it out and get into the flow. It's just this, this Denver defense is built to stop the pass. That's what they're built to do. Certain's playing great. Kareem Jackson might be back for this game. Like they're they're getting

finally the secondary play that they thought they had. I I just don't think on offense they'll hold up like they are still down to their third, fourth, fifth string tackles against an improved pass rush. It could be a tough spot for Teddy, but you know he's you know, Teddy higher QB rating than Patrick Mahomes right now. Today's analytics are almost too good. They're like embarrassingly good. But I think it points to what he's been this year,

and it's like, I don't it's true. Well, there's this one that's like e p A plus completion percentage overexpected and he's like second or third in the league. It's like that actually says more about the stat than it does about Teddy. But I think it's to the point that he's he's done exactly what you would hope. I just I just you're gonna have to score thirty in this game. I don't trust the Broncos defense. I do kind of like them to cover nine and a half points.

Like Vegas is not buying into this Broncos resurgence, and they really haven't bought into the Chiefs declining. They're expecting it to bounce back. If you are in the Desert Realm. The Chiefs has scored fewer than twenty five points in five straight home games, which is stunning. And you read twenty one and four after the by Greg, you had mentioned that and Teddy Bridgewater. This is good, Greg, nice little island game for Bridgewater. Who's trying to convince a team,

Hey keep me around, make me part of your future. Well, here's a big game for them. If they could somehow win this game. He plays well, that that matters, and you take all those advanced analytics that paint him as a better than average quarterback now stacks and wins, but get a playoff. Vick Fongio also saying keep me around, and there aren't a lot of signature wins, and the Fongio era the Cowboys is one. This would be huge.

I think Teddy is the Broncos quarterback next year unless they can get Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson, and then no matter what he does the rest of the season, he won't be the Broncos quarterback. So I really think that is that's the equation. I think he's coming. I think they're gonna if this season. If they strike out, it's not It sounds great to go get that one of those guys, but there's no guarantee that you will, and if you don't, then I think Teddy is like

their ideal fall back. All right, the best game of the week. It's kind of throwback. This is the way it used to be in the old days. Monday Night football. The New England Patriots, eight and four, riding a six game win streak, head up to Orchard Park to face the seven and four Buffalo Bills, the team that was the heavy favorite to win the division. But guess what,

the Pats got good, faster than expected. And now Mark, the question becomes, and I think we talked about this last week as well on the television show, The Pats are good, The Pat's a great team, go and beat up on the Bills and Orchard Park in primetime. And I am all in, yeah, because I think you know, you and I sit on different sides of this where

and it's not just wishing. I I look at the Patriots and I look at the fact Bill Belichick is their coach, and everything that's happening in the way that they're playing, the style that they're playing, the physical side on offense, uh takeaway, heavy on defense, shutting down opposing quarterbacks, making life hell for one quarterback a week after week that I totally buy in, Um I do. I'm with you, though.

This is the acid test, because coming into this season it was like the Bills have dethroned the Patriots and this is a long run. It's gonna be a nice, enjoyable long run and a change of scenery. It's like December second or third right now, and everything's been flipped on. It's but because the New England wins this game, I'm sorry, but it feels to me like the Bills. There are many more questions lingering over what the Bills are this

season with their inconsistencies than New England. If they do what they've done to other teams, you know, and it has been there each of these you look back at the six teams they've beaten in a row, there's been a rough fallout for every one of those clubs that got thumbed by New England. You think of Baker Mayfield, you think of Sam Donald's essentially season ending. I mean, they've ripped people up left and right. So if you go and do that to Josh Allen, you've got big

problems if you're Buffalo. Yeah, absolutely right and way the way that we thought about the Bills coming up. But part of that is because they've like stacked these seasons and that they've been building and the fact that eight and four is looked at some disappointment for the Buffalo Bill. Seven and four excuse me come into this game. I mean, what a job that McDermott has done. That that's somehow

a disappointment to get to this point. This is a more experienced team in big spots than this Patriots team. Like I think that does matter. Like Josh Allen kind of went through a lot of those painful moments and he'll have more, and he certainly has bad losses this year, but this is a veteran team on both sides of the ball with great continuity in Buffalo, and I think

people are dismissing that. I tend to think that the most likely outcome over the next three weeks are that these two teams split, because I I personally think they're the best two teams along with the Chiefs in the a f C. And so to me, like if the Patriots win this one, okay, let's see what happens next time. I if the Bills win this one, that wouldn't surprise me. Like if it's a blowout either way, that that would

surprise me. Because I think the Bill's defense, even without trade Avious White, is a challenge that Mac Jones in this Patriots offense, which has been resourceful and it's been good, hasn't really faced when you look at the opponents that they've had during this winning So you could make the case, and I'm with you, although I'm with you to a point. Yes, would a split be shocking? No, But I think it

would very much matter. If New England went to Buffalo and one on Monday night, they'd be nine and four and the Bills would be kind of in I would imagine in a crisis mode internally. It's seven and five losing at home in that spot. Also are going to Tampa next week, So you're right, it's sort of Let's say the Pats one, they go into their by at nine and four and in complete control the A f C. East. Um. Now we have touched on this and I'll just bring

it up again. The last one to three, four four weeks the Patriots all wins, but they've been facing a team that's missing their best player for works in a row McCaffrey, Chub Patterson, um Derrick Henry, and A. J. Brown. The Bills profile is a healthy team that is ready and geared up for this game. UM. I like the Bills in this game. I think they're gonna win the game. Uh, does anybody else think that are we at the place where we're so hot on the paths that nobody's gonna

pick we see? I feel like the getting hot on the Pats thing is almost like like I've fallen for some fervor, some religious fervor. I mean, where what I'm saying in those four those four wins that you mentioned as the question, Well, no, but the four wins you mentioned they also allowed a total of twenty six points. Depends, but in some places they're favorites slightly, so you're not You're hardly on on your own. I don't know. I

don't think I'm on my own. I think the thing is that, like maybe it's frustrating that people are back on the Patriots thing entirely. I think they are going to win this game. I think the way we come out think about Buffalo was how like you mentioned, if it's a blowout, if they blew the Bills out, and the Bills have had a couple of rough weeks in this season, it changes our perception of them, and it

only strengthens what I think about New England. I'd be shocked if if the Bills defense allowed to blow out. I I see like a close, low scoring game, and I see Josh Allen being the key in terms of his running. I think it was really important last week early in that game. I know is the Saints, but that's a good run defense. They called a lot of design runs. He scrambled a lot. To me, that's how you're running game. What what was the question I asked you was gonna win? I took the Bills and my

game picks by a field goal. I don't feel good about it. You know you've been doing that. You've been nagging Pats team and I've been wrong. That's not true. Only once did I pick against them when they lost, which you've been You've been the hold the horses guy all season with the with the Fats. I don't know if it's your random coming through noleheartedly believe that the Bills are gonna win. Oh, you're doing it. That's why I'm gonna lock them. Yeah, you've You've done a great job.

It could be stupid, but I really do believe that they'll probably split, and that the Bills are a strong team and they'll adjust to that. That that this Patriots offense, like even Mac Jones last week, I don't know. I I don't trust them as like a passing game to light it up. Of course they could win this game, but I think it's gonna be a low scoring defense. And people keep saying Mac Jones has not faced like a real defense. The Panthers were the number one past

defense when they whipped them. Okay, I'm just saying, but what. But it's like, when are we going to be ready to believe in the in the Patriots if it, if they handle this, believe in them. I just think there's three. Like I said, I think they're one of the favorites and the Bills are one of the other two or three favorites. And this is a road game. I think it's totally a coin flip game. And I'll feel like a dumbass if Romandre Stevens and Who's suddenly throw it

in your fantasy team? Dan, it looks like RB one in New England. Stevens is ruining my fantasy team. I have you have done? I thought you had Davien Harris guy. Okay, I was like, I thought, Damian Harris is gonna have a monster season. Suddenly were a mare? Is the guy? They he's the flavor of the month. Uh No, and listen like, I'm not frustrated about the Pats being good. I don't. It's things have changed for me with Tom Brady being gone. I don't it. For some reason, it

doesn't have that same like kick. I'm just from a clearly like just where are we at right now? I want to see how they come out of these three games. And I'm really excited to see your prerogative. So here we go. Let's move on. And before Pats fans come out, it's like, I see them losing this one. Then you beat the Colts and the Bills and you're in first place. And the I mean, Greg, you've blocked Like you know what I mean, you're in the first place. It's like

you got two out of three. Yeah, and it's like, you're not gonna go undefeated the whole season. You're not gonna the rest of the way. You you go at Buffalo, by at Indie Home Buffalo, you win two out of three, you have a good chance of getting the number one seed. And they see because you was Jacksonville at Miami, they've struggled. Yeah,

need a little. That's a tough one. But I think the Ravens will catch the Mills The Chiefs are still the team if I'm any team in the AFC, not that they're looking around to me, the Chiefs are still the scariest. All right, Let's take a break and then get to the draft. All right, welcome back, Greg. You have the first overall pick, and I could jump you. You could, and I might because there's so I'm gonna

I knew you weren't this. These are a bunch of dogs this week you're gonna take You're gonna take my pick when it really matters, Chargers Bengals as the number one over I'll pick. But that's what I knew. Remember, Temple of the Doom. I would have taken it market if he didn't take it, U Temple of Doom when he rips the guy's heart out of his chest. That's what I'm gonna do to Greg when I do that last jump, because oh yeah, I'm already thinking about that

Pat schedule. That was a rough situation for the person who I don't the alright, go ahead. Romo is late,

so I thought about taking his game. But Chargers Bengals is easily the best game of the morning, and it's a nice a f C Wildcard test of two quarterbacks taken in the same draft back to back, you know, number one, number six, not back to back, close enough, and one of them getting a lot of grief Justin Herbert, even though like his numbers and he's fifth in the least the Justin Herbert defender army is pretty strong, right, you guys have a fortified front. There's not a lot

getting the slings and arrows are not really hitting. It's a fair point, Lew Brandon Staley is part of it, like he is, noting that it's like we're second in e p A. He threw that out, like they're there's their second in EPA per play, their top six or seven in football tiders. Often it's it's true. And yet when you watch it, you don't understand. Burrow I think

hasn't gotten enough attention for how well he's playing. And I know that the Bengals make it easier on him lately with how good the running game is and how good the um defense has played. But third and thirteen last week, particular play that he had, I think it was two boyd third and seventeen last week to Higgins, he's going back there, and he said it after the game I'm glad he said it. He was like, when I go back there, I know exactly what I'm seeing,

and that's what it looks like. He plays more like a veteran, I think, than Herbert. He doesn't have the skill sets, but man, it just feels like he has such a good feel. And that's coaching too. You gotta give Zach Taylor some credit of what the opposing defense is trying to accomplish. And he knows where his receivers are and he's got some great ones, and there's like always answers and I do the QB Index every week and so many of these guys are up and down.

You know who hasn't been up and down this year? Joe Burrow not perfect, but even in his bad games, not too bad, great games, not too great. But he's right there around like the number ten eleven quarterback in the league maybe, And I'm just so impressed with how

he's played. I thought that what happened against Pittsburgh, and if you're a Bengals fan of a certainty, you know you've spent half your life, well no, I mean, it's just as it's one of those teams that has been bloodied and beaten up by Pittsburgh for eons, and one of those teams last week had an identity and completely

stripped the other team of one. The way that Cincinnati is running the ball right now, to um, I think that's what maybe D emphasizes, like some of Burrows exploits to some degree, because the way they came out and set the tone against the Steelers early was formidable. I mean, I think that the Bengals that were watching in that game can beat the Bills, beat the Patriots, beat the Chiefs, I really do. When you get that version, because they're

super balanced on both sides. Guys like Trey Hendrickson was a really good pickup and free agency, he's been dominant for them. Mike Hilton made plays last week. I mean, they just on both sides. I thought basically ended Pittsburgh season. And yet wouldn't it. I don't know what it's surprisingly if the Chargers win this game. I can't. This was

I thought the hardest game to pick. I have no like, the Bengals are certainly trending better and it seems like they're upsides better, and yet the way this season and these two teams trust, I can't. I can't trust either. You don't trust the Bengals, don't Is it because of the Jets Brown's fiasco back to back fiasco's? I guess yeah, it wasn't too long ago. You know, it's just the nature of the season. Hey, there is one one person or group of people who knows that is certain how

this game is gonna do. Like this, Nick here again, amongst my brothers, there's a consensus this week they all like the Bengals. I'm a little more skeptical. Last time they were the talk of the town. They got beat by a bad Jets team. Then we're completely dismantled by the Browns. It's like Chris used to say, the Bengals can't have nice things. So I'm really torn on what to do this week. So I went back to a conversation I had with Chris last year about how much

I hated Zack Taylor. He refused to run the ball, fell in love with his finesse game, and got Joe Burrow hurt. The find of a good coach is learning from your mistakes. This year, they got in trouble and made the correct adjustments in his pounding opponents, and all three receivers are making big plays because of it. You look around the FC and outside of the Patriots, the Bengals are the only balanced team, not only on offense but defense too. I can really see him making a

big deep playoff run this year. We're gonna go ahead and lock up the Bangles over the Chargers. Good dad. I love what he said. He's convincing me. I might flip my pick. I went back and forth in this one move. The fact that Nick's locking up the Bengals that is that's It's a great point on the run game too. When you watch the Bengals, they look the most like the Sean McVeigh. Todd Gurley rams with Joe Mixon being I know what people thought. Joe Todd Gurley

was all right, that's good. Let's move on. Good game. Not too many to choose from, so let's move to the late games. I'm up next in the draft. I will take forty is at Seahawks. You guys are killing me. Those are my two top games. I literally am lost in the forest. This is a tough one. This is a tough one to be the third and fourth pick. This is a tough snake, felt personal. I think you knew Mark wanted that game. I might sit this week out. You know what's funny? I hope you don't, Mark. We

need you, buddy. Um, you know what's funny. I not only you know. First of all, I'll start here. I'm locking up the Niners like I I and I don't know if you're with me, Mark or what, but uh, this is this feels like a perfect spot for a surging San San Francisco team. I know Debo's not there. I know how important he's been, But when I watched the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, that just team. It

looked like a dead team walking. And you can say, oh yeah, but they're they're at home and they're tougher. They have been tougher at home everywhere they play. There the same boring, broken offense with a quarterback who's saying my fingers fine, but doesn't play the same way. Even before he hurt the finger, he was struggling the Shane Waldron experiment. If you want to call that, it ain't working.

I don't know if it's his fault. DK Metcalf seems like he's one more you know, three target, one catch week away from just melting down and attempting to Beckham like mutiny here. Um, so I don't like anything about what's going on with ctl Seahawks and the forty Niners. Their ability to shut that game down against the Vikings really stood out to me because it wasn't just their offense, it was the defense as well, and they did it uh in a way that was impressive to me. Uh,

they had they they lost guys. You know Aziz Alsha here is that correct pronunciation? Um? You know he moved over. Fred Warner goes out with a hamstring injury, and that guy's making plays all game and he moved to the middle linebacker. He's calling plays. Elijah Mitchell I like what he's doing. I'm in on this Niners team. Um, and that's why I locked him up. I totally think that's a legitimate, um logical lock I. The Seahawks are as boring as a team i've watched in ages, UM, maybe

stripping out some of the true trash bag operations. It's stunning to see how they've been dominated. They held the ball for less than twenty minutes against the Cardinals, barely over twenty minutes against the Packers. They gave up forty one minutes a possession against Washington. They can't get anyone

off the field. They can't sustain drives. You know, you're right, No Deebo Samuel changes something that I think the Niners have done a really special job with under Coyle Shanahan the last couple of weeks, using him in a way that no player in the league is being used. But I do look at Brandon Ayuk who you know, it's these two teams are are are in such different places because a month ago, month plus, it was Brandon Aiyuk

in the dog house. To some degree, people were writing columns saying that there's no leadership on the Niners, that they've made all these like headstrong front office choices that are completely disasters, and right now it's the Seahawks that are facing a lot more chaos induced type questions. I think if you're the Niners, you you keep rolling with

what you're doing. I mean, Jimmy G has I don't love Jimmy G to the eyes, but metrics wise, like yards per atten MT's higher than any quarterback in the league. Since Week eight, He's a forty three class. Week was was the ultimate Jimmy G game, though, like he played poorly and they won thirty. He's he's the guy right now.

He's not the guy in the future. But the way that they're playing, the way that their offense functions, like, as long as he doesn't blow them up with terrible mistakes, which is a possibility at any moment, they'll be fine. Like on paper, this is the perfect matchup the last three weeks to your point, mark the Seahawks of average nineteen minutes of time in the in the thirty eight. Now, time of possession isn't necessarily much of an indicator of anything,

like old school football coaches overrated. But when it's that outrageous that the Seahawks are like four three minutes on the season behind any other team the next close, it's a combination of things. It's the offense obviously stinks and they're going three now, but it's also like get off the field defense, Like the defense hasn't taken any of the blame, and they just give up these long drives,

which on paper matches up so poorly. I think they're twenty nine in yards per drive allowed defensively, and that's terrible. Then again, they've beaten the forty fifteen out of seventeen times, fifteen out of seventeen, Like Santa Han's there for been there for a tonk of those. The the only the only win in the last handful of years was that play by Dre Greenlaw which decided the number one seed a couple of years ago in weeks seventeen, where they

won by half a yard. That's when it took and that was the best forty Niners team we've seen for them to beat the Seahawks. So for them, it is kind of a weird rivalry game that they haven't been able to solve. But this feels like the moment you said, you know and when you think you figured out season, it will smack you in the face. So I'm not saying like there's no chance Seattle puts up a competitive

effort and and it even wins this game. But I just feel like where these two franchises are right now just sets up very well. And you know, one thing

about the Niners. Um one more thing I should say is I think on the TV show last week, um in teeing up the Niners, I said, remember Trey Lance, and then there was because he's been absent completely, Jimmy g has been the quarterback and NBC Sports Jennifer lee Chan reported that Kyle Shanahan has been resistant to rotating quarterbacks because they quote stunts his in game play calling.

He's had one touch since Week six. This is the number three overall pick, So this is that's outside the box thinking compared to what you usually see in the modern NFL. You pick a guy that high he's playing, but Shanahan has made a concerted effort and decision to stick with You have been killed the sub package. And I'm thinking back to when I was in a hospital watching the Niners using both quarterbacks back to back on dry wonder. I would change this week just because no debo,

because they haven't needed him in the running game. Deebo Samuel has kind of added that other element. And Elijah Mitchell's awesome. Like Elijah Mitchell is not just I'm gonna stick in a running back. I would take him over he moster, He's second in the league and yards after yards per carry after contact, Like Elijah Mitchell is a dude. Like they found something with him. So it's like you don't need Janahan said that it kind of hurts my

rhythm a little bit going back and forth. All right, Uh so I took that and now Marks in a tough spot at the snake position. Startup, buddy, Well, it's a bad draft and you've got to just go for something that at least I think we'll have some substance on Sunday Night show. Um, I'm gonna go Baltimore at Pittsburgh. I don't, uh, necessarily like either one of these teams. I think we understand that, um, but I kind of find it to keep your enemies closer exactly. Let's it's

a little bit of a scouting mission. Um. I I find it interesting though, because it isn't kind of this typical Raven Steelers game on any level. These teams are in a fair amount of chaos, but especially Pittsburgh, I think one more like they're basically one more loss in my book from you know, send him off a bridge

into the seat. Here. Here's a concern I would have Mark from you, because I know you were very excited and happy and understandably so about how poorly they played against Cincinnati, and you were, you know, dancing on the grave. I do the same thing in your position. Good, but this does maybe set up as an unfortunate viewing experience for you, because the Steelers in win or die mode against the Baltimore team that is just barely finding ways to beat teams feels like a vulnerable spot. Maybe for

Baltimore it's fair, I will survive. Um, I understand what you're saying. I want to see it. Plus there's no good outcome the Ravens crushing them. Is that really? Mark doesn't want to see a d D. Reporting on the sidelines after the game, like everybody buried the Steelers and now they're back and feeling I would say take Pittsburgh out. Let's set that closer to the mortality of one of these two teams. Thank you. I think you're gonna get it. T J. I think they go as t J. Watt

goes over the last couple of years on defense. When he played last week week, well, I think they did. He was not t J Watton that that game. Now then he shows up on the COVID list, either he was hurt coming into the game or who knows, you know he got he tested positive for COVID a day later, probably not gonna play this game. He wasn't himself last week, and their average with him and they're way below average

without him. It's crazy, like on paper, they match up so poorly with the Ravens because they can't cover deep and on the outside. That's what the Ravens do well. They can't really stop the run. I guess they can't do anything, so they match up poorly with everyone. Guys like Devin Bush first round pick getting benched. There's all sorts of drama. They just don't make any sense with such a bad defense. They remind me of the Pats

from last year. Everyone's so focused on the lousy quarterback situation and offense that like no one's paying attention to what was supposed to be their bed rock defense falling upon well there and d v o A. They've been allowing and basically two hundred yards on the ground since week ten. I mean it is they're getting beaten up. This is like why you have all X Steelers coming out of the woodwork. The Raven's offensive line is sneaky

good too. They've had a lot of stand nine people out this week and Wednesday's practice, so that's a concern. But they're wait, what was it for? Ye Yeah, I like that all right? Good? Any other thoughts on this? Yeah? Not particularly Okay, let's move on. Market snakes to you, buddy, well, I don't love this at all, but I'm gonna go. No, it's just it's a it's a strange week. I'm gonna go with my I'm picking pet teams. I'm going Cardinals Bears.

I want to see I think it sounds like it sounds like we're getting Kyler Murray because I don't know. We've seen these clips from him at practice today minutes before we started this, and he looked he was he looked spry, looked fine to me, tweeted out fan House on Monday, which felt it felt like he's a Nuke's practicing as well. So they're all is trending towards these guys being bad, and I think they you know, we

talked about this. They managed this so well. Um, they probably could have shoved Kyler into the lineup had it been like a huge game before the bye, but they didn't have to. And they're playing a banged up Bears team that you know, Justin Fields is practicing on a limited basis, but Allen Robinson is not ro Kuwan Smith, who had been awesome for them for a couple of weeks.

Um is not practicing right now. At this point, Um, Robert Quinn has led a defense that has just not been a typical Bears defense in a lot of ways. I don't know if you get Kyler back in here, because for all the heroics of Colt McCoy, um, the offense changes entirely if if if Kyli is in there, they become ten times more aggressive, especially if it's Hopkins

in there as well. And I think they're a team that we probably them falling off our radar, but they're not maybe getting the praise they deserve because you haven't had your star players in there. They're the best team in the NFL right now, UM hands down to me because it's their defense too. And the Bears passing game right now is not only the worst of this season in terms of yards per game and the yard yards is that's just one thing, but the worst team of

the last four years yardage per games, So they're a mess. Um. They are also have given up more sacks than any team in the league. So it just seems like against this Arizona defense, which doesn't get talked about as much because of the offense, the Bears are running into a rough scenario in Chicago. Do we worry about Arizona and

cold wind and cold temperatures. I don't you know. I would say the concern here if your Cardinals fan is rusted, especially with the quarterback hasn't played in what four or five weeks now, So maybe it'll take some time to knock that off. Maybe it takes a whole week to knock that off. And you said the Cardinals you are the best team in football? Did you lose sleep? Were you furious when the latest NFL Power rankings came out

and the Packers had hop scotch those Cardinals number. I think though that that's a fair thing to do when you have a buy to deal with. But I think that you will be proven uh incorrecting the end. I think they've been the best so far. I'm with you, how do you knock them down? Like zach Ertz has emerged since Kyler got hurt last you know game they played, It's like a J Green making plays zach Ertz. They have so many ways to be I kind of think I kind of expect Andy Dalton to start because he

took most of the reps on Wednesday. That might give the Bears a slightly better chance. If I'm Matt Naggy, I might not want to. You're like sack, Well, yeah, you're like sacrificing been against this great defense and great pass rush for like one more week. Let's wait till Fields is a hundred percent get him back next week, next year. You want to be met Nagy. When he's taken the year off and he's making three and a half million dollars a year to do nothing, that's when

you wanted that. He never seems happy, though he will be next year, once he's out of this world. He's the most unhappy man in the world. You gotta wash the bears out of the hair and you'll he'll be fine. He'll be on the phone of Adam Gaze and I'm like, where are we going? Which island we go into this week? You know, let's get loose. You see that report that Adam Gates would listen if the if Notre Dame would offer him the head coaching deb Really, when I think

Adam Gates, I think prize recruit. Yeah, I don't think that's gonna play. Um all right up next, is it the old user? I think it's the old suser in a big spot. Okay, so I do thank you, Paul Rudd. I do like so you took that Chargers Bangles game. But I'm gonna have eyes on that one, Greggy. So I'm gonna take a fun game in the morning with that Bucks at Falcons, fun because I like watching Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay offense operate. So I will grab that game and uh man, what to say about

this game? It's funny, like are you gonna have eyes? The Jets are early two. I mean, that's that's a good point, the toughest of all spots right there. But I'll figure it out anyway. Don't worry about me. Tampa Bay eight and three just taking care of business, rolling through. Um, I would like someone else to kind of jump in because I, like I've said on the show, I like where Tampa is. They're staying mostly healthy. On offense, they're

taking care of business. And the Falcons, I kind of I have them where I have them, which is five and six, but really not in the mix, even if they're in the on the on the hunt or in the hunt category over in the NFC. Anybody want to make a case, I'm giving up on them being in the hunt for anything other than there are. They're literally tied for the last spot. It is weird. I asked you, literally asked you the question on our network show if anyone bought them at all and in the hunt category,

and everyone said, I'm sticking a fork. I just didn't pointing out that they're literally tight. I can't make that case for you. This was the game where it all turned around last year. You guys. Remember they came out of the bye and the Falcons were up big at halftime against the Bucks, and then the Bucks scored like twenty eight unanswered in the second half, and then they

went off to their Super Bowl run. In Week one, it was five I remember in the fourth quarter, and then they scored about twenty straight points off of a lot of turnovers. They should wipe the floor with this version of the Falcons team. I'm kind of out of things to say here to other than Antoine Winfield is like the difference maker here for the Bucks, and they're getting Carlton Davis back, their best cornerback, They're getting healthier,

and Winfield has quietly gotten a lot better. I think since his rookie year might be an All Pro almost certainly should be a pro bowler, and like they're one of the best places you'll see from his safety him mossing Michael Pittman, who's a giant and Winfield I think is what five ten or something. He's just out physical and went above him to take a ball away the

ball skills for safety there, that's pretty good. A. J. Terrell, the Falcons corner number two in PFF's grades, has had an incredible season and but you need more than one cornerback. It would be good, It would be good. We would have to go up to West Point or something, I think to find him. But why don't you want to see where Tom Coughlin is at on this Leonard four net. He's not loving it. Not only got a different human but he was probably dealing with a completely different human

being in Jacksonville. Well maybe just the human being on a different team now with I'd like to imagine him as like now he's grandfatherly and he's happy. I'm buy Naggie won't even be happy next year. But I think Coughlin is enjoying his his time away from the game, and he's like, I know he's knew that young man could uh could realize his potential. I'm glad to see it. That feels like heart not. That is not true. Not only not only did he score four touchdowns uh and

a great comeback win over the Colts. Uh. Lenny Fournette. It was reported after the game that he gave a spirited halftime speech that inspired members of the Buccaneers uh and led to the comeback in the second half. Uh. That is not playing well with a Tom Coughlin. I can tell you that. No. But Tom Coughlin, you tried to center the entire experience around uh Blake Bortles, So you're going to get a different locker room in a

different offshoot of that than Tom Brady. And but well, and Lenny Fournette, who was I believe the fourth overall pick ofen draft. Uh. And just for a little timeline, because I did a little digging uh for power rings this week. They cut him the Jaguars three years and to that rookie contract September and the Bucks scoop him up and look at him now, he's one of the more productive running backs on the league. That's the Tom Brady effect. You could say, is this that he's matured

Tom Brady. It is a little bit Leonard for net effect. You don't think so that he's decided to take command of his own I think that's true, But the opportunity and everything wouldn't happen without Brady. I'm buying that. Although man, he looks good, he's playing well. Let's take a break and then we continue on so many strategies here. All right, Greggy, you got two picks here. I could jump here too, but you know I won't because it's all dogs. Now.

That's that's two times Ricky's had to use the beep in short order. I'm going to strategize and take a knock it out games so I don't have to watch it on game pass. Vikings Lions early. I swear to God, Vikings, you better not blow this game. There's an outside right, there's an outside chance that this is tense and that the Vikings, you know, could lose the lines to be the Lions first one, so like or the or the Vikings blow it out and it's a knock it out game.

Do not do not put it in Gregg Joseph's hands with twelve seconds to go. Uh, the team Zimmer, Let's take care of business. Don't be so dumb. Dumb team. I thought that the Lions were establishing somewhat of an identity with an inside running game. DeAndre Swift was in the top seven or eight in terms of yards from scrimmins, playing really well this year, a guy to build around. Uh he's out this week according to rap sheet, and without him, I just don't think they have many answers

on offense. The Vikings are probably you know, they're without Dalvin Cook, but Zimmer pointed out which I thought was interesting, But like, our running game hasn't been good lately anyways, and you've kind of seen them turn the dial here to putting a little more on Kirk Cousins plate that

they're just gonna ride the ups and the downs. If that happens, this is a nice week, I think to get some confidence, not have the Lions Vikings game that you had earlier in the season, which took a last second field goal for the Vikings to win, and actually have a normal Vikings game for once. Let's do it. Let's do it. I Alexander Madison has been great when

he filled in for Cook in the past. He had a hundred and fifty three yards against the Lions back in Week five, he fried him last year as well, So I mean, I don't think that's a you're that's a massive ship because that they've been a passing Tones defense has come out of the by and have allowed six I know, the you know, the opposing teams hasn't been great, but sixteen or less than three Straights, then they are coaching their butts off for an O and

they also were a disorganized mess on I'm just saying sixteen or less from a defense in three straight weeks that looked like the worst in the NFL for so long. We didn't talk about it as a group because it was a Thanksgiving game, but that was the game I did on the podcast, and yeah, not only did you know, I don't know if it was Aaron Glen's fault, I

don't know who was Dan Campbell's fall. Glenn is the DC, but the double time out which killed him obviously, but then Naggy on top of it also calling the time out to stop the clock. Uh, that was quite a clinic. I think the only thing with Campbell is they gotta I mean, you gotta win a game, you gotta win a couple of games here. He's got He's a lot of goodwill um within you know, Detroit's fan base and outward because his passionate approach to the game and he

just seems like a real person. But you gotta steal a couple of games here and this just I don't know, man, I just to me, uh, the one thing I will say about and Kirk Cousins statistically, and that's why I just you know, like your boy Teddy and everybody, like the numbers sometimes don't tell the whole story. Like Kirk. His season has been so strange because they've had I would say at least five games this year where he lights up the building in the first half and then

they go to sleep for the last two quarters. Like there is there's even with it. The numbers are there, the productions there, but the streakiness is is an issue with them and I and then he usually has a good last drive after being quiet. There's a reason why last week they're like the only team like it's in a ridiculous stat They now every game this season they've had at least a seven point lead, uh, and yet

they're under five hundred. It's because they jump out quick and they've had so many games where they just stall so let's see if that happens again against Detroit. If anything, they've been consistent. I mean, how about go drop like a thirty five to seven here? I mean, because won't they won't like is essentially on very thin ice. If they've stumbled here, they'd be five and seven. Hard to take him? Seriously, what's the what's what's the desert on

this one? Greg? Seven? No way, seven and a half. It's I'm going Vikings. I'm going Vikings. All right, all right, I'm gonna wrap up my snake pick here. Uh. With the football team against the Raiders in the late window, I can't quite compute that the winning team of this game will either be a six and six football team what or a seven in five Raiders team, which is almost as big as what I it's gonna happen to you confuse me when you said six and six football

tip technically correct. I don't know what to do with them. Yeah, the six and six w F tears what I I don't know both both of these teams. I'm flum mixed. I'm confused. It's okay, it's interesting. It's Antonio Gibson being a really important part of this Washington team dominating time possession. He was someone coming into the year. I was like, that's your big breakout running back right there. What a

rookie season where he could do everything. And he was hurt for much of this season, playing through injury, which Baker Mayfields learned you don't get credit for, and Antonio Gibson's fantasy owners were not giving him credit for about eight weeks. But he looks a lot better lately, and they do match up pretty well with the Raiders in terms of the Raiders are a team that sometimes give up a lot of these long d rives that their strength is in the past rush, which maybe isn't going

to be that big of a factor against Washington. I don't know what to think of this game, but it should be close, flip. I feel like this one is there's no way to have a I feel like a real strong handle on this game because the Raiders when we gave up on them, they showed up in Dallas perform and they caught I think they caught Dallas at the perfect time. They did it. They still they didn't do it. They won that game they deserve to win.

Dallas got back into that game, but they still found a way to close it out and Washington they have a formula, as we talked about on Tuesday's show that seems to be working. But will it work if you know, they fall behind if the Raiders offense continues to do things that the one thing I'll say about Vegas, you know,

in their offense coming back to life. And I don't want to be the dead horse here, but when you point to well, DeShawn Jackson's there now and making the plays, that feels like a once in like you know how the full moon shows up every month or whatever it is, Like that's the shan Jackson to ask for him to be the guy ripping the top off the defense on a weekly basis. I'm not totally sold because you still need that element to show up every week otherwise they

become very predictable. And Darren Waller being I think out of this game and I don't know, but it looks like banged up at the very least. That that's a big deal too. I just I mean, you know, we get on these streaky teams before that Cowboys game, and I'm not put st you know, the ref's killed both of those teams in that game. But a lot of the DeShawn Jackson value wasn't drawing p I flags as well.

But prior to that explosion, they put up sixteen on the Giants, fourteen on the Chiefs, and thirteen on the Bengals. I just see them as an up and down team. They can pass the ball really well. They can get two quarterbacks. That's dangerous. That'll get you a quarterback. They have a top I think five or six quarterback this year. Every time we've given up on them, they've stood up and like stayed in the mix with with some surprising big win and a top five pass rusher and may

in um In Crosby. Yeah, yeah, and go has been great. That said, it's not like I feel that strong, but I just I lean a little Raiders. But I think it's because I can't get over that Washington's defense is suddenly back without sweat, you know, young and sweaty. I don't know, it doesn't make any sense. And you look at the opponents. They haven't played great. Sometimes it's good to get young and sweaty people out of your dry Yeah.

I know, they played the Bucks. The defense really had a great first quarter in that game, and then the Bucks moved the ball and then they've played Caroline at Seattle, so it's uh, there is also another there's a chance and as we take this, it's before TNF that if the Cowboys ever lost and the Washington beat the Raiders, there one game out of that division with uh vibe to play. That's that's a um all right now it uh it goes, it goes back over to the old user.

Oh one more note I want to say, because I sometimes Greg, I had to do some checks and balances on you with the going after the crew, the announcers and everything. You know, sometimes me and I give a lot of works in the industry. Knows this a tough job, right as he always riding these guys so hard, because like those same guys are, you know, providing analysis against the players that they have valued. They they you know,

come come criticize me. I'm fine. I guess what. I went back this morning and I watched that last Washington drive because you said that the team did not bring up the Joey slice situation until about fifteen seconds were left on the play clock as they were about to go for the fourth down. Did it happen earlier in that drive? I want to tell you that you were right that greasy set it up. Set it up at the top of the possession, that hey, what are we

looking for from Washington? Here opened the door up. I'm sure, I'm sorry. Who's the um the pay Levi sets it up? Greasy? They all they do want to check. Yeah, all they wanted to do was talk about how power football is great and this is what we like to do. And they talked about it for the entire drive. It was the biggest drive in the game. They're talking about Heinek, He's future in Washington when it's like for this crew,

I'm like okay there. Once they get to midfield, they have to start talking about it because again Joey sly injured kicker. It's a eight point lead. They just need three, but because of the nature of the kicker being out, they couldn't kick a field goal. You need to talk about it. They don't mention it midfield and they get another first step they don't mention it. Finally, at third and seven inside the thirty. It almost sounded like the

wave came off. Is that somebody got Levi's year and say, hey, they're probably gonna go for it on fourth down here, and Levy then brought it up, and then almost at the same time, they catch the cameras cut to Rivera on the sideline after a delay of game penalty makes a third and twelve and Rivera's going to weet we're running two plays here, and then they get into the conversation that has to happen earlier. So I'm just gonna say your criticism was valid in this case, but I'm

checking in. I'm checking in. That's what a host does. It's unfair to come unfair that the Monday Night Football crew gets the one game all week where I'm sitting by myself at home, just like wanting a good experience. You know, there's no TNF recap there, and uh, you know, I'm just saying I would take this with demanding brothers on ESPN two, like I don't care. You know it is. It's like there's no wins and losses, but here's my wining loss, Like I would take the CBS or Fox

fourth or fifth crew over that. Hey, that's a good job by you, Greggy Night. It's not sold as a dream crew, right, I mean, but I'm like saying star crossed from the beginning, So keep dropping verbal hammers on them and see where that gets them. When you sit down on Monday night, you want to just enjoy yourself. I get it, Greggy, but you already have one guy that was in that booth trying to kill you at a league event. That's right, is that I'm trying to protect.

There's no protecting. I don't think that was a public Every time Greg concoct some lie we did to that before, I don't know if we had fully got um look with that. Let's keep it, keep it that way, Okay, I think we have I think the cats out of the back. Where are we? Holy smokes? I'm up and I will grab dramatic pause Eagles and Jets, So I'm gonna have. What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna push. I was looking forward to that Chargers Bangles tilt on Sunday. You can only watch two games at a time. M

try to watch three. You want to you want to be a playboy like Mark. You want to be in your little world, I can watch six games at once. I'm not doing that. By the way, Well you know I've seen your screen. You got eight games that I know. But I'm not like I I'm if anything, I'm the one that has long said when I'm even trying to listen to two games at the same time, my head explodes. So I'm not tracking diligently six at the same time.

It's like the old Parcels ism when you got two quarterbacks, you don't got any When you're trying to watch three games, you're not watching one. Well, I mean, but so what is the accusation. The accusation is I need to move away from Chargers Bengals. Make it the first game I watch a Monday and game passing. That's something to look

forward to. I think you've come up with a with an absolutely um golden plan for you, And I would just say, maybe it's time to ex out a couple of those screens, that's all, But why, but why do you care? Like what I do? Plus they're all the same size, Like this game, I get there, I get there and Greg runs it rolls in. He's like, oh, you got all its strains up. And then Dan comes in and he like critiques my shirt and that doesn't

like the way my screen. That's not criticizing. When I see that, I'm just more it's like I always got it set up it should I do the two of you? Possibly? I don't say anything. It minds not negative. Dan is making saying no, that's just constructive criticism. Did you say I criticized your shirt? I mean it happens, like why are you wearing that shirt? What? Never? I don't know. It's something. It's like it's some variation of like Nick me for his shirts. You're like, oh, that's old red

or something. Well, yes, but sometimes you're complimenting the shirt too. I'm not I see both sides, but I'm just saying it's like, why, like I have the technology to put all the games on and I'm not sitting there tracking it like some hyper nerd. It's just like, oh, something happened over there, and it's on a bit of a delay. I can I can grab it. I'm trying to come to the recap show with as much information as possible, but you see that there's an over usually a useless task.

Different methods, you know, we've all got our different ways to different strokes for different folks. Am I right? I mean, yes, now you've come around to that opinion. But that was that's not how that's you know. I'm just saying that's what they say. Okay, well they do and sometimes that it's that applies Eagles at Jets. I'd like to uh uh share something, Ricky. Can I get some funeral? Yeah, I'm going to read you some stuff here zero nine sixteen nine nineteen. The New York Jets have played the

Philadelphia Eagles eleven times and have never won. Haven't been closed too often, And I can tell you one of my earliest memories as a Jets bean was then I'll go scroll right up here on Pro Football Reference. October third, ninety Eagles win over the Jets at the Old Giant Stadium. Eric Allen picks off a ball Boomers size in pass deep in Eagles territory, runs back, zigzagging ninety yard uh interception returned to steal that game away. Uh. This has

been a weird little anomaly. But the Jets can't beat the Eagles. Now they're home, Okay. Jalen Hurts has beat up. Okay, Uh, it looks like he'll play as of right now, but I think he has a knee and it's an issue ankle. And the Eagles obviously coming off a very disappointing week. Uh, so you have a you have a chance here for the Jets. Here's the problem, and we're talking about the boy earlier in the show. The boy is not in a good place right now. The boy, essentially, the boy

looks like oh boy and um. And that's why I think the Eagles are going to continue that streak, because I think the Jets are in a very tough spot now because they know the right play is to play the boy as long as that knee is okay. And the knee is not okay, so that makes it. That's another layer to it. He was limping around by the end of the game, but that that game is uh. Last week against the Texans was it was moving way

too fast for him. And I think that the book is out on this version, this rookie version of Zach Wilson, that just heat him up, get him confused, and he will not be able to play the game well. And that's why I think the Jets are gonna struggle to score and the Eagles will do just enough and they will go twelve and oh against the New York You know, I just trust like Philly's offensive line, I trust their defense against the Jets, I trust essentially anything that they

throw out there. I mean their offense, you know last week was a mess. Don't let's not have you know, four turnovers and score only thirteen points against the seven points against the Giants. That's a mess. Uh. But what the idea that couldn't handle the Jets this week would be destabilizing because if anything, the Eagles have looked legit to me, four of the last five the Jets here right right right? I mean I do you are you saying like even a competitive game? I mean the Jets

have lost it. It's in the lock zone. It's like six and a half. So it's not a crazy favorite situation. But that's because you know what happened with Philly last of my problem with the Jets a little bit, and it's just like, look at this year is what it is. You gotta go. You got more work to do. Eight losses by seven or more points, and some buy a lot more than seven, and they've just been destroyed by teams, which is not what Robert Sala was selling. Well, here's

the case. Their defense has been better than the last two weeks. It was the worst against the Texans and the Dolphins. That was the worst. It was the worst defense in the league for about six weeks. It was historically bad. They've kind of come out of that a little bit, it seems like. And that's why I don't I don't see the Eagles like rolling up thirty five points here. I could be obviously wrong on that, but I think this is gonna be like a twenty four

to nine type game. But I will say this. Remember we're talking about on the Sunday Night Show. I hadn't seen the game yet, and Eagles fans were furious. They were really hurt because I think they got sucked in by the back to back wins and Jalen Hurts playing well, and it's just like, I want everybody to calm down if you're starting to like waiver On Hurts again because

Jalen Reagor blew that game. I mean, you don't want to put it on one player, but he's got to make one of those plays on that last drive he drops two balls by the goal line. Either of them wins the game for the Eagles, and we're talking about a totally different situation around this team. Ragor's got to be better, but otherwise I think they're in good shape. This week. Personally, must have an ankle injury, which he's

gonna he says he's gonna play through. But you could get a little Gardner Minshew in this if they yeah, he's taken, he's taken some reps. They did still have two d yards rushing in that game. Hurts at seventy seven last week. So I think they're the perfect matchup to the light up the Jets because they're they have a similar type of run game as the Pats and

the Colts, who really took advantage. The Jets are pretty good rushing in the pastor right now, but they've just got like that penetrate at all costs type of defense and a power running game like the Eagles, who can do the wham blocks and do the pulling guards and everything like that's a perfect that's a perfect bold. They could do what Indianapolis and the Colts can do, and then on on defense, like Darius Slay is having a

Pro Bowl season. He's one of those rare guys like you could put him on Elijah More and like everyone else just throws at Stephen Wilson all day, but Corey Davis is hurt. I think still it's like, so, who who are they throwing too as their number two. You know, I think it's a tough matchup rough December, all right, long December, and there's reason to believe. Come on, t I am not a good singer, so maybe this year

will be better than the last. In my favorite moment, definite history of that show, the lap trap and facial the facial. Oh, I mean you know this is not a singing is not my thing. You know, Sometimes you just have a moment that you're just like, yeah, Ricky's putting that on social. The only the only chance Mark that you avoid social is that that somehow dings like Adam Efter it's copyright. Uh, you can't sing Ian. We just I already lost my job because of BTS. So

we're good, all right. Uh, let's take a break and then hit the rest of the games. Mark, I think the draft finishes with you. It does, and I have drafted Mr Irrelevant the Cults at Texans one pm Eastern. If you live in the East Coast, that's when you start watching this. There's probably better things you could do. Uh, I will not suggest you. I will not make that decision for you. Six and six cults, how differently they're looked at um than say like the six and six Browns,

for instance. But I don't understand anyway how they don't go into this game with guys like Darius Leonard uh punishing Houston's offense, which has certainly been spicier to some degree with Tyrod Taylor in there. But I mean a little bit, Davis Mills was like a flatliner, excepting outside that page. This way, they had yards in the second half against the Jets last week and zero points, So even though they're more competitive, it's still but to your point,

the Jets played better on defense. Maybe maybe it was that penetrating Jets defense that caused the Maybe it was right there. I kind of dug frank Reich because I know everyone was coming out of Sunday, like why did they not use Jonathan Taylor the way that we thought they would the way they did the week before against a good run defense and Buffalo. And he kind of stood up and like said two reporters, like let me walk you through what we did and how many touches

he got. Go watch it just while it's out there all over the place, and like he stood up for why the cults um attacked the Bucks the way they did my one thing with them. I find them so much more interesting than they were a couple of months ago. But their season seems defined by an inability to close out some of these games. The Ravens game where they get up big, the Titans game where they got up big, the Bucks game where they had a chance to get

this thing done. And it's just like, this is a separator. This is why you're six and six. So what they are good at though, and why they are you know, totally trustable in a game like this is like fiery arrows going through bad opponents, destroying bad teams, And this should be no, we should not, we should not go

far from the course of this one. Has any team looked more um destined to make the playoffs, get out to a lead against the favorite opponent and then drop a heartbreaker like maybe the Vikings, but we'll see if they even get to the playoffs. Because they're so hot and cold, I feel like India is gonna do what it needs to do to get to the nine wins. Be playing in January, maybe be maybe they're at Kansas City and maybe they're up to ten and the third

quarter and then disaster strikes. That just it feels like it could be their fate. Now you tell me if they play kind of has their fate last year too, they had a leading a little bit. I mean, and Chiefs and Colts fans will say, oh yeah, we remember, uh, you know, playing the Chiefs in the playoffs that but Andrew Luck ate in the building anymore. It's Carson Wentz. Uh. I think the cults are good. The cults are vulnerable, but I think they take care of business here. Yeah.

So this just came across our desk and email. Okay, no, this is big. Well, it's trending on Twitter as well. NFL suspends three players for violating NFL nfl p A COVID nineteen protocols. Antonio Brown and Mike Edwards from the Bucks are suspended for three games, and then free agent John Franklin not John Franklin, Myers, Um, we're all over this Antonio Brown, right, Yes, suspension is bigger? Does he?

I wonder if that's why they expected. You know, they kept saying he was going to come back this week or last week, and then the ankle injury just keeps lasting forever. And my suspicion as he was uh knowing this was coming the whole time, and he was that guy is trying to fight it. Mike Edwards starts for them, So that is, you know, an actual loss in a secondary three games that you know they've they've been trying to get players back, not that he's a superstar John Franklin.

The third makes me sad because he um was a last chance you guy who had carved out a a surprising career on the very fringes. If you had watched that show, he was a quarterback and turned into a defensive make fake ideas well, we don't know, I don't know if that's uh probably he already was not on a team. So the Bucks have been real different with Antonio Brown in there at times. So I don't think you know about him like that. He's not a good guy.

He's a clown. Uh, He's he's a champion too. But again because Tom Brady, like right, Tom Brady doesn't seem to care that he's a goon in the same way that it gets because because he's good at football and he's like smart at football too, that's all Tom Tommy cares about. Uh, there's three game suspension though it's like he returns with three games left in the season. It

feels like there's so much time left. I mean that, like we've gotten to the end where past thanks to me, we're only two thirds the way through the season is just set, you know, six weeks to go here, It's like all they really cares. My point is. The point is this is a team that's going to the playoffs. It's gonna have a home games in the playoffs. Antonio Brown will be back for the playoffs. Okay, that's what matters for them. Good, All right, Let's hit the rest

of the game, starting with the Giants at the Dolphins. Okay, we'll see if Daniel Jones is playing in this game. Tom pel Sero reported that he is not playing, not expect exclusively. Tom Peli Sero with that report, is he playing? The coaches keep implying that he he might be that and he has practiced pretty extensively. They showed some video that he was the last guy on the field still throwing passes. That's not normally what a guy that's gonna

miss the game? Does. Freddie Kitchens sounded confidence, So either Mike len So, either either fred Kitchen and the Giants are really trying to pull a fast one or Daniel Jones recovered a little more quickly the next. I mean, I don't know, like how much of a fast one is Freddie Kitchens polling if he, you know, gets us to suspect that Daniel Jones isn't starting on a broken down. I personally doubt that Freddie Kitchens is right. I don't

see the motivation for him. He's, you know, at the podium to be going that far out of his way. So it's probably Daniel a plus four turnover ratio. I'm not the report. I think it's probably Daniel Joe an exclusive report. That's four wins in a row for the Dolphins. They get the Giants maybe with a compromised quarterback, then to buy, then the Jets and the broken down Saints. The Dolphins have a really good shot to make the playoffs. Maybe maybe bring that up in your conversation with Henry

later to give content ideas. But sure, great. My thing is I wanna you know, I think Henry is more than just a Dolphins fan. He's a fine football mind, a great friend. Uh and he's also maybe the future commissioner of the NFL. So you see where gould be weird about it. It's just accurate, not weird to do

it with your you know, your friends. He's also been a to a defender, and I think that position is feeling good right now because two, it does things well, like everyone focuses on what to it doesn't do well. And maybe his ceiling isn't the highest. We don't really know. I think it's still early. But like he's an NFL quarterback, you can tell that he's gonna be around for twelve to fifteen years. I really think. Okay, but what he does do really well is that quick game stuff. And

it's like, Okay, that's great. You can throw at six yards and you make quick decision, you're good on the r P O stuff. It's like, not everyone can do that. Russell Wilson can't do that. I'm just not saying that he's gonna be anywhere near Russell Wilson. But that's a certain sort of skill set that you can run a certain type of offense that isn't gonna kill you, and he can run it. Right now. In his second years, Chill and Waddle I think has become a absolute factor.

I mean, he was awesome last week against Carolina. Second highest completion percentage in the league, their draft classes doing well to Javon holland their safety wad you mentioned Phillips last week had three sacks. So I feel like the Chris Greer saving his job, Brian Clare staying around. It's all happy. Everything has changed so much since a month ago on Halloween, they lost their seventh straight game and now here they are at five and seven with a real shot here to go on and run and make

the class. And by the way, because they've gotten hot, not only so two just keeps up his production. And if they go and they get to nine wins, uh and make the playoffs potentially, I think that maybe enough to keep them out of the Watson sweepstakes. I'm just saying it seems like he might have destiny in his hands a little bit more now. Uh, but we'll see, we'll see. It's notable that they did not go trade for Watson when they did, because he literally requested to

inner to talk with the guy. And I think if Watson had been willing to play ball a little quicker, it's like their owner was all about I don't think they're coaching. That's where he wants to go. And if the owner is all about it. If anything too, is just you know, built up his trade value here where they could move him maybe in a three team deal whatever it's going to be. Oh, I see, I wouldn't want that. So they would trade for Deshaun Watson and then get a huge like a nice bundle back for two.

You're getting rewarded for bringing Watson on you. That's just what these deals. And I just want to say, the the All Pro Turf team, well, I don't know what they're doing down there at hard Rock Stadium, but that is a gorgeous natural turf. Why can't everybody else do that? I guess maybe it's the climate that the climate helps to sea. Just take a look at if you want to go back and take a look at a thirty three ten win over the Panthers, just to see what

perfect turf looks like. I don't. All right, let's move on. Nice job there for the old maintenance grew groundskeeping. I thought you were going to congratulate yourself for that comment from it, but then you went, there's actually a good job I made to notice the small things. So now we've done that, Thank you, Paul. Finally, the Jaguars at the Rams slaughter. Uh, this is the perfect opponent for the ram Put it this way, Greg, if the Rams do not beat the ever living crap out of the Jaguars,

that whole thing's going up in flames. You might as well have bats take over the stadium because the Rams won't need it anymore because they will be moribund. I'm not too worried about that. I do worry when they like trailing games. They're weirdly not built for that because their defense gives up these long drives, like their twenty nine and yards per you know, plays per drive. So it's like when they trail, suddenly the other teams holding onto the ball forever, and then Matthew Stafford gets a

little panicky. There shouldn't be trailing in this game. I think it's perfect to work some of the things out. I still think they have so much talent offensively that

they have plenty of time to get it ready. It's like we make these sweeping judgments all all these teams that have totally reversed course, like the Miami Dolphins, or you know, teams that have flipped like the Rams, Like, just as many teams are gonna do that the other way, around over the next five or six weeks, and I think the Rams have shown that they can do that. I just there's just a little you know, the game management from McVeigh bothers me. The fact that Sony Michelle's

returning kicks. I mean, what is going on here? It's a specialty. You gotta get one thing. I'm looking. I'm looking at Odell and I know he had the touchdown. No, he's banged up, he's got the pointer. I want to see in a game like this with a positive set up in terms of the opponent. He really needs to be a part of that offense. He was targeted, I believe ten times. Yeah, so they're doing every and he made the big playdown field, but otherwise was you know, most of the cutaways to him. He was in a

lot of pain on the sideline. He really needs to be the guy that number two. And this would be a good spot to either establish that, oh, I'm a part of this offense. Now I'm productive, or maybe he's limping around and holding his back the whole game. We'll see this is uh, you know, it's time to really work him and involve him, make him a real part of the offense. I know you're looking forward to that mark. I am looking forward to it, cannot wait to see it.

But I mean it's just an exist like it's just a case in pointed. Oh b J and Robert Woods are not serving the same function inside that attack. I think they really miss Woods. We've talked about that. You've got to You've got to take care of business here in a decisive fashion after three terrible weeks. I mean the Jaguars, I think there are like maybe three more losses away from like a Heaven's Gate scenario. I mean they are a mess. Um all right, that's a week thirteen.

I believe I didn't leave anybody out right. I think we've got everybody, uh, four teams in right. Um? Now, Ricky, do you know you are a are pop culture consigliari? Um? Do you know if there's a bad boy in BTS? You know? How Ye, there's one like rapper in in the group. I do not know his name. Why do you just assume because he's the one that's like in all the music videos like how all Like I'm just checking bids around him and it's like yeah, yeah, favorite

bad boy um boyband member. And I had Lukisha help me out with this too. So yeah, Donnie Wallberg and kotb A. J McClain, Backstreet Boys, Bobby Brown new addition, this is this is this may not surprise you. Lakeisha, help me with this one. Romeo from Immature nailed it. I think she's accurate. Definitely not something you could have pulled right there. Okay, did you know that we never even heard of the Immature, never heard of Immature. And then Joey fat One from insinc. What was he the

bad boy? No? Are you kidding me? The one? I mean, you weren't around for when they were really popular. Maybe then you were like six years old. You know, I'm like the biggest die hard INSNCT Justin Timberlake person on the pace of this art and it maybe was j C. Justin wanted to be the bad boy. And that's when Justified came out two thousand ONEES when he sort of made his bad boy sort of. You know, Justin was the bad boy. He just was the he was just sweet.

But Joe, I mean, he was like about the whole Janet things, I know, bad, bad, look, especially with that new Janet talk that just came out. It's a tough time sometimes j T. I do have a bad boys story, Like, um, my brother Kevin Danger hands is who I would say is the bad boy of the hands Is family. We were driving, yes, yes he is. That wasn't a drop like we were driving on I believe it was the four oh five, and um, this is five years ago.

So and and Danger looks over to his right and there he is a J. McClain driving a beamer like zooming up on our right. And uh, Kevin rolled down the window and he's like hey J and uh he just like he threw up deuces and then just accelerated

like out of you. And it was like, that's a bad boy yelling, not bad boy behavior, but you know, you got it would be a bit of a problem for your brother who's nicknamed himself Danger or someone has and he and he were the lesser bad boy in your family that there could only be one bad boy, right, who's the bad boy of you three? It depends what you're what. We're not the most dangerous group of guys. I don't know. But if it's like if I wouldn't want to mess with one of you, it's probably it's

probably Gregg. It's like it's like a manipulative like he'll take you down like mentally, you know what I mean. Like he'll like destroy you and with what you got, and he'll make you like really like, well you don't have to do that kind of contemplate your life and like if it's worth like waking up in the morning. This has turned into a psychiatris. No, I mean, I just I really think that you guys, like I don't think we have a bit. Sometimes you just really likes

to put you down. And he makes one of Mark shirts and Mark screens and I didn't make fun of your Yeah, I only comment I make fun of Mark's lock choice this week while I joined it too, which we gotta settle that business. Because he mentioned how the the Saints Cowboys game was lockable this morning. H well it was after Toron arms. Then ram Check and Camara are out. So I'll just join Mark because I have no shade. I gotta where that happened. I gotta catch

a bird and all good luck to you. Well, like you guys are really I'm gonna do locking them the Cowboys, I'm locking them up. You locked last week again, Eric has beating me and she's trying to lose six and a half that I haven't wanted three six and a half with even it's a game technically, this it's a game with rules. If you follow the rules, that's that's all you gotta Look, I'm totally good with it. You're playing the game rules, all right, that's it. We'll be

back on Sunday night with the flagship program. Him uh so, make sure you're there for that, and thank you to everybody, and have a great weekend and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah bats. Let's trying to get the hell out of here before the insurrection takes Holt hopefully see you Sunday. What a mess he the call