2021 Week 15 Recap

is not alone. It's happening everywhere. As people are kind of going underground. Is this virus is mutated into something very dangerous. But the big story right now, I think is the long simmering analytics culture war that is really now coming to a boil within the football cogness empty. And this week has been a big one because it started with Thursday and Brandon Staley saying I hate field goals, I only want to score touchdowns and all the drama

around that on Thursday. Then it comes around to Sunday the Late Game with John har Harbaugh for the second time in three weeks going for two down one and once again failing. We're gonna get to that game, but it feels like you're either on this side or the

other side. I even could draw some parallels Mark to the political climate of this country a few years back, where it's getting more and more angry and I and I think what makes us even more fun that we have Greg on one side of this battle me and you maybe on the other. Uh, maybe you on the fence a little bit more Greg Mark, And that's gonna cause some spicy tension in the studio all throughout the episode.

I I agree with you. I think it's like I look at all the stuff that creates the decisions that are being made, and and like it's the way that we played like Madden and Tech Mobile growing up, where you just never punted, you went for it, and like all of it lines up and makes sense in the numbers, Like there's reasons that analytics is blowing up all of that.

Agreed with I think sometimes for me it's just like you can't even look at what happened at the end of the Green Bay Baltimore game, which we'll get into um and even make a comment about it. You just have to say, yes, that's all. If you if you don't be afraid it's because because when the climate is as it is, it's like there's a group of smart people and a group of like lumbering, lumbering oaths if you if you in any way from the from yesteryear. But it's not, it's not that. It's just that I

think it's a there. It is a place where there could be debate, not about what is the more mathematically probable situation, but just other elements of it. Like Dan got us into this. It's like, hey, omicron on fire this week, and you know what else is on fire? Analytics. I'll get the tweets like Settler doesn't know what he's talking about. He's a dinosaur. It's like I am telling you I agree with but I'm just saying that you're

not even allowed to have a discussion. Now. Of course you are like we should have it, and I would say, like, I think what you're reacting to, and what I do too, is like the discourse is tiring in theory and right, but then but just don't just try to ignore it. I guess what I am bathed in it trying to have your own football game on every night of the week. Now you don't have to watch you don't have to

mute mute the Twitter. I'm saying like it's become annoyingly omni president as a discussion if you cover the sport now and I do get the feeling for it's a perfect example. So I thought I was I thought they should have kicked that extra point Baltimore. This in this game three weeks ago or two weeks ago, I thought they should have went for two. But for some reason, you're not really allowed to take it game by game or a moment by moment. It has to be all

this way. I think always you keep saying like you could say whatever you want, if you're back up whatever you want to say, and like stand behind it. It's not a big deal. It's a football opinion. It's like any football page. I just feel like this feels different

to me than just a football opinion. Get you get labeled an sp to use scientology parlance, you're a suppressor this this decision, This is where I guess I would think you guys are off with this because in this decision, I would say, you know what I'm saying is all the analytics people are going against each other because I like that numbers wise, this this decision was far from clear. The numbers would have said to kick it, It would

not have said to go for it necessarily. Harbaugh was kind of doing what you're saying is he was feeling like the flow of the game, and he was looking at other factors that don't go into the number, and he was just saying, like, I like Tyler Huntley right now. You know, I like going for it, even though the numbers would say I should kick it and trust by defense here. I don't really trust not to get down that wormhole. But you are right because as well, because

we haven't even we'll get into that game. But they lost thirteen point nine percentage of win probability according to next Gen stats, not next gen mark um when they when they went for the two point and I think the last time they did it. His reasoning because their secondary was shattered. It's still a mess. We got that made sense? Do do you see? Mark? And I sps No, I don't even I think that's it's it's straw man. It's a change is uncomfortable, you know what I'm looking see.

You're suggesting that change is uncomfortable to Mark and Dan. But Greg is beyond the I'm saying, like, think of that Bill Belichick decision. I go back to this a lot, going for it with the lead on fourth down against the Colts. That was that stopped football for weeks. Now, that was a unique game, was a big game. Those sort of decisions now happen fairly routinely and it doesn't

really stop football. I think this last week and certainly this season has has been kind of a watershed moment of guys going for two and whether that I don't think there's gonna be a not everyone's gonna Harbor and Stanley. They're getting the heat because they stand out. There's not that many coaches like them, but more and more that this is what football is gonna be like more and more, and so the reaction is not gonna be quite as much.

It's just gonna be part of it. I think kids growing up watching now, they're just gonna get used to like that going for two as part of the games. It's the fourth dono it is. It's become the situation where I think, you know, this is a copycat league also, and I think beyond just what their analytics departments are telling them now, all the like quote unquote top coaches all are consistently going for it as well, So I think it's caused this chain reaction where everyone goes for

it except for you know, Bill Belichick. I think Belchi is a great example because he is the most conservative coach in the league this year, and he plays to what his team is in the past as aggressive as ever. Trivia question, first two point conversion in NFL history? How did it happen? Kevin Mack running over the Mr Conservative Bill Belichick shooting Tom Toop with her punter right into pay dirt like that? Maybe you're not an sp I'm not an sp I. I enjoyed debate from you know Whoever.

Let's get into all the games, uh, and remember it's not all the games of the week, not even close to it. We got two on Monday, we got two more on Tuesday, but we had ten to dive into today and another one to go through from Saturday night. We'll get to that in just a few minutes, but let's start, yes with the game that we've already been arguing about. Hit it, Ricky. Green Bay's lead is one

thirty one. Can the Packers get one stop here on a two point conversion motion from a tight end of the wing of the left side Huntley in the shot down lot Tavia Murray to his right snapped hunt The rolls right throws right side of the ends on tennis in complete, incomplete, right corner of the ends on in front of the pylon and incomplete. The Packers are gonna hang on and win this game. Yes, Wayne Larity with the call w T m J. John Harbor did it

again for the second time in three weeks. The Ravens scored a touchdown in the final seconds, then opted to try for the two point conversion for the win rather than the game tying p t and for the second time in three weeks, Baltimore walked away with a stomach punch defeatt thirty Packers hold on just barely and Mark this is a game. Lamar Jackson out with a springed angle. It's the first game he's missed due to injury in his Career's missed a couple of games due to illness.

Uh and Tyler Huntley really played well and brought this team back from a thirty one seventeen deficit. And just the fact he had two rushing touchdowns where he just stayed cool under pressure. Saw running lane took it, scored once, scored again in the fourth quarter, and that I guess in Bolden John Harbor to say, I know it's not Lamar here, but I trust this guy to win this game. It didn't work out, but really a nice performance by Huntley.

And oh, by the way, the Packers clinch to the NFC North with that win, Well, they showed total faith in Eiler Huntley. And you know this is there's a lot of pressure on that entire offense because you're playing the Packers. You don't have Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters is out of the mix, Jimmy Smith tested positive for COVID. Their secondary was totally shattered, which I think again, like that last game where John Harball made that decision at

the end, contributed again to this. It's like, do you really want to tie the game and give Aaron Rodgers um and less than a minute um of regulation and then potentially the first possession in overtime? So I get all that. Um, I look at the Ravens overall, who've got like eighteen nineteen twenty guys missing every game that were this another organization, another team, their record would be reverse. I know they're out of the playoff mix right now.

I fully trust that they'll get back in it. Well, you know what, I every time I say that that goes south, I I strongly that they play the Bengals next week, which will you know, basically decide for that week who's ahead in a f C North. They lose that one, they they're in real trouble. Well then they have the Rams and the Steelers. So fully let's let's strike fully from the record, but they are as a

resilient team around and uh helped you out there. I know it's been a bit of a I cannot believe that I am even talking about anything at this point. It's just been a nightmare. But um I I don't I wouldn't be shocked if that Steelers game still has meaning in Week eighteen. Oh yeah, I fully expected to. This was an amazing performance by the Ravens to be down that many players. I mean, you just mentioned their

entire starting secondary. Oh yeah, by the way, Chuck Clark, uh DeSean Elliott, like their safeties who were so good, like none of their starting safe their starting group was around except for Tavon Young, their slot corner, who leaves this game with a concussion. So that's I think part of the equation in deciding to go for two. This was not a game with a lot of possessions. Each team only at eight possessions in this game, and yet

look at the score thirty one to thirty. So I think what you said, Mark was was well said, was that there was a chance here, you know, seventy chance if you wanted to go for the numbers, that the Packers were gonna get two possessions before the Ravens got any. You know, they knew that they were gonna get forty seconds left to go kick the field goal. That's why I figured he would kick the extra point, you know.

I I assumed that the Ravens would just take the tie because either way the Rogers can go get the game winning field goal, and that should be some enough time for Rogers to do it, So you might as well just tie it and not not risk missing the two. But he just I think thought like, let's go win it now. We don't want to play any more football because we're the inferior team. That's also a lot of trust in Mason Crosby has been like a hot and

cold semi nightmare. I just thought it felt a little different because they did get the stop that proceeded the second touchdown, and they were at home and they were just it seemed like the momentum was on their side. But you know what, it didn't work out, and you know what annoys me. We just had that long conversation and Ricky just sent me this tweet from Scott Zolak. This is exactly what I'm talking about. L O L

l O l l O L shove your analytics. Oh and to Baltimore, l O L l O L. I mean, this is like the Capital Riots portion of our side of the the battle. Here's yeah, these are the people that these are the problem. When you look around and your in and it's some sort of argument on Twitter and you're like, wait, why is this guy on my side? Yeah, that that's that's not good. We try to separate from that because again I don't think um. I thought it was a smart, well ballsy decision in both cases, but

really smart to do it the first time. This time it felt a little bit reckless and almost like, I don't know, it's like, if you are if you view yourself as a Super Bowl contender, as a big a f c team, a team that's a division leader in that moment, maybe put some faith in your entire team there to to get it done, rather than what felt

to me a way to steal a win. Um, not just how it kind of came off to me like maybe a minor crisis and confidence like oh wow, we might extually be able to steal this thing and get out of here, rather than saying, Okay, we've take control this game, let's go. I guess I think that's why in twenty years it won't be as big of an argument, because to me, it's still it still is trusting your

team to win. You know, it's trust. But like I I think if you just change your perspective a little, it's like it's trusting our team to go win by scoring the two points. It's just a different way to try to go win. The The annoying thing, and I'm with you Mark on this, is that after these games, the entire sixty minutes get spoiled down to that one decision. And number one, it's crazy that the Ravens like are in this game at all, Like that they that the

Packers blow this lead. Uh, that the Packers should have put up thirty one points, and they did. The surprising part is that they're giving up so much yardage to Mark Andrews over and over and over. Uh. Obviously they didn't have an answer for Huntley, like they didn't adjust like that was that was surprising to me to give up thirty points. There is reminder that you know, with the possible exception of the Patriots, even the teams that we pump up as big defenses, they seem susceptible week

to week to having letdowns. Um, and that's kind of how I saw this game. They had a chance to close it out, and there a few they repeatedly failed down the stretch there. But Rogers needs his tackles back. It's not just bock tr it's Billy. Billy Turners out too. And bock Dry was practicing a little more this week, so that'd be good and they might get those two back. That's that's been a big problem for them. He was

under a lot of pressure today. They early in the fourth they were averaging over nine yards per play on first down Green Bay. I mean, they they were doing fine. And we'll get to the Cardinals in a in a few minutes. But with this win, a Cardinals loss. Of course, the Packers have a tiebreaker individual head to head tiebreaker on the Cardinals. Things are shaping up very well for Green Bay. I just wanted to I wish that we

could go back. I remember Tyler Huntley preseason star. I talked him up one of these episodes way back at August. Sometimes the preseason matters. This guy he was. He was I think the number one ranked PFF guy in the preseason. He went undrafted. He's a second year player. I remember seeing all these tweets, Like I saw a couple it's like, oh, where will Tyler Huntley be starting next year? Like he's not starting anywhere. He's got to be the backup for

the Ravens for two more years. They know what they got. This is amazing to to hit on a guy undrafted that's this good this early. Like he has been pretty good in all of his starts in his relief appearances. Are you hinting at some QB drama that I did see some of those tweets too. It's like, Oh, they're like they're better with Tyler Huntley right now. I mean they have moved the ball better. There are six quarters.

They're a well run organization. So it does not surprise me that they've now developed a really good backup quarterback. That's why they're always good. They just know what they're doing. But it doesn't mean they're gonna make the playoffs this year because right now they sit mark in the eighth seed. By the way, it does not I'm sure in two years there'll be eleven teams from both conferences making the playoffs. In twenties six regular season games. But alright, so yes,

that's a that's a big game. A top the NFC standings with Green Bay getting another win, Let's now look to the top of the a f C standings where the Patriots were looking to get back into that one spot on Saturday night. Let's go back in time. It's under center, hands off the Taylor Taylor Tift twenty tipte Taylor to t great call by Matt Taylor, w f N I Bill Belichick will take away your best weapon.

Well not when Jonathan Taylor's involved start running back dance through a loaded box and took it to the house. Sixty seven yard rush the clincher in seventeen win over the Patriots in front of a raucous home crowd. At

Lucas All Stadium. That was a great home crowd. I don't know if it's Saturday night, probably was holidays, people maybe on vacation, even with all this crazy stuff going on, getting a little loose, having fun, great vibe for a game anyway, Greg, that's the end of the seven game winning streak for the Patriots, who couldn't quite dig themselves out of a deep hole of their own making. As for the cults, they belong in that a f C

contender conversation. Yeah, they're eight and six. They got a big Christmas Day game against the Cardinals, which is really interesting, like they're a team that's tied for that last spot, and yet it feels like they're about as good as any team in the a f C. I think it's all very even at the top. And the reason they got out to that big lead was both lines, really one. I mean, especially the Colts defensive line, which is not

something that we've talked a lot about this season. I thought in the first twenty minutes of the game, and that's basically when it was won, they were darting into the backfield and stopping runs. They were harassing Mac Jones, and they discombobulated and forced a lot of penalties from the Patriots offense, whereas the Colts offensive line on the flip side was very cohesive pushed Patriots upfront around. It's just a couple of long drives, but that's sort of

how the Patriots try to win. And when you're team is based on like not making the big mistake and just playing smart. Well, when you have a bunch of penalties, you lose the turnover battle two to one. Uh, and you get a punt blocked, uh, then you lose. Like the margin for error for like a team like the Patriots is a little bit smaller. And it was surprising to see both lines get handled early before they kind

of settled down in the second half. Yeah, I mean it harked back a little bit too, some of the up and down playoff from New England before the wind streak. And you know, I think they both want to do the same things, these two teams. And yes, you're right, like Bill Belichick wants to take away your best player and he couldn't do it last night. Um, I thought the Colts and Frank Reich were much more successful at that.

Are they imperfect? Yes? Are they scared of anyone. No, it had massive game of the year energy because I think the Cults uh went in with this with a great plan, which speaks to their coaching, and trusted their players to go out and dominate in the defense. To me, what they were able to do to New England early on, especially against the run, was they just took New England's identity a way a little bit. Yeah, I thought that was interesting that this is a twenty nothing game after

three quarters. I think New England did miss Damien Harris and the physicality he brings to their running attack. And I also it's a weird game because um, I came out of it actually feeling as weird as it sounds a little better about the Patriots and maybe a tiny bit worse about the Colts, if that makes sense, because like with the Patriots, sure they failed to execute. Um

they get a punt block. That's the third time this year they give up a touchdown that way, I think was Jamie Collins has a potential pick six go through his hands. You have Mac Jones who throws two picks, including one in the red zone, and yet they get off the mat and so many and I've seen this up close with my team so many times, so many when you have a rookie quarterback, when things kind of snowball against you for a couple of quarters or a couple of really bad drives in a row, you just

lose that guy for the game. And it's just like, uh, you know, it's a growing, growing game for a rookie QB like Mac Jones. So for him to get off the mat and really thrive and get them back in the game, I was like, okay, I mean, he's already

wearing big boy pants. And then on the on the colt side of the ball, you cannot you cannot watch that game and see what happened with Carson Wentz when he throws that interception at the beginning of the fourth quarter when it's twenty seven, and then see how Frank Wright calls the rest of that game and not see it as a direct a direct viewpoint that he doesn't trust his quarterback. He was not gonna let Carson Wentz

ruin this game for him. And that's something to keep an eye on, because Wentz had a chance to really bury the Patriots. And after I saw that pick, he was like, no, man, I gotta give it to tailor no matter what. Well, the best version of the Colts is to get out the way they did, let guys like Darius Leonard make plays, let the defense line the line basically shut down and eat thing else you know an opponent wants to do, and then right Jonathan Taylor.

I mean that hasn't that they've gotten up big in these games. They did when they have big leads, though, that is their m O. Like this was this They turned the corner in this game from a cult single. I mean, they got play calling. I thought when they had a chance to put it away and you could kind of feel at the tension building and they almost They went from twenty nothing to and giving it to Jonathan Taylor with a stacked box, and he just happened

to make an amazing play. I think this game could have very easily swung all the way over to the Pig got close. I mean, I don't I guess they don't trust Wentz. I hear that, but I mean Wentz has been sturdy and completed five passes and and and all the games against good teams they've had big leads and they've blown them and lost in the other three. This time they blown him and Jonathan Taylor was incredible. You know, the thing that impressed me was before that

big run he go. You know, the first two runs of that driver up the middle for a first down, the Patriots know the run is coming. And even in the in the fourth quarter, I think with nine minutes left, they got two first downs by not being aggressive. So that that was impressive by the offensive line. But on that game winning played, don'ts a high tower and Devin mccordy are in the whole unblocked. It wasn't it was. It's not even the offensive line. It's just Jonathan Taylor

being awesome. Uh And and I'm with you. I thought Dan that that was you don't want to lose. But that was a good experience for mac Jones and the offense, I think to be put in that position and respond the way. And I think UM and the defense for that matter, because the defense after the first quarter held up terrific. They were put in some terrible spots until that one play basically they had they had shut him

down quick. Aside for the UM media side of things, I think Greg Olsen is coming for Tony Romo, coming hard. He's closing fast. I thought it was very interesting the way he explained how Jonathan Taylor makes guys miss in the hole, that he actually sets guys up in ways that makes him think he's going one way, and it's just like he's playing the game at a higher level than most running backs. I thought that was really interesting and that's I'm sure a skill he used to get

away from those two defenders. There um heet seven points seven. He averaged seven points seven yards carried between the tackles. The Patriots knew was coming. Mbe number one right now. I don't know. Kevin Burkhardt, by the way, incredible, Yeah, they're great. Theorious Leonard like those two interceptions that Mac Jones through. Those are incredible plays. The Leonard play mentally and physically. And then the Okareki play was that, I mean,

those are incredible plays by athletic. What about the throw across his body under Durest to Hunter Henry, I mean, you don't come out disliking either team, but I do dislike something that happened in this game. I don't know why I need to bring it up, but I lost my lock on this and I'm tired of it. This week, this week of football has been an ill treat. I'm a half game up now in the battle with the Vikings up ahead. Now you got root for the Bears

on Monday night. How much worse can we get for you? No, I'm not gonna be I'm just gonna sit back and watch let life unfull. I thought you meant like Carson Wentz at five completions in the fourth quarter or the second half. I didn't realize it was five. Wait, what why is it? Why is it? Frank Reich a genius for like putting his quarterback and putting him on ice and giving it to his running back thirty times and that's not the same thing, and you know it, and

uh not for nothing. You know, we talk a lot about four downs this week, and you didn't hear a lot of like, holy cow, Frank Reich blew the game for because all those fourth downs he went for, including his own end with the late Oh wait, that's because he went three for three and they won this game partly because he was aggressive on fourth downs late in this game. Where you gotta give wins the credit for those QB sneaks then, because I think the Patriots knew

the second two word. That dude is a tough he's a great QB sneak. We gotta move. But like speaking of being uh, being very confident and being aggressive, I can't believe Bill kicked that field goal. Well, yeah, that was bad. Should have went for that. Say, this isn't like Team Zolac over here, not at all. It's put him in a really bad spot. Yeah, it was really strange. I think he thought the flow of the game, he

trusted his defense too much. It's strange because in the past Belichick has been one of the most aggressive guys going for it, but he's clearly coached differently this year with this quarterback in defense and just uh, it was fourth and goal at Indy's seven yard line and it was town it was and he opts for the field goal. He makes, but then Indy has a five minute drive that's fruitless. They punted. But by the time New England gets it back there down by ten with only to go,

so it didn't work. They needed a three. And now basically we're separatists, were not sps because I think we don't. We don't exist in this box where no matter what, I'm a robot that says you must do everything aggressively or do I and what do I live in? Okay, but this is what I'm I'm I feel like I'm a moderate to then by that, I I don't think there's that many people in either camp. There are the Zolaks, and there are a couple he's at the Capitol right,

There's a couple of members of football Twitter. Is a couple of members of football Twitter um who are like, no context, uh analytics guys. But I actually think most of the people who are kind of pro analytics are all about context in the situation depends over from the other side of the aisle, and I am I want I want us to be We're in the aisle. Were about a Roman handshake, Papa, Papa, We're in this together.

All right. Let's uh, let's go back to Sunday. Oh, this is annoying for you, Mark, a little bit for everyone. All right, let's take a break and then we will continue on the Sunday slate. Fourth down and seven, he gets a snap, he's back, he throws a passion and pull in and that's gonna be a tackle? Is it short of that lead stick? No way, No, he didn't make that first down. Marker let's answer the question. Bradley Rogers is their space between the nose and the ball

and the lead stick no overackdown. Bill hill Grove and Craig welf league with the call for w d v E. They call him Joe Money. Joe Hayden made a huge impact in his return to the lineup. No moment bigger than when he stuffed Nick Westbrook a Keno's inches short of the first down. Really it was a half yard. It was a very uh, a very nice spot there for Tennessee to even make it close. But either way, he was short of a first down at the Pittsburgh

ten in the final second ceiling. A nineteen thirteen win keeps the Steers alive very much so, or perhaps undead to put it in a different way in the a f C playoff picture. Um, you know, man, Pittsburgh, it's not pretty. It never is with them this season, but they do have a survivalist mentality and their defense. On a day where the offense managed a hundred and sixty eight yards total, the defense really stepped, forcing four turnovers

three on consecutive Tennessee possessions in the second half. And that's just ten days after they got whipped by the Vikings and uh, you know, so basically it was the defense and Chris Boswell being like under the radar one of the very best kickers in the league, kicking four field goals in December in Pittsburgh. Uh, and that allowed

the Steelers their second win over division leader in three weeks. So, um, listen, let's hear from Big Ben by the way, just like where he's at, where the Steelers are at, and then we'll open up the conversation. You know, I think we I think we sell a bolts in this thing, so we'll see where it goes from here. Notice a little tell there. I think we still have a pulse. He's now winking this is the zombie Steelers and Mark, they're not gonna die. I know you wanted him dead, but

it's not happening. I didn't expect them to die this week necessarily. Um. I thought one thing about the Titans. If you've got last week's version of the Titans, and I know they played a a floating, wandering opponent in the Jaguars, but from their angle with a cobble together offense, I mean I'm trying here like they they didn't have turned the ball, they didn't get the ball away. They had three lost fumbles in a in an interception today,

and this game was always going to be close. I was surprised that the Steelers were not favored in this looking at the personnel on Tennessee's offense. Um, they were eventually by the by game time they were slight favorites for Yeah, it just I'm not I'm not stunned to see the steel This is sort of what they are. And I think they'll probably go like eight eight and one, like I've been um hoping, but you've got to get two wins out of four. Here's the thing. I mean,

it's gonna be tough. You've got the Chiefs, the Browns, and the Ravens. So I totally see them as survivors that will go down again. I said that not at all, not at all, but because I think that the league is essentially seventy eight percent totally middle of the road operation. Well, what about the A C North if they went if they win two of their final three and they go nine seven and one, that probably wins the C and they probably they've earned But like, think about that because

and I got a chance to watch this game. I don't know if you guys got good eyes on it yet, but this does not feel like a team that's ready to make a deep run in January or be taken seriously against the big team. And yet they do hang around and fight their way through these games. And then there's something that's again like with John Harbor and the Ravens, uh, there is something to be said for the coaching that they do feel like they are maximizing their potential right now.

Is as as middling as that, maybe it's great. I mean, if I'm glad Mark didn't watch this game because I was here in the early session, and we'll get to the Cardinals, but there was a lot of stress if he if he was watching this closer, he would have seen a twenty three yard field goal drive by the Steelers.

This is other field. There's scoring drive, a thirty nine yeard touchdown drive, then their final three drives in the fourth quarter, they recover three straight turnovers in Tennessee's end and they get a total of two first downs in those three drives, kick field goals for all three. That is a crazy Our defense is taking over and winning this game for us, while the Titans are collapsing type of comeback. It is a t J. Watt Defensive Player

of the Year type of game. In the first half, he had a play in the red zone where he shut he had a quarterback hit force phone boy, I believe it was shut down to drive. There got three quarterback hits in the game, a sack and a half. A lot of this was pressure and it's these teams kind of being exactly who they've been all season. The tennis Tennessee has shut down the run. They kind of dominated up front, like they didn't give up many yards at all, but Tennessee it just doesn't have any offense.

And Julio Jones got hurt again with a hamstring injury. Again. Who's not gonna like that's that's these are whose Grave Digger um of course of the Titans Film Room podcast and by the way, just announced you know how like in UH on Saturday Night Live on Twitter, they'll show the little note cards like who's coming up in the future, episodes coming up on TNF and a huge TNF game between the Titans and the Niners. Grave Digger will be sitting in with us on Mike UH to talk that game. Now,

Grave Digger calendar allows for such. Yeah, we're not. Yeah, we gotta pull that. We he respectfully made the request to stop talking about his private life because he's got something simmering, he's got something on the burner, and we have said absolutely respect you as a friend and his colleague. So we will not ask you about what's going on with that married woman. But what we will ask you is about ask you about is how concerned you are

at this stage. That was a tough second half and and if the if the story has overblown or is over talked about it it is now is like Ryan Town Hills on an island and he's not good enough to make it make a difference. Man, it really does check out when you watch these games. It's crazy. They had a ten play span on offense where they turned

it over three times. That's unbelievable. They did this in the two games against Houston and New England, the two games before the Jacksonville game where they just kept turning the ball over and yes, nine in two games. And it was like, is this a fluke? Kind of like

this nobody can turn the ball over this much? But is it because all the offensive players, skill players are hurt and now that it's happened three times in four games, it's like, yes, it's I'm starting to think A. J. Brown is maybe like not just more valuable, but like way more valuable to this offense than Derrick Henry even is, because because they ran for two hundred yards. They did that against the Patriots too. They ran the ball well

a week ago. They've run it fairly well even without Henry, and yet, oh my god, their past coverage seems to be getting problem more problematic by the week. But I mean, a hundred sixty eight yards Pittsburgh had in this game, I'm saying that Ryan Tannehill took serious abuse a week ago, and the sacks are piling up, and it's just like, it's not It's why I don't take them seriously. I mean, they could win, they could win a playoff game because

they're well coached and things can happen. But you're not gonna win three with that offensive protection. Aaron Brewer's the backup guard. He's kind of a swing guard, and he got worked in Roger's Affoeld's absence. They did a pretty good job keeping T. J. Watt from making a lot of plays in the first half. But then in the second half he was all over the place. So I

don't know. And if you're curious how Titans fans are doing, and they're very upset because I had them at twelve in the power rankings this week and you know they're probably not gonna move up one. Uh. Such user tweeted at me after the game. I hope you have the decency when you do your rankings to understand that this is not the Titans team. Henry will be back a j back next week. All Caps, now, please do not put calls ahead of them. That would be that would

be what does it matter to them so much? I mean it's not for you, that would be all knowledgeable. Stop doing these rankings as with bias, be a pro. It better be a that's your soul act. I'm sorry, that's not if the Colts and Titans, they're playing in a neutral field this week, Colts minus seven. All right, grave digger hanging there, buddy, Let's keep moving. Golf leads in.

There's the snappy's back golf looking looking throwing deep right side wants Reynolds got him ends touched down Detroit Lions. Oh baby, what a dark to Reynolds who got the inside position on Byron Murphy and the Lions and found the end zone again. Oh the bongos for the Motor City Kitty Kings. You have fun with your bongos co co co like a week ago situation. And what a voice on Dan Miller. It is good to be hearing him with some regularity regularity on the show. He's just

good w x y T with the call. Jared Goff is Cliff Kings very scryptonite, the punching ba qb. Let's face it, that's what he's become in the last couple of years. Lit up the Cardinals secondary for three touchdowns, including that twenty two yard strike to Josh Reynolds. The Lines cruise to a thirty twelve win over the Cardinals at Ford Field. Mark. Your Cardinals had been unbeaten on the road. Your Cardinals have looked like the most balanced

team in football. Your Cardinals are suddenly in some trouble here. Yeah, I think so. I mean it's it raises some of the more esoteric questions that we had about teams like the Rams when they went through a rough patch. It's like, oh, the Cardinals in primetime games, Uh, the lights are too bright Uh with in in in playoff clinching scenarios under

Cliff Kingsbury, They're oh for four at this point. Um, this looked like one of those games where a good team gets on an airplane travel somewhere and you can tell within eight or nine minutes this ain't happening for them, and sometimes you jump the gun with that feeling. But this never got um into questionable territory and it for we can get into the Cardinals part. But huge credit to Dan Campbell the Lions. I mean, this was a

team that going in to not have DeAndre Swift. Jamal Williams was out with covid t. J Hawkinson is out. They are playing with guys like Charles Harris on defense, who has been awesome as the first round pick. Josh Reynolds, though has has stepped up as a receiver, Guys like Craig Reynolds, Mon Ross and Brown is really Brown. I mean, they just but if you look at the roster up and down, it's like, wait a minute, what you get?

Why the wreck? This is why the stories about the Cardinals like the Lions, It's like that's really They've showed a lot of positive signs the last few weeks, and Dan Campbell's such an upgrade, it seems over in Matt Patricia. But to be as talent deficient as they are, to be as banged up as they are, and to blow out the Cardinals, Like, I'm with you and that you can't overreact, because like the Rams and so many other teams, there are times in the season where you're going to

a funk. I think that's where Arizona qualifies right now. I will say I am concerned about this Cardinals season without DeAndre Hopkins because he has now gone at least untill the NFC Title game if they got that far. That was a report they came out today. So he's not coming back. Is this a situation where their offense is gonna just struggle to score points because they did the last two weeks. I want to see more because I feel like all these teams get this so called

Mulligan scenario. Um, maybe that's what this was. But I totally agree with you that DeAndre Hopkins, that his absence matters. Uh, they did not have Rodney Hudson. I think that was a factor today. Kyler Murray just miss throws. They they seemed completely out of sync. They opened with three straight punts. Uh. They basically at one point had a fourth down pass knockdown. It was in the red zone. It was the lions

first red zone stop all season. There was a terrible Murray interception where he was out of sync with a miscommunication scenario with a J. Green, which has happened a couple of times this year. They just don't They did not seem to me like the weld oiled machine. It was really the defense too that got beaten up in this. I mean Craig Reynolds, who is from the Wilderness, undrafted back and looks great two weeks in a row, ran

through them. They dominated time of possession when it mattered early on, and they tired out Arizona by the end. So yeah, I think it's fair to be like whenever a team that we're talking about is the best team in football gets conked out this way, it's not good. It's not good. I mean, the Lions, though, are not the record. I think that we've they tied the Steelers, they beat the Vikings, and they're getting better each week.

That's why I wanted to start with them, because it's like they can get lost in the what's the problem with Arizona. They made a problem for Arizona today too, now they there. That's a fair point. I feel like they're more of a four or five win team. You certainly would rather see the Giants on your their scheduled in than them or many other teams with better records. That said, you're the Cardinals, you lose by eighteen. And the problems that they have are now becoming repeating problems.

Number One, they have gotten pushed around in terms of their run defense, and now you have the Colts coming to town, so we'll get into that game later week. But that's that's been a problem. And then Hudson being out is huge. But their interior line in general has been a problem late, and especially when you've got, you know, a shorter quarterback. That whole idea of Kyler Murray as the m VP that that is uh, that is long,

that's long gone. And Mark during this game it was I remember I said one of my favorite or surprising moments of the season was was watching him melt down when the Bengals were losing a couple of weeks ago, and it was confused because he was he was mad about his take being apocalypse forel right now, which is terrible week, which is strange because if like we would all be happy to apocalypse, as if I could even remember what my takes were if Um, during this game,

he said, he muttered under his breath, you know that cutting sort of mutter where it could cut glass. I'm done rooting for any teams this year, That's what. And then there was multiple multiple I wrote it down multiple times. Um, oh god, there was I think, oh god, happened three times and it was Cardinals related. So Cardinals fan, you got a man that has your back here in Marxis. Well, I look at It's like, um, what I'm done with

is pet teens. I mean it's like I grew up in a no pet household and I'm back in a no pet household. I'm not clinging to anyone or anything at this point. I'm just gonna do the best I can from here to the end. That's good. Um, all right, well, oh you we should say that Cardinal started seven or oh now they've lost four or seven. And I know Patrick Laban one of our favorites and a honorary hero. If you're listening, Pat, listen to this quote very closely

from tight end zech Ertz. We can't let the We can't let this thing. Spiral momentum is real in the NFL, good and bad. It's coming from an NFL play from a champion. It's third and twelve from the Panthers twenty yard line snap Alan. What's written now changes the direction, fire straight down the middle. It is caught in the end. Touchdown Buffalo Gabriel Davis touchdown Bills a twenty yards strike from Josh Allen, John Murphy w g R with the call the copy here, John Murphy, Eric would Eric? Would

I assume the color guy? Yes? I thought for a second the man's name was John Murphy, Eric Wood. A lot of names, but it kind of all rolls off the tongue nicely, these people with multiple middle names. Anyway, that was just j M. I call him Murph. Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes, including that hook up with Gabe Davis in the third quarter, and the Bill snapped the two games skid with a win over the moribund

Carolina Panthers. The win, combined with the New England lost, moves Buffalo back within a game of the a f C East lead, with a massive Week sixteen showdown on the horizon, and we'll get to that. But Greg, we trusted Buffalo to handle broke Carolina and it's broken offense. But how did the briandable attack look here? They looked

like they were working on the running game. It's almost like, okay, we get an early lead, let's uh, let's see what we can do by giving Devin Singletary twenty two carries. And it was okay, it was fine, Like this was a game that he went six and a touchdown, so that's different than normal, but almost every other aspect of this game that's gorgeous. For this all right, that's a fair point. And and they moved the ball when they absolutely needed to. It was a little closer, I think

than the score indicated. The yards for play were pretty close throughout. It was a ten point game, and the Panthers had the ball in the fourth quarter. Like it wasn't too crazy. But almost everything that you would expect to happen in this game like happened. It was Cam Newton, you know, the poor Man's Josh Allen. Now I used to when Josh Allen came into leg I called him the poor home man. Time is a flat circle, and

they really are similar, I think. But Josh Allen is so much better obviously now at throwing and running, I would say, but but especially at throwing, and he is approaching or passing as good as Cam Newton ever was in terms of just throwing the ball and making plays

on his own. That Josh Allen did enough, and you got out of here with a pretty comfortable, a little bit deflating um if you're a Panthers fan, I imagine, because when Cam came back and all the excitement around that, and it felt like he was going to kind of revitalize the whole operation, and then kind of reality sets in that that that Cam that you fell in love with, that one m v P, he's gone and the guy that's here parachuted into a very difficult situation. Not his playbook.

Uh doesn't have the same skill set. And I guess every time I saw highlights on Twitter, it was something like, oh man, the Panthers offense is terrible. Like I saw so many of those things they ran. I mean, like Cam like he's been okay for fantasy. He has more rushing touchdowns this year than than like Alvin Kamara and Aaron Jones like he had the rushing touchdown every week one, but they're passing game is terrible. They passed it forty two times for a net of a hundred and twenty

four yards. I mean they It's funny because Rule came in and he said, we're just gonna run like crazy. They actually ran for one fifty one. They were down two scores for much of this game, so it was tough to stay committed to the running game. But they were pretty good at running and they hit Josh Allen a lot. That is my number one concerned with the Buffalo Bills is not their defense, and it is not their running game. It is just their offensive line in general.

Because when you combine a lack of a running game with not being able to protect Alan, that's problematic. And he had to really earn his two ten and three today. He was hit a lot of times by this Panthers. They've got the Pats up next. Uh. You know, every time I watched the Panthers, I feel like Matt Rule, his face on the sideline is getting more and more agitated with the concept of life that he that is just not um this this star has fallen so far at this point that the Camas back stuff from a

couple of weeks ago. It feels like a strange dream from early autumn. It's going to be interesting and a lot of fun to watch the Bills and and Pat's rematch that I feel like that's I think for you, the best thing that could happen for you in the world would be the Bills to drop a bomb on New England and it would confirm kind of everything that you have been trumpeting about the Patriots up late. I am not. Did you hear my analysis of their performance

on Saturday night? I came away impressed by them? I wasn't. But I think it's I think it's um it's the next level in this psych warfare that we have going on to use that space where they lost to praise them. Well if that cat's a Belichick move to praise and when you lose and and heart heart on them when

they win. But that's interesting. UM. I just wish that my favorite team isn't uh losers of thirty since Week one last week last year, So if I could find something to root for and be happy, Okay, I guess it's rooting against the Patriots, but I just I just want to see how the Bills react now, uh, three weeks after the events of that Monday, because how much do you take from this game? I think, I know, I gotta see the offense how it looked, But it

doesn't seem like it was locked and loaded again. So it's fine. It was what you expected. I didn't change my view in either way. It also was a very much a veteran team taking care of business, as that's what we asked for this Bills game. Though next week we said it how the division is not over. Patriots lose, Bills win this week, now they're only one back. If the Bills could win next time out, they get four

and two in the division. That then that comes down to like the Patriots having to beat Miami and getting the other tiebreaker and a much At this point, I think the Patriots would have the edge, but it gives the Bills a real chance to win a division. Well, the Bills would have the Falcons and Jets to close the season, so that is a dangerous matchup there you go, uh, Ricky.

By the way, I just want to circle back. We had the the the lock of the Patriots that didn't work out for Mark but you had locked against the Patriots. Does that? But do you get the lock sound or you get the sad horn? Because I locked the Cults technically right, But didn't we standings wise? Weren't we thinking that when you do the reverse lock, you should get credit for losing but be penalized for winning. Yeah, I don't know where you took the l I think ultimately

I definitely did. I definitely did, And the listeners were great letting me know on Twitter that I lost, that I lost my streak. What do you think that? What's our official ruling? Is she getting credit for wins or losses? It's very convoluted now, especially now, I think had she had the street continued, we be onto something. I think we're just in media low, the low, the low part of mediocrity at this spot. I mean, I think it was like six in a row locking against the Patriots.

So either the winning streak ended of the losing streak. I don't think, yeah, you get credit because some of those times, wait, they were always locked against it. You're getting credit for a win when the Patriots were like out of the number range for instance. So that also would be she was fearing and mine mine and you had a lockoff win over Mark. But was it really it was kind of a lockoff law. I mean, you're kind of operating on a different level than the rest

of us right now. We're just trying to play catch up. Yeah, it's tough, alright, to be fair, she only switched to that strategy because she was in a hole. I mean, you don't need to say, we don't need like week Ti Man spreading. Okay, we don't need this masculinity. Ricky's just doing her best here. I mean I'm not I'm right there near the body. We got your back, right, Um, all right, we gotta take a break, right, all right,

then we'll be back. The ban goals don't huddle. They snap it to Burrow throws down field, grow wide boy, catch us at the thirty great up cut back of the town. But five touchdown band goals fifty six yard answer Joe Burrow to Tyler boy, that's like that, goals are back. That's me doing color commentary. Nice, nice, looks good. That reminds me the guy used to work with. Um. His response to anything, which just nice. It's going to

be getting paid for it. That was Dan Horde and Dave Lapham w k C. Why Uh, thank god this game had that play because there wasn't much else to get juiced up about. Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense was silent on Sunday in Denver, that is until Burrow connected with taj Boyd Nice on the fifties six yard touchdown that allowed since to escape. Ricky, can we isolate that Nice for future Bengals talk escaped town with a win over the Broncos. Greg, It's hard to feel like

we could trust the Bengals even after this win. But I mean, this is the first place team, sure, and that's good. Go get a win. It doesn't really impact how they're gonna play next week. But I don't want to hear that this is some sort of great Zach Taylor mans. I mean, they had twelve first downs in two forty nine yards in this game. You got the job done. The defense made it stops against Drew Lock when they needed to. Teddy Bridgewater left this game, yeah,

with a really scary hit. Body wasn't moving, but they did say he had a feeling in his extremities and it was a concussion or they were checking for a concussion. Uh, and he was in the hospital being checked that So the Bengals got it done. But my focus here is, you know, as it often is, on game management. Bick Fangio is terrible at it. Broncos fans, No, you know, sometimes like we can get lost in the game management and that's not the most important thing. And in this

game where so little happened, give Joe Burrow credit. Makes a nice third and ten play on their last offensive drive under pressure, getting hit to Tyler Boyd's great job, you know, kept the jet drive going. He made a couple of clutch plays. Okay, Fonio blues six points, a six point swing at the end of the first half, and then totally mismanaged the clock. Not that Drew Lock was probably gonna do it at the end, but they couldn't.

They could have had two minutes for Drew Lock at the end of the game and instead that he he just wasted forty seconds and the and the sequence at the end of the first half where he ended up allowing the Bengals to get three points instead of being aggressive and getting the three point. I could really break it down play by play if you guys want, but I don't think you want to hear it, it's like I just like, I like knowing that you could if you wanted to. That shows me that you're locked in

on this game. And like they were, so can they were setting up okay, they were setting up for a long field goal at the end of the first half. They were not trying to move the ball down the field.

A guy goes out of bound with seventeen seconds for some reason, Fondo takes the time out even though the guy was out of bounds, and instead of doing whatever they could, which they easily could have it was a third and one to make sure if you're gonna be conservative to bleed the clock out, that they throw a past. They don't get it. They end up kicking along field goal. Then they play this terrible, like way too safe defensive coverage which just let Joe Burrow get twenty yards to

kick their own field goal. That was a six point swing, and the whole drive leading up to that was mismanaged, and me and Broncos Twitter, we're first guessing as it was happening. So that's like a little six point swing

in such a close game. And then at the end he took this time out before the two minute warning, where if you are a guy who plays Madden or whatever, you just knew that Fio or a girl like wasted like he could have had forty seconds more and the Broncos, if you're gonna be a defensive team, I've been ranting too long, but if you're gonna be a defensive team that was trying to play in these types of games, and I think Fenjio's finally has the defense he wants playing,

then you gotta be able to win on the margins like that, and he's terrible. Here's my question, because we're we're nearing the end of year three with Vick Fonjio, and I think we get what he brings defensively and there's he's unique and on that front, I mean, Brandon Staley loves him for multiple reasons. Why isn't there someone else like well, I'm wondering, just is there someone in the ear of Fongio or in general saying this is

not your skill set will take over these decisions? Is why is Fongio making these decisions when he's been proven to be an utterly subpar time game management. The game is moving fast. I don't know either. He hasn't put someone in position that it feels how they approached that drive. It's teddy a little bit too in terms of the you know how lack of daisical it was, but it

almost felt like that's how they were coaching it. But it was more the the use of the play calling when there was seventeen seconds to to throw a pass, They're not like foreseeing exactly what happened and if it honestly felt like whoever is winning six three at halftime is gonna win this game because there's so little offense. Every once in a while on the show, you have a summertime take that you get locked into and you end up saying it repeatedly, and then it becomes a thing,

and then the fans get on you repeatedly. And me being against Drew Lock was something that brought much derision from Denver. What do they call themselves, Broncos Nation? I don't know what do they have a thing? I'm sure some use that term goes wagon. They killed me on Twitter for weeks and then I just we fast forward to the President and Drew Lock that last offseason. Yeah, West pushed back for you a little bit. You wanted to give Drew Lock a chance a little bit that

last drive. I'll just go through it. First and ten of the Denver twenty five down five point sixty four seconds on the clock. Uh, incomplete pass holding. So now it is first and twenty from the Denver fifth, incomplete pass. I know there was a penalty, but it could have been intercepted. We should throw that in. Then Drew Lock passed incomplete short middle to Jerry Judy, also could have been intercepted. Now now it's second and twenty from the

Denver fifteen. Drew lck sacked from minus nine yards. Now it's third and twenty nine at the Denverse six. Drew Lock short passed right to Jerry Judy. Pushed out of bounds nine yard game penalty on Cincinnati off side. So it's third and twenty four. Drew Lock throws into coverage Jared Judy in complete. Fourth and twenty four Drew Lock throws it twenty seven yards out of bounds. Game. Oh over.

I just want one of the Drew Luck people that are Bronco's fans to come to my Twitter feed and say, you know what, respectfully, I apologize for all the mean things I said. You were right about Drew Luck. Just one of you can speak for the entire Broncos, that would be, uh, the next level step by them. I mean, I think we lost some Drew luck people when he appeared earlier in the season was a total disaster. Yeah,

it's like all the you know, Teddy. Teddy had one of the worst games of the season before going out to injury. Unfortunately, but we've seen what happens when Teddy leaves. Uh, they would not be seven and seven. Uh, they would be four and ten. But in the end, I don't know if there's much of a difference other than they're gonna have a worse draft pick because they needed this game.

We gotta keep moving. I don't want to get into the Teddy culture wars, but if they had someone better than Teddy, they'd probably ten and four and we wouldn't be talking about it. I'm not staying well, yeah, but how do you find someone better? It's like Aaron Rodgers is someone better? You know? It's like who who are they going to? Again? Who are they? We don't need to Let's move on empty back flat pattern yard for touchdown?

What a devote Parker on it? Both pattern gets it FID for the touchdown that was Jimmy Sevlo w q A M. DeVante Parker caught an eleven yard touchdown pass from tah Tongue of by Law with three thirty seven to play. The Dolphins extend their winning streak to six games by topping the Jets at hard Rock. Duke Johnson,

that's your boy, Mark. He ran for a hundred and seven yards and not really two touchdowns, and the defense held the Jets the three first downs in the second half of My Boy as Miami continue to feast on its ridiculously soft schedule, weird game. Tua was miserable at the onset. It was like him and Zach Wilson had been in some type of body switch comedy. He threw uh interception, he threw another couple of balls up for grabs. He had a fumble and the Jets weren't able to

reel Uh push it to take it to him. But they were up tend nothing the Jets in this game, and they had a lead for the first time at halftime. But to have got things back on track, they Dolphins took control of the game both in the trenches and with two of making some nice passes down field. They get the game under control. They go from down seventeen seven to seventeen and then too it makes another terrible mistake. UH throws a pick six that ties the game up.

And yet you never felt in the fourth quarter even that the Dolphins were in any real danger because the Jets offense, after a promising start, completely went to bed. Miami's defense took complete control of the game, and to to his credit in an up and down day, he did lead them down the field for that go ahead score. Cut to fourth and eleven, fourth and ten for the Jets in the last possession of the game, and Zack Wilson throws a nine yard pass short of the sticks,

and that's how it ends. So Dolphins become the second team in NFL history to get to seven and seven after starting at one and seven. UM and we will we will see if this ends with a playoff birth, but I guess I still want to see it against some real competition. But they deserve a ton of credit, So that's not an easy thing to do. This what happened with the Jets. UH, Like this happened twice now in the last three weeks, where Zach Wilson everyone is

loving what he did. In the first half, like they come out pretty fast, but then I saw fifty four

yards only three first downs in the second half. It seems like a trend with him that he has put together like half games, Like you look at the numbers, it's not terrible in this game, but then it didn't stay he Yeah, the first couple of drives, he was on target, he was going through his progressions, and then I have to say the offensive line got completely destroyed in the last i'd say two and a half quarters of the game and put him in a bad spot.

He was running for his life. Uh a lot. So I don't know how much to put on Wilson, but I will say that it might be a coaching situation. I thought Michael Floor had a really it's not it's not him. I thought Michael Floor had a really interesting fund first half. It was like a kitchen sink thing where you had all these trick plays. He was empty,

emptying out and some of them were working. And then the switch got flipped for the Dolphins and Brian Flores with that defense and they just absolutely dominated from that point. So yeah, I can't really make sense of it other than to say that I think, well, Flora had a good game plan early but wasn't able to adjust once Miami did. Miami's in the wrong conference. Because you win six games in the NFC, it's like punch punch my playoff ticket. But despite winning all these games, they're still

only eleven UH in the conference. And and yes there are only one game back, and they can certainly make it if they win out, but that's probably what it will take. And they're at New Orleans, not a gimme at Tennessee in New England. So you you've been waiting Dan to kind of see them against better teams. I think like their pass rush is something that will travel. It's it's legit. It took a little while to get going, but the coaching and the players combined, like week after

week they are just maulling people up front. But I'm curious as you are to see how to in the offense who didn't have Jalen Waddle. Today we'll look against some better defense is and they're about to play pretty

good defense. I mean, they gave up fifty five points over five games before coming into this, and I know what the schedule is, what it is, but their defense was legitimate last year under Brian floor as it is again, I'm with you Dan though that there aren't a lot of things to point to and say the ceiling is here, the way we look at the culture, the schedule. Even you know they're out of this insanely soft portion now,

but you say they're in the wrong conference. Well, they got the Jets twice in the Texans once in the six game stretch, uh, and then out of conference games included the Giants and Panthers. I just mean, like the seven in the NFC you're in right now, um and in the a f C yere bear. Do I think the Saints are Titans? The next two weeks are bad matchups for them. I don't so. I think they have

a chance to really get sneak into the playoffs. They don't like their chances once they got to postseason play. But man, that it's been Why was this Johnson by the way on the street twenty three for one seven? This guy can always play on third downs. I'm not saying he's like the best player ever, but like receptions from running back since he's entered the league, he's in like the top three players in the NFL. There must be something else he's he's always had those numbers that

like he that project him to be more than he is. Frankly, that's all. I just think it's just to be a guy. He does live in this I saw um live in the same I believe, like a apartment complex type of thing, as to a tongue of viola, which gets to one of my my favorite Adam Levitan theories, which is like the neighbor theory. He he does little thing he has like the shower narrative, like if guys showered together in college, they always have nice big fantasy numbers together. But also

the neighbor. Yeah, the neighbor narrative if like because Tua was saying how they they see each other, you know, kind of like going out to get get watered pick up. I'd like to hear more from Adam Levitan on his that'sguing to me. All right, Let's check in with the

other Moribund in New York franchise Second and Gold. At the one M motion play, fake Prescott looks right, looks left, throws in the John Caught touchdown, the Dalton Schultz, Brian Sham, the Sham God k r l D with the call uh Drew Prescot Dak Prescott through just one touchdown pass that going to Dalton Schultz, but that was enough for the Cowboys, who rode their defense to six win over who exists mostly in theory at this point. The Cowboys

defense forced four turnovers for the third straight game. But Greg, how did you feel about this perplexing offense? Same this is that this was the ultimate just re repeat of their last four weeks. It's like, remember it felt like the Chiefs were in the same game every week for that month. That's the Cowboys to Marcus Lawrence and Dak

Prescott made a bet of some sort. Maybe it was just sort of an on or you know, because they're not officially out, that the defense would force more turnovers than the Cowboys offense scored touchdowns and DeMarcus Lawrence won largely because of DeMarcus Lawrence, who was an absolute beast. Maybe that's the slightly newest narrative out of this. He's been good the last few weeks since returning, but he absolutely took over this game for a big chunk of it.

And just if he's peaking in parsons and speak, that's crazy. Treyvon Diggs had his tenth interception. Uh. Gregory had a big return last week. They have so many pieces on defense that I just I struggle. I don't know if it's just because we were so used to looking at the Cowboys as this like offense first juggernaut. Like I'm struggling cognitively to kind of make this process that they're now going to make a playoff run on the backs of their defense. Is that just where we're going now? Well,

I think that that wait. Wanting any of these teams just to ride their defense to the Super Bowl. I mean that feels tricky because when their offense was special, it felt totally unstoppable, and it maybe just it is

what it is at this point. Well, they they're like they really are just like the Chiefs I think earlier in the year, and I think they're just glad to be banking wins while they're struggling offensively, and they they almost have to know that their offense has to be a lot better for them to go where they want.

They are ten and four, uh, and that's pretty amazing if you think back to the beginning of the season, we did not expect them to be ten and four, much less with Dak Prescott struggling this forty one dropbacks against this Giants defense, which is like, no great shakes, two hundred to net yards, no great sacks. Baby, they didn't have a play over. They didn't never play over

twenty yards. The Giants with Mike Lennon who had ninety nine yards passing and three interceptions, and then Jake from who came into the game late, actually had more yards per play than the Dallas Cowboys in this game. And that's that's just weird. And the Cowboys ran the ball well, so that narrative forget about that. It was it was all about their passing. Excided he was feeling healthier going

into this game that he looked a little better. He went, he look, uh, Lamb dropped two or three passes which would have helped. But Cooper had five targets for eight yards. Like it's just not there right now. So now yeah, we have the They are the mirror version I guess of Kansas City, or at least before the last couple of weeks. And that's I don't know, that's slightly underwhelming. As a football fan. I like the Cowboys when they were to shoot it out offense. But this works too.

I guess they're gonna win the division. They're not gonna you know, Philadelphia is not going to catch up with them. So if you look at the Cowboy schedule, you know it's all in the division, and it's they're not out of it for the one seed, as crazy as it is, because they're gonna be favorites in their next three games, and and if they could get a little help from from Green Bay and Tampa. Who knows, rock solid lock to get taken out in January? Oh definitely. Wait, I

thought you were giving up on takeoffs. Okay, Well that's yeah. I'm not even suggesting it's that's true of every team except for one. I was wrong. It's not all in the division. They do play the Cardinals in week seventeen. Wow. This Cardinals scheduled down the stretch really sets up for them to kind of be in the cross airs. All right, let us now move to the forty niners. We're going to keep their momentum going. Forty seconds to go in motion. Jeff Wilson Jr. It's a hanging off to Deebo. One

of the techpool gets rocked. Left you. I love it, great, Papa, Yeah, Papa, can br with the call. Jimmy Garoppolo through for two five yards in a t D. It's a very Jimmy Garoppolo line, and San Francisco ran for three more scores, including yet another Deebo Samuel scamper that you heard there. Niners one for the fifth time in six games, beating the Falcons thirty one thirteen. Mark nice take care of

business win over a fraudulent Falcons operation. Yeah, you said, it felt like what we've seen from Debo, and it felt like what we've seen from the Niners during this hot streak that they're on. Um, a little bit of a slow start, then they scored on five straight drives, including four straight touchdown drives. And the difference here early on was their defense. Um Nick Bose was awesome in this game. Left for a little bit with a presumed concussion,

but came back in. They shut down the Falcons three times inside of San Francisco's ten yard line. Uh. They also recovered a fumble at one point. Um. They just they to me, this was what you look at with the Niners and say you can project them as a playoff team and feel comfortable with what they are. George Kittle had a George Kittle game. Deebo Samuel did what he did and Jimmy g When you get a game like this where he's not turning the ball over and

turning Uh, Kyle Shanahan's face beat red. Uh, you're fine. I mean the Falcons, we know that they came into this with the lasting team d v O A A little bit suspect not their record. They looked like today they couldn't protect Matt Ryan, they couldn't get anything done. M Pretty daddy. I know they got lucky last against the Bengals somewhat, but there are five and one in their last six. Yeah, with some pretty good wins in their rams Bengals, you stomp out the Falcons, which is

what you're supposed to do. But I hate that term, like the team you don't want to play in the playoffs. But they certainly feel like a team the table. But they also feel like a team that could that could compete or beat any team in the NFC. They were like, I would want to get away from them and get to whoever has taken that seventh seed. This is what I wanted a wild card team. You know, they're they're frisky, they can get hot. They have some exciting players. Make

that first weekend as fun as possible. Mark, because I have a buy in my fantasy playoffs, I didn't have to struggle through a Falcons game. Looking at Kyle fifth Pits is an inevitable march to four for thirty eight. Where did he finish this week? Four? You had a big play like a fifty yard or so, no touchdown, no down. I was monitoringbo Is back at a wide receiver Fox and So on Friday on the broadcast on Saturday, but which by the way, around the NFL broadcast. There's

some pop going on right now. There's some heat both behind the scenes and in the Twitter verse. People are into the show. They love the rebranding of it. They think that it's really it's captured the spirit of the podcast, hasn't it. Greg's I think it's captured the spirit of America. At this time when Oh Macron is just going across the people are wondering where can they turn to. Well, they know on Saturday mornings at four am Pacific, check us out. We're there for you. We will be there

for you. Probably at that time. We are here for you. Guys. They might take us out of the students. They've been good. They are. They're different than the podcasts, yes, somehow at the same time, check it out, Yes, every Saturday. And you could also check it out on game Pass and Ricky right, people have access to it on YouTube as well. That's right. It streams live on YouTube and then stays up on the main NFL YouTube And how do they

find it? Just type in what Yeah, if you go to the main NFL YouTube page, it'll pop up as like being streaming live. I think it's ten am Pacific, which is one pm Eastern Eastern and then eight something like that. Sex all our blokes and bloke cats out in the They put it up pretty soon after that. You have a point and the enjoy the show on a on a Friday. That sounds nice. Um, all right, let us take a break and then we will wrap this thing up. Bloke ats it? Just that it doesn't work?

What is it? It's blokes and well I don't know what they would you're saying, what, what is a female version of bloke? Yeah? In the UK and surrounding territories, Well I don't, I don't. I'm not going to say that, you know, territory unlocked four years old when I lived there, Ricky, while we while we dig into this awesome Houston Jackson game. If if you were a grave digger could find the female expression for bloke over there, that would be great.

Maybe a bird is it? Like I'm not saying that breathing. No, that's Australian Australia. I think the bird would would be it. It is Sheila actually, but that's a that's that's that's also British North England's I don't know what you're maybe these are you know, let's all right, let's let's hit the game that everybody's been waiting for. Third down and nine. We're gonna get a million tweets about that, but we're gonna do. That's the first Animal thirty twenty tip Tip

five rock and Roll touchdown Houston. Brandon Cooks to the house. Something about that Rock and Roll one. It's like a play by play guy from I like it. It's kind of throwback Mark vander Meer with it called K I L. T. If only the Texans could play the Jaguars every week. David Culley's team completed the season sweep of its division rival with at at the Big Glorine Tank and Duval.

It was the Jack's first game without the deposed Urban Meyer, proving definitively he was not the problem in Jacksonville and should see every penny of the five year deal he signed with the team. That's business. That is business. Mark. Everything I said is correct? Yes, Yeah, I mean I I go so far as to huddle, Um, if your team ownership team brass to say he's not the problem, maybe maybe we bring him back via culpa start this

over fired with cause? How about cause for apology? The results that we saw today in jackson Yeah, I mean it might have helped today. Um, you know this is the rare game on this one, Mark, huh quick on this one. I'll be quick if you'd like, how quick do you want me to be? Seconds? How about a little love for Brandon Cooks, who's you know, been It's sort of been a hostage scenario for him in Houston, but a hundred yard game today, he's been kind of

He's been there, dude, week after week. Davis Mills, who started last week fourteen for fourteen, open thirteen for fifteen today. So I'm telling you, like, I don't know, obviously they're gonna have bigger plans, and they could. They could have a whole new coaching staff after the season. Their GM gave like a vote of no confidence a couple of weeks ago, so TB d um. But Davis Mills gives you a lot to think about in terms of not a lot. It gives you something to think about because

he's not been a disaster. I mean, I think it's you've got you found your solid number two. But that's not the worst thing. Okay, he's been okay, but it's like he's been as I mean, just in terms of his performance, he's been as good or better than Trevor Lawrence and and Zach Wilson. There's no question. I don't think the degree of difficulty with what they're having them do um some faith in him. They let him throw only up a touchdown on third and log late in

that game, and people like people were surprised. It was almost like the coaches were a little surprised. It's because it got a little rainy during the game. I kept thinking it was a rainstorm during the game. But you might have known a little earlier in the week that it was gonna rate all over Texan Bill because I used to Texas, don disrespect them as big time underdog. The Rainmaker breaks the rain Briggs. How do we not have the graphic? Ricky? Where that horrific graphic? Did he

tell you not to use it? Say anything? We're back here again, hey, Mark, you gotta give it up when the Rainmaker brings too, I mean, deliver if you if you want to. And by the way, I threw another one out during that show, and that was the bills covering, which also came to check the file on that. And you weren't clear, really you were a little bit like give it to the Rainmaker bills by forty Well, I said, the bills to cover. That's bills cover. Okay, we're just

trying to parse the language of the Rainmaker. But that okay, that makes sense. It's just Rainmaker. They barely did. It came down to the last play, but that that's too and oh and another one got moved. But the Texans was the one I really felt in everyone got all cute with, like, oh, urban Meyer's gone. That's worth the points. Uh, not so much that you're going against Davis Mills. You actually said that about what the fact like the spread move?

Do you know a part of the This Pat McAfee empire that's been built has been built on the back of him getting very involved with the sports betting and his listeners cashing in on the McAfee predictions. We could get our listeners rich off the rain This is not what we want to be. I thought we attempted our last time, right we are now. The Rainmaker hit an unfortunate drought, if you recall, and that's what led to the end of the Rainmaker. But if he's on a

hot streak, is there's no accountability. You only talk about it when you win. You pay for Christmas. Get behind the Rainmaker right now because he is on a heater. Right. What happened last time was a couple of families were put out on the street during Christmas because they did. You're asking a finger to help anyone, know, it's just like you know, then it's not so then we got the Eagles. It's the worst case two in one, but yeah, I got the Eagles coming up. But this this was

the one that I was near and near to. But you're saying you're gonna walk away from the Rainmaker, Well, we'll see if any I don't think if any you know, I feel if I feel this was one of my favorite of the year, heavy underdogs to the worst offense. Mark said it the worst offense he's seen in about five years. That's true. Getting getting rid of Urban Meyer doesn't doesn't solve that in one one week. About an act of like altruism. Just you want to help our

listeners pay for college on prep school? Uh? Christmas? Have you seen my locks record? I don't feel confident enough. But this is different. This is a special skill of yours, a special talent. What are some other things we could be paying for? Leisure? I mean next level leisure. Night at the pub, multiple nights in a pub while staying upstairs like a new outfit. Because when you when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good,

you play good. I mean you get someone like you know, the grave Digger has extra expenses that are cropping up. You could pay for those types of extra expenses. Well, we don't talk about though, I said it in a roundabout way. Yeah, but we he had He had asked, respectfully, Erica has expenses that I don't even know how to drill down to. But I'm sure that there that you have a lot of lush hobbies. What is that that

cost money? I don't know he pivoted you. That was a weird little I'm just listing things that might cost money. But congratulations, rightmaker, because you're feeling it and you're lighting up the wallets and persons of all the blokes and lasses across the way. All right, Sunday night, football, Sunday night. You can afford that territory. Of course, gratty pressure escapes

are acepted. Gardner Johnson cuts underneath big turned pretty over in bridge eight interceptions in these regular season matchups the last two years with the Saints and the New Orleans Saints are knocking on the door of a headlong, brathing wind in Tampa against the Chaps. Mike Ko who, by the way, could not have set this conversation up any better.

He does that on the cuff, off the cuff. He just nailed it, and as his partner Chris Collinsworth soon followed up with nobody likes sticking out their tongue more than C. J. Gardner Johnson, which was kind of a weird take anyway, Speaking of weird Saints nine buccaneer zero. That was the final score of Sunday Night football in Tampa.

The Saints shut out a Bucks team that was besieged by injuries to Chris Godwin to Mike Evans, both exited the game with injuries uh knee and hamstring, to Leonard four Nette to a hamstring, and what was left was not nearly good enough when Tom Brady is trying to target Tyler Johnson and Scottie Miller just wasn't playing boys, and then you give it to Cashawn Vaughan who can't do anything. The former third round pick added all up, and it was one of the more frustrating nights of

Tom Brady's career, at least in the regular season. It was, and it was like a moment that I'm glad this Saints defense and the Saints team had and maybe we'll continue to have over the next few weeks. We talked about the forty Niners are like that team you want to see maybe in the second How about the Saints as like the seventh seed that really isn't gonna make any noise, But it's this, I get a two lane guy, But okay, here's have four seventh seeds and have them

all playoff. We want to city this scenes defense to see them have a night like this, and I get it. The injuries are what they were for the Bucks. They were three and o against the Bucks with Tom Brady. Uh before these injuries. Those injuries didn't start until midway through the third quarter. They had four They had stopped at four times at that point too. So yeah, maybe they don't hold them to zero. But Cam Jordan's getting

after it early. Marcus Davenport, that's secondaries wild. This That to me explains why the Saints in some ways are like the two thousand twenty one team more than any team. They are four no right now against the teams as of right now that rank in the top four of current Super Bowl conversation. Okay, the four Okay there. They have played the teams that are the top four in current Super Bowl winning odds. They are four no against

those teams. There are three and seven against everyone else. Well, I mean, you know, and it does matter that there's no Sean Payton. Um I says a lot about every time the head coach and Mr is a I think they're like seven and in those situations, just the Sean Payton his difference maker. But Dennis Allen Um did an incredible job this evening. I mean Cam Jordan's stacked on the same side as Marcus Davenport, caused total chaos, and I thought that the defensive backfield was super sticky. I'm

with Greg. I mean, yes, I know the injuries occurred. I don't think it mattered. I mean they made up for a Saints offense that had nine drives down the stretch that went for less than twenty yards and most of those went for less than five yards. I mean they were put back on the field over and over. And this is a situation where it's like we wanted to know do they do they have Tom Brady's number? Do they have this offense's number? Yes, Had the injuries

not occurred, would this been maybe ten nine? Would they have lost? I don't know. I don't care. They got the job done. Matters, but they of course thumping them to be start, of course it matters, but the Saints, Saints fans and the Saints don't want to hear about injuries, mattering like this team has been death made it by injuries throughout the course of the season. They had to keep playing, and even tonight they didn't have either their

top two pro Bowl tackles. So I'm just saying, like the tweet of the night was from dap boy Wolf. Here it is his quote, I don't want to hear about Bucks injuries, but be out here throwing passes to Amazon delivery driver exactly. So they have that's partly their own doing by dressing uh and developing for the injuries celivery drivers for the Bucks punt punt punt, missfield goal

punt punt. Then it started to happen. It's like it wasn't like there was an electricity or like, okay, I hear that, and the Saints deserve all the credit for their defense and how it played. But once you lost your top two wide receivers and you're missing Antonio Brown, so now you're missing your top three wide receivers, and you're missing Leonard four Nett, who has been sneaky the most important part of that offense this year besides Tom Brady, and you take all those guys out of the mix.

When it became time for the Tom Brady to do magical Tom Brady stuff, it just felt complete letely impossible because he was like he turned it to Ryan Tannehill and and Brady obviously a superior player to Tannehill. But once again it shows you when you take a quarterback, no matter how good he is, and you take away all his weapons, and offense is gonna suffer, especially against a good defense like New Orleans, who really got after

it right. They they didn't The Buck's offensive line, which has been so good all your Brady's barely been touched, did not win that battle. They came out wanting to throw when everyone knows healthy. They threw eleven straight times to start the game. And he was getting hit then and and he he wasn't getting enough first downs. Then he had that interception, you know. Late. Of course he had the fumble when they were in position for a field goal. I mean, they could have scored points here.

They missed the field goal. They had a two minute drive at the end of the first half that also got styming. They threw it to Rob Gronkowski. Brady did eleven times. And Gronk is having an amazing season, but he's nice as a compliment. He had two catches out of those eleven UH targets and at least three drops where he could have either come away with the ball or he wasn't paying attention on one that was in his bread basket would have put him on that like.

They also did not come through in some key moments, and it's it's a massive win because I think the Saints now really have a real chance, a good chance to go get that seventh seed, which I didn't totally see coming into this game, and Tom Brady's m v P case, and more importantly, Tampa's chances to get the one seed take a big hit. They're not done yet, but they take a big hit. I mean everyone's m v P, you know, campaign seems to take a big hit the minute we start to mention that Aaron Rodgers,

he's played awesome for four seas. He's in the driver, him and Taylor and Brady after Week one with Aaron Rodgers like we were, you know, what's happened to this human being? He's not the same guy. I mean, I just I'm impressed with his Saints defense that passed a mask over an offense that was also without both of its tackles, an offense that had twelve plays in sports seen yards in the third quarter. I mean, that can break a defense. We have to keep going back out

there over and over. They absolutely play with no fear against Brady. I mean, they're up in his face and it's the one team I think Dennis Ellen has done a better job coaching against Tom Brady than any coordinator in the league the last couple of years. There's no doubt they this. I just want to I don't want to be the Devil's advocate on this one, but uh, somebody has to say it that Taysom Hill can't really play. No,

he can't. So that's a problem. And as much as we want to see some of us want to see the Saints in the playoffs, I have from what I've seen personally, and these what is it four starts now is a guy who is exactly suited to where he was previously in his career as a gadget player. And when you put him out there as the quarterback, it's

just not It's not happening. Is his The people around him in the offensive line matters, of course, but if you're asking him to win big games in December in January, I just don't see it. That's true. I mean, they scored nine points. Now, they're gonna play the Dolphins, Panthers, and Falcons. None of those are w's you know, automatically one that Dolphins games on Monday Night. None of those

are els. That's just who this Saints team is. But I think with Hill, if they can especially if they can get the offensive line healthy again, I think he makes sense just for the style of play that there that they have, and no quarterback would be succeeding that. They clearly just went into this season with a huge mistake without getting enough pass catchers. I mean, they just don't have guys who can make up play Nick Vannette,

make up play trout and make a play. I thought Hill in the first half of this game through the ball pretty well. You know Michael Thomas situation played out. That was a huge setback for this and I agree with you on that. Mark. Final word to you on this Sunday Night masterpiece. What would you like me to say? I don't know. I've got to know Greg always has one in the chamber, but I was wondering maybe Mark

has one in the chamber. I absolutely come away from this game Saints well, I know Sean Payton wasn't there, but he was my Coach of the Year guy for so long, and I just think that they're one of the best run teams out there, and to do this three times, four times to Tom Brady and a couple of seasons is pretty impressive. Has a little something special sauce you can't measure when you watch, just the energy.

But that's not my last one. My last. My last has two final thoughts and he's gonna have a third and a fourth. The Best Actor award for the one season goes to Bruce Arians. Over the last three weeks, when he kept answering questions about Antonio Brown and said, well, we're not sure yet. We haven't made that call. Yeah, you made that call, well before you saw your receivers

go down. Tonight there was confirmed now that he will be coming back on the team Antonio Brown, but there was no situation where they were ever getting rid of this guy, and tonight was a reminder, well, especially now, and also he's acting because also it's not his decision, it's Tommy's decision, Tommy boy, right, Tom and he have a bunk bed in Tom's bedroom where Tom Brady sleeps

on the top bunk in Antonio Like. It's the size of the bunk beds that my son's Jack and Harry share the bunk bed size, they sell their legs hang over the end and they just talk each other to sleep and tell stories and giggle and then eventually, guys, that's enough. We don't want you cranky in the morning. Come on now, who's saying that mom and dad? Okay, I'm struggling to figure out who the mom and dad is in Tom Brady's house, but fair enough, think about it.

I'm gonna okay, that gives just something to think about. All Right, We're We're done. Final thoughts, go row, get me out of here. Um, that is the week. Well, it's not even full. Obviously we got four more games. This is is a different week. Obviously it's Christmas Week, and uh that's fun and we love that, but it's also football week in a big spot. So we had one game Saturday, we had one game. Thursday, we had

one game. Saturday, we had ten games Sunday, will have two games Monday, and we'll have two games on Tuesday. Is that all right? Yeah? And then another game on Thursday and two games on Saturday, which is Christmas eight out of ten nights of prime time. Like, if you wanted to know what it would be like if football as your favorite sport, which fits so well that when your work week was done, there was a game on

your weekend. Now you know what's what it's like if it were baseball and we're every night of the week. This is this reminds me of Peter Schreeger was texting us this weekend and mentioned that his son, his young son, I think he's five years old, watches every around the NFL broadcast UM in the morning, which is pretty amazing.

And uh. He said that he has takes from watching our show, and one of them is that Mark hades the schedule well, the seventeen the nature of the seventeen game schedule, and Peter Schreeger mentioned that his wife agreed. So I've got two thirds of the family that Peter did not. Peter respects Greg the most. We know that he did not respect my take, but his wife and child do all right good stuff. Perhaps he does respect it.

I don't know why am I still talking in the show. Anyway, We'll have a show Tuesday night show recapping the four games left to go, and then a Thursday previ and then a Friday Saturday TV show. It's all there. Until then he had the call