2022 Conference Championship Preview + Panthers hire Frank Reich

in our real life. But you you, uh, you know, you spent a lot of time telling us how much effort and work and toil you put into creating a better version, a two point o version of Bridget, and she spun out of control. She's power hungry, um an unlikable butt. So my job, well do you find a likable she's calling you out on some things. I mean, she might be my future boss. So I just think she's doing what she can and uh, I think, look, we've done this show ten years. This is a nice

little plot pivot our new overlord. Yeah, I was gonna say boss seems kind I feel like she might be like, are all controlling? Uh master? At some point it's not a world I want to be a part of. Championship weekend. Oh I have right here, not a shameless plug at all, Number one through four in the power rankings as we enter Super Bowl, well, championship weekends. To get to the Super Bowl, we had to say goodbye the lines. Justin I have in my hands the power rankings on her.

Number one, I have the Cincinnati Engles, number two, the Philadelphia Eagles interesting number three, the San Francisco forty Niners, number four, the Kansas City Chiefs. And am I bringing that up because I want to direct you to NFL dot com slash power Rankings. Sure, I'll do that, But also I want to point out you could put those four in any order and you're just as right even to you could say, well, Kansas City with my homes injury, Pat's practicing in full right now. On top of it's

gonna be great. This combination of teams, like it seems like, oh wow, this seems like a good four pack of teams. There's historically never been like, uh foursome of teams who are this good and on this much of a winning streak between the Chiefs have won seven straight. The Bengals have one ten straight and have won twelve straight. Like, if you combine the four teams record over the last

three months, it's better than any final four. It's also the first conference championship with spreads under three in both games in since the seventies seventies, so like, it just doesn't there hasn't even been one. It is surprising, except like we got no upsets, which maybe made last week

less dramatic on some level. But we've got the four best teams and this is the first occurrence forty eagles of a top trank offense and defense is clashing each other since top five since the Vikings and Cowboys in ninety. So it has it is an aberration what's happening right now in a great one. And there was this idea of like there's no you know, at some point in the season people will be like that there's there's no

great teams. It's like this seems like a year actually there were great teams and then there was a lot of flatsam and jetsam around the same uh, wanting to be one of these teams. And the Bills would say we were one of those teams. Will you not anymore? Sorry, Bills? Yeah, well, there's no you know right now dynasty in the NFL. But um, I feel like it's not unusual by the time you get to the final four, all the teams that are still alive or playing so well that they

do feel like superpower. The last four from last year though too, it's not like they're they're out of nowhere, and the Niners have been to the title game three or four years. The Chiefs get their year after years, so that they're not dynasty is in the same way that we think of like the old nineties Cowboys and eighties Parcels Giants. But I had a couple of Super Bowls and you're there, I'm you forgot Yeah, the best dynasty. Well, I don't think I said, I don't think that anyone's

coming about the new England Patriots. We're living in the past. Now, we're just living in the past. It is crazy to think that this five straight championship games started Patrick Mahomes with a tight overtime defeat to that Patriots. I mean that really at the time, everyone was saying like this could be the changing of the guard and Tom wouldn't let go for one more game. But it really was the changing of the guard. Yes, and um, you know, as we kind of we're gonna get into the a

f C game second. But you do feel a little bit a pressure on Mahomes because he has been like v guy in the last five years. Is um he has the one title? I think Homes, go get over the hump again, get back to the game, win another one. If if if, Because Greg, you've been on record on the show, I think you've said that is he the best ever? I think he's the best player I've ever seen. Yeah, are covered, So yeah, I'm not pushing back on that even I'm just saying time to start stacking some of

these Lombardies well because the team is there, right. You don't like it's suppressing to watch the quarterback do it early in the career and then not do it again. Aaron Rodgers esk, get a second. It's a team sport, Dan. I mean when when Tom Brady played his absolute best didn't win any titles. I saw this tweet from Nate Tye showing the greatest offenses of the last twenty years.

I forget what the context was maybe the Chiefs were on this list or something, and all of Brady's best offenses were in the period where he didn't win any titles two thousand, eleven, nine, seven, twelve. And it's a team game defense that I never thought of it that way, And I'm just saying it didn't make me feel any

different about my homes. If they lose this game. Doesn't mean if he played less of him, but it is to point out it's an incredible achievement to get to this state of the season five years in a row, the final four. The odds are really with you at that point. If he does goes through this five years and this one you come up empty, it's like, oh, just one title and you got to the final four five times in a row. Wouldn't change the way you

think about my homes. And I get it from like the player angle, and yet I feel differently about Aaron Rodgers never getting they were on the It wasn't like he was toiling like Archie Manning for a bad team. They were on the doorstep over. He's at the age where Peyton Manning was still two years away from winning a playoff game or making a Super Bowl. So it's like, I just yeah, it doesn't it doesn't change too much. So what a five years from now, he's not one

one or six or seven. I don't talk about this season, but unfinished business. Why don't we start with the a f C Championship game? Because one other thing Greggy to factor in. If he is indeed the greatest, the greatest you've ever seen, and you're not young anymore, I only count though that twenty years, like since we've covered the sport, because like before that and like watching NFL Prime Time, and you have these memories of something a kid, it's

tough to really compare. Um. How last season ended still stunned me because I have an incredible amount of respect for Patrick mahomes Um. I think he is. I'm with you, like he's certainly in the top three quarterbacks I've ever seen um at this stage. And yet what happened against the Cincinnati Bengals last year in Arrowhead an absolute meltdown in the second half. It felt like a stain on his resume. So here we go, here's his chance to

get revenge against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead again. But things feel different now, Greggy because Cincinnati is no longer the the upstart. They're the team that a has been awesome for about three straight months now, be has the quarterback that I think everyone is starting to realize might be ready to take over the entire league for a decade. And see have owned the Chiefs for about a year plus in head to head matchups, including obviously last year's

title game. And Mahomes is a bad ankle. It's all great points. Like I think the Bengals are favored for a reason. I think they're a little bit better of a team overall than the Chiefs. And then you throw in mahomes ankle injury. It's the ultimate test of like what have they learned since that game a year ago? Can Mahomes be patient enough on offense? Can they create big plays with this new group? Uh? Can they not you know, fall apart and be able to respond to

lou And and Maroonos adjustments during the games. And I think with the injury, it's so interesting because I think of my homes and read going into this game thinking, Okay, maybe he's not gonna have his total mobility even if he's feeling good this week. Is it kind of like an artist Okay, that has some of their greatest work.

Potentially when you have to put limitations on that art, like sometimes you make up a structure in sort of rules in that Okay, we can only do this, We're not going to rely on this, but we can rely on him getting rid of the ball quickly. We can rely on a great offensive line which is better at run blocking, a really good running game which is third in the league in d v o A since that last Bengals game ran well against them, screens which they've

been great at. And still Mahomes using what he can do since he first got to the a f C Championship winning before the snap, and and will they like kind of whittle down who they are and maybe that will make that like a more memorable performance. I think it's possible. I think it's it's very possible. I mean, number one, you know people at practice, the Chiefs themselves, he's practicing in full and he doesn't seem to be limited or looking like the way he did against Jacksonville

where he was literally hobbling around. So he just heals differently than other players and other quarterbacks too, which is great. But Andy Reid also said Andy Reid said, like, we've got three hundred plus plays for Patrick Mahomes to operate inside the tackle box, that there's a lot they can do.

And I think they're built in a way with guys like Isaiah Pacheco right now and Jerick McKinnon and Juju Smith Schuster where you can you can succeed in the quick game against the defense that with Lui and a Rumo, Like Mahomes said, every single time these last three matchups when we've dealt with the Bengals and a Rumo, Captain lew has completely changed what they've done on defense. There's

been nothing to take from game to game. And Captain Lew is a guy that at halftime is making massive adjustments. And I think that they've kept it because if you look at that first half against the Bengals in that ANFC Championship game, Mahomes was like eighteen and looking great then but then everything then the Bengals went and did what they do and like Mahomes struggled mightily in the second half. So I think the X factor is the

creativity of Cincinnati's defense. Um a defense that's been awesome in the red zone of late. They're taking the ball away and they really don't have a massive weakness. And I think that you gotta you gotta like this idea that Joe Tuney is back in this game, which he wasn't when they played in December. That's big against the Bengals pass rush. That could cause havoc if Mahomes is more limited than we think and stuck inside the tackle box more and he could be practicing in full right now.

This is all on some level, could be games and ship as well as these teams are preparing for this biggest game of the season. But I think we said it earlier in the week. You don't really know what's gonna happen with Mahomes until he's actually playing on the field, sprinting out of the pocket to evade the rush at full speed, sliding down, being dragged on a tackle out

of bounds. It is certainly within the realm of possibilities that he ends up on the sideline and Chad Henny plays extended snaps And then then how do you feel about the Chiefs? This was a good stat No, that's what I mean. It's very like we can all like and that's how the Chiefs are are looking at things. Are publicly facing on this. Oh, Pat's okay, keep on calling him Pat. That was his dad. Mahomes is okay. Um, you know he's gonna play. He's practicing full, We're ready

to roll. Well, we shall see according to next Gens stats, and we all know. Part of the mahomes is greatness is his ability to make plays off platform, to scramble, keep his eyes up field, those crazy throws that only Mahomes can make. He completed just one of two throws outside the pocket in the second half against Jacksonville. He led the NFL with a hundred and seventeen throws from outside the pocket during the regular season. Can he be

that guy? Because that's what separates him from so many people in my opinion, I'm sure he's a great pocket pastor as well. He's Patrick Mahomes, But what makes him other worldly is that ability to do what He had the most touchdowns inside the tackle box too. Video to your point about the outside the box like throws, he had the second most attempts on the run. It's a big part of his game, and his mobility became a

big part of his game this year too. So it's like, if you really I think He elevated that this season was the one thing that was maybe the best aspect of him improving this year. When I look at my Homes, though, I just kind of feel like when you pair him with Andy Reid, Andy Reids saying, We've got hundreds of options and things we can do, and you're built a little differently this year, and I think that guys like Jerick McKinnon are set up to help you if you're

limited and where you can throw the ball from. I think that's right, and we'll get to the Bengals offense. But I am can you know curious how Annamarumo and a Rumo attacks him because I think that is what's made this Bengals defense so good. I think they're the better defense in this game. They change what they do snap to snap, drive to drive quarter to quarter game to game. Did they feel very belichicking in their way and that they have eight continuity guys who really know

what their roles are and they can really shape shift. Now, will he send more pressure? Not something he does a ton because Mahomes is stuck there in the pocket. Yeah, I think he can win from the pocket, but can't even move well inside the pocket. He did okay last week, and the signs are good that he could do it this week where he did move around a little bit. But do you send a little more heat to try

to get the ball out quicker? Do the Chiefs really lean into that running game, do the thing that like everyone always is asking Andy Reid to do more because they ran the ball incredibly well the first time they played the Bengals, they ran the ball incredibly well. Last week they were twelve nine six running the ball in the first half of that game. Like I mentioned before, third in rushing efficiency since week thirteen. They've got these guys up front who are malers, and I think it's

a really key matchup. You mentioned Tuny. You have Creed Humphrey who's been in All Pro now line is second year. Uh, it's a very good line. Do they lean on that. It's a big matchup between like DJ Reader who has been good for the Bengals and took Tupou who has been pretty good up front, Like can you get that one? Because I do worry a little bit if he's standing back there that Trey Hendrickson has a mismatch against Andrew wild He can get some heat quickly and I don't

think that's gonna be good. Only Dak Prescott has more interceptions than Patrick Mahomes under pressure, and Mahomes is numbers tumble under pressure. So a guy like Trey Hendrickson is massive in this matchup. But I do think Joe Tuney, who is about as good as you find along any offensive line, getting him back is a huge difference. But Isaiah Pacheco's trending in a way where like he had

his best game last week. It's like these guys are growing guys in their offense, like Darius Tony and Pacheco were like becoming a bigger factor and more of a thing. And I think you know, people out there that study this Chief's offense think they're gonna run a ton of twelve personnel this week to help get two tight ends in there, protect Mahomes a lot of quick throws and

try to counter that. Yeah, and well that's when Captain lew comes in, because then you can and there's no Remember, they have done an amazing job adjusting post Tyreek, but now you don't have that guy necessarily that you could just you know, blow the top off a defense that is creeping up to the line and playing everything short, it changes what they can do UM And at some point I think you're gonna have to see Mahomes challenge them downfield if that's how they're gonna play the game

to try to protect him in the pass rush UM on the Cincinnati side of the ball, when they are on offense and they are opening up lanes for Joe Mixing, it's over because when you add that element to their game, as they did against the Bills, there's just no way to stop them because Burrow is so great and so locked in and his receivers obviously with Chase and Higgins and Boyd, but like Hayden Hurst is a really good

fit with this team. If you are Mixing in the run as they did, and and Mixing had a hundred five yards on twenty carries in that game, it's a rap. So it's like the Chiefs need to find a way to make the Bengals one dimensional and put them in a situation where and this is where they're a tough matching because it's like I think the key to the Chiefs winning is make Burrow pass the ball fifty times, but then Joe Burrows passing them ball fifty times, and

bad things can happen there. But it's that balance that makes the Cincinnati offense ince. I mean, and when they played last time, and I take as much from this pass game as the a f C Championship game because the Chiefs are a completely different team in a lot of ways. But Burrow through the ball thirty one times

with six and completions. They didn't have Joe Mixon. That was the Soma J. P. Ryan day where had a hundred and fifty total yards, caught six passes, ran the ball really well and it kind of that was one of the kind of dared p Ryan to beat them, and he did, and he did. It kind of showed me like this Bengals team, like even when they're missing guys, they're as resilient as any team in the a f C. And they find guys behind the guys to like come

up and produce. And that happened in that game. And to me, it's like I think Burrow, like I take away two things from last week, Like you have a totally banged up line. We talked about all last Thursday preview show, as it might spell doom for Burrow and Steady. It like the lowest pressure rate he's had in a game all year because this line somehow played out of its mind. It was insane. And secondly, Burrows in the middle of a snowstorm and Buffalo and it seemed like

it had zero emotional effect on him. I don't think he cares he's playing in Kansas City, Cincinnati, Buffalo, or the Arctic. He's like, I'm Joe Burrow. I'm gonna go do what I do. And they seem kind of teflon to the environment they're in. I totally agree. I think both of these offenses are so much better. It's an offensive league than the defenses. That there's not gonna be a lot of stops in this game, assuming you know Mahomes is healthy enough, and I don't have that much

worry about it. I I'm with you, Dan, you never know what's gonna happen. But ultimately I'm expecting there to be very few stops in this game. Maybe you'll have some turnovers, but I think it'll be like these last three games, which you know Bengals have found a way to make all the big players. That has to give them great confidence, but they all came down the last second. They were all three point games. You know that the Chiefs probably would have taken the lead there if Kelsey

hadn't forced the fumble. And those are the types of big player fumbled the ball late in that game with Burrow, like they were determined to take away the big play when they played in week their team, the Chiefs were. It was the Chiefs who hit all the big plays down the field and it didn't matter. The Bengals didn't have one big play, literally nothing twenty yards down the field in that entire game, and yet they could run the ball so well against them. I think the running

games for both teams are key. Burrow ran the ball more in that game than than any game this year. He ran it well last week as well. He had some design runs like I think his legs are absolutely crucial, And when it came down to it, they were just kind of like Tee Higgins into our chase are huge.

You're putting Trent McDuffie and Lagarius Need and these smaller quarterbacks like, oh yeah, you guys are really tough, Like try to stop us on our like in breaking routes like these slants and these little over routes on third down, just try to stop us because they weren't even open

and they just kept pity him over and over. That's kind of what stands out to me with this matchup is like, ultimately, Higgins and Chase are just bigger than those Chiefs dudes, and they don't have to be open, and you know, Joe Burrow is not afraid to make those throws. So and on that offensive line in front of Burrow, Jonah Williams not practicing, Um, so he's probably out again. Alex and Kappa did not practice on Wednesday. I'm not sure about Thursday. Uh, that seems like a

same situation. So they're gonna run back most likely the line that succeeded so much in the divisional plans, but this is now a different opponent. We talked about it a lot about Buffalo and how much they miss von Miller and didn't really have a big dog to go get the quarterback. Well, there is a dog on the Chiefs. His name is Chris Jones. You got Frank Clark there, Karloft, this is there, and it's just like that's another part

of this. Like the assumption now, I would say it would be a little bit misleading to just assume now the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line is now set and fine better defense. Fifty five sacks for the Chiefs this year, which is tied for second in the league. They're not out of the woods yet in terms of their ability to protect the quarterback and run the football. Chris Jones was not a factor in that week third team game.

I think that could completely change here. And I think you're right, because it's like, if anything, we're surprised that the line dominated Buffalo just felt like they were at the end of the line, end of the road. And but and they were completely dominated by Cincinnati's offensive line, which has to be the most surprising thing that's happened in the playoffs. Do you just assume that's happening two

weeks in a row. I don't think so. I mean, but it's a big game for Steve Spagnola too, to like create chaos and confusion for it wasn't last year though, and right, and it wasn't against the Bills either. To be fair, the Chief's defensive does have a remarkable ability to look man for two and a half months and then play their best football at the end of the season.

And the numbers, I'll say that's happened again this season that they were pretty bad for a while, and in the last month and a half they've been like a top tennis you know, good and off defense. Clark and karl Offtis and Dunlap, their ed rushers, I think you're right to point them out are huge in this game. They did not do anything last week that was a little concerning. I would say they were a little bit of a weakness against Jacksonville. Chris Jones did his normal thing.

You mentioned how they didn't do anything the last time they played the Bengals, So I think they have to show up because pressure, just like sacks, is a quarterback stats pressure kid be too. I think Joe Burrow was good getting rid of the ball quickly and moving in the pocket too to avoid pressure. All right, let's pick this game. I don't know, Mark, I'm going Bengals. I'm going Bengals. I feel like I always do this, But I think this game is an overtime thriller that comes

down to a field goal. I'm gonna says are overtime predictions. That's why I tagged it with that. But but Bengals Chiefs feels like it's just heading in that direction. I'd be really surprised that this was anything more than like three or four point difference between the teams. It's really crazy, Gore. I had thirty to twenty seven and overtime, which means the Bengals kicked the field over time. It was the Chiefs started this game or this line as the favorite.

Can I just one more correction to mark um, the Chiefs could have won the overtime coin toss, kicked the field goal, then the Bengals get the ball back and score touchdown. You're right, but not in my in my reality the narrative I've created, it's a it's a field goal that you're right, So mathematically that has that ever happened by that way? It doesn't feel like I want that to happen. Different you know, patterns the world. So

the Chiefs started as a favorite. Everyone kind of jumped on the Bengals because of the ankle thing, and the Bengals have been great, and the Bengals became the favorite. And now late in the week with this like positive Mahomes news, enough people have jumped back where the Chiefs are. Now. I wouldn't group thing something well or the desert has

more power than people realize. You know, just money's flying around around this a lot of well what do you what does that even I don't know, just some of the you know, the way things are reported, the way things are amplified, the people, they're very powerful to these people in the desert. Oh yeah, you're right. Ultimately, like if the if theolved, if the number is under three,

it's kind of just like you're picking the winner. Essentially, it would be pretty weird to to get underneath the number. You're picking the winner. And now as the week goes on, I I'm like affected by that scene mahomes out there and just like seeing him run around, You're like, okay, put that to the side. But this Bengals team, We've been on a journey with them throughout last postseason. Week after week, Mark and I picking the Bengals, Dan pushing

back against us. Well not exactly, I mean pretty much even in the super Bowl. Yeah, that was to win a lock title, which but you didn't even make the choice. You like, Mark make his choice. You you absconded. I that wow, what a move by me? That was? That is that's a showman. Why are we down this in this cornering himself and something like us with everything on the line. I said, I'm standing out of the way

Mark pick because you had been the other one's unbelievable showmanship. Yeah, but you were getting you were You have one of the biggest fades down the stretch of all time. You were hesitant, were hesitant to magnifico without even making a choice. Unbelievable in your world. Let it be that this unbelievable.

This uh, this Bengals team though, with with the Wesleyan brothers rooting them on, with a guy who just doesn't seem to know how to lose or play poorly in the biggest moments in Joe Burrow, and yes, with a better coaching staff, because I think lou in a Rumo Captain lew is the difference here. And uh, I am taking the Bengals to win this game. Score is he gonna oh, It's like he's like, oh, it's like a better change my polo. Well, I don't know what score

I put online. I try to keep it consistent. Thirty seven. I believe was I think it will be plenty of points, plenty of entertainment. It's the late game, it's not over time And uh, and I picked the Bengals locking up the Bengals because I just want to watch this game. I know this is like a silly way to choose between the two, but I don't want the stress of it. I just want to watch, like, I mean, a great game.

I think the Bengals a win, but I don't feel confident about this is one of the reasons I jumped out of the Giants lock last week, because I wanted Greg to really sweat it out one more week. You might take it home. Yeah, I'm on now. I'm very much in a defensive posture in terms of the lock battle once again. Yeah, you could. You could show some hutzpa though and what and lock up the Bengals here

he's I think he's gonna lock all that. I had to play it the right way, Greg, Well, you could just have integrity and pick the team that you what just doing here. Come down, because you were telling me earlier in the week you have the Bengals first, empowering because they just chiefs for the Bengals are my pick in this game. Okay, absolutely, I don't think the Bengals lose again this season. I think Joe Burrow loses until like next September or October. So I will pick them

to win this game. You thought they'd lose last week. Not really, I just I said thirty one thirty Yes, I do. I guess like a little dog like biting

at your team to just do you shut up? Um, Cincinnati not only gonna win this game, I think they'll win it resoundingly, like going away almost sounds like it would be lockworthy it ever stopped talking, so you you just view the chief says, uh, like the bill is a little bit they can't match up and they've come just to the end of their journey and it's gonna be was hoping. I was, really, yeah, I was, I was.

I love this. So I think that if you lock Bengals, because I want to play it the way that's the most direct way to play the game. Um, but we'll lock the other game and I'll take the Niners probably, and that'll be what's up, somebody's locking this game? I wait, who is even talking right now? Hello, heroes. If I look a little somber right now because we were officially

eliminated last week, it's okay. We conducted ourselves with honor and integrity throughout we took tough games throughout, unlike the guy who's in the lead. It takes a six and a half point favorite every week, or we get in the playoffs and he takes the ten point favorite every week. Oh Greggy, that's okay. That he created I can look in the mirror or this video right now and say, hey, I'm proud of what we did. I'm wondering if that

guy can do the same. Oof onward and upward. It's not going to be any secret who we take this week. I said the Bengals were gonna ride Joe Burrow's arm all the way to the super Bowl, and they're gonna do it again. All the talks about my home's ankle, it's not gonna matter healthy, you're not. The Bengals take care of business. Joe Burrow puts up some good numbers. They win this game relatively easily. I say, ten points.

Lock that up? Yeah nice, Yeah, well done. Yeah. It was why I was tempted to lock up the Bengals, just stuff for the look in the mirror factor that I knew Dan dude when it didn't believe in it, and I would just force him into a terrible situation where you're you're showing who you are. But that seems like a silly way to play this game, to make you feel like, I feel like you're a little bit un tilt with the locks right now. You're just all

over the place on things. You came out of that with like a two minute long self commentary, what about what Nick did? Look? Well, next thing is ridiculous And I love I love Nick you to be honest, because it reminds me so much of Chris Wesley and West. Because the first time I ever met Nick and the brothers, they were like, just get just go, get Chris and Nick to debate like Lebron James first, Michael Jordan's and like an hour later they were shouting at each other

like with bears in their hands. Was like, Nick's the same way. UM's not letting you get away with it. Greg, there you go, So yes, I'm with I'm with you on that. Nick. Let's go Bengals to the super Bowl. Let's take a break and we'll hit the other side welcome back. Before we get to the NFC title game, Tilt little halftime, Let's get caught up on the news around the league. Let's start with oh higher higher involving

a team. I know, the New York Jets and their two weeks search for an offensive coordinator hiring former Denver Broncos coach. How did that go? Nathaniel Hackett on Thursday. Hackett, obviously before the Broncos inferno, was with Green Bay and had a good relationship with Aaron Rodgers. So this only now fuels the growing like kind of fire around Aaron

Rodgers and the Jets. Interesting Hackett mark replaces Michael Fleur, who got canned after the Jets went in the tank um at the end of the season, and now Hackett has a chance to kind of quickly build his career back up or you know, he's in a pretty vulnerable position here too, because the Jets coaching staff is in

a very vulnerable place. Now enter two. I really like to hire and like this, this is the kind of thing that I just I'm gonna log off of Twitter because there's so many, uh lines, lines of humor around Nathaniel Hackett at this point. Now imagine my Twitter mentions

right now. I know, I know I'm not I'm not going through the same you know issues that you are, Dan, I understand that, but I'm trying to tell you, I think it's a good hire for the Jets, And like, I think of what Nathaniel Hackett did with that Surgeon and Jaguars team that deep into the playoffs half a decade ago, and the work he did in Green Bay, and the fact that, like when you go back to like the earlier roots of him being recruited by Denver, there was a lot of racket and noise around maybe

Aaron Rodgers going there. And I think that Aaron Rodgers is very pro Nathaniel Hackett and the Jets. Basically Solace said today we are getting a veteran quarterback. Nope, fine, maybe how that interesting quote, I guess, but you won't

be going for Russell Wilson. But I mean it connects the dots maybe, And it's a selling point for Aaron Rodgers at least because it would be a familiar offense for him, It would be a familiar everything, and so I kind of think that has to be a little part of the swing for the fences aspect of this. But beyond that, I think it's a good play caller.

It just was over hired. Peter Princess. He though like the concern I would have as these from the same offensive tree as Matt Lafleur and like doesn't have a better track record necessarily didn't call plays in Green Bay, called it in Buffalo and Jacksonville. I would say those

offenses were mediocre on average. He maximized that Jacksonville absolutely really creative what he he was there three years they had a great year running the ball when they made it, and they were terrible the other two years like not not just like average, terrible and they were okay. In Buffalo they were like okay, they were in the middle of the pack. So he doesn't like bring you an

immediate idea that he has a schematic advantage. I think what he brings you is like everyone who's ever worked with Nathaniel Hackett loves the dude, says he's like great at leading guys and building like the relationships and all that. But there's no reason to think that he's gonna be

like better than Matt. Hopefully he's just the same. He's a better quarterback luck to start with, to be better than anyone, right, I think, like what you've said in the past, Greg about head coaches, and there's you know, five or six really good ones and then five or

six really terrible ones, and then there's a middle. I think you could say probably the same thing about play callers, and that's where I come down on this higher Now what Mark was alluding to immediately there's this urge could and I don't even get mad at it, because I understand if I wasn't a jetsman, they're a fun team to dunk on, just because they're kind of a comedy of errors in a folly squad for fifty years or whatever. So it's like this guy that got fired by the

Broncos and was completely incompetent. Now they hire him too in a desperate attempt to get Aaron Rodgers, like I get it, have fun with it, go run off and play um my feeling on it is like Hackett is in that big grouping of o C is that he will look as good as the quarterback is at the end of the day, and if the Jets do not bring in a competent quarterback, he will look bad and probably will get fired with everyone else. At the end

of the year. And the Jets bring in a good quarterback or even a Hall of Fame level quarterback, he will probably look really good. And it will be seeing it will seem like a good higher and the Jets will be in the playoffs next year. So this isn't This story is not finished for me. I need to see who the QB is. Do. I think we're getting more and more smoke around this Aaron Rodgers thing. Yeah,

I I really think this is a real possibility. I talked about it a little bit in the last show that this felt like something what he Johnson would do. He did something exactly like this fifteen years ago Brett Farve, which by the way, went better than a lot of people. Remember well injured, he was eight and three. They were really in good position in the a f C. And then he got hurt and tried to play through it

to keep his consecutive game streak going. And then the team uh tanked and then he went to Minnesota and he was an m VP level guy again. I think this is a no doubter of a move that Jets should make at this point. Is long as long as they don't mortgage their future for Aaron Rodgers, it's a tricky balance, but I do like the idea of Rogers and Hackett together with the rest of this week By the way that is big news out of New York.

We have bigger news, no breaking news. Let's hear it out of Carolina where the Panthers are hiring former Cults coach Frank Reich is their new head coach. Yeah, I like it. I liked Frank Reich of all the coaches who just lost their job and this real breaking news on the show. Do you know what happens? So sometimes we log off, We're like eight minutes in a driving home and then bang this happens, and it's like, what do we do? Then? I think he's one of those

coaches as a play caller who makes a difference. I don't know if he's changing the world as a head coach. He's not going to just make the magical. But I believe he is an excellent play caller. With the right pieces around him, you can have a top ten offense with Frank Reich kind of guy when they because the jet search was endless and Frank Reich was somebody like I would love if they got Frank Reich. But Frank Reich deserved another head coach job, and he gets one

with Carolina, you know, Teugh. Luck for Steve Wilkeson did a nice job there. He'll catch on somewhere, maybe not as a head coach at first, but um, that's a big step for the Panthers, who have had major issues getting their offense back online ever since Cam Newton's shoulder went. Um. I don't know what they're gonna do with QB. I assume they're going to go through the draft, have a high draft pick. Maybe they will going down the road of trying to bring in veteran Sam Donold's a free agent.

They need to get someone they need to make and we know they have a pretty good defense too, So it's just like, what is the path that they take with Reich. Might be a good move to take a quarterback high. Maybe they target a car Garoppolo type and

they could improve a lot in a division. That's obviously why I mean, Reik reminds me of Hack in the sense that like he sunk out of there because he didn't have a quarterback either, and you've got to find one in Caroline, And they went after Matthew Stafford didn't happen. They investigated the idea of getting to Shaun Watson, didn't happen. Tepper, the owner absolutely as he could seeking someone. I don't know if you want it, I don't know where you're gonna.

We're gonna be with the rookie class by the time they pick, but they have leverage on that front. And I just don't love the veteran class outside Aaron Rodgerson. I just I don't I don't know if you signed. I'm I know him lower on Derek Carr than other people, but like Frank Reich needs someone that can take a little of the heat off. And because there's not gonna be like a magical name that pops up there, he's

just like, that's it. That's the great guy. You know, it's gonna be a Jimmy g or a Derek Carr or a Gino if he ever left, or someone in the draft. But they chose to pass on Justin Fields and Mac Jones a couple of years ago. And they're

not as high obviously anymore. Right, what what are they drafting like they would be in the mix for like the third quarterback drafted potentially, but to get him there at nine and maybe what they maybe they'll end up doing what the Jets probably should have done a couple of years ago, and kept Sam Donald and then just draft a guy high and then put the rookie in after a few weeks or half a season or a year.

That's another way they could play it. As long as you give Reich the rope to build the program here, um, I think they'll be in good hands. I'd love to see them keep Wilkes defensive cording or if he doesn't get a head coaching jump. I know you always come in, I know, but you just cleaned the whole staff out. But it's like, my guess is just he really felt like he wanted that job. I think he'll want to fresh start with over someone that he didn't pick him

basically exactly. The Jets, by the way, have the same record as Carolina. There was six teams at seven and ten, and the Jets pick last out of them because they had the hardest schedule. It's one of the smallest points that bothers me the most. I think it should be flipped. If you should hardly stick to schedule, the Jets should be the team picking eight. That's a big difference. Is even the argument for doing it that way that if you're better had the yeah that they're the Jets are

better than the Falcons because they played the hard. That's I don't something. I don't like stuff like some sports where like it catches all of us mentally, we're like, wait, that doesn't make sense, but it's still rages on. I mean, I'm a Jets fan, and it does kind of make sense. The idea of the draft is to help replenish the worst teams and get them back on their feet. I know you guys are bigger Falcons fans than me, but the Falcons kind of stink, Whereas the Jets everyone's talking

about the same thing. They're a quarterback and a couple of things away from being a contender. I get it. I just wish it was the other way around in this case. Specifically, I'd go I'd go like ping pong ball lottery in that movie. Yeah, I like some turn it into like a twelve event. Let's do ping pong balls. Uh. In other news, let's quickly hit this before we get to the n SC title game. The award finalists have been announced for the all those AP awards. UM. I

always found that kind of strange. It's like the Associated Press's end of season awards as opposed to just a standalone NFL event, but it's essentially a partnership and it's recognized by the league as the Awards. So we'll start with the most Valuable Player. Here are the finalists for Most Valuable Player, and Greggy will tell you all about it because he is super plugged in on this type

of highly esoteric football. We spend a whole off season episode toxic v What how did they change the voting? There are five finalists, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson, got a lot of You got a lot of vinegar, p and vinegar in you today, Greggy, I like it. Maybe I don't know why. I don't know why. Maybe it was the call we I got right before, right before we started taping that. The day after, Walker, my son gleefully told me that his friend had faked

being sick. That suddenly he wakes up with a cough today and then leave school in the middle of school. I think he's learning from his friend. I don't like it. I hate when he or he's actually ill and then he's gotten you ill, and now you're sitting two ft a space between us and you. He's probably faking it. I think he's faking. Well, that's a good I think that's as a kid, I guess it's better than him being sick. But it's a good skill to learn. It's a good thing to learn. It's a good thing to

learn that. This year, finally they're ranking top five MVP candidates, which I think is cool. So if you have a vote, you rank one through five writers. It's a wide swath of different writers from different companies. Some a lot of local writers, but also national writers. I know. Uh, then, well they organized that they send it out, feel like something we need to clean it. Just feel like it probably won't be the case five years. Streamline this a

little bit. Our friend Mina Kimes, who was on this show before the season, she has a vote now, which is so cool. She so she ranks the top five and then yeah, it turned into did you say the names? I did? Alan Borrow, Hurts, Jefferson, Mahomes. It's exactly who you would expect other Jefferson being fifth, I feel like is is nice. That's why I like the ranked voting. That Jefferson even gets on this list should I think if I would have had him third, I would say

the you know who really likes. This ultimately is the union and it's good for contract negotiations for Justin Jefferson to go to the Vikes like, oh, he was an m VP finalist. Yeah. The problem is we know who won the award because they already released the AP all proteins. It's the exact same people voting for the award, and Patrick Mahomes got forty nine out of fifty votes at quarterback. It's very safe to say he is the two thousand through.

Some of these other ones are a little Yeah, you're right, Defensive Player of the Year, it should be. Uh. Both are thrilled Greg that you just basically pulled the entire up, I mean the informations. I'll have their public I'm disconnected that I said Greg would have this esoteric knowledge and he's decoding the whole thing for us. I like it. It gives us a little step on the competition. Although yes, NFL Honors, which will be Thursday, February nine, UM in

the super Bowl city of Glendale or the Phoenix area. UM, really only one award we know for sure, not happy the rest of them. You can't really figure, let's just keep spoiling the AP Defensive Player of the Year is Nick Bosa, Chris Jones, Michael Parsons. We know it won't be Parsons because Bosa was second to Parsons h and All Pro, but Chris Jones, you never know. But also going to do they vote like the same week as they vote, it's the exact same ballot. You just send

it all in together. This is that is Nick Bosa or I'm totally stuck Parsons. I think we'll get actually a decent amount of vote, but he's not because he did it in the All Pro two. But he won't get the ap Offensive Player of the Year Tyreek Hill, Dolphin's wide receiver Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Mahomes, and if Patrick Mahomes was the nine fifty bouts the first

team All Pro quarterback, obviously he'll win this two right. Well, this is why I hate this award, no, because a lot of people split it and try to give something to someone else. But it's I kind of think it's gonna be Jefferson. It's Director of the Year in film in the year they find a way to give everyone a little bit. It's like we gave him My Homes m v P let's get I feel like we've had this conversation, just called the non quarterback offensive. These quarterbacks

out of here. And then if that's the case, it's Jefferson or Hill, and I'll go Jefferson could even be Hurts. They might who knows. Who knows? Ap offensive Rookie of the Year brock Purty. Interesting brock Purty, he only started six games. You know what, I think the most absurd thing out there right now is people saying that he shouldn't. He is my rookie of the Year without any question. He's playing the toughest position in all of sports. He's

under feed and he's totally thrived. The playoffs count. They voted before. I don't care. It's the playoffs for not but I don't because he didn't play as many games as like Kenneth Walker. I just don't care. Rock Purty, Kenneth Walker, Garrett Wilson. I care, and I think and hope it will be Wilson. I would have gone Wilson or a Lave. I mean to me, they were better at their position even too then Party and they played the whole season. So strongly disagree, but I get where

people coming from them, like what of the season? Right, that's not enough for me. I'm with you. That seems a problem. That's all just to guess what, I don't have to I don't have a vote, so it doesn't have to a significant amount of voters for him to be one of the three finalists. We know essentially he got votes, so he's that It is like the best story happening, Like Garrett Wilson is fantastic, but there is

no Garrett Wilson's story to the season. At the other awards, you can top three AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce, Aidan Hutchinson, Terrek Woolen. If Sauce is the first team All Pro wentner back, I'll be very annoyed if Hutchinson wins this, which I feel like there's a bigger chance in people because he had three interceptions, because like he's a bigger profile. But I think Sauce will probably do

it better when that um was hutcha All Pro. No, yeah, that if Sauce was the first team All Pro, well, I get it, but they're not like competing against you. I'm with you. I hope and I think that he will ap comeback player. They or another good competition this year he got say quads who, by the way, say quads? Um. We got together with Lakisha last Thursday and she shared that, Oh,

our old friend Austin Knoblock. Remember we saw love Nobby now with the l a Times killing it over there used to be work on the desk running the show uh for NFL Digital on the dot com side. I learned um that it was Austin Knoblock that coined say quad. He created the nicknames say quads. Wow, he's an influential man or is it say quad? I mean, I think I'm not saying that's the first thing he'll be known for, um for the rest of his life, but it should be.

It's in the mix. Put that on in Twitter. His wife would bake incredible big goods and he'd bring them in, distribute the big goods around the office. Unbelievable, unbelievable. He brought something in last week. All right McCaffrey, Christian McCaffrey, Niners running back and Gino Smith. Give me a break. If it's not Gino, what are we doing? Comeback Player of the Year. I think se Kwon ripping up his knees. He belongs in this category of the years. I think

it's something different obviously every year. Blah, yeah, we get it with you know, Philip Rivers. But Gino Smith is something that's that's not happened in the entire time we've done this podcast. A player that literally was his career was was a laughing stock, uh content for everyone, and then he turns around and like blows everyone's metrics up and becomes one of the most valuable players in the entire league. And they were laughing at the whole story.

I think the whole thing. Yeah, I think part of its story is compelling, compelling, Mark, but I believe it is se Kuan Barkley. Oh, he's still pretty similar to I'm kind of surprised that you that you if you actually think that that that's how this whether you think he's even the all right, it's gonna say, because this is story, a lot of these awards to me feel

completely more than deserving of it. Yes, pretty similar to Tannehill, but Geno Smith's career was even more dead and gone, I think, I mean Gino, but Tannehill continued to be a starter and flounder was a joke, right, I mean, yeah, just the sense that like he got benched in Miami, didn't want him and everyone thought like he's going to go be a career back. And did Tannehill win the award? Did when he didn't? Gino not only was that still got punched, he did MKA MKAM Paulo and he's back finally.

Coach of the Year. Brian Dable, Sean McDermott, Doug Peterson, Kyle Shanahan, Nick Sirie, Annie, my vote is for Mr Dable. How about you guys, good one though, good category. I think that's who will get it. I think that's a very story driven to um. He totally fits. I think he completely changed the giants, all right, take the story whatever that means, because you know what, because for me, I think this is a kind of thing where like in the years of old, like why wasn't Bill Belichick

just winning in every year? Kyle Shanahan because he's he find another guy on this list who would be on this list as much as roster I can't with a second quarterback goes down, first quarterback goes down, your second quarterback goes down, and then your Rookie of the Year and my book Rock Party comes in and he's Rookie of the Year because of Kyle Shanahan, because you're picking an NFC title game bust. But I think Kyle Shanahan is has gone through as much adverse important but dable.

The Giants could have easily been a four and thirteen team under different leadership. Yeah, I think I think they were last year under Joe john I'm with you, though, Mark, And if I was like ranking them, I might have Sirianni second. Uh. And I think he hasn't gotten a lot of Campbell. Yeah, yeah, he got. I mean, where's Pete Carroll? Are You're right? I would I would put those guys over Syrianni and Shanahan or well, what about like yeah, Sean McDermott just like sort of just doing

what we thought he'd do. But then again that if you have a great loaded roster, i'd ding you in this category. Give me the guys that make the most of a team people didn't really see as Peterson is a perfect fit for for category. I would be totally fine with that as well. All right, oh, Mark, this one's for you. Last one Assistant Coach of the Year Ben Johnson. So it's just like, I mean, you don't give Dan Hamil a nomination, but to give his oc

one who's deserving. Ben did a great job over there. Uh, Damiko Ryan's who absolutely feels like he's gonna win. This feels like it's Demiko Ryan's season and Shane Stiken Eagles, this is Demko's award. Yeah, I think Demiko will win. I think I have no problem with that at all.

Ben Johnson, Uh, I kind of like when you you're a guy that no one knew who you were a year ago and then you changed, You completely changed the ark of your career because of what you accomplished, and the Lions have been unwatchable and anyone that made the Lion's watchable Dan Campbell included, needs to be on list like this. Um. You know, it's kind of funny about

Ben Johnson. When Colleen and I did the Hard Knocks podcast, it was a running joke in the last three or four episodes that they only talked about Deuce Staley, who is the assistant coach and I think running backs coached. We never even saw the who is the offense coordinator? We were looking it up and they were like, we need Ben Johnson to be on the radar for this show. Eventually did show up here and there, but then became the like guy that is getting a ton of love

and pop. Has you been getting interviews? Yes, he got one chairing with Carolina and he then withdrew his name, I believe, almost immediately before they even went through the process and said he wanted to stay in Detroit. But he did talk to a couple of teams. I think on zoom, I think that's so well. Two things can happen. One the Lions can go in the tank. Can suddenly

no one's interviewing Ben Johnson again. But if you kind of view that you aren't ready yet to be a head coach, I think that takes some self control, self awareness. If the teams that are even expressing interest in you, if you're not really into the spots, I get that. You can look at it all right, let's was that? Oh?

That who was it was that got Brown talking about Ben? Yeah, we were super plugged on Ben Johnson getting more pop on that show and now he is getting pop. Congrats to all the nominees and yes, check out NFL Honors the Thursday before the Super Bowl for blah blah blah blah. All right, let's take a break and we'll hit the NFC Title game. All right, welcome back, and it's time now for the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Let's do it. NFC Championship Game the forty Niners. When is the last?

Let's Greg's just down on the table like a cave man. I like it. The San Francisco forty Niners have not lost since let's see, Oh my god, October two thousand twenty two, and yet they are the underdog when they step on the field at the link to face the Eagles. Who, uh, greggy, we're looking mighty against the Giants. Is there chance in your mind? Oh? Get into it this way that as dominant as the Eagles looked, there was a tiny bit of fools gold because of the Giants being an overmatched

folk and tender at that stage of the playoffs. And it will never be that easy again. Or are the Eagles so good they are gonna steam roll their next opponent as well? No, I don't think they're gonna steam roll anyone. I think it was fool's gold. I don't think they're gonna be overconfident because of it. Can I just say one thing? I don't mean fools gold is in the Eagle. I don't think the Eagles are actually good. I just mean the fact that they looked like they

were playing a Pop Warner performance. They you know, not at that right. I like, look at them and they look They had that same score against the Vikings in the NFC Championship on their way to a Super Bowl. But to me, this will be much more like that Falcons game where they had to scratch and claw and barely win at the end. If they can win, I don't know how anyone and and you and Nick might

be right. Maybe the Bengals win going away. You guys seem very confident that I. I have a hard time being confident in any result this weekend because I just think these both these teams are awesome. Picking against a team as talented as San Francisco is tough, that hasn't lost in that long is tough. So I when it's such a close matchup, I do think about the small margins and I do think that's where Philadelphia can win this game. Four things, very quick aggressiveness, like going forward

on fourth down and getting it. I think the Eagles are the more likely team to do that. Short yardage situation which you're in in fourth down. Eagle is one of the best teams practically ever in that situation. Forty nine is actually not that great in short yardage on either side of the ball this season, wasting time outs and like handing the clock management situation. I think Philadelphia is a little tighter in that. Forty really waste a

lot of time outs and then red zone. You look at the Eagles, They've been a great red zone team this year. Uh, the forty nine is not quite as much on either side of the ball. So just like the little game management, aggressiveness coaching staff within the game might be the difference in a really tight game. But that's why I'm taking the Eagles. I took them to win the Super Bowl before the season. They've been my team. I'm giving up on them now locking up he has

I love. I love the Eagles UM this week as well, and that's why with the lock competition now I'm boxed in the corner a little bit. UM. They do make sense to me as a team UM that will keep winning based on what we saw. How does it go sideways for the Eagle? How do the Niners find a way Uh, to beat this team that is so dominant in the trenches. It's a big test for your guy, Purdy, Mark, because I think the one thing that I took out of the win over the Cowboys is now that you

got brought pretty against an elite defense. All of a sudden, it's not so easy anymore. There aren't guys running wide open and free five yards away from the next defender. And to Purdy's credit, he had has been tremendous this year as a ball distributor, getting the ball out quickly, making the right reads, avoiding mistakes. That is so remarkable really for a seventh round pick that's a third string quarterback that entered the lineup in November or whatever. However,

this is a different defense. It's it might even be better than the Dallas defense. And you have to contend with an absolutely ferocious pass rush that is going to speed up his clock and force him to make decisions

quicker than he's had to make all season. And that's where I feel like they're most vulnerable, not that Purty is gonna be exposed as a non player or a guy that's not as good as people think, just that this matchup might be too much for this kid right now might be I mean I feel like we, you know, understandably have been saying that progressively each week. Well, this is the week when they're going to figure out brock party.

I think the thing is it's not all on brock Purty, like he's surrounded by so many weapons and he's messed with them so well, and that you know, I thought Dallas really tested him last week in the first half. He was uncomfortable. They disguised coverages. Uh. He felt for some of that and worked his way out because I think the team around helps you work your way out.

I think there are little I love what you said Greg about like the little ways that Philly can win because I think Shannahan is still the guy that's gonna kick a field goal when maybe you need to be doing something to be more aggressive, and let's sort of been his d n A. He says he's not going to change people kind of ask. I don't think he will.

I think I think there's this is someone that's been bathed in football forever and he's got a lot of his dad in him, but just who he is in general, there are little, tiny areas because the Niners have had issues against quarter running quarterbacks there ninete in the league, but they're really good against the run in general. They're giving up seventy seven yards a game. They haven't allowed a hundred yard rush roll all year and last week.

I mean, the Eagles just match up so well against the Giants, and each time they played him as just they both lines were so physically dominant. This different situation here, You've got two of the best offensive lines in the league, two of the best deepest defensive lines that can just put out rotations of players, and you're right about the

Eagles pass rush, but you got Trent Williams. This is not the giants suation this time around, and I kind of just trust the way that the Eagles of the Niners are coached to keep Rock pretty safer than as someone like Daniel Jones was a week ago. The other thing is the Eagles defense is phenomenal. They can get to the quarterback, but you can run on them. It's been a little bit better of late. I think that it's different when you've got guys like Lynval Joseph who

has made a big difference against the run. I mean, their run defense has improved, but overall the twenty one. I go back to this game that feels like a total aberation, but that Commander's loss on Monday Night, which is really weird. Washington just went at them and ran the ball forty nine times. But they are stronger upfront now and they've gotten new guys are the Dominican Sioux

as well, so Jordan Davis is back. So I don't know if it's I could see a defensive battle, which I would love in this, but I feel like you could make a Pro Bowl team added these two rosters and go play anyone the a f C gives at you and probably win. Like I don't. I can't remember two teams this stacked all over the place dealing with

each other in the title game. And you said, you know it's different with Trent Williams, and true, Trent william is the first team All Pro, but you know whose second team A bro Andrew Thomas, the left tackle of the Giants. And so it's not just about like that spot, it's that that they have so many guys that they could just roll at you and they what do they lead the league in sacks by like fifteen sacks or

something like that across the board. It was just relentless across the entire season, and and that to me, like, yeah, it's not all about the quarterback. But what I saw from Jalen Hurts last week makes me think he's going to continue to be that dude. And I just think that's if you really have to figure out, like where is the mismatch here? I do think it is at QB more than anywhere else at where Hurts playing at an MVP level the season and party in a different

place in his career. I think the first quarter is huge. Both these teams are really good with the lead, especially the Eagles because of what you mentioned that the run defense probably is the weakest part of either team in this entire game. So in the forty, Niners are built to go after it. And I am curious are they gonna use Jordan Davis. He kind of came in late last week. He's been injured. Joseph in to have been okay, but there they were on the street for a reason.

So like, if the Eagles can get a lead, then I feel like the difference in pretty having to really step up could become something and it might only take a turn over to But if the forty Niners are get the lead earlier. It's tight, like the the Eagles haven't always been in those sort of games, and that is the type of game that that I expected to be. What an incredible story would be. By the way, if Party shreds the Eagles on Sunday, I'm totally uncharted territory.

I mean that would be, uh, that would be I think you have opportunities because I think they'll be built to stop the run and see what Party can do, especially the story for two weeks leading to the super Bowl. If he has a big NFC title game and he's eight knows a starter, everything I go, even the hook

of it all is mr irrelevant. We are And I think, like Mark, I I know you enough in terms of your football like watching and as an analyst that you like you favor chaos and things that haven't happened before, and that's what Party is. Obviously, he's something. This is an unprecedented situation. So that's that's fun and I hope I hope he does play well because that's a great story. I want to know, like as Christian McCaffrey healthy. Yeah,

that's another big part of it. That's they say it's a contusion of his calf, but you know, he wasn't getting vital touches in the final minutes of the divisional playoff game. I like Elijah Mitchell a lot, but is he banged up again too. I mean, they both were out of practice and are expected to play. But I'm with you, there's a big difference on passing down and they did not run the ball well against the Cowboys. I think as a team they averaged three and a

half yards of carry. You're gonna need to give your rookie quarterback big time support in the running game. Yeah, they have thirty two carries for a hundred and thirteen yards. They did get better as that game war on. I think that And this is what I don't know if this you have this effect against the Eagles, but Dallas was winded by the end of that. I think that's

the effect of this offense. It starts with their offensive line, and they weren't breaking out the huge breakaway runs with McCaffrey and stuff with which we've seen in other weeks. But they tired Dallas down by the end of it opened things up for Purtty a little bit. You know. The other part is Dak p down his leg last week. There was a lot of fad possessions and you're sending that defense back on the field. That's not how this Eagle's offense. I know San Francisco's defense is also excellent.

I think the Eagles are gonna have long drives. I think they're gonna be able to score points in this game, and I think that will help the defense from getting tired out and getting worn out as well. I agree the performance by Purdy I thought was better. Looking at it again on the All twenty two and stuff like, there weren't really guys open. I think Dallas did an

excellent job. They stopped the run. There weren't those plays where you just see there was a couple, but we're just like they make it real easy for pretty And actually I thought he did a great job not forcing it and he made a couple of really good throws. But that I think that was a game where he could have collapsed. Because he didn't, he avoided the big mistake. And I do worry just a little bit as someone who's picking the Eagles, clearly rooting for the Eagles that

like they're coaching staff. Jonathan Gannon who Nick Sirianni really defends his coordinator who the radio host apparently Angelo's pistol and Angelo's piste off. Nick with his derisive comments about Jonathan Gannon, I do worry a little bit, like are they as flexible? Are they gonna show as much different looks quarter to quarter, snap to snap, Like they haven't been that team. They've played a lot of soft zone Like I do think sending some blitz is that purty

could work. It absolutely worked for Dallas last week. Quinn, I think had an excellent game plan. Do I think the Eagles are are as good as complete No, I just think they're like an incredible pass rush team, especially Reddick and Sweat, and that might be enough. Like Josh Sweat and Graham coming in as the third rusher, like those three alone might be enough to do it. But coaching wise, I'm a little worried about the Annahan versus Gannon matchup. Well, I think it's like a huge like

Gannon can change what you think about him. But Nick Sirianni too, is has floated under the radar, like has to outduel Shanahan, which is probably a way bigger challenge, and he's dealt with. That's not like dealing with you know, half of the stuff he would in the regular season. Shanahan right now is on till. I mean, he's done such a good job scheming wide outs open for Brock Party and it means you're struggling. Means that's true like an old like a show. Yeah, I was trying to

give you my mackinations. He's not on toil, that's happening yet. But I mean he likes pretty. That is a disgusting sound drop pretty like like he just seems mentally strong to me, because like he could have crumbled last week. You're right, and there's been other situations like that, and he's he's well coached. But I think it's I think it's who he is, and like that's what everyone's saying about him. And like, you know, you had one week where George Kittle lad you and receiving the next week

it's Deebo Samuel. Then what's Brandon? I you because been playing out of his mind. It's like you can shut one of these guys down? Can you do it all across the board? I say you can't because I am a so far out of the law competition at this point that I've just been thrown out of a moving aircraft, so it doesn't really matter. But I'm locking up the Niners because I believe in them, and I like, this is a team I want to see in the super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl. I become a fan

boy of the Niners. You are you, You've always been a Shanahan fan boy. And and Shanahan, by the way, has some ghosts to slay as well. You know, they kind of gagged away a Super Bowl trip last year. Let's be real against the Rams, I think top ten in the fourth quarter, Shanahan is the o C that presided over three and the losing effort. I believe there was one other game, the Super Bowl against the Chiefs, another uh significant lead late in that game, Shanahan let

it get away. Does that make me nervous? Not really. But he does have kind of a bit of assorted history in the playoffs. But the fact that he's also keeps popping up in these huge playoff games, super Bowls, championship games speaks to that he's a great coach. He is one of those five or six guys that are difference makers and a person I have to play the game.

There's the game. There's the zeuser, like who I think is gonna win the game, and then there's zuser who does not want to give the trop that feels like the ultimate mirror tests. It doesn't matter in this case. I don't care. It doesn't matter. But you are the first person who put the mirror tests out there, right, I got your mirror right here? What's what's why is a mirror involved here? You weren't picking a game that you don't believe in that it's strategy. I'm saying, there's strategy.

This is a game, Greg, and the game is now. I have to come get you. I will lock up the Niners um because there is a path. They're the Niners. They haven't lost since October. Party has been a revelation, and they have guys like Deebo Samuel, like Brandon Ayuk, like Trent Williams. There are superstars Fred Funga, my guy had a great game last week, Bosa. There's stars, Fred Warner, There's stars all over the place. And it is certainly within the realm of possibilities that the Niners deliver in

a big time effort with their all star team. So that's how I get within one game of Greggy heading into Super Bowl Sunday, and we are this is the Energy Brothers. It feels like a different flock Brothers energy. But I'm just there to support you. I love you, buddy, and I promise you moving you as well, Greg, but in a different way, in a way that isn't real. Dan, you should mention to the listeners who we never actually said it on the pod last week, this is your

second week in a row locking the niner. I did. I moved a showman. That was my move over the Showman. Why do you think we're having all this conversation is I didn't go down with the giants, and I knew by pushing it to this week, the games would get a lot tighter and it wouldn't feel like now you're just playing for a tie, and that would be annoying to tie. But I guess it's good I have a tie championship. But the Thai ones are we probably need to read that the lemplify for you. Would you rather

win outright or be in a tie? Well, right, I would rather win out right, of course, So this annoys you? Then more tell you if were you you go for the tie It's just like, what does that even mean you to come up with you? You know, you know this show well enough and you know Dan well enough that by the time we get to mayor June, that tie is tilted verbally in Dan's favor in every possible way. So it means a lot. I said, the trophy is in my house. Am I going to give you the

trophy if you tied? And that part wouldn't You can come look at forever. I don't care about the trophy. It's as you want to. You want to win the thing. The trophy is what matters. I will hand the trophy over um gracefully on Sunday night. On Sunday night if the Eagles triumph that it's very important to have a transfer of power that is respectful, Well, I'll be dishonorable

to keep it if you lose out right. So, but if we go into Super Bowl Sunday with Greg up one, he'll feel the heat that I was on last year. Now you guys were tied, that's almost better that way. Well, you're going to feel that heat to put this thing away and find a way, and I'll be going off your pick again just like I was last year. The pressure is all on you, is what I'm trying to

say right now, Well, I do. It does help to know that I have no power over what's going to happen, and that it's all luck if I get this right or wrong, if I win, I I freely admit it's entirely luck. No, you don't, don't sell it that way. What is going on with you with this? Like I mean, in these games in general, you know, it's all thinking about this than any person I've ever met in my life.

You still try to get it. But I think we can read all that a two games study, all the reading that you do, all the all the different things that you do to be a more knowledgeable, full planelist. It's kind of weird to to say none of it matters at all in terms of picking games. I don't think it makes a significant difference, certainly over picking a one game a week. And that's why you get like, you know, moms who don't even watch winning football pools,

because I think there's something to be said there. Um let's run it back. I think it's for my mom. Did you say that or was that a drop? That was a drop? I don't know what the reflection. Jalen Hurts is gonna get it done. Just said something about moms, by the way, dads that don't watch football. I get everyone whoever doesn't wat football can win these One little thing to keep an eye with Hurts though, is uh.

I think he's matured a lot, and like these linebackers who are so good for the forty Islands, to me, are like their whole defense, but they're very aggressive. One thing Mahomes did great when he shredded them was he looked them off with his eyes throughout that game, and they almost teach that like watching the quarterbacks eyes and to be Hurts, his has matured so much. This game is on him. If he can be the passer inside the pocket and take advantage of those mismatches, He's got

the two. I take DeVonta Smith in ag Brown over at YU can debot, especially in this matchup because the cornerbacks for the Eagles are better. Like I think this is a Hurts moment here. I think it's gonna be up to him. If he plays as well as I think he can, they win. Otherwise, I think the forty nine are actually a little bit better of a team overall. Yeah, I mean I do care about the situation with Hurts

the shoulder too. I mean, it's still the ways, the way he talks about He's like, I felt better, but we're gonna have to go so well, so that part of it maybe on the ground shift that thing, uh into cruise control for the last two and a half quarters and two quarters like it ain't gonna be like with San Francisco coming after him now. But I guess, I mean, like if the shoulder was good on that first what was that the second play of the game,

that beautiful throat. I don't think it's throwing so much like like if it like the hurts the runner, if he's if it's even making you think differently about what contact you because I think with Mahomes and Hurts, both of it, it's not where they are. It's like, do you reaggravate that in the middle of the game then everything changes? Nicko trying to kill you for three and a half hours, that would be a cause of consternation. Uh if I were nick Sirianni. By the way, just

so we have this buttoned up, what is your lock? Mr? Grave Digger? So I've decided not to lock anywhere this year, not that anyone cares, but I shut it down. I prefer to finish the season at ten and ten makes sense. Derek Hard yourself, these are the two hardest weeks I guess of the season because there there won't be anything. Spreads didn't have the decision. He was Derek. He was Derek Hard by himself, but he did like excuse himself

from the team. You're right, Carr wanted to play. I'm saying that he the authoritative part of him, Derek Hard the rest of him, which makes no sense at all. Let's check out the standings before championship Sunday. Do we need to good season? By the way, Greg sixteen and four, Dan hands is fourteen and six. Westboro, well we have we have words now this Westbroo's so close, grave digger, great effort, Mark pathetic. Well, first of all, that's not

even correctly slotted. I'm not in last place or anywhere near it. So I think say everyone's tied if you're not in the mix. So in that sense, it's just I really would, genuinely at this stage, I want information intel on who wrote that, because there will be a come up in a particularly large human that person will be will be punished. How how do you plan to beat up a man that's twice your height? There are multiple ways to punish human individuals. Little shots at the knees.

You gotta chop him down, shop him down. Does he stay up twenty four hours a day? Do his eyes ever closed? Smart? He does? He's a giant. He needs rest. I don't know that Jerry's out Andrew doing human stuff like that. We'll learn, all right. That was Sunday Jive presented by Toyota Championships. Sunday. Let's just let's see Fox Niners, Eagles, Kevin Barcarton, Greg Olson three pm Eastern kickoff, Bangles at Chiefs six thirty pm Eastern kickoff, Nance and Roma big

game for Romo. Come on, Tony, give us. I would flip these. I would have had the absolutely well, yeah, I just assumed that's what it was. And then they they pulled a fastinalment. They schedule it, you know, ahead of time, years ahead. It flip flops every year. We'll put the Diners and Eagles in the a FC just for this week, then have them. Why would you flip flop it? Which game? Which game? Like? I feel like I've seen to me, it's Eagles Niners. They they even

they haven't like, they haven't even clashed. They're both huge entrees. But I would push back and say, Joe Burrow versus Patrick Effin Mahomes is uh the ultimately you can only watch one diner. You have to go to the Zoo for the other game, Bengals Chiefs. To me, that's like, what do you mean I think you're I'm not You're crazy. Hold on, we're not crazy either. Because both games have

an argument. I'm more emotionally invested in the Eagles. I locked it up largely because that's the result I want the most. That's it. Earlier point is though, it's because I wanted just to watch Bengals Chiefs as pure as possible. I don't want to be like, really annoyed if Patrick Mahomes has like a beautiful performance. These are these are the guys. Patrick is a quarterback now not zoo. On Sunday,

we are watching both games, as are you. If you're listening and watching this right now, so enjoy the football. We will be back Sunday night with a full recap of both these games. And guess what we're gonna know who's playing in the damn super Bowl. That's fun until then, enjoy your weekend, and he'd the call s