2022 Week 17 Preview: These Games Matter

I have something from the research and notes, Mark, I'll tee you up on this. Despite Bill's Bengals being the only game where both teams are currently in playoff position, fifteen of six team games have direct playoff implications where at least one team can still make the playoffs, win a division title, earn a higher seed, or clinch a playoff by but has not done so yet. Arizona Atlanta

is the only game that does not qualify. I think there is a tangible difference from when we started this show, and I mean, obviously this is what the league wanted. I'm not sure that this is like the exact thing they wanted, where a lot of these teams are alive because there aren't Titanic kind of dynasties hanging out there

at this point. But in the past, we would have four or five games in a week like this where both sides were sort of trash bag operations, and that's just not the case with any one of these games. But one well said Mark, and I feel like some of these teams, like remember when you're a kid and you have like, um, someone sleeps over at your house, like a during a Christmas break or something, and they stay like yeah, sleep and they stay like a eight hours too long, and you're kind of like, let's get

this guy out of here. It's like Denver broncos you're still in my living room eating my food. Yeah, it's like um. And then the kid is like, hey, why don't we do another sleepover? Like I know, how about you get your mom over here? Friendships? Fine, Yeah, we just need a little let's refresh, let's breathe a little bit. Should we get into the games before talking about Greg Rosenthal's jobs. In mock Turtleneck, it's riding a little high

right up there? Is that a mock turtleneck, a mock turtle elect could be any different than a mock turtle. Neck is a little higher on the neck than typical. It's like bunching up or something. Yeah, I mean it's that time of years. I feel like he's going to have really deep, incisive iconoclass takes based on the fashion selection. I'm gonna have regrets about being a bad dad to

like my first child. Damn Steve Jobs taking fire. All right, let's get to it, as we always do, we start with the primetime games before we get to our draft. First up, Sunday Night Football. Pittsburgh Steelers seven and eight, but not your typical seven and eight. They are a seven and eight team feeling itself right now, and they go to Baltimore to get the Ravens here ten and five. Ravens have clinched a playoff spot. Um, they're still trying to win the a f C North, so they have

a lot to play for here. But regg it is the Steelers that have been coming on in recent weeks, and this feels like it's going to be a close game, doesn't it. I think so. It was just a month ago when these two teams played with a sixteen fourteen. That was the game where Kenny Pickett started immediately got ragged aled by I think it was Roquan Smith in that game. Mitch Drabinsky comes in, moves the ball really

well in that game, but couldn't finish drives. And I expect this to be a similar game where it's sixteen to fourteen pickets back in there, and to me, pickets ceilings a little lower than Drabinsky, but his floor is higher. And it's gonna be hard for either of these teams to run the ball. This is the number one and two run defense in the league since Week tens, There's and Ravens, so even though they've both been running well, it's gonna be tough in this game. And I feel

like the team that can run and ends up winning. Yeah. I mean you mentioned Roquan Smith, and it's like some of these trades they go to teams and they vanished, and the Bears wanted to move him. Uh, the Ravens were the perfect landing spot. Like since he joined the team.

The only team, the only defense to allow fewer yards per game than the Ravens are these Steelers, who have allowed seventeen or fewer points in five straight So I kind of feel like you're looking at one of these classic fill in the blanks seventeen to thirteen type affairs where neither team is exploded. Keep getting these in prime time, like to do not expect points here, Like we thought Lamar Jackson would be back for this game, but as

of this taping, he hasn't been back at practice. And just when you thought the Ravens maybe we're getting like a little healthier, here are the three players that might be out for the Ravens that matter, Lamar Jackson, Clais Campbell and Marcus Peters, three of their absolute most valuable players,

including of course they're their best. Yeah, and the Lamar thing is now something to keep an eye on um in a in a different way because initially the idea was he'll probably be back on Christmas Eve, okay, And now a week after that he's still uh trending to be out and you just wonder if that knee injury, uh either he's had a setback or it's just not responding in the way they thought. And you know this team and it's a sprain pcl he's got. You know,

this team's go nowhere without Lamar Jackson. And here's the thing about the Ravens and and mark you off and get on. The Packers is a team that annoys you and you just want to go away. Baltimore doesn't do much for me this season. They are not doing much for me. And I understand in the a f C that they are they should be taken seriously because of their ability to run the football and their defense and their pedigree. But I mean, when's the last time you

watched the Ravens game and you felt like alive? I think even even it's just like even when Lamar Jackson was in the line, That's what I mean. It's like it's been going on. I mean, you have to go back to early September when the Ravens felt to me like a watchable fun operation, and I don't see it changing right now. You're bringing in Sammy Watkins off the street and then he starts for you five days later

at receivers had one. Yeah, But but I'm with you, like their their weapons poor, they're they're like they were. They were celebrated for zigging when everyone else was zagging. We're gonna be a ground based attack, but it's like you're gonna have You're gonna run into a wall, at some point we gotta way out of it. I'm with you there, like there's nothing in the in the cupboard outside and steel is a the same way. I don't find the Steelers to be a fun team to watch

at all. Sealess Steelers, you can see the beginnings of an offense growing. Well, that's what I'm saying. They're in a different place in their organizational and their development. And and you saw what the late drive picket led uh to George Pickens in that dramatic Frank o'harris game. Um that they're they're buildings towards something. They have a lot of momentum at this point. They're not knocked out of the playoffs, although because this game is on Sunday night,

they could be by then. They have a three percent chance according to five thirty eight, and they need with the Dolphins beat the Patriots, check your later, Steelers, but I still think they can do this thing where Mike Tomlin does not wind up with a losing record, because it's the most Pittsburgh issh thing ever to have that be a fringe e likelihood all season long. And then they kind of sweep down the stretch and finish nine and eight. I would be a great test test for Pickett.

I know you're a little dubious about this Ravens defense. To me, they were a top five defense in the NFL right now, So whether they're in the play off mix or not, this is a great test for an offense that really has been a lot better. Even though it hasn't been all passing, They've been a top ten offense in terms of efficiency since there bye week. All right, let's move to Monday night football. Oh, Joe, Joe Buck and Troy Aigman deserve this. It could be the game

of the year Bills at Bengals. The number one seed in the a f C could be on the line, The a f C North could be on the line, and you could be looking at an a f C championship preview. This is just gorgeous, and I love that it's on Monday night. Um, we've talked about it. I don't know if we talked about it on the ara off that we all love bucking Aigman. What a great team, and he kind of missed them on those Sunday Late

Fox games where so much was on the line. Sometimes these Monday night games don't carry as much heat now that they've moved over and took the money. This is perfectly syncd up. You have the right teams, you have the right announcing team. You're gonna have a huge audience. They're gonna do, as Mike Francesco say, a huge number, the huge number on ESPN. The Manning cast is gonna do a huge number if they're doing that, and it's

just gonna be so fun. The question to me is this Josh Allen versus Joe Burrow showdown, who is gonna come out on top? Because I would not be surprised. I know this could benefit the Chiefs more and they could end up getting the number one seed, but I love to see the winner of this game get the one seed and be rewarded for such a clutch step

up in this spot. Well, I think the Bills get the one seed if they win this game because I think they take care of business Week eighteen against the Patriots, so it's massive for them. And you mentioned Mark like the NFL wouldn't like see all these trash bag teams in the middle. That's not the perfect way to get parody there. There's not great teams because is like trending towards Mr Irrelevant and the disrespect he I threw the

word trash. But when you kind of take a step back and you look at it, the three teams in the a f C who are the best teams at the end of last year, who are led by the three best quarterbacks in the league, that I would take to start a franchise with, all have fantastic records, are all here at the end on long winning streaks and are playing great, and they're probably gonna play each other

and around Robin here. If this game goes the Bengals way, you could see a rematch in the divisional round and this game would be just to have home field. I have a hard time picking between Josh Allen and Joe Burrow right now because you think it's Burrow who's a little more consistent. But Josh Allen's running is so incredible. He's averaging six point five yards per carry. That's more than the average last year when he led the league

in yards per carry. He has seven forty six yards on the ground, but almost all of them are for first downs. Like his percentage of first downs is just outrageous. He's fourth overall, I think in quarterback rushing, but like they haven't had a game under a hundred yards on the ground the Bills since last season, So overall, their running game is really getting going. And I think that's where they could attack in two and fifty four yards

a week ago. Um only a small chunk of that came from Josh Allen, which is a good sign because they needed that balance and they're getting Devin Singletary. You're like, I like that. I like that. That's there. That's the most yards I have in the grounds sixteen. I think it makes up and it mass over and it does cover up to some degree an uptick and Josh Allen

turnover worthy throws. It's not just the interceptions, Like if you go back and watch these games, there's a couple of things happening to Josh Allen within each of these affairs where like, wait a minute, that could have easily been three or four interceptions, and that that is the kind of thing in this because they when you're playing Chicago, you can overcome that, and like Josh Allen still does

these other things. You're like, I kind of don't care about the turnover worthy plays because of what what Josh Allen does and Alan s ways that like no one else can do. But I just look at the Bills as a team, like, all right, you're not gonna have the wiggle room against Cincinnati. You're not gonna have it in this round robin with the Chiefs and playing Cincinnati

potentially again. Like, do we get a pristine for a more pristine version of Josh Allen down the stretch because this has been happening, whether it's fumbles or picks, week after week. And to his credit, he only has one interception in the last five games before last week. But to your point, he had two against Chicago, another end zone pick, which is that's been weird. That's a lot of his interceptions have been in or near the end zone and he could have thrown two more in that game.

He could have four interceptions in that game. And then we're talking about this game in a different reframed way about what's wrong with Josh Allen after that Chicago game. We're not, though, that's not how it works. I think he'll be okay, but I think that he will. I think there will be a play that he makes that

gives Cincinnati an opportunity to get it done. Do we do we take anything out of the Bengals game last week, which was even weirder when they were up twenty two nothing at the half against New England and then needed a Romandre Stevenson fumble to hang on. I I don't really the weather was not nice either, but I take away as Burrow pitched a perfect game for two and a half quarters there. When he is at his best, he is playing as well or better than any quarterback

in the league. Like I have are time coming up with like they you have to do ranking the five guys. I don't actually have an m v P vote, but like, who would you put ahead of one another? Alan versus Burrow? To me, that's a tough conversation. And I love that they're going up against each other. I love that Cincinnati has had a better offensive line this year. But suddenly you lose Lyle Collins now for the season and adenta

je is in there at right tackle. We spent like all of last winter discussing he was the reason why they struggled to protect and in this game against the Patriots that wasn't change. They absolutely got a ton of pressure on Adentajy specifically, and the Bills aren't the same without von Miller, but they still have been getting a lot of sacks without him. The adentagy thing is the reason.

I think that obviously sparked their offseason buying spree onlineman in general, because it was such an overt week spot week after weeks. So I'm with you, like that, to me, is a situation you can target. I think the highs with Josh Burrow in the highs of the offense. Quell concerns over there that if the two that could happen physically, that would be an incredible quarter effect, but that's not

physically possible from what we understand. I would say this though, because against the Bucks and against the Patriots they went to sleep for a half. But like last week, you got the Jamar Chase turnover. Like Burrows picks, I don't know. They don't seem to me a trackable thing from week to week. He's been pretty amazingly perfect. So I could say, like, what, their explosive nature is more proof to me than like, did they can they fall asleep against teams like they

did two weeks in a row? Are you picking in this game? Are you picking? I had the Bengals at first, and then I flipped it on the Old Game Picks. My gut was telling me Bills struggle with it though we got you mentioned. The Monday Night schedule, by the way, has been rough for Joe Buck and Troy. I mean they had a lot of bad luck really with the matchups similar on the Monday Night podcast recaps. But this is a great finale. Westling is the guests for the

perfect Um. I like uh, I like Cincinnati. I like both these quarterbacks with they're back against the wall, I'm gonna say it's gonna be Cincinnati just in a coin flip, they have the ball last and Burrow does something magical. And I hope I think these are These are my two favorite teams to watch in the a f C. And I think that other than my team, um, but I think the Chiefs are the team that you can't disrespect.

But I really hope it's these teams playing for the super Bowl at the end of January, and we should want to Bill's win here because then they get the one seed. It is huge because the loser of this game basically is gonna probably have to be two of these three teams with at least one or two of them on the road, whereas the other one, whoever gets the one seed, only has to play one of the other two teams. To me that that's a huge advantage. I think the Bengals are gonna win this in overtime.

Love it. I'd sign up for it. And one one other note in Burrow's favor. And who's been like more of an m v P this year? When Jamaar Chase went down, things kept moving positively. Uh for Cincinnati. I don't know if the same thing would happen if Diggs disappear. We don't know Dig's Dig's target rate since week ten. He went from six and target rate league wide to twentie since week ten, so he hasn't disappeared, but their offense has changed a little bit and been less explosive

minus Digs. All right, let's start the draft now, let's get into it. Here we go with the Locks. Greggy. We picked up a game on you last weekend, the Lock Challenge. Yeah. I you asked me to be a showman, and I'm trying to raise the profile of the Locks competition. It's struggling. You know, if it's too big of a leader. You lost intentionally. Okay, that's interesting. Um, so you have the first pick in the ten draft Week seventeen. I'm excited about this game Vikings Packers in the late window

Tony Romo. Packers been on a role and they visit the team that's kind of owned them lately. The Vikings have done a nice job against Green Bay. They certainly dominated Week one. We're kind of like coming all the way back to the narratives we started the season with that. The Packers are trying to prove that they're over, Like do they throw the ball too much? With Aaron Rodgers playing hero ball? I thought they did that a little

too much last weekend. I think they'll be tempted to this week when the Packers have the ball because the Vikings big weakness to me is their number two cornerback, their number three slot cornerback, former Packer Chandon Sullivan. And you see how that matchup is gonna be. I think Rogers gonna feel like he can make a play. But Willie have Christian Watson for this game? We won't know. That is when this offense totally turned. If I'm the Packers,

I want to run the ball more. I think that's where their advantages and I don't quite trust Rodgers to go back there and just make a play. I actually think that's playing into the Vikings hands. Yeah, I'm Aaron Jones was banged up against the Dolphins. Obviously, Christian Watson is a huge issue. Ca Sean Nixon. I mean, you're like a roe right there. They're very banged up. That said, like, I loved what they how aggressive they were against Miami,

like everything was up against them. This went forward over and over on four down. I would do that again. I don't track a ton from week one, but I would say that justin Jefferson in that Week one game against green Bay nine catches a hundred and eighty four yards, two touchdowns, and look what the Dolphins did before whatever happened to too, what happened to uh last week, Like they were explosive, and I think green Bay can be thrown on. And if you get the Cousins justin Jefferson

connection alive again. I just like my Minnesota in any of those games where that's happening. Yeah, I mean, Jefferson's he's gonna get his He'll have a hundred and thirty yards or so, maybe love two hundred. He's he's that guy. Alexander on him. Let's see he hasn't. They didn't use Yer that much on him last time. And I think what we have with I don't know, I kind of disagree with you, Greg. They have a good running game green Bay right now and A. J. Dillon is looking

more like the guy who was last year. But everybody throws on the Minnesota Vikings, everybody stacks yardage in the passing game, even they made Daniel Jones look like just a Pro Bowl level past. So I think it would be I don't know, maybe overthinking it to to lean more on the run now would have some balance, absolutely, But I think this is such as a game for

Aaron Rodgers. It's a big game for him and what's been a disappointing season, he has an opportunity to wipe a lot of that away with a big performance here. And I did think if you're a Packers fan, when they came back, and I know they got help from to a melting down in that game, Um, when Christian Watson goes out at the half, the offense didn't dry up. They were still moving the ball. Romeo Dobbs made some plays and Rogers was able to still uh put points

on the board. Maybe not as many as you'd like, but the offense didn't stall out. So even if it Watson isn't there, I think they'll move the ball through the air against his team. You know what's crazy about the Packers too, is that if you look at the numbers their past defense, and we've been killing Joe Barry for just playing this soft zone all year and blah

blah blah, Like the numbers are incredible. I know there's that one Baker mayfield in the game in there, but that they're either the best past defense in the league or a top five past defense, and so they have to have some confidence at this point that they can get pressure on Kirk Cousins. But Kirk's got to have confidence that he can hang in there. He's been hit more than any quarterback in the league, and he's extremely streaky, but he's been clutch and he waits till that last second.

And I don't know if I really trust this Packers pass rush. I guess the eyeball test to me says I, I don't still trust this Packers defense. They only two teams have allowed more yards to the air and then the less yards through through the air than Green Bay. So you're right, I don't feel it always looks that way to me. But the Packers might have Jenkins, Uh, they have, they've had out in Jenkins back, but they also might have back for this game and the Vikings.

It's like, this is why everyone's pulling their hair out trying to figure them out. Because even with green Based deficiencies on defense this year, even though they do close out last week brilliantly, um, they're gonna go through hot and cold streaks in this game because they do it basically every week where they they look great for a quarter or a half and then they let the team other team back into it. But with some three and out it's like ken Green Bay um take advantage of

those dry spells from Minnesota. Packards are favored by three and a half this week. That's surprised, that's crazy. I think it's gotten a little surd in the desert. The Vikings. At what point do we I don't know, man, Well, they almost never come so I guess I guess I just look at this game and like, don't you guys expect it to be a one score game to come down? And then right, and so who's picking against the Vikings at the end of a game. I'm not. I'm like,

they're gonna find a way to get it done. In the Packers, despite the wind streak, will find a way to blow it. That's how the past three games and freezing weather three and oh these little stats about Kirk Cousins vanishes and disappears in some of these areas of football football environment. Not this year. It's really really funny if they wind up going fourteen and three and holding onto this too. See, forty Niners are just like every

week like are you kidding me? And I also, you gotta you have to now at least open your mind to the possibility that, in spite of all the football history and sports history where it's so clear where a team is due to regress in a certain category or overall, maybe they just do this the entire season, right, that's for the different team next season where none of this

happens to them. I don't know, it's weird. They were playing these close games a year ago, in the year before that too, not to this extent, but this is who they've been collectively for a while. I mean, hitting a sixty one yard field goal with the gun it's just like absurdity, I know, but I also feel like everyone's like like almost wanting it to regress. It's like, this is one of the most exciting things about this season is that the Vikings are doing this. I hear that.

Then I've seen this sort of discussion among Vikings fans and it's true, like, enjoy this. Vikings fans like, you went through all these anointing seasons with Kirk guns this is fun. Well, they're also they've been through a lot of heartbreak, and there's a lot of Viking fans are like, I know what's happening here. You know how Wait, don't follow a football team, but we're on a magic carpet, right,

Not that easy. Mr says. I'm saying that other fan bases would take this as their season, their team doing this. And you have a buddy that's a Vikings fan. If you if you have a personal connection with a Vikings fan in your life, you know what they've gone through.

And there is not a doubt that every Vikings fan in the back of their mind is a little concerned that this is all building towards something ironically termed They were concerned a year ago in the year before that, in the year before that, like the like there, you know, I'm not like crying huge tears for the Vikings fan base. Right now, they're on fire. Let's talk in January. I'm sure it will go south. I don't think they're gonna win the super Bowl, but like, it's not like this.

There's I can I can think of situations that are more you know, chaos late and at the moment there are all right, let's take a break and we'll be right back. All right, welcome back. The draft rolls on Mark Sessler's Uh, well, I I love this like Carolina Panthers Buck situation um a ghastly division where they lodged. In any other division, this would be a dirt knap situation where neither mattered at all. But it really is

like like kind of the story. And I think that what Carolina did last week against Detroit on the ground was one of the more powerful showings by any team in this division where there's you can't point to the Bucks and say they do this great. They should be better than they are at all these things, and they're not. That's why they're a disappointing watch. After week, the Panthers were one of the most disappointing teams in the league. And then when they get hot and they can run

the ball. Because I know the Lions, for instance, they don't have a good run defense, and they've been better than they were to start the season. But it was so crystal clear. The Panthers are telling you week after week, Oh, Sam Donald's been clean and he'll make some passes, but that's not what our offense is about. We're just gonna run at you, and Tampa Bay we're gonna do the

same thing at you. And I do think if you're on the flip side for Tampa Bay, like they're probably, I'm giving up any hope for them to be anything different. We talked about Vikings fans like Bucks fans just have to accept like this is probably just who you are.

You're gonna be a sleepy operation for three and a half weeks and you're gonna lose that game like you did against the Niners, or Tom Brady is gonna do Tom Brady things for half a quarter and you're gonna win in overtime, or you're gonna win in regulation in a bizarre way. I do like that. Right now, We'll see what happens, but practicing at this point in the week, Tristan Worth's and Donathan Donovan Smith, because I think if you love if you don't have those guys in there.

Tom Brady to me looks like a different quarterback last couple of weeks, with the turnovers and probably just trying to not get hit and getting rid of the ball. It just does not seem like if if his name were you know, Tom Fabeats, we would not be thinking this guy is definitely I would go f A B I t Z I had a E t Z. Well

that works. There's different ways to because when you come to the Statue of liberty, you can just choose, choose what you want way back and they choose for you, or they choose for you unfortunate Brady probably an easier way to God. Does Tom Brady right now look good? No?

I think we should refer to him as fabeats uh moving forward until he comes back to being Tom Brady, because you're right, the last few weeks are the first time that I can remember as a Brady apologist believer, always thinking like, look, if you get everything around him working, he he actually was playing better in that than you thought same thing this season last couple of weeks. I don't know. He's not playing with confidence. He's waiting till

the receivers are open before throwing it. So he's not confident in his receivers. He's not confident in himself and his accuracy, his his time to throw his one point eight last week, which is just preposterous. He just doesn't want to get hit. This looks like an old team who knew what it was like to play in real games. That. No, they're not a real team waiting to be put out of their misery. I think the Panthers out the team

to do it. Yeah. I think the thing with Brady in this offense is they could thrive in spurts now and then if that leads to a win. You know people that could just focus on that, like Tom Brady. He does it again, he six for six and overtime. It's like, yeah, but the bigger picture is yeah, he's not playing at a high level. The offense hasn't played at a high level all season on the Panthers side. I don't know, Greggy, I I I don't know what to make I don't know how to make sense of that.

Lions game. But that's not the only time they've done that on the ground. It was But but wait a second. They also had twenty one yards on the ground the previous week against the Steelers, which is not to you know, take away from what they managed against the lines. But I just like, I don't know what happened with Detroit.

We're gonna get to the lines later. But some of those defensive fronts, the way it even lined up, it was like anybody could have had a huge game, the way they ran the ball a hundred yards by their second possession on the ground three by the end of the game. Is that going to continue against Tampa Bay? No, because I think Tampa Bay will deliver an actual professional

outing on defense and make it harder. Now I have to and you know, Sam Donald apologist, but he uh with that running game, which what quarterback wouldn't benefit from that? Uh maybe Zack Wilson. Um he really played well as well. And he you want to talk about how Tom Brady doesn't look confident, Sam Donald's playing with confidence right now.

He's playing like a guy. He knows it's his job, he knows the offense, he knows where to get the ball and he's not flashy, and he's not a star, and he's not as good as what the previous team wanted wanted it to be when he made him a number three overall pick. But he's somebody that could lead this offense playing at this tempo, and I think I'm just happy for him personally, and I hope it continues.

I'm with you. Look, I think that he's in the perfect place for him if they're going to not ask him to do everything's not in an air raid scheme or something. Um, he's looked really clean. He's not turning the ball over. They did run for a hundred and seventy on Tampa last time. I'm not trying to keep the game was a dominant game. That was also the PJ Walker like throwing all over the place. So just as in you know, it has been inconsistent for Carolina.

But Tampa's defense, which I think you know there's if you're not watching the Bucks, you're thinking, oh, there's still a great defense, like they were destroyed by the Niners. Not that that's the only team that the Niners haven't done that too, But then when they've been bad, they've been a floodgate and I just I think the but what's more perfect than the Bucks just fizzling out? Though? I think they lose this game, but you know, and

nothing would surprise me. I think it's a coin flip essentially. But Donald's development, to me, is the biggest thing for the Panthers. They're gonna really miss J. C. Horne, who changed their defense to me as a top ten cornerback in the league right now and may even return if they make the playoffs. It sounds like or maybe even week eighteen, he had surgery, but he's definitely out this week. But Donald's development is the reason I give this team a chance. I think he's had the best month of

his career. I know he had some high points late in his rookie year again when he was with the Jets, and he showed more high level play during that stretch, But to me, he never looked like a quarterback, like he never knew how to be an NFL quarterback. And by that I just mean go through his progressions and make good decisions. I think he's doing that now. I think he's comfortable, like he's getting into his second and

third read. Yeah, he's been put in a good situation, but he just looks like a guy that's like getting it a little bit, and I think they can get excited about you. You're in this situation. He's he's never he's been attached to bad teams where there's no state,

you know what. Like the other part of it is like we could say that and that's true, like he was always attached to floating trash bags, as we like to say when but on the Panthers, his head coach is an interim head coach and the offensive coordinat there's a guy we've mocked on the show, mercilessly, Ben McAdoo. So it's like, whatever is happening in Carolina is a great football mind. He saw Gino as a star well there, and so I'm just saying, like it's on paper, it's like, oh,

now he's in a healthy situation. Well it seems that way, but he does deserve credit. And Greg, one thing that you and I went back and forth on um in the past was like you called Donald one of the biggest bus ever. I think this is kind of who he can be and he showed that at times with the Jets, like Zach Wilson, ironically a guy that hadn't. He's he qualifies as that to me, there is basically, but it's basically start your career as a jet and then half a decade later you become Geno Smith or

you get you become Sam Zach Wilson. Five years from now we're talking about comeback player. I'm just but Donald was a bus Now. If he can do this and reclamate some of it, I don't think you roll into you don't pitch him as a starter next necessarily, but he saved his career in a Baker Mayfield quay too. He's a He's a free agent at the end of the year. This is a huge game though, for him, I mean, and for this franchise. They win this game, they controlled the NFC South. They'll still have to win

though next week, so they don't clinch it. The Bucks clinch the division if they win this game. Donald's has has the tougher opposition to me, uh in terms of the defense that he's playing. If he plays well this week, that that is a franchise changing, career changing type of win. And I think I just mean Wilkes. Wilkes gets there, you know, he keeps that. Oh, I think so let's move on, uh, the old zooster on the clock. And yes, let's talk about Sam Donald's former team, the New York Jets,

traveling to Seattle to face the Seahawks. This is uh, this is a loser goes home match, no doubt about it. Both teams seven and eight, both teams struggling. The Jets are officially eliminated. They lose, So there you go, loser goes home five of six. Uh. Seattle has lost. The Jets have also lost five of six straight. UM. So the way things broke um for New York after the Thursday Night to Bacle with Zack Wilson was beautifully They're they're very much in the race. They win this week

against Seattle and in Miami next week. One Patriots loss and they're in. So there is a path here for the Jets. It's not far fetched. Now they have to play better. Um. And it's not just I think one thing that got papered over with how miserable Wilson was in the apparent end of his Jets career, because, by the way, as we talked about on the Tuesday show, Mike White cleared on mon Day, Zack Wilson not even active for this game, so he's inactive again. He's out

of the picture. Joe Flacco is the backup. UM. So the Jets played poorly in all phases. UM against the Jaguars, the defense, which has been so good this season, they got beat on the last drive by Detroit, and then really we're not sharp against Jacksonville after their initial drive where they forced to turn over. It was kind of downhill at that point. UM, So they need to play better. Seattle, on the other side, is a team that's really struggling

in almost every phase. So I think the way this sets up is two teams, uh that that are not playing well. Somebody's gotta win. Um. There could be a situation where this is a is an ugly game and one team wins an ugly fashion and then gets quickly wiped out the week after. I don't know about that. We'll see. But it's just nice to see Mike White back in because I think that's gonna lift all boats for the Jets, because I think Wilson was just a negative suck on the entire operative. Mike White and I

think that this stuff matters. I I hear all these people. There's no momentum that none of this has to do with human It's all numbers and analytics. You're talking no, no no, I mean like no no. Momentum is also an analytics community. Like claimed by many too that none of this stuff is really just like it is, you're good or you're not good kind of thing. But Mike White has generated four d and fifty plus total yards and four of his six starts, so like, there is

a tangible difference in this. Well, this is a great set up for the Jets, and it's a great set up for them to be balanced, for them to make plays, and like you see just a complete difference when he's in there. And I will say one thing about Robert Solid because I think like year two for him, uh, this was a big season and maybe they don't go to the playoffs. I don't know what happens here, but he handled as much chaos at quarterback as you could ask and having to flip flop back and forth, and

he's been nothing but even keel about it. And in fact, I'd say that there's been a human side too, where you could allow a lot more angst and anger to come from within the building towards Zack Wilson because Zach Wilson's a kind of guy right now with the trajectory of his career that could cost a different type of g M if you hadn't had a great draft class and a coaching staff their jobs and all you ever did was prop up Zach Wilson and try to show

him some dignity. And now Zach Wilson mercifully is inactive and he should stay that way and he probably never plays in the Jets uniform again. But Solaced proven to me. I think that he is the kind of guy you want as your head coach because through all of this he's just been that dude. He's not going up and down. He's just been steady, and I think that's a great mark of someone who could stay around in New York for a long time. They have not had that coach.

Although they lose these two games, I think there's a significant chance Robert salins, well, that's that'd be a terrible decision. I agree. The whisperers have already started. There was a report in the Washington Post Woody Johnson did not hire Robert Sala. He would get so much pushed back. I think if this comes out there, I know you're saying no because you don't want this to I don't think they're gonna lose this game, and I think they should be favored in their next two games, so none of

it matters. But I've seen Woody Johnson ter decisions. I do not care what the watching post says everyone that anybody that knows what's going on with this team knows anything negative with this season is connected to a terrible decision quarterback. But if they lose sixth straight to miss the playoffs, in these next two games, you will have Mike White back. I do want to see their defense step up to me their favorite in this game. They are in Vegas as well, and I think it could

be even more. They're a better team to me overall. And we've heard this is a great Jets defense. Show up, be a defense that just be an offense that was just dominated by Kansas City that's struggling up front. It's been very erratic, uh running the ball like show up and dominate this game and you won't have to worry about it. But it would be very Jetsy if they lost sixth straight and he'd be out and people watchington posts aren't the only one thinking about it, Like I

think there's been some whispers around that team. If the Giants make the playoffs here and they lose sixth grade, that's nothing with surprise, Absolutely awful and how scouting if that's what they do, Because what would you point to Robert Sala as the problem here? Anybody feel we're wasting our time even having this conversation. Robert sal is not going anywhere. I don't care what happens these last two games. Like that's crazy to me, Gregg, that's something that's even

being speculated or being floated. I mean, this team is going in the right direction, and a lot of it is connected to him. They played hard for him. That defense has gone from the worst in the league to one of the best in football under him and his Toutelage is the defensive mind that came over from San Francisco. They missed on Wilson. That's hurt them this year, as did the briefe Hall injury that really hurt their offense

and the offensive line issues. This team. Next year, when they're healthy and get a better quarterback in the building, a lot of people are gonna be very high on this team. It actually makes me nervous. Thinking about it that people are gonna be talking about them being an acre next year. I think they're gonna make the play off. My point is this year. I think they're making it. This year. I think they're better than the Dolphins and

the Seahawks. Maybe Woodward and Bernstein should operate and focus on something else down at the Washington Post in the solid situation. Let me say this, but I asked, I don't think it's bad reporting. I they're not the only ones kind of talking about UM. I never do this, it's been It's very rarely happened on this pod. But I did grow up in a coal town. And when you grow up in a coal town, UM, you're told

to temper hope. Sometimes hope isn't a good thing. Sometimes it's just better to go down in the hole, as we called it, do your work, come home, have dinner with the family, go to bed, and get up for the work the next day. Um. But with that set, I will have hope here because I have watched his team all year, and I think I think they're gonna play really well in this game, and I think they're gonna win this game, and I'm gonna lock up the new York Jets. And you could say it's uh, you know,

tugboat setting himself up for failure maybe and whatever. I'll deal with that if that happens. But I think White will make this offense much better. They will move the ball, the defense is going to be hyper motivated. Um, every one's going to be hyped for this game, and Seattle's going in the wrong direction. I think the Jets are alive going in this weekends. I love that. I think that's you're putting it where all this fan hope businesses. That's the right thing to do. I like this situation

for you. Um, you are one of the rare people attached to a coal mining village with like your own theme song and like a voice where you can you know, do a little soliloquies on a nationally broadcast, internationally broadcast show. Not the typical coal miners. You know, I made it out. I'm not sure you were in it, but you were made out of town in the country is like five nicest places to retire if you have a lot of money.

Nobody retires in Pearl River. But it does get my mom angry when I when I bring up the coal mine. Why because it's fabricated. Well, what's angry? And I should ask go talk to her as I will, because I I sense that her frustration could be valid with this entire narrative. But um, let's move on to snakes of the zeo, sir, Let's grab that other a f C East game. Um, Dolphins of Pats from Gillette weird weird, wild stuff. Carson Um Teddy Bridgewater probably starting this game.

It's been announced now Okay, So Teddy Bridgewater starts in place of Tua, who was diagnosed with a concussion after being placed in concussion protocol. Uh so, obviously disappointing there, and you hope um he is in a good place um as he recovers from his latest head injury. Um. So Teddy now steps in to face a Patriots team that just found ways to lose in just crushing fashion

and back to back weeks against Vegas and then Cincinnati. Um, Greg, to your credit, Uh, after that ugly Monday night football game against the Cardinals, you predicted this team was gonna go down in flames and there would be more ugliness to come. Well that's happened, and I just wonder, like,

you know, did you watch the game. Yeah, we all watched that game and it was bad, And you just wonder, Greggy, like, if this is all kind of heading towards some type of grand finale of dysfunction with with the mac Jones situation and how unhappy he is with Patricia and Belichick. Are we heading towards a big finale? Uh? I would like to see it, but I don't think it could happen emotional explosion, something something like mac Jones gets benched

or something after another apple or something. Well, we've also gotten through the whole Belichick needs to change the offensive staff or else, so he might not be there next year. I do think there will be a surprise firing or two. I think these three a f C East teams are all candidates um to just have something out of nowhere. Fir to No, Well, he wouldn't be fired, but we've

already talked about it. Well, I think it's pretty clear Craft is telling every reporter possible that if he doesn't make changes, then we're getting Bill O'Brien's name Florida there. I think they probably wanted Bill O'Brien last office. That's off for later, Like this is essentially a playoff game. Uh. For these two teams. The Dolphins UH could theoretically get in still if they get a loss. The Patriots need to win these two games. I don't know. I don't

trust anything about this Patriots team. Nothing about last week made me feel any better about their offense. To me, it's unsalvageable. But it's going against the Dolphins defense that's also been really disappointed, led by former Patriots assistant Josh Boyer. Like, these two units have really let their teams down. Because the Patriots defense they played great. They have a lot to be excited about in the future. The Dolphins offense has has, you know, taken a step back lately, but

they've done their job. And I'm not that worried about Teddy Bridgewater. I don't think it's gonna be a big decline. But like which of these two groups, Patriots offense Miami defense, which has been so disappointing this year, can step up for a week. I tend to trust Miami more. I would trust Miami or any defense against New England's in the center. So I think New England creates as many problems for themselves on that side of the ball as

almost any team in the league. I mean, I know the second half against Cincinnati paints a different picture, but they this is typical for them. He had seventy yards of offense at half. Mac Jones had thirty four yards passing. How many halves have we seen like that from mac Jones? Where whatever it is, if they get in some sort of a hole, and I think Teddy Bridgewater stands out. There is a top three or four backup quarterback who has been through a lot, who knows this. He's gonna

do fine in the system. It's not gonna be a big step down for him. Uh. You still get the wide receivers they have create these big plays. It's not coming from to the same way it would be from m Patrick Mahomes or something. So I think you can generate the offense, still be explosive and handle a Patriots team that. Frankly, the only reason they're still hanging around at this point is because the league is what it is. They're not a playoff team on any level to the eyes.

You know the idea of Miami going on the road now to New England with a backup quarterback, I don't know they've They've lost, they haven't won a road game since Week nine. Um, but I do agree with you on the Teddy thing. I think that it's not gonna be might be less erratic than to it. Yeah, like he I could. I can absolutely see him moving the

ball with this offense. And then if they can do that and they can score some points, then you're putting the pressure on New England again to find ways because look at like New England one thing, it's also getting lost a little bit and how bad the offense is. Look at last week, for instance, they nearly dug out of that twenty two nothing hole. One touchdown was on yet another defensive score. Uh. And then they had essentially a third and forever Hail Mary type throw from midfield

that got deflective receiver's hands for a touchdown. Uh. And then when they finally actually moved the ball down the field, reminder,

Stevenson blows the game with the fumble. It's just it's just so dysfunctional that it just feels like to me, Greggy, um to what you were saying a couple of weeks ago, that this is all heading a certain direction and it makes more sense to me that the Dolphins of the team that is moving on and playof football, not the Pets still alive in Week eight team It does to

me as well. Now the now the Dolphins could lose this game and then beat the Jets next week, and if the Patriots then lose to the Bills, you know, both pretty realistic outcomes, then the Dolphins would be the team that gets in. So this is less of a winning in uh like elimination scenario for the Dolphins. The Patriots do need to win this game. I am curious the Week one, I know is early in the Dolphins season, but the Patriots defense did a fantastic job against too

uh and and they've exploded essentially the next week. And they played a similar type of style that the forty Niners did and the Chargers did when this whole thing started, which is, I don't think they have the cornerbacks to actually play press man right now. They're also missing uh three of their their their top three cornerbacks are out of practice, Dan Marcus Jones, Jack Jones, and Jalen Mills. So that's like Marcus Jones has been a difference. That's

a bit of a disaster. But the Patriots are the team that would actually play some press man. How McCarthy back. They're playing kind of that cover one look and almost dare Teddy Bridgewater. They can rush the past or two. They have their third in the league and takeaways their second in sacks. So there are elements to like Belichick's coaching the defense along with people trust. They got bar Mower back, who is a breakout player. He's made the leap.

Judan is great. Uh, They've somehow turned Juwan Bentley into a good player, and they have some dynamic safeties. Like it's a pretty good defense, It's just that's not the side of the ball that's gonna be enough. Do you think might be enough to win this game? Though? I wouldn't shock me. I had to pick the Dolphins. Speaking of hot seats, do you think Mac Jones in these next two weeks could be playing for his job? I think we've said that on the show. I don't think

he's on the Patriots next season. I don't. I don't think these two weeks are gonna make or break him. I think he's gonna be on the Patriots next year for sure, and whether he has competition or not, that I don't know. I think they want to see without think Belichick is not blind love each other right now, If Belichick is there next year, then assume it's with a new offensive coordinator. He's not blind. I think he's want to see mac Jones with a different uh. I mean,

we've seen it. We saw it with McDaniels early part of last year. Jones kind of got bang a little bit here. But I wonder, I'll say, because I wonder if the relationship with Belichick, with the whole situation just needs to refront. We don't know what's going on, but like you're what you're saying, we're gonna start, will we see on like an emotional explosion over the next two weeks.

We've been seeing it for a month plus. Like, I don't think Belichick loves his quarterback doing that on the sideline and having to be the number one narrative surrounding the Patriots. Belichick obviously is the king, you know, kingmaker there. He believed that mac Jones enough to make him a first round pick. Obviously, his strategic decision making and coaching hires hurt mac jones development. I would say it's more

likely that they just redo the offense um. But we'll less things are you know, ugly behind the scenes, certainly possible. Let's take a break and we'll roll on. All right, welcome back. It's time now for the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota Mark. You're up in the draft, all right, I'm gonna pick my late game. I'm gonna go Niners at Vegas. Um, it's gonna be a strange trip to Vegas this time around. The Raiders, we just talked about

a team what will lay with their quarterback. I think we were suspicious that Derek Carr would be back with the Raiders a year from now. There were a lot of reasons to suggest that Josh McDaniels and Derek Carr were not maybe totally copasetic. He's been shut down for the rest of the year. He's left the team to not be a distraction. Jared's Stidham, old Patriots quarterback, will be starting against the Niners. I feel like you're Jared Stidham.

You're thinking, wait, this is the week that you're play. Offensive line is collapsing, and uh, now we're going to play the I have to deal with Nick Bosa in the flesh in a few days. The Niners defense right now is so incredibly dominant on this eight game win streak, they have allowed twenty or fewer points under three passing yards and under a hundred rushing yards and every one of those games. That's the first team to do that in eight straight games since the ninety two Bears led

by George Hallis. And it's like there are only a couple of defenses out there that we trust. Week after week, the Niners are doing it, and certainly against Jared's did Him Well, no, I think this, this feels like I like to pick a blow out here and there. This has that the ear markings of that bar and something really weird. I mean, I don't think Josh Jacobs is a very happy camper. If you listen to his comments from after last week. Run Josh Jacobs to another team.

He Jared's Didham also a free agent. You know, Jared Stidham, Who's San Francisco is awesome right now. I moved them up to number one of the power rankings Rock Parties three and oh I got a little bit of an issue with them. Okay, well we can talk about that. But the the fact that the offense is continued to hum along evenent Deebo Samuel out and now the third string quarterback in and the defense being absolutely dominant. It Um, that's enough for me to say that they're the best

team in football right now. And and well, let's talk about that pushback just very quickly. Yes, there's no way on a neutral field I have taken any team led by Brock Purty against Josh Allen, Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes and those teams just no chance. What about Jalen Hurts and Eagles or them maybe either? Are you are you factoring in beyond the quarterback? What about the defense going against those those two teams meet in the Super Bowl? No way I am picking Purty except pretty has actually

outplayed Jimmy Garoppolo statistically. You gotta beat these Do you think this is irrelevant bias by you? I'm talking about the reason it's more defensive based, But it's the fact that he's been able to hit the ground running. They don't feel to me like they've lost anything with him there. I don't know. I just three A teams are the best three teams, not the number the number one according to the are burying the lead here. Derek Carr is no longer going to be at the Raiders. Yeah, and

that one. This one annoys me a little bit. And they could say like, oh, we we have to bench him because we decided he's not part of our future and we can't risk him getting injured. They won't even say that, And all that is just like whatever, what happened to just having some basic decency, Like this guy who who every day for you know, eight years, like

represented or franch as well, played his butt off. Sometimes it was great, sometimes not so hot, but always represented the team I thought in a in a professional way and was a good player. And this is how you just kick him out the door, and you you shut him down and embarrass the guy this way, and it's

like whatever, I don't like the way. I get the reason why you're doing it, but sometimes I feel like there should be when you're doing business, a classier way of handling things that I think the rates tied probably from if you're looking at it from a front office angle. If he were hurt over the next two games, which is highly unlikely. He's very durable quarterback. You're on the hook for thirty two million. But like Dan, I'm not disagreeing with you, Like I think they treat him terribly.

I just think like there were technical problem of reasons why they shut them down. But I said, I mean, I said that Mark in the set. I'm saying you could point the reasons why you shouldn't play him because you have to protect your franchise interest. But how about you just show some respect to some of them if it's not Josh McDaniels running the show here, I don't know if it happens that way. I just don't think it does. I don't think it was Josh McDaniels who

made this decision. Based on Vic Tafer of The Raiders that there was back to back nights of meetings between Josh McDaniels and his GM and it sounded like they were leaning towards keeping Car in the lineup, And according to Tafer, he thinks it's Mark Davis, who's never really been in love with Derek Carson. Essentially like, look, if you guys have decided you're moving on from Derek Carr in the off season, which they had, I don't want

you starting him. Uh. He He wasn't as explicit. I'm not saying he was reporting that, but that's what he believes happened, and that would make sense because he was trying to get rid of Derek Carr for Tom Brady a couple of years ago. They might be trying to get Tom Brady again. I do understand why Derek Carr leaves the team. It really does sound like the two sides met and they tried to be adults about it, like here's the situation, and and both sides understood it's

time to go. And I do think they will be able to trade him. They signed him to a contract last year which turns out to just be essentially a five million dollar rays. We said it at the time, this was not really a long term commitment. But he has a no trade clause as part of that, so he is going to control the situation. We'll get into all that in the offseason plenty. But if Matt Ryan, with his forty million dollar dead cap hit, UH can get a third round pick, and I know once was

you know, cost too much? Uh, Derek Carr can absolutely get some of the learned from some of those deals. I think there's some but one one third round pick. I don't think his contract is crazy, so I think they'll be able to I feel like Derek Carr will be the He will be seen when he's traded somewhere someone that's gonna go absolutely elevate another roster. And I

never viewed Derek car that way. I think he's gonna go somewhere to be like Derek Carr will solve these problems average quarterback, and this has a lot of value. And I think that part of the issue is like in the NFL today, some of these front offices are like, that's not good enough. We need to swing higher and find the big guy. But you might end up way worse, Like you might end up with Tom Brady at age forty six next year playing the way Tom Brady might

have Matt Ryan or Carson Wentz. Derek Carr. This level is a is a better option, and there will be a team, whether it's the Jets or the Commanders or the car like the Cardinals. For some Kyler very happy to have a plan here because that's how you get fired if you bring in someone who's way less than Derek Carr and you suffer another terrible season. And like above the tree tops opening the kimono, here a little bit like not for nothing, We'll go look at the numbers.

Derek Carr's production in the last three years or so under John Gruden compared to what he did with Josh McDaniels. With Davante Adams there. Now you could say that Derek Carr has has blamed for his numbers going down. Sure he does, but maybe there's some scheme in there involved two and then that's your head coach and the guy that's running your operation on the field. Now, it wouldn't surprise me, and this would drive Raiders fans crazy, but just be ready for it. Wouldn't surprise me if we

hear some Davante Adams trade rumors. Remember that he went there to play with his buddy from college. That was the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota Greggy. I am taking the team of a row in a big spot, huge spot at home against the Chicago Bears. You know, you know, nice matchup to prove that last week was one off for the Lions. Two hundred and fifty eight yards. That's how many yards they gave up to the Bears the last time they played in a game they narrowly and

I would say luckily one in Chicago. And yet I think this team is going to respond defensively. I think they're much better when they play with a lead, and I think they can get the lead in this game, and I think that they're going to protect Jared Goff very well against a defensive line for the Bears. It's not been good. The Bears defense playing a little with a little more energy since thereby, I'll give them that credit, but it's not going to be enough. And that's why

I'm locking up the team again. Like that. I mean, they betrade you in the lock camp, but I like that you're showing that respect to them. You're saying that was a fluke. You're not alone, by the way, gentlemen, I intended to start this off with an apology for not being on last week, but then Dan calls me out on Christmas Eve, acts like I'm the bad guy for not having time to do the video last week.

You know, some of us have real jobs. We don't just sit around watching football and talking about our lives all day. You know, we have to go into work put hours in lead people. You guys, go ahead and give me a hard time for not doing the video. Speaking of which, I'm not getting paid to do this. Your ratings have since I've been on. I want to get paid next year. My agent will be in touch. But in the meantime I will give you this one.

We will be locking up for the first time this year, the team of a t L. You're the music justin lock it up? Wait? Did did Nick? What a broadcaster he's becoming? Did he pause there for the two beautiful? Nick? I'm sorry I called you out a Christmas evel of all I mean based on their results? Are you at all concerned? Greg? I am a little bit. My plan was initially to lock up the Eagles and other people, and now it was it was the Eagles. But now

Jalen Hurt sounds like you might return. We'll get to that, and that that doesn't pass the mirror tists as well. I do think that they will respond. The thing that concerns me in this game is, like I said, I think the Bears defense has been played with more energy and that they still have justin fields. But if you can't take care of business at home against the Bears, what are we talking about? All this flowery stuff we talked about the Lions was wrong and I don't believe

they're that team. I believe they're a better team if you go back to when they played the first time. Justin Fields had one of his most explosive days on the ground thirteen carries for a hundred and forty seven and two touchdowns. Detroit gave up three hundred and a million year yards of last week, so it's like that

that weakness still exists. But I'm with you if you are the Lions and you can't offer this Bears team a bad defense itself, because golf and the offense weren't the problem last week against Carolina, like they should be able to put up points. Golf splits at home or insane. And I think the Lions, you know that they're going to be going right. They're learning to become this team that's a different type of Lions team, and you're gonna have these up and down weeks. This will be an

up week. Is that? Does the head coach have the motivational ability to get this team ready after a humbling lassit here from Dan Campbell, I feel like they do. Look, I'm just gonna say this again. It stings. It's awful, um, but man, it's the best thing can happen to us, you know, um, Because I think no matter who you are and whatever you do, some of your best work is when you get your face kicked in, And so I mean that literally. I don't know everybody gets their

face kicked in, but but I do know. Man, when your backs against the wall and you get trotted on and it's and everything that it's worse. You either just stay down there or you get up and you come back motivated and upset um with calculated energy and aggression and men you go and there's a purpose. And so I think this is the best thing for us. You don't think he's setting the town this week. And by the way, for people out there, that is absolutely great advice.

Everybody gets kicked every once in a while. I gotta get back up the measure of a man or a woman. Sometimes you can be the kicker too. If you want to give someone else that gift, if you're saying it, give them, hey, this is for you. Yeah, you grow from it. I'd like them to give the Bears that gift. Then their offensive line kick them in the teeth, like dominate, don't let fields run. They didn't really run with fields last week. I do wonder if that is a little

bit of preservation. They're not gonna sit fields, and I expect that although abral Flus said absolutely not, even though he got his footstepped on and he his left shoulder was aggravated that injury. At certain point, it's like, I get it, But they have the number two overall pick right now. They could end up moving up to number

one a win. Uh, this is how you end up with Zack Wilson instead of Trevor Lawrence and people at the time we're like, oh, yeah, try your hardest, and it's like, well they are rising eight came losing streak the longest in team history. So you took about these coaches that are like on hot seat. Is Aberflus just

automatically safe? No, But I have noticed, like no one ever comments that the Colts defense got better and that I know there's a million reasons why the Bears defense is terrible, but he is a defensive coach and they're like the worst defensive league. It's worth mentioning. But he six. So it's back to me. It's back to me, and I'm going to make a selection. That's how it works. Very clear. I'm going to make us selection in this draft, and that selection is Giants Colts. Let's do that. Okay,

why did you pick that correct. Why don't you I could guess on the off chance the Giants have a layup chance to make the playoffs and the Cults beat them, and he can just dance because I wasn't ready and do a jig. It wasn't ready. I think you made a terrible pick. But just like, knock this game out. I think I think the Giants are gonna play better in this game. I think it's a great challenge for

Daniel Jones in this offense. I think people have been slamming Isaiah Hodgens and Darius Slayton like a little too much now each week. It's like, look, Daniel Jones is out here, and like his receivers are Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgens. Last month, Isaiah Hodgens is a good player. I think he has a like a future in the NFL now that he wouldn't have had if he didn't get this opportunity. Like he's been more durable and consistent as sort of a possession receiver who can can win

someone on one matchups in eight areas. And Darius Layton's a good player. He's gonna be a free agent this year, and it's like, why do they always bench steriously. I'm not saying this is a dynamic receiver group, but those two guys have stepped up. Daniel Jones has stepped up paying better. It's a tough matchup though for Evan Neil in this offensive line, which has struggled against a good

Colts defense. So I think it's the perfect setup. It's a challenging game for their offense, but ultimately a comfortable game for the Giants and they can celebrate a playoff victory at home. That would be pretty special for this team. I know because of the nature of the season, because started so well and they've been in you know, ah precipitous decline with the exception of that Sunday night win over Washington that it doesn't feel like that anymore that

they're having a good year. But if they win this game, as they should and I think they will, it might not be pretty, but it very rarely is when when they win this game, feen or whatever, uh, and they are celebrating that playoff but that's a huge um. That's a huge victory for the organization, uh, for the head coach and everyone in that building. Daniel Jones in a crucial year, in his development and with his UH contract situation. Um, they this is something that no one expected. Who predicted

the Giants to make the playoffs this year. There were tons of tons of reasons to not go down that room. And they're they're winning in and just the way the NFC looks, they could lose and get in the way the NFC looks. But I get it, get it done with. Well, you have no business losing this. I also think that you're playing a cults team that is found a way

to become as broken as possible. I mean, you don't have Shack Leonard or Jonathan Taylor at this point, but your offensive line, which was perceived to be a strength, is given up fifty six sacks and you put Nick Foles back there, who looked absolutely washed and awful on Monday night. So I to me, it's like, this is a great situation for Dexter Lawrence, for our friend cave On Thibodeaux to haveau Thibodeaux have a great game, and that won't help my friendship with him. They they got

a Dorry Jackson back in practice this week. I think this is it's important for the Giants. I think they've played a little better lately, as Ezolari, who injured last week also as a practice, so they're getting healthier. They actually have a good defensive line. That's something they can build around. There's there's some outrageous stats out there, and I was hoping I could find it before you guys stopped talking, but you didn't. You guys stopped talking too soon. Um,

but do you want me to talk again? I mean it's always an yeah exactly, but it was just yeah, sure, I will. Um. The cults know have been outscored an absurd amount of points at the fourth quarter under Jeff Saturday. And I know there's uh, you know, a lot of people want to to dunk on Saturday and dunk on the Colts operation for it, and I'm not here for that. But whatever the intended, um, what what was intended by

ursay here hasn't played out. It's actually led to kind of a little bit more embarrassment for the organization when they could have just installed someone from the coaching staff and ended the season with some level of modicum grace. Instead, this feels like a circus, uh. And it's been just and they're keeping by the way that was news falls will start falls doesn't want to play the last two games. Fowls also like basically had quotes saying he never expected

to see the field this season on any level. So it's like, I'm assuming he's a hard worker, but it's like this is a bizarre reality for him to suddenly be thrust into this situation. The thing I like the least about this Cults team is that they're putting Matt Ryan out to pasture with the worst ending possible, and they're putting Super Bowl hero Nick Foles probably these are the last starts of his career. Come on, insane. India has been out scored in the fourth quarter since the

there was that Dallas thirty three points. No, my nug is, I'm locking up the Giants beat the Jags this week and when next week they have a chance to push Indie to fourth place in the a f C South. The sandwich prop is alive. Just throwing it out there heady times. Pinch me. Uh was the Desert say about that game? By the way, it's like a five point spread. All right, let's move on, Mark back to you. All right,

I'll go Cleveland at Washington. Obviously Cleveland eliminated Washington plane for a lot right now, and you're putting Carson Wentz back in there. I think Greg likes this move um better than I do. Um. I don't have this innate trust and Carson Wentz excepting I think that well, you were saying that you like you Kineke, you call the worst quarterback in the league, which I don't. I don't have any innate trust in Carson Wentz, but I do like the move. I think I think that Carson Wentz.

If anything, it's like they did need They needed to get away from some of Heinekes, like self inflicted wounds and the turnovers, and you just got to find a way to beat a Cleveland defense that I think you can run on. Washington wants to run the ball, and Cleveland's offense has, you know, not to go down this road over and over. But they've looked so disjointed that if you look at the worst two quarterback ratings passer ratings in the league, the second worst is Zach Wilson.

Somehow the worst is the Shawn Watson and it's looked that way. And my bigger issue with Cleveland's offense is that it has completely affected what their strength was, which is Nick Chop. I mean, he just is not in the same situation as he was before. There's a lot of shotgun going on. Washington's defense is better. I think their offense with someone like Jahan Dotson, who has seven touchdowns this season despite missing five games, has become a

big playmaker. You've got Terry McLaurin. You can move against this Brown's defense. It's in Washington, everything's on the line. I think this is ron game. No, I'm not, but I think they're gonna do it. I thought you were going to do it. No, I can't believe the Browns have missed the playoffs nineteen. There's a graph of if you want to sign YouTube years or on NFL networks right, thank you for uh. This is a very winnable game for them. But my thing with Wentz is that I

think his floor is similar to Heineke. Heineck was more or less can assistant as who he was, and I think Wentz will give you that at worst, which is a couple of decent plays and a couple of plays that drive you absolutely crazy and overall it's bad. But the better level of Carson Wentz and we've seen plenty of it, including in Washington. Uh this year. Like even a good Wentz game or the good Wins games you got from the cults, those are all better than the

good Heineke games to me. So to me, the ceiling is higher. I don't think the floor is getting any lower. And I think it's really telling. With Ron Rivera and a playoff spot on the line and new ownership supposedly coming this offseason, this is riverbolt Ron if there ever was one. This is as gutsy as a pick as there is, and he trust Wentz. I'll give it to him, and it does feel like ahead and start. This is it. This is everything that we built up through the summer.

Carson Wentz is a goal to take command on the private jet. Maybe one more take would have been good. There he's so wishes he never recorded. If he doesn't play well, um or even if he does play well, he would have to play outstanding football. I think otherwise we're gonna see a complete reboot of this organization. Way to bring car ownership, maybe head coach, quarterback. I think a lot of change for a team that's still in the mix. I think there is that possibility. If they

lost out, Yeah, they're another team. If they lost out, it would be bad for once because he lost to win an in games to close last year on a different team, so there's no way he'd stick around in Washington. If that's the case, you gotta win this game. Chase Young return last week and really looked like Chase Young. So they have a huge strength upfront that will make it harder on Cleveland. And this is a great game of like do steaks matter? We really get into like

this team's gonna try harder this week. This is this is a perfect test case of like the Washington Commanders have everything on the line. They the brown do not. Their season is absolutely over into even teams. You would think that should be a difference. I don't know if that's a difference, but it should I think matter a lot. Then the Commanders win this game and perhaps perhaps uh it could not be a more fitting way for Cleveland

season too to end. Then the way that game went last week, Mary Cooper slips wide open in the back of the end zone, uh to miss a surefire touchdown past that's a four point play, and then Donovan Peoples, Jones and David and Joco both failed to come up with really good Deshaun Watson passes that would have uh stolen that game and kept them in the mix, but

it didn't. So it was just yet another um on the previous drive to throw the ball on close to the end zone on second and two and third and two, and then Watson gets dropped to the ground on fourth and two. It's like, what were you the Browns? For Watson to show some semblance of his talent in the last two weeks, I think they would. They would love to see that. They need that. It's like a narrative change to that point. If he gets a little help from his teammates. People are saying he had a good

game last week, but he didn't. But he doesn't comfortable, kind of like I was talking about with Donald previously in his career, Like, yeah, he could have made a couple of throws that I think anyone in that system could have made, but he isn't going through his programming. He's just not playing quarterback. Well, he's been out for two years. It's like, yeah, well, whose fault was that? Like you knew that when you signed, Well, they went

from fifth in yards per game. He wasn't recovering from an a C L he was recovering from something that got him removed from the NFL. Truth Truth. Let's take a break, We'll be right back. Welcome back. All right, let's wrap this draft up. We got five more games. Let's roll through it. Let's start with the New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles. Interesting, the Saints improbably still alive at six and nine, uh in the NFC South Race,

So this game matters a lot to them. And here are the Eagles now at thirteen into What do the Eagles need? What do they need to do? They gotta clinch the number one seed. How do they do it? Win a game? Win a game. Who's the quarterback for the Eagles. It's the latest as of taping right now, Greg rose Doll. Jalen Hurts is gonna be on the field. He was on the field to start practice on Thursday throwing some passes. They don't know what his official designation is,

whether that means he's returning or not. But I do think our guy Ian Rappaport put it out there on Wednesday that, like, keep an eye, Jalen Hurts might end up playing in this game. We have some sound from Nick Serrianti on Jalen Hurts, he was a tough man. He will continue to see how how he progresses throughout the week. Um, you know, does he have a chance. Of course he does, because his body heals. His body

just knows how to heal. He's he's a freak, and so we'll see what happens as the as the week progresses. How does his body differently for everybody else? If you and him went up and you does shot baskets together, he'd whoop you. If you guys went out and you guys raced against each other, he'd whoop you if you guys went out And uh, let's see try to throw

the football. So he was to throw up more accurate or further and so his body heals faster, you know a sports reporter, Yeah, you know, I guess he's just saying he's an athlete at a higher level. But I understand yet anybody else noticed a little h Kevin Patrick energy with Nick Sirianni, what about see where you're coming

from a little bit. So, I mean he's been talking about this for two weeks now, Sirianni, about what a freak Hurts is, So I'm expecting him to play at this point now, because you don't just keep on talking about how top a guy is and now he heals so quickly and then keep him out an extra week. So if he does play, I think Eagles role in this game. If Gardner Minshew plays, maybe it's a little tighter.

But either way, I think this is a game that Philadelphia is going to grasp the moment understand they don't want to mess around and push this thing to Weka teen where things get freaky. I predict a blowout. Eagles are the number one seed in the NFC comes Sunday night. You also don't have Lane Johnson, so you're you're potentially with or without you're starting to go back you don't

have it. Sounds like Lean Johnson will be back for the playoffs though, which is that is a show of um fortitude and strength as well because he's dealing with a peck injury. I think it's an abdominal tendon injury. But then think about it, if if they take care of business here without Lane Johnson, they think he could be back by the place you have the buy, which means he misses essentially one game that matters and you have him back if everything goes to plan in the

divisional playoffs. I would say the thing of the thing that's optimistic no matter what happens with all this is that Minshew against the Cowboys, um, we we thought he'd play well. We I think Minshew is shown he can do that is his numbers have been good career wise, but they didn't have to go change the offense a lot for him. I think it's like you, you you don't

have to cope to be something completely different hurts. It's gonna obviously give you something on the ground, and you can base an entire games scheme around that if you want. It's not gonna happen with Minshew to some degree at all, but he makes the throws. I thought that. I thought for the Eagles, offense is so balanced that you just need him to not make mistakes. What happened last week, I thought it was closer than it needed to be at times because Minshew did make a couple of mistakes,

so you need him to be error free. The Saints defense has been played, has played better lately. You know they've They've been a little closer to what you expected coming into this season. I would say the last six or seven weeks, if Dennis Allen wants to uh prove that he should stick around and that he's a great defensive coach and that this all was just a lot of bad luck because there were a lot of injuries and there were let's see it you shut down the Eagles, Uh,

then we believe it. I don't believe it. I am curious how the Eagles will respond here. They've only lost once all year, and you think like, oh, they're gonna come out with their hair on fire. Remember the last time they lost, they almost lost to the Jeff Saturday Colts. They were down sixteen six and they got it done in the end. But it's not like they came out playing great and the Saints team is okay. I I wanted to lock this up. This is like the lock

that I feel the most confident. But I looked at the line before we taped. It just moved from six to six and a half. I kind of see with Hurts possibly starting, it'll move over that. So I I couldn't look in the mirror and do it. But just know, I think the Eagles will win this game about thirty four to ten, even if Garden Bye they're nice. It's it's been annoying. See your next summer uh game six snakes to me. Broncos at Chiefs. All right, let's roll

through this one. The Broncos obviously a team in turmoil. They fired their head coach after dropping again a fifty burger dropped on him by Baker Mayfield and the Rams. So that's where they're at. By the way, I was on Ricky's ram Jam podcast over in rams Land, Erica tam Pose yesterday, so check that out. And also Ricky gonna join us on the Friday fund. I did that show. It's a delightful vehicle coming out of a little football, a little bit of fun. It's very Ricky esque, very Ricky.

Let's move on into the game talk. I think the Kansas City Chiefs gonna take care of business here. This is an easy win. It's almost been a weird Chiefs back into the season where I feel like the schedule has been very soft and every week it seems like they you know, just that. Let me take a look at this schedule because it feels like maybe I'm crazy, but let's look at it. Say they had they had

a bad Rams team. They had since a Nati lost play field goal at Denver at Houston Seattle and Flames Denver, and then they get the Vegas. They couldn't possibly be easier, so they should absolutely go fourteen and three. Uh. And then you just hope that the Bengals beat the Bills and Walla the Chiefs of the number one seed. I hope that doesn't happen because I don't think they're the best team in the C, but they certainly have the

best pack. I see these three teams in the a f C as like basically equal because only one of them has my homes the I'm sick of the Chiefs hosting the AC championship. It's totally fair, and they would have the easier path. I think there are some things to watch for for them in this game in the

next two weeks. Number One, their defense, like under spack Nola, has shown a propensity to be very mediocre throughout the course of the season and then suddenly pick it up at the end, and so just keeping an eye on that. They did play well last week, like can they dominate this game coming to the the postseason feeling a little more confident about who they are and in their offense. Look, they were first in the league and e p A expected points added right there by, so much like number

two was way behind. So their offense is still playing well. But if you look over the last six weeks or so, their fourth in the league, and they're so they're back to just being like a really good offense. And I think to your point, Dan, for them to be the best team in the NFL, they need to be the best offense. They need to be putting up points. They can't just be a top five offense. They have to get exactly. They gotta get back to just lighting teams up.

So I'm gonna put a fifty burger feel good about you. They're legitimately a different attack than they were a year ago, and it's it's Tyreek Hill. I mean, Kelsey's on on pace to break his own personal career records. So you still have Kelsey, but they have twelve players with multiple touchdowns, which is the most in the NFL. The record in the NFL is thirteen. Mahomes has been using his running backs in his tight ends so heavily this season that

they're literally just a different attack. McKinnon has been huge for them. I want to see more narious Tony two. So they got things to work on. Uh. And just because I don't want to denigrated at all what the

Chiefs have done. It is hugely impressive what they've done in the Mahomes eras starting twelve and four made to the conference title game, twelve and four won the Super Bowl, fourteen and two lost the Super Bowl, twelve and five lost the conference title game, and now twelve and three and they've beaten the Broncos fourteen straight times, which is an embarrassment for Denver. That's why I'm locking it up now. Alright, gonna go Jacksonville at Houston. Trevor Lawrence at speaking of

weird records, has never beaten the Texans. Now. Two of those games obviously happened last year when Lawrence and the Jaguars were held hostage by Urban Meyer. Uh. I think we've already talked about Lawrence a ton. What's happening here is really special. I thought the Jets game was sort of a in terrible weather. Another example of Trevor Lawrence

kind of like with Patrick Mahomes. From Patrick Mahomes has we always knew he could run, but his legs have been a real difference maker in that Kansas City offense, and I thought against the Jets, Lawrence showed that he has that element of absolutely and like, I think that's when it matters when you're there are a lot of different type of running quarterbacks and it's not this type of size, but to be six ft six and you're watching it right here on the clip if you're watching

NFL never like just to run the way he does with his power. I think that's just something that is another special element to a player that at the beginning of the season was real up and down. It's a Doug Peterson obviously bump as well. The coaching helps, but Trevor Lawrence just seems to me, ever since that London game, which he noted where something clicked in his mind where it is time to become who you can become. And I think they could beat any team in the league

right now. And I know the Texans have been really well coached. A couple of weeks, they pushed the buttons of the Chiefs not to too too long ago. They've been winning winning games here and they're they're not just the team that we just dismissed out of out of hand, but Jacksonville, this is a huge moment for them. You gotta set up that week at they're going to win

this game. But because it just comes down to week because the matter, because they still have an outside shot at the wild card each week eighteen, but ultimately it's down to Week eighteen. So really, Jacksonville doesn't need to win this game. And they've also lost nine straight as a franchise to the Texans. Change those records, just keep rolling. They've been changing record alright, Uh anything else in that game? Boys, I think the Texans are finding some young players. Jalen

Petriet has been playing great for them. Obo o'caran Quo has made some money. He's going to be a free agent. The Jaguars made a point to say they're not going to rest any starters. Doug Peterson doesn't want to rest and uh, yeah, this is a great streak. To end nine straight losses is a lot and they've they've ended a lot of these streaks like haven't won on the road, haven't done this, haven't done that, and this one because this will show t laws improvement. He was not good

in that first game against the Texans at all. It's got to be like the Houston's wins over the last like straight, Houston and the fans all know this. Stay right where you are. There is one number one pick right now. Don't win another game. There is one more thing in this game. I'm locking up the Jaguars. Is he gonna do it? Is he gonna do it? What's the spread of that one? It was quite you're is It wasn't too crazy thinking that the Jags could wrestle me.

I think maybe they're maybe they're pointing to some of these bizarre Houston Jacksonville trends that we've it's four. I think the Texans are The way they've played over the last month have has engendered. When was the last time they didn't cover? I guess with jackson was playing well though. That's a good luck Marky. By the way, what is the checking on the lock standings? Where are we at as we head towards the penultimate week of the regular season? Penultimate?

It does go through the playt Yes, it does. Basically the final locks standings give Greig the trophy. I'm at twelve and four. I'm literally only one game up with eight weeks to go. I like this is like the old school of the NFL standing sixteen game schedule, Greggy, twelve and four zoos an five mark your name spelled right, and the correct record is that. Yeah, I don't know what. I don't know. That was a sort of a gag that died out. I haven't seen that in mind, whoever

made one? Third place? There? Ten and six, the West Brothers hanging around at nine and seven, and Grave Digger at this point, Grave Diggers in the Mike Tomlin camps, like, can I just finish over five? Grave Digger? Yeah, honoring his team, the Titans by being a seven win team with um. All right, let's move on, Greggy. Oh, we have games to go. Let's go Rams and Chargers. It's the battle for l A. I just said that and said it. I just tacked it up. Okay, we're just

we're making it a thing. You should go the showdown in the south Land. That's good. I do like that these uh like the front offices, don't like each other like I think the ownership, Like the war on the West Coast, there is a whole thing between the ray Ums and Chargers that's similar to Giants Jets back in the day when the Jets were a tenant of the The Giants creates a little bit of heat. Yeah, that the charge he called a giant stadium. That's been a

little bit of a slap. Let's make no mistake. The Chargers are tenants of the Rams and uh, I'm sure they would love those Super Bowl rings. But right now they're the toast of the town. They're the heavy favorite. They're the defense that over the last five weeks is the top five defense in terms of de v O Way and they can snuff out this Baker Mayfield story.

I love what Brandon Staley has done. I really think he's he's kind of change what he does on a week week basis in a Belichickian way, and I think the players finally get it, like they understand the defense enough and he's being able to coach it enough that they can be flexible about who they did. They designated Joey Bosa to return off I r that just means he's practicing, doesn't mean he's playing in that what a

great sign for this team. Derwin James is in the concussion protocol, so it sounds like he probably won't play it is I mean, it does help that I think Sean McVeigh knows Brandon Staley's defense I think that in other situations when he's familiar with the defensive coordinator. It what happened last week, Like I know that like the Baker Mayfield thing. It's not unlike Sam Donalds me, at least a month ago, we were wondering at Baker Mayfield

because of his sort of personality makeup. He wouldn't be a backup. He'd be Curry creating problems. Like he's changed his career with this whole Sean McVeigh thing, and I think it's changed the Rams end of their season. And he was like twenty three of twenty six under pressure last week, but two touchdowns, so it's working. And they have all their stars out, so I think it's it's you know, I would heavily favor the Chargers in this, but what the Rams did against so the Dolphins was

real to me. They match up well because Akers is really playing with juice. He's changed his uh trajectory over the last couple of weeks, like he looks fantastic, And I do think you can run against the Chargers. Yeah, I think. Um, you know, if I'm Baker, I know, if you finished the season strong, you're gonna want to test the market and see if maybe there's a stay

right here. I agree, I think maybe there's a case to be made for him staying in l A play behind the old man quarterback, and you're probably gonna get another opportunity now, whether he takes the long game or I assume the Rams would be interested in staying in business with him he finishes strong, It'll be interesting to see how that plays out. Um and if they if they could win this game, it is kind of like their super Bowl. They would love to beat the freaking Chargers.

They would love to meet him. Yeah, And and on the Charger side of this, you know the Chargers are an interesting team is that they're a playoff team. And as a fan of a Star Cross team, I like when a team takes care of business the way they did against the bad Colts last week. Just clinch the playoff uh spot and don't let any of the demons into the building. And now you have a chance against

the Rams team that I know. They destroyed the Broncos, who obviously have all sorts of issues, but they're there. They're not a good team this year. And then they're at Denver, who were the team that the Rams destroyed they can go into the playoffs feeling really good, potentially at eleven and six and be a heart out with Justin Herbert in his first playoff game. So I think there's incentive for the Chargers to keep rolling here while resting the guys that are banged up. Finally Cardinals, we

mean finally Cardinals Falcons. This is the one dead game you referred to. There's only one this week. This is a trash bag game. This is trash bag teams right now, and it's it's tough, it is, it is what it is, though, Greggy, I watched the Hard Knocks. Um there's a lot of cult McCoy involved. Yeah, I don't know. It just is so depressing that I just thought, how are they going to handle this thing with? We got a lot of J J. Watt Or is that next week's finality? I

guess so perfectly. I was curious about that too. I got fast forward to some of it. But they they didn't know he was gonna retire, clearly because they didn't have anything extra. It's been a lot of Trey McBride going to Denver. It's been cult McCoy, a lot of cult McCoy. Uh. I've I've enjoyed parts of it, but it's sad. It is sad. I love vance Joseph. That's the one thing that this thing has made me feel. I want I kind of want them to win, just for the hard stake of it. Win a game. This

is there miserable. I think everyone's I think it's there's gonna be turned over in the coaching staff and just get one win to go out on at least. Yeah, I mean they put food a baker on I R which it sounded like, you know, he thought he was hurt before and he suddenly was healthy days later. But I thought it was interesting that Cliff Kingsbury he finished that game too, and made a tackle right on the goal line against the Bucks, like with a broken shoulder.

That dude is crazy. Not a great look for Cliff Kingsbury to not even know that J. J. Watt was going to retire. Am I reading too much into that? That feels like a weird what's a personal decision? And I don't know J J. Watt did it how he wanted to do it. I'm not gonna Yeah, it just seems very Cardinals asked to have no concept. I feel

like nothing matters with the Cardinals. Right now, with the Falcons, at least you could point to Desmond Ritter was a day to draft pick um in a bad quarterback draft class, I would imagine the Falcons would be very active looking at quarterback options in the off season. Could Desmond Ritter with a couple of good games at the end of the season changed in minds. I know it seems silly, Oh who cares what happens in the last two meaningless games of the season, But teams do put stock into that.

Consider played well, it's good tape to look at, he played a say it's worthless. But sometimes I think too much. I think they overdo it. Like coaches saved their jobs by a great Week seventeen or Week eighteen something. So their fourth and sixth in the draft order right now, so that's what matters. And they can get some nice tight ends there, you know, get another wide receiver, another tight end. Um. All right, we're good. There you go.

That is the Week seventeen preview. Check back in on Sunday night when we do our flagship podcast on a t N and cover every game that we just previewed here. Thank you, uh and remember the Friday fun show check that out and uh five shows a week. We do it all. Happy New Year, everybody heat the call SA