2022 Week 18 Preview

how we doing boys? I think in higher spirits after watching that press conference from the the University of Cincinnati, absolutely, Dr Timothy Pritz and Dr William Knight spoke with the media gave us updates on where Hamlin stands, who, of course, suffered the cardiac cardiac arrest during Monday's game against the Bengals, and we learned m Thursday that he has shown quote remarkable improvement over the past twenty four hours and this

is huge as well, appears to be neurologically intact, according to the doctor. Speaking of the doctors, UH. One of the things we learned, Mark Uh was that um Hamelin was responsive, opening his eyes and even in writing for him, asked if the Bills had won the game on Monday night, unaware obviously of everything that had transpired after he went down on the field. Here is what Dr Pritz had to say the paraphrase one of our partners, you know, when when he asked, did we win, the answer is yes,

you know tomorrow you won. You've won the game of life. Uh. And that's probably the most important thing out of this, and we really need to keep him in the center of everything else that's going on, and we really want to ensure a good outcome for him. They also mentioned that, you know, he's shown the ability to move his hands and feet, he's able to nod to respond to questions. I mean, he's obviously not speaking verbally because he's you know,

under under their his breathing is still being helped. As things stand, it is. Yeah, he's still seen. He's in the i c U as of right now, and he's still critically as the doctor said, so it's not a situation where himlin is out of the woods, but just some really positive updates here right now, Greggy. Yeah, just them talking at all, it was such a great sign

and you could tell. And I was amazed how many questions they answered and the details that they went through, and I think they made it clear that none of this was guaranteed from the moment that he went down, giving all the credit in the world to the Bills medical staff for acting so quickly and so perfectly within a minute, and that even when he got to the hospital, that there were a lot of concerns and that in the last twenty four hours some of those concerns, including

you mentioned the neurologically being stable and him starting to progress, like are making everyone that are surrounding this story feel better about his recovery. But they didn't want to push forward into what this all means moving forward. They just want to get him back up and running and be

able to go home with his family. Yeah. I thought that they you know, underlined over and over the job that the Bills medical staff did, and that the fact that the NFL's processes in place um were so tight and practice prepractice before this happened, and that the Bills doctors recognized what was going on in the nick of time and had they not, things could be very different.

But they absolutely did a great job with that. And I'm not putting words into anyone's mouth, but just by what the doctors were saying, the way things transpired, how they transpired, what what he Although we don't know specifically what actually the medical event was beyond the cardiac arrest. This could have and perhaps should have been a fatal event. But instead it was his age, they said, his fitness.

Uh and the medical care which arrived in less than a minute, and world class medical care arriving almost instantaneously. It saved the kid's life. And and and that is it's a remarkable confluence of events here. Obviously that transpired, and um, we're still kind of like processing and and

learning all these things as they go along. But it's it's it's an unbelievable kind of life event, and we're all kind of tracking it in real time, right Like we're gonna end up pivoting here, just like the teams, amazingly are gonna be pivoting that we're in this game.

Bills in Bengals to talking about football. But while like we had a chance to watch these guys, you were happy that they got to do this press conference in a way, not that they necessarily are begging to they're providing a service for us and giving us more information, but for a half hour and hour, just for like a world the sports world to marvel how medical professionals are total badasses and heroes. And one of the moments where it reminded me of that is when they asked them,

you know, have you ever seen anything like this? And the honest answer from the doctors, we deal with this every day, like cardiac arrest is something that is our specialty that we're dealing with on a minute by minute, hour by our basis. In every case is different, and the fact that it was a Bengals player in Monday night football is what is unprecedented. And they said, look, everyone that wasn't watching um and attending to the care

of their patients at the moment when this happened. We're at the hospital watching this game, and a lot of their friends who work at the hospital and doctors were at the game because it's it's the Bengals, and of course you're you're watching the game, and so for them to transition from watching that game in that moment to the treating, yeah, you get the sense that just I mean, thankfully, so thankfully every little thing went right here and had had taken a little bit turn in a different place,

we don't know where we'd be. But like this is about as hopeful as a spot as we could be sitting in at this point here on Thursday and before all this stuff happened. I think it was Monday afternoon before the game. And and you talked about Greggy yesterday on our podcast we did with Cameron Wolf on the scene in Cincinnati. Nick Wesley was supposed to do the Monday night recap with you if things went the way people expected things to go on Monday. And it's just

a regular game. And he was telling us for the game, the whole city was on fire. And I wrote about in the in the power rankings this week, UM that it is crazy that a game that started, um, a week that started Monday with the Bills is just the enemy. Um.

And Cincinnati ended with that city skyline bathed in Buffalo blue. UM. So just like crazy and and speaking of crazy, like and we're gonna get to the games in a second, yere, but I just want to say one more thing, because we just learned this minutes ago watching the press conference with the two doctors of the fact um that Hamlin wrote it out like you know who won the game? What a mind bender it must have been to be

told actually no, they didn't finish the game. And and and I imagine even whatever state he's in, uh, it's gonna be a lot to process as he continues to hopefully, and it sounds like he is getting better. Like all of these teams, I mean, they just they're interwoven in ways that we just don't know from the outside. But we've started to see a lot of that with both the Bengals and the Bills, and it almost isn't surprising to me. That was one of his first questions, like,

what happened to my guys out on that field? You know, you you're waking up to the sense that you weren't there to finish that game. Uh, that's the first question he asked. It says a lot about who the buffalo he hears about his charity. Well, that will that's like the whole country and city cities being in blue. We are taping this, you know, as you can tell after right after this press conference, but also at a deficit

of some information. So just to keep in mind as we're going over these games that we still don't know that what the NFL is going to do in terms of scheduling and seeding, and that will probably happen at you know, sometime this week, whether it's Thursday or Friday, after we finished taping. But we can still our show in our luck this season on the Thursday show seconds after we published a show, you'll have a very clear vision of how they're handling the schedule. But we could

just do the entire show at the startup. We'll do it again. But as of right now, Week eighteen is on as scheduled, the Monday night football game postpone owned with no clear path right now, at least from the public standpoint of what they're doing next. Now imagine on three forty Park Avenue. This has been a constant conversation trying to figure out how to make this work because there are some strand will get into it. Uh here, some strange schedule quirks involved. Now, if that game does

not get finished, let's get into the games. We usually start with the primetime games, and we will. We'll hit the prime time games. So let's start with an afternoon game, because we have two games scheduled for Saturday. Okay, let's start with the Chiefs at Raiders four thirty pm from Allegiance Stadium in Vegas. And this is one of the

games that's impacted. So the Chiefs right now, for instance, are a team that um based on if Monday night's game played out in a certain way, they would be on the outside looking in potentially for the number one seed in an FC. They now have a chance to claim the number one seed in the a f C with a win over the Raiders, depending on how the league proceeds forward. But for us, they need to take care of business against the Raiders. That a team that is now not playing for anything in terms of the

playoffs Las Vegas, but the Chiefs certainly are. Yeah, we will have to see on the seating because the NFL there's been a lot of things thrown out there, uh, and there's a lot of options that that could end up affecting what their seating is. But either way, they're gonna really want to win this game to get a higher seed and to have a home field for as long as possible in the playoffs, depending on what the

NFL decides to do. And I don't count this is just like an automatic w just because every Chief's game is complicated lately, whether it's against the Broncos, you know, it's whether it gets it's against the Texans, or whether it's against Jared's did him? I mean, that was the most surprising performance by any single player I can think of this season. He bawled out. I know he and you know he made a couple of bad as two here, one bad interception really and then the other he got hit.

But he played incredible in that game. Those weren't like flukey plays. He showed an athleticism and movement like throwing to his left, all this stuff that I have no idea if that will ever happen again or not, But he showed some real physical gifts that makes me more interested in watching this game when I would have been with Derek Carr and it happened across from Brock Purty, who has produced some of the most incredible performances that

we never would have predicted across the field. And I think, you know, the Niners were, obviously, I mean, because they've been so airtight as a defense, caught off guard by

Jared Sidham. And I think how aggressively Josh McDaniels, you know, ordered slashed, allowed him to be early on that stid him out of nowhere, because you know, we've seen him with the Patriots and he looked like a regular dude, and out here he was firing aggressive shots down field, looking like he had practiced with Davante Adams for weeks on weeks, and at one point, I mean he had never thrown for more than seventy two yards in a game. He had two hundred forty six yards and three touchdowns

before his first real mistake, that tipped interception. Yeah. I was struck, just like you guys, how comfortable he looked leading the offense offense, how confident he clearly was. And maybe he's just like kind of a swaggy dude. I don't know much about studhim, but you could tell he

was Likeason. He certainly seemed like it um right up to like shots to the luxury suite with it with his wife with a Stidham shirt, celebrating everybody, almost like seemed in the Stidham universe, like no, this is this guy could play and he's gonna ball out. And he

certainly was showing that on the field. And I did see some of the reporting too out there connected to the Raiders, like well, yeah, like he knows, he knows and understands Josh McDaniels playbook, insinuating in a way that Derek Carr didn't quite grasp, and that explained why he looked more comfortable than even Car in the McDaniels offense. All that's kind of interesting and against and we'll get

back to the Chiefs in a second. But said, against the backdrop of the big splash that was supposed to make the Raiders a a f C contender this year was Davante Adams joining the Raiders and he's been as good as it advertised this season. But he also went there in large part the way it was spun to us on some level because his buddy Derek Carr was there.

Derek car ain't gonna be there next year, and Davante Adams um spoke with the media on Wednesday explaining, this is where things stand with me in my future here. But I also I want a voice me Josh Ziz. We all got a really good um dynamic and it's something that I really appreciate. And um, I've I've mentioned

it to them as well. You know, obviously they don't have to do anything as far as I'm not I'm not a part of the you know, the front office, but um, obviously they know the reason why I came here, and you know, a step like this is obviously something that means a lot to me and my personal career and obviously what I'm trying to chase as far as you know, the ultimate pursuit to get that ring. So we obviously got a good understanding for one another, and

that that helps his whole process. I think you gotta give him a voice. I mean, you can't have an unhappy Davante Adams a month in the next season. They do that. They where they stand right now, the Raiders have the number seven overall pick. I mean, the whispers are that you might get Tom Brady would be hard to imagine. Davante Adam has been too nonplussed about the idea of Brady coming into a system where he knows

that Josh McDaniels playbook as well. I can't imagine that Jared Stidham is a real option no matter what, so so he it's a big game for him, it's a big game for McDaniels. There's been actually a almost a recurrence of some thought that Mark Davis could pull a surprise if like the end of the season had Gonne bad. But I think yards on the number one defense in the league against the forty niners and then this game

against the worst red zone defense in the league. Chiefs put up some points that you'll with Jared Stidham, I think you'll look better, but I also don't. I've been like talking about the Raiders like it's not like I'm picking the Raiders to win this game. The Raiders defense are playing guys they've never heard of at this point,

very quietly. Like half of their starting defense, which already was bad, got injured, and they're playing a guy their linebackers last week where Luke Masterson and Harvey Langy sounds like a detective show. Yeah. This was the game, by the way, where the Raiders were up seventeen. This is the one of the earliest earmarks of what they've been

doing all season. They were up seventeen nothing against the Chiefs in that game where Travis Kelsey had three touchdowns and they you know, Mahomes had four by the end of the game. But there you there, you go, get the lead, give up the leader. I wrote this week that the Raiders season is very Vegas in general. You know, they lost ultimately, but it was entertaining. They had a good time Um and Patrick Mahomes, especially with Jalen Hurts

missing the last couple of weeks. Seems like this is where you could put the finishing touches on another m v P. He is as someone who hasn't been as pumping up Mahomes as much as year. He's over five thousand yards with forty touchdowns this year on a team that could be the number one seed. So the next quarterback last week was a perfect example, like he almost felt like played perfect. They still somehow barely be the Broncos.

He's making crazy plays. I think they're really trying to develop Coadarius Tony for the playoffs as one of their main weapons. And also Jerick McKinnon having seven touchdowns since Week thirteen. Great look for Jack McKinnon, but all so, it's a great look for Patrick Mahomes and his greatness. Okay, let's move on to the other primetime game. Let's bring in the Grave Digger. That was the grave Digger justin. How are you, buddy? I'm great? How are you getting

long week for all of us? I hope you're doing okay. But the Tennessee Titans, your team losers of four straight. Is that the correct number? I think it's six. It feels like they're seven and nine, but they can win the A f C South. I think it's it's even because Week seventeen was so kind of weird and annoying in terms of the a f C South set up that it just kind of put everything into perfect purgatory.

But now here we are, and as bad as the things have gone for the Titans, if they have one good night on Saturday, they got a home game in the playoffs next week. And I know we don't necessarily feel great about them as a postseason team, but that's how close they are. But they get the Jaguars here, Grave Digger, who are going and gone in the opposite direction.

They're winning every week. I know your confidence isn't high, but is there something in your heart as a fan, and that's things they could maybe figure out something here. I actually think the Titans can win this game now they have they're the healthiest they've been in a while. That still includes like Ryan Tannehill too, starting offensive lineman, Bud dupree Zat Cunningham all an injured reserve, so they're

not exactly healthy, but the healthiest they've been. And the Jaguars have won four straight starting with the last game against the Titans, so that kind of kicked off the Jags winning streak. This is a sort of revenge game. The Titans have way more experience in these big games under Mike Vrabel. Obviously, Josh Dobbs starting at quarterback has the least experience anyone. But I think the defense can play at a higher level because they're healthy the Cowboys.

The game against the Cowboys last week actually gave me confidence. They were able to keep it close. The offense looked a lot better than it has with Malik Willis with Josh Jobs starting at quarterback. The Jags are a good team, They're hot, They're playing some of their best football right now. But everyone's picking the Jags. I saw an article today that like rounded up the expert picks, twenty picking the Jags, zero picking the Titans. Nobody thought the Titans could get

the one seed last year. No one thought they deserved to get it. They did it anyway. No one thinks that Titans are going should be in the playoffs. No one wants towards them in the playoffs. They know it. Everyone knows it. The Titans are winning this game. I'm locking it up and I'll bring some sanity to the proceedings. And what entered into a lockoff. I'll take the Jaguars. Yeah, same, that was my plan. Wow, this is why is sitting

in last place. The Titans are thirty at an offensive d v o A. Since everything's fallen off the floor in week thirteen, I mean they are inept. They in the Bears are the only teams without a wide receiver that have over five yards in the season. And so you're really counting on a big game from Derrick Henry and the one thing you can do against the Jaguars metrics wise, like you can run on the inside against them between the tackles, and Henry has done that before.

He had a big game against them last time. But in that same game, that's where they got up again Jacksonville and Jacksonville and furled twenty nine straight points on them, and you started to see the new version of Trevor Lawrence, who looks utterly unstoppable. At this point. It's unfair to get on Derrick Henry because there's not a lot around him. But when they needed him to be Superman again this year,

he hasn't quite been that way. And he's fumbling the ball a lot, and you know it's just it's all off though having off a week off, he can he can run. I was impressed. You actually are making me think maybe this isn't the best lock in the world. We could sweat it out for sure, because they showed something in the running game last week. They were able to run the ball with their four new offensive linemen. And who was even running? Was it Haskins last week?

I don't even remember this chesnuts like they Actually they had a pretty good running game against the Jaguars. It's a division game. You mentioned the guys that are back in the secondary for Tennessee. Say at least it gives him a chance of Monny Hooker and Christian Fulton and Trevor Lawrence. The last two weeks hasn't been on fire. He did not play well against the Texans. Well, they didn't need him to do much less didn't. He missed a lot of throws. It was his worst game in

a while. Uh and the jag The Jets game was a weather game. I just if if if Mike Rabel is as good as we've pumped him up to be, they will be competitive in this game and will sweat it out a little. But I still feel okay, I do think that it was a savvy move to like take the shot and looking at Dobbs versus Malik Willis, because that Malik Wills just did not look ready and Dobbs, we get it. He's he is just sort of mezzanine

level fill in the blank quarterback here. But he was much more competent than Willis in terms of like, I think I could expand the offense a little bit. They can, They must feel more. I feel like he could either be amazing or they'll they'll lose. You know, I was

just saying, they'll be competitive. He could be the reason they win this game or the reason they lose pretty quickly, because in that game was sort of the opposite to me was he made five or six incredible throws, but he also made some things they would expect that of Dobbs, Like it was very up and down, like he had some next level players that were like, Okay, see why he's playing, But he also looked like a guy who

had been there for three one straight. To Trevon Diggs should have been a pick six and digs it was. It was a lot of everything. It showed something with awareness. He fumbled twice and didn't really step up I thought it was a little overplayed, including on the telecast about his level of play compared to Malik Will's. I think he was maybe net neutral in the end. It was some like plays up here and then plays way down here. Um, But I guess that's more than you saw from Willis.

And I just think I think Frabil just like completely verbally quarterback. He looked like an NFL Q. Yeah, I agree, kind of like in a perfect scenario, a Ryan Fitzpatrick or Heinuck type that might hit some big time get. He just has to keep the offense on schedule and protect the ball. Titan's turned it over four times in the last game against the Jags. If they hadn't done that, it's a totally different But they did do that. It's been a horrible month and a half. But you just

gotta get hot for three and a half hours. There you go. That's it. This is an ESPN game. Have some balls bounce your way. You'll be fine. I mean, have some balls in general, step up and salvage your year. Like what we definitely need is another week of this Texans team. So I'm totally with the grave dicker, right. I hope they can't can't fix it. Now. Let's we'll be right back. All right, we are back. Let's uh

so that was Saturday Slate January seven. Let's move to the prime time game January Sunday night Football, the last game of the regular season. Probably, I don't know. We'll see Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers. Love it, Love it, Mark, they did it. I like, I haven't been on board with a lot of the decisions of the powers that be in the schedule room for the NFL this year. Um, But even though there's a possibility that the Lions are eliminated by the time this game gets played, I think

this is great theater. I think the Packers are playing great. Aaron Rodgers, the back to back reigning m v P is uh. On the field, it's Lambeau and Detroit has been this great story all season long. And there is an also a reality where things go their way. Seattle loses earlier on Sunday, and all of a sudden you

have an awesome playing game headed into the plow. I certainly prefer the ladder, but I accept the former because I think that this Lions team, and you know, Greg, you talked about this last week too, it's like, no matter where they are in this situation, this season is a major win for the coaching staff, for the players, for guys like Jared Goff, and there's no you're not gonna get any version of them because they've been knocked out of a playoff race that they're going to not try.

They're gonna absolutely do everything they can. You are facing them. I think another great story. And I can't believe I'm saying this because I've never been pro packers, but what Aaron Rodgers has done with this team and what they've done in general with their defense to win all these games, to get to this place. He's five and oh in his career and win an in games. It's in Lambeau. They're they're a completely different team than they were a month ago. I think this will be a huge challenge

for Detroit. Who you know. I listen, it's not like outside of the Dome they're they're defunct. It's not true. No, I'm not gonna I'm not touching this one. But like i'd find them like in Green Bay at night. It's gonna test who they are. No, I'm not gonna do it.

You're right, it's a major test the whole idea of you know, earlier in the week that the Sea Hex fans were upset, but if the if the Lions were seven and nine going into this game and already eliminated, like no one would be complaining and this would be

the game. So I sort of don't understand why anyone would have any uh problem with them if they're eliminated on Sunday and this being the game, you know what I mean, Like all the other teams that are playing on Sunday that quote don't have anything to play for versus teams that are, It's like they're all showing up. It's like the Browns against the Steelers and they're they're playing that game. I guess the argument is like they'd be so emotionally disappointed, But I just don't think that's

how football works. These are professionals. I love the way Campbell handled it. I love the way Pete Carroll handled too. It's like they both were saying, like, please, we're showing up. We want to end the Packers season. Hopefully we'll have a chance to make go to the playoffs. But this would be like maybe one of the greatest wins in Lions history. If they won this game, even if they already are eliminated, Plus you get the win feeling that way and the season feeling that way. I think they

can do it with their running backs. This is how the Lions season turned around was beating this Packers team. Was a bit of a flukey game where they were outplayed but had a bunch of turnovers in the red zone. But Jamal Williams in that game was great. And Jamal Williams looks fresh, looks awesome. DeAndre Swift looks as good as he's looked all year. That's the way you attack this Packers defense is with power running, and I think that's who the Lions are. I think they'll be going

for fourth downs. I think they'll be running once they get off the bus, and I think they're built to do so. I would love to see one thing happened in this because Jamison Williams we've seen little moments here and the Lions could use sort of I wouldn't say a secret weapon, but a weapon you're not expecting to play a bigger role. His one catch is a forty one yeard touchdown catch. His one other touches of forty yard rush in week seventeen. It's like this guy, there's

something about him when you watch him. It's like they he has not been part of the plan all year. Green Bays developed some electric weapons over the last month plus where it's like they're a different team because of it. I would love to see Williams play a larger role in this and be a difference maker. I mean, it would be cool. But they also are now up to eight games this year with thirty or more points the lines. That's a team record, and uh, they're gonna score points.

And I know the Packers have played better. Um. The last time they kind of got the the real heat put on him, UM was that Miami game. Whether we're getting lit up in the first half by twa and then he suffers a head injury. We don't know the specifics around that, but that allowed I think potentially in part for them to steal that game with the three

late interceptions. Greggy, remember back in um November, I believe it was you and I had locked up the Packers who had lost I believe six of seven at that point. There were four were an eight at the time, and I'm looking at this box score with one minute and seven seconds to play in the third quarter against the Bears, they had Chicago had an eighty three point eight percent win probability up nineteen uh in that game with the Packers sitting at four and eight, the Packers rallied to

win that game and they haven't lost since. So Yes, as an annoying as Mark the Packers can be, and I know you've come around on him this year a little bit, it really would be a fairly remarkable turnaround if they end with the dub and get to the Lands and the Lion. But the Lion season, you know, ironically it's your coincidentally started against the Packers. They were one and six at that point. They were coming off the by when they won that game where they forced

the red zone, uh turnovers against the Packers. I love this game. And uh, I think they want to force Aaron Rodgers to play hero ball too, to get away from their running game, because I think that's where the Packers can win and just him sitting back there are trying to make a play, and I think he did a lot of that against Minnesota and it didn't really work. It didn't matter. They put up a forty burger and

he played fine. He wasn't a problem. But the lines are pretty good pass rush right now with all their young players Houston and Hutchinson and Pascal and and everyone. If they can get the Packers to get a little pass heavy like they were early in the season, I think they can win. I'm picking the lines to win. I don't think it's a hero ball world fare and Rodgers fight. Now. He has thrown four touchdowns since Week thirteen.

He's looked I just think a little more mundane than we'd expect for a two time And I think he's trying though. I think he's like, you know, his offensive line is playing better though, and so he's having faith in them to protect him, and he's kind of sitting back there waiting to make you know. Normally, what comes out of the mouth of Aaron Rodgers I find often like slightly tedious and um pressing on my patients. But

I think he's been different in the last week. He talked less weeks like they need they need me to be a better leader. They need me to be someone that can lean on and it that's not something Aaron Rodgers will even acknowledging uh verbally the same way before. I think there's just something about this Packers to team that's different than the old thirteen and three act where you roll into the playoffs and get knocked out. Like I kind of like this version better, where it's like

you're clearly the underdogs, you're not a perfect team. They very easily in certain scenarios, could wind up playing the Niners if they got into the playoffs, which would be a nice little dose of revenge for what happened to them a year ago. Yeah, they'll and then they'll just get beat by the Niners. And I'm trying to do what you want and give some Green base some love here. I'm just saying it does feel inevitable in that stretch, but they gotta get there. First. Let's move to the

draft mark you have in the final week. This is our final No, no, we'll have drafts, well not really, this is the less real draft, and you have the first pick. Congratulations. I do remember when you were we usually just go through the other we watched together. You remember in week way back in Week one, you were like, I'm annoyed now because Greg had second pick, um and I had first pick. But look how the well it was just it was just presume that Gregord goes second.

There was no logic to it other than you decided that Greg all all season long has been grumbling about how bad his first picks have been and right, and now you have the final first pick. So look who came out on top of the end. I guess I did from that angle, I won't fight it. I'm gonna go Ravens. It since to pump that positivity into Mark and then just see what comes back out. I think I'm trying to be as positive as possible in this situation. I'm gonna go Ravens At Bengals, Uh, you know, this

was a strange game the last time they played. I think it was a different version of this Bengals team before they started to become the Bengals that we really believed and down the stretch. It's obviously, um, you know, we can't measure this at all, but it's a strange situation for I think Cincinnati even take the field again, it's it's it's it's been such a weighty and heavy week for them. Um. At the same time, I think they showed us what a tight team they are and

they're coaching staff. I think I think so much more of who they are person to person for how they led through this. You're playing a Ravens team. To me that you know, it sounds like, no Lamar Jackson, he's not practicing again. On Thursday here, rap Sheet told Pat McAfee that basically the Ravens are confident that Lamar Jackson will return for the playoffs. So maybe it's just like, let's rest him again. I don't we don't know exactly

what's going on there. It's been thirty two days as of today that he's not practiced or appeared in the game. And so this is not like I have rap Sheet sprinkles in these little pops on McAfee like he like he knows it's gonna get out there. I know I'm saying that's a good move, but maybe can he not say that exactly on NFL network because it's more of like a feeling. But I mean, I think it's got it.

I don't think it's just a feeling. I'm gonna imagine it's coming for yeah, but it's like if you're gonna go star on a different vehicle. It doesn't come from the Washington Post. I'm not interested. Well, that's that's an

accurate way to approach life there. Dan, I don't know, like without Lamar Jackson, I mean, they were a bit of a messy passing offense before he left, but they have averaged eleven fewer points per game with Tyler Huntley in there, and I a little disappointed and Huntley because I thought what we saw last year was like a backup who kind of fit what they do and was adequate,

and he's really been a huge mess. And I think part of it is like you saw last week where he had like a ten ten targets caught in a hundred yards to Mark Andrews and the rest of the offense passing wise total thirty yards. They can run the ball real well. I don't really think that what you're looking at here with Cincinnati, if they play up to speed Ravens defense is very good. I just think Cincinnati

is not going to fold here. They're too powerful. My one concern, because we didn't really see this obviously with what happened in the Bengals game, is that you still don't have Lyle Collins for the rest of this season. And Hakimadnagy, who we've talked about, who was a villain down the down the stretch for them on that offensive line is playing a major role at this point. Well, he was showing his character maybe not not personality wise

player perhaps um ye wise yeah yeah yeah. Um. It should not be left unnoted that, once again, Greggy, the Baltimore defense, which has been the best thing they've had all season, let down in a big spot on Sunday Night Football when they needed to get one stop against Pittsburgh. Uh,

they would have won that game at the end. I know they were good overall in that game, but this is now you can count maybe on one hand, it might be up to four or five games at this point where the defense had a chance to close the game out and could not do it. In this case, it could end up costing them the division because again going back to the uncertain nature of things, and again as we tape this, things could change. It's fluid. But the Ravens are ten and six, the Bengals are eleven

and four. If the Bengals don't make up that last game, and let's say the Ravens win on Sunday, they finished eleven and six, Uh, Bengals eleven and five. Ravens sweep the head to head series, but it won't matter because the Bengals would have a better win percentage. That would not be the case if they took care of business on Sunday against Pittsburgh the great likelihood, as the Bengals have already won the a f C North, the the expectation.

The reporting is that, and this is from the Associated Press, that the game between the Bengals and Bills will not be made up for and they're trying to figure out what else to do as of this taping, it'll be clarified, but that would make the Bengals um the division champ. And it's interesting because if they they would actually have probably played this game later if they knew that when they adjust and when they said this time. But doesn't

matter because it affects the Chargers game. The Chargers have already said they will rest their starters if the Ravens lose early, because then they will not be playing for seeding. The Lamar Jackson thing is really interesting to me because it's so similar to last year, and they said it wasn't gonna be similar to last year, and it's really been the same thing. I don't think Huntley has been a mess. Mark I think he's played fine, Like it's

just this whole thing is a mess. I think he's played as one of the best better backups in the league, and they just have a slow moving offense. He he makes some good plays each week, he's not gonna make a difference. And there's no reason to think that the Ravens defense, which maybe is a little bit better than the Bengals defense maybe like, is gonna be that big of a difference maker when the difference between the Bengals

offense and the Ravens offense is this gigantic chasm. The only thing that is an X factor, as you mentioned that you know we have to talk about and there's no way to know, is just the effects of this last week. And I thought it was Joe Burrow really open and honest about it, saying, like, look, if you ask people in the locker room if they even wanted to play this week, and this was on Wednesday, and I think as each day goes by, the players are

saying that they're feeling better. It feels different that they would have been mixed on it, that like even even he felt mixed on it, like that they might not be ready to play again. Totally, and so it's just gonna be an unprecedented scene, um for them, and especially for this they're going through something that we've never no

teams really how to deal two teams. And we'll get to the other team in just a minute, but just one more thing on Lamar, because the initial reporting last month now about four weeks ago, is that he would

be back week sixteen, which was Christmas Eve. That didn't happen, and then he wasn't back last week, and then he's on the sideline on Sunday Night Football with like as reported by people on the scene, with a hitch and his step um, still just being on the sideline, and now it looks like he's not going to practice in play in week eighteen potentially, and you wonder, like, first of all, what was the status of the knee injury?

Did did you have a setback? Well, so you think about his contract status, greggy, and and where where he might be mentally as he enters the most important financial um period window of his life, how he's playing this and why would we suddenly I mean this, who's suggesting there's a large confidence that six or seven days from now, if if he's walking with a hitch and he's not practicing at all that he's going to suddenly be ready

for a playoff game. It's I is that person? So maybe also reported the the Week sixteen return as well, didn't he? Yeah? And you do wonder if that's like, that's what are the Ravens saying? Is that the feeling from the team. I I just wonder how the Ravens are gonna approach this game too, Like, do they if they know they can't win the division? Do they care about winning the five seed versus the sixth seed? Now?

I think they should. You would play at the a f C South winner instead of at Cincinnati, Kansas City or Buffalo. That's a pretty big difference, yes, But I don't know if they'll look at it that way. They don't feel like a team like the Ravens under Harbaugh or not a sit and rest everyone type of team or rest major. And I respect the Jaguars and what they've been building the last six weeks or so, but I'm sending difference in Jackson. Absolutely, if I have the opportunity.

All right, let's talk about the other team that was involved in Monday Night, the Bills. That will be my pick Patriots at Bills. Um Buffalo entered week seventeen is the number one seed. We'll see if, even with a win um in week team whether they stay that way, because there's a potential here when the Chiefs end up with a higher winning percentage if they don't make up

Monday night, So keep that in mind. Um So, the Bills, though, still have a chance at the number one seed if they take care of business against the Pats, who also nobody really wants to see other than Patriots fans the Pats in the playoffs. But I kind of respect Greg the stubbornness that they might just get there to spite us. They might, they might punch their ticket. They need to win obviously. Uh, you don't know what version of Buffalo

you're gonna get in this game, Joe Burrow said. The Cincinnati players, some players are split on even wanting to play. Can you even imagine with tomorrow Hamlin's actual team is feeling right now as they begin preparation for an a f C East rivalry game with their opponent playing for their um postseason lives. It creates a complete unknowable situation.

Once again, how the Bills respond and what version of the team shows up and for the Patriots, they can only play their opponent, and it could it could work and purely football terms in their favor because they are they are the inferior team, but they have an opportunity here to get the Bills at a time it's a very uncertain time around what I think is the best team in the a f C. I thought it was telling um in some press availability or uh some source reports.

One won by Jeremy Fowler that when Tomorrow Hamlin's dad addressed the Bills team via zoom, that like it really galvanized the team. That they felt like they were able to smile after that, like that that they cheered as if it was like winning the super Bowl. Listening to the dad, hearing him be um, lighthearted at some moments and just positive, and that they almost like felt like, okay, now we can move on. There's there's just no way

this scene is going to be unlike anything else. So it's it's hard to know how much to put that into this game. But I know that these teams aren't even I know that the Bills absolutely own the Patriots. That the last three games, including the game this year, we're so one sided. It didn't look like they were playing the same sport practically, and I do think there are elements that are a little different this time around.

I think the Bills offensive line, the Bills offense has a few cracks in the armor, and the Patriots defense is certainly rushing the pastor well, Christian Barmer. They're different, but they're pretty banged up in the secondary to where like maybe the Bills defense, the Patriots defense can keep

the score down so it's not embarrassing. But I don't see any reason to believe in a normal situation that the Patriots offense isn't gonna blow this game two or three different times and that ultimately the Bills win comfortably, right. I mean, they've not matched up well with Buffalo two years in a row, and this Buffalo team is essentially

the same team in many ways. And I just feel your point Greg about his father speaking to them, and then that the fact that we're getting positive news that we are in a different place than we were a couple of days ago, that doesn't mean that for a number of people it won't be an element of trauma to return into the field at all. But you're in Buffalo I think you're gonna get a crowd that is like as loving and supportive and galvanized as you're gonna

see all season long. I think the Bills are the type of team that will feed off of that, and I think it's a very human element to this game. And I think from an on field perspective, New England just does not scare you on offense on any level. So the Bills need to do just enough on that side of the ball their offense. And I think you got Josh Allen who owns this team, Um, you know, I think it's a great place for Stefon Diggs, who hasn't had a hundred yard games since Week ten, to

re galvanize his connections. Way on Monday night, you could tell the way that game was setting up that he was going to have. I think they're determined to make that happened again before the playoffs, and so I just think this is a thing where it's going to be a process the next couple of days. But Buffalo, this is the team you want to be playing in Week eighteen to go into the playoffs and reset the board

here a little bit. From an on field football perspective, it's an amazing fan base obviously in general, but that is going to be in Western New York a very special, uh raucous vibe and that you can imagine they they could even have some you know, pregame visitors involved in terms of getting the crowd amped connected to Damarrow like that's going to be a great scene to watch there. There were a couple of key injury updates in this game.

Jack Jones had been put on i R, which I don't know if we had mentioned, you know, for the pages, and Marcus Jones is still out of practice. So they're down a couple of cornerbacks. They sounds like they will get back Jalen Mills, he's limited, h Jacoby Myers, who got hurt late in that game on on the touchdown catch is limited. They might get back to Vante Parker, and then Toron Johnson, who took that vicious hit early in that Bengals game, who's a really important air for

them with the concussion, is back at practice too. And there is a scenario, Dan, it's not that far fetched that the Patriots lose and make the playoffs. It's pretty simple. They're in the spot right now. If everyone loses, they stay in the spot and so well, we know what we lose that. Yeah, I think it might be a rematch of this game again too, which which no one in New England certainly would want, but yeah, it would be.

It would be the Patriots losing, the Dolphins losing, the Steelers losing, and the Jaguars winning because they need the Jaguars that buffalo take care of business. We shall see if they do. Uh And and one more note on the Pats same same as it ever was with this team. They will have one drive where they look functional. It will be a eight yard touchdown drive at some point

in the game, just one. They'll need the defensive score again, they've gotten seven of them this year, so they'll need a defensive or special teams score, and then Josh Allen is gonna have to make some mistakes. That's that's the path to one upsetting. It is also if you're Mac Jones, your last chance to have a meltdown on the sideline on national television. You're gonna it's your last chance to kind of explode at your coordinating a little clown car coaches.

You know, all right, let's take a break in the draft, will roll on all right, Welcome back, here we go. Week eighteen preview. We are to the third pick of the draft in Greggy Rosenthal. Didn't you never actually call you Greggy before Dan in an actual serious sense? I mean, I don't know how anyone can call me Greggy in

a serious sense. Um, my mom did sometimes. Well, then you're connecting back to his early early child, so basically more important figures in his life aside from his wife and children, my mom and then my father figure Dan. I wouldn't even throw it beside. I don't need to qualify with the beside the direct family. I'm saying you could be higher than you even think in that it

was a presumption on my partner. I shouldn't have done it, all right, if you sandwich in between the two children in there in the rankings, I don't know by beautiful Greggy, go ahead, buddy, all right? You took Patriots Bills, I'm gonna take the Jets. Will take the Jets Dolphins? Why not? Um, it's the only game that's interesting early. But it's the only one that's left that's any good early, So it doesn't track as a must watch for the old juser. On Sunday it's a bit of a depressing time front.

I just want something that is um important for playoff implications, and I am interested in this game. I want to I really want Teddy Bridgewater to play. I just feel like that's a better game than Skyler Thompson playing it. We will get Mike White again. It's not gonna be yeah, maybe that can be again. He really struggled a week ago. Um and if he plays like that again, that's gonna hurt his money, I think in the off season. But if he gets back to being the Mike White that

you think. There's a lot of reasons to believe the Jets can win this game. They're both teams are really banged up that the Jets could be short a couple offensive linemen, but the Dolphins are are in worse shape. Toron Armstead, Bradley Chub, Xavian Howard and of course to a four of their very best players are all still out of practice here and they have a chance to make the playoffs. They did not match up well against the Jets uh last time. And I don't know like

i've belt I've believed in the Jets too much. I'm really struggling with who to pick in this game. Dan, Yeah, it's interesting because I've been it's so wrong on the Jets. Why have I been so high on the two? You're a former or still Patriots fan, but because of what your picks and the things you do connected to this network, you've got a little taste of Jets fandom this year

where sometimes it doesn't even make sense. Sometimes the only thing that makes sense when it's all over and the carnage is through is the Jets blew it and it's like, oh, well they blew it again. They lost five in a row and whatever. But this year, it didn't feel like

this was gonna happen with this team. But yeah, there are a lot of things have happened, and it's the defense that was playing perhaps over its head for a large portion of the season, or you know, maybe some things and injuries kind of brought them down a little bit. But once they started playing it closer to a league average level, it really uh left and vulnerable because the

offense has really gone in the tank. I think maybe you're right, maybe the pressure off of Mike White a little bit now and and and the team perhaps not feeling as much stress now that they're eliminated, you'll see them play at a higher level. But I also have watched enough Jets football to see this game over by the end of the first quarter, and they just pack it in and then there are a lot of questions about what is the future this team going for Mike White.

Like when he's been good and when the offense has been functional, he's been a great story, but it was always a bit of a pipe dream to think that he was suddenly unearthed, this guy that's gonna throw for four hundred yards every week. I mean, he even even like last year when he had his chances to start, it was a roller coaster and this offense in general

has been a roller coaster night. But I have not convinced Number one, he was totally healthy, Like, I mean, he suffered such punishment when he last played before that. But yeah, but you're gonna get that game from Mike White. I think, honestly, it's probably more honest for the Jets to go into the offseason with a clear idea that

they don't have a quarterback. I don't know why Robert Salo, who I think has done a great job in general, needs to insist in that, you know, in quotes that through hell or high water, they're gonna stick with Zach. Wasn't just don't say it, Like I don't need to say anything at this point, Like you have the right as a coaching staff to completely clear the deck after this because this question. I get that, but it's just like it's just it's it's just a little two months.

But I I don't mind him doing that at all. He sticking for his players, getting like I said it far. I think that like that he stood by Wilson. I do admire that. I just think it's just kind of let him alone. He also said like he basedly told Zach Wilson get away from football, go read books and just Floire also said they probably shouldn't have played Wilson last year. I don't think they're really sticking by him. I think publicly they're doing a good job trying to

keep the media off him. Sticking by him is like having him play this game. I mean it's a meaningless game and he's not even playing. He's not even gonna be third strink. Look, these two teams are competing collapses here. It's incredible to think where the Dolphins are and if they've lost five games in a row. They weren't able to run the ball last week against the Patriots. I thought that was really important for them, and I don't know if they're going to be able to do this week.

But Jets defense hasn't been as good. I went and looked up kind of the the efficiency metrics during these five game losing streaks. They're both like bottom eight offenses, like Jets were. Miami was twenty six, And even if you took out the Zach Wilson games, the Jets are still like a bottom six offense in this losing streak. Uh, and the Dolphins are terrible offensively. To the surprising part for me was like the Jets defense was twelve, Like

they've been fine, but they just haven't been dominant. This is a game that, in theory, you could dominate the way that the Dolphins. We've seen cracks in their defense, the way when Skylar Thompson started back in Week five they romped the Dolphins was seventeen. Two different teams at this point, but they've both fallen off a clip. Yeah, that was a close game for three quarters and then

it got away. You hate you, I know, Jets fans, they don't like the Dolphins, and I'm not saying you guys are the Lions here trying to cap off a season. It's it's disappointing regardless. But I really think if you know, if the Dolphins win this game, they're probably going to the playoffs. All they need is the Patriots to lose to the Bills, and so this is a big game

for Jets. Can knock out the can do it to His friend Mike McDaniel said he'd rather be on a beach with him a week from not not seeing the Dolphins in the player. I'm sure there's like, uh, you know, thirty five thousand feet above the ground, Jets fans that are like, oh, lose the game, getting the top ten in the in the draft and all that, Yeah, let's end the season that overall was a positive one, um uh,

and then turned sour with a nice win. The one the one thing that the Jets need to figure you're out is and this is carrying over through the regimes. Um, they need to figure out how to identify and develop a quarterback. They cannot do it. They have They've gotten bad luck as as part of the Jets story as well, They've never fallen into a Borough or a Herbert or

Lawrence in all of these years of struggles. Um, but they need to take a closer look at how they do this because I don't think they handled Wilson right. He was raw, he was green as it gets, and they threw him right into the mix. Maybe it's time to start taking a closer look at how you do this. Just don't maybe don't do it through the draft again,

just find a veteran out there that you can trust. Well, I thought you made a good point last week, Mark about you know, the Jets shouldn't or the fan BA shouldn't just say go get Derek Carr and everything's fine. But again it's like which way do you go? Do you go get the slightly do you use the first

round pick on a quarterback and get there? Well, then you're then Joe Tables is on a ticking cart if he picks another quarterback that doesn't essentially shine immediately anyway, Right, all right, I'm gonna take the Rams Seahawks as a game. There's not really a great UH four slate. And when I saw that, it's my guy, Zina Smith, and then all our guy, I don't know, it's our guy, it's

our guy Santez on the call. That's a good way to captain season here, and it's probably the last Seahawks game of the year, so I can just enjoy it, you know. And why do you say that you're presuming that the win on you pick the Lions. It's true if my picks are right, it's gonna be if the Lions have a great emotional win on Sunday Night Football. But the Seahawks, we've had a nice season all due respect, are the team that ends up going to the playoffs.

But that is very possible. Just to let you know your picks aside, like Earth might suggest that Seattle goes to the playoffs, not just what you picked, like good did I guess I said that because if you just look at percentages, you need two results to happen. Uh, it's more likely that they don't go to the playoffs. They have an under fifty chance. Because I also don't

totally hand them this win. I think that's the that's the part of the equation that Seahawks fans when they're talking about the Sunday Night Football, haven't been focused on.

But Sean mcveigh's generally owned Pete Carroll. I do put something into these division matchups, and I think you can only look four weeks ago to the matchup where the Seahawks had to win with the last second touchdown to beat the Rams, who were starting John Woolford that day, and say, like, Okay, there's something here in terms of the matchups that like, this isn't some incredible mismatch. The good thing is Seattle's defense has played better again in

the last couple of weeks. I just don't know what to think of this defense. Maybe it's just unpredictable, it's a game plan specific. They had al Woods back, which you wouldn't think like makes all the difference, but he's been really good stopping the run, and then that makes, um, everything else look a little better. I definitely picked the Seahawks in this game. Their home geno, Steady ken Walker's

out there kind of looking like se Quan Barkley. That's who he reminds me of a lot, like that lateral thing and the fact that he'll take big losses and kind of go sideways looking for the big play. But you know what, he finds the big pay. You know what, that's actually a pretty good nickname for Gino this year, Gino Steady. I was looking at it because he's got

twenty nine touchdowns. By the way, he throws one more and he joins when you get this right, Dave Craig and Russell Wilson is the only Seattle quarterbacks ever to throw thirty in the season. Um. I was going through his game log this week with doing power rankings, and he he had a streak of one point like of like seven straight games through you through exactly two touchdowns. Like, he has been a guy that and I especially what

I've witnessed with my team this year. Man, there's something of true value to have a guy like you kind of know what your quarterbacks is gonna give. He's not gonna be Mahomesian, but he's also not gonna to lay eggs and and and that's what Gino has been for them this year. I want to now hashtag analysis Mark. This is some real football guy analysis. Baker Mayfield has

been the quarterback of the Rams for four weeks. Now, okay, the first week Fund Baker, the second week regular or bad Baker, the third week Fund Baker, the fourth week regular slash bad Baker. Fifth week feels like fund Baker, I think, I know what a better way for work in Mayfield to see how I'm doing on and off. I mean he's been and he's been up and down everywhere he's been, and it's like the ups with the Rams have been better than any other ups, So why

not finished the year this way? One I don't love for them in general is that I think, like cam Acres, another guy who has been on a roller coaster ride in the doghouse suddenly being used exceptively in the penthouse now. So it's the same thing the up in the down. The Seahawks run defense, which was a disaster for so long. They have not allowed eight plus yards on the ground in four streight weeks. So it's the al Woods thing. It's who knows, But they're much better that was like

you still see it's like, oh they're thirtieth than rushing. Well, they haven't been in the last quarter of the season. So that like if you put Baker Mayfield into a situation where he's got a throw, I think the last week he really struggled in like typical easy your quick passes, which you see Baker Mayfield just miss on show on short yardage throws where it could really help the Rams, and he's done better at like improbable throws down field. So I the one thing I love about Gino Smith.

This would be the most poetic end to the year. And he's gonna do this barring disaster. He needs a hundred and fifty one passing yards to pass Russell Wilson for the single season franchise record and yardage. I love that. I guess he gets an extra game, but still, well, who who cares about that? Never less? Cook, I mean, I think it's amazing, amazing way to end it for him. If the Titans shocked the Jags on Saturday, I'll be kicking myself. I didn't lock up Gino and a big

still here against him. You're constantly wrestling with the locks and we're all I'd like to give you my internal mind. I didn't. I definitely need it. Uh winning by the way, the west ros Nick Westling, it's really Nick at this point, um who we almost heard from Monday night, but we will hear from him at some point during the Cincinnati upcoming playoff run. Locked up the Seahawks, by the way. All right, Moving on back to the Zeuser. Huh the old Zeuser the Gota Bongo. I will take first first

week all season. I don't think you've had the Jets. It is. It is there. You left me no other no, no, in no way, in no way do I take issue with it. No, umbradge taken, umbraj umbraj I will take the Giants at the Eagles, and uh, it's not a game I'm like on fire about because well, look at the rest of the Game's not a lot of great meat on the bone at this point. Um. From a narrative standpoint, We'll get to narrative in just a second. By the way, the Giants are locked into the sixth seed.

It doesn't matter what happens against the Eagles here, So there's a very good chance they're gonna arrest players. Certainly, it behooves them to give sa Kuana blow here and not have him get a lot of workload with the playoffs coming up. Daniel Jones coming off arguably the best game of his career. Um, he's gonna want to tune up. But maybe he doesn't play either. It doesn't play a lot. I don't know if there's an update on that end.

I apologize for not already knowing there isn't okay actually dabbles. He wouldn't talk, he wouldn't say he's changed his tune. Though. Immediately after the game, he's like, everyone's playing, and then he was like, we'll decide on Friday. So I think I think it's even even if they start, I think you're gonna see early pulling you out of there, like give them rest, you know, specially. So here's why this game, though, is compelling to me. I gotta see the Eagles play

well here going into the playoffs. That was Wolf. I watched that game on Monday, the Saints Eagles game, and I was like, oh, woof, woof, woof woof. That first half was grizzly by Philadelphia, And I understand Jalen Hurts is out of lineup, and I understand he's trending towards playing in this game, which makes a lot of sense to me, especially because they still haven't locked up the

number one seed. Um, but they had sixty one total yards in the first half against the Saints, And I know the Saints are playing better now, but come on. They didn't have their first first down in the game until twelve seconds remained in the contest. The Saints outplayed them in every phase at the link and then of course they get back in the game, and then it gets washed away on a hideous pick six by Gardner Minshew.

Great played by Marshall Latimore, of course, but that was not a good thrower, a good decision by the backup QB. So Philly, go have a good, get right game, Jalen Hurts, get through the game with that shoulder feeling good, grab the number one seed once and for all, and then feel good about yourself as you head into the buy

to get fully healthy. I mean it would be I think a couple of weeks ago, like we just assumed the Eagles would win one of these games and do what they needed to do, and there was a lot of especially the Dallas game gave you help hope the Gardner Minshew would not ut unquote supposed to win that right, maybe not. Last week was surpri but the Dallas team was super came out of thinking, well, their offense won't change that much with Minshew, and which completely changed we go.

I think that like the the idea, they was sacked six times by the Saints. Um the Lane Johnson absence matters whether it's Hurts or Minshew. I tend to think that they're gonna be on offense. Fine when once Hurts comes back, I just do I think that you still got all the same weapons. Though the Lane Johnson thing concerns you, but it would be an epic collapse to not be the giant scene that probably will be resting

a variety of players left and right. You gotta handle it because to come out of this as the number two seed or some situation where the Cowboys wind up as the number one, which is especially unappealing if you're an Eagles fan, is about as ugly a narrative dan as you could finish the season with. Forgetting narrative, how about reality, you'd be the five seed on the road, Cowboys narratives and everything else not happening though, I mean this this thing should be. Did you think they're gonna

lose to the Saints? This is different. The Giants are worse than the Saints. I m O and another I am from the worst in the Saints. But more importantly, the Giants, I don't think a are gonna be playing. I don't think they're going to be playing to win this game. Well, that matters the Eagles absolutely waxed the same Giants team it wasn't that long ago, and their fourteen point favorites because because of that, because we know the Giants got juice right now, is that their juice

deficiency right now? I feel he's a little bit of a juice to fit. They bring the juice back though this week. C J. Gardner Johnson and Robert Quinn not this week, but they are looking like they're gonna come back for the playoffs. To Gardner Johnson, matters a lot. They've given up the worst, one of the worst passer ratings around without them. Yeah, and Avante Maddox too, So those are two guys in the middle of the defense. No, it's it's totally about that. The Giants don't have anything

to play for, and I think they could be playing. Um. Who is their backup right now, Tyrone Tyro's a good backup. And Danny Knell, who I think they've sent just signed off of UM. He's working in the construction site in central Pennsylvania. I think he made his money in the nineties. Um. Speaking of narratives, two decades ago, people were on some level on Twitter a little surprised that we didn't get after Cavon Thibodeau too hard after the snow Angel incident,

and um, you know, gave it to him a little bit. Um. We don't need to, old friend. Um, but I thought he was showing his ass a little bit. This week, here is Cavan talking about Jeff Saturday's comments about uh the sack celebration and and the go to sleep gesture on the sideline by Cavan. Jeff Saturday interm coach of the Cults, said it was trash and uh not classy. And here was Cavon Thibodeau's response to the media. Who I was What I'm saying, who's the gatekeeper of when

to do something? So once we figure out who the gatekeeper is, and then we can write the rules and then we can establish you know, the narratives and things like that. But until you know you guys actually are in the sport and do it and be in that moment, you can't create a narrative on it. You know, well,

we're not creating a narrative on it. The guy the other teams coach had a problem, and he's a guy who playing the game now, not just don't know who like anybody who comments on it, unless I know who they are, it doesn't really affect me. Uh that sound

is courtesy of s N y Um. It sounds like he lives in his own bubble, Cavan, And you can say you love it, but it's like Jeff Saturday is a four time All Pro um, six time Pro Bowl, or he's a Super Bowl champion, and I've seen a lot of people kind of bring all that stuff up. Do you really think the majority of players know who the hell Jeff Saturday is? But my point is Greg, is that it just feels like to me that Cavon Thibodeau kind of lives in his own world and if

you aren't in Cavan's world, you don't really matter. And and it shows a lack, I think, to me, of kind of understanding of where he stands. I thought it was interesting that the center, the current center of the colts Um, took Cavan to task on Sunday after the game, saying, hey, man, like, injuries are part of the game and he'll learn that

one day that it's not something you ever celebrate. And then I think, especially in light of what happened Monday night, like with uh Hamlin, it's just like man, you gotta show a little more awareness about what the context of the world is. And I just my radar is up

now a little bit. On Thibodeau is a fantastically talented young player, but I wonder when things aren't gonna and there's a time when things aren't going well for the Giants, or maybe there's some contracts stuff going on, if he's one of those guys that starts bouncing around the league despite being very talented. I don't like want to waste too much energy being like the behavior police, and you

can go say whatever you want. You can treat your career and how you're viewed by people that people don't know Jeff Saturday. People also don't know Cavon Thibodeaux, and they're learning about him week by week, and like he's crafting how we learn about him, and he's making that decision so good you're gonna live with it. Because me, like, what what do I want? What do we want out of verse words? Players? I want not villains, but I want characters. I want twenty two year olds that are

incredibly confident, like in a Jackass. I couldn't can't imagine what being confident in being a jack there. I can't imagine what we would have been like at twenty two years old with a microphone. And so the fact that he reminds me of like ravishing Rick Rude, like just because he's so confident, doesn't want to hear about it.

I don't mind me because it's not that serious acting on the field, how he like I I get that, but him clapping back in the media that he doesn't know Jeff Saturday, that part I kind of because it's not that serious. But the root of it, it's I'm not saying it's overly serious and like I don't listen to go do what you want, like I said, But the root of it was celebrating a sack next to a player that looked like he was in another universe.

And so that that in the you know, I don't know, especially in the context of this week, that then this after that, but like not you know, not to move off it this week and and just kind of move on from it too instead like get his heels. I just it just shows that he is very young. It lack of self awareness and lack of mature I mean, Greg, Dan and I had the end like Dan and I like you know, you're taking a task for you know,

like not being great interviewers and stuff. Well it's like I'm not saying we were just mean, like like you're right, a lack of maturity, but like, of course, like I almost can you know, twenty two years old. Of course, the lack of maturity and I and when I just try to give mind, Like when it comes to athletes, what do we want. I don't want them to all just be robots. We always say that, so I kind of I don't mind when it's not too serious. All right,

Well we're gonna lose that. There's gonna be a big chunk of people that are gonna be like Greg super cool and like so understanding of the youth code. Why would why would? Why are you thinking of that thinking? I mean, he's he's listen, he's young, and he's ravishing Rick rude. And that's why I like my athletes. All right. I'm not saying he should be out of the league. Crack your own career the way you want. We all have that, dude, But I, I, I I and other people

get to say, oh I don't like that vibe. It's just like, come on, dude, there's just you can say wherever he want. It's your show, Dad. All right, we'll be right back after this. All right, welcome back, Mark, you were up next in the draft. All right, I'm gonna go Cleveland, Pittsburgh the Steeler and it's I'm not doing it because of Cleveland, by the way, Pittsburgh who I've been tracking this for a while, just thinking this whole idea that Mike Tomlin's gonna end up with a

winning record after all they've been through. Um, it's happening. They're going to knock off the Browns on Sunday, and number one, I'll get this out of the way. I am ultra confident about the fact that it will happen. I'm locking up the Pittsburgh Steelers. What I'm I'm gonna do it until they until they're taken out of the league, because this team will not be denied. Right now, there's

something special about the Steelers team. They'll be unwatchable on offense for two plus quarters and then Kenny Pickett weeks in a row. It's like, I don't think Kenny Pickett is a perfect quarterback, but for where he is at his career as a rookie, it's pretty amazing what he's done and just sort of like the we talked about the vibe of Cavon, the vibe of Kenny Pickett to me is like I'm gonna put the Steelers team on my back when it matters at the end of a game.

This entire offense is developing and growing. They are a much different team than the one that faced the Browns on Thursday Night Football earlier in the year. They can run the ball, well, now you can run on the Cleveland Browns. They can they I think through the air Picket's gonna do something every game with Pickings, Deantre and like they're This team to me is a team that like is going to be in the conversation they have a chance the playoffs. I think Cleveland is is right

for the picking in this situation. Defensively, the Browns with define with de Shaun Watson, they that second half was a pivot for them on offense because if you look at their first half, Deshan had like four sacks and three completions. They were an absolute mess and you started to see it down the stretch. So if you get that for a full game, that will be a challenge.

But if you look at the Steelers defense, and it's not just because t. J. Watts on the field necessarily, but they were essentially seven one and six without him, and there's seven to seven and two since. They've allowed seventeen or fewer points in six straight games. That's the longest streak for this Steelers defense, which has been awesome for as long as we've known each other, the longest streak for them since two thousand and four. It's legit.

They're real. I think they can shut down Cleveland. I think they're playing for something. They're playing for a lot. Their coached themselves, their playoff chances, and I just like the way they developed over this year. It's great coaching. I agree. I think we could see him in the playoffs next week. So all they need is the Dolphins to lose against the Jets, give the Jets a slight edge in that game if Teddy's out, and then the Patriots to lose, and then that's very Steelers win and

they're in. So Steelers, they think they'd be a more fun playoff team. They are playing better I think than the Dolphins and the Patriots right now. Kenny Pickett pulls off a lot of like low percentage plays, which is not what you necessarily expected out of him. Um, he's been inconsistent but has a knack for it. They're very similar their teams. The Browns defense is playing better. Both

teams can run, certainly only one as Nick Chubb. I think the differences like you expected Watson to make some sort of positive difference, and I keep hearing like, well, he's just coming back in and played football in two years. This five game stretch he's had is worse than any five games stretch he's ever played football. I mean, by far since we've ever seen him going back to days

at any stretch. No, but you also gave him the contract of better than Patrick Mahomes, better than Josh Allen at some point you would expect Yeah, I guess I would. I mean, I know it's a lot of time not playing football, but he's shown virtually no progress. I know that he hit a couple throws in that game. It was like three or four throws. He had like nine completions total, and three or four of them were screens

in dump off. So I don't I would expect to see something because it's not like he hasn't been training It's not like he didn't do this like they'll the bar is so low. I mean, it didn't rise to your your level on this, but he did leave them on three consecutive touchdown drives in the second half. It's not like when I went back to watch that game, I was expecting something and it was basically good field position and guys in a couple of throws and guys

making plays after the guys. There wasn't anything in particular in that game there was any better than the other game. You could argue the better trade the Brown's Maid was for a Marii Cooper who has worked out and finally showed some Why do we have to have like any any final judgment at any So, if let's say, you know, I think they would like it if the guy that they're paying way more than Patrick Mahomes didn't have the worst six game stretch of his career the second he

came back, I know they would like Dan. I don't think it's any way like it's not a fatal blow. If he has another bad game and they go, you go to here's the thing, Like Jared Stiddon hasn't played that much Rock Purty barely played, you're practicing. Deshaun Watson practiced for weeks and weeks before coming in here. He played in the preseason. It's like, even of like big playmaking, he hasn't looked remotely like the player he was. No,

I think that has to be concerned. But if you put if you put together a good game and completely coming off those they weren't Greg Greg, but they were better than they won this game against Pittsburgh. I think they were inside the building they would like that. I think obviously they would have loved to be hit the ground running and was Deshaun Watson of his peak text in days and remember he's still after hit his own mess,

of his own creation. Let's not ever forget that. Um that was just as he was essentially entering his prime. He's still a young twentysomething quarterback who I think it's more likely he kind of gets back to that level than not. I don't think the Browns signed up and gave made that trade and changed the way people view their franchise and gave all that guaranteed money to him expecting to be that guy this year. Everything is kind of built towards and beyond. So yeah, well, I totally

agree with you. Has not been good. Um, I don't see it personally as like a warning sign or something like, oh, what's going on yere? But I I see the other side of it. You could look at it from that point that it has been underwhelming. There's just another universe where two weeks and he he did look good. He did he did get it to speed. He hasn't been you know, frozen in carbon Nite. He's he's been practicing, moving around and operating and working with players on the team.

How much has you know Jacoby Brissette plays here and there? I don't know. I you would just would have liked to see more. He's played like at a like a total worst case scenario level. And weirdly, I feel like that's not like everything's like kind of understanding that he's basically been Carson Wentz, you know what I mean? Which is it? I'm I'm even I'm just surprised. What did you think of him before any of this happened as a player, that he was sort of in that five

to tend top quarterback range. That's what the Browns obviously signed up for. And I think they're and you're right, Dan, like It's not no one's sitting around, you know, hammering the panic button. It's just that like it goes, you want to I think you want to see them close out on offense on a strong note against the Steelers. It's a big for them and to your point of them, like they don't have as much to play for it. That was the case for them last week and they

stomped on the Commanders. Good defensive game, good complete game. I'm let me fast forward to the end of September. If this is still the same guy, then I'm like, oh, oh crap here And would there be a bit of karmic justice if that's what Deshaun Watson was now, Yes, it would be perhaps a bit. Mark It's six snakes to you, all right, Gonna pick a late game. I just want to pick a team that I'd love to

watch week after week, and that's the Niners. Um squaring off against a team underrated matchup, you know, find different ways to describe what's happening at this point in the draft. UM. A team that needs to get it out of our lives as quickly as possible, and that that includes on home box office like the Arizona Cardinals, just no, I'm not I Greg, Greg and I had we had our podcast, actually did I didn't watch the last episode, but I actually did mostly catch up. How many people know that

HBO actually is Home Box Office Page. Now we're listening to this would probably be the entire dune Dune Dunna. Remember that dune Dune Dallas? D Oh? Is that Dallas? I thought that was the old HBO theme. Somebody knows what I'm talking about. It's someone close, But that's another great Dallas that on CBS. I gotta find this old HBO the I mean back forward throughout these games, we really all right. But imagine if the Arizona Cardinals, I mean, I get Cliff Kingsbury is he's in boiling hot water

right now, probably gone, who knows. We don't have any strong hints at the moment um, but he has had to deal with four different quarterbacks. I think most coaches would be in hot water. Then you look at the Niners, though, and it's like Shannahan's had a deal with three and they have like a hundred passer rating no matter who's playing as a team. I mean, they've it's been like a pretty incredible story for Shanahan to develop pretty another guy that just like out of nowhere. He wasn't even

in the league a year ago. He's the last pick in the draft. He comes in and he's looked incredible, and I just think his chemistry with Brandon a Uk, especially with George Kittle. Kittle has been incredible, with pretty like five touchdowns in the last three starts. It's more than he had for the first fourteen games of the year. Their defense is on fire. I think they got a little flat. They're caught a little flat footed against Jared

stid Him in the way that game went. I think if you had another if you had a better idea like the Chiefs do of what Stidham might be doing, maybe you don't get that game again. I don't give them a bit of a mulligan. But from top to bottom, this Niners team, I think John Lynch deserves some credit because you were the guy that found a way after all the off season drama to keep Jimmy Garoppolo. You needed him. You also drafted Brock Purty, you saw something

in him. I know you didn't draft him high or you couldn't have draft the bending lower. So I'm not giving you a blue medal for that, but the Charm Awards signing a blue ribbon. Uh, you went out and got Dre greenlocks ended and you made a trade for Christian McCaffrey that changed your offense. Greg. I'll I'll ask you this all good points, mark Um, because you have said that the AFC teams are all better than the niners. Um,

which teams the top three, that's the Big three? Um. Have you seen any real drop off in this offense from Garoppolo to Party? No, they've been better. Like that is interesting to me because what if the what if the quarterback play everything else San Francisco has going for it and I'm throwing out the five yards they gave up this past week. It happens. Sometimes football is weird. Um. If the quarterback play was better and then Deebo Samuel comes back, I still I still like their chances, Gregg,

against anybody in the league. I just wouldn't. It's not some crazy difference. I just making them like a field goal underdog when one has like a Hall of Fame level quarterback and the other the other has. Patrick Mahomes been a great level though, see so he's he's been an interesting guy where like if you look at his PF scores, for instance, he is among the most consistent quarterbacks in the league. And he's at a really high level.

It's like sixty nine to seventy nine in his grade, which for their grades is like a better than average starting quarterback essentially somewhere in the like the fifteen to ten range. And he's just been steady that guy every week. And that's kind of matches up with what my eyes are showing me, like, like, that's why he's not higher over overcame that too though. It's actually good to make a mistake and see our response and and that's why he's not like higher, that's why he's not a top

ten quarterback. And he's not like always creating his own plays like a like a star like Jared's did him. Um, but he's very steady. Um. And you're right, you get Deebo back. It's a great, great team. This is a great spot because I think they would love to sit Christian McCaffrey for the second half of this game, play Deebo Samuel for like fifteen to twenty snaps, but not get carried away, get like a three or four or lead, because they do want to win this game, but they're

playing at the same uh time. Uh, Like I'm getting scrambled here. They don't really have anything but the Eagles. They have a chance at the number one seat still right, but they're playing at the same time. That's what I was trying to get to as the Eagles, and so their scoreboard watching the Eagles are playing the Giants. If that got out of hand, if the Eagles are up three scores here, but even if the Eagles aren't up three scores, you can win this game with Jordan Mason.

You don't need to give Christin McCaffrey thirty. I mean, they're playing the worst team in the league. McCaffrey looks as good to me as he's ever looked. Great player, dog, tough, tough ball player dog. Um, all right, let's move on. I'll grab Vikings at Bears. Uh. Not a lot going on here, just in terms of the matchup because Justin Fields, who's got the hip, he won't play and in week eighteen, Um, so that's not happening. There's a bunch of players for

Chicago out of the the lineup. But you take Fields out, they lose every week anyway. Um, This is more just like a straight test for the Vikings. Um can they can they just kick the crap out of the Bears here? Uh? As they must, they absolutely must, coming off another very sobering, um eyebrow raising blowout loss, uh, this time to the

Packers at Lambeau, Um, just absolutely destroy the Bears. Go up by twenty at halftime, get some guys out of the lineup, set a couple of team records with Jefferson or cousins, get to you know whatever, thirty touchdowns, whatever you need to do to polish some things up, and then sit down and then get ready for the playoffs and what's obviously going to be a first round matchup that will be close, most likely maybe even against the Giants in a rematch. Uh So not a ton of

intrigue in terms of the competition here. It should be Vikings in a role. But I'm taking the game in part because that's not how Viking games have worked this year. So maybe we'll get another strangely bizarrely competitive fun games.

I would could. They'd need to make a ton of mistakes and have somehow Chicago's defense generate points because the drop off from justin fields to Nathan Peterman is like literally insane, and I only I do feel that field for fields because he had I think a legitimate chance if he had if he went off in this game to break Lamar's ground record, and that's not gonna happen. But I get what they're doing because like he's got

a hit. You know, you could tell he was banged up in that game last week, and it's like, why why even messed with it? Who cares about the record? Like, get him into the offseason and spend this offseason surrounding with weapons the way that we've seen other young quarterbacks the lines. This team could be competitive and fun next year with a good offseason. He took some big hits last week. He's been playing through stuff that said they know they have a good chance to get that number

one draft pick. Oh yeah, Texans Colts is a very winnable game for the Texans, and you get old Peterman here. Let's not have any funny business against this Vikings team. Let's go get that member one pick. And oh, by the way, we don't need a quarterback. We don't need Bryce Young best best place to be first sale, Like, oh my god, Like they're gonna have, they would have options and we'll talk about it in the off season. It would be um somehow not karmick, what's the word?

Just like a nice book end to the season that the one convincing Vikings win of the season was Week one against the Backers, and then you wrap it up hetty into the playoffs week eighteen, and you start feeling good about yourself. If I were the Texans, I would start in my long snapper a quarter. Yeah, I mean, is not mess around the scenario you're suggesting has Houston winning immuously to this game. They can't be that done until last week. That your pick up next Greg, Uh,

it's not. But oh well you could have. That would have been a perfect and we can kind of roll through already about them for now like a minute and a half. That then I would have to watch that game and I never played, putting that on game pass to the highlights. Why would you need to watch Housing whatever? Justin says, Oh, I could watch the Cults lose to the Texas. Yeah, give it to me, because we're still

talking about those two teams. We're still talking about this at this mont where the show Ship, showman Ship, Hello My Baby, Hello Coming up in the off season. By the way, the Cults went thirty one straight drives until Sam Ellinger took the ball in garbage to sell it when it didn't matter against the Giants last week. Well, this is not selling, This is making fun of the Colts. Thirty one straight drives without a touchdown before a garbage

time touchdown last week. That's a lot of drives thirty one. So you can't tell me the Texans there are some huge underdog in this game. Okay, that's all. That's why the long snapper needs to play quarterback for the Texans. Who is a long snapper of the Texans? When we look, I mean they're already they're already playing two quarterbacks week after week. Just make it a third and say it's

part of our plan. And the third guy the long val scored by the way, this season, even before you know, including the right games which were more competitive, they were three, three and one. By the way, when they blew this team up, all right, they're They're point differential is worse than the Texans this season. The Texans long snapper is uh from Baylor, um my wife's alma mater. Um. He is five two pounds thirty six year old John Weeks. We get Weeks now, it's gonna take some roster maneuvering.

You're gonna make sure he gets on the depth chart so you can uh send him up the depth chart. But you get John Weeks at quarterback. He is a um he went to college in Texas. Uh he is now a Houston player. That's not what you do. What you start, Davis Mills, you break out every single big play that you've ever had in Lovey Smith walks out of the building with two double birds. Everyone, I dare you to fire another coach after one year and I

just ruined your number one seed Jerks. It's that would be an evil conclusion for the Texans and the best thing they would deserve it though, the Texans organization who did not cover themselves in glory and and lost uh some money on top of other things when they handled the Deshaun Watson thing. Let's give it to the Bears. And if if they fired love I'm not as negative about like that. If they actually if they kept loving the whole like David Culley Lovey Jack easterby Deshaun Watson.

I mean, this isn't exactly a lovable organizing. No, no, it's not. And the only thing I'll say on the Cult side UM, at the risk of circling back to the cave on Thibodeau situation, is Jeff Saturday also Um also had said, UM, two things annoyed me about that situation, cav being trash in that spot and my offensive line not defending my quarterback. I think I liked. I think he's totally right about point man. Is there anything that

is right about this Colts team? It's uh that we would need to ask zak Key for someone that tracks this team closely over the years. But is there ever been a more um we called it the worst Cults team has ever followed like Saturday calling out at least, you know what, if he's gone to call him out for something that's right, they should be the definition of more abund And if they lose at home to the Texans, that will be one of the most more abund facilities

that we've seen all season. They will let them hear it's been a dark campaign, all right. Let's move on, Chargers Broncos. How about the Commanders, by the way, sending two third round picks to the Colts to get Carson wentz, we we don't even we have Commander's Cowboys. By the way, somehow Texans Colts got taken before that. Well, go ahead, I'm I'm taking charges of Broncos strategy. That's just a teach.

This game might not have any playoff implications because the Ravens play earlier, and if that's the case, the Chargers are expected to sit a lot of their best players. Brandon's Daley said essentially that he said it without saying it, but he indicated pretty strongly that based on the earlier results, will be smart about things. So that could mean Chase Daniel being at quarterback for the Chargers, no Derwin James, Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, like all the guys that you

would think the Broncos are actually favored in this game. Now, based on that press conference, I believe now if the Ravens do win early, which is not crazy, I think the Chargers are gonna play. I think they've made it clear that they want to try to get that five seeds.

So it's a it's a weird spot. There was no right way for the NFL to do this, just based on the timing of everything and that happened on on Monday, I will say, like of all the of some of these a FC teams, you know, we got a couple of teams who are gonna back into the play offs

and about as fierce of fashion as possible. The way that the Charges have played since Williams and like they they've had their white House back Keenan Allen as well, like they have been they've been four now since that time, their offense has looked completely different. Me they finally crossed the thirty point barrier a week ago. They're running the

ball really well. They have Joey Bosa back on defense a year no no in like since like week five or something, you could tell they've been a pent up offense. We went through the Justin Herbert injury situation. They're finally healthy. It's just like, all right, maybe this Chargers team for once can hit the postseason um with the right foot. Until it's like I, I there's always been a team you're counting essentially go one and out in the playoffs

in these situations. Stalely I think has proven himself as a coach on defense. Their defense has been altered and shown of late, and so I like the situation for them, but they're usually better than their record, and this year maybe their verse is true. They actually like Chargers. Fans is always think they have the worst luck in the world. I think they've been a little fortunate. They were a little fortunate to be at six, and when they got there,

kind of got a little lucky. Even their coach admitted it. And then they kind of faced the Titans, and not that they didn't earn those wins against the Titans and Dolphins, but they got them in a good time at the right time, and then a nice easy schedule, and you know what, the Charges deserve a little good luck. And I think we'll enjoy seeing Justin Herbert in the playoffs. Will be fun. All Right, let's take a break and

we'll finish out the draft. All right, we're back, and I will grab that NFC East affair with the next pick in the draft. Dallas at Washington. Tuddy the Pig and his his final appearance of this season. What a seasons. It would be funny if it um monster that it

is got wiped away by a new regime. The ownership was like, no, we don't want the pig that got introduced at halftime of Week seventeen, we're gonna do a different mascot, and then he exists as this incredibly minor footnote in in world his three like a two week half human, half pig mascot, probably like hanging out of pork, as Nick Shook said, yeah, hanging out of like a Washington d C dive bar or or a Maryland dive bar, depending on where it'll be. Where do you house this pig?

A footnote similar to the Carson Wentz Week seventeen start that Ron Rivera decided to give that like ended everyone's career. I hope it's not a footnote Sam how will start for the Commanders in a meaningless game. Well not for Sam how Um and perhaps not for Ron Rivera. But

the Commanders are eliminated. The Cowboys, believe it or not, still have a path through the number one seed in the NFC if everything broke for their in their way, so they get it if they take care of business against the Commanders and then the Eagles loose to the Giants and the forty in Irons loose to the Cardinals. I'm just saying that's the path, But you can it's something as simple as it, and this would be stunning.

The Eagles lost to the Giants and the Cowboys one they win the NFC East and get the home game is not that's not a crazy create the number one seed were the starters, I would say like at least there's a shot of it. It feels like this is the Cowboys are gonna be where the Cowboys are as the top wild card seed. But crazier things have happened. I hope, I hope it doesn't work out this way. But looking at this five pack of four games, we could have a Chargers game playing backups forty Niners and

Eagles just like whitewashing. And if their opponents and I think the Cowboys will absolutely be scoreboard watching. And if the Eagles are up by three or four touchdowns, I think they'll start sitting there starting. Yeah. It's it might not be a great little sequence. That's why I haven't watching Gina Lowebb for drama. But but the NFL season tells us that one of those situations is gonna go totally haywire, if not two or three of them. Oh no, I selid company man. I'm not being a company man.

It's just like I actually wouldn't mind if it's just like a nice neat everything's nice and neat. But it's not going to be that way because every one of these games it's you're probably right, let's and there was a report, uh Jeremy Fowler. The team had expected the Washington Um Commanders just go with Taylor Heineke on Sunday, but that changed when Heineke told the coaches that it should be rookie Sam how instead, as Heineke felt that

Howell was deserving of playing. Well, if that's true, you know, good on Taylor Heineke. What a class act. But in reality, I just think it's it's a further illustrates to me that the Washington football team needs to reboot the whole thing, including quarterback, including head coach, and about that as well. It's not working. I I kind of am interested to see Sam Howell. That was interesting in the preseason, sure, but I hate pick. Here's what I guess happened here.

Heineck was benched. He was extremely upset and he didn't want to start. And this is I'm just speculating, and then this story comes out. I don't like it. But Greg so last a little bit of a uh spin job is what if a job? But there was? There were Reggie Ragland from the Browns, who knows a bunch of players on on Washington, basically said after they after they lost to the Browns that I know guys over there and they all wanted Heineke to start. We talked

about this with Carson. Think you blew up the locker room with that one. I do. I think that was a messy move. I totally agree. I I was saying it wasn't crazy for me to start Whins. I was obviously wrong. Wins played the worst game I think any commander's quarterback has played all year. He completely collapsed. And I wouldn't mind Heinek saying no, I'm not starting, guys, you you bench me. I don't like if someone from the Heineke camp is putting this out there after the fact,

that's what I wouldn't like. I would respect him saying no thanks. I don't know how big, but I'm sure he's got a camp putting out these air Jordan's. You know, totally fair to be extremely annoyment. What I don't need to hear that? You want to see same? How will start?

But they have professional reporters down there covering that team, including the Washington Post, um all over this team, and someone's gonna follow up with Rondevere and say, hey, is it true that you were going to start Heineke and then he volunteered that he didn't want to play. Unless Ronevere is then going to carry the Heineke camps water. Uh,

that doesn't quite pass the mustard test either. I'm just saying, like, if that's a phony um spin job, that could easily get blown up just by asking the head coach if it's true. It's like the least important story that I'm totally fascinated by, and we need to find out. We need a reporter to Rivera is like, wait, well there is a game this week, Like coach, the coach shouldn't need to know that he's in his bunk? What what?

What now? Greg? What? Well ahead? It's more of these articles like I'm seeing it everywhere, like oh, Taylor Heineke with a great gesture. It's just like, I thought you're gonna get honest for being too critical of Ron Rivera, who is a lion of a man. But perhaps it's time son. Rivera was that video of him telling Jeremy Reeves that he made the Pro Bowl. You guys remember that video. It's heartwarming. Wait you're the one where Yeah,

nice video, that's what I mean. Like that showed me what his players felt of him and what a guy he was. Just say, you know, answer for a guy like respected a great player in his day. Perhaps it's time for the commanders to go and take command in a different direction. I don't know's. I don't want to be a bad guy about him, like Ron Mark finished this all right, Bucks at Falcons? The Bucks could decide we have another one after that too. By the way, well there's two more, but this is the most the

first one. But what's that Falcons? Yeah, I think this is a sleeper. I I guess like we're not probably not gonna see. It's kind of a tough week. It's a strange week, but it's often we'll have to wait till the playoffs to find out if if the Bucks and if Brady and Mike Evans have the same connection they did last time. I thought it was a really hopeful thing. I'm not trusting that that's going to just

carry over. But I have told you the week after week that this Bucks team or the winner of the South. And you know, I'm saying it again now that they will win that home playoff game. But I would say that would be an extremely foolish thing to say unless their offense shows up the way it did last week. I mean, there won't be a huge they're gonna be if that's not so funny about this, It's not like totally maybe the as the kids say, the flex you think it is. It's like that wouldn't be crazy. I'm

not saying it's the flex I think it is. It's just that I've been saying that since like week five. Are you saying, well, you're also saying that if the offense shows up, like yes, of course. If no, I'm saying the team that scored thirty seven points shows up, they can probably win a game as like a two and a half point underdog. That's not really what I'm saying it all, Greggy. It's actually that they should feel encourage.

How the uh? I thought Tom Brady and the starters might play most of this game, but then Todd Bowle said he wants to see all three quarterbacks in this game, So I guess it's yeah. I think it's just just in time, the the the Evans Brady connection come into life, and can we just a little love for Mike Evans is like one of the great players of at his

position of the last you know, ten years. Like that was for a guy that's on I think the other side of thirty now the way he was just and I know they're beat up in the secondary um in Carolina with j C. Horn out, but still like that, he's just blowing by dudes and and winning that game almost singlehandedly. Shout out to Mike Evans for being that dude.

Absolutely alpha wide out. Absolutely. Finally, Mark Sasler, the Cardinals at the Niners, is that No, this is the Panthers at the Saints, both eliminated for their play After this game, I thought it was you know, the Saints showed up last week. I thought that was pretty incredible job by their defense. Absolutely, I mean that's sort of the Saint We talked about the Saints that this high variants team.

It was like some of that was like I would rather see that version of the Saints in the postseason than a number of other teams. Uh. In general, I'd say for the Panthers, I really am rooting for Steve Wilkes to keep this job. I think he did a lot with them. They came within that one game of being a team going out there that he's talked to the Pants well, the temper has that, yeah, that they've talked and Jim Harbor reportedly has a very and I feel like we've maybe heard this before, but a very

strong interest in rejoining our league. He would you rather go to the because the Broncos have been linked to Jim Harbaugh to a deal with the idea of reviving Russell Wilson gives you or a Panther's team that has no quarterback Panthers. I think so too, because I think like there's there's more to work with here. I like, I think you can feel to build your team. You're kind of hemmed in whoever takes that Broncos job. It's like you're hoping that Wilson bounces back. If not, you're

gonna get fired. Karb was desperate to get a job last year, putting every media source out there that he could and tried to interview and did interview with The Divide help him. He didn't get a job. This time. It seems like there's there's a better chance. I think this is a sneaky huge game for these two coaches. Maybe based on that, Steve Wilkes doesn't have a great chance. I do think Dennis Allen winning a fourth straight game with his defense playing really well at the end of

the season will help him. But if they get blown up here by the Panthers and it's just like uh want want want ending like, and they end up seven and ten in Sean Payton's looming, then I think this is a big game. We It shouldn't be, but I think him winning four straight games would be very help. But Sean Payton go back to the Saints is another team with major quarterback issues and a total void there.

I love that they have been this. This matchup involves the number one past defense in the league according to d v O a versus the number one pass offense in the league over the last five weeks. What it's basically because it's a perth row basis and perth throw. The Panthers when they've thrown the ball are picking up first downs. At Sam Tarld, I thought, outside of the turnover stuff against the Bucks, played the best game he's

ever played. Enough. I I wish I had this game, even though it doesn't mean anything, I still love that NFC number one you can have Texans and traded for number two in Week one in September. You might need to talk to Nick Shook about that because it's sort of a shook so you know how this works. So but I can think it's half my assets, so I can number two. We just sit on that all off. That's building for next year. I like that speak game

next year. Before we sign off. Here are the coaches that I feel like are in some level of peril entering Week eight team with Black Monday right around the corner. Zeus is bringing this up now because by Sunday night it's easier and some guys might be fired by then. Josh McDaniels, Chief Set Raiders, probably fine, but just mentioning it. Texans with Levey Smith, Colts, Jeff Saturday obviously an intern. You have another intern Wilkes Panthers at STS Dennis Allen.

Dennis Allen could really use a win to end the season on a four game winning streak. I don't know Saints fans want to hear that, but I feel like he might. But he might be in good position there if they end up playing good football to close the season. Um, the Broncos have an interim, obviously they will be making a change. Cliff Kingsbury a lot of speculation that he'll be coaching his last game. I don't know if he could save his job. It doesn't matter what happens in

some of these cases. How weird football is, guys can save their jobs. Potentially the win on Sunday not there. And finally the aw for mentioned Ron Rivera, I don't know, I don't know how strong that is. But also so much instability in that organization right now, Um, I think behooves him to win. I kind of think the ownership situation might play in his faith because is the owner, you know, that's who making that decision. The owner really want to make a change if they're making a change

in terms of their job. And then there's there's always one surprise, and I would throw you know, and I guess it's not as big a surprise if you throw names out there, but I would put the Raiders, Jets, Dolphins, Patriots in Brown as one where there could be a surprise. Do you think Belichick would just mean eventually leave because he's not going to do what they want him to do. It wouldn't be it wouldn't be a surprise, not be the word. Yeah, it wouldn't be a surprise if if

you totally saw it coming. But that when it's just like, I don't think any of those would be totally shocking. Let's track that. Who want? Would you imagine I'm the coach of the Patriots following Bill Belichick? Have a good time with that the job I don't want. All Right, we'll track it if anyone of that five pack has a change football. It's it's hard to believe how unpredictable it can be. All Right, thank you to everyone for watching,

for listening. Uh, we'll be back on Sunday night with the Week eighteen Flagship Show, where you will have a full picture of the postseason. Probably until then, heave a call. M. S.