2024 Week 16 Preview

Walk up to NFL Daily presented by Draft Kings Sportsbook, where it's feeling like week eighteen and Week sixteen. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris Westling podcast studio with my friends Patrick, Claybond, and Steve Weiss.

Back from the road. Get to have you back, buddy, Good to be back, man.

You know we got we had some interesting games.

You're looking at so many spreads like huh wait what Yeah?

When I say that, it just it's got a December vibe this slate. It's a lot of one good team playing one bad team, and the one bad team just made a quarterback change that just makes it feel like where they're just kind of running out the string a little bit.

But we have three weeks left. We don't have one week left.

It's the back end preseason right now. Okay, we got some guys coming back. Glad to have Steve back, because without you we suffered. How oh no, our survivor has knowed you guys. Would you guys take.

But put them use gun?

Yeah, we we got a little over our skis.

We got a little confident over convident.

We took a team that not only have we not taken in survivor all year that Patrick and I actually haven't picked to win a single game all year, thinking we were just hot for reason the Carolina Panthers, and they did.

Whoa of Chris.

I apologize to Patrick, who wanted to go Falcons, and I said, I am not taking this Kirk Cousins team right now.

Now.

Kirk did not look great, but that would have kept us going. So I apologize.

All right, we lost. We lost as a team, and we didn't have exactly. Dan Campbell says, you know that he's not buying the whole injury thing.

I believe it.

When you don't have one of your pieces and you.

Only have three of them, we needed you, Steve.

That's all right, you know we made it. We made it this far without mushrooms growing underneath the pile.

You know what. And I shouldn't. I should have said, like it's all one bad team, one good team.

Because the early part of the slate, the Saturday like teams that are playing on Christmas, but now they're just playing on Saturday before Christmas like, those are pretty spicy.

Real spy.

We're doing the games chronologically this week, so we will be starting with the Saturday game that a lot of eyeballs are on the Houston Texans at the Kansas City Chiefs, who are favored by three. We've seen their quarterback hop up and down and win Super Bowls, hop off the field on one leg, backup, quarterbacks get fourth downs that can they keep it going over under forty one and a half. It's no Eagle the baby Bird. Todd Blackliche and Catherine Tappan on the call, Greg where we've seen

Okay?

So that's an NBC production on a Saturday afternoon that is interesting to me. This is all new territory for us here, and it could be new territory for the Chiefs winning a game they need to win with Carson Wentz potentially at quarterback. When we came into the week, I was assuming it was Carson Wentz. As we get closer to Saturday and they're listing Patrick Mahomes full on the injury report and he's moving around back there, talking

We don't need to just guess the whole time. But what do you think?

Yeah, I mean my feeling is this.

First off, if you watch the Quarterback series on Netflix, you know he does a lot of his training outside of the Chiefs facility, and he's got a mister Miyagi who is taking care of his ankles, and where Patrick Mahomes sprains his ankles like every other week, and this is a high ankle for this time of year. This is his non injured ankle. By the way, this is clever. He hurt his right ankle, but the camera showed them taping up the left ankle. So this is clever deception

Wow.

I was at the Chiefs Browns game last week and their offense, Chiefs offense that can't protect. They had to move left guard Joe Tuney out to left tackle. That could change this week if DJ Humphreys comes back. But just the fact that his overall protection, Patrick is not trusting what's going on in front of him. You're in the Cleveland Browns defensive front is really good, right, So they were getting pressure on him. He was stepping up. The Browns wild let him step up, and we know

Yeah, it's gonna be a defense that bothers people. And Jawan Taylor has been over there the whole time. They've made the changes over on the other side. But now it's Daniel Hunter who's going to be matched up against the Jawan Taylor for the majority of this game. And whether with Mahomes and the ankle, whether it's like Mike mancias Lebron's trainer or the guy that was settled to Tom Brady for such a long time. Oh yeah, the

J What about that dude that once spoke to us at the Town on Summit that he was Michael Jordan's Kobe's guy.

Both of them. Yeah, I know, Tim.

Turns out the real key to those scenarios were Kobe, Bean Bryant, Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

Okay, the trainer.

Stuff draws me nuts because we have Patrick doing all these workouts and it's like, oh, he's on a bullsup ball. Now, if you go out there, your ankle will be pliable like his. No, that's him.

Okay, I don't know, man, some of that stuff's a little different.

See, if he was a believer, Patrick's a skeptic yells.

Everybody would just be hopping off the field one play and then coming back and winning Super Bowls.

Dude is different.

He is different, but he's looking as mortal as I've ever seen him consistently as a pro. I didn't get to watch that game until this morning, so it's really fresh in my mind. That's on the short list of the worst Patrick Mahomes games of all time. I play, well, that's on the short list of just the worst Chiefs offensive perform is because I'm obviously not putting at all on Patrick Mahomes, but they had four point two yards

That's six takeaways.

You know how many drives included more than two first downs one fifth and that was the game. To me, that was the most concerning of all the ones that we've seen. Not that they can't have better weeks and bad weeks, but for them to sink that low, the alarm bell should be off. And now you're going to put against the defense as you mentioned with the great edge rushers, but is really sound on the back end too and.

The second level.

And I know, yeah they probably they're not going to have outside year back, but Kristin Harris is out there.

In total, they had a good game last week.

Defensive players no one talks about.

They are now actually up to number one on the season in defensive efficiency.

That's according to Dvowa.

So I was thinking while watching the Chiefs Browns this morning, Man, now you put the Texans in this mix in out of the Browns who've given up a lot of big plays, maybe that's why they were big play hunting like Mahomes went three for thirteen and plus ten throws zero for six deep and I thought oh you're gonna now you got to go against the Texans. I don't think the

I mean, cumulatively, they do have a better offense than the Texans, but it's by one tenth of a point. They scored twenty three point five points a game. The Texans scored twenty three point four YEP points per game. And it's just in the way that the Texans have done it, especially late this season, like in that win against the Miami Dolphins. Like these grind out drives were

Right, they don't sniff the end zone or close goal again.

And so I just I take the Texans in this game, not just because of the avalanche of everything and Patrick's ankle. It's just one team I believe can consistently execute something on offense.

I don't, and the other deep I don't.

I actually think the Texans are in a worse situation offensively, even than the Chiefs. They came out for the first drive last week against Miami, they started doing some of their old concepts like last year. It was less shotguns and play action CJ's getting rid of the ball on time. Then they got stuffed on like a or they threw a shot deep on third and one. They decided to kick a field goal there. I was like, Okay, Texans offense, maybe they're back. Rest of the game, they stunk. They

Looking comfortable anything under pressure.

She made a couple really nice second reaction plays to score touchdowns, and they took advantage of the red zone trips, and he had a couple of magical plays underheat. But they've been bad all season too on offense. So that's why I'm saying forty one is way too high, way too high.

I don't know who's going to.

Win this game, but I feel amazing that it's going under forty one.

I like Houston, and part of it is also, you know, watching the Chiefs, they look due, they like they look due for what happened to the Lions last week.

Okay, so that's true. That is true. They feel very ready. You get picked off. And the argument for them would be the Texans defense is the best unit in this entire game.

So you have you have two struggles.

That I'm saying a lot. Yeah, Kanses defense is legit.

Stingley was just crazy last week.

That Texans defense going on the road.

Also a good defense on the road on Saturday as well, the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Baltimore Ravens, who were favored by six with the over under forty five. It is Fox A one, Kevin Burkhart, Tom Brady Aeron and Tom Ronaldi on the call, Steve to See Lamar and Derrick Henry trying to get revenge against the Steelers team that gave them that loss back in week eleven.

Yeah, a two point loss, which is how these games go. That's why obviously this number like this is crazy. Seven of the last eight games, neither team has scored more than twenty points, which when I look at the over underline, yeah, right, and then we know Pittsburgh's won eight to the last nine. But it's funny, man that that Eagles game we're talking about, the Eagles put it on the Steelers, and everyone now is like.

Are the Steelers fraudulent? Man?

That narrative is freaking blasting over the speakers, right, And I think they're a good team. I like Baltimore in this, not by six. I do not like the over under. But here's why this is gonna sound absolutely crazy coming from me. The fact that Justin Tucker is five to five on the pat. I think he might get his mojo back. WHOA, he's at home, might get his mojo back. I think that's going to be important for Baltimore.

I need more than just extra points.

But that's that's what I'm saying. Yeah, those extra points are for field goal rangers, so that that's what I'm saying. Those Pat kicks, now he might he might have got his win back. It's gonna be another closer.

Okay, that that would make me feel better. I want to see them just be more discipline about preventing the deep ball, and if George Pickens is not playing, that really helps their case.

I mean even better though, with Hamilton playing that deep, that deep third safety, He's They've been better.

Man, they have.

They made a lot of changes coming out of the bye. So that game against the Giants, everyone will just say, Okay, it was against the Giants, but they did do a number of things that I think are interesting to watch moving forward. Number one on my list, I made a list of what changed Roquan Smith. I think the extra week of rest that he had in the bye really

Back out there. I trust them. They made it.

They made a change at punt returner to Desmond King. They've had some troubles with the punt returns. He had a couple of nice plays, these little things that gives me hope as a as a guy who wants to see the Ravens close strong like you Patrick that maybe this is the old Ravens magic.

Because I got to.

Check the numbers on this, but I swear they're the best team at improving in December, like in the entire NFL, now that the old like Brady Patriots are gone.

The ramps are.

There too, but they always just do these little moves and maybe these are the moves that that get it done.

I think the defense was improving even before the Bible Well.

And that's the thing right with the franchises in the historic like historically looking back, it's front offices and coaching staffs that have been together for a long time. They know how to go through this personnel process and they're

I think in the AFC North Hard Knocks, you know, you get a different look at all the many ways that George Pickens is different. But it's it comes down to how healthy is TJ Watt after leaving this game, because Lamar's consistent struggles against this team.

Are directly related to number ninety. When things get.

Dicey and Lamar is out on the edge, others so many players that he can make myths make look like fools.

TJ's not one of them.

No, No, they do a great job kind of elimitting him going outside.

It's a great strategy, you know. TJ. Watt looked. Let's not forget they got Preston Smith there. They made a great trade.

This is there's some subtle trades and things like this that we aren't really recognizing as much. Preston Smith has helped out Nick herbig go on either side. Alex high Smith is back. Now you're never gonna replace t J.

Watt.

But strategically what they've done, it has worked. And so but to get back to your changes about Baltimore, Greg, you know what they did.

They got faster on defense.

Even though Trenton Simpson could run, he was confused some of the calls I think with Roquand they were asking him to do too much man, some of the coverage stuff they were asking to do. And was like, come on, man, that's tough for anybody, Brian or Lacker type of thing to do.

You get faster on the back end.

Something's been going off Marcus Williams all year because he's been in and out of the lineup.

But they're faster.

They needed to improve that speed because teams were taking advantage of it early on.

That's a great point. And on offense did their number one concern is their offensive line still. I actually believe their guards in pass pro against the best teams are gotta be a problem.

They actually struggled.

I thought against the Giants, you wouldn't have known it, but those big guys like they're not good pass protectors. But what they did was they got a little heavier. They went really heavy on the two tight ends. Not that they don't do that normally, but they cranked it up to about their their highest that they've done it all year last week. And I think that's having their best players on the field, likely and Andrews at the

So they really do.

That's strong.

They really do improve late in the season, and I think they keep it going.

I think they cover the six too. Wow, let's go.

I'll take that.

I don't we're not allowed to do.

You just said the guards aren't play well. Cam Heyward's playing better than any d tackle.

I just believe if there's one team that has by far the highest explosive play rate in the NFL, it's not even close.

Like the Ravens are. They're just explosive explosives.

And another team that if they don't have pickens, they don't actually run the ball well.

People just say that for some reason, don't that they don't.

They don't, so you're gonna have to move the ball down the field slow. I just I don't see it. I think it's like a ten point game. It's nothing crazy with it.

If the Ravens win, though, I mean, that shakes up the AFC nicely. That puts in a striking range, you get that division.

We want to talk about those AFC contenders that are playing on Saturday. They're all four of them, the Steelers, the Ravens, the Chiefs, and Texans will be back because they're flip flopping. The one team to play the other team on Saturday is playing the different team. It's like a little nd season tournament. Shout out to the Cup champions Chiefs, Steelers and Ravens Texans Christmas Day on Netflix.

Let's go to our next game.

Actually, if you're watching on YouTube here, Patrick, I just wanted to point out the promotion out there for Netflix. It's got all the biggest names in the industry. I An Eagle, Greg Olsen, JJ Watt, you know, Stacey Dale's is in the mix. And then who who is on that that big promotion NFL Daily z own Steve Weish. Now he might not, you know, list himself that way, but that's how I list him. NFL Daily zwe Steve Weish is on that promo with all the big hitters like gene Sterritors on that.

Is that a connect for promo? It could be. It really does look like it, doesn't it.

Drew Brees is on there.

I think he's doing the international broadcast with Hanson on Netflix. So I very cool that you're going to be on. Fortunate the Netflix coverage on Christmas? How does the How does the wife feel about that?

The family? Is she going down there? You gotta celebrate?

My wife will not be going down there.

All of our kids will be home, so sorry, there'll be some face times.

It's all good. You know.

I've covered the NBA. I've had to work Christmas days for years. My kids are grown, so it's more important for.

So you're not gonna do like a fake Christmas like I do every year before my family leaves me.

That's what we do.

Nothing take fake. There's nothing fake about this, dude, Greg, I'm all one hundred. If you're doing it, it's not fake. It's legitimate.

Who the day doesn't have to be the day people celebrate on, not their birthdays all the time. It was not Kirk Cousins birthday at all, Nora. Was it the birthday of any Giants quarterback at all in twenty twenty four. So we're gonna get Drew Locke against Michael PENNOCKX junior in Atlanta.

Greg the over under forty two.

It's the Falcons with their quarterback making us first step for start as an eight and a half point favorite. Kevin Kougler, Moose Johnston and Laura Oakman on the call, we had said it was going to be the last game for several weeks.

You called it after the last game for Kirk Cousins. Now it's the rookie with a chance to get some experience against the Giants.

Yeah, the bar is so low, and I don't think we need to talk about this game too much. Although no, with your lock, I give the Giants a better chance to be competitive than they would have been with Tommy DeVito.

And eight and a half is crazy.

I mean it went down. It went down after the quarterback change. It was ten.

I know, I know, Yeah, why Pennox. I don't know X improves him. So let's just talk Penex this whole time, because it's a fascinating that they did make the decision. I thought the way Cousins played kind of left them almost no choice. They owed it to the rest of the team. They still have an uphill battle to make the playoffs. But you can do two things here. You can get a little peak at Penix and help his development, and I think he gives you a better chance to

Well, I mean he's got no trade clause, right, So we're looking at the Russell Wilson situation all over again. Will they move him and pay pay pay for his salary for someone else that could have but remember they ate what was the number for Matt Ryan. Remember they ate that type of cap space to move Matt Ryan. So the Falcus front office is not afraid to make a move.

Like this man. But they just did that.

They just did it.

But they they've signed their younger players to long term deals. I mean, they're they're pretty well situated cap wise, and that number is going to be there anyway. And they've got his backup on a rookie deal. But I think for Cousins, they'll probably be some teams. I think he'll waive it. What's interesting to note about the scenario he could have done this with Minnesota. They're going to draft

Why, I mean, I guess I'm going to convince yourself that maybe he'd be healthier a year, you know, more removed easily surgery, but he's also older and thirty seven.

Yeah, it's almost like, would you take him over Daniel Jones? I mean that that's kind of where, right, I mean, that's kind of where I think some of that conversation could go. I mean a lot of people would. A lot of people wouldn't. You're sitting next to one. I would gladly take Kirk.

The people are doing the comparison right because Aaron is forty one, correct, and Kirk Cousins is thirty six, And it feels like simple math. Aaron Rodgers' Achilles injury happened three months before Kirk Cousins did. Right, Kirk Cousins, it's very difficult, Like we could talk like the state of health. It's very difficult to become healthier playing in the National Football League. Sure, And so I really think with more

This version is still clearly dealing with something. What's interesting. Patrick moved what's interesting though, when people say that is six weeks ago we were talking about that Kirk.

He was Kirk co Chains. We were a little bit on this show.

We were saying where we're so impressed that he was doing it despite the limitation.

I remember, nothing got worse, And I think Patrick brought up a stat like he was only move head the least amount of movement like one and a half yards in the pocket. So that part was there, But you saw there was some stuff. He was stepping into his throws. I don't know if there was a lack of confidence, but he's stilling wiffle balls out there. I mean those balls pop out of his hand and they die after five yards. They were having to throw the ball between

Does he want to? I mean, does he want to? Does he want to?

I bet he will so well, the money's gonna be there, I mean, he's got a significant paycheck coming.

I think he will too, so Michael Silver, our old coworker, I saw him talking about that all all his old coaches, they are fascinated by him still and that there will be a market for him.

And I had my doubts, but not now.

You're you're making the case Patrick that there's a there's always a market for a quarterback. But I sent a couple of texts yesterday about this when it happened, and I thought, oh, maybe Kirk actually, like, would Kirk ever actually be okay being the backup to Pennix? It's not that crazy, like if you've already got him under contract, you have a good number two.

And they were like, are you high.

They're like, they thought, there's no way he is not gonna be happy. He is, you know, they were surmising, but they just did not think he would be okay with that scenario.

And that is essentially what you're saying too.

We're on the verge of watching Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield after playing on that woeful Carolina Panthers team start playoff games, yeah, in which they are teams of fan bases believe that they give them the best chance to win. We saw Peyton Manning come back from that neck injury where there's like zu Bruder film of him throwing and training, and all of a sudden, the whole league's like, all right,

I'm glad you're presenting that side of the argument, even though I am just even though I don't see it. I think it's just closer to Matt Ryan in Indianapolis that when you see something like that, and it was why we felt confident, why I felt confident on the show, like they are going to bench him.

I don't care about the money, like when.

You see that they're not coming back from that, they're just I think it was more of a like whatever he needed because he was always a confident player, He'll always be willing to rip the ball.

He had totally lost it this year.

Maybe maybe you get that confidence back, but that was as important to me as as what he lost in terms of his movement. Let's give it a little up to Pennix, though, what do we think, what do we think he's going to look like the next couple of weeks. He's a fascinating prospect. And uh, I'm really glad they drafted him.

For Faculo smart for drafting.

I think they were smart at the time because you always got to keep I think, invest as much as you possibly can in quarterback until you're sure you got one.

And they couldn't have been sure they got one with Kirk Cousins.

Well, they paid Kirk Cousin one hundred and hundred million dollars. Now that was the issue. It's not this, it's not them drafting Pendix. It was signed drafting him after signing.

Kirk, I get it, which was bad process.

I have heard speculation, I'm wondering what you think, Steve is an insider, that there's a chance, once the Falcons got Kirk in the building that they were a little more skeptical of where he was at physically, and that impacted that.

You really couldn't have had as much.

Knowledge of where he was at physically before the trade.

And I mean that might be to mean, I think that might be hindsight, because remember when they did this, Kirk's our guy.

Kirk's our guy.

They draft Penis, he's our guy. Yeah, So if they had any questions about it. Physically, they sure weren't tipping their hand. Plus, Michael Penix has not begetting first team reps. True, he has not been getting first team reps. When you watch an NFL practice, your starter gets ninety eight percent of the reps. So they're going to have to un afford. Like, I think he's going to know the playbook. It's just

That happened, that would be that would be even worse.

Process.

We are talking about the one winged bird. There aren't two wings on that falcon on the helmet pass they are for a long time.

Yeah, that's that is amazing.

We we suddenly have one of the most interesting parts of the last three weeks. Though, is Michael Pennock started this game. So just as an an unbiased observer like I'm kind of happy to have this. We needed some injection of interesting storylines into the.

End and that Division two and this is a very winnable game.

And then next week they have a game against another contender. I'm forgetting who it is now at the top of my head, I'll check.

But they're in the mix.

Yeah, they just need some help from the Dallas Cowboys and they're right back in it with an opportunity. And yeah, watching the Giants, my favorite player ever was playing the Giants at five touchdowns last week.

I could barely stand to watch it film.

By the way, They're on Sunday Night football next week. That was what I was thinking against the Commanders. Yes, and they actually could even in a scenario where they if they can win this week, they could actually get into the wild card race. Even if the Bucks keep winning to win the NFC South. If the Commanders lose this week to the Eagles, yep, and then they can beat them heads up next week, then it just makes

But he cares. That would be a great player.

And it's no longer Jay Cutler real quick.

And this is and this is from the patch of Claiban, Whole of Destiny, right, I tweeted it yesterday Michael Penniski is named starter. And what else happened on that day? Michael Vick gets named the head coach at Norfolk State. So two left handed Falcons quarterbacks leading their programs in new directions.

You like that?

I love it?

Predestined.

Yeah, it's symmetry, and we interrupt our Atlanta Falcons podcast and take it to the Arizona Cardinals four and a half point favorites on the road against the team that sunk our Survivor picks last week, the Carolina Panthers, the over under forty seven. Chris Meyers, Mark slaff and Jen Hale on the call. All the pozzy Steve from the previous you know, vibe boosting but still losses went out

Yeah, I think, you know, with Arizona and back in the win column against you know, bad Patriots team last week, this is gonna be a competitive game that six and a half hour. I'm sorry that Ford was it four to four and a half number? I like it for Arizona. I think this is one where James Connor, he goes over a thousand for the season. They pound the ball, They kind of get back to where they were a little bit and not relying so much on Kyler and I think Carolina with that, I mean they did more

Maybe they'll respond.

I think it's a good I think it's an important month for Bryce to continue his progress in the program, to continue it. They were do I guess to have a bad week, and they certainly had one.

I went bad week.

Well, I just mean they've been competitive in all these games. I think looked like a NFL team, and then last week they went back to their worst habits. I went through a lot of the playoff scenarios, okay, to make the case for these teams that feel like they're a little on the outside looking in. Arizona wins a three way tie in the NFC West if they all go

So they would.

If it's Seahawks, Cardinals and Rams at ten and seven, Cardinals win the division, they also win the two way if it's a two way tie with the Rams, assuming that they beat the Rams on Saturday Night on NFL Network next week, which is that's their do or die game. Every game is basically a do or die game, But it's not that crazy of a route. They basically win these next two games in Carolina and against the Rams, and they might be in the driver's seat two weeks

It's still all right in front of him. By the way, Buddha.

Baker, how about that got a nice little contract extension, third contract, third contract.

That is tough to do.

David Mullagata represents him. Man, David David gets all these guys taken care of.

And the search Bar it's gotten some reinforcements. We got Baron Browning. I mean, that's a guy people actually do know. And then their first round pick, Darius Robinson played a lot last week. So and they just gave a guy a big contract. Buddha Baker. The search bar might they might graduate from the search Bar at some point.

The links are gonna be purple because everybody's gonna have seen.

All right, we are just getting going here on NFL Daily. We got we got a lot of games to get to. We're gonna hit some fun ones after the break and including the Lions.

See if they can bounce back this week. Back on NFL Daily, Patrick.

Before you set up this next game, Okay, can you just remind me what the quote you read to me from Kirk Cousins during the break was.

Because it was it was beautiful.

So he did call Michael Pennock Jr. They asked him at his availability why he called him, and he said, quote, I like to shoot elephants in the room, so I just wanted to shoot one.

And they said he couldn't execute the big game. But there he is, well done.

Oh wait, good job, nicely shoot the elephant in the room.

My god.

And then he circled back to it. I like to shoot elephants sweat.

Hey, man, that's poaching. You can't do it too much.

Kirk oh Cousins, Oh, Kirk, how we love the Yes, that's a look back, but let's look forward to the Detroit Lions. The very very injured Detroit Lions, but still very very good six and a half point favorites in Chicago against the Bears with the over under forty eight, Kenny Albert, Jonathan Ville make Aan Olivy on the call, Coach Campbell said, Greg, he's not buying the injury stuff. It's gonna be tough no more. David Montgomery for the rest of the season. Ilan McNeil hoping to get good

Those guys defensively?

I just think they want to stabilize and have a positive performance. As banged up as they are, and losing McNeil is huge for that defensive line.

Huge.

They still do have Zadaria Smith and they got it for everyone, you know, talking about the injuries last week, they did get Owen Wuzuriki and DJ Reader back on the field. So that's three starters there on your defensive line. Jack Campbell and that linebacker group behind him. That's really

I'm with you.

I still think I think Detroit overcomes it at least to win the NFC North. I think they're gonna go ahead and win the division just because they can score, which is why I think that over underline is what it is at forty eight, because I don't think the

Yeah, it's gonna be more volume for Jamier Gibbs. Obviously.

I guess Craig Reynolds slides and he has the most non Jared Goff actually has the third most carries on the team, But then you go down to Craig Reynolds as far as at the running back position, so he comes in he fills nicely the role that I think

Might just be the Super Bowl favorites on a neutral field Bills.

It's not.

I feel like there's this tendency because we want so much from the Lions and there it's been such a great story to feel like this is it, this is over this is still one of the best.

Yeah, that their fans haven't been in this position, and I saw some of the reaction online to their great beat writer, Colton Pouncy, and he's answering questions from the fans and they're like, well, what even hope do we have left?

Is it over now?

And it's like, no, you guys lost the game and you've had an incredible amount of injuries that is going to make this path tougher. But let's not get it twisted. You're still one of the favorites. You're still one of the five teams five or six that if you're hosting, you're winning the Lombardi in a couple months. Then I won't be surprised because Jared Goff has never played better. I am convinced he is absolutely peaking. So your quarterback

I agree.

I can't wait that Week eighteen game to them in the vikings. I mean that could be for the division, could be for top seed. So I mean they're gonna have to play all the way through. They've got to stay healthy all the way through.

Here go to.

Our next home team, a seven and a half point favorite at home, the Cincinnati Bengals taking on the Cleveland Browns. Greg mentioned Steve the very reasonable path for a team like the Arizona Cardinals. The Bengals need an incalculable amount of help. It's absolutely in saying we saw Joe Burrow's frustrations even in the win against the Tennessee Titans. The Browns are going to be starting DTR Spirodidas, Adam Archoletta, and A D. D. Kikawalla on the CALLI over under is forty seven?

Is it that crazy a path? Though? Okay, let's put it out there. Let's put it out there.

Patrick, you win this game against the Browns, now the Thursday night game, which some of you maybe even watch by the time you listen to this, it's so important for Cincinnati. The Broncos Chargers game. You could look at it two different ways. You could want the Chargers to lose because they'll be easier to catch, but they lose the head to head against the Chargers, so you actually would need the Chargers to lose another game after that and win out, and the Chargers have two quite winnable

It's not over, no, I mean the only challenge is Cincinnati winning out.

Yes, I mean they've they're slopping as hell. Good point, thank you, that's an issue. I've been making that point all year, thank you.

Good fight.

Sorry penalties, negative plays, Yes, you're right. I mean look this week. First off, I don't like that number. What is the number?

I don't like playing DTR.

They're playing DTR. But Cleveland's defense is good man.

I mean you talked about how they hell can't see the twenty one points with six takeaways. That defense. Guys in the secondary are playing well, they're competing. I mean, they've got some pros on that side of the ball.

They should beat DTR. But who knows. If he pulls it.

Down and starts running on him, doesn't give it away, I don't. I mean, Cleveland, they'd have their just speed on the offense. Isn't there in the run game. Well, Jerome Ford had the big hit last week, but it's just with Cincinnati they still I mean it is the Burrow and those two stud wide receivers. Everywhere else, he just keep making so many mistakes just when you want to buy into him, like, gosh, these guys are self destructive.

At least win this game, and you give yourself another week to go to that Broncos game and yeah, Joe Burrow do something that would be awesome, extraordinary, and you're right watching them have I think it was like twelve penalties and four turnovers against the Titans.

It's not going to inspire a ton of confidence. That's fair.

I think the problem with the one Path right, other than the most significant issue being the Bengals being the Bengals, is you get in a situation where you're relying on a Carson Wentz led Chiefs team that's sitting everybody like Christian's gonna be playing in that game, No, no, ma homes.

It probably get Hollywood maybe though, like not.

If you guys are right and the Chiefs are going to lose this week against the Texans, then then they will be playing for Week eighteen most likely. So just just saying chance one of these is going to hit one of these crazy, like one of the teams one right now that that is around three teen percent and lower.

There's about five or six teams between the two covers.

One of them's at least going to get to Week eighteen with a real chance and the Bengals.

There was a team last week that had a chance to be in this discussion but absolutely melted down. It's the Indianapolis Colts. They are at home in the Division three and a half point favorites against the Tennessee Titans. That will start Mason Rudolph, Tom McCarthy, j Freeley, Ross Tucker and our dear friend Tiffany Blackman on the call, Greg where we've finally seen the results of the season long Will Levis experiment and the results are back to

They would, but they actually have a higher percentage chance of making a playoffs. See, everyone just wants to cross these teams out because it just feels like it's better.

Yeah, but you're you're so analytical, man. Watch just some of the dumb stuff some of these teams do where you have no faith, and that's where we're coming from.

Greg.

I don't think they're good.

I just think they have the easiest schedule in the NFL the last three weeks. If you could construct this schedule that did not include the Patriots and maybe the Pages wouldn't be in this mix, could you come up with an easier three pack of games than home for Tennessee at the Giants home for Jacksonville. I actually think even if they don't make the playoffs at nine and eight and they're in one of the scenarios I laid out for Cincinnati, and I was playing with the playoff

I get that point, but if they lose this game, I mean tennise, well, that's the big yeah. I mean Tennessee is just such a wildcard. I mean some days it can get you inspired. I have no faith in them right now. But like the Colts don't win this game, it's like you're gonna look back on Jonathan Taylor that fumble like wow, that that's what broke our backs, And to me, that goes he you maybe aren't mentally tough as you need to be. I do like Indianapolis in

We talked about it at the start of the show Man.

There's some team that's what I mean, final three preseason game.

Richardson's so hard because that first drive he had last week where he had a couple just beautiful throws and then they call the Reid option and he he just looks like a faster Cam Newton out there and you're thinking, and he throws really difficult middle of the field throws. He's so hard to take down and but but it's just not consistent.

No, it's not.

And even even on the drive right where he steps through a defender, defender is gator rolling on his ankle and like.

Richardson just pulls away.

That's just like he's playing with his cousins, like his baby cousins are in the backyard trying to It's like, no, I will not be sacked. And then a couple players later has an inexplicable turnover. You know, it's just it's up and down. That's that's the nature of the Colts. But perhaps not out of it. As Greg Rosenthal says, there's always, gosh always.

It's a real chance. It's a real chance.

NFL optimism daily, a chance to see two two really good quarterbacks, a couple of the best of their generations. Aaron Rodgers and the Jets not favored at home against Matthew Stafford and the Rams, who are favored about three and a half points. Kevin Harland, Trent Green, Melanie Collins on the call the Jets guy win that they desperately still came down to the wire.

Can they be the spoiler against the Rams? Steve Well, They absolutely can be the spoiler.

I mean if they played to some degree like they did last week on offense. I mean, DeVante Adams is fantastic, better veet Garrett Wilson. Otherwise, the more problems are coming because that's very talented. But you know, they they look like a legit football team against a football team that has also packed their bags and Jackson Bill Chaguars, that's

Absolutely, And although the NFC's filled with them, it's a really deep, compelling playoff field, where like I wouldn't want to play the Packers, No, we wouldn't want to play the Bucks like and that these are the teams that are a little I wouldn't want to play the Vikings like. They're all it's a really it's gonna be a great NFC tournament, especially if the Rams are in it. Just they haven't played their best for what it's worth on

Team last week.

So to day they're a little more dangerous I think, and even sas Gardner Jeff Ulbrooks said, has played his best two games of the season last two weeks. That it's like kind of the sauce we knew he's playing with better spirit. They're just a little more dangerous I think than they were about a month ago, so they got to be careful.

It was Gardener in the game on an inexplicable Max Schill's throw last week, which is a big part of while the Jets were able to be celebratory and happy as we can celebrate the fact that it's time for the Game of the Week presented by DraftKings Sportsbook. Yes, it's bad in the NFC East of Philadelphia Eagles three and a half point favorites on the road against Jaden Daniels and the Washington Commanders forty five and a half. See over under Joe Davis, g reg and Pam Oliver

Yeah, and dispatched the Commanders, Remember on that Thursday night football game that was kind of a two teams heading in a little separate directions at that point where Philadelphia had one of their wins. And they've had a lot like this where it's close for a while, even though it doesn't feel close, and then they just they just wear you down. And if you think about what's happened since Philly's actually had a tougher schedule, and yet they've

So that's good.

But I look at one team to me that other than Jalen Hurts being up and down, is you know, gathering strength almost at every position group the Philadelphia Eagles. And another that is not improving necessarily, the Commanders.

As the season goes on, I think.

They're gonna give Philadelphia hell of a game here, Okay, because you remember you talk about that last game Saquon rushed for As a team, they rushed for like two hundred and thirty yards.

Saquan was most that hit some big runs late.

I think Washington's gonna deny some of those explosive plays and that's gonna balance things out of little bit they did. They were doing some things to Frankie Louver, a linebacker the game. I remember they were putting him out on the edge a lot to create some pressure and that opened up the middle of the field for Saquon. I don't think that's gonna happen again. I just think this is gonna be a hell of a game, Phillya.

Three and a half. Maybe Philly gets to win. Three and a half might be much.

I think Washington and Marshaw Lattimore coming out in his debut and shutting things down. I think he's gonna he's gonna help the defense. No, I mean, I'm just saying I just.

Think no, no, No, you're right. I'm laughing about that happened on this show last week.

Yeah, I'm saying schematic he's gonna allow them to do some things that are gonna deny some of those run yards that Philly got last time.

I'm glad you brought that up, Steve, because We had a we had a mole inside the Saints building last week and we actually heard that Mickey Loomis. He said, I don't care what you guys do in this game, Rizzy, no matter what, you are not throwing it to Marshawn Lattimore. We will not be embarrassed. Okay, that was We revealed that on the show last week, right right, Okay that that no matter what, we're not letting mar Latimer have a highlight. He did not have a target, not one

Yeah, the right way to play a game probably best to not have JK and or target anybody. It's Spencer Radler, come fit point and salvage is the game. It makes it somewhat watchable. Where I'm just was I was skeptical about late season, Cliff, very very skeptical.

We've seen more Terry from the right.

He scored another touchdown from the right side of the field last week. Where just being able to utilize one of the best players in the game that we've had for a long time that it hasn't seen this level of play from the quarterback position. And we say it, but it's still worth celebrating that Terry gets this opportunity to play with Jayden and they need him. They need him now.

The run game you mentioned, Eckler Brian Robinson Junior left the game against the Saints, and so it's all five and seventeen and those two can do it. But to do it against Philly at this point, the way that Quinn is playing, Cooper Degen coming on that the time, the season that Bond has had as well, it's.

Just Nolan Smith is getting better every week, becoming a difference maker for this team. I looked at the numbers since Week seven, when when there was a little bit of a downturn for Washington in terms of explosive play rate, Eagles third in the league. They've cranked it up more big plays. A lot of those are runs to a Saquon Washington twenty fifth. So Philly is gonna make you work down the field. That's gonna be a really big test for Jayden Daniels. Can he be patient and avoid mistakes?

And they've got the speed to track him down when he tries to break the pocket. I mean, that's one thing he's got to be cognizant.

Of all right.

That was our game of the week.

Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now use the code daily. New customers can bet just five bucks. You get two hundred dollars in bonus bets only at DraftKings Sportsbook with Code Daily. The crown is yours. That's that's our headliner. By the way of the early games, I like that that we have one big one early Philly in Washington with g Reg on the call. We are going to be back and we're gonna start talking some late games. My god, Gino needs a bounce back. It's one of

Hold, it depends on on the day. I don't like to be saturated with it. But nothing like some good Donny Hathaway, you know, every now and then.

It's anything that's not that Waitresses Christmas rapping song and Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmas.

That's that doesn't that doesn't get to that.

Not just bad Christmas all. In my opinion, a person who knows nothing about music. Two of the worst songs.

I've wow, I'll take but not really wrong.

What about you, Greg? I do.

As I've gotten older, I've gotten more in the holiday spirit.

I grew up not really celebrating Christmas exactly like we would give gifts on the twenty fifth. But my parents are Jewish and they didn't really want to get behind that.

But now I think.

I'm I'm trying to live out the childhood I didn't have, but my family is not that into it. They almost make fun of me of being like the guy who's trying to get into it. Come on, I mean they like getting present.

Just roasted them, like you're all about consumerism.

Do not about that, but like going out to the holiday lights and doing all that sort of stuff. Like the kids, they've changed. They begged off the holiday lights this year.

Just watch Netflix game on Go. It'll be cool.

Walker will be watching from Japan. You can. You can watch it all over the world.

Look when I mentioned no respect for the Seahawks at four oh five, just in case, like there's sometimes some new fans to the mix, Like four oh five means you're not in the four to twenty five window, which is where they show most of the country stands four or five. They're just kind of trying to bury it in your local markets and have it end, and they're

Yeah, a team that's contending for not just the best record in the NFC, I mean at this point they could be finished with the best record in the entire NFL. The Minnesota Vikings three and a half point favorites on the road Steve against the Seattle team that saw Sam Howell, and they needed Gino Smith back in that game against the Packers. On Sunday Night Football, Adam Me and Mark Sanchez Christina Pink on the call over under forty two and a half, where you start to wonder where can

Yeah, it's real tough to play the practice sports team. Good on Gino, And I'm just gonna go off a little bit now on Gino. But you know last year when a backup quarterback. I had to come in for like a half and play and he was terrible. And after the game I spoke to a high ranking execution I never want to see that player in our uniform again. I don't think this Seahawks ever want to see Sam

They didn't want to ever see him take another snap.

I want to know who the other quarterback was last year.

I can't see it right now. Can't do that.

That would be you're you're right though confidence I follow I follow a lot of Seahawks fans on social media, and there was a lot of curse words being sent towards John Schneider for making the trade to acquire Sam Howell and and kind of sell him as an intriguing prospect.

They missed Drew Locke luckily. Gina Smith gotta be back.

This is This is gonna be a good game. And and you know, Minnesota's a three and a half point favorite.

I like it.

Seattle's gonna play tough this game. This is this is kind of a good matchup. We know that McDonald was brought in to be kind of the McVeigh stopera. We know, you know, Kevin O'Connell runs at McVeigh offense. Sam donald was not great Monday night. He was good, It was good enough, but Aaron Jones showed out. You know, the superstars showed out. And I think that's where you know, the Vikings have the matchup. Their skilled players and their superstar players are legit. The guys on the back end

Like if they've got a rate, you know, lean on Gino. He can win ball games.

But against this defense and the different looks they give you many Brian Flores, the second half of games is insane with the looks he gives you.

It is going to be tough.

So I like Minnesota in this game, but I think this is going to be the late game of.

The day really important for both teams. Minnesota to keep that pole position to win the NFC North. If they win out, they will win the DIVS Vision Seattle to try to stay right there in the NFC West, or suddenly they have a skid and Seahawks fans probably feel like, man, we finally felt like we had something and then the floor just falls out last week. And I felt that way too, But it's like, yeah, that's what ten and even seven seasons look like. You're not gonna win every game.

Stop the run.

See if this is an ugly weather type of game, you get ken Walker back, you get Olawa Teamy back, who I wouldn't have thought was such an important player for the Seahawks, but he's their center and he got hurt right away in that that's destabilizing for that to happen, and he's supposed to return for this game, so I think they will respond. I like them as an underdog, at least to cover. I'm not sure if I'll pick them to win, but it wouldn't It wouldn't surprise me the won this game.

No, not at all.

And I think as the as as Mike mac being the tree Stopper and the Shanahan Tree, I feel like there's there's so many times where I've I don't know if I want to count Matt Lafleur as.

Part of it.

I know, I know he's in the tree, but it's just so different, right, it feels like a departure. Kevin O'Connell feels more in line with the with the original tree, and maybe maybe we I mean, what is it.

That he really does that's like the magic sprinkling of this tree? I don't know, do you think there is something to it?

Yeah. I mean, look, it does come to ex's and o's.

I mean even though they were is there anything specific?

There is a communication factor.

You talk to people about sean Emvay and why he's so good, especially later of the seasons. One they developed guys and just think about all the coaches they've lost and they still develop young players.

We talked about that, but its communication.

They're like, Sewan doesn't just sit in the quarterbacks room or he goes in here and he makes every player at every position to understand why they're doing individually, what they're doing is okay, what they're doing on that side of the ball, what the team is trying to accomplish. So everybody is invested and you and Kevin O'Connell does that as well as anybody.

Man.

They they've got a great staff in Minnesota. Kevin O'Connell could do it. Matt Lafleur is the same.

What does Mike McDonald do.

Well, he's he's the stopper, He's he does the stuff kind of like what Fangio did, what Belichick did? You know, he kind of understands, let's five man and six man defense in front of them, and let's just beat the hell out of their offensive lineman. Let's let our linebackers run free and make plays.

So they they got.

Some, they got some small Okay, I've I've officially confirmed my priors on this correct. So the Rams line up under center of forty four percent of the time, Yeah, the Vikings of the time. The Green Bay Packers line up under center twenty three percent.

They they have been, they have been different, and.

It's not in the tree anymore.

I love that the Vikings essentially start their playoffs now. They they do not play any bad teams the rest of the way like they have Seahawks, Packers, Lions and then playoffs and so it's on and we're gonna learn about them, and we're gonna learn about this Seattle team. Like there is a tendency I think after a game that poor on Sunday Night football, and it was poor, I mean they got it handed to them by the Packers,

She lude to Patrick Clayo offer calling Mike MacDonald the mcface STOPPERA So he's the Ruben Patterson.

Yeah, he's yeah, the Kobe, the Ruby.

If you want to go, I guess to Michael Petrice, right, like any number of stoppers who Michael pet stopping, well, Michael Petrice was allegedly stopping Lebron. Okay at a certain point that that that never came to be. Much like Andrea Goodalla, who had Lebron have the one of the greatest seasons ever, series ever and somehow got an MVP.

About how about Celtics. Tony Allen was kind of an early Lebron staff.

Tony Allen Man, Yeah, Tonya Allen was a hell with defensive player.

I could talk association with you guys all the time. But let's get to the one the only thing that matters. As Greg Rosenthal has called him several times. The season Drake May and the New England Patriots on the road where the Bills are fourteen point favorite vibes immaculate. Josh Allen got engaged to Hailey Steinfeld. It says that everything's been coming up Buffalo for forty six is the over under Iron Eagle Charles Davis and Evan Washburn on the call.

Yeah, I think they could. I think they could cover that. I think there could be a little bit of a letdown factor. It's a weird stretch. Now the Bills after getting through these big games, have the Patriots a couple of times, and the Jets teams that they're they're certainly better than and offensively they're going to put up thirty plus.

Yeah, oh yeah.

But the reason why fourteen is a lot is that you could see Drake May exposing some of the weaknesses that we've seen out of Buffalo if he can just get a little bit of time.

And yes, he is the one thing that matters in New England.

He is the one thing that matters.

But actually there's two him and Christian Gonzales. Okay, yeah, it.

Is kind of in you know, they do have maybe the best young cornerback and the best young quarterback in the league.

There we go.

That's something that build off, that's something and those are two key positions where at some point you're gonna have to pay him well, as Jered Mayo could come under some smoke this week.

My god, he's getting cooked up in that market.

By the way, fourteen not enough, I think even if Buffalo is just because on both sides of the ball, man, both sides of the ball, Buffalo is they're too talented, they're playing too well right now. You know, Sean mcdermot's you know, he's not mentioned enough in the Coach of the Year conversation.

He needs to start, we know, you start dialing that temperature up a little bit.

Josh Allen whatever, James Cook is the guy who's been impressing me in their offense. I mean, it seems like he's hitting two or three explosive plays off tackle like this every game.

Yeah, and the Pagriots cannot defend the run, which is no one of the many ways that you can tell they're you know, not as well coached as they were a year ago when they were still a good defense.

On defense.

There's a chance though, for Drake to air it out here. Because of all the success the Bills have had, they still given up eighty four points in the last two weeks. Yeah, and you know Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff very very good.

Quarterbacks that were traded for each other.

It's still this is this is a chance for Newland to work on this passive games showcase how gifted their quarterback is. Who gets some comps to the guy on the other side, and I think that those those comps aren't silly or legit.

I like those cops.

Yeah, he's not quite there physically. I mean, who is other than Cam Newton, maybe Richardson. I just mean he's just not as big as as as Josh Allen is, and I don't think he's as risk taking. That's been the thing that that has been surprised. I actually thought he was based on his tape at unc AND early this season.

But go go.

Back in the tape, find me the negative plays Drake May has made. The last couple of weeks. There have not been many bad decisions, bad plays, and I have some numbers.

That it's going to back back.

Okay.

I did some next Greg stats research this morning, did my own little.

Stuff since uh week ten.

It's pretty long sample size five games, fourth in the NFL and completion percentage quarterbacks seventh in completion percentage over expected. And then here's the one that really gets me. Going fourth in success rate in the entire NFL despite what's around him, that's a minor miracle. The only guys in front of him are Goff, I would and Jared Allen and Josh Allen and Tua actually was in front of him.

I would never have guessed that, even if a lot of those come in garbage time, he's still throwing the majority of the game.

He's not taking negative plays.

PFF has some fourteenth that feels more appropriate too. Overall, but that's ahead of guys like Baker and Purdy and Mahomes and just on their individual Gradinges says, he's just not making many mistakes, and he's making a lot of really heady plays.

Under a lot of pressure. Too.

Good for him. He's real, Patrick, He's real. It's fun. It's fun to see.

Speaking of fun, the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders, who were favored by one over under his sixteen points just getting thirty nine and a half points. Andrew catial on, t Kee Barber, Jason mccordy, and aj Ross on the call. It is McCorkle, Jones going up against Desmond Ritter. We think, Steve, Yeah, your thoughts on this football game?

Yeah, I don't know how the Raiders are favored, but.

Gosh, man, big game for the picks. Here's a dirty secret. I actually wish there was a couple games like this every week. This is the only one because I want to save time on my tape watching and I do not want to watch this tape. No, I feel comfortable about it. Sorry, Brian Thomas Jr. I love you.

I like the Jags on this.

You know, everything with the Raiders is not great, even getting kicks, block punts, block things like that.

I think the Jackson It's only it's actually the only game like this this week between two teams that are totally out of it, which you wouldn't expect because there's a lot of teams that are out of it, but each one is playing like this is the only dead game.

Emphasize the totally out of it part. They've not just gone fishing and they are on the boat in their gear.

It's and yet, if the Raiders win this game and their favorite swim, Yeah, if their favorites and they win this game, they could hurt their draft pick. Giants are watching this game and they're saying, let's go Jags, I mean, let's go Raiders.

Jags lose it for us.

Not all quit, not only quitting the Raiders team. We'll see how things go. Uh there, We'll move on in that game, which is a joy to the game that at the start of the season had so much promise, so much in fact, that it's jim Nance, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson who on the call to see the San Francisco forty nine Ers go into Miami against the Dolphins, who are a one point home favorite greg the over under forty four.

And a half.

They got stung by Derek Stingley's interceptions last week.

They remained in that game.

They've had some heartbreakers, They've been trying to get back in the picture.

How do you view we couldn't get a better game for CBS in the afternoon window.

That's wild.

I think people would rather see Josh Allen and Drake may just because Josh Allen is the story in the in the league right now. So I think they I

They were.

They were the exact same every week you watch the Dolphins, you knew what you were going to get, and it was extremely efficient. That's why Tua was up there ahead Drake Man's success, right, and yet last week they got it put to them. That was a defensive master class there by Damico Ryans and kind of humbled this Dolphins team.

Well, and he humbled the coach who used to coach with up in San Francisco. So maybe there were some things going on right there. Miami's booncing back this week. I think, I mean, look, San Francisco's proud, They're gonna go out there. It's gonna be a good game, but just too many injuries in the run game. Talking about Trent Williams is probably done for the season at left tackle for the forty nine ers. I think Miami's offense gets going, its defense, we'll do some things against the

They they don't seem to be able to protect Tua long enough to have the deep passing game. And if you want to rush yards over expected step, the Dolphins have negative two hundred and fifty seven rush yards over expected on designed run this season.

No explosives.

It's they cannot run the ball, even though Raheem Moster back in these past couple of weeks, and they haven't been able to do anything on the ground. And it's just all has to be to operating quick passes right around the line of scrimmage.

It's just tough.

These teams are kind of mirror images of each other. When you think about the high expectations on offense, the offensive coaches and Kyle Shanahan at least still has that running game. The Dolphins not having a running game is one of the more surprising elements of the year. And I think Tua deserves some blame for last week too.

Two my early season MVP can I'm just joking. I'm not going to talk with Baker in Baker anymore.

Greg. It's Sunday Night football.

It's Tampa Bay Buccaneers four point favorites against the scrappy late season push by the Dallas Cowboys. Forty eight and a half is the over under. It's Sunday Night. So Mike to Rico, Chris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark on the call. The Cowboys broke our survivor hearts last week. Could they break the hearts of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are playing really good football right now, especially across the street last week at so Far Stadium.

Tampa's playing well. I like him in this game, Dallas. I mean, they compete. I mean, ever since Michael Parsons come back, their defenses has been good. It sucks about overshowing getting that injury, and I think you know, Trey Diggs is out, so I think Baker could have another game. Mike Evans is doing it the run game, getting both those guys going.

I like Tampa Bay. I like the points.

I don't know if Dallas is going to put up a ton of points given to Cooper Rush has showing why they're playing him over three Lance. I like the Buccaneers in this game. Go ahead and take another step to win that NFC Shu.

It's funny watching that Cowboys game last week. I started thinking, like, man if Dak was on this team. Yeah, it's funny how that works. You lose a franchise quarterback and you don't have as much hope, but they've actually won a bunch of games now since he's got hurt. Because I went back and I looked, I was like, what games would they have won with him?

Yeah?

They lost, They got waxed by the Eagles, they got waxed by the Texans. Maybe they would have been more competitive there, Maybe they would have beat the Bengals. That would have been the difference, because yeah, Micah Parsons makes this pass rush alone, one of the best pass russes.

In the league. That is how amazing a player he is.

He was.

He has been my pick in back to back seasons before the seasons to be Defensive Player of the Year. It hasn't happened yet, and yet I feel like he is the best defensive player in the league. Like he's my if I could pick one, I still think he Like he's playing better right now. If I could take someone for this week and for the last month than

I kind of doubt it.

Well, the issue for Dallas, and I think the one big Dack on and off thing. I don't think the run game ever gets to where it is right now with Rico Dawdell. If Dak's playing, because they wouldn't rely on it. That's a great point.

Week thirteen, one hundred and twenty two yards, a week fourteen, one hundred and thirty one yards.

And then against Carolina.

Again it's Carolina, it's a historically bad run defense, but one hundred and forty nine yards from a Cowboys offense that didn't seem to be remotely interested in being able to run the ball at the start of the year. Right now that it's something that they can do, and what a time for it against the Bucks team where it's not a give up play anymore, like they're actually having success running the football.

Yeah, they've been impressive, really, how that line has come together running the ball now, Zach Martin now too, that'll be hard this week because the Bucks have played better run defense over the last five or six weeks, and then their blitz rate has gone from like normal Bulls level, which is right at the top league, to just insane. They blitzed Justin Herbert sixty two percent of the time last week.

That's just crazy, man, and it's it's working.

I don't know, like they they've gotten it going a little bit defensively where they were a below average defense and now they've gotten to average or better. And it's a lot of it. As Levante David actually that they just blitz him like crazy, and then they are the explosive play Maschin on offense. They are the NFC's Ravens, which is crazy because Baker's their quarterback. But in terms of just like hitting forty to fifty thirty yard plays.

Sorry, no, they gave They gave Todd Bowles a giggle fit this week because they they asked about Baker and his rushing and compared him to Josh Allen and Lamar and Jay Daniels and coach Bowls.

Is like, well maybe not maybe not those three. And then he went into a chuckle fit.

He had a good time with that, and then they asked Baker about it, and you know, he just grab himself with a scrappy runner.

You know what, though he's he's hit enough big running plays at really important moments last week that that big run that he had against the Chargers was an important run in that game. And he's making full field reads. I give him a lot of credit where he'll start in the left. So that's coaching and that's maturation from from Baker. He really is a great quarterback, except like he'll make a handful of decision that you're like, why did he do that?

But other than that, like he's been awesome.

And here's how great he's really going to show himself because he's gonna have another offensive coordinator next year to because Liam Cohen's probably gonna be on the short list of a lot of teams to get hired as a head coach next year as well.

I really just want that quote graphic made. He really is a great quarterback.

He really is.

Greg Wilsenthal on Baker Mayfield. We've got there, We got there, and we've got to our final game of the season.

It is Spencer Rattler and the New Orleans Saints on the road against the Buzzsaw that is these late season Toyota than edition Green Bay Packers, who are favored by fourteen and a half points forty two is over under Joe Troy and Lisa on the call. As it is Monday Night Football, No. Doubleheader and probably Steve no shot for the Saints.

They're right now.

They are filming so many Christmas packages to run by the time they get to the fourth quarter.

Monday Night football.

Look the Packers you mentioned earlier, Greg, They're a team you don't want to mess with. Defensively, they look, I mean they are so physical upfront the team, what Rashaan Gary linebackers are doing. And then offensively, Jordan Love, I mean, just everything to go.

I mean the run game.

This is going to be so tough for New Orleans. A Dome team going up here. Spencer Rattler faced some of the looks. But you know, let's talk a little bit about Josh Jacobs, I mean, in what he's been able to do leading all of these veteran running backs who change teams, who are eating I'm happy for a guy like lot like Josh Jacobs because he's finally getting to taste some type of success. I mean, he was like non diasin wah with the Raiders, like never playing on a team with a winning record.

And now he's like, oh, this is what this feels like.

And they and they, I think have recognized that he needs to be the foundation of their offense, Like they came into that game last week and they realized the week before that he wasn't central enough to their opening script, and they.

Made sure it's all about Jacobs.

And it's really interesting to see Lafleur and Jordan Love become what I would call a run first offense that Malik Willis stretch. I don't know if they would have really good point been't like that otherwise, but I think they are a run based offense in part because of that Malik Willis stretch.

It kind of allowed him to get into groove as a play caller with this line, which has been together all season.

They haven't had a lot of pieces to.

Move around, and Josh Jacobs being a part of that as well central to the game during that stretch. And then Love comes back and I don't think he was one hundred percent as he slowly got worked in and so they had to lean on it a little bit more. And it's gotten to the point where, not in the same way as the Dallas Cowboys, but they realize that this is this is where they can be successful and running the ball, and they don't they do it in the shotgun. They'll bring Jacob's in a round in motion

Matt Lafleur is his own.

So Glad Patrick is talking about this, but two percent is all they get to understand.

So you're doing pistol, you're doing shotgun.

You do some offset stuff that is not easy to do to coordinate that, but to an offensive line, quarterback and run back because you tip a lot more of your plays when you're in shotgun.

Right, That's what teams will tell you. Okay, we know in this situation is they like to do.

To be able to run out of shotgun is really going to open some things up for what Laflora can do when this offense can do. So, I mean, that's such a great point when you said that twenty two percent, I thought they were under center a lot more.

Having that watch every moment of every game.

And love his numbers.

He's only throwing the ball twenty five times a week, but he's over nine adjusted yards per attempt over the last month, which is sky high, which is higher than lamar Is, who's leading the league in it for the season, so when he throws it, it's become efficient. And one thing I thought watching that last game is it took a minute, but I think they've sort of figured out everyone's roles at receiver, Like Dobbs does what Dobbs does,

Right, Well, two two backs now he's back in the Shanahan Tree Patrick.

Yeah, right, but.

It's two backs out a shotgun and one of them is a like a one hundred and seventy pound wide receiver. It's crazy on the Saints just for a second. Rattler And this is only like a local controversy, but there's like been conflicting reports. Arian Rapaport says Derek Carr is

Anyways?

Like can't don't We want to take a look at this kid, Rattler. He did some fun things last week.

Yeah, I mean I was talking to some folks past week and they're like, Spencer Ratler so talented. He just he's got to get his head wrapped around a lot of things with talent wise, that's somebody want to get reps and see if they can handle it.

And Rizzi ball Man fun, We've got a five game sample, so if you're thinking about that fourteen point line there. We got a five point five game sample, and we have three wins out of Rizzie Ball, and we have two other very competitive games against teams in the NFC that are right now in the playoffs, the Rams and the Commanders.

So maybe that's a little high. Maybe Rizzie Ball keeps him close.

We got Cam Jordan out there making a lot of plays our our podcast.

NFL uh Davis looking great.

Then yeah, let's go with significant injuries right on both sides.

Right, so they're finding a way. I would stay away from that. I wouldn't.

I wouldn't want to deal with the fortunate stress of a December twenty third Spencer Rattler situation. But I just stay away, stay away, Just chill with your family alone, enjoy it. That's it. That's it for our show today. Wish Patrick you've done it again. Steve, no survivor picked though, no survivor pick.

We didn't survive. That's why.

Look, I don't think. I don't think Steve's with us next week. So when no, I'll but watch me on Netflix right when it's when it's the last Steve Weisch game before Christmas or podcast.

You know football is back. Yeah, we'll see you next time. Enjoy Christmas, Steve,