Championship Sunday Preview with Bill Barnwell & Colleen Wolfe

You're the one that's choosing the thing for the listeners under the bus, I mean they wright. I do you think I would write that? Mine would clearly all about me. You have you can choose by it, but that's fine. I mean I think that it's fair to say that maybe some of us are in off seas, are heading towards off season mode, and um, that's that's okay. People. I think there's two people on the show right now.

Based on the tone of comment, I would claim one and it wouldn't necessarily be myself, But um, you know there's no more to say because I'll just suffer for even having voice this. Did you want to walk it back now at all. Before I didn't claim who I was putting in that um in that world, so you can't know one should be offended. You should think it's the other two people I'm talking about. Yes, if you do want to send in money tags, please do it over send it Erica tam Posey over on Twitter and

you could be a part of the show. Yes. This is the Championships Sunday preview edition of the Around the NFL podcast. It's a good one, boys, Oh, it's a good one because we have guests galore to talk the NFC title game between the Packers and Bucks. Will have Colleen Wolf, old friend of the show who's hasn't been on in a minute, as they say, so, she's rejoining us.

Can't wait for that. And for the first time Bill Barnwell from ESPN dot com he does great work over uh in the NFL coverage for that particular website, He will join us to talk to a f C title game between the Chiefs and the Bills. We also have some news to get through. We'll kind of stick that right in the middle halftime style. Uh. This feels like greg show not to be missed. If you are a

football joke. It's a cracker. You know. Sometimes you get to these championship weekends, some teams they don't really feel like they belong. Like last year's Packers team. Okay, it's like you trying to convince yourself, Saron Rodgers. It's like even the Titans last year. These four teams, I'm saying, like I can see any one of them winning the

Super Bowl and some good box office stuff. That's a good call, Like Raheem Mostert isn't gonna go off for two thirties, seven and four on some overmatched want to be contender. I'm I'm with you. This is gonna be great football. Uh, let's get into it. Yes, and let's start with the a f C title game. I mean, this is fun. It's a championship weekend. And because it's a championship weekend, and because Tom Brady is playing against Patrick Mahomes, we had to get, you know, an extra

special guest to join us. I believe him to be and I know I'm not alone on this podcast. One of the great football writers out there, and he writes for ESPN, and his name is Bill Barnwell, and now he is joining us for the first time. On the A t N podcast to breakdown the a f C title game. Bill, Welcome to the show. This is very spooky. I it feels strange that it hasn't happened before. Yeah,

it's overdue. It's overdue. I've done Bill a long time since, Like he was at Football Outsiders and they would do like events speaking at bars in New York City. And in around two thousand and eight, when which is about the time, he really wore that I'm a Giants fan thing loudly. It's funny. It's funny to me because Bill and Greg in some ways like to do a similar

job for NFL Media and ESPN. So it's almost like two titans of the genre mark on the same show right now, and here we are just standing on the shoulders of Giants. Yeah, I mean, I you know, I'm just so long for the ride. I couldn't be more pleased. I shared with him one with you guys, the one time that I met Bill for four or five seconds, and that was a meeting that wet sideways. We won't we won't get into that on this show. But I'm

I'm thrilled at ease here. You know, we just went through a whole wind up before we started taping, Mark about how that individual who you know, we will remain nameless. We can never let that tape get out. And now you're actually referencing on the show, and now I'm talking about you. You've actually you've actually taken it about fifteen yards further than I did. So thanks again. All right, let's get on track. Here we got Bill here, the great Barnwell. Are you Bill? You're one of those guys

that people call you by Barnwell mostly or Bill. That's a good question. I would say, like college era Barnwell most commonly. I would say, Now, I feel like I get more bills than Barnwell, And if I like flip my hat backwards, maybe I get more barne Well. You ever get like a like a Hey Barney, you know that would that would be someone where I would try to walk away from them. I feel like any any sort of shortening that ends in why unless you're a

hockey player, is not fair. Um, let's start this way, Bill, Because the Chiefs survived by the skin of their teeth against the Browns, and you know they do that with the help of Chad Henny. In a very huge hanger of a call there by Andy Reid uh and hopefully they get my homes back now. Now on the other side, with the Bills, they have been out gained in each of their playoff games. There's defense obviously stepped up in a big spot against the Ravens uh and carried the day.

There are you how concerned are you about the fact that the Bill's offense is no longer running teams out of the building like they were in December? And how much do you think, uh, do they need to return to that form to have a chance this weekend? I it's complicated. I think there's a couple of things and

play here. I thought they were pretty good against the Colts, right, I mean, the Cults were good defense, maybe not top five, but they were very good against the Coals, especially after halftime once they stopped getting stuck with ninety yards to go for touchdowns. Um, the Ravens were very tough defense and not they did a really good job against Josh Allen and the Bills. But I think I think something has to change because this formula that they've won these

first two games with is not sustainable. They have been incredible in the red zone for a defense that was I think the fifth worst defense and football in the red zone during the regular season, which just a sticky stat but there's no reason why they suddenly should turn into you know, the two thousand Ravens in the red zone where they've given up i think two touchdowns now

in eight possessions. I believe it was, you know, a missed field goal, it was two stops on downs, that fourth down against the Colts, and then of course a fourth down laid against the Ravens the pick six. I mean, you can't count on that happening. And we saw last year with Tennessee, which was a team that was great on offense in the red zone, and then in their upside victories against the Ravens and against the Patriots were two of seven um in the red zone in terms

of allowing touchdowns. You faced the Chiefs. That's a different, different level of team in the red zone. So, uh, Tennessee was not able to be as effective in the red zone, and we saw that formula kind of fell apart. So for the Bills, I think either they have to get stiffer in the on defense, you know, outside of

the red zone, or how that offense come back. That was you know, dominant over the second half of the season, because I think they can't count on holding the Chiefs to scoring touchdowns of the time in the red zone. Come Sunday. I'm really curious how the Chiefs will play them because, you know, the Ravens were interesting. There's such a heavy blitz team. They didn't really blitz Alan there.

There are four guys that were up front. We're not getting anywhere close to the Bill's offensive line has been a great um story for them. They've really improved and now one of the best groups, I think in the league. And and it kind of worked. You know, you you held, you made Josh Allen hold the ball a little bit more. And it's the opposite of the Chiefs did the first time around, and kind of how they're generally programmed. They got a lot of heat on Josh Allen the first time.

I did go back to watch it and and it was dangerous and I think it's gonna be dangerous to do it again because unlike the Ravens, they don't have great players in the back end, and they sent a lot of pressure at Josh Allen. Sometimes it works, sometimes it didn't. But man, guys were open deep down the field. Watch rewatching that game, it was a lot closer than I remembered. I sort of thought of it as this steamrolling by the Chiefs, but man, there were a lot

of opportunities for Alan to make plays. And I guess I would be afraid if I'm the Chiefs of basically every matchup on the field. Like Stefan Diggs to me, is I think the best receivering league. I'd take me

even over Adams. If Beasley is beasily, then you have you know, Dawson Knox is like like everything is a mismatch, and I could see them hitting a lot of big plays if they go that balls out this week from from one film guy to another, I appreciate that because I also went based and watched the Bills Chiefs Game's gonna make fun of you for that film reference there here.

I don't know. I went back and watched it and Josh Allen miss him throws, Like there were plays to be made on the offense in that game, and there were throwst Maybe you know the Chiefs were able to make a great play and not could pass away deep or you know Josh Allen missr receiver by a step because it was under some pressure. I don't know what you guys think, but looking at how the Chiefs played the Bills in that game, I'm sorry how the Bills play the Chiefs in that game. On offense, they played

too high, they took away to day plays. They said, hey, if you want to run the ball for five yards and carry, great, go nuts. We'll happily have you do that. And the Chiefs pretty much did that all game. I wonder if from the chief side of things, if they sort of say the same thing here and say, hey, we're gonna play too deep. We're not gonna bitz a lot.

We're gonna kind of do what the Ravens did and let you run the ball or let you try, let you you know, hit those short passes at least theoretically

give you the run. Although the Bills obviously did not want to run him that game, but give them the opportunity to run the ball and say, hey, we'll get in a running game sort of, you know, like slot like that, just you know, really slow paced game if that's what you want, because we think we're going to be more efficient than you when it comes to scoring in the Red South. I mean, I also look at the way the Bills handled or attempted to handle Patrick

Mahomes in that game. They didn't blitz him once and that was the center according to next Gen stats, like the first time that's happened in a game since and that you know, that helped them get to two forty five yards on the ground Kansas City. I mean, if you're Buffalo, because the d obviously you know, I I loved Everyone's like that game just doesn't matter at all.

We throw it out entirely. Well, there are like there is some shared DNA obviously with what happened back then, and like, if you're Buffalo, you kind of showed what you wanted to do the first time. It didn't really work the way that way they wanted it to. How do you come in and like do you especially with Patrick Mahomes, I get the head thing is probably fine, but the toe injury I thought last week really affected him. And those don't necessarily just go away in four or

five days. If you're Buffalo, do you take a few chances and just say we might pay the price, but we have got to try to make Patrick Mahomes um on that toe uncomfortably that it affected his throws last week for sure. Yeah, you gotta see because his legs. I think it's so underrated. What a big part of their offense it is, especially in the playoffs, buying time and picking up like five yards or picking up key first downs. Like he reminds me so much of Andrew Luck.

He's not as good a runner, but just when he runs, it's like always devastating. And if you take that away from them, then the then the Chief's offenses like goes from totally unstoppable to like, you know, slightly less than totally unstand mostly unstoppable. And they were aggressive last year in the postseason about using Mahomes as a runner in the red zone. Mean, they ran speed options last year in the red zone, they ran homes they did last week.

I mean that's that's the reasoning that hurt. That's what didn't hurt exactly. They did it last week and Mahomes got hurt. So you got a figure. I mean, Andy Reid has guts. I don't know if he has the same guts to call another speed option with Patrick Mahomes after what happened last weep. Yeah, I hope that do. Um. That may impact their efficiency in the right zone as well.

Much has been made of it, but I think when you actually look at the chief schedule this season, it is fairly remarkable that you know, they've won uh, basically every week since Week five, with the exception of a week seventeen lost it didn't matter, and those wins but are by um since the bye two four three, six, six three three the loss, and then they beat Cleveland

by five. Obviously you kind of throw out the game against Cleveland at some level because Mahomes gets hurt, But even then, I think that game has had a good chance of ending up close either way. UM, how much do you put into that that the offense isn't quite as explosive, They're not running people out of the buildings themselves like they were at their peak a season ago.

I think it's meaningful. I mean I think that I'm you know, I always left quoting recording close games as being a sign that a team is garbage and not actually good. I don't know if I tell that about the Chiefs, but I do think that they are not as good as their record seems to indicate. And I think that, you know, last year, the reason they were

able to turn things onto the playoffs. Reason they were able to just you know, absolutely just make those phenomenal comebacks and just blow away teams when they got hot is that they were incredible in the red zone. They were like thirteen or fourteen scoring touchdowns in the red zone, and you know, you kind of like, okay, well, maybe they'll turn it back on again in the playoffs, because they weren't that team again during the regular season, and

they weren't against the Browns. They kick field goals against the Browns, they did stall out against the Browns, and of course Harrison Butcker didn't miss the field goal. It shouldn't help matters. But it wasn't like they were, you know, they were moving the ball, but it wasn't like they

were dominating inside the twenty. And so I think that's why so much of this game to me comes down to what happens in the red zone, because I think, you know, I don't think this offense is cooking at the level where I think they can hit four or five players, especially against the Bills team that not really this year, but more so in years past, was very good about avoiding those big plays and really focusing on and taking away those big plays. From posing offenses. So

you know, maybe I'll be wrong. Obviously they have the upside to do it, but we just haven't seen that offense where it's been Patrick Mahomes just hitting bomb after bomb after bomb. This has been an offense that's really been about protecting the football, not making mistakes and just wearing teams down with completion after completion, uh and the

third down conversion after third down conversion. But like, here's the thing that I'm I'm struggling to make sense of because I feel like it's still more or less the same cast. You still have the same play caller. Patrick Mahomes is still there. You still love Tyreek Kill, you have Travis Kelsey. What is different? Maybe it's upfront. Maybe I know they had Clyde Edward Hilara that we on balance think maybe the offense better, But now he's out

of the picture. Anyway, potentially, Like why aren't they that way because I don't see a huge difference personnel was They're not the same though. I think that's been underrated.

Like a, they lost their best offensive lineman, Mitchell sports he's not coming back, and then last week, imagine if any other team in the playoffs went into the the playoffs without their number two wide receiver, who, by the way, has like the best playoff UM track record of any receiver of the last five years, Sammy Watkins, and without their number one draft pick, who's also they're starting running

back and gives them a lot extra juice. People would say, oh, that teems like a little banged up, but the Chiefs, it feels like it doesn't really matter. It's the Chiefs, And I get that they're like three and four on the pecking order and they're way less important than than Kelsey who's just like on another level right now, and and Tyreek Hill. But those two guys really matter, and those two guys might be playing this week. They are practicing.

It sounds like Edwards Hilaire Um might play. If I'm a Chiefs fans, I love that Darryl Williams had a nice game last week because they're running game has been so bad, and I really do think that will help them out to be balanced, um if they're not balanced. But I just mean when they handed off to get six or seven yards and Edwards, Hilayer, Retorney and Watkins returning, like I think that would make a big deal okay, obligated by our friend Evan Silva to call Darryl Williams

the mentor um side. I do think the offensive line is a legitimate concern. Losing Mitchell Schwartz is a huge problem. I mean, it didn't affect them as much against the Browns that would have expected, because they did really do a They really put a lot of pressure on Miles Garrett in the first half with reading him and you know, running those jetsuits past him and slow him down, and then he got hurt and wasn't the same player in the second half of the game. Wasn't available either for

chunks of the second half of that game. And they're not very good in the interior. Their guards aren't all that effective. Eric Fisher is okay at left tackle. I mean, this is a team where you can beat them up front, and we know that, you know, Patrick Mahomes is gonna make plays against pressure, but you still rather have him with you know, a clean pocket. You're still rather half him be able to you know, drop back and make plash that having to run the ball for ten eleven

seconds to try and find receivers. So I do think that the rest of the team around that core is not the same as it was a year ago. I mean, I think it's big to have Matt Milano back in the Travis Kelsey conversation. He wasn't there the first time. UM. I still look at this off and cinec. You know, the Browns are completely different defense. But it's like maybe you bottle up Tyreek killed for a bit, but then Travis Kelsey goes nuts. The Bills have to have an

answer for that. UM. I just want to see also because one of my favorite things that happened last weekend was the Bills. It was like one of these box

score phenomenons that just delighted me. It's you got three minutes to go in the first half and there has been one run by the Bills and it's been Josh Allen, and it's like, I kind of think it's like what you do if if you They were just being real and like, I wasn't a game where I thought that um Alan and Dable were in sync um early on and the way that we've seen to some degree, but they just kind of went for it and said, fr

running game. We're just gonna throw the ball left and right. UM. I don't know if they really are a team that could get back to balance. Devin Singletary can do some things today, isn't that with them? It was more extreme obviously this past week because it was just ridiculous that

they didn't have any running plays. But when they were scoring forty points every week, when they were coming down the stretch like a fireball, they weren't running the ball out then either because they didn't have to because Alan was out of his mind, and they can plays with his legs as well. So I have seen that pop up in place. I know you're not saying that, Mark, but that, oh the Bills. Maybe they need to get

some balance to get their offense cook. And again I'm actually, I actually don't think they should go balance because Chiefs have been one of the better teams to shut down explosive run plays. But they are about like in the NFL against explosive past place. So if you're Buffalo, go with who you are at this point. I don't know why you try to change. I wonder if like Dable though, kind of takes what they give him, you know, and and Alan, if there's a difference here, maybe to me,

the sea the story of Mahomes this season. Is is that sort of like next level of maturation and patience of like he'll just take the seven yard gain when it's there. There was a lot of that against Cleveland. Uh, certainly there was a lot. It kind of started in Week one, you know that that Texans game and then the Bills game. Like, to me, that's sort of that's part of the story of the Chiefs this year. I don't know if Alan and the Bills are there yet.

I kind of don't think either defense is gonna get many stops um, But to me, that is like the slight difference is maybe Read and my homes are a little more patient that they'll take what's given. And I almost forgot that we need to do this on this show. But that is why I'm gonna lock up the old Chiefs, And I know Bark's got to just go against me because that's just that's just what he's gonna as competition. That's where we're at now. It's getting height. So I'm

one up on I'm Mark. The other guys are all out of it. I'm one up on Mark entering last two weeks. But at some point he's got to make a move and go against me. Here. I will lock up the Bills because there's only for weeks to do this. But I had a thought of maybe locking up Um a different team that I thought was a cinch this week, and then hoping that Greg falls off. I lets just do the old lock off one. Okay, I mean you

can't do that, Hey, Bill Um, not Barney, not Barnewell. Bill, is it too late for me to throw out the old I know an X factor for the Bills on Smoke Brown. Are we giving up on him ever making a big impact because this could, hypothetically is a game where he can be a difference maker if we believe that you can get right physically. We have a chief team here that we know are aggressive in the secondary. We know that whether it's tarn Matthew, whether it's their corners,

they're going to go for plays there there. They are susceptible at times to double moves. Now, they have the athletic ability to catch up and make plays. But if you have a guy who is an incredible deep passer and Josh Allen and you have a you know, a guy and John Brown who can get open, wouldn't be crazy. I mean it plays last week John Brown he was there, he was active, he was making plays, he looked healthy. I mean, I wouldn't rule that out in the slightest.

We've seen Sammy Watkins last year where he was a non factor for most of the season after Week one, and then suddenly in the postseason. Who has the big play to seal up the a f C championship game. That's Sammy Watkins. Who has the play the Durell Reevos fantasy play where he stacks Richard Sherman and goes for a forty yard game. It's Sammy Watkins. So I don't think you can rule anything out with John Brown based

and how he played this season. I think that we've we've watched like twenty plus of these two these championship games, thirty and it's like there's always unsuspecting characters that pop up in the final five to six minutes of these games who are etched in history. And it's not someone that we're probably spending this week talking about. It will be a defensive back, the fourth defensive back on one

of these teams. I think the receiver depth because like if Watkins returns, I think that helps them, or DeMarcus Robinson, whatever it is I love the matt like I'd be a little word, you know, if I'm a Bills fan or a Chief fan, Like the depth that cornerback for both teams is pretty week. We don't know if bad Brian is playing as White Sneaky has struggled about two

or three straight weeks. So like when if your best player is struggling, whether he's matched up against Kelsey or Hill, like, then it's certain you know, it goes down to our old Sky Sports colleague Josh Norman, or you're gonna trust him one on one. I don't know in a big spot, or it's the other way around. It's like Gabe Davis versus some of these um Chiefs cornerbacks. I don't know. I think I'm just wishful thinking because whether it's the Chiefs are not, I just want a lot of points.

And by the way, if Chad Henny starts this game, I'm changing my lock that's allowed. I'll probably a lot. Yeah, can I flip it right to the Bills? Probably If Chad Henny's right, well, I won't be flipping to the Chiefs and a lock off. In that scenario, I could see a Josh Dorman passing reference penalty having a big role in this game something. And that's one question you

ahead uh conspiracy theory asked question. Now, there have been people who have said, during the second half of the season, Oh, the Chiefs just saving their their money plays. They're saving their creativity for the postseason. That's why the offense is so boring. Did we see enough last week early in that game, or do you think they're possibly saving it for this game or the or the Super Bowl? Do you think Andy Reid still has stuff in the tank and argant style stuff in the tank that we haven't

seen this year? Yes, you do? Okay, I like that. I I I think pretty much every time we say that about the NFL team, they do not have the patience or I don't think they've been saving it, but Andy Reid always comes up with some It's Andy Reid is probably like, you know, hunched over a napkin right now, coming up with something that no one's seen before, just

because it's Andy Reid. If you said this about like, you know, some other um, you know, trash bag team like we do, I think the Detroit Lions are saving things on a week's week basis. I don't think that they've figured out the fundamental playbook to begin with Kansas City and Andy Reid totally different about this, Mark Alternate Reality is a Browns fan. Obviously things didn't work out

the way you wanted to last week. Patrick Holmes stays healthy and you still get back into the game, and then this trick play that they've had waiting, they kill you with like a minute and fourteen seconds to play with a trick play that becomes legendary. Look at it that way. You might have lost the game last week, but it could have been a heart wrenching loss with

that hidden trick play coming out. That's possible. I think if Mahomes had played that whole game with the way Cleveland's defenses um, that would have been like a forty five point output. And I'd still think Kansas City tried to do with little, trying to show as little as they could against the Browns. So I don't think. I don't know if they're saving it. But man, I never

I never do. Never adabt me some Andy Reid, But you were saying on this show last week that people don't see what's happening with the Browns, and there's something special going on here. You can't now say it was gonna be a forty Burger drop. I'm just saying with that was before the game, the way that I watched you know that start to take place, I'm confident they was. I also said that none of us know anything, and most of what we say turns out to be wrong.

So true, Bhil before we let you go, Um, I would love a pick for both games this weekend, and then plug what what you're up to other than your fine work on the ESPN dot. I will go Chiefs. Sorry, Uh, you've kind of been a Bill's guy. I will go Bucks. As the Bucks heat up Aaron Rodgers enough to win that game in the Bill Barnwell show. You know that your podcast check Now, if he's not gonna pump himself up,

we gotta do it. Last time I saw Bill Um was at the combine it and we went to dinner with someone who wouldn't shake our hands and said we should not be hugging because of coronavirus, and and they were right, and Bill and I were kind of like, oh, come on, taking it like dr you're on top of it. It was I was like, you're right, you're right. It was also like, surprisingly during that dinner, A real tape dog. That's the term. We don't watch a film around here, Bill.

We we are tape dogs. We tape dogging. All right, Bill Barnwell, thank you so much, buddy, was a long time coming, and you did not disappoint. Uh. Best wishes and stay well, my friend. Thank you. There he goes Bill Barnwell, really breaking it down as he always does, before we get to Colleen Wolf and the NFC title game. Boys, let's hit some news. He stir right, No fifty seven's barn here's the new clowney. Hi, we don't play like why would you lie up here right here, right here?

Put your hands up telling about he might have played last put your hands up telling about well, he took it off. He took it off. That's technique. He was how they came off. That's ap rod Hi, ron Rod quit just making up alerts. You're like you hear things your screen verse. You don't know what's going One of

the great trash talkers, wholesome trash talking. He's like a Daniel Jeremiah of the football field, where he's gonna come at you with fangs, but its not gonna be foul mouthed about it, a lot of dagged gumme itt and things of that nature. Philip Rivers, what a personality, what a player, and he is now an ex player. Philip Rivers announced this week he's retiring from the NFL. That ends a seventeen year career. One of the great passers

in history, a unique player. Uh In, Yes, bout this person reality and his ability to procreate with his wife Tiffany, and also with that amazing sidearm delivery. Just funky looking and it didn't look like it should work, but damn did it work for almost sixty or four thousand passing yards, ranked fifth in NFL history. Greg he was always a favorite of yours and um, so I want I'm curious about your thoughts, but let's start here. Are you surprised,

because it surprised me. I didn't think there was any way he was walking off that year with the Colts. Maybe there's more to the story than we know about the conversations he had with the front office of Visuals in Indianapolis. Are you surprised this is the end of the road for Phil Rivers? I am, just because he

so clearly loves his job, so much. But then when I read the explanation that it's been his lifelong dream to coach high school football, you usually would read that and think like that, that's just something athletes would say, Like, I believe it probably is his lifelong dream. And he sees his sons in seventh grade now he wants to get going with that program that he's the head coach of now in Alabama. Like, and I buy it that he's just like he's also probably feeling like he's not

He's going out on a relative high note. I know they lost, but I thought he played well this year. He showed he can still play, and uh, it doesn't feel like you're dragging him off the field, Like, I think he'll have a good memory of his time in Indianapolis.

I like had the pleasure of driving around yesterday and speaking of Matt money Smith, Um, you know, obviously as the play by play guy for the Chargers, he got to know Philip Rivers really well, and the way he spoke about him, I think it's just Philip Rivers the person, the experience of who he is. He's a throwback. Um, you know, all these guys are getting drafted to day they come in there, they're ready to roll. Um. But there are not a lot of Philip Rivers personalities out there.

And it's yes, it's this, it's the dad humor with a little bit of an edge, but no um profanity. Uh. It's I think one of the most determined, um fiery players out there. It was just a joy to watch him on that front. And it's you know, when he went to North Carolina State, uh, in high school, they didn't want him to be a quarterback in the college level because of his throwing motion, which has been one of his um you know something that's that's tagged him forever,

and he's still got it done. I just uh, it's whenever, whenever. These guys have been around for as long as we've really hardcore been watching football, um retire. It just makes you remember how much you've aged yourself because we've been watching them since two thousand and four. And this is a guy, you know, we get old. There's all these quarterbacks that come in and hey, if this guy can stay healthy, um, you know, then then he can be productive.

He reaches potential. Philip Rivers is, like Eli Manning and others, the classic definition of an iron man. I mean you could not keep this guy out of the lineup, and that rises franchise and when you have a signal car like that that cannot that refuses to not suit up Rock and you brought up Matt money Smith, who I do the Power Ranking show with on NFL Network, and

we were talking. One of the segments on our most recent episode was like, I did a power rankings of what are going to be the big offseason narratives to track and one of them was what are the cults going to do with Philip Rivers? A day later we found out that's already been decided, But I thought it

was interesting and where interested in these things? Uh? That Money, who's you know, top broadcaster who knows rivers um and understands the mechanics of the gig, says that if Phil Rivers goes into a broadcast booth, he would be not just Tony Romo level. He thinks he could be better than Tony Romo. And you wonder if his future in a calling is in that Monday night football booth, if he can make that work, and Money seems to think he could with his scheduling as a football coach in

high school with a Monday night gig. That is a really interesting thought, and it probably would pay him, uh not the same money as what he would make as a pro quarterback, right, but if he's he's good as Romo, he'd get paid like he'd like star in our industry, he could buy the entire high school conference that they're in with that with the money Monday and I think it is a I think it is a prep school. Yeah, maybe like the Friday night games and then you have

Monday night. It seems it seems possible, like and that would be great because that's I mean, it's part of the reason I loved him. Like I think of west here, I think he liked Rivers and he he talks about just like characters I think West It's one of the reasons why it's fun to go to a party at West's house or visit his friends and Tybee like Westlake's characters. And to me, like Rivers wasn't the best quarterback of his generation, but he was such a character. No one

threw it like him. He's so aggressive, fun to watch the trash talking you mentioned, but like the fact that the way he would trash stock would be like pointing out to the defensive players that they're doing something wrong because he knows their defense so well, Like that's a special sort of trash lock. And then you like listen to every player that played with him, whether it's offense, defense, whatever. Man, they all love Philip Rivers. I don't think that's I

don't think that's fake. And I think the of course, like everyone is going to respect their quarterback and everything, but I think it's like another level, and he was underrated.

Like I really believe the lack of an offensive line and a defense and a running game for so much of his career overshadows that for most of those seasons, if you ranked where he was at quarterback at the end of the season, it was so often in the top five or six, And that, to me is the best way to measure a guy is over the course

of a regular season. And so when you compare him to to those oh four guys like like Roethlisberger and and Eli, like I I do think he was like a little underrated, and he's definitely a stats guy, I get it, but he was he was awesome. Man. No one like had that mid range game. He had like an old man game from the minute he was in the league. It was. It was different. Every This is a quote from Mervos. Every year January is a special and emotional day, he said, that's when the day retired.

It is Saint Sebastian's feast day in the Roman Catholic faith. He's the patron saint of the athlete. It is also the day I played in the af C Championship without an a c L. And now the day, uh, now that day that after seventeen seasons, I'm announcing my retirement from the now National Football League. Great, thank you. I think he's a Hall of Famer. You really wish he had one deep run in the playoffs that took him

to a super Bowl and never got there. Even you know, I talked about it marking the elimination game this year. You know, he just misses the touchdown pass and the end zone on that fourth down and to me kind of like spoke the story of his career, always so close to having that moment that then would propel the team that just never happened. So you could I guess

ding him ultimately for the January record. Although it's you can't put everything on the quarterback, but overall, great player, great producer, a rock in terms of staying in the lineup and just a fun guy to cover. What else can you ask for? I think he is a Hall of Famer. I mean there's a there's a lot of interesting cases coming up. But if you look at some of the quarterbacks that are in the NFL in the Hall of Fame, like they didn't all go to the

Super Bowl. I mean it's, um, it's a team sport. Uh, he'd get my vote, that freaking a c L Man if Uh. That oh seven Patriots team. Not that I would have wanted it to happen, but I think they were. They were ripe to be picked off there, and they were very competitive in that game. If you had had a healthier Philip Rivers and Tomlinson in that game. Some real bad blood between those Patriots and charges teams back then. Um, alright,

so good luck to whatever comes next, Phil Rivers. I feel like you're still gonna be on our radar sooner rather than later. Moving on, the Detroit Lions introduced Dan Campbell as their new head coach after signing to that six year contract. And this is just fun. Let's listen to the opening remarks from Campbell in his press conference with the media on Thursday. This team is gonna be built on um. We're gonna kick you in the teeth, all right, and when you punch us back, we're gonna

smile at you. And when you knock us down, we're gonna get up. And on the way up, we're gonna buy the knee cap off, all right, and we're gonna stand up. And then it's gonna take two more shots to knock us down, all right. And on the way up, we're gonna take your other knee cap and we're gonna get up. And then it's gonna take three shots to get us down. And when we do, we're gonna take another hon kout of you. Before before were there going

to be the last one standing. Mark, You're surprised. What's the hire of Stone called? Steve Austin is the head coach? At feel like the NFL is already investigating his um opening press conference, probably for some of the things he promised to do. But I mean, I I what I was surprised by was a six year contract. Um, you know, site unseen. This isn't like hiring Bill Parcel's part two and so uh this to me, you know, look at I. I like this story already. I mean there's a lot

to like. Um, if it goes well, I feel like it's gonna go really really well or it's not gonna play at all, And like it's because that's that's sort of that's his personality. Does this register? Um? And what's the rest of them about? I I like the whole idea of it, but it's a huge wait and see for me. But they're showing tremendous faith with a six year deal. Yeah. I I just love that he's going

to be part of our lives. I mean maybe maybe biting people's kneecaps off is like the new money ball, Like that's the way to get an advantage in the NFL. I'll just bye bye some knee kept. It's just it's just funny because they hired Chris Spielman, and I would like, I really like Chris Spielman as an analyst on Fox. He was actually one of my favorites, even if I

didn't always agree with him. But they basically hired Chris Spielman to like hire another version of Chris Spielman, because that's sort of how Chris Spielman talks, is like this ultimate macho, tough guy. I love that he's just this huge, like Miami Beach looking bodybuilder type, but like packed into this little this suit, you know. But he kind of talks and looks like Jeff Bridges. I think it was rhodopadd who pointed that out, Like he he talks like

the dude, like there's everything about it's great. I don't know if any of it's gonna work. He hired Aaron Glenn, who a lot of people really like, as defensive coordinator, and he did say some things in that press conference about their offensive philosophy that was much more about like what the Saints do and matchup based and and I thought intelligent that, you know, that didn't get as much play. But I think you know, he's he's a Saints coach, so he's gonna take a lot of what they did

and try to apply it. Uh. In other news, sad news to report at a green Bay, Wisconsin um, former Packers general manager Ted Thompson, the man who drafted Aaron Rodgers in his first draft in charge at Green Bay, traded away. Brett Farve helped build that championship team that won Super Bowl forty five. He has died sadly. Matt Lafleur, the head coach, alerted the media. Sixty eight years old, just sixty eight. Ted Thompson played ten season in the NFL,

in two in the seventies and to the eighties. Was the GM for Green Bay from two thousand five through two thousand seventeen. Uh he moved into a consultant role, uh, starting because of declining health. UH. And now we learned that he has passed away, very sad and I will just share a memory I had. You know, this is the first year we're not going to the Combine in

a decade. And um, I used to love the Ted Thompson press conferences at the Combine, um I wrote back in two thousand sixteen, which was his second to last year on the job. Is GM, I wrote on NFL dot com. If Mitch Hedberg were reincarnated as a prominent front office official in the NFL, he'd beat Ted Thompson. I just he he had a dry wit and a subtle sense of humor, and it it's seen it kind of undercut the rigidness of the NFL machine around him,

especially in that setting at the Combine. He didn't take anything too seriously. But at the same time, he was very serious about his business, which included building teams through the draft. Mark he was all about the draft. Famously didn't like to sign pricey free agents. That was his mantra, and it helped the Packers having him in charge all

those years. I mean, the greatest thing about those combine Um pressers where they were trying to press Ted Thompson to finally acknowledge that he might dip into free agency and make a big splash, and he just completely ignored the concept of that. I mean really, he zigged when everyone else was zagging when it came to that part of the off season. Um, and it worked. Um. You like, I think the one thing that these general managers have this incredible power at is you completely have the ability

to change a franchise forever. And who had a bigger imprint. I mean, the Packers have had a number of great general managers, but um, in the Rogers era, I mean it's all about Ted Thompson and uh, they have a whole different philosophy now. But he was a very memorable and it's a huge part of what Green Bay did. He's a He's a huge part of this team too. You know. He he drafted Davante Adams, he drafted Corey Lindsley, they're all pro center. He drafted Kenny Clark, he drafted

Dean Lowry who's still playing for them. He drafted Aaron Jones, you know, and then I think he'll always be remembered more than anything as as the guy who drafted Aaron Rodgers, even though was Farve was there. It's definitely. Uh, it's definitely sad, but he was one of the you know, one of the best to do it, if anything like.

He was so loyal to Mike McCarthy. I always wanted to see you know, well that was always a a conversation on our podcast, Well, I would like to see Rogers with a different coach, and you know, now you see it, and um, but that was that was it was his organization more than anyone. Ted Thompson. It's crazy how how many of those players. It's not like that on many other teams actually, that you have that many players going back that far, so it goes to show

they wouldn't be there here right now without him. Yes, Ted Thompson passes away at the age of sixty eight. Rest in piece. Uh. In other news, Dwayne Haskins looks like he's about to get another job. It's out there report from where is the support from? Official? Now it's now official. It's officially official as we initially reported it. But now it's a deal done deal that the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed h Dwayne Haskins as a free agent. This is a Steelers team mark that has some uncertainty

at quarterback in their future. You have an old man and Ben Roethlisberger. And by the way, look now, let's take a look at this. Phil Rivers retired, Eli Manning long retired, the third in the big trio of the two thousand four draft picks, Ben Roethlisberg, and now the last man standing, Mason Rudolph. Not a great backup quarterback.

I guess the thought here is that Mike Tomlin and his staff staff can turn Dwayne Haskins into a professional quarterback that maybe could be the future at the position. I just can't help but wonder if the Roethlisberger announcement is pending or coming soon. Watching the way that he you know, he shed tears at the end of that game. I had nothing to do with that one game, and I think it had to do with a lot more weight Um that he was pondering at the time. I mean,

for me, it's it's a people. There were a lot of Steelers fans during the season saying when Haskins is let go, and it just was the tea leaves were there that he was someone a lot of Steelers fans wanted. I mean, Big Ben came from Ohio and tortured Ohio teams forever, Um Haskins Ohio state. That would be a nice narrative to continue. I mean, it's a project, but it's a much better environment. I think for Dwayne Haskins, Um,

we will see. I think he does some things really well. Um. I don't think you'd view him as a starter, but it could be like we're gonna stock up on quarterbacks because Big Ben is out the door. I'm surprised how many Steelers fans and seemed to want Roethlisberger to retire. I know he wasn't playing his best. Um, it's decentcly

bispased on those last six weeks. And and Pickner, you know, their offensive coordinator got let go or didn't renew his contract that supposedly, you know, Roethlisberger wasn't gonna be fired up about that that, but they did promote Matt Canada, who had been there. Um, I don't know. I don't know how that affects it. I do think maybe we're due for some like quarterback retirement drama. Haven't had a lot of that lately, you know. I think Ben is the man to do it, you know, like, is he

gonna do it? Is he not? Yes, I'm retiring, But then he changed his mind two months later. Let's do it like he could go with Ted Thompson. How to deal with for years with Brett Farve. Yeah great, I can't can't wait to track that all offseason. And finally in the news, this just went down, uh, and it's it's a big deal for the Eagles and all the fans out there. And speaking of Eiggles fans, she wasn't scheduled to join us for a few it to dig

in on the NFC title game. But since the Eagles have zeroed in on a new head coach, let's bring around a little bit earlier. The Great Tiny Box Connie Fox, Colleen Wolf woom boom for the show what's up? Hi? Great to see you guys love to see all your faces, and I really just love to hear the song. So I'm just trying to come on it as many times as I kend of here and in my headphone, I

feel cooler. I mean, it's a new day day. I want to start driving around like the neighborhoods here, just like tearing it up with this song, just blaring, maybe ruth off. Who knows it's gonna happen. What are the neighbors like around? They don't talk to me. I don't know any of them. I've been in your neighborhood. I don't think that would play well down there from from what I've seen. Um, there's a lot of children. Let's

get into it. You must fit right in exactly. Uh. The Eagles have a new football coach, locked and loaded here, Connie. It is Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. Rap sheet Garifolo, Tom Pellicero report. I mean, I've been down this road before. That gets the point where we have three of the quote unquote insiders on our network, all sourced reporting on it. Just make an NFL network and you don't get to use the names anymore. If I was in the newsroom,

but I'm not, haven't been since March. And even if I wasn't when it matters, doesn't matter. None of this matters. Doug Peterson is out, as we know after that four eleven in one campaign. Uh so the Eagles make that surprise move to dump Peterson and he's piste off. He's probably taking a year off. But here is Nick Sirianni Connie. We don't know much about Nick other than uh, he was with Frank Reich, who's obviously that's a good guy

to be working with. And under your initial thoughts, do you have any initial thoughts on what's going on with the Eagles here? Well, this all just happened, so it's all pretty new, pretty fresh. Um, we heard that obviously he was in the mix in terms of somebody that the Eagles were interested in him and Josh McDaniels. So I guess this is better than Josh McDaniels. But I don't.

I don't really know, because this guy, we've never seen him as a head coach before, first timer, and Philly is not exactly an easy place to be first time any position, I think, in anything, especially when everyone is judging and watching your every move. Plus he inherits this quarterback situation, which I'm not sure how that's gonna go down. It's pretty complicated. It's a I feel like it's a messy situation. Considering Howie Roseman, the GM is clearly very

married to Carson Wentz. I read an amazing article in the Inquire that Jeff McLean had up about the giant poster that is plastered on Howie Roseman's wall in his office of Carson wentz um So that just like kind of sets the table. Welcome to Philly, Nick, and just but by a little way, you know, some background for listeners. He's thirty nine years old. Sirianni came into the league as a quality control coach in Kansas City under Todd Haley in two thousand nine four seasons there, then moved

up to wide receivers coach. There moves to San Diego's five season with the Chargers as their quality control coach. I don't know what that means, QB coach, wide receiver coach, and then he got the call to be the Oh see Greg. For me, it's like this is my additional thought, and I am like, we said, this is kind of a higher where you're gonna have to wait it out and see whether this guy can play the guitar, if

you will. But my whole thought when you dumped Doug Peterson is like, you better get somebody in there that's gonna inspire the troops and be an upgrade over the Super Bowl winning coach, and we'll see if he is. But again, with Peterson, it was maybe about Carson Wentz more than anything else, right. I think the reports you know that Eagles management and they were doing it down in Florida. I like, when the team does that, come to my owner's huge mansion in Florida. We're gonna do

our interview? Is there? Like we're not going back to that facility, like in the middle of winter. Who do you think we are? I think the reports that say they basically told the coaches like you're gonna work with Carson Wentz, Like, I think that was part of it. I mean that you're what's your plan for for helping out Wentz and fixing this situation? So I think Sirianni, who worked with Frank Reich, um you probably sold himself

on that he was not the play caller. Though in Indianapolis, you know Frank Reich because sometimes some people think play callings a little overrated. So he's a quarterbacks guy working with Rivers in San Diego and then Indianapolis with you know, I guess a trio of quarterbacks, you know, Luck and

Brissette and and Rivers. It's a big gamble. It feels like it's like you have to get this one right for this is this this brass I think, you know how he specifically they're attaching themselves to Wentz and Sirianni and like that's it. And if you're an Eagles fan, there's probably part of you that thinks, like, you know, it felt like we kind of went with Andy Reid's guy for the last coach. We went with like Frank

Reik's guy for this coach. You know, wouldn't have been nice to just like keep Andy Reid or Frank Reich. I guess, like if they're the ones kind of picking our coaches, Andy Reid, like Jalen Hurts, Mark, he you know, he put a lot of good tape out there at the end of the season. So this feels like to me, Mark that it could be a dangerous situation in terms of locker room chemistry and the locker room maybe being

siding with one quarterback over the other. And now you insert this rookie head coach in as Connie said, a volcanic market in Philadelphia. We'll see it's it's the thorniest landing spot out there east of the Texans because of everything we've mentioned. And this is the They still have the front office that drafted Jalen Hurts, but has you know, life size, life size posters of Carson Wentz and the general manager. That's part of its weird, right, I mean

they they're the ones that drafted hurt supposedly. I don't know it's right. And and and Roseman and Jeffrey LORII are two p's in a pod. So I just think you comming. I think number one Doug, Doug Peterson seemed to lack the authority to hire his own staff to some degree over the past couple of years. And I think that that was a an issue between them and why they parted ways that they wanted to change the

way they did things. And now so Sirianni, Sirianni comes in UM with the general manager and the owner completely linked UM and in a mind meld over Carson Wentz. Starting when I would imagine most of the fan base is kind of done with Carson Wentz on some level. Um after what you've seen from Jalen Hurts, who this team drafted highly and put themselves in this situation. So um quite murky. If I'm Sirianni, I might want to be like Doug Peterson and take the paid year off,

but that's not an option for him. Wow. Okay, Colleen is the Carson Wentz uh artwork or post or whatever it is behind Howie Roseman the most troubling UH decour since the Alex Rodriguez Minotaur painting. I never forget about that, Like I have never, ever once forgotten about that, And it's really haunted me because at the time I remember I was I was just dating. I wasn't married to John yet, and I remember how horrifying. John Renald gonzalazpor

Mar twelve is an American sports writer. Was married NFL meda broadcaster Colley Wolf. John, who was a Pisces, resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two dogs. The thought of exactly the thought of just like walking into some guy's house that I just met and seeing that on the wall, or you know, not just met, but you know what I mean, like we've had we've had a courtship, some checkpoints. Um, that would be horrifying, So thanks for bringing it up. He really walked into that one.

And what a what a world series add against your Phillies in two thousand nine, we can get into that too. Maybe at some point, John, I just met four hours earlier. I was there. I watched the Yankees clinch against the Phillies.

I was there too. I mean, how have I not been at that game and noticed, like Greg is at every historical event ever, brought us forts Gump alright, and every afterwards, they just played on Loop New York, New York, over and over and over and we had to like tape wraps and do interviews and everything, and they just didn't stop. So I mean, I'm a Red Sex fan, so I got out of there fairly quick. But I watched the little enjoyment for a couple of minutes. All right, Connie, Um, yes,

that's what's happening in the news. Let's now move to the NFC title game. And uh, you know, Colleen, I love it. Can't wait to see Aaron Rodgers on this stage in his building against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and all the focus is on Aaron Rodgers against Tom Brady, But as we know in our league and our sport, it's not actually those two guys like in in like ancient rome with swords and shields fighting each other, which would be cool. I would watch that, uh, And I

don't know who i'd pick to win that. We'll get to that later. It's actually to me, the matchup I care more about is Aaron Rodgers and this offense that is so beautifully designed against the Tampa Bay defense, which just embarrassed Drew Brees and potentially his last game. How do you feel about Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay here? Do you think they're going to continue to roll offensively? I do? I feel like if I was just going

on gut the whole time I have been with the Packers. Now, obviously that did not happen week six, and I have been labeled a Bucks hater for some reason all year long, So this must be something that is like actually happening. It has to be a theme. But I agree because I almost feel like that Week six game was just so weird and it was such a bad performance for the Packers and Aaron Rodgers in general, and everything came

up the Buck's way. But it just seems like that was such a different team, and honestly, like in the NFL season and especially now, where I feel like that was so long ago, it feels like that was last season Week six, and now this team, the Packers, the way that they came out even last Week four in eighty four total yards of offense against this Rams defense. And I know that they didn't have a one Aaron Donald and that obviously played a huge role in it.

But the run game looked really good for the Packers. They were balanced. And then of course the Bucks coming off that game against the Saints where they just got turnover after turnover, like this is gonna be a little bit different for the Bucks defense going up against Aaron Rodgers. You're not going to have Drew Brees who couldn't stretch the field at all. What he only did he complete any passes over twenty yards? I think one maybe, So it's gonna be a lot different from last week and

Week six. The only thing that would that would concern me a little bit is that the Bucks have been great against the run. Um Vita Vee is coming back, and you know, uh, this was a team that selectively um and effectively blitzed Rogers um at a higher rate than any team has back in Week six. So I

know that a lot has changed. I'm with you. Um. Our friend Nate Tys points out that this Packers offense right now, um, they are one of three teams since two thousand and two to average more than a field goal per drive, and the other two or the two thousand and seven Patriots and the twenty eighteen Chiefs. So it tells you that the Packers have grown into this.

We spent all last week. Oh what you know, Brandon Staley and the Rams defense, I think they might be good enough to go to the Super Bowl and shut everyone down and then like within fifteen minutes of that game starting, and I know that there were issues for the Rams in that game. It was like, no, that's not how football works in necessarily, So it's not just the Bucks defense. I mean, their offense is huge in this,

but the Packers are not. I would be stunned if they duplicate that effort because the Bucks were so effective against them. But the Bucks have to be a little bit different this time around. And you can't fool Aaron Rodgers. Bucks defense isn't as good as they were back then. Either. They started the season like a house on fire. Um, they're not were last week? You know they were, but they that was against I think it compromised Um offense.

You know they weren't against Washington. Gave a lot of yards. There's such a boom or bust defense. That's just who they are. And you saw like the ultimate like boom situation in Week six. But they give up big plays. It's all these young defensive backs who they have kind of playing man coverage and like stuck in one on

one situations. So much of it I think is going to come down to like the most hiring topic of of the Packer season, which is like Lazard and MBS, Like, at what point, and you just gave a great stat one of the best three offenses in terms of scoring per drive in the last twenty years, Like at what point, well, people shut up about them not drafting receiver. At what level does the Packers offense need to be where that is a stupid point where they're like I still can't

believe they took a quarterback. It's like you have the number one offense in the league. There's another one, by the way, Greg tied to what you were saying, and I'll use that guy's voice as well. Just imagine what this team would look like with the first phone, right, That's what That's what I'm talking, Okay, I would flip it and say, maybe imagine them with another cornerback or

another linebacker. That's where I'm worried in this game. I'm not I'm with you Colleen and Mark that I'm not really that worried about the Packers putting up points and moving the ball. I think their offensive line will win battles, and I think Rogers is just gonna He's just so patient right now. It's crazy that I just can't imagine unless you're a really special defense, you're gonna slow them down.

And I don't think the Bucks are that special defensively. Connie, do you think the bearded boy Met Lafleur deserves more credit than he's gotten, because you know, the record speaks for itself. They've now won. When fourteen fourteen plus thirteen is unfourteen plus ten wins against seven losses in two seasons, I think that's all right. Um, so the record is great. But also his ability. And there were whispers last year that the offense wasn't exactly where Aaron Rodgers wanted it

to be, and and they certainly weren't as explosive. But how about this some patients. He installs a system that he believes in La Fleur and it grows and builds to the juggernaut it has become. Now Matt Lafleur des there's more credit for his role in this offense. Well, I think too, because yeah, for sure, because you think about all of the credit that Sean McVeigh got when the Rams were having all of their success offensively, and it was like, oh my god, Sean McVeigh is a genius.

He's so young, he's got a photographic memory. It's incredible. Like I feel like, maybe who knows, but I think that Matt Flora like doesn't really get that same cashe because the difference of Jared Goff and Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Rodgers in year two with Matt Lafleur is is just so much better than I think anyone could have expected. And it's so hard to to kind of um pinpoint where the credit should go and how much credit you should give to who because it's such a collaborative effort.

But the offense with Aaron Rodgers is just working so well, and that that connection that Rogers has with Davante Adams is just so next level. Rogers said that besides Charles Woodson, the Davanta Adams is the best player he's ever played with, which is such high praise. And it just seems like they're always on the same page. But they weren't week six, and I think I have to go back and look.

But wasn't though he hadn't played for three weeks, and so I think it's like we're getting a different form of them now, right. I was. I was trying to remember if that that was his first game back from the hamstring. Yeah, nothing in that game and then everything went south, right, So I think that that's part of the reason why I think things will be a little

bit different this time around. But Matt with Floura, I mean, if he if the Packers go all the way, um, even if they just in this week, we're gonna be talking about them for two weeks. So I think that La Fleura will get his do Now I'm adding now, I'm adding more syllables to the flour's name after Tom Palisero did his whole thing on NFL. Now about how it's three syllables everyone is like pronounced, so say it right,

what is it? He said, It's supposed to be La Fleur? Like, well, that sounds like if you really wanted to go into the nuance you would say that. Well, and now it's like five syllables for me. So it's on. It's on the bowls as sons. Greg to figure out a way to cook up a scheme to slow down this offense, and we saw it. Devin White, he kind of led the way last week and the Vita Vea thing which Mark brought up. We don't know what he if he

does play what he's gonna give you. He's coming off a broken leg and just came back to practice, but he was one of the top top graded interior alignment before he wins. Also, I mean I would say this, he's bigger than the door I'm looking at over here. I mean, you just put him on the field and you've got you got something to work with some Well, yes, perhaps, but Greg, do you think that um they'll be able to build Billy Barnwell thinks that they can cook up

pressure and heat up rogers. I know you've been somewhat critical of their past rushes this year. Yeah, I don't think Jack Barrett has been the same. You know JPP has been Okay. Um, they actually were playing I was wondering last week. So they played this guy Anthony Nelson a little more who had a couple of good rushes. And because they play you know, Barrett and JPP so much, I think Devin White versus like Aaron Jones is huge. Um, Like, I think the run games for both these teams are

so important. It's kind of because La Fleur it is sneaky like a heavy run guy early in games too. It's not just like they get ahead like they already running team. Their backfield is awesome right now, like Aaron Jones is the man. But but Jamal Williams to me is one of the best backups in league. And A J. Dillan's good too. It's like they are they are going to run and the Bucks run defense hasn't been as

good lately. I defensively, I just kind of think like maybe this will be wrong because of the weather, but it just feels like there's only gonna be ah so many stops in this game, there's not gonna be that many.

To me, the Bucks have a few more playmakers where can you make one play, Like, can you just make one big defensive play whether it's a sack, fumble or an interception or whatever it is, to just you know, give a little bit of an edge in a game that I'm picking is thirty one thirty um, But it's like a lot of points. It's either way, like and

I think the Bucks maybe have those guys. Maybe it'll be Carlton Davis or Devin White or Lavonte David or JPP or someone where maybe they have a couple more guys who can make like one big play even if they're not gonna make many stops. And don't forget what Devin White did for this this Packers team actually, because after that Week six game, Devin White told reporters that Green Bay didn't deserve to be on the field with them. I mean, you don't think that that, I know, Matt

l Laura was asked about at this week. You don't think that that's going to play a part in the locker room that do you think they're going to try harder, They're going to try. They're gonna try a little harder, little well, hold on. I think Colleen is a point because you're dealing with Aaron Rodgers, who nothing, um it sticks to him. And he had a quote also. I love this because I thought he was shooting a arrow

right at our podcast and maybe even myself. He said, we got a lot of comments about how we were the worst thirteen and three team they'd seen last year. Not getting a lot of those comments this year. So yes, I think some of this stuff does matter, and I think it does register that they have been tracking you for a couple of years and that was about you. That's why. How often do you claim how often do you claim that some quote that you throw out there

has been tracked by a head coach. It's utterly absurd. We all know it's absurd, and we just we go along with it. Would you like to sometime, would you like to issue a statement to Rogers now that he follows everything you say. I will say that the team last year was thirteen and three. I thought it was one of the worst thirteen and three teams i'd seen. They got absolutely thrashed in the playoffs. This version of the Packers I have said for months playoffs, totally believe in.

I thought you were going to lock them up. Maybe you know you were talking about why back to you in the corner. You don't have to go against me. It might be smarter not to. If I'm telling you what to do, I'm just saying, I mean, you don't do whatever you want it. I am doing what I want. I will be locking up the packers, um and riding with Bam at lock up last week. I'll do it again. It doesn't matter because I'm not in the competition. But I'm a completist. And you said it, um, Greg about

the running game for Green Bay. Um. I just read a really good piece by Connor Hughes on The Athletic who was talking about what Mike Laflir brings to the Jets offense, the brother of Matt Um and it is it's all dictated the Kyle Shannah and offense, which la floor both ors our disciples, is powered off the run and it's the run that sets up the past. So yes, that's that's been an underrated element of everyone is just

all zeroed in on Aaron Rodgers. But the reason why this is working is because they have that balance, and that makes things like the play action and all the other gadgets that are built into the office work that much better. And and I think we should give the Bucks running game a little bit of love. I'm taking the Bucks by the way. I'm riding. I'm riding this Bucks wave. I I look at like the two teams, and I think the Packers defense is the worst group

in the game. Now, maybe the Packers offense is so much, so much better than any other group. That doesn't matter. And but to me, I think that's where the like the most mismatches are. They gave up a ton against the ground. I love the way Ronald Jones runs. He's got a lot of juice. I think he's underrated. I think that's one of the reasons they won last week was they were able to run in the second half,

for Nets running really well. And then you just like, look at all the matchups, assuming Antonio Brown plays, which I think is a big factor, especially over the middle of the field. It's Brown and Gronk and Bright and you know, you know, maybe even for Net in the in the passing game and Godwin, and it's against all these linebackers who Dan would call Hammond Eggers and safeties who are okay in the you know, are not aren't really that great in coverage set, you know. I think

there's just a lot of mismatches. That's That's what I mean. Where they could have used that first round pick at cornerback and these two cornerbacks, like there's no one better at adjustin. We're back with the draft again. We're back there, back like there's no one there's no one better at adjusting than Brady and and Rodgers, and so I think

they'll both find mismatches as the game goes along. Brady's numbers in the fourth quarter this year, I went to check because it was like it feels like he's just been on fire, are outrageous, Like he has closed games so well, and this feels like a game where it's like whoever has the ball last wins. That's what I'm hoping for, and I think it will be the Bucks. Connie, what's your pick in this game? Games? In fact, Oh, okay, I'm gonna go with what do you want to score to?

Just Packers. I'm gonna go with the Packers, okay, um, And then I'm gonna go I mean, well, we don't really know what's gonna happen. I'm gonna go with the Chiefs. I want the Bills to win, though I want I don't want to be right about that game and just pick up to just pick the opposite, pick what you want, you know, why not go with your heart? Yeah, I'm in it to win it. There's no prize on this game of Greg buried in that little notebook that you

use with you right with your Japanese pen. Anything you want to empty app before we say goodbye? Yeah, yes, if Greg doesn't have one, yes, and I have a final but I want to and then a last question for okay and mine will be quick. But I was surprised that the Bucks offensive line held up as well as they did last week against the Saints pass rush, considering they were down Alex Cappa and they were bringing in Aaron Stinny at guard for his first NFL start ever,

and they did. They did a really good job. So I'm wondering how they're gonna match up with the Packers pass rush considering they went off on golf. They sacked him four times last week. Kenny Clark was constantly in the backfield or Shawn Gary is getting better and better. So that could be a matchup to watch that That was kind of mine how about that? I mean, I'm with you, like I think the two the two lines

should dominate. Um, they're better. But I think if if something that could prove everything I just said about like the Brady wrong is if Rashaan Gary and Zadarius Smith go have a game that's where their difference makers are, like the two of them, Gary is playing really well and Kenny Clark altogether. If they could win that matchup, then it kind of blows up everything I said. They're there the chance for the Packers defense right there. Connie. You know sometimes they try to put you in the

box and I feel that way sometime as well. If you're the host and it's like, well you're not allowed to have taeks are like study things in a different way and share those. But that's what you just proved. Yes, you're a host and gifted, but your ability to analyze the sport and offer takes, I mean, thank you you can just you can keep the compliments coming. I'm if you're not done yet, that's fine before before you go, Um, I teased it at the top of our conversation. Um,

let's go back to Ancient Rome. Market like your take on this if you have one as well, Um, you know it, and Greg, that's how we do it. You're included. Whenever swords, shields, Sandals battle Ancient Rome kind of you're actually the emperor. You're the one that does the thumbs up thumbs down to decide whether the loser, the vanquished party lives or dies. So I want to hear I guess your take on that as well. But Aaron Rodgers against Tom Brady and a swords, shields and Scandals clash,

who wins? That's so much power? Really, you're gonna go with Brady? I you yeah, why would you go with Brady? Um? I think Brady, like, you know, for for all the people that like to make fun of Tom Brady and uh, you know the food he eats and all this other business. Um, I think there's something inside a Brady that is like will will destroy anyone that gets in his way. And I think this season is um has a lot to do with that. I think Aaron Rodgers might be UM.

I think he's you know, a warrior type player too, but it's a little bit different. I think that Brady um is an assassin, and I see him that way. Does Brady have the ability if we're in ancient Rome, though, does he have access to like seaweed smoothies and things like that? Well, how about like literally no foods that exists with like ridiculous additives and food color. Yeah, he might like it, like everyone else would be freaking out.

I think Aaron Rodgers wins because he's more nimble and it's not just about power, uh in that in the in that arena, have Colleen, I haven't heard your answer yet. I'm I'm going with Rogers too. I think Brady would recover faster from the whole match, but I think Gary Rogers. I don't know why. Aaron Rodgers just feels like he could maybe out patient Brady in their duel, like he's very I don't know. They're both so calm and like steely eyes. So I would like to see it, but

I don't know. I would go with Rogers, right, that's survivor slogan, outwit outlast, right, I'm with I'm with Mark about Mark. I mean, Brady kind of having that cold blooded nature to him, but it's not like Rogers is far behind there. I mean he's he's pretty pathological too, and so the athleticism, I think is what does it. I'm with Dan, the the age difference. I'd happily lock

it up, I will. I will say that Rogers. I shouldn't unlock it up Rogers as a non competitor here, because he seems willing to strip himself of anything on some level if you look at his choices in his history, so too dangerous um fighter. Little Olivia Lunn called back there. I believe. Hey, um, Connie, finally you're the emperor. Whoever loses live or die. It's it. That's it for you. You're gonna give me. You're gonna give me that power. Um, I'm gonna use it. Otherwise it's gonna be used on me,

you know. All right, Well, there you have it. She is as cold blood as he gets. Colleen Wolf and yes, to make sure you check her out on NFL network. You're all over the place, Connie. I know if you have any plug you want to throw in before you say goodbye, but you know where to find Connie on the dial. She's a star. Good morning Football weekend every Saturday. Check it out there it is there, she goes, thank you, Connie, You're welcome. Bonnie Fox leaves us and we now uh

edge toward the weekend and championship weekend. How fun? Two games left? Only three games left in the entire season. Mark, I know it's UM, it's been a it's been an endurance test. But let's than years past. I think this is where it is sad. You know, you're normally before games left, we'd have the big Pro Bowl. Actually we're usually like traveling that day, but we're really yeah, but I mean we'd watch it later. We'd tape it and definitely watch it as a group. In past years, it

would work out like this. We would be flying into the super Bowl city while the Pro Bowl is played, and then you you check in, and then you go down to the hotel bar and you see either the games in the third or fourth quarter, or you see the highlights, and you have a couple of drinks with some friends and you catch up and and life's good. I guess maybe the way to look at it positively is when it happens, When that setup happens a year from now, we'll just appreciate it more. I'm trying to

like spin as in this new era for America. UM, I'm trying to now say I understand how things are right now, but things can get better, and there's a good chance that they will get better. And I believe in that um on a lot of levels, including with our friend Chris Westley. I'm with you, we are we join you in that hope. All right, good stuff, all right. We'll be back Friday tomorrow on the NFL Network ourselves

with the Around the NFL Show. Make sure you check that out six pm Eastern, three pm Pacific, and then of course the Flagship Program where we recap and talk about the two Super Bowl teams and the vanquished parties that Colleen will cold bloodedly send to the death chamber, uh if she has her way. And if you are overseas, we will be involved with the Sky Sports coverage of Championship Weekend on Sunday, So make sure you check that out, all right? Anything else? Boys, I think that's it. I

think this is a good one. Let's go, as they say. Thanks to Bill, Yes, thanks for Bill Barnwell, Thank you to County Boxes and Dan Hanson signing off for Guidet Storm, the Old Boss, Ricky Hollywood behind the Virtual Glass, U T S. Night