MNF Recap Packers-Vikings; Beastmode returns

listening to Yansas? Did I say that? Think you covered yourself? Dad? Did I say that? Have you done this before? We're plugged in? We're we're plugged in right. Well, I am Dan Hansas and this is the Around the NFL Podcast, and we are in the garage after Monday Night football. The Packers obviously um embarrassed if I quite frankly in their house to take the NFC North and uh, we are going to get to that. Usually, of course we do our show on Tuesday, but on the holiday week

with Christmas coming up. Uh, we're doing it here offsite in the garage home of the Throwback podcast and boys. Uh, first of all, have you enjoyed the experience, you know, watching the game from the garage? Let's start. Let's start there. I think it's been amazing because, you know, there's a celebratory Christmas kind of vibe to it. Uh, your son's Jack and Harrison strolled in here, your level wife, Emily, your parents is here, Dad, you know, Dan's dad is here.

That's a special event. And getting to sit and watch three hours of football and hearing what I would consider decades worth of precise hammer dropping pros and commentary from Dan's dad as a special experience. I've been here for a baseball playoff game as well, and it reminds me of you know, a few years back, it got to be trendy for all these bars, you know, in urban areas to have garage fronts that actually pull down, you know, and about five minutes into the game, Dan puts the

garage door down. It feels like you're in an actual bar and you're just having a good time. It was a good setting. No, Dan did an amazing job setting up this garage. Is trained changed quite a bit in the last few years. It's a beautiful place to watch the games and and who, uh, who better to sit next to than Keith Hansas, like I was all night, a lot of hot takes on Aaron Rodgers will maybe have that. A little uh later, he tried to stump West in some trivia, and West did a pretty good

job answering the bell. What was the wait? What was the trivia question? Again? Dad? The trivia question, first of all was what was the longest punt in NFL history? We whipped on that one. Well, I attempted Randall Cunningham, but the answer was not that. And what was the other one? The Well, the answer to that was Steve O'Neill of the just ninety eight yards. And then the other question, the other one was and this was the

real hammer dropper. The other one was back, who was the who had the leading uh as a out back? Who had the most rushing odds for the season way back in the early seventies, who had the record before Michael Vick? And I said Bobby Douglas. But then Keith, a bit of a stickler, said what year and how many yards? I said seventy one or seventy two. He nailed me down on that one, so I had to go seventy one. It was seventy two two and I guess nine sixty one yards, but it was night, so

you got the answer incorrect. Yeah, I was, you know. Uh, So we're gonna yeah, and we got together here and had some Mexican food and uh enjoyed ourselves and watched the Monday night football game. We're gonna get to that in just a little bit. We're also gonna do um some news, get caught up on some happenings after Week sixteen, and including uh, the apparent return of one of the most perhaps I don't know, mount Mountain Rushmore, this thing,

most famous NFL players of the first century. Uh, stick a pan that because I think this gentleman for the uh with the Seattle Seahawks might qualify anyway. That's a discussion to have in a little bit. But let's start, yes with Monday night football. The Green Bay Packers are celebrating Jones. Look at that balance. Aaron Jones only so much you could ask of this defense, and Aaron Jones just ASTs far too much about fifty six yard touchdown.

Aaron Jones fifty six yards of the house, and that was the dagger for the Packers, who absolutely overwhelmed defensively the Vikings in a three to ten win that gives the Packers UH their twelfth win and the NFC North title, and for the time being, UH puts them Greg. I think I'm right on the computation here. They have the bye as of right now, they're in the top two,

right behind the Niners. All they have to do is beat the Blowhards in Detroit David blow and the Lions next week to clinch a bye, and they could even move up to the one seed lose. I would say, don't just assume that's happening, but the chances feel good. So let's talk about this game a little bit, because the Packers certainly did not blow the doors um off

the Vikings. Aaron Rodgers, UH and company. They you know, they struggled for large portions of this game on offense against the good Vikings demon in a very difficult place to play. But I think the story of this game really will be what a massive egg the Vikings laid. UH and West will start with you. I know you and I have had our disagreements with Kirk Cousins and the Vikings where blames should be assessed when the Vikings go wrong and This does not make me the winner

of that argument. You were right, and everything you said it was all right. Dan has declared the winner. Now that is that is not true because a lot of people didn't show up in this game. It's certainly not Kirk Cousins either. Seven first downs from Minnesota and four quarters the fewest in a home game by this organization since nineteen seventy one. Keith Hansas was a junior at Clarkstown High School at that time senior at Clarkstown High.

The man's a grandfather West speak to it. Come on, Kirk Cousins, put the team on your back when they need you well. Like I said on Thursday, you and I see it more eye to ida on this than it than it seems like. I don't care what his record is on Monday night football. That is immaterial. It's like somehow nine Monday night games are better than than Sunday games. I might have been true in three I don't think that's been true lately. Uh. Thirdly, we've seen

this before. He didn't come up when the Redskins needed a late season victory. He didn't come up big when the Vikings of two thousand and eighteen needed a late

season victory, and he didn't come up big tonight. And like you said, the blame can be assessed to a running game that didn't exist, an offensive line that got worked over by the Hackers front seven, a defense that got some turnovers but also allowed a hundred and fifty yards to Aaron Jones, a coach who punted down thirteen with three and a half minute or four minutes left

in the game. Um, there's a lot of blame to go around, but I you cannot escape the Kirk Cousins led an offense that had seven first downs, and like you said, since nineteen seventy one was the last time that happened in a Vikings home game. This is one of the most disappointing performances any team has had all year. I mean, it's it's the worst offensive performance. It's it's you can't write how embarrassing. This is the only team to have fewer first downs in the game this season. Also,

on Monday Night Football, here's a little trivia. Come on and guess it. I'd say Chicago Bears. You gotta be able to guess at Jets fans in the room, it was it was the Jets that's the only guy removed that from a frontal lobotomy, like uh, the Kennedy kids, they like they had like a third string accountant playing

quarterback the Jets. That the difference. The difference is this is for the NFC North title, and you come in the Packers defense, and Mike Patton and especially Zadarius Smith and everyone of the defense deserves all the credit in the world for totally dominating. But to score ten points because you had a three and out inside the ten yard line and because Kirk Cousins made one nice pass it was a twenty six yard drive where he had the throw for the touchdown. That's how you got your

ten points. You had thirteen drives, none of them went over thirty one yards. You can't put any blame on the defense. They're the defense played great. They gave him the ball three extra times tonight, including giving them uh to scoring chances. Then they only allowed twenty three points. That's a that's an a minus from your defense who's been around for a long time and get kept getting

put in bad positions. This was the most embarrassing offensive performance any team said all season, let me go through it, let me go through it. Here. This is the Vikings possessions um after recovering a fumble right off the bat

by the Packers. Four plays five yards, uh, six plays eighteen yards, three plays negative two yards, three plays twenty six yards, three plays five yards, four place six yards, three plays five yards, three place seven yards, six place thirty one yards, five place twenty yards, three plays negative four yards, seven plays twelve yards, and finally four plays

negative five yards. I mean, Mark, this is outrageous. And that's why I think we were even saying to each other at the midway point that the green Bay's three turnovers early that you know, you see these in games. The Minnesota did nothing with that, They were unable to do anything with that, and you felt the Green Bay would find a way to come back. And my favorite moment of the moment of the night was when Packers coach Matt Lafleur was described by Keith Hansas as a

little kid with a beard. And yet somehow, uh, somehow, the coach and Aaron Rodgers have gotten this far, and I have no questions. I have no problem with the Vikings being pushed down to where they belong at the sixth seed, because they're an inferior team to Green Bay, but also to every single other team in the NFC race, because I don't trust them on the road, I don't trust them at home. They are flawed, guys like Adam

Theland are not healthy. They without Dalvin Cook, I think that's a huge I think we talked about with or without Dalvin Cook, they'll be fine. I simply don't agree because you need his present. Well, I didn't think it would make a big difference, and his present that big of it. Maybe not tonight, but when they've when when we've looked at their offense and believed in their abilities, little things like tonight attempting to trick play and having to go into the trick play bag because they simply

couldn't get basic plays done. And you have Kirk Cousins rolling out and dropping an overthrown pass, and he think he had a bit back pick himself. Well he stretched out for it, of course their intended. All I'd say is that you can you can kind of tell sometimes in a game early that a team is going to get into a flow, and they just never found that way into this game at home. I think it's very concerning for them. I see them as a one and done team in the playoffs. It was hard to see

this game coming though. I mean, they were a top eight offense in UH efficiency according to Football Outsiders coming into this they've been top ten in def in offense and defense and points. Like I thought, they actually passed protected pretty well. Coming into this night and especially in the fourth quarter. Thinks that Arias Smith He's not gonna win Defensive Player of the Year, but he would be in my top five. I've been putting him in my top five all year, and this was one of the

best games any defensive players had all year. Three and a half sacks, five tackles for loss. Well, you've been saying that you like him for a defensive player that you're candidate because he makes a play or a big play every week. He's sort of the NFC's version of t J Watt this year, and you saw it tonight. Five QB hits, five tackles for loss, three point five sacks. That's just a that's a month. That's one of the best defensive games we've seen. It's weird because their defense

the Packers started the season playing so well. That was what Aaron Rodgers said coming off the field in Week one. We've got a defense, We've got it even and then they went away for two months. But here they are in December and the Packers offense isn't consistent and they weren't tonight. But they still have Aaron Jones, and they still have Devonte and they still have Aaron Rodgers. Like if they have enough offense when the defense is playing

like that. They've allowed about twelve and a half points per game over the last month. Um this was the first really good offense they've shut down. The Vikings are among the best big play offenses in the NFL before this game. Do you see them? Is maybe like the a f c S version of the Chiefs, considering they have Rogers, Aaron Jones, Davante Adams and then a defense that has been improving for the past month. I you know, I think I'm with Mark, because Mark, you were getting

agitated watching this game. You don't like either of these teams. You don't view either team, don't back off your a serious super Bowl threat. And I don't necessarily disagree with you because it does feel like the Packers, despite the twelve and three record, they feel like a step below, which I don't think about the Chiefs. I think the Chiefs or a team uh that can absolutely make major noise all the way to Miami potentially if things break the right way. I think both things can be true.

Though I think they are a step below the Saints and the forty Niners, and that if they get the one seed and they're you know they're gonna get the two seeds, can Mike Patton and them win a home game. But that's a very greg answer because you can see them. It's happen on our planet. But I like, in terms of when we're really who, where does our belief fall? The Green Bay tonight was a couple of bad players

from losing this game. Also because their offense was defunct for for two plus quarters, they still move the ball through. I just think they dominated the game. I mean they had three three yards. There was a couple of nice defensive players where you knocked the ball out of Aaron Jones Davante Adams's hand. But ultimately they did what they

needed to do. They came in there and they've embarrassed there and they didn't dominate the first half where they have three turnovers and are doing nothing on offense and putting up field goals. But I hear you that, like, there's no question that they are the better team of this situation. But I struggle with them as a second seed when I have the Saints and the Niners out

there in that field could be number one. I mean, Seattle beating in Francisco next week is not to that that and Wes, you know, we we did go at it a little bit on Cousins, but this kills him. I mean, this is I totally agree whether whether what you're the point you're making that people get too hung

up on where he stands when the team fails. Whatever the viewpoint is this, whatever people thought, and the majority of people who view him as a guy that comes up small when it matters and when the when the spotlights on to average less than four yards attempt an attempt, and if you also factor in going into this game, if you do believe Cousins is a guy that does

come up small. When you saw that Dalvin Cook was out and then you saw that Madison was out, it was very clear at that point the Cousins was gonna need to do what Carson Wentz has done quite frankly in Philadelphia these last few weeks, which is put the team on his back. And I guess, I mean, there's just so much evidence, and I know your argument has never been like, well he can do it, he just hasn't done it yet, that the evidence is there that

that's he's just never gonna be that guy. And maybe that all changes the next month, but this just continues to hammer home that legacy that in prime time against good teams, uh, he will come up small. Because he is one of the people who did come up small for the Vikings tonight. Absolutely well, your argument has been that he's a statistical monster who comes up small, and I've got no problem with that. My my defense of him has been about shoehorning that argument into the conversation.

He is not a quarterback like Jamis Winston where he leaves his fingerprints all over every game. Some games he's not needed to be the story, and he still ends up being the story. So that's where my and I think that's where you guys are closer to agreement, as he can't lift the team by himself, and I think the coaching staff is, you know, as part of it, Kevin Stefanski. It's like that whatever their plan was it

clearly didn't work. Mike Patton had him, had him dialed up in Kenny Clark and especially Zadarius Smith, you know, busted them in Ada Minnesota's number, and that he had a target tonight and he didn't have a catch. And so suddenly you're down feeling he's on the field, but it's not really feeling and you're down cook and it is a different time. I see this. Also, I don't feel like Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers on any level at this point. He does not seem like the same

guy to me. Right now, you didn't throw a touchdown tonight, Well, they lost the Davante Adams touch touchdown that he threw behind him. And there was a similar play where he threw behind Aaron Jones on a big third down early. Those are supposed to be easy passed. And speaking of Aaron Jones, I don't even know how the Pro Bowls voted. I think fans do it on Twitter by hitting retweet or something. But come on now and fans, I'll have

a contribution, alright. Cool, But even that scientific twenty three carries a hundred and fifty four yards two touchdowns in a money game and He's been doing it all year. He leads the league in the leads the league in touchdowns. And I know Zeke statistically has had a nice season, but if you've been watching these games, you know that Aaron Jones has been kind of a bigger figure in the NFL than Zeke the year, and he deserves to be.

He gets the gift of going to Orlando if I make the decision, but I do not make the decision. I think some of these players are happy not to go. Orlando is a somewhat okay city, but some are fine not not might be trying to be busy. I think he might be coming with us to Miami and he's only gotta win two games, maybe two home games. The garage is unanimous in the opinion that it should be Aaron Jones overseas. Yes, any other final thoughts on this

game before we do some news? All right, I'll take that, Dad. Do you have any final thoughts? Oh? Yeah, you you were a little critical, um, Mr hanss Keith, and I call you um about Aaron Rodgers early. You had a particular theory how he interacts with his team. Yeah. Well, my feeling when Aaron Rodgers is that you know, when things are going good, you know he's missed a good guy.

But when things are not going so good, he is certainly not the same guy that you see on the sidelines that's frowning at people and looking looking the other way, old man that lays aim on others. That's right. And also the way he handled the coach last year, uh, not listening to the play called and Mike McCarthy and treating him terribly shows me that I just don't think he's the kind of man that you know, that everyone

talks about. And some would say that you have like supruter level film evidence of that on the sideline over many games, So I think that's that's fair. Let me tell you he's a great quarterback. I will say that, there's no question about that. But that's my attitude about him. That see that's a hot take and I like it. Keith hands of the take. You're keep his right. But this feels like one of those days seasons where things are going right, you know. I mean, they've had a

lot of luck this season. They're twelve and three without you know, looking like a great team. They're very likely going to be hosting a game in the divisional round. But you said it, Greig. They don't have a they don't have a fleet of signature wins, you know, but they have swept. But they're five in the division And what more can you ask from Matt lafloora one. They don't like have that like body of resume. But it's

not like voting to get you in there. Just gonna be hosting a game in Lambeau and the winner of that game is going to be playing in the end. It's gonna be like one degree. And they have a defense that's hot and a quarterback you know, can get hot at a moment's notice and drop a game winning throw like the one he made to Jared Cook. He can do that in a moment. They got enough weapons,

Adams Jones. They got enough weapons and protection. What happens when the bohemians, bohemian culture and the blow hearts come in and spoil this little party, that would be outrageous. I would not put anything by the bohemian culture and the blowhards. All right, that's going on that game. Now, let's get into some news. I'm here so I won't

get fine. All right, let's start with some uh interview head coach interview heat Mike McCarthy, who, yes, as Keith Hansas mentioned, got basically railroaded by Aaron Rodgers Rogers down the stretch of that run in Green Bay. H He has sat out of football for a year and now he is looking to get back in the game, and he interviewed with the Carolina Panthers. Mike Garafolo reported that what's everybody laughing about just that he was very I mean, uh to be fair, Keith, I mean, let's let's uh

freshen up those Mike McCarthy playbooks. Shaw the most boring predictable offense. I've ever seen, one of the great quarterbacks of all time. And I would have been calling for him to be out of town for three or four years. So I was on Aaron Rodgers side there, all right. Very predictable, very predictable anyway. Mike Carefolo reported the Panthers interviewed Mike McCarthy after Caroline has lost to the Colts on Sunday. Uh. McCarthy, of course fired by the Packers

near the end of last season. Uh. He spent two thousand nineteen out of football, and of course, you know, the best thing he could have done. And this is been all very calculated by McCarthy and the people that

he works with. Was uh kind of laylow, let it, let the resume kind of simmer on the back burner, and then when teams start firing head coaches at the end of the year, Uh, put that resume out there and all of a sudden, adive and seventy seven in thirteen seasons and uh ten wins in the playoffs and a Super Bowl title. All of a sudden, he looks like a better coach option than maybe he did last year.

And the Panthers, because they, you know, dumped Ron Rivera, they have a bit of a head start on some of these other teams that will uh hire fire coaches. Uh does this feel like a fit West? I know you're not that high McCarthy either. Well, I'm just like, I haven't seen a PR campaign this savvy since James Carville was running Clinton. I mean, whatever McCarthy does, if he sneezes, we got reporters reporting on it breathlessly. I

don't like. To me, he's not He's a little stale, and I'm not really that interested in where he's interviewing. That's just my opinion. The one thing I'd say is that he probably represents two owners looking for interviews, a secure veteran coach, which there are only a few of out there right now. And you know, when I think of Mike Petton, I did a piece while back called the Sojourn Year where coaches that vanished for a season

and what do they do with that year? And Patton talked about the fact that he felt that his own game planning and view of the game had become a bit narrow, and that he took that year to examine the same way that we would every single team and offenses and defenses around the league, and he grew and Patton's come back and reshaped his career from it. So can Mike McCarthy do that intellectually and as a coach, I don't know, but I understand why owners would be

attracted to someone with his track record. He he wanted back in right away. There wasn't a ton of interest, you know, a year ago. He'll get interviews. I don't know if I, you know, would would guess that he's going to get a job. I mean, I don't think that's guaranteed, and I don't think the Panthers are necessarily a big fit, especially if you're keeping Cam Newton. But why wouldn't you interview him right now? You have you have time to kill your David Tepper like interview. Isn't

that why you as many people as possible? And he makes sense to interview, But I guess I'd be surprised if he got one of the better jobs available. I think you'll get a job. I know Ron Rivera is going to get a job. I think McCarthy will too. I feel i'd be very surprised if he didn't. Quite frankly, I mean, I could be wrong, I could be reading it wrong, but I think there's gonna be an owner that's gonna buy into Like I said that backburner warmed

up resume, and it's gonna be something that sways them. Uh, and they're like, oh, we want somebody that knows what they're your Cleveland Browns market again, profession on here that knows what he's doing, that has experience that the players will respect, whether they actually do or not. As a different conversation, they had ties to him. They're one of the teams that didn't even go out of the way

to interview. I think that if you're a fan, that's sort of you know, toiled with a struggling team for a really long time. And the the other side of the pr thing with Mike McCarthy leaving Green Bay was so evil and so like unfriendly towards him that I'd be concerned as a fan just rolling Mike McCarthy and his head coach and wondering what will be different than what everyone was saying about it about at the end

of his Packers run. When you're when you're buying Riverboat, you're buying his leadership and the way all his players go to bat for him and love him. When you're buying Mike McCarthy, you're buying his offense. And what's to say for his offense over the last couple of years. Well, he does have that street named after Mike McCarthy way so, and do you know, I got it. He's got a ring. He's got a ring that carries weight, is all I'm saying that. That's saying he's a good coach with the

six seeded UH Packers team. No One's upcoming because a long time ago that should be said as well. All right. In other news, Yes, that Mountain Rushmore. Let's get back to that is Marshawn Lynch on the amount Rushmore of the most popular NFL players in the last twenty years. Oh, I think popula. I think she's different famous to popular. He's he's in the mix. But I would still say, now, hmm, I mean to me when I think of the last ten years, at least he's someone who has more memories

attached to him than almost like other players. Guess what, Mark, More memories are coming. Because the running back and the Seattle Seahawks agreed to a deal. On Monday, Lynch's agent announced Lynch's contract is for this season only, which means Week seventeen against the Niners and the playoffs. Uh. The Seahawks also signed Robert Turban, another old war horse for them.

He spent the first three NFL season and rob is coming back from Kristin Michael's uh Sean Alexander and Alexander two thousand six MVPs back no the original Kurt Warner, but the original Currt Warner, Lynch and Turban phil backfield spots that opened Sunday when Chris Carson and c J. Prosise both went down with season ending injuries. We talked about Mark on Sunday Night Show that nobody had a

worse Sunday uh than the Seahawks. And let's not act like this is prime Marshawn Lynch coming into town to save the day. But you know what, it's a little bit of juice to It was a little bit of fun and you know, a dollop of sprinkle of Christmas happiness on an otherwise grim scenario for seeing I mean, I love I I totally. It can easily fall in love with the concept in the narrative of the whole thing.

There were there, you know, from another angle. When I was in Oakland last week covering the last Raiders game, he was also there doing apparently shots with fans, So I don't know what where the football shape is it. Also West, you know it's during right in the middle of Super Bowl fifty. West was ordered to write the Marshawn Lynch retirement story when he hung his cleats and took a photo. And now I think that Western have to go into our CMS system, probably tonight and update

that story and add some new some new graphs. Please well, let me put that in another way. I wrote this man's retirement story before I had cancer. That's how speak of West. My concern Marshawn Lynch, who maybe, hey, maybe he's been a gym rat the last eight months or whatever since he retired, but that he is. He is a guy that is in danger of sustaining the worst hamstring injury since Chris Westling rounding second for the Shield

of Season. I mean where the hamstring actually jumps off the bone and screams in Agony's not like a dry twig. We don't want that to happen. But the in seriousness, the idea that you're gonna have Lynch contributing you you take him out of retire and pluck him into basically a playoff scenario in week seventeen and then January. I wonder how much work he'll actually get in this offense. You're figuring he would split the reps with Travis Homer, who was there, who was their fourth string back, and

then Turbine. You're probably not giving him. But it's amazing. I applaud Pete Carroll for the theatricality of it, for the is this the time for that? I don't know. I think it is just your what your alternative? You had the worst that you could possibly have. This is gonna give juice to the locker room. And not that that's gonna make them win or not, but it's like, what, why not the worst running back that they could just

sign off the street. That's like, the next guy up is not gonna be better than the fifteen percent chance that maybe Lynch just does something great. He did run pretty well with the Raiders. I thought he did. We gave him a little credit that he was running pretty well before. He think there are another universe that we live in where he's suddenly a week from now having rumbled for a hundred and forty yards two touchdowns. Well

well maybe like maybe like a seven yard touchdown. He goes three for sixteen with a seven yard touchdown and he and he just becomes a factor. And you know what, they're not my team. I'm not working for them, like he's giving it to the rest of the football fans just as a nice fun story. It's like something a team would do, like, but they're trying to win the super Bowl here. But what look, I guess how I'm not against it. I'm just I want everyone to temp

for expectation of the other. What does Travis Homer way a hundred and seventy found pounds. Pete Carroll has a formula and he has talked about this. He talked about this over the summer when I when our team wasn't doing well, it was because we didn't have a power running game. We did not support our quarterback. And our formula for playing is defense, power running, and support the quarterback. Their offensive line isn't built to protect Russell Wilson, is

built to open lanes for power runners. And I don't know if Travis Homer is that guy. But there's a number three overall pick that is several years younger available power. Richardson off the elevator. Here, here's my point. That's three point three yards per carry career. But he led the a f and touchdowns just last year. All right, here the last three running backs that have been signed off of waivers or a practice quad so a p Ryan, Kenneth Dixon and uh, it doesn't even matter Rod Smith?

So can is there like a fifteen percent chance that Marshall Lynch is way better than those guys? It's like, why not? I agree? I'm just saying everybody don't expect a beast quake I'm expecting it. It's more like it. It It will be a cart coming from the man. That's all. We cannot shake Mark's expectations. I'm excited about this. This is one of the one of the better things that's happened on Sunday night football against that delicious You wouldn't

need to go through it. But this feels like the best season finale for Alan Chris since they started this game. I can't remember a better a better one than Seahawks forty niners. Moving on, the Ravens clinched everything on Sunday. They are the number one seed in the a f C and as expected, um Lamar Jackson and several other

starters will not be playing against the Steelers in Week seventeen. Jackson, of course, mark Ingram, who by the way, has a strained calf, which by the way is actually, you know, technically a torn calf muscle, and he left the stadium in a boot yesterday. And with this week off and then the bye, he gets extended time to rest and recover, uh and rehab. But we'll see whether he's mark Ingram come playoff time for the Ravens. But this obviously makes

a lot of sense Uh. And then on the flip side of that, you have Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans, who, despite the fact that the Texans can't move really much at all, they are at the four seed. Uh in the a f C, they could get up to the three seed. Uh. He he is going to play his guys anyway. Uh. That feels that feels belichicky And from the disciple Greg, he did it last year. Well who did it last Bill O'Brien played his guys last year when he didn't have to end. I still don't believe

him this year. I believe that he's gonna enter the first quarter with the starting lineup out there in depending on what happens in the early games, he's going to adjust. But Deshaun Watson was limping last game, grabbing at that ankle repeatedly. Will Fuller has a he's a growing pool. Sean says that will Fuller is likely out three weeks. So my point, basically, my point is you're receiving corps is already shallow. You're gonna risk an injury to either

Stills or Hopkins. No, I don't. I don't believe that's gonna happen for four quarters. Yeah, the the quotes weren't as aggressive when you look, they weren't as definitive as I think people made them out to be. Aaron Wilson, who covers them every day, pointed out them playing to win still might mean them sitting some selective starters. The Chiefs game, you know, is the early in the early window, so they will know whether they can move up to

the three seed. It's debatable whether they would even care that much about moving up to the three seed or not. But yeah, the Chiefs would have to lose to the Chargers, which is unlikely anyways. I just don't think I have a big problem with doing it either way. Everyone thinks it's crazy to play your starters or to try to

play to win or play most of them. And to me, there's only sixteen of them, and he doesn't think his team is playing that well right now, and there's you know, one way to get better at playing football as a team is to play football as a team. Like it just doesn't feel crazy to me if he went that, right. And I think that we you know, when we're looking at these teams week to week from a distance, and yeah, you we we were weighing the risk of losing, you know,

a key player. But when you're a coach running a locker room and you have a team that is somewhat underperformed in the Texans where they've been up and down, I think there's some value to saying I'm not giving you a week off. I want to go see, at least for part of this game, go out there, practice and perform and show me that you're a playoff team Dedre Hopkins. Of course, before that, it's like he's getting in both ways. He's got the media reporting back to

his team, we're going for it this week. So he's got his team riled up and they're all on board,

and then in the first quarter he's gonna pull. And I make one last point on this is that I actually think it is a pretty big deal, uh getting that three seed, because if you get the three you might get the Oakland Raiders in your building in the first round of the playoffs, or or Duck Hodges and the Steelers, who might be on fumes at this point, Duck Hodges on the road, or you might get the Titans again, which would would not you could beat the Titans in theory, and then get them again. That's a

possibility to get the Beers again. Uh, whereas you know the four seed, uh is going to get the Bills right, and Bills are gonna be a tough out. I don't know, you know if they're Super Bowl team, but I think that's a team that's destined to play a close, fast difference on wild Card weekend, that's a huge difference. Al right, Uh, let's see anything else. I also think the Ravens backups can absolutely beat the Steelers. You can only sit so many people. And I don't know if r G three

is a is a better quarterback in Duck Hodges. I think he is. Do you think the backup offensive line can block t J? They only have eight, eight or nine offensive linemen. It's so yonda sitting it hard. I pointed out, like you can't. There's only so many people you can sit. And they're still gonna be like Ronnie's family is going to be out there for fourth, fourth quarters. Finally, in the news, Philip Rivers, who is thirty eight years old now it just turned thirty eighties and the final

year of his contract. It's been a tough go with the Chargers and a lot of speculation that, uh, the Charges will move on from their quarterback after this season, and I thought it was pretty interesting after seventeen loss, reporters, you know, asked Rivers about his future and he was quite open about it and quite frankly, uh blunt in his assessment of himself and his future. Let's listen to that. But am I capable of it? Physically and mentally? There's

no question? Yes, I do. I want to play football. Now I say yes, I want to play football, and I do. And that's when I feel deep down as I stand right here west so Rivers he wants he's coming back in because somebody, if not the Chargers, is gonna sign him. Do you think it's a fresh start on the way? And if you do think it's a fresh start, where's a good landing spot for Mr? Rivers?

It's interesting you said the assumption. You know, a lot of people assume the COGNISCENTI assumes the Chargers want to move on. I think there's also some people who's who assumed before this that Rivers might just he and Eli go out together and call it a career because he doesn't want to play for anyone else. I could definitely see him moving back towards the southeast, where he's from, where his kids are gonna start high school in a

couple of years, where he wants to coach. I think Tannehill has made the Titans probably an unlikely scenario, but the Carolina Panthers, who are said to be wanting to move on from from cam Newton. He played college at NC State there, so that makes sense to me. I could see that. But I could also see the Chargers, even if their head coach is done with him, their GM saying, well, you want to put the franchise tag on him and see if anybody will raid for him.

I got one for you. What about Jake Briskets struggling down the stretch with the Colts putting Phil Rivers in Indie with Frank Reich run that. I feel like that could work right midwestern town for his family. I hadn't thought of that, but I like it. There's some juice there and good offensive line. There is some talk of yeah, good offensive line, obviously a great offensive coach. Uh. They maybe give t Y Hilton some help there, they get healthy obviously of Marlon mac Maybe that's a good spend

some time together. I believe with the Chargers. Yes they did. Ye, I would say this to You're not gonna get it. You're not gonna get any quarterback, you know, heading into weeks seventeen telling people when he's got to go start in five or six days. I'm done with football. I'm not there mentally, like, no one know what athletes don't hit hit the way he talked about it, and sort of the typical Philip Rivers defiance. You could just tell he's playing. I mean he he said, well, the charges

aren't gonna dictate when he retires. Let's sit it that one. He said, like, there's a natural human nature. You're thirty eight. You've thrown some bad interceptions for you to think about whether you can make these throws. And he said, none of that's true. I've made as many great throws this year. Whether he's right or wrong, he believes that as I made earlier in my career. I've made some throws that are better than ever. And he he is insulted by

this suggestion that he's done. And whether the charges agree or not, I don't know. There's a weird situation. I think with you know, Tyrod Taylor is signed there next year. Anthony Lynn has been with him before and good luck right at least that they have someone where they could up so Fi Stadium with Tyrod Taylor and a rookie and a rookie Navy you draft someone? Yeah, um, all right, let's see dad, what's going on to chewing that ice

over there? Very loud? I'm sorry. Well, he's been waiting for our segment, which we've done a lot of which it's our top games of the nineteen seventies from nine. We're each gonna do twenty each, take a two or three minutes for each game. West, let's get a get us going well the Holy Roller that I want your thoughts if you could on Philip Rivers. We you were chewing the table a little bit today. Uh, we were watching Game Pass as well as I'm putting together the

power ranks. Would you want Philip Rivers if you were the Cults or a coach that needed a little Upgradeer, Do you think he's shot? No? I think Rivers still has it, and I think he would be a good addition to the Colts. Uh. The Colts, look, if they had anybody they had a better quarterback, I think they would have definitely had nine or ten wins this year, so, uh, you know, I think he would be a great addition. I think his time in San Diego was over. And

should Adhaim Gaze be back with the Jets. I don't know Gaze. I don't I don't particularly like Gaze, as you know, I'm a big Jet fan as you are. Then and uh, you know what, I don't particularly like him, but I have to say, you know, they were one in seven and now there's six and nine, so I'm have to be pretty pleased they haven't quit on if they haven't quit and he's got he's got. It seems

like he's got the team behind him. But I've also heard some rumblings, uh in the locker room about him not being so popular with the team, but that happens, guy. I believe it was the report in Bleacher Report that Greg Williams the locker room respects but Gaze a bit of an act. But you know what, it also feels like that could have come straight from Greg Williams, whose lawyer Williams, Yeah, he just called up. He did the conference call and said that, um, you know, it was

just disclosed there. Keith has a guest pass to the lab and Mark can't even get in the door. You know, there's so many situations that are should we give Aaron Rodgers um Keith boy the final word tonight? After after tonight's win, he said, it's great to win in the stadium after I was jeered a couple of years ago,

leaving the field with a broken collar bone. Yeah, you know, just like Phil Rivers, these great old quarterbacks, you know, they use slights his motivation, and sure enough, that's what happened tonight in Minneapolis. I mean if I got if I got booed after breaking my collar bone, that would that would stick with me too. Yeah, better than getting cheered for a broken collar bone. Right, all right, We will be back on Thursday with our Week seventeen Mark,

you gotta be feeling it right now. Weeks seventeen preview show coming up. I like checkpoints, and that is a checkpoint where we take twenty teams and we're all in this giant clown car. We just we open those back door of the car and we just shoved twenty teams to the side of the highway and we keep rolling. I think of it as like all like a like a tuna net. And then just in a Superman way, three times around the head and then fly them into

the sun like that they're gone. It's twenty of them anyway, so check that out when it comes again. Tickets available at the Miami Improv dot com slash events if you want to check out our live show on the Thursday before a Super Bowl. Um, that's gonna be a lot of fun. And finally, uh, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, Christmas on Wednesday. Merry Christmas to all of our listeners. Greg, I believe Hanakah is rolling now. I believe so in Japan out like, take us through what we've never We're

not really a religious household in any way. We we've never celebrated hanak I mean I didn't as a kid either, but we celebrated our Christmas before they left, very good Rosenthal Christmas. My parents flew in. Uh and uh we did early. New Year's is the big holiday in Tokyo. So that's really why that's better put than Dan on the last year asking what the hook of Hanukkah was, as if it's not been around for right now? Uh, And yes, I'm lucky enough to have my dad Keith

here and my mom uh as celebrating it. So we're very fortunate and yes, Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone. We will be back Thursday. Until then, this is Dan hands is signing off for see it's a different desk set up, so I gotta say quiet Storm, the mailman, the old Boss and Keith Hands this Clark's down High Class of seventy one. Yes until Thursday,