MNF Recap; What *YOUUUUUUU* People Don't Realize

I look exactly how I feel. Um. Erica a little under the weather, but she's here, and I mean, that's that's what it's about. I mean, the season begins after Thanksgiving, which means no days off, and you grind and you play through injuries. Yeah, it's in stark contrast to when Erica went to Spain smacked up in the middle of the campaign. But that's that's what I'm saying. You're that's growth, You're growing? Yeah, or or um or where did I go Scotland? Scotland and Ireland for a free agency? I

mean that was that was well played. But in Erica's defense, the season had not started yet because I thought we proved that's only if you're trying to win the Super Bowl, right. It started in late July, and this is officially week one of twenty eight weeks eight to go. Um. As we got upstairs, there was a Spanish language podcast running along which you know, it's happened, it happens. We just

had never seen it before. That's never happened. Yeah, the trend Zone, which they seemed to be having a great amount of fun. It did make me think of, you know how with the The Office as an example, which started in the UK, of course came to the US, and now there's different offices. Uh, programs all over the world in different languages. Maybe that will be US one day, Maybe we will have spinoffs all across the globe will be a global podcast. Mark did note that they had

their own version of Dan Hansis on this podcast. I like that guy. He had a beautiful head of what I believe it was a wig, but of hair. And you guys left. I'm not that far away from just wearing sunglasses at all times. No, he had you guys all left the studio for a bit. But I noticed the guys sitting right in my seat. Uh, we met the other two, but I didn't meet him, so I don't know his name. Uh had made a very fiery point that I felt spiritually connected with. We're just playing

the same role. Is he is he troubled as well? I don't know. He seemed a little bit upset though, you know I that you hear that on on studio shows. You want to put the fiery guys on the edges to bring the heat. That's why they got Irvan on the ends. They put much you know, mooch with the sweaters.

He's in the middle, you know, calm presence, and then Irvan just fire on the edges and the guys sitting actually in your seat Dan at the end of the show, and Eric was just it was raising a Jets jersey and they were all singing J E T S. I mean, I that's that. I could decide that what else they were saying, but it was was a sea of tranquility. And I reached out and that's just like you as and I reached out to Henry Hodson, vice president of

International on our um instant messenger client. I just want to make sure I had the show correct him a little plug trend zone. He responds, correct, be nice to them, please, not another international hating bit? Right, Well, yeah, and have you done that? I wouldn't consider hating more like baiting. Yeah, like, yeah, international baiting. I think I know who. That's what Dan specializes in. Talking about Mobo Henry, he's still upset about keeping up a bow ringer bit, which you know, speaking

of which we have to get to that. See what he's up to as he enters his age thirty seven season. Um, alright, he's gonna kill me, um, big show he just wrote, which is a nice little way to wrap up that instant messenger conversation with a little I love Henry, he loves me. All right, Well, let us um get to today's show. A lot to get to um news, including oh yeah, another Patriots scandal. Oh, spy gate two spy harder this time it sticks, legacies destroyed, It's real, it's

happening this time Greg excited. Greg has been quiet about this. We'll get into it. Also, I'm just enjoying this. Will that'll all we have to take out of the show. Since they at the League Shadowy Figures is like, no matter what, you gotta play this straight down the line.

Bye bye. But bring it back a fun segment. What you people don't realize, Uh, talking about an NFL team, coach, player subplot in the league right now, and you know, enlightening each other saying, hey, dummy, this is what's actually going on in the league right now. Uh, the Turkey one, because we it's like, what takes do we have that we haven't made on this podcast? So then the listeners would know that mall to challenge to challenge and that

they would have to rap since Sunday. That's why we're professionals. Greg, Thursday Night Football Preview. I'm a little worried about this one. The Jets traveling to Baltimore to face the Ravens. What story about? No expectations at least the only the only thing I got going going for me is that Lamar Jackson is a little banged up and maybe won't be

as dynamic as usual. But before we get to that, there was one last game in Week fourteen, and it was another New York team and uh they went to Philadelphia looking to put a stake through the heart of

the Eiggles. Whence first w Philly, all right, Monday Night Football, that was the ESPN call by Joe Testa tour, Carson Wentz zach Ertz connect on a game tying touchdown pass in the final minutes of regulation and then after winning the coin toss, go right down the field on the GMN and score again touchdown, ending the game and ending a real scare for the Eagles who survived over Eli Manning in the New York Giants and uh, you know,

at halftime, Greg Rosenthal, Eli and Darius Slayton, we're picking on Ronald Darby. Hey, Ronald, Darry make a play, be competitive in a big spot. Uh too deep touchdown strikes and at seventeen three and the Eagles getting booed off the field, and it looks like the impossible is happening, that this free falling Giants team is going to go into Philly in primetime and win. But to Eagles credit, they figure out a way to get on track and as a result there in first place in the NFC

East with three to play. I mean, they could not have been less impressive looking and had you know more bad luck happened to them during the game, losing Lane Johnson. They are not the same team without Lane Johnson. Losing Alshon Jeffrey who Mike Garafolo now reports is out for the season. Playing with one real wide receiver but also

Josh Perkins, who's basically a wide receiver. Throughout the game, it really felt like there was no way that they could catch up and score seventeen points in this game. But when the Giants offense goes three and out six straight times, has I think in? I know, I know they did score in three possessions, but they went four plays or less on every other possession. Uh it kept giving the Eagles a chance to make a couple of plays, And uh, I think I'll remember this as the game

we all learned a little bit about Boston Scott. I like that an ugly bad football game that had a little something at the end. It was so ridiculous by the end, I sort of enjoyed it. Did Boston Scott's play lead you to believe as it did me? Did the Eagles have trouble evaluating their own talent that this guy sat on the bench all year just like uh, Greg Wards had on the bench behind Mac Hollins all year? No, because I mean Miles Sanders hasn't been a problem. They're

playing last weeks. Who can't run it's fair what a star contrast to where we were heading into Week one, where the Eagles were being you know, and for appropriate reasons in the past, trumpeted as the most forward thinking, best self scouting, highest level front office activity in the entire INFF has been a bad season. I mean, they're super banged, they're banged up, but their team is also

grossly underperformed. Darby was competing on that long touchdown. I think you're talking about Roddy McLeod, the safety who I think was probably had fault on that play, like just gave up. And they're saying just everything about the team has been underperforming. Like name the player on the Eagles who has played better this season than expectations, like right, and they're almost one representative of what he's able to do. That said, you did you never I know, I we

say this a lot. You never know if this win is gonna matter. It was. It was a game where I feel like worse about them after watching them win, and yet they're they're six and seven and they have the Redskins still left on the schedule. I get that, but I also I really did come out of the game gaining a new respect or being reminded of why I like Carson Wentz while I've always liked him, because

they really didn't have anything around him. You had Earth's you know, the offensive line was beat up by the time uh Arthego Whiteside limps off the field and overtime. By the way, his name is now j jaw j jaw Arthega like j j Arthega Whiteside j Is it truly only a six catches this year? He's been on the field for like a thousand snaps? Talked about reg Ward Jr. Was the only remaining wide receiver. Josh McCown. Uh the backup quarterback was about to go in a

wide receiver. That's how bad it was and year old, So what's his credit? He found a way to throw, you know, getting the end zone three times. And I just reminded me of why I like the guy, why he'll probably be better, uh down the road, maybe not this year, but down the road. And after the game, Doug Peterson was also feeling very bullish about his quarterback.

This was actually his comments on Monday. I think this would have to be his number one game quite honestly, Um, and he would you know, you could ask him later to later this week. But I just think from from the standpoint of putting the team on us back and and and leading this team down the field, you know, down two scores and to tie the game, and of

course to win in overtime. Uh. Some of the plays that he did make, whether it was you know, U extending it with with his legs or uh, you know, keeping up play alive and and and finding receivers down the field just and then his toughness to stand in the pocket and take some shots. Um. I would say this would be his number one game, you know, in the four years that has really kind of you know, it's exciting for him, and I think it gives him

confidence moving forward. I think that's gotta there's gotta be Eagles fans out there remembering his m v P level play from a few years ago and say best game now. I do think he you can't say he's not a tough player. I mean they emerged from a first quarter where this just felt like like a terrible high school game to me, and I couldn't believe it was actually being televised for people to observe. But Carson Wentz, you know, part of it is he's never had this full season.

He's he's dealt with so much that you forget he's young. Still in the environment around a young quarterback matters. Yeah, he definitely had more productive and more visually appealing games during that two thousand seventeen season that ended with the knee injury unfortunately in December. But that was a Super Bowl champion. Uh, it was a loaded roster and he made the most of it. I think that's what Peterson was getting at, like he has nobody around him and

he's still getting it on the his earth. So that's about it. I've always been a believer, but I've adjusted my expectations this year that he might be like Cam Newton, a physical marvel whose mechanical inconsistencies just don't make him

an above average passer. He reminds me a Big Ben though, who I think had a hard time putting it all together in terms of playing the quarterback position in the first four or five years of his career from the neck up, which is very you know, common, and I think a lot of the complaints you see with Wentz and and you heard with Big Big Ben back then, was just not seeing the field, not seeing open receivers and that that your complaint is he's not an accurate passer.

That's a that's a problem to um, which I don't think it was a problem for for Roethlisberger. He's definitely just misses a decent amount of throat. But this was an amazing performance. And I think look Peterson saying that because that was they don't care that there six and seven and they're ugly. There's that was going to be the most embarrassing loss that they've had in an embarrassing season, and the certainly in the Doug Peterson era, and suddenly

piled him out. You're hoping that that it rallies you to something, because it was. It was stirring in the end. It was a stirring win, as ugly as it was. If you're an Egos fan or you're one of those players that was stirring, I have it one guarantee, sorry, and I'll put sandwiches on this. Whoever wins this division is winning a playoff game. That's keep hearing, keep hearing that. I'm this because it feels like that's what's going to happen. It's also happened before. It has the last time since

We've even been on the show multiple times. But it's more likely it doesn't happen. It's more likely it doesn't because the the high water NFC competition is very very much moment. It very well could be the Seahawks. I mean yeah, um. On the other side, quickly, the Giants.

I enjoyed the Eli fund in the first half. It kind of worked out perfectly for the Giants in the sense that Eli had his moment there, already had the two touchdown passes, you had all the shots up on ESPN of the Peyton Manning box, which there were none in the second half, by the way. Uh. And then

they go on the tank and lose the game. They stay locked in at that number two overall pick, so Eli gets a moment, the Giants keep their draft positioning, and uh, in a way they got I mean, he got a moment where he looked as depressed and heartbroken after the game as any time I've ever seen him. Not a guy that wears his emotions on his sleeve.

They did show Manning in the in the family right at the end when you know when they're when they're setting up the broadcast, this is Eli's chance to go win the game to write the extra page in the book of Eli. And they're so nervous. And Eli in his postgame press or he just seemed crushed. I mean, we have a friend Jason Hartilius, who you know, used to work with that this game. I mean, Giants fans, this game made them absolutely miserable. They wanted to win.

That was the best case scenario. I know it's nice to get Chase Young, but they have Pat Shermer to think, I mean, what an uninspired coach. How can they not be more prepared for How can coaches in general. Shermer's not the only one be more prepared for time out situations. It's just they they All they do is talk about how hard they work all year. We work all year,

all day, all long. How about in the off season you run through these drills where you're prepared for different time out situations, because any kid playing Madden knows what to do. There's forty five seconds left or forty seconds left, the Eagles have fourth down, and they're like they Doug Peterson is smart enough to realize, if they're gonna let us not take a time out here, we'll throw Hail Mary.

At the end of this and Pat Shermer's just stuck and frozen and doesn't realize that the clock's gotta run another twenty five seconds till till he takes the time out and they have no chance to tie the game. It's like, this is pretty basic stuff and and like head coaches being paid tens of millions of dollars don't know what to do. Definitely not all created equal when

it comes to the game planning. But it's like it's something about in barrels, like a test, where there's a right and a wrong answer, there's no interpretation, like it's very it's some people's minds just don't work that way. I'm always amazed that you're all over end of game situations where I am flummixed every time. And I'm much like West, like I would say this the assumption that every football they could hold on clearly, it's like fans

could fans. I wouldn't necessary, but it would be a very easy thing to just practice and be ready for. You could do it in one one day. You could, like if all the coaches practice that time out situation, like where they know what to do in different scenarios, they're done in eight hours for the rest of their life.

I think. I mean, I'm about as analytical when it comes to that stuff as a small child, So I don't I simply don't agree with that that everyone game Andy Reid's going to Canton, and he needs a guy to help him out, right, right, or just have a guy help him? Yeah, exactly. And you'll be happy to know that was probably the first time I've ever rooted

for Eli Manning in a game. He um. I saw that quote before the game where he said his wife finally came to the game this year because I haven't played in three months, and you don't know if I'm ever gonna play again. Yeah, And I think that's probably part of the reason why he was a little down after the game. And you know, Twitter is what Twitter is. The pitchforks are out, the torches were out, and they everybody wanted Eli to go one for forty seven and

throw seventeen interceptions because that's fun. That's a pursuit of people on the internet with the NFL, and they didn't get quiet what they want, but they got a little bit what they wanted in the second half when he threw for about thirty yards at se Kwan Barkley can make a play? Can you help? Can you help out

the old man? It's not right because that's what they desperately, desperately needed in that second half, and it's not you know, it's a running back game after game after game, but in that game, specifically, when Eli gave you that good first half, make a play, great bust one and they haven't haven't gotten that all year from him really, since that ankle injury. I know some people are talking about giving Eli a chance to compete for another team next year.

He can't at the camp, he can't move his arms, not good enough. No, he's done. The weird thing was the broadcast kept saying like this might be the last time we've seen him. But by all accounts, there's no chance Daniel Jones is playing this week, and there's a pretty good chance Daniel Jones doesn't play the rest of the season. Said that there is that they are evaluating it as possible that the Jones will be back. All right, let's move on and hit the news yard. I'm saying,

do you know? I exciting? What's up? Just keep talking? The great the greatest on field sound bite of a week fourteen, Maybe the year Yannick and Dockway of the Jaguars gets the Philip Rivers a moment too late. Rivers completes the ninety yard touchdown pass uh, and Gockway helps him up, and then Rivers just starts shouting ninety yard touchdown, nine yard touchdown and Gockway did not like that. Uh.

A fun little interactions. It's so funny too. That's Philip Rivers being a bad boy, and it's still wildly wholesome. But also, West, you had a good point on this. It's absolutely lousy sportsmanship. It's just lousy. The guy helped you up, You're a jerk. I mean, he's in the heat of the moment, so I'll give Rivers that, But I was struck by the fact that this lineman helped you up and then you started shouting in his ear hole.

And it's hilarious though. I mean, every every time you've ever played sports, there's one person who talks way too much trash and they usually it is annoying, but they love the game. You can tell he's just so excited. Like defensive players just think Philip Rivers is a crazy man, and he is. I like it. I like he's the dad and the knee braces and Larry Bird jersey at

the y. Yeah, he just loves the game. He gets a little too, but he gets he gets emotional and he will Talksny Honey Badger tweeted out basically saying, this happens with Philip Rivers, and most defensive players would not take a fen because of whoivers. I would to say where he was a week before two had a lot to do with this had and Cockway not helped him up by all means, talk all the trash and want I look at it like or if the hit was a little late, and we talked about heating the call.

I feel like Philip Rivers heeds the call. He doesn't know if that's his last long touchdown pass. Ever, he's got to enjoy. You gotta hate the right call, not any call longest on his career. All right, enough of this nonsense, because we have some breaking news, like real heavy stuff, stuff that changes the complexion of the world we live in. Spygate two, Spy harder, spy harder, the collapse of the Patriot dynasty. Spy Gate two. Let's go

through it. Bengals coach Zach Taylor said, Monday that the NFL is investigating if the Patriots had a videographer film the Bengals sideline from the Cleveland press box during Sunday's game. The Pats, of course, are playing Cincinnati UH this upcoming week. Taylor had no comment to follow up questions on the matter. Rap Sheet reported via source informed the Patriots situation that New England reached out to the Browns for a credential

Who's the Browns and Bengals this week? For a credential for a videographer to shoot behind the scenes footage on an advanced scout as part of their Do Your Jobs video series. The Pats followed with a statement on Monday night confirming confirming that the organization's video crew, independent of a football operation, did film the field while the press box. Greg's Dyan Uh during the Browns Bengals game. Belichick, who's the head of this organization. It's Robert Kraft and it's

Billy boy. He Belichick goes on the radio and people have questions for him, and this is what Belichick had to say. Well, the fact that there you're you're telling us that, and we're also hearing from other people who claim exactly what you just said that it was for another TV show, and yet it's being presented. We've been watching it all afternoon on ESPN and elsewhere that you know this was videotaping the signals on the sideline. I

mean we're going back ten years, Bill, it's all over again. Yeah. Well no, no, no, that's um again. From a football standpoint, we absolutely know what the rules are and we are in compliance, to the best of my knowledge, of every single rule UM that we're responsible for. Greg answer to it. I mean, that's that's where we'll start. I mean, I have nothing to answered to. I got I got a feeding this immediately. I loved. I can't wait to find out where West comes down on this. I might surprise

you on this one. This immediately called to mind check and Handsome Hanks debate a couple of weeks ago about the difference between irony and coincidence, because this qualifies as both irony and coincidence. It's coincidence that the Patriots in themselves embroid in another spy gate controversy. It's irony because what you see on the surface is not what's actually going on. But it's also irony because when the NFL found that the Patriots had read excuses ready for the

first spy gate. Among those excuses was tell them you need the footage for a team show. Oh and my reading on this situation is that Belichick is innocent and it's just coincidence in irony that this happened. I think there's freelance of videographers involved. I think if you work in a big corporation or a big building like ours, you know that what's going on in the second floor for a TV show has absolutely nothing to do with what's going on in other parts of the building. And

that's my reading on the situation. This is just an unfortunate coincidence. I thought you were down the pale list. I thought you were gonna say it was ironic because it was the Bengals. It was ironic because there's no coach or figure I would say in NFL history that Bill Belichick reveres more than Paul Brown. And there is

no coach in NFL history. And really that era where there was such paranoia about Paul Brown, about a few different you know, coaches, George Allen would certainly be in that mix Al Davis where they all always thought they were spying on each other. They always all thought that, like they were trying to get extra edges by doing little thing, and nothing was ever proven. But Paul Brown, especially who modernized, uh the NFL, and you know eventually uh,

you know, owned the Browns. You know, he he was kind of a guy that people had their suspicions about. So I thought, I thought, that's where you're going with the Iron case in case you're just joining us Spygate too, Return of the Gate. The Patriots under siege of dynasty in shambles, and we're speaking right now. The Patriots KR flack Greg Rosenthal, who says he has too much respect Bill Belichick to ever cheat on the Bengals, go on, Greg, No,

I would never say that. I don't have you gonna have to be insanely stupid and reckless to be the Patriots and try to videotape. To be honest, I agree with you. But when they according to Paul Denner Junior, the Athletic right, the report that came out this morning, this is where I get caught up a little bit. And I'm not trying to spin it somewhere evil or

anything either. I real quick. Mark mask the Washington Post reported before we came up here that severe sanctions are unlikely for the Patriots from where we stand right now, Yeah, Ian said they the league is inclined to believe the Patriots intentions on the video taming. That doesn't mean there won't be a penalty either. And we'll see where we

are twenty four hours now. But in that report by Paul Denner, if I want to see the footage of over the shoulder of yeah, well, they've looked at it according to these sources that it's not some sort of uh, you know, flighty documentary where you're looking at the advanced scout typing and do it right? It is. There are people, according to sources in this report who have viewed the tape. It shows about eight minutes of footage focusing on recording

the Bengals sideline. It's a direct view of the sideline as players run on and off the field and coaches make signals for plays. Does that sound like a playful do your job documentary about a advanced scout where you would want to have him in the picture. You'd want close ups of him. How does he do his job? Why are we why is there? If it was eighteen seconds, that's different eight under uninterrupted minutes of the sideline raises

suspicions from a team that's done this before. At least the tapes the best, the best thing, and I feel I'm actually surprised that you guys are so just throwing it totally out. I don't really have I'm not a big now I mean West and Dan a big opinion one or one way or another yet because it's like,

who the hell knows? People come on TV with like super hot takes about everything when like whatever you want to throw down on something, you just say, who the hell knows, But we're trying to break down you're a stronger opinion that then I would even that that you would throw it out, that it's that it's all I'm not. I want this investigated more than I ever wanted the uh slightly under inflated football invest Now, my my question

was was what do what would you gain? What do you get from looking at the sidelines and people people have talked about well, of course they're not actually calling the plays on the sideline anymore, but maybe there's some little things with like personnel groupings, and then other X players say, well, you can figure all that out and then you send that Ernie Adams so he can dissect it,

you know, the man behind the curtain. My my thought was more at the other end, like I, I don't know, isn't this stuff it's so it's tiring, like just because I grew up in Massachusetts, I don't know. I don't know. I don't have any like connection to like wanting to defend anything the Patriots do in general, but tiring as in, if something's been wrong, we were too tired to look

into it. No, not that more like no, more like when stories come up like this, it's like, Okay, we gotta take sides, like here's the If you're inclined to believe in conspiracies, then those are there's that side. And then if you're a Patriots fan, you have to have your talking points. And I definitely problem I don't have. That feels to me like it's a little dismissive of people caring or why all I'm saying I think West is too is what I'm reading what they put out,

and we're again we're still learning. It to me, sparks the concept of wanting to investigate further. I don't take about it. The thing they have working for them. I would say the Patriots is just a I guess like the defense of like, if we were that stupid, why would we do it in literally in the seat in front of a Bengal It feels weird that a seat

in front of the Bengals employee. And then also, you know, if you remember well, with with spy gate and with the with the um deflate gate, the messaging was a little delayed. It wasn't as clear. It wasn't as we're gonna give you all the evidence in the world, whereas this one they came out swinging immediately, as you know, as at least giving the response that you would hope or expect someone that actually didn't do anything wrong to make,

which is they came out hard right away. Belichick talked, They released a huge statement, They gave the tape right away to the NFL or whatever, and they said it's in it's in their hands, so that that's on their side. I don't know, though, I wouldn't put you know, who the hell knows. I would categorize it as a destabilizing or might the Patriots really need a rallying cry once again?

Right we try to use this. I'm sure, Yeah. My thing is more like I don't know, it's just in the scheme of things, and I am I gonna keep getting worked up about stuff like this emotionally, what whether it's the Patriots or anything else NFL related, when yes, we take football very seriously, like we love talking about the game and stuff, but like controversies like this, it's hard to like get too worked up about when we're talking about like real things going on in the world

or even real things going on in the NFL. You're you're minimizing it. And in the grand scheme, of course, it's not as big a deal as what's going on in the world politics, you know, crime, things like that, but it's still something that deserves to be looked at. And I'll say this even if it was an innocent mistake. And that's really again where I kind of come down, and it is way too brazen for them to actually, I think, be attempting to do this kind of stuff again.

But at the same time, first, an organization that's is well run as this to not have the awareness that if you're the Patriots, don't don't even do that. Somebody should be talking to that video team, like listen we were involved in the biggest like cheating scandal of the last twenty years in sports, maybe we should not even go down that road. But to me, that doesn't mean that they are evil cheaters in this case, just maybe

there wasn't. If I'm hiring and someone inside a company to create a engaging three or four minute piece about an employee and doing their job, right, I don't understand where the technical concept is. Here's how we're gonna make this engaging. We're going to film the sideline for eight straight minutes without moving the camera. That's a question that needs to be answered, all right, when we will continue to track this story as we must as journalists, as

the gatekeepers, I'm glad you're on the case. We're all on this. Will run interference because he does. I'm all about it, Spy Gate two. Keep all right, keeps fine. Let's move on, UH, Let's move on. The NFL is planning a quote top down review of officiating UH in the off season. This from our own Judy Batista. The review will include examining who should be in charge of

replay reviews at the officiating command center. UM. Obviously has been a difficult season UH for the officials and the especially the enactment of the past interference review rule, which we've kind of covered exhaustively throughout this season. Right now. The head of the whole thing, of course, is Senior Vice President of Officiating Al river Iron. But this certainly doesn't sound west like very good news for Al well.

This has been bungled at every step along the way, starting with the German nation of the idea in the first place. In the Competition Committee, which I used to believe was by far the best in all of sports, is on a losing streak for a few years now. And this this idea that we can change rules over the course of the season depending on what we want emphasized that week or that month, messes with the integrity

of the game. It needs to stop. It's been a trend for the last couple of years, and you need to have your rules in place by week one and have those was in place the entire season. I just I've lost some faith in what's going on with the rules in the NFL. I I have to a lesser degree, partly because I feel like, no matter what happens, everyone's going to be complaining. So it hurt it, Like I don't know what to do with that, and on some

level it's starts. It's just bores me, if only because there's so much we don't know about everything that goes into anything. No, no, no, there's so much that we don't go that goes onto every play and every player and everything else that interests me in the NFL. But I hear so much about a fishing from so many smart people all the time, and it's all very similar points that it's like, I get it, but I guess

I don't know what else you can do. How can you start with that call at Green Bay in Week three with Philadelphia where it was clear and obvious, and then go two months not call anything, and then in week fourteen hand a game to a team based on a call that wasn't as clear and obvious as some of the other ones. The Dolphins Jets game was handed to the team. Well, I think we've found out that it was going to be a problem in our summit with all of the other um you know, on air

people where it was so obvious. When Al Riveron was pointing out which plays were clear and obvious and which ones weren't, half the audience disagreed. With them on every call, so we knew then, So I I get that in their mind west Obviously they're not trying to confuse people like they they think it is clear and obvious and no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, you're covering for them. They have deep I'm saying they were back in back definition

the emphasis during the season. And you know this because all of the talking head referees on all the TV shows in week in week thirteen came out with talking points saying, hey, this is changing now every single one of the three weeks on the first time they threw

to those analysts. But here's the thing. I think it's at least can we for the most I would say it's better right now they've corrected about I can think of six or seven very obvious calls, and then there's been a couple of where I side with Greg on the on that I just don't know how you fix it. Where it's the hundred year of the NFL and you go back eighty years. People didn't like officials then you could shout at them, but the officials had authority because

there were no other eyes, there was no technology. Has turned this into a total debacle because we can see much better than the officials. We have eighty angles and then they have been stripped of their on field authority. The problem, the problem here is that Ron Rivera al Vera river Ron excuse me, is saying he's coming out telling a pool reporter on Sunday it is not being applied any differently than it was at the beginning of

the year. And then here here's some data right here, and this is from um Andrew Siciliano in the NFL Now team from weeks one to ten, and ten out of sixty five p I challenges were reversed fifteen port fifteen point four percent. From weeks eleven through four teen, it's been ten out of forty point four percent. There has been a change. Now it's a small sample size, and there's been more of those where they call in and change it on their own. And that's happened. And

here's the thing. And you brought up the Jets staffins West. They got they got the call right because it was past interference by by the law. But however, why why it doesn't work? And even though yes, I agree with you, Greg, and I agree with you Mark that at least they're kind of at least making the rule worth a damn Now, you just cannot change a rule in the middle of a season, just like you can't change rules in the middle of a game. You have to have one guiding

guiding principles for how you're going to force something. It's got to stick through the whole season before you change it, didn't We see something very similar last season when it came to roughing the passer, the all the the stuff that was going on with Claim Matthews and all of a sudden that kind of dried up as they have to get to get out of this habit and maybe it isn't come down with the helmet, the leading with the helmet. Remember we spent a whole offseason talking about

the leading with the helmet? Uh rule, Like, how can running backs even survive in today's NFL? Is like Michael Robinson and Morays Jones, you're standing up for the running bad rights of running back. I think they've called that penalty four times in the three years since it was it was the Brown's running back. They named it after him. Who was it? It was that when you can't put your head down. I don't feel like they had a

running back before showed up. So Peyton hillis Hill was uh, oh, well it doesn't matter, um, all right, I was kind of half paying attention during the summit, so that might be the reason I can't come up at the name. All right, Let's move on, uh and deal with the lighter side of sports. Lost seasons, bad things happened to teams, and stupid stories pop up around bad teams at the end of seasons. Leavy On Bell, Uh, he came down

with a flu bug last week. And usually when a player it's sick and you you hear about it, uh, you know, heading into the weekend of the game, he ends up suiting up. But when it comes to this Jets team in this Jet season, Bell actually gets shut down. He's not playing, Okay, the Jets win without him. In fact, Billy Powell sets the team uh high for rushing yards in the game with seventy four yards. So that tells

you a lot about lavy On Bell season with the Jets. Anyway, Saturday night, while the Jets are at a hotel prepping for the Dolphins, Bell was spotted at a New Jersey bowling alley, hours after the Jets had ruled him out of the week fourteen game. Uh with the illness now here. The setup to this is that you kind of knew when they come to Adam Gaze today what he's gonna say,

which is, well, we don't really we didn't. He wasn't supposed to be with the team, So we're because he was contagious, and we've heard about the flu bug going around the NFL the last couple of weeks. However, it's obviously not a great look. And here is what Adam Gays had to say about Levy on Bell. That's not I mean, that wasn't his fault that we said that he was still contagious. That's what That's what the doctors told him. I'd rather not be at homes getting better.

I can't tell him this. You have to stay in your houts. Oh my gosh. Gaye seems so uh so miserable, but maybe this breaking news will cheer him up. Lebyan Bell has revealed he bowled a two fifty one on Saturday night, his best score ever. He had the flu

game he can fight through injury, career high. He also said doctors told him to get out of the house and get moving, which feels like a convenient excuse I've you know, I'm really upset that he's just throwing the Jets money away and disrespecting them versus left Bell and a bowling count. To me, it's the best thing he's done all year in an athletic pursuit. I'm proud of him. I mean, he skips the game. What kind of teammate is that? Anyways? Are you trying to get even for

the Patriots stuff? That's where it was more like stories New York impression of like a New York sports talk show host who's more likely to be a Jet in two thousand twenty, Love Bell or Adam Gates. That's a tight horse. I think I would say Adam Gaze only because we know he has or we've heard that he has ownership support. Whereas the head coach never wanted leavy On Bell in the first place, and now he's delivered

a season where he's done almost nothing. I imagine the well other than the two is very good, and Adam Gases has some history of taking what should be good running backs and minimizing their abilities. I don't think that it's all on love Bell. Do you have a terrible offensive line? Well, come get him, Come get leave Bell was you'll get the guy. You'll get the guy that

was on the Steelers. If that's indeed true, Charlie Castle said, Billy Powell is you know, they're better off with Billy Powell because Billy Powell just runs, goes for it, and Bell's style doesn't necessarily work with such a bad offensive line. His contract makes him essentially impossible to cut, although everything that would have to be Actually they could just do it, because could just eat it if they want, but it

just as ridiculously stupid. Won't eat it though, because as bad as he has been this year, there are you could point to reasons why it hasn't worked out. And also this is the first instance where he's kind of been uh painted or looked poor as a teammate. He's been pretty good soldier overall. But I think they will. I think they'll move him in a trade and they might not get a lot of value back, but they'll get the money off the books and a team will think they can get GM also had nothing to do

with that. I will say bowling is about as overrated of an activity as you can find in America. I think it's one of the great underrated parlor games. Well, you hate all parlor games. I sam a parlor game. You like ba I like bowling more than other parlor games. I just think it's overrated, as like, remember when anyone can play it. Remember the superl we all bowling and the old juser bowled like a fifty three on his first try. So he was over in the next lane

practicing while we were got about that. That That was in the York Bell. By the way, the oil wasn't right on that lane. He's guaranteed thirteen million dollars next year. No one's trading for him unless the Jets offered to pay like half that money, which doesn't even like just bring him back. He's fine, he's not their biggest teams were he generated interest at the trade deadline. All right, I'll put a sandwich out there that he's not on the Jets next year. But I'll take you just for

the sake of it, but a sport. I kind of say it like that throwed on the board. I think there's a better chance. I think there's a better chance cases gone that one's still on my radar. So unhappy. Well, if Matt rule, well they didn't they want to hire Matt Rule, the Baylor coach, and he basically said no, they wouldn't allow him to hire his own staff, which is ridiculous. I didn't have experience, so they hired anyway. Um, what is your best bowling score ever? I'd say about

one I lost to. I'm not saying this as this is true. I lost to a child once when I was an adult, and I am not a good bowler. That may have something to do with the triple digits. I think I got one like one time, but I never got anywhere near that. Usually my highest right around to one seventy. And it's a great disappointment because Keith Hansas average is about My dad averaged about one seventy something. Yeah, and uh, and you know, I I believe I let

him down. Now. I've always told my dad, I said, Dad, you know you could have helped me. You could have. You've taught you taught me so many things in life about how to be a man, how to be a ball player, how to treat people, how to treat family, but you never taught me how to bowl. And I've

always held that against Pop. I mean, and he knows that. Wow, and it's not too late that against Dad's coming, Dad's coming for Christmas this year, And maybe we gotta say that's a game that you can play your whole life. I mean, it's not too late in his just in your prime. Now. It has a bit on you to practice some Yeah, in his defense, it does kind of feel like one of those sports you can let me just figure it out. I guess, I guess I never

really practiced it well, although I guess. Yeah, the whole spin and all that stuff. Yeah, become a bowl Actually good for my buddy Bob have talked about bowling. There's some good Hang up the spikes and become put on the old bowling shoes, put on the clown shoes, the big alley sport. All right, let's uh, let's move on. Oh, let's head to the kicker club. Oh yes, yeah, I did some good news after that left bell drop. The good news is somebody lost his job. Yeah, Baby, Brett

Marr is out as the Cowboys kicker. And when somebody's out, somebody's got to come in. And guess who's coming in Kai for bath Baby. It's a good day for the Kai Boys to save the Cowboys season. This is exactly the situation I wanted. I hated the New England page. Ki Boys, Is that what you said? Yeah? Where the Ki Boys? Ballast Kiboys. It's a new fan club. Yeah, it's a it's a fan club we got. Let's go

over and again. We have the Kai Boys, the Blow Hearts, Blow Hearts struggling right now, the Bohemians dealing with the Lions Star are we missing anyone? Do you still that the ben Chuvians? I mean, I didn't know it has been Chuvia. I would see if you have everyone we just mentioned. That's the fan club that has the best shot of thriving a year from now. I just heard the numbers are down recently. Stair Weather fans in there

like a fifteenth century cult. It's it's personal anyway. Good spot for Kai here because he joins the first place team, a team that's on TV all the time that people are gonna pay attention to. That um he has a chance to really get his career back on track. Or you could view it as a ship that's suddenly been turned on fire in the middle of the water and maybe sunk three weeks from now, and he could be gone in a week. And isn't that the life of

a kicker in general. It is I mean, it's a great opportunity indoors what I'm saying, big spots, you know, playing for a team that laid down like dogs in their last game. And another kicker. News out of Vintieri UH is undergoing season ending knee surgery, ending his disappointing UH and ugly NFL season with the Cults. He came out today, I believe, and said he wished you what he got the surgery before the season. And you know

what that means. He ain't ready to quit. That means that is that has all the ear marks as long as the leg in cooperates with him in the rehab of a guy that wants to come back and prove to everyone. The only reason he was bad this year is not because he was finished. It's because he was never physically right. He wants to leave the door open. He's turned, did he not? According to Pro Football Reference, he's also known as Automatic Adam, Iceman, or Vinny. Where

do they get these? I wrote an article once on our website about the strangest nicknames, and I think Vinny might have been one that got a little Who's ever called him automatic Adam? That would ever called him any of those things. Peyton Manning can wait till the last year of his career to be called the sheriff and its sticks, and he will. I guess they're just gonna rubber standing for the Hall of Fame. It is very strange how kicking has two. It's less, it's just no

position it has more. Obviously, obviously every position is changed, but it's it's no more clear because kicking is the exact same basically now as it was back then. Jon Stan Rude the only kicker in the NFL Hall of Fame Morton went into but Yon Standard for a long time was the only kicker had the exact same career field goal percentage as Brett mar did this season for the Cowboys. That's how much kicking has changed. Like if you hit two thirds of year kicks, now you get

replaced by Kai freaking for Bath. Back then they you're the best kicker of all time. That's how you know sports are so much better. The athletes are so much better. Because anything you can track, like track and field, anything with a clock or anything that's measured, people blow away the records. I mean it's not even a contest. Some more Pro Football Focus weird names Pro Football Reference. I should say Tom Brady the Pharaoh? What is? I think

they're like dot Com it's right there. But Atavinitary Automatic, Adam or Iceman, J. J. Watt the Milkman or JJ Swat. Okay, I've heard Swat. You've heard that one. How about another one for Tom Brady is sir? What? How about Eric Berry is the fifth dimension? How about Eric Berry is out of the league? What is happening about? Is Eric Barry out of the league? How about Patrick Mahomes the musician, Fat Trick or the gun sling here former has an

autobiography or a biography called the guns Singer? This already taken? What is Pro Football Reference? A rather serious reached out to them. They they stated that it's sometimes something they pick up or someone mails into them and they don't vet it too hard. It's kind of like a fun little thing, but there's always something behind it. It's just it's not made up. Mitch Drobisky, Mr Biscuit, what yeah, I'll send this link out? This is that was? That

was a good one, um stale Biscuit? Alright, ouch, you actually picked a good Thursday night game to miss. There we talked about it on the show. Yeah, no, that was Bisky raising back from that. I mean, I got jets Ravens, so I'm not sure that I didn't. It wasn't the World of Trading assets, and I'm sure Twitter

by this point Astrobisky over Kirk Cousins. I mean rankings, because the only thing that matters is what happened in the last I was the winner, though, and so the listeners of the throwback podcast they were because I took over. We act a little arcade. Fire Funeral is you know, one of the most You're gonna have to top my post TNF recap appearance on that show. That was a disgusted teenage years mixtapes Mon Sessler Anthems and Chris Westling

is gonna come in with his wife very soon? Well maybe, well you better doing Max drops and now we got a problem. We'll see if we can get her in. He's still coming to work, I think, yea. I know it's tough being pregnant, though I've seen it. I've seen my wife go through it. It's not easy being up late, sitting in an uncomfortable chair in a garage. Well, maybe we get her earlier before it. You know, you don't want you to get the second term, Erica third term.

You know how it gets really rough? Well, Keisha, why what are you doing Erica digging yourself? Oh my god, wait a minute, right, that will not make it all right? Um, oh my god? Uh all right, that's that's what's happening in the news. All right. Do we want to do we have to do? We have time to do this segment. I mean, come on, we're fifty minutes into the show. Do we want to just go to the really too in the fact, how about one quick quick one? Alright,

one quick one each? What you people don't realize marks like, there's no way I will try to be quick. Oh, it's not outrageous. It's not outrageous. Do you want us to start with you? I'll go first about that and get out of the way, and then you guys can decide how quick you want to be after it's just marked. What you people, that's this topical, that's the name of

this segment. Right, What you little snowflake wind bags don't realize is that my previous prediction about backup quarterback Jared's Stidham When you know home playoff game for the Patriots has been altered by the spiritual impact of these new

paths videotaping issues. What you Lake Front Slappy's don't realize is that New England's two thousand nineteen journey will end like this with a titanic postseason why acting at home by Mike Rabel and the Titans, Tom Brady will throw three first half picks and the Patriots will lose by twenty plus points and from of a melting down Gillette Stadium with Bill Belichick suspended and out of the second Have you noticed that every one of our segments turns

into a wild Mark Sessler prediction? Now it doesn't matter what the what the setup is. Well, this started as

what's more likely until about twenty minutes before the show. So, but with Bill Belichick suspended and out of the picture, and with Josh McDaniels serving as fill in head coach, and with Brady toiling amid whispers the team will not bring him back in from months after the loss, Brady defiantly refuses to speak to anyone inside the organization and winds up signing a one year monster contract with Brian

Flores and the Miami Dolphins. What's more, likely. I don't know what was the what's more likely that I'm curious, Well, I had to read write it gives let's go, I don't have I've raised all So what's more likely to Brady's on the Dolphins next year? Or this is a this is I'm telling you a scenario that happen. You know what that that scenario which you know now you're covered either way. Like now you have two different scenarios. So if if Titans, you know, you don't get credit

for Stidham. Now if that happens, you will get credit. He knows he will, I will get credit either way. Um, so that's good. You're you're doubling your chances. That scenario really reminds me of two thousand nine, which I think was the darkest, uh moment of the last twenty years of the Patriots, unless you get really worked up about

Spygate or whatnot. Was you know, them getting booed off the field after the Ravens beat them by what twenty five points and there was like trap, there was a windy day and there was this trash blowing around and that, and that was really the where everyone said, Okay, is this the end of the Patriots dynasty going into two thousands, and it was whether you whether you believe it happened

or not. I would say Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback ever, being suspended from the NFL for cheating was maybe a darker moment for the As a fan, though, I like that one hurt more because you thought maybe it was no one thought he was the greatest quarterback of all time, then no one even would put him in that conversation. Yeah, alright, Wes,

you are up. What you fatuous frauds do realize is that Matt Ryan's two thousand sixteen m v P season under Kyle Shanahan calling the plays is the closest any quarterback has come to completing at least seventy of his passes at at least ten adjusted yards per attempt. No quarterback has ever done it. What you odious ostriches with your head in the sand don't realize is that Ryan Tannehill is currently at seventy three point four completion rate

and ten point two adjusted yards per attempt. Not only is he accurate, he's lethal down field, and of course all these things have to be adjusted for era, but you rarely see that combination of accuracy and downfield prowess in a quarterback, especially Ryan Tannehill, where throughout his whole career, it's funny we've done this podcast so long to see a guy that used to not really appreciate Ryan tan Hill taking over for your boy Mariota and the thing

we would get on tannhells he couldn't throw it downfield. But they've been on fire doing it. They have played three of the worst, you know, past defenses in the NFL, and he helped his numbers. I saw something that they've played the second easiest schedule in the league this year and their last three weeks are the hardest schedule in the league. But not past defense. I wouldn't say when you have the Texans twice to your point about the

arm strength. The touchdown to a J. Brown on a play action where he had pressure in his face and couldn't even really step in and drive the way you would think you would have to do on like a fifty yard downfield heave puts it right on the money, a perfectly thrown ball. To me, I was an eye opener that that he really does have a very strong arm. Not to be a total jerk, but I have to start to question and Adam Gates in the quarterback position

that none of that was happening during Ryan's handle. I'm sorry, but you said that on Sunday. Also, we got that. I got you well, I didn't need to. I said it Sunday, you said it Thursday. Were just but I didn't say it. So do you want me to defend Adam Gates? I cannot. I am not interested in doing that. I know, but sometimes it's fun to see to what extent you're not interested in doing. It's like, I don't think the whole thing with the spy Gates how interested.

I amn't defending him for this one, not at all. Stop putting yourself in stupid situation. Thank you? What's wrong with you? Okay? What you Yeah? I didn't know we had to cook up these terms for each other. What you frozen turred burgers don't realize is that there is a sheep. There is an emperor with no clothes in the NFC that currently has a by if the season ended. The Packers aren't for real. You guys don't see that yet because you guys, you look at wins and losses

and you look, oh wow, they're handling their business. But you know what, and I'm not gonna go too crazy about the last two weeks because if you get the Giants and the Redskins and back to back weeds, you might not, you know, be completely pumped up and dropped bombs back to back weeks saying, hey, they just got the job done. But then you take a closer look at their schedule. You know, the last time they played a real team, that forty down has embarrassed them seven

to eight. And I was like, where is the win where you kind of sit up in your chair and you go, oh, yeah, the Packers. Man, Uh, they beat the Chiefs. That was an arrowhead, but Mahomes wasn't playing. Uh. They beat they killed the Raiders the week before, which was in the moment. That was a nice win in the moment, but you know, as we've kind of come

to learn, that's obviously not a gifted Raiders team. Uh. They beat the Cowboys in Dallas in week five, but that was already when the Cowboys began their kind of slow descent into mediocrity. They don't really have like a team like the forty niners. They beat the Vikings, Okay, I mean that is ancient history. But I'll give you that that that's a legitimate win. Um lost to the Eagles.

My point being is that while team like the forty Niners to use an example, being battle tested week after week and you know what you got in them, if the Packers face one of these big boys in a big spot, do I think this offense is gonna necessarily make the plays that needs to make? Do I think this defense should ever be trusted? Um? No, This this might have the feel like one of those twelve and four teams that just kind of fizzle out in their

first playoff game. We always fall back on, Hey, as long as you make the playoffs, that's all that matter. It's a new season that starts in. But what kind of analysis is that every team has the same chance once the playoffs starts. No, the Packers, I agree with you, are not that impressive. They are one of the least impressive ten in three teams, and they sound like they're frustrated. Rogers in Fleur sounded like they lost that game. I mean they were pretty furious. I think with their offensive

performance afterwards. I don't think it's it's not that everything leading up it didn't matter this. I mean, this team, especially that hasn't had a track record under this coach. They need to start putting it together, all right, Greg, close it out? All right? What you uh imbeciles a fatuous did you say that? A buzzer about what you chatterbox? Now? But people don't realize the way to stop the Ravens isn't necessarily. People don't realize what you bird brain there

we go. Fools don't realize is the way to stop the Ravens isn't necessarily with a great rush defense. Who really needs a great rush Devens. What you need is a past defense. You have two of the best past defense in the league. Keep the Ravens under three yards. And I know the weather was, you know, not great. That was a factor. A news flash. Their weather might

not be great in the postseason either in Baltimore. The fact that they were under three hundred yards in back to back weeks, to me is an interesting development and the way that they did it so similarly the forty Niners and the Bills by trusting a great secondary to just win one on one matchups and crowd the middle of the field and stuff those mark ingram runs For the most part and have some athletes that can make

plays on the outside. Not many teams have that. It's not like you can just carbon copy the forts of the Bills roster. But the way that they've just absolutely over the last two weeks slowed down the Ravens passing attack by saying beat us, beat us one on one with those wide receivers, and the Ravens haven't really been able to do it, I think was eye opening. And I look at one team in particular in the a f C, the in the City Chiefs, who can play pretty good past defense, and just dare you had a

match up one on one and and who knows? I think that that is a tough matchup. It's also happened to be the opponent that made Lamar Jackson look the worst and everyone, Okay, that was way earlier in the season. That's fine. It was still his worst game of the season by far, and he was especially lost in that game throwing the ball. I thought the Browns did the same thing the week later. And but if you want to look at the Bills game specifically, Marky's Brown has

been in a slump and he's not healthy. He had negative two yards receiving in that game, and they lost Marky Andrews early on, and their offense to me is just simply not the same without him on the field. So they were a little banged up, but the guys to the point of their depth. If you don't have Brown and he's not been healthy, feels like in ages Panics something happens to Marky Andrews. There. They are pick

off candidates for that. I mean, I look, I think they're one of the great regular season teams that keep saying that, But I do think that that we've seen maybe a great secondary, great past events like Buffalo, like Kansas City, maybe like New England. Uh uh, you know, can can create some problems because you don't want to be too one dimensional if you're the how did they lose last year? Great timing, Greg. We spin this right

into t NF preview. Jets have Ravens, and my question is I see some similarities two thousand nineteen Ravens two thousand seven Patriots, where I'm asking did they peak too soon? That's what I was just thinking they were a jug two months they have and like we saw that that graphic on TV out of Lamar Jackson's like last thirty three drives, twenty four of them had been touchdowns. There

were more neil downs than punts. And now they are they're winning games, just like the two thousand seven Patriots kind of stumbled to the finish line. I'm not even ready to go that far, but I do think to expect them to be just the juggernaut, you know, rushing attack and offense throughout the player. It's probably not gonna work out that way. And then and they'll say, look at look how well our defense is playing. They can win games different types of ways, but you can't expect

to get six touchdowns in six possessions in there. Yes, there. They came out of their Week eight by they had a three game winning stree coming into the by. Then they came out dropped thirty seven points on the Patriots, forty nine on the Bengals, forty one on Houston on the Rams. Uh and so that was one of the great runs. Feels like someone ripping off of Ravens Madden season in the room. That was. You know, that was

arguably the greatest November we've ever seen. Maybe the two thousand seven Patriots have something to say, but those are four games all played in November where they just absolutely dominated the league and dominated some good teams as well. Will they ever get back to that height, Maybe, maybe not, But the Jets are a good team for them to uh just you know, work on some things if they feel like they've gotten a little bit out of whack, because obviously the Jets have struggled to score a lot

of points. Their defense has I believe um overperformed. They've have had a nice season, but by no means are they a d fens that should give Lamar Jackson and the Ravens a lot of trouble. I think one thing to watch for me if I'm watching this from you know, what is the what are we looking for? Why does this game matter? Because we all assume even Ravens easy Ravens victory, as does the desert two touchdowns. In fact, um, is Lamar Jackson moving well? He has this quad injury

that's popped up. Um that is not inconsequential because he's a guy that's shown he could throw the ball this year. I did tweet that Lamar said he's feeling great. Now I know that player, but so you gotta see it. You gotta see if you can make it through a whole game. Is he gonna use his legs to make plays outside the pocket, which is what makes him truly special. So I think that will be the game thing to watch on Thursday night, which otherwise is gonna be a

hard game, even NFL Network. You know they've been doing those ads all season where they have the two fan bases like barking at each other. I don't even think they did that for this game because they knew we're not gonna have some fake Jets fan like talking down to a Raven's fan right now. It's a good car I haven't seen. Yeah, I think that's I think they little bit much. They lost it for this game. Uh wait to read the room. Yeah. So it just gives you a vibe of where this game should be heading.

We'll find out how the Ravens handle being a man. I do wonder if some of the downtick on offense. And now you played the Bill the forty Niners and Bills, and that's tough weather too, and but you have they they lost Matt Skur, the center, Ronnie Stanley, their left tackle is a concussion right now, and as if he especially on a short week, and the Bills put heat on Lamar Jackson, and you know, obviously he can shift on a diamond, do crazy stuff and run for huge yardage.

But they found a way to get three or four people around him and collapse the pocket and make it life tough for him. It's not if Josh Allen could hit a pass. I mean, they were beat a ball in that day, and even quarter of their punts on the season came in that game. It even took Lamar.

Those three touchdown throws were really good. It was like two was three because they barely It's one reason why Lamar is the m v P, I think by a decent amount right now, is like even the three touchdowns that he threw, they were not easy plays to complete. Like that took an extra special effort for him to get those three touchdowns. They could have been held to allow less. You know why Lamar has to be the m v P. He's going to break Vic's rushing record

single season and lead the NFL and passing touchdowns. How can you give it to something about at this point and Russell Wilson just had a big loss and he's not been pristine over the last three weeks. A long time and I've seen some be able it is over It's like, all right, there's three it can happen, and a nice season closing test for my boy Donald. He's got at Ravens home, Steelers at Buffalo close out the year. So if he is indeed making progress, we would see

it here. If he's kind of flat lined behind that offensive line against teams that get after quarterback, it could be trouble. If he's plateau. I shouldn't say flat line because he's coming off probably his worst game of the year against the Dolphins. So I'm hopeful, but he faces a challenge here. Um, all right, that's that before we go on, We're not that. I'm locking up the Ravens um. And the other thing I think is like does Adam Case get the most out of his players on offense?

I mean, that's the thing that was It's a question that keeps you see it popping up, and I don't know if anyone's drawn that correlation yet, but keep an eye on only every fifteen minutes do we ask that question? Um? All right, Mark, you wrote a banker, didn't read it yet, just went up, but I planned to wrote about the Raiders.

He wrote about the end of Oakland football in the NFL um and you talked, and you spoke to a lot of people connected with the organization and got a better idea of where the vibe is during this historic time in the organization. Yeah. Well among them Art Shell, Tim Brown, Fred blittnic Cough, Marcel Reese, Phil Villa Piano who is like a linebacker from ages old and you probably would recognize him from Old Raiders NFL films. But it was about the most interesting thirteen minute conversation I've

ever had with the next football player. I always speaks, he speaks his mind. He was dropping f bombs. I mean, he was having fun. Had to be no like Amy Trash too. And she was awesome because you're getting people, no she was. She was very valuable because they're coming clear different angles here. Uh for me, because when you write these things and you can't and I don't handle them well, like I like just van it like I'm

not really mentally aware. And it was really hard to do like preview shows where I'm trying to write this and do the game studying at the same time, and that probably showed, but it's I just got sucked in,

don't yourself. You always yourself when we do that. But it's it's just because I I just became all consumed for like a forty eight hour period by a team that, like, I don't think I've ever really felt the Raiders thing the way that I feel like I'm supposed to, where they drenched in lure and how of an how much of an underdog they were starting in the a f L and and toyed with bankruptcy that Ralph Wilson of the Bills had to like loan money to the early

Oakland Raiders operation to save the essentially the entire NFL because they would have been down to seven teams. So all these little steps along the way, and then Al Davis shows up in a way that Bill Belichick would and is seen by some who were around is one

of the finest NFL coaches in history. And I just little things that you're that I learned along the way sucked me into the Raiders experience and made me really fall for them hard for you know, during writing this, and it's like if you don't want to become married to what you're writing about, but it was impossible to not feel bad for the fans of Oakland because I think this move has been easier obviously than many others.

But the people in Oakland specifically who have lost the Warriors and they're now losing this team that's been, you know, tied to their heart for so long is a tough one to swallow. And I get the Raiders travel well, and they're gonna go do what they do and they'll

be fine in Vegas in a very different way. But I don't One thing Amy Trash mentioned that I thought was true was that you go to that Colosseum, which is its story of its own, it's like percent Raiders fans, and it's you and and and if you're a Chiefs fan and a Chiefs to your or is good luck to you and your family. But Vegas, Vegas is a different story. I think you're gonna get a lot of different types of people making that part of three day weekends. And and she made a point that it's there may

be a paradigm shift. You cannot count on that percentage of Silver and Black loyalists in the crowd at that point. It reminds me a bit of Baltimore and their love affair with the Colts, and it was taken away from them where the Colts players like this was at a time in the fifties where they're living next door to fans interacting with them. See him in the bars. Raiders

fans in the seventies. You might see them at a Altamont concert or something like that, dropping acid, you know, but that same kind of thing where you feel ingrained in the community like that, and just took ownership. The fans took ownership of that team. Check it out NFL dot com slash silver and black, Silver and black, and there's already reverberations here. The Raiders just announced that they've waived the following players, Preston Brown, Threll McClain, and DJ Sweringer.

Maybe not because they didn't read your long for him. Maybe that's maybe that's something for those players. I mean, it just went up. It would be weird, but check it out. Mark. I know you put a lot of effort into it, and your journey just begins because now this weekend you're traveling up there to the Black Hole, UH to be there for the final home game. And it will be the final home game because that's six and seven. You know they didn't winning the division. There

will be no home playoff game. This is the end of the road. Good stuff, Mark, all right, we will be back together again on Thursday. Uh, previewing all the week fifteen games, including the game. Mark will be covering Raiders against Titans. Oh, that's a good one. To Raiders against Jaguars not so good, but you'll get a w out of it. Oh, the Manchuvians will be out. Now. Will you wear your Minshew jury is no, I will definitely you wearing a Gardner Minshew jersey. And that's and

after they get yeah, you're not gonna you can't. You can't go try to talk to the Minshew mania, the Minshew. No, he's not the center the focus of this. Imagine you're wearing a Minshew jersey and the Raiders lose one in overtime and you just start asking about the end of Raider's football in Oakland. A terrible way to go about one's job. But you will be just so everybody knows. Mark won't be here for the Sunday recap because he'll be busy working and writing uh and hopefully still be

alive after that event. Um, but you will be drafting on behalf of others who will be filling in for you, and there is a specific strategy that I will be employing a little cliffhanger there by, Mark Sessler, all right, let us go. Is Dan Hanson signing off four quiet Storm, NFL dot Com, Slash Silver and Black, the Old Boss, and Ricky Hollywood hang in there, Darling. Thank you. On Thursday,