Rams-Cardinals Recap and Gifts for Each Other

You already heard Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal as well. Gentlemen, it is Tuesday, it is six pm on the West coast. It is December, and COVID still coming for us. I'm getting a little nervous about this season right now. Big outbreak with the Browns, outbreak with the Rams starting to percolate. Uh news about that, and um, Mark, I gotta give it up to you, the new a t N Insider. You're welcome to the family. I say, thank you. It's

good to be here. You did some really hard hitting work and you want to share some of that right now. I will. Well, we were you know, we were chatting the four of us along with Ricky on yesterday just about the COVID thing, and I just asked out loud, I guess over text is that autoued um? How many cases have there been in terms of miss games this year versus where we were a year ago? Would you like to know the answer to that? I follow you on Twitter? But yes, so I know. Okay, So let's

move on. Oh no, I do, I do? I do? Well? You said this is a really good tweet in our sleep. You're relying to me when you said that. Anyways, I will get to like it was kind of like a quasi off day and you were like digging through with NFL media research on this COVID story. I was curious. It was a good question. All right, Well how about this?

So two hundred and sixty two games have been missed through week fourteen, where there's a lot of nonsense to come at this time last year nine, so you know, similar a slower place. Well, we're catching out Monday there was thirty seven players tested positive. That was before Odell Beckham in in a ton of other players on Tuesday,

and that was the most in any single day. And if you look at the NBA, it sort of happened to them a week earlier, like they've had games pushback canceled, entire teams like the bowls have been wiped out and so it feels like it's coming. Yeah, it's it's something unfortunately that is a part of this season as it was part of last season, and we just hope because obviously competitive balances shifted and we're gonna get to like Monday Night football obviously where the best cornerback in football,

Jalen Ramsey taken out of action. It just it just feels inevitable that this is going to become um maybe in every game situation where someone is going to be missing, and you don't want it to be that way, but that's just the world we live in right now. Today's show will be UM a good one because in addition to a really fun Monday night game, we had a great we have a great Thursday night football match coming up, Chiefs and Chargers. We're gonna have the Great Connie Fox

dropping by here to preview that tilt. It is almost Christmas. Uh, we have the elf on the shelf is going off in the hands house caused a lot of mishift. There's a lot of belief in the house. And then Jack also lost his front tooth um, so the tooth fairy rolled in and it's just like with the fairies. Yes, we lost the jack tooth in a hot tub last summer. This one we did recover the fairy. Um tooth Fairy took care of that business. Just too many she's she's

riding in a weird time of year. You know, many mystical figures and you know, got Santa, got the big Man coming. It's like, how about you know, ask for permission before you come in the house. Uh, ancient nymphs exactly. We are the worst. One of the worst parenting gaffs that our household UM fell victim too, was that our child Colton lost his tooth. This was during Corona. There's

a lot of other stuff going on. Um put the tooth under his pillow three nights in a row, Um expecting the tooth fairy to come in and drop some greenbacks down, you know, under there under the pillow. We forgot three nights in a row to pay to pay off. And so where does that leave a child that well, a lot of trust issues for starters. Well, there's no doubt believe though they're still believing the tooth. I think it shook um any it shook faith that the tooth

fairy acted, you know, um, in a professional manner. It should be stated that a lot of people are listening to this podcast in cars right now. We don't know who else in the cars. So yes, the tooth fairy does exist absolutely in this case. In this case, Um, yes, you're right. Anyway, we're gonna get to all that. But just one thing, just buttoning up. Sunday night Mark had a really unfortunate gaff um that kind of rocked the show. He had the false information about the Raider's greatest blowout

loss and it was ugly, to say the least. Greg Mark apologized, Um, but I thought in a in a that in a way that made me look good, right, So that's why that's the important part of every apologist to make yourself look Okay. Well that's one piece of the pie. And then you said you were going to submit yourself to HR. I don't. Erica had sent me this message that apparently landed in your inbox, um, and she did not. She knows that you don't want it

to be played. But what I feel like we have a contract with our listeners that this is a show that's built on open Just Mark, I didn't want to disobey your trust. But I just felt like, but that's exactly what you did. Yeah, but I just well, first of all, I'm sorry, but I feel like the integrity to the listeners, they needed to hear this. All right, just hand out the trophies right now for best acting. Go ahead, let's hear it. Hey, Mark, it's Tabby from

HR for starters. I don't find it entirely credible that you would file a complaint against yourself, Like, let me get this straight. You said something factually incorrect about the Raiders losing to the Chiefs. It feels more like something for you to discuss with someone from editorial. Don't you think it's not an HR violation on its own. It's more just like another example of you thinking you can just do whatever and say whatever you please. That's basically you,

isn't it. Nothing applies to you or your behavior. Whatever you say, whatever you promise, comes with zero consequences as you roam around town following one person's rules, your dumb rules. For example, when I suggested that we get coffee sometime back in fucking October and you never followed up or responded, Well, my response to that is, go yourself. You can't ignore me after we had that nice talk in the parking

garage in class Act. Then you have the audacity to send the stupid podcast bit to me like I'm gonna play along with your latest attention seeking piece of both. What value do you add to our company? I have an answer to that, none, big guy, loser. I'm trying to drive on the god forsaking four oh five right now. Why am I dealing with you and your idiot schemes? I hate you? In class act? Wow, well it's good to finally we don't need to release that whole thing.

That's good to match a voice to grave diggers. Uh date to the as West would have said back in the date, A lot of performative expletives there, but I guess she just you know, Tabby was angry. I'm not saying a thing because that's the HR person. And then you see how you will Well, it seems like the operation could use a bit of a reset. We'll put it, put it at that, we'll leave it there. Let's uh, as you would say, put a pin in that. And

I'm not saying another word troubling. Let's close the door now. On week fourteen with some Monday night football talk. Wow, that was disturbing. I'm londer center. Stafford play fixed brouts out to his line. He's got Jefferson Vain president of the line, middle field touchdown. L A, what a rocket shot from Matthew Stafford saw it coming all the way. Oh J B. Long with the call and the l A. Rams get it done. A huge win on Monday Night

football over the Arizona Cardinals. Final score. Gregree from State Farm Stadium, a place where the Cardinals can't win a ball game, three straight losses. They're they're undefeated on the road. So the Cardinals are part of this story. But isn't the biggest story here? Greg Rosent tall well Mark lost his lock. That's a big story. That is the biggest story.

Isn't the biggest? Isn't the biggest story here? The Rams showing life, showing hey, we can be a super Bowl contender, even though some people said there were too soft to hang in a big spot some people. I wasn't me. I don't know who it was in this room. A big spots up. This season is so long and there's four games to go after this that this is the time of year that teams like the Rams who have shown signs. I mean, they did blow out the Bucks in Week three. Need to show up and be accounted for.

And if you're the Cardinals, it's like a division loss. You tied the series to a very good team bawling. Now. I think on in their best game of the season, and I wouldn't be devastated. But if you're the Rams, it's so important because that's the best game Matthew Stafford played all season. It's certainly the most integrated Odell Beckham has been as part of the offense all season. The running game complimented Matthew Stafford was Sony Michelle. That was

really positive. And more than anything, the defensive energy was there from the first snap of the game when Aaron Donald threw that guard aside into Kyler Murray to the very end. Every play that Murray made in this game had to be spectacu killer because the guards that really the interior line of Arizona was just decimated and dominated and even without Jalen Ramsey, to me, that defense just

made life so difficult on Arizona. They gave Stafford the chance, and they gave this offense a chance to go win it and be special on their own. It killed a flock of narratives that were chasing down the rams um you know, previous to their bye week and really ever since, because no one looked at that Jaguars win as meaningful

on any level. I think it says a lot that like it's it's almost like this is a team one of the few teams that will be helped even by that extra week of the season because Stafford, oh, b J, the rest of them, they were not where they were last night in weeks past. I mean it tells you that you know, when you have a new quarterback in a new system, it is going to take time. It

took time last year for Tom Brady. I mean there there by week changed everything for them, and we saw Brady of a couple of bad games last year that he's not duplicated this way this time around. And I think that Stafford the questions about him last night were answered. Um, they want a big game in prime time against what I thought was the best team in football and the Cardinals. It's it shows you the razor's edge they're on because

they're not a mistake prone team. They've overcome their mistakes really well. But Kyler Murray, who I thought actually played one of the best games of the Sea. I honestly thought he was awesome. I know he had the two bad interceptions, one was a tipped ball, but Cliff Kingsbury said he was super proud of him after the game, the way that some of the stuff that he pulled off.

The Cardinals cannot mistake make those mistakes though, I mean, he made mistakes, and I think that there are some killer penalties down the stretch by their own line, and then the meltdown at the end, the final minute meltdown. See I I totally disagree. I'm not saying that Kyler Murray, you know, is a goat or anything or wearing the goat horns I should say, like, but I don't think

he played a good game here. I know he used his athleticism to make some incredible plays because he's a great athlete, but um, you know, he doesn't throw a touchdown pass. He has the two interceptions. There could have been more than that, and it was very ugly the way the end of that game played out. I thought, that's you know, that's that's money time for a true

superstar quarterback. And I thought he was a little bit out of sorts, and I think it was the first like punch in the mouth game for the Cardinals, or at least at this juncture of the season. And I wasn't really overly impressed. And I thought the thing that when I think about like the big picture, look at this game. It was what happened when the Rams stars needed to step up and play big, and they did. Matthew Stafford playing his best game of the year. I

agree with that. I thought he was excellent. The throws he was making down the field, short, everything was spot on, and he was in complete control of that game. Aaron Donald, I mean I've talked about on this podcast. Come on, Aaron Donald, take over a game, show us why you're one of the best players to ever play our game.

And he absolutely did. Fourteen pressures, he had three sacks, he had the tip that led to that interception, numerous holding calls because you can't you just can't stop the man, including the key one late after the onside kick recovery Cooper Cup. He might have two house and receiving yards.

He steps up and Odell Beckham, a guy that's been obviously I don't love the way things ended in Cleveland, and I thought it was laughable that they would even carry the water Forum on that show and report what he said, which was, I got fired on my day off in Cleveland. Dude, you quit on your team and they had to dump you because you didn't want to play with them anymore. But that's all in the past. He played really well in this game as well, and

we just didn't see the same thing with the Cardinals. Greg. I didn't see big performances from them. Well, he's the number two Beckhams a number two receiver now, which is

kind of huge. Like the Cup is the guy, and the way the game started with Stafford kind of hitting him with jabs over and over and being patient to Cup short, short, short, and then he ends up kind of going with the Haymakers after that, it was like really mature, really awesome, and like, you know, the deep throat of Jefferson, the over to Cup, we're just like outrageous throws that. Yeah, you you picked on Robert Alfred. I've been waiting for this Cardinals secon Dairy to show

some holes. They've been so feisty all year, and Alfred to me was the weak link last night. He he got picked on. But for the most part, like those took great throws. And that's why I'm kind of with Mark that Murray played pretty well in that game, aside from that one Leonard Floyd tipped interception which he just misjudged it, and Floyd made a fantastic play. Like I I looked at the PF grades for this game and I wasn't surprised. Murray had an eight, which is very high,

which is quite high. It's like not amazing, but it's quite high. But he had five big time throws in this game and four turnover where he plays, which like that's like putting crooked numbers up in baseball. Like he was all spectacular and a lot of bad too, especially at the end of it. And what I mean like with the Murray stuff, I mean again, I think that he put a lot of great stuff on display, a lot of the mistake. You can't have the mistakes. But if this is the low point for the Cardinals, I

don't come out of here shook by what happened. I think that they they have not been blown out this season. They barely lost to the Packers. My thing with their zone and I feel the same way about the Rams. These are teams that I think need to get home field advantage, and it's not because you're right, the Cardinals have lost at home. This was a decisive setback. It put them back to the third seed in the NFC.

They're not in control of all that right now, and had they beaten the Rams, we'd be talking about them in a completely different way. But this was not If this was the floor for Arizona. This is an excellent football took. It took an excellent effort from the Rams. They want it felt, It's not like they wanted it more, but they they played physical on defense. I think they set a tone. Did you see the look on mcveigh's

face to the whole game. I think that they came into this thing wanting they needed it And sometimes that's why. I mean, if the Cardinals end up going fourteen and three, it's like this is one of those games that you lose, you know what I mean. It's like, I'm not gonna be too hard on them when you lose the turnover battle to to nothing. The two plays to me that changed the game more than anything. Obviously, there was the

first play. I mean, they first interception, which would they would have gone up to nothing and that was the part of the game where Murray was playing out of his mind because every catch James Conner's making, every throw Murray's making are so contested and they're figuring it out. And then he gets intercepted on the goal line and got tipped up a couple of times, like his height was in bit of an issue with some of those tips.

But DeAndre Hopkins dropped a fourth down conversion inside the five and James Conner has a wide open hole on a fourth and one at the forty yard line in the fourth quarter. Those are two fourth down conversions that the Cardinals two best players are two of their best players on offense kind of just blew it. The games is a little different if they pick up those, you know what I mean. There was also a close game

between two good teams. He he had a j Green deep I think it was on the first drive where he missed him. He just flat out and missed him, and that that triggered a field goal. I mean, that's points left on the board. So they just can't make those mistakes. That's not been who they've been, you know, game to game. I thought James Conner was incredible in that game. Overall though, and I think AJ Green's giving you more than you expected this season. The DeAndre Hopkins

thing is something to keep an eye on. Now. He's getting an m R I as we record this on his leg and he came out of this game limping. But you know, even if you watch that game, you know that should have been a money game for him with Jalen Ramsey had the lineup, and he just didn't seem to have a lot of burst. And I just wonder if his leg ever truly got better or if

this is a situation where he's had a setback. It's something to keep an eye on because he is so important to where what the Cardinals do in terms of the red zone and playmakers when you need somebody to step up, um. So that is something for fifty four yards, he has not topped ninety yards in a game this season, and he's barely practiced for about three years now, and he got away with it didn't seem to really affect him. Are you saying good trade by the Texans with you?

He did to that point, did go fourteen hundred yards last year fifteen catches, so he was fine. But he hasn't practice. He has been on the Julio schedule where he's like always banged up and never practices going about about three years, and this year it felt like it's caught up to him. Can I ask you a question, Greg, This is something you've said numerous times, and I've always I haven't really come at you on it because I kind of saw, do you like Teddy Bridgewater so what

you were talking about? But at the same time, I thought maybe you weren't given the guy enough credit. I think Matt Stafford is better than it's not. Like you've said numerous times, Matt Stafford is who he is. He's not gonna magically change because he went from one place

to another. I thought this was an example, and we saw it in the beginning of the season as well as no like put him in a fresh setting with better players and great coaching, and he could be the guy that everyone thought he was gonna be when he was the number one overall pick. When he's at top flight this season, he's a top three quarterback. I I sincerely believe he's that good when he's locked in as he was yesterday, No doubt to me. That is the

Matthew Stafford experience. That he has three or four games a year where he plays like a top three or four guy. You would think with Sean McVeigh and the Rams that you'll get more consistency down this stretch. He was sensational last night in every respect, like physically, men to leave ball, location, all of it. But I have seen that out of Stafford with the Lions, like so many Lions fans are twenty out how much they missed

them because they missed those Stafford games. But you get like three or four of them a year, and you get some inconsistency. And you have to also include the games where they came out saying the Rams were soft, when I think the game those losses had more to do with Stafford. The good thing is like with all these teams, you know, while I'm in the end and you got a hit. That's what old Robert McKay says,

played by Brian cox On in adaptation. You know it's all about the end of this season that Greg really is with it pop culture succession. Forget about succession. He's talking cox in Here's adaptation. Here's just like some housekeeping. Though the Rams will lose the tie break even if they tie the Cardinals in this division. If the Cardinals win their Week eight team matchup against the Seahawks. Basically, the Cardinals win Week eighteen against the Seahawks, they lock

up that division record tie break over the Rams. That ultimately kind of puts them up one and a half or two games with four to play. So the Rams still have some have an uphill battle here and we'll have to get some help to get out of that five spot. Really feels like they're stuck there unless the Cardinals slip up and the Cardinals have some tough games. I know what happens with these games. Now everyone's down on the Arizona and we're all flying high on the Rams.

I think they're both excellent teams. But I'm not replacing the Cardinals with the Rams at this point, not yet. The Rams have been inconsistent. I think they're rounding into something special. I don't sense anybody in this room right I have been bearing the Rams the whole time, not been bearing the Rams the whole time. The Rams have been up and down. We're now forgetting how they got

thumped viciously. That's I'm I'm saying. It's part of the story, but part of the whole thing is they're rounding into something really good. But the Cardinals are not a problem. To me, they're not, and I don't think anybody thinks that. I'm I think what the Rams gave us last night was, Hey, we could be as good as any of these teams. So that was a nice reminder because it's been a while. They gotta show it to themselves. I think there's five teams in the NFC that could go to the super Bowl.

To me, it would be a little surprising if San Francisco got there or whoever wins the seventh seed. And I think the Rams needed to have that be a little more than just something you say and like that. You know intellectually it could happen, like yeah, yeah, this is a team that could get on a roll. Now they know it, we know it, we know it a mark. Let's take inventory. Um, Obviously the lock competition means a lot to you. What was destroyed in your house too?

You're looking for your first title here, Dan, I have a title too, But I'm asking you what was destroyed in your house while you watch the I was my behavior was serene, it was freezing, and I was in my garage underneath there were no blankets, so I just unfurled his sleeping bag and just put it over my body. While I watched that game, pretty said, actually, what I'm gonna get you? You know what, We're gonna be giving out some Christmas gifts. I got one coming for you.

Now that I heard that, let's take a break it and then hand out some gifts. All right, here we go, welcome back to the old you know podcast. Uh and it is Christmas time. Hanakah has in the rear view. But that doesn't mean you can't send a gift over to Greg and his people. These are all options we celebrate Christmas to. You're a Christmas house as well. I have no product as well. No hanaka, no hanaka Christmas. You identify as Jewish, I don't. It's not religious. I

mean through it, I identify as not religious. I think that you know Jewish. You feel some cultural connection because my dad was born in Nazi Germany. That was part of it, so like that was a big part of his identity, is family's identity. But never been to a tempo. So you do not have a bar now, I would have loved to be It's Greg Rosenthal bar. Mitzvah. It sounds so plugged, and it would be it would be an incredible show. But Greg was born age thirty two,

so he could not have been thirteen. There it is c connected doubts with the red string. Never been to a bar, Mitz. We're gonna hand out gifts to each other right now because it is the holidays, mark the first one. I'm just gonna hear. Here's a box for you. Okay, alright, I open it up. What a nice box here, I am opening it. You have to do that for everyone in the means. I've opened the box. Alright, let's see what's in it. Inside. There you go. An electric blanket

for your sad garage football games. I don't feel sad. It's like a total and joy I will. This is a nice addition to what was all there. That's your happy place, all by yourself. And four and half out of five stars on Amazon, really good reviews. You might need an extension cord depending where you're setting up the electric blanket and maybe the chords. You know, you might not have too many outlets in the garage. Right about the couch, there's an outlet. Actually, it's it's a perfect

gift based on source of water in the area. There's a there's an excellent pure water filter in there that I have delivered, you know, the waters delivered monthly. Get all snugly in that one. I watch Browns Raiders this weekend. How about that? All right? Now, one gift is already down. Do you wanna hand out a gift here? Mark? Yeah, I will give a gift to Greg. I'm very proud of Greg for starting up his UM tennis podcast this year. Okay, here we go. Wow, see what's in there? Oh? This

is great? Yeah, well, I'm giving Greg a weekend with Boris Um. That would be ex tennis star Boris Becker al right, who was my favorite tennis player growing up because of his electric athlete German. Yes, he's still on the scene. I follow him. Also, he also escaped Nazi Germany. That's true as well. I think he was on the other side just by the looks. Okay, yeah, the narrative it's different there. Anyways, Greg, this is what you get in a weekend with Boris Um. He was going to

give you a series of next level tennis lessons. You can also just hit it around with him. Um. He'll take three chords of thunder pods with you as your guests. He will smoke some high octane tree in the evenings with you. Um and all you said tree there just that was the president in itself. And also he will wax your entire body along with the body tactician named Oliver. These are all included for the absolutely it fits right.

That's the football angle that that would be fun. Maybe we could have him do like an Australian Open preview that's generally my favorite tournament, but it does come during the NFL playoffs. It might be tough to bring back courts the thunder Then we'll see, but then away for a week of course. Has had a nice post tennis career as like a controversial commentary tater who like occasionally goes a little too far um with some old school views, but still well loved, you know what I mean, Like

this is perfect. You guys will do great. He's like that Jimmy the Greek of Greg. Do you want to hand out again? I will minds more just um you know generic here, not more football. It's it's for the Wesleyan brothers and Brad spicer Um the spice rack who's opening that gift if all of them it's just set the Cincinnati and it's just opened up and inside, um is actually a heart for uh Zach Taylor like that,

like he actually grows a pair here. It gets a little more aggressive down the stretch and recognizes the quarterback that he has and stops like calling what is it the cowardly lion gets the heart, starts stops calling games as if Joe Burrow is this like rookie ham and Egger and starts playing to win here because the city

of Cincinnati and their Bengals fans deserve this. Based on I think it was Nick's texting or was that was I can imagine Spice Rock sending uh, the still beating heart of a lion to Zach Taylor or the Bengals. That would be troubling, Yeah, I could. I can imagine that because you could say that it's like, oh, they've already overachieved there over there over under total for the year here in week fourteen. No, if this thing goes sideways and there is like a Bengals e feeling to it,

in my mind, um, it'll be horrible. And Uh, I think he's just got to see the guy that he has in Joe Burrow and start coaching that one. I want to say, I just want to make this clear because somebody had tweeted at me and I even caught myself on Sunday and I say, oh, Bengals fans shouldn't get upset. They have a fun team. Now, I get it doesn't mean that like you can't be frustrated because they they have graduated from league dormat to fun team with potential. But the next step where they become a

consistent winner. That's what the Browns, for instance, are trying to do right now that continues to elude them. And I understand exactly the moment, although maybe there were many moments in that game, but watching the game on game pass and over time they roar down the field. Bengals roar nailed it. I think it's first intended the six of San Francis go and they run it twice, round pass and then take a sack and then settle for

the field goal. They make the field goal. But it's like, if you're a decimated forty Niners secondary and you're moving the ball, just attack, go win the damn game. And I get that that and Zach hopefully learns from that. You think he would. I mean, but I think you're saying, also, Bengals fans, relative to what you're going through as a Jets fans should be feeling on the up and up and you know what that because that was where they were.

That's fine. But I would say because it sounds a little bit game is also on my radar, this Bengals Broncos game coming up, and that it would feel it would feel troubling if you lose to the like that, then it starts starts to get I don't even remember at this point. I believe you were making a comment about my fandom and the oh well, I think that as if your team moves into that, we don't totally rot category. We have some hope. You're you change is

a fan pretty quick. You want more and more. You're not sitting there in satisfied ville. I get that. UM I will hand out Greg. You deserve it. Another gift. You've been a very good boy. He's you know, he's a man that celebrates Christmas. So I will open up, do a good job with it. Look at those hands at work, tearing those hold the rain. UM I have gifted to you as you could see their uncomplicated love

for the Patriots. I've been tracking this with you, I think, Mark, we haven't had a private conversation, but I know you have sensed it as well that Greg for some reason. But but there is a reason. I think I know what it is, because Greg likes to play the game like, you don't know what's going on in my head. Ever I do. I do know what's going on in that breaks the gain the game I'm playing, and you don't

know my game. And what's going on with Greg is Greg is He's a He's a serious football analyst, and he looks around the landscape and he says, like, how many of these people that I respect in the game, like have a favorite team. It's like, no, I think it's time for me to move away from that. I think that's what he was attempting to do. Once Brady left town and the dynasty ended, I got what else

could I ever ask for? Six rings, all these endless memories, both as a professional and as a just a straight fan. And it was a clean break. So now I could be the analyst that doesn't have a fandom. I root for all teams, I root for stories that old gang

But then what happened. Bill made some great draft picks, some deft signings, and here we are again with the Patriots team that is uh lovable to the people of New England, that is a bit of an underdog outfit, with a young quarterback that's got a lot of moxie and potential. And you've been negging them this season. You keep on, you keep on saying, oh, well, this is good. They're good, but maybe not that good. Every week, every time they get a big win, a little nagging, a

little nagging, a little nagging. Maybe it's time to make your love uncomplicated again, get away from the what do I need to do professionally to be the analysts that people will respect the most, and just say I'll aways, aren't I No, I mean I want I I enjoy this more when I do love like the teams and a lot in teams and players, and my love for a lot of these teams. There it goes away. But it's not complicated. I wish I kind of wish I had it. I mean, it's sort of the other way around.

Like Emmachus talked to me about it, like you're not really that into the Patriots. I kind of wish I had I wish I liked them as much as the Mark like them this year. I don't know, it's not there like totally. Well, it's an honest response, but Dan is giving you a gift that will allow you to feel that again, that's what the special I'm not against it,

but I like, I kind of. I mean, you're on point that I'm not like that into the Patriots, but that's more of like a shameful thing than something I'm like looking. So I'm not anything with you having a chance of clean break and changing the way you frame your football viewing experience at this stage in your life. I don't you think I like have a lot of teams that I'm like overly emotional about, and I would put that, I would put them in that mix, but

it's not the same. I'm not like it's more embarrassing than anything that I'm not that into the Patriots. All right, before we go to Mark, I just want to quickly Eric, I want to give you a gift. Everything's gonna be a car with a bow on it. Insanely dumb. It was just waiting to be up into the segment. She's like, I will slam the funk out of this Christmas music? Don't you feel bestive? Alright, go ahead here, well here

we go right now, there you go. Uh, this is just the practical gift this is that's just flee medication for thor. That's important. That's what you got me. Yeah, that's important to have. Nice. Well, guess what, go ahead, I've got a gift for Ricky too that I think a little bit more trenchant. Okay, that's important. Yeah, that's expects very functional gift that you gave that would keep that dog in business and giving legit good gifts, useful gifts.

I say, Blant is gonna literally save Mark's life to our group last night, to Mark and said, coming from a man in a grown man in a blanket in his garage, that's my house. You're sending first trap photos of like your legs and blankets last night watching this, that's how you respond to give that. You know the stories of the guy. The wife kicks him out of the house and he goes and like rents the U haul temporary storage unit and lives out of there until

he gets busted. Like Mark just practicing. Well, it's getting close, that's hitting close to home. To be honest, can I give this gift to Ricky. It's a two part gift. The first gift and I think it might help you to greg Um indirectly. And it's not it's nothing we had. It's a gift I've we've been you've been given before. But I think you like it. It's just a flat out super Bowl title for the plucky little Patriots team that could. Yeah, that's well, that's the best I've ever

gone in my thirtieth birthday weekend. Mark's a huge Patriots fan. Now I'm taking a second. Give me, give me the name of a of a male, of a of a boy's name please Danny. Danny, No, not Dan, but like Danny Avendola. He winked at me. All right, Danny. So I'm giving Ricky a newborn infant, okay, one that needs a new home. It's Danny. It will be a boy, Danny. The gift will be given and will arrive before Christmas

so that it can enjoy Christmas with you. He not only gonna tell Emily h it's by the way, this is arriving on December eighteenth, so you have four about three or four more days to go do anything. At night to enjoy your life in terms of freedom on any level. The baby arrives, Danny, little Danny arrives on December eighteen, and then you have to plug in and take care of it and do everything that you would do to raise a small boy. By my math, it's

it should be seven months from now. But okay, no, no, no, this is baby is This baby has been needs needs to be cared for. Ye. So yeah, that's there's the NFL Network doubleheader on Saturday, and you guys can just sit and another one. Sure, I'm going to give something to everyone here, and that is the gift of mental health in the form of the Browns winning the rest of their games. Not it's not for Mark, it's actually for us. Um. If the Browns continue to win, like,

we're all happier. I mean the Super Bowl, right, Dan was watching that game the other week, you know, last Sunday, and we're on the edge of our seats hoping the Browns don't blow this. I'll be watching Saturday, Um, you know what, watching the Browns whoever has left after this COVID party and playing this fraudulent Raiders team. And I'm gonna be a nervous because I know Mark would hate nothing more than to lose to this sort of Raiders team,

and I want a happy Mark at the office. And I'm tentatively locking up locking up your brownies this weekend. But I gotta see how the old shakes out. I mean, it stepped back to me. I think we kind of know, don't we, Landry Hooper. It's a lot of play, but maybe they can if they're vaccinating, they can get cleared by Saturday. Not looking too hot though. It's funny because Mark, I did, You're very special to me, so I did. I have this huge gift for you as well. It

is Browns related and I hope it kind of dovetails nicely. Here, Um, I got you the go ahead over up, let's see here lifting the lid off the box. It is a four year, four million dollar extension for Baker Mayfield. It includes ten million dollars guaranteed money takes care through the season, and it ties Baker to the franchise for five more years and a hundred and forty one million dollars. That is the Jared Goff contract actually from two years back.

And I just went ahead and um, rubber stamp that sucker. So he's all yours. You got your quarterback. That's my gift from you. Well, the great thing about it is then you don't have to worry about all these questions. Is he the guy? Is he good or not? The money proves it. It's the gift for years and years he's the guy and he's great. I'm going to hold off on the gift that I was going. I'm going to just press pause on the gift giving at this point.

Wait a second, because you're gonna give me something nice and now you're not gonna do it. I was, but I just gave you a Baker Mayfield for guaranteed extension. But I'm not ready to accept that gift. You're taking that back to the return I'm just not ready to do. I mean, it's just gonna sit there like in the in the spare room, and we'll see, we'll deal with

it down the road. But thank you so much. All see not sometimes with gifts, you you have the right intentions and then doesn't always get received in the way you imagined it. That's that's true. That's how that works. Do you have you have one on the fly you

want to give me like a lump of coal. No, actually was gonna give you a tow a very quick two part gift, um one confirmation over the next four weeks that you have a quarterback and you will also extend Zach Wilson with the same contract that the Baker Mayfield received from the Browns on January January, So we'll never get to that day. Um. Yeah, I I kind of had this to talk about on the Thursday preview show.

But yeah, uh it's people can tell me to shut up, but it's never too early to worry about a Jets quarterback. I'm not overly thrilled with the trajectory of his early career, and I know he's not in a great setup right now. Uh, but I'm a little nervous about it. I'll leave it at that. What about this gift minus the contract business, which was just a I don't know what he could do? And well, I guess if he played lights out for a month like and you just saw it, would I

mean I would be over the moon. Although that kind of happened with Donald in two thousand eighteen in his last few games. But even though even then then I would take it because he's really struggling right now. And uh, I can't blame it really on coaching. You could blame it on personnel a little bit, or maybe his health a little bit, but he is not taking the steps um where you're thinking to yourself, Wow, this guy is gonna keep getting better than we have somebody so far.

It's very much open ended at this point. So I would hold off on the massive extension, uh for Zach Wilson at this time, five year deal against league rules. I'm here to break rules for Dan, but the Baker contract is well within league limits. Yes, but it's not something that I desired the way that you think I do. All right, and uh, that is anybody else have anything? There you go and there are the gifts of the on the NFL podcast, I had a gift for Grave Digger,

but I'm gonna I'll deal with that in private. I'm peeking over at Mark's notes and I see the words POOPSI pie and minor road on road in brabies in all caps. I just want to know what was left on the It was a pet squirrel that you could have in your new house, very very calm squirrel that could sit with you on the even though I still have a scar from when he bit me. But that was that was my fault, that was not his fault. I don't remember his name anymore, but he was her name,

Gus Cherry, I mean, the whole gang. And speaking of gifts, we have one more for both us and the listeners. Here she comes, Connie Fox, heading into the studio right after this break. All right here she is. Welcome back, Connie Fox the tiny box. It's great to be back. Great to be here so festive and chair is really high. It's makes me feel self conscious. Side did that on purpose?

You've never been taller than me. I'd like to have you panic anyway, physically uncomfortable Right there, he is now raising his seat to be the tallest person in the room. Colleen's like five ft one and a half. All right, here we go before we get to Thursday Night and it's one of the best Thursday Night games of the year. Uh, Connie, you were behind the glass during that. Really I thought, um special moment for the show where we handed out gifts to each other. Did you have anything you wanted

to Oh? I thought that we were going to start with Nazi Germany. Um, just based on the previous part of the show. But I do have a gift for you, Mark. Yes, yes, it's such a it's a large box from the tiny box. It's the most sizeable. Yes, uh there ago. What so what is inside is an unending closet that is filled with a brand new wardrobe for you, so you do not have to worry about it ever again, and it will constantly change. It will be updated at no cost

for you. A very special gift. Yeah. Now, it's You've You've heard my pain points and you've responded in a very generous way, and I appreciate that. But can you make me one promise? Can you give me one more gift? Big Green stays in the rotation, keep Big Green in. I will, I will. That's gonna be challenging because with all things and it's just it's a rotating It updates trends so you don't even have to worry about cleaning out your closet and like making sure that things are

still in style. It just does it automatically. For what I specifically wanted, though, I want at least one compartment or one part of the wardrobe to be like the as I mentioned, like the Michael Irvin like pink suit with like the boa for and the I want I want to wear that on this show. He's you know that he does all of that like I've learned, and I've learned that he is. You know that that I was.

I was responding to everything during that podcast, walking around like the grossery store, and I was like, no, no, that's not how it works. Mark, Well, and I listen, I am a naife on that front. So I have like, I wear like four shirts on this show, and I need to change my ways. Did you know, Colleen, the green shirt I referred I referred to whenever Mark wears big green and I turned the corner, I see him the first time. I always go here. I am your

little army man. Oh yeah, yes, you are wearing that again. I've missed you, guys, Sergeant Cessler. All right, Connie, funny business. Did you think I nailed it with Greg and the patriot psychology? It was good. I thought it was good. I think I got him to realize it in real time. It's been a topic. It was a topic at my house. Your gifts are a little stinky, Dan, like they names like they be a part of period. And there was more of my mind, a blank of course I remember,

guess I love that. I love that little guy. In fact, I kept um it was never clear, but I kept a little picnic table that I bought that I put into the tree. Uh. And then my neighbor rich I taught him about the ways of the squirrels and and he took it. He took it on. So the squirrels continued to be fed by humans. That's great, what a story. And believe you saved that update till now. That was Chiefs Chargers from Sophi Stadium right across the sidewalk, preaka

give it, turn it up, my head set. Everybody's outen here. Oh and by the way, it's like cut c come home. Well, I am slathered all over this um the project. Hey, how many are we? I'm gonna miss the and then I'm gonna get, you know, destroyed about how we suck at my job. I think one thing you can do is you can take notes, Ricky. When you hear I do take notes, Mark, why don't you take a note that was a gift for me? That right there, Uh, just a little time code and then that way exactly

it's right there in front of you. You You don't have to Josh's going to murder you. I'm staying in this room. Yeah, just a little update the project that got cooking behind the scenes, a reworked version. Remember when um Paul McCartney was really upset with the Phil Specter Let It Be album that had all this production on it, so he released it was called Let It Be Ellipses Naked and

it was like a stripped down version. We will have a stripped down version of that pan hit at some point end of the season, and we have a very special musical artist handling handling the duties. It won't be Priana, but she wasn't my first choice anyway. And talk about a Christmas gift, holiday gift depending on what holiday you or whatever it is you're in supportive. Very good mark. Alright. The Chargers coming off a wamping, the Chiefs are nine

and four lead the NFC West. Uh, one of three teams in the a f C. Did you know that this is the first time in the history of our league since conference play began in nineteen seventy that there's a three way tie record wise a top both conferences entering Week four team. That is it is real? And Uh, that old stat that you brought up a few weeks ago Greg about how many teams were in the mix. We are still right there. There are twenty six thirty two teams within a game of the playoffs are currently

in position. That's where we're at playoff spots clinched with four weeks to go. That a dirt nap. That is exciting to me. So the Chiefs are nine and four. They're coming off a really big win as well, Connie. So you have two teams fighting it out for division supremacy here on Thursday night and both feeling pretty good about themselves right now. Yes, So I think the biggest headline going into this game his COVID and the playoffs

that won't be available. So I feel like let's just get that out of the way off the bat, because Chris Jones was added to the COVID list and it's still unclear if he'll be able to come back in time unless it's of like false positive. Yeah, that's that's one of the most talented defensive players. He's been amazing With Frank Clark, they've been all over quarterbacks. So that's going to be really important because on the other side of things, Rashawn Slater the Chargers left tackle. He also

tested positive for COVID. So when I saw that, UM thinking, okay, Justin Herbert, if he doesn't have his left tackle, this is going to be an issue with Chris Jones and Frank Clark on the other side. But now it's almost a little bit even because of those two guys being out. Additionally, Josh Gordon tested positive, the Chiefs wide receiver, and then you have probably hanging out with Manzel Baby who knows um.

So there's there's a lot of guys who whether it's through injury or COVID, their status is up in the air. Austin Ekeler, we saw that the Chargers running back. He heard his ankle um a short week, so we're gonna monitor his status. We're gonna see how he does. But there's there's so many things to look at in this game.

For me, I've been looking at the Chiefs defense because who hasn't and they've sort of risen from the dead, which is why it's such a huge, huge it's just Chris losing Chris Jones if they do in fact not have him for this game, it's massive. It's defense they've played so well, causing five turnovers in that last game against the Raiders. They've allowed more than twenty points just once since Week five, um not at all during the

six game winning streaks. So they've done a really great job taking pressure off of Mahomes with the takeaways the points scored off of those, giving him and the offense a short field, so he hasn't had to do all of the things that he was doing earlier in the season and pressing and doing that. He looks and this offense in general, they look efficient. They're spreading the ball around, they're moving the ball well. They've been great on third down, So we'll have to see how that plays out without

Chris Jones. That's what changed about the Chiefs more than anything was Chris Jones turned back into Chris Jones, one of the best interior defensive lineman in league. Frank Clark, who was terrible for about a month and a half in this season like a net huge negative, turned back into Frank Clark. And Melvin Ingram was a great pick up, Like thank you Steelers. He he has really helped in

terms of their interior rush. And when I saw Rachion Slater's out, I thought, oh, I was because I was thinking, I'm picking the Chargers in this game, and then I saw that and I, you know, I started to lose my nerve a little bit because Storm Norton is their right tackle a little bit of a problem. Then if you've got a problem at left tackle, yeah, you get

a little more worried. But now it's like this in all of these games, the availability just feels like it's so different which team you get on a week week basis. For instance, they were careful with Derwin James last week. Sounds like hell be back Joey Bosa. They were careful with two weeks ago. He kind of came out last week and he was fresher, like Chris Harris should be playing, Echoler should be playing. But you know, unless unless something pops up. So it's it comes down to that stuff.

And yet we know the Chargers can like go toe to toe with the Chiefs because they did it. They already beat him once this year in the game that actually the Chiefs racked up a ton of yards and went up and down the field, but it was the Charges, if you remember, at the end of that game, and I think it was week three or so, scored the last ten points uh and kind of closed out the Chiefs. Was like, Oh, is this a different Chargers team? Show it to us again and sweep them. This is that moment.

This is that moment for them, because I mean, they broke the Bengals two weeks ago. They absolutely decimated the mentality of the Giants by halftime last week. I mean, I'm not calling that the biggest achievement of the year, but the way that their offense has appeared over the past two games answers some of the concerns in the fretting over Joe Lombardi's scheme. In general, they are letting

just Ston Herbert be Justin Herbert. And we have tracked the Chargers as this hot and cold, up and down team snake bit to the last our entire podcast run. If they pull this thing off, they go nine and five, they take over the division, and they are something we've never seen before. And that's what I'm hoping will happen. I kind of remember, Greg, you're good with this history stuff. A few years back, Bill Rivers maybe going to Kansas City in a primetime game late in the season and

scoring a huge one. Yes, Okay, so that that was another I'm thinking of that game when I think of this game where the Chargers have an opportunity to really say hey, when you talk about the Super Bowl contenders, of course it didn't work out for that Chargers team. Has never worked out for a Chargers team when you talk about the big goal here. But this team they go and beat the Chiefs, and Justin Herbert plays at

the level he's been playing at recently. Some of the throws he's been making these last couple of weeks, What a great showcase for him. Like I'm taking my boys to the game on Thursday, and they are unrestricted free agents as football fans. Um they think they want to be Jets fans because they want their dad to love them. But they don't understand that I'm trying to push them away. But if I pushed too hard in that direction, we will only make Jack especially be like, no, I am

a Jets fan. So it's a very delicate dance. So money has helped me out. Got tickets to this game, and I'm gonna put them in their seats, and I'm gonna just pray that Justin Herbert goes to town on the Chiefs and lights them up. And I think it could happen and maybe they become Chiefs fans. Remember we did the fan Redraft took the Chiefs and that so mahomes Justin Herbert. That's just gonna be a showdown and a matchup we've been we getting to watch for a

long time coming. And Justin Herbert, he's played so well when he has solid protection, and that's been especially over the last two weeks. He's completing like seventy of his passes. His passes, six touchdowns, one interception. So losing Slater is such a big deal here because Slater is the only player on the Chiefs or the Chargers offense that has played every single offensive snap this year. That's what's like, you know, we've covered the COVID thing, but that's just

what's so deflating. Is like I think even for these coaches too, when you find out sometimes the who knows who will be out else will be out, that you have to do more adjusting than when re rerealize when suddenly you lose a tight end or a tackle, it's a total mess. I will say this about the Chargers like I they're starting to compel me in a way. Uh that is dangerous. So well, I'm going to this game too as a media member. What do you mean they're starting to compel you in a way that is dangerous?

What does that mean exactly? Please break it down. Like I think about them a lot. I mean it's also I can see you being a big fan of They have someone on the team named Trey McKitty. Have you noticed that Mickkitty? I mean that is a Mark Sessler name. If I have to, that's that's a present, okay, but that fits right into this beautiful I want to see Herbert. I know he played well against back against the Chiefs astime, but that Chief's defense at the time was giving up

like historic numbers. Since then, when Herbert's gone against a coordinator that's good at mixing up coverages and kind of making you hold the ball like, that's what stuck out to me. Uh with the Chiefs game last week and and really almost every week right now. He is making Derek Carr, for instance, who's you know, a bright quarterback, not being not sure with what he's seeing. And that's

what Herbert's done in his down games. And they've especially like attacked like the protection in terms of like knowing who even to stop and they're good on the back end, Like I kind of just believe in this Chief's defense at some point. To your point, the guys that unspooled him Vic Fongio, like Simmer, Belichick and wink Mark and Martindale. For the interesting Vegas has this at Chiefs laying three.

They got the wood out for three over under. It's the highest of any game this week at fifty two. So I could see into here. But also do I trust the Chief's offense not yet, That's what I was going to ask you, like, just the Chief's offensive general and Patrick Mahomes, because if they do win this game, then does it become okay? Are they Are they overtaking

the Patriots for that number one spot? Like I don't have to look at their schedule to see what they're how they finish out the you know, the Patriots have a tough schedule. The Chiefs is a little earlier. They're

all they're all tied. But yeah, I think to me, the Chiefs and the Patriots are the two best picks for the a f C Championship because there if they're winning this way, Like I was impressed or at least encouraged with the game that Mahomes had we go this game will be telling because the whole idea of like that we've heard ad nausea about playing the two high safety shells like that came from Brandon Staley. Like that

is what Brandon Staley wants to do as a defensive coordinator. Now, it didn't totally work in when they played early in the season, but they did force a couple of turnovers, like they are the stereotypical, you know, too high shell that's gonna keep everything in front of them. And they've definitely been playing better over the last month the Chargers defense, Like you're starting to feel like Staley's imprint is being on them their run defense though. Still, yeah, they've been

pretty good. They've been pretty good. They they've looked like like a more cohesive type of group. And Connie Fox, this is good news too. Just like we keep on here the Eagles, they don't get on a plane again. That's right, you don't have to get on a plane this week. That's right across the sidewalk here. Uh, maybe we'll even see you on Thursday night, Connie. I know you like it in my city, that's right. Yeah, anything else you want to add before you take goodbye. Um,

just great to see you guys. Fun times with the holiday party, thanks for saying by Mark, really cool view, huge hit on this on this party thing. Do you want to get a plug in for the split ends? Yeah, you guys need to check it out. Erica tamposey behind. Then he's like scrambling the other headset on. No. I was just gonna make a joke that it's like you have to remind Colleen to plug the show that we

do every week. She like it literally leaves her mind, like she does not even realize that she's on it. You sound like my friend podcast. He gets so mad at makes I've never promoted the show. Oh, by the way, amazing job Today on Good Morning Football with Kevin from the Office breaking down your favorite Kevin moments. Was that on the spot or did you know ahead of talk?

They gave me a heads up before we started. But I got a text from a g MFB producer today they want me to go back on the show tomorrow because Kevin or Brian Wednesday, he's co He's in the Nate chair all week, which is wild, and they want to do a trivia bowl My office knowledge versus his NFL knowledge, ye who I love tomorrow and a quiz you know the office as well as anyone that I know. Here's my concern. My strength is in the early seasons.

We've talked about him many times about you know, as the show went on, it lost a lot of steam. So as long as the questions are in that season one to four range, I don't think bomb Guarden Gardener's got a chance here. Yeah, but you need to go home. And I would go home and watch every one of every episode before this contest and throw that out as

a disclaimer. It was. It was fascinating and the fact that he threw out there that he only wore readers in that one episode, the Poker one, and he was an accountant and never once did you ever see him put readers on when he was at work. Uh. And that's one of my favorite shows ever. So that was very cool. Um. Connie, Yeah, all right, great to have you always there. She goes the tiny box. Connie Fox,

thank you everybody for listening. We'll be back on Thursday with two episodes, the full preview of week fourteen where we uh at all now uh, and also the tnfreecap of this excellent Chief Chargers game. Uh so, make sure you check in for that. All right, let us go listen. Flee Medica is no joke, Ricky. You put that collar on. Yeah, it's spicy. Appreciate it. Thank you very much, all right, and thanks for the baby Thursday. You got it. You gotta heat the call.