Week 17 Preview - Thank You For Saying That

on New Year's Eve? Um, we're back in our bunkers. Um. Do you ever get the vibe that perhaps we have like the gods are in the midst of like work shopping some type of extinction level event and you know, you know, a little drought here, a little fire there, a little mud slide here, a little pandemic here. Let's mix in some variants and now we have biblical rainstorms in Los Angeles, which a city cannot deal with. Um. Mark, I know you're you're well read in the in the

realm of scripture. Uh. Is this something? I feel like we're all about to break into Amy Man singing in our car as frogs fall from the sky. Yeah. I think there's something to it. Um. We've we've misused the earth for our materialistic pursuits for thousands of years. Um, and the Earth is angry. Yeah. I can't, I can't really top that as an answer. Yeah, it might not be a gradual decline. Um, it might be like a

swift decline that's going on. At least that's like the you mentioned the mud site, that the mountain, that the roads near us, near me at least there are like closed right now because because the mountains are falling into the earth and into the ocean. And I could feel the rain pounding on the roof here. Um, I hear sirens in the background. And I have not mentioned yet that this is everybody a very special addition of the Around the NFL podcast. It's the COVID nineteen edition with

Mark Seessler. Mark, this is where you talk to Mark. Yes, I have I found out this morning. Um, I've been dealing with like a cough for the last like thirty I don't know. It feels like a dream. But um, I got tested at work and I got it. I got the that I got the Corona in my body. There's a Kickers club and there's a Corona Club, and now you're in it. Well I think I picked the wrong club. But yes, it's you and you and Connie. Um,

it's too bad, it's too bad. You know you're not feeling well, So it sounds like, you know, I don't think you're gonna do the whole show here. Appreciate you know, just like seeing your face before we we wish you happy New Year, saying saying goodbye for the rest of the show. I'm now feeling like even having you on for a few minutes seems unnecessary because you just don't look well. I I just um, like I initially it

was just like this cough, It's no, It's gonna be fine. Like, but um, I I feel like I'm in a dream, but someone else's dream, Like I don't like it's think like the last hour, things started to get a little strange, and I like, I just hope it's a quick thing. It seems like it should be fine. You know. Yeah, we're not trying to really make light of it. But at the same time, man, sometimes you gotta try to smile and uh and try to get through life anyway

you can. But it is obviously in a situation and went ahead and they postponed the around the NFL broadcast tomorrow. So you know, I think it comes down to keeping it real with the audience. And I know, Mark it was important to you because you didn't want to just disappear to let everybody know that you're not feeling great.

But we hope to have you back on Sunday. And I think Greg I speak for both of us and Ricky, thank you, buddy for getting it out here and saying, well, I don't know if I've gutted it out to appear for like seconds on the show. But um, I thank you guys, because like it annoys me more than anything, because you know, it's early in the year that I was hospitalized for various you know, nonsense, and now this occurs. So I just, um, I need this year to end and I need the next year to begin. If that's

the plan. Now, we don't you to what you're describing. It's occurring on our earth. There's no guarantee, um, that that's the next thing in the next chapter in our lives. I don't know what's next. It's been a tough year. To put it mildly, we appreciate, we appreciate, you know, I guess off the topic, like I appreciate all the listeners that have stuck with us. Thank you listening to this episode especially it's like they could be on Christmas

break it's like the end of the season. Teams are out of it if they've made it to this portion,

Dan smiling here that those are the real people. But I don't blame the people that stop listening when when Chris died to keep it real like or that it was too hard for them too, it was hard to keep going doing the show, um, or they dipped out for a while and like came back whatever whatever you've done to come back here, or even if you haven't like we we appreciate you because you're you're keeping us going. Thank you for that. No, there you go, Mark, I did not say that in real time. I I also

appreciate the listeners. It's been a it's been a rough and rugged journey, um, but we're gonna keep going, absolutely so we will soldier on here with the week seventeen preview, Mark, please go get some rest and if you're up for it, we'll see you Sunday. If not, guess what, the NFL is nice enough to add another sea another week to the regular season so you can do next week's preview if if if you can't do this week's right, I

vow that I will be there Sunday. I vow it well, thank you, thank you for handling this what will probably be about a two and twelve minute presentation to come next. I um, I salute you both, thank you, thank you for saying that. There he goes, Mark says, so get well soon, buddy. Uh. And then there were two greggy uh, and we did. We scrambled the fighter jets looking for a third. But it's kind of hard to find somebody on short notice to do a pod that's not there's

for over sixty minutes and maybe two hours. So it's a two hander with Ricky behind the virtual glass and we're gonna get through with Greg. Well, plus we got marks um sound effects, you know, sound drops. I think we'll be fine. Basically every other podcast is like just two guys or two girls or one guy and one girl talking. So like, we we can handle this, right, miss Mark. We will, But I don't. I don't even like the insinuation that the show will be fine, you

know without Mark. I mean, that's that's kind of what you were saying there. That's not the insinuation. I'm just saying, like us as a two person entity, like we're professionals, we can handle this in a professional manner and um and really get people excited about the week seventeen slate. Yes, let's get into it. And if if I start floating away, just know that I do give you the green light to finish the show, Um solo and just keep rocking

it all right. If if you finished the show, I'm definitely not doing like the weird sponsored segments that you know. After all right, let's get into it. It's obviously a huge week in the NFL here with a lot of a lot on the line here at the playoffs. You've got set against the backdrop of as Mark situation has eliminated. Here once again, set against the backdrop of a global pandemic UH and a strain of the COVID nineteen virus that is taking out teams and leaving teams seriously shorthanded

just trying to survive. So we're gonna talk about the teams that are affected by that. Uh. We're gonna do with draft style, I think a good way to do it. When we get to the draft. Greggy is um hoping Mark's back and maybe if he's not back on Sunday, Nick Shook and step in we could draft four Mark.

So we'll we'll have to will take turns, put ourselves in Mark shoes, which probably just means drafted games that will be in our best estimation, hideous blowouts that end quickly, or we just give him the worst games possible and and see what happens there, because that could be good. Like Mark reaction on Sunday when you finds I like it,

I like it all right. Let's start with the prime time games though, uh, and we'll kick it off with Sunday Night football the Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers. This is a must win situation for the Vikings, who I have to say, Greg I as someone who's followed the Vikings closely, who's UM really enjoyed their season, being able to kind of live vicariously through Vikings fandom where the losses don't stick to my ribs, but the wins

are pretty exhilarating and even the games they don't win. Uh, there's a lot of entertainment value that has kind of gone gone by the board now and what's left is a team that doesn't UM look particularly good on offense. And I know Dalvin Cook is off the COVID nineteen list, so that will help UM a defense that was unable to get a big stop when it mattered against the Rams last week. So now they go to Green Bay

and their seasons on the line. And if you're the Packers, you're twelve and three, you're you got the a f C North locked up. Now you're looking to lock up that number one seed. If they take care of business here, they're right there at the precipice, they should do it. And yet I just don't think it'll be easy because it's the Vikings and Mike Szimmer has been so good against Aaron Rodgers over the years, including a month ago.

I know Rodgers played well in that game, but the defense made a couple of plays um to help be the difference and be surprising if the Vikings can put up that many yards and points again, remember they one what was at one? But this Packers team like they're not that dominant. There are there are one seed, but they've barely outscored opponents this year. They're still really shorthanded on the offensive line. Their center Josh myers Um is

still out like Billy Turner. Their tackle still we keep hurt hearing that bat was going to come back some day at some point it's like maybe he's not coming back. He's not back right um. Same thing with Zadarius Smith. Alexander is supposedly fifty fifty to play in this game and is practicing, so he was activated. He has not played for most of this season, and that's awesome news

for the Packers. But I just think between their covid situation, the Packers have a bunch of covid um issues this week. It's more depth, it's in their secondary. But like I just sort of expect this to come down to the last final few plays and in general, the Packers have won games like that, and that would be the way I think for this Vikings team Dan that we've watched all year and kind of enjoyed to really put a capper on it, They're not gonna just lose some boring

game as touchdown underdogs. They're gonna make it hurt for their fans and they're gonna like lose right at the end and they'll be another one of those like Aaron Rodgers. I'm just enjoying the moment, like postgame press convert and I can see that, and yet I can't shake the feeling that they've peaked as an entertainment brand and the

inconsistencies under Mike zimmer Um. I wrote about this in the Power Rankings that it's become tedious to the fan base, and it's fair to wonder now if it's going to be considered untenable by ownership, because I thought, you know, they came out pretty flat. Their season was essentially on the line at home against the Rams and they just got beat And I know the Rams are a very good team, but Matthew Stafford uh played poorly in that game.

Give Minnesota credit for making those plays on defense, the turnovers, but a lot of those balls were just He's throwing them up for grabs and and they took advantage of those opportunities. And I just thought, as I watched the offense and Adam Feeland, and this is something that I've come back to a couple of times now since he went out with that ankle, you could closely tie the Vikings downfall on offense. And now theland is out for the year. Um, barring a the playoff run from Minnesota,

he's having ankle surgery. So tried to come back last week after missing a couple of weeks, reaggravated it went back in the game. Uh finished that game and then was diagnosed with an injury that needed surgery. So Theland's out of the picture. Um, I don't know where you come down and on Osborne as the guy could fill in and be that capable number two guy. But I think this is gonna be different than uh, the other

Vikings games. I think this is a game the Packers win, let's say, and they just kind of take care of business and Aaron Rodgers will be interviewed after the game. And did you see the Aaron Rodgers postgame interview on Christmas because I found it notable when Rogers was talking about ross Will Douglas and the big impact he has had. Here was the Rogers conversation with Aaron Andrews when there was socially distance and then they were in a deep

embrace immediately after the interview. Kid it Ricky, you know, we got a little conservative in the in the fourth quarter, but you know we got a first down when it count in. And obviously, Russell and the defense has been so incredible. I mean, talk about an all time pick up mid season. Russell Douglas is changed our defense, changed our team, and I'm proud of our guys. It's not pretty, but it's a win. I want to assume that the general manager Brian Goodkins had a big role in signing

Russell Douglas off the Cardinals practice squad in October. Does that count as a compliment towards Goody and is it's starting to feel like Aaron Rodgers is back. This was an unsolved mysteries that I almost threw out there about what how this all plays out. But I thought that was notable Greg that he was giving the front office some love there in a very public spot. I think he'll be back. First of all, he doesn't hold all the cards here. He's under contract for another year and

they said we will talk about it. Contracts no matter. But I think they're just gonna get I think he's gonna want more money. I think they're gonna give it to him, because how could they not. And I think it was notable this week. He also said, I'm not gonna I'm gonna have an answer pretty soon after the season. I won't make them weighed around. And already that's showing a consideration for the team that he certainly wasn't showing

a year ago. I think he knows what he's gonna do, and I think he wants to get get paid and maybe get Jordan's love out of that building. This goes across all Jordan's love taking a sniper shot at the end there. I just mean likely he will just be like, can you just get rid of love to you know by the way this cuts across, Or maybe he doesn't see Jordan's love as a threat so he doesn't mind if Jordan Let's still in the building at this point. But it doesn't matter what sport it is. Winning cures

everything and puts everybody in a better mindset. However, if things turned south and there was a sour ending to the season, things could change as well. So a lot of robbed of our film room experience. Though I was looking this would be a fun one. We would have been in there watching this game Sunday night. It's kind of been building to these late games, like we were gonna be there. You know, we got Chris Rose there,

we got MGD, we got the producers. Like, um, I feel robbed that maybe we'll get Week eighteen, like will be Brown's Bengals to win the af C North. Maybe, Well, we've been in the NFL network theater. The building is mostly shuttered at this point on in some level, so

we won't be uh at the office on Sunday. I do like asking m j D about his uh random apartment complex that he owns in Kansas City that he you know, somebody talked him into it as an investment, and he's like just telling me, like how he's got that thing, you know, in better condition and and cleaned up the tenants situation. I'm just like, tell me all about it, m j D. Tell me about your random

apartment condo complex in Kansas City. I mean, that's that's more interesting in the game to me talking about his real estate endeavors. He's got a lot of inside stuff. I'm not gonna reveal his sources and stuff, but he has been ahead of the game on some big breaking news story, so ms he has all right, let's move

to the other primetime game. I kind of get why Mark, on top of not feeling well, wasn't really looking to hang around and talk Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers because I think Mark count him as one of the Browns fans. That just feels like the anvil is hanging over the heads of everyone in the franchise. At this point, the season has been refrustrating um, but it kind of comes down to this now they uh, they need this game where we at your with your greg your playoff calculations,

Cleveland Pittsburgh. Is it Losers done? Are we at that level? I know Pittsburgh's tie makes things a little more interesting. They depend on what happens in the Sunday games. But if the Bengals and Ravens both lose and they're both underdogs Bengals have the Chiefs, Ravens have the Rams, uh, then the Browns can be winning in Then this is like a game here where the Browns can force their way uh into winning the division. And the same is

true for for the Steelers. If they won this game, they they wouldn't control their fate because they would still be um just trying to stay alive and hoping for a Bengals loss in Week eighteen. But that's the thing. Like, of all the weird scenarios this week, I feel like this is the most realistic. Okay, we'll get to those other two games, but I think they're underdogs for a reason.

I think the Browns will go into this game knowing that They're still alive in the a f C North, and I think they've got a great offense to go up against this lousy Pittsburgh run defense. They were thirtieth in the league in run defense d v O w A. For all the grief that Ben Roethlisberger has understandably taken this year, because their offense is unwatchable. They haven't scored up touchdown in six straight games going. That's the first time the Steelers have done that, going back to in

the first half. That touchdown in the first half for six straight games. Their defense stinks too, and a bad run defense. I know they played well the last time against the Browns, who were kind of banged up at the time, but a terrible run defense has given up rushing yards to every team against Cleveland. This is winnable, and even with Mark not here, I'm hopefully he's gonna listen to this because I'm locking it up for the Browns. Oh, you know, they they served me well last week. I

the rainmaker, rainmaker, Mark, you know, wants of money. They didn't win the game, but they Mark, thank you for just trying to clear the runway for that drop. I couldn't get Greg to pipe down. Alright, so you have been overvaluing the Browns all season. Um, I don't know why you still have this feeling that the Browns are a good team. You said, I think you said they have a good offense. They don't have a good offense. I said they have a good offense to go against

this Pittsburgh team I don't carry against. They're just ran for two hundred yards on the Packers. Uh. And they're gonna get healthier in terms of their COVID list on their offensive line. They get two of their best players back. I feel good about this. And by the way that you know the rainmaker, Uh, they want us. They won some money last week, fictional money, all right, Well, since that their season high point, which was that seen win over the Bengals, uh, way back in Week nine. Here's

their point totals and games. And I don't want to oversimplify things, Greg, but points matter. It ultimately comes down to points seven, ten, fourteen. This is not a high scoring team, and I know Pittsburgh is not a high scoring team. So I get you could say the Browns could you know, win a game. I wouldn't rule it

out because I don't think Pittsburgh is very good at all. Um, but I just don't think and I'm not saying you're saying this, but I feel like you're kind of still hinting at it that there's gonna be some special Cleveland energy and there's gonna be a big performance here and they're gonna once again remind us why, Uh, some people were picking them as a super Bowl team. I think that ship is sailed. Teams are worth so much worse than when they played each other in the playoffs, both teams.

But you locked up the Browns just now, and I'm just curious what you saw in the last two weeks and now Pittsburgh. I know it is a middling team themselves that are struggling, but like you feel that confident that they're a better team that are gonna beat the Steelers. That surprises me. You gotta pick one one of these and uh, I'm well out of the lock race anyways. I don't believe in this Steelers team whatsoever. They're so bad on both sides of the ball. Yes, yes, they

could win. Um, it's Ben Roethlisberger's last home start. Ever, you know they're trying to sell tickets. I saw this like you know, for extra money, like come to see Ben's last performance, you know, and it's going for a lot on the secondary market, so they'll be juiced up. But man, this team is broken, Like every passing play is a difficult four yard completion. The defense isn't good. I just think the Browns are are a better team. All right, we will see how it plays out. I

think it's a field goal game. Um, certainly wouldn't be surprised of the Browns win, but I wouldn't be surprised. And you know, I think we're gonna see something here with the Steelers before we moved to the draft in the off season, because he has Ben basically has come out and said it now, this is it for him. Um. I think because they have t J. Watt, because they believe they have makea Fitzpatrick. They have pieces on each side of the ball. Um, Jante Harris, Juju Smith, Schuster,

Naj Harris like you, uh, Jante Johnson. You I think they're gonna make a big splash for a quarterback in the off season, Like and it's not a great draft class for qbs, and I don't know if they're looking to develop one right now. I know it's not a Steeler's move, but that's like an early prediction. Maybe I should have saved it for a sandwich prop. It's not too late that the Steelers come out of the off season with a veteran quarterback of note, you can see that.

All right, let's pause right here. We got a break. We'll be right back. All right, welcome back. Let us now move to Sunday. There is no Thursday night game, so we got a butt ton of games here. Greggy, Yeah, we gotta pick up the pace. No by weeks. So let's get into the draft. I have the first pick, followed by Mark, followed by Greggy. All Right, here we go. I didn't even get a chance to kind of take a look at this. Things have been a little weird.

It's important. There's a big week. I will start though, with Kansas City at Cincinnati. That feels like a good one. That's probably been That's the consensus one. Trevor Lawrence doesn't always work out well, but that's the consensus. Don't count out Trevor yet. We'll get to that. Uh, Kansas City at Cincinnati, Here we go. Because the Bengals are the best team in the NFC North I think we've seen enough. But at the same time, we've also been sucked into

the Cincinnati experience already this year. Uh Mark Sessler did notably UM when they won those back to back games and they got blown out by the Chargers and then lose a home game in overtime to forty Niners and came down to Earth let the division catch back up again before these last two wins. But I don't know, am I crazy? Greg? That it feels different this time. The fact that it's later in the season, the fact that Borough delivered a historic passing performance UM on Sunday.

I know the Ravens are absolutely destroyed by injuries and COVID, but it still was meaningful to see them bully a team that has bullied them for decades. And I think there's some momentum here that would lead to something special happening against the Chiefs, something that because imagine what happens. Imagine a scenario, Greg, and I'm not locking up the Bengals, but imagine a scenario where Cincinnati beats the Chiefs ends Kansas City's a game winning streak. Think how we'll be

thinking about the Bengals at that moment. They will of a sudden, it seemed like an a f C legit, real deal contender, and in this strange year, I don't think that's a crazy thought. I kind of like Cincinnati's chance to chances to keep their momentum going here. Well, the difference is that Joe Burrow is like a top five quarterback right now. I think something clicked him for him in that Pittsburgh game. Now it's weird because I know they lost the following two weeks, but that's that's

why I like doing QB index. In those two following weeks where they lost, he played sensational and it almost felt like they weren't letting Burrow cook. And last week they let Burrow cook. And I hope that's there plan moving forward because they can't count on this defense to hold Kansas City down. They have such a unique um skill set in having two outside receivers and Higgins and

in Chase. I know Boyd's great in the middle and everything, but no one else has two outside receivers quite like that. In Burrow um mentally, like going through his progression so fast, like his pocket movement. I know today that Spagnola compared him to a young Brady just which is a lot, but I think maybe it's the pocket movement that really gets him talking like that. And just like the quickness.

There was a touchdown to Mixing last week where like he saw his first two you know reads were done zo so quick that he gets the ball to Mixing in time for Mixing to make a play after the catch and go score a touchdown. And that's the type of Brady type stuff that the Burrow does. Um yeah, I I totally can see Burrow keeping it up. It just feels like I'm with you that he is now jumped up a level. He's leveled up here, and um

the what I love. I love his attitude. He reminds me in some ways of Baker in terms of a personality. That he's feisty, that he plays with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, but he has more. He has elite skills as a passer and he you know, as you talked about, I think on the broadcast last week, he's moving really well. Um, so he's just I think playing in the game with so much confidence. Kansas City's defense obviously has been good all season. They carried them

um during some really rough times. For the offense. Uh. You know, during most of the season, it isn't It is notable that they've been a much better team, UM, defensively at home this year. They've allowed seventeen points per game at home, almost twenty five per game on the road. The last time they were on the road, Uh, it was a game I was at here at SOFI Stadium and the Chargers and Justin Herbert and other young Sensation quarterback uh really had his way with the Chiefs defense

in multiple spots. I know they made some big fourth down stops there, but they were moving the ball up and down the field on them. So, you know, it's one of those things where I respect what Kansas City has done on defense, but I I don't feel like this is Bears. This is not the two thousand Ravens. And I could see Burrow moving. I like a shootout here, Greg, and I like I like the Bengals, and like that changes the temperature in the a f C. Wow, let's do it. I'm not with you at all. In fact,

I'm going the whole opposite way. You convinced me that the Browns maybe weren't the best lock in the world. I'm locking up the Chiefs here, I'm changing my mind because it's like the old times. You don't get that any chance to lock up the Chiefs when when Byron Pringle is running all over you. To me, that felt like this like Canary in the coal Mine edition. It's like, oh, the Chiefs are back. When Byron Pringle and Derek Gore dropping thirty on you in the first half, I'm like, Okay,

they're getting their secondary guys. Mahomes look so comfortable last week. I think Burrow could keep up in a shootout, but I don't think it's a fair fight because I do think the Chiefs defense is a lot better than the Bengals defense. So I'm locking them up. You convinced me. I still like that Brown's pick, but uh, I like the Chiefs more. Okay, that's fair. Right, Let's now move to the Mark pick. I will I'll pick from Mark first. Here, greg Um, what do we want to do? Do we

want to give him bad games for fun? Now? I mean he's under the weather. We should be nice. What would Mark want to cover? I think that's a well. I I have self interest here, and I can't even pretend you know that I don't care because I do care about what I'm watching this Sunday. It's Week seventeen, sneaky, sneaky, good week. You know, these last two weeks like things are finalized, you know, all right, so you usually I don't care, but this week I care. So I'm picking four. Mark.

You have its snakes with you, so you get the next two picks. So you just gotta hope that I don't pick that game that you really want right now, right, that's what we're getting at here, right, don't Yes, that's true. I should have kept my mouth shut. Arizona Dallas. That's it. No, I won't take it. I just was guessing, and I guess correctly. Let's give Let's give Mark. Okay, let's give him by any Dolphins at Tennessee Titans. That's a good

that would have been my next one. UM. Alright, so the Dolphins, we know the story now, first team ever to lose seven or row wins seven arrows same season. Uh two has been pretty good. I still I'm not blown away by to it, but I know he's obviously played a role in this UM comeback season for the Ages. Here Jalen Waddle, Um, I really liked the George godzy

game plan. They seem to understand that this is the guy they need to unlock week after week, the way Kyle Shanahan uses Deebo Samuel for instance, like get the ball in this guy's hands. He's a playmaker. But here's a test. Now, this is a test. I've been waiting for this so long, Greg, for the Dolphins. Maybe this is the a f C East guy in me. It's like not that there's been a parade. Hank going back and forth on Twitter. You don't like that the Dolphins

fans are chirping right now. I don't like it because I feel like they should also get it a little bit, and I think they do. They just don't want to say it. Um that they need to have a real impact win or a high profile win. Maybe I'll give you the Thursday Night against the Ravens a month ago, but we know the raven season was heading um, But that doesn't matter. I will say this about the Dolphins.

I thought the game against the Saints, even though it was a totally stacked deck against New Orleans, obviously with Ian Book playing, I think Miami in prime time, having the time of their lives flying around the field. I think it might carry more weight than some might think. I think they're starting to really believe now like they I think they I got the vibe of a team that's gonna go into this week knowing a there's a lot of knuckleheads like me that are doubting them and

be feeling like they can beat everybody now. So I think it's a dangerous game. I'll start there. You take it away, yeah, I mean they gotta feel like really confident after winning seven games. These two teams are so similar though. They're like really good defensive fronts. They're really good defensive game plan teams where they change who they are depending on the week. Very flexible secondaries like Tennessee's defense, to Mike Vdiable's credit, is a lot better this year

than it's ever been before. U too really bad offensive lines, two quarterbacks that kind of have to overcome it. Each team have their like one wide receiver um that stands out in in a J Brown and Waddle. But that's that's why I like the Titans just by a little in this game because to me, Tannehill on nights like that San Francisco game, he's pretty close to special. I know he's not like elite, but he hit eight third and longs in that game, eight like half of them

is while he's getting blasted. Um, and I just love that watching that dude. I just think he's kind of turned into this underrated quarterback and they've been in these games, and I guess I'm not quite ready to give TWA and Waddle the edge when I see so many similarities. Otherwise, Yeah, Miami's defense is probably a little bit better, but it's not that different. I think Tennessee and and this team

that has killed me. By the way I was talking with Graver, I think I'm like, I think I like locked up against the Titans probably three or four times this year and was wrong every single time. So that's that's the story of my Locks season. But it's kind of the story of like anyone doubting this Titans team. Yeah, and I think Tannehill. You may have heard that he was a wide receiver of Texas A and M before

he became a quarterback. Maybe it makes sense, like when you connect the dots that he's a tough ass dude, because you cannot play wide receiver at any level. Uh, if you're afraid to get hit or can't take a hit and he just gets walloped and always seems to pop back up, hangs in the pocket, keeps his eyes downfield. I like Tannehill, and I think sometimes Greggy with the locks game, and I am ahead in the locks. Um. I have a two game lead on Mark with UH

two weeks ago in the regular season. We count the playoffs as well, so I'm in a good position, um, And I don't like to something I think Mark has gotten into trouble with where you kind of want to your pick locks to kind of get behind a team that you believe in, because that's that's picking locks with your heart, not your head. But sometimes you gotta kind of you gotta put your money where your mouth is.

So if I'm saying I don't really believe in Miami, and I'm saying I thought that Tennessee win against San Francisco kind of it was almost like they had disappeared from the picture. They were gone for a month and a half and they were back with a J. Brown. So I like Tennessee here. I like them so much that I'm gonna lock them up on Sunday to take out the Dolphins and break Henry Hotchins heart. Uh. You're not playing the our Lady of the Worthless Miracle anymore.

Dolphins fans, Now you've got a real opponent. That's good. You gotta stand behind your take. I feel like you've been dogging this Dolphins team. Plus this is what you can do with the two game lead. Yeah, I've got this lock trophy here right next to me. Dan, I'm the back to back defending champions. I'm not going to be winning this year. Champion, no ties, no nothing. And by the way, it was like it was like Cruise City. I didn't even have to sweat out the final conference

champage of the Super Bowl. You might be headed that way. I gotta bring this in because it's no longer mine. I'm I'm I'm well out of it. Jan. I don't know if this matters, but as of maybe four minutes ago, A. J. Brown still not practicing on Thursday, what's his malady? That was not aware? P bole are saying, like in the

comments it was a rural world tweet. People were saying covid like follow the tea leaves or let him rest because it's a not going to be a you know, well, I will not be locking up the Titans if a J. Brown is not playing, because we've certainly seen enough of the Titans without J. A J. Brown this year than Rigulio in a In a number of other people, including Westbrook A. Kina went on the COVID list on Monday. It should be noted, but based on the new rules,

those guys could come off by Sunday. As we taped this, this stuff is all it's fluid. It is fluid, all right now, Greg, it moves to you. I'm taking that Cardinals Cowboys game. It's it's by far. You see the act. You see that act of kindness. That was nice. I admit I don't normally really care what s bottom picking. I'm happy with whatever game. I'm gonna watch them all anyways. But it's like week seventeen, we've got clinching scenarios. We've

got like how is this story gonna end? Scenarios like I want to see this game and the other two late games are kind of dogs. They moved them out of the way, so this one get a big rating, and uh, I want to see like the Cowboys in a real spot. They've kind of had an easy schedule to here, Dan as they've been beating up these NFC East teams with their defense and when their offense was struggling.

There hasn't been a lot of like, okay, statement Cowboys games, and when you had one, it was against the Chiefs and it didn't go very well. So you got the Cardinals. And one reason I'm excited about this game, as I saw on Thursday, Rodney Hudson back at practice, Rondelle Moore

back at practice, James Conner back at practice. Uh but you know Hopkins isn't coming back right now, but especially Hudson and Connor, Like people kind of overlook that in that Colts game because it's like both sides have these COVID issues and you don't know like which one matters more of It's like that offense just can't handle move

losing that many good players. James Connor has been amazing, Hudson is an all pro type center, and so they're back, and so I I like, I like the Cardinals plus five. At the very least, I'm not giving away that many points to Kyler mri one. I haven't. I don't care how he's looked lately. But I'm just excited to see see what happens in this game. Because if the Cowboys offense really is hitting their stride as we get into the playoffs, like they could get that one seed with

a little help here from Minnesota. They have the tie breaks on the one seed Dan, So if they win these two out and the Packers lose, like they're gonna get the one seed, which would be totally crazy. Yeah, I mean thirteen and four would be well learned. I think I was getting some heat. I was taking some fire with the power rankings because I didn't move the

Cowboys into the top five off the Washington win. But I think what you need to do with some of the where we are in our league right now is like, all right, so they put up they had a forty two seven half time lead, Like that was a Washington team that wasn't a very good team to start with, that was missing, missing a ton of guys to injury in covid in a quarterback who couldn't even lift a

laundry basket a couple of days before the game. So while I credit everyone involved for the win, because that's always a good thing to do in the NFL, uh, let's calm down with acting like now the Cowboys are locked and loaded run to the Super Bowl. However, they go and they lay it on Arizona here. Um, I'm all in on on Dallas. So I think it's like kind of like, all right, Dak looked a lot better in his two and a half quarters. Um. Now if he does it against a team that has um, you

know they're playing with urgency here. They still have a chance at the NFC West. The Cardinals here, Um, I know it's not looking so hot after the three straight losses. I agree with you, James Conner, especially um and always offensive line play and health is vital, but honor has been such a huge part of what they do. You can't take Connor and Hopkins out and expect Kyler Murray to continue to do his job. Um. So that's a

big addition. I just wonder if the Cardinals and you talked about it on Tuesday, I think a little bit, or maybe it was Sunday, Like, I wonder if they're just they've taken on some water here mentally. That and I wonder with the coaching staff if they're up to the challenge here of digging out of this hole. I'm not sure if they're there. I think it's a coaching mismatch. I like the Cowboys coordinators better in general. Uh. And the Cardinals can still win the NFC West. They're only

one back of the Rams. The Rams play the forty Niners next week, who have been kind of a nightmare matchup for them. So like this is this is a big game. If the Cardinals lose, they'll they'll be locked into that into that sea. It's a great game though, and I think it's uh, I assume this is gonna be a bucking Achman game, right. It feels like they're born. Romo is at since and at a Kansas City early

for you, Oh look at that. I actually, you know, when you were giving me a little gup for crowing about the Denver Raiders game last week, I kind of stumbled into a Romo game, right, Oh no, no, it was Pittsburgh. I was Pittsburgh. I had that game as well. Uh. And and Romo suffered through that game like the rest of us. Um, all right, it snakes to you, all right, I'll take the Rams Ravens early. I um don't know as we tape this if Lamar Jackson's gonna start, but

I'm guessing that he won't. They had some footage at practice. Did you see that on Wednesday? He was walking with a limp, not running with a limp, not running at half speed, walking with a limp. It looked like that Marshall the clip of Byron left which at Marshall where like his offensive lineman end up carrying him down the field like Lamar could barely get from the twenty to the forty. What are we doing here? And then he

didn't practice on Thursday. To be clear, by the way, all those Cardinals guys they said they were back at practice. We don't know for sure if they play, but usually that's a great sign. The fact Lamar is out of practice after giving it a go is a pretty strong indication to me, um that this miracle is not coming for this team. Tyler Huntley was taken off the COVID list. The Ravens who had it felt like their whole team on the COVID list at some point has basically everyone off.

So even though they're still very injured, uh, they don't have the COVID problems right now. But it shouldn't matter because the Rams are going up against the thirty ranked past defense according to d v o A in Baltimore, and I know Stafford struggled last week, but you just think that the Rams have the players to take advantage.

It's really not all about quarterback and the offense. For Baltimore, I think they've done a good enough job if they somehow had an old school Ravens defense, but they just haven't had that all year, and injuries I think have hurt the defense more than anything. Yeah, I especially and and Tyler Huntley looked good obviously before he disappeared on the COVID list. But I don't like the way this shapes up at all for the Ravens, a team that's

that's taken on too many hits at this point. Now do we put anything into the Rams traveling cross country a game they should win, maybe having a flat performance. I do not rule this team out for for something like that. Although I really have liked what I've seen from the Rams the last couple of weeks. I love the way they played against the Vikings. They just were the better team for four quarters in a game where the Vikings should have had all the urgency to put

up a one last stand at home. So I really like where the Rams are at it as a team. Their offense made big plays with Cooper Cup, the defense made big plays. Uh, special teams made a huge play on a punt return. Um. So I the Rams are would be my pick in this game if I were in the Rosenthal game pick situation. But I guess there is something to be said for the Ravens and they're they're coaching, and their I the Tiger in a big spot year. I think maybe it's a close game, but

I like the Rams, right. I mean, if you think about before last week, the Ravens were in one score games going back five six weeks again against some good teams, including the Packers. So they've been feisty and they have the best special teams in the league, and the Rams have just about the worst. So if you're looking for something to hang your hat on Ravens, it would be it would be special teams. I could see them stepping up.

I still feel like they're dangerous somehow, Like if they could somehow win one of these last two games and get a ton of breaks, like I would not want to see John Harbor Lamar in a one game situation. Odell Beck him. By the way, I have some numbers for you before we move on. I just wanted to throw this out here. He's played the exact same games amount of games for the Browns and the Rams. For the Browns he had seventeen catches two and thirty two yards.

For the Rams, he has twenty catches two hundred and forty eight yards uh for both. He seems to have about three miss communications with his quarterback every week. I I have not been on the it's so those fault sort of bandwagon, but something's go went on here and they need a secondary to receiver to step up. Last week, if they had lost that game, it was partly because they couldn't find a completion to anyone not named Cooper, Cup, Jefferson, O d B. The tight ends just we're not getting

it done, and O dB was a big part of it. Yeah, I I obviously been tracking the same thing as well. And it's like, I thought it was unfair that that Baker was hung out to dry the way he was in that that whole situation, And I didn't think it was particularly noble the way Beckham handled himself there. And it doesn't surprise me because it's been it's been a while since Beckham was a real, you know, impact player. Now he does have I believe three touchdowns. That's a

big difference. He didn't score it off for the Brown and look like he's helping them. They it's better that they have them than they don't, and I think they could use a little more if they want to go win a super Bowl, is what I'm saying. Right, He's he's weird because it's not a situation where it's like, well, that's because Beckham's not physically talented anymore. Like the route he ran on the touchdown against the Vikings was a

great little route in the red zone. Was like, oh, look how quick he is, and look how guys trying to cover him get lost. And he's had certainly moments with both teams where he's been opened and his quarterback has missed him. But I just don't know if he's a guy. Yeah, like you're saying necessarily that you could trust as you're locked and loaded number two. Um, this is gonna be an important last few games of the season for him, all right, now, let us move now

to the next Mark pick, and you're on it. Oh, I'm on the Mark pick. All right. Well, I'll take a late game for him. Then he just doesn't have anything. Before we move on, there's someone else that has a comment. Hello heroes, fill again this week. I hope everybody had a great Christmas. This week we are picking the Rams over the Ravens. The Ravens secondary got torched against the Bengals last week and now they go up against Stafford Cup and O b J. We expect the same results

this week. Aaron Donald had six sex in December. It was named defensive Player of the month. You're sure to cost trouble for whoever is playing QB for the Ravens. Rams over Ravens. Lock it up. You know, I like Phil Phil. They all bring a different little sizzle and style to it. But feels more no frills, feels like this is why I'm making the pick. This is what I'm thinking. There's not more frills. Give me more frills, Phil, more more? Um, you know, don't I don't need the

offense defensive player of the month. Give me, give me some personality, or bring Macki back. Hang on a second, Well, we'd love to have Macki back in the mix, but let's let Phil be Phil. Okay, we don't need him to be playing a different role. You don't want Phil trying to act like Nick, and we don't want Nick trying to act like Phil. That's true. Phil is um is a beautiful guy. You don't feel straight shooter. He's the same same Phil every day, which feels a good

dude and feels like that warm sweater. You pull that warm sweater over your head and you know you're in good company. You're safe. All right, let's move on. Phil's wife's like, what, let's take a break, be right back. All right, what's the market? I'm gonna this really would be Mark spec It's Houston San Francisco in the late window. Uh, it's not. It's not. It's just like not only a potential blowout, but it includes his forty niners. Uh, it's perfect.

I'm almost disappointed that we don't have our network show. Well, I am disappointed, but like for the main reason is, like I wanted to do a bit where we give the Texans two minutes because Davis Mills has earned it, you go stomp the Chargers out in what Football Outsiders had as one of the five best offensive performances uh according to efficiency of any team in any game all

season by the Houston Texans office. Last week, they scored a touchdown like every freaking drive, and so Mills playing a little well and Trey Lance starting this game most likely for San Francisco. As we tape this, Jimmy G as in practice. Yet it is pretty. It is interesting. This is this is a pretty It's a lot more interesting than I would have expected this game to be a couple of weeks ago. I think this is wild. I think it's uh. I think this tray Lance situation.

Now as we record this, Jimmy G didn't rule out playing on Tuesday, I believe or Wednesday, but he didn't practice on Wednesday. I don't know if he has a has a thumb injury, and and we we didn't talk about that on Tuesday. Ligament his thumb, the U c L and then a chipped bone in that thumb, so the thumbs jacked up. Um. And it makes all the sense in the world that you get to look at

Trey Lance here in a very favorable matchup. I think it's what makes it fascinating is if Trey Lance, let's say, okay, let's say Tray Lance starts against the Texans and runs for ninety three yards and two touchdowns and completes his passes for another touchdown, doesn't turn it over like after what we've seen, and he electrifies the offense. Do you do you then go back to Jimmy G to close the season or will Kyle Shanahan will plant the seed that keeps, that keeps Tray Lance maybe in the lineup.

Is that potentially in play? You think? I know has ad moments this year, but it's a huge opportunity. I think Shanahan it's not like he'd be rooting for this, clearly he Jimmy G was the guy who was going for But I think he might be excited about this opportunity because Tray Lance taking over in week sixteen is not the same as Trai Lance taking over in week five. Number one. They're healthier offensively, They're better offensively than they

were back then. Debo Auk is rolling Debo's healthy kittles healthy. There were issues when Lance came in. He's also had a chance to practice and be around and they said he's looked great at practice, YadA YadA. But more than anything, it's like they're springing something new on defensive coordinators here. I think he would like that that if if they can win this game tame clinch a playoff spot. They're gonna play the Rams next week. That'll be a tough test.

Like whoever they play in the first round suddenly has to prepare for Trey Lance. And if you get the ball rolling downhill, they're they're not. I think they know they're not winning a super Bowl with Jimmy g I sort of expect at this point Trey Lance to be their starting quarterback the rest of the year unless he's bad. Unless he's bad, I have no idea how will play. But if he plays well, I would assume they're just

gonna go with it. Well, that's why it makes it such a fascinating situation now and now factor this in Greg, because this is really a huge storyline here. Um, I'm in my fantasy championship okay back in August. Uh and it's your fault. But you know what, I shouldn't have been so um My ears should have been more closed. I should have made my own decisions. You were so high on Lance, Well, I hope you listened to my decision to play Damien Harris over Michael Carter in the semifinals.

That decisn't worked out pretty well. How about job thank you on that, although Michael Carter did have about hundred and forty yards and there's someone else involved to a J. Dillon. Yeah. Yeah, So I took Trey Lance in the fifth round of Fantasy Draft in August. Okay, I also took Christian McCaffrey and new Copkins, and yet here I am in the finals. What a story this has been. But I I held on to him for two months, waiting for the moment where Kyle would say, let's do this thing, let's roll,

and it just never happened. I think it was one of the more surprising aspects of the season to me that Jimmy g hung on to the job. So what did I do? I picked him up off waivers and I got I'm a little heat check Reggy sliding Tray Lance into him as my second quarterback. Uh well, I don't really have a second quarterback this season, but Taysom Hill or Tyler Huntley, those are options. Huntley is a

pretty good option. Yeah, I mean he's been like when he started, he's been like a top ten but sometimes but yes, I like I like the way the cosmos have lined up here this season. For me, I feel like the football g the fantasy gods are saying, all right, we know you you wanted this. Here he is in Championship week against the Texans. Is it gonna happen? I

don't know, but we'll see. I think it's just exciting forget about mostly focused on my fantasy matchup everybody, but also on what it could mean to the in the NFC if Trey Lance balls out, if even plays. Yes, I don't know if I like them better than Huntley, though I'm on the record there Huntly okay, But I think the Texans defense has been sneaky solid. I would say for about half the season. The last half, they've been solid. They're a mid level defense in general. I

think I don't because I did. I did kind of positive early in the UH during the summer that David Culley was being asked to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic and would be swept out. I would be very surprised if Culley didn't come back next year. I think they've liked Dan Campbell has made the most of a little they've They've won the same amount of games this year with Mills and Tyrode as they did last year with Deshaun Watson. How about that. Yeah, that's pretty

that's pretty crazy. All right, let's move on. Now heads to me. I want to grab a Lake game, but they're both very bad, so I'm gonna I'm gonna slide my eyes away from that and back into the early window. And why don't we go and get um Las Vegas at cults. The cults are all right. Congratulations Raiders. No matter what happens in these last two weeks, people won't be able to say you completely collapsed at the end of the season, even if you lose these last two games.

I feel like they're in a little bit fitting considering the city they play, and it's a little bit of a house money situation for the Raiders. Now they've staved off a really ugly and to their season. They won these back to back December games by narrow margins to keep themselves in the playoff race. They beat playoff contenders to get back to eight and seven. Now they go to Indie and again, welcome to the two thousand one

NFL season. As we tape this, Carson Wentz is in the COVID nineteen protocol, but they did change those rules, so if he is not positive and I don't unless I miss something. I haven't heard anything that he was actually he had COVID nineteen. You know, they did confirm he had it, but he does have to show no symptoms, so he'll get activated on Saturday. Don't get excited because they have to officially activate him regardless. So they will

do that almost certainly unless he's definitely out. But then a doctor has to check him on Sunday morning and like say, okay, you don't have symptoms and clear him. So that's the process according to UH Stephen Holder of the Athletic And of course he's he's not vaccinated Carson Wentz. So the chances that he does have lingering symptoms are greater than if he would have gotten the j ab.

So I think there's a wide assumption here. Now I've been, you know, reading in different places that he will be playing Sunday. But we'll see because he might be dealing with symptoms that are more serious or lingering than someone who went and UH went with the side of science. So here we are now with the situation where it could be Matt Ellinger. It's not going to be card, it's not going to be your boy Philip Rivers Greg.

But this changes something. This changes a lot for the Raiders potentially, who might have looked into a golden opportunity here. But we will find out right and everyone just kind of assumes the culture in the playoffs just because they're so good. But if they lost this game with sam Ellinger's it's it's suddenly back up for grabs here, which is which is crazy for them going into Week eighteen. I actually think they could win a game the Colts with Sam Ellinger, even though I have a lot of

concerns about sam Ellinger. I I would guess the Colts would go from being about a six point favorite, which is what they are now six and a half off too, like a two point favorite. They still two or three. They still will be favored in the desert. To me, it would be more of a coin flip. But I think the reason why it would they'd have a real chance, not just because the running game is so good, um, but because their defense is is solid and I think all it takes right now is a solid defense to

keep the Raiders under about seventeen points. There's no Darren Waller. He started practice, he was gonna practice, and then he got COVID nineteen. So he's back from the injury, and then he got COVID nineteen and it happened so late in the week. I'm pretty sure he is out out and so it's gonna be tough for me. I to imagine that the Raiders like run away with this game.

If it's Ellinger's starting, probably went though, right, I mean, it's probably went, probably, But again, because he's not vaccident, you don't know like where her symptoms are at and their probably or even you know what, we know vaccinated people who are feeling symptoms five days deep into this, and we've heard from NFL players that have I think it's the exception, but um, what my point is that you we don't know anything that you could definitely be

having symptoms five or there's another component to this because and this is not speaking you know, for the NFL on any level, but THEFL is just trying to survive now and get through the season, and they they've relaxed these rules to get guys back on the field. I don't know, like is there you don't have to pass a test right to get back on You just have to clear some type of medical protocol. It just feels like, well,

I think that's a fair fair point. It basically, you're supposed to be asymptomatic and the doctor is gonna check on you, but you don't have to doctor. No. No. In fact, there's a lot of I think um players. You know, we saw all these players come off the COVID list in mass this week and they it's not like they were necessarily testing positive or negative. They were just where they had done their five days. So we're

all grown ups here. If if he's not ill, um and the cults, doctor Uh has to decide whether he's playing or not. And the Colts really need to win because they they're in the playoffs with a win. Yeah, unless he's really under the weather, we'll see, we shall see. What a world? What a world? The Colts uh three game winning streak, they won six of seven. They clinch a playoff spot with a win, and they're one game

behind Tennessee. Tennessee obviously owns tiebreaker because they head to head, So Tennessee wins one game or the Colts lose one game, Tennessee wins the division. But there is even a possibility that Colts win out Tennessee loses out. The Colts win the division, but the Jaguars around the Tennessee schedule. Don't forget all right now, Snakes to me, Yeah, shoot, oh no, I gotta I'm gonna have to grab one of these late games. You might as well pick the one you want.

There's two lesser games. I know your style though, You're just gonna be watching Cardinals Cowboys anyways, along along with your game. You know, you get to be professional. That's fine, you're the host. That makes sense. I gotta have my eyes on these big games, all right. Let me grab, Yeah, I'll grab. I'll watch Sam Donald against the Saints. What the hell has playoff implications? Saints? Saints are a lot more. They're kind of the one team. I think people don't

realize they're very much alive. They are alive. They're very much alive. Yeah, so you have Sam Donald is now the starter once again for the Panthers. Cam Newton sounded like a guy who might even be ready for retirement and his postgame comments comments this week, so we'll see where Cam's future is. But it's not on the field unless Donald gets hurt. Here, Um, we know where Caroline is. They're playing out the string with a lot of questions

once the season ends. The Saints, on the other hand, UM, Greg has time to do our our weekly check in what's going on with their offensive tackles. I don't think they're back. I don't think they're back ram checking Armstead. I should have I should have had that ready. All right, Well, maybe while I pump up this game, maybe an injury poor Let's see where they're at, because obviously that matters.

I thought it was really difficult to watch. First, I'll Taysom Hill activated off COVID, so I think Trevor Simeon as well. So thankfully Ian Book back to third string, and um, if anybody deserves to make good from the football, gots Ian Book down the line. Okay, a couple of years and now maybe something really he gets in a Monday night game or something, and and there's something dramatic happens and he gets to get interviewed after the game.

Good luck to you, Ian Book, Notre Dame. So you're probably gonna have Taysom Hill back, who's not very good, but he's better than Ian Book at this stage of his career. Alvin Camaro I thought was very it was very hard watching that game. Um, an overmatched Saints offense with a rookie quarterback and Camaro just hung out to dry with a bad offensive line, no quarterback play, no wide receiver help really on the outside. UM. And it was just kind of depressing because you know how good

he is to be stuck in an offense like this. Uh. So I think they could take advantage of a Carolina team that's just kind of regressed across the board as the season has gone on. UM. But do I think this is a lock it up, easy win for the Saints. I don't think that exists with the Saints team. I agree, and yet it's almost out of the lock zone. It might be they were a touchdown favorite in this game. That is how little faith anyone has in this Panther's

team right now. Because they have COVID issues that they had a lot of players put on Monday, another thing where some could come off. They're also short their left tackle cam Irving Stephon Gilmour got hurt uh last week and isn't gonna play. I'd be surprised if he played again uh this season. But one thing that is in my mind, at least when it comes to this matchup, because you know it's the same, it's the same personnel, except it's worse in New Orleans. Is that the Panthers

destroyed the Saints in Week two. It was definitely that I would say the high play. Are we even talking about this? I'm just saying they killed them. It was like I couldn't believe it. It was a blood bath, especially defensively. So a lot of those defensive guys for Carolina is still there, and I would think they'd have a chance to keep it close. But it's hard to imagine Sam Donald scoring a lot of points here. Sam Donald did not look any different or better last week

in that game. He took some bad sacks. It was It's a tough scene though, like they never they haven't fixed their offensive line problems where they just like can't handle stunts. It's like the same problem every week. Opposing teams just do games up front and the guards and Carolina have no idea what to do in free rushers come in and it's like, I don't think that's really on the quarterback. That's on coaching, Like it's been a bad season for Matt Rule, but not fixing your problems,

that's like that's like a sign of bad coaching. Being a touchdown underdog to this Saints team also a sign of bad coaching, right, obviously everyone's down in the Panthers. Yeah, when Donald came in and I thought that was madness watching the game on Monday, the way they just kept on rule, kept on swapping him and Sam Donald was like, what are we doing here? And Cam can't get anything going.

And then Donald he's got people in his face immediately and he's thrown short of the sticks at the turf and it's just like, oh my god, this is impossible, uh to watch. But New Orleans will have a pulse if they can take care of business. All right, it's a Mark Sessler pick now, Um, let's give him because I know you're sorry to cut you off. And it just makes me laugh that every time I see how bad Cam Newton's playing, I picture a text coming in from West before I even sent it that says, we

know you think Cam Newton sucks. He will send that. He would send that all the time, so I always smile. You never let Cam off the hook for his misogynistic comment about what was it a female reporter watching was so blown away? Yeah, that was I understand you are you're of the female species. But I could look past it if he was better, but he sucks. You could have that if Cam Newton was two thousand fifteen Cam Newton,

you would have been agreeing with his take something. I'd be like, get that female out of the room, get that member of the species away out. Um. But he wasn't very good on the Patriots, and he wasn't very good on the panel and five. In fact, I didn't think it would go that he's been. He's been. I think he can be a good backup. He has run a lot. It hasn't been great, but I I've seen worse backups for sure out there. It's a matter of

whether he wants to do it. But the Sandwich wager, because this has come up a couple of times now, I don't think Kim is interested in playing the backup game for a couple of years. That's what I thought about. Like Flacco too, who similar similar Obviously, I just thought that they would be done. They've both made a lot

of money. They've been at the top of the game in terms of contracts and whining in, you know, making the Super Bowl winning UM, and I just didn't think they would have the desire to Cam is ready to start a line or something. I think, Kim, I'm not getting a sandwich on it, but I think if he wanted to play, he could he could keep playing. As my point, Yeah, not a lot of rate tape here, but he can still move obviously and was a red zone threat. You're right, alright, Pauls right there, Let's take

a break. We'll be right back. Mark. Perfect game from Mark. I feel like we know Mark so well because sometimes he's a little predictable in certain ways when it comes to his football analysis. That he wants he needs one of Jacksonville Patriots game. He wants that because he loves

Belichick more than anyone on the podcast. I firmly believe that I love and and uh so he wants after Belichick got humbled by the Bills last week, just that he wants to watch one of those classic like to three Patriots games where the opposing young quarterback is seeing ghosts and they're getting to do anything they want. Josh McDaniels calls a wide receiver option pass for fifty yards score, like one of those games where New England is just

having the times of the time of their life. It's at Foxboro and the guys are shooting the stupid Muskets and everyone is having a grand old time in New England like that's that's coming, and I think it it will be good for them. This is a perfect time for the Patriots who are licking their wounds a little bit after back to back very tough losses to a f C contenders that I think, uh, And sure, call me Patriots hater, I don't care. I think what those

two losses did for me. It kind of slotted them in where I think they've always have been, which is they're a good team. They're a wonderfully coached team. They have some real pieces on both sides of the ball. The rookie quarterback can do some things even if he's come down to earth a little bit here. But they're step below the true a f C contenders. Uh. With that said, because there's such a good team with a great coaching step, they will eat the Jaguars alive in

this game. There couldn't be a spread high enough. Uh. In my opinion for this game. I think that's all right. I agree with where you slot flotted the flopped them in the greater picture, it's kind of where I've thought they would be. You guys gotten on me for not

going crazy about them, But I think that's good. I mean, if they win these last two games and they go eleven and six and they're like the sixth seed, I mean it going into the season, that would have been on the high end of I think what like you could have expected out of the Patriots that if they win and either Miami or Las Vegas loses, then they are in the playoffs because there is a doomsday scenario here where this game is a little closer than you

think and the crowds getting grumbly and it's sloppy. I've just been disappointed, I guess would be the word. And how sloppy it's been. Penalties, miscommunications. We know they're a little slow on defense at times, lack of a pass rush, but a lot of mental errors. Their special teams, which is usually so good, has has had a lot of bad plays and so that's un characteristic of the Patriots,

is kind of how they started the season. Two and um, they just have such a small margin for error in most weeks that they can't play like that and just reading between the lines and some of these press conferences. Matthew Slater was one. The annoy was another. I just what what is what is happening behind the scenes, because it just seems like there's some frustration with that. I don't know that some members aren't, you know, pulling in the same direction, and we're getting a lot of like

unpatriot like sloppiness. Uh. This is more of like a local patriots be issue, um, but it's definitely something that I'm keeping an eye in. Wait, there are you think there's some discord in the lock I don't know. I don't know, or like that people were like celebrating too

early with the after the Bills game. Not maybe not discord, but just like Slater said something about like getting everyone on the same page and that, and he's he's like the captain of this team, you know, he's the one that's been around the most, and that I think he said something. I think he said it with a purpose that Uh, I don't know what it means or what it is, but that the that what's going on here

is not good, not great vibes, not great vibes. All right, Well, that's again a good reason to have the Jaguars come to town because winning will get everybody back to a good spot and they need a little confidence shot in the arm. Here. Um, I do see them as a playoff team. Um. Yeah. The doomsday scenario is lose to Jacksonville somehow and then get beat by the Dolphins and the Dolphins take your spot right right, or even beat

Jacksonville and things work out. You know, the Raiders and the Dolphins win this week and then you lose next week, and there is absolutely a scenario you get knocked out

then even at ten and seven. Uh, if the I'm trying to think which they have almost every tiebreaker, so it's it's complex which I forget which scenario, but they wouldn't be a winning in next I mean I'll lose an in all right, last game of the draft, the pick goes to you, all right, I'll take Uh, let's gonna take the Jets here, Um, do you want your Jets? I can leave that for you. It doesn't know, I'll leave it for you. I'll leave it for you. I'll take Um, I'll take Falcons Buffalo. Keep an eye on

that Bill's game. Don't expect it to be too close. As my backup morning game, I was so impressed with what Josh Allen did last week. I thought I'd have to go through all the games, but I think it's on the short list of the best games any quarterbacks played all season. Uh. He just he was absolutely electric and almost perfect. I would say I can't imagine anyone Yes, um, and I hesitate to bring it up because I agree with you, and I thought he was electrifying in that game.

But it is funny how the how the NFL works, how sports work. Man. He threw an interception on like the second play of that game, deciding drive. I think J. C. Jackson just holds onto the ball and threw it right into his hands, and it was like when back to Alan was like, throw it into my chest. He's like, what are you doing? You blew the game. But then to Alan's credit, he made the most of that second life. It makes you think of ELI and Super Bowl forty two.

But I guess I've heard Patriots. You know that play has been brought up in New England this week, and that's fine. It's like if the Patriots scored there, It's like I would have expected the Bills to go score right back because they had the ball eight times. They scored every time. But don't get on. John isn't special, but the Bills aren't special. It's just pointing out that that these things that get overlook sometimes, right. He he had about thirty great plays and he just it was awesome.

They should destroy the Falcons. I can't imagine it's been too often in NFL history that a team with seven wins is a two touchdown underdog here in Week seventeen, but that's that's the Falcons. They're two touchdown underdog. I mean, the Patriots were a two touch on underdog and the

freaking Super Bowl, So I guess it happens. The Bills got beat by Urban Myers Jaguars, so as as well as they're playing right now, I suppose you could say there could be that somehow they come out flat in uh a game where they kind of look past the Falcons. And the Falcons, to their credit, they've hung around in a lot of games. Uh, they have a great record in close games. But at the same time, I'm with you. I think the more likely scenario is this game is

one three in the second quarter. Yes, I I agree, and they're they're back. If you look at the preseason odds to win the a f C and the current odds Kansas City one and two in the preseason Kansas City and Buffalo one and two right now, Buffalo a little longer. But to me, they're like a veteran ish team that they know, like what's happened before sort of

didn't matter. They just got to go beat these cupcakes here on the schedule, win the division, get a tour, a three seed, and they're right back where they wanted and they should do that. Um, all right, so there you go. Um, I didn't. I didn't break up my my Matt Iron. Take ahead, give us a take. Well, I just think he is the Dalton scale right now. He's the he's the median in which if you're above him, ah you've got a quarterback of year below him, you don't.

He's the median right now. That's right now. I think that's fair. I think that's fair. I watched him every single week. He's the exact same every week. It's like it totally depends on who the opponent is. He'll have a He actually played very well against the Lions, but he will not play well again. He was the m

v P four years ago or five years ago. Yeah, yeah, I guess he's following more of a natural career arc of guys, but in his prior generation, where he seems to be slipping in his mid thirties, we're honking too much. I shouldn't be throwing an extra points here, No, I was. I mean, I like the point. I think it's a fair point to make, and we'll be coming out with that episode a little bit later in the off season, the the updated Dalton Scale. All Right, draft over, close

up the books. I think we did a good job with Mark there. I think he'll be happy. Miami and Tennessee, Houston and San Francisco, Jacksonville in New England. We know our boy, we know our guy. Mark his draft, it really was his draft. Yeah, well you got a buddy, you got it. All right, let's finish the rest of this. Let's start with UM. We'll start with the Jets and Tampa. I want to um say this and this should be a slaughter. Uh, Tampa Bay should have no problem um

putting up points against the Jets. UM. Even then, there are still kind of downtrodden state physically. But I do want to say I kinda because the Zack Wilson touchdown run and then he had, he's now he hasn't thrown an interception in a hundred past attempts. Um I want to just say that, I'm I can't help it, but I get in my feelings with Jets quarterbacks. And I'm not saying I'm in on josh On on Zach Wilson again, but I just need to just chill out a little bit.

I got a little I was like writing him off two weeks ago, and I have to keep in mind he's a first year quarterback. He's on a bad team with a bad offensive line and banged up skill players. I just need to take a breath here, take a beat before we talk about replacing Zack Wilson. I apologize to Zach the boy. The boy doesn't deserve to be doubted because he has not been put into a great set up personnel wise. He deserves more time, and that's what I'm going to give him. I'm not saying one

way or the other. I'm not saying I think he's gonna do it. I don't. I'm not saying he's a bust. I'm taking a step back. Well, that's it's important to get that out there before he plays the Bucks because we'll see what We'll see what you say Sunday night when the bowls of sons comes crashing down on him. I'm worried about him in this game. The Bucks are healthier in their back end than they've been on it

of the year. Actually, I don't know if Windfield is playing, but they finally have all their cornerbacks back, and White had their safety who was out He was one of those fake VACS guys right now. That was Edwards. He's back to like I noticed last week, and I know they had an easy opponent, but they were just getting very creative up front, and that that worries me. It's a tough match up here this week for Zach, so I wouldn't surprise me if he has a disastrous scheme,

that's all I hope not. I feel like he's had some baby steps the last couple of weeks, So we'll see. Um and um. You know I mentioned McKay Beckton earlier. Uh he is. I think Robert Sali said it's gonna take I don't know if it was a miracle. I don't know the word he was used exactly, but he's not coming back. So it was a knee injury suffered in Week one that was supposed to be afford a six week absence, and uh, sixteen weeks later, he's not back and he's not coming back, and you start to

hear some things. You start to hear some you know, whispers about McKay Beckton, and then you when you hear whispers, and then Robert Sala comes on at Press Commerce and and says the dreaded this is going to be a big offseason from a guy Beckton. I have some concerns that he's a hugely talented left tackle with amazing upside, but does he have what it takes to be a

successful pro. I think that's a question, to the point where you might even hear some talk about the Jets looking at their offensive line at the top of the draft. I think it's I think it's in playing something to keep an eye on here. It's funny because George Phant ended up playing pretty quite well for him, which is a surprise. Was a nice pickup by by Douglas that well, it's just a question. I think if Beckham has an NFL body, you know, it's such a unique body type.

It's tough to keep the weight off. It also has you know, you just would think your three six three eight, can you stay in good shape and and stay healthy. It's that combination, you know, especially when you're rehabbing and all. That's it's the drive. Yeah, that's that's what you're hearing. Does he have the drive to kind of take because yes, the body is unusually large, but he's was given a gift um that he could be an all time tight talent, but he has to kind of be all in there.

I mean that would be Uh. That's why the draft is such a crapshoot because there were those four big tackles in that draft class and the Giants picks first and Andrew Thomas didn't work out. He looked okay, he looked pretty good this year that Thomas. He had a nice bounce back. Second okay, Credrick Wills has been good for Cleveland. Um, who am I missing? Back in opposite turned into an All Pro Bowl. There you go. So it's like fourth one and he was a consensus fourth too.

It's funny. So it's just it's just the way it works. And um, obviously, if you can lock down a big time left tackle, it could set you up for a decade and a half. The Jets now are and cross their fingers mode that this is gonna work out, which is frustrating, but that's just the way it is, all right, So very very quickly on the Bucks, I've noticed how they went heavy personnel throughout last week. I don't know if that was just a matchup thing, but they don't

have their wide receivers healthy. They were playing like two or three tight ends. Remember O J. Howard, he's still on this Bucks team. I had almost forgotten. Um. I just almost think, like Brady gets off on this stuff of like, oh, how are we gonna mcgever this thing by playing like a six tackle and two tight ends and we're gonna like change who we are a little bit. They've been really hurt by injuries and I we'll see if they do that sort of approach again, but it

might be a different looking Bucks team. And obviously they can still be effective, but it's just like they don't have wide receivers. Good. Yeah, A little bit of an apology to Cashawn Vaughan, who uh took some fire on this show um for me in particular, and then ripped off a fifty five yard touchdown run early in that game last week. Ronald Jones I thought was good as well in that game. And um, Mike Evans, I know, what's his status? Is he out another weeks? Week two?

He's week to week and not expected to play this week. But I think they don't play Jets give him that extra week. And Antonio Brown was targeted fifteen times by the way Um in his first game back the Giants at the Bears. Uh is this? Uh? Is this a justin fields game? Do we get justin fields back? We don't know. He returned to practice, so you would think, but we don't know. That's the only reason to watch this game. Uh, what's his name? Joe Judge said that

they're gonna what's name? I mean, I just couldn't think of it for a second. He said he's gonna play Glennan in From. He said they're both going to play, so get that sounds like a threat. You know what? The best thing that ever happened to the From was that that game wasn't in prime time. I mean he made Ian Book look like Mahomes. That was it was. It was a tough scene. And um, and I like

the Bears to win this football game. I think the science might be the worst team in the NFL right now, I think they're probably the worst it Actually, yeah, I even thought about locking up the Bears, but who wants to even track that game? They might be out of the lock zone. That's how it's been around six and a half seven all week six. Yeah, you know I'm not going to touch that, but uh yeah, I think the Bears are in great position there. Yeah, I think that.

I really did weigh on the power rankings. Should the Giants be number thirty two because the Jaguars at least add a little bit of competitiveness. Um almost won a game last week. They if they deliver another total bomb, the Giants do fall to thatt That's how the season's gone. Uh. In New York, all right, let's move to Philadelphia at Washington two more NFC East teams. UM. I was not very impressed by the Eagles. Uh. I know, when you're playing the Giants, Uh, it's tough to get up for

that type of game. And for whatever reason, the Giants seemed to give the Eagles trouble. But the first half against Washington two weeks ago, the Eagles are flat and that Tuesday game, they were horrendous until the third quarter against the Giants. Jalen Hurts has not been running the ball a lot, and I think you take that component out of the offense. Uh, They're not very special uh to me. But Washington seems cooked to me, So it seems like a good spot for the Eagles. Right The

Eagles are were three and oh in December. They could not have faced any less adversity to get into this playoff position. It's like they beat the Jets at a low point, they beat a totally diminished Washington team, and they beat the Giants with with the framenader. I mean, it's just set up. It's set up perfectly for them. And yet it's like, I think this is a legitimately

good team on both sides of the ball. Uh, and they're playing a team that's so banged up, and yet they're only uh three point favorites in this game, which has me wondering. It's almost Vegas asking for you to take the Eagles, But I don't care. I'm taking it, uh, and I'm making it rain in Washington. Forget the football team right now, we're on a five and oh heater, Let's go Eagles Races. Car payments putting that new pool in the backyard, get that driveway done, raining a lot.

You got some leaks, get the roof done. The rainmaker takes care of your leaks. Hurts is a better passer, by the way than people than I expect did. Because you asked that, I think the Gonzo or you mentioned it the other week. He doesn't make great decisions all the time. Now that's pretty you know, typical of a second year quarterback, and I think that's an issue for

them if they play a good defense. But actually, just like his pure having a variety of throws, arm talent, I think he looks a lot better than he did. Awareness is a little bit of a thing. I agree with that, But I think just like people thought, he was a little limited a little bit as a passer, and I think he's a lot better than than people get him credit. I guess yeah, My official stance is kind of guess now, similar to where Gonzo was on

our show. I'm just not feeling the Eagles that much, but more me like confirming my priors that this Washington team is a three and twelve team masking as a six and nine team that got scrappy for a couple of weeks. There's just a mess, and it's a it's a pick against Washington. Heinik that. Look, he's earned a nice long career in the NFL, and he's under contract in Washington for very cheap. Next year he'll be there

pack up quarterback or he'll compete with someone. But you know, the idea that he could be a starter week one is not a good idea. He played his I think he's played his way out of that conversation the last few weeks. But a good backup, good back. Alright, we'll pick another game right after this break. Denver at Chargers. UM. This is a game obviously that both teams need. The Chargers just came across the wire seconds ago. Mike Williams

was activated off the COVID list. Mike Williams not vaccinated. Joey Bosa not vaccinated. Austin Ekeler Um, he also landed on the COVID list. He was vaccinated. Uh, got to get these guys back. But my thought on this, Greg and it was what I was going to bring it up on our television show. That is now not happening um this week, but we will be back next Saturday. So make sure you check out the broadcast. Um, come on, Justin Herbert, not putting the this inconsistent play on you directly,

but we love listen. I love Justin Herbert, Greg, you love Justin Herbert. Chris Westling love Justin Herbert. There's a whole large pocket of the footballs and that loves Justin Herbert. So make us look good, make us look smart, and deliver another one of those like epic young name of performances and get this team to the postseason. It's fair and a just hatch up in a tough matchup because this Broncos team has kind of owned the Chargers in

recent years. I know Staley wasn't there, but he was there a month ago when Denver put it on him. Kind of a weird game where Denver their their strategy just hold the ball forever and then give up long drives actually work because they forced some field goals and suddenly the game was like over. But Herbert was a little mixed up in that game, kind of like Joe Burrow was when they played the Broncos. The Broncos defense, I think it's played its best ball the last five

or six weeks. Drew lock Uh is expected to start in this game. Um, but I'd be a little worried if I was a Chargers fan because that run defense, which has been a problem. Can you get off the field when Javonte Williams that was the problem last week last time. These two teams played in Melvin Gordon are are running on you and and Denver does have a lot of COVID issues though that are up in the air as as we talk, so we don't really know

what where they're going to be at roster wise. Yeah, speaking of that, we didn't bring it up, but because the Panthers are have so many other issues, but they were hit with a major um breakthrough event in their building. So that Saints game even more reason to think that Saints are gonna take care of business. But yeah, all right, um, and they're in the Charges don't have many cornerbacks. I thought Drew lock didn't do anything too poor last week.

Actually it wasn't on him. It's a weird game, and uh, it's a big game for him. I know this sounds silly, but like if he could have a great game in this spot, it would help his career, which is not I don't know. I'm a little nervous about this as a quasi Chargers fan, even though they're like touchdown favorites. They finished home Broncos at Raiders, both winnable games, but Chargers history tells us they're not going to take care of business. They won't finish ten and seven, and yet

they should. So they should, but they need a little help to They'll need the Dolphins to lose one there, I believe, I mean it all, there's a million X factors, but they are. They're out of the playoffs. You know they're gonna need help. But I'm saying even if even if they somehow missed the playoffs at ten and seven, the season would be successful to me, uh and it

would be a big step forward. But if you if you charge you this thing up and either split or god forbid, lose both games go eight nine, It's like, what how we keep on getting back to the same place with this organization. It always doesn't matter who's playing quarterback or who's involved in that building, but take care business. Broncles are not very good. Drew Locks the other quarterback. All right, all right, we have one more game Detroit at Seattle. Hey, Ricky, do you have sound from Russell

Wilson's media availability on Thursday. Of course, I do you know, I know, I know for me personally, you know, you know, I hope it's not my last game, but you know at the same time, no, it won't be my last game in the NFL. So Russell Wilson asked, uh, you know what his future looks like? Does he think it could be his last game? No? It was unprovoked. I think Dan someone tweeted that without even asking him. He just started saying that, Hey, I mean, I don't know

if it's my ya. He came. He came to the party with that line and no one asked him a question. He wanted the store. He said that this is the week, this is would be the week. I thought there was gonna be a leak to one of the reporters that he's in good with and would do carry some water for him, but he decided either that didn't work out or he just was impatient. Was like, I'll just say something myself to get the ball rolling here. I love this guy. And how about Greg? How about you on

social media taking some heat. I don't know if you're paying attention, But Ricky did a nice job him Ricky did a really nice job amplifying our Unsolved Mysteries segment, and you with the take that you rather have Mac Jones over Russell Wilson. I believe you said easily. Yeah, it went viral like it went like seahawks Twitter went crazy. Really, I also I didn't see it. I did mute the conversation immediately, so I didn't I didn't know all that. Wow,

that's interesting. Wow, So that kind of I mute and block everyone and everything I want. I mean, what do you mean? Right? But I'm not going to jump in. I don't need a million people going back and forth like reading that stuff. I don't know. They weren't back and forth. It was like unanimously like quote tweets with gifts of like people being like drunk or stupid or like which deserves to be maybe maybe aggressive. And I

was thinking about it as I was talking. It's more like people claiming to never read like any work you right again because of your takes, like it was, but this, you know, this happens like all the time, like this one stood out though you Actually, I I can't remember too many times where someone said something on the podcast and you kind of took the took the air out of the room, like Mark, and I had to process

it because you had said it. I don't know, because it's funny because what you said and people didn't listen to the show, was that we were talking about Russell Wilson and what it would take if he was on the market, what you would have to pay, And I threw out a scenario like with with the Patriots. You dismissed it out of hand, and I understood your logic,

but I was guessed. It was just so surprised, um how confident you were that Russell Wilson was no longer a special quarterback, and I thought maybe you dismissed that he's injured this year potentially Still I'm not totally confident. I admit it. I of course Russell Wilson could end up being UM great again. But right now, would I want him or like a first round draft pick contract of a guy that looks promising. I think I think

that's a totally fair question. It's not as clear because it's more about whether I don't know, you know, it's

more about Mac Jones that I'm worried about. But I and maybe I'm over radiant because I do this silly column every week and I watch his games closely, and it's been a year and a half, and I'm thinking of some of the doubters of Russell Wilson, of the limitations of his game over the years, and maybe I'm thinking, like now it's finally coming true that like when he's not a special athlete in terms of making plays on

his own or whatever. He's definitely not good like in the short game stuff like I don't know if it's the height or whatever, like he he does not fit. What I'm saying is he's he's not good at like short passes, like at a short passing, like the quick game stuff. That that's not him. He's never that's never been his thing. It's he's a chunk play and make

plays on his own. Uh and mid level you know, mid intermediate throws, which is all great, But he hasn't been great, like for a season and a half and that does that does concern me, Like he's been mediocre

this season. He's just has been And people put it all on the finger, like he said his finger was all great, like the last two weeks or maybe his worst two weeks of the year after it looked pretty good for a couple of weeks, and then I also, I'm thinking about like the second half of last season, and I don't know. I could be wrong. I could. I definitely am. I'm not back down now. I'm not backing down. I I would. I would stick with it.

But it depends on his situation. But if he's in an average situation, can he can he raise that situation? Like am I excited about him on the Jets? If I was, you sure? Compared to where you are. But I wouldn't be that confident that he's gonna be a top like seven or eight quarterback again. And so if he's not, then yeah, I keep a first round pick in Mac Jones. Then then taking like a thirty million dollar a year a guy much less what he would cost.

So now that we've kind of delved in a little more, Mac in the first for Russ and a sixth wait Mac, and the first wait you get? Wait you now in my mind is back Jones in the first round pick to Seattle for Russell Wilson in a sixth round pick. No, okay, you stand by the take? Well, yeah, the pick, the pick is huge in there, I feel like the pick the contract. Um, maybe it's my problem, Like I'm looking,

they've been both like mid level quarterbacks this year. One's a rookie and one's a guy who's not as physically given track record to Greg. Russell Wilson is not thirty nine years old. Russell Wilson just turned thirty three, and he is somebody that lives and breathes it and and there's a gym rat. I know you mentioned Big Ben is like Big Gun and Russell Wilson are very different personalities in terms of some preparation habits, and I've on some level and Big and Ben was still good into

his mid thirties. It's not that if he lands, like if Russell Wilson lands on the scenes like he's gonna shred. If he lands in a great situation, he'll be great. But I would say that too, of like I would believe that of mac Jones moved forward to all right to that point, like see, if he landed with the Patriots, I would be furious because I could I could just picture what would happen next Patriots in the Super Bowl,

and him and Bill are on the same wavelength. If he lands with the Giants, maybe maybe I'm not as confident, but anyway, I'm not even confident that they win this game. Here, the Lions have been frisky. Their defense has been playing fantastic. Uh really, over the last two months, they've been quite good. I'm so impressed by this coaching staff. Goff is back this week, so is DeAndre Swift him on ros st Brown has been getting it done and uh, given seven

points to the Lions. Uh, it's just too much. And that's why the Rainmakers come now one last time at the end of this show, Lions covering a touchdown in Seattle. Let's go bring that rain. Ricky oh Man, you are coming for Russell Wilson's throat. I got tot holes you can't see if you got the prep school. You want that new iPhone? Follow the Rainmaker, Follow the rain all right. By the way, Lions ten and five against the spread this year, and I went and look, I feel like

I've had a good feel of the Lions. I think I'm I've gotten like eleven or twelve right of the Lions this year. I got that vibe here, I got the vibe. You got him locked in. I would not be surprised they've been doing it all season. All right, before we say goodbye, we should absolutely acknowledge that Hall of Fame coach, broadcasting icon, video game icon John Madden passed away at the age of five, passed away suddenly. He had been ill but is said to be in

in in good shape. And then all of a sudden you get the news and it's really sad uh to

lose John Madden. And I don't know, Greg, if you have any John Madden memory for me, and I've said it if you listen to this podcast, you know, um, one of the reasons I fell in love with football as I grew up as a boy, loving the NFL, and I remember all those Sundays coming home from St. Margaret's and going to my grandmother's house on Sunday afternoons and there's Poppy, my grandfather, on the on the big brown chair watching the Giants, and those are the great

Giants teams of UH the eighties with LT and Phil Sims and John Madden's voice with Pat Summer. All that was like to me, that was football and and Madden was kind of the soundtrack of football in my formative years. So that's always what I think about. So um, that's how I remember Madden as the guy. That's like when I became someone who fell in love with football, it was Madden's voice that that soundtrack that Yeah, he's incredible,

and I am. I feel like we're doing a disservice almost talking about him here so late, But I've also seen and read and enjoyed so many remembrances m f him over the last few days. You know, I think everyone hopefully is covered there because like the the All Madden Show. I started watching it last night. It's it's so good. Um and n NFL Network has been airing a lot of stuff and it was just like when Madden stopped announcing, like games just became a little less fun.

It just was a fact like there to me, like a peak Madden game, it was just it just is better. It's as an experience. It's such a TV sport than a peak any other game. Like, you know, I don't think it's just because we were kids. Like Boumonti Jones wrote something about just like I think that's why people are so critical of color analysts, is like everyone had so much fun and love Madden so much that it was such a It's almost like a downgrade to everyone else.

He spoiled us, and he said he was such a good teacher. You know, he made like the xs and os and like that's where I learned what a four three defense is. Like he made all that like fun. You know. His love for the game combined with his ability to teacher was incredible. Yeah, And I thought in that uh All Madden documentary when they're talking about you know he's burnt out by coaching. He was fantastically successful um as a head coach for the Raiders. Um had

a winning percentage that no one's ever uh sniffed. He he won super Bowls and like he he initially went back into teaching and was teaching a course on football and then he didn't want to go into play by play or color commentary because he just didn't really respect the profession. And when he kind of got talked into and it eventually gave it a try, he went in there to change the way it was done, to make

it something that made people smarter. I mean, he saw a guy like and no disrespect to Howard Cosell because he's a legend of his own right, but he saw the way Howard Cosell broke down the game and he's like, that's not that's not smart, that's not the way, that's not how you could teach people more about the sport that he loves. So I think he took that that was the baseline for how he got into the game as a broadcaster to change it, and he absolutely did that.

So the guys that you love today, whether it's Romo or Collinsworth, whoever, it may be absolutely indebted to the way Madden did it. And then there's a whole other generation of kids that know it from the video game franchise. And that's very interesting that back story. It's not just like they took his name and slapped him on the box.

He was a major figure in making that video game series as popular as it's become, to the point where when initially when there were um, you know, technology was not where it is now, and when he was told, oh, we can't really do eleven on eleven, Matt, it was like, that's a nonstarter. That's not football if it's not eleven on eleven, figure it out. Like he was hands on, so like a fascinating guy, seemed like a really good person, and he will absolutely be missed. Uh Football won't be

the same without John Madden. E. But he really wasn't around, uh you know, upfront anymore, just that you knew he was around, and he would pop up every once in a while. Uh. It's it's a sad it's a sad week because of this. Yeah. People, Um, I haven't heard mentioned his books too much. And I really they helped get me into football when I was younger. Here. I remember his first two books. I mean, it's such a Madden title. It's called Hey Wait. It's called Hey Wait

a minute. I wrote a book in print, um, and it's what Dave Anderson, who was like this great New York Times football writer too. And his second book I think was one The Equals two Feet And I remember getting those out of the library and stuff and like the same the same way he taught about football on TV, where it was like funny and personable, like it is a great starter pack um, like for kids or adults

of like getting into So that's like another thing. And those were like number one New York Times best sells and all that, so it's like another another genre he dominated. Those books still hold up. I remember reading them a little while back. Good stuff and find that doc uh all Matt and that actually came out on Christmas Day, so sad the timing of it. But also he's prominently involved and interviewed uh later in his life here, so you get that kind of last perspective before he left us.

And it's airing on Fox Sports a lot, so check it out, including tonight if you happen to catch us before a p m. Eastern and Pacific. All right, that's it. We will be back on Sunday. No broadcast this week. Um, hopefully we'll all be together on Sunday virtually. Mark Sessler, get well soon, my man. Uh And um, Greg you you stay out of the uh the clubs. Uh. It's New Year's Eve tomorrow night, Ricky. I say that as a joke to Greg, but I say it seriously to you.

Let's let's not get too crazy in the party scene. We don't want to lose you you uh yeah, that amount of time. What are you gonna do? What's Ricky Hollywood do when there's a pandemic raging out of control? In New Year's Eve is here? What is Ricky going to do? What decisions does Ricky make in this spot? Well? I traveled on Monday. So I'm still waiting to see knock on. What if I get sick? Been drinking a lot of immunity boosting and stuff like that, so just

try Russell Wilson's concussion water. Yeah, so all that, all that good stuff. Um, but no, I think just Emma and Brett are going to come over and we're going to order some Chinese food. And Brett's definitely got that's a human super spreader. He's asymptomatic like he's like, but he just spreads it. One man super spreader, that Brett. Yeah, yeah, he's all over town. No, we were all just we're gonna order some Chinese food and make a charcouterie board.

Pretty wild. That's that's good. This is your last New Year's in your twenties, that's going out and it sucks. It's a smart way to do it though, overrating that sense, all right, Yeah, sure, goods up all the listeners, Happy New Year. I have a safe, healthy New Year. We'll see on Sunday. Until then, beat the fall. M