NFL playoff picks: Who’s built for January? | Bedlam Buds - podcast episode cover

NFL playoff picks: Who’s built for January? | Bedlam Buds

Jan 10, 202635 minEp. 65
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Episode description

The NFL playoffs are here, and Bedlam Buds is back with a full Wild Card preview.

Ryan Welton and Jeremy debate every matchup, from Rams–Panthers to Texans–Steelers, weighing quarterback experience, coaching, injuries, weather, and playoff history. Plus: Super Bowl predictions, rooting interests, and why some teams feel scarier than their seed.

Timestamps (approximate):

  1. Rams vs Panthers — experience wins

  2. Packers vs Bears — snow, youth, and pressure

  3. Bills vs Jaguars — best game of the weekend?

  4. Eagles vs 49ers — injuries matter

  5. Patriots vs Chargers — coaching chess match

  6. Texans vs Steelers — defense travels

  7. Super Bowl predictions

Subscribe, rate, and leave a review — and by all means, argue with us online.

Transcript

I mean, and when it comes to playoffs, if there's anybody that knows about playoffs, it's the Cleveland Browns. [upbeat music] Welcome to another edition of Bedlam Buds. This one is an NFL playoff edition, and in honor of the NFL playoffs, Jeremy and I are in our Cleveland Browns attire. And for Jeremy, welcome to, to the show. How are you doing? I'm okay. Go Pokes. Go Browns. I mean, and when it comes to playoffs, if there's anybody that knows about playoffs, it's the Cleveland Browns.

And so I figured it would be the best thing for us to, to wear this, and I'm glad you wore yours too, you know, to, to show that. Total coincidence. We did not plan this. There was no- Right... text thread. And by the way, we, we both grew up Dallas Cowboys fans, and I s- still root for the Cowboys. Every time they do the Tom Landry shift, goosebumps. Every... And they do that at the end of games when they win.

Uh, but it's hard to root for the Cowboys with Jerry Jones as an owner, not because he's bad, he's just incompetent. And speaking of incompetent, the kings of incompetence, uh, are the Haslam family and, and, and Cleveland Browns. And I say that as somebody who worked for, uh, the Haslam's rival in business, the Love, you know, the Love family. Right. Love the Love family. Love Travelstop, Country Store, love them. Pilot, they're the enemy.

And, uh, but not the Cleveland Browns. I gotta root for the Cleveland Browns even though the Ha- Haslam's own them. Um, they're not in the playoffs, but what I thought we would do today, I know this is a, a shocker. By the way, quick, quick tangent, we won't go on this tangent long, portal has been good for both our teams. The portal has been, and, and eventually when we talk about it, there's a, a switch from OU to OSU. I saw that.

It was a kid from Owasso. Yeah. Yeah. Uh- But both, both, both schools, oh my. Yeah, I'm excited. Yeah. Both, both of us. I'm ex- I'm excited for the NFL playoffs. Um, I had a text conversation with my brothers, as we often do. By the way, John and Charles finished last in our family football, fantasy football league. There, there needs to be some sort of punishment.

I mean, they, they went like 3 and 11, dude. It's like, come on, man. Are we even watching? What are we doing here? Um, so it just, just, ugh. Hey, in my league, in my league the punishment is the last place team, we re- we change their name for the next year. Do whatever you want. Yeah. That's fantastic.

Um, it, but they, they, uh, you know, I asked them what they thought about the, the playoffs and they're both sold on Denver and Seattle, and that's fine and I get that, but Jeremy, in my experience, uh, we're both old-timers here. We've watched, we've watched a lot of NFL playoffs in the '80s together at your house in Henrietta. I remember watching the Denver Giants Super Bowl, uh, in '86. Yep. But- Yep... experience is really important.

When you have two teams that come together, I generally find even though one of the teams might be the shiny new object, look for the other team that's got a little bit more experience. Um, I don't know if you feel that way, but what I thought we would do is just go through each of these games and see what you think.

And let's start with Saturday afternoon, the Los Angeles Rams and the Carolina Panthers, and I should note they've played before. They played in Charlotte. Carolina won that game 31-28. How do you see this playoff match shaping up? All right. So where, where does this, where does this game take place? Charlotte. Okay, so it is at Charlotte. Um, oh, that's right. They're, they're the fourth.

Uh, what am I even thinking here? Well, and I should, I should note, it's not exactly the greatest home field advantage in the world. The, I think they had a, I watched a, a Charlotte FC soccer match where they had a better home field, home pitch advantage than they ever have at a Panthers game, so. [laughs] Um, I don't know.

I, this is one of those where you're, you, you can talk about experience, but the fact is neither one of these teams really have a lot of recent playoff experience. Um, the, I don't know. There, there's something about, um, I don't know. There's something about the Rams that I think they're, they're kind of, kind of coming around a little bit. Um, I think they're gonna get the upset here.

I think that they have a little bit more, uh, of the experience, um, you know, just from just a few years ago. And so, so I just think that, again, I... And in this case, I don't think the experience really matters. I just think that, uh, the, that the Rams are, are kind of putting it together. I think that they, um, are the better team, and, uh, I think that they're l- gonna be, end up being a little bit healthier, and I, and I think, I think the Rams take this one.

Though I should tell you, the Rams are a 10 and a half point favorite. [laughs] So Vegas says the Rams are the favorite. Oh, I did- I haven't even looked at the odds. Oh, wow. And that, that's fine. It's, I, I appreciate that perspective. Um, now what the, what the Rams have is Matthew Stafford, uh, probably going to be the MVP this year. It's, it'll either be him or Drake May, I think. Um, but I, I think the... I don't see any way the Rams don't come out of this with a big win.

Um, and it's not that they're a 10 and a half point favorite, it's just that they're experienced in all the right places, especially at quarterback, especially at head coach. Aaron Donald's not there anymore, I know that, uh, but they have just enough pieces. Now it, I mean, Carolina's still the home team. I don't know what the weather situation is there, but I don't know that it's gon- We, we'll talk about some snow games coming up here, but I, I just,

as I've played out this entire playoff bracket, the tournament as they call it, the Rams I think are a team that a lot of folks are gonna pick to go to the Super Bowl. I, I- It may be... Yeah. I could s- I could see the Rams upsetting SeattleAnd in a, uh, bit of baseball-football confluence, Clayton Kershaw retired this year. Dodgers won a title.

Of course, Matthew Stafford is his childhood buddy from Highland Park, Texas. I could absolutely see Matthew Stafford winning and he retiring also, and then they start a podcast together. I think that's what they should do. Probably so [laughs]. They probably will. Now just to go back a little bit in time, 2004, I j- I just watched some highlights of this. Back when the Rams were in St.

Louis, Kurt Warner, who's pretty much my favorite NFL quarterback of all time, love Kurt Warner, uh, especially when he was at Arizona, what he did there. Anyway, they're playing Carolina there and in St. Louis, and it was 23-23 going into the second overtime. First play of the second overtime, Jake Delhomme goes back, hits a slant over the middle to Steve Smith, he gone. 29-23. It was a great game, uh, and that Carolina team was special.

I think Carolina is, is close to having those sort of vibes, but again, in the NFL playoffs, when you meet Father Time, Father Time often whips your ass, and I just, I think the Ram, the Rams win this game maybe comfortably. Yeah. So we're both, we're both on board with the Rams for this one? Yeah. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, I, I, again, I just think that the Rams are just a better team- I agree... despite being the lower seed. Let's talk about...

And by the way, let's talk rooting interest. Who are you rooting for? There's part of me, because we as a family, we... I haven't told you this, this is breaking news on here, but Olivia wants to go to North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Mm-hmm. Uh, we, we, we may be in Charlotte in a, in a couple years. So I kind of feel the obligation to root for the Panthers here.

[laughs] Hey, you know, that's as good as any. That's as good as any reason to cheer for somebody, so yeah, why not? So, and so- If I'm gonna be a... Yeah... I, I, I'll cheer for the Panthers with you then. All right. Yeah, why not? Absolutely. Root, root for the Panthers. I got, I got my dog in that hunt. Let's talk Packers-Bears. Oh. That's going to be, I mean, the oldest rivalry in NFL, Green Bay, Wisconsin and Chicago. Wisconsin.

It's the, uh, Saturday night game, and it's expected to be, uh, a possible snow game with like accumulating snow, which I love. Uh, the first, the Bears haven't won a playoff game in, uh, just about two decades, and the Packers, they've lost four in a row. The last team to lose four in a row and actually win a playoff game, I believe you have to go back to 1986 and the New York Jets. A long time ago. How do you see this one shaping up, Jordan Love versus Caleb Williams?

Okay, so this one, this is the one that I've had the hardest time looking at because it could be weather dependent. Um, I mean, if you go experience, clearly Green Bay has a, has a little bit of edge, uh, like in playoff experience. But the way that the Bears have played, the way that Johnson has them playing, the way that Williams has played this year, he's showing that promise that we saw his freshman year at OU. Um, I don't know. There's just...

You know, this is one of those where I get into trouble a lot. A lot of, a lot of times I pick with my heart and not my head, okay? Um, my heart it says that I think that for some reason Green Bay is gonna take this, but my head says Chicago, and so I'm gonna go Chicago. Uh, in the college football playoffs I went with heart, and I did terribly.

So, um [laughs] and so I'm going with my head, and I think Chicago is a better team. I think they're playing better right now. Uh, I think that Williams has really developed. I, I, I love what the, the, the coach is doing with him. And I mean, they're, they had talent, and now they're using that talent very well. I think, I think it's the Bears. The Bears. There's a lot that I like about Chicago and how they've played against, i- played during the regular season.

There was a TikTok that I watched from a guy who is a, uh, a sports analytics guru who basically said that, uh, the Chicago Bears are the worst team in the entire playoffs statistically, that they shouldn't even be there, that really the best team that's not there are the Detroit Lions. Now, with that said, I like the Bears. I like Caleb. Caleb's a different kind of quarterback.

He's a very Gen Z, sensitive, soft quarterback. I, I don't know what y- Right. And it's not, it's not that that bugs me. It's just he's different. Um, but- It's a different generation, man [laughs]. It's, it's a... Yeah. Well, um, it's, it's very, it's a generation that's in conflict with itself though. Oh, yeah. We're gonna get off on a s- sociology tangent. No, no, no. It's all good, man. Go for it.

I, I, I, I, I watched the, uh, a Pat McAfee broadcast of the Miami-Mississippi game yesterday. It was fascinating, but it was four bros bro-ing around. So on one hand, Gen Z is, is very bro, or they're like Caleb. I like Caleb. I think Caleb's a baller. That pass he threw to D.J. Moore to end the game that was just a few weeks back, it was just, it was awesome. And I like them at the running back position.

Um, I've got Kyle Monangai, whatever, number 25. He's great. I like Swift. I liked Swift when he was at Philadelphia. I like their receivers. But I will tell you, Father Time, Josh Jacobs, Jordan Love, I think Green Bay wins this game. In fact, I think the moment might be too big for Chicago right now. Who am I rooting for?

I, with all apologies to my good friend Scott Mitchell, who is a Green Bay Packers shareholder, I like the Bears. We grew up in the '80s with the Bears. We are the Bears shuffling crew. I like their uniforms. Their uniforms the, you know, outside of Cleveland's, the prettiest in the NFL. Love their home uniforms. Love the vibe at Soldier Field.

You know, I once went to Soldier Field to watch Oklahoma score exactly zero points, so-That's a whole, a whole other story. Um, I w- I would love for the Bears to win, I think in a snow game. I think, um- That's, yeah, that's- There was a call... I just, I just got a call from Washington, DC. Ooh. Maybe it's the president. Could be. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. Uh, I, I think the Packers win this game.

It's a, in a tough slug 'em, 17-14, 20-17 type game, give me the Packers. So, so far I've gone with, um, sort of like, uh, the older, more experienced teams. Rams to win, Packers to win, but in both cases I'm rooting for the other team. I'm rooting for Carolina, I'm rooting for the Bears. Well, I, I will probably also rooting for the Bears as well. Um, more as a against Green Bay than for Chicago. Um, but yeah, I, I, again, I, I gotta stick with my head on this one and it says Chicago.

Uh, and b- but I have been known to have a crazy head, so you never know what's gonna actually happen. But I'm, I'm thinking Chicago. All right, let's talk about, um, Sunday games here. There are three of them. This one is super intriguing because I, I... The Bills, you got Buffalo, but they gotta go down to Jacksonville. Probably going to be pretty nice weather in Jacksonville, you would imagine.

Jacksonville has been, uh, really hot to end the year. Their offense looks great. Uh, the receiver corps, Parker Washington, those guys, you know, are really good. Uh, the, Trevor Lawrence, really good. The running game, Travis Etienne Jr. But you know, the Bills, they've been there, they've done that, and, and every year I say, "This is the Bills' year."

Josh Allen, James Cook, I love James Cook, um, and the receiver corps, eh, not, not that great. This is a, you know, this is a game where I'm rooting for both of them. I love, I li-... I say love. I like both these teams. They, they both have... I'm not going to be sad. I'll be sad for whoever loses, and I'll be happy for whoever wins, but I think the Bills get it done in Jacksonville. What do you think?

Okay, so whenever I was in college el- eleventy million years ago, I took this course called Geography of Sport, and in that class we had a big project. And so as part of my project, what, or m- what my project was, is I gathered up information to do a pitch to bring an NFL expansion team to an area, and I just happened to get Jacksonville.

And so I just stumbled across this place called Touchvan- Touchdown Jacksonville, and I called them, and it was the actual people who were bringing the Jaguars to Jacksonville. And so I destroyed that assignment because I had literally the exact same information, 'cause they're like, "We'll be happy to help you with this project," and so they gave me all the information.

So I've always had a very soft spot for Jacksonville. That being said, I think Buffalo wins. Yeah. It's, uh, I think about the moment. You know, it's, uh, I, I don't know that the moment's going to be too big for Trevor Lawrence. I mean, he w- he was there at Clemson in big games. Um, but it just... Now, last time Jacksonville was in this position,

I, I forgot whether they were down ear- I think they were up early, lost the lead and came back to win, something. So they, they have experience winning in this round. But man, it's gonna be a darn shame if the Bills fumble this again, because this is the year. No Kansas City, man. No Baltimore. Buffalo should be going to the Super Bowl finally.

Well, and Oklahoma State shoulda won the Big 12, um, when Texas and OU left, but here we are. So sometimes that challenge, sometimes that challenge is actually what makes you better. Maybe the challenge at Kansas City has made Buffalo better. Um, again, this is a... the, my problem here is that, uh, I, I agree with you. Right now I think that Jacksonville is the more complete team.

I think Buffalo has a better offense, but I think that Jacksonville's the more complete team. Um, and my head says Jacksonville, but my heart is saying Buffalo 'cause I'm with you. I, I, I just kinda want Buffalo to finally win a Super Bowl. Um, you know, watching, watching [laughs] four years in a row of them, you know, not making it happen and all that. That's brutal.

Um, just incre- and each year it got worse, though. That's the problem. Each year got worse. Um, you know, the first one was with the wide right, and I mean- Second one, so the first one they lost 20 to 19. Second one they lost to Mark Rippon and Washington Redskins, 37-24, in a game that was not close. Third year was the 52-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. That game was close until mid-second quarter. Yeah.

Uh, and then th- th- that, the fourth one was probably the second closest of them all because it was, it was actually, I think Buffalo may have had the lead at half, like 13 to 6, and then it was, uh, Dallas the rest of the way. The Dallas won 30 to 13 going away. Yeah. But it was, it was nip and tuck. E- either way, just brutal. In fact, it's so brutal, there was a movie that was based on this, uh, Buffalo losing. It was called Buffalo 66.

It didn't really have... It's just the mother had gone insane because of a wide right. [laughs] And there were other things that happened. But it, it's just, I don't know. This is a game where I'm like, "I'm not really sure who's going to win." I wouldn't be surprised if you told me either way. I think it'll be close. I think it may be the best game of the weekend. It may be a 35-31 game.

Be ready for some offense. I don't think it's gonna be a 10-7 game. See, I think Lawrence has really stepped it up. I think some- he, a s- flip has switched or a switch has flipped. Um, I think that he is now an NFL quarterback. But again, I'm, I'm... I think that, uh, in this case, the experience wins. I think Buffalo, uh, I think it's kinda their time. I think they're gonna win this.

Uh, but of course that puts them a- against Denver in the next round and I d-Man, th- that's, that's the beauty of these playoffs, I guess. That's, that's what you want. Well- You want these tough match-ups... I, I'm not totally sold on Denver either. Um, let's, let's, let's go on. So I think we're both, um- But for, I'm above... we're both... Okay. And, and I, I don't know that I'm necessarily rooting for either team.

I like them both. You know, it's, it's, this whole deal is for me. Yeah, but you gotta pick one. You gotta pick one. We gotta commit. Our- Bills. Okay. Okay. But I, I'm, I'm rooting for the Bills. Well- I just want them to get it done. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. All right. Afternoon game. My wife's, my family's, my in-laws, they're all 49ers, except, uh, Becky. She's a Ram. Um, but, uh, they're all 49ers.

There's always one. [laughs] They're, they're, they're... Yeah, that's right. They're all 49ers. Uh, bang, bang, Niner gang. And, uh, they're playing the Eagles, and I like the Eagles. I like Jalen Hurts. This one's a, a tough one. I, I think at the end of the day, I'm gonna be rooting for the 49ers, 'cause I, I like to see Christie be sports happy.

Um, and I do like the 49ers, but I will tell you this, this is the game I'm most certain of. Philadelphia's winning this game. San Francisco is way too beat up. I saw what they had when they didn't have Ricky Pearsall, when they didn't have Trent Williams, and now they lost that backup linebacker or that guy who was playing there, uh, after, uh, Warner was hurt.

Dude, and now you're gonna ask them to go in in Philly? I think this is an easy one and done. It may not be a route. It may be 20 to six, you know, 23 to 13. Uh, but I can't see the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with Jalen, with AJ, with DeVonta, with Saquon Barkley, going one and done at home against a beat up, beaten down San Francisco 49ers team.

So, uh, rooting slightly for the 49ers. I'll never be disappointed if these Eagles win. Love Jalen. Uh, but I think the Eagles win relatively easy. Yeah. That's, that's e- almost exactly what I was gonna say, is that San Francisco's, they're too beaten up. They're, they're too thin right now. Uh, they can't afford to lose anybody.

If, certainly on, on the offensive, you know, skill set side, uh, you know, if that happens, you know, an- twisted ankle or something like that, I, I think it could turn into a route. I think that Philadelphia is, is again, simply the better team. Uh, using your ideas, they have much more playoff experience right now. They know how to win in the playoffs, and I think that that's gonna make a difference, and I think that Philadelphia walks away with this one. Absolutely. Yeah.

And then of course, if, uh, Philadelphia, uh, does walk away with this one, uh, they would be playing the Rams next week, and that, that... By the way, the Rams, when they and Philadelphia played in the playoffs last year, it was also a snow game, and it was a game that the Rams absolutely could have won, maybe should have won. It was kind of a wild game.

Uh, but it's, uh, just, uh, bodes well for the playoffs. Our final game of the night, the one that's at ni- well, it's not actually. We have two more. There's one on Monday, too. Chargers at the Patriots, and for me, this one is interesting because while you have Drake May as an MVP, uh, candidate at New England, these aren't your Tom Brady Patriots. And it is a real match-up of

maybe two of the best coaches in the NFL in Mike Vrabel versus, uh, Jim Harbaugh. What do you think about Chargers Patriots in New England Sunday night? I'm not sure why you think Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in the NFL. Oh, Jim Harbaugh? Yeah. Do you remember what, do you remember what he did at San Francisco, taking them to the Super Bowl? He was great.

Yeah, but I mean- He, he- No, no... he rebuilt a downtrodden San Francisco team- He did... and brought them back with Colin Ca- Kaepernick, and he's, he immediately turned around the LA Chargers. Well, I mean, uh, again, I'm not saying that he's not good. I'm not saying that he's not, you know, right now maybe one of the better coaches. I'm just not sure w- we need to label him great yet, but that's just me being picky. Uh, the- He, he was a cheater at Michigan...

that's kind of why I'm, I'm, I'm just not a fan of his, and it's a personal thing because of that. Um, and I don't know. And he's a Michigan guy, and you know, it's Michigan. So, um, the Chargers have gotten healthy. They've kind of come around. Um, I think that they're playing some pretty good football. They like to, you know, they like to run the ball. They have, uh, quite a few options there now that Hampton's back and healthy.

Um, I just think that the Patriots are too much right now. I think that, that they're a complete team. I think that at home, yes, they're not the, the Brady, uh, Patriots, but they are annoyingly good, and it's, it's annoying how fast they've become good again after Tom. Um, and I think that they're just a more complete team. Now, if this gets into a slog fest, if this gets into a grind them out, then it's absolutely gonna be the Chargers match up.

But I think that the Patriots are gonna kind of pretty it up. I think they're gonna spread it around, and, and I think it's gonna be close, but I think that the Patriots win this one. I do wonder what the Stefon Diggs distraction is going to, um... You know, whether it will cause problems with the Patriots.

Of course, uh, Stefon Diggs is accused of strangling a woman, and I don't know the charge, uh, charges, Chargers, charges, uh, have been filed exactly yet and what the NFL's stance is, you know, whether or not he's gonna be playing, but it's just distraction at the wrong time. The thing that I like about the Patriots on the field, uh, is their two-headed monster running the ball, Trayvon Henderson and Boomer Sooner, Oklahoma's own, uh, Rhamondre Stevenson. Really, really, really good.

And, and Drake May, North Carolina guy. Uh, he's just been really good. He's been solid.He, been, it's been solid. Um, I, I do see a possibility that if, uh, uh, Herbert, you know, really balls out, Chargers could win this game. Wouldn't be shocked, but I also wouldn't be shocked if this weren't one of the more boring games of the playoffs, 27-14 Patriots. Patriots are favorites here. They're favorites by three and a half. I think they win.

Uh, and in terms of rooting, I don't even care. I don't even like either one of these teams. I, I like a bear, I like Herbert, and so, uh, despite my dislike of Harbaugh, um, I like Omarion, I like Herbert, and so my rooting interest will be the Chargers. But again, I think New England wins. I agree. So let's talk about, uh, Monday night. You got the Houston Texans.

I remember before the season I did a little bit of research on which defense I should take, even though we, we usually in fantasy football take the defense in the 14th or 15th round. I was like, "I want the Texans, man," because I just read enough about their defense to be like, "They're ball hawks, they're gonna be real good. Maybe the best defense in the NFL." And guess what?

They're the best defense in the NFL. They're actually playing maybe right now my favorite NFL coach, Mike Tomlin. It's not because he... It's because he's so grumpy. He is so... What my brothers and I call this, hot cha. He has no time for your shit. He is all business, son, and it is just, it, it, it's be- He, I heard him describe it like this. He said, "There are more US senators than there are NFL coaches."

And that's, he ap- approaches this job with gratitude, and he puts everything he has into it. It makes me, it makes it hard to not root for him, except for the fact that he's coaching the Steelers, and I grew up hating the Steelers. So my rooting interest, 100% the Houston Texans. Bring it. I also think Houston wins. Um, I think, uh, Aaron Rodgers may show out, may have a good game, but boy, America's gonna get introduced to the nastiest defense in the NFL.

I mean, if you want a sleeper for the Super Bowl, why not Houston? I'm not gonna argue with you. I, I, I agree with all your points, including Tomlin. A- as, as a, as a person and as a coach, terrific. I just hate the fact that he's in Pittsburgh 'cause I hate Pittsburgh. Yeah. I've always hated Pittsburgh, and I will probably always hate Pittsburgh, not only as a Dallas Cowboy fan, but as a Cleveland Browns fan.

I got two reasons to hate those guys. Doubles. Doubles, yeah. [laughs] I mean, it's a double deal. Um, but y- and Houston actually is playing really well right now. They're, they're coming around. You know, the Saturday they had a pretty... Or was it Saturday? This past weekend they had a pretty tough game. Had to pull it out. Found a way to win. You know, had some drama with the kicker and all of this. I mean, um, terrific ball game.

Houston is, they are one of those teams that, you're right, they are sneaky good, and they have sneakily, I should probably find a better adjective, but they have very quietly improved throughout the year. The quarterback play has quietly improved throughout the year. He's been good, but he's getting to that next level quarterback play, right?

A- and I mean, and they had probably the funniest television commercial of the whole football season this year, and that just kind of, you know, makes me kinda like them anyway. Uh, so I think that Houston wins. I think their defense is gonna be too much. Uh, you don't rattle, uh, Aaron Rodgers, but you make him whine and moan like the little bitch that he is.

Uh, and, uh, you know, you kinda get in his head a little bit, and he'll pout and huff around. And he'll make some great throws, but he's not Aaron Rodgers of even 10 years ago, for God's sake. Um, so I think that Houston wins, and they are definitely my rooting interest. Uh, what commercial are you talking about, by the way? So there's a, a game earlier, and afterwards, and C.J.

Stroud is high-fiving people on the sidelines as he's going to the locker room, and the owner of the team is standing there for a high five, and C.J. doesn't see him and walks past him and doesn't high-five him, and it's the owner. And so people are like, "Oh." So the owner made a commercial. The Houston... You know, I'm sure it wasn't his idea, but...

So he's walking around, and they're showing him in his office with his hand still up, and somebody comes up to give him a high five, and they go, "No, no, no. That's for C.J." And, and so then he goes, and he's in the cafeteria, and he's eating, and he has it up, and one of the workers goes, and they go, "No, no, no, no. That's for C.J."

And so it's, like, three or four days later, and he's kind of just standing finally in the locker room in the hallway out, and the team's coming out for practice, and C.J. [laughs] sees him and he kind of walks over and very slowly high-fives him, and they, you know, and then move on. But I mean, and it's the actual owner who's doing this, and it's showing him all over, you know, and it's like three days later, and his hand's still up waiting for that high five from C.J. That's awesome.

Oh man, it is so funny. That reminds me of the old, uh, ESPN commercials from back in the day. My, my favorite of which was, uh, Stuart Scott going up to the elevator, and it's the New Jersey Devil who opens it, and he's, like, going down. Yep. There are so many of those that are good. The one where the guy, he has his tie around his head, he's like, "Run for your lives." [laughs] You know, it's- Yes. I ca- I can't remember the scenario, but- I remember that... yeah. Those are so good.

So out of, out of all the teams in the playoffs, if you're looking at this right now as a, as a tournament and you can't exactly know who they're gonna play next 'cause lowest seed will play one and whatnot, but if you had to pick a Super Bowl right now, who are your two teams? Oh, boy. If I had to pick a Super Bowl right now, um, honestly, and golly, this is a tough one. If I had to pick right now, uh,

I'm honestly torn between Denver and Houston on the AFC side, and, uh, I'm, I'm kind of torn... Uh, actually I think PhiladelphiaI think in the NFC, I really do. I think Philadelphia. I think, I don't know, there's something s- maybe it's I haven't seen enough of Seattle this year, but I, I just, to me they're not what you would expect a number one seed to be.

And I mean, and I, I'm, no reason to say that other than optics. But there, there's the, there's the regular season and then there's the playoffs. I will say Seattle's probably the most impressive team that I've seen. Just e- every time... When I watched them against San Francisco, I was like, "God bless, this is a grown man team. They're real good." The, but, but that is Sam Darnold in the regular season.

That's not lay an egg with Minnesota playoffs. That's what I'm talking about. That's what I mean is that, that optic. I mean, when, you know, they might turn out to be that. But the optics of it, and l- and again, I did not mention Darnold specifically, but I should've, uh, you're right. I mean, if he puts it together, they're in the Super Bowl. But can he handle that pressure?

And right now, this first time in like this, I, uh, in this situation, I just d- I just don't see it. Uh, I c- I mean, I could see it, but I'm leaning toward Philadelphia. And, and I, I would have to say Denver, again, head versus heart. But Houston, there's something about Houston that just scares me, uh, i- in the sense that, again, they're coming together. They're the team I would not want to play out of all of them. I think the Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

I think it's gonna be a swan song, uh, because I think they're the one team who I'm pretty sure even if Seattle's on their game, I think the Rams can beat the Seahawks even in Seattle. They just have, uh, they just are experienced. I saw them almost do it against Philadelphia last year. Um, and I, I, again, they have the right quarterback to take them through that- Yeah... long s- long stretch.

So I think the Rams are going. A- a- and I think, and I think that destiny is due on Buffalo, and it's gonna be Bills-Rams, uh, playing in Santa Clara, uh, in Super Bowl whatever number we are, 61, 60, 61. Right. Who's counting? Now, now I, I reserve the right to change my opinion. Even if these teams win, I reserve the right to change my opinion next week. [laughs] Well, right. Look, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's match-ups, man.

Yeah. It's match-ups. Yeah. Uh, you never know how it's gonna go. And the, besides, the Bills may lose in the first round, but I just think, uh... And, and if, if the Rams and Bills get there, I'll definitely be rooting for the Bills. Um, who knows? Uh, but I also wouldn't be absolutely stunned if you told me that the Super Bowl was Seahawks-Texans. Right. I, right.

W- or, or, um- And here's the, and here's the thing with that, is that for, just for name brand-wise, it would not sound like a really good Super Bowl, but if you want really good football, that would be a terrific Super Bowl. It would be a great s-... Hey, that's a, here's the thing, man. This is Bedlam Buds. We talk college football. Give me the NFL all day. I'll watch college football.

It's, you know, uh, uh, sis boom bah and the, the pageantry, but God, the football is really, really good in the NFL. Yeah, it's different. It's, I've been on the, and I, y- you probably have, too. I've been on the sidelines for both, and my goodness, college football is- I've been on s-... fast... been on the sidelines with you. Yeah.

College football is fast, but my goodness, the NFL, it, people, you have no idea how f- I mean... And so that's right. This is a, a big grown man sport, and, and i- these guys, it's, it's, it's so fun to watch. You're right. But, um, at, a- and this is the time of year, man. This is that fun time of year, you know, the playoffs, looking at all these match-ups, trying to see who's gonna, you know, who might have the big upset, who is hot now compared to early on in the year.

Man, that's what it's all about. That's why it's fun to talk about. And it starts on Saturday. Um, folks, if you see this, if you disagree with the picks, put it in the space below. If, if we end up calling a loser here, man, just rip us to shreds. Put it down there. Let us have it. Call us out, man. Let us... Yeah, call us out. What are we gonna do? Um, but until next time, Boomer Sooner. Go Pokes. This is Bedlam Buds. [upbeat music]

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