Seahawks-Rams Showdown, Holiday Mailbag and the End for Tua?

00:00:05
Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where we trust anyone in this studio to drive our sleigh.

00:00:10
Speaker 2: I'm Greg Rosenthal.

00:00:14
Speaker 1: Go off, Chris Wesseling podcast studio. Sometimes you don't have anything to say at the top and you look down. We're doing a mail bag today and that's the topic of our very first question of the NFL Daily mail Bag. I'm Greg Rosenthal, That's Jordan Rodrieg, that's Colleen Wolfo.

00:00:33
Speaker 2: We're here.

00:00:34
Speaker 3: We did it, done it.

00:00:37
Speaker 1: We haven't made it because a week from now that'll actually be the last show before Christmas, but you'll be gone, so it's our last one together, Colleen, and so we have a holiday themed mail bag today in addition to some news and a big TNF preview, biggest game of the year.

00:00:58
Speaker 2: Have you done any shopping? I don't. I don't believe it you would have.

00:01:02
Speaker 4: No. I still have to do a lot of shopping.

00:01:05
Speaker 5: I don't have a Christmas tree yet, I haven't put any I bought a wreath, but I didn't hang it yet, so it's just sitting on a table.

00:01:12
Speaker 4: That's where I am in the stadum.

00:01:14
Speaker 1: You're exceedingly proud that you showed up on time, but it was like literally the minute that the show is supposed to start.

00:01:20
Speaker 5: It just so just in time is my nickname. I will always be here just in time.

00:01:25
Speaker 3: But what I love is that when Colleen came in, you know, Sunshine and butterflies also flew into the room with her. But she immediately sees me and Greg sitting here. We were just like chilling, and Colleen immediately panics and looks at the clock goes it's one minute. You get credit, Colleen, as you would say to me, you get credit.

00:01:44
Speaker 4: I was like flying up the stairs. Why do I do this to myself every time?

00:01:51
Speaker 1: There's always one Although I'm kind of one like that too. Until I became, you know, a parent of two and more respect you.

00:01:58
Speaker 3: Look like a parent.

00:01:58
Speaker 2: So that's what I need to feel.

00:01:59
Speaker 1: In aporter Zip, I'm just saying where I had responsibilities unlike you, colleague. Let's do some news. It is time for the news of the day. Let's start with Mike McDaniel. If you listen to our Monday night show, we forecasted this a little bit. We guessed that Monday Night might be the last time to a tongue of Ailoa ever plays for the Miami Dolphins. Mike McDaniel was asked about his quarterback on Tuesday and whether they are thinking about making a change.

00:02:32
Speaker 2: This is what he said, Well, I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough, and so for me, everything's on the table.

00:02:42
Speaker 1: Wow, little harsher than the coaches usually are on the podium. But he's an honest man, Mike McDaniel, I would expect Quinn Ewers or Zach Wilson to start this week the Dolphins officially eliminated.

00:02:57
Speaker 2: Don't need to go over all of that again.

00:03:00
Speaker 1: You you had an interested comment in the makeup room getting made up made.

00:03:04
Speaker 2: We're like stars.

00:03:07
Speaker 4: What happened in the makeup room?

00:03:08
Speaker 2: Guys had makeup?

00:03:11
Speaker 3: Uh had a interesting They fixed my effing face.

00:03:14
Speaker 2: But same here.

00:03:16
Speaker 1: You you had a good theory about how this Monday night game played out.

00:03:20
Speaker 2: And McDaniel and Tua and all that.

00:03:22
Speaker 3: Yeah, Well, Mike McDaniel's been trying to separate himself from from Tua for a while. You've heard the comments kind of come out. He's been more critical and and Tua has not helped himself out either with some of the comments that he's been that he's made a little too honest at times a little too open about what's going on behind closed doors. But Mike McDaniel has been more critical of Tua than he ever had before. Remember he came in as somebody who really stood in front of of Tua and and expressed such belief in him. I was in Miami a year after they got there and talked with both of them about that and how the confidence and rebuilding the confidence in the player. And we saw a couple of two as best seasons come out after that. But it has not been good enough this year, and it bracken down and it's it's he is making more mistakes, he's not making smart decisions with the football, doing bad sacks, taking bad sacks, turning it over, and he's he When the team itself is playing much better and the run game has really started to come along, it does stick out quite a bit. Then not only has Mike McDaniel been trying to hide the quarterback, but also now is very open about the quarterback being one of the issues of this team. I do think that the way Monday Night played out was, if you're Mike McDaniel, kind of a perfect scenario, specifically for Mike McDaniel, because you need to separate yourself from the quarterback. He's trying to keep that job. You want it to be clear if you're Mike McDaniel, that you are not a packaged deal. And so having it be on an island game with like Troy Aikman, you know, comment commentating, and having that game go the way that it didn't too a play as poorly as he did, that probably was ultimately a good thing. I don't good is the wrong word, but good thing for Mike McDaniel who's trying to keep that job and distance himself from the quarter the franchise quarterback.

00:05:13
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think too that when people see that and see Mike McDaniel distancing himself from Tua, I think the natural reaction is to then start to imagine what would Mike McDaniel and this team look like with a different quarterback, What could he do with someone else that they brought in? Because that fourth quarter alone was so the whole game. They were very disinterested and they couldn't get anything going. I think Tua had only sixty five passing yards through three quarters in the game, like all of the numbers were just like in trash time. It was so much worse actually watching the game. But I think that when you look at the fact that they weren't using any timeouts, they weren't going hurry up or uptempe at all.

00:05:57
Speaker 3: He was done with the quarterback at that point when you saw that, to your point, Colleen, yeah, you could tell the play caller is done that seriously, he like fine, ran out of patience.

00:06:06
Speaker 1: I'm over it, right, Which is why there's a lot of confidence among the media that McDaniel has a real chance to keep this job.

00:06:14
Speaker 2: So I have no reason to, you know, not believe that that.

00:06:18
Speaker 1: Maybe that's coming from ownership, maybe that's coming from McDaniel, who seems to have a lot of friends within the media in general. But ultimately, like the person that's making that decision either is the GM who's not there yet, or is the owner who's going to hire a GM and require them to keep Mike McDaniel. So I still have a hard time believing that he'll be there this next year. But then again, you look at the open market, maybe you don't see a lot of great options, and he would get.

00:06:45
Speaker 2: A job elsewhere.

00:06:46
Speaker 3: I think he'll be there.

00:06:47
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm just wondering the fact that the yes, I know the Dolphins playoff chances were like not really realistic at all, but they still were technically alive in that fourth quarter. Wouldn't you be able to even if Mike McDaniel wasn't calling anything that was like of urgent matters, couldn't tua like audible and get everyone going like that's not even happening. It just feels like everyone is quit on each other.

00:07:14
Speaker 1: There, right, which is I think that does not make McDaniel look good. I think the fact that he's trying to separate himself through sources in the media does not make him look good. It makes him look emotionally immature, and is that the type of person you want leading? Then again, if he was open, like I'd love to see him coach the Ravens. All right, let's move on to Jade Daniels getting shut down for the remainder of the season. He reinjured that elbow. I watched him a little bit on Tuesday, and not shocking news. He had a good attitude about it, you know, just saying how disappointing this season has been. He thought they were kind of flukey injuries and they were maybe pushing back a little bit about the narrative that he's too small to play in the NFL. I do think he had some bad luck there, But I do think Colleen like they're going to have to go back to the drying board, because the biggest concern for me for him was they took a little step back even when he did play and when he was healthy early in the year.

00:08:09
Speaker 5: Yeah, and that was a whole that was everyone's kind of concern going into the season with Terry mclaurin's deal and the holdouts in camp. But you can't you can't forget what he did in his rookie season and how well they played as a cohesive unit and the things he was able to do that like that doesn't just happen out of luck. And I think that the injuries that is kind of more of a bad luck thing. But I just think that he's a really talented quarterback and if they can get themselves together, like this maybe was just like a Mulligan year. You look at the sum of all the parts and kind of like zoom out, and yeah, the Commanders have had really terrible success these past few years, and last year was just the one year where they finally experienced something that was positive, but I think that they are trending in that direction still. I don't think they are going to regress. I think that they do have good years ahead of them because of Jayden Daniels.

00:09:08
Speaker 3: Yeah, you saw the potential. I think that's the best thing about the situation they're in now is you know exactly what you can get out of this young player, and now it's about understanding where the rest of your roster is and understanding what dramatically needs to be fixed, especially this defense, and especially getting younger at a couple of key positions. That's going to need to be a thing because you can separate the fact that this is really bad luck for Jayden, and yes, some regression as well, but bad luck. You know you're not going to necessarily have that next season too, so you need to understand how to get back to at least where you can maximize his potential.

00:09:46
Speaker 1: It's interesting to wonder if Cliff will be there next year. Cliff Kingsbury, who did such a good job with him as a rookie, and I think has done a good job when Mariota has been starting this year, like the offense hasn't been the issue. He's going to get looks I think for head coaching jobs, like there aren't obvious guys that are gonna get I mean, all the coaching spots will be filled, but it's very uncertain who's gonna be available, what jobs are gonna be available.

00:10:10
Speaker 2: It's a little early to think about it.

00:10:11
Speaker 1: Like Mike McDaniel would be a great coordinator, he's got the relationship with Dan quinn. But it's like I think Mike McDaniel would get another head coaching job in this cycle if he was available. So we'll have to find out who is the coach of Jane Daniels. But yeah, big step back in your two Let's get to the mailbag. So we asked our listeners give us some questions. They could be holiday themed or not. And we got him on Blue Sky, we got him on Twitter. Whatever the best ones were, they rose to the top.

00:10:41
Speaker 4: And uh yeah, put them in order, did you?

00:10:43
Speaker 1: I did put them in some sort of order, but we might just skip it as we go, and this will make it tough for the producers back there, but we will try to go in some sort of order. And this was from Joseph Sombo. If I can read my own chicken scratches and He asked, if if NFL quarterbacks were reindeer, who would you try us to guide your slave? We have some real questions in here, and we got some holiday questions, Colleen. What do you think do you want me.

00:11:06
Speaker 2: To throw out?

00:11:07
Speaker 4: Answer Stafford?

00:11:08
Speaker 2: Okay? Why?

00:11:10
Speaker 5: Well, because he is the he's the front runner for REMV. Okay, I've seen what he's able to do. He is a proven commodity. I can rely on him every Christmas from here on out, who knows how long? Yeah, so I know, you know what we're gonna have to get like a temper pedic situation for.

00:11:28
Speaker 2: We gotta well, we got to put the A mortal chamber.

00:11:31
Speaker 5: We're gonna with the slaves on board with us.

00:11:34
Speaker 1: That feels problematic. In fact, I noticed Lindsay thirty of ESPN had noticed that the A Mortal Chamber was back at the RAMS facility and.

00:11:43
Speaker 3: There for DeVante.

00:11:44
Speaker 2: I mean, what is that.

00:11:45
Speaker 1: That's that's the special healing healing chamber that made Matthew Stafford's back as healthy as a young man.

00:11:52
Speaker 4: Yeah, I gotta get over there.

00:11:53
Speaker 3: It's there for I'm Stafford. I'm going Dak Prescott. Everything will show up on time, Okay.

00:12:02
Speaker 2: C J.

00:12:02
Speaker 1: Stroud seems like what I thought about here. See Stafford, I feel like would be I don't know why he's.

00:12:08
Speaker 3: Basically I don't I don't want like to be like I'm going to try to go to Alaska right before Florida.

00:12:14
Speaker 1: He seems he seems like a high risk, like he'd be driving it too fast. But that's not what I want driving this time. Just this one reliable. I think CJ. He's young, he can make it through the night. Maybe unlike Stafford. He's you know, he's healthy. But he seems like he would know how to modulate how aggressive to be, when to slow down.

00:12:35
Speaker 2: I just would trust him.

00:12:35
Speaker 1: I also bryce young is another option because the greatest drivers in the world they're all small, you know, so like less weight for the reindeer.

00:12:42
Speaker 4: Got u you know, researched topic.

00:12:45
Speaker 2: I mean just from my own experience.

00:12:47
Speaker 1: But also if you look at NASCAR and uh F one, you know those are not you know, big men, right or women.

00:12:55
Speaker 4: Yeah, I guess you could take it back to the horse era.

00:12:58
Speaker 3: I'm saying questionable. I think decision before you start to shoot your own horn.

00:13:02
Speaker 1: Who are the teams that are a coach away from being good like the Jags or the Bears next year.

00:13:10
Speaker 3: New York Giants. I think I think that's a good, big one. Yeah.

00:13:13
Speaker 5: I was actually going to say that when we were talking about Jayden Daniels, just thinking about how the division is going to change for next season for the Commanders and how the Giants. I don't know what they're who they end up bringing in for a head coach or you know what, how this all pans out. But I just think with Skataboo and Dart like they have, they have a lot going on there, at least personality.

00:13:36
Speaker 4: Wise, but a lot of personality.

00:13:37
Speaker 5: I do wonder if Jackson Dart is sort of repelling potential candidates with his just sort of reckless that he makes about it too.

00:13:50
Speaker 3: Yeah, I was listening to some of that. He thinks he's being he believes he's being targeted. Yeahs, they're looking more for it. Yeah.

00:13:56
Speaker 1: I'm like, well that he might have a point, because I see about five guys get concussed and have their head slammed or potentially concussed where they should get valued every game, and it's just like they're always just going Scott free, That's.

00:14:08
Speaker 3: What I'm saying. I'm like Hey, by the way, just objectively speaking, it is a good thing. Yes, people are riding out for you, you know, and.

00:14:15
Speaker 5: You're at the quarterback, so everyone's going to be watching you probably first like.

00:14:20
Speaker 1: Free Snap the Giants have let it get out there, or Marcus Freeman, the Notre Dames coach has let it get out there quite a bit. How much the Giants really want to talk to Notre Dames coach Marcus Freeman. So that'll be an interesting space to watch. The Bengals seem like the obvious choice for me because they are one of the worst teams in the NFL. They're four and ten and they've got a lot of talent.

00:14:41
Speaker 3: You've got your Zach Taylor shirt on.

00:14:43
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, he's more.

00:14:45
Speaker 1: Of a polo guy. This is a quarter zip I mean this. This got the best compliment they could get on Rosenthal Christmas, which occurred last Saturday, and my daughter.

00:14:54
Speaker 2: Alis said, oh, I would wear that. So that's that's good.

00:14:57
Speaker 1: I think I told you, unless it's not good to wear what a fourteen year.

00:15:00
Speaker 3: Old girl, it's cute.

00:15:03
Speaker 1: Paul Danner of The Athletic Your your colleague says he doesn't believe Zach Taylor is in any trouble, but man that they could do better. And then I was thinking, I was thinking, if Mike McDaniel did get fired, how about let's get rid of John Harbaugh. I want to see Lamar Jackson and Mike McDaniel together, because here's my vision of Mike McDaniel. He's like the he's like the equivalent of like a system, like a great system quarterback, like a better version of Jared Goff. If you give him a structure where the head coach is not like doing everything in the building, where it's more of a front office led and then also strong ownership led type of building, and you just fit in and you bring all the cool stuff that you bring and I think the Ravens would qualify there.

00:15:47
Speaker 2: You just slide him right in. I like that.

00:15:49
Speaker 4: I like a quarterback head coach.

00:15:51
Speaker 2: Do a trade match make Can we do a trade Harbaugh?

00:15:53
Speaker 4: Yeah, We're gonna have to do that Harbaugh.

00:15:55
Speaker 2: For McMahon, McDaniel would be who says no, the Ravens.

00:15:59
Speaker 4: Maybe that's what Greg wants.

00:16:01
Speaker 3: He's wish casting this.

00:16:02
Speaker 2: I really am.

00:16:03
Speaker 1: How are you managing your Christmas schedule this year? By the way, that last question was from Sam the Hobbit, So thanks. This one's from Blair Corgan, who does great work with different graphics, one of which is incredible, one of which is Colleen and I in some version of the Underworld and is now on my Twitter homepage. How are you managing the Christmas schedule this year? With expanded holiday games? And then connected another longtime listener, Tom Marshall says, can the NFL flex the Christmas games?

00:16:35
Speaker 2: Please?

00:16:35
Speaker 1: So I do think these two are connected, but why don't we just start on a personal basis? Colleen, how are you managing Christmas this year? You're going to be back in Philly, Yes, i am.

00:16:46
Speaker 4: I'm gonna take a red eye home.

00:16:49
Speaker 5: I'm doing a lot of Saturdays here at NFL Network now I don't have I'm doing Saturdays and Sundays until the super Bowl basically. But I'm taking a red eye home after my last Monday night pregame show with Mooch, which will be this Monday, and I'm taking Chema on the plane with.

00:17:09
Speaker 4: Yeah god Ully, and I just don't know what could go wrong. Guys. You know I'm not that dog of gummy worried at all.

00:17:16
Speaker 1: You're right, I'm sure everyone else in first class is going to be thrilled because we know Connie's not going.

00:17:21
Speaker 5: To the back coach because I bought an extra seat for her because she's so big.

00:17:27
Speaker 4: So my coach, Yeah, I always like coach home. I'm paying for it.

00:17:33
Speaker 2: This is okay, good, good way to make that makes more sense.

00:17:40
Speaker 4: I love the people.

00:17:41
Speaker 3: The people are my people.

00:17:42
Speaker 4: I'm the people.

00:17:45
Speaker 1: Here's the thing about these Christmas games being bad, it actually makes it easier to just catch up with them later so you can't flex them. And I know everyone you know here. It's a big dave for the NFL, Like the are enormous on Christmas, and it's a big deal for Netflix. But they just happen to strike out that the Cowboys are going to be eliminated by then, and they're playing the Commanders Lions Vikings. It's okay, it matters for the Lions, and the Vikings are certainly watchable, so that that's certainly better. And then you get the Broncos and the Chiefs, which is interesting, but it's going to be Gardner Minshew versus the Broncos, and like, why are Chiefs fans showing up so you can just you know, to me, Christmas is a step too far for the NFL. I don't think it's I don't think that's out of balance.

00:18:34
Speaker 3: Aren't you the one who famously wanted a game on it?

00:18:36
Speaker 1: I did a single day I did. I always think there's never enough NFL spread it out, But I think Christmas that's a little too much, or just do one game but Christmas, or it could just it's just on in the background while you're doing you're doing your things.

00:18:52
Speaker 2: But to me, that's Thanksgiving.

00:18:53
Speaker 1: We've already we already have that holiday. I know I already did my Christmas. Rosenthal Christmas was sadat It's always a little strange because the rest of the world doesn't know it's Rosenthal Christmas. So all the stores are open. You can still go out for like a nice dinner.

00:19:08
Speaker 4: That's kind of fun.

00:19:09
Speaker 3: That's that's smart planning.

00:19:11
Speaker 2: Actually, what about you.

00:19:14
Speaker 3: I'm working because I have two features coming out those next two weeks, and please go look for them at that time. Kay.

00:19:21
Speaker 1: Yes, my family will be leaving this Thursday night after we do our live YouTube show and recap of ram Seahawks that I'm driving to the airport and saying goodbye. So I think I'll probably be hanging out with mister Anthony jessel Nick, my other familyless friend in La.

00:19:39
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll be here. We'll probably see an inappropriate movie.

00:19:44
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, like the yeah really cool.

00:19:47
Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, once we saw cats and then once we saw Zone.

00:19:50
Speaker 3: Of Interest, I was like, yeah, like remember that one.

00:19:52
Speaker 1: It's one or the other. Is Tyler Shuck the best quarterback in this class? Asks Saint Sky and then connected to that Wong on Blue Sky great follow Will Rattler be a starter next year somewhere in the NFL. I'm going to answer the second one first. I can't imagine like another team giving up a pick for Rattler to be their starter. Like if the Saints for some reason want to get rid of them because they didn't like the vibe in the room, they could certainly get a pick for Spencer Rattler, who could just be a solid backup or like a one B.

00:20:29
Speaker 2: But I don't see why they would do that.

00:20:30
Speaker 1: They have a great backup, which is unfortunate for Spencer Ratler, behind a guy who's had a lot of injuries in his life, Tyler Shuck, So that seems like a great situation for Rattler. On the Shuck question, the other options cam I mean Colleen would be cam Ward and Jackson Dart. I think those are really the top. Yeah, you know, similar athleticism. I've seen Colleen on ice skates.

00:20:55
Speaker 2: That great movement ability.

00:20:58
Speaker 5: I think the shuck I mean what, he probably has more passing yards than either of camp I thought.

00:21:06
Speaker 2: Wow, in terms of per game.

00:21:07
Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, he he definitely has that, and I like that he has good decision making and he looks good in the pocket. It's just tough because the teams surrounding both quarterbacks are so different and they're not that great, so it is hard to evaluate them under these circumstances. But I guess Shuck would be above I put him.

00:21:28
Speaker 3: I put him at two. I put cam Ward still at one, but ill Shuck at two over Jackson Dart.

00:21:33
Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, I think they're all closer than Titans fans would want to feel. But I say that, and I would strongly still go with Ward long term. He's a lot younger, he's a lot more talented. I think if you put cam Ward in the same situation, he would look a lot better.

00:21:55
Speaker 3: What the tyler, I just do you age shame him every changing?

00:21:59
Speaker 2: Well?

00:21:59
Speaker 3: No, I just usually say is, and we know he's seen a lot of football.

00:22:04
Speaker 1: I'm just saying, if you're betting on someone that's twenty three or twenty six, Ward situation is so bad.

00:22:11
Speaker 2: The problem is, I don't know when that's gonna change.

00:22:14
Speaker 1: I do think you gotta give Kellen Moore some credit, which I haven't done much on this show, that he's made both these young quarterbacks I think play pretty close to like their ceiling. I think if you hired him to be kind of a quarterbacks tutor whisper, I think their results are pretty good. Maybe that's his ceiling Kellen Moore, Oh yeah, but even that would feel like a win for them, even if he only lasts there two or three years, and he helps Tyler Shuck become like a real deal franchise quarterback. I think he has a chance. Man, that's tough. Should her eraser here, but I don't think should He is quite there with those three.

00:22:51
Speaker 3: But I think in a year or two, this is when we see Shor really ascend into his Well.

00:22:57
Speaker 1: That's kind of what it's asking though, if you're taking it long, long term, and that's why I feel like Ward's career I'm taking. But I gotta say, Shuck might be a safer pick than Jackson Dart, which seems crazy.

00:23:09
Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, I think it's two different answers if you're going short term versus long term dart.

00:23:14
Speaker 1: To be fair, I can hear the Giants fan saying, for like another, he's even a year younger than Wards, so he has a young quarterback. Let's go to our next one. Gift bags or boxes? What is your rap game? Like this is from Chrisman uh Gilchrist.

00:23:33
Speaker 3: Gift bags because all you have to do is throw some tissue paper in there, throw a card in there. You know when I used to reuse them, less waste.

00:23:44
Speaker 5: Yeah, that's true. I do love that. Like the recycling situation is great. But before I worked at the NFL, when I had extra time to do things, I used to really go crazy with rap and I would like I would get collect pine cones form.

00:23:58
Speaker 2: Oh my god, that would pain my mom.

00:24:01
Speaker 3: I love it so much. And then and then we when we try to open things, and then she's like, don't mess up the wrapping, and it's.

00:24:08
Speaker 4: Like away in a second, like what now you're lucky.

00:24:11
Speaker 3: But then she saves it all the like trappings and fixing. She saves them to use again, so it is the same thing.

00:24:17
Speaker 1: Yeah, my wrapping is horrific and I get mocked for it, But I think that adds some like real like why does it have to look all pretty?

00:24:25
Speaker 2: You know what I mean? Sure, it adds some real humanity way to it. This Okay, this next.

00:24:33
Speaker 1: Question was so offensive, I just thought I would throw it out as some red meat to you guys from Blue Sky. Uh Am, I wrong? Is Troy Aikman the worst color guy alive?

00:24:46
Speaker 3: You are wrong?

00:24:50
Speaker 2: Number one.

00:24:50
Speaker 5: I literally talked about him for like a half hour straight last night raising him.

00:24:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, this was a crazy take. I'm surprised because, like, what is it about Troyman? I think that would bother someone right now? Unless you just like love NFL officials like I do, I can't.

00:25:06
Speaker 2: Then you would hate Troy Aikman. I don't know.

00:25:09
Speaker 3: Oh, I thought that was one of I mean, that was one of their best games. Ye see, they were being so cute to each other, and then Troy was just like letting the officiating have it, and then he was singing at one point.

00:25:19
Speaker 2: He was really letting the Dolphins have it.

00:25:21
Speaker 1: Like one of the reasons why I think, Oh, they got a lot of grief.

00:25:24
Speaker 3: Is In's that Dawyer among my favorite probably one of I think my favorite are icons.

00:25:30
Speaker 1: And he's at the point he always wasn't this good where he just lets it fly. He he does his homework, he lets it fly. He doesn't like care what the league office things, what the players think. He's not trying to cultivate relationships. He has relationships, but he's gonna just speak his mind. And most importantly he knows ball, like and I think you have to do a little bit of study.

00:25:55
Speaker 2: And to keep up with knowing ball, and he really knows ball.

00:25:57
Speaker 3: Who was up in the Terry McCauley is that the guy open the boot with them? Were they? Is that the right Is that the right name?

00:26:02
Speaker 4: I think it's Terry's one of them. Yeah, he got on Thursday.

00:26:05
Speaker 3: He goes, yeah, that's why I can't remember which one it is. But he'll ask Terry or whoever the rules guy is. He'll ask and then he'll be like, oh, I disagree. I I think that's a bad call. I don't see that, And like, why did you let the other guy speak? You were just gonna ship on him?

00:26:24
Speaker 4: Oh man? Like doesn't he good to try and softball at at all?

00:26:28
Speaker 2: So good?

00:26:29
Speaker 3: How'd you guys like my Troy Akman?

00:26:31
Speaker 2: That was good.

00:26:32
Speaker 1: I'm gonna maybe try one here took the Which NFL announcer would you want reciting the Blessing of.

00:26:39
Speaker 3: The Menora Kevin Harlan, Oh, my god, that's definitely it. No great, mel hell Mela Colombo.

00:26:54
Speaker 2: The guy is drunk. It's fuss so chaw hanakkah. Oh it's a big man.

00:27:07
Speaker 1: Sorry to all the Jewish people out there were because I probably butchered that. I've never been to temple. I've never really celebrated hankah until I was about eleven or twelve.

00:27:18
Speaker 2: Though.

00:27:19
Speaker 1: The one thing that my mom especially wanted to just keep up some tradition, even though they were kind of anti religion in general, was doing honkah as a kid. So that's the one like blessing or prayer that it's stuck in my head from doing it until I was about eleven years old, so I still know it. But we never actually went to a temple, And around eleven or twelve, we just had a talk with my parents and said, like the Christmas formats just so much better. We used to do both, like we used to do both, but we just kind of half asked Hanakkah and we negotiated just doing Christmas.

00:27:54
Speaker 4: That's a twelve year negotiated.

00:27:56
Speaker 1: Well, yeah, my brother was a little older, but I did most of the negotiating.

00:28:00
Speaker 3: Everything I learn about you, Greg equally does not surprise me and delights me.

00:28:05
Speaker 2: Oh, I'll take that as a complimentary.

00:28:08
Speaker 1: My mom's negotiating back was like, we were not getting a tree, but we'll get a little like fake bush, and we're not calling it Christmas crazy, and we'll just call it family day. So we called it family Day.

00:28:24
Speaker 2: It's good.

00:28:24
Speaker 5: I went to my first Hanukkah night and hurt the prayer the other like what two nights ago, because it's tonight night two or three.

00:28:32
Speaker 2: We're in the middle. We're in the middle.

00:28:34
Speaker 5: Yeah, and uh, it was cool. They sang the song when they did three prayers and I didn't really know what was going on, but.

00:28:41
Speaker 3: It was cool. It's lovely.

00:28:43
Speaker 1: Like I think reasonable minds could disagree about, like which format is better. It's like you're getting something cool or a few things cool for eight straight days or like one big But as a kid, I do both.

00:28:53
Speaker 2: Yeah, well that is what.

00:28:54
Speaker 4: We trimmed a tree and let the manora.

00:28:57
Speaker 1: That is what we did back in the day. By the way, I heard that, I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this, that our love of Kevin Harlan on Sunday actually got passed on to Kevin Harlan from her daughter, from his daughter.

00:29:12
Speaker 3: I hope he hears this one too. Yes, Olivia ken.

00:29:16
Speaker 1: Oli, Yeah, we love Olivia Harlan Decker too, who does a great job with Sky Sports, who I've worked with amazing. Appreciate her, Appreciate her passing that on because he is the best. This is a question. There's not a right answer to this. It was who would be Wes's favorite player? So, for relatively new listeners here Chris Westling, who this podcast is is the studio is named after. Of course, we did the Around the NFL podcast with him for years, one of our great friends. And I picked it out, probably because I love talk about Wes anytime, but because watching that Chargers Chiefs game on Monday when I when I actually got around to watching it, I did just think about how much we both loved watching Herbert rookie year, and I did think he would really love this Herbert Year because if you're a Herbert fan, it's like it feels like he's like his arms falling off and everything's but he's just like making those four really cool player plays every game around him, sort of the opposite of what his reputation had been where he's like this pretty boy but they lose in the end. But no, they're like gutty it out and he's been a lot of fun to watch. So this question made me think.

00:30:25
Speaker 4: Of that good question. It's such a tough Yeah.

00:30:27
Speaker 1: It's a kind of an impossible one. Knowing what kind of players he liked, I'll give you a second to think. I also thought about Devon h Chan because he liked a fast, versatile back, like he loved speed demons at running backs.

00:30:42
Speaker 2: We're very awesome, often his favorite type. You know.

00:30:44
Speaker 3: I sometimes, actually, when these really cool moments happen, I think, like it would be really cool to hear him talk about that, just like the old times and like the Philip Rivers.

00:30:54
Speaker 2: Thing, just like that's true to come an, that's a good.

00:30:58
Speaker 3: So he would talk about that and what he would think of it and kind of just like the delight and maybe just the like just the craziness of what that was and little moments I thought about the other day. I was kind of thinking the Woody Marks launching himself in the end zone, like little flourishes, little moments like that. I think about that actually quite a bit.

00:31:20
Speaker 5: That's a great question, and I miss getting the analogies from the most unexpected random titles from books or movies or music or something that only Wes could poll in that very moment to make it kind of connect. I feel like Wes always was so good with just like making everything more digestible and relatable, but then also bringing in things that no one would ever think of.

00:31:47
Speaker 1: I think of basketball players too, because, as Wes would love to remind you a basketball was his best sport. He was a great basketball player, and he was a great basketball fan and mine too, So I would love to hear him talk about like Shay Gilders Alexander, Like when the Celtics were on Iron, I kept wanting to hear what he would would say about those teams because we talked a lot of basketball.

00:32:06
Speaker 2: Football was football was work. We talked a lot of football team.

00:32:09
Speaker 3: I really want his take on Tom Brady, all of what Tom Brady is right now, including the Dogs. Interesting including that, like, I just want a good ran. I want a good rant. I want to know.

00:32:19
Speaker 1: I think he'd get I think he'd be and I don't know, but I think he'd get to where I've gotten to now, which is that Tom Brady's gotten so much better at announcing games that.

00:32:29
Speaker 4: The growth alone is like.

00:32:31
Speaker 1: I really respect that, I really respect that he's just gotten more natural. But he also is putting in the work. And now I gotta say I'm enjoying Tom much more.

00:32:41
Speaker 2: Shout out to Chris. Always think about him this time a year.

00:32:44
Speaker 1: Why does everyone line up for him in Los Angeles?

00:32:49
Speaker 3: This is not something I knew happened.

00:32:50
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, So this is more of just a tip. I think Los Angeles because of the massive people and the great the amount of like vallvolume of holiday inners that are happening here.

00:33:02
Speaker 2: It's every holiday.

00:33:03
Speaker 1: It's not just you know, ham is particular to Christmas, but like, outsourcing holiday meals is a pretty good way to go, and there's like a million great places in La So I'm just saying that I threw that question.

00:33:13
Speaker 4: But this is a grocery store.

00:33:15
Speaker 1: Everyone is like, now there's a couple famous, there's a couple famous like ham spots, but in general that's true on like Thanksgiving and stuff like you know, if.

00:33:25
Speaker 3: I've lined up for brisket.

00:33:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, if you can outsource it, why not do it?

00:33:29
Speaker 1: Would you rather This is a totally random one that's more towards the end, but I like it, would you rather take on one Will Campbell sized duck or one hundred duck sized Will Campbell's What.

00:33:42
Speaker 3: Are they trying to do?

00:33:44
Speaker 2: Yeah?

00:33:44
Speaker 3: What are they? Are they angry?

00:33:46
Speaker 2: The fact that it said would you rather take area?

00:33:48
Speaker 3: Are fighting the ducks?

00:33:50
Speaker 2: Ducks in general.

00:33:51
Speaker 1: Are you know, like swans are mean. They're pretty mean, like if you come at them. So it's saying, would you take on uh, one Will Campbell sized duck?

00:34:01
Speaker 5: Sounds just one one rather than a hundred little ones?

00:34:07
Speaker 3: I think little Will Campbell's.

00:34:09
Speaker 2: Well, and they're duck, they're duck sized Will Campbell's. Now.

00:34:14
Speaker 1: Will Campbell famously said he would die. Yeah, but if it was a hundred fight and die. If it was one hundred Will Campbell's, that actually had like the fight of a duck or a Will Campbell. I think that's actually a tougher one one duck, that's Will Campbell size. You got to figure you can outsmart him in some way and just get like a shot in the neck at some point.

00:34:35
Speaker 4: It's just one yeah, I'm taking that all day.

00:34:38
Speaker 3: I famously don't I famously pick the worst case scenario in these types of things. I'm still waiting on Miles Garrett to show up.

00:34:45
Speaker 2: Nowhere.

00:34:47
Speaker 1: Will Aaron Rodgers play football next year? This is from mister Mojo Doza.

00:34:53
Speaker 3: No, I don't think so in my opinion, And I think he's I think you could tell you see these shots of him at these wins and he's just like looking around and he almost looks like he's on the verge of tears, and like he just sort of he stays on the field when it's nine degrees to hug and take pictures with everybody, like it's one of those things. So with Aaron Donald too, like staying just soaking in the little moments a little bit more just understanding this might be it. That's my opinion.

00:35:19
Speaker 5: I thought that after the game, when during the interview and all of the players were coming up to him and then he was asked about that, and prior to that question in the interview, I felt like he was just sort of on autopilot, and then that sort of triggered him to go into a deeper, sort of more reflective answer, and he was being introspective about it and kind of like just he had this like I don't even know the word for it, but it felt like he was really relishing in the moment and trying to pause and take it all in. And that contrast against him walking in to the game, arriving with this like hoodie on and he.

00:36:02
Speaker 4: Looked so miserable. Old. Yeah, but I don't think he's gonna play next year.

00:36:08
Speaker 1: I've gotten the feeling lately that he will play next year, that he probably believes it's his last season. But the reason I think that is because I think they'll be I think they'll be a job for him. And if there's a job for him, history tells us like they usually take it in the end, So we'll see it kind of depends on how this ends. Of just getting this vibe that like someone's gonna give him a decent enough job, whether they should or not, I think it could happen all right. Last one, aside from personal favorites Pats, Rams or Eagles, I like that the Rams is just accepted as your favorite. I am seeing who would you want to see win the Super Bowl?

00:36:42
Speaker 4: The Bill's Texans.

00:36:45
Speaker 2: I think Chargers would be my first pick.

00:36:47
Speaker 4: Really, that'd be.

00:36:48
Speaker 2: Great, Herbert.

00:36:49
Speaker 1: I yeah, I love an underdog and their underdogs in their own building, like they're I'm not saying that ownership is like the best going and that they're the one I'm happy for, but like the Chargers fans who have just been like made fun of forever, like do they even exist, like well the ones that they have, Like that would I don't know, it would be cool.

00:37:08
Speaker 3: That would be cool. I think that would be good for Los Angeles overall.

00:37:12
Speaker 1: Sure, Yeah, I guess I'm just saying bills.

00:37:14
Speaker 4: Bills are Broncos. Broncos would be cool too.

00:37:17
Speaker 3: Oh, Broncos so cool.

00:37:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, Okay, now that you say Broncos, I know we got to take a break.

00:37:22
Speaker 2: This is the last one because you don't want to here for fantasy talk about No.

00:37:25
Speaker 1: There is another b NEX question, and I'm adding it is bo Nicks, just Shane Stike and led Jalen Hurts. This is a compliment. He throws the deep ball outside the number as well. He's athletic and mobile and pretty smart. With the ball, great play caller, top o line, and a great defense. Don't see why he can't make the Super Bowl. First of all, pretty good player comp definitely some strengths and weaknesses that are different. I think Bo is much more willing to take chances than Jalen Hurts his and better throwing. I think he's a better just pure playmaker throwing the ball then probably hurts it, although Hurts has had his moment.

00:38:03
Speaker 3: But I do like they're very efficient when it's working, very efficient. And the risk averse thing is a good flag too, because Bonis is not risk averse. Jalen Hurts is risk averse and it works.

00:38:14
Speaker 4: Really really does that come with age though, too?

00:38:17
Speaker 3: And I think with Bo it's maybe a higher ceiling lower floor. I mean, we saw Jalen Hurts his floor obviously, I don't think I think that's an outlier, but that and I also think coaching really really matters with this, and you've seen it certainly with with Bonnix too.

00:38:33
Speaker 4: I just can't get out of my head.

00:38:35
Speaker 5: Sean Payton saying that we started the We're starting the year against San Francisco, going to San Francisco in the preseason. That was their first preseason game, and he wanted to end the season his last game in San Francisco as well for the Super Bowl.

00:38:50
Speaker 1: The questions from an account here for fantasy and the point that like, why couldn't he make the Super Bowl?

00:38:56
Speaker 2: Oh yeah he could. I mean they are.

00:38:59
Speaker 1: If they're not the closest thing to a favorite, the AFC has like, they're right there, and I think the recipe is there. We've seen quarterbacks lesser than bo Nicks go on runs.

00:39:10
Speaker 2: That's the thing.

00:39:11
Speaker 1: You got to do it, though, Jalen Hurts has played his very best, like two of the best games he's ever played in his whole life. We're in the Super Bowl, maybe the two best, So that's what you want.

00:39:20
Speaker 2: We'll see if Bogen get it done.

00:39:22
Speaker 1: Let's take a break and let's talk about two great quarterbacks from this year. Yes, that's right, Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford in the Thursday Night game of the year, maybe the Thursday Night game of all time back on NFL Daily, the Rams are favored by a point and a half in Seattle. It's the prime video game. Jordan say, you know, I mean, you might be exaggerating. The greatest Thursday night game of all time. First of all, it's only existed for what a little under twenty years or something like that, It's not forever. It is the first Thursday Night game of all time where both teams have at least eleven wins. So in terms of a big game this late in the season, it's hard to imagine a bigger game than the two teams I believe are the two best teams in the NFL going against each other, and one of them is going to be in a position where they're likely to have to win three road games in the playoffs to make it, and the other is in a position where they're in the driver's seat to go get that one seat.

00:40:31
Speaker 3: So that's a big game, Jordan, Yes it is, Greg, And my comment was more aligned to your pensiant for hyperbole than it.

00:40:37
Speaker 2: Was I know what I'm saying. This is it hyperbole.

00:40:42
Speaker 3: I asked you if I could take this game with you, and I am so excited about this because this has huge potential, huge potential. I cannot wait. It was such a weird game last time. It was, you know, Seattle out gaining Los Angeles four and fourteen yards to two hundred and forty nine yards. But Sam Donald having four interceptions and based a lot on some of the simulated pressure that the Rams were bringing at the time, that really messed him up and kind of sent him on this course that he's on now. And can he bring it back to the Sam Donald that we saw at the beginning of the season. And the stakes are so high even though the Rams made the playoffs, this is a game they absolutely want to have for their playoff seating. It's just so much fun.

00:41:29
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think about those four interceptions because that isn't the only thing psychologically that Sam Donald is approaching this game with because when you go back to the previous season when he was with the Vikings and which defense was it that took him down? It was the Rams and he was sacked. I don't even know how many times in that game. They were all over him, and that I feel like plays such a big role in just a quarterback's mindset.

00:41:56
Speaker 4: If he throws an interception.

00:41:59
Speaker 5: Earlier, loses the ball early, then does that start to kind of play into his head because I'm looking for I'm furiously vamping so I can look for the number right here. But it was, Yeah, the wild card game last year, he sacked nine times. That was the season ending loss obviously for them. So I just am wondering how he'll be in the pocket in this one. And it's interesting to think about the two quarterbacks in this game because Sam Darnold, everyone is watching how he's done in Ryan Grubbs offense, and how you know, is he the guy that we saw all year with the Vikings or is he the guy that we saw against the Rams when he was with the Vikings and this year with the Seahawks. And then on the other side you have Matthew Stafford who's on this MVP campaign. So the two narratives even just at the quarterback position, right, so interesting.

00:42:47
Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's Stafford's MVP moment. He has a huge game in this game, he wins the MVP likely especially with.

00:42:54
Speaker 3: And the conversation. Yes, uh big for Patrick, it's a.

00:42:57
Speaker 2: Huge for the conversation. I guess you never know.

00:43:00
Speaker 1: If Allen went super nova and Stafford then stubbed his toe in the final two weeks with really good matchups Atlanta and Arizona, you can't just write it in. But if he has a good game on Thursday night, he's now going to be like a heavy, heavy favorite, and he didn't look great in that game. They had one hundred and like thirty yards something like that, passing the twelve first downs, and Seattle what they do defensively gave them a lot of problems. We've talked a lot about the thirteen personnel. You were way ahead of that in terms of the three tight ends that the Rams like to put on the field and how that's really helped them unlock their offense. Well, the Seahawks shut that down when the two of them played. Yes, they played that personnel grouping better than any team all year by far, to the point where they kind of just stranglehold did the Rams in that game. And yet the last two weeks the Rams have used that more than ever, way more over the last two weeks, and more effectively than ever.

00:43:57
Speaker 2: So how will that line up?

00:43:59
Speaker 1: Sean McVay talk during the week just about the challenges of playing Mike McDonald.

00:44:03
Speaker 6: They play really good defense, They're connected on all three levels. They got great players, great scheme, they got great flexibility and fluidity you know, on a week to week basis, and you know, and then when they get when they get you in some you know, bad spots. I mean they attack and and they feast on that kind of stuff. And so whatever Mike said, I totally agree with. And there's nothing but a ton of respect for this coaching staff and these players and uh and really this football team as a whole, not exclusive to the defense. Their defense is unbelievable, but they're excellent on offense. They're excellent in the kicking game. There's no weakness. This is as complete of a football team as there is.

00:44:38
Speaker 3: Yeah, he's right. Also he's exhausted. His wife just had their second child yesterday, Oh my god, and going on to a short week. But yeah, that Mike mas J.

00:44:47
Speaker 1: McCarthy did not do well when you know he had a kid right before the game.

00:44:51
Speaker 2: That could that could be a fact.

00:44:52
Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, it's he's actually not having the child. So I think he's gonna be fine. But that the Mike McDonald is. So when I talk to coaches on both of these staffs, they compare the two coaches to each other because Mike McDonald is so good at these adjustments, and so he's expecting the change up pack, the change up pitch that Sean McVeigh threw when thirteen personnel was being defended so well as we predicted it would because Seattle is built to be this multiple where they can defend. It was trying to get into more eleven personnel because it's the same route combinations, it's just using smaller, faster players. The problem is Davante Adams might not be available because of the hamstring injury, so you can as easily go back and forth between thirteen and eleven personnel in the way that they would prefer to because you don't know if he's going to play, and then you're relying on yes, Pukunaku is having another unreal season. Then also Knate monfil Jordan Whittington, and again a lot of pass catching tight ends. And the interesting thing about this game to me is that even though we've seen I think this is the perfect fit between Clint Kubiak and Sam Donald, and I think that it's the perfect like modern throwback of an offense. The Rams are really gonna I think miss Quenton Lake having Quenton Lake in this game, because having somebody who can command the middle of the field the way that Quenton Lake did and he's injured now having him able to take up that space and help dictate some of their coverage but also dictate some of their pressures because the Rams are not getting a lot of sacks on their pressures. They're actually under league average at converting pressure to sacks right now Corny Neeckchen stats. But they're forcing turnovers. They have the highest number of turnovers forced from pressure in the NFL this year, and a lot of that is what happened to Sam Donald in the last game. But a lot of that was because they could move Quenton Lake like what I mentioned in some of these simulated pressures where you look like you're going to come in on a blitz, but then you're dropping back and making the zone very cloudy and murky, which made Sam Darnald not really understand where he was throwing the ball. So this is where I think this is absolute necessity to a have Krishula designed some different types of looks this time, but then also for Sam Donald to potentially be able to attack the middle of the field.

00:47:10
Speaker 1: Yeah, and they have added a dimension to their offense with Rashid Shaheed. I think they really needed that to have like different layers. But since that Rams game, basically every opponent has taken some of that playbook and sent a ton of pressure. Minnesota would do it in any week, but they did it at Sam Donald Atlanta. It worked for a half until it didn't. And Indianapolis played an awesome defensive game against Seattle last week, and they got back Jake Sundell their center last week. Their offensive line has not had the development I think that they would like over the course of the season. The run game, which I was hoping had kind of turned a corner, has maybe taken a little bit of a step back the last two games for Seattle, and they're not really protecting Donald well soir.

00:47:58
Speaker 5: Left tackle Charles Cross he got hurt in yes the last game, so he might not go. So in the most important game of the year, it might be decided by the backup left tackle in terms of how much time Donald is going to have. Can JSN get enough separation, Like.

00:48:16
Speaker 3: Jared RS needs a big game, he needs a big game. He's dying for a big game.

00:48:20
Speaker 5: And not only that, but the Seahawks they've started so unbelievably slow, like especially in especially in these last five games. I think they've only scored something like twelve points in the last first quarters over their last five games, and it's just the complete opposite of what the Rams do. The Rams come out and they try and score as quickly as possible, so things could really start lopsided fast.

00:48:46
Speaker 2: Yeah.

00:48:47
Speaker 3: And the other thing that I think is like maybe the sneaky, no pun intended element of this matchup is I warned about this before Matthew Stafford played in Carolina. Matthew Stafford in the rain. If this rain it rains like it usually is in Seattle, Matthew Stafford had a real issue. One of the interceptions was a freak thing, but had a real issue. He lost a fumble. This defense is going to get after him, and the elements are not going to be fun. And Pukinakua, who's, like I said, but unbelievable. He's also had one big drop over the last couple. I don't automatically give the edge to the Rams offense in elements like that. Now, if they run the ball the way they've been running it, they'll be okay. But you know it's it's Sean McVay and it's he is, so he's gotten so used to just having Seattle's number when Pete Carroll was there, He's gonna want to throw the hell out of the ball.

00:49:39
Speaker 4: I eight, Myers is going to kick like seven field goals.

00:49:42
Speaker 2: Yeah, that could be. That could be an advantage.

00:49:44
Speaker 1: We haven't really seen the thick kicker Harrison mevhis who's not really that thick anyways. It's like, I know, calm down with the thick kicker. The I've never seen a forecast like this. It says definite rain. I mean it's just not does not. Yeah, definite rain.

00:50:00
Speaker 3: So I'm just saying definite darkly chaotic. Matthew Stafford patent.

00:50:05
Speaker 1: And there's nothing worse than cold rain because it's going to be a little too warm for it to be snow, but it's going to be in the low forties, maybe high thirties.

00:50:14
Speaker 2: That's a great call out. And you mentioned DeVante Adams.

00:50:17
Speaker 1: Just to update that, our insider Ian Rappaport at NFL Network said initially week to week, which means he's out according to Rappaport at least as of Monday.

00:50:28
Speaker 2: But the Chamber has showed up.

00:50:31
Speaker 3: The Immortal Chamber is on site.

00:50:33
Speaker 1: McVeigh said, We're going to try to take it all the way up to game time. It could be a game time decision. But when Puka Nakua spoke to the media. He just talked about how it's going to be important for Mumfield and these younger receivers to step up, talking as if he already knew. DeVante Adams is not playing in this game. So I would be surprised if Devanta Adams plays, and.

00:50:53
Speaker 4: That's we just use it as like a decoy.

00:50:55
Speaker 1: That's a big deal though, Like they don't have I know, Colby Parkinson's been awesome and I kind of think he would be their number two receiver in this game.

00:51:03
Speaker 3: He has been the last few weeks.

00:51:05
Speaker 1: Right, DeVante Adams has seven hundred and eighty nine yards this year and fourteen touchdowns. No one else on that team has over three hundred. Like it is that someone pops.

00:51:13
Speaker 5: Up for a started right away between the two of them, right, Yeah, they're incredible, and even last week like that wasn't just all about him in the red zone.

00:51:20
Speaker 2: So it really does change things up.

00:51:23
Speaker 1: And then you've been talking about the weaknesses of the Rams all season. It's probably at cornerback and certainly has been lately. And you think about that game last week where Emmanuel Forbes and Durant are giving up a lot of big plays, And I do think this is where again it could be a big Shaheed game because they haven't had enough elements the Seahawks that is maybe to be a dominant offense, but Shaheed has been getting in the mix on just normal plays over the last few weeks. He's been like four for seventy six and it can't just be all JSN. So is it an aj Barner game? He's been really good for them at tight end? Is it a Shaheed game?

00:51:58
Speaker 2: Like?

00:51:59
Speaker 1: That's one where I think the defenses kind of have the edge on both sides. They are the top two defenses in the entire NFL in success rate since week twelve, So they are coming down the home stretch playing the best defense. And with this weather, it might not be like the greatest MVP showcase, but as long as you make the play at the end, that's what Stafford needs to get that game and history.

00:52:20
Speaker 3: So I hear yeah, And this is gonna be exciting because usually when everybody's talking about Matthew Stafford and he's trying to even quiet them from chanting it in the locker room post game, chanting MVP in the locker room post game usually something very weird is about to happen. I've seen too many of these to rule chaos out, but I do think that there are sneaky like edges and leverage points on both sides. Braden Fisk dealing with a sort of a finicky ankle right now, that's a huge leverage point to me, because you need to be able to rush the way that you want to rush. And then on the other side, like I do think that it could be a big A J. Barner game because they're going to have to try to cap the explosives and you're gonna have to try to attack the middle of the underneath of those zones, and a J Barner minus Quinton Lake in the middle of a field is going to be that target.

00:53:14
Speaker 4: How many times will we hear Al Michaels talk about young geniuses in this game between Sean McVay, do you think Donald, do.

00:53:22
Speaker 3: You think what? Do you think we'll get the picture of the of course in coaching staff or.

00:53:27
Speaker 1: Do we just get a little more excitement if we have a game winning field goal at the end.

00:53:30
Speaker 2: That's all Masks.

00:53:31
Speaker 3: You want excitement. You listen to me and Greg Rosenthal going live after the game.

00:53:35
Speaker 1: What a what a call? Do you want to make a pick? Because you famously don't like making predictions, And then you went hard on the previous show with your dolphins and that thing crashed into the ground and to the ground.

00:53:50
Speaker 2: So I don't I don't know.

00:53:51
Speaker 1: I think the important part of being a takes woman is to keep making those takes, keep making those picks.

00:53:57
Speaker 3: I'm not a takes woman.

00:53:58
Speaker 1: Well now you are that you're h and one with the dolphin nom kidding, you know I have to pick.

00:54:03
Speaker 3: I just know I have to pick the Rams. It's like it's like you'd be at like, of course I have to pick the Rams.

00:54:10
Speaker 4: Yeah, are you looking?

00:54:11
Speaker 3: These are the two best teams in football. You can't go wrong with a pick here.

00:54:15
Speaker 5: Oh gosh, the Rams are gonna sweep them.

00:54:19
Speaker 2: If they don't, I think so.

00:54:21
Speaker 1: If they don't Seattle, they basically knock the Rams out of the division title, because at that point, the Rams would be a game back, and Seattle's magic number to eliminate the Rams from winning the division would be one. Now, Seattle finishes with two relatively tricky games at Carolina at San Francisco, but all they would have to do is win one of those two in addition to beating the Rams. The sneaky bigger than people think possibility here is that the Seahawks win this game HM and that week eighteen against the forty nine ers, if San Francisco could get there, could actually be for the one seed. Like the D nine ers have a real chance.

00:55:02
Speaker 3: And they have a game up on Seattle.

00:55:04
Speaker 1: They have a lot of work though, to do in the meantime. The forty nine ers do with the at the Colts and then home for the Bear, so their schedule is tough too. But it is a three team race that the Rams, like I said, they'll be in the driver's seat. If they win, they almost certainly are out of the division race.

00:55:19
Speaker 2: If they lose, I.

00:55:20
Speaker 5: Mean, the winner basically controls their own destiny. For the one seed.

00:55:24
Speaker 2: I'll take the Rams. It worries It worries me.

00:55:28
Speaker 4: So yeah, that worries me that we're all taking the Rams.

00:55:31
Speaker 2: It does worry me.

00:55:32
Speaker 1: How well the Seahawks played against them last time, and when I watched a little bit of that that game back, it's really their front I think is so deep and versatile and strong that I think they're better on defense in terms of their front than the Rams offensive line, who's played really well this year, but that it's a rare time where their offensive line might get in their way. I think the Rams find a way because of the running game. Better running game, bad weather, let's go, let's go Rams. Either way, I like both these teams, and I don't think, yeah.

00:56:01
Speaker 3: These are these two teams. What a masterpiece all season from both of how they're built, what they did to try to fix previous issues, both sides, the coaching, the adjustments, like, it's awesome, it's been fun.

00:56:12
Speaker 2: I'm pre coping.

00:56:13
Speaker 1: And this actually undercuts my idea that this is the biggest Thursday night game of all time because these two teams are both so good. I do think they are the best two teams in the NFL that if either one of them is the five seed, I think they can make the super Bowl. Still, I'm not crossing them off. Obviously, the chances are less than if you're the one seed. But I think they're both good enough. We've seen it happen a number of times before. For a team to make the super Bowl from that spot, it would be a team like the.

00:56:41
Speaker 2: Seahawks or the Rams. So this isn't everything Okay, all right, can't wait again.

00:56:45
Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll be live after that game, but we have more show in between. We've got a big time preview show with Jordan rod Rigg and Patrick Claybon coming up on Wednesday.

00:56:57
Speaker 3: And Colleen's going to go stand in line for some ham Yeah.

00:57:01
Speaker 4: You guys gotta let me know the spots.

00:57:03
Speaker 2: Wait, we're not gonna see you next Tuesday.

00:57:05
Speaker 5: Guys, Merry Christmas and Happy Honakhahs.

00:57:07
Speaker 1: Send those holiday cards out nine hundred District Drive, Inglewood, California, have care of Colleen Wilf.

00:57:13
Speaker 2: We read them after Christmas. We'll see you then