2022 Week 13 Preview: 'Show Me' Sunday

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Speaker 1: The Around the NFL podcast sets the alarm for six seven from the Chris Westling podcast studio. It's Around the NFL. I have no idea what that zummy drop was. Well, we were told before the show that it was specifically designed to please Greg, but I don't like alarms that like round numbers generally, and so maybe it's also talking about our big World Cup match, because that game starts at seven am on Saturday. Fox tries to confuse us by saying six am, but that's just an hour on pregame. So great news for the old. So you're gonna get you're gonna get about healthy thirteen minutes before the soccer match begins. So that is a remarkably like Greg esoteric money drop, our zummy drop about your alarm clock that you said? Okay, I think Dan Hands is here with Greg Rosenthal Mark se slur it is time for the week thirteen preview. How about that? I mean, I've got a seven year old. There's no need for alarm class. I haven't set an alarmed. I hear it not for a fight in a long time. I hear you, brothers. Just a bunch of dad's here, a bunch of dad's chopping it up. Um, this is a great week. WHOA. In fact, I feel like everything's been building to this week. In fact, you could say, old Zoser, you know you got a root canal on Wednesday and then hours later developed a stomach virus. It's contracted from your young son from his school, his first grade class, his kindergarten class. How could you feel be feeling so good right now? Number one, I'm not feeling good at all. Number two, this keeps me alive Week thirteen. Hope it bounds for you. And also, I mean just a credit to you for being here with us on the show today. I didn't mean for it to navigate to that conversation. There is some help here to put a plexiglass window. I think that uh that you know en casement that kirk Cousins put himself in. I think that's available a year ago. Can we put Dan in now? I think you put it well on Tuesday Show, Greg when you said listen, we're family. Now we're in too deep. So that's it. We all we trade viruses. Great kirk cousins Is body is like surprisingly saucy. Um. I did not sign up to catch a virus by the way. That's not why I reported to work today. Family's family man. So Week thirteen it's a killer. It's awesome. And also the calendar turned din't itt. Mike McDaniel, there is nothing better in professional football and meaningful December and January games. Nothing better, That's true. I love that guy. Everything he says is like like more entertaining than anyone else saying. It's incredible cadence and you're you're hanging on every word and sometimes it's just a normal sentence, it just sounds. I love that it's working, and I'm saying it as a Jets fan. I love that the Mike McDaniel era is working, that a guy like that can be doing what he's doing well, at least until now, because now the Dolphins get challenged and we're gonna get into that. We will. He's right, though, it is the after you get past week one, which is fun. It's like it's building and building, and so this is the best part. We need a name for this Sunday separation, Sunday statement Sunday. I don't know, but it's easily the best Sunday and we have we have hours and hours to figure it out. But for now, let us spin into the week. How exciting. And by the way, the Bills Patriots that's a good game too, kicking off the week on Thursday night and you can check out a reaction to that on the Friday Fun Show Around the NFL's um weekly program that has fan engagement. Get's a live stream where you could be involved with the show. Check that out. But let's get into the games after Thursday night football. Let's get into the the primetime games. Let's start with Sunday Night Football. And yeah, just as we pumped up this week, now we're gonna talk about the cults in prime time. How that happens Colts at Cowboys. This feels like a blood bath. That's how Greg. I think you're right. I'm annoyed. It just shows the power of the Cowboys like they will. They will even flex out Patrick Mahomes out of prime time. They got rid of the Broncos and the Chiefs in a couple of weeks to put in Dolphins charges, which was a nice move. I'm sorry, Greg, but weren't the cults just on Monday Night football? That's what they do. What are we doing Monday night football? In two or three weeks from now against the Cardinals, and how many prime times? And I know the Patriots are actually a pretty good team, but how many Patriots prime time games do we have in a row? I think there's four. They've been doing for years, though I don't know what. I do find the Cowboys a fun team to watch win a blowout though, and I think that's what's gonna happen at Jack Prescott's playing out of his mind right now. I love the way he's rowing with anticipation, He's throwing on the move, He's throwing accurately. This has been a good Cults defense, although they weren't great on Money Night against Pittsburgh, I gotta say. And so they're a team that's gotten better and better Dallas throughout the course of the season, teams changed. We did not expect them to be this dynamic of a team rushing the ball, and a lot of credit goes to their offensive line. And they're coaching because there are holes. When Ezekiel Elliott, who just does not have a lot of juice left but has a great instincts, is making big plays, you know they're opening up holes. And Tony Pollard's as effective as anyone and Michael Gallup showing up last weeks with some real toughness as a wide receiver to really completes this offense. So I'm enjoying the whole Cowboys experience. I don't hate that they're in prime time, but this is about the ninth best game this week, so it's annoying. It's another Gallup development was huge. I know that oh b J is on the on the radar here big time and kind of just fits the whole Cowboys experience. But having Gallup, you know, this is a team we looked at when they traded Amari Cooper. We thought they might be weapons poured to some degree through the air, and it is completely opposite. I mean, Dak Prescott overcame those early interceptions against the Giants. They're sitting here with ten days rest, and all I can think about is like Matt Ryan trying to evade um the looming figure of Micah Parsons, who could absolutely destroy Matt Ryan in this game. I don't like that situation at all. Matt Ryan is very difficult to watch at this stage of his career. He cannot move. We know that he cannot really throw, and that is a tough combination, and you understand why he got benched. Do you also understand why he returned to the lineup because the cult, especially when Ursa was in panic mode. When he made his grand move at head coach, he wanted to give them a chance to compete, which he kind of does. But doesn't it feel like every time you watched Matt Ryan, you're watching either the best worst game ever or the worst good game ever by a quarterback. It's just like he is just it's just a tough He isn't a tough environment. I mean, because I think that Raiders game the first you know, that sort of a fairytale situation for Jeff Saturday, Matt Ryan John at Taylor, everything works suddenly and you're thinking, you're picture Frank Reik, You're looking at this, What where was this for me? But that fairy tale has ended, and it's going to end hardcore against the count That was a fairy tale against the number thirty two defense in the league. And now yeah, you get that offensive line. They do have Ryan Kelly, their center back at practice was limited, so that's not the worst thing ever, but he is gonna be bum rushed and I think the kind of new coach bounce. I do think they got a little bit of a new coach bounce. That is a thing the interim coach comes in and it's like, oh, we got a little bounce. And that lasted till the very end of the Eagles game, and now like the reality is set in that they have to play six more games. And Jonathan Taylor. I know they credited uh Matt Ryan with that goal line fumble, but my goodness, he's got four fumbles this year. He's had some ball security issues. It just feels like a Murphy's Lost season for the Colts. Just everything just goes wrong. Yeah, I mean Taylor is two yard games all season. I know he's has been injury issues. They're better. Yeah, well, I mean what for the draft pick and stuff. Well, I think that was the plan and then then they kind of got fun and now they're the opposite of fun. All right, let's move to Monday night football. We don't need to dwell on some of these games unless you have another Cowboys point to make, Greggy Mark, No, let's move. Let's let's move to which is okay, I think the one if you want to talk about like best weeks of the ten a t n R. If we had a couple of bangers on Sunday and Monday, we could actually put this up again. We're gonna move through these prime time games to get to the gorgeous Maybe it's the best Sunday daytime slate. I mean we're also probably not forgetting or just simply forgetting five or six others that where I know we're not trying. We don't want to advertise this as being the best. Can you even imagine how long Sunday show is going to be? Like three hours? Six hours? Maybe poor Drew and Christie justin, It's gonna be a long night. I'm the glass. Let's get to it. Buckle it. The Saints four and eight. They're playing for their lives now. So it's kind of a wounded animal game for the Saints who have to to stay in the race in the NFC South and that's their only path to the postseason. They gotta beat the Bucks. And here's the good news, Mark, I talked about a little bit on Tuesday, and now I want to hear your thoughts about this. The Saints or any other team in this division can check can catch the Bucks. You want to know why I think you know why the Bucks aren't good, So win this game and make the NFC South even sloppier. I think it helps that the Saints have gotten healthier and bodies back on defense, a defense that historically, um, I mean recent history, has made life very tough for Tom Brady. This has sort of been the kryptonite team. I don't look at this Saints team on that level at all. And I just say that that that angle and let's see as they look. Yeah, because the Bucks took care of him a week too. All that, all this stuff about the Saints, anything about the Saints that was connected to Drew Brees and almost more importantly, Sean Payton. Nothing about the Saints is what it was anymore. No, but last year's defense under the current head coach Peyton is the head coach leading the team. Yeah, I would. I'm not arguing that. I sort of said I think that that doesn't really hold a lot of water right now, except the problem is that it's a lot less of a chore to stuff the Bucks offense right now. They're the one of the speaking of our podcast, I can't really remember too many rushing attacks that are worse. You don't have Tristan works right now. I think that's a big loss for whenever the line starts to break down around Tom Brady, you get problems. I mean, they've just been simply at a sink. And we talked about this and last week that this Bucks team, we kept waiting for them to round in the shape. This is who they are, and I think the thing that they can hang their hat on is that the Saints offense, which seems to me to have no scheme or plan. They're averaging twelve and a half points per game since weeknight out, since week nine. Alvin Kamara has vanished inside of this thing. And I think Andy Dalton plays. He plays pretty well from game to game, but it's not enough. Yeah, I'm just cycling back to the Bucks, who I think at least the more interesting team here to me, and we just saw it. If you're watching this on NFL Network, how many throws we talked we talked about in Atlanta. For instance, Marcus Mariota and Kyle Pitts can't get on the same page. Well, Pitts is a young player that's still learning the league in some level. Snariota is a scattershot quarterback. Greg why can't Tom Brady and Mike Evans connect on passes like they did the previous two years. What like, what has changed in that relationship? I have no idea. Sometimes it's Mike Evans reading the coverage differently than than Brady does and it's hard to put a fault on that. And other times it's just Tom Brady missing throws. I mean the go ball that he had an overtime or was that late fourth quarter? I think it was overtime against Evans. There was two pretty similar passes from Brady in that game. It was just a mis throw by Brady. I don't think he's been as accurate deep down the field. He's still a good quarterback. I've read marks QB Index this week. It was excellent favorite part um? Who was it in the middle section? I I'm gonna it's hard to pick a favorite part right there really was a great rite up. It was it was like in the twenties anyways, seems fair. I like that nice start for Mike as he moves up the ladder. I like to jazz him up early when he when he does like what he just did. I knew I was it was Heineck who he said Rome's as an adventurer, uh that he throws a handful of heaters. Beyond that, there's something to Tad mystical about how his teammates and coaches respond to the off fired up signal. We are contractually obligated to ignore QB winds, But would any of this be happening with glass of milk? Carson Wentz at the controls. I love that you had a lot in that statement. Mark doesn't like being told that QB winds don't matter. He's putting that in there. He thinks they matter a little bit for some players. They stand out to me. Yeah, and angering West from somewhere mystical right now? I think West would agree on the front. And then he gives a shot at went in the biggest way he can, which is calling him a guy who drinks glass of milk. There's no lower man than I know a couple of adult men who regularly drink large glasses of milk. What are we doing here? So you don't think I had an answer for that, but I did. So My point was Brady's at the at the right spot at twelve like he's a good quarterback, but he I think he's not as accurate deep down the field, and that that's hurt his connection with Evans. I still think they're the best team in the division, the Bucks, because who they are is like a better than average defense with a average to below below average offense but not terrible, like an okay passing game and a coach that's terrible and clock management and that adds up to five and seven. But that happens to be the best team in the NFC South. But this game is so big, Dan, I think you hit on it, uh in terms of what the NFC South is gonna look like. I think it's the biggest game and the rest of the season for this division. If the Bucks lose it, they have the forty Miners and Bengals next, and I would consider them heavy underdogs. And it's just a wide open mess, kind of like that season where the Panthers won with seven wins. And I think that it's if the Bucks can win it, then they're going to keep these other teams at bay. I have said all along that whoever wins this horrid division with a record like that Panther's team from from bygone years, will win a playoff game. They'll host a they'll host someone mightier and they will win with a losing record at home in the playoffs, And I think that's what the litter will stink, because then you're gonna wipe out a team that actually had a good season, and then you gotta watch whatever team came out of division gets spanked the next round and it's just like, oh, we just blew two games. It was a pleasant um four champion. And by the way, speaking of forecasts, I did look into the crystal ball and I did say that the Buccaneers, we're gonna lose their grip on first place. They have to lose this game. Do they have to lose this game because they're gonna lose the next two games? Do they have to lose this and want to be on a four game losing because that's in play here, folks. If they lose on Monday night, they could be on a four game skid. And then here comes Sam Darnald and the Panthers right up to stand. Sim Donald jogs or runs towards this game. I think I think it's possible. I think it's possibly. Todd bowles Is decision not to take a time out with in the last thirty seconds of last week's game was so much worse than Jeff Saturday. When you're concerned about game management. With Todd Bowles coming into this season, have borne out like he he was confused by even the questioning about it. Between these two coaches, Dennis Allen and Todd Bowles, I think you have two of the bottom you know, five or six game management like Sunday games, especially because their defensive coaches who just don't seem to care that much or have a feel for the only thing that in those situations, Because you can think of like five or six guys like that, why don't they have someone in their ears saying Todd Bowles, we get that you're good at some things, this isn't your skill set? Do this now? And ps is Bruce Arians and all this. I think they missed Bruce Arians m a little bit. You've said that several times. I truly believe we were killing Bruce Arians for not even caring about the team. I thought that was from like four years ago, and he looked a little distant from there. They were the worst running attack in one of the worst running tacks in NFL history, and I don't think I think Bruce Arians would have stopped these early down runs. I like the heart back to a shod white, but I think they would have just gone even more bombs away, which they started to a little last week. That didn't exactly I don't, um, I I agree with what you said. It's a good way to look at how lost a head coaches with clock management when in the press conference he still doesn't really know what you're talking about. That would be me as a head coach by the same Todd. Todd was that way, and I thought Jeff Saturday was kind of that way on Monday night, UM when they asked him, you know, minutes after the end of the game, what happened on the final drive when they were not using their time outs, Saturday said, I thought we had plenty of time. I wasn't too concerned. He did say, cool. I kind of like this at least, because what do you have to lose? Like Saturday the next day did come back around and say I would have done something that's the same thing Hackett did in week one. After It's like, I kind of just like the owning it to some degree, right versus it's it's time to jump off the Colts ship before you go down with it, Mark, just well, I feel I did that in the last game preview. The fairy tale is over. It was enjoyable for a minute. That you're done. This is a reminder to how how long this season is. The Week two game that you mentioned, the Bucks did win, although the same I didn't think they were outplayed in that game. It was a weird game. It was started by Jamis Winston throwing passes to Michael Thomas. Winston played through the broken back thing, and it's like that feels like it. All right, let's take a break and then we will get into the draft. All right, welcome back. Yes, it is the Sunday of the year, which makes this the most important draft of the year for our little show. It just so happens that US is the first overall pick. However, Mark, I want to talk something. I know you got the third overall pick. I want to talk deal with you with me. You had a root canal this week. You've been endured a stomach bug and now you're wheeling and dealing. I think that you're showing again it's incredibly courageous your your work life balance. I was in that chair for two and a half hours and when I was in that chair. I got to thinking, okay, two and a half, yeah, it was. It was intense. Got some issues there, Mark, I have the first overall pick, but I'd like to make an offer to you, and I don't want to put any pressure on you. No, I won't. I won't feel pressured. But I want to see if you would be interested in moving up to number one overall. Okay, and here's here's and that gives you obviously the pick of any game here at all. The whole thing what I want to do here is I'll make an offer to you. Here we go. I want to offer you the first overall pick, and I'll throw in my third rounder seventh overall. Okay, I get back your first round pick, which is third overall. I also get your third round pick, which is ninth overall, and then a conditional pick in week fourteen that will be a second round pick that becomes the first if the Jets win over the Vikings on Senter. I feel slightly like Todd Bowles at the podium right now, and I can't what I've in this draft every week, and I have no idea what just happened on So I think set the money move here is that we're flipping first for third. Um, I'd like to know why you're doing that. I have a right, I seemed in my mind have a reason why you might be can guess, but in general, with the rest of the business, Um, of course, I'll accept it. I want the first overall pick. I'll accept it. I see. I don't know if Dan Snooker do you here, but I'd rather have the third and fourth this week. That's better. So he should be giving up value to move back. You know again, this is just because you're not involved in the trade, doesn't mean you can just start exercise. I would rather because there's a big drop off. I see where you're coming from the sun degree, and I like the idea. I know exactly where i'd go number one if I had it, and I am accepting the deal, and I know what you're gonna do. I think at number three, breaking news, Well, we got breaking news. We have a blockbuster trade in this stupid fake trade draft thing that a t N does every week. I don't know what they're talking about anyway. According to my sources, this is big. Dan sends his first overall pick plus a third round or seventh overall to Mark for his first rounder third overall, a third round pick, which is ninth overall in a conditional second rounder in Week fourteen that, let me get this right, becomes a first rounder where the Jets win over the Vikings on Sunday. This is so stupid. Why am I wasting behind this nonsense? I mean, he's a little annoyed there that he's talking, but the fact that he's had that reporting so quickly that kind of tells you why he's the rap sheet. Yeah, I mean it's I think I don't know if I appreciate his dislike for the show in China, but it is real news. I'm gonna step in as the Daniel Jeremiah of this uh draft analysis here and be like, this is a five game draft, a huge drop off afterwards, and so if he's snuckering you into kind of only getting one of those fives, he has the first and fourth pick. Okay, yeah, okay, are you picking up on Greg's bitterness that he's not involved in this? Because he's not involved? I think that's what it's all about. But it makes sense to me. And of course you know there's no secrets here, Like you don't want to take the Jets first. No, and I know I could get some more value, maybe even next week. So anyway, Mark get going all right, well, wow there he did a great job. He did great job. I know it annoyed him and probably Um prevented him something more enjoyable. It really annoyed Greg. Came out of my mouth. Yeah, when we began talking about that, I just want I don't want to skin you know, I don't want to see market taken advantage. Don't let him. Don't let him do the thing that I don't feel taken advantage of too, because you know, I don't even think he knows what he's talking about. He just wanted perfectly comfortable with how and it's not going to be allowed. I'm gonna go Chiefs at Bengals, right because I wouldn't have this if I picked number three before, I wouldn't have this game. And so this is a delightful development to me. That in your pipe and smoke and smoke it, Greg, So you look at He's like, yes, I'll smoke it anything. Just after the show, please, Um Chase, you're coming back Joe Mixon practicing. Look what the Bengals have done. I think it's underrated what they've done without Jamar Chase, without Joe Mixon, And we talked about a little on Sunday though, that Joe Burrow have found a way to get some g P Ryan tray Vin Williams to combined for a hundred and thirty five yards last week and a big win over the Titans. Guys like Trenton Irwin stepped up. But now you're getting Jamar Chase back and the development of te Higgins into a truly star wide receiver over the past month beside him. I I look at this Bengals offense that outside of that Bengal that Brown's disaster on Monday Night, which I view as sort of a Inner Division aberration, have been averaging well over four hundred yards a game for the past month, and it just seems like we focus on all these other the Dolphins, the Niners, the Bengals are going a little overlooked. I feel like that how was how it was last year? Um, I think they can have the horses to go give Kansas City a run for their money here in Kansas City. I look like I know last week it was the Rams, but the Rams defense I thought slowed Kansas City down a little bit at least in their drives kept ending in the red zone. Do I think that's a week to week thing. No, because Patrick Mahomes is the clear front runner for m v P. But I look at this Bengals defense and the way that they Jalen Hurt wants a word there, but well, I think that's that's a fair But I mean, Mahomes I think would have to really stumble to not be my m v P at this point. But I think the the return of DJ Reader has been big for Cincinnati. That defensive line last week made tough life very tough on the Titans, and their all offensive line kept Joe Burrow relatively safe, which is a big development. And I know you've got Chris Jones and stuff on the Chiefs coming at you this time around, But I like the Cincinnati where they're going, where they're trending right now. I think they're not talked about enough. I love this game. Totally agree with all your points and where they are at. They are a different team right now and if they can win this game, and I think they can, I picked them to win on game picks. I mean it's a it's a coin flip. But it's in Cincinnati, and I don't think this is this would be some big upset. I think they're one or two point underdogs, which sounds about right. It's close to a coin flip because of the way that they're playing up front. When when the Bengals are winning up front against Tennessee. You gotta hand it to him. I gotta hand it to Zach Taylor. I think it's time to upgrade. You can wear the lolo, but how about a nice little sport coat on top of it. You know, let's dress it up. Let's dress it up and go out for dinner with the with your with your lady. This is playing in SINCEUS headquarters. Gonna says, instead of going on with the polo bit, how about a pivot to some damn respect for this man. I mean, we don't have to go too far. I I thought within the bit. I think the sport code is adding respect. I'm putting were the way you spoke of him in such disparaging tones in September after he went to the Super Bowl. It's the same dude, Okay. I still think and this was my main point back then, was the main reason why they're so good is their players. They have more talent than, yeah, than Kansas City. But I just mean that you can almost there's no way for this offense, the way that they're playing to to not be effective. But offensive line wise, that's the That's the thing that really impresses me that they have gotten better. Think over the course of the season, and I look at Kansas City and what we haven't seen out of them is like these great defensive games. They haven't had too many difficult matchups. I actually think this might be Kansas City's last chance for a loss. Of course, the NFL is unpredictable, but even if Kansas City lost this game, I look at their schedule and I could see them cruising through the end and and still getting that one seed. But man, wouldn't be impressive for Cincinnati to beat Tennessee and Kansas City and back to back weeks exactly what they did in the playoffs a year ago and kind of say like we're here and we're not going anywhere. It would be a statement. Yeah, I think with Mahomes, I feel like Mahomes is, even though I know Tom Brady is still in the league, he's to me kind of that Brady guy now where where it's when he gets to the end of the season. I just don't expect him to ever lose. And to that point is the calendar has now turned over in December. Uh. In the last three seasons, the Chiefs are thirteen and oh in December. And uh, his numbers, as you would expect, are off the charts. Good. Uh he is the Burrow out shown him. I guess that was January, right, yeah, yeah, this is only December. So to pivot to my other point, uh, man, I don't want anything to do with the Cincinnati Bengals right now. I if I am playing the Bengals, I'm scared because now that they have seemed seemingly figured out their offensive line, the fact that they are playing with confidence, you could tell they got their their juice back. You're getting Jamaar Chase Back and Joe Burrow. My guy is an assassin. Do you want anything to do with Joe Burrow in a big spotlight game, whether it's gonna be in the regular season or in January. This guy is gonna win super Bowls. I mean, because I think he is special, just like Mahomes is special. So this is I think this is a very good first pick is a total coin flip to make Burrow. To me, it just showed me so much over the last three or four weeks to do what he did with so many people out of the lineup. I mean, this Chief's offense, they're part of the deal is stopping them. Last week they attend to from players with fifteen plus receiving yards. That is the most in the game by any team ever since nineteen fifty. It just tells you that they're not based. It's not like Chiefs teams of old. They're using everyone, and it's maybe not a deep strike offense like it has been in the past, but they find a way to get it done. And you still have Travis Kelsey doing insane things on a weekly basis, who's really not that different in age than Rob Grunkowski. It's crazy what Travis Kelsey is doing right now. He's moving so well, and you wonder how you match up von Bell. And they did a pretty good job, certainly in the playoff game, not so much in the regular season last year that was a game over thirties. But the Chiefs can expose the Bengals biggest weakness, which hasn't really shown up in the last month or so, and to me, that's their secondary and that's their past defense, and that's their cornerbacks specifically. Uh, you've gotten by without a Woozier for a month, but you were playing Mariota and Brissette, not that you played well against Brissette, and the Panthers and Kenny Pickett, who you didn't play very well against overall, and the Titans, who aren't explosive, and now you gotta play Kansas City. I think they found something in cam Taylor Britt that was their rookie second round pick who's played well for them at cornerback. But this is a whole another challenge. I think the only way you beat the Chiefs is if this game's in the thirties and it's just a score fest like it was in Cincinnati last January in a monster spot and and man if the Chiefs somehow lost three at a row against the Bengals, that would be something. All right, let's move on to the second overall pick. Greggy, Yeah, I'm annoyed. I mean I am annoyed by your trade because I thought I might get to take Chiefs Bengals with the second pick, and then I thought when Mark got it, he wouldn't take it first overall, because I thought he'd taked off in forty niners. That's my pick. Those are the two best games I think overall. On the day, it's close, but those are certainly the best too in the afternoon windows. So I want to make sure I get it. I mean, it's just such a fascinating nerdy matchup to see Kyle Shannahan versus is Jimmy Garoppolo. I would put these two teams in the top six or seven most likely teams to win the Super Bowl this year. I bet I think they're there in Dance Power rankings in that ranking. So to see these first two games, a matchup of four teams here that can win the Super Bowl, you can't ask for anything better. In Week thirteen, I first want to see if Tron Armstead plays. That's a big X factor. That's the left tackle for the Dolphins. He strained his peck. It sounds like he might be pushing to play this week when they haven't had him on the field. Their numbers have cratered even with two out there, just the pressure numbers have fallen apart. They will be without their right tackle Austin Jackson and the backups that they've put in for those guys, including Brandon Shell. We're not sure what they're gonna do. Just haven't stood up. And I was a little underwhelmed by the forty Niners defense last week in a shutout, relatively just their pass rush, that they didn't win that matchup up front, and they're much fortunate that to be zero. They didn't get much messure on Andy Dalton, but I think they'll be able to get some pressure on too, even though he gets rid of the ball so quickly, especially if Armstead isn't there. To me, I would like the Dolphins in that game, if if they in this game, if it wasn't for that, that to me is the thing that worries me the most in terms of Miami going there and maybe getting beaten up front. Well, our friend Cameron Wolff, who knows tons of people inside the Dolphins, he was told that Armstead has been telling people he's aiming to play. I guess it matters what version of him you get. But when he went out last week, to your point to Ah was sacked like three times in a row, and like they had they pulled him out the game, not because they were up by so much, but he was getting killed. So it's like that is a huge kind of Jenga piece, as Dave Dave Damask would say, for them, there is a strange weather thing here. There's like a seventy chance of reigning this game right now, which I think would change a lot. And the Niners on defense have allowed under two hundred yards and three of the last four games, So I think that matchup just this defense. I know everyone's gonna talk about the offenses, but the Niners one of the best defenses in the league right now, right there with Dallas and others. How do they put the clamps on Miami? I think that's just the situation. Week after week, Miami just overpowering people with their wide receivers. It's like no one's been able to stop them. And if if Miami does what it's what it's able to do. Is this Niner's offense, which I love. I mean, they're so weapons rich. Can they hang around with the Dolphins who have been blowing people out in the first half game after game? Yeah, So I think I would be stunned if they continue to do what they do, uh to all these bad teams that they've been beating up on. But even if there is, there's gonna be some resistance because San Francis they're really good team San Francisco. So but can Miami still do what they want to do and and put San Francisco in a position where if you're gonna beat us, you're gonna have to score twenty eight points and then it's like there, and then you're putting pressure on Jimmy G to be a guy that has to be maybe a little different than the good times Jimmy G when the defense is kicking ass and then all he has to do is just make a few plays. I'm interested to see what's going on in the backfield for San Francisco because I'm looking at the practice injury report from Wednesday. Cmc uh did not practice. He's dealing with some neat irritation. We know, of course, Elijah Mitchell is back on I R with an m c L sprain uh and that could change the way Kyle Shannon and attacks the Dolphins, and I think it plays into Miami's benefit. So I I just want to watch how the defenses approach each of these offenses, because if you were any other coach, wouldn't you watch that and try to mimic it as much as possible. No one knows Kyle Sanahan offense better than Mike McDaniel. He he was the guy that that Kyle Shannion did not want to leave, that was there forever and in this forty Niners team, lit the defensive personnel, the defensive coaching staff. Mike McDaniel was there for all of it. So don't you want to see what he puts out there as the best way he thinks to stop the Kyle Shanahan offense and vice versa. I think you have to do it with more man coverage than most teams have thrown at um at the Dolphins this season. People try to play zone and back up and just not let the big play be. It doesn't matter because they just will kill you in chunks of seventeen to twenty. And both of these teams are built to play man coverage. Miami's a little thinner certainly in the secondary, but I think you'll see a little bit more of that, and I think you'll see to his ability to read the field as quickly tested. He's becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league at getting to a second third progression really quickly and getting the ball out, and like he's really developed fast, faster than Jimmy Garoppolo did, for instance, in this system. But what can San Francisco do to maybe hold make him hold the ball a little longer and just gummy gummy up his mental. I love what you said because it really is sort of Shanahan verse Shanahan like man verse self, because it's almost like Mike McDaniel was like his rib pulled out, like the old Adam and Eve scenario, that he sort of is just a little Shanahan in a way, a miniature Shanahan. And we'll see what happens. And this Dan you've been waiting for, like the to uh electric kool Aid acid tests. You've been waiting for this moment, like this is the matchup you've been talking about for weeks where if two comes out of this looking like he's had when he's gone eight no, when he's been a full time starter from start to finish the games, destroying teams like the Patriots, like making Bill Belichick look like he cannot solve to a no one else can. If you can do it to the Niners. Then the two one narrative I think changes drastically for the people that are still doubting him. Yeah, the ceiling has no roof if you light up the San Francisco forty Niners. To borrow a Jordanism, but I guess it seems to me. Tell me if I'm wrong that I'm the only one that does have any doubts at this point. Are you guys fully confident that Miami is gonna light up whoever they play? Well? Certainly not if they're missing both their starting offensive tackles. But I don't have much doubt that they are one of the best three offenses in the league no matter who they're playing. And whether that's enough to carry them to win a Super Bowl, I don't know. But I put them in the same category as the Chiefs, and I would put the two of those where I totally disagree, because like, what where do they get that type of love when you blow out Houston, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit? But they were blowing them out because the sign of great offense. No one else is doing that though, and the and I just look at the players, and I look how comfortable to is. I don't disagree that there's a lot of talent here and they put things together. But I think this is desperately needed in the NFL to see the Dolphins against anytime team there underdogs here. Who would you? Who do you? I guess you would take the forty Niners? Yeah, because I'm gonna uh well, shoot, I mean yeah, I think the Niners just because I like them so much on both sides of the ball at home here. If it was in Miami, maybe I would see it more as a field goal game the other way. But I am open. My mind is open to the idea of the Dolphins. Yeah, like just boat racing another team and then all of a sudden we're looking, is this the best team in football? Like that? That's what can come out of this game potention. I think you're right, but also I think we were Are they the Chiefs? Are they the Bills? On offense? It's like the Bills and Chiefs. The Chiefs last week couldn't score touchdowns. They're they're not success over years, but I mean, like not slump proof, but right now, like show me someone that can stop Miami. And also, it's a first year scheme with a first year coach. They haven't really gone they I know they were quieter in some games, but like in another world, you'd be giving them mulligans and excuses because all these players are coming together for the first time in this system. Instead, they're electrifying teams. I like the Dolphins to win. I certainly like them to cover four points. But the Armstead thing, to me is is so big that that might, you know, flip my pick at the end of the week. All right, the number three overall pick is, Oh, we got a lock. Hang on a second, not so fast, Dan, what do we got? Grave digger, gentlemen, I'm back after last week's hiatus. I want to apologize to all my fans out there. I know you missed me last week. The brothers and I had a nice plans to get together, put together a nice holiday that message every one. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Sorry, we couldn't do that message for you. Unfortunately, the flu ran right through a couple of my brothers, the same way the Jets ran right through the Bears. There you go, Yeah, that's right. We locked that one up. Brings us back to six and six, three games back of Greg, who we know is gonna crumble. He's not real competition. He's a paper giant, just like the New York Giants. They are garbage. That's not who we're going with through this week. Oh no, oh no, we're going out west. Dolphins, go out west to take on the forty Niners. I called the Dolphins imposters earlier in the year, right before the Bengals whip, when we got that lock right, and we're getting this one right the forty Niners roll lock it up. Well, I'm not the only it is very gutsy lock. I respect Nick for that, but I'm not the only one that's a little wait and see mode here. No you're not. Let's wait and see. There's Nick and there's Nick's ego, two separate um in the individuals At this point, I think Nick's coming social media for the past week without just getting inundated with just where was Nick video, people felt there was a void in their lives. Also, Nick, noting our strong season that we've had so far in terms of listenership coincides with his being a more active part of the show, does not believe that's a coincidence. I agree with Nick. I think that is it all right? Let's take a break and then we'll continue on with the draft. All right, here we go pick three, Juster moves back to number three and a blockbuster deal, And yeah, you can do that. You can figure it out. You could deduce this that in a loaded week, I thought I could move back and still get Jets at Vikings and and pick up some assets down the line. And That's what I'm doing here. So Jets at Vikings a great showdown here between a rising Jet team playing that's going to enter Sunday with a ton a butt ton of confidence after they make the QB switch, and then Mike White goes off and has one of the best quarterback games by a Jet in years. Now. Just like I was saying with the Dolphins, you gotta kind of be aware of who the opponent was before you go all in on the Jets offense now and say, oh, the Jets are fine. They they've they've bench Zack Wilson, and now their offenses get I'm not there yet, And any Jets fan that is there and is all the way in now, you're just setting yourself up for potential disappointment, because there is absolutely a reality where Mike White comes down to earth, and the Jets offense comes down to earth in a tough environment on the road against the Vikings. Now, the environment is tough. The Vikings are what nine and two, So that's a winning team. They've won every score one UH one score game they've played this year, which is screaming for regression check. But that's who they are this season. But their defense is not very it um. I think their thirtieth in UH yardage allowed in the league. I think they are in general statistically depending on what you look at UH for your numbers, they're kind of a bottom third defense. So it does set up well for Mike White and the Jets to move the ball again. And I think then you're getting into a situation where, all right, if the Jets do score some points and they're keeping those wide receivers involved, and maybe, uh um, maybe they have a chance here if that defense can lock up Kirk Cousins. And I'll throw to you on this one, Mark, because Cousins had a nice game on Thanksgiving. Um, but you've been talking about this. He hasn't had a great season overall. And against the Jet defense with Sauce Gardner and d J Reid, he i could see him potentially having some issues here with the New York defense playing with a lot of confidence, feeling like they're the underdog going on the road here. Yeah. I mean, Sauce Gardner is Rookie of the Year material and a runaway l like sort of number one. According to Pro Football Focus and coverage numbers, he's allowed fifty seven receiving yards in man coverage. So for me, the Vikings are kind of not a one trick pony because they're talented on offense. There's names there, but if you can remove or get Justin Jefferson to two thirds of his production or half his production, I think you beat the Vikings and and and like to flip it to Mike White real quick. I mean one thing that I don't think will go away. And I think people are like pointing to the Bill's collapse you had last year, was like he played really well, but then he's the variable as you go into gets a better defense and you utterly collapse. I don't think that's gonna happen to Mike White in general. I just see a quarterback who functions really well and what should be a really quarterback friendly offense. I mean, he's he's gonna do last week over and over. You played the the Bears. That's a disastrous defense, So it's gonna be up and down. But it's so much more productive than Zack Wilson. He seems so much more aware, engaged, understanding what he's supposed to do, and the offense just seems to me so much more adequate through the air. And that's all they need to be with him, because this defense is truly special. And we're looking at the Vikings defense flip side that made mac Jones look more than productive on Thanksgiving. It was mac Jones's best day by far this season. Mac Jones has been struggling all years, so I think it's a good situation for Mike White to continue to some degree. And I think if you can take out Justin Jefferson by by Vikings, Yeah, you look at the rest of the schedule and I don't think there is some big reckoning for Mike White. I guess the Bills game that they've mostly been good defensively, but other than that, the schedule is very favorable. And I don't necessarily assume he's just a game manager that's gonna be a lower third quarterback. He made some really good throws last week. That has nothing to do with the opponent. People always just throw out a game because of the opponent. He made a couple of big time throws, one on the move, some with some heat. He got rid of the ball quickly. That maybe has to do with the opponent because your receivers are open so quickly, but it's decision making. He rid of the ball on two point three eight seconds on average time to throw. That's faster than any game of Zack Wilson's career. And still sets of games where it was over three seconds, and and and Zach goes and had that one game against the Bills where he kind of followed the instructions and got rid of the ball as fast as he could. That was close to that. But I think Mike White's gonna do it in the regular scheme of the offense where he's still getting to a second and third reads. And this Vikings defense is soft. I mean it just is. They play soft coverage, They are desperately trying to prevent the big pass, and that they still end up giving it up. There's there's very little that they excel at. I think they've really missed Dalvin Toominson when when he's been out of the lineup over the last handful of weeks, they're just they're not very tough. I think that's a mismatch. So that, yes, And what's just everything you're saying makes sense about White here the pessimists. That's it's been beaten into me over the years is because we did see two years ago or one year ago Mike White have the big game, everybody get excited. Then the next game he gets hurt immediately, then the game after that he bombs against a playoff Bills team. So you just I think it's part of me is like, oh, don't don't get sucked in. But so many things about this game I really do think set up well for the Jets. I feel like they're gonna win the game kiss of Death, I think there and if they do, it really changes the complexion of the season for them and changes how I think a lot of people will view the Jets the vikings. On the flip side, if you you get the page, you beat the Patriots on Thanksgiving Night, but if you sandwich that with losses to the Jets and a blowout loss of the Cowboys, they really come down to earth in terms of they're in a weird spot playoff picture wise, because they're going to win this division. They could win it as soon as this week. I they they're in theory competing for the one seed, and I'm sure they want that, but I just don't see them as that sort of team. So they're gonna end up somewhere between. And I think one thing that we could have said about the Dolphins, and we can say it about the Jets, and we can say it about the Vikings. This is the first time that these coaching staffs have ever been in these big January games Mike McDaniels talking about, and the Vikings players have been in them more often. Certainly they have some veterans on this team that have been in big moments, but it's it is a new experience for a team as a whole. And you don't totally know how the Jets and the and I would throw the Vikings and their coaching staff and their team, how they're gonna respond when they actually get to the important part of how you like that? I think it is show me something teams we're going to go through here. CHRISTI waited on a on a title, and we came up with one. We didn't rush it. No. Christian Dery saw in this game. He's coming off another concussion, so he's not expected to return, and you know he's their key left tackle for the Vikings, and that just really sets up because the rest of the Vikings offensive line, they're good at right tackle, but now you've got a problem at left tackle. They're not really good in the middle, where the Jets are are great, and so that's that's a lot of mismatches. Jets have quietly been bad um at running back since Brees Hall's knee injury, and they address that, or attempted to address it against Chicago with successful else They made James Robinson a healthy scratch and then activated Bam White Zanovan Knight, who immediately had a one hundred yard game. Ty Johnson had a rushing touchdown. They need to have that balance um and have a running game that works. That makes such a big difference. And one issue with the Jets defense lately has been tackling. They've been having issues with miss tackles and Dalvelin Cook obviously could be a major problem if they don't wrap up. But I feel good about it. I feel I think you should feel good. I feel thirty four. Is he gonna do it? I'm not. I will be locking up the Jets at some point this season. Uh, it won't be this week. I'm not quite there than I think you should. I think it would really tell Greg and I something about your Do you want that? You want that to risk me going into a Sunday night show off a bad Jets loss where it also you're gonna be So what's the difference? I picked them. I really like them. Plus what are they? Three in three in this game? Three and a half? Sadness Sunday this week? But I took them straight up on game picks. I mean, you know what, Kings, I think they're better Vikings. Fans are hating us right now. I know they are, but they have to acknowledge that there if you study what they've done, if you pop the hood, that there are reasons to question this team they are. This would be in their chops for a blowout win over the Jets in a playoff, that would be that would be a very important game for them. That's to show me. Sunday game Okay, you know what, Mark, you're up with the fourth pick? I mean, I can't believe I'm getting this with the fourth pick. This is this is why they're worked out for me. I'm getting Titans at Eagles. I misunderstood the whole trade. Yeah, I mean, you know it's like the next day it's read your USA Today and they tell you already, like one day after the draft, who won the strategy emory. I should have taken this game today. It got how this works. I mean, this is the A. J. Brown revenge game. I think this is sort of a revenge game on the criticism. That's gonna be the entire day. That will be the entire day USA Today. You know, Rudy mart Ski is I the reason I think Tennessee has a chance here. And I didn't like seeing like Tannehill hobbling around last week. I just don't think he's healthy. He's one of the toughest quarterbacks in the league. I mean, he's so willing to fire the ball down field when he's taking a total shot right in his face mask and not to the ground. Derrick Henry, though you can run on the Eagles, it's the one thing you can do. They still don't have Jordan Davis. The Lynnville Joseph the Dominican su thing. I think it's helped them, but it's not completely solved the fact that the Eagles can be run on. And I think that's just this Titan's offense is really relatively so basic that it really comes down to what you get out of Derrick Henry in this game. And he has been in December and January and unstopped doable force for years in a row. And the Eagles right now. To me, that's your vulnerability, and can you stop the Eagles and reverse? I trust the Titans. I mean, they were out physical by the Bengals last week. We talked about that. I don't They've got to hate how that game went down, but they have found a way. They are a matchup defense. We've seen this week after week and I cannot wait to see what Mike Rabel does against a J. Brown, but against this all very versatile Eagles offense at last week put it on Green Bay. How exhausted and winded was that Packers defense by the end of that game, they were physically and spiritually broken by what the Eagles did on the ground. So I love this matchup. I am with you. I wonder if that the Titans are a little humbled by that game, where they're they're not expecting the Bengals to come in and push them around a little and and stuff them on the ground. I'm with you that the Titans defense is gonna throw something different at Jalen Herds and I think at least minimize their running attack and somehow force Philadelphia to to win throwing the ball and from the pocket. But good luck. It's like Hurts has been very aggressive, and I've seen some you know, numbers and some tape watchers pointing out that like, yeah, Hurts isn't a top five quarterback throwing the ball this year, but he's like top ten to twelve, along with being one of the most efficient runners in the league and a great decision maker about when to run and when not to. Like to I think he's very good with the ball handling, but obviously, unlike to A, he brings that added element as a physical runner, and the Packers were almost begging him to run. I think the Titans will prevent that from happening and make him win throwing it to a J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Without god Her, I don't think they're quite as dynamic, a passing team, and this game to your point where I think it could be a little more defensive on both sides really than than the last few Eagles. I feel like people that are picking on Hurts as not a complete passer because he's such a good threat on the ground are not watching Jalen Hurts his games right. I think he's he's absolutely grown as a pastor, and he's more than adequate, and he's had games where his accuracy has been incredible. We are one thing that's not getting a lot of attention is bringing grave digger on this one. Derrick Henry is in a little bit of a slump Russian the football. His last three games, He's averaged two point eight, three point one and two point two yards per attempt. I know he has done some damage through the air and the receiving game. Uh great, would he put anything into that? Is it? Is it matchup based? Is it just one of those things in a long season, or is there something we need to know a little bit of all of that. Um Ben Jones has missed the last two games, the starting center and the titans clear best offensive lineman. He's back at practice now, so it looks like he's gonna play in this game. And also, teams have been defending the Titans a little bit differently over the past few weeks. They've been breaking out these five one and six one defensive fronts that basically fill all the gaps. The Titans love the outside zone running scheme, where you have the option to go outside, cut up inside, or cut it back um to the backside, and with the six one defensive line fronts, it's like plugging up all the gaps and not allowing the Titans lineman to climb to the second level. So Tennessee's gotta figure something out. They either got to run a little bit more power, they gotta execute these blocks that are tough to execute. But I mean, they're obviously aware that teams are going to start playing them this way, and we'll see if find a way to open up the passing game in a way that the causes defenses have to Trailon Burke's the last couple of weeks and Tannehill talked about how his preparation has been such a big difference maker when on the off season was like does this guy plugged in or not. He's been growing the NFL films you know they released those like miked up segments from every game every week, and they had a moment between Rabel and Traylon Burke's after Burke's recovered the fumble, where Burkes was like, I'm sorry, coach, that was my man that I missed my block. He's the one that punched the ball out of Derrick Henry's hands, and Rabels like, but what do you do after that? You ran down, you hustled, dove on the ball, and he scored his first NFL touchdown recovering a fumble in the end zone. UM, I am not necessarily confident, but I am going to lock up the Titans, and that is cuts. This is called value. See every other lockable game on this lad and Kelly with a double thumbs down behind it. Every other game on this slate would be worth one potential lock win for me, but this one is worth one and a half. So he gets his half back from that shape by any sort of This was a just because you guys have some food, gazzy bond does not mean that Greg carries any extra weight. It's been it's I think he's trying to make up for the shame of that lock and I think that's a smart move. You don't get any extra credit, but you you earn our respect by getting behind your team. I didn't have the guts to do it. You did, and I as a decent size underdog, which doesn't make sense to me. I think this is a coin flip game. I think that's too many, too many points, five and a half points. I think one of their problems, though, grave digger, dealing with that those heavy fronts, is that Ryan Tannehill isn't as mobile coming off of the ankle injury. I thought he actually looked good when he did move last week, but they haven't had him rolling out as much. His legs are one of the reasons why they're one of the great red zone teams of all time over the last three years with Tannehill. That's where he likes to run. So I think you need to work that struggle. They've struggled in the red zone. They were over three against the Bengals. I mean, you convert one of those three trips into a touchdown, it's a totally different They need they need him to run. I do think they gotta feel good. They finally have the cornerback group that they've wanted all season healthy and rolling a little bit the tighten. So they have Fault and they have Mercury, they have Elijah Molden. That's a good young group. You have a good safety combo. I think they'll feel pretty confident that they can win some of those one on one matchups. And and and dare the Eagles. Let's be real though, if you if you've fallen back to back weeks to the Bengals and and Eagles, you're a lower tier operation. You're a middle I don't think so. You're seven and five. No, I think you need to win one of these games. You know. I like your choice here because I feel like, if we've learned anything from Tennessee over the last couple of years, this feels like a game they go and get after they couldn't get the Cincinnati game. And in general, I'm just looking ahead. The A C playoffs are gonna be banging wild this year. I mean, every team maybe even better than this week's games. Let's not go crazy and tune in on Sunday to the podcast to get the full rundown. But all of these teams are really fun to watch. I don't think we're gonna have any like the NFC lookout because you're gonna have like snooze fest, some snore NFC South team in there, and it's gonna be you know. But in the a f C in the yang of the NFL season, Dan, by the way, it's de Henberg. Derrick Henry's numbers in December are outlandish compared to his numbers. And and why yeah we mentioned Titans. Fans call it de Henberg and we need to make it a national things. Why are you guys so bad and terrible branding, terrible branding whatever, just wanted it to be on the podcast. You have the social clip from the from the show to the social clip. Case that will be this will be from my personal account. But yes, I will remember the tragedy that was the Tennessee tickle Monster. It was more than a tragedy. I think it rages on still. I think it career, quite honest. And now we had heard his career. All right, let's move on. Greggy. I'm I'm struggling here. I messed this up. I'm getting a D minus on the draft Lenn Pascarelli's writing articles I didn't get I didn't get the card in on time because I should have taken Titans Eagles, and you wouldn't have taken the late game, and I would have had both of the great games. But I'm taking Giants Commanders here. That's the other game between winning teams in the morning. It's in the morning. It's not good at all. You know what, when they didn't get that card in the vikings and they messed it up, you know who they got, Kevin Williams, I think who might have his number retired in Minnesota. So that's what this game is gonna be. We know it's coming down to the final uh a few minutes, because every Commander's game does that used to be what happened in every Giants game until they started uh playing the team of a t l and in a rolling Cowboys team. But I think it will come down to the end. It's a monster game for the Giants because they're getting healthier here. They're at home, and I think everyone in New York in the media has been panicking, being like suddenly they might not make the playoffs and things are falling aparts, Like, calm down. They lost to to to fall to seven and four. You lose to the Commanders at home, then I think you've got some real problems. The Commanders are a better overall team though their run defense and their front line on defense is the best unit in this game. They have more talent offensively than the Giants. So if our guy, Brian Dable wants to win Coach of the Year, people like to give out these awards so early, he's got to win a game like this where, look, you don't have to win twelve games, but you gotta at least beat the Commanders at home stop the bleeding. If they lose this game, I think it becomes very realistic that the Giants fall right out of the I don't like to match up for New York. A sa Juon Barkley has not been sa Kuon Barkley for two weeks in a row. And you look through the course of this season, the one thing that Washington has done consistently is shut down the run. And they allowed seventy two yards to the Eagles in Week three. They played Philly again on that Monday night game, that incredible victory, just ninety four yards. They've done it to the Vikings, they did it to the Packers. They've done it to the Cowboys as well, and last week they did it to the Falcons get the numbers, so the Falcons were better. But that said, this is their strength. I mean, I think if you can take away not only sake kuon Barkley, but you remove the threat of Daniel Jones on the ground, what do the Giants have? Because I know last week when the Cowboys started to turn on the Jets against New York and you put Daniel Jones in a situation where you need to make a couple of throws, it didn't happen. So you don't the Giants. Now it sounds I'm just saying they're vulnerable in this match. These are two teams that I think no one wants to believe in, and I kind of get it. But I think that Washington certain traits we I do like Heineck. I don't. I'm not saying he's Aaron Rodgers two point oh, but I think he's changed the energy on that offensive. To me, that stuff matters. I think. Uh. I think Brian Robinson's emergence is more important than Heinek just because Heineke, I think is what he is. Heineke is up and down type quarterback who was just easier to root for than Carson Wentz. I feel like that's the biggest difference in a lot of ways between those That's what isn't that making football more enjoyable? It's not crazy about like Also, I mean, they're they're one of the worst offenses in the league, but there are there are, no doubt about it, one of the most run heavy offenses. They are the most run heavy offense in the league since Heineke has been in there. So there you go. And that's what I mean is if this is who Ryan Robinson is going to be going forward, if you can stay healthy, that's a huge huge benefit for Washington and I I think with the sometimes I was thinking about this earlier in the week, are we now seeing the Giants and Commanders basically like switching their season identities. Where we're gonna see Washington continue to just win games in close fashion by just being physical and and just making the play when it needs to be made. Because I do think Washington is a team that is better more even though their record isn't as good. I think they're in better position here to take that wild card spot than the Giants and only half a game back, so they'll be after this by and then they play the Giants again. So I want to see what they show this, what these teams show each other, This show me Sunday game. Yeah, for both teams, because I think a lot of people are expecting the Giants to fold now, and a lot of people now are I think Washington is getting some positive pop, like, hey, look at the Commanders. Now. If you get spanked by the Giants here and the Giants take commanding lead in the playoffbrade, then it's gonna be a different vibe. But yeah, I do want, like I would like Washington to keep it going here. You know, popped up in that Thanksgiving the was our friend Cave and Thibodeau great, great game, uh nine pressures in that game. They need some defense, a very close friends, something that they can rely on. Because the worst group in this game, you think it's the Giants offense, but numbers wise, by far, it's the Giants defense. And part of that has been their boom er bust mentality where they just blitz like crazy and they've gotten crushed forward a handful of times. Part of it's just personnel and they've been injured and they are healthier. So I think this is a tough Giants team to prepare for the first time, because I think on both sides of the ball, they have very unique scheme. So to me, it's a coaching game and they need to have the better coaching team to win it. But Heinik is so lucky, man, I'm getting annoyed. Actually now why because to be he's one of the worst quarterbacks in the league's I'd say he's probably played a he's played worse than whence their offense has been worse by any like he is by far the NFL leader and turnover where he plays worse than Zach Wilson, just more likely Slinger. I feel like he's he's just do for a game where everything goes wrong for him, and I could see this being the game the Giants. I'm with you, Giants. I've only picked you once all year and that was against the Texans, But I'm with you this this whole. Like I I don't totally disagree with what you're saying about Heineke being like there he some of those plays had they gone the other way. He's got like twelve interceptions something. But Carson Wentz is equally capable of totally imploding in a big spot. So they're they're just kind of riding the hot hand. I have no problem. These ten times more enjoyable to watch for me, So it's all I care about ten times. Then Carson wentz, I don't know. I just don't see. Well, it's a personal choice. I know. Uh, Giants were six and one. They have lost three or five if they don't win this game. Uh, and it becomes four or five, then they get the ells and it's five of six, and all of a sudden, the wheels are coming off. So the Giants need to win this game. Let's see if they can do it. Let's take a break and we will. Oh, by the way, one more thing. As I go to check the Giants schedule, I see an article to the right. Uh oh b J free agency Cole and Cowboys, Bills, Giants stars entice wide receiver and a picture of Beckham next to von Miller like courtside at a basketball game. Flash. And this is exactly what I'm talking about. What what is with the why? Why is this such a huge story? I know we know why he's in the Giant He's with the Giants Thursday, like on a practice day in the middle of the season, like we're tracking like every move of this man. Right, I think you need to you need to spend some time disengaging with the narrative because it's going to just be more tenious by day. It's becoming an issue for me personally. I acknowledge that as so, all right, let me just check out maybe read the article online to us, so tell us something that I thought. Let's see, Let's take a break. We'll be right back. Welcome back at his time now for the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota, and we are going to drive all the way to the desert, Greg's future hometown where the Las Vegas Raiders. We'll meet the Los Angeles Chargers. Interesting game, a show me game for a couple of teams that you know, speaking of the desert. They have this game completely even coin flip. And I think that's accurate because you have a Chargers team who I want to buy into, I want to believe in. I haven't been able to do it all year. But the way they won that game in Arizona, that is fun. That's like maybe that's a light switch type game. And and I don't know is Mike Williams, is he just out off the grid again, like what is his situal practicing? And we're here, We're here in the same place with Williams. But you got Keenan Allen back, and Justin Herbert is looking more and more like Justin Herbert every week. And then you have the Raiders and I and I look at the raiders upcoming schedule and I say, man, if they I'm not saying anything here. I ain't saying nothing here, But what I am saying is if the Charger, if the Raiders beat the Chargers, you love the Raiders. The Raiders have a chance to get into this playoff race. Yes, they absolutely can. They after if they win, if they beat the Chargers there five and seven, then they get the Rams there six and seven, then their home against the Patriots. There's seven and seven, at Pittsburgh eight and seven, and then San Francisco. Casey, I mean, that's that's where the journey ends. But all I'm saying is they will be you can get to eight and seven, they will be in the in the hunt category. But they have to win this game. And I don't know if this is a team that has the ability to grasp the moment. It feels like everything about them doesn't grasp the moment, but they certainly have grasped the moment in the last two overtimes. I mean, I feel like you spun some fiction with this, like rattling off you know, well, the predictions are I'd see a team it's also totally capable of like a personal explosion in the wrong way and completely the floor totally falling out. I think right now, Justin Herbert last week, because it was the two previous games against the Chiefs and the Niners, two chances to win in the final moments to Justin Herbert interceptions last week was a breakthrough effort for me. I know they've been saying he's healthy, so he actually looked healthy to me last week. It helps to get Keenan Allen back, but it was more up to me just about the play of Justin Herbert, and to me, that is the difference in this game. If you can keep Max Crosby at Bay and their lines got some issues. Nobody can do that though, No, he's been incredible, but the way he has been unbelievable, I think he's something got to be in the right in the mix their top three. I'm giving it. I mean Mike, but I think those would be my two addressers data points, so they all protein I think those Well, I know, but you would never vote for mals Garrett, So why not? I don't know why. I just know you wouldn't You all here on this podcast all year. Oh the Browns want to disgrace their defenses. Fire everybody. Everyone else but Parsons has been on another level. Cities in the mix. This offensive line done. You mentioned they have issues. Corey Lindsley is the biggest one. So when Corey Linsley, their center, has not been on the field this year, they have not been nearly as good. And you could see it in the Arizona game. Granted they weren't prepared because he got hurt during the game. It was another concussion. You're seeing some of these offensive linemen have multiple concussions. Derrissaw was one, Lindsley is another. Trey Pipkins is also out of practice who has been in and out, but at least would would be playing for them at tackles and then you're on your third tackle. It's concerning their injury situation. Herbert is the difference. I agree with you. They're putting so much on his play. I think he's played really well since the bye. I think they're putting like a Drew Brees Tom Brady in their primes level of responsibility on Herbert where he's just reading everything. He's second in the league and attempts. He's just throwing the despite them having their bye week and they're asking so much, and I think that can work against the Raiders. I have a really hard time picking this game though, Like I don't know. All these injuries worry me about the Chargers and make me lean slightly lost. If Lindsley's out and Williams is out, Derwin James didn't practice. I don't think that's a serious problem, but that's it's a little bit also limited in practice with a calf, so that's something to keep an eye on. After his three yard game, the Raiders could also potentially get back Darren Waller and Hunter Renfro who were designated to return off i R, but they have two games here with a Thursday night game coming up in in five days, so that that's uncertain. As Jacobs is healthy. The Charges right now are allowing five point six yards per carry fourteen all purpose touchdowns in eleven games. They're getting gashed on the ground week after week, so that sets up really well. But on the flip side, and I really like Patrick Graham and what he's done in the past, but this Raiders past defense is a disaster. They're allowing the league high seventy two completion percentage and the fourth most yards per attempt and league and Herbert's yards per attempt have been down because he throws forty five times a game and they're asking DeAndre Carter to win on the outside and he's kind of doing it, which is but I mean, this isn't this is a tasty matchup for her a little bit the defensive Josh Justin Herbert media guy right now. Every time anything slightly critical comes out, But this and that and this and that, well, he's just a social media quarterback. I mean, I I think, uh, I think he's played well. I think he's been a top ten quarterback this year. But I think they're running game is their short passing game, and that'll change how you do it. I mean, they they didn't even try to run this week. They're just they're just throwing these little yeah screens And who do you think the online I took the Raiders, but I sometimes I change them late in the week. I took the Raiders in this game. The defenses are equally bad. Although you know what, like when I call the Raiders like a high variant, you have no idea what they're gonna do. Well, that's the Charger. I think thirty one third thirty. There's a Raiders game another close games was like they'd lost in week one and I was like, let these teams just feel like they should split. And that was the Sunday Dry presented by Toyota. Um. All right, up next in the draft is Mark Sessler, who receives the pick from the old Zeuster and that Blockbuster trade. In case you're just tuning in, Yeah, that's the eighth time Dan's gone third person there during our episode. I'm gonna go Cleveland and Houston. Um, it's obviously I think a little bit as a as sort of an ex Browns fan. I want to just see what this looks like. But I gotta say, like, I really back to being in next round face. Well, I really will miss Jacoby Brissette, and I know we talked about him a little bit on Sunday night, but I don't know what more you could have asked him to do. I think he's like, literally like we talked about being right in the middle of the league quarterback wise, and he and he earned that. He did it through his plays, his best play of his career, and I I honestly think, like, if you're Deshaun Watson, we're gonna get to Shaun Watson now against Houston, which is a real weird opening chapter for that whole thing. Um, I think you're challenged to go and out play Brissett, but also coming out of last week, like those players love Brissette so much, and Kevin st. Santa Fanski said it's he's never been around a better teammate and all his time in football, and so you're now going to plug into Shaun Watson, who I think is under a fair amount of pressure to an offense that's been good to equal what Jacoby Brissette has done. Cause added the game, it doesn't sound that confident when when he mentioned how Jacoby Brissette Deshaun Watson. That is at his media appearance, we can get to that different aspects of it, but just in terms of his on field play, he mentioned how their top five and all the numbers he certainly wasn't puffing his chest out. We've haven't heard a lot of reports that he's looked great at practice, whether that was in the off season or now. No, no one's saying those reports. You kind of heard some whispers that it's been okay, and he certainly struggled in that preseason. Matt I hated how he handled uh the off field uh, you know, sexual assault allegations part of his press come and we can get to that. But I thought it was interesting to how he handled the on field one, not sounding like he's expecting to hit the ground running. It should help that he's playing one of the worst defensive league and you can just hand the ball off to Nick Chubb. But I think there's an open question whether he'll be better over the last six games than Jacoby Brissette was. I don't think it matters at all. And if there's a faction of the Browns locker room that is having an issue with Jake Briskett losing his job, we'll get him out of the building. This is the Shawn Watson's team, whether we like it or anybody likes it or not, and whether he plays better than Jacoby Brissette hitting the ground or for the balance of the season doesn't matter because this is a big picture move by the Browns that they made, as we all know. And Brissette I think was very He was good, he was steady, but he threw twelve touchdowns in eleven games. It wasn't like he's replacing Dan Marino here. I I do, I wouldn't. I would not be surprised if Watson does struggle. He literally and I know this has been off stated, but we'll say it one more time. When he takes the field on Sunday, it will be his first game action in seven hundred days and he just has been out of the league for two years, and that is going, I think to show itself. So if Browns fans are gonna get upset that the offense takes a step down right now. So that's just part of I think the suspension and everything that plays into it, and they're gonna eat it. They're gonna swallow that sadness because it's not about this season with Shaun Watson is about going folks, It's not, and it it probably even helps cleavel a little bit. I know they'd like to be in the playoff race, but that the record isn't flipped. That you're right, like Brissette playing pretty well, they still they still are in a situation where the season is essentially lost, and so you're not going to have quarterback number two come in and then then you fall out of the playoff race, because I think that would be a rather there would be anger or frustration in the fan base if you're right, if they were in the mix right now and then he struggled. But I think he's gonna have time to get his feet wet. I think is you're playing a team that over the last two first halves we're out yardage five and thirty three yards to thirty seven. It's hard to do that. We could gain thirty seven yards and two NFL we even broke Damian Pierce, the guy that we were like into this season. I think he's averaging about like ten yards again the last It's hard to Houston. I don't know, but the fact that's in Houston. The matchup obviously is fantastic for for Watson and the Browns. The fact that's in Houston for him personally, I think adds to something I've thought about and and was ascerbrated watching his press conference, he showed zero contrition. Again, he won't talk about anything other than football. He doesn't sound overly comfortable, just like with where he is, and he just sounds like a guy who's kind of living a lie. He that he's at no point has moved on and everyone says, Okay, we want to move on from from this and we want to talk about football. But he doesn't sound like a young man that like or a man that has dealt with it whatsoever. He doesn't sound like a leader that you can get behind. And the fact that in Houston against the team that had to give up a lot of money to settle all these cases with the women uh that accused Shaun Watson have said, you know, sexual assault, the same women that ultimately cost him two years of his career because of his actions, and that he had to set all this money. They're gonna be in the stadium there. The team who admitted they said they didn't admit responsibility, but they also did pay the women quickly when they sued the team. The fact that it's all in Houston, how could that not like have an effect and how could him and like where he is in the sports landscape, which is gonna be enemy number one whenever he's on the road. He he obviously knows that hard questions are coming from the media, and he pushed them off today. But I don't think that's necessarily gonna end unless he ever does address it or ever shows contrition. I think it's I think that's just like kind of that plays into everything. He's a human being, and I think that's like it's gonna make it all even more difficult. I feel everything you're saying makes sense to me, but I also also following him and watching how he's handled this whole thing. Um, it would not surprise me if he's denied this so many times and his his his record in his mind is different the way his uh the accusers come down on this, the way people on the outside that thinks he has handled this very poorly. But if he in his mind feels like, you know, I'm moving forward and I didn't do anything wrong, Like whether that's true or not, I get more of the vibe. That's where he's at right Listen, I didn't, But I think I think that's unhealthy and that's probably and it's that's the problem for them and possibly for the brands. If what you're saying is true that he's at war with himself privately on some level about how this all played out, that could have a negative effect on his career, on his relationship with teammates, with everything. But I'm also more in the camp that he is totally processed this in a blinder's way, which is not not something I respect especially, but probably will help him on the field. I agree with you're not basing it simply on his own words during these there but there to somebody. But that's sort of like living or lie, and you can convince yourself into that and have all this denial. But I do think that's got to show up in it in his life, and potentially you kind of want and saying, you know, I'm saying, we all want him there to be consequences for this, And I think that's part of what's made this so frustrating, is that there might not be any going forward, like he's moved past that, while all the people that were allegedly connected to his behavior don't get to move past it. Well, I guess what the League has said, We've moved past it, right, It's been legislating that's that's it. But you have to have some crazy blinders on to feel like it hasn't you know. I think he's crazy age to understand that, like this just took away two years away from my career and my prime. I was couldn't have been like more publicly respected and actually raised up as like a guy that people like and now am enemy number one nationally. And there's no guarantee he's gonna be the same player here, or that it's all gonna work out, or that this move works out. Like now comes the hard part. He might just be mediocre, he might be great, he might be bad. Who's to know. Let us take a break and we'll be right back. All right, we are back in his time now for Greggy the gree Greggy having a tough draft. I'm having a great draft. I'm having a fine time. I'm taking the jack Bar and the Lions. It's the team of around th l This is how because I've had the Lions every single week almost I really have had the Lions almost every week. This is uh, you're having a career altering draft in a negative way. But this was a good pick here, good value. It was all I could take uh, fun game. Annoyed personally that these two teams are playing each other because I feel like they're the two teams that are better than the record at four and seven. I throw the Browns in there too, by the way, but these are the two teams that are playing their best football right now. But Greg, that's why it's a great show. Yeah, absolutely, and it makes them more interesting. But I want both of these teams to win this week. I have a fondness for this Jaguars team now with Trevor Lawrence, uh, showing me something and playing very clean football week after week, making really good decisions, being really accurate. But even more fondness for this Lions defense. They're they've changed their their numbers since the buy are average, and that's something, and they're flying around the field and that's something that's coaching. They were such an absolute sieve for six weeks that all they needed was an average defense, and suddenly you're in every game. And maybe Jared Goff's not going to close them out when you're playing good opponents like the Bills, but I think they'll close out the Jaguars because I think this Jaguars defense quietly a little disappointing. You can certainly throw on him, and I think the Lions go get another win. What are you clapping about? Because the Lions? We get behind the Lions the team around the NFL. How about you? How about I told you that they won me over in that Bills game. I didn't like the way it ended, but they absolutely did. I also know what streight of a great perforce naments on Thanksgiving to win over? I said all along, I will allow with the Detroit Lions to come to me. I'm not gonna fabricate or cook up enthusiasm when it wasn't there, but now that it's there, I absolutely enjoy them. But they come to you. Yes, Wow? What? What? What other we like? It's like i'man ros st Brown. Come on over. I'll have time to four, but just make sure you get there on time. Come to me, adore you. This is absurd. If this is actually playing on NFL Network right now, the last ten twelve seconds of the show, I will be stunned and annoyed at the people behind the glass. But I will tell you this, I am equally excited about what Trevor Lawrence has done since Week nine trails only to uh in passer rating in essentially touchdown interception ratio. We waited for this and we kind of, I thought, if anything, we're patient with Trevor Lawrence, but now we are getting it. And I think these are two really you can look at both coaches and say that Campbell has changed the Lions. They're starting to play in his image, and Doug Peterson has flipped the switch on Trevor Lawrence. At this point, I mean, what we're getting over the last three or four weeks that this is who he is and continues to grow. You've got a star quarterback with the Jaguars had essentially never had unless you want to call Mark Burnell that um. I was telling you this Greg a couple of days ago after in the after glow of that incredible ending for the Jaguars where Lawrence did kind of flip the switch and and it was his big arrival game, and I thought about, you know, when you talk about who are the generational quote unquote quarterbacks entering the league, and you know the frame my my football history frame, a lot of it obviously connects with the Jets. And I remember the nine season, which was a great year Jets history, where Bill Parcels had them rolling. They went twelve and four, got to the a f C title game. They played a one in eight Cults team on November fift night. I'll never forget it. Last play of the half, a long field goal attempt by the Colts was fielded in the back of the end zone by now the defensive coordinator of the Lions, then the cornerback for the Jets, Aaron Glenn, who returned it a hundred and eight yards for a touchdown. The roof was going off at Hansas Manor in Pearl River. And then Peyton Manning had his day. It was his moment. He got hot in the second half. They scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter Colts one. Now, that season didn't end with a big roll down the stretch, but at the same time I remember that being kind of like the Peyton Manning, whoa Okay, this guy he could be the dude, and sure enough by he was a star. I'm not saying the travel launces is gonna be Peyton Manning, but I did you just get the feeling you see it that this is going to be the launching point for him and this is gonna be one of the best quarterbacks in football. Um, maybe this is putting too much into three weeks and specifically what happened on Sunday, but god, he has everything everything. I know they actually has to get better, but those are thing It's been better, though. I would say that's sort of been his defining trade these three weeks. So that's that's been impressive. I don't think he's gonna make as many crazy off script plays as Alan or Mahomes those types of play, and he's not gonna be the runner that that Jalen Hurts is. But I think what you're seeing is more now that he's decisive. You can just see that he can make any type of throw that you that you want and he can put it on the mind. And he's also he's not surrounded like some other young quarterbacks by star talent. I mean, he made z Jones look like Jerry Rice a weekly. I mean that's on z Jones too, who played great. But you've got, yeah, who's around him that's like you you could point to. Is like they've really built an offense full of stars. It's some nice pieces, but he's elevated the play of the people around him, and I think he has wiped away some of those sort of head scratching overthrows, where he also melted down on potential game winning drives, you know, week after a little those with the body fumbled right in that game winning drive. And yeah, that fumble kind of was a little overlooked in the in the hoopla, I'd agree with you that. But you just seeing tremendous growth that shows in the numbers, and it just shows in his actual play and he just looks the part. You know, it's crazy. I was thinking this is off topic, but draft class, I mean that's to uh, that's hurts right now. That's that's Herbert and that's Burrow. That's an amazing draft class. Right now. Herbert is ranked the lowest of all of them on QB Index. Four guys in one class. So can Lawrence get up to that level? I think he can. I'm not ready to say he's definitely gonna be, you know, one of the best quarterbacks in link. But there's nothing getting in his way. All right, let's move on. I will take Egan. All right, we ran out, we ran out. It's okay, I'll grab packers at Bear just getting grizzly. Yeah, it's Okay, though we're gonna we have so much good football, I don't mind taking a little a couple of dog games just to keep an eye on where all the great football is going on on screen. Three? Actually want you want to do that? Yeah, I'm gonna have screen. This is this is what's gonna look a little peak behind the curtain. Everybody that he's gonna have jets by makings on. You're the daddy, the listeners and your children another third person, and then you got my daddy, you got the packers and Bears on the secondary screen. I will be professionally keeping an eye on that, right and then, oh, Papa there is going to have I looked at Greg as I said that, and his eyes kind of lit up. You're also popular. You did seem to push back when I said you're not my daddy, as if you're saying, well, actually you don't know, but I am your daddy. I'm your father one day. One day you'll be like, you're right, you're my daddy the whole time, with your daddy and Papa Bear at the same time. Daddy, stop it. Frag's always welcome on the show. And then I'll watch whatever the Yeah, I'll watch Titans Eagles too. That will be on the third screen. This is a great Sunday. I mean, that's my game, right, that's just the fun. Keep an eye on it. You need to ask my permission to watch my game. May I have permission, daddie, since you just called me that. Yes, it's getting weird. Packers at bears from Soldier Field. I am working under the assumption that Aaron Rodgers will play, but who knows Rogers. Obviously there's the rib issue, um kind of You know, Aaron, you gotta give him this. He knows how to stay in the conversation. He knows the answers to give that will keep him in the headline. So on the McAfee show, he said that the scans came back good and he intends to play blah blah blah. Then the reporters asked him about what are your thoughts about the idea of Jordan's love getting a look if you guys are at a contention, and he he said he was, you know, open minded. I guess if they were to come to him with that, which I don't know if I believe, but anyway, it would made for another headline. Uh. If Rogers doesn't play, this game is actually a little bit more interesting because of Jordan's Love getting a full start against a terrible There's just no imagine that comment being ushered in August, right. Uh, there's no meat on the bone Chicago. Justin Fields isn't playing, and I don't know what his status is, but the Bears have a I next week. It doesn't make any sense to me to play him, uh this week, but we'll see what happens. Anyway, if Rogers plays, I'm locking up the Packers because I think it sets up ideally for a Rogers four touchdown performance, and you know exactly how he wants it in his mind. Uh. And if he doesn't play, I'll probably move off the lock. But uh, we'll see, we'll see. That's where we're at on this game. I also, I'm locking up the Packers, and I don't need to throw in any Rogers plays or moved off the lock that we made last Thursday. Just telling you the truth. I'm liking them up with Jordan's Love, I'm locking him up with Aaron Rodgers. I'm locking it up with Scott Tolzine. If they take him out of I don't like you and I. The lock that works Greg and Mark I didn't do a lock does not really work very well in the DAN, and this will be a good test for this is a show me Sunday for the loss. I don't know if we've done it before. This Bears team and I locked more against teams than I do lock four teams. And the Packers have only won one of their last eight games. I believe they're one in seven since starting three in one, so you know, you could feel more comfortable about them. But I think they've solved a lot of their offensive problems. I do expect Rogers to play, but I really was gonna lock it up love versus the Bears because I think the Packers have solved their offensive problems in the way that their offensive line is healthier now, they've they've protected pretty well. We know the running games good, they've been run blocking better. Watson has really you might get Romeo Dobbs black back this week, and the Bears defense was already the worst in the league, and then they lost Eddie Jackson, the best player in their secondary. They also didn't have Brisker or Kyler Gordon. Their two rookies who are starting have had good moments and are two of their better started. So you went from one of the worst defenses in the league too, even worse than that in the secondary. And I know the Packers defense has struggled too, But I just feel like this is a nice get right game or it's a nice breakout game for Jordan's love. Either way, I feel good about the Packers like I don't. I don't take too much in like the early season encounters between some of these teams, but sustainably for Chicago on offense. The one way I see them into this is that back in Week two they rumbled over Green Bay for a hundred and eighty yards on the ground that was only twenty yards from justin fields. That was that was their distinct true running game. And the Packers are coming off a game where they allowed three hundred and sixty three yards rushing. You know who the Bears are. The Bears are that classic late season team, and we saw it their last game last week. At the middle ends. They might put up a bit of a fight early on, but if you if you punch them in the in the gut, or if you give them a shot to the jaw at some point before the first half, they're just ready to go. They were broken defense, although I'd say the same thing about the Packers. They're a bad team that once you let them know this is gonna be a long day, that they're not ready for the battle. Fields has been practicing and Simeons not. So you would think Fields would have a good chance to play, but they also could be playing a camera. But one of the reasons why I felt good locking it no matter who is playing or whatever is I just feel like they're going to be careful with him. If he does play, yes, he they're not gonna have as many design runs and then they're just a little punch. I'd argue, you don't even put him into into dangerous way, you know, And then I love locking against Nathan Peterman is only three though. By the way, if Rogers fields, because of the oblique that he played through on Sunday, yeah, so I think he would probably it probably would be Simeon starting. Who can I just say one thing, like you guys locking up. If Rogers plays, and if Justin Fields is one half of what he is and it's not used on the ground or doesn't play at all, I mean to go find a mirror on that one. It's a three point spread spread. I don't care what the spread is. I mean, you just have actually then the one we gave Nick, I don't have to be proud of your lot buried. Green Bay all season is a bad team that needs to float away. And now you're saying, I'm saying if it's Aaron Rodgers first, like tread or Simeon or something. They've lost seven of eight. Yeah, the Packers, they were three and one. Remember they think I think you So, I'm just saying I feel good. I've been loyal to the Packers even through all the struggles here, struggle to respoil the football, I struggle to respect that. The choice I loved in the mirror, I'd see is a nice fresh cut. I'd see some beautiful makeup. The lack itself away? Why is it put on Tanya down there? Everyone's doing a great job today making us look well. I'm glad that you're pleased with yourself. I just wanted a question where Greg got his line from, because the source I use says packers minds five as of business. Where this thing is going? Maybe it's moved. It was three? When where good? Good do you do you want to move off your Thursday night luck. I know you're nervous about it, not not even in the least. Okay, so don't worry about oarlocks. Mind your own business. Mind business. I mean, how many times on the show have you come at other people about their luck? Like that's I'm simply giving you a taste of your own medicine in your business. And my guess is graver the line has moved up with the confidence that Rogers is playing. And how about this, Greggy, if we do lock lock Up together, and I'm not worried about not getting again the standings on you one way or the other, because it's still a lot of bottle play and I'm only one game behind. I didn't have a backup game this weekend. We become the lock Daddies. If you get this, okay, I like that. You have no loyalty. We were the locks. Yeah, I'd rather be a lock daddy than a lock. Yeah. Maybe we become the locks Addies next Okay, then we'll do that, whatever you do next week. The show getting more and more stupid. I mean, we're into like our it's definitely we're going hard on things that amuse us, but not the listeners. Mark, Yeah, you're a pick, all right, I am gonna go. Oh these are ugly. We're gonna roll through these at Ravens. At least the Ravens are in that game. Who are you Ravens. Yeah. All the remaining games, by the way, including this, with the re remaining something hideous about every game, usually one team specifically. No, that's true, raven has really been struggling in the red zone. I think if you want to look at this and say, this is actually a good test for Baltimore because Denver, if anything, their defense has been outstanding. I mean, we we talked about it last week. They punched eighteen points in their first ten games. It would have been nine and one. Because the defense is has a right to be I rate. I mean, we saw Mike Purcell burning off the field last week and basically going right up to Russell Wilson and saying, we don't know what he said, but just get this thing going. And then I thought it was most telling that in the background, quietly as Nathaniel Hacketts sort of just looking away and not wanting to be part of it. It's like, what's going on with the Denver Broncos in the offense. We've talked about it every week. Their season on offense cannot end fast enough. I'm much more concerned with Baltimore going out here and winning a game like this, where you show the on offense you can be more consistent, not blow a league or lead. I just think that Lamar Jackson, it's maybe a little bit too much weight around him. You're a little two weapons pour on offense. They're asking him to do so much, and it's not something I trust that they're gonna be able to take through January. I think people have said the Ravens just gonna better and better roll through and win this division. I don't think you're winning the division. First of all, I think they though they blow a late against the Russell Wilson Broncos, come on, okay, but we said the schedule is so easy. Then they went out and lost to the Jaguars. Okay. So it's just like you have to go handle your own business. I don't difference between the Jaguars and the Broncos, who are dead as but you have the good Broncos defense, so you're not going out Here's the thing, though, I've noticed a little decline here from the Broncos defense too, which makes sense. They're injured up front, and they've traded they traded away Chub. They've been closer to average, I would say, over the last three four weeks, and you just don't Baltimore's offense, you don't need much. The Broncos offense right now is on pace to have be the lowest scoring offense since the two since the two thousand Browns. Man, I mean, it's like crazy. They're the worst offense in twenty years. They had two forty six yards against the Carolina team that's in the top five for the draft. And and Russell Wilson, as we know, is struggled in so many ways this year. Bill Barnwell, friend of the Show over at ESPN, had a great right up on all the things that are wrong with Russell Wilson's season, and one thing that really jumped out um of all the things to me. As a red zone passer, Russell Wilson in the past decade was one of the best in football year after year after year when he was the quarterback, they found a way to score. In fact, he had a ninety one point nine QBR last season, which by the way wasn't a great season for Russell Wilson, it still was good enough to be in the top ten in the league. UH. In this season, his first year, through ten games of the Broncos, he's dipped from nine point nine to six point three QBR in the red zone. There are so many things wrong with him, but they're a salute staggering inability to get it done. UH. In that area of the field, it's head scratching. He has too fewer touchdowns than Carson Wentz, who has not played since Week six. There were that were those reports a couple of weeks ago. Glass of milk, A glass of milk, A man, a man just essentially no more than a glass of milk. There were those reports that that that Wilson is so lost that he was calling out Seahawks audibles in essentially on the field in games with the Broncos. And this is a tough matchup and the Ravens, I know they've blown some leads, but I think I think they're a good defense. I thought it was interesting this week Greg Roman UH got an interview permission to get an interview their offensive coordinator with Stanford, and I do wonder what the Ravens think about that, whether like they've really built this offense in such a unique way around Romans scheme and Lamar, and I feel like it might be time for them to have to have a break anyways, and I and my guess is they wouldn't be that sad if he left for Stanford. He would change their whole team. Though I feel like this is there's like vague pings of deja vu about you dinging Greg Roman. I'm not really digging Greg Roman. I think you can say in San Francisco he has a certain way that he plays and it had its moment and they're not They're not a bad offense, but they've done it such a unique certain way around his running game this for this long than it might be time to kind of a bit of a shelf life with his offense and stopped to stop. Yeah, Lamar exited practice on Wednesday, by the way, with some type of quad issue. I don't know he's back on Thursday. It was precautionary and he should be. Okay, I I gotta push back a little bit, Greg My. I'm so shaken by Baltimore's defense after I what I saw at the end of that game. I just find it hard to trust them. They're good. I think they're good defense. I think they're different than they were for six weeks. They've collapsed like no other team in four of these games, and it's just like, why are we trusting them to go suddenly rip off three wins in January? No? I feel like they're destined to lose a heartbreaker in January, and I think they'll get there. Greg, you have the penultimate pick? Oh? I do? And uh, I'll take Steelers Falcons upset still on the board. What else is there? Seattle at the Rams we little gino fetish. It's a fair point. I probably should have too, because of you can still watching now the early slate can I'm switching my pick. I'm going Seahawks Rams. I'm sorry, was already turned in? Is that doesn't it's gonna it's gonna mess up my Sunday? A second? Wait, a second? Justin what was the official ruling on this? I thought the card had been turned, but I don't know. You guys make the rules, not me. Wow. You know we've got like the whole Nick Shook factor, and I don't want to I'm impartial because I can't be involved because I have the next pick mark you. Gregg has had such um, it's been such a disaster today for you that if this could be a little halo, a little win for you, something that gives you a little bit of joy. All, okay, I'll green light. I will all right, there you go. We don't even know what I want. I don't know what I want. Like the draft, Nicks understand that the Rams can be quick uh conversation because there's no Aaron Donald in this game. There's no Matthew Stafford in this game. Obviously, there's no Cooper Cover, Aaron Uh or Allen Robinson. The offensive line maybe is gonna start a new lineup for the twelfth straight week, which is a record. It's a perfect time for a get right game. I think Bryce Perkins showed enough last week that I think they can start building the offense around his skill set in a way that might be tough to prepare for. They have gotten a little bit of the running game going, and the Seattle defense is concerning enough that you think Perkins might be able to move the ball a little bit, and they could be feisty if their defense shows up. I just don't know if their defense is going to be showing up that much without Aaron Donald it did last week. They have all season too off season to talk about this, But doesn't it make so much sense? The Rams obviously now are in a heap of trouble organizationally because the roster has thin, They've been unsuccessful this season. Uh, they don't have draft picks. Matthew Stafford. Wouldn't it make so much sense for them to trade him in the off season at this point, recoup some draft picks and start building whatever is the next phase in this in this team's And then you think that Matt Stafford back on the trade market in the off season. There are a number of teams that he makes sense on, including mine. Interesting, that would be amazing, But I think this is forever home. I would be I would expect you and retire rather than hanging out. There is a there's just something weird, gonna just gott a vibe. Retirement or new team. Don't think you want to play football again if it wasn't for McVeigh and in this team, and I think they don't want to keep them because hey, it doesn't hello, it's Kenneth Walker. Last two games seventeen yards rushing twenty six. I love as a runner. It's like, let's really at yeah, really, three out of four? This is I know, this is a game they should take care of. It's out of the locks zone, of course, but they need to improve their pass rush, their defense, the running game. They've gotten into some bad habits. They are not guaranteed by any means to make the NFC playoffs, so they need to go get a seven win. I enjoyed Juno Smith saying this week that the Seahawks are adjusting UH to life, going from UH the hunter to the hunted. The six and five Seahawks listen, They've listen, They've earned it, and this is who they are now will face if it will face Bobby Wagner this week, A little would be a bigger deal if the Rams weren't a disaster. I guess what he's saying is they lost as a favorite last week and now their favorite again Hunter two hunted the Seattle Seahawks. I mean if that defense, by the way, struggles in this game, perfect get well games. I was a little worried about it until the Donald news, just because I don't know. All right, let's close it out with Steelers at Falcons. Could be better, it could be worse. I don't hate that game. I kind of hate it. Actually despise it. I despise it so much, Great Digger, I'm gonna need your help with it, buddy. Uh comes Sunday. I'm all booked up. Um Yeah, I like this game. Yeah. You you literally did draft then then decided and I realized I had three early games, and then I was thinking about the shook games and it just getting yourself in trouble got too confusing. He's not running a good war room here. Hey, looks Steelers over the last few weeks. Dan, if you don't mind me, just okay, football outside? Is you now? Sort by week? Which is fun? Since the bye? Since the bye? Ninth in offense and defense? And here's what I really am impressed. But we know Kenny Picketts played better. They're running game has been consistent. They have been pushing people around in the run game. And if they can run the ball, and I think Naja Harris getting hurt might not be the worst thing to meet. Warren and Snell both have a little orange juice. He's good too. But it doesn't matter who's back. There is my main point. They're not a bad offense. I think they're a little more balanced of a team right now than the Falcons are. I like the Steelers to win, alright, there's six against the run also, that's what the Falcons do, and I've started to look at the Falcons. I kind of have been a Falcons supporter, I think quietly this whole season and going back to last year with Arthur Smith. But big game for them. Yeah, you take away the run game and you could just basically guarantee that Marcus Mariota, whether it's his fault or not, Like that interception last week was a tipped ball. But it's like, don't we just at this point, like cookie Cutter, just expect Mario to do something at the end of the game that basically unspoiled the entire operation. They're the most consistent team in the NFL. They're the exact same team every week. Actually, you say, oh, if you can stop the round, no one stops the run. They ran all over even Washington. They're great. They're a truly great running team. We know what Mariota is and their defense is thirty feet in the league in points per drive, giving up at no. Point, have they really shown life defensively? They're the exact same team fully put that loss, and that was a season crushing loss potentially for Atlanta. Just imagine if they win that game. Where they are and the way the NFC South and the Bucks, the pressure on the Bucks. Uh? Why why why are you asking Marcus Mariota to make a game when is that's the What did Jonathan Vilmas say? Uh? Justin grave Digger. What did Vilma say about Corduill Patterson near the goal line? What did he say? Yeah? He said this Christ because he's an absolute terror that nobody wants to tackle. Why are you not giving him three times inside the five? He's gonna score, He's gonna score. Instead, you asked Mariota to make a big play. The guy can't make a big play to save his life, which is why he won't be their quarterback next year. It got me so mad watching that. That's it. I have nothing else to getting better. Skins win this game. They could be tied for first you know, on on Monday night after if the Bucks lose. I'm way more intrigued by a Kenny Pickett than say Taylor Heineck, just because I like watching a rookie quarterback starting to develop and how how that trajectory goes and and he's also I think, you know, Heineke's filling but Pickets in there with other young players who are growing around him, like the Pickens thing. I think is a huge development for them. And what team do you trust to the develop wide receivers more than Pittsburgh. I find them relatively fun to watch. You know what else I find fun developing news, great timing there, Graver, the great Alliance Enthal. It doesn't feel von Miller is heading to injured reserve. Doesn't necessarily end his season, but doesn't mean he's gonna miss the next four games, some big ones, including that Dolphins one coming up in a couple of weeks. We've got a Jets match circle the Jets games is his return. So this is a little bit of a setback. There was he might undergo surgery. We need more information and that if he did undergo surgery, it would be season ending, so we'll find out more. That is the killer for them. Uh toughy, but you know they're in it to win it in January and he's got to get right, so maybe not the worst thing. Hey, great Marcus Mario had a one more stat on him. He has started every game this year he had Falcons. That's right, Okay, so howuch that means he needs to start six more and he starts all seventeen games for the two thousand, twenty two Falcons. That's correct. Alright, Uh, you have something to play for us. Mariota starts seventeen games. I will do one of these shows topless like he has not that that will help nobody. Desmond Ritter, It's time to take a look. Yeah, you need to start rooting against the Falcons because I don't think they're making a change if they keep winning. If they win this game, you're in deep trouble. I think he's got to start wailing on his chest and on some bys and tries. Doesn't rid or ain't playing. Both of those things can be happening at the same time. We'll need to be all right, good stuff. Every game that we just previewed, we will review on Sunday with expert precision and analysis. Thank you everybody for watching and listening, and we will see you on Sunday. But before that, the Friday Fun Show. Make sure you check that out live stream on YouTube and you get getting podcast for him as well. Until then see the Call SA