Transcript of 2024 Week 13 Preview

Welcome to NFL daily, where we only feel truly alive after that camera light turns on. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris Westling podcast studio with my friend Steve Weiss and Patrick Claybond. I'll throw it to you guys. You ever you you're television professional. Stop.

You know, you you ever have days where it's like, you know, you're you're a little worn down a little bit, but then that light turns on, and then it just it takes over. You you feel it. You have that light ever turned on for you and you didn't feel it? You know what I mean?

I mean, it it happens, but, you know, this is I'll use I'll use the gym analogy. You know? Okay. Some days, you just don't feel like you have it. Yeah.

But once you're once you're about 10 minutes in on that elliptical, that treadmill, then you're rocking and rolling, and you're having all these great memories, and you're and you're running from people trying to kill you. You know? You really got it going.

Yeah. You have to. Right? Yeah. In the gym, you got you got you know, for Steve, you got £400 on your side.

Yeah. You gotta come back up. Go, Patrick.

That doesn't always happen for me in the gym. I I just were like, okay. We're at, like, 25 minutes. Is that enough?

But having not been mentally prepared and been on television and embarrassed myself

Yeah.

In the past, I I I used to keep a note in my wallet. It it, like, I I wrote it down after a really bad hit where it was a national hit on CNN or through some news story that I will not be unprepared on TV ever again. That yo. And so before the with honestly, like, to kimono open here Mhmm. Before everything starts, I I tended to close my eyes, take a deep breath, then, go into a place.

That's good. It that has crossed my

mind because, Steve, you've had, you know, far more live television experiences than me. And sometimes I'll be watching. I'll be like, I wonder if Steve ever just, you know, man, he's just he's just he's just grinded down, and he's not feeling it today. Because you could you could never tell. You could never tell.

All the time. But, I mean, as as Patrick said, you know, you make that 1 mistake, and it's alright. Somebody else is sitting in this chair, maybe, on Zillow.

You guys have been sitting in this chair every preview show, and this is 1 of the best slates I think we've had all season. Sneaky fun. A lot of just b pluses, a minuses, but we gotta start despite it not being the smallest spread of the week with what to me, and this is my choice, is the game of the year.

Love it. Yeah. I'm right there with you, Greg, because it's it's the next game, for me. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens both played it so far last week in prime time. Both got wins.

The Ravens playing host to the Eagles favored by 3 with an over under of over a half a 100. 51 and a half points, full CBS treatment with Jim, Tony, and Tracy on the call. Greg, the Ravens defense got pressures, 13 different players, 4 sacks, pass breakups, all without Roquan. Was that the improvement that you waited for? And if it is, is it enough against Philly and their MVP candidate in the NFL's leading rusher?

It's the start of it. And, hopefully, Roquan Smith is back this week. 2 games where you give up a combined 1 touchdown. Mhmm. That's impressive even if it's, you know, not against the most explosive offenses in the league where good offense is those Steelers and chargers.

This is a whole different sort of challenge. Can you get any pressure rushing the passer on Jalen Hurts? Because the Rams really didn't last week, and they have a pretty nice passer. There was 1 or 2 plays. I know you're thinking of that Jared Verst by a lot of play that we were talking about before.

But for the most part, he was protected, and the pressure rate was was really low. And then the matchup, I guess, I'm thinking of even more when the Eagles have the ball is, okay, these quarterbacks for the Ravens, it's gotten better.

Yeah.

Nate Wiggins, and you bring in Tre'Davious White. But AJ Brown, to me, is the best wide receiver in the NFL right now. Like, he is playing the best. I know he's missed some games this year, but he is so difficult to stop. So if they get DeVonta Smith back, that is just a whole different sort of challenge and test to see if this Ravens defensive resurgence is real.

I'm not ready to go there quite yet.

I am. Okay. I am. Because, you know, 1 thing you've noticed the past couple games when the Ravens have kept teams out of the end zone, they put Kyle Hamilton more as a deep flow to free safety. Right?

He's a cleanup man, And I think in part because the tackling up front has not been good from the secondary. So he's a guy kinda like Rodney McLeod back in the day. All the other mistakes I can come in and clean up. So I think that's helped. Good comp.

And so, you know, when you when you look getting Roquan Smith back will help. But the 1 thing that the Ravens do that the Rams did is they only play 4 up front. They really will give you rarely give you a 5 or 6 man front look. The Rams did that. Saquan got through, and then it was just daylight.

Right? Because the Rams' DBs aren't as fast as Ravens' DBs. So I do think that they've they've turned the corner, especially on the red zone defense. And if they stop making some of those penalties in the secondary, that defense is gonna be even better. I think they've hurt themselves.

Patrick and I were talking, you know, the other the other day against the Chargers, some of those late calls, against Marlon Humphrey were little touch little touchy right there, but I am in on this. Wow. And I also think the Ravens 3 point favorite. It's not

the home field 3 points. It's the Lamar Jackson 3 points. All things being equal for both of these teams, what Lamar is able to do in taking care of

the ball, passing inside and outside of the numbers. Yes. Outside of the numbers, people. He's doing that. I think he's that 3 point edge.

I like number on this, and I like the Ravens on this.

But they're not equal if you take out Lamar. The Eagles are a better team. Now Lamar is that reason. I agree with you. If he's gonna win, it's gonna be Why why are

why are the Eagles a better team?

Better defensive line, better offensive line.

Is it

a better defensive line? I I don't think so.

Okay. That I'll I'll meet you there and

say maybe that's that's close. But I think better overall defensive talent, better coached defensive talent, better offensive talent by a a lot outside of, you know, Derek and and Lamar. That's a big accept. I know. We're splitting hairs here.

I just

think we're splitting hairs.

Mean if you pull Lamar Jackson on the Eagles right now, I'm I'm good. I don't care about the NFL rules. I'm going to Vegas right now, and I'm putting that ticket down. Like, that team's not losing. Disclaimer.

Greg Rosenthal is not making any of

that. I mean

I don't think I don't think the discrepancies are nearly as big as your main.

Good. I'm glad. I'm I I hope you're right because I'm leaning Ravens, and yet I don't feel great.

Yeah. The clearly bias here, but I I feel like the discrepancy is is on is in the defense of secondary, especially at the corner position where the Eagles acknowledge the laps. They go out and get 2 really good players Really good players. In the draft. And versus on the other side, I think Baltimore felt good about the Nate Wiggins pick.

Some signs to be positive about the chargers targeted him 9 times. He was clearly, the player that the chargers wanted to go at, and there's a couple times where he's seat belt celebrating, like, a drop,

ultimately, where Several drops.

And and and so, like, coming into this game, if it's Devonte Smith and Nate Wiggins, no. There's no confidence that that presumably, Baltimore is gonna do everything they can to prevent that matchup. 1 thing that they did change was actually having Kyle Hamilton play safety

Yeah.

Against the chargers where he he lined up 49 of his 60 snaps playing safety versus the rest of the season where only 30%. He's playing like linebacker. Yeah. Where where where he's up there around the line of scrimmage. And and so putting your best player in a position where you can make plays, definitely helps the defense seem more aggressive.

They seem more on the same page despite not having the signal caller out there. I think there's reasons to be positive, but there's also the AJ Brown factor. And I I need I need Deontay Johnson to to run her out without falling down,

and that was also a while ago. Say that.

He he doesn't even count anymore, man.

It's so funny you say that Walker said the same thing when we watched. He's like, I feel like he's always fallen. I was like, that's a good note. It's that's

That's kind of the rap. That's absolutely true.

That's kinda

Remember, like, there was, like, a conversation in some fantasy circles. Like, well, who's gonna be the number 1 now? Zay Flowers or Deontay Johnson, which I was never buying, but, like, he's not even the number 3. I'm trusting Aguilar certainly. Well, and and Bateman 4 or the 5 at Deontay Andrews and and Likely.

Yeah.

And Bateman has really stepped up as well.

Like, Shaw didn't make that first play in the first half. Right. And Lamar goes right back to him at the end of the first half, and he comes up and makes and makes that touchdown catch where we weren't necessarily expecting these types of performances from Rashad Bateman. But Plays well. Been very solid.

Somebody that, Ravens were like.

I'm a little worried early in that chargers game. The play action was really working against some of those linebackers. Even Roquan hasn't been amazing in coverage.

He has not been This year been anywhere close to amazing in coverage.

And so that's that's a concern. I I think when you're attacking that part of the field, that's probably more of a Dallas Goddard. Now they don't really have a great, slot receiver, but, certainly, AJ Brown is a slot receiver at times and the best 1 in the league when when he is.

But now that Wiggins is healthy. Right? Now they're going more of a 3 corner instead of a 3 safety nickel. And so because, you know, Stevens, on 1 side, you you've got I'm I'm blanking on our guy. 44 Davis Oh, Marla.

Marla Humphrey. And so you know? And Wiggins. So now they've got a different they've got a much faster nickel pack, and they're running more of a 2 linebacker, 3 corner look when they do this. So, again, I'm telling you, I don't think that this crap

is Okay. Okay. I wanna spend a lot of time in this game, like, more than all the other the of the games, so I'm just throwing it out there for the producers. But I do wanna take a moment, and I know your who where your rooting interest lies in this game, Patrick. But you do have an opposing quarterback who is very much on Patrick's corner and maybe has been earning your affection.

Let's listen to Jalen Hurts after last week's game.

We just gotta keep building. We gotta keep building. You know, momentum is is is the fakest thing out there because it can end and begin at any moment.

This is this is the guy this is the guy who's carrying the torch for you. He's now said it twice. He's now bringing it up unprompted on NBC. He is the change. Like, he if if you're, like, the political guy behind the scenes trying to make this movement happen, he is your Barack Obama.

He's your presidential candidate.

I mean, just just like, you know, the cause and effect that Jaylen is referring to. I I think more more people perhaps are are considering that, you know, actions lead to results. And it's it's not necessarily vibes. So I I appreciate and I do pass the torch, even though, like, I've tried to withdraw myself from the discussion. I wanna let you.

I wanna let you. I keep getting getting pulled back into it, and it's like, oh, you're denying all of this that. It's like, no. I I just think we could look at the game and and look at the things that the players do and have that be the reason as opposed to vibes where when I saw that clip and I didn't

see it sitting out, I was, like, wait. We have to bring this up on the show with Patrick.

So I guess this is the start of the argument. It's, like, this is this is why Atlanta couldn't make those plays in the Super Bowl. And and and I'm, like, I because I was talking about the Malcolm Butler interception. Mhmm. I'm like, so not only you're forgetting what game that we're talking about, like, you're forgetting the Julio catch.

Right. You're just erasing 1 of the best catches in Super Bowl history. Correct. And the reason you're doing that is because we use hindsight to determine, like, outcomes. We're we're, like, that's the reason you believe in this thing in the first place.

It's because you're just picking who wins and saying that they had anyway, I I gotta stop.

It's true. That was our halftime break of this, GameStop, but I did wanna get there. And I should I should have finished there, because I do have a couple other things. Beautiful. Taking a step back.

Is there any chance that the Ravens are a little tired? The they haven't had their buy, and I appreciate the Ravens because each and every week, they give us 1 of the games of the week. You're like, oh, wow. Ravens, Bengals. That's an awesome game back and forth game of the week.

Oh, wow. Ravens, Steelers saving this early window. Oh, last week. Oh, prime time. Ravens charges, 2 great quarterback.

They're always the team in these spots even earlier in the year in that Bengals game and the Bills game. And the Eagles, I don't know if they've played great teams repeatedly. You know? They had a nice win against the Commanders and and here against the Rams, but it it's a step up for them. But is there a chance that the Ravens are just like a a little worn down here?

I'm I'm a little worried about that going into thereby get having to get up each and every week. They also have 1 less day of rest going into this game.

Well, I mean, I I think this game, they may be a little physically worn down, but mentally, they'll they'll they'll be up for it. I mean, they they've got to buy after this. They did have a Thursday night game 2 weeks ago. Right? So you do you get that many respite right before but, I mean, they know the stakes.

Okay? They know that the Steelers lost last week. They've got an opportunity to make up some ground right there, and they're playing a very good football team.

Mhmm.

So and I think the Ravens are starting just to play better on defense now. You know, Calvano, he told me a couple weeks ago, we're gonna get there. We're gonna get it figured out.

Mhmm.

And, you know, we'll see. This is the test. I mean, what Saquon can do is is absolutely insane, though, because he looked fresh.

MVP candidate, matchup off here. Fresh?

Yeah.

It's actually a really big game for that. I mean, shouldn't it shouldn't be. It shouldn't be on the result, but I have come to the theory having looked at the Vegas odds and just thinking about, like, Lamar has a higher degree of difficulty, I think, to win this MVP than Josh Allen will, specifically, and maybe Saquon too just because he's won it twice before. I I don't think that's fair, but I think he's gonna have to go above and beyond. So if for some reason he plays well in this game, but Saquon and the Eagles win it, it's like people are just gonna start crossing him off because they they're sick of giving him the award.

No. Too early.

As a quarterback, he's always gonna have chances to go out there and do what he does. You know, Saquon's opportunity gets limited versus he can have that mega game. A quarterback has I don't know what the quarterback equivalent of what Saquon did at SoFi would be, but a but a quarterback can do that in the last few weeks of the season, and and it's over. It's not even a discussion. But Saquon does it in week 12, and he he has to do that again, for some reason because the process again doesn't necessarily make any sense.

Last note I have. The Eagles have outgained their opponents in the last during their 7 game win streak by at least a 110 yards in every single 1 of those games. And by an average of a 180 yards, that's 1260 yards. This was Ross Tucker tweeted this out in those 7 games. I mean, that is outrageous.

I'm not sure if I've seen a sustained period of dominance yardage wise where each and every game, you were significantly the better team. You deserve to win, and you did. And these games haven't really been close. So it they really have been a great dominant talented team, and that's why that's why this is the game of the year all set up now.

Well, I mean, the other thing is, you know, you look at the you look at those numbers and you go to all the analytical metrics. That also means they're probably starting their drives in the 25. These are long drives. These aren't like getting a bunch of interceptions like the old Saints used to do when they're only going 45 yards to get into the end zone. True.

So you put up numbers like that. Those are pretty dominant, but the explosive plays I mean, you were watching Saquon right here. Just just insane. What about the what about the 2 LA teams getting murked for 395 rushing yards in back

to back game? That's that is a great They they they played pretty good teams. They did. And to Greg's point about the Ravens being tired, probably be the Eagles too. It's a whole lot less tiring, when you're winning.

Yeah. Probably those those first, couple of weeks of the season were mentally exhausting, for the Baltimore Ravens. And speaking of a team that is losing and mentally exhausting, the New York Jets are playing the Seattle Seahawks who are favored by 2 points and feature a quarterback who, I don't know if you guys knew, used to play for the New York Jets. Geno Smith starting in MetLife. Adam O'Mearn, Mark Sanchez, Christina Pink on the call.

The over under is 41 and a half points. The Seahawks with a huge win. They're in 1st place in the West against the Arizona Cardinals. Now they play a 3 and 8 team that doesn't necessarily warrant that much discussion, Steve. So let's let's start with Geno and his opportunity to get a win in MetLife.

Well, I mean, look, it it may not go down to Gino. I mean, what Seattle's done defensively. I know we talked about it, you know, before last couple weeks. Mhmm. They've got Ernest Jones.

They're they are playing better football. And against an offense, I think Breeze Hall is is is questionable.

Yeah. That was surprising. Hasn't didn't practice Wednesday.

Yeah. So, I mean, look. This is 1 of I think if Seattle gets up early, if Gino and these guys get up a couple points early, the boo birds are coming out, the JATS will turn into something else. But I think this is tricky for Seattle. I mean, going across the country at early start, if Aaron and those guys get going and get and feel themselves a little bit, you know, then this is gonna be a tough game.

But, I mean, I don't know.

Says it is. They're only 2 point favorites.

I I think this is a tricky game. They've gotta get out early. That's not the greatest thing that the Seahawks do. But I I think that's where I mean, look. Here's 1 for you, Greg.

Who do you trust more in

this game? Gino or Aaron? Well, it's obviously Gino.

Okay. There you go.

Is it that close?

I mean, I again, that's what I think. I think that's

a swing vote right there. I mean, it's tough of a game as this can be, I think.

And I trust the Seahawks defense certainly over the Jets defense right now, which is just been a bad unit. I think when you took Robert Salah out of the building, you not only lost Salah, but you lost Ulbrich as the defensive play caller who's not distracted by everything else, and they haven't been a good defense. Like, I don't really have a reason to think that it's gonna change just because they had the bye week. And you mentioned Ernest Jones. I was thinking about it.

To this point, you could argue he's the best trade deadline pickup in terms of making an impact on a team.

Yes.

That's pretty crazy.

He he's, like, 4th in tackles on

their team since he's been there. Like, over the season.

If I'm starting a team, I'm still taking Amari Cooper over him the rest of the season. But to this point, I think he's probably made the biggest impact of any guy who's Yeah. Steve, that's pretty crazy.

On a trade deadline season where most of the acquisitions were on the offensive side of the ball, on a season where we had to wait to see a defensive player come off the board. It it shows that investments, especially, at this maligned spot that we're discussing earlier, interior linebacker, has such a significant value on a defense, Greg, that since the buy has given up 11 and a half points a game. Wow. Like, that's how good they have been. Wow.

Versus, as you mentioned, Jeff Albrecht having his, you know, attention bifurcated now. The Jets have given up more rushing touchdowns than since week 7 than anybody in the entire league. And they have to play against a a healthy and spry looking Kenneth Walker and the Seahawks defense. They're able to, limit possessions, probably lead to a whole bunch of, you know, cutaways of number 8 looking frustrated after an incomplete pass, looking at people's directions, pointing drawing plays in the air. It's, it's potential that has me thinking, we should take this to a place and survive on it.

Okay. I would love to do that, and I would love to just listen to the music because it puts me in a kind of a a Maui invitational type of mood here. But, they are not available. What? Patrick.

No. He

took them to start this unbeaten streak since week 3 way back then. Okay. But they are not available.

I I would On another game.

I would I would like to do this. I want Devin Witherspoon to cook this team. He has just been flying around.

So good.

I I heard, Michael Sean Dugar, who does a good podcast on the Seahawks Man TO Man podcast. Check that out. He he made the point of the he thinks the biggest difference with this team is they've they're stopping the run. They were missing so many tackles. They weren't stopping the run.

And when they are stopping the run on early downs and they did it against the Cardinals, that sets up Right. The long distance situations. And the players are talking about it. Everyone can see it. Now Mike McDonald's kinda cooking and the drawing up these designer blitzes, knowing how to use these guys, and it's really working.

So that combination where the players are really being good on early downs, I don't think the jets will be able to run, and he's cooking on late downs. We could have a frustrated Aaron Rodgers dirt and some balls or just throwing the ball away because he doesn't or taking some sacks and and thinking about the next, excuses he's gonna make where he takes shots at, national reporters saying they don't have integrity. It's just like, I'm so sick. That was

like It's so played out.

I'm so sick of the fake laughter that he had when when McAfee was, like, talking about the reports that were happening. He's just like it's just like, what a phony.

Well, maybe what a

Maybe we should tie Taylor next week. Hey. That's that's commitment to to excellence that I

don't I don't talk, but people in my people in my circle don't talk to those people. I don't know why anyone would be talking to those people. You maybe look inside yourself and think about why they don't like you because that's that's the answer. The answer is people don't like and respect you enough to keep your business private, and so they're putting it out there. That is the answer.

Or maybe some people have lost their jobs once you because, you know, now that you're on

the scene, and they got some things to get off of their chest.

Which is funny because he went through, and it's like, oh, the they, you know, made a salad the goat, and now then they made Joe Douglas the goat, and they made my guy hack the goat. And it's like, they they made that, like, the anyways, just the lack of accountability is is very consistent.

Eventually eventually, they, is is located in the mirror. Shout out to they, whoever they are. Can't fix stupid. It's time for hot matchups presented by Wingstop. The Los Angeles chargers, 2 and a half point favorites at the Atlanta Falcons who come off a buy, who come off that loss in Denver a couple of weeks ago.

Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins on the call. Frustrating performance, Greg, from the chargers pass catchers in SoFi against the Baltimore Ravens. A even more perhaps frustrating performance by Kurt by Kurt Cousins and this Falcons offense, who bounces back and gets a win in Atlanta. I'll take the chargers.

Little surprised they're the favorites. This game, I'm glad it was the hot matchups pick because it's it's a perfect example of why I like this week 13. There's a lot of little games like this. It's just like, okay. 2 teams that aren't at the top of the NFL, but show show me something here between these 2 teams coming off disappointing results.

I I think it's a great test for this chargers team because I think the this Harbaugh chargers team I mean, for for the falcons rather. I think this chargers team is almost like the dividing line of whether you're gonna beat yourself or not. They're just a solid team.

Right. Well said.

They're they're I think they're gonna make the playoffs, but they're they're right on that border of, like, playoffs and not. But are you gonna beat yourself? Because the the Falcons do seem like a team capable of beating themselves. I think the chargers are so solid. I trust them a little more.

You you nailed this. And I I I don't think the 1 and a half is enough for the chargers.

I

mean, granted, they won't have JK Dobbins, but they'll find a way to run the football. But when I was looking at the Falcon schedule and and just watching some of their games, they're not a tough team. Mhmm. Right? When you look when you look at the teams who they've beaten, they are finesse teams.

Right? They've beaten teams within their division. They've beaten Dallas. They got Philadelphia, I think, in week 2. Everyone else they've lost to brings a fist to the fight, and they have not managed to stand up especially on defense all the way from the front through their secondary.

We know they've got some great players, Jesse Bates, AJ Terrell. But just when it comes to physicality, especially on the defensive side of the ball, that's not it. And if you saw some of the stuff Joe Alt was doing early in the game now later in the game, he was getting beat up a little bit. But some of the things that this charges offensive line can do to them, I I just think the charges, unless they're just out of focus and I don't see them being that team, Greg, I think you nailed it when you said they don't beat themselves. I just think they're the type of team that Atlanta does not want to have to contend with.

And it would be a first opportunity for Atlanta to to to really just beat somebody. Right. Where it's it's tough. It's hard fought. You know, Kirk Cousins, they've they're 1 in 5 when he has a sub 90 passer rating.

They haven't really been able to to grind out a win. No. Where it's they they won in score fest. They've they've played opponents who made mistakes. If the Falcons can can somehow come together and win this game, but I feel like for this Chargers pass rush, it's gonna be like when the the rookies always talk about the game slowing down to go from Chase and Lamar and coming up with Aaron at SoFi to fly into Atlanta and going at Kirk Cousins who who's, you know, made made 1 person miss.

They they know where he'll be. Yeah. That is true. I did like hearing out of Raheem Morris that they wanna do some more play action coming out of the buy that that's been a focus to them we've been talking about that.

He has Some at all maybe.

Has hasn't been able to. So can they maybe they took the old way they were playing, and they took it as far as they could. I actually think they've they've done pretty well considering some limitations on offense. Their big their bigger issue is is the defense the toughest. I've never seen a team that struggle so much to get off blocks.

I do think Raheem has been an aggressive coach. I think they've done a good job coaching, and Jim Harbaugh is a little conservative. So maybe that helps. Atlanta's going for some 4th downs. They take some chances in this game.

It's a really intriguing, game. They will not the chargers that is have JK Dobbins, our guy. Yeah. Sprained MCL. When I heard that, I'm not gonna say that's good news.

But considering the history of injuries he's had, I was fearing maybe he was out for the year, and and they will have him back. And like I said, I think this is gonna be a playoff team, but they have a lot of tough games coming up. Not a lot of not a lot of automatic wins on their schedule, so they should have him back for the end of the season. And real

quick, when you say they don't beat themselves, Baltimore beat them the other night, but if they hang on to some of those passes, that's a lot more of a toe to toe battle than what we saw.

Yeah. Just as especially coming down late. There was, of course, there were the pass interference calls that

Whoo.

You could have some discussions about. Yeah. But that that Quentin Johnson drop on 3rd down. Uh-huh. Actually, the the best catch of the night by a charger was Herbert randomly spun to the sideline and threw a 95 mile an hour fastball behind Gus Edwards, and he reached up and reached

the ball. That was amazing.

That was that was the best play I saw all night. Other than that, and there's some lag catches, really, really not a lot of success to speak of. Will Disley played well. We'll give,

credit to Will Disley. That will be an offseason focus is upgrading the wide receiver position.

Oh, a 1000%. A 1000%. They gotta add speed. Play

playing against the Falcons defense plays a lot of zone, AJ Terrell. Career high, 77.8 percent of his snaps and zone coverage, this season. A lot of that may be related to their inability, to rush the passer where, the Ravens had success, as a pass rush group, especially late against this team. I I don't I don't see the Falcons

Mhmm.

Doing that. You know? Unless there's some sort of miracle on the bind and shout out to Raheem if they're able to pull that off.

I don't think they will.

No. Yeah.

Make us the the John Abraham curse. It lives. It it needs to be lifted. Lives. We'll see what, they can do.

Let's go to another team in the NFC South that's on a bit of a hot streak. That was hot matchups presented by Wingstop as we get to another Los Angeles team. The Los Angeles Rams, 2 and a half point favorites on the road at Darren Rizzies, New Orleans Saints, Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Megan O'Leary on the call. It's a 49 point over under Steve as we have seen a whole lot of permutations, of the Saints team, here recently. This recent addition, is it enough, to come and get a win against a solid Rams team?

So this is 1 we were talking about earlier. If Alvin Kamara can get going, he's a terrible match up for, again, the the Rams linebackers. If they can't get him down before he gets ahead of steam going in the past and and running game, or Taysom Hill, Taysom Hill's become like, put him in

the MVP. I'm joking. But

the past couple games, I mean, what kind of weapon is this dude been?

He unlocks their running attack with I think he helps Camaro. They help out each other.

Yeah. I mean, I I I think it's been very interesting, but I just think the Rams offense and this 1 here, they they get it going. I mean, they're get they're gonna get cup going. They're gonna get pook. Pooka is sick.

I mean, he's no matter how many people you put on them or how you put them, he's gonna catch it and he's gonna break the first tackle. I just think the the Rams offense is gonna be a little too much in this game. I like the numbers well. I think it's gonna be right around there, but I think the the Saints are gonna have too hard of a time stopping Los Angeles.

I I don't know how I feel about this game, and this this is a candidate for the survivor pick. Mhmm. It although we we talked a little ahead of time, and I I just found 1 I think I may be, like, a little more. It's it's the best game on our schedule. You think about that for a second because I don't know what I'm getting out of the Saints team.

They they have played really hard under Darren Rizzi. They, you know, they smoked that the Browns team in the Q4. That was a close game, but they they got that win against the Falcons. I think the Rams are a better team. Our friends over at the the Saints block party podcast had Jordan Rodrigue from NFL daily in the athletic on, and their host Adam described the Rams as a good bad team.

And, may maybe the best of a good bad team. I think that's about right. They're they're 5 and 6 team. These 2 teams are kind of in the stage of the season where it's like, can you give us 1 more week for our our fans just want 1 or 2 more. Like, the the loser of this game is not gonna feel like they're going anywhere.

Yeah. Even Saints fans have convinced themselves like, hey. This is kind of fun. Give us 1 more week. If we beat the Rams, it's like this division.

It's at least it's we're having some fun. Give us 1 more week. Rams fans, give us 1 more week. Get to 6 and 6. We might be tied for 1st place, or we'll be 1 big game backwards.

If you lose this game, you're not feeling great. I don't think the Rams are a cohesive group, and that rushing attack is a lot and matches up well with the Rams. I think the Rams will win, but I talk a lot about teams find their level. Sometimes there's, like, a records game where, oh, they they they should be better than their record, or they they're worse than their record. These 2 teams are exactly the records they should be.

This The the saints are a 4 and 7 team. They've now found their level after winning 2 straight. They are a 4 and 17. They're not the worst teams, and the Rams are about a 5 and 16.

Yeah. This is 1 where you say to yourself, none of these neither 1 of

these teams are gonna go

on a 4 or 5 game win streak to to finish out the season. The Rams have the potential offensively to do it. But, again, just so many of the cracks I've shown lately on defense, I don't see them stringing something together like this.

The I I feel like the Rams have a puncher's chance in every game. The things that they do well

That's true.

They can execute at a very high level, and and they can knock you out if need be. If if it's going 12 rounds, the Rams are are probably gonna eventually, you know, have some sort of error. But like we saw in that game in Seattle, they stayed in long enough for for Matthew Stafford to throw that big right hand and and punch the Seahawks out, and the the Seahawks had have had to bounce back from that. I'm just looking for if if Darren Rizzie gets a win here, he'll be a third of a way to the best Dennis Allen season in in his coaching career. Oh.

He would start 3 and o.

I mean, he's he he might be past it. 3 and o. That alone is, like, more exciting than than anything of them winning late in the scene. Shout out to, our fellow NFL media podcaster, by the way, Kim Jordan, who wasn't getting any run under Dennis Allen. And when I watched that Browns Saints game back eventually, he's suddenly playing, like, 45, 50 staff, and he's making a bunch of plays.

So nice to see the long time saint getting it done under the new staff. It's like a he's reborn.

Well, to quote DA, sometimes you gotta pop out and show them.

Ultimately, that may be what the season turns into is, just how bad was them Allen. Like, we may have a chance to do some scientific work and determine what the real value or or lack thereof, Dennis Allen was bringing, to the New Orleans Saints, and and and a win here against this up and down Rams team, could mean a lot.

I Let's put a pin in the survivor talk and fully talk it out after the next game, and then we can we can make our pick. Okay. How about that?

Yeah. Because yeah.

Because We'll we'll have we'll have our talk then. Let's take a quick break, actually. And, yes, we would be back. We're gonna talk about an old AFC East rivalry that's no longer an AFC East rivalry. Back on NFL daily.

And, yeah, maybe the kids don't remember. But back in the day, Colts pass, it was twice a year. And I'm not talking like the later Peyton Manning, Tom Brady where you you it's once in the regular season, once in the playoffs. That was a thing too, and that was a real deal rivalry. But when I was growing up, Colts pats twice a year.

All the way through, actually, a quarterback by the name of Jim Harbaugh. I remember a game he had against Drew Bledsoe on, like, a a playoff Colts team in the mid nineties. That was right at the end before they With

the Jim Mora.

Playoffs. They realigned. That that's absolutely right. Jim Mora was in the mix now. Now we got Anthony Richardson versus Drake May, which for 2 teams that are under 500 makes this an extremely watchable game to me.

Yeah. Very watchable. And the the folks in the desert determined it's a 2 and a half point favorite in the Indianapolis Colts on the road in Foxborough, 42a half on the over under, Spiro Ditas, Adam Artuleta, and Adidu Kekapwalla on the call, Greg, where we saw a dominant defensive performance by the Colts because they limited the Detroit Lions to 24 points, which in my mind qualifies as 1 of their best defensive performances. Other year problem is they only were able to score 6. Jonathan Taylor really couldn't get things going, and this high variance passing attack saw the low side of the high variance of some bigger completions that were not.

Yeah. And they won't have Josh downs this week most likely, Ian Rapaport, our insider, said that he is likely to be week to week with a shoulder injury, and he he's really key for what they do. So that's disappointing. But Shane Steichen, I think, pointed out correctly after he watched the film. What I what I thought watching that game was I thought Richardson is building.

And despite the completion percentage in that game, it was a good performance by him, and they're getting more cohesive. They need to be able to run the ball, but this is a coaching mismatch to me overall. I I'm just not impressed with what I've seen out of the patriots coaching staff making the same sort of mental mistakes over and over on defense. Just false starts galore. Right.

Penalties galore on both sides of the ball. I think they had 13 last week. Really poor offensive line. So, yeah, I'm considering them as the survivor pick. Them or the Rams, I think, are interesting road options.

We've taken a lot of the the good teams this week. Just just something to think about as we talk about this game, I guess.

I I like that thought because normally, you know me, I've I I love Drake May. I think he's gonna be a a star and just some of the things I've seen out of the Patriots, but they seem almost to the point like they've given almost all they have and they're just out. They're just I mean, I know I know it's early, but, I mean, you see that sometimes. Like, man, I've gotten everything. I've squeezed all the juice out of this 1.

2 more teams that haven't had a buy, by the way. So there might be some of that playing out. Both these teams are among the the 6 pack that are finally get their buy in week 14.

Yeah. It it just seems, you know, maybe they're to that point. I do like the Colts because the physicality that they play with on both sides of the ball. We'll see if Anthony Richardson this this is a really good game because of Drake May factor. I mean, he's he's just so good.

We know the Colts. They don't vary up their defense much. They let the guys up front get after it, and they let these guys in the zone in the back end try to make plays. So I think I think Drake May is gonna make some plays with his arms and his leg, but I just think the Colts are a better team. And I'm I'm I'm not I don't know if I'm that comfortable.

Yeah. I'm I'm probably more comfortable if we go survivor with

With Rams or with Colts? With Colts.

I I am also, comfortable this. Taking the Indianapolis Colts who, on defense, have a statistical anomaly. So if we go to the the leading tacklers in the NFL right now, Zaire Franklin, a 100 23. Again? Nick Cross, a 116.

Roquan has a 110. EJ Speed has a 108. Yeah. There are 3 Colts in the top 4 in the NFL in tackles right now. They see a lot of action.

That's not what you want. That just means they're always out of field. Your your offense isn't having a lot of plays.

But what I'm saying is despite that

Yeah.

They they they had they were able to do what they did against the Lions. I'll be at a David Montgomery less, Detroit lions in the second half. This team is is is face a lot of adversity on the defensive side of the ball, and it still managed to be successful. And I I believe in the offense. I do.

I think they'll get it together.

Now the patriots have had these really down games, and this this tends to happen with a lot of teams, especially immature teams. And I have seen that they have usually bounced back from their worst performances. I don't think they're they're done for the rest of the year. I just think the coaching staff for the Colts is significantly better, and that even though they're not a a great team, their defense has played better. I like them better with Richardson playing the well way he is now.

And I think they're a tier above the Patriots where they are. They're an average NFL team to me, and the Patriots are far far from that. And I hate I hate to keep picking on Mayo, but, like, sometimes you take on the personality of your coach. And these postgame press conferences where he says these little things and people get on him for these little things, and you don't wanna make too big of a deal, but he's like, I can only do so much after they cross the lines. It's like the sloppiness with which he talks to the press.

It's like the sloppiness on the field. He keeps he keeps putting his foot in his mouth. He's like me if I was an NFL co head coach. You know how many times I would say the wrong thing? I'd be out by week 5.

This is

1 of those things, like, we've heard for years, really good players becoming coaches expect everybody to have their same work ethic. You know, some of their some of their values and things like that. And if you don't see it, you lose it like he does. Gerard Mayo was a grinder of a player. Maybe he's not seeing that all the time.

I just don't think they've been particularly well coached schematically on defense either. So that's that's more my issue. Mike McDaniel was just it was, like, easy buttons all day. It that thing could have been, like, a 50 burger that the Dolphins put up. It was bad.

Sometimes a a lapse in talent maybe could kinda limit your options Yeah. As as a defensive staff. But I I do agree that those things probably matter more than what he says in the in the press conferences, Greg. Which, you know, 0 points were scored. I

get it.

I I wanna get back to it's a it's a linebacker thing, though, because typically your leading tacklers play on the worst team because they're on the field all the time. But in Gus Bradley scheme, those are the guys who asked to make all the plays. So, I mean, think about Bobby Wagner, those guys back in the day when Gus coached him. Alex Anzalone when he was playing with the tags. That's that's his kind of but it is an anomaly.

I I see them on the upward trend. I watch that cold

I agree.

Lions game closely, and that game could have really been been different on both sides. Well, I just think they're getting better. So alright. We're going survivor against my Patriots. There we go.

Big big spot for you to Yeah. Greg made a

I can't wait. Wrong. We can't wait till Alex Van Pelt puts 1 on you, buddy.

We backdoored ourselves in in a way for Craig to enjoy this either way. I can't believe we've done this. I love it. Love it. Alright.

Let's, go to another game another divisional, matchup. Actually, the 1st divisional matchup that we've been able to discuss here today. The Pittsburgh Steelers doing what they do late this season, playing a division rival, late. The Cincinnati Bengals hosting the Steelers. The Bengals, 3 point favorites?

How the hell? When I saw that, I was like, okay.

I'm reacting no. Like, no. Is that right?

I mean, I I saw that on here. It's like, there's no way. Why not?

That okay. It's it's correct.

Why not, Pat? Why not, Steve?

First off, Cincinnati is not a very good football team.

Okay.

Okay. We know the Steelers have had, what, 2 touchdowns in their past 2 games. They're kicking a lot of field goals. Yeah. A lot of people are scoring points on the Bengals.

And this is 1 now I will say this. It because I was at the game in Cleveland when the Steelers. I thought I know some people were really encouraged by the Justin Fields rotation. I thought it broke up some

of the flow

of

the Steelers offense. I think this is a game will actually will work in their favor. I think kind of confusing some of the key pieces and and scheming some of the key pieces against a familiar opponent could work against a team that's leaky in some areas. I do think the Steelers need to get Najee Harris a little bit more involved. And we saw last week, they went really with with Jalen Warren.

I think this is a game where they can bully the Bengals. I just think after that loss to Cleveland, they'll there's some things they can clean up, like, blocking Miles Garrett. They've got Trey Hendricks in this week. That's something they've gotta figure out, but I just think overall, their defense is not gonna get scorched by Joey b and Jamar, and I and I distinctly, they'll fix some things.

It's it's a tough spot. The Bengals have have found and located, ways to to lose football games, late. Even even spots that you don't necessarily expect. Well, like, they're for you know, former all world kicker as a rookie going on so far, and missing 2 key field goals late, turnovers late, scoring every drive, but then mysteriously malfunctioning, towards the end of games. The 3 points, Greg, kinda feel like, you know, America's familiarity with the Cincinnati Bengals Mhmm.

Leading to where the the odds makers perhaps care, and I I say this because I say this all the time. Perhaps care more about what the public's gonna do, than what's gonna happen in the actual game

Sure.

Because that's what influences, money going in in their particular direction. Because I I would not favor the Cincinnati Bengals, especially over a team, that's had the success of the 49.

Who are you picking on game debut this week?

I'm I'm pretty I'm fairly confident I picked the Steelers unless unless I did to to plot try to play catch up.

You're making me think about it because you're right. Like, week after week, we just keep slightly overrating the Bengals. I picked against them a lot, but just thinking it's gonna come back and underrating the Steelers. The Steelers have found a way to win these sort of games. This is really this is finally it.

I feel like every game the Bengals play lately is, like, alright. Well, they gotta get this 1, and then it's the next week that after losing Oh. Another heartbreak. Alright. Well, now they gotta get this 1.

This is kind of the end of the road. I know the schedule eases up after this game, although they have the Steelers again. But at some point, you're 4 and 8. Like, you're done. You're done in a good conference if you're 4 and 8.

This really is the end of the road for their hopes. Beat beat a good team. They just can't beat they keep being close against good teams. I think they're 1 and 6 in 1 score games this season. You gotta do it.

I picked them to win. I I guess I don't know why other than I think the Steelers defense in the back end maybe does have some vulnerabilities. Tee Higgins was awesome in that chargers game, and now they're coming off a buy. Every everyone's healthy and and just can you outscore the sealers? You're making a face of me.

No. I mean This is all I picked the home team type of game. If it was in Pittsburgh, I'd pick pick Pittsburgh.

Well, I'm gonna be at this game. It's gonna be a high of 29 degrees.

Okay.

Okay. So when you got weather like that, are you going deep shot ball? Are you going to run the football and pound it? Okay. And that's 1 thing that the Bengals cannot do.

Steelers getting Alex Highsmith back. Bengals coming off a buy. Steelers are Thursday night game, so they've had a couple extra days to prepare with some salt in their mouth. I think Pittsburgh comes out and then plays a good game here.

Some stats for you, during the 7 quarters where the Steelers didn't score a touchdown. This is from the athletic. Almost 40% of their plays went for 0 or Yep. Negative yards. They didn't have a target for Mike Williams in those 7 quarters.

So might be a a combination of things that Mike Williams isn't the guy coming off the ACL right now you're making. I mean,

I'm just saying I mean, I mean, is that really a swing vote? Is that really a difference maker? Not a Well,

but they would hope that he would be a difference maker because maybe they're a little thin. Maybe they're not a team that's taking advantage of weak secondaries, bad safety positions like the Bengals, like like you should because their wide receivers just aren't that great, and they're not. And their and their number 1 wide receiver who is great is an insane person. I mean, our friend, Andrew Siciliano, pointed this out to me how on the Hail Mary. I mean, he he wasn't even trying to get the ball.

He's just tackling. What is this guy? He's just crazy, man. He's awesome, though, but he he is crazy. Russ, another stat from, those 7 quarters, 4 for 11 in the red zone.

And they haven't really run the ball very well. So They haven't. But I know it's a better matchup, but

The Bengals are giving up 30 points a gain to plus 500 teams.

Oof. Got in my ear and reminded me. I actually did pick the Bengals, on on game debut.

Switch it?

I I might switch. You know, we've we've got a couple hours to to to make that decision. But the the Bengals not mathematically eliminated. They're they're currently at 23% with a win. If they lose, it'll be down to 5%.

20 3 is relatively high. Yeah. They do get the Cowboys, Titans, and Browns. I know the Browns have been a little feisty after this before finishing with the Broncos and see. So if if you can get this 1, I am buying that they're in the mix.

I would I would agree with that.

What I'm saying. This is the end of the road type of game. Should be a proud team. This is a a team that was a couple of plays away from winning the Super Bowl. It could get blown up if they do not win this game and and they do not make a

play out. And Joey B are gonna be happy if they lose this game? Mhmm. Yeah. They haven't been happy.

Good point. Good point.

Yeah. I mean, they've gotta win this game.

So after, Dan Moore had his issues, with Miles Garrett, he goes up against Trey Hendrickson Yep. Who's got 33 pressures and 5 sacks in a 130 snaps 1 on 1 against Moore. So

Feel like I think we see a lot of tight. I think we see a lot of too tight and Darnell Washington's gonna be playing that, 3rd tackle for the stuff. Love that, dude.

Alright. Let's, leave that 1 and go to the Arizona Cardinals at the Minnesota Vikings, 3 and a half point favorites over under his 45. Joe Davis, greg, and Pam Oliver on the call, Greg. We saw a cardinal's offense that was so hot, really gets stifled by Mike Mac's defense in Seattle. Going up against a blind Brian Flores defense that just saw Caleb throw for 350 yards.

Who are these?

Interesting point there that the Flores defense is taking on a little bit of water. They're not blitzing as much. Kyler's really struggled against the blitz, looked at the numbers this week. 25th, according to against the blitz. 5th, when he's when he's not pressured, all the actual numbers, success rate, all that stuff really goes down.

So maybe this is a a week Flores dials it up against. And for the Cardinals, I think it's a real test of toughness. Young team, new head coaching staff who's done a really good job overall. You really just got it handed to you in a big spot on the road. Now you have to go on the road again against a very challenging team, a type of game that can make or break you.

If you're if you're really a team that's gonna be in it here for the long haul, I don't even need them to win this game. Just just have it come down to the end and and be representative of the cardinals, because I still don't feel like I totally know who this team is. It's a bit of, like, a a mental and and physical toughness test, I think, for this team that I think has been just been playing over their head slightly all year, and maybe they can keep it going.

You know, they're a physically tough team on both sides of the ball. True. I will give them that. But, you know, you talk about the blitz. Let's just not talk about pass pressure blitzes.

They're gonna the Brian Flores' gonna run blitz. They're gonna gap this thing up across the board. They've got edge setters to not let Kyler get up there, and they may not get that up field blitz rush. They may do the kind of picket fence thing just to not let them leak, and then they've got some guys who can get in there, and make plays because they wrote this the the secondary rotation can get those quarterbacks when they try, you know, Josh Mattellus, you know, Harrison, guys like that. You know, I'm interested to see if Minnesota's offense can get it going.

I mean, I know JJ and and Addison, we we give them props every week. Darnold, props every week. I think I I like the 3 and a half number, for Arizona to beat it. I like the Vikings to win, but I think this is gonna be a real tough game because I don't think Arizona gets the the credit of physicality. But I think the question of consistent physicality is is 1 that they do need

to answer. Vikings fans actually this week. This is the week they decided to say, we're not getting enough credit. They are 9 and 2. They're 5th in the NFL in point differential.

They've been extremely consistent

Yeah.

As a team. Even the 2 losses they had in a row, it's not like they just weren't there, and it was against good t it was understandable. Like, they've been very consistent.

And they've been able to execute when the things that have been good for them aren't necessarily working.

Great point.

Like like, the the game in Jacksonville where the offense and Sam Darnold did not have things going. The defense able to pick them up there. The the game last week where the defense gives up back to back, scoring drives by the bears late, and special teams gives up an an on-site kick. They get into overtime. Darned them go out, there and execute.

Where Sam Darnold, in terms of passer rating games over a 100, it's him and Lamar right now. And and then everybody else, like like Sam Darnold, playing well in in spots, and Jordan Addison, I I think Sam Darnold threw the ball 22 times last week. 9 of those completions went to Jordan Addison. Yeah. I mean I mean, 22 completions last week.

9 of them went to, Jordan. I mean,

how many did JJ have? He didn't have hardly any.

Not not very many. He he did draw a a deep pass interference, that was able to set them up on the 1 yard line.

Also, they did a great job pointing out on the broadcast on the first Addison touchdown just how Jalen Johnson is just drifting and drifting backwards because he's worried about JJ Jefferson, and that opens it up. It's amazing. Because Hawkinson had a a great game too. Man, they Open it. They really have a lot of depth of weapons.

Yeah. Jones.

And and I think the tendency breaker was the Cardinals not having success in the red zone against Seattle Mhmm. Where some you know, they're playing on the road against a good team, against an improving defense. They get down there. They actually had a touchdown call back for penalty, then they had to kick a field goal. That that wound up being who the the margins, I think, slim in that game, I think they're also slim in this 1.

I would agree. So slim that once again, I can't remember who I picked.

This is a tough 1. I pick I pick the Cardinals, and I I do worry that that's a early week pick of what I want to see happen versus really thinking they're a better team pound for pound than the Dolphins, but, I mean, than the Vikings. There is something about this search bar defense you're talking about. They're up to 12th in d v o a. And maybe we'll make this a a weekly segment because you're absolutely right.

I looked at the players getting snaps for them last week. A man named Dadrian Taylor Demerson had 64 snaps for them. And maybe the weekly segment can do we can tell you a little bit more about some of these players. A man named Naquan Jones played a significant amount of snaps at nose tackle. He's a 26 year old, who came out of Michigan State Undrafted, spent 3 years with the Titans bouncing around in practice squad, was on the Dolphins actually at 1 point this year, practice squad.

And then the Cardinals brought him back, and now here he is, playing significant snaps from the great town of Evanston, Illinois Illinois. Where my Northside Scottie. Girlfriend was from. Yeah. So yeah.

Great great place.

Go, baby. Yeah. 1 search at a time. We will. We will do our jobs and find out more about this.

Didn't even join the Cardinals actually until September 25th, and here he is playing big time snaps for them. Yeah.

We love it. Just just getting getting the squad together. It's it's 1 day when they make the movie and Jonathan Gannon is doing that scene, like a heist movie where you get everybody together. They're gonna make a movie about this Cardinals team. And, maybe this quote will be in it.

Let's go to the Houston Texans. The up and down, very up and down. Houston Texans as of late. 4 point favorites at the Jacksonville Jaguars and all of their issues coming off of the by Kevin Coogler, Moose Johnston, and Laura Oakman on the call, Steve, back here in the division where, we we thought the Texans would experience all that success with Nico Collins coming back. He played a great game, but they lose in the division to the Tennessee titans.

What if it happens again here in Duval?

And Trevor's back. Right? Trevor Lawrence is coming back off that shoulder injury for Jacksonville. He's gonna be fresh. They're getting both their running backs back, ETN and, Bigsby.

Bigsby are coming back. So they're gonna they're gonna feel fresh, and they know this Houston team might be questioning themselves. This is 1 and, Greg, I think you alluded to this very early in the season. Like, nobody saw Houston coming. They've tasted success, or they smelled themselves a little bit.

Mhmm. Even getting some of the additions that they made, Stefan, Diggs, of course, is off for the rest of the season, but they're just not they don't seem to

have a good vibe. Now this is the part

of the season where we see teams do this year after year, kick it into gear, and they get rolling. This is the game they have to do. This is 5 number. Houston favorite is way too big for me.

Agree. It was it was 6 too big. It was 6 initially. I think it's down to 4 now in some spots.

4. Yeah.

And the Texans are another 1 of those teams that could really use their buy. They're gonna get it next week because they just they feel like they need a major reset. They gotta unplug the they gotta unplug the console or something and because they can't find solutions. They're not doing a good job coaching to me because they have the same issues every week, run blocking. I I asked Seth Payne, who does a great job on the radio there in in Houston.

Just what what is up? And he pointed to the tackles who are really highly paid, Tunsil and Titus Howard, in the running game that it it really has not been cohesive because they are 1 of the worst running teams in the NFL despite having a great running back playing well. Like like, they're only, I think, 4 games all year in terms of a success rate being at a certain terrible level, and the Texans are 2 of them where they've just been in in some of it is their tackles, which are your if you're not getting a lot out of your high investments in the running game, there's a 2 play sequence at the end of that game last week that really stuck with me. 2nd and 9 in in the on the goal line, I think it was 2nd and goal on the 9 late in the game where they're trying to win the game, and that was before Fairbairn missed the field goal that would have tied it. And just like 5 guys in the backfield wasting it down on Joe Mixon on 2nd down.

3rd down, the who are they playing last week? Tennessee, they sent some extra rushers. Everyone's running through back to back plays where the the offensive skill players had 0 chance, negative chance of doing anything in the biggest moments of the game. 0 chance, and then they missed the field goal. Like, that's what's happening with this Texans team.

And you really see the offense slow up when because Joe Mixon, right now, top 5 in the league in yards over expected

He's awesome.

On outside runs. Be because look looking at the way that Howard is blocking on some of these outside runs, especially in that direction, those yards aren't expected because there's nothing there for Joe Mixon to get. And now you have to do it against Trevon Walker and Josh Hines Allen 2 Hammers Where you're not moving those guys on the outside. In fact, the the Jags allowing the 2nd fewest rushing yards over expected on runs to the outside specifically because of the work that those guys were able to do against tackles that are better in the run game. Right.

Yeah. The Tuncile and Howard.

I'm just man, that that Patrick, that that that's such good stuff because, you know, Larry Tuncile, this dude's 1 of the best athletes in the NFL. I mean, he he's been banged up a little bit, but you can power, you can athlete him, you can pull him, and it's just not working. I mean, I don't know if this is something where they you know, Bobby Slovak, the OC was a guy who got head coaching opportunities after last year's 1st years in OC. Why this run game isn't working? Because actually it's been 2 years in a row where they have not run the ball, and now you're you're hearing people saying, CJ Stroud is starting to look at the at the pressure.

You know, that's not him. He's somebody who felt very comfortable in the pocket last year doing what he does. And now if he's kinda anticipating, he's gonna get hit. It's a it's

a bummer seeing him regress some. Now he did have a lot of really special throws in that game along with some really negative plays where he did seem to see the pass rush. And you can see with his expressions and body language how how frustrated he is getting. 1 note, which we haven't mentioned on the game, Do were you guys aware Doug Peterson is the coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars still? It's like we sorta left that 2 weeks ago, and we assumed he wasn't going to be.

Remember when we got to the he is the coach.

It's it's been it's been a game of survival.

I think that's good, actually. Why bother? They they don't have a better coach in the building. That's that's huge. At the end of the year, it's gonna happen and stuff.

But if if if it doesn't make sense, don't just do it. Just to do it.

I I my first time in in Jacksonville for this regime, I was watching closely as Trent Baalke and Doug Peterson were out there in in practice at camp. And the GM was walking towards the coach, and the coach would continue to find a reason to to walk to walk around in the other room. Just doing doing circles around the field. It's a very interesting dichotomy, and it's a fun game of survivor, to watch both of them.

Respect. Respect to Doug Peterson.

No. Shout out to coach Much respect to Doug Peterson.

They need

to they need to have just

a, like, a Doug Peterson appreciation day during the Eagles playoff run. Like, have him outside of the statue just, like, remember remember when you were you were a legend. He still is a legend. Still the coach. We're still doing this show.

We got 4 more games to get to. We're gonna take a break and we'll come back with the rest of the slate, including, some prime time games that aren't what we expected coming into this season. Back on NFL daily. Shout out to our broadcaster on this next game. I think, Cataillon, Tiki, Jason McCourty, AJ Ross Doing a good job this year.

Yes. Jason McCourty

is so good. He he sees

the game a certain way. He described it. He is so good. And they get an an opportunity to watch a young, hot quarterback with an offense that just put up a ton of points. I'm talking about Will Levis.

That's right.

The Washington Commanders who are 5 and a half point favorites, the over under 45. We already discussed, the broadcast crew as we didn't know what to expect from this Tennessee titans team. But now, Steve, with Tony Pollard playing well, with Calvin Ridley and Will Levis, playing well aside from a pick 6, sometimes you get got. Right? You got got against the Houston Texans, but he came back.

They won the game. Yeah. And the the Tennessee titans are fun, Steve.

They're they're fine. I mean, we know they're a tough team. Their defense start out as 1 of the best in the NFL kinda faded a little bit, but now Will Levis is playing well, and he's got an opportunity to go against a secondary in Washington that's it's a question mark, and it's been their question mark all season long. They've been able to manage some things defensively because their front 7 is so good. And and Frankie Louvoo and Bobby Wagner, that's a Frankie Louvoo reference for Jordan.

You go. They had to get that in. But, you know, this is 1 where Washington 1, are they gonna have any running back for this game? Alright. That's 1 thing.

You know, Brian Robinson comes out. We don't Austin Echler, we don't know if he's gonna be in. Doesn't look like it. It's intriguing. I mean, their kicker, oh, man.

Last game.

He's killer. He's hurt now. They just put him on IR. Mhmm. Right?

So this is tricky. The 5a half is

Probably should've done that before last week's game. That If

he does He was hurt anyway.

If he doesn't if he doesn't play last week, they win. Yeah. Because because, nobody on the defense tackled Kevontay Turpin. No. But Austin Seibert's effort was 1 of the worst that I've seen, by a kicker on a kick return in a very, very long time.

Yeah. This is 1 where we're gonna have to see Jay and Gantas come out and and really ball out. We got to see

They didn't deserve to win that game anyways. When you watch that game, the commanders No. Not like they played well.

No. They didn't. They made big plays, and that was it, but they got dominated in pretty much every aspect of the game. But I I think this is 1 where Jaden Daniels can get it going. I mean, him and Gary Terry and some plays they hit enough big plays.

That's all they need. And, defensively, I don't know. I mean, they're still trying to make Patrick, but they might get Marshawn Lattimore back this week. I was told they weren't expecting him back into the following game, but he has practiced this week.

Well, that's a great sign.

If they get him on the field, they can move Mikey Samuels back into the slot where he's, like, that little dude's a stud anyway, but slot is where he really shines. That'll really help him in a game like that.

That would be huge, especially in this game where the team they're facing has 1 clear number 1 Right. Receiver. Where in the past, that's that's a Lattimore assignment. Now Calvin Ridley is is quick. That that's a tough assignment coming off of an injury, and and maybe it's something where Lattimore can single up Noah Brown is I mean, not Noah Brown rather.

Matt Lattimore can single up, you know, West Berke, Keanah on the other side, and you can double double Ridley. However, it is that you wanna that would be massive for them because that that's been a problem. And Brian Robinson was at practice. That's a surprise to everyone who who went crazy on the fantasy waiver wire for Jeremy McNichols. So we'll see.

It sounds like Brian Robinson might be able to play.

Would be huge for them.

Injuries is big. I don't think Jaden is getting bothered by the ribs at all whatsoever because them calling speed option and him running up the middle on 1 of their first snaps of the game and him not playing with any fear at all, 2 point conversion in a big spot. Thought he showed enough in that Q4 of that game to really make you feel good. I I don't

Impressive was that.

He played a I actually thought he played a pretty solid game overall that their shortcomings were more his guys weren't open, couple drops, couple penalties, a little bit of everything, and not getting help from the running game. So I I feel good about where he is at, but not good enough to give them 5 and a half points. I just just previewing the, the the against the spread picks pod that's coming up on Friday. It's gonna drop on on Friday this week with with Cynthia. Tennessee was my number 1 pick last year.

Last week, I was loving that 8a half. They they went and won outright. Wouldn't surprise me if they won outright this week either. Like, I'd give a little edge to Washington, but to me, the titans are better than their record indicates at this point in the season, and Washington maybe is a little worse.

Yeah. I I agree. Especially the way that that Callahan has schemed up Calvin Ridley, as of late Tony Pollard kind of eliminating, teams playing too high safeties and giving Calvin Ridley a whole bunch of space, to work for where it's not like Will Levis make it some tight window throw. He's able to put the ball out of space and and let Calvin Ridley use that adjustment ability to go get it. I I have wondered and thought about this, Steve, because you were 1 of the very first people.

I I remember several years ago that put this idea in my head of late season cliff. And There it is. And for years, I have wrote it off as some sort of statistical allow anomaly just like a ghost in the numbers that sometimes shows up. And then we look at it, and we use hindsight to say that this is always this is always what happens. And I'm, I'm starting to believe.

And then and then I'm looking at Terry McLaurin running down the field on the right side, to to potentially win the game, for the watch of the commanders late, where he has been lined up 5% of the time this year, just 31 snaps out wide. Adjustments like those, do those make you believe that there's been a change, or are you still a late season cliff believer?

Yeah. I mean, look. And, again, this is where I I mentioned before. They have Anthony Lynn on the coaching staff, where he may have to say, it's getting cold. I know we can forget Brian Robinson back.

We have to we have to pound the football. We have to protect our quarterback a little bit more, and the best way to do that is to run.

Now that would not be easy to do

it in Tennessee. Right? But they've got to like you said, that adjustment, that's something they have to do. But, Cliff, the numbers bear it out, talking to a Bozing coaches bear it out. So but, you know, this quarterback is he what he showed that was a great point you made.

When he showed late in that game, he gets the cowboys. He's he's got a little stuff to him.

That that was encouraging another point against Cliff in that game for instance. The cowboys kept running the same blitz with Parsons on the inside and it kept game 1. Kept working. So that's that's coaching in game adjustments, that sort of thing of, like, we do 1 thing. Do we do it well enough?

And are we talented enough to really pull that off? Because to give Cliff credit, his scheme, I believe, made the level of talent on the roster outside of Daniels and McLaren look better than it really is, and that includes the offensive line talent.

1000%.

You know, and it concludes the skill position talent. You're just throwing throw after throw to Noah Brown. And on the biggest play of the game, they're throwing it to Bates. What's his name? Jeremy Bates?

John Bates? 1 of their tight ends? Yeah. It's like a Biggest John. John Bates.

And it's just not an overly talented roster. So it's it's a couple things competing. And, yeah, you're going up against a Titan's team where Levis I'm not he hasn't taken as big a leap as Bryce, but they're kind of on a similar trajectory of 2nd year players who got sat down for a little bit and has come back. And it's at least closer to the best version of, I think, that we're gonna get out of. Will Levis taken way too many sacks, still a big time mistake last week, but you also saw the big time throws last week.

He made some great throws in that game. And so I think if you're a Will Levis family member or fan or fantasy owner, like, I think this is very encouraging. This is kind of the Levis you wanna see. I I think his ceiling isn't, like, incredibly high, but this is you're making progress.

Alright. Not not a full segment, but, Greg, are you ready to to lock it in? Will Levis quarterback Tennessee titans 2025?

I don't think he will. Oh, okay. Personally, I think Callahan is gonna wanna his guy unless he takes another step. Like, the step, we'll get to it. That that price though.

I mean, they Last week. They want they they might win too many games to get his guy.

Right. So maybe it it'll be too difficult, but

It's a good problem to have.

I think he needs to to keep it going and take another step even.

Alright. Get the shooter the shooter conversation started, Patrick.

Another team well, a team that feels like it is locked in. It's young quarterback playing host on Monday night football to Miles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns. The Denver Broncos, 5 and a half point favorites. It's m n f. So, of course, Joe, Troy, Lisa on the call, or you could watch a couple brothers, do a do a game broadcast as well where so, Greg, we saw what Miles Garrett did against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mhmm. Quinn Miners, Ben Powers, Garrett Bowles, Mike McGlinchey played well, well enough to to keep Bo Nix looking good against, this Jim Schwartz defense.

Probably. Because Sean Payton will get quick enough throws that that beats the pass rush, and he's been great at scheming up quick throws. And Bo Nix deserves credit when he is holding onto the ball, and he's getting protected. He's pushing the ball down the field better. They pick out the matchups for Garrett sometimes.

So, like, if he wants to get over there on McClincci, I don't think that's gonna be pretty. And it's on national TV.

He'll be over there against McClincci.

I know my I know Miles Garrett always tries all that, Patrick. Yeah.

Is there anybody on the Broncos to make him mad?

I know he always tries, but he was pretty quiet in that that 1 PM game against Talis Vuaga and the Saints. But, man, he showed out on that prime time game. I just think he's gotta show up and have a nice nice game here, and it's it's a tricky 1. I think their defense has enough just raw talent with with Ward and everything they have going on that it it certainly no gimme. The Browns are not I think the Patriots are are kind of a gimme for good teams for the most part.

I do not think the Browns are a gimme.

Absolutely not. And the 5 and a half number to me is insane unless they just

Insane. I think Jameis I think

they must think Jameis, he can get

up there and get get winded. No. They did. Will not

They've had some bad games with Jamis too, to be fair. They've had 2 great ones, 2 bad ones.

Yeah. I just think, you know, look, the offensive line, even though it's banged up as it is, they played a pretty darn good game against a really good steeler front. Right? TJ Watt wasn't able to really get going. They they called the game well.

Nick Chubb's starting to get his legs back, guys. They're they're they're gonna be able. They did some good ball control stuff. Oh, and let's not forget Greg and Patrick.

This is the Jerry Judy game.

Okay. I like that. That is a

revenge game. Jerry Judy has shown up in some big spots for the browns.

Playing well. He is playing very well this year.

Gonna say playing well, maybe he's gonna get that new contract. And I kinda forgot. They got him on a very reasonable contract. I think they're feeling good about it.

No. Absolutely. Exceedingly reasonable. And, you know, playing against the NFL legacy, the son of a a very good quarterback

in Best quarterback in the NFL.

Well, I'll I'll talk about last week against Joey Porter, junior.

Oh, I

thought you're going past her 10, senior.

The the circumstances are different, this time around. Oh. And and if if if Vance wants to put, p 2 on Jerry Judy, then perhaps the the revenge aspect could get ratcheted up, but the difficulty also gets ratcheted up.

Not happening if p two's on him.

I think I think that makes for the, Elijah Moore game because I feel like Riley Lawson is dealing with an injury as well, and that number 2 in in Denver, might be in question. Because I I I feel like he was on the report this week.

Yes. I I I don't think he's necessarily expected to to play in this game. They're pretty healthy up front in terms of their their pass rush, and and so that's a matchup. I like that the Broncos have really surprised us, and they're gonna be I don't know about a main character, but a really big part of this closing stretch. You got them in prime time in this game.

You got them against the chargers in a couple weeks. That was the game that was moved to Thursday night football. Am I right? Yeah. Go ahead.

Bang they also have a bay at Bengals and a Chiefs in there. So Broncos fans kind of been looking for credit. I see them. They're they're a they're a noisy fan base on blue sky and on Twitter. And all I have to say is, like, here you go.

This is great. I think it's actually cool. They're a surprising character of this season, and they're gonna be in the mix in a lot of these big games down the stretch, and we'll see. This is the first test of a game you should win in prime time. So go ahead go ahead and win it.

They should win. The 5 and a half is big, but fans Joseph and his defense too has been really, really consistent this season.

Shout out to, our friend, Andrew Siciliano. Twice, he's getting mentioned, in this show. He's got this great Browns podcast slash Mhmm. YouTube show, and he got a great clip from Jameis Winston saying saying Nick Chubb said, I love you, man. And it's like, if you can get Nick Chubb to say that, you know there's a lot of a lot of love in this building for this man, Jameis Winston.

Let's go. Jameis Winston certainly making himself a the

the the quintessential vibes quarterback, where where the vibes were decidedly not good, in Cleveland a few weeks ago.

Ordering up a dub.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 6 point favorite, Scrick, at the Carolina Panthers who just took the Chiefs all the way to the wire 46 and a half points is the over under. Chris Myers, Mark Schlareth, and Jen Hale on the call. We saw Bryce, very, very good in pressure. Jatavion Sanders back at practice, looked healthy after a scary moment, kinda landed on his head towards the end of the first half, but they are going up against a buzzsaw Bucks team that you think is making a push to the playoffs.

I do. And this is a a great game to see Bryce, whether he can continue that run. I I like the Bucks to win, and they they might even cover because their offense is just that good against 1 of the worst defenses in the league. But the story here is, Bryce, last week, we talked about, can you be consistent stacking these weeks after weeks? Well, that wasn't consistent.

This was a whole another level up. This was a different Bryce Young than we've ever seen at the NFL level. The that throw that he had to Sanders down the sideline, that's just crazy. The 3rd and 8 he had to the to to Moore as he was getting trashed. I mean, he was outstanding last week.

Nick Wesseling texted me. He went back and watched Nick Wesseling out here grinding the tape, and it was pretty cool that he did that because I had already thought Bryce would be the type of quarterback Chris Wesseling would love. Yeah. I knew his type. He loved guys who could throw with anticipation and be accurate.

And Bryce's accuracy and his anticipation and his timing in that game and as it's gotten better each and every week has been fantastic. So the Weselings are on board, and I'm looking forward to watching if Bryce can keep this thing going because that was that was like, hey hey now. Like, alright. Like, we're right on track. If we see the rest of the season, he's playing like that.

That's what you you wanna see out of your 2nd year quarterback. That was special.

I I I love this game. Plus 6 again for Tampa too much for me. Bryce, I was talking to Vance Joseph after they played the Broncos. I think it was Bryce's first game back. He was like, that kid made every throw he's supposed to make and every right decision he's supposed to make, and we've seen him build on that.

Right? So, therefore, everyone else now has faith they're playing better football. Defensively, that's the issue. On that side of the ball, can Baker and those guys get off of the explosive plays? And and, you know, that's that's part of the passing game that they're able to do.

By the way, that Do

they even need to, though? They're actually 1 of the teams where teams this is how the Giants play them. A lot of teams play Yeah. These days, they're just like, can you work down the field when 12 plays, 13 plays without making a mistake? And the Bucks are always like, yeah.

We can. Yeah. That's totally bad. We'll do it every time. They're awesome.

And a a lot of that well, the Panthers' defense has improved because this is 1 of statistically, 1 of the worst rushing defenses we've ever seen. Now they're the 2nd worst in the league this year. 46.7% success rate, on runs, 26 explosive runs. I The the defense, especially in the secondary, it was a laughable performance tackling against the Chiefs even against Patrick Mahomes late, where now the issue is Bucky Irving who sometimes is untackable.

That dude is good.

And I'm imagining this Panther secondary where JC Horn has been solid in in some sorts of pass coverage in the run game. It it is it is really been hopeless, in the secondary for for Carolina where I'm I'm comfortable with the points.

I kind of am too because they're a good team with the lead. I think they're built to win now. They just they keep piling it on. There's no mercy. Baker Mayfield in this office.

They're good at these long drive. They can shorten games, and their running game has really improved a ton. They're good throwing to their running backs. So I think Bryce could play well, but it could be 35, 24, you know, 20 27, and it happens. Now this is not a revenge game, but I did wanna point this out.

I don't maybe you guys can help me

Okay.

Your wordsmiths of what type of game this is. Liam Cohen replaced Dave Canales who moved on for a better position. But I'm sure when you're replacing someone who's kind of a hotshot coordinator, you wanna do even better than that guy. And, frankly, I think he has. He's done an even better job than Baker with Baker Mayfield and Liam than, Canalsis.

And so I don't know what type of game that is, but it's something.

I'll tell you I'll tell you what. They have the same agency. They have the same representation. So that's like the big smile game. Okay.

So Liam Coe gets this gets this 1, he might be he's gonna be interviewing for some head coach.

Okay. Of game. Paycheck type of game. Okay. Yeah.

Because he's like, I'm even better than this guy who got

a head coaching job. Even though his defense the Canals' defense is, you know, this is 1 where he Liam better

go ahead and show out. Okay. Yeah. The the rising tide lifting all

boats.

There you go. There you go. Game bringing us to our our final doc, of the evening. On Sunday night football, Steve, the San Francisco 40 niners dealing with a ton of injuries. Just 1 more marquee than others going up against the red hot Buffalo Bills who had a chance to wear rests.

They are 7 point favorites at home, the over under 44a half at Southern Night Football. So Mike, Chris, and Melissa there on the call. Is there any hope in Santa Clara?

I don't I don't think so. No. I I mean, this is like, even the defense we're so used to, they may even get hit too much. And we know Buffalo with Josh running the way they're running. They they're just they don't tackle what gosh.

They get they miss so many tackles. Once it gets beyond the first level, that's something we just don't see out of the 40 niners. It's gonna be cold. You know, we still Brock Purdy is still a question mark, I believe, if he's gonna be able to play. I just think this is this is a Bills in a landslide game.

This is now Josh Allen trying to compete for Lamar and Saquon for the the 3 quarters of the season lead for the MVP.

The injuries are so massive to even talk about this game. If you have Purdy and Trent Williams out there, I'm not even talking about Bosa, although he would be a big deal too. You got a chance. You got a chance to compete in any game offensively, and they can be tougher. Now in the end, I think the Bills would outlast them because the Bills can't be pushed around as well as they as they used to be.

They're playing pretty well upfront. They're certainly tough on offense, and they're they're they're gonna be healthier too. They're coming off a buy, and Cooper finally had a a week to rest. And maybe they get Keon Coleman back, and and it's tricky. We're taping this Wednesday to get it out for you before the Thanksgiving holiday and everything, and we don't know if Purdy is gonna play or not.

If they don't have Purdy, yeah, it's a I don't you couldn't make this number high enough. I'm sure it would go from 6a half to they're probably trying to balance it of, like, maybe he's playing. He did throw some on Monday, which is a good sign, but he did that a little last week too. So we just don't know.

Here here's something baffling to me. Have you guys been watching Deebo Samuel? He is not playing well. He had a couple drops. I made things that were shorthanded last week.

It just doesn't seem like he's that guy in terms of early in the season he's playing okay, but he is not he's really got it relock back in because the mistakes he's making seem more in his head than the physical mistake. Mhmm. Just dropping the balls. He just doesn't seem like right now, like the the gangster type of dude that we've seen the past couple of years.

And even when, Deebo did make the play last week, it gets called back through the penalty. Christian McCaffrey's best run last week. He he winds up getting the ball punched out. Right. And the Packers recover.

And and over on the defensive side of the ball, they they haven't gotten the stops we expect them to get. Kind of carried at the start of the season by 1 of the best players in the NFL in Fred Warner where that dam has has felt like it started to burst. And it's caused me to use hindsight and look back. It's like, well, they're playing without Dre Greenlaw in the Super Bowl that they almost win that game. They have to finish the season without Tallah Noah who found out who also hasn't played this season.

After missing most of last season.

Since since week 5 Yep. Where maybe things weren't so bad with Steve Wilkes. May maybe maybe that was the best that that this 40 niners defense.

It's also a different team. At 1 point last year, they showed the 4 defensive line starters against the Packers. Been out. We're not there last year.

Yeah.

So they're guys they sign, like, Malik Collins and Leonard Floyd, who are solid players if you're adding them to the mix to be your 5th, 6th linemen. But now they're your lead guys with Bose out.

Bose are legit.

He's legit, but he was more legit when he wasn't 33 year years old. He's a role player, and they're needing him to be, like, their top edge rusher when Bose is out. And that's

Yeah.

That's too much. It's tough. This Bills team, it's a wagon. Little little dangerous, but I like your your squad, Eric, behind the glass

There you go.

Here. And, I like the matchup. The San Francisco offensive line not playing Nope. Well really at all either out, especially when Williams isn't there, and the Bills can get after it. So I don't think this is gonna be a good Sunday night game.

It's just some years. It's not your year.

Well, we got so much, on the plate beforehand. These are just, like, the little crumbs left after that thing. Mhmm.

It it would just it would take the Bills it feels like it would take the Bills making a ton of mistakes. Yeah. Just just a ton of mistakes. And I don't I don't see them do that the way they're playing right now. That they're the safety Bills.

This is safe, Josh.

Gosh. We're we're talking about this game, a Bills niners game. Like, it's just

We'll see. Maybe they'll maybe they'll prove us wrong. I don't think so. You guys always prove me right each and every week, and those seats making it the best preview show in the business. That is it for our week 13 preview.

What week are we in? 13.

We're here.

Love

it. 1 of those.

I love it. Thank you for watching. NFL daily will be back to recap the Thanksgiving games. And like I said, the picks show is, coming up later in the week, but I hope you guys have a a great Thanksgiving. I will.

I will. In the meantime, yeah. When we're talking about this this 40 niners team being done by week 13, you know football is back.