Latest / Fanatically Speaking with Kent / Divsional Round Picks! Defense Wins in The Playoffs: We’re Riding with the Bills, Texans & Seahawks

Transcript

Divsional Round Picks! Defense Wins in The Playoffs: We’re Riding with the Bills, Texans & Seahawks · Fanatically Speaking with Kent

0:00
what's up everybody welcome to fanatically speaking
0:02
i'm kent i'm log off i'm the log off legend and
0:05
uh we're here to say everything that every fan
0:07
is thinking but louder and probably a little
0:09
crazier get ready this is fanatically speaking
0:12
with kent and log off you know what's funny like
0:15
i don't hate i don't i'm not a social media hater
0:18
i'm a social media I don't want people to think
0:25
that I get on the internet and start hating people
0:27
on social media. That's not what I do. The first
0:29
half was absolutely, absolutely horrible. You
0:33
know, just inept offense, inept defense, special
0:37
teams, you name it. I'm going to turn into Oprah.
0:40
Why were you so angry? He sucks this season.
0:45
This game, whatever, whatever's going on, right?
0:47
And then in the very next pitch, guess what?
0:50
They double Homer. And he's like, told you that.
0:53
Why are you always knocking down people? Listen,
0:55
you got the highs and the lows. Yeah. So I knew
0:58
that. You need the highs and the lows. So I do
1:01
that. Yeah. I'm trying to be the voice of reason
1:04
here. I am what I am. Hi, what's up everybody?
1:19
Welcome to another episode of Fanatically Speaking.
1:21
I am Kent, the co -host and promoter. I'm Log
1:24
Off, the Log Off legend, hater of social media.
1:27
I am the co -host and producer of the show. Alrighty,
1:32
well we got another NFL episode. NFL Heavy, it's
1:38
that time of year, it's the playoffs. We got
1:43
hiring firings, well really just firings, in
1:46
the coaching world. We already did an episode
1:49
on coaches and the teams that are looking for
1:53
new head coaches and things like that. And there's
1:56
already been more to come out since then. So
2:03
before we get to our divisional picks for the
2:06
weekend, for the playoffs, let's get on the update
2:12
on the coaching cycle to kind of catch us up.
2:15
you know, from our previous episode. Yeah. Yeah.
2:18
The rundown go over what matchups are there.
2:21
There were some surprises. I think there were
2:23
a lot of teams that surprised some people this
2:25
past weekend. And, um, I mean, certainly one
2:29
huge surprise for me, something that I didn't
2:31
see coming, but, um, where do, where do you want
2:33
to start? Where do you want to lead off? I want
2:39
to with, with the games. Yeah, yeah, which matchup
2:44
do you want to go to first? Let's just go in
2:48
the order. We'll go in order of the games. They
2:50
posted obviously late last night by the end of
2:53
the Texan Steeler game. So the first game on
2:57
the weekend, we've got the Buffalo Bills succeed
3:00
going to the number one seeded Denver Broncos.
3:06
Yeah, and the interesting thing about this matchup
3:10
to me is I think this Broncos team might be the
3:16
most doubted one seed in recent history. I'm
3:21
trying to think, especially in the AFC, like
3:23
a number one seed, like a lot number one seed
3:27
with a buy that people are kind of looking at
3:29
like, eh, I don't really know about them. It's
3:33
a difficult kind of a matchup to look at. We
3:38
got to see the Bills play over the weekend. They
3:40
beat the Jags, close game, tough game. Josh Allen's
3:45
experience came through, even though he didn't
3:48
play a perfect game, got a little dinged up.
3:50
But going into, you know, mile high stadium,
3:54
I still think that there's a lot of people who
3:56
are gonna like the Bills chances at upsetting
3:59
them. And I mean, just on paper for me, If I
4:04
had to pick a team right now, I got to go with
4:07
the Bills just because I trust them more. I have
4:10
no idea, you know, what's going to happen with
4:12
the Broncos. I just I don't see it. I got to
4:13
see it. Unfortunately, I got to see it first.
4:17
Yeah, again, they've got the Sean Payton Super
4:20
Bowl winning head coach. They got the young quarterback,
4:25
Bo Nix, got a really good defense to get after
4:28
the quarterback. They were in the playoffs before,
4:32
and they actually I believe it was last year,
4:35
they made the playoffs and lost to the Buffalo
4:38
Bills in Buffalo. So oddly, here they are again,
4:42
now faced up against each other in the divisional
4:45
round. The big stat that I pulled up for the
4:50
Broncos this year, because again, young quarterback,
4:54
they got Courtless Sutton at receiver. And then
4:58
they got just different guys, but you may not
5:01
know them. right young team we talked about before
5:05
how they overcame the russell wilson contract
5:07
and they still produced a winner not only a winner
5:10
but the number one seed in the afc so they had
5:17
a record this year nfl record they won 11 of
5:20
their 14 games by one score okay that's a hell
5:27
of a stat i like that stat which is which is
5:30
pretty impressive So that tells me that they
5:37
can win close games. Obviously that's regular
5:42
season, but still close games, still getting
5:45
the wins, earning that one seed. But like you
5:49
said, the Buffalo Bills, and I keep going back
5:52
to this, I think unless they lose, until they
5:55
lose, however it works out for the Buffalo Bills,
5:58
I can't pick against them. It's something about
6:02
that. It's Josh Allen's year to me and that goes
6:06
back to that No, Mahomes, no Lamar Jackson. No,
6:10
Joe burrow. This is his path. It may be a tough
6:12
path on the road now It's even tougher. He's
6:15
going to get the one seed in Denver against a
6:18
great defense but you know, he went in Jacksonville
6:22
against a team who a Lot of people were picking
6:25
because they were good on offense and defense.
6:28
But as I told you last time Buffalo's got some
6:31
guys man. They got some guys. They may not be
6:35
the sexiest names They might not be the the top
6:38
of the top names and players, but they've got
6:40
guys and They've battle tested their playoff
6:44
tested and Sometimes it's like if it's not this
6:48
year, then when would it be? So with all that
6:51
said I am picking the Buffalo Bills. I'm picking
6:54
the reigning MVP Josh Allen to overcome adversity
6:59
with His injuries, he's banged up. He finally
7:04
made a comeback win on the road for Buffalo winning
7:07
in the playoffs on the road. That's an impressive
7:10
win no matter if it is Jacksonville and that
7:12
was the up and coming team that shocked everybody.
7:15
But I think a lot of people are shocked that
7:17
the Denver Broncos are also 14 and three in the
7:19
one seat. So not a lot of difference, gonna be
7:22
a little tougher. Obviously, everything that
7:26
goes along in playing in Denver. So yeah, but
7:29
Buffalo man, they don't care about the weather.
7:31
They don't really care about who's in front on
7:32
the other side. Uh, so yeah, Josh Allen and the
7:36
Buffalo bills. No, I get it. And the elevation
7:39
there matters. Um, that, that air is thinner.
7:42
It's different. I've been there. It did change
7:45
his breathing. These are NFL players. They're
7:46
conditioned for it. And teams have gone into
7:49
Denver and won those games. So I don't, I don't
7:52
want to read too much into that. Um, the only
7:55
thing I'm going to, I'll kind of, I'll, I'll
7:59
dance around this a little bit. When you said
8:01
that about, you know, the Bills and Josh Allen
8:03
and Mahomes being out and Lamar Jackson being
8:06
out and Joe Burrow being out all in the AFC.
8:10
Um, I do agree that they match up well with the
8:14
Broncos, you know, offense, defense, special
8:18
teams, um, coaching. I think they match up well.
8:22
Like, I'll, I'll give you that. Even when you
8:24
talk about Sean Payton, Super Bowl, winning head
8:25
coach and all of that. um he won nester bowl
8:28
a long time ago so this is a really long time
8:32
damn near 20 years yeah this this is a new nfl
8:36
and you know if he loses nobody's going to go
8:38
shawn payton can't lose that game to josh allen
8:40
so um the one thing i will say is that i i like
8:46
the bills in this game too but i think this has
8:49
to do with the matchup with the broncos When
8:53
we get to the other AFC game, the one thing I
8:56
will say is I can't say the same thing about
8:58
those other teams. Those other teams are better
9:01
football teams, but for this team, but for this
9:05
Broncos team with that roster, with that starting
9:07
quarterback going into this. Yeah, man. I like
9:10
the bill's chances. Yeah, I agree for this game
9:15
at the moment. Like I said, for the moment, like
9:18
just like last week, I'm going to pick the bills
9:20
until, you know, unless otherwise stated. The
9:31
next game up on Saturday, we'll go to the NFC
9:36
and we have a divisional arrival. Gonna have
9:40
the San Francisco 49ers also a six seed going
9:43
to also the one seed in the Seattle Seahawks.
9:47
Yeah and so the thing I like about just kind
9:53
of the way they laid the schedule out was they
9:55
gave you a chance to see the teams going up against
9:58
the one seeds that didn't play last week. So
10:02
we saw what the 49ers did, went out and got a
10:07
win in Philly. Say whatever you want. They earned
10:10
that win with Kittle going down in devastating
10:15
fashion, terrible to see. you know, depleted
10:19
offense, depleted defense, and they were able
10:21
to piece together a playoff win on the road that's
10:24
massive. Now, they got to play a division opponent
10:26
in Seattle. And, you know, we've talked about,
10:31
you know, a lot of the same things all year with
10:35
our concerns with the Seahawks. And it's Sam
10:38
Darnall turning the damn ball over. He turns
10:42
the ball over and he turns it over well. You
10:45
know, it's not like, you're counting the minutes.
10:48
It's like, okay, three, two, there you go, Sam
10:52
Darnow's interception. I don't know if, you know,
10:56
the 49ers defense is going to be able to feast
10:59
on that and turn those turnovers into points
11:02
because that Seahawks defense is for real. It's
11:06
legit. And The difficult thing, and I repeat
11:11
this a lot, I say it all the time, no team knows
11:14
you better than your division rival, period.
11:18
And right now in the playoffs, we've got three
11:20
teams from one division, one division still currently
11:25
alive in the playoffs. So I don't want to give
11:29
San Francisco no chance. I think they've got
11:31
a puncher's chance because you still got Brock
11:34
Purdy who has been consistent and you still got
11:35
McCaffrey who was a star. We all saw that. And
11:39
he's got the ability to break out huge plays
11:41
and keep that team afloat like he has all year.
11:45
But I do think that the home crowd, you know,
11:48
maybe a little bit of home cooking and just kind
11:52
of the environment of having a tough road game
11:55
last week and then having to go to Seattle to
11:58
play a division arrival. I just think it's just
12:00
all set up for the Seahawks to get this win.
12:03
And I gotta say, I think it'll be pretty easy.
12:06
I think it'll be an easy ass win for them. Yes,
12:13
I agree. As much as it was gonna really, depending
12:18
on who the Seahawks played this week, was really
12:22
gonna sway me who I pick. Because it's the 49ers,
12:29
because they are depleted, the only thing that
12:32
can hold the Seahawks back is, as you mentioned,
12:35
is Sam Darnold. But I will also say even in games
12:40
where he's had turnovers, which he has a lot
12:43
That defense keeps that team in games that defense
12:47
wins games and That's the only reason right the
12:52
offense is good. They got weapons. They got a
12:54
great running game Donald plays pretty decent
12:58
Obviously to get him to a one seed his turnovers
13:01
have not held them back from that I know I talk
13:05
a lot about when you get to the playoffs, you
13:07
turn the ball over, you normally end up losing,
13:10
but the 49ers who against the Eagles, they had
13:14
more turnovers and they still won. So the good
13:18
thing for the Seattle Seahawks is they don't
13:20
have Kevin Petullo calling their offense. So
13:23
they're in good hands against San Francisco.
13:27
The Seahawks will have someone with a brain and
13:31
an offensive mind. to go against the practice
13:34
squad and backups of the San Francisco 49er defense.
13:38
So that's just what it is. It is what it is,
13:42
right? You're right. They did earn that game.
13:44
They did earn that win. They out -coached the
13:47
Philadelphia Eagles. They out -schemed the Philadelphia
13:50
Eagles to make it to this point. The last time
13:53
the Seahawks and 49ers played, they were playing
13:56
for the one seed in San Francisco, and the Seahawks
13:59
held the 49ers to three points. Now I don't know
14:03
if that's going to happen again, but again this
14:06
now this game is in Seattle Obviously we talked
14:12
about being depleted It should be a little bit
14:15
of a battle because their rivals 49ers. They're
14:18
filling themselves a little bit Even though they
14:20
haven't won a Super Bowl in how many years about
14:23
30 so But yeah, this is Seattle this game against
14:29
this team, I will pick the Seattle Seahawks and,
14:32
and even with Sam Darnold as their quarterback.
14:34
Yeah. And I'll, and I'll end on this because
14:37
I think the thing that I think the thing that
14:40
gets overlooked because I, and I brought it up
14:43
myself, so I'm guilty of this. I brought up Sam
14:46
Darnold's interceptions, his turnovers, and I
14:49
brought up how great that defense is. The benefit
14:52
of that is even in spite of all of his turnovers,
14:57
that defense is so amazing that they can still
14:59
continue to throw the ball. Like that offense
15:03
put up 44 touchdowns between passing and rushing
15:06
touchdowns combined. So they still have the opportunity
15:10
to take chances. And even if they're down and
15:13
even if they turn the ball over, That defense
15:16
is good enough to hold a depleted offense. And
15:19
I mean, and we like, we can sit here and talk
15:20
about Brock Purdy all day. He's been consistent
15:23
for the last five, six years. Like that dude
15:24
can play football. Like he's a good player, but
15:27
he ain't no world beater. So they'll, they'll
15:31
say, listen, if you're going to beat us Brock
15:32
Purdy, damn it, you do it. You come out here,
15:35
you show us that you make these plays with all
15:37
of these backups that you throw into. But Sam
15:40
Donnell is, is, is, um, it's. a regular day at
15:46
the office for him. If he throws three picks,
15:49
he's gonna be unfazed. He can still continue
15:52
to throw the ball. They can still continue to
15:54
run. They still got a really good rushing offense.
15:56
And I think that's just gonna, it's gonna be
15:59
more than what San Francisco can handle and they'll
16:01
outscore them and win. I got them winning by
16:04
double digits. Like I can see this being a 30
16:06
-20 game. I can see this being a 33 -17 game
16:10
easily. Yeah, it could, it could get out of hand.
16:14
And like you said, we agree on that about everything
16:16
about the defense, you know, a perfect example
16:19
was against the Panthers. The game was pretty
16:22
close. A few weeks back in Carolina, Darnold
16:26
throws an interception in the end zone, killing
16:29
a drive, killing a scoring opportunity. And the
16:32
very next play, the Seahawks defense forced the
16:35
fumble on Chuba Hubbard and they're set up on
16:38
like the 10 yard line. And what do you know,
16:39
then they score a touchdown. So that defense.
16:42
you know, off of a turnover, they can get the
16:44
ball right back and in great field position.
16:48
So yeah. And a Brock Purdy, you mentioned again,
16:50
he is a solid quarterback. He has earned everything.
16:53
He's a gritty player. No one thought he would
16:57
be, you know, what is he like last pick, Mr.
16:59
Irrelevant, something like that, right? He's
17:00
way back. And yeah, like he's, and he's done
17:03
this and again, great character, great all -around
17:05
guy. And he plays great in that offense. But
17:08
like any great quarterback, If you're under pressure,
17:11
you will make mistakes. And I promise you, Seattle,
17:14
again, to take another shot at Philly's coaching.
17:18
I bet you Seattle rushes and blitz the quarterback
17:21
way more than the Eagles did. Because you saw
17:24
what happened when Purdy gets under pressure.
17:26
What'd he do? He threw picks, made bad decisions.
17:29
His feet are dancing, uncomfortable. Seattle
17:31
will make him uncomfortable. They'll make him
17:35
kind of look like Sam Darnold, but they will
17:37
win. So. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you on
17:42
that. Oh, man. Good stuff. Yeah. All right. We're
17:50
going to go to Sunday, the next game back to
17:52
the AFC. We're going to have the five seeded
17:55
Houston Texans against the two seed New England
17:58
Patriots. Yeah. And I will say this past weekend,
18:02
that was probably the most fun I had. watching
18:08
an ass kicking. Just watching. Which one? I mean,
18:14
watch it. Which one? Watch it. Watching the Texans
18:17
blow the doors off the Steelers and you know
18:21
and they they I mean they I I think Aaron Rodgers
18:27
is a type of quarterback who's deserve it of
18:29
a humbling and that was a humbling ass experience
18:33
that he had. They were on his ass all day. toward
18:37
the end of the game, when things started getting
18:39
tight, they understood that the Steelers had
18:42
to be in a position to throw the ball and they
18:43
were like, yep, we just go sit here and wait
18:45
for our opportunities. And they went out there
18:47
and destroyed them. It was a collaborative effort.
18:54
So it was a really good mix of offense and defense
18:59
to be able to get that win. Obviously the defense
19:02
came through at the end to kind of close the
19:04
things out. watching the Patriots have, you know,
19:13
a tough, hard win over the weekend. It wasn't,
19:18
it wasn't pretty, but they got it done. You know,
19:23
you hold the Chargers to three points, but you
19:26
only score 16 yourself. And, you know, to be
19:31
a two seed and, you know, and keep in mind, like,
19:34
like they're hosting that game. Like that's at
19:36
home. You can only put up 16 points on the team
19:39
that you're dominating at home. They didn't take
19:42
a lot of chances, it just felt like they played
19:44
it safe. And looking at this matchup, just in
19:51
terms of momentum and watching the team that's
19:56
inspired, I think I gotta go with Houston on
20:00
this, man. I know they've got a young quarterback.
20:05
And we don't see Houston in these positions quite
20:09
often, but I got Houston winning this game comfortably
20:16
to where they can go up and just keep a lead.
20:21
Maybe it's by scoring a touchdown, you know,
20:23
only in one half or maybe kicking a couple of
20:25
field goals just to keep it, you know, at around,
20:28
you know, close to 10 points. But I feel like
20:31
it'll be a nice, comfortable win. The Patriots
20:34
were just too unimpressive for me, for me to
20:36
feel confident picking them to win this game.
20:39
So yeah, I gotta go, I gotta go with the Texans.
20:44
Okay. So, so we didn't get to see the Broncos
20:49
and Seahawks who both have good defenses, right?
20:53
Because the, the Broncos, you know, once home
20:55
point, I think they still lead the league in
20:56
sacks. Obviously Seattle, we just talked about
20:59
their great defense. This game. have the two
21:05
defenses that played the best last weekend, and
21:08
now they're going up against each other. We talk
21:11
about Seattle having to overcome Sam Darnold.
21:14
Houston had to overcome CJ Stroud not playing
21:16
a great game, right? Turning the ball over. The
21:21
Chargers defense has been solid all year, and
21:24
they played great against New England. New England
21:26
overcame. We saw they got to Drake May some,
21:29
but then Drake May made the plays here and there
21:32
that mattered. got them to the 16 but these two
21:37
defenses you know when you talk about holding
21:40
the Patriots to three I mean holding the Patriots
21:44
holding the charges to three the Texans holding
21:47
the Steelers to six so these two games these
21:51
two defenses gave up nine points last weekend
21:54
in the playoffs and now they're against each
21:56
other and again if you watch those games like
22:00
you said I thought Justin Herbert was dead. He
22:06
got absolutely destroyed on one of those last
22:10
hits. He got destroyed. The Patriots were balling
22:17
on defense. They were coming after him and again
22:20
doing what Justin Herbert does. Six years in
22:23
the league, no playoff wins. I'm not gonna take
22:27
credit for this. I always call Herbert You know
22:31
overrated Emanoacho said he's over praised and
22:36
I like that and It's true every year. We hear
22:40
about Justin Herbert. He's so great. He's so
22:42
good. He's a top -five quarterback Well win a
22:45
playoff game and then come talk to me The Texans
22:49
I think retired Aaron Rodgers You know me like
22:52
he was getting destroyed like you see him get
22:55
hit his helmets almost off and the fumble and
22:58
then they return it then the pick six might be
23:00
his last pass of his career. Because at this
23:04
point, any team in the league watch that. You
23:07
better have a damn good offensive line if he's
23:09
gonna keep playing. Because he's not moving around
23:12
too well, and he's taking forever to throw the
23:15
ball. So unless he was getting that ball out
23:17
quick, but when he did, the Texans was just attacking
23:19
and tackling. So this was a really tough pick.
23:24
But I know who I'm picking because there's been
23:26
a team in mind. I think it's a defensive battle.
23:31
I think it will be closer than you think. But
23:37
I will go with the Houston Texans. That defense
23:40
looked so hungry and like you said, with the
23:44
momentum of getting two defensive touchdowns
23:47
and doing that in Pittsburgh. Like that's great.
23:51
You know, the Patriots won at home. They beat
23:53
Justin Herbert and Chargers. Solid win. But retiring.
23:59
Great like Aaron Rodgers most likely retiring
24:02
him and beating the Steelers in that in that
24:04
stadium Owned primetime Monday night That was
24:08
it and this Texans defense is for real. I think
24:11
CJ Stroud will bounce back The only thing that
24:14
concerns me is Nico Collins got a concussion
24:16
So, you know if he's gonna be there or not, so
24:19
they're gonna have to use You know Christian
24:20
Kirk and and some other guys a little more and
24:22
get a little creative on offense but I think
24:25
that defense is is gonna be good enough to to
24:29
win the game. So yeah, I'm going Houston Texans.
24:31
Got you. And the only thing that I'll say, and
24:35
it's a great point that you brought up about
24:37
just how stout their defenses are. If you look
24:40
at the stats for Drake May and CJ Stroud side
24:45
by side from last week, they're almost identical.
24:48
Like, it's stunning, like almost identical. Drake
24:51
made through for 268 yards, Stroud through for
24:54
250. You know, there were both around high teens
24:59
in terms of completions with, you know, twenties
25:03
in attempts. Like, you know, I think Cesar Stroud
25:06
was like 65%, Drake made was like 58%. They both
25:09
threw an interception, both threw a touchdown.
25:12
Like, so if I got to take a quarterback that
25:16
I think can overcome Having a bad game. I'm gonna
25:19
take Stroud and he's far more athletic Yeah,
25:22
and he has the opportunity to do he's more versatile
25:24
within that offense to make big plays so on an
25:28
offensive edge in terms of quarterback, I got
25:30
to give it to Stroud and and have a defense that
25:35
you're I Don't want to say comfortable with because
25:39
that that implies that you kind of let off off
25:41
the gas a little bit but a defense that you A
25:45
defense that you know has the ability to go score
25:48
you points like that, like the way they did that,
25:52
I think that makes you know that, lets you know
25:54
that, hey, if there's a big fumble, if there's
25:57
a strip sack, if there's a pick, that defense
26:00
can advance that ball upfield and give you a
26:02
chance to score some easy ass points and that
26:05
offense can take a load off. So yeah, I gotta
26:08
go with the Texans and you know. It'll it'll
26:11
end the kind of the storybook season for the
26:13
Patriots. They still would have had a good year
26:14
But yeah, I think that I think it ends for them
26:17
on yeah, it ends on Sunday Yeah, and I think
26:29
the stat I heard a couple sets I'm gonna get
26:31
into the turnovers. I think the Chargers had
26:34
like one yard passing after like somewhere in
26:38
the second quarter and then after that, it was
26:40
like one yard passing. So, they absolutely shut
26:43
Herbert and the Chargers down and then the, yeah,
26:48
Drake May had a pick and a fumble. Both of them
26:52
sacked a lot. Drake May got sacked five times.
26:56
He got sacked three times. You know, had a lot
26:58
of hurries, you know, throwing the ball away
27:00
a lot like it. Yeah, I mean, it was it was hard
27:03
fought games but looking at the outcome between
27:06
one game and the other. You know? They are. Yeah,
27:17
yeah, you're right. I mean, one, the defense
27:20
scored, you know? Yeah, I know. It's two touchdowns.
27:24
Yeah, like I said, yeah, we're agreement Texans.
27:26
Not too bad. We are agreeing on everything this
27:30
week. We went four and two last week, so not
27:34
too bad. No. All right. The last one back to
27:40
the NFC, the five seeded Rams against the two
27:44
seeded Bears. Another five to match up. Wow.
27:46
Okay. I am. Yeah. Los Angeles Rams bears. What
27:52
do you got? I'm salty about the Rams win against
27:56
the Panthers. I am not a Panthers fan. I have
28:00
never been a Panthers fan. I just live in this
28:02
area. And I've always said that, you know, that
28:07
the last Super Bowl run that the Panthers had
28:11
where they played the Broncos, it was, I loved
28:16
living in a city that had a chance to experience
28:18
it. I did not think that that was going to be,
28:21
you know, what took place this season with the
28:23
Panthers, but I did pick the Panthers to beat
28:25
them, to beat the Rams. And we all saw how close
28:28
that game was. If you want to call it a moral
28:30
victory, you can say whatever you want. but they
28:34
were competitive in that game. And if you were
28:38
a LA Rams fan, your butt was tight as that game
28:41
got close. Because the Panthers absolutely had
28:43
a shot to go down and win that game at the end,
28:46
but it didn't happen. Then you take a look at
28:50
who the Bears played in the Packers. A competitive
28:54
game, much like Panthers and Rams. But to be
29:01
able to see quarterback is durable I mean and
29:05
honestly I mean let's let's be honest I heard
29:08
somebody say this and I had to think about it
29:11
is it possible that even right now already that
29:16
Caleb Williams is the best Bears quarterback
29:19
ever is that possible could you could you name
29:24
a definitive better quarterback for the Chicago
29:28
Bears Dude. I mean, name one better. I mean,
29:39
I think the only other person in the conversation
29:42
is Cutler. I don't know about that, which he
29:43
probably is. And we watched him deflate here
29:45
after here. So yeah, you're right. He probably
29:47
is. I was just... There you go. We all did. I
29:52
saw him on that exercise bike. Well, I watched
29:56
him give up in an NFC Championship game and take,
30:01
you know... Wouldn't even fight, yeah. Yeah,
30:03
he left the game with a chance to go to the Super
30:06
Bowl and go smoke him a cig. But Caleb Williams,
30:12
I think already, I was so impressed with how
30:16
good he is in his second year. And I hate to
30:20
compare him to a Patrick Mahomes, but I'm like,
30:23
this dude is already that good. And will he get
30:28
to that level? We don't know. Yeah. But he's
30:30
already like really good. I mean, he saved their
30:34
season with that fourth down, crosses body throw.
30:38
Yeah. But still, yeah, like cross body in the
30:41
air. They've been saying the Jordan Jumpman logo
30:44
and put it right in there, save their season.
30:47
Cause if they don't get that, they lose that
30:49
game. No, I'm good. Um, so I'm going to ask you
30:53
this. If Caleb Williams is the starting quarterback
30:57
this past weekend for the Carolina Panthers,
30:59
do they win that game versus the Rams? Yes. Okay.
31:03
Then for me, this is a no brainer. The Bears
31:06
win this game easily because I think this Bears
31:10
team has, they've got the talent. They clearly
31:14
have a talented quarterback. We saw what that
31:18
matchup was this past week for the Rams and the
31:21
struggles that they had. And the one thing that
31:26
I will say is very, very cool to see. And I like
31:29
watching, I like seeing struggling sports cities
31:32
kind of have their moment. And it was great to
31:36
see the city of Chicago really embrace that team.
31:39
They love football in that city and they haven't
31:42
had a lot to cheer for. But to see people, you
31:45
know crying in the stands after that amazing
31:47
game and in the great plays that that Caleb Williams
31:50
was making You know, he had a he had a great
31:53
postgame interview on the field, you know, and
31:56
I actually I think I want to say it was Shannon
31:58
sharp I think it was Shannon sharp said that
32:00
actually, you know I think it was another podcast
32:02
where they were like he sound like somebody who
32:04
was gonna try to run for political office after
32:06
just with the how posed and composed and even
32:11
killed he was after a win like that. People talking
32:16
about his nails being painted and how he's an
32:19
emotional player and all that. He showed that
32:21
he has the ability to go out there and win a
32:24
football, a playoff game against a division rival.
32:29
I think it's the Bears with a bullet. I'm not
32:32
picking against them. I won't do it. Okay. So
32:36
both of these teams. were in games that were
32:42
obviously close. It came down to whoever had
32:46
it the last drive, things like that. Couple things
32:50
on the Bears, they came back, they were down
32:52
21 to three at half, came back, outscored the
32:56
Packers 28 to six the next second half. Packers
32:59
of course gave up, they left seven points on
33:03
the board missing two field goals and an extra
33:05
point. blowing a lead like that is just brutal.
33:11
But as I mentioned, Caleb Williams made the play.
33:15
The Bears have kind of been like this, that comeback
33:17
that, you know, you can't keep them down, kind
33:20
of all season. The Rams, as you said, the Panthers
33:26
caved them a way better game than I expected.
33:30
Kudos to the Panthers. They just decided on their
33:33
last defensive possession. to play the softest
33:37
coverage in the history of the world. Matthew
33:40
Stafford with a bum finger was just the easiest
33:44
pass. Just moving the ball down the field. Yeah.
33:47
Well, again, the corners are, you know, 15, 20
33:49
yards off. You know, they're just playing so
33:52
soft. Stafford could have thrown left handed
33:54
and still completed them. The only incompletion
33:57
he had was a Devonte Adams drop. And then the
34:00
throw to Parkinson and a great. throw, catch,
34:03
touchdown to take the lead was the only really
34:06
tough play they had. And then the Panthers get
34:09
the ball back with like 38 seconds with three
34:12
timeouts and only needing the field goal to tie
34:15
the game. I'm gonna take another shot. It was
34:18
like Kevin Petulo was calling their plays. It
34:21
was long plays downfield and at least they were
34:26
actually moving. It wasn't just four verticals.
34:28
It was long drawn out plays to develop and Bryce
34:33
Young was trying to throw downfield when the
34:35
middle of the field was wide open. So I don't
34:37
know why the Panthers weren't just trying to
34:39
do the same thing the Rams had just done, where
34:41
you just get some yardage. You know get another
34:44
playoff get another playoff then try to get in
34:46
field goal range use your three timeouts The
34:49
Panthers left that game with all three timeouts
34:51
and didn't move the ball at all on that last
34:55
Drive they had four downs and they didn't move
34:57
the ball once not a single yard so with that
35:03
being said I've been a Kind of on the Rams the
35:06
whole time even in bad games Even though their
35:11
defense is not elite It's middle of the road.
35:15
Their offense is pretty good. They got the MVP,
35:18
I believe, in Matthew Stafford. One of the top
35:22
receivers, if not this year, Puka Nakua, even
35:24
though he dropped a touchdown in that game against
35:26
Spanish. Got Devonte Adams. They got a lot of
35:30
tight ends. This game, I believe, will be high
35:34
scoring. Because the Bears give up a lot of points,
35:38
too. They've been, you know. Damn near 40 to
35:41
the 49ers and and all this stuff and it gets
35:44
other teams. I think it'll be a shootout It will
35:47
depend on who's got the ball last. I Have to
35:51
keep going with the Rams Because I have to you
35:54
know, that's just way that's just kind of my
35:56
gut and kind of how I've been rolling I thought
35:59
I thought as a fan of the Eagles that the Rams
36:02
would be in Seattle this weekend and I would
36:05
have picked the Rams to beat Seattle So I have
36:07
to pick them to beat the Bears I will go with
36:11
the Los Angeles Rams in a shootout. Okay. Yeah.
36:16
And I can't, it's not a bad pick. I, I'm confident
36:21
in my Bears pick and you know, the, to me, I'm
36:25
not trying to change your mind at all, but like
36:28
you mentioned, Stafford is banged up and the
36:32
Bears get to play inspired football after coming
36:36
off of that win at home. I just think that gives
36:39
them the edge. The Rams have been everyone's,
36:44
I guess, the most confident lock that you can
36:46
have all season. Because even in their losses,
36:50
they've been competitive. And you know that,
36:53
and I agree with you, I think they have the ability
36:55
to beat anybody. But all the Bears gotta do is
36:59
win one game. And I'm just comfortable, I can
37:02
just see them doing it. Yeah, no, I mean I wouldn't
37:05
be surprised at the Bears one. Like I said, I
37:07
think it's gonna be a shooter I'm just I'm just
37:11
not gonna pick. Yeah, I'm just not gonna pick
37:13
against the Rams Like I said, I've kind of been
37:15
rolling with them when people ask me, you know
37:18
And I didn't want to say the Eagles because of
37:20
that offense. So I would always say if I had
37:23
to pick a team That is somewhat balanced. And
37:28
again, I really look at quarterback You know,
37:31
I have to go with the Rams So I'm gonna keep
37:34
rolling that way. So so we'll see man. We got
37:36
four games We'll see how we turn out and see
37:40
if we do any better than we did last weekend
37:42
Yeah, all right So we as we said gonna do a little
37:55
coaching update we're gonna stay in the NFL a
37:58
lot of coaching changes happening. It's like
38:01
hardly can keep up like we said we did an episode
38:04
and then by the time we put it out there was
38:07
another opening and then as of today there's
38:11
another opening and it's a huge one as well as
38:14
a coordinating opening that I know I'm happy
38:17
about so let's get into the you just start with
38:21
the big one or how we want to do this um let's
38:25
start small okay we'll start small I'm not gonna
38:29
I'm not gonna take a long tone with us Long time.
38:33
My birthday is today. I got the best birthday
38:36
gift ever. Got to send Nick Sirianni something.
38:41
He did what he probably should have done three
38:43
months ago, and he fired Kevin Patulo, the offensive
38:47
coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, who
38:50
apparently, I believe he was calling plays off
38:54
of a Madden video game playbook. I would also
39:03
I would also like to say that You know the Eagles
39:07
they won back in, you know Super Bowl 52 Back
39:12
in 2017 and and we all know what won that game
39:15
helped them win that game was the Philly special
39:17
This year's team The play is of course four verticals.
39:24
So that's what I got from this year Four verticals
39:31
is this year's team's Philly special. The only
39:33
thing is it got them knocked out in the wild
39:35
card round against a practice squad at 49ers.
39:38
So I'm really happy about Petula Ogon. It's kind
39:41
of weird being happy about somebody losing their
39:43
job, but it's the NFL, it's football, he'll get
39:45
another job doing something. But that will, now
39:50
we have to look at really quick, the Eagles just
39:53
briefly on this coaching. We've seen this before,
39:57
right? The first year, not really worried about
40:02
it, the one year in the playoffs. But obviously
40:05
they went to the Super Bowl the first time, he
40:07
had Shane Steichen. And of course they barely
40:11
lost that Super Bowl, but obviously a great offense,
40:15
put up 35 points. Just couldn't get that ball
40:18
back in that game. Hertz balled out, the whole
40:22
team balled out all season. Then Steichen goes
40:26
on to the Colts. Then they promote, again, key
40:31
word, promoted Brian Johnson the next season.
40:35
And that was, of course, the down season. They
40:37
finished 11 and 6. They get smashed in the playoffs
40:40
in the first, again, the wild card round against
40:42
the Buccaneers. Then the next year, they obviously
40:47
fired Johnson. They go outside the staff again,
40:51
and they get Kellen Moore. What do they do? Great
40:56
offense. Big numbers, they go to the Super Bowl,
40:58
not only go, they win the Super Bowl. Hertz again,
41:01
balls out, the whole team is balling out. Saquon
41:03
has a magical year, 2 ,000 yards, rushing. And
41:07
then, of course, unfortunately, you know, Kelly
41:09
Moore gets the job in Saints. And what does Sirianni
41:12
do? He promotes from within. His boy, Kevin Petullo,
41:15
all season, the offense was like this. And it
41:21
showed again in a playoff game, right? A great
41:24
half of football. I thought the first half of
41:26
that game, and I'm not gonna break down the game,
41:28
I'm just saying the first half of that game against
41:29
the 49ers, they were doing different things.
41:33
And then the second half, he went back to the
41:34
same old stuff. And of course, obviously the
41:36
final drive, the four verticals, no chance for
41:41
success. But Sirianni has to get this right.
41:46
And I don't care that he won a Super Bowl. I
41:49
don't care that he's gone to two Super Bowls.
41:51
I don't care about his winning record. And I
41:53
don't wanna make this about Sirianni, but I got
41:55
thoughts about him. But he's gotta get this right.
42:02
So again, obviously he's gonna go outside the
42:05
building and hire someone, and a real quick name
42:09
that come to mind, someone who coached Jalen
42:12
Hurts. as his coordinator in college at Alabama,
42:16
I really would like the Eagles to get Brian Dayball.
42:20
I don't think Dayball will get a head coaching
42:22
job this cycle, so I really, really, really hope
42:25
that's the guy. I don't really have any thoughts
42:31
on who I think they should get as an OC. I think
42:37
it's just a little too soon. I think there's
42:40
gonna be a lot of developments. that take place
42:43
throughout the rest of the playoffs that you
42:46
know like anything can happen so i don't want
42:48
i don't want to rush to judgment on that um you've
42:52
been critical of petula all year for good reason
42:55
for good measure and i mean the fact the fact
43:00
that they let him go in this manner was very
43:05
I think it was obvious. I don't even know if
43:07
you saw what happened when Jalen hurts was asked
43:10
about it after the game and he's like, ah, you
43:12
know, now's not the time for me to kind of, you
43:14
know, make, make, you know, make any comments
43:16
on it. And then here it is, you know, a couple
43:19
of days later he's let go. So I don't think anyone's
43:22
going to be shedding any tears for him. He had
43:23
his opportunities to kind of turn things around
43:26
and he didn't, you know, the office had been
43:29
bad from the beginning of the year to the end.
43:31
And he had chances to improve and just didn't
43:33
do it. So he'll be fine. I'm not going to feel
43:38
bad for him. He will get other opportunities.
43:41
But I don't want to rush to say who I would rather
43:46
see in that position. I want to just let the
43:49
rest of the season play out, see how the roster
43:51
develops, see what changes, and then go from
43:53
there. OK, that's fair. It's just, again, day
43:56
ball just came to mind. They came to mind earlier
44:00
when obviously he got fired, but You know if
44:04
you're just thinking ahead I was like maybe but
44:08
another team that After I recording let go of
44:14
their head coach and as a guy we actually praised
44:16
and thought maybe he was gonna get on the chance
44:18
But they changed GM's so that obviously what
44:21
normally when that happens They're gonna go get
44:23
their own coach and the Miami Dolphins let go
44:25
of Mike McDaniel Another guy, if you don't get
44:28
a coaching job, maybe an OC. Another name. But
44:34
yeah, I think Miami just, again, I think it mainly
44:38
came down to that. New general manager, probably
44:42
gonna go get his own guy. They're probably gonna
44:45
change quarterbacks, so it's kind of a package
44:48
deal. Let's see what else we can do in Miami.
44:52
McDaniel has flashes, and he just. It's very
44:57
similar to Raheem Morrison in Atlanta. It dug
45:01
a deep hole, made a late run, just not enough
45:06
at the end of the day to keep his job. Yeah,
45:13
I told you I had Mike Redanio as my coach of
45:15
the year. He was my coach of the year for him
45:20
being able to keep his job all season as bad
45:22
as the Dolphins were. He's another one, man.
45:26
He'll be fine. I we all we all were expecting
45:30
him. We were expecting him to get fired. Yeah.
45:33
You know, months, months ago, forget weeks ago,
45:35
months ago, we were trying to fire him in the
45:37
middle of the season. I have there's so many
45:42
candidates out there. There are so many. There's
45:47
a lot of shakeups that are taking place in all
45:49
the football. And I know, you know, this is an
45:51
NFL heavy show, but even in college football.
45:54
There's a lot of opportunities for a lot of college
45:56
coaches to get some chances in the NFL ranks.
45:59
And there's a lot of things up in the air. I
46:02
ain't Adam Schefter. I'm not Diana Rusini. I
46:06
don't know who is going to do what, who's looking
46:08
for what. And these owners have kind of showed
46:13
an impatience in some organizations and a lot
46:19
of... you know, comfort instability in others,
46:23
you know, even, and I'll use an example for Matt
46:25
LaFleur and Green Bay, where even after that
46:28
loss, they're looking at signing that dude to
46:30
an extension because they like the things that
46:32
he's done with that team. I have no opinion on
46:36
that one way or another, but you know, if there
46:39
are a lot of other coaches in that same situation
46:41
to where they would have let his ass go as long
46:43
as he's been there, but. there's something in
46:46
that Packers organization where it's like, no,
46:48
we want to keep this guy. So, um, I think there,
46:51
it says a lot for how teams are going about the
46:55
way that they're doing things. We heard, you
46:57
know, some of the rumors about the dolphins,
46:59
how they're bringing in some of these NFL legends
47:02
to assess their organization and see where they
47:04
can improve remains to be seen. But you know,
47:09
if, if your house is stinking and you bring in
47:14
a rotten fish, head coach and you get rid of
47:17
that rotten fish, your house is still gonna smell.
47:21
And we'll have to see what they bring in. We'll
47:23
have to see who they bring in and if they can
47:25
help clean up that mess and get their organization
47:27
smelling fresh. But I don't care who the Dolphins
47:30
bring in. I just don't see it. I don't think
47:32
they're a stable organization, at least at this
47:35
point in time. Yeah, they're brought in Troy
47:37
Aikman to help out with all this. Yeah, we shall
47:44
see what the Dolphins do. I think it's a toss
47:47
up of who they're gonna hire and might meet Daniel
47:50
I think He's another one like Brian day ball
47:53
I think that will just be a coordinator And we
47:56
just mentioned the Eagles, but there's a lot
47:58
of OC jobs out there with teams that have head
48:02
coaches and obviously the nine openings outside
48:06
of the Dolphins so eight openings that they're
48:09
going to get a new head coach and they'll need
48:11
a coordinator. And I think, yeah, Mike McDaniel
48:13
will get a job. If not as a head coach, definitely
48:16
as offensive coordinator, because yeah, there's
48:19
double digits of those that need an OC, so. Gotcha.
48:28
Yeah. Go ahead and end it with the haymaker.
48:33
Yeah, like this fell in our lap again on the
48:36
day we're recording. Wow, I mean just the the
48:40
yeah, I mean it's like the John Harbaugh obviously
48:43
they're so connected The Steelers Mike Tomlin
48:47
stepping down 19 years. He had one year on on
48:52
Harbaugh They have been connected for their whole
48:55
tenure Obviously a part of that Steeler Raven
48:59
rivalry They both got a Super Bowl We thought
49:04
they would coach their teams forever and here
49:07
in the same offseason, even though Tomlin won
49:10
the battle to get to the playoffs, they both
49:13
are now looking for jobs. And again, we talked
49:15
about hardball before, and of course now we can
49:18
add the Steelers and Dolphins to that list. And
49:23
I joked about that, that the Steelers would hire
49:25
hardball. And believe it or not, today, the Ravens,
49:30
they were joking about hiring Tomlin. They found
49:33
out at the podium, and it was kind of a joke.
49:37
And the guy's name is left me, so it was just
49:42
funny that now the Ravens could be a job for
49:45
Mike Tomlin. Tomlin and Harbaugh to me could
49:48
get any job they want, any team. I believe they
49:51
would be stupid not to interview and go after
49:55
and make the call to get Tomlin, whether they
49:58
have a coach or not. Just like, as you mentioned,
50:01
that word about the Jets possibly had called
50:04
about Harbaugh Think teams are gonna call they're
50:09
gonna call these guys they win and You at the
50:12
end of the day you want to win and I'm not gonna
50:15
stick on hardball here But yeah Tomlin obviously
50:17
never had a losing record He's just run lately
50:20
is hey I make it to the playoffs, but then it
50:23
then it fizzles seven straight trips and I think
50:27
the last said the last five they had lost by
50:30
double digits They weren't even competitive So
50:34
that ultimately run its course We don't know
50:37
behind the scenes what happened with Tomlin and
50:39
the Steelers. If they mutually agreed, it said
50:42
he stepped down, he had one year left. That's
50:45
where the Packers are gonna, the word is they're
50:48
gonna sign LeFleur. You don't wanna be a lame
50:51
duck coach cuz normally there's not another year
50:54
after that. So yeah, Tomlin, I think if he wants
50:58
to work, he can work. And it is shocking though,
51:02
it just - You know Steelers have only had three
51:05
head coaches and now they're looking for their
51:06
fourth. And that's a big one that you just. Like
51:11
I don't have any names that come to mind. I heard
51:14
on McAfee they talked about Mike McCarthy is
51:16
from Pittsburgh. He's a huge fan. His family
51:19
is a huge fan. I don't know if that's the guy,
51:23
but that's an interesting name. They obviously
51:27
it just happened so you know no names have come
51:29
out. But it is. that's a big job, big name. They're
51:35
going to need a quarterback most likely either
51:37
way, whoever was coaching that team. And yeah,
51:41
it's it's it's kind of a history. It's a historic
51:43
day. Yeah, it is. And I I want to make I want
51:51
to make this part clear because I got some takes
51:53
and I'm going to go after some people here in
51:55
a second. But as of this recording, I don't know
52:01
whether or not the Steelers had any intention
52:04
of getting rid of Mike Tomlin. Let's keep in
52:08
mind that this was a gentleman who's quoted as
52:11
saying, I have decided to step down as a head
52:14
coach. I don't know if the intentions were for
52:17
the team to get rid of him. This could have absolutely
52:19
been something that was mutually agreed to by
52:20
the two parties. I don't know. But then the president,
52:25
Art Rooney II, said that he was extremely grateful
52:29
for all of his hard work, dedication and success
52:31
that they shared over the last 19 years. It's
52:33
hard for me to put into words a level of respect
52:35
and appreciation I have for coach Tomlin. That
52:38
doesn't sound like the words of a gentleman who
52:40
intended to let him go. So I'm just going to
52:42
say that, I'm not going to say that it may were
52:43
taken by surprise, but just at face value right
52:47
now, we don't know whether or not this was something
52:50
where Tomlin's like, you know what? I think I'm
52:52
finished here. I think I've done all that I could
52:55
do with this organization. Okay, his resume is
52:59
bulletproof. Like you said, never had a losing
53:01
record. The culture that he brings to an organization
53:06
is impeccable. I just want to draw a very interesting
53:14
contrast between what happened with the Pittsburgh
53:20
Steelers and Mike Tomlin. and what took place
53:28
originally right after the season ended this
53:33
year with the Atlanta Falcons. And how, and I
53:41
actually said this in one of our last recordings,
53:44
our last podcast. They got rid of Raheem Morris.
53:48
They wouldn't even let that dude leave the building
53:50
after that loss without firing him. Same day.
53:55
Sometimes how you do things matters. You can
54:00
do it. If you're going to get rid of somebody,
54:03
fine. But sometimes the way that it's executed
54:07
lends to what type of establishment that you
54:11
have. I don't know anything about Arthur Blank,
54:14
owner of the Falcons, but it seems like a shitty
54:17
way to let somebody go who has been... as competitive
54:22
as you can be as a coach of the Falcons for all
54:26
teams. But to see him be let go that way and
54:33
to see Tomlin have an opportunity to step down
54:37
with class, with the ownership group showing
54:41
appreciation for the things that he's brought
54:43
that team for two decades and giving him a great
54:47
opportunity as one of the shining examples of
54:51
Being a great coach in the NFL. I just wanted
54:54
to just kind of just put those two side by side
54:56
and Clearly you can make whatever you want of
55:00
it and maybe there's more that comes out about
55:02
the Steelers, but I Feel like the Steelers are
55:06
gonna do what they've always done Which is go
55:08
get a nice quality head coaching candidate for
55:12
the fourth time since they're since they've existed
55:15
and I feel like the Falcons are gonna dig around
55:19
in the trash bin and and bring in some BS coach,
55:23
you know, maybe he has some success, maybe he
55:26
doesn't, but I can guarantee you right now, Kent,
55:28
if you had to bet any amount of money on which
55:31
franchise was going to have any success over
55:33
the next decade, bet you you ain't picking the
55:36
Falcons over the Steelers. No, you know, and
55:39
I don't care. And I don't care what coach they
55:41
get. Hell, they can go get Harbaugh. And you
55:43
know, if I told you right now, no, I like this
55:46
game. If I told you that the Falcons bring in
55:49
Harbaugh. Bring in Harbaugh sign him to a 10
55:53
-year deal and I say the Steelers hire anybody
55:57
Who you taking? Well, I don't want I don't want
56:02
to like completely go against you So so the Falcons
56:06
word is they they did interview Harbaugh or they're
56:08
going to I saw that as well So good for them,
56:11
but of course they also You know, I believe talked
56:14
to Belichick the last cycle and still hired Raheem
56:16
Morris I don't know if the Falcons again, they
56:21
got rid of their GM. But I don't know if that
56:24
was connected with the Raheem Morris. But like
56:26
you said, there is a way to do it. Not right
56:29
after his press conference the same day. I don't
56:32
think Raheem Morris deserved that. There's guys
56:35
that normally, it goes down bad and then you
56:38
fire on the same day. Hell, the Cleveland Browns
56:40
didn't even fire Stefanski the same day. You
56:43
know what I mean? Exactly. So yeah, I will agree
56:46
there. Will say the the Falcons have been to
56:49
the Super Bowl Since you know sooner, I mean
56:53
more recently than the Steelers Now they blew
56:58
a 28 to 3 lead but They did. And what happened
57:03
after that Super Bowl, Ken? Oh, yeah, they did
57:04
nothing. I know. They haven't done anything.
57:06
I mean, the Steelers at least win. And that's
57:08
what I'm saying. Yeah, flashing the paint here.
57:11
And like I said, I'm not... Look, and I'm from
57:13
Georgia, dude. I've never been a Falcons fan.
57:16
I could dunk on them all day. But the analogy
57:19
I said earlier about your house stinking, and
57:22
you get rid of that one rotten fish, but your
57:25
house still smells, that's the Falcons to me.
57:28
And I could tell you right now, the Pittsburgh
57:33
Steelers are in the top five of stable sports
57:41
franchises in America. I'm telling you, they
57:45
could bring in, I mean, you gotta keep in mind,
57:47
Tomlin was a first year head coach for them.
57:51
You can't. Come on, it's in their culture. They're
57:56
going to cultivate their relationships and build
57:59
someone up. That will not happen in Atlanta.
58:03
Don't care who the Steelers bring in. Guarantee
58:05
you don't have more success than whoever. They
58:08
can have Harbaugh. Give Harbaugh everything he
58:10
wants. All the money, all the staff, all the
58:13
control, which is something else that he allegedly
58:15
wanted was all the control. That's not going
58:18
to happen in Pittsburgh. And I guarantee you
58:20
they'll have more success than the Falcons. Yeah,
58:23
I don't yeah, I don't see hardball going to the
58:25
Falcons even though they could give him full
58:28
control so Yeah, I just don't know about that
58:34
situation with the again who knows If he wants
58:40
all control then maybe he does go to Atlanta
58:42
and like you said I agree though the Steelers
58:43
though they they will They were they're the more
58:47
stable franchise. I trust them over Atlanta their
58:52
owner Walt Disney I think that you know they
58:56
will I think they will make a good you know I
59:01
just don't have a name that you know of course
59:04
but we didn't know who Tomlin was so obviously
59:06
they'll do their interviews and I agree with
59:09
you know I don't I don't particularly like the
59:11
McCarthy but I will say though McCarthy wins
59:16
So if they want, and again, a veteran coach,
59:19
then maybe that's good. Hometown guy, you know
59:21
he's gonna win, gotta get him a quarterback.
59:23
That's the biggest thing, those Steelers, they
59:24
just haven't had a quarterback since Roethlisberger.
59:28
They've done a terrible job at doing that. Rodgers
59:31
was actually their best quarterback they've had
59:33
in recent years, and that's sad that it took
59:37
a 42 -year -old, one of the greats, and he did
59:42
all that he could do. But again, time caught
59:46
up with them. And when you get against that young
59:48
fast defense, they're gonna get after you and
59:51
retire you real quick, if that's the case. But
59:54
as far as the coaching again, the Steelers, I'm
59:57
just really intrigued and interested to see which
1:00:00
way they'll go. And I will say, I will say a
1:00:07
couple of things for that. You just really quick,
1:00:09
you mentioned the quarterback situation, Aaron
1:00:11
Rodgers. Yes, he had a really good year. I was
1:00:13
not expecting him to be this good this year,
1:00:16
but they've been trying. Who were their quarterbacks
1:00:18
last year, dude? They brought in two really good
1:00:21
quarterbacks on paper and Russell Wilson and
1:00:23
Justin Fields. They just didn't work out. They've
1:00:27
been trying. And even with that and that mismatch
1:00:30
of of quarterbacks and who's going to start and
1:00:32
who's not, they still ended up going above 500.
1:00:35
So, yeah, you know, that's what I mean. If it's
1:00:38
Mike McCarthy on that sideline, I think you have
1:00:41
a level of confidence in him that you haven't
1:00:43
had in him forever just because he's got that
1:00:46
Steelers brand behind him. They know how to build
1:00:49
football teams. And if there's things that he
1:00:51
don't know, they'll teach him. So I just I think
1:00:55
that it's it'll be a really, really good a really
1:00:58
good opportunity for any coach that they bring
1:01:00
in and I mean it remains to be seen but maybe
1:01:04
that maybe don't make a pick and we'll go what
1:01:05
the hell are they thinking but I think we trust
1:01:08
them to make a good football decision and bring
1:01:11
the right people into that organization. Yeah
1:01:15
I think again the biggest question do they go
1:01:17
again a young up -and -comer like when they hire
1:01:20
Tomlin or they go veteran with Mike McCarthy
1:01:22
someone like that or a John Harbaugh who knows
1:01:25
right they could do the unthinkable. And so could
1:01:28
the Ravens right so That's interesting again
1:01:33
another conversation for another episode is gonna
1:01:35
be quarterbacks and the Steelers will be on that
1:01:37
list of you know They're gonna need a quarterback,
1:01:39
so that's a big thing for them as well, but that's
1:01:42
another conversation But yeah, just really shocked
1:01:45
that the other day did come where you know Tomlin
1:01:48
is not a Steeler and Again for it to happen the
1:01:51
same week as John Harbaugh getting you know being
1:01:56
out in Baltimore is even more crazy. So crazier.
1:02:01
So, um, yeah, the coaching carousel continues.
1:02:05
Yeah. I do, I do have a hot take. I just want
1:02:09
to get it out there on record before somebody
1:02:11
else does. It's just a hot take. I have no, no
1:02:15
skin in the game. This is just a guess. I I could
1:02:21
see the Steelers going with another young coach.
1:02:23
I could see them bringing in someone from the
1:02:25
college rings. And I could absolutely see them
1:02:28
and you wouldn't be shocked at all if they made
1:02:31
an offer to Notre Dame head football coach Marcus
1:02:35
Freeman and asked him to come and be the football
1:02:38
coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I don't think
1:02:40
you'd be shocked by that. No ESPN is saying that
1:02:44
he's going to stay despite NFL jobs, but As we
1:02:49
know, that could change in a second. That doesn't
1:02:53
mean anything. I don't mean anything. It's 2026,
1:02:59
man. NIL is alive and well. Again, go look at
1:03:03
Bobby Petrino, Nick Sabat, these guys who say
1:03:08
they're not leaving, but they do, or guys who
1:03:11
leave in the middle of the night and write the
1:03:13
team a note. You never know. Freeman, though,
1:03:16
seems like an up. Obviously he seems like an
1:03:19
upstanding guy and he wouldn't do that, but he
1:03:22
could definitely change his mind. Because again,
1:03:25
NFL is the ultimate job for a lot of guys and
1:03:29
you know, that's a. You know he was he had been
1:03:31
mentioned real quick on Freeman mentioned about
1:03:33
the Giants, but the Steelers is like a whole
1:03:36
nother story, man. That is historic and to if
1:03:39
they were if you got listen somebody offers you
1:03:42
that job you have to. Yeah, why would you turn
1:03:45
that down? And that's another conversation too,
1:03:50
like the college, the way it is, you know, obviously
1:03:53
how they operate now, it's kind of like, eh,
1:03:57
you know. My thing is, he's young. I would hate
1:04:00
for Notre Dame to lose him as a Notre Dame fan.
1:04:02
I like Freeman. I think he's building something
1:04:05
great there. But again, as I say with a lot of
1:04:09
these young guys, like man, if you want to coach
1:04:10
in the NFL, go do it. You can always go back
1:04:12
to college. Absolutely. Yeah, nobody's gonna
1:04:17
stop you and you get a job in a second. Yeah,
1:04:20
and then the stealer job is, you know, it's that
1:04:22
cowboy 49er packer, you know, it's that, you
1:04:26
know, yeah, chef's kiss. Yeah, it's that the
1:04:30
historic franchises that, you know, if they call,
1:04:34
you might want to answer that call. Oh, yeah,
1:04:38
you gonna take that call. And if you don't take
1:04:40
that call you better believe your agent Well,
1:04:42
he's gonna take the call and then we'll see what
1:04:45
happens. So yeah, that that is interesting. I
1:04:47
like that Obviously again, I don't want to lose
1:04:50
them, but that's a really good name. That would
1:04:53
be yeah, definitely That's a big name and a good
1:04:56
one All right, so I think that is it we've covered
1:05:00
what we covered NFL divisional round coming up
1:05:04
this weekend And coaching carousel continues.
1:05:08
We're up to nine openings. I don't think anyone
1:05:10
thought we'd get there. But again, that's another
1:05:14
episode of Fanatically Speaking. I am Kent, the
1:05:17
co -host and promoter. I'm Log Off, Log Off legend,
1:05:23
hater of social media. I'm the co -host and producer
1:05:26
of the show. Yes, another episode of Fanatically
1:05:29
Speaking. Follow us on all the socials, TikTok,
1:05:33
Facebook, YouTube. Instagram. Uh, the podcast
1:05:37
is available everywhere. You get podcasts, uh,
1:05:39
Amazon music, Apple podcasts, Spotify, our heart
1:05:42
radio, uh, YouTube again, um, like share, subscribe,
1:05:47
um, comment post, um, everywhere, pass it along,
1:05:52
uh, share it on all your, uh, uh, social media
1:05:56
feeds and all that fun stuff. Uh, copy the link
1:05:58
and share it with somebody. Yeah. As always listen.
1:06:04
Like, follow, share, download, tell a friend,
1:06:09
pass it along, and tap that app. Tap the app.
1:06:16
You tapping apps. Tap that app. Tap the apps.
1:06:22
Right? I think that's it. That's all I got. We
1:06:24
out. Yeah. Yep. Good runtime. Yeah, we're good.