Latest / Fanatically Speaking with Kent / NFL Wild Card Weekend: Upsets, Cam Newton Cameos & AA-Ron's’ Last Ride?

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NFL Wild Card Weekend: Upsets, Cam Newton Cameos & AA-Ron's’ Last Ride? · 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 dad
0:53
why you always knocking down people listen you
0:56
got the highs and the lows yeah so I knew that
0:58
you need you need the highs and the lows and
1:01
so I do that yeah but I'm trying to be the voice
1:04
of reason here I am what I am Hey, what's up,
1:17
everybody? Welcome to another episode of fanatically
1:19
speaking. I am Kent, your co -host and promoter.
1:22
I am log off the log off legend, hater of social
1:25
media. I am very angry. I am the co -host and
1:29
producer of the show. Yes. And today's episode,
1:33
we're going to get into the NFL playoffs. They
1:37
are beginning this weekend and then we're going
1:40
to touch all over the coaches. We're going to
1:43
hit on that, that, you know, They got fired.
1:46
Hey, yo, touch all over the coaches. Oh, I would
1:52
you. Yeah, man. We know you did a no daddy inside
1:58
inside show. No, Deshaun Watson. No, Deshaun
2:02
Watson. Oh, no. Hey, no, no. Oh, oh, my God.
2:07
Justin Tucker. No, Justin Tucker either. No,
2:11
no, Justin Tucker. We did. We did a show. I screwed
2:15
up the recording. We made some, uh, some of this
2:18
stuff is actually better because we actually
2:20
got some, some answers or what, what was going
2:22
to take place. But that's why I'm angry, but
2:25
I'm just going to take my anger out on these
2:26
picks and the, and the teams that I don't like.
2:29
And some of the stuff on some of these coaches
2:30
too. So yeah, let's, um, yeah, let's let it rip.
2:33
Where do you want to start, man? We got a full
2:35
playoff slate. We know all of the matchups. We
2:38
know all the seedings. Where do you want to go
2:40
first? Well, let's lay it out. We're gonna do
2:43
just this weekend. Just the wild card round.
2:49
So I'd like to start with the easiest game to
2:54
pick. In my eyes. And that's the Los Angeles
3:02
Rams and the Carolina Panthers. Okay. Get the
3:08
five seed Rams and the four seed Panthers. This,
3:11
of course, is because the Panthers won the very
3:16
competitive NFC Salp. Very competitive. Yeah.
3:22
Well, hey, it was a three -way tie for first
3:24
place. So knock it all you want. They did win
3:28
with the losing record. And another conversation
3:33
for another day is losing records, winning your
3:37
division. I mean, winning your, yeah, winning
3:40
your division, get a higher seed than other teams.
3:43
My only thing to that is if you take that away,
3:45
then what's the point of having divisions? So.
3:49
Exactly. Anyways, I don't want to, I don't want
3:51
to listen to people complain. Yeah. I don't want
3:53
to listen to people complain because the ramp,
3:55
because the Rams, you know, won so many games,
3:58
but they got to go on the road, suck it up, buttercup.
4:00
You should have won your division. Like the Panthers
4:02
did. You should have won your division. That
4:04
is correct. Should have won your division. So
4:07
yeah, so you said this one is kind of the easiest.
4:10
I would love to hear why. I just, well, one,
4:15
we've talked about this before. I think, you
4:17
know, I'm a big fan of the Rams. I do think they're,
4:24
you know, you got your probably MVP quarterback.
4:27
You got your, you know, Again, MVP quarterback
4:32
and Super Bowl winning quarterback, Super Bowl
4:34
winning head coach. Coach McVeigh has been to
4:38
the Super Bowl twice. I think they've got a lot
4:40
of good things on offense and defense. It's a
4:42
good mix. Now, are they the best defense? No.
4:48
Are they the best offense? No. But I think they
4:51
got a good mix. So I do like the Rams. They did
4:53
play the Panthers earlier. And it was a kind
4:57
of a rainy day that day. Saturday, this coming
5:02
Saturday when they play, it's a 70 % chance of
5:05
rain. I didn't get into a whole lot of details
5:07
in the weather. So weather -wise, that's where
5:11
I give the Panthers a fighting chance. I give
5:15
them another chance because they're at home.
5:20
But I think experience is going to matter, and
5:23
I think the Rams are going to get it going. And
5:27
there's a reason why, you know, Kittle for the
5:32
Niners was pulling for the Cardinals to beat
5:34
the Rams because they wanted to come to Carolina
5:36
They didn't want you know, everybody was wanting
5:38
to play that NFC South or whoever right could
5:42
have been the Bucks But yeah, I'm going with
5:44
the Rams and I don't think that the Panthers
5:46
can beat them twice. I Think the first time they
5:51
had a hell of a day They turned over Stafford
5:54
Bryce Young made plays. I don't think it can
5:57
happen again So I am picking the Los Angeles
6:00
Rams to win this game. All right. I, I'm going
6:08
to disagree. I think the Panthers have, you say
6:13
a fighting chance. The advantages that you mentioned
6:16
that the Panthers have, they're pretty big advantages,
6:20
dude. to be able to play at home and, and, and
6:23
I know NFL teams travel a lot and you know, the
6:26
only time teams really seem to complain about
6:28
travel is when they got to go overseas to London,
6:30
you know, or Mexico city or whatever, but the
6:33
Rams got to travel all the way across the country.
6:35
Come over here and play in Charlotte. Okay. That's
6:38
the first thing. Second thing. Is the weather
6:41
I'm not really gonna read too much into it. Although
6:45
that in itself does play into the Panthers Advantage
6:48
too because their run game is phenomenal Their
6:52
run game is really good and really strong and
6:54
that's what you're gonna have to do where you
6:56
mentioned the Rams Stafford's been fantastic.
7:00
He probably will win the MVP But having to throw
7:04
the ball to be able to put points up it's gonna
7:07
be in a disadvantage for him having to play in
7:09
the ring That's point number two. Point number
7:12
three, you kind of glossed over the fact that
7:15
the Panthers already beat them once. That's a
7:19
huge mental block where it's almost as if they
7:22
want to kind of get like some get back where
7:25
they want to, oh, okay, yeah, I'll show you guys
7:28
that it was a fluke. And one of those touchdowns
7:31
that the Panthers scored was a defensive touchdown.
7:33
So it's not all of those points didn't come from
7:35
the offense. True. They have the ability to do
7:39
what they did to the Rams again And if they did
7:43
it again, it wouldn't be shocking. It was shocking
7:46
the first time but if they do the exact if this
7:49
a high if it's a mid 20 low 30 point scoring
7:54
game and The Panthers go out and win I don't
7:57
care how would it even if it's with a field goal
7:59
at the end Even if this with some errant fumble
8:02
or pick six or whatever You're not gonna be shocked
8:07
at what took place on that on that field Okay,
8:11
so so all I'm gonna say to come back at you about
8:14
the Panthers Rams is That we saw what they did
8:19
in the weather in Tampa last week So again, I
8:25
think weather plays a part on both teams I Think
8:28
the Panthers can't compete as I said Loser not
8:32
trying to run flea flickers from the 20 things
8:35
like that, then I think they'll be okay. But
8:39
I still pick the Rams. Okay. No, and it's fine.
8:42
Like I said, if I think, I think if either team
8:45
wins, I don't think the world would be shocked
8:47
because we've seen the Panthers do it already.
8:50
It was shocking to see it the first time you
8:52
beat the same team twice and it just so happens
8:54
to be in your building on a, you know, during
8:58
playoff season. I don't think anybody's going
9:00
to be surprised. I like the Panthers chances.
9:03
I'm going to, I'm going to pick the Panthers.
9:05
I think they have a, I think they have a legitimate
9:07
shot to do it. And I don't think anybody is,
9:13
I'm pretty sure a lot of people, they shouldn't
9:15
be shocked, but if anybody's going to be shocked,
9:18
it's going to be the Rams on that field. So let's
9:21
see. I don't know, man. I mean, they had the
9:25
lowest chance to get to the ball. Not saying
9:27
I just need to win this game. They're hosting,
9:30
they're hosting a playoff game here for the first
9:31
time in a decade. I'm going to, I'm going to
9:34
give them the credit that they've earned as a
9:37
home playoff team. Hey, guess what? What? Cam
9:41
Newton ain't walking, Cam Newton ain't walking
9:43
through that door. Superman ain't ripping open
9:48
that shirt. You're not changing in that phone
9:50
booth. No, the Panthers got the boy wonder. So.
9:52
Yo, so hold on. And actually it's funny you said
9:54
that before we move on. I'm going to ask you
9:56
this. If you had to You had to bet whether or
10:01
not Cam is there live at the game. Yes or no?
10:07
I don't think so. There's obviously buzz that
10:11
the fans want him there. They've made no effort
10:15
to do anything with Cam since he. Air quote retired
10:20
because he hasn't officially said the words and
10:24
put in the paperwork, so it would be great for
10:27
him to be there. I think that could get the crowd
10:30
pumped up. I think Cam, Panthers, they need to
10:34
make it happen. That would be amazing. I think
10:37
Cam should be, I think Cam should, I agree with
10:39
you. I think Cam should be there too. And it
10:41
would be awesome to see him. And I say that,
10:44
and I say that, you know, it's just wishful thinking.
10:46
Yeah, but I say that because if the fans want
10:47
him, like I know he's got issues or whatever
10:50
with the Panthers and they haven't reached out
10:51
and these things like that, but the fans want
10:53
him there. So Cam, you know. wear a big, wear
10:59
a big colorful hat. We'll see. And yeah, bang
11:01
the drum. Yeah, let's do it. Next game, next
11:13
matchup where you want to go. All right. So the
11:16
next game, let's, let's switch over to the AFC.
11:19
Let's just go back and forth. How's that? Okay.
11:25
I'm gonna go to my next what I think is again
11:29
an easier pick and I'm gonna go to the seven
11:34
seated Chargers going to the two seated New England
11:38
Patriots. Okay. Hold on. Hold on. I know what's
11:42
going to take place here. Go ahead and go ahead
11:48
and let the Chargers have it. I'm pretty sure
11:49
there's one person who you've got in your in
11:52
your crosshairs right now. Go ahead and take
11:54
them out. I got a few quarter. I got a few guys
11:59
in my crosshairs for these playoffs. No, but
12:01
this guy, this guy for sure. You about to take
12:04
his head off. Go ahead. Go ahead and snipe him.
12:09
But I'm going to go, I am definitely going to
12:12
go with the Patriots to win this game. You know,
12:16
as I, as I've said to you and I probably said
12:20
it on here. I, uh, I think Justin Herbert is
12:26
the most overrated player in the league. Said
12:31
it on here. You said it on here like three or
12:33
four times. Well, you know, I can't remember.
12:37
I'm getting old. I'm going to go with the Patriots.
12:44
They're up there tied with the Broncos for best
12:46
record. They just end up being the two seed in
12:49
the AFC, best record in the AFC. Yeah, they're
12:54
rolling. I don't really have a lot of faith in
12:57
Herbert The Chargers I think that the offensive
13:00
line. They've got injuries issues. I Don't think
13:04
they're quite there yet. I think there are some
13:07
pieces away That defense they they do play hard.
13:11
They do get turnovers. That could be something
13:13
Drake may first time in the playoffs But again,
13:17
I'm going with the home team on this one And
13:20
I'm going to go with the coach who's been there
13:22
before. He's led a team to the AFC championship
13:27
when he variable when he was with the Titans.
13:29
I think the Patriots and the crowd will be ready
13:34
to again have a meaningful playoff game. So yeah,
13:37
I am definitely going with the Patriots to beat
13:40
the Chargers. Okay, I am going to agree with
13:45
you. Honestly, for a lot of the same reasons
13:49
that I think the Panthers could beat the Rams.
13:52
So the Chargers have to travel all the way to
13:56
New England to play the Patriots at home. Okay?
14:01
The Patriots are a consistent, well -balanced
14:04
team. They are balanced all across the board.
14:08
They can do everything. Their wide receivers
14:11
can catch. They run great routes. Their running
14:14
game is strong. Their offensive line is good.
14:17
Their defensive line is good. Their special teams
14:20
is good. You mentioned variable having a coaching
14:23
advantage. It's always going to play to your
14:25
benefit in the playoffs. Um, this is a little
14:28
kind of out of, you know, sequence for the traditional
14:30
Patriots that we know. Usually they, they get
14:32
a first round by when they had Tom Brady. Uh,
14:36
but, but this will be, this is, is a nice warm
14:40
up game for them. They've been great all year.
14:43
They don't have a ton of weaknesses other than
14:46
the fact that their quarterback is young and
14:48
inexperienced, which may come into play. But
14:51
I think all the other pieces, excuse me, all
14:54
the other pieces around them and all the other
14:57
parts of that team would be enough. And we've
14:59
seen this before and we could talk about Tom
15:02
Brady's first three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
15:05
He did not play that great throughout those first
15:07
three playoffs. He was not the Tom Brady that
15:09
we saw, you know, throwing for 450 yards a game
15:13
versus the Eagles in the Super Bowl. He had to
15:16
evolve into that. And the Patriots as an organization
15:19
have always done a great job at kind of uplifting
15:22
their talent. and supporting them as best that
15:25
they can to be able to win games in the postseason.
15:27
And I think that the Patriots do this easily.
15:30
I don't have a lot to say about the Chargers.
15:32
I think a lot of their, their wins, especially
15:34
over the last two to three years with Herbert
15:36
have been a little food gazey. And we've seen
15:39
them have flashes where they can do things that
15:41
are, that are fancy and, and impress people.
15:44
But it's not going to happen this weekend, man.
15:47
It's the Patriots all the way. And yeah, I got
15:49
to pick them too. Yeah, and since the NFL is
15:52
not gonna deal with the Patriots' felonies, then
15:56
they're good for the moment, so. Yeah. And by
16:01
the way, so, and just to kind of keep the theme
16:02
going, I'll go ahead and ask you this right now,
16:05
yes or no, what are the chances that Cam Newton
16:09
shows up to the Patriots' game? Hey. I don't
16:13
think so. Hey, don't knock Cam into Patriots,
16:15
man. They did okay. They were... They did all
16:19
right. He had his moments. He didn't have a lot
16:21
to work with, let's be honest. I'm gonna just
16:23
say that. I was actually looking at stats today
16:27
randomly, and it was pretty impressive. He had
16:30
12 rushing touchdowns that year with New England.
16:33
Yeah, no, he did okay, man. Like I said, I mean,
16:35
he was still... Physically, athletically, he
16:38
was... I mean, his arm may have been gone, but
16:40
I mean, he's still as big as he is. I mean, you
16:43
see him on ESPN wearing those goofy -ass hats.
16:46
For sure. No, he would not be there. Where you
16:55
want to go next? All right. Let's go back to
17:00
the NFC and a good old rival. Good old division
17:03
rival. Good old rivalry game. Good old division
17:08
rival. Rival. Yeah. One of the oldest in the
17:12
league. The seven seed Green Bay Packers going
17:16
to the two seeded Chicago Bears They've played
17:22
twice already they split The Bears looked shaky
17:26
at the end of the season Right losing to the
17:31
Niners losing to the Lions. I Am going with the
17:37
Packers in this game really, okay Wow. Elaborate,
17:43
man. I was not expecting that. What do you got?
17:48
So I'm going to go with experience. OK, I'm going
17:52
to go with that. They don't care that this is
17:55
a ride. They don't care. They played in Chicago.
17:57
They lost the game to Chicago kind of in a fluky
18:01
way. Love got hurt in that game with a concussion.
18:07
It took the Bears to do an onside kick. and Miracle
18:11
throws, catches, all these things. So again,
18:15
I'm going with experience. Jordan Love, this
18:17
team, even without Micah Parsons, I think can
18:22
go in and beat an unexperienced in the playoffs,
18:27
Chicago Bears. Caleb Williams is definitely the
18:30
future. And they definitely battle. Let's not
18:35
get it twisted. They've lost some games recently,
18:37
but they battled. But they kind of faltered right
18:41
like the Eagles gifted them the two seed so You
18:45
know the Packers though again. I don't think
18:47
again I don't think they care about this that
18:50
they got to go on the road I think it works in
18:52
their favor that they get to play a team that
18:54
they know and again, I'm gonna take the experience
18:58
of Laflora and love and the Green Bay Packers
19:03
Okay don't want to I don't want to be the guy
19:08
that that dismisses or diminishes the experience
19:15
of coaches in the postseason but sometimes it
19:21
doesn't matter sometimes a team is just better
19:25
and I know you said that the Bears kind of you
19:29
know stuttered, stumbled their way, you know,
19:33
to the two seed at the end of the season. And
19:36
you mentioned, you know, their loss to the 49ers,
19:38
their loss at Alliance. Those are good teams.
19:41
You mentioned that they split with the Packers.
19:43
The Packers are a good team and they, they didn't
19:48
look incompetent in any of those games. They
19:52
have the ability to be able to score with anybody
19:55
and I don't want to just be the person that's
20:00
leaning on the home advantage. But it's been
20:05
a while since Chicago's had a home playoff game.
20:09
And on top of that, I like their chances to beat
20:19
a division team at home in the playoffs. I'm
20:24
gonna go with Chicago. I'm going to take this.
20:27
I'm going to take the Bears. Okay. Yeah, I feel
20:31
like I feel like I have to. Yeah, I feel like
20:33
I have to. I get it. And so I think I know I
20:40
know that the Steelers play also this weekend.
20:43
I think they play Monday. So the Bears daddy
20:46
could be at that game to help cheer on the Packers
20:49
Aaron Rodgers. It could be. Yeah, he could be.
20:56
Every pick, we're just going to name somebody
20:58
to come bang the drummer or show up. Yeah. No,
21:04
listen, man. I don't know, man. I like the Packers.
21:09
We talked about it. I like the Packers, especially
21:11
after the Micah Parsons trade. The injury to
21:14
him was terrible. And I think if Micah Parsons
21:17
was on that other side, dude, I'd probably pick
21:19
the Packers too. But I just - Well, the Packers
21:23
- Yeah, the Packers might not be the seven seed
21:25
if Michael Parsons is still playing. Exactly,
21:28
exactly my point. And love doesn't get a concussion.
21:30
So I think the Packers are better than the seven
21:33
seed. They've been a little inconsistent this
21:35
year. But again, I go with my gut. I just go,
21:38
you know, somebody's picks. I do like the new
21:40
teams and the new coaches and some of them I
21:42
like the experience. So like I said, I'm going
21:44
Packers. You're going with Bears. We split on
21:46
this one. And that's cool. Yeah. Yeah, go back
21:55
to the AFC. And I mentioned his name. I said
21:57
his name. So here we're gonna, he's going to
21:59
appear Aaron Rogers, the Steelers, the four seed.
22:03
They are going to host the five seated Houston
22:06
Texans. Okay. So my, my, my question for you
22:11
with this matchup is, um, we saw the way the
22:15
Steelers got into the playoffs, you know, with
22:18
the Ravens missing a kick. You saw how that offense
22:23
was able to to still put up 20 plus points without
22:27
DK Metcalf who will be back who will be returning
22:31
who's had you know a couple weeks off after you
22:33
know hitting fans in the stands I'm very I'm
22:38
very curious about this particular matchup because
22:41
this in itself is another home game for the Steelers
22:46
so Yeah, that that game was crazy that that Steelers
22:52
Ravens was wild Credit to the Steelers for figuring
22:56
out a way Rogers finding some magic He's just
23:04
not going to have the magic against the Houston
23:08
Texans defense I Am going Houston Texans they
23:13
are going to get after it they're gonna get after
23:17
Aaron Rodgers and They they come out winning
23:22
okay, I am I'm an Aaron Rodgers hater Unlike
23:27
the dude in years I can admit that He I will
23:35
admit that he has impressed me this season at
23:39
his ability to remain upright long enough to
23:43
Win the games that he needed to win the division
23:46
i'm going to give him credit for that but i agree
23:52
with you i think i think the the honeymoon comes
23:55
to an end i think it comes to an end and and
23:58
i think them it being a big game i think it becomes
24:03
the texans coming out party it's a it's the monday
24:07
night game you know on espn you know and i mean
24:13
i can't i can't remember the last like like huge
24:16
playoff game that the Texans have had. This is
24:19
one that everyone's going to have eyes on. They
24:22
gave it the marquee spot. And I think for a good
24:25
reason, and I think as they're coming out party
24:28
and all they got to do is start touching up Aaron
24:30
Rogers early, get him shook in that pocket. He
24:34
did a lot of scrambling around against Baltimore.
24:36
We know their defense had been up and down all
24:38
year, but I think they're going to touch him
24:41
up and get him to make some risky throws. I think
24:44
he has a couple of turnovers, maybe a strip sack
24:47
fumble, maybe an interception. And the Texans
24:51
get out early. And to their benefit, if they
24:56
could go up double digits in the first one and
25:00
a half quarters and make the Steelers one dimensional
25:03
where they can't run the ball. and he has to
25:06
force passes and he's got to throw passes to
25:08
DJ, a DK Metcalf. Like I can see them get, I
25:11
can see it being a really, really early night
25:13
and getting ugly and have the Texans blow them
25:16
out. So I agree with you. We'll see how it goes.
25:22
It's a hell of a Monday night matchup, man. They've,
25:25
the NFL know what the hell they're doing when
25:26
it comes to setting these schedules. That's a
25:28
game that everybody's going to have eyes on.
25:29
We know the Steelers are super popular, but yeah,
25:32
I got the Texans in that one as well. All right,
25:37
so we agree So let's uh, I got nothing else on
25:41
that right? I just think Aaron Rodgers can barely
25:45
move around and the Texans I think are gonna
25:47
gap from All right, so let's go to the other
25:55
side back to the NFC and I and I just put this
25:58
off because we are Eagle fans so The Eagles are
26:02
the three seed hosting the six seeded San Francisco
26:04
49ers Lot like we've talked about and you mentioned
26:10
these teams having to go across the country They
26:16
got to come all the way to Philly the Eagles
26:18
are really good at home under Siriani in the
26:21
playoffs We're really good at home in recent
26:24
years in the playoffs That long as far as we
26:29
can remember. Yeah, San Francisco has a really
26:33
good offense At times against certain teams Just
26:40
depends on the week their defense is okay They
26:45
lost guys in free agency. They got injuries obviously
26:48
Bosa Fred Warner. They're out. I Think they just
26:51
lost someone else. I can't think of the name,
26:53
but either way So it's it's a really it's a really
26:57
interesting matchup in that sense because you've
26:59
got the good offense of San Francisco against
27:02
a really good defense in Philadelphia And you've
27:05
got a not so good defense in San Francisco going
27:07
against a not so good offense in Philadelphia.
27:11
Which is kind of weird to say. I think I sent
27:13
out a graphic. I sent out a graphic this week
27:16
to you showing the Eagles somehow under this
27:19
horrible offense. Got 2 ,000 yard receivers.
27:24
Jalen Hurts record for touchdown passes this
27:27
season. Goddard, record for touchdowns for a
27:30
tight end in Eagles history this season. Saquon
27:32
still got 1 ,000 yards. But yet that offense
27:36
still seems off, still seems like something is
27:40
not right. So, ultimately my pick is the Eagles,
27:46
I'm gonna go with the defense. At home defense,
27:51
and I think they're gonna get after Purdy. McCaffrey
27:54
will be a problem, I think Kittle will still
27:56
be a problem. But at the end of the day, I think
27:58
the defense, you saw what a good defense can
28:01
do to Purdy with Seattle. And I think the Eagles
28:05
are their defenses up there. I'm not being biased.
28:08
They're up there with Seattle and Denver and
28:12
anyone else in the league. And so I'm taking
28:15
the Philadelphia Eagles. Okay, I'll be transparent.
28:23
I wanna say it was, I think it's been over a
28:24
week ago. I texted you directly, no group chat,
28:29
no podcast talk, just directly. I told you this
28:33
was a matchup nightmare for the Eagles. This
28:36
was the one team I did not want them to play
28:39
in the first round. I would have rather seen
28:41
them, you know, close to the NFC championship
28:43
game. It's a matchup nightmare. And it's because
28:48
everywhere where they're strong is where the
28:53
Eagles are weak. And primarily, I'm talking about
28:57
Christian McCaffrey. He has had an amazing year
29:00
in our now lost audio. I have McCaffrey as like
29:06
my MVP candidate. He's been incredible. And he
29:09
carried that team throughout the ups and downs
29:11
throughout the year, just being consistent and
29:13
playing in all the games and, you know, avoiding
29:15
injuries. And I think he's going to give the
29:21
biggest matchup problem. But when you look at
29:25
the matchup on paper team by team You could talk
29:28
about maybe San Francisco's offense is better
29:31
statistically But when you go player for player,
29:35
it's the Eagles quarterback advantage wide receiver
29:39
advantage running back advantage and the defensive
29:44
line advantage offensive line advantage all of
29:48
that stuff goes to the Eagles and that's where
29:51
I have to lean on them to be able to do the things
29:53
that they need to do to win the game. I think
29:58
the unfortunate thing about this game, and it's
30:01
just a gut feeling man, and you mentioned it
30:03
earlier, some of this is just kind of you just
30:05
going on your gut. For me, I think this game
30:08
is gonna be won or lost on one big play. And
30:14
I trust the Eagles to make that play. Whether
30:16
it's a huge sack that's right on Tom, whether
30:21
it's an interception, whether it's a kick return
30:25
for a touchdown, whether it's Cooper DeGene going
30:32
out of his mind, I don't know. But I feel like
30:35
it's gonna be one major play that swings the
30:38
pendulum for the Eagles to be able to win this
30:40
game at home. But I still hold firm, I do think
30:45
it's gonna be close. I do think that the 49ers
30:47
are a terrible matchup for the Eagles. And I
30:50
mean that, I've told you, I fear them. But I
30:56
gotta go with our guys. We've got the experience,
31:00
we've done this two years in a row. Let's see
31:03
what you guys can do. You guys rested this past
31:06
week, fresh legs. Go out there, do execute, get
31:12
the things done that you need to get done to
31:13
be able to win the game. Yeah, they like yeah,
31:16
I'm glad you brought that up. Yeah, they're they're
31:18
rested So they should be ready Elaine Johnson's
31:23
coming back and the Kobe Dean's I think should
31:25
be back. So again, they're gonna be full force
31:28
Where again the Niners are not so that's where
31:31
you know, the only thing that can hold the team
31:33
down is play calling and coaching so that's the
31:37
only thing that scares me is Kevin Patula and
31:43
I'm not I'm because I'm not gonna give you that
31:46
you can't give me that but I'm not we're not
31:47
gonna I'm not gonna go around I'm just gonna
31:49
say that they again play calling is a problem
31:52
whether they're playing their starters or their
31:55
backups it continues to be a problem we shall
31:59
see if they get it figured out against San Francisco
32:01
who does they don't get after the quarterback
32:03
right I think they have 17 sacks this year and
32:08
I mentioned all the injuries so again this is
32:09
a wolf this this is a game wolf this is a game
32:13
that this offense, which we've seen explode and
32:17
play well at times, this is a game that they
32:19
can do that. This is a defense that they can
32:22
do that. So we shall see, but again, I am still
32:27
picking the Philadelphia Eagles. And I understand
32:33
what you're saying about to play Collin. Hold
32:36
on, I understand what you're saying about to
32:38
play Collin. Yeah. I'll just say this, if there's
32:43
a lull in the play calling, I think those responsibilities
32:48
are taken from Petullo at halftime, at the end
32:53
of a quarter, and Sirian is like, no, no, no,
32:56
no, no, no, dude, I got this. I don't think that
32:58
they're gonna allow, I don't think they're gonna
33:02
allow that to take place in that building. No,
33:07
with the play, With the play calling, I think
33:11
if it gets out of hand, if it's not going well,
33:14
I think those responsibilities are stripped.
33:17
And they're not gonna squander, especially with
33:20
all the criticism that's been going around about
33:22
the play calling. Everyone has been saying it,
33:25
including you. I don't think that they're gonna
33:27
allow that to take place. In a game like this
33:32
with everybody watching, I don't think they're
33:34
gonna let it happen. So I hope that it's something
33:39
that doesn't come into play, but I think this
33:43
is where the guys go all out. They've got nothing
33:46
to lose at this point. You open up the playbook,
33:49
you let Brown go crazy, you let Smith go crazy,
33:52
you let Saquon go crazy, and let them make those
33:55
big plays that picks up chunks of yards at a
33:58
time, get in the scoring range, and put some
34:01
points on the board. And I think that's what
34:03
they'll do. I don't think it's going to be a
34:05
problem. Yeah, we'll see. They got to score more
34:08
than 20 points. And I think they will. All right.
34:15
So we agree. They're going to win. All right.
34:19
One more to go. They better. One more to go for
34:25
this Wild Card weekend. Back to the FC and we
34:29
got the six seated Buffalo Bills visiting the
34:32
three seated Jacksonville Jaguars I Want to say
34:37
that I've been I've been watching a lot of stuff,
34:39
you know this week and especially today and A
34:42
lot of a lot of people are getting on that Jacksonville
34:45
Jaguars bandwagon They're really rolling with
34:49
this with this team and for good reason like
34:55
Their defense is solid. Their offense is putting
34:57
up what? I know recently like 30 some points
35:01
a game. They went into Denver beat Denver. But.
35:10
I. This. The Buffalo Bills. Have Josh Allen,
35:18
who you deemed the greatest quarterback in the
35:20
league. Here and. Yeah, yeah, he is right now
35:26
and this and and and it's going to be brought
35:28
it's been brought up You know, he's He's got
35:35
I think it's like seven playoff wins Never made
35:38
it to the Super Bowl Always gets knocked out
35:41
by somebody right before he gets there in AFC
35:44
playoffs main mainly Mr. Patrick Mahomes Well
35:49
this year Mahomes is not here Chiefs are not
35:53
here. Joe Burrow and the Bengals are not here.
35:58
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are not here. One
36:00
of his toughest opponents in the playoffs. And
36:05
this is one of those gut feelings of. Now I may
36:10
change my mind if they pull it off this weekend.
36:13
But I'm thinking that Josh Allen has the even
36:16
though there's 60. He still has the easiest path
36:19
he's ever had. Outside of being on the road Come
36:25
competition wise I think his path of those nemesises
36:30
nemesis So I'm picking the Buffalo Bills to Go
36:43
into Jacksonville win Weather would not be an
36:46
issue unless it's pouring down rain. They're
36:49
gonna be in, Florida Josh Allen, I think will
36:52
ball out again experience things like that come
36:56
into play I know Trevor Lawrence has been in
36:58
the playoffs before and had a huge comeback against
37:00
that good old Justin Herbert and So but yeah,
37:06
I do I'm gonna pick the Buffalo Bills I You know
37:10
at times you don't know what you've got with
37:12
them. But as we've talked about all year, that's
37:15
really almost everybody outside of maybe a few
37:18
teams, so Yeah, I'm going with another road team
37:23
upset and I'm going with Buffalo Bills. All right.
37:27
Shout out to Mina Combs, who's awesome. She said
37:30
something for years and she says that quarterback
37:35
wins and head to heads are not a stat. And she's
37:41
right. This isn't Josh Allen versus Trevor Lawrence
37:44
to me. This is the Bills versus the Jaguars.
37:48
So like, so I understand that like, you know,
37:51
the, the, the starting quarterback for the other
37:54
team is Trevor Lawrence and we may look at him
37:55
sideways and, and I do think Josh Allen is better
37:58
and I do think he's a better quarterback, but
38:01
Trevor Lawrence has had a hell of a year, man.
38:04
And the, the only thing that kind of gives me
38:07
pause about the Jaguars is the, the games that
38:12
they've lost this season, all of them hurt. Like
38:18
those it's some some, you know, I'm looking at
38:22
The the losses they had they lost, you know a
38:25
nail biter to the Bengals early in the season
38:28
They lost a horrible game to the Seahawks. They
38:32
lost it 20 to 12 Okay bad loss lost to the Rams
38:37
35 to 7 You know, and then he lost a nail biter
38:41
to the Texans, you know 36 29 like it's those
38:46
are bad losses to me because they had, if their
38:49
team is good enough, I feel like they would have
38:52
been more competitive in those games. And while
38:58
I wanted to, I've been, my theme has been, you
39:01
know, home teams, hosting games, especially teams
39:05
that have won their divisions and the Jaguars
39:08
have done that. I, I don't think that the bills
39:15
Have enough magic on that roster outside of Josh
39:19
Allen to do anything miraculous If the Jaguars
39:23
get up on that ass early He's gonna have to be
39:27
we've seen him go into superhero mode a couple
39:30
of times this season already in a few games and
39:34
He's not gonna have enough He doesn't have the
39:36
talent that he's had in previous post seasons
39:38
to be able to pull something like that off by
39:41
themself by himself And it's gonna hurt me. It's
39:48
gonna hurt me to take Jacksonville in this game.
39:52
But I think this is an L that Josh Allen is gonna
40:00
have to wear. I'm gonna take the Jags, man. I'm
40:05
not hopping on the bandwagon. I do think Josh
40:09
Allen, and one thing I will give Josh Allen credit
40:11
for, is even in his playoff losses, he balls
40:15
out. That dude puts up the numbers. He does what
40:18
he can. He plays hard. He gets those first downs.
40:21
He shrugs off those hits. He makes those throws.
40:26
I just don't think it's going to be enough. So,
40:29
yeah, I'm going to take the young team, man.
40:32
I'm going to take the Jags at home to beat the
40:36
Bills, man. This game was actually the one that
40:41
I had the It's a coin flip, isn't it? I really
40:47
had a hard time because, again, the Jags are,
40:49
you know, they played really well this year,
40:51
up and coming, you know, four and 13 to 13 and
40:55
four. Again, hosting, all that fun stuff. But
41:01
I think, you know, me and you had a conversation
41:02
about Josh Allen and we've talked about this.
41:05
I know it's always the quarterback versus quarterback.
41:07
And that's just the way the media and everybody
41:10
puts it. I get it, obviously the team has to
41:13
play. But I always say this about Josh Allen
41:15
and the Buffalo Bills. He does have some help,
41:20
again. James Cook is a top rusher in the league.
41:27
He's got some great tight ends. They have a really
41:30
good offense that they run for the team that
41:33
they have, right? Coaching matters. Do you hear
41:37
that Nick Sirianni coaching matters? So Joe Brady,
41:40
you know, he gets what he gets out of this offense
41:43
so the defense they have holes But at times like
41:50
Sean McDermott is a defensive coach He normally
41:52
that defense is normally ready and a lot of these
41:55
playoff games we've seen in the past win or lose
41:58
have been shootouts and I see this game being
42:02
a shootout And again, I'm gonna go with the reigning,
42:06
you know, defending MVP, Josh Allen. And like
42:11
I said, that's just a feeling, a gut feeling.
42:13
And we'll see next week. And yeah, so. I'm giving
42:19
him his chance. He's got a path. All his other
42:22
guy, all the other teams that hold him back are
42:24
out. So I'm giving him a shot, at least for one.
42:27
I hear what you're saying. Looking at looking
42:35
at these AFC teams, I just I'm looking at so
42:40
many teams that I feel are better than the Bills.
42:44
And the strange thing is the team that I think
42:48
that's actually the weakest that I think they
42:50
have the best chance to beat is actually the
42:51
one seed, the Broncos, believe it or not. But
42:55
yeah, I do. But I think I think I think the Jags.
42:59
Well, yeah, Patriots Patriots will be. Patriots
43:01
are a tough one. I think the Chargers would be
43:04
a tough matchup for them. I think the Texans
43:06
would be a tough matchup for them. We don't have
43:08
to worry about the Chargers. No, I mean, we can
43:10
say that. No, but I'm just saying I'm looking
43:12
at all the other teams. I know. I got you. And
43:15
I just feel like everybody else outside of the
43:17
Broncos and the Steelers, I feel like they'll
43:19
kick the Bills ass. Maybe I'm wrong, but yeah,
43:25
I'm going with my gut on this one too. I'm taking
43:27
the Jags, dude. Okay. Yeah. I got you, I'm not
43:31
mad. Okay, I think for the most part we agree
43:36
on most of these picks, different on about. Yeah,
43:39
and like you said, it's close, it's close on
43:41
what we're gonna do. So we're split. Yeah, we
43:46
agree on three, we disagree on three, I like
43:49
it. Yeah, so it's gonna be a fun weekend, can't
43:52
wait. I'm glad the Eagles play on Sunday. I got
43:58
things to do on Saturday, so that's beside the
44:01
point. But yeah, man, so yeah, so we will do
44:08
this again for each round in the playoffs this
44:13
year. So just get ready for each episode each
44:16
week as a playoff. Preview prediction. Yeah.
44:20
Yeah. Yeah eat from week to week We'll know who's
44:23
playing who who played well if there's some injuries,
44:26
you know, whatever we'll be able to put all of
44:28
those things into account Yeah, I I can't wait.
44:31
Yep, and I I went ahead and finalize everything
44:34
man. I will be on my way to Philly I will be
44:38
there for the game. So I hope that You'll be
44:42
at the end secure my ticket yet, but I will be
44:45
but I but I will be in Philadelphia for sure
44:48
If I could snatch a ticket for a decent enough
44:50
price, I will be in the building, but the energy
44:54
that city has is unreal. I hope that they deliver,
44:59
man. I will attempt to win the lottery to join
45:06
you there, but we shall see that probably won't
45:09
happen. One day. One day. One day for sure. All
45:14
right. One day. All right. So that is another
45:24
episode of Fanatically Speaking. Again, I am
45:26
Ken, the co -host and promoter. I'm Log Off,
45:28
the Log Off legend, hater of social media. I
45:31
am the co -host and producer of the show. Again,
45:34
thanks for listening to Fanatically Speaking.
45:36
This is our NFL post -season preview episode.
45:42
Hope you guys enjoyed it. We'll see how wrong
45:44
we are or how right we are. The beauty of it
45:49
is three and three, worst case scenario. One
45:52
of us is going to be right, you know, with three
45:54
and a pig. So he's 500. Yeah, we'll see. I'll
45:57
take 500. Follow us on all the socials, Instagram,
46:02
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46:21
I always forget YouTube. Damn it, I always forget
46:23
YouTube. Like us, follow us, comment, subscribe,
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share. Really like and share and listen. I really
46:33
like those. Or listen and share. Those are even
46:36
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46:39
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46:42
said, just get on your phone and tap that app.
46:45
Tap that app. Tap that app. Hit like. Hit share.
46:49
That's right. Yeah. That's it for me, man. Yep.
46:55
I'm good. That's another one. That's it. How
46:58
much time you got? I'm at 47. No. How much time
47:04
you got? You said you had to go. Hold on. Let
47:06
me stop this. I'm going to stop this one. Go
47:09
ahead. You good.