Latest / Banter with the Boys / NFL 2025 | Week 15 Preview | Banter with the Boys - Gridiron Updates

Transcript

NFL 2025 | Week 15 Preview | Banter with the Boys - Gridiron Updates · Banter with the Boys

0:00
Get laced up. Let's go. It's time for Banter
0:04
with the boys. Welcome back, football fans. That's
0:17
for you, Coach Smelty. I'm Rob Sledden. We've
0:20
got Justin coming over to help us out. Kevin
0:23
behind the camera on Gridiron Updates with Banter
0:26
and the boys. Week 15, we're talking some previews
0:31
for some NFL football games. Last week was Contender
0:36
Week, which we call this week. Pretender Week.
0:42
Which leads us off into the first game, Thursday
0:46
night, the Falcons versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
0:51
division game. Four and a half, it looks like,
0:56
the spread for the Bucs. Buccaneers just not
1:00
playing as clean as you would think a division
1:07
leader is. I think that Baker Mayfield magic
1:13
has kind of quieted down the injuries to their
1:15
outside receivers. I think a lot of tape out
1:18
on Embeka. What's his name again? Embeka. Embeka.
1:25
Just ask Gronk for all you folks listening. It's
1:29
slowed down. And Bucky Irvin coming back. It
1:34
looks like it's brought a little life into it.
1:36
It was a sloppy, wet, rainy game, so I get why
1:40
the statistics weren't crazy on that. Falcons,
1:43
season's kind of over. I think they're officially
1:47
eliminated. Yes, I think they've had a tough
1:49
season. Drake London, who's been questionable
1:54
for it feels like a month, if not longer. Three
1:56
weeks. I got him in fantasy. There you go. And
2:00
he doesn't look good this week. He's got a short
2:02
week. You got Pennix, ACL out for the year. That's
2:06
tough. You know, you got Kirk Cousins that's
2:09
come in and has done a. serviceable job but it's
2:12
not the kirk cousin of not the 140 million dollar
2:15
contract that he got last year not kirko chains
2:18
like it was a couple years ago prior to his injury
2:20
yeah it's it's a it's a weird game you know i
2:24
think the reason why we wanted to highlight this
2:26
one is it might seem dramatic but to me this
2:29
is a must win for tampa bay knowing that the
2:32
panthers are on their heels like i look at baker
2:35
mayfield and that magic you're talking about
2:37
i'm curious How much damage? I know it's only
2:40
been a couple weeks, but how much damage has
2:42
really happened to that shoulder where he probably
2:44
shouldn't be playing, but he is because his team
2:46
is in that playoff race. He's a dog. Yeah. Well,
2:50
you know, I look at the last four weeks. He scored
2:52
one touchdown each week. He hasn't had an explosive
2:55
game in five weeks now where he threw three touchdowns.
2:59
So, you know, like I look at some of that. That's
3:01
tough. I look at their defense. Their defense
3:04
is still stout when it comes to the run, but.
3:06
In the past, that's where they're getting beat
3:08
up. Well, for sure, that secondary, you can throw
3:11
on them a little bit. Yeah. But so that's that
3:14
interesting matchup that the Falcons don't have
3:16
any, might not have a receiver, so they're going
3:18
to have Pitts as their main feature thing versus
3:22
the Bucs, you know, stout run defense, which
3:25
kind of equals out Bijan. Yeah. And definitely
3:31
a much win. A lot of significant injuries on
3:37
the offensive line, too, for both teams. This
3:40
head -to -head all -time, 32 -32. Oh, wow. Bucs
3:45
tied it up in the season opener with a 23 -20
3:48
win. Who are you going with this one? This is
3:54
fitting time for the Bucs to get this game when
3:56
they're getting it. I'm going with Tampa Bay
3:58
and an ugly win. For all you fantasy owners,
4:02
I think Bijan is going to eat. I think he's going
4:04
to have a great game, but I do not think that
4:08
the Falcons can pull it out. I look at Seattle.
4:10
Again, I think a much better defense this year
4:12
than Tampa Bay's, but to only put up, it was
4:15
either six or nine points that they put up, and
4:18
you are on the road again in Tampa. It doesn't
4:22
look good if you're a Falcons fan, so I'm choosing
4:24
Baker and Co. It's not looking good for the Falcons
4:28
from the Packer fan, Justin. Tampa Bay has really
4:34
struggled at home this year. They're 3 -3. They're
4:37
1 -5 against the spread, which technically doesn't
4:41
really matter. But they're just not winning those
4:46
games, the Vegas things that they're winning.
4:49
I'm going to go with you with the Bucs because
4:52
I don't think London's going to play. If London
4:55
did play, I could definitely see it. Flipped
4:59
like a one and a half or something. I definitely
5:01
could see it closer. But the Falcons, I just
5:05
don't think have enough firepower or the defense
5:07
can hold on for a little bit. We'll see what
5:11
Bucky Irvin and they can do. Because if they
5:15
get up big early. then I think the game's over.
5:18
The only way the Falcons, it's got to be 6 -6
5:21
at half, something goofy like that. That defense
5:25
might have to make a play. So I'm going Buccaneers.
5:29
Tristan Wirth limited on practice too. So, yeah,
5:36
I just think that Drake -London thing is such
5:39
a big deal with them. I don't think that Pitts
5:43
has enough explosive enough to make that threat
5:46
and then London on the second level. And then
5:50
is it McLeod running on the other side still?
5:52
Or is it Mooney? Mooney, yeah, yeah, zero Mooney
5:55
to stretch the field. And when you don't have
5:58
three different layers in the passing game, it
6:00
becomes really difficult. You've got to have
6:03
a little bit of threat. For sure. Yeah, I do
6:05
think both running games will – will do well
6:09
in this game for different reasons. I think Bijan
6:12
in the passing game will be huge, and I think
6:15
Bucky in the run game will be huge because you
6:18
look at statistically where both teams struggle,
6:20
and it's the pass for the Bucs and it's the run
6:23
for the Falcons where they're stout on the other
6:25
side. So it'll be interesting to watch for you
6:27
fantasy fans out there playoff time. I was just
6:30
going to pull up. I'm not going to dig it up.
6:34
I'm just seeing how many receptions Bijan have.
6:38
with Penix versus Kirko. I don't remember Kirko
6:42
being such a really dink and dunk to running
6:45
backs. I think he's more to the tight end. He
6:47
does the short pass to the tight end. Over the
6:49
middle of the field, over the ball, they call
6:51
it, if you're deep into X's and O's. Jake Sullivan,
6:56
quarterback, if you ever watch QB School on YouTube,
7:00
great X's and O, dude, if you're a nerd like
7:04
me. What's the next game here? Sorry, I was on
7:09
the wrong page. Next game is Chargers versus
7:12
Chiefs. At Arrowhead. Yes. Huge game. Chiefs
7:18
lose this game. They're out, I would imagine.
7:21
Chiefs favored by four and a half. Does that
7:24
surprise you a little bit? I think that has to
7:26
do with how quick that incision heals up on Herbert's
7:30
hand or not. It does surprise me. The Chiefs
7:34
have a great defense. It's at home. Patrick Mahomes
7:36
is still Patrick Mahomes. And the Texans are
7:39
very much the Texans. So that was a frustrating
7:41
game to watch. If you're a Chiefs fan, if you're
7:43
watching their offense, that defense gave them
7:46
fits. The Chargers defense is great, too. It
7:49
might not be at the level that the Texans are,
7:50
but they're right there. If the Texans are a
7:52
1A, the Chargers are a 1B. And looking at what
7:55
they did to... the eagles last night i mean charge
7:59
a third best defense third ranked defense in
8:01
the nfl yeah absolutely so i look at that and
8:04
herbert did enough so like understanding where
8:07
where's the chief's defense uh where can it be
8:11
exploited i think it can be exploited in the
8:14
quarterback run herbert showed he can do that
8:16
he does that often i think that's what he's going
8:18
to have to depend on and throw when he needs
8:20
that yeah um Yeah, the KC's offense has been
8:27
really struggling. Defense and Chris Jones and
8:30
them have been keeping them alive. It's just
8:32
really been inconsistency on that running game
8:35
with KC Pacheco. I mean, he's such an athlete,
8:39
but he just hits the turbo button as soon as
8:42
he gets the ball and picks a direction. And if
8:45
it's the back of the lineman he runs into, it
8:48
is. Otherwise, it's the defender or he's hitting
8:50
the end zone. I feel like those are the three
8:52
things he does. I feel like he should be converted
8:54
to slot receiver. Just give him something where
8:57
he can run a route and just go. I don't know
9:01
why he's not more like Tyreek or Debo. Maybe
9:05
his hands aren't that good. They don't trust
9:06
a bubble screen or anything out of him. So I'm
9:12
actually going to go with the Chiefs in desperation
9:15
and slide a victory in. Chiefs lost the opening
9:22
to the Chargers in Brazil. That's right. So that
9:26
game was many moons ago. Rice did not play in
9:31
that game. So I'm just going to come up with
9:34
such a division game. It's going to be a squeaker.
9:37
I'm going to go. 16 -15. A real goofy score win.
9:43
How are you feeling about this game? I'm going
9:47
to go the other way. I really think what you
9:49
saw the Chargers do last night was not a fluke.
9:52
That's who they are. That's who their defense
9:54
is. Justin Herbert's the guy. I look at it from
9:58
a stat standpoint. The Chargers have the second
10:02
best defense in passing yards allowed. They're
10:05
allowing 168 .3 passing yards a game. The Chiefs
10:09
have the fourth best passing offense at 248 .2
10:15
yards a game. The difference is the Chiefs are
10:19
having to throw their way back into games, and
10:21
I think that's why that's so high. And not running
10:23
the ball. Yeah. I think if you're the Chiefs
10:28
and you get yourself into that situation, you're
10:30
not winning that game. I think it was really
10:31
clear last night. Now, Jalen Hurts is no Patrick
10:34
Mahomes, and I think you always have a chance
10:36
with Pat, but I'm going to go with him. I'm going
10:37
to go with the Chargers. Chargers? Kevin, who
10:40
are you going with? He's going Chargers. Okay.
10:45
We've got two Chargers and a Chief. Someone's
10:48
winning it. That's the good news. Someone's going
10:50
to get it right. Well, if you're a Packer fan,
10:52
maybe it'll be a tie. Come back to help us. Yeah.
10:57
I think that atmosphere is going to be awesome
10:59
down there. Huge. I've been to a Chiefs game.
11:03
Their parking lot is a pimp. Smoking meats. I
11:07
bet. And it's just a huge parking lot. So friendly
11:10
people, good vibes. But it's the division game.
11:15
So circle the buses. Next game on the docket.
11:20
Massive game here. We have the Buffalo Bills
11:23
and the Patriots at New England, I believe. Yep,
11:28
at New England. You are correct. Bills still
11:30
have the spread at one and a half. Really tight.
11:35
I don't know if it's because, hey, this is the
11:37
second game. The Bills are still fighting for
11:39
that division spot. It's going to be tough to
11:43
get, but they still have a chance at it at 9
11:44
-4. And Josh Allen's Josh Allen. Current MVP,
11:48
you look at what he did against the Bengals.
11:50
Granted, it was the Bengals' defense, but he's
11:52
still that guy. He's still that guy, and that's
11:56
exactly the type of play you're going to have
11:58
to get out of Josh Allen to win this game. You
12:00
know New England does not give it up. They have
12:02
a good defense. They're a disciplined team. They
12:04
have a great offense. Josh Allen's going to have
12:07
to take this game into his hand, run it. Where
12:10
New England is really susceptible in two spots,
12:13
it's tight end receptions and run after the catch,
12:15
and it's actually the... running back screen
12:17
passes, run after the catch. If they can get
12:20
that going with the way Josh Allen runs and using
12:23
James Cook, I almost said Dalvin there, excuse
12:26
me. And just some of these other pieces they
12:30
have, that'll be huge. The biggest question mark
12:32
for the Bills right now is the health of their
12:34
tight ends because they've kind of been in and
12:35
out. I think that'll be huge. Yeah, with Kincaid
12:39
and Knox. And Kincaid was out for a few weeks.
12:43
And you definitely could see the dynamics of
12:45
that offense changing. And he has Coleman's play.
12:51
It's been hit and miss all year. He doesn't look
12:53
like he wants the number one. Shakir, I mean.
12:56
Shakir's the number one by. default right now
12:58
but he's true yeah i mean i would say kincaid's
13:01
probably the number one but uh yeah patriots
13:05
can clinch the afc east uh with a win here um
13:10
i mean they're playing their best football since
13:13
tom brady was there um god this is a good one
13:17
uh injury wise i'm just kind of looking at it
13:20
yeah kincaid it's questionable um bosa's out
13:27
Bernard, their linebacker's out, and then on
13:29
the Patriots' side, Wilson and Tatunga. But those
13:36
are all limited practice, so they could end up
13:38
playing. I'll fire away on this. I've been going
13:44
against the Patriots all year, and I'm going
13:46
to think they're going to win the AFC East division.
13:51
You heard it here first on Gridiron Updates.
13:54
Hot take. I love it. I feel really good about
13:57
New England. I feel like they'll probably pull
14:00
this one out. I am going to go Buffalo, though,
14:03
because Josh Allen is Josh Allen, and they need
14:05
this game. They're not done. They're circling
14:07
the way again. They need this, so I'm going with
14:10
Josh Allen, and also to make sure our streak
14:12
stays alive, that one of us is right. I don't
14:16
know. Is this that you're a Packer fan and I'm
14:18
a Viking fan? It might be. Who knows? We agreed
14:20
on the first one, though. Okay, all right. So
14:23
it's an anomaly. It should be just an awesome
14:27
game. I don't know what the weather is going
14:29
to be like there. It's snowing here right now.
14:31
Well, it's Tuesday, so who knows? If you blow
14:34
hard enough, it might get over there by Sunday.
14:36
In five days. So I'm assuming it's going to be
14:39
wintry cold. But I think that both teams are,
14:43
you know. I don't think the Patriots' style of
14:46
offense doesn't be bothered by cold. And then
14:49
the Bills, they live in the snow. 100%. The most
14:55
astonishing thing about this game is that it's
14:58
still a noon game. With how much is on the line.
15:00
I was just going to check. I'm like, where is
15:02
this? How big of a game this is, and it's a noon
15:05
game. I mean, I could see this as if the Cowboys
15:09
weren't the Cowboys and the Vikings. say they
15:12
even lost last week, where they'd flex. They
15:14
would have flexed it, I bet. But I think the
15:16
Cowboys carry so much weight for the brand. They
15:19
have the pull. They'll get enough eyeballs. They'd
15:22
probably get more eyeballs than this game. For
15:24
sure. Because they're the Cowboys, yes. And that's
15:26
how the TVs are looking at it. They don't really
15:28
care about actually which game should be the
15:30
highlight game. But I'm going Pats. Justin's
15:34
going Bills. And we're moving on because we're
15:38
flying through these. All right, next one is
15:42
another big one. We have Lions at Rams. Is this
15:47
game bigger for the Lions or the Rams, you think?
15:50
Huge for the Lions. They need to win out. to
15:53
have a shot. They need to keep pace with Chicago.
15:55
They need to be within that game like they are
15:59
right now. At worst case scenario, one game back
16:02
because they have the tiebreaker when they go
16:04
play Chicago. That gets them there. They'll have
16:07
that tiebreaker. So worst they want to be is
16:10
be the exact record that Chicago is at when this
16:13
whole thing is done so that they can win by tiebreakers
16:15
at a minimum. So it's huge. They have to keep
16:17
pace. Chicago has Cleveland. I think it'll be
16:20
an ugly game, but I think Chicago pulls it out
16:23
so because of that i think detroit detroit's
16:25
also in a must win yeah i mean this is gonna
16:28
be a just a gunslinger shootout i love it uh
16:31
fan if you have either any ram or lion on your
16:36
fantasy team they're gonna eat start like put
16:38
just start button play their kicker you don't
16:42
play their defense though no you've got the number
16:44
one passing touchdown leader and the number two
16:48
passing touchdown leader going head -to -head
16:50
it's gonna be fireworks i agreed spread is five
16:53
and a half for the rams which it's at the ram
16:55
so i'll give it the fair odds 55 is the over
16:58
under so that's i'm taking the overall day this
17:02
well that's a pretty high over but i mean Actually,
17:06
generally, I think you're supposed to take the
17:07
under because everybody thinks it's going to
17:09
be a shootout. And watch, this game will be 13
17:11
to 14. Some goofy like that. Because of the defense.
17:14
So we got the Stafford -Goff showdown. This,
17:17
I think, the second time they played since the
17:20
trade. Yeah. So rekindling the old QB swap story.
17:26
So you'll probably hear a little bit about that
17:28
if you're watching that game. But Rams with a
17:32
win here. I mean, this is where you see the Lions
17:34
coming with that first -place schedule. Yeah.
17:38
I mean, you get the Rams. You just get the Eagles.
17:41
Yeah, you get the top teams. You get the top
17:43
teams every week. So that's where that 8 -5 record,
17:46
I think. Because I think they're more of a 9,
17:49
maybe 10 -team win. Just have to play tough.
17:52
If they're playing the Colts or the 49ers schedule,
17:54
they'd probably be 12 -3. Yep. Branch, I mean,
17:59
so looking at the injuries for the Lions, I know
18:02
they have Branch out. Oh, and then I hit the
18:04
wrong button. All my stuff moves. Yeah, you've
18:07
got Kalief Raymond's questionable with an ankle.
18:10
You've got Kirby Joseph questionable with a knee.
18:12
Brian Branch is out, obviously, with the Achilles
18:15
injury he had. Secondary Lions banged up. Really
18:17
tough. And then you've got... Thomas Harper,
18:21
one of their safeties is they've gotten pretty
18:23
thin in their safety. He's questionable in the
18:26
concussion protocol right now, and then obviously
18:28
you've got a handful of folks on, more than two
18:31
handfuls worth of folks on IR. So they're pretty
18:35
beat up right now, more so on the defensive side
18:37
of the ball than offense. Yeah, and I got Devontae.
18:41
Is he hamstring right now rolling? I know he's
18:45
a probable. I don't know how much he did last
18:48
week. I think he hurt it two weeks ago. Yeah,
18:51
he tweaked it. He was out there, but it wasn't
18:53
decoy -ish. Yeah, it wasn't Devante. So that
18:57
could play a key role in helping, actually, the
19:00
Lions on a banged -up secondary. out of his mind
19:05
right now yeah he's second in receiving yards
19:07
behind jsn so he's having an amazing year um
19:11
the rams only have one person questionable for
19:13
this game so you see the difference it's it's
19:15
a little healthier team and i mean that rams
19:21
defense i mean they're just becoming one of those
19:26
better defenses in the league especially when
19:28
you when they get up i mean it always helps to
19:31
play defense when you're up you can sit back
19:33
and just attack um but yeah what do you think
19:40
i can't go away from the rams right now yeah
19:42
i mean there's guys especially after last week
19:45
i I just don't think. And then Blake Hornum coming
19:49
around, a little more confidence in him and getting
19:51
him some looks because he's been in McVay's doghouse
19:54
ever since they drafted him. He had a nice long
19:57
run last week, and he's been getting a lot more
19:59
touches, which always helps at this time of year,
20:02
especially with Kyron Williams. He had a little
20:04
ankle banged up. running back everyone's getting
20:07
banged up at this time of year so if you have
20:09
a second running back you can get some touches
20:11
uh especially if you're planning to extend your
20:13
season so i just think the rams are gonna get
20:16
it done at home here and um continue to lead
20:21
that NFC division uh Lions this this loss could
20:25
really hurt them like we were talking about so
20:27
how are you feeling on this one this is a must
20:30
win for the Lions but they are not must win in
20:33
this one and I just I don't see it happening
20:35
I think the the biggest thing I see when I look
20:39
at both of these teams the Rams are third in
20:42
points given up They give up 17 .5 points on
20:46
average per game. Lions give up 23 .5. That's
20:49
crazy. That's the big difference. The Rams are
20:52
a good defense, but where they're great is they
20:55
bend, but they don't break. We've seen it. Both
20:59
of our teams are in the north. The Lions are
21:00
not the same. Great offense. They have an amazing
21:03
run game. You have an amazing run game going
21:06
up against an amazing... pass game but the amazing
21:10
pass game has a defense that just doesn't give
21:12
up points and i think that's going to be the
21:13
difference yeah that front four of the rams i
21:16
did you're saying i think it really can control
21:18
the lions running game enough um to make the
21:21
you know golf throw it and when they start losing
21:24
that running attack he's just not as effective
21:27
a quarterback when you put everything on his
21:29
shoulders where on the other hand stafford put
21:33
it on his shoulders all day long oh 100 like
21:35
you were saying up nine touchdowns on the second
21:38
place guy and touchdown passes a year mvp level
21:42
how does it feel to be a lion's fan right now
21:45
knowing you made this trade and it helped your
21:48
team overall but Every year, this dude comes
21:52
back to try to break your heart as you're trying
21:54
to roll towards the playoffs that you really
21:56
didn't have while he was here. It's so fun to
22:00
watch these games because they're so emotionally
22:01
charged. They're so exciting. There's so much
22:03
history. This is going to be another really good
22:06
one to watch. Yeah, I haven't really dug into
22:08
it. It'll be interesting where the window of
22:11
the Lions is now because they have so many skilled
22:14
positions with contracts coming up that they're
22:17
not going to be able to keep all of them. They
22:20
drafted well, and now what happens with Jameer,
22:22
I don't think they've done an extension with
22:25
him yet. That's going to be a big one, right?
22:27
You've got a few that you've got to figure out
22:29
with his probably being one of the bigger ones.
22:31
They just paid Hutchinson, right? So that was
22:33
a big one. They've got a few others they've got
22:35
to figure out. Where's Goff at, too? He's got
22:37
to be coming up soon because that trade happened
22:40
back in, was it, 22? We're talking three, four
22:42
years ago. I know they signed him prior to that.
22:45
That'll be something interesting to dig into.
22:48
Absolutely. the window of the lions is uh especially
22:51
as a lions fan you finally get out then you just
22:53
get a little glimmer of light for three years
22:56
then um we'll see whether there comes jason content
22:59
by content coming to get you each year um yeah
23:03
We're both, Justin and I are both going. We agreed
23:06
again. Look at this. Look at us. Look at us.
23:07
We're trending. But next one will be the interesting
23:11
one. I'll be really surprising if he goes my
23:15
direction on this. Cowboys and the Vikings down
23:18
in Jerry's world. Six and a half is the spread.
23:26
I'll let you go first on this. This is a really
23:29
interesting one. You have the, in my opinion,
23:35
Maybe not all around, but close to the best offense
23:37
in the NFL. Maybe second to Rams, maybe, right?
23:43
Yeah, I can see you making some points. Total
23:46
yards, they're number one. They're number one
23:48
in passing. Oddly enough, they're 16th in rushing
23:52
when they have a really good running back, so
23:55
that's kind of interesting. I think it's because
23:56
they have to throw themselves back into so many
23:58
games because their defense has been so suspect.
24:01
I think Williams' touchdown count is inflating.
24:07
his overall production yeah you know if that
24:09
makes sense you know like he's between the 20s
24:12
he's not really killing anybody and he's probably
24:15
a lot in the passing game too and because they
24:17
do a lot of the the running back screens as well
24:20
so you know that isn't going to count for uh
24:23
you know for the overall rushing offense where
24:26
I like the Vikings from a defense standpoint.
24:28
The stats might not be there because they're
24:30
on the field all the time in games that the offense
24:33
doesn't show up in. So I think they're going
24:35
to slow down Dallas's defense, but I think the
24:38
offense is going, I think the Vikings offense
24:40
is going to be overpowered by that front with
24:43
Quinn and Williams and just what they've brought
24:45
in. It's going to, like we talked about with
24:48
the Vikings in an earlier video. The secret to
24:51
them is you get the run game going, it helps
24:54
J .J. kind of see the field, give him time to
24:56
do play action, get it to Addison, Jefferson,
24:59
whoever he can. And I'm just nervous that if
25:02
Dallas slows down the rush, it's going to hurt
25:05
J .J. I am really nervous for this game. I don't
25:09
want to do it because I don't like Dallas, but
25:10
I have to go with Dallas in this game. Oh, this
25:13
is where it starts, Kevin. We're almost like
25:16
33%. We'll call it a W. I mean, there's a lot
25:21
of interesting matchups. You talk about the D
25:23
tackles for the Cowboys here, but I think it's
25:28
going to be more on the ends if the Vikings run
25:31
a lot more zone and push on the edges more. The
25:36
one thing about Dallas that they struggle about,
25:38
yeah, if they don't get the pass rush up from
25:40
the middle, there hasn't been a ton on the outside,
25:43
which hopefully the Vikings aren't doing five
25:46
to seven. dropbacks, whatever, trying to get
25:51
it to. And keep the game quick. Establish a little
25:55
buddy game. I do like the Vikings matchup in
25:58
the secondary. Belan, who signed a big contract.
26:04
doesn't look like he deserves it all no he has
26:06
been burnt in multiple games um and they're almost
26:10
sometime just attacking him um yeah like he's
26:13
a rookie like you know which is really weird
26:16
for a guy that signed a big contract um so i'd
26:19
like to see jefferson get going he's had two
26:22
obviously way below his level of you know skill
26:26
set statistic games um even in a 31 nothing win
26:31
that they tried to get him but i was kind of
26:33
watching in the end zone where i was sitting
26:34
i mean they just double bracketed him the whole
26:37
game so that's going to naturally keep these
26:39
other guys open it is you know so um which but
26:42
also scares me about dac on the offensive side
26:46
as a vikings fan is Dak is really good under
26:50
pressure. He sits in the pocket. He throws under
26:53
distress really well. And whether they can't
26:57
get to him in time with the skill sets of George
27:01
Pickens, C .D. Lamb playing is going to be a
27:04
huge scenario. That's huge. If he doesn't play,
27:06
that's where I'm hoping he doesn't play, and
27:10
I'm picking the Vikings. Well, to your favor,
27:14
the Vikings are 3 -4 on the road better than
27:16
at home. They've got one extra on the road than
27:19
they do at home, so that can play a big piece.
27:24
But that CeeDee Lamb piece is huge because I
27:26
think the Vikings' defense and how bullish they
27:30
can be is they can give George Pickens fits,
27:33
and then what do you do? Yeah, if you can get
27:35
him to check out of the game and then make Ferguson
27:38
or Turpin, their kick returner. God, he got drilled
27:46
a couple weeks ago. I remember. So, yeah, but...
27:52
The Hellas has kind of owned the Vikings, I got
27:54
to admit. But this is where we're changing it
27:57
all. I'd love to be wrong here. And it also is
28:01
like what Cowboy team. They are 6 -6 -1, so it's
28:04
not like they've been amazing all year long.
28:07
They did get a little hot streak, win a couple
28:10
games that they probably shouldn't have against
28:14
the Chiefs. And, God, who was the other? Eagles,
28:16
I think they beat. Yeah, they started the Eagles
28:19
losing streak three weeks ago. Yeah. So I think
28:23
that kind of inflated everyone's thought of like,
28:26
oh, Dallas is back. And then I think last week,
28:29
then they come on and lay an egg. Yeah, they
28:31
didn't look good. So I still the Vikings is sneaking
28:35
out. They got to keep it under 24 to have a chance.
28:39
If we get down early, it scares me. That's back
28:43
to putting JJ nine on his shoulders. and right
28:48
now that does not look like his most effective
28:50
way to play quarterback in the NFL. Any last
28:54
thoughts on the Vikings -Cowboys game here? Yeah,
28:57
KOC, whichever camera, I hope you're watching
29:00
us. Make it easy for JJ. You got to do what you
29:04
did last week. That's the most important thing.
29:06
I think what they did last week with him is super
29:09
important. Figure out different ways to get the
29:12
ball out of his hand quickly, creatively. Get
29:15
the run game going, even if it has to start with
29:18
him. And I think I go back to the Packers' loss
29:21
against the Panthers. If you limit the number
29:25
of possessions Dallas has on the road, you quiet
29:28
that fan base, and you can just slowly chip away
29:32
at the field, I think that's the type of game
29:35
this has to be. So to prove me wrong and to prove
29:37
Cowboy Nation wrong, I think the Vikings can
29:40
do it, but it's going to be a really gritty,
29:42
really tough game. Yeah, it's going to be interesting
29:47
to see what happens. So it makes sense why they
29:49
kept this one Sunday night. This is going to
29:51
be a really fun, really big game. I like it.
29:54
And a lot of star power, which they always love
29:57
in Dallas. He said, KOC, do the KISS method.
30:01
Keep it simple, stupid. And that's how we'll
30:04
finish off tonight's episode. Thanks again to
30:08
Kevin behind the camera. Justin, again, for coming
30:10
and filling in this week. You've been awesome.
30:12
Some great takes. Thanks for joining the Gridiron
30:16
Updates on Banter of the Boys. Listen to us on
30:18
all the fun stuff, YouTube podcast stuff, Apple,
30:22
all of it. Oranges, wherever you get it. Yeah.
30:27
Maybe next week I'll be on the corner yelling
30:29
at the top of my lungs. So come find it anyway.
30:32
So thanks again for joining us, and we out. Skol.
30:39
Don't forget to follow, like, and subscribe.
30:42
Tune in next time for more banter with the boys.