[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Well, I mean, it's like, what is this, three weeks in a row where there's no offense until the last quarter of the game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, I think that's what concerns me a little bit. It's just, it's hard for them to generate points or yards at all, uhm, in the early parts of the football game. So I think that's where I'm concerned, and that's where I go like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Alright, cool, Trevor Simian's cool, but, you know, when, when might we see Taysom Hill here at some point? You know, to me, and, and, you know, I've heard Taysom Hill's maybe a little banged up, and that's part of the reason maybe he's not in this conversation a little bit more, but like, they need some other advantage on the offensive side of the ball right now.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And just a straight back drop passing game with Trevor Simeon and a bunch of receivers who are young and underwhelming and figuring their way out. Yeah, I am concerned about their offense. You know, I just, it's a lot of pressure on their defense week after week after week to hold down the fort and let the offense be average.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's what they, exactly right, I mean, interception to start the game, you know, down, and I can't remember who that was that intercepted it, it was the, the, the linebacker, 57, uhm,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Edwards, I believe. So he, he has that interception, which leads to a touchdown. Yeah, you throw a pick six at the end of the half. I mean, that's 14 points. I mean, again.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, it's 27 to 7 and a half, you take that away and go, oh, it's 13-7? Yeaah, it's a different football game. I know that's not like apples to apples, but yeaah, those are huge mistakes, no doubt about it. TJ Edwards, thank you, uh, Pete Demoletus.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uh, yes. I think it's him and Nick Chubb. I would go it's one of those two.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, and of course, Nick Chubbs has been banged up, so I think- Over Delvin Cook, over Christian McCaffrey. I think right now, yes, I would. I would. What these two guys have is, this is where they're, to me, a notch above the other two, who are really special. Don't get me wrong. Those two have an advantage maybe in the pass game a little bit, what they can do there.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, in the open field they can make you miss and break ankles. I don't think you can really put McCaffrey in that class as of right now. Just cause he hasn't played enough football in my opinion over the last two years, but I know what you're saying.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But where Chubb and Taylor are different to me is, straight away speed, they're every bit as faster, if not faster than Cook and McCaffrey. So they can break the 80 yard run just like they can, and then, they're bigger people. So, like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] As you saw yesterday, Jonathan Taylor can make a lot of runs where it's between the tackles and somebody hits him and he runs for another five yards and then hits somebody else hits him.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And then he goes down, you go, well damn, he got 12 yards after contact there. I mean, it was a little hole, I get it, but once he gets some steam, watch out. And uhm, yeaah, he's making Jersey proud right there. Jonathan Taylor, man. Jersey made, he's playing awesome. And again,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Not that I'm good at picking games, but one thing I know I'm good at is evaluating teams and saying what you should do. And I think Frank Reich, I want to go...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm just, thanks to him. I, I've been sitting here, I think Pete would tell you, run the damn football, Colts. That's when you're best. Again, they have an old line that's very good. They have some good creative run game design, and then the best player on their offense is the running back. So let's get him the ball a lot. And that was awesome.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, that's right. I mean, Eric Fischer's healthy, he's playing better. I know Nelson got banged, Quentin Nelson got banged up yesterday a little bit. Somebody fell on his leg or foot. I hope he's okay. Because yeah, he was, he's finally healthy or was going into this game somewhat healthy. So yes, they're offensive line. Again, a little what we just talked about the Eagles or what we talk about with any good team.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, it's where, what's the unit that's special? You know, what's the unit that's being paid a lot of money? That's how you connect dots to go, wait,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, one, is that area performing well? Oh, they're not, then they're, they've misallocated their money. Or you go, wait, like, you know, going to the strength of the team, are we taking advantage of everything that it has to give us there? And that's where I would get to Frank Reich and go, no, there was some games there where


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Damn, you're gashing them in the run game. What the hell? Don't give up on it. So, uh, to me it makes sense for them. It makes sense for Carson Wentz. You know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] T.Y. Hilden hasn't been 100%, you know, there's no Paris Campbell, so they're not gonna be able to get the deep pass plays maybe to the capacity they want to. They gotta keep running the football the way they are, uh, because it's the best thing they do on their football team. So I was glad to see that. I mean, the patients in the run game, and then the Jonathan Taylor touchdown catch, where they,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They faked the run to him, and he went out the back door. I mean, see, that to me is where Frank Reich is really good. He always has a few plays every game where I go, man, that was...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Creative and smart. And he saw something on film where they lose track of that guy. Uh, so to di- no, not only to draw it up, but to know when to dial it up. Very special that way. And they had it rolling and of course, you know, Buffalo was shitting all over themselves messing things up.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You grip the ball hard, you're throwing the ball hard in slippery, wet conditions. It's hard to control the football. It is. And what's hard for them is...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They don't have anything else to rely on, other than him throwing the ball hard in lasers all over the field. See, this is where, you know, again, I know I've been beating this, beating the drum about this, but this call, maybe everybody will finally realize the Bills offense isn't as good as the statistics say. It's, it's, it's a fabrication. It's a mirage.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's, it's again, it's, it's one guy. It's one guy with a sprinkle of Stefan Diggs in there. And that's just not sustainable right now. And yeah, he lost control of the football, made some bad decisions, you know, and hey, the game got out of hand. Listen, you know, Colts go down and score. Buffalo drives back.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Buffalo drives back, he throws the interception on the fringe field goal area down the middle of the field. Well, Colts go down and score again, 14-0.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, then I know it's, it's, uh, let me see if I got this right. Buffalo goes down on scores, it's 14-7.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, Colts put together an ugly, ugly field goal drive. And then Isaiah McKenzie on the next kick return trips and falls on himself and fumbles the ball. And that leads to another touchdown for the Colts. So it was 24-7. And you know, again, like we've talked about in the NFL.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, one team playing good and you make a mistake or two, you're, you find your ass blown out in a hurry in the NFL. And that's what happened to Buffalo. And here's the last thing I'll say about Buffalo. Buffalo's defense really good. We know that really well, coach. But the one reason


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I thought the Colts could beat them. It was one of my best bets. I chickened out on just picking them to win, but it was one of my best, was, was, the Colts are a little like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] If they stay patient with the run, I have felt like they could do what the Tennessee Titans did to Buffalo. Where they have to just commit so much to stopping the run and being overpowered there and putting people at the line of scrimmage. Then it leads to a handful of easy completions in the pass game. Uhm, but the, the Buffalo Bills defense is not real big up front.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That to me is the guy right there where I go, wait if we're talking non-quarterbacks.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Offensive player of the year. Yes. Jonathan Taylor and Debo Samuel, I think, are the two most important to their offense in all of football. Both over Coopercock.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Cooper Kupp is, I'm gonna say he's third because I feel like McVeigh and Stafford, if they needed to have another guy take that role, it wouldn't be as big of a drop off. I know it's not Cooper Kupp, but if like Van Jefferson had to take over that role or Odell does, they're still gonna be able to function and go as an offense.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, maybe, it's right around there, yeah. Adams is so important just because the way they feed him and everything's orchestrated around him in the pass game. Uh, so yes, but I look at-


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Taylor and Debo Samuel to be the most non-important offensive players in the game right now. I do. You know, again, Taylor, it's an attitude, his talent, you know, his ability to keep them in good down and distance situations. Debo Samuel, you know,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He's, he's their best running back. He's unbelievable yards after the catch. You know, to me, like those offenses couldn't be what they are right now.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Without their two players, and that's where Jonathan Taylor special. And I mean, listen, almond, you talk about.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The, the, the Colts. They've won, they've won five out of the last six. They've won...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Six out of the last eight, okay? And in the two losses, you'd go, they could easily beat the Tennessee Titans in a game where Carson went through the, you know, 360 interception in the end zone or left-handed interception. The Baltimore Ravens game they lost, they, they controlled the game, they blew it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, so to your point, you're exactly right. To me, I think they have surpassed the Bills. They are a more complete, better football team and seem to be trending upwards as we go on in the season here.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] If you're in an eligible state, PointsBet has an exclusive sign up offer for unbuttoned listeners that you can't miss. What is it? You hear that? You hear that? PointsBet has an exclusive sign up offer for unbuttoned listeners that you can't miss. Okay.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Download the PointsBed app. Use code unbuttoned. We have our code? We have a code. We got a code. Code red. It's unbuttoned. All capitals, okay? All capitals unbuttoned. You have to do all caps? All caps.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Or maybe you don't, I don't know. Do whatever you want. Do what you want. If you want to go all caps, go all caps. See what works. Alright, either way, that's the code. To sign up, alright, so download the PointsBet app, use code on button to sign up, bet one dollar on any NFL team.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uh, both involving the Lions. Of course they are. The Lions, well, the Lions were, you guys were probably that team that was like, we don't forget the forward pass. We're gonna run it old school. Football wasn't invented. Who knows what the Lions were doing.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think this was the most exciting. Sunday night was good. I found this game to be more compelling. Right. Because teams were healthy for the most part too. And yea, you just felt like you were watching two teams at their full strength rather than last night where you watched, you know, you felt like one team was a little bit handicapped without a few of their guys.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] No doubt, right, they've had, you know, again, their offense doesn't always deliver itself to be like this unbelievable, executing, surgical offense. They don't have a lot of it, again, as we've talked about many a times, it's run the ball and it's big plays down the field off of that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I just don't know how, how would, how, I know a few times how they got open. I do.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, but you know, consistently throughout the day, he found ways to push the ball down the field to Justin Jefferson, especially. And of course, Adam Thielen popped here and there. Um, yeah, that, that to me, I think was the surprise of the day. It was the fact that they were able to gash the Packers defense the way they did.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He's phenomenal at those throws. I would bet you in football the last three, four years, he's towards the top of the list in that statistical category.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Pull the trigger and make an aggressive throw is really impressive.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Now, you know, again, the negatives with Kirk Cousins is just, yeaah, he's not gonna get out of the pocket and make that happen, he's not gonna make a guy miss and still throw a sidearm laser like, you know, Aaron Rodgers does, to where, yeaah, every now and then, that's what I think frustrates people, him. But if you just give him enough time to make the throw, he'll make it, even with people bearing down on him, like you said.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, but he's just not going to do it like a sexy flashy way. No, that's not what he does. He's not going to throw off his back foot and throw a 35 yard laser or throw a ball sidearm like Mahomes or Josh Allen and make that happen.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, and I think because of what he's paid in his contract, people want that all the time. No, that's just not what he is. And don't be mad at him. Don't hate the player, hate the game. The Vikings paid him all that money. It's not his fault. You know, he just did what he did and he used the system to his advantage. Uhm, but amazing that way. And you know, I think like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, I think about, I think it was the first touch, or it might have been the first touchdown or the first big play.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think that set up the second, the first touchdown for Minnesota. Dalvin Cook had a one yard run. It was a six play, 84 yard drive at the end of the first quarter. You know, I believe that's the drive where he hit Justin Jefferson on like a corner route and he got all the way down to the one yard line.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And that to me was one of the plays where I think it sums up like kind of the question or what you said a minute ago was


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think the Packers were trying to run Blitz a little bit, so worried about Dalvin Cook. You know, they were playing some...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, man behind at the times, at other times they were playing like a blitz zone cover three.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And it looked like they just ended up, you know, having the right route combinations to where they got one-on-one matchups or they confused the Packers with some different releases and how to cover it and how to switch it off in their zones. That was to me the thing that jumped out. And that's what I'm, I'm going to be excited about when I watch the film to just see exactly what they did because I did not expect that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He's, he's up there. You know, wide receiver's one I gotta go back and like look at right now a little because oof, there's, there's some studs in the NFL right now at the wide receiver position.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I know, exactly right. I'm an, I am, I'm an, I'm a Devonte hater, I guess. It's official. I, I really respect what Devonte does. But yeah, Justin Jefferson to me is bigger and he's faster.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, he's, every bit as capable, if not more capable with yards after the catch. So, yeaah, I look at like, again, to me, just, this is not like trying to make a top list here. But where I do think we've come to is like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The Deandre Hopkins of the worlds have fallen down a little bit, alright.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, there's some other guys that have been mainstays and I go, I think like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm seeing a prototype here. Well, the AJ Browns to me have gone to the next level in the NFL and nobody's considering them the top five receivers in football yet. And I want to go, no, there, there you are.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You just, you're just not comfortable saying it because their team's not that good or they're not like in an awesome offense to where it's just so smack in your face. You know, of course I'm going to put Tyree Kill still in that conversation. D.K. Metcalf? Maybe. I don't know. I don't know if I'm going to put him quite there. Who'd you say, Pete?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Jamar Chase I think is very close into that conversation as well. Yes. So I think like, you know, again, those are some under the radar, these guys are way better than the public wants to give them at the wide receiver position.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, yes, I think there is a little bit of a changing in the guard. That's a good way to put it. When you got Cooper Cup, what are you just doing now? Yeah, Cooper Cup, right, exactly right. Am I missing anybody? You know, I know there's a lot of good receivers out there and I'm certainly not trying, but I'm talking about guys that are like, you know, not looked at as top receivers in football where I want to go, no,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They are now. You know, you're just, you're just not comfortable. I know Diggs is still really good. I got that. I'm giving you the guys that are under the radar jumping on the scene.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Like right now. You know, Devonte Smith might be doing that here by the end of the year too. You're seeing him pop more and more. But I think I hit on the guys I was trying to at least, you know, emphasize a little bit.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] What's even more amazing is, uhm, and what makes me sad, is it was Aaron Rodgers best game of the year.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I, I did. I thought just when you look at it, just as far as like the throws he made and the importance they had to the football game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, the moments where you go, oh man, they need a big play. They need a big throw. He delivered almost every time as the game went on. Of course they got down early. You know, they weren't able to run the ball with like great effectiveness yesterday. And I thought it was him and just some absolutely exceptional.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Aaron Rodgers type throwing that, you know, gave them a chance to win that football game. And you know, it was one of those days where you're like, well, if he gets the ball last, he, they're going to win. You know, unfortunately he threw a one play 75 yard laser that gave the Vikings two minutes to go down and score and end the game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I can't say that I remember seeing him just totally sprint like, oh wait, the pocket collapsed, let me go run for a first down. I can say though, of course,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Just in the pocket and stuff, I didn't feel like I saw any hindrance there. And then, you know, arguably the throw of the day to Dagora for the touchdown that made it 16-10. I mean, Amin, he scrambled to his left.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And, you know, I'm not gonna say he was at full speed, but he was running at a good speed.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And he throws the ball from about the 25 yard line. And Dagora is like 5-6 yards deep in the end zone. And just right handed. I mean, it's like he didn't even turn his body all the way. And he just, like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I just, he's unreal. I don't even know how to say it. The ball went six feet off the ground for 30 yards, running to his left without torquing his body. And you're just like, what? How does that do that? And I'll use.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] What Drew Brees has said to me many times this year already about


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Aaron Rodgers, he just, the thing he loves to say, he's a biomechanical freak, that's what he says. He's a biomechanical freak, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] His ability to transfer power from the ground to his arm and, you know, just be in awkward positions and still to throw, he's like, there's nobody like him. And you know, you know me, you don't have to tell me that I'm sitting over there when Drew says that I'm like, I know, I know, tell me more. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He said, he said, discount double check of this. Yeah, exactly.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Well, I will say that Zimmer, you know, their defense is not great, but when they can get you into, wait, you can't run the ball as good as you want to run the ball and now I got you throwing the ball a little bit more than you want.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He could be a pain in the butt that way. And I think, you know, Green Bay has, you know, had years where they've been a little bit two Rogers, one dimensional and need to rely on that. So yeah, I mean, Zimmer's one of the greatest secondary coaches in the history of football. You play that style, he'll give you an issue. I don't care who you are.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, because again, we've talked about it a lot this year. The Packers have a toughness about them to me that they haven't had in years past. And I think it is because of guys like Elgin Jenkins and company. So, uh, that's a shame to say. Yeah, saw the play.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I mean look, they're giving me an edge. Look at my cool sneakers. So fast. Yeah, I look awesome today and they're comfortable. They're focused on, they're focused on performing better and taking their game to the next level.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I know, I want to do that. I said that. They're called anti-florio hoodies. I need to get them. We're not just about the end result, winning or glory.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] In that crate there, with the Cookie Monster fur inside, they sent a bunch of like cool stickers too, so I brought them home for my boy, and he used those. They're like Steph Curry, Cookie Monster, Sesame Street, he's 11.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uhm, one was on his phone, another was on like his school laptop, I saw there was four stickers, he put two of them on there right away, and then two he saved. Is the school okay with that? Putting the stickers on the laptop? We'll see. What we're paying to go to that school, they should be okay with it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeaah, to a degree. You know, I mean, hey, you said it right, we're seeing the Derrick Henry effect, the ripple effect of it's affecting other parts of their offense, so the play action pass big plays have not been there.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, it was the first game since Derrick Henry's been out that the other team didn't let them off the hook a little bit, or the referees didn't help out a little like the Saints game last week, too. Not to take anything away from the Titans, but like, yeaah, they've been fortunate to play a Rams team that kinda screwed it up.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And we didn't really have to see their offense be under any pressure or do anything special that way. You know the Saints game last week? Yea, similar, similar in a lot of ways as well.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, did some good things, I understand that. But, you know, I think got fortunate.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Defense made us, made some big plays to help them win the football game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm not panicked about the Titans. I'm not. I still think they're a good football team and they're gonna manage situations the right way. You know, Tannehill was off yesterday. Yeaah, the weather was miserable.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But, you know, again, it goes back to like a conversation we have a lot. And this is why I love the NFL, because it's just, it's not college football. So, a team goes on an ugly first drive of the game and gets a field goal.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, you come down the field, you drive the ball, you throw a bat interception over the middle and he returns it all the way to the bat, another six yard line. Your defense makes a stop and holds him to a field goal. And you go, whoa.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's only 6-0. They're kinda being outplayed and they've messed up. It's only 6-0. But then they do nothing on the next drive and they punt it out to Houston and Houston puts together a touchdown drive. So now you're down 12-0.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Alright. 12-0. And then, what was it? 2 series. I think Tennessee ends up, uh, I just want to make sure I get this. They get stopped on a 4th and 1, alright, as they're driving the ball. They're in Houston territory.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Alright, Houston does a little something with the football. Just like gets a few yards. They punt it and Chester Rogers fair catches it at the five yard line.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But weights, like, is a little too daring. So they're down 12-0. You know, they've...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Not played great defense, but okay. They've thrown an interception as they were in field goal range. They've got stopped on a fourth and one while they were in field goal range. And now your punt returner does a fair catch and tries to block the guy from downing the ball at the three or four yard line. And the ball hits him in the foot.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's been a shitty offense all year and we always talk about this, like you can be a good defense, but if you're out there every four plays, you're going to get worn out and start not looking good eventually. And they don't let, they play a lot of cover too. They got some big people up front to slow down the run game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And, you know, Tyrod Taylor made a few splash plays and that was it. But it was just more, yes, Titan's mistakes yesterday than anything.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Or it might have been, I wanna say, it might have been 1913.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It was 19-6 and it was earlier in the fourth quarter. It was like 12 minutes in the fourth quarter. And that's when Tannehill threw the interception in the end zone drive. Like if they scored there, I was going, well, there was so much time in the game. Like the Texans offense is dead. Like Tennessee's going to come back and win this game. That to me was the play that really made it hard.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] For Tennessee. Was the fact that they were, didn't get any points there, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Texans ended up punting the ball away and I think what happened too is it ended up being another Tannahill interception the next series which gave them a field goal to Texans and kind of put the game away for real.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, well, it is. It is. I mean, he's a really awesome backup quarterback.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, let's not forget, when he was the backup last year for the Giants, they went up to Seattle and he beat them there too, beat the Seahawks on the Giants, with the Giants.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, he's, he's been this close like four or five times in his career to being a starter and kind of gotten hurt or just had some things go against him. You know, that game yesterday, yea, 23-13 win, it was more dominant than that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, the, the, the, the Arizona Cardinals missed two chippy field goals. Two extra points. Yeah, I mean, he was off. I mean, Prater is one of the greatest field goal kickers in the history of football. So that to me was, you know, it was one of those games where, yeah, the score looks okay, but really Arizona controlled the flow of the football game throughout.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It looked a lot to me like the 49ers game a few weeks ago where Colt McCoy was starting his first game and they went into San Francisco and won that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, patience with the run game, a lot of short throws to Rondale Moore to kind of keep them in second and sixth set. He was great and just catching a lot of screens and, and flair passes and bubbles. And then it was AJ Green and Zach Ertz and the, and the drop back pass came down the field.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, so, defense, control the ball, efficient drives, you know, good third down conversions, and Cliff Kingsbury again, running the ball 21 times, 62 yards for James Connor.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] What patience there. You're not really doing great, but you're seeing the big picture of the game. Wait, I got a second, you know, second string quarterback, you know, we're here in Seattle.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I know, Russell Wilson, everything there. Our defense is playing good. Let me just, you know, be patient and see the big picture of the game. We're the better team. We're going to win if I don't do something stupid. And that's where I give Cliff Kingsbury a lot of credit.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, I don't want to say figured out, um, Russell Wilson's definitely lost speed. That's something that I know, I know I think I've talked about it on the pod here.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And I know my dad and I, we talk about it a little bit. He's not as elusive as he once was. Those days are, they're, they're gonna be done here soon. They are. He's not gonna be able to make like Russell Wilson magic running plays for too much longer. So yeah, there's an aspect of that, certainly. You know, the offense stinks. There, there's nothing else to say about it. There's really not.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, they're not a good running team and when they drop back and pass, I go, it's very simple concepts. There's, there's not a lot to offer there.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And then I think adding on to that, does he turn down some completions every game? 100%. You know, again, let's say he was out of football for a long time here, and he's probably still not 100% gripping the football. You know, we can't just think, oh, because he's back, he's totally 100%. He's not going to say so.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, the thing that I would say that I look at with Russell Wilson at times, and I saw it even last week in the Green Bay game, and we'll see if I see it when I watch the film of this game this week, is he will turn down completions in the middle of the field. He's too careful.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Now, to me, part of that is a product of Pete Caro, who's always been like, just take care of the ball and we're gonna play defense and don't try to force anything and do that, to where he's so...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, handcuffed about like letting it fly sometimes. I think that affects him, let alone he's a smaller quarterback and sometimes they have a problem seeing down the middle of the field. That is to me the biggest weaknesses I see with his game more than anything. Still think he's phenomenal. Yeah, is he like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Top 3 quarterback, top 4 quarterback in football. No, not right now. He's not. But he's still top 10 for sure. Is it over?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And then they took over the NFL for a number of years. Yeaah, he's not used to this. It's been a long time since he's done this. You know, so he's had some things work against him. You know, some of the coaching changes haven't worked.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I don't know. That's a very good question.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I don't look at him as being the type to retire early or anything. He seems like he's a psycho.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I mean it's over. They're not going anywhere this year. This year it's over. It's over. I've been saying that, you know, all year long. It's just what on their roster was making anybody think it was gonna really happen other than Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, DK Metcalf.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, magic, okay. Yeah, Jamal Adams hasn't been as good.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, he's the really only marquee player on the defense. Everybody else is just okay. The secondary, the corners are average. There's no great pass rusher.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, so there's, there's, you know, the offensive line's not that great. The running backs aren't that great. Tight ends are not that great. I mean, it's just nothing to look at to go, oh wow. And, you know, you look down their final stretch of their schedule, Washington football team, I mean, of course they can lose to them. You know, they got the 49ers, the Texans, the Rams, the Bears, the Lions, the Cardinals.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, there's nothing, nothing's a gimme for them right now. Yeah, I know the Lions, they should beat them. Houston Texans, I mean, I wouldn't be shocked if that's a nail-biter. I mean, it's, again, every game's gonna be close. They're not good enough to think they're just gonna dominate anyone.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uh, yeaah, I mean listen, that was, that was actually a fun game to watch yesterday. It really was.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Oh, okay. Is that a, I'm going to, we need to do that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You said it. Cam played, you know, well. Yeaah. There's no doubt. Made some great throws. I thought, you know, their first drive of the game was very well thought out. Had some creative plays that really fit them and their team. I mean, the touchdown pass he had to DJ more.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They fake the quarterback draw, and as he's running up the line of scrimmage, he hits him with a little post route. That was really cool. Yea. They gotta continue to do stuff like that. You know, use...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, Kam Stranks, uh, you know, eh, eh, you know, against the other team a little bit. Uh, so that was cool. Their offense played good enough to win the game. I think to me it was the shocking of the, the shock of the game was kind of what you said. Heineken Magic, Washington offense kind of consistently moving the ball on Carolina all game long.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, Carolina, it was like, the three touchdown drives were literally the only time they moved the ball the whole game. I felt like everything else was like three and out, or six and out, or five and out, whatever else. So it was really just those three touchdown drives.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think when I look at Washington, you know, I did not think they would run the ball the way they did. You know, of course we saw Terry McCorn and how special he is once again against some good cover corners out there in Carolina.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, Heineken making just a few plays here and there, like in big moments, like the fourth down and three that gave them the go-ahead field goal. Scramming those left, making somebody miss, waiting to the last possible second, completion, boom. You know, it's just a good mix. Uh, and Washington's playing good football right now.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, McCorran came into play big time yesterday and Carolina of course has like corners where they just go, we didn't, we know you got Terry McCorran, but we don't care. Our corners are good. We're going to play a man to man. And they didn't let them off the hook that way.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, that's where they're special. Uh, and McCorrin is special as we've talked about a few times on this podcast. But, you know, Heinecke has, uhm, definitely stepped up his game, I feel like the last few weeks to where


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I know we always made a few magical plays, but there was always a few plays where I went, oh, if he threw a better throw there, that should have been a bigger play, or maybe a touchdown, or it should have been a first down. There was some of that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I felt like in the Packers and even in the, uhm, the Denver game where they lost, you know, some close football games, last few weeks I just feel like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Nothing's being left on the field. I didn't watch the film last week of Tampa vs Tampa on Tampa's defense where I went, oh man, he missed a handful of plays. He should have had, you know, more points, more yards. It's, he's playing good football. Washington's got a little mojo going. They do. They do. Washington's defense got some talent.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, their offensive line's good, they can run the ball, and if he can continue to throw the ball the way he is, they're gonna be a pain in the butt down the stretch.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I mean the Eagles and Washington are certainly going to give us something to talk about there. That's the big thing. And I think with Dallas who still has the Eagles right one more time on their schedule and they got Washington on their schedule twice, yeaah, they're not


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They're not like Cupcake wins now, for sure. They're not. These two teams can certainly beat them if the Cowboys mess up, make a bad play, whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And people might go, what do you mean? I was about to say that. What do you mean? Don't you go do your thing? Cause you like to choke on energy drinks, right? No, I don't like to. It just happens to me. Go do your thing is the text message Lamar Jackson sent to Tyler Huntley on the way to the bus before the football game. Yeah. No Lamar Jackson. Go do your thing.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And, you know, that's what, the Ravens, you're right. I mean, they're the ultimate cardiac kids. Just find a way to ugly, make plays, get it done. He played well though. He made a number of good throws for the game. Didn't make any crucial mistakes. And of course being the big play at the end of the football game where like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Chicago busted the coverage. He had pressure. He runs out to the right and finds Sammy Watkins for the big play that got them down in scoring position to win the game ultimately. That was the play of the day. So good job by Tyler Hunley. Coming into a situation that wasn't easy on the road against a good Bears defense.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] No, it's definitely not a great trend. There's no doubt about it. I mean, I think it speaks to what you're talking about a little. You know, the fact that


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, they're just, they're bringing nothing new to the table on a bye week. It's still- And though they had the injury to Justin Fields in this game. Sure, that hurt, and hey, it was great, great that they got, you know, uh, a guy like Andy Dalton to come off the bench, and he throws a little screen pass to Mooney, who breaks a long touchdown, and uh, you know, the all out blitz, hey, the ability to


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] To recognize it, know where to go with the football, you know, that was a big moment in the football game too, certainly. So they did some good things there, but yes, you know, I think your point is, is something that, you know, I try to make a lot. I just.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I don't understand their offense. They don't give their team a whole lot of advantages and to me it is the worst offense in football. It really is, so. Worse than the Lions.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You're right, it's schematically the worst offense in football, I'm sorry. I stand corrected. Alright, and here's another one.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That I, I want to get to here. Cause this is, to me it was one of the sneaky, big parts of the football game here. And I want to make sure I get this right here. So, I'm trying to go through this. Just, just to make sure. Cause again, I've watched every football game in the world. And I just want to make sure, hold on, so I got this right. Okay. Here we go. I got it right. I was right. It's seven to six. Bears. Yeah. All right. It's Tyler Hunley.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I mean, we know they went for it, because that's all anybody does anymore, is go for it. Except for teams like the Patriots or some of the other teams in football that go, wait, field position is actually a real thing. Let's do it. Like, okay, you know, fourth and one, they go for it, they don't get it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Now people are gonna go, well wait, Baltimore didn't do anything after that drive. No they didn't, you're right, they didn't. But see what had happened is, it flipped the field position, and it changed the game. So you're up 7-6, okay, 4th and 1, they don't get it. Baltimore doesn't do Jack Diddley shit with it, he throws an interception in fact, Tyler Huntley.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, they got a first down, and now the interception happened at the 20, uh, 22 yard line.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So now Chicago's still got the ball backed up. Right? They do nothing. They punt the ball back. Okay?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And Baltimore's got the ball in great field position. They're at the 45 yard line. They're right at midfield. Oh, they get two first downs or one first down and they're in field goal position for Justin Tucker. Now you're losing the game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Oh, this is, this is it. Exactly right. And then he changed it. That's exactly what happened. Way to go, way to go. Yes, that's exactly what happened. Yes, okay. So yes, double whammy there. But why? See, again, that's where, like, to me, eh, you know, some teams


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Have the ability to see the big picture of the football game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Like. And he did until the fans hated him. He did, right? He let that affect him. I don't know what happened there. I don't. You know, it's one of, I want to go back and watch it all again so I can get a better feel for like, what, but, but that to me was a huge moment in the game and I know you're going to go, well it didn't directly score right there.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] To me, yes, it set up the field position for Baltimore to be in the position to then get the field load two drives later. It was a defensive struggle type game. You got a guy who has not started a regular season game in the NFL, right?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So why, when you're up by one, give them a chance and give their offense a chance to get one first down or one lucky play and now they're winning the football game. That to me made no sense. And so, when you don't have good schematics and then you don't manage the game the right way, that is what's frustrating to me about the Bears.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think we're officially seeing the Gruden effect, or the no Gruden effect. You know, that, that, you know, again, Gruden's an offensive genius. Say what you want about him, whatever, personally, I understand that, but, you know, his ideas, his energy he can bring to that side of the football. And to me, the biggest thing that they're missing on it is,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, where Gruden was special is, yeaah, we know the meat and potatoes knows how to execute and do all the little things.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Where he made their offense and the meat potatoes even better is his ability to like every week, you know, and I experienced this was


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Shots or ability to stretch the field. They had the one drive in the fourth quarter, right? It was three plays, 75 yard drive. Other than that,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I mean, they couldn't find a way to muster offense, stay on the field, get a big play, do anything. They really couldn't.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And what I do want to see with the bangles because it was, it was awesome to see as far as, you know, Joe Mixon,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And then, of course, you know, Burrow just makes his handful of plays where you just go, oh wow, that's good. I wish they would find some ways to get some more big plays in the pass game. They're too talented to throw the ball 30 times and only get 148 yards. That's crazy. Yeaah. They're too talented. They gotta find more ways to get shots and be aggressive down the field too.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But, I wanna see what the Bengals did on defense too, that's another thing. The Bengals of course coming off a bye week, I felt like they self-scouted thyselves too. One of my issues with them going into the bye week a little bit was,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They've become a little bit like predictable. And teams are starting to find ways to get big plays on them every week. Like we saw the Browns big plays against them. We saw the Jets dice them up with short passes. You know, a little too predictable in their coverages. I felt like they changed it up a little bit yesterday, but that was a big win for them and a dominant win in a lot of ways.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He does not like to curse, but yeah, Gruden, again.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And rugs, the rugs issue. Those are two huge issues. Distractions, personal blows to your gut as you grow up higher on the team. Yeah. It bothers you.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And I think you can also, yea, you can take away, or you can't hide the effect Ruggs had on games even when he wasn't catching footballs. You know, there's a real thing there. It's like Tyree Kill.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He changes the structure of the coverage a lot of the times just because of him, even though we haven't maybe thrown the ball in five series. And then the energy and the creativity of Gruden just cannot be replicated. It cannot. Gruden brings an energy to the facility every day that's special.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Whether you like them or not, the energy was there. Uh, so I do think they're missing that for sure.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They're just too ugly. It doesn't need to be this ugly. It shouldn't be this ugly with the guys they got on their team.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, well Cleveland, I think, you know, another run game special. You've heard me say that a lot. Defenses.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Small upfront, and you're seeing teams that can run the ball, just overpower them, like the Patriots did, like Detroit did yesterday.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I mean, you know, there were some gashes in the game as far as the run game was concerned, but I think, you know, ultimately,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think with Cleveland, you know, it goes back a little to like what we've said all year long. The pass game cannot stand alone by itself. And Baker, hey, I give him a lot of credit. I mean he's a tough cookie. I really do respect Baker a lot.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But man, he missed some throws yesterday. I don't know what to say. I know he made a few throws where I went, wow, that was a great throw.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But, I would bet you there was five or six throws where I went, wow, that guy was wide open and he missed him. You know, the first interception to, to, uh, to, uh, he's throwing the in-cut to Jarvis Landry. I mean, Jarvis Landry is wide open. I mean, wide open. And he airmails it and throws it 10 feet over his head.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, there was a few throws of that during the game where I went, and again, I'm not trying to be over-picky here, where I just went, oh, this is Baker Mayfield, that's a slam dunk like 20 yard completion, and he missed it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, and of course being beat up and I'm sure not being able to practice and throw the exactly the way he wants to is affecting him. No doubt about it. That's for sure. You know, but yes, their pass game is underwhelming. And if they can't run the ball with Nick Chubb and company, they're just not that special of an offense. I don't know what to say it and their defense.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] With talent and speed and everything, it's just, uhm...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, it's good, it's just not great. To me, they're just not living up to their potential quite all the way.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Hard team to figure out, really. Bigger's gotta get healthy. They gotta get healthy. You know, again, you know, like we've talked about before, their defense is number four in football. It's not the number four defense in football. I mean, it's all stats built up against some crap offenses early in the year.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So, you know, all of that, everything has to improve. I think it's all disappointing. But like, well, you look at their schedule down the stretch here. Ravens twice, Raiders, Packers, Steelers, Bengals.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think if you made me sit here right now and go, is Cleveland going to make the playoffs? I'd go no, they're not. The way I've seen them play the last few weeks, uhm,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yesterday, the schedule coming up. I think if you made me pick all the teams there, I'd go, yeah, I'm going to bet on Cleveland being on the outside looking in.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, it's, it's whatever you want to say. It's just everything he brings to the offense is, is special. Catching balls over the middle.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, yea, the ability to run the way he does at the running back position, it's, it's amazing. There's no doubt. Yea, to me that's why, you know, going back to our conversation earlier, he's definitely in the, the running for one of the best non-quarterback players in the game right now.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think it was a gimmick at first and then Shanahan was like, wait, I'm on to something and we're going to start doing this all the time. This is going to be part of our offense. Like it's, I'm crazy, whatever. He's built like a running back. He's got great natural running back skills. Why not just use them back there? I know I drafted him as a receiver, but let's put them back there too. And then it also gets Jeff Wilson in the game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Jeff Wilson's a lot of times been lead blockers and some of these things too. So you don't know exactly what to expect. Oh wait, is it Jeff Wilson going to be a tailback and Debo split out receiver? Wait, that changes our...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] How we wanna play defense. Oh wait, Deebo's a running back and now Jeff Wilson's the lead blocker? Wait, now I'd like to be in a run defense. So they've, they've put some teams in schematical disadvantage that way. But like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Like you said it right, the 49ers watch, I think just watch out time. I do. I know they lost.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Few weeks ago against Arizona. And that stunk. There's no doubt.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, again, I didn't look at that as being just a total physical whooping though.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That was a good game by Arizona, great approach by Cliff Kingsbury, and we talked about it. The 49ers messed some things up in that game. I think that game was gonna go down to the wire, except there were some huge mistakes by the 49ers. So, uh, I look at them with this running game, and I think that's what officially has come to, to, to light for me. Like, Shanahan's just gone,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It hasn't been pretty. He's definitely missed some throws. You know, I know yesterday I even saw it and I think they, at one point when I was...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, Lawrence is a little, like I said, coming out in the draft. It wasn't as accurate as people think. It wasn't a slam dunk. He's a little all over the place with how he throws the football. You know, he hasn't quite become a machine yet.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And I think added to that, and again, you know, it's not the greatest offensive system in the world either. I know that would be. So he's got a little bit of both of that working up, working against him, but they had no chance yesterday. I mean, I never felt.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I mean, first off, when you go on a 20-play drive to start the game,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Like the 49ers did. 13 minute drive. 13 minute drive. Wasn't even a touchdown. Didn't even get a touchdown. Kick a field goal, which I want to give Kyle Shanahan a lot of respect for. Just going, wow, he kicked the field goal because he saw the big picture of the game and just went, well, I think I can continue to do this all game long. And I don't know if their offense can do anything.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And of course when Shanahan, he seems like he's dialed in right now. And he's got the health of his players. You saw Debo in the run game, Ayuk in the pass game, you know, and then some George Kittle mixed in there. That's a good combination to have and that's going to make them tough to beat.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He made some plays down the field. Yeah, he definitely did. You know, they ran the ball with a little success. I mean, again, it's not been a great Jets defense. I still will look at this, though. The Jets could have won this game. I will say that. You know, again, this was not necessarily the number one game on my mind as the game went on yesterday, okay? But the Jets, two easy field goals missed. They're down.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm going to say inside the 15 and Joe Flacco gets, uh, blindsided, strip sack fumble.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, left points on the board there. They had some opportunities to...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, be in control of the game or at least have the momentum in the football game and kind of floundered that away and just let Miami, you know, hang around. I think we saw why they went with Joe Flacco yesterday. Yeah, he was consistently good on offense.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They weren't confused by what Miami did with all the blitz looks and dropping out and blitzing and dropping out. You don't know what you're going to get. So he was a great calming presence that way. Um, but yeah, Miami just more talented football team and Tua made a few throws, um, and they ran the ball effectively enough to pull out the win.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yep, Zach Wilson can come back. You know, and again, I think the Jets, I know people are down on the Jets, especially here in the New York area, but I think, you know, young team, let's not forget.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Ravaged by injuries. You know, let's not forget that too. That's a real thing. Not just injuries, like important injuries, like big time players.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, Makai Bekden and Jarrod Davis was out and, you know, you're missing your Marcus May, who's the best player in your secondary and, you know, Lamarcus Joyner hasn't been able to play the whole year for the most part. You know, it's been, Quinnen Williams, you know, been hurting in and out of the lineup. So they've had a lot of things go against them.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But, uh, yeaah, they put up at least a valiant fight yesterday, that's for sure.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Well, I don't think, I think ten and a half is too much. Okay, I'll say that. Okay. I do. I think the Giants, listen to me, the Giants keep this close if one thing happens. If they can just somewhat protect against Tampa. You know, can there not be like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Huge sacks, huge strip sack fumbles, right? Which is a big if with the Giants, with the way they protect, and of course we know Daniel Jones has a little history there, but if that is limited,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And it looks like the Giants are going to be pretty healthy on offense. Sounds like Saquon's going to play. Kadarius Tony is playing, right Pete? Goladay? What's Goladay's status? They're all playing. Like, if they're smart about this, I think they're going to be able to move the ball on Tampa a little bit.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] No Vita Veya, that's gonna be huge for the Giants, in fact, and that, so, you know. So you like a cover, and you like, perhaps, an outright win. I don't, I'm not gonna go that much, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Just because the Bucs I think are going to be on their game after being disappointed about last week. But the, the Giants are big up front. I think that can slow down the run game if the Bucs want to do that. They're very well coached and smart on the defensive back end and the secondary. And then,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yes, I think with Tampa's defense missing their two or three best corners and no Vita Vaya.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That they could be able to move the ball a little bit like we saw Taylor Heineken and company do. Now that would be the big thing. Now Taylor Heineken and Washington, they pulled off the upset last week too because at least they were capable of protecting and running the ball. I don't know what the Giants are going to do to make up for that, but I do think we could have a fun game tonight.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, I had the Titans only winning by six. I thought Houston matched up well with them. So I'm gonna pat myself on the back here a little bit with that. Uhm, I thought the Lions would hang in there with the Browns. And the Bears, Ravens, I picked to be a field goal game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Colts Bills, I thought it was an issue for the Bills matchup wise. So uhm, yeaah, this is one I kind of feel that way too. It's a matchup league, and I do think the Giants have some, some positives about the matchup against the Bucks.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeaah, yeaah, well yeaah, I mean, to me, it's just, that's what Steph Curry does, is shoot three pointers. I mean, so I just went with that. Yes, he's calling me Old Man Sims Pete over there. How dare he? And Steph Curry has outshone


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Shined is also a word, so we were both right. Yeaah. I would have preferred outshined, okay? So next time, get your self-scout thyself and get to it. When we're together Sunday, I'll say outshined, not outshown. Okay, thank you. Alright, sounds good. Alright everybody, that's it. That's the Monday Podcast.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's gonna be basically, I just think, uh, a long picks podcast with Florio on Wednesday, so don't expect me to break down every player in the history of the NFL.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] All right. It'll be two picks podcast. Yup. We're going to do a Thanksgiving picks. Yeah. And then we're going to do the Sunday picks. So you'll have two podcasts through that. That's coming with me and Floria, the PFTPM, Chris Simms on Button Collaboration. Uh, as always, we appreciate Under Armour and their sponsorship and that's a show.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Okay, fine, sounds good. Alright, peace out everybody. Clap it up.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yo, yo, what's up? Come on, man. Subscribe on YouTube to Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast. I need you. Please hit the subscribe button, please.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Hi, I'm Mike Tirico and thanks for watching. Make sure to hit subscribe for the latest news and highlights from NBC Sports.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] My oldest boy was little in this dream. He was like in the four or five year old range. We're at a tee ball game where the kids can't hit it so someone just kind of lobs, you know, lobs it in there. That's me. That's where I come in handy. We've advanced from the tee ball. We're just lobbing it in. For some reason, they need one of the parents to come out and do it. I didn't know you were there.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know this guy? Are you gonna do something? Like yea yea yea. So I grab a bat. Right. And apparently the, you know, the on deck circle was in center field and you had to go through a McDonald's.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Okay, football? Yeah, let's do it. Football. There's some mysteries out there. There is. Some teams up, some teams down. They're hard to figure out even though it's December. No doubt. Chargers. Yeah, they're one of them. One of the poster teams for that. Fun to watch, but you really don't know what you're going to get offensively. So last week at Cincinnati it was good. Yeah. Really good. They won 41-22.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Last four weeks, 20 points against Minnesota, 41 Pittsburgh, 13 Denver, and then 41 Sunday.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I know you have some good plays to look at that are really good examples of what the Chargers did at Cincinnati. Before we get there to set it up even more, let's take a look at kind of what you were talking about graphically. Passes 20 yards or downfield or more this season. The first 11 games


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Only 8% of the total passes, 20 yards or more. Right. Sunday in Cincinnati got up to 20%. What really shocks me is that


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think the key word for that approach is aggressive from start to finish. I think it's especially in the beginning. So let's get you up here. Early first quarter, scoreless second down 11.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Take it right here and pause it. And if you're just listening, uh, hopefully you're watching with us, but if you're listening, I want, I want to pause it right here. So Justin Herbert's getting set up and thinking back to where this conversation started about us wondering why aren't they throwing the ball downfield more often like this, like they did Sunday on every single Sunday.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Hit play and let's watch the ease with which he throws the ball 50 yards. It's like he's throwing a screen pass. Really, watch his mechanics.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Right on the money. Interesting that you had mentioned Brady because I think about them in December last year. They kinda, they didn't do a 180 but they really started to focus on tight formations in the ground game. And it worked very well later in the season. Maybe the Chargers, you know, they've had it around a little bit now that the games are even more important. Maybe they lean on it a little bit more like Tampa Bay did with the run game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Alright, Herbert, 47 yards to Mike Williams as we move along here in this game leads to the second Chargers touchdown. As you mentioned, you know, Williams, if he wasn't scoring the touchdown, he was setting it up pretty well.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Take it back to the beginning there Chris, and this is nitpicking because it was a wonderful throw, it was a great catch, but protection is very good against a four man rush, he leaves the pocket, didn't have to, does that bother you at all?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] His number is 26 completions for 317. It's about 12 yards of completion. Anytime you're near 10, it's pretty good. You're doing good. If you're over 10, it's one of the ways to interpret that they had an aggressive game plan that was well executed.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We have one more look here, 44 yard completion. Early second quarter, Chargers starting to separate here up 16 to nothing.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Couple of things stand out there watching those three players. Number one, Herbert's a beautiful deep ball thrower. Number two, and I think even more importantly on this day, looking at those highlights, his receivers really came through for him. They definitely did. In a big way downfield. I'm sure they were


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Well, that's it. I want to finish where we started here with this question from the armchair GM3. Hey guys, I'm wondering why you think the Chargers rarely throw the deep ball. We're really finishing where we, where we started here. Justin Herbert is one of the better deep throwers in the league. It seems like many of the plays, the receivers are five or 15 yards down


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So offensively they were, they were extremely aggressive throwing the ball downfield. Kinda translated to the defense as well or seeped over to that side because there was a lot of pressure on Joe Burrell and whether they were doing it with a blitz or just the front four, I'm not sure we can take a look at that. But anytime you add together sacks, they had six.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uh, turnovers four and the number is up into double digits. Your defense deserves a lot of credit.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So Burrow was pressured 40% of his drop-backs against the Chargers. Do you think that was a game plan thing? Chargers saw what you just pointed out. Hey, they don't protect that well.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, Bosa was limited, uh, you know, played well less than half the snaps effective when he was out there. But I mean, credit to them that they got a lot of that pressure without him on the field.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] There was no illusion with that Cincinnati defense. No, that's what I'm talking about.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But you're right, you kind of see. You said it before, that not a lot of disguise, they do a lot of the same thing, it's quarterback walks up and it's fairly predictable. Fairly comfortable, right. It was only three plays, small sample size, but all three, I was keeping an eye on that, and it played out exactly the way they lined up. There's nothing like what we've shown with the great defenses, where you go look at this, I don't know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And in one of the better games, and we'll visit this one here in a little bit, but the Bengals and the 49ers, quick peek at that one.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] This has set me up for success here. Burrow has the fourth most passing yards and passing touchdowns outside the numbers this season, but also the most interceptions with Abe.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And for as dedicated as they are for good reason, for pushing the ball downfield and taking advantage of Burrow and the receivers, they don't get away from the run game too much. I mean, Mixon, I think he had 19 carries, less than 3 yards per carry. Yes. So it wasn't working, but it shows they were committed to at least keeping that part of the rotation. That's, but ever since the bye week,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So that's a good game coming up this weekend. Cincinnati, San Francisco. Bengals coming off a loss. 49ers also coming off a loss. And, you know, thinking about teams that are hard to predict that, you know, you want to jump on and say yes.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's what I thought they could be, and then they jump back and you're like, whoa, I'm not sure. It was kind of a whoa game against Seattle. Let's start with the Seahawks offense that had been just so poor, suddenly found its way, especially in key moments, against this Niners defense.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] One of the ways to point out, I mean, what an aberration it was for Seattle to have that kind of success. They cleared 300 yards of total offense for the first time since week six. I mean, this isn't 25 years ago where 300 yards is great. I mean, that's kind of a base floor.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I don't know, if you average 300 Pete, what's that get you right now?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Two hugely important names there on both sides there for the four Niners. Let's look at a couple examples here of the Seattle offense. If you want to focus on Seattle doing well or more on the Niners defense, uh, have your pick here. But the first play here is Wilson, 33 yards to Metcalf. Second quarter, a little over six minutes left and Seahawks down 17-7.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But on third and long, when a defense plays an aggressive man with a tight corner, the quarterback, whether he's young or old, is thinking, oh, I've got a chance here.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Whereas if it's some kind of confusing zone, you're thinking, okay, I'm just going to dump it off and play for the field goal. But a man gives the quarterback a chance to think, maybe we'll get this third and 14. Definitely. I don't get it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And his body language, if you know from watching the last 10 years, what you just said, the line of scrimmage is probably like, oh wow, this is awesome. His conviction with every part of this play is so strong.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's like, I'm down 0-2 in the count, you're gonna throw me a fastball down the middle? No doubt about it. Okay.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Thanks, I will take that. Okay, third quarter now, late in the third quarter, another third down, more manageable, third down and six, uh, this will be a twelve yard touchdown to lock it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He's not what he was or where he wants to be, but those are a couple of really key, not perfect, but strong, deeper type throws for Russell Wilson and Big Mole.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Alright, other side, Niners offense against the Seahawks defense. We're going to focus on the quarterback spot. Taking us down this lane is Corey Joskiewicz. He says,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think the 49ers will have a tough time advancing with a loss like that. Do you start playing Trey Lance? No. First of all, they're 6 and 6. There's a million teams within one game of 500, one way or the other. Niners are one of those teams at 500.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Trey Lance may be the future, but I mean, somebody needs to sell me or point out how he would be the better path to being around in January right now.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It probably, probably will. Right. And they kind of teased with those three wins in a row that they would be one of the upper echelon teams and maybe they will be. Yeah. Maybe they'll get to January. They'll figure out the next few games. Yeah. But really if you back up a month that they're in the same spot they were like, okay, they have a fight and chance to get in. They're in that position right now.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] How much can you really evaluate that game considering what Deebo Samuel had become in that offense pass game and run game? Killed them.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uh, Jamal Adams is out for the year. We have a question from Mike in Elma. Is the signing of Jamal Adams a failure? Zero sacks this year, 9.5 sacks in 12 games last year.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Seems like he got his money and the effort has been questionable. What's not brought up there is the first round picks they gave up to get him. Yeah, sure. So we take a look here at what he's done the last couple of seasons considering the heavy price they got to get him.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Back to the main points, uhm, would you call their acquisition of atoms a failure?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I think just as a fan, you know, whatever you think about the Seahawks or the Jets or that deal, he's just, he's, he's fun to watch. The game is fun to watch when he's out there. So I think fans will miss watching him out there.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's absurd to think not. Let's back up to the 49ers here, our friends at PointsVet helping us out. Uh, San Francisco at Cincinnati, we already talked about this game. Uh, the line is negative one there. Yeah, so Bangles favored by one. Bangles by one.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You mentioned a lot of the games were divisional games last weekend. AFC North, Raven Steelers, rarely disappoints, always a fun watch. We're going to focus first on the Steelers offense, Pittsburgh winning 20 to 19 in dramatic fashion. Steelers first three quarters, the offense, eh, kind of a lot of, eh, fourth quarter.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Much, much better. We'll line it up here and see what Pittsburgh did there in the fourth quarter. I know Ben Roethlisberger was 9 out of 10, kinda came alive and looked a lot better as the game went on. There we go, first three quarters.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Not so much, only three points. Fourth quarter alone, they had 17 points. They had more total yards in the last quarter than they did in quarters one, two and three.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And total yards allowed, looking at the other side, the defense was also much better.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Offensively, Ben Roethlisberger, I know he's not nearly what he was, but in that fourth quarter, pretty damn good.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Raven's blitzed 40% of the time, and it used to be like way back when, uh, when I was playing blitz man, of course you're playing man, but you can blitz now and still be kind of conservative and confusing on the back end too. Yea, definitely. You don't have to play man.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We showed the graphic of all the success Pittsburgh had in the fourth quarter compared to the start of the game or the first three quarters. I mentioned Ben Roethlisberger, nine out of ten. Couple of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. So let's focus on that final quarter here with the three plays we look at. Uh, beginning with Roethlisberger, forty yards to Chase Claypool on a third down and one situation. This is early fourth, fourteen thirty-five in the game and Pittsburgh down ten-three.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So there's that. Right. That's a third and one conversion. Big play. Momentum. Leading to this on the very next play. The very next play!


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And that, it's the same thing of the last play in the sense that half a second off the ball, the play's over. It's over. The receiver gets to the inside. And he can run 4-3-2.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Okay, so now late fourth quarter, 152 left, Pittsburgh down 13 to 12, and they're inside the Raven 10.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Pittsburgh has won five out of seven. Looked like a team that could be around in January playing a little bit. We've talked about Roethlisberger and the receivers quite a bit. Let's turn our focus to the offensive line. And this is from Richard Baggins. He said,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Why does the Steelers O line look lost at times, but on Sunday, once they switch schemes to a more man up blocking approach, they improve greatly? Is it Big Ben making the calls at the line, or is it something else?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Struggled, you know, by his own standards, you know, it wasn't what he expected. Why did he struggle particularly against the Blitz? Why do you think Baltimore had issues dealing with the Blitz at Pittsburgh? You can see in the drop backs, uh, no Blitz 28 times against the Blitz 19 times. And, uh, it just seemed to have an issue with the pressure.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Let's start out halfway through the first quarter, third down and six. I think Lamar's gonna get picked here.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Just throw it up for grabs. I mean, it's scoreless in the first quarter. It's the first drive of the game. If you ground it, you can kick a field goal.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] For sure. And it came early and would be costly later on. Yep. Alright, how about that? Not a Lamar interception, but a Lamar incompletion. Third quarter now halfway through. Third down and four once again in Pittsburgh, you know, inside the Pittsburgh 20 yard line.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Let's go later, third quarter, one minute left. It's now, uh, Raven's up 10-3. This is third down and 10.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's all you gotta do. That's all you gotta do. You know what got them? Is that feeling as a quarterback, they're bringing seven, I'm sure I'm gonna have to run away from it. Right. Right?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But you're right, he is so open, he being Andrews, you could back up and flick it 50 yards and just, you know, get it out there. Exactly right. It doesn't have to be a perfect pass. It just has to be thrown.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And I think we have the, the final play of the game, the two point conversion, it's 20 to 19. Yeah, there it is. Oh, it was a great call. Almost, almost went the Ravens way.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think Watt had three and a half sacks, a tangible part of what he did. He didn't pick up any numbers there, but he altered that throw just enough. Screw the stats. They didn't get those two points, right?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It is through. I see you doing reads on football night in America and I feel kind of like a proud dad because I think it started here. It did start here. The comfort and the confidence. Now they ask me to do the points bet. Chris can do it. Yeaah.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That would be an even bigger fist bump if that happened.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Running the hell out of the ball. New definition to running the hell out of the ball. But one play in particular here, Damian Harris, 64 yards to the house.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Crazy game to watch. I looked up at one point, I'm sure a lot of people did the same thing, but the Patriots had run 42 plays and 41 were run plays, only one pass. It's crazy.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It was bad news for the Bills. It was a great moment for us here. Because this is important now. It's giving me the chance to redeem myself. I have a question here. You know who it's from?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Who would you guess? It's from Matthew Cole Webb.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think there were some, like, capital letters. There was, there was. In your defense. In my defense. It did look like you could make... Like Matt Milano, I had reasons for making that mistake. Yeah, sure, right, sure. Yes. I think we have one more. Yeah. One more play.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] For the most part, or a number of times, putting the ball where it needed to be in that win, amazing, with the RPMs and the spiral, you're talking about arm strength, getting, having those two things, the ability to put that spin on it, allowed him to have, you know, kind of moderate success. Patriots DBs made three plays on balls on third and fourth down.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That were phenomenal, top notch, outstanding difference in the game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And he threw it right through the wind. All game long.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Freak show. Just for like a fun exercise, next time, wherever you live, next time there's a wind over 30 miles per hour. Go out and throw it. Get out 10 yards from a tree in front of your house and just see if you can hit the tree. It's damn near impossible.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] One more play, we finish up with a little love for Jared Goff and the Lions first win.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] To know everything that we put into this, day in and day out, try our hardest, uhm, nobody comes in in the game wanting or expecting, expecting to lose and, uhm, for people to react that way when you're supposed to be a supporter, uhm, and be with us through thick and thin, uh, that's tough.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I know, of course you don't. Of course. And I wasn't as jerky as you are. I didn't rub it in quite the same extent to you do. I'm going to rub it in in the future.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It ain't over yet though. I don't care. Great with all your yellows. You know, versus spread and best bets is still very much alive. We got six games this weekend, four games next weekend, two after that. We got 13 games left. I can do this easily.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But you say that every week and the gap keeps getting bigger. It did not, it got a little smaller, but yes, you went up a game or two this week. Okay, whoopty-freakin'-do. Alright, we'll see.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I don't know. Well, one's an idiot and the other one's not. Usually the idiot will start to do more idiot things. So I'm planning on you doing that in the playoffs. I'm planning on that. I think you got a few idiot picks in you today and I can't wait for it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, yeah, I hear that. You know, Hey, listen, there's a part of me this year that would like to see one of the team that whoever wins on Monday night this week, I would, I wish they could some way formulate it again to see that team at their best to where they get seven days. And then it's a Monday night game in the divisional round.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And then to like what you said, again, we usually have two weeks between the championship game and the Super Bowl to where...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Okay, who cares if you got 12, you know, 13 days, one team had 13 days off. One team had 14 days off.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Continue that trend of the Monday night team gets, you know, the full week, the full seven days as far as preparing for these games. I know we have Saturday, Sunday to Saturday games, and it's not always that way, but I am big into, I want to see these teams at full strength, fully rested.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Full week of being able to formulate a creative game plan. I guess that's what worries me a little bit. And eight games is too many for me on Wild Card Weekend. I don't want that. I think that could be overkill. Well.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You are finally conceding that one. I've been conceding that one. That was too much to overcome. I'm not gonna get there. The other two, though, I believe. And, uh, you know, from some of your assessments and


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And what we've talked about on Pro Football Talk this week on the show. I think we're going to have differences. I don't know. I don't know, but I think we're going to at least have a few here where it can maybe make it interesting for division weekend. We'll see where this goes. Let's start with.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I trust you, I do, and you're usually very ethical in the fact that while I'm describing the matchup or whatever, you usually type it in there before I say my score. So I, I do trust you. We can continue that. I will, I will rotate with you as far as who leads it off, just for the banter, for that aspect of it. Uhm, I'll lead this one off though, no problem, we'll go there. Hey, this game,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, this is, this is, this is to me the reason you kicked the field goal if you're the Raiders at the end of regulation last week. It is.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Because you, you, you now have put yourself to me in a position to maybe advance another round. If you're the Los Vegas Raiders, as compared to, you know, if you went for the tie last week, you'd be going to Kansas city and a team that, you know, outscored you 90 something to 12 or something like that this year. It was a crazy differential.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The Bengals game, I know they lost, it's going to say 32-13 from the first matchup. The score is misleading. That game was, you know, they, they, they were toe to toe for a big part of it. As you heard me say the other day, it was 16-13 with a little over a little five minutes left in the football game. And then the Raiders had a late turnover and messed it up from there.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's where it fell apart. But I certainly think the Raiders are capable of winning this football game. The one thing I look at, too, here, with the Bengals offense, Mike, you know, they're the big play Bengals.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They couldn't figure out how to get a big play against the Raiders defense the first time around. That was a real issue. And I don't expect that to change. You know, Gus Bradley, the inventor of the Seattle scheme, he's still the master of it and the little nuances within it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They do a phenomenal job of really not letting up many big plays in a football game. You know, even last week, there was no big plays until


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Okay, gosh, it's fourth and whatever, and we're gonna lose and the season's over, and then...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uh, Justin Herbert forced the issue into some tight windows on must-have-it situations. But you could see that. And that's where I worry about the Bengals. Here's my biggest concern for them. And to me, the number one thing that can ruin the game for them, at least on the offensive side of the ball.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The Bengals are not great at pass protecting. If they don't have answers to block Yannick Ngocwe and Max Crosby, they're gonna, they're gonna flirt with being upset at home in their, in their playoff game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, the first time around and Gokwe and Max Crosby got there early in the game. Joe Burrow fumbled. The Raiders picked it up or turned it into inside the 10 yard line. That led to their, their first points of the game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So to me, that's something they have to be wary about. I think this is a game that the Bengals offense is going to have to be a little patient on that side of the ball and realize it's not going to be about stats. It's going to be about a little bit more surgical. We got to run the ball, be efficient.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And play that style of football to where it might not be as sexy as we've come to know with the bangles on, you know, their offense.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Sooo. Alright, well, I wasn't sure. I didn't even get into the Raiders, uh, the Raiders offense versus the Bengals defense. We got plenty of time to go back and forth. Okay, that's what I was going to do. I was going to just kind of break down that side first of going a little bit here just to give you my two cents on the Bengals offense versus the Raiders defense. Let me, let me, let me ask you, let me ask you some questions and show


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I, I don't think so. They're, they're not one of those teams, Mike. You know, they're one of the, the Raiders are one of those defenses where it's like, again, it's, it's, it's Seattle three, it's Seattle three, it's Seattle three, it's cover one, man to man, as the curve ball.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They don't, they don't do some of the stuff that we talk about. It's very, very rare that they double somebody or go outside the realm of what their scheme is. You know, they're, again, their corners are a little, they're a little bit of like, hey, let's be wary of where this guy is. Hey, we play our cover three.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They change some of the rules and the nuances as, you know, as compared to from one week to a next is going, you know, Oh, this team does a little bit of this more or does a little bit of that. So they tweak the rules and how they play it to a degree.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And that's where I see it, it's gonna not be any different. Now where I look at it to where I go, like you're right, the Bangos offense is more explosive and better now than it was at that point when they played the Raiders. There's no doubt. They've opened it up more, they have more avenues of ways they can beat you on that side of the ball.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The, the Raiders, uh, the, the Bengals have not shown me great understanding of how to move the ball against the scheme. Even when you get into the Jets game, there's a little, there was issues there at times moving the football. That's the same defensive scheme. Robert Sala was up there in Seattle and, uh, with Gus Bradley.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's where I don't know if there's understanding of the scheme and how to, you know, crack the code or break the matrix, is what I'm saying. But the one thing I do think they have, because it's that three deep all the time, it's gonna be like one on one on the outside.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And the bangles towards the home stretch of the year, they got a little bit into, wait, you're going to play man, then we're just going to play our guys better than you. He's going to get open. Joe will throw a strike and we'll take the 15 yard comeback or the 20 yard out route. They'll do that. And that to me is something they could do, I think, to exhaust


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uh, the Steve, the Raiders defense a little bit more and get the ball to chase his hands more than they did the first time around.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, it's, it's an, it's another interesting one. You know, you know, first off, like watching that game back, the Raiders receivers had a hard time separating from the bangles secondary. They did, you know, again, without Henry rugs.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, and I know they got the Shawn Jackson, but he's, he's not as fast as Henry Ruggs was or is.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They've, they've, they've lost a little bit of like that guy that put pressure on, on a defense to go, wait, they could call a post route or a go route with this guy at any moment and strike for 70. So, you know, and there's a Jones, good receiver, Renfro, good receiver.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They got some guys in the secondary in Cincinnati. They could, they could cover them. They covered them when they played man to man. They were all over some of the scheme stuff that the Raiders want to do. You mentioned that the Raiders are better at running the ball now than then. That certainly should be another aspect. But the one thing that jumped out about the first matchup, and you just brought up his name,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The Bengals had no answer for Darren Waller. They had none. And we saw George Kittle go off against the Bengals. And to me, this is the guy that they're going to be able to use as their biggest pawn or chip in this football game.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They got into a little bit of a, a mojo in the third quarter of the last football game where they had, uh, had Waller set off to one side as a receiver by himself. And then the other three guys on the other side of the ball.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And it really put the bangles in some issues cause they were like, wait, okay, you know, we can play a soft zone and whatever, but now we might leave these three receivers to find little holes in that soft zone. Wait, play man to man. And we don't have a guy that can really match up with Darren Waller and play him that way.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] To me, that's gonna be the guy that I think the raiders are gonna formulate this game plan around and really go, we're gonna feed him until you do something extraordinary to take him away to help out some of our other guys who might not be as explosive or dangerous.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Should I put mine in here? Mine's in here. Yup, I see it. At the end of the day, I think the Bengals are the better football team. They're at home. You said it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, the Raiders don't have much of a playoff advantage other than like what you said. Last week, they kind of played that game and the Bengals got to sit back and sip on pina coladas while they played the Browns.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, but I don't think that's enough of like, oh wow, the Raiders will be ready for playoff football that much more greatly than the Bengals. I think it's going to be a close football game. I'll say that. I do. I'm going to take the Bengals, but I'm going to have the Raiders covering the spread. I'm going to go 21 17 Bengals on this one.