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[Assistant] You know, even when he's healthy and you know, it sounds like he's gonna play this week, not healthy.


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[Assistant] That has to, you know, change or he's not going to be a starting quarterback in Denver. He's going to have to reel it in to a degree there. But that is what, what I look at as the matchup and just go, man, I like some of these young weapons on, on Denver. I mean, KJ Hamler, Jerry Judy, they look damn good. There's no doubt.


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[Assistant] I just don't know if the offense is diverse enough right now and Drew Locke's good enough right now to take advantage of a defense that's very talented and very well coached and creative.


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[Assistant] And I guess in the other side of the ball, you know, when you talk about like, you never know what Denver team you're going to get. Yeah, because some weeks it seems like their defense shows up and really has a great game plan and you go, wow, where was this defense last week or whatever else?


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[Assistant] I will say the one thing that scares me is, of course, you've heard me say this, TUA and that offense, it's been predictable to this point. It's been effective.


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[Assistant] But it's been, like I've said, runs and boots and screens. That's all it is. I just can't imagine Fangio lets that go down like that a whole lot. I'm with you, I'm going the Dolphins, but that's just one little aspect that scares me. And I'm picking the Dolphins 27-17.


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[Assistant] And I am there with you in best bet consideration as well. That's one of my five that I have starred from today.


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[Assistant] Yeah, you're right. Okay, good. You got that straight. Alright, now. Jets. Chargers. Chargers favored by eight and a half, which is shocking to me. I know, the jets are not good.


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[Assistant] But I, you know, I don't know. I think if you took the team off the field, the Chargers would still come down to a field goal in the end of the game. They would, they would fumble it and somehow people, ghosts would score touchdowns and they'd make the game and screw it up. I mean, that's just what the, the Chargers do. Either way, over, under 47, uhm,


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[Assistant] I think points, I think points, that's a little crazy with this point spread. All right. I do. I'll tell you that points bet. I love that you're sponsoring NBC. I don't know if I agree with you on this one. I mean the chargers.


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[Assistant] First off, I guess what I look at and I go, this Jets defense, alright, it's not bad.


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[Assistant] It's a decent unit, and there's nothing on the Chargers other than Justin Herbert's big right arm that I really would be scared of, and they don't have a diverse, schematical, awesome offense to throw the ball all over the lot anyways.


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[Assistant] And they continually beat their head against the wall and run the ball. And most times they're not really all that effective. Uh, so I, I think in a lot of times they play against the strengths of their team. That's where the Chargers really frustrate me. And would the receivers back healthy with the New York Jets?


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[Assistant] You know, not that it's a great group, but it's good enough between Crowder and Perryman and Denzel Mims being back healthy there. We saw they made a few plays against the Patriots. I mean that, that, that got scary for the Patriots there.


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[Assistant] So, I'm going to pick the Chargers, because I'm not gonna pick the Jets until they win a game. I can't do it. I could see this being the game though. And I'm picking the Chargers 24-23 in this one.


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[Assistant] Wow. There you go. Good for you. I didn't have the guts to do it. I really thought about it. I really did. Cause I, I had the same th- thoughts going through my brain as you did. Uh, but I just couldn't pull the trigger on that one. Alright.


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[Assistant] Let's go to some real football now. Here we go. I'm excited for this one. Green Bay Packers at the Indianapolis Colts. Point Spets got the Colts up favored by one and a half. Over-under at 51. Really good defense against Aaron Rodgers and company, Mike. How do you think this shakes out?


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[Assistant] Okay, alright, well I don't feel that strongly, okay, counselor? I don't, I'm picking the Colts. I'm going Colts 20.


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[Assistant] I know. I feel like I have been like that, though. I mean, I can't deny it. You know, I always love Aaron Rodgers. It's never anything against him. Not this way. I know. I don't. Well, you know, I just think it's a tough matchup for their football team.


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[Assistant] One, it's a scheme that they've shown to have some issues with.


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[Assistant] That they play this Seattle scheme and they got the talent in the Colts, dude. We saw Jacksonville last week. They play it. They're young. They're not as good at it, but it posed some problems for Aaron Rodgers and company at times. You know, the 49ers and the Chargers from last year, same type of scheme.


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[Assistant] You know, and the big thing is, the Colts can get to the quarterback with four. They don't ever have to blitz. They don't really blitz much at all. And they can play coverage. And I don't think the Packers run game is hitting on all cylinders. And then when I flip it around, even though,


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[Assistant] I am scared of Philip Rivers as always. I mean, I just, how can you not be? You just never know with him. You don't.


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[Assistant] Is just gonna give the Colts enough offense. T.Y. Hilton back, another week healthy. The extra time they had, all of that. I'm going to Colts winning this one, 24-21. Uh, I think it's a tough matchup for Green Bay and everybody there. So I'm, uh, I'm going to ride with the Coltsies here.


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[Assistant] Are you, are you thinking best bet? I am thinking best bet. I know. Interesting. I know. We got some good disagreements this week, you know? So I'm, I'm, I'm excited to see how this shakes out.


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[Assistant] I'm already behind by 11 games, who the hell cares? But you can make it up in no time, 11 games is nothing, you can catch me in 4 or 5 this week, it's nothing. Don't give up yet, Dr. Doom, don't go doom on yourself.


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[Assistant] That blows up in your face too, I'm hoping for that at least. Alright, let's go to ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


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[Assistant] Uuuh. He's back on the ship, been in Minnesota. He ditched you guys and you couldn't win a game, but now you've won a few and he's all back on. He is, he's Mr. Viking.


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[Assistant] Alright, at home against the Cowboys, over under at 48 and a half. Mike, are you loving them or loving them not this week?


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[Assistant] Yeah, uhm, listen, I don't have a lot to say here. Yeah, you said it. The Vikings defense is getting better. There's no doubt. The Cowboys offense doesn't have enough ways to attack it. In my opinion, with a guy like Mike Zimmer, he's going to be all over some of their stuff.


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[Assistant] Dalvin Cook's amazing, and the run game is getting to the line of like, it doesn't really matter what defense it is, it's, it's gonna be effective. You know, it doesn't have to be 150 yards every week, but as long as it's effective, just like we saw last week, didn't get to 100, but it was good enough to where the Bears had to be worried about it, and that gave Kirk Cousins lanes to throw the ball.


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[Assistant] I'm going Vikings 2820. I'm with you. Let's go.


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[Assistant] Put on your, uh, you would look kinda good as a blonde with braided hair like a viking in front of the viking ship. I'd like to see that look.


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[Assistant] John Gruden and the Raiders had a low blow drive around the stadium victory lap. That's going to piss the Chiefs off even more. And I just can't believe he did that. I really can't.


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[Assistant] I was made aware this week that there was a history of this already. Did you know that? That John Gruden early in his Raiders career had done this one of his first wins as the Raiders head coach the first time around where he did this with the Chiefs. So it's hard for me to think that it was a mistake and it was on a bus driver or things like that. Stuff's going to get personal this week. Mike, I know you're picking the Chiefs. How much do you have them winning by?


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[Assistant] Well yeaah, and the Raiders have shown that they're still on the cutting edge of the COVID-19 protocols this week. On the cutting edge, as good as it gets in football. I don't think I've ever...


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[Assistant] So, you got guys there this week who are not practicing right now. It looks like a lot of them will be able to play, but aren't gonna be cleared to be back with the team til Saturday, right? Correct me wrong, Mike, if I'm wrong about any of those.


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[Assistant] I know, I'm still scared that this game might get moved from Sunday Night Football if one outbr- and one more outbreak happens with the Raiders or something like that.


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[Assistant] Listen, I'm with you. I think the Chiefs are going to be pissed off. I think the Chiefs are the better football team. There's no doubt about that. They're not going to get caught sleeping at the wheel. The Chief's offense has evolved since that Raiders loss.


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[Assistant] You know, we heard Patrick Mahomes talk to Peter King about how that game, you know, taught them, you know, we gotta be a little less aggressive. Can we learn to be patient, short passing game, run the ball, do that? They've done that ever since then. So I think they'll be ready for whatever Raiders attack that they get. Uhm, and then on the defensive side of the ball,


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[Assistant] You know, the chiefs are feast or famine. It's all out blitz or all out coverage. That's kinda all they do.


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[Assistant] It's a little scary against the Raiders, because the Raiders can run the ball, as we know, so you want to bring people to the line of scrimmage, but you do that too often, just like the first time around.


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[Assistant] That could be Zoom, you know, Nelson Aguilar gone, Zoom, Henry Ruggs gone. So I, I think the Chiefs control the football game. I just can't give them the blowout because of that aspect. And I have them covering.


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[Assistant] But a touchdown is nothing in the Kansas City Chiefs world. I'm going Chiefs 38-30. They win the game. I think they control it.


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[Assistant] Because of those factors I talked about with the Raiders offense versus the Chiefs defense, the Raiders hang around even though they're clearly the lesser team.


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[Assistant] All right. Take us to Monday. All right. Here we go. Monday night football. We're going to Tampa Bay. Arrrr matey. And it's presented by Verizon. Just wanted to let you know when we're time matey. All right. Buccaneers favored by four.


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[Assistant] Over under at 48 and a half, Rams coming off one of their biggest wins of the year. Bucks look like they're back on track. Mike, I'm, I'm truly intrigued here. Where are you gonna go with this one?


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[Assistant] I certainly could see it. I think this is one of those coin flip type football games in a lot of ways. My coin flip the other way, where I'm gonna go with the Buccaneers. You know, again, this is one I wouldn't gamble on, certainly. You know, you said it, the Rams are good, the defense is good, and they have playmakers, definitely.


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[Assistant] I think if I see the Buccaneers team that tries to come out and get in the shotgun and spread it, spread it out and do like they did against the Saints and a few other times this year, I go, the Rams are going to win the game. Then if they do that, they will.


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[Assistant] I gotta think again last week and what they saw out of their offense and how good it was and how good Brady looked and looked with also missing some wide open deep passes where he probably left a hundred yards at least on the field last week.


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[Assistant] I think I'm going with the Bucks here because of the fact I'm going to rely that they stay with the formula we saw last week. Two tight end sets underneath the center. Run the ball a little bit. Don't let Leonard Floyd and Aaron Donald just tee off on Tom Brady all night long.


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[Assistant] And I think because of that, that'll help them out. It'll get the play action going. The Buccaneers are a much bigger football team than this Rams team. That's a little bit more speed predicated on the defensive side of the ball.


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[Assistant] The other side of the ball, always scared about McVeigh and everything that goes on there. But I'll just say with the two guys on the edge, JPP and, and Barrett with the speed sweeps, outside zone stuff, that's great. The two athletic linebackers in the middle and all the horizontal movement there.


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[Assistant] That's why I'm going to go with the Bucks. I don't feel great about it, but I'm going to go Bucks 27-20 winning at home and putting themselves, you know, right in the thick of things in the NFC.


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[Assistant] Man, okay, confident and cocky today, here we go, my first, I'm going with the titans on the first one. I just think six and a half points is too much. I'm picking the titans to win as you know, by a field goal, and I just, I think they match up.


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[Assistant] Too nicely with Baltimore. They got enough big people to slow down the run game. I don't think Baltimore's past game is good enough to take advantage of the issues Tennessee has there. So I'm going with the Titans as my first best bet.


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[Assistant] Yeaah, I'm going there too. That's my next best bet.


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[Assistant] You know, they're going to run the ball on this Texans football team, beat them up that way. There's nothing good on the Texans defense. The Texans offense can't run the ball. And then we know the Patriots can cover some people and we think we'll see Gilmore back this week too, which is another issue there. So with that, yeah, I'm with you. Patriots, best bet. Go.


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[Assistant] Good for you, having the guts there. I know, I thought about that a little bit. I don't know what it is. I just chickened out with the Steelers. I think the Steelers sleepwalking against the Cowboys a few weeks ago have scared me. Just a little there.


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[Assistant] I'm going to Colts. I am. I'm going right there. Indianapolis. I know they're favored by a point and a half. I just think if they win the game, it'll be by more than that. I really do. So yeaah, it's a little risky that way. I picked 24-21. I don't know. I just...


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[Assistant] I don't, I think they're gonna win, and I don't think they're gonna win a game by 21-20. I think they match up really well with Green Bay in a lot of ways, as you've heard me explain already. At home, that defense matches up perfectly to stop Aaron Rodgers in company. I'm gonna go there and ride with the Colts.


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


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[Assistant] Okay, Zach Wilson, number one, as the, uh, as the everyman fan here, I mean, what everybody's wondering, and I think he's terrific too, but the question, how do you not have Trevor Lawrence, number one?


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[Assistant] It is... Now clarify that because people are gonna take off running the wrong direction because you're saying, how can, how can he be Patrick Mahomes?


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[Assistant] His mechanics enthralling, yes. Number three, you have Mac Jones. I'm excited that you have him there.


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[Assistant] Kinda like Zach Wilson. You watch him, and I, I, I don't know how you could watch him, and whether it's 5 minutes in or 20 minutes in, be like,


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[Assistant] He's, he's better than what people are leading me to believe.


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[Assistant] Perfect spiral. So 1-4, Wilson, Lawrence, Jones, and Mon bringing us to Justin Fields at 5.


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[Assistant] Which is also, I think, lower than what most lists are gonna have.


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[Assistant] I'm with you. I would think that too. I would think that too.


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[Assistant] Oh, I got done with my appointment a little early. You want to have me on? I can't answer questions and do franchise tags and talk to you on text.


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[Assistant] Ahmed Fareed's favorite player ever got traded this weekend. So that added some juice and some love. Matt Stafford, we're going to get it all, get into all of it today here on Chris Sims on Button. You know, we're going to ask me anything, answer some questions, all pro, offense and defensive team. Ahmed's got


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[Assistant] Well, my dumb reaction was, I wasn't shocked, uhm, I wasn't shocked because I had some inklings that it was, it might go down. Uh, that's, that's where I'll say I wasn't shocked. Being a guy, of course, yea, you know, I got my friends around the NFL, and I had been led to believe


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[Assistant] Saturday afternoon, early afternoon, that the Rams were gonna make a major play, or already had. Either way, it was in the works, the conversation and all that.


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[Assistant] But then I didn't hear anything for a while and I, I just like you got the news basically just from pro football talk later that evening and


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[Assistant] Was just like, wow. Unbelievable move. And I really just thought right away of just...


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[Assistant] The McVeigh golf, how quickly that marriage ended and then just Matthew Stafford and


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[Assistant] Well, I'm not gonna say Super Bowl favorites, but it like, it makes me think of them as a true Super Bowl contender. Like even last year, as good as things went,


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[Assistant] You know, they'd probably need a little luck against the Packers. And then, you know, Aaron Donald might have to make some amazing plays in the NFC Championship for them to actually get there. Now I go, no, crazy stuff doesn't have to happen. They got a good defense, they got a good offensive system, and now you have a legitimate


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[Assistant] Top 10 type quarterback in the NFL as far as talent's concerned. I mean, I just got done having a conversation, an interview with Kyler Murray on it and we asked him, me and Florio asked him about, you know, Stafford coming out to the NFC West and he, he right away was just like,


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[Assistant] Man, I think Matthew Stafford's a superstar. He's one of the best throwers I've ever seen in my life. So he's gonna change this Rams offense. They went from an offense, and I think ultimately this is what led to the divorce between McVeigh and Goff, where McVeigh stuck up for Goff like,


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[Assistant] Just call plays and be aggressive. I think that more on him. And then we got into that aspect this year where, wait, you're the highest played player on the team and you're nowhere near performing like you're one of the best players on the team. And then I think the last straw is


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[Assistant] And now I don't trust you to take care of the football.


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[Assistant] The rams themselves have not been like that like you said the last few years. It's the one thing I give them credit for. They're not shy. They don't like dip their toe in the water. They go for it every year. I mean they basically push the chips in the middle of the pile and go.


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[Assistant] We're all in. We're here to try to win a Super Bowl. And that's all we're here for. It's not about consolation prize or anything like that. And I do like that. I think when you take into account


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[Assistant] So, the fact that it is LA and the Rams seem to know what city they're playing in and that star power is going to move the needle. You know, the Lakers, it's star power. Okay, the Rams, hey, Ramsey, Aaron.


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[Assistant] So they understand that aspect and the other thing too Ahmed is, you know,


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[Assistant] You, you said it a little bit. The draft is about unproven commodities. It doesn't always work out the way you want. They're going with proven commodities and then also filling in with bargain free agent signings and then they find their few middle round bargain draft picks to fill in the team.


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[Assistant] You, nobody knows Matthew Stafford better than you.


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[Assistant] But it's still too many unknowns. Hey, I got respect for Matt Rule, but it's only his first year in the NFL. We don't know where that's going yet. And Matt Stafford's like, wait, I've been in that situation for the last 12 years. I don't need to go like flirt with that situation again.


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[Assistant] Stafford pushed the trade in that direction, let alone you got the home cooking of


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[Assistant] Hey, Brad Holmes just came from the Rams and now is the GM with the Detroit Lions. So he's got the inside track of communication and just being the first person to get into conversations with McVeigh and Leslie about this trade altogether.


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[Assistant] Well definitely, and Brad Holmes understands how to build through the draft. I mean, that's kind of how they built things originally when Sean McVeigh just got there. They had a lot of good, young, talented football players.


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[Assistant] That were mostly draft picks. And I think that's where, you know, the Detroit Lions look at it and they're trying to build a new culture and just a whole new outlook for their organization.


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[Assistant] And this is where Brad Holmes made his hay doing this type of thing. So he's gonna go with what he feels comfortable. And then that also gives, you know, the team and everybody like,


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[Assistant] Hey, we're, we're all fresh. We're all new here and the coaches and now the coaches can mold the younger players to be a part of the culture and fit in the right way. So I have no problem.


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[Assistant] with the way they're doing things. And Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell and company, they obviously feel good enough that they think Jared Goff


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[Assistant] You know, can, can be serviceable, be good enough. They can win games that, you know, I don't know how they view him, but they obviously view him as a starting quarterback in football and


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[Assistant] Uh, so I have no issue to answer that question. I do want to get back to like, you know, the one aspect of like, why everybody's talking like, oh, was that too much to trade for Matthew Stafford and things like that?


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[Assistant] And, you know, I think you broke it down the right way. You traded away a first and a third to get Matthew Stafford. And then that other first round pick was about unloading Jared Goff.


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[Assistant] Which, again, let's put this in perspective, alright?


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[Assistant] We got one guy and again, this is my evaluation and I'm not trying to be personal. You know, I'm just all about football. Matt Stafford is a top 10 talent in football.


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[Assistant] Jared Goff, from my studies, I would say, is a bottom 10 talent for football.


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[Assistant] So, now you take those two things, and now the guy that is the top ten talent,


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[Assistant] He costs half as much as the guy who's the bottom ten talent.


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[Assistant] That's gonna raise the price. You're getting the better player for far much cheaper price. And that's where that extra first rounder comes into play in this situation. And I don't think people should be all that shocked by, by that, uh, by the facts of this matter.


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[Assistant] I would imagine he was one of those guys that said, Hey, Jeff Fisher and Rams. Yeah, this guy's good. We should trade up to be the number one pick and do that. So they believe in Jared Goff's talents. I think they do. And that's for me, that's going to be the interesting going forward too.


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[Assistant] You know, hey listen, with the Rams and McVeigh and Stafford, of course I expect the offense to be better.


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[Assistant] But now you got a guy like Stafford who we know can, he can execute any play in the history of playbooks. Wherever the throw is, he can make it. So, not only does he gonna make the normal bread and butter plays of the Rams better,


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[Assistant] To where now he's going to be able to be that mad scientist and go, wait, I've never been able to do this play or run, you know, a play action, let them boot out to the right. And now we're going to throw it all the way across the field and run a post corner 45, 50 yards down the field on the other sideline.


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[Assistant] It's gonna allow him to be a lot more creative too. And I'm very interested to see that aspect and what Sean McVeigh can bring.


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[Assistant] Well, that's a good question. You know, from everything I know, the 49ers were very involved in the conversations. You know, the other team I heard about was the Colts.


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[Assistant] You know, I, I know they were. I don't need to speculate or anything. Those are the teams that were involved. But again,


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[Assistant] You know, when you have familiarity between two organizations and things like that, it's hard to crack in there once they've gotten too far down the road as far as, you know, trade conversations and things like that. And the other aspect of this is, you know, Detroit


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[Assistant] You know I think the one thing you could take away from these teams that were interested in Stafford


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[Assistant] And, you know, I heard the Colts were very interested and that makes sense. They're ready right now.


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[Assistant] I would think you hear all these same teams, Zo Ahmed.


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[Assistant] Get talked about in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes that are about to come up here soon as well. Obviously there's, these teams have some interest in upgrading their quarterback position.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I think that still should be on the table for them.


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[Assistant] You know, I get the sense by making this move that they won't look to do that.


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[Assistant] I feel like Brad Holmes is in the corner of Jared Goff and that.


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[Assistant] I don't think in my heart of hearts that they're going to be thinking about trying to draft the quarterback in the top 10. I think they're going to try to give Jared Goff a chance to be the guy and maybe be a part of turning around their football team. You know, I don't think it's going to be a good look for the Lions.


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[Assistant] If you traded away a Stafford, now you're playing double the money.


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[Assistant] For a quarterback that's not as good, and now you're gonna draft a quarterback too? You know, that could lead to a lot of people going, wait, what the hell? Why did we get Jared Goff? What was the point of all this too? So, no, I think they're gonna try to make Goff work more than anything. That's just what, I don't know that, Ahmed, but that's just what my heart and my football IQ would tell me right now.


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[Assistant] No, yeaah, I don't go, you know me, I don't always go by stats. Stats are certainly taken into account, you know, but like, listen, I had...


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[Assistant] Certain offensive linemen I looked at to where


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[Assistant] You know, my, my own basis or evaluation.


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[Assistant] Okay, wait, both these players are very good. That's really close. I am big into like,


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[Assistant] Looking at the schedule, who had a tougher matchups to go against?


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[Assistant] These guys are all pro material and I think they outperform some of the guys that are on the actual all pro team.


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[Assistant] But those other guys just have popular names or on awesome teams that get all the popularity and all the notoriety that way. So it's a little mix, but I tried to go by what I thought were the best players at each position. That's really what I did.


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[Assistant] He's outside the top two or three quarterbacks in football still at this point. Now, I think certainly, yes, he had the best year out of all the quarterbacks in the NFL.


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[Assistant] And you know, I think the other quarterbacks that he was in this conversation with have a better support system than Aaron Rodgers. So that's where, yes, not only is the MVP of football, he played the position the best, most consistently all year long and


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[Assistant] I, you know, again, like I said, it wasn't a superstar cast around him. Certainly guys like Mahomes and Josh Allen had more talent around him. I think he could sit there and even say that about Russell Wilson to a degree. Here's my one thing I want to say about Aaron Rodgers, alright?


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[Assistant] Because he didn't run it in on that third down, so he choked. Like, that's ridiculous talk.


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[Assistant] And, here's the other thing I just want to say too. Because people are, oh Aaron Rodgers, it's the playoffs, they choke. Okay, not right.


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[Assistant] Every play in that game. But the teams that have to rely on execution


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[Assistant] That's not a good thing for them. And they're not a super talented team. See, the teams with talent, like Mike Evans or Atari Kill, Oh, you're holding me? Oh, great. Get off me. I'm going to run by you. Oh, I'm faster than you. I'm stronger than you. It doesn't matter. You can't hold me.


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[Assistant] They don't have those type of athletes on the side of the Green Bay Packers. Devonte Adams is very good.


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[Assistant] Chris Simms power rankings of wide receivers were closer to the truth than him being number one.


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[Assistant] The playoff showed, Devonte Adams is not a top five receiver. He's not a difference maker that way. He's awesome.


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[Assistant] He's a top 10 receiver. I don't give a damn how many catches he has. He is not a top 5 talent at the position that makes DBs shake in their boots. So sorry, I had to get that off my chest with that first, uh, All-Pro nomination there in Aaron Rodgers.


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[Assistant] No, he's a stud. The team is based around him. He's the best running back in the league. There's no denying that.


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[Assistant] Hey, Dalvin Cook's awesome. Nick Chubb right there. They're right there nipping at his heels. But this was, these first two positions were no brainers. They stood out above the rest. Quarterback and running back, I don't think anybody would have anything different than those two right now.


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[Assistant] Kyrie killed to me is still the most dangerous weapon in all of football.


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[Assistant] Uh, and for what he does for that offense, when he touches the ball, it's scary. Watch out. There's my first one. Step on digs is my second one and step on digs, my second one.


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[Assistant] Yeaah, we know the stats and all of that, but so many of the stats were not, you know, designed by the playbook. And yeaah, Josh Shallan gets some credit for that.


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[Assistant] But digs, I think I love about digs is there is just no weakness to a football game. Top tier route runner, can do all the underneath stuff, can beat you deep.


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[Assistant] And then he's a football player. He's got great feel for, oh wait, Josh Allen's scrambling. I'll find the right place to go and do all that. So he's going to be my other one. And then my third, I'm going with DK Metcalf. I am. DK Metcalf is going to be my third receiver because I think one on one,


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[Assistant] And I know he doesn't have as many catches as Devonte Adams and some of the other receivers that are out there. It's still about, he lines up in one spot the whole game.


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[Assistant] He almost always comes through. It's big plays. He affects the game because there's a lot of double coverage that he takes and it does other things to the football team. And for me, DK Metcalf was certainly one of the three best receivers in football this year.


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[Assistant] Hey, uh, Devontae Adams is gonna be on there next year, I can promise you that. He ain't gonna be in the top five, I can also promise you that.


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[Assistant] Yes, you should be. The only one I think that's even in the class of Travis Kelsey is maybe Darren Waller for the Raiders, right? But Kelsey...


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[Assistant] Special year. I, I, I really, I don't know if...


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[Assistant] You know, I've ever seen a tight end like Travis Kelsey. Listen, at this point of his career, do I think like a guy like George Kittle is...


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[Assistant] You know, more explosive, can make big plays than Travis Kelsey. Is a better blocker? Yes, but of course we know he was hurt for a lot of the year.


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[Assistant] But where I say I've just never seen anything like Kelsey, I've never seen a big guy, a tight end, as limber, as loose as he is, the ability to put his foot in the ground and come out of breaks just like,


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[Assistant] Seamlessly, it's very special, let alone like we talked about with Stefan Diggs, that backyard aspect of like, like, it's like, it's like you and me, how we have this, like, we can look at each other and we know what we're thinking, right? It's like Mahomes, I feel like when he scrambles, it's like,


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[Assistant] Well, where's 87 and then 87 is like, oh, my telepathic brain is telling me to move here because my homes wants me to and they connect. It's just, it's special. He's a, he's one of the best, if not the best natural receiving tight ends I've ever seen in my life.


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[Assistant] As far as, man, that's nitpicking between these two.


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[Assistant] But where I think I give Trent Williams the advantage or just where


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[Assistant] You know, pass protection, it's really close. I mean, they're both unbelievable. You don't ever have to worry about anything when they're anchoring your left side of the line.


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[Assistant] Shanahan, that, that offense, all the movement they do, they ask their offensive lineman to pull and get to the second level and do intricate things, maybe more than any other offense in football. And that's really where I kind of gave him the advantage there.


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[Assistant] Definitely, and it's not as big of an adjustment for a guard to play the left side or the right side as compared to tackle. But Quentin Nelson, you know, left guard, Quentin Nelson, alright?


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[Assistant] I don't know. There's really just not a better offense alignment in football to me still than Quentin Nelson. There's just pass protection. He's a movable, you know, run game. He's a bulldozer.


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[Assistant] And can do it all in the run game, whether that's pulling or getting to the second level or just absolutely coming off straight ahead and just bulldozing people that way. Uh, Quentin Nelson still one of the best in the game.


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[Assistant] But Tonio to me is a better all around football player than Wyatt Teller. You know, Wyatt Teller awesome in the run game, got some work to do in the pass game, but Tonio has none of those issues. Let alone, you know, again,


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[Assistant] You know, I looked at Joel Bantonio as being one of the more impressive guards in all of football this year.


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[Assistant] Definitely, they were right there, uh, and I feel like I'm missing another name that I can't think of, but Ali Marpet, and sure.


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[Assistant] Are the next ones I think right there on that list, uh,


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[Assistant] Well, yeah, right tackle. I'm going with Ryan Ram's check.


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[Assistant] Uh, Ryan Ramchek is the best right tackle in football. You know, I know that like Jack Conklin.


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[Assistant] You know, he got a lotta love this year. He goes to Cleveland. Things look really good that way. I just think the diversity of the offense with the Saints


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[Assistant] It's much more diverse than what the Browns do. They ask a lot of their right tackles. Ramchek's one of those guys, you don't even know he's on the team there because we only talk about tackles when something bad happens for the most part of the right tackle. You never hear anything bad happen over there.


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[Assistant] He really is. He's got great power. He can stop power rushers in the pass game and run games. He's your typical, you know, Wisconsin road grader type. So, uh, that's my other tackle.


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[Assistant] I had a hard time really finding anybody to even, you know, compete in that narrative.


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[Assistant] I know there's some other good centers out there this year, but I didn't see anybody that was...


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[Assistant] You know, I felt like it was a little bit of a down year for Jason Kelsey with the Philadelphia Eagles.


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[Assistant] You know, the, the right now with the Detroit Lions, good, but not to the level Linds, Lindsley played. Uh, the guy in Tampa, Jensen, I love him. He's...


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[Assistant] Awesome in the run game, but man, he gets beat in the pass game too much. Lindsley's a guy that it's almost perfection across the board. He was by far the best center in football.


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[Assistant] Yes, no, it was a special group. And you know, I took that into account too, a little bit.


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[Assistant] Where, you know, hey, yeah, Wyatt Teller, it's, it's not hard to play guard sometimes when you got a center and another guard to tackle like that next to you who are really damn good. Not to take anything away from him, but like,


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[Assistant] Those are like Conklin and Ramchak. Both awesome.


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[Assistant] I think it's just the diversity of the Saints offense that I thought about more, that is more impressive to me when it's a close one like that and what they ask the right tackle to do maybe compared to Conklin and Cleveland.


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[Assistant] I think so. It's not easy doing these damn lists.


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[Assistant] Yes, I mean, he stands alone. He's in that conversation. Definitely. I think when you look at him,


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[Assistant] Gosh, I could even say Jalen Ramsey. You know, Aaron Donald probably stands above the rest as far as, you know, compared to the rest of the people at his position.


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[Assistant] And just being consistently dominant that way. So he would probably be, yes, the number one pick, definitely. But I think some of the quarterbacks, even though they're quarterbacks, and I know it's hard to kind of say like, oh, it's not as important as the other ones.


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[Assistant] But if we're just playing for the, this, the exercise here.


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[Assistant] Hey, I don't know, Mahomes, Rodgers, Watson, Josh Allen. Yeah, they're going to be the top of football too. I mean, you got the ball in your hand and they just affect the game in too many ways with special plays right now. So I hate to be that guy, but I think, you know, that, that's.


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[Assistant] That's about where my brain is with that one. I think so. You know, Miles Garrett, T.J. Watt, pass rushers, certainly in that conversation too. They change the game a lot. Uhm, that's a tough one, but I guess that's my answer there.


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[Assistant] It's crossed my mind, and I mean, yes, you do do it. You tried to, sure. I would always say, listen, as awesome as I think Trevor Lawrence can be, I already know how awesome Deshaun Watson is. It is...


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[Assistant] It is special. It's the type of talent where you go, well, he's going to be a top five quarterback for the next, you know, eight, 10 years. He has that type of talent to be dancing around, you know, that, that top five area. So I would, and it's crossed my mind too. And the fact, Ahmed, and this is where I think it's a good question. You know, I think that's.


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[Assistant] That's one of those where Houston might like that, right? They might go, wait, okay, we get Trevor Lawrence, you know, he's Clemson, you know, Southern boy, gonna fit everything we like here. We could get the fan base to get around him, the superstar Clemson quarterback, all that.


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[Assistant] I think that would definitely be, you know, a feasible thought by Jacksonville, that they're gonna have to give up more to go along with that.


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[Assistant] And the other aspect where I just don't think it happens.


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[Assistant] Is Deshaun Watson has final say here. And that's going to be the biggest problem with that. He has a no trade clause. And what he doesn't want to go from the Houston Texans to go, hey, let me go in the same situation and be a part of another rebuild with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That's where I don't think it's realistically going to happen.


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[Assistant] With Lamar Jackson and the way the team is built and formulated that it would be a mistake to go and Deshaun, we know, listen, he's a special athlete and he can run, but not like Lamar Jackson.


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[Assistant] I mean, that's, that's a different stratosphere of running and they've built the offense and the team and the scheme and everything around that. So that wouldn't make sense, you know, and then of course the Texans would have to look at it and go, wait,


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[Assistant] We have to now build our team a different way too because Lamar Jackson got to Sean Watson and we got to change some things around that way as well. So that's where I think that that conversation probably falls apart.


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[Assistant] Hey, I'm trying to convince them too. Anybody been listening to this podcast or pro football talk? I've been saying it freely for the past week. I'm sure my buddy Kyle Shanahan, if he does listen, which he probably doesn't, he's probably not happy to hear that, but I don't know. That's just what I think.


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[Assistant] You know, you know me, I don't hold any punches. I evaluate this stuff all year long. All right. There are a team that's in the Superbowl window.


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[Assistant] You got a quarterback who's one inconsistent, but two, and more importantly, can never stay healthy.


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[Assistant] So that's an issue. I don't know what anyone would say that. See, people have, like, they gotta remember that. It's three years. It's three out of four years where it's like,


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[Assistant] No, he's not on the field for the majority of the year. And when you have a team that's in the Super Bowl window, whether you like that guy or not, or know that, hey, when he does play, we're good, man is at a tremendous risk to take all the time. So that's scary, let alone, I think in my heart of hearts, I just think my buddy Kyle Shanahan,


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[Assistant] Would love a guy like a Difference Maker like a Deshaun Watson. It's gonna take...


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[Assistant] In this case, it's gonna take three first-rounders. I mean, right? I think so. What we saw with Matthew Stafford, it's gonna take three first-rounders and hopefully Houston would be cool with having Jeremy Garoppolo as their quarterback, which I think is a possibility with what they got down there. Of course, Nick Casario came from New England. He drafted Jimmy Garoppolo. That might work. My scare, my scare is this.


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[Assistant] We know there's going to be teams involved. We just saw the teams involved in the Matthew Stafford trade. So now it's to Sean Watson. And I think there'll be more teams even involved with that.


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[Assistant] I worry that really at the end of the day, you get six or seven teams, you're all now competing for Watson.


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[Assistant] That it might end up being four first round picks together.


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[Assistant] Now maybe you get away if you have a really good starting quarterback to trade to them. Maybe you get three, but.


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[Assistant] I wouldn't be shocked. I really wouldn't be. And I'm interested to see where this whole conversation goes.


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[Assistant] I'd have to feel like my team was in the Super Bowl window or really close right now. Something along those lines. Yeaah. You know, like, if I'm the New Orleans Saints.


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[Assistant] They got issues at that position. I don't know what to say it. It holds their team back a little bit.


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[Assistant] I'd be the Saints, I'd be like, hey, we'll give you Jameis and Taysom Hill.


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[Assistant] And, you know, first round picks. Can we get the John Watson back?


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[Assistant] So it's gonna be interesting. I don't know if four first rounds gonna happen, but I'm just saying I don't think it's crazy if we get to the point where you got four or five teams really aggressively pursuing them.


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[Assistant] To where you won't have to pawn off maybe as much just to get rid of it. But I guess my big thing would be more of this as far as the way things shut down with Stafford.


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[Assistant] You know, I don't think Houston's gonna wanna trade Deshaun Watson within the division.


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[Assistant] You know, does that make that more of a legit thing right now? I still don't know what the hell is going on in Philadelphia. I don't. And I don't, I don't know where it's gonna go.


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[Assistant] I like Nick Sirianni. Of course he didn't have the greatest press conference in the history of coaches. We saw that. But then they hire a...


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[Assistant] And this is where I would like to go with Carson Wentz, who I know doesn't listen to anything being said in Philadelphia.


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[Assistant] Yes, the team likes you, but nobody else does. And that's not good.


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[Assistant] As much as I want to say, hey, I know you want to stick it out with your team and that's where you were drafted, the fan base does not seem to support him.


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[Assistant] And if I'm him, I don't care what they do at coaches. That's tough to overcome.


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[Assistant] You like a better look, of course. Yes. You know, you'd like them to just go up there and not have to read note cards, you know, and, and, and be that way. But coaches, that's not their environment. It really isn't.


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[Assistant] He will be more comfortable when he's in front of the football team and he could talk more like he really wants to talk. You know, that's what happens too. Sometimes these coaches, you know, they get worried about, Oh, now.


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[Assistant] I do like what he does on the offensive side of the ball. I followed him since he was with the Chargers. So I think there's some interesting things there. But the Eagles...


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[Assistant] Yeah, that is correct. That's how I did it. Yes. You know, I got, I got more names written down. So if you want to ask me like who just missed out or if you want to add a third corner to the list, I'm cool. I got it ready. I know how my pecking order goes as far as these go, but you want to start with the edge guys first?


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[Assistant] Yeah, it's the richest, it's the best. I think it's the best. I don't know what, who knows.


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[Assistant] Miles Garrett. I'm not, those are the two best edge pass rushers in football.


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[Assistant] I'm not going to try to sit here and change things up just to be different or anything like that.


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[Assistant] I want more, I think I want more of a pass rush.


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[Assistant] presence than what I've seen from Khalil Mack the last two years. And I love Khalil Mack, you know I do. He's better


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[Assistant] He's awesome at the run and maybe better than these two guys at the run.


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[Assistant] You know, and just a naturally gifted pass rusher. There's no other way to say that. And it's one of those things too where, you know, I think we hit this during the season and Pete looked it up at one point for us that


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[Assistant] You know, they play in a 3-4 defense. He drops into coverage a lot.


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[Assistant] Right? And that takes away some pass rushes, but you know, for me, he was one of those guys didn't matter what game you turned it on all year. He had tremendous impact.


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[Assistant] Cam Hayward, phenomenal for the Steelers. We know that.


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[Assistant] You give me two interior guys to start my team with right now from what I saw off of last year. Chris Jones affects the game in too many ways. I don't care what his stats are. He's as disruptive as anybody in the game.


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[Assistant] You know, not named Aaron Donald. He's second on that list, and it's not far off for as far as pure disruption. It's not. You know, maybe he doesn't get to the quarterback and get the sacks as much, but he's better and more disruptive in the run game than Aaron Donald.


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[Assistant] That is for sure. He's phenomenal at batting passes or making quarterbacks have to readjust where they want to throw because he's got a great feel of getting that big arm up in the air. He is a playmaker and he


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[Assistant] So as much respect as I have for all of those guys, to me, man, Chris Jones is one of the under-talked about


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[Assistant] Like that? Under talked ab than all of football.


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[Assistant] Alright, my first one I'm going with Fred Warner from the 49ers. Fred Warner.


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[Assistant] You know, sideline to sideline, attacking the ball, pass coverage. He's as good as anybody in the NFL right now.


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[Assistant] So that to me and that and is fit within that defensive scheme is perfect. He has maybe one weakness and that's that maybe he's not the biggest thumper in the world, right? But you can't have it all. He's still amazing football player. Devin White's going to be my next one. You know, Devin White.


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[Assistant] Listen, there are a few plays here and there during the year where you go, ooh, that was a little raw, he took the wrong pursuit angle or went in the wrong gap. Okay, here and there.


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[Assistant] But the amount of wow plays and what he does for that defense on a weekly basis, I mean, it's off the charts.


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[Assistant] I mean, you can't run outside against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because Devin White, he's gonna run down the running back before they turn the corner. And then, like we talked about with just Fred Warner a second ago,


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[Assistant] Devon White, there is a little bit more of a thumper to him, so.


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[Assistant] He, he can take it on and, and get off or at least stalemate you and then make the tackle that way too.


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[Assistant] You know, Devin White is a phenomenal talent and a guy that never has to come off the field.


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[Assistant] I still think it was throughout the year, I just had too many moments where I just went, man, this Devon White, these damn linebackers for the Bucks, he is everywhere. And I think this year, really, he became a little more disciplined and scheme oriented too. Uhm, yeaah, he's one of the best, best in the game, no doubt about it.


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[Assistant] My last one, I'm gonna go a little different here. This is a guy that I don't even know what the stats are. I'm not sure where he is, and maybe you could look this up. See if it can back me up.


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[Assistant] Leonard Floyd for the Rams. I'm taking him as my third linebacker.


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[Assistant] You know, I like Eric Kendricks a lot up in Minnesota.


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[Assistant] Floyd had a very special year and what they asked him to do, you know, containing, he had a big part in containing the Russell Willsons and the Kyler Murrays of the world and really slowing them down. So I don't know what his PFF grade is, maybe you could tell me, but to me, that was one of the best linebackers in football this year.


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[Assistant] Okay, and I legitimately think he is listed on their roster as a linebacker, so I didn't cheat.


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[Assistant] Yeaah, Jalen Ramsey's a superstar. I think you could put Jalen Ramsey to me in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year with Aaron Donald.


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[Assistant] They're both a huge part of that defensive success and man do they put a lot of pressure on them.


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[Assistant] You know, and then Jalen Ramsey, not only a great island corner,


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[Assistant] You know, usually big corners like that can only match up against big receivers. That's not the case. He can guard the little ones. And the thing I love about Jalen Ramsey is the attitude and tackling he brings along with it.


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[Assistant] You know, it's more than just covering guys. You know, he brings an attitude and, and, and some energy and some life to that defense. So I give him a lot of credit there. Marlon Humphrey is the other guy I'm going with. Again.


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[Assistant] I don't give a damn, you know, what his stats are, where he's ranked.


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[Assistant] I mean, they put him on slot receivers and they don't help him at all. And they go, Hey, can you cover this guy that runs four three and as quick as lighting?


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[Assistant] So, he's special. He's the reason they're a top 10 defense. They couldn't even be that defense if they don't have Marlon Humphrey.


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[Assistant] So again, that's where, and you know, you can look it up, I don't know where the grades are. I would think his grade is probably a little bit underwhelming for what he's paid and everything on the Ravens because...


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[Assistant] Like, I went back and forth with this one. And yes, he is, he is one of my safeties. You know, I, I couldn't not put him on there.


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[Assistant] You know, and again, I saw, I know he messed up some plays early in the year coverage wise. You know, and I'm not even talking about the ones where he got beat. Like, oh wow, Julian Edelman beat him 50 yards down the field. Alright, you know, it's like we just talked about.


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[Assistant] I don't know another safety that was asked to cover a guy like Julian Edelman 50 yards down the field all year long. You know, he was put in a lot of tough positions.


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[Assistant] And by the end of the year, the last six, seven games of the year, why they became one of the best defenses of football is cause of Jamal Adams and all the different things you can do with him. Is he a linebacker? Is he a safety? Is he a nickel back? I don't know what the hell he is, but he has an effect on the game, let alone when the ball snap.


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[Assistant] I mean, he's got one of the best noses for the ball in all of football. So when I look at that, you know, the attitude in which that defense played.


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[Assistant] His ability to get after the quarterback and make plays behind the line of scrimmage and everything that way. Yes, he's all pro safety to me. He's one of the best defensive players in the league. Uh, there's no doubt about that. And safety is a tough position this year. I had a hard time figuring out my two safeties.


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[Assistant] I'm gonna, I'm gonna go with Jesse Bates from the Cincinnati Bengals.


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[Assistant] To me, yeaah, yeaah. I mean, I know we talked about him a little bit during the year, but I don't know...


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[Assistant] Out of all the guys we've talked about, I think he had the most like...


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[Assistant] You know, biggest jump onto the scene, like right where last year I was like, yeah, this guy's pretty good. And then this year I went, whoa, is he the best safety in football? He is everywhere. I mean, not real big, but


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[Assistant] Tackles with the same aggressiveness and craziness that a Jamal Adams tackles with or a Buddha Baker or anything like that?


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[Assistant] You know, he's phenomenal there, but it's his range that I think is very special. He is one of the faster safeties in football. And yeah, he can run with receivers and tight ends if he does have to get matched up man to man. But man, in that back end, when he plays center field, I'd argue he covers more ground than anybody in the sport. This was a tough position.


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[Assistant] But I love Jesse Bates. He was one of my favorite watchers all year. And I mean, no disrespect to guys like Minka Fitzpatrick, who I had a hard time leaving off this list. Uh, John Johnson for the Rams, I thought about putting on this list.


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[Assistant] Of course, Honey Badger, Buddha Baker, Justin Simmons for the Broncos, they're all, all pro type talents. But to me, Adams and Bates stand out above the rest this year.


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[Assistant] You know, hey, there's a lot of good football players on some of these lesser teams in football that we don't talk about or know about. And Jesse Bates is one of those guys, if you watched the Bengals this year, you kept going, who is this crazy dude flying all over the field throwing his body around? Oh, that's Jesse Bates. And he stood out in about every game I watched.


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[Assistant] I tried to be Robin Hood that way. Take from the rich, give to the poor. Like, yes, okay, I know, yes. Doesn't always work out like that. Let's talk about some other quarterbacks and give them some love.


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[Assistant] No, not at all. I mean, it hurt me not to have him on my All Pro team. It hurt me not to have him on there. I really did. And, and he's, he is, he's worthy of that, you know, as is like an Xavier Howard, you know, for the Miami Dolphins. Uh, those are all those types of guys, but good for you. I'm glad you got Jair on there.


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[Assistant] Loved him coming out of the draft in Auburn. Anybody who's been listening to my podcast since the back of the Bleacher Report days.


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[Assistant] This was one of my like hidden gems coming out the draft that year. You know, he had some knee issues and some bad injuries in college where he fell down the draft.


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[Assistant] But this is a great story to see because he is, he's a top tier pass rusher in football. He was put on planet earth.


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[Assistant] To come off the ball and come around the edge against big offensive linemen. He's built for it and he's got a great speed but great power for his size too. He's a little bit of an undersized guy but you wouldn't know it by the way you see him move people around.


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[Assistant] Uh, you know, again, I'm glad you're hitting him because that was a guy that hurt me to keep him off like an all-pro team too. You know, like you talked about with Jair Alexander.


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[Assistant] He's that quality of a football player. He's definitely in that conversation and never seems to get the credit he deserves. And like we talked about with some of the other guys, you know, no weakness.


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[Assistant] Side on to sideline coverage, you know, taking on fullbacks in the hole doesn't matter. There's no, there's no negatives in his game. Love watching Kendricks play.


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[Assistant] And it wasn't easy. I mean, they are. It's run the ball and then when they drop back to throw it, they look for 30 and 40 yard completions. He's one of the best down the field throwers in the game. Yeah, he might not have one of the most powerful arms or this like crazy, sexy release or anything like that.


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[Assistant] But damn the ball's on the money 90% of the time. Uh, I, I mean, yes, totally disrespected. You can win with Kirk Cousins. You can get to a Super Bowl with Kirk Cousins. Yeaah, he needs a little bit of a team around him and some little more help.


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[Assistant] Yeah, Garret Bowles, I feel like that guy on the offensive line this year, where you're going, last year I'm going, I don't know, maybe they messed up with this pick, maybe he's a bust. Man, it seems like everybody pushes him back to the quarterback. He's got no ability to anchor in there against tower, you know, pass rushes, anything like that, but wasn't the case this year.


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[Assistant] You know, I think Mike Munchek, offensive line coach out there has got him right now and I think you're fine and dandy in the left tackle position for a long time to come out there in Denver.


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[Assistant] Like, I'm very impressed with your list. I really am. I mean, it's well done. Jeff Wilson shocked me this year too. I really didn't know he was that explosive or that powerful running through arm tackles and things like that.


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[Assistant] He did, that was a huge year for Corey Davis.


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[Assistant] You know, another guy that you kind of just thought, man, is this a bust? Is it ever going to really work out the right way?


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[Assistant] Great route runner, you said it, and he's got, you know, more explosive ability maybe than I gave him credit for too. Uhm, but man, perfect compliment.


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[Assistant] To AJ Brown, who you say, you're right, gets more of the notoriety. And AJ Brown, honestly, I thought about making him an all-pro wide receiver. Sure.


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[Assistant] You know, when you look at the good offenses, it's more times than not.


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[Assistant] You need more than just one really good quality pass catcher.


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[Assistant] And that's where Corey Davis, you know, really came in handy this year. Here's AJ Brown over the middle. He can go deep. He'll break tackles. And now you could do some of the real route running type stuff with Corey Davis. And that's where they really kind of feed off each other. It's a good pick by you and he's been.


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[Assistant] You know, disrespected a lot through his career. I probably would have picked somebody like DJ Moore.


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[Assistant] You're right. It's superstar potential.


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[Assistant] And I think next year we will be talking about him a lot more. I just think that he'll continue to go on the right path. There's, I mean, he is like,


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[Assistant] You know, how Kittle catches the ball, it's like pedal of the metal, and it's like just controlled craziness, right? Right. You know, Kelsey's not that way. Kelsey's a little more smooth, receiver-like. He's not gonna like break tackles or lower his shoulder or run people over that way. Hawkinson will.


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[Assistant] You know, he really is an impressive football player and you could see that this year with what he did. And for a good guy that can block, man, can he run and run by people and make people miss that way too. So they got something good to work where, and now he's got Dan Campbell coaching them in Detroit. This game, I would be shocked if it doesn't continue to go upwards.


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[Assistant] These guys at each position, how about these guys who are every bit as good are in that conversation that their names never get mentioned? That's the tough thing about football. It really is. Uh, so many great players go unnoticed. Yeaah.


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[Assistant] That's awesome. Well, listen, some, you don't have to be in my brain. That one's pretty obvious. I don't think, uh, there's much discussion there. But what, so where was the other 49% of the vote? TJ Watt got some, and who else?


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[Assistant] It's, it says that the homies are pretty damn smart though. Because, I mean, you talked about it, we talked about it.


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[Assistant] Kelsey is a huge part of that offense. His connection with Mahomes is very special. You know, and then,


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[Assistant] And I had another point I was going to make about him, but I blanked out and now I cannot remember what it was. The other thing I love about him too is this. I mean, there's just so many games and plays throughout the year where I look at it and go, Whoa, he's double covered. Whoa. They gained 35 on the play. Hey, he's double covered.


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[Assistant] Whoa, he gained 27 on the play because Mahomes, he trusts that Kelsey is going to beat the double teams a lot of the times and knows he'll know how to run the right route, the right way and all those types of things. So that's where Kelsey is really impressive.


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[Assistant] I fear, I feel like a lot of people and football and fans and everybody started to realize how good Antoine Winfield was towards the second half of the year.


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[Assistant] You know, and I know Bruce Arians has gone out there and go, no, defensive rookie of the year should be Antoine Winfield Jr. He's awesome, but he's not Chase Young. No, no, no, no, no. Let's pump the brakes on that. Chase Young, very special, effective games a lot more than just what his sack output was. You know, I don't like that when I hear that too many times where I go, they go,


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[Assistant] Well, Antoine Winfield's year was better than the, what did, what did Chase Young have? Eight sacks? Seven and a half sacks?


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[Assistant] He's been great. Ligerious need of the Chiefs. Yeah. Number 38 out of Louisiana Tech. Man, he can go. And our, our, our listener's right. When the Chiefs have had him and healthy,


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[Assistant] It makes them a special defense. That's one of the things that's...


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[Assistant] You know, intriguing about the, the Chiefs is their ability to lock down receivers here, you know, down the stretch. And that's going to come in handy when they need to blitz or be aggressive to stop Brady and the Buccaneers of the Super Bowl.


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[Assistant] Yeah, uh, it's hard to argue against Stefanski. That's for sure. You know, McDermott right up there. I think, you know,


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[Assistant] That would be a close one to me between that second guy.


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[Assistant] You know, I had somebody bring it to my attention about halfway through the year this year and, and I, I, you know, I think it's correct. He does not get the credit he deserves for what he's done up there in Green Bay and how he's made it work with Aaron Rodgers and of course two NFC championship games where I'd like to see him get a little more love in that conversation.


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[Assistant] Yeah, it's, it's close. I mean, the quarterback's gonna get the favor there. And honestly,


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[Assistant] I probably would have picked the quarterback too. You know, again, Justin Jefferson, I don't want to take anything away from him. You know how much I loved him in the pre-draft process. He was my second favorite wide receiver coming out in the draft.


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[Assistant] I mean, I love what he did, but Herbert, Herbert was equally as special.


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[Assistant] And I think from the fact that he came from Oregon.


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[Assistant] And there was all these question marks and the Oregon offense wasn't very good. And then the fact that he had the greatest rookie year ever in the history of quarterbacks, it's hard to argue that even as awesome as Justin Jefferson's season was.


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[Assistant] I mean, Alex Smith was so amazing. He came back. I was going, okay, that's cool. You're, you're back. All right. Now go back to the sidelines and protect your leg. Like go sit on the bench. I don't like it. I mean, I, I worried about him all year as we talked about many a time.


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[Assistant] To where I, I, I still, there's a part of me that wishes he retires this year, so I don't have to worry about him on the football field anymore. I just worry about that leg in general. But amazing story. He's an amazing guy. He's a great human being, and of course we know his work ethic top notch, and that was cool to see. And I'm glad he got back out there this year.


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[Assistant] You know, I, I did not think he could play tackle to the ability he has this year. I thought he was a guard all the way.


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[Assistant] You know, up there in Iowa on film and things like that. And he has been phenomenal. I mean, really.


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[Assistant] So, it was a special year and certainly one I got wrong in my evaluation process.


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[Assistant] Well, it does step up their game to know he's there. They don't want to be the one on TV always looking like they're getting Tom Brady hit and all those type of things. I mean, Brady, just by him being there, I will say, I think it raises the level of everybody. But I think more importantly, it's just the way they play. You know, I think that's really what's helped them out.


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[Assistant] They do a great job of keeping extra guys in the block. They run the ball. They run play action passes like we talked about all year.


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[Assistant] When you run a lot of play action passes, it's hard to be a pass rusher.


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[Assistant] Just tee off at the quarterback. Cause you always have that moment where you go, oh wait, is he handing the ball off? Oh no, he didn't? Okay, let me start my pass rush again. And that's what they've done a really nice job of. But they don't help out those tackles a whole lot. Both of those damn tackles are really good.


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[Assistant] Uh, and you know, the Buccaneers that are a great job. That's one thing that's, you know, everybody wants to give...


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[Assistant] Brady, the credit for everything down there. And, uh, I don't agree with that. That's one thing I'll say on the way out here.


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[Assistant] I'm glad we hit the all-pro team. More importantly,


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[Assistant] I'm very proud we got to your under talked about team. That was awesome. It really was. You're the man. And then, Wednesday,


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[Assistant] Bring up some interesting things that I think you know, show itself.


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[Assistant] On film and little angles that maybe we can bring up that will affect the football game. We're gonna hit that. I think we'll have Big Phil on Wednesday for a little bit. I'm not sure about that. He is part of the CBS Super Bowl broadcast this week, so he might have to be a little busy. But either way, that's what we caught coming up on Wednesday, Amin.


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[Assistant] We made it happen, baby. Way to go. Modern technology. Modern medical miracle here, right? Way to go. Alright, that's it. Let's do it.


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[Assistant] Ahmed, you the man. Way to go. Always appreciate you driving the ship. We'll be back Wednesday. Send questions pertaining to the matchup. Super Bowl 55. Man, there's a lot of good things to talk about. A lot of different interesting angles to hit on. You can send those to anywhere you find me on social media. Ahmed,


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


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[Assistant] It's PFTPM and Chris Sims on Button presented by Verizon, the Week 16 MegaPix Podcast. I can't believe we've made it this far. I can't believe the NFL has made it this far, Chris.


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[Assistant] And they're gonna see it through to the end. We're just two weeks away from the end of the regular season and the postseason. And, uh, at least something has gone well this year because our picks


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[Assistant] Uh, straight up, we're not bad. Against the spread, we're very bad. Best bets, we need a different title, cause there's nothing best about it, especially last week.


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[Assistant] It won't. Spoiler. It won't. Let's get into it though. And as always, all odds are provided by Points Bet Sportsbook. And there is a Christmas present from the National Football League, a game that stood out on the schedule when it was announced in early May.


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[Assistant] Vikings at Saints, a rematch of last year's wild card playoff game. The only difference is the Vikings are barely alive. They have a 2% shot at making it to the playoffs. If they lose to the Saints, they obviously are eliminated. Saints favored by 7, over under Chris is 51. Who do you have in there?


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[Assistant] You mentioned that Drew Brees is going to be maybe better or more comfortable. I don't know that a five day turnaround after a day when it was clear that he was uncomfortable is going to make him


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[Assistant] Significantly better. I think he's going to come into the game maybe with his confidence a little bit shattered, a little bit at least undermined. No Michael Thomas, he's on injured reserve. We saw what the Vikings were able to do to Michael Thomas last year when he


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[Assistant] This is the game that is kind of like the Bengals win over the Steelers. We saw the Texans on Thanksgiving. It's that bowl game. It's that moment in the sun. It's that, you know what, we're not going to be in the playoffs, but let's go out there and have one last great effort and, and, and,


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[Assistant] Play just for the love of the sport. Play even though this is the worst time of year to get an injury because you're going into the off season. Don't think about any of that stuff. Just go out and play football. Embrace the moment.


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[Assistant] That doesn't mean they're gonna win. 27-23 is the score I pick. I do think the Vikings cover. The spread's a little bit too big for my liking. I can see the Saints not delivering that huge knockout punch.


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[Assistant] Uh, and you know the more I talk about it, I'm thinking it's gonna be 44 to 10. But I-I-I'm gonna be optimistic that it's gonna be a fun game to watch. Maybe go down to the wire. Mike Zimmer and Sean Payton, both Bill Parcell's disciples, they know each other very well. I think they'll keep it close. It seems like they always play close. So 27-23 Saints.


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[Assistant] Maybe Bruce Arons would like to go coach the Lions if he's had enough of the Buccaneers. It just was odd and, and I just throw that out there because I was intrigued by it and we saw how petty Tom Brady is yesterday with the shot that he took at Tony Dungy. He probably didn't like the fact that his head coach was speaking in such glowing terms. I mean, it really was too much.


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[Assistant] Of what Arians was saying about Matthew Stafford. At the end of the day, it's not gonna matter. Bucks 31, Lions 20. And it could be worse than that. Not having these coaches available is gonna be an issue. The day after Christmas, the Lions aren't playing for anything. They're just kind of finishing out the string. They got their one perfunctory win.


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[Assistant] Post the firing of Matt Pat and the Buccaneers trying to get to the playoffs, still holding out hope of winning the division. Now they'll know by Saturday whether or not they're still alive because if the Saints win, it's over. I just like where the Buccaneers are now and I continue to believe they are the team from the NFC that would be best suited to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.


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[Assistant] Alright, San Francisco at Arizona, the middle game on Saturday, exclusively broadcast on Amazon Prime. So, uh, not gonna be seen by a lot of people most likely. Arizona, a five point favorite against the 49ers who are treating Arizona as their home away from home. Over under 49, Chris, who do you like?


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[Assistant] I got 30 to 23. Both of us have the Cardinals covering. It was back in week one when we first saw, hey,


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[Assistant] Cardinals may be pretty good this year when they beat the 49ers in San Francisco and maybe the 49ers are gonna have issues. Chris, I just think at this point, you gotta look at the psychology of the 49ers. They've been away from home for several weeks. They're not playing for a playoff berth. This is, let's get this bleep over with and get out of here.


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[Assistant] I think that mentality is going to be impossible to keep out of the team, especially with Jimmy Garoppolo back at practice, but he's not going to play. Nick Mullins having Tommy John surgery at CJ Beathard and Josh Rosen as the backup.


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[Assistant] Miami Dolphins at the Las Vegas Raiders in the night game. Dolphins a three point favorite. The Raiders need a win to avoid elimination. The Dolphins still have not clinched a playoff berth. 47 and a half over under. Chris, who do you have?


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[Assistant] Yeah, I've got, uh, the Dolphins winning as well. You have, uh, the Dolphins covering by one. I've got 24-17. I'm not gonna...


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[Assistant] Take the bait with the Raiders until they prove to me that they're not fraudulent. And the past several weeks have suggested to me


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[Assistant] That they are fraudulent. And I thought about picking them to win the game. I thought, hey, maybe they will get it figured out. You know, as you suggested on PFT live, maybe there's some sort of, of a shell game going on here where they're making it look like Derek Carr is going to play and they're going to unleash Marcus Mariota. And thank you for pronouncing it Mariota.


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[Assistant] I don't want to name names, but my goblin he was playing last Thursday night, it's Mariota, Mariota, Mariota. Didn't we go through this six years ago? It's Mariota. How hard is that to remember? It's Mariota. It's, it's important to get people's names right. It's a basic level of respect that you can show to someone. It's Mariota. So anyway, Marcus Mariota, if he plays, I think that puts even more stress on that.


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[Assistant] On that Dolphins defense, and there is an, oh, look. Mario is due to make 10 million next year. Carr is due to make nearly 20 million.


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[Assistant] And the Raiders get to choose. They have dibs. Do we trade Carr? Do we trade Mariota? And I think there's gonna be a market for Marcus Mariota, even if he doesn't play. And I can see why Derek Carr wants to come back and play, because the more he plays and plays well, Mariota does.


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[Assistant] The more you start asking yourself, is Mario the guy who should be the quarterback of this team?


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[Assistant] Maybe Mario is gonna be starting somewhere else then. Alright, Sunday games, early games, Giants at Ravens, a Super Bowl 35 rematch, Ravens 10.5 point favorites over under 45.


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[Assistant] Taking the Giants to cover, I'm gonna disagree with you on that. I've got the Ravens 30, Giants 17. I just think the Ravens right now are in postseason form.


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[Assistant] The Giants aren't good enough to keep up with the Ravens when they're firing on all cylinders. The Ravens could still miss the playoffs at 11-5. They are huge Steelers fans because the Steelers win one of their last two games.


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[Assistant] The Ravens do get in at 11 and 5. If the Steelers lose to the Colts, the Steelers lose to the Browns, there's a chance the Ravens end up getting bumped out of the postseason at 11 and 5. So I think they are going to get to 11 and 5.


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[Assistant] And chances are they get in, but it will be an easy day, relatively speaking, just cause they're so much better than they've been. They've gotten past the COVID issues and they have things clicking and I think they'll win this one.


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[Assistant] I'm taking one touchdown off the board for the Bengals. 27-17. Same score as they won by Monday night. They got their victory. They got their season capper. It's Christmas week. They're on the road on a short week. I think the Texans are gonna want to get this W.


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[Assistant] More and the Bengals, there's gonna be a certain amount of satisfaction. There's gonna be a glow that is still hovering over the organization cause they beat the Steelers and even if they lose to the Texans, it doesn't matter. They beat the Steelers. Chicago minus seven and a half at Jacksonville over under 47 and a half who you got.


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[Assistant] Interesting dynamic here as it relates to the Trevor Lawrence Pursuit because Doug Marrone likely not going to be the head coach.


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[Assistant] They have Trent Bauchy as the interim GM, but if ownership wants Trevor Lawrence, all they have to do is just ease the train into the station at this point. And I think they will, they're going to go with either Mike Glennon or Gardner Minshew. They're having a competition this week in practice to see who starts. I guess the winner gets a water pick. The loser gets fired. They're resting James Robinson. He may not play come Sunday.


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[Assistant] They're resting him in practice as of Wednesday. I like the Bears to win this one 31 to 17. I think the Jaguars really don't want to win at this point. They want, I believe, to get to...


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[Assistant] Uh, that number one pick that, uh, that they are in the process of earning. Alright, next up, Falcons at the Chiefs, Kansas City, 10 and a half point favorites. The Chiefs blew that, or the, the Falcons blew that 17-0 lead over the Buccaneers over under 50 for who you got, Chris.


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[Assistant] This could be an eggnog game on the back end of Christmas where you've enjoyed the week, you've got the one seed sewn up, yeaah, you could, you, you, you, we're the Chiefs, right? Yeaah, oh, it's the Falcons. We'll find, look, they blew a 17-0 lead against the, the Buccaneers. We'll, we'll, we'll find a way. Let's have some fun. Let's let him, let's give him, let's spot him a lead to make it interesting.


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[Assistant] But, but I am, know what? I am changing my mind. 37-30, I'm taking the Chiefs to win. Uh, I did have 37-21, but I am gonna pick the Falcons now to cover. You changed my mind. Although I may have changed my mind once I started talking about it. Sorry.


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[Assistant] That should be a great feather in the cap as well for Raheem Morris to try to become permanent coach of the Falcons if he could beat the Chiefs. Cleveland minus 10 at the Jets, the Juggernaut Jets on a one game winning streak for the first time all year over under 47. Surely you're not going to pick the Jets to win. How many will the Browns win by?


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[Assistant] Something about the Browns where they don't stumble against the teams they should beat.


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[Assistant] By keeping that team focused on the games they should win. They don't mess around with those games. The Jets got their win last week. It could be a little eggnog hangover for them after beating the Jets or the Rams rather and having that celebration. I've got Browns 24-9 and the Browns possibly moving toward an AFC.


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[Assistant] North championship game week 17 against the Steelers. That's the last one o'clock game. Colts at Pittsburgh. Steelers home underdogs. Colts favorite by one and a half over under a 45. Chris, who do you got?


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[Assistant] Listen, that's the score I picked last night when I did it. I think the Steelers will find a way. I think Mike Tomlin is going to be riding them all week long. It will not be an eggnog week for the Steelers.


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[Assistant] They're going to regret that they've been playing the way that they have on Christmas week. They're going to be working hard and they are going to be, look, they've reached rock bottom. The question is, can they dig out? And I think they are going to begin the process of digging out. They'll win the game. It's a shame, but I want


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[Assistant] Sorry, Steelers fans, I want a week 17 AFC North Championship game. One of the ingredients is the Steelers have to lose.


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[Assistant] That's where I have to set aside my rooting interest because I want that week 17 showdown.


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[Assistant] We need to take a break. When we return, we delve into the late afternoon games of the 16th Sunday of the 2020 NFL season. PFTPM and Chris Sims on button presented by Verizon returns right after this.


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[Assistant] PFTPM, Chris Sims on Button presented by Verizon, the Week 16 Megapix Podcast.


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[Assistant] Let's get to the 4pm Eastern games. 405 or 425, depending upon whether or not it's on a big platform or not. Denver at the Chargers. The Chargers coming off that big win over the Raiders. They are favored by three over under 48 and a half. Chris Bronco is disappointing yet again. Fourth straight losing season for Denver. Who do you have in this one?


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[Assistant] Yeah, and look, the Chargers may be doing what they can to try to save Anthony Lin's job. Vic Fangio isn't any, isn't in any real danger. John Elway can't keep that revolving door of coaches going. And, uh, I, I, I agree with you.


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[Assistant] Christmas week, Chargers a little extra time to get ready. Broncos got, got, uh, humiliated to a certain extent by the Bills on Saturday. They're both just playing out the string, but maybe the Chargers hold out hope that if they finish on a winning streak, Anthony Lynn gets another opportunity. Chargers fans may not be hoping that.


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[Assistant] Chargers players should be because you get a new coach. The new coach may not want you. It's always better to save the job of the current head coach or the interim coach because then


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[Assistant] You have a greater degree of confidence that you'll be part of the solution, not deemed to be part of the problem. I've got the Chargers winning that game. Let me make sure I get it right here. Where is it? 31-24 Chargers over the Broncos. 31-24.


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[Assistant] Carolina at Washington. If Washington wins and the Giants lose earlier in the day, Washington will be the NFC East champions. Washington favored at home by two and a half, Chris. That's what, that's what your friends call the Vegas doesn't know what the hell's gonna happen line over under 44 and a half. What the hell's gonna happen?


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[Assistant] I've still got Washington in this one, 23 to 20, so I've got them barely covering. I think it's a find a way game. I mean, they have found a way all year and I've been picking against them for weeks now. Now I was right last week when I picked against them.


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[Assistant] Dallas has won a couple in a row, beat the 49ers. We didn't expect that. The Eagles played the Cardinals really well and could have won that game. Either of these teams could still win the division based upon what happens in other games. Chris, who do you have?


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[Assistant] 27-21 Eagles for me. Yea, Jalen Hurts really has brought a different element to that team. And look, depending upon what happens, I mean, if the Giants lose...


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[Assistant] If Washington loses, if the Eagles win, boy, it gets very interesting. Whoa. Come week 17 again, any of those four teams can still win that division. It could be chaos. And, and, and chaos hinges on Washington losing.


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[Assistant] If Washington loses, we've got the chaos scenario potentially for week 17. Rams at Seattle. The Rams have handled the Seahawks very well in recent years. Seahawks a one and a half point favorite at home over under a 47 and a half. Chris, who you got?


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[Assistant] You have the exact same score. Exact same score. Different outcome though.


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[Assistant] The Rams got embarrassed. The Rams got humiliated. This is a very, very bad Christmas week for Sean McVay. He will be tormented.


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[Assistant] By the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. And there is no redemption at the end of the day unless they beat the Seahawks on Sunday. They're good enough to do it. They did it earlier this year. They don't have to worry about the 12th man. There's no fans present.


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[Assistant] I think that he, and now look, they don't have Cam Akers for the game. He's already been ruled out with a sprained ankle. I don't think it matters. I think Sean McVay is going to put the fear of God into these guys and let them know. They have no business being in the playoffs if they can't turn this around. They have no business being in the playoffs.


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[Assistant] After losing to the Jets, I still think that they should change the rules and say that they should be disqualified from postseason consideration for losing to the Jets. And I didn't want to pick them because I'm pissed off, sorry London, about the fact that


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[Assistant] The Rams lost to the Jets when we made them best bets. We made them our Folsom Prison Blues pick. The one game if we're lying dead in a ditch. The one game that we'd believe in.


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[Assistant] They blew that game, but I still think they're gonna win this one because they blew last week's game and because they're good enough to do it. We saw them do it earlier this year. The defense will carry the day for the L.A. Rams, Chris.


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[Assistant] Alright, uh, we have primetime games still to come and our best bets and our Folsom prison glues pick.


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[Assistant] Primetime Games for Week 16, presented by Verizon. It's PFTPM, it's Chris Sims on Button. Two Primetime Games this week, Sunday, Monday.


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[Assistant] Tennessee at Green Bay, a great Sunday night football game that held through 16 weeks. Titans trying to win the NFC South. Packers trying to hold on to the one seed in the NFC.