Reaction to Chiefs-Broncos, Seahawks-Rams, Bears-Vikings, Bucs-Bills, 49ers | Colin Cowherd NFL

Reaction to Chiefs-Broncos, Seahawks-Rams, Bears-Vikings, Bucs-Bills, 49ers | Colin Cowherd NFL

Welcome to the official YouTube channel for the Colin Coward podcast. Go on, hit that subscribe button if you’re new so you don’t miss any of our great football content this season. This episode is presented by Uber Eats. When football makes you hungry, order Uber Eats. I do every weekend. All right, time to look at this weekend’s tastiest matchup in this week’s Sunday Night Food brought to you by Uber Eats, a company I use all the time. All right, former NFL scout, you know him as John Middle. This podcast is three and out. He is everywhere during the football season. And uh my Blazing Five is on a freaking heater. 4-0 today. I couldn’t get a break in September. I’m getting every break. When Shadur Sanders came in, I I was like, “Wait, Cleveland leads 16-10. I’ve got the Browns plus eight and a half. Just no pick sixes.” And he actually had a nice like final drive, a little spin move, throwing the end zone. He did okay. I was It was It was really entertaining. So, let’s start Denver 22, Kansas City 19. So, the Broncos are now 9-2. Uh, the Chiefs are a 500 team. They’re a hell of a 500 team. Kansas City is a good team. Bo Nicks 24-37, 295. Again, no big mistakes. What’s interesting against Spags in that defense, John, you know, Bo’s really struggled, but they for the first time in nine weeks, they scored on their opening drive and it was as if Bo and Shawn found a rhythm. Um, certainly on enough drives to get field goals that they hadn’t had, but it was one of those games when you watched Sam Darnold unravel and you watched a lot of quarterbacks today, there were some ugly quarterback play. This is where Bon Knicks is really good. He doesn’t take sacks. He can move the chains with his legs. He’s really good in these big fourth quarter drives. I know he drives everybody nuts. But there is something to be said about today against Momes milking that clock, making that big throw down the stretch. Um what was your interpretation of Knicks and what you saw today? Yeah, I mean that that final drive was huge, right? He had two third downs, third and 15 when he scrambled to his right. They need to get him on the move more often, I think. I mean sometimes they’ve really tried to push the ball down the field and even today some of his a lot of his incompletions because his numbers look good are on the deep ball. He he was not skipping balls like he did whatever Thursday a week ago. It was that deep ball. He’s still overthrowing it, but he was he’s good on the move. And then the the third and five that that Sutton made the play and then that second and eight which essentially sealed the game. So three enormous passes. I actually thought when Kelsey scored and I mean same Travis Kelce and Chris Jones I mean you talk about these guys I mean you knew they would bring it that both of them dominated today. I thought that that second time that when Mims on the when returned that punt and they were in the red zone and they didn’t come out of with a touchdown like I I think they’re going to look back and God they they’re going to be kicking themselves on that one and he just he found a way. I mean, their defense is f both these defense. I mean, these are that could be the AFC Championship game right there. John, how about the late window? Cleveland’s defense, Rams, Seattle, Denver, Kansas City, and Robert Salah is doing an unfreakingbelievable job with nobody. He’s got, you know, uh, Winter’s a good player. That that kid’s everywhere. But no, I I I kind of look at this game and I think the Chiefs were 11-0 or 12-0 last year in one possession games and they’re 0 and5. And my takeaway on that isn’t that they were 11-0. Not just that, but why are they in so many close games? And I think you see this with Buffalo. You start paying these quarterbacks $400 million. And John, you look at Buffalo’s defense, it’s really okay. It’s just okay. It’s got a couple splash players. You look at Kansas City, you know, um they don’t have much of a run game. Uh Kelsey again rises to the moment. Chris Jones has not had a good year. He had a good day today. But I think it’s the reality is when you know when you start looking at rosters, Seattle, where they’re paying Sam very, very workable wage. Indianapolis, Daniel Jones, it looks unbelievable roster. So, you know, some of it with Kansas City is this is the reality. Remember when Drew Brees was in New Orleans, he took a big salary and they dipped for two years and then he took a team friendly deal at the end and they had great rosters with Shawn Peyton. How how much credit do you give, you know, Shawn Payeyton’s funny? I think he’s the best coach in football. Nobody wants to admit it’s a great coach because he’s a little he can be a little bit of a smartass. But John, they’re still paying Russell Wilson and this roster is stacked. Where I give them a lot of credit is remember when they gave they had that game his first year where they played Miami and gave up 70 points and there was so much momentum and he went this Vance Joseph thing is just not going to work and and you look back a couple years later they have a potential all-time defense. I mean they they might break the sacks record. The blitz he called, you just talked about defensive coordinators. I mean the amount if you combine the salaries of the defensive coordinators in the late window, I mean it’s a lot of money these guys are getting paid. that blitz that he called that sacked Patrick Mahomes. I mean, that that was that was big time. It’s Sometimes you got to mix it up against an all-time great player and kind of confuse him. I mean, you’re playing I mean, the coaching quarterback combination, one of, if not the greatest combination of all time. So, Vance Joseph to me deserves they they play the Chiefs really well now two years in a row and they’re missing their best defensive players. So obviously, you know, Shawn and, you know, he’s he’s been very, I would say, consistent on Bo Nicks. He’s kept his mouth shut when he’s really struggled because he doesn’t want this guy to go into the tank. And they’ve I think the team has just kind of, you know, stood by his back because whatever that Thursday night game was pretty ugly. I mean, that was that was as bad as it got. And today to you you get a little extra time. I I think Romo mentioned it that they spend a lot of time just kind of getting back to the basics, like getting in and out of the huddle, you know? I think sometimes you think it’s like you get rushed. It’s like getting in and out of the huddle. Bo Nicks was saying, “Coach, you’re getting me the plays too late.” And they worked on like stuff that you don’t even think. But that’s sometimes you got to take a step back before you worry about like what’s up with his accuracy. Well, if he’s all rattled on all this other then you’re already screwed before you even started. That’s what we saw with Caleb Williams in the first three weeks. His operational stuff was a mess. Now, it’s still not pretty, but that’s not the problem. He he he may struggle, but the operational stuff I I do think with Bo Nicks, he’s a really tightly wound guy. He’s very intense. And so, I think Shawn was adding to that anxiety by getting it in late. And I, you and I have talked about this the last couple of weeks, he played nervous. And I think now we look at it, we’re like, “Oh, that’s why.” Like, he’s a tightly wound guy. He’s incredibly hard on himself. If I talked to somebody who knew him before the season, they’re like, “That kid is hard on himself.” Like little like Lamar Jackson just doesn’t savor wins. Like losses are crushing. Um and so, okay, then Shawn’s getting the plays in late. Shawn’s demanding so early in the season and Shawn’s never been a great September coach anyway because he just unloads the playbook on him. But I thought today, Bo less frenetic. I thought that final drive was like I mean, John, that was a little Jaden Daniels of last year. you’re like, “Wow, that’s a that’s a Pro Bowl level drive.” Like two big throws and they just the way Shawn and Bo me the clock. I mean that that I mean even when when Romo and Nance said at the end they’re like, “Hey, if the Chiefs don’t make a tackle here, get down at the one and and they didn’t. Pton and Bo had thought it out. They just took a knee. They were not going to let Kansas City control it. They took a knee. And you know, I I I don’t think I don’t think Kansas City is a bad team. I just think the margins get really skinny when you pay Kelsey, Jones, Momes. I mean, hell, they had to get rid of Joe Tuni. You know, it’s just this is the reality of having a $400 million quarterback. The other thing is this. When you go to five Super Bowls in six years, and I think the year you missed it, you lost in the AFC Championship game, where are you drafting every round? You know, 29, 30, 31, 32. And that’s not just the first round. We’re talking the third and the fourth round. So your margin for error, you’re not getting the pick of the litter each round. Right. Right. This isn’t like the second round you get to pick the four best players that are still on the board in the 30s or early 40s. You’re picking at the end at 60. So the pressure on V and the scouting staff is really really high. And I I think that’s why they were kind of hesitant to make a bold trade because you need the picks and especially like let’s face it, Kelsey and Chris Jones are coming down the home stretch here, right? So these guys, they’re no longer 17 game elite guy. They give you however many games during the regular season, hopefully the playoff games, but like you’re going to need to make some hay in the draft. But even this year, let’s say they end up going 10 and seven cuz they got some winnable games on their schedule. Let’s just say this is the year they get bounced in the first round. There’s they’re still it’s not like they’re drafted seventh, they’re still drafted 21st. So they they they are just, you know, sometimes, you know, the Ravens have had a good little stretch here of the Starks and the Wiggins and they’ve hit a like that’s there’s a little dumb luck to that because a lot’s out of your control, right? The guy you want, you see this year with Jad Campbell being there for Howie. Some years that guy goes pick 16 and you’re just like, we don’t really like any of these picks. It’s why historically you get a lot of the good teams, John Schneider, Bichc, they they would go back cuz like we just don’t feel comfortable here. And it just it’s very draft dependent. I watch a lot of college football. I’m like, I I don’t know how many blue chippers are in this upcoming draft. Definitely not when that, you know, a lot of these teams in the 20s are going to be drafted. So, it just puts a lot of pressure and the Chiefs put them I think Coach Reed and Patrick would be the first. They put themselves into a hole. You start 0 and2 you lose that crazy Jags game. You You shouldn’t be like on tilt in the middle of November on the road at a n eight and two team, right? The season shouldn’t and the season technically not on the line, but the division streak’s over tonight. The Broncos essentially won the division tonight. They play the command next and then the Raiders. Yeah. So, I had picked Denver to win this division. I picked Kansas City to finish second, Chargers third, and Raiders fourth. So, I’ve had a good year on picks and and pretty good year. I picked New England to be my shocking team and Seattle to make the playoffs. So, I’ve it’s been a good football and pro football year for me. But one of the things I had I I I really believe about Kansas City is that when you look at the Chiefs, a lot of the reality of playing these big intense seasons is there’s a fatigue. It’s it’s more hits. um you end up having I mean I guess just kind of the way I I I look at Kansas City’s run is like how I looked at New England is that before the season I said the dynasty’s over and I said they’ll make the playoffs they’ll probably win another Super Bowl or two but you just can’t keep doing it. You you can the eye test tells you that defense two years ago was faster than now and Chris Jones was more dominant. When you take Chris Jones out of his prime and like Kelsey, he’ll give you great games but not a great season. That defense isn’t the same. John, it’s like it’s like the the the Rams got lucky when Darnold left or when um Aaron Donald left because they had drafted and hit on like five different defensive players in the box. So the defense about a year after he left are like, “Oh hell, it’s still it’s still nasty.” But they hit on five defensive picks. Five of them were all even the third round. Kobe Turner was good. But when Chris Jones the last two years, especially this year, isn’t as dominant. The rest of the players are good players. And so they they had to let go of Sneeed at corner and they have a couple guys get dinged up. And when I watch them play today, it’s still well coached that’s still good. But Seattle’s defense or the Rams defense today just turn the sound down. The Rams defense is just there’s nothing open anywhere. There’s stuff open today that Bo Nick and Payton took advantage of. Yeah. I mean, part of it is in Bichc and Brady, you know, in the middle of or I guess the late 2000s, early 2010s, you got to start hitting on some the new group of guys, right? They got High Tower, they got McCordi, right? They got all these other players to come in. Obviously, Edelman became a consistent slot. They hit on Gronk in the second round. The Chiefs are going to have to do that over the next couple years. They kind of already have. You know, Rasheed Rice, a high-end player. Xavier Worthy, they’re going to need more out of him. They got McDuffy and Caroftus on defense. You need to get hit on a couple more guys. But listen, I I think they’ve proven they know what they’re doing. This is just not the Belch and Brady had some years where they lost in the first round. Remember the Brex Ryan beat him, the Ravens beat him, got him a couple times. Like, you’re not going to go to the Super Bowl. What? Five and six years. I I’d be stunned if that ever happens again. and that with the parody the way the league’s built, but the Broncos, they’re going to be in a position, you know, now they’re in the driver’s seat to get the number one seed, right? Because the Colts, I mean, are they just going to keep rattling off wins? I I I think the Broncos, you look at their schedule, it’s pretty easy. Uh I I I do believe if they can get homefield advantage, that’s going to be a very, very tough place to win, you know, for opposing teams to come in with that defense. And they just need Bo Knicks to play like today, no turnovers, we don’t need three, four touchdowns a game. You go back to some of the defenses that you know people like in the 80s and the 90s and the early 2000s. We don’t need three touchdowns. Like just do not turn the ball over. Maybe throw one. We’ll rush for one and we will win this thing 17 to 13. No problem. Don’t don’t forget Denver at home in January. It will be snowing. So that defense will be even nastier because it’s going to be windy at high altitude and snowing. That was this week’s Sunday Night Food brought to you by Uber Eats. When football makes you hungry, get game day deals on Uber Eats. I do every week. The official ondemand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now. I just did. All right. Seattle loses to the Rams. Rams 21, Seahawks 19. Pretty remarkable that with four Sam Darnold interceptions, Seattle, which I again I think their rosters I think defensively they got so many dudes. First of all, these these two defenses, there’s just nothing. I felt bad for Sam Darnold. There’s just if a ball gets tipped in the air, it’s picked. There’s just there’s very little. I mean, thank God for JSN. It’s just hard to have plays. It’s hard to have successive plays against the Rams defense that hit. You can hit one and then it’s backwards. Um, so but I was thinking about this because the Rams jump out to a very quick lead that’s very impressive and then they have to hold on. But I was, you know, they, here’s the thing that jumped out to me. The Rams defense in the red zone, number one, if you didn’t watch the game, the RA Rams defense in the red zone kept forcing Seattle into field goals. So that that was the early portion of the game. The second portion was they kept intercepting Sam Darnold. But this struck me during the game. If Stafford would have thrown four picks, Seattle would have blown the Rams out. Would have blown their doors off. How can Seattle stay with them? And my takeaway is this. Matt Stafford, John, is play call reliant. He is as good as the play call, right? Sam’s not. If the play breaks down, Sam can create a second play, sometimes a third with his legs. The weakness with the Rams because there is no weakness defensively. Their corners aren’t great, but Forbes now, Emanuel Forbes in is playing really well. He’s a nice corner. Probably a number two corner, but he’s a good corner. Their safeties are good. Their pass rush. Stafford’s not giving you anything off the play call. Now, he can get in and out of stuff pre- snap, but if the play breaks down or it’s just stuffed, the play’s over. I feel like with Darnold, I mean, when when when Matt Stafford is reckless and has a bad day, Rams get hammered. But Seattle doesn’t because you know they dominate time of possession. Got in the second and third quarter. Seattle had the ball for 20 minutes. The Rams had it for three. I mean again there is such a value to having an athletic quarterback that can just create a second play if the first play gets snuffed. And I that’s that’s my thing. I love Stafford but with him and Goff you do not get a second play within a play call. The play call is what the play call is. And I thought it was remarkable that Seattle was kicking a game-winning field goal. I thought it was unbelievable. Yeah. If if they would have uh if Seattle wins this game, I don’t think Shawn McVey could have slept all week. You can’t pick a guy off four times and and lose that game. I mean, there at one point in time, it felt like the Rams were in complete control. And I looked down and Matt Stafford had thrown for like 60 yards. I’m like, something this feels weird. He ended up only throwing for 130 yards. Sam Darnold threw for almost 300 yards. I mean, he threw for 280 yards. M. Jones has thrown for 650 yards combined against the Rams. You c, which is ironic because you can throw on them, but their their defensive coordinator I think we have to has some ownage over Sam Darnold cuz some of those picks aren’t tip balls. They’re hitting guys in the numbers. Oh yeah. So he he rattled them in the playoff game when they had to play it in Glendale because of the fires and then he rattled them again today really bad. It was the first time like he’s still making some explosive plays. The one play that JSN caught with the one hand and obviously the running backs make some big plays but like if you’re gonna I mean he did not have a touchdown today and he threw four interceptions and yeah I mean I three off the top of my head are hitting guys in stride. the one where he did like the T-Bo jump up and he just hit the guy. It’s like that can’t that looked a little Jets Carolina Panthers and I think Chris Schula who was Shawn McVey handpicked guy they’re buddies from college has just comp it’s like a matchup thing you see this in basketball you see sometimes in baseball with a pitcher versus a hitter Chris Schula against Sam Darnold because it’s not even a Kubak thing because they had a different offensive coordinator last year in the playoffs it was Ryan Grup it’s something he’s doing to Sam is throwing him off with some of these looks cuz they do not have Jaylen Ramsay and some of these guys back there in the defensive back field. These are not like their strength is the pass rush, not the corners. Even though the guy they just traded for did make a great play that would have been Sam Darnold maybe under threw him by what do you think? Yes, eight in. And the guy made a great play with his fingertips. They probably saved the game cuz he he completes that. That that might have been the game. Sam’s 0 and3 against the Rams the last two years, 21-4 against everybody else. So, there is no question the Rams have his number. And what I wrote down today twice that Sam saw the receiver late. His throw was late. And And Sam’s never had the cleanest mechanics. He’s got a little bit of a a little bit of a hitch. They’ve It’s faster than it used. Yeah. Yeah. It’s faster than it was four years ago. But Sam has to ste see stuff clearly and quickly because he doesn’t snap the ball out like like a like a an Aaron or even Jordan Love just whips that thing out, man. He that touchdown to Christian Watson, he got a bad snap. He saw it, let it go. It was in the air a quarter second later. That’s not Sam. And two of the interceptions, Sam saw the play way late. Like it wasn’t even close. You know, you would have thought he would throwing to a Ram, not a Seahawk. So, I think that’s the reality is that this right now I think Seattle has better speed. I think Seattle’s roster is actually more complete. Like the Rams have a little bit of a secondary concern. They didn’t draft a corner last year. You and I have discussed this. Probably needed to. They went and got Emanuel Forbes, a longer corner. I thought he’s been pretty good for them. But, and we talked about this, John, I think the last two weeks, the Rams are the cleanest team in the league. They’re not they’re not the most dynamic. They don’t have penalties. They don’t turn the ball over. They don’t throw interceptions. They’re just clean. And in the end, that that wins a lot of these games. Well, like you said about Darnold, I think I did the math. So, if you count today, he’s 21-6 starting last year. So, I mean, he’s been a great player, but three of those losses are to the Rams. And if you count the playoff game, and today he has five five interceptions, and he was not good in the playoff game either. Cuz I I’m with you. I feel like they’re throwing him off, which then speeds him up, which gets them all out of rhythm because I now the three games in which he’s had of those 21 wins, he has been an MVP caliber player. Yet, if you take the Lions game and these last two Rams game, he looks like a rattled player. So, it’s it’s like clearly and some of those wins are against really good teams. So, it’s not like he’s just beating up on, you know, Kucky’s of the world, right? He’s doing it against real competition. So, whatever Schula has put out there now and Aaron Glenn, I I I do wonder if more people are going to attempt to just copycat that. Yes. But it just it it’s weird because I was all in the way he was playing than I watch today. I’m like, clearly you can do something to throw him off. And you know, he’s It’s one thing if you just, you know, you have bad footwork and you overthrow a guy, it’s another thing to hit multiple DBs in their numbers. That that to me is a really really alarming sign. And I I thought he had gotten past it the way he was playing this year. I’m like, whatever that confidence is, and then you see a moment like today and you’re like, God, I I’m picking Seattle to make the Super Bowl, and that that kind’s going to give me some pause because there’s going to be a lot of pressure on this guy in the playoffs again, right? and down the stretch. He’s still got some big games left. Today’s show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet. This is that golden time of the year when it’s not just Pro Football. NBA, college football, college hoops, hockey, all share the stage. There’s always something to bet on. If you haven’t tried your first bet on Hard Rock Bet yet, there’s still time to get 150 bucks in bonus bets if you win. All you have to do is place $5 bet. That’s it. Five bucks. If it hits, you not only get your winnings, but 150 bucks in extra bonus bets. And if you’re looking for an edge before you lock in, check out the Hard Rock Bet Stats hub. Trends, it’s loaded with streaks, stats to help guide your pick. So numbers don’t lie, neither does the data in there. The Hard Rock Bet app sports book. It’s the only legal sports book for whenever you’re in Florida. It’s also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado. Coming soon to more states. Plus, Hard Rock Bet offers new promos every single day. So, whenever you’re listening, just open the app, check out what you’ve got any day of the week. Download the Hard Rock Bet app, and make your first deposit. Yeah, I’ve said this about Caleb Williams and Bo Nicks. They don’t get hurt. They don’t throw picks. There is some value in that. Let’s go to Chicago 19, Minnesota Vikings 17. Santos with the walk-off. I did think Chicago, first of all, Chicago was better on third down. Much better. They dominated time of possession. Caleb had no picks. Um I I thought Chicago was the better too. Oh yeah, I thought Chicago was the better team. This is not one of these in which they were lucky. I thought Chicago was the better team. Um now JJ McCarthy had a couple of drops by Jordan Addison. One early, one late. So it’s not all on JJ McCarthy. So let’s just look at the Bears, though. So last year they couldn’t win games like this. And this is sort of the magic of Ben Johnson and Caleb. They’re not It’s not pretty. They have a win against the Raiders due to a blocked field goal. They beat Washington when Jaden Daniels fumbled late in the game. Remember, nobody touched him. He just fumbled. Yeah. They had a 58- yard TD against the Bengals after a near collapse. They trailed double digits in the fourth quarter, the Giants, and won. And a game-winning field goal as time expires today against the Vikings. Now, you could say it’s just luck. You know, I think Caleb Williams legs aren’t luck. He he again today he made two or three. I mean, listen, it’s it’s a cliche. Nobody doubts how dynamic he is. Guy’s a freaking he he’s a cleanup hitter. I mean, just the legs, the power, the he made a couple throws today. I mean, he’s just he when he unleashes it, man, it is How about the one DJ Moore that DJ dropped? I think it got on DJ so fast that, you know, I I think he was trying to catch it, but it it hit his chest plate before his hands could even get there. That had to be like 110 mph fast ball. That had to be the hardest ball today thrown, I think, in the NFL. But I think we have to be honest about this. Um JJ McCarthy had one really good drive at the end and he deserves credit for it. But John, this is not a highlight league. This is not the NBA. It is about sustained drives. It is about putting your team in situations to win. I gotta tell you, I I don’t know what it is, but when you have Kevin O’Connell, good protection, decent run game, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison didn’t he had drops, I don’t see it with JJ McCarthy. And I don’t want to do confirmation bias. He hasn’t had many starts. His arm is good enough. It’s not an arm thing. He has a decent arm, but he looks nervous. He’s a player that plays, I think, with confidence. And when he loses it after his second pick, he had a couple of really bad drives. So, he’s obviously somebody who’s a bit in his head on this stuff. Don’t blame him. It happens. He’s young. But it’s hard for me to unsee it. Like when when Caleb was struggling last year, he wasn’t throwing picks. He was making plays with his feet. You could not deny his athleticism. Even Greg Coell kept saying, you know, the tape will tell you he makes incredible throws. this JJ McCarthy thing about four more of these and they got a problem on their hands. Yeah, I mean I think they have JJ beside the one drive at the end was atrocious. I mean he’s a complete train wreck. I mean balls are flying all over the map. I mean all over the place not even not even close and I I think Tom was in a tough position being a Michigan man trying to not totally crush the kid, but even Tom’s like I I got no clue. There was a stretch where they did some replays and I was like I don’t even know where he’s throwing. I I I I do want to say this though that if you just take the two coaches I you know Ben if we just did a draft from scratch they would be two of the highest guys in the league, right? Ben Johnson, Kevin O’Connell. I actually think they’re the polar opposite though being offensive guys and both former quarterbacks. Now Okonnell got drafted. Ben Johnson I think was a backup in North Carolina. Ben’s basically Kyle Shanahan 2.0. He will run it till the cows come home. And m and he makes it it’s it’s a lot easier on Caleb to be in situations where I’m not putting it all on your shoulder cuz I I think Caleb when he plays like that can get a little reckless and start running around because he naturally just plays like that anyway which he’s he’s incredible at breaking out of sacks. I mean his ability he’s like unsackable. You have to get multiple guys on him because he’s breaking through. But Ben Johnson day, the majority of this game was just a one-sore game. This wasn’t like one team’s up 24-3. Kevin Oonnell just insist. And I said this last year with Sam Darnold when everyone just took a giant, you know, kind of dump on Sam Darnold’s career. It’s like he didn’t get any help in that playoff game for his coach. Like have some runs settle the game down. Ben Johnson wants to run it basically just three times. Get a first down, run it again. Kevin Okonnell’s calling these deep breaking routes. Like, bro, this is not Sam Darnold during the regular season. It’s definitely not Kirk Cousins. This guy has no clue where the ball’s coming out of his hands. He threw a pick in the corner of the end zone on a go route. I don’t know why you’re calling go routes for this guy. Yeah, he’s throwing throwing guys. I If you’re going to throw some quick stuff, okay, some quick outs somewhat easy, even though he was missing those two. But there was one point in time during the first half that they were averaging almost five yards a carry and the Bears had like double the amount of carries. if if it was flip-flopped, Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones, they would have they would have easily both got double the amount of touches they got. But he insists, and I get it, he’s got these two awesome wide receivers, but that’s how he wants to coach. He wants to throw the ball vertically down the field, and that is not what this guy is capable of doing right now, right? You know, and listen, Caleb Williams is much better player than JJ and he would be quote unquote more capable to do that, but Ben Johnson and they got wide receivers, too, but he’s not gonna play like that. And and you got to coach, and I I saw on social media, it’s like, well, you got to let him sink or swim. The goal of today was trying to win the game. And this was a winnable game for both teams. And Ben Johnson to me thoroughly out coached Kevin Oonnell because yes, JJ stinks, but his coach like in the middle of the game in a in a one-sore game can help his guy out. and he’s insisting on pushing the ball down the field and it’s blowing up in his face. Yeah, I was I I’m not stunned, but it’s like it’s a consistent theme now with Okonnell throwing the ball, you know, with this guy. And think about this in the fourth quarter at the end of the game, John, when they trailed, the Bears got that huge kickoff return. So JJ McCarthy leads him to a touchdown. You’re like, “Oh my god, Minnesota’s going to get out of this thing, looked like crap all day. They’re going to win this game.” The Bears get a huge kickoff return. And did you of course notice what did Ben do? Three straight run plays. He was like, “Hey, I’m not going to put Caleb.” Caleb had a couple bad sacks earlier in the game. To your point, Ben’s like, “We’re going to run the football. Pick up about seven to eight yards. Sanos is going to come in and get the game-winning field goal. They could have thrown it. They could have put They didn’t. Ben Johnson’s, to your point, Ben’s like, “We’re going to run it. We’re going to keep it. We’re not going to put any pressure on it. We’ve outplayed these guys. We just got the kickoff return. So, Ben, and it’s not it’s not dismissing Caleb. It’s like, I’m not going to put my young quarterback on the road against Brian Flores. I’m not putting him in this spot. And they just ran it. The kick was good. But that was a situation where I I kept thinking, “Oh, that’s that’s kind of conservative.” But then I’m like, “No, Sandals is good. That’s not going to be the issue.” I’m looking online. I’m like, “No, I think he he’ll be fine.” He would left earlier this year. I think Jake Moody came in for a brief time. Santos is now back. But um he got injured. But I think to your point, Ben Johnson, I mean, what’s the first thing he did when he got the job? Joe Tuni, Drew Dolman, Jonah Jackson. It wasn’t tackles. It was interior line. Settle the line, stay off Caleb’s feet, and run the ball with Swift. I I’m blown away by Ben Johnson just because you never know, no matter how great a coordinator is when he becomes a head coach, we see so many guys fail. He He’s been fantastic. I mean, I I’m not trying to overreact, but like philosophically, the way that I personally view football, I I’d rather have Ben Johnson than Kevin O. Yeah. Because that that translates what he’s doing with this organization that has been losing for a long time. Like ugly toxicity. Let’s face it, most people that coach the Vikings have some success. They are a well-run operation with historically a ton of good players. That’s not the case with the Bears. Now, we’ll see. The Bears, you know, still got to play the Steelers. They still got to play the Packers. They got the Lions again. The 49er game is going to be huge for them. There’s no guarantee that they’re going to make the playoffs, but Ben Johnson at seven and three. I, you know, I know Vable and rightfully so is anointed. I would put them hand in hand right there as coach of the year. It’s been Today was awesome to go on the road and to just calm everyone down by just keep calling run plays. It’s amazing what that does. I mean, I go back to the first scoring drive for the Bears. I It was either a 15 or a 16play drive. Now, think about that. You have DJ Moore, excellent tight ends, Caleb Williams. Maybe you have playmakers and Ben Johnson’s, we’re going to take the crowd out of the game, six yards, four yards, eight yards, n nothing quiets a crowd like a 15play drive on the road. And so Ben Johnson again, long, sustained, smart. I think Shawn Payeyton and Ben Johnson maybe my two favorite play callers in the NFL. They just they just it’s death by a thousand cuts. It’s just smart. 64. I thought Shawn Payton’s last drive with Bo. I thought that 16play drive Chicago on the road. Yeah. I mean it’s it’s there. Well, there’s no question offensive coaches help young quarterbacks over defensive coaches. But even among offensive coaches, there’s a strata. There’s a there’s a hierarchy. Really quick, I mean, big picture with the Vikings, we’ve seen this a couple times recently, and and Brock Pury bailed Jon and Kyle out, and it sure looks like Daniel Jones bailed Chris and Shane Styen out. Who’s bailing this Viking situation out? because this is this guy is and even a diehard the most you know bullish guy on JJ would have to admit like yeah he had one good drive but for the majority of these games he is atrocious nine I have nine turnovers in five games that’s I that’s that’s the number I put down like that’s you can’t have two turnovers a game I mean again Darnold’s going to have a stinker but with Darnold you get big arm huge athletic ability you have multiple I mean You can as a teammate. Sam Darnold is gonna get you the ball. Like he JSN was the first receiver to a thousand. Justin Jefferson is not. Look at his body language. He is not a happy camp. I don’t blame him. I mean, he’s running out routes wide open and the ball’s sailing, hitting the trainer on the bench. I mean, what’s it’s he he had a couple out routes that when that ball left his hands, it’s like uh it’s like when Randy Johnson hit the bird, you know? It’s like I don’t even know where that ball’s going. No. All right. Um, Buffalo beats the Buccaneers 44-32. Wildly entertaining game. Uh, I got so many notes here. Uh, I’ll try I’ll try to keep it simple. I mean, Josh Allen, three passing touchdowns, three running touchdowns, uh, despite the interceptions. Josh Allen to me is the best football player in the world. I I He’s I think he’s the best football player. He’s maybe one of the five best football players I’ve ever seen. It’s just insane. I still don’t love their receiving core, but it’s just amazing how he can just kind of make everything work. Um, James Cook is obviously a tremendous player. He had a touchdown out of the back field today. I thought Baker played pretty well. Baker ran a lot today because I think Baker had to um I don’t know. I I Sean Tucker, I mean, God, where do they find these running backs in? I didn’t even know who that was. I had to Google him. He’s from Syracuse. I mean, I was like, who is this guy? He looked like a he looked like an outside linebacker. He was just a yoke dude. Yeah. But I I guess my takeaway on this, the Bills eight yards per. Um kind of my takeaway on this is, and I’ve had two executives tell me this, Buffalo doesn’t have the roster people think they have Josh Allen. They have two or three really good players. But I mean, you look at Denver’s roster, you look at Philly’s roster, you look at the Rams roster, Seattle, it you got you got dudes. You look at Buffalo’s roster and uh it was one of my favorite picks today cuz I thought and I I felt kind of lucky that Buffalo pulled away late. But let me just ask you, do you think the Bills to have a I don’t think it’s as good as the Ravens. Do you think the Bills have a top 10 roster? This week’s crunchtime performer brought to you by McDonald’s New Buffalo Ranch Sauce is Josh Allen. Best football player in the world. Second time in his career, three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns in one game. It’s like that junior high football player that’s got a mustache and nobody else does, right? No other player has ever done it once. So Josh’s performance was satisfying, just like the first bite of the bacon creamy Buffalo Mcrispie. Always good. You know, every once in a while something new comes along that uh just sort of makes sense. McDonald’s has rolled out the new Buffalo Ranch sauce. Yeah, it’s good. Perfect mix of uh controlled chaos. Tangy zang of Buffalo. Little kick edge. That fire, smooth, creamy, cool ranch. Mild, wild same time. Like that balance. Perfect. That’s Patrick Mahomes in a sauce. Confident, a little flashy, but never out of control. I am a crispy guy. That’s my go-to. Uh, some people like the snack wrap, some go with crispy strips. That’s fine. We’re all different players on the same team here, right? So, when you dunk one of those in the Buffalo Ranch, game changer. Are you mild or wild? Because this sauce, let you be both. There’s a new sauce in town, folks. Tangy, Creamy Buffalo Ranch. Available for a limited time at participating McDonald’s while supplies last. Order now. No, no. I today I mean they have one guy who was a transcendent all-time player. My wife had her baby shower back in the Bay Area. So for the last 48 hours, I I spent a lot of time on the couch watching sports. And on Friday night, I watched Steph Curry for like the second time in three nights score. He scored 100 points in two games. And and it’s not he is the Golden State Warriors franchise. He is the franchise. Kind of like what Michael Jordan was to the franchise. Josh Allen is the Bills franchise. Th this this team was a joke for 20 years. You watch him today like is Patrick Mahomes has elevated the franchise, but I was watching they were winning 10, 11, 12 games every year with Alex Smith, right? Andy Reid’s averaged probably I think like 11 wins is for 20 years before he met Patrick Mahomes. If Patrick Mahomes disappeared tomorrow, they would not be as good. But Andy Reid’ be fine. They’d find another quarterback. They keep winning. If Josh Allen disappeared tomorrow, the Bills would become the Jets or the Dolphins like that. I don’t care how rich their ownership is because that’s what they were before. Just like when Steph Curry retires, the Warriors are the kings with the more rich owner. I mean, that’s what it is. I mean, he’s that more game night revenue. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, with a with Exactly. with a higher ticket prices. So, you watch Josh Allen today, it’s like he’s an unstoppable force. Like I listen, Lamar is a fantastic player. I I’ve watched the Ravens most of my life be really good. Right now he elevates them, but if Lamar turn disappeared tomorrow, I think the Ravens a couple years would figure it out and they’d be good again. They’re a well-run operation. Well, hell, they beat the Bears with Tyler Huntley. Yeah. And they looked great. They they played a clean, efficient football game and beat Chicago soundly. And I’m not trying to diminish any of these people. I’m just trying to say I I don’t I think people are quick to forget what a joke the Bills were. I mean, part of what everyone made fun of Bellich and Brady is like, well, they got the Jets, the Bills, and the Dolphins six times a year cuz those franchises were so bad and he comes and you’re watching him today. It it’s, you know, Lamar early on was so athletic. He people couldn’t touch him. He he it feels like he’s a little slower now. Maybe it’s just dual age, a little wear and tear. Josh’s physicality is like you’re getting the best of the Herberts, the Burrows, and the Mahomes throwing, but then you get this Cam Newton like runner. It’s like what what are you what are you supposed to do here? You can’t you can’t fit. So, do you watch him today you go it is cuz I thought for a split second I’m like they lose this game they’re in major trouble this oh hey second half Tampa was scoring so quickly. I I also think you know Keon Coleman Chev reported today he was inactive and he was there you know high pick a couple he missed a meeting on Friday. Well I I I think if you tell me the Bills are eight and one coming into this is he inactive or does like Shawn McDermad just sit him down gets a talk and no one really hears about it. But when you’ve been losing you kind of got to show the team like we’re not tolerating this. That’s a we’ve been losing and I got to set the tone here with the rest of my organization. So when I saw that I was like this is kind of on tilt a little bit for the Bills especially with the way the Patriots look and how easy their schedule today was huge. I if they lose this game I still think they’d make the playoffs because they got some winnable games but no I said Friday it does feel like the McDermad era would be hanging by a string. I said Friday on the show I said I one of my favorite picks is Buffalo. If they lose that’s my lead Monday. Like uh oh like there’s tipping points on all this stuff, right? It could be Mark Jackson getting replaced by Steve Cerr. It could be, you know, Andy Reid losing a job. They’re tipping point games. And um this was one of them. You don’t lose at home. I I I again I just when I watched Buffalo play today, Tampa scored too easily. The fact that Shawn Tucker come in and just run over players. Um I think he had three touchdowns today. He had a couple passing and or two rushing. He was a monster. like like there’s a reason people don’t draft running backs high generally because there’s so many players you can find in the fourth or fifth round, but I just watched Buffalo today and it’s not really the Bills, it’s just Josh Allen. He’s the best football player. Agreed. I mean, I always thought Elway cuz Elway got drafted, I think, by the Yankees. Elway could have been a baseball pitcher. He could have been a football player. I always thought like Elway was like that’s just about as good as you’re gonna get. I Josh Allen’s bigger, stronger, faster, everything plus. He’s like Big Ben but just better at everything than Big Ben. Yeah. Well, no, I’d agree. Okay. Baltimore 22, Cleveland 16. Uh I took Cleveland plus 8 and a half. I I thought the line was screwy. Baltimore Cleveland at home. I And I will say this, John. I firmly believe this that if Cleveland had a a big-time top 10 quarterback, they would be a Super Bowl team, a a Super Bowl bubble team. I think their defense is Miles Garrett’s unblockable. What did he have? Four sacks again. Literally, he’s going to have 28 sacks. He’s unblockable. Um Devin Bush pick six. They look a little like Seattle defensively. It’s like they’re playing with 12 to 13 guys. And at home, the weather’s cold. I think they’ve got I mean, they they led 16 uh was it three 1610? They were controlling. Yeah. And they were pushing Baltimore around. Um, and it was Baltimore’s third straight road game. So, that’s one of the reasons I like Cleveland. Then Dylan Gabriel, who really is stabilized the offense. They’re not great, but he stabilized it. He leaves. Shadur comes in and Shadur looks a little over his skis as the first drive or two. He’s a little lost. And then he puts him in a position where he’s driving to win. He makes a couple of nice throws, couple of nice plays. He he, you know, he was fine. It was kind of fun to watch. But my takeaway is Baltimore third straight. Now they go home, I think, for three straight home games. So, this was bound to be an ugly game. What did you make? Let’s just talk Shadore. What did you make of what you saw? Well, the thing is the Browns offensive line is horrendous. I mean, it’s really, really bad. Now, luckily Shadore is used to that because he played the last couple years at Colorado where he was running for his life. Uh, you know, I I I have a hard time judging a rookie coming in the middle of a game against the Ravens. made a couple nice passes, also had a pick, had took a couple sacks. I mean, they’re bring guys. It’s hard for me even to like it wasn’t great if you just do the totality of it, but how many guys would have excelled in that situation? The Ravens also, I mean, they have to win this game with the Steelers winning, you know, their margin for error because they start one and four. They This was like this is must-win territory for them. So, my expectations when I get the text like because I’m kind of paying attention because again I I just assume they’re going to win but once Dylan Gabriel gets knocked out. Okay, I’ll see how we My expectations were pretty low were really low. It was going to need a Miles Garrett like six sacks. One of them be a force fumble and pick it up and return for a touchdown because at the end of the day the Ravens DBs I mean they were just going to it was going to be a tough spot for Shadore. So I I’m not going to crush the kid in that situation. That’s at night you’re cold. I you know it’s just now I I I do think I saw enough like just keep in you know let’s just see what he looks like next week. Give him give him a chance. What do you got what do you got to lose more games? Yeah. I thought his final drive spin move then a throw in the next play to the end zone. I’m like those are two big time plays. He can play. Um all right. Green Bay beats the New York Giants 27 to 20. So it really interesting. So first of all there were I I think they missed three pats. It was windy as hell. It was a hard day to play. were cold. But Green Bay again like the Rams, clean, no turnovers. Um um when I watch them play, cuz Jacobs went to the tent and got hurt. My takeaway on Green Bay is is their best players are perimeter players. Like Watson, that Jordan Love to Watson today was an unbelievable play. It’s windy. You’re on the road. The snap’s not perfect. Jordan love bobbles it, grabs it, throws a freaking perfect ball down the right sideline in the corner and I’m like, “Okay, that this kid, they are so reluctant to let Jordan Love pass 35 times.” And and the more I watch them, he was 13 of 24, two TDs, no picks. He doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions. He He’ll let unccor. He has some Sam Darnold, he’s got some Andrew Luck. He’ll unccork. He’s more Favre than Rogers. He’ll unccork and you’ll go, “God, Jordan.” But and it was a weird day because the Giants actually had more rushing yards, passing yards, and total yards at least late into the game. They were better on third down. They won time of possession. They had fewer punts, right? But Green Bay is like three and out or exciting. They’re an incredibly uneven offense. And I think a lot of it is because they don’t have an identity. I think they should just put it in Jordan Love’s hands and say, “We’re going to throw the ball and see what happens.” Well, I I was talking to to Goldie before you hopped on and he was like, “Um, you know, the moment Josh Jacobs got hurt, we all took a sigh of relief because we knew that we had to open up the offense a little bit.” And I I think it’s kind of a crutch for Laflur. Jacobs is awesome. I mean, he’s a fantastic player, but I I think Laflur, who is much more Ben Johnson, Kyle Shanahan, would run it 45 times a game and has no problem if he’s going to win it 20 to 13. He’s not looking for style points. Yeah. You know, and I think he really relies on the pass that Jordan Love threw to Christian Watson in the corner of the end zone. That that look like Rogers to Devonte Adams. Absolutely. So, one guy that kind of popped today was Christian Watson. A and I think it’s always driven Laflur a little nuts because he’s, you know, drops and, you know, he’s a speed wide receiver. It’s like that’s just 45. Like I I would use that guy because he’s flying around. You know, the the rookie wide receiver from Texas keep in and out of the lineup. You know, they they got to mix and match a little bit with some of these wide receivers that rolling out. Dos had a couple bad drops. Bad. He had two bad drops. You know, we talked about the Bills. I thought today when there was a moment you’re like is Jameus Winston going to beat the Green Bay Packers felt like the Bills game against the Bucks like this is a turning point for their season and this would be it got really loud the last couple weeks right it’s it’s losing to the Eagles is not the end of the world for the floor but losing to the Panthers and the Browns is losing to Jameus Winston even in a freezing cold windy game and I’m a Mike Kfka guy but you can’t be losing to Mike Kfka and Jameus Winston when you’re the coach of the Green Bay Packers. and you’ve already lost some games. It was must win. I mean they and for a split second you’re like I think Jamus might take him down. I mean trouble and then Parson’s made some plays. Their defense made some plays. Yeah. And and then Jamus had a really bad end zone pick. Like he just missed by five yards. No, I think Listen, I the receivers um there’s been talk might still be around if Jamus had been their backup quarterback the whole time instead of Russell Wilson. He just gives him a little more ump, doesn’t he? Yeah. It’s interesting. I I because Dable loves football. I saw an article this weekend in one of the New York papers and they’re like he’s just a a football junkie. Dable is not going anywhere. He he’ll coat he he’ll take an assistant job somewhere. He just wants He wants the Penn State job. Diana was saying, “Wow, that’s interesting. I like Dable. Um he’s not he’s rough. He’s not for everybody, but I think he’s a football junkie and I think he’s smart. He reminds me a little of an offensive Brian uh Robert Salah where he’s wound tight. He’s really intense. Sometimes about twice a season he’s going to lose it and you’re going to be like, “Bro, you can’t do that. You’re a head coach.” Like I I tend to defend those guys because I I do think Saul is a remarkable coach and I think Brian’s really good. But um kind of Bill O’Brien when he was younger. Yeah. But Matt Matt Laflur is an you know I always heard this about Matt Laflur when he was in Washington and he came out then he went to Tennessee and then he went to the Ram uh the Packers. People said Shanahan of the Shanahan, McVey, Laflur trio. McVey was the best culture guy. Shanahan was the best scheme guy. Matt was a little of both. He He doesn’t quite have the presence of McVey. He’s not quite the scheme guy Shanahan is. I think he’s a pretty good CEO, but I don’t think he’s quite as clever as Ben Johnson. He’s not quite as clever as a play designer and a play caller. I think he’s just a very good coach who’s good at a lot of things. I don’t understand the lack of trust for Jordan Love because that’s what it feels like me watching. That’s what I my as a consumer of the Packers, I’m like a good and I understand when Craft gets hurt, it’s not quite the same offense, but um it feels a little predictable to me. That’s what I’m watching. I mean, they had a couple three and outs. It’s like you got too many good players to have three and outs. Yeah, I don’t get it either. I mean, I think you go back to when Rogers resurrect his career. I I think his his gut is to run the ball. I I I think he’s a conservative coach. You are who you are. You know, once you get to his level, like your ethos as a play caller, he is not a spread it and chuck it around the yard type guy. That’s just not who he is. And I think it’s very very difficult for him. I I I think if you put Kevin Oonnell on the Packers, they would be much better off. and Jordan Love would be much better off because that’s what he wants to do. And I think if you put Matt Laflur with JJ McCarthy in that group, they would look better. So it’s just it to me it’s just a style and his style remember him and Aaron buted heads cuz he wanted him under center. He wanted him running the ball. He does not want shotgun four five wide. That’s not what he wants to do. Jordan Love definitely feel and listen he’s not as good as Aaron Rogers. Of course he’s not. You’re going to have to deal with some picks but like let him sling it around. I give credit to the last two guys who’ve dealt with Sam Darnold. like just let him fling it. Like he’s going to have some days like today, but over the the aggregate, it’s going to be pretty good. I watched that that throw that he made. And you could argue that Jordan’s a little bit of a tease, you know? He’s he’s not as good as some of these guys, which I I heard you saying this the other day on TV, like he’s just good. He’s not great or whatever, but he’s not bad. He’s good. You can win a lot of games with the Cousins, the Dak Pres. That’s Jordan Love’s world. Let him sling it around. Sports fans love a comeback. So, the underdog that kind of defies the odds. So, uh, that’s the story of Green River Whiskey. Uh, in 1918, their distillery burned to the ground. 40,000 barrels of bourbon gone. Uh, most would have quit and, uh, they rebuilt from the ground up on the original site in Owensboro, Kentucky. And today, they’re producing some of the great bourbons and rye whisies in the game. Uh, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, a weeded, foolproof rye. Uh, it’s it’s a lineup built on resilience. So, if you love a good comeback in sports or in your glass, Green River’s got you covered. Head on over to green riverw whiskey.com to learn more. Try this arm for yourself and always uh please drink responsibly. If he came out today, he’s 6’4, big arm, moves, nice kid. I mean, he always anytime you put a mic in front of him, he’s always a team guy. He and Mendoza would be the top two picks. I mean, his traits are outstanding. Tyth Ty Simpson couldn’t dream of having the skills he has. Yeah, I don’t get Ty Simpson. I that that ship has sailed for me after Saturday. But okay, I want to get talk about this game. San Francisco 41, Arizona 22. Brock Pretty played very well. Uh got started with a Skymore kickoff return. They were off to the races. I got to I’m going to I’ll say this. Um I think Shanahan and Robert Salah, first of all, Arizona was a mess. They had 11 penalties in the first half. Harrison didn’t play. Um, but I’m going to give San Francisco credit. John, I’m not sure if any other staff in the the NFL could overcome the it’s I texted Saul the other day. I was like, “Bro, you’re coaching your ass off. You have no players left.” And Winter, I think, is a very good young player. But, I mean, my my interpretation watching that game today was uh I mean, obviously, you can move a pocket much more with Brock Pury than M. Jones. they, you know, they’re moving the pocket all over the place and that’s what Brock does very well, but they should not be beating people 41 to 22 on the road. I I do think one, the the Cardinals have less like star power, but they are as injured as the 49ers. And now and the 49ers getting pretty butt pears back. Their offense feels a lot different when you put Ricky Pieraw with Jennings, KD, and McAffrey. I I did think it was a delicate situation. I get it. you paid him, you know, $180 million guaranteed, but how well M. Jones has been playing. And Kyle was steadfast and like this is our guy. When he’s ready, we’re going to go. And I said, it’s kind of weird. He’s ready. What’s been up with his foot? He’s just going to be 100%. He looked completely normal. And Kyle, the way he handled it with M. Jones, and he gave Mack a lot of credit, too, is like Kyle’s pretty good with quarterbacks. I mean, that’s Yes. They’re winning a lot of games with M. How many how many coaches beside like an Andy Reid could you just be like, “Yeah, you’re just going to win 10, 11 games, I don’t care what your schedule is, with a banged up party and M. Jones, I’d say most teams in the NFL are winning six, seven games, especially with Fred Warner with a cast on his foot. Nick uh Nick Bos in Florida rehabing an ACL.” So, listen, the the Cardinals aren’t bad, but the 49ers beat the living you know what out of them today. Think about this. Arizona had almost 500 yards of offense and averaged seven yards a play and got the you know what kicked out of them. Arizona has talent. Arizona is just a oh they’re just a they are Indianapolis where you’re like they’ve got dudes they just don’t have the quarterback right. So, you know, I I think there is, you know, I we all I when I watched the coaching today, especially in the late window, I had Andy Reid and Shawn Peyton. You know, today I’ve got Kyle Shanahan. I don’t know if John Ganon’s a great coach, but Shanahan is. I’ve got McVey and Mike McDonald. I got John Harbaugh and Stfansky. I like Stfansky. I I think John the coaching in the NFL today I I don’t think there’s ever been this many good young coaches. I think it’s all and I think that Jesse Mter with the Chargers will eventually get something. Um there’ll be a college guy or two that’ll pop out. Ryan Day obviously has done this is the best Ohio State like Ohio State for the first time in my life. It feels like they’ve like Bama they’ve separated from people like by a touchdown or so. I think they’ll I think they’ll beat Indiana significantly. I don’t know. When I when I watch Shanahan and Salah, I I’m just impressed. I mean, they’ve lo they’ve got eight different guys defensively traded or not playing on defense. Well, I I think when you look at a lot of the in the 49ers have been one of the best teams over the last what, five, six years. Yeah. You go to the Bills, you know, the who’s the poster child? Mahomes. Who’s the poster child for the Ravens? Lamar, right? You just go around the top teams. There’s a couple though like the Lions. You kind of think Dan Campbell first definitely with the 49ers. I mean they’re they’re their franchise is Kyle Shanahan, you know, I mean his his importance and getting Robert Solo to come back. You know, I get asked a lot, do you think he’ll get a head coaching job this year? I just don’t think the candidates like he’s definitely going to get some interviews probably. I mean, I think Jonathan Ganon is in major trouble. Yeah. Now, I I’d also argue that if this was college, I would view Arizona as one of those jobs like I wouldn’t touch that job. Like that’s just a bad that’s a place where tough to win, especially when you factor in you’re going to beat Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVey, and Mike McDonald. Good good luck to you with an owner this cheap. Godspeed, guys, because that’s I don’t think Jonathan is terrible, but their team’s really falling apart now. They’re not they’re going to their record’s going to be awful. So, yeah. Yeah, I mean I listen Kyle this year, we liked him because of their schedule, but once you had all the injuries, it could have fallen off the rails fast. Oh, and deserves a lot of I I think the M. Jones that signing and resurrecting his career because he listen I I think his value it’s like, well, would you trade him to the Minnesota Vikings? It’s like, no, I need him. But but but my problem is what if Birdie gets hurt again? His value to the 49ers, I I would for the right price, but I’m not giving to you for a third round pick. Would you give me two seconds or something? Because you want to win or do you do you want to lose? Because you’re going to lose with JJ McCarthy, right? No, I think Minnesota’s the play. And I I said it I said it last week on the air. I said I’d get a third round pick. You’re probably right. He’s worth a second and a fourth or a second and a third. I think it it’s probably what M. Jones is worth. Um and it’s always hard to decipher is M. Jones good or is it maybe just the coach, but I do think when you watched Mack make throws to a depleted receiving core, uh it it was pretty impressive. I I I think I think one thing too that you know last year he was injured but changed the 49ers forever was that it was between the Rams and the Niners to get Christian McAffrey and it was the Niners gave a second a third and they had to give that extra fourth to make sure they got him and it it changed the franchise and I would say also doubling down you know KD was getting a little older he’s a pretty dominant player so when you watch those two guys they are as good of a tandem as a running back and tight end as you’re going to see I mean they are they are ass kickers I I mean, they are ass kickers. I think KD had two touchdowns today. And he’s just he’s just so physical and he’s so good in the run. And McCaffrey, even on some of his runs that aren’t as sexy, he’s just so physical and he’s so consistent. Th those guys are just they’re Hall of Fame players. I mean, that’s that’s really what they’re just Hall of Fame players. They’re winning players and they’re guys, you know, when kind of you know what’s hitting the fan and your backs are against the wall, they’re guys you can lean on and that’s the Chiefs have have had those type guys. You just need those type guys to be in the trenches with. Yeah, that was one of my that was my second favorite blazing five pick. I took San Francisco minus two and a half. I said when Shanahan gets blown out, take the NerS the next week. You know it might come down to now the Bears schedule’s a little harder than the Niners, but the Bears play the N. They could seven seed could come down between those two teams. I don’t think there’s any question. Well, I have I have Philadelphia beating Detroit tonight. So, you know, Chicago keeps winning ugly. Don’t be shocked if Chicago has a shot to win the division, which sounds ridiculous. Crazy. Yeah, I know. Uh, let’s end it last 10 minutes here. You know, when the NIL College Football Talk when the NIL and transfer portal emerged, the big fear, and I think the media does a bad job at this, the political media and the sports media, it’s always the end of time. So, the NIL and the transfer portal, the fear is the rich are only going to get richer. Well, actually, the opposite has happened. Yeah. is that take out Ohio State mostly because of their defense. But after this weekend, Bama, Oklahoma, Old Miss, Oregon, Indiana, Georgia, Texas&M, John, it was a couple years ago when Bama and Georgia looked different than everybody else. I’m looking at all these teams outside of Ohio State mostly because of this unbelievable defense. I mean, I watched Michigan Northwestern came down to a final kick. I watched Iowa USC came down to a couple of calls. There is so much parody now in college football. I like Georgia a lot and they certainly have Texas’s number, but Bama has Georgia’s number. Old Miss, I mean, if it was such a great job, Lane Keifin would have already signed an extension. Him not signing it is probably a sign that he knows there’s limitations at Old Miss. Everybody was afraid the portal and the NIL were going to just bury the Iowa and and bury the the you know, you’re now we’ve got Indiana and&M and Old Miss have emerged. I don’t know. I I think Ohio State’s the best team, but I watched Bama lose. I was shocked. I’m like, Christ, there’s 12 teams here. I’m not sure who’s the second best team in the country. Maybe Georgia. Well, I think for most of the last 20 years preNIL, there were two or three teams that were so much better. You go back to Pete and then Urban and and then Nick and then for a little bit Kirby and Dabo in there for a minute and they really only had to out coach an opponent maybe once or twice during the regular season and sometimes during that regular season game was a team that didn’t have your talent but your team was just kind of sleepwalking maybe in your conference championship game and then in the playoffs. right now. You kind of got to out coach him. Like Lane’s power as an offensive play caller is on full display. Feels like eight of the 12 games. Yeah. Look at yesterday. Why do you think Venibals, you know, Venibals and Kirby are probably the two best defensive coaches that are head coaches. Patricia is probably an overqualified college coach. You know, I mean, how well he’s doing, but they match up well against who? Kaylin Dborne and Ryan Grub and Steve Sarkeesian. Oklahoma’s beat him twice, two times in a row. And obviously he’s beaten Sarkc the last three times they’ve played in the last two years. Well, it’s because we got we’re basically even, right? We’re relatively equals and it’s just a coaching schematic matchup and I am Venibables and Kirby are elite defensive coaches just like Lane’s an elite, you know, offensive coach. Sarkc is too, you know, Arch is a little hit or miss, you know, his quarterback. If he had a better quarterback play, maybe. And I I think coaching is just more on full display in more games now than ever. I mean, you and I have been talked I I’ve come around because yesterday is a great example of like, you know, Oklahoma playing Alabama. Well, five years ago, Oklahoma’s playing Kansas and Alabama’s playing Kentucky on November 15th. So, you know, uh USC is playing Colorado and Iowa’s playing Minnesota. Those games suck. Now, we get them at they’re playing each other. You know, the best thing that ever the SEC ever did was get Oklahoma and Texas to come. Yes. cuz it is it has amplified their games that just they have double the amount of sweet games. They already had a lot. And listen, I was a Pack 12 fan, but I got Iowa USC in the rain. It was great game. It was fantastic. And then I’m getting Oregon, Iowa the week before. That may have been a better game. And so, yeah, I I like all this stuff. I to me Texas, Georgia, I mean, it’s just been bright lights the last two years. It’s it’s mustwatch. Yeah. I I I just think I I’ll I’ll be honest about Oklahoma. They really surprised me. Um, you know, they’ve got Matier, so they have a big-time quarterback that can make the plays. I think my big takeaway out of that, I had said last week, two of my big takes were I don’t really buy Texas&M. They fell behind 30 to three and came back and won. I still not blown away by him. It was a great comeback, but they got manhandled at home for an hour and a half. The second thing is Tai Simpson. I don’t see the traits. Every I am a trait guy. I don’t care what your record was in college. Josh Allen couldn’t win in college. Mahomes got a losing record. I don’t really care. The bottom line is you got to I have to say wow at something. Like Kyler Murray may not be a great NFL quarterback, but I’m watching him run around and I’m like, “Wow, that’s better than Russell Wilson.” That’s wow. Um Ty Simpson’s fine, but it’s kind of a JJ McCarthy thing. Surrounded by good players. There’s not a single trait where I’m like, that’s first round. Ty Simpson’s draftable. to me he feels like a mid-late second round guy. Um, did you have a different opinion about the Bama quarterback because two weeks ago everybody said Heisman number one pick? Well, I’d say this 10 years ago before quarterback inflation which started with the Mahomes, Allen, Lamar kind of run and everyone’s been drafting overdrafting quarterbacks. Yeah. Guys like Ty Simpson and JJ McCarthy went in the third or fourth round. Asak Prescott and Kirk Cousins. I mean that that wasn’t that long ago. Those guys they won a lot of games in college. Mississippi State was number one team for a moment when Dak was there. Google Kurt Cousins record in college. Those guys went in the third and fourth round. To me, Tai Simpson has never been a top 100 pick till the last seven, eight years, right? JJ McCarthy maybe because come from Michigan’s like a third rounder. But these guys now, this quarterback inflation, they get overdrafted. Now JJ to me is a more physically brings more to the table than Ty Simpson. I mean, Ty Simpson’s Ryan Williams the star wide receiver is falling off a cliff. The other two guys are still pretty like he’s playing with some pretty elite coaching and some pretty elite talent. I love Michael Penn, but Michael Penn is not good. And you go back, well, Michael Penn played with three NFL wide receivers in elite coaching, right? So, it’s just I I just I’m out on this quarterback class is terrible. I mean, I was texting around yesterday. It is not good. It It’s not good at all. Lenor Sers, who in that you watch that first half against Texas&M, you’re like, “God, this guy really the second half just atrocious.” Well, who’s he going up against? Mike Elco. That guy’s an elite defensive coach. What did he do? He made a couple adjustments. Sellers is seeing Ghost and it’s just a train wreck. So, to me, this is not If I hear one more time about the Browns or Jets, their savior does not exist with these a top five pick in this draft. It it does not. So, if that’s what they’re obviously that’s what they were hoping, but I don’t see any of these quarterbacks, you know, I like Mendoza. I like his size and I like the fact that he won. I I like the fact that he went Cal to Indiana. He’s never had five star teammates. He’s never had a great old line. I like the fact big, strong, big arm. Uh you know, he comes his his family, uh the Cuban immigrants. He it’s a great story. Like you wrap your arms like, “Oh, this kid’s worked his ass off.” Really a good leader. I do think he looks different. Also, he’s 22. Dante Moore’s 20. I think that matters a ton. He to me that Penn State drive and how he played against Illinois and Penn State late and Oregon. If you go to three moments of this season where you were like, “Okay, Mendoza, you have to deliver.” Ason Stadium last drive Penn State Illinois game. I thought he was unbelievable in all three. Yeah. And he’s going to play in even bigger games. I He’s going to get Ohio State in the championship game more than likely. He’s going to play in playoff games. I mean, who knows? if they play Ohio State close in the championship game, Ohio State and them could host like they they could be because they can they can seed the top four however they want. And to me, if if you lose to Ohio State by under 10 points, I I got no problem making Indiana a top four seed. So they they are they are going to play in massive games against the Georgia, the Oklahoma, he’s got a chance to really solidify himself cuz it obviously it’s what he did against Oregon. the B I had some buddies at the game in the scouting world and they said his mental toughness to bounce back after that pick six and make plays. Obviously the Penn State game, but now he gets to go up against Ohio State. He gets to go up against probably one of these SEC teams. I mean Oklahoma that could be who knows maybe a first round matchup Oklahoma against Indiana. I mean there’s you’re going to get some great matchups for him specifically. Uh obviously his coach and Signetti they’ve done an incredible job. I do think Oklahoma, here’s what I will say about Venibals cuz I was googling him last night. Basically in 99 he came with Stoops to Oklahoma. He’s worked at two places in 25 years, Oklahoma and Clemson. So he knows two things really well cuz did that run with Stoops and then with Davo. He can recruit. He cares about recruiting. You and I talk some coach like I don’t want to recruit. He’s he cares and he tries and Oklahoma is a good recruiting operation. He he cares about it. He’s a and he’s a great defensive coach. and you watch his team, you go, they got players which he he’s recruiting and his defense is elite. So like I think people little meattheady and stuff, he brings some stuff to the table. He will recruit and his defense is elite and listen, he just paid that 30-year-old in Matier to come. So it’s like, hey, you take the offense and I’ll do the the program and the defense and we’ll be we’ll have talents and we will be they’re not good on defense. They are SEC dominant on defense. Yes. And I and that surprised me. Texas’s um winning a lot of games didn’t surprise me. You know, it’s it’s funny since Texas joined the SEC, they’ve only got like four losses. Three are to Georgia. Yeah. So, everybody’s selling all their Texas stock. It’s like they can’t beat Georgia. It’s like the Seahawks can’t beat the Rams. Darnold’s beating everybody else. Stark and I thought Arch played okay. I don’t love I think losing Golden to the NFL. I don’t feel like Texas has a a number one dominant receiver. I really I thought Arch played okay. I I first of all I think George is a much more physical program. I just think they are. I you know you and I have said this. USC and Texas are pretty. They’re finesse. They’re pretty. They’re cool. Georgia is not cool. Georgia is tough. Georgia’s hard. And I think Georgia is a bad matchup for Texas football. I think Don’t you think the the identity look at the identity of these coaches? You know, USC actually has shown some toughness, but relative to what they are in their heyday, not even close. Circ, you know, a little finesse. He’s an offensive guy. Lane, who’s the, you know, just the everyone says they got to hire Lane and he’s awesome offensive coach. His defense is terrible, right? I mean, his defense the identity of of Dbor Alabama’s defense shell of itself what it used to be. Offensive team, right? Oklahoma, Kirby, like those guys are defensive guys. So Kirby last night went on the tirade of Yeah, we don’t do checks here without physicality. It goes hand in hand. So, you’re not just getting the getting the money and getting to check out and run around and score a touchdown. That’s not how like you’re getting screamed at here. We’re hitting people. We’re hitting people hard. But that’s who he is. And I think it’s hard like Lane and Sarkc, it’s not really their thing. They want to score points. They want to go fast. They want to make that’s but that’s who they are. I don’t even I don’t even blame them. The one thing, you know, Sarkc really has their defense is actually pretty good, but he should recruit the cream of the crop. like he he can run what Kirby has done at Georgia, what Pete and Urban have done and Sabin have done. Like he gets the pick of the litters cuz they got the most money and people want to play there. Yeah. Yeah. I I I think Sark’s good. Again, they can’t beat Georgia. Um and I think there’s a reason for it. What’s interesting let them down at moments this year. He’s he’s gotten better and it’s taken him a little while. And last night guys dropped balls early and but then as the game went on he started missing some guys and he their margin for error is just smaller. I will say this though right now Oklahoma has a better identity than Texas does 100%. And I and I think that is that’s what I’ve said about USC. It’s funny I’ve been banging on USC’s culture and last night when Lincoln won he went out and said that was a culture win. That was a culture win cuz he hears all the criticisms that we know you’re smart and a good offensive coach. We know you’re a great play caller. Everybody knows that with Lincoln. I mean, they’ve been number one or two. They’re number one in offense or number two on offense this year. That’s even when they lose, they lose in shootouts. Uh except the Notre Dame games have been tough for them. But um he 2110 in the rain at half. It it did not feel good. No, it was that. And by the way, I I not only had a good blazing five, my only college pick was Iowa. I thought it was just a it was it was just going to be a close ugly game. Um but they won and uh now I don’t think USC matches up well with Oregon. Although I’ll tell you I think USC thinks they match up well. My problem is you can beat USC down the field throwing the ball. And if Oregon’s healthier at wide receiver, they’ll beat USC down the field. Oregon’s a big play offense. USC gives up big plays. They can be very good in the red zone. They’ve got excellent safeties when Bishop and Kamari Ramsey are healthy. Uh they actually USC safeties are pros. Kamari Ramsey is probably a second round guy. Uh the other guys probably a fifth round guy. But um if if Wayman Jordan comes back, the running back for USC, I think they’ll move the ball a little bit. It’ll be competitive, but I think Oregon doesn’t give up a ton of big plays under Dan Lanning and USC does. And that’s the difference. If it was at LA, I I think I would think it was 3330. You think USC has a shot? I mean, it was hard. I mean, I was I watched some of that game on on Friday night when they were playing Minnesota and their backup tight end was just a I mean, Oregon’s got some players. Dude, their defensive line is got two first round linemen. They got two tight ends that just look like they would catch seven balls on Sunday immediately. I mean, it’s just like where are they getting it now? They’ve been recruiting at a really high level for a long time. I do think it’s a tough match. I also think, you know, the the the buzz on Lincoln over the last like two weeks had been like the program had finally kind of turned the corner. They’ve been winning some games like is this guy going to leave? Something weird’s going on. like there was and let’s there’s a lot of smoke out there with a lot of these college co I’ve heard things rumors about Kaylin Dbor just it’s not a great fit I’m like where’d he go like I don’t know Penn State they just it’s just weird fit for him and I I just think fit matters but I I think Lincoln you I think you tweeted this out it’s twice now in basically three weeks the Nebraska game when they missed the field goal he went nuts and last night when they won he went I’ve never seen him do that so twice this here. I think he feels the weight of the world. How could you not? Younger guy. You take $120 million. First couple years are just weird. This year, I mean, I don’t think they’re that talented. So, if they end up going nine and three, I actually think he’s done a pretty good job. But, it does feel big picture like they’re still watching some of these top teams like still pretty far away from like there is a chance that they get I don’t know blown out by 25 points this weekend, right? Get killed. I I I think they’re going to have a hard time stopping Oregon. I think they’ll score, but I think it could get lopsided pretty fast. All right, uh John, we won our Monday Night Football pick last week for Hard Rock Bet. Uh Dallas minus three against the Raiders. Um I got to tell you, you know, I’m watching Kansas City and Denver play and I’m like, man, the Raiders are a long way from that. I was always a supporter of Pete Carol. There’s just nothing I like right now with the Raiders. At least the Cowboys I feel in this spot. Standalone game. I kind of feel like I know I’m going to get some offensive efficiency. Um maybe if it was four points, four and a half, I would take the Raiders. I just don’t see anything. I just feel like Dak in a standalone game extra day to prepare for a competent offense. I would probably take the Cowboys to win in cover. Yeah, I feel like everyone’s doing that, so I’m just gonna take the Raiders. Do not feel good about it. Maybe Genty just has finally a breakout game. Maybe he rushes for 150 yards. You just You just have to imagine Pete Carol is going to have at least one moment during the season. Are you surprised how bad it’s Are you surprised how bad it’s been for the Raiders? I I think they are too because, you know, you trade for Gino, you draft Genty. I I think maybe they didn’t think they were going to win 10 games, but I think they could thought that they would be a competitive seven, eight win team. They they’ve been atrocious. So, Monday Night Football, I would say historically when you look at some of these games with bad teams, you do get sometimes herculean efforts, you know, from bad teams. You’ve seen a lot of upsets. Not that Cowboys Raiders a big upset, but I I would expect if Pete Carol has anything left, we get a really good showing from the Raiders. John Middle over an hour. Good stuff. Appreciate it, bud. See you. [Music]

Colin Cowherd is joined by ‘3 & Out’ host John Middlekauff to react to Week 11 in the NFL. They start off with the Denver Broncos win over Kansas City Chiefs. They give their takes on Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Bo Nix. Sam Darnold had his worst game of the year in Seattle Seahawks loss to Los Angeles Rams. Does Colin defend his guy? JJ McCarthy continues to struggle while Caleb Williams has hit a groove to lead Chicago Bears to a victory over Minnesota Vikings. Josh Allen was superman in Buffalo Bills win over Bake Mayfield & Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shedeur Sanders made his debut in Cleveland Browns’ loss to Baltimore Ravens. They also hit Packers-Giants & 49ers-Cardinals. They react to the biggest games in college football: Texas-Georgia, Oklahoma-Alabama & Iowa-USC. Lastly they give their predictions for MNF between Dallas Cowboys & Las Vegas Raiders.

There’s a new sauce in town, at McDonald’s. Tangy, creamy Buffalo Ranch. https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/full-menu/buffalo-ranch-mccrispy-chicken-sandwiches.html

TIMELINE
0:00:00 INTRO
0:00:25 Chiefs-Broncos
0:14:14 Seahawks-Rams
0:23:13 Bears-Vikings
0:34:00 Buccaneers-Bills
0:41:39 Ravens-Browns
0:44:30 Packers-Giants
0:52:28 49ers-Cardinals
0:59:33 College Football
1:14:44 Cowboys-Raiders

All lines provided by @hardrockbet

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