Ten Takes is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.

Ten Takes is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.

One of the reasons I like the NFL playoff system is this unforgiving. We don't do a committee here, we don't do eye tests, we do facts. Talk about it, wins and losses. And you know there's this. The Bengals deserve. They deserve to be in.

One of the reasons I like the NFL playoff system is this unforgiving. We don't do a committee here, we don't do eye tests, we do facts. Talk about it, wins and losses. And you know there's this. The Bengals deserve. They deserve to be in.

Bengals. I'm gonna pay you a compent. We deserve to be in.

Bengals. I'm gonna pay you a compent. We deserve to be in.

You are Gene Hackman in The Unforgiven, lying down on the ground looking up at Clint, and Hackman says, I'm building a house.

You are Gene Hackman in The Unforgiven, lying down on the ground looking up at Clint, and Hackman says, I'm building a house.

I don't deserve this. You know what Clint says to him, deserves got nothing to do with it. Bad, it's nothing.

I don't deserve this. You know what Clint says to him, deserves got nothing to do with it. Bad, it's nothing.

I don't care what you deserve. It's wins and losses. Yes, you lost week one to Jacoby Brissette, and you lost Week two, and you'll lost week three. Start a season, have a training camp fore you start a season, because you started one and four last year started one and three, the year before that you started two and three. And that's why on this show, all through September, what are we all saying? Just stack wins. I don't care what the score is with the stats are now to have to win and Bengals fed just say Pittsburgh sucks. We should be and said of Pittsburgh they hung forty four on you five you couldn't stop them. I'm sorry, but to quote everybody ever, you know, offense is only a third of the game. You are at a great offense. I loved it. It was really fun. You don't deserve it. You didn't win enough. Don't come running late. It's exciting. We all get our hair blown back by the come running team. You've gotten at least going in, at least keep up with the pack in September. I don't need you to win out in September. Can you go five hundred one of these years, then you'll get in. Believe me, if you're walking around the office to say the Bengals deserve to be in, deserves got nothing to do with it. We'll see in mini camp.

I don't care what you deserve. It's wins and losses. Yes, you lost week one to Jacoby Brissette, and you lost Week two, and you'll lost week three. Start a season, have a training camp fore you start a season, because you started one and four last year started one and three, the year before that you started two and three. And that's why on this show, all through September, what are we all saying? Just stack wins. I don't care what the score is with the stats are now to have to win and Bengals fed just say Pittsburgh sucks. We should be and said of Pittsburgh they hung forty four on you five you couldn't stop them. I'm sorry, but to quote everybody ever, you know, offense is only a third of the game. You are at a great offense. I loved it. It was really fun. You don't deserve it. You didn't win enough. Don't come running late. It's exciting. We all get our hair blown back by the come running team. You've gotten at least going in, at least keep up with the pack in September. I don't need you to win out in September. Can you go five hundred one of these years, then you'll get in. Believe me, if you're walking around the office to say the Bengals deserve to be in, deserves got nothing to do with it. We'll see in mini camp.

Questions about the Mike Evans thing.

Questions about the Mike Evans thing.

It's five yards short. You know the situation, they're at eight points. Question number one. If Baker throws it to him and it's incomplete, do they throw to him again?

It's five yards short. You know the situation, they're at eight points. Question number one. If Baker throws it to him and it's incomplete, do they throw to him again?

And better better than this? So he needs five yards?

And better better than this? So he needs five yards?

They throw it to Evans, he gets tackled for a three yard game, do they call time out because they had one left and throw it to him again?

They throw it to Evans, he gets tackled for a three yard game, do they call time out because they had one left and throw it to him again?

I think that they do.

I think that they do.

What if he's tackled right here and the Saints, by the way, should have known maybe they were in on it, But would they have gone so far as to use their final timeout and again throw it to Evan just against the thousand, because again, this is not just some nothing game between two terrible teams or whatever, like the Panthers and the Foulers were in this battle that maybe the Bucks don't really know. Maybe they really needed to win this game. And if it is a pick six, could that not have cost him the playoffs?

What if he's tackled right here and the Saints, by the way, should have known maybe they were in on it, But would they have gone so far as to use their final timeout and again throw it to Evan just against the thousand, because again, this is not just some nothing game between two terrible teams or whatever, like the Panthers and the Foulers were in this battle that maybe the Bucks don't really know. Maybe they really needed to win this game. And if it is a pick six, could that not have cost him the playoffs?

I mean, it's an unbelievable thing.

I mean, it's an unbelievable thing.

I wish he would have been tackled short of the sticks because I think Bulls is burning that time out and throwing it to him again. Sean McVay was a subjectent controversy yesterday. It's an interesting thing that he did. So they're at home and he said, I'm gonna just play the backups. I'm gonna start Garoppolo and Jeremy Jimmy Garopolos were a whole bunch of yards. Understand that if the Rams won that game, if they won yesterday, they would be home next week against the Commanders. So it's a rookie quarterback has never been there before. It seems more desirable because if you lose that game, they're at home next week against the Vikings, who hadn't lost the game in three months. So you want to win, right, McVeigh said, I don't care. I'm playing my backups. I know my team, I know what we need. They lost the game, and I love the decision that mcmay made.

I wish he would have been tackled short of the sticks because I think Bulls is burning that time out and throwing it to him again. Sean McVay was a subjectent controversy yesterday. It's an interesting thing that he did. So they're at home and he said, I'm gonna just play the backups. I'm gonna start Garoppolo and Jeremy Jimmy Garopolos were a whole bunch of yards. Understand that if the Rams won that game, if they won yesterday, they would be home next week against the Commanders. So it's a rookie quarterback has never been there before. It seems more desirable because if you lose that game, they're at home next week against the Vikings, who hadn't lost the game in three months. So you want to win, right, McVeigh said, I don't care. I'm playing my backups. I know my team, I know what we need. They lost the game, and I love the decision that mcmay made.

His whole take was, look, we haven't had a week. Six was our bye.

His whole take was, look, we haven't had a week. Six was our bye.

We've been going at this thing three months.

We've been going at this thing three months.

We got a quarterback who's getting up there in years.

We got a quarterback who's getting up there in years.

We got wide receivers who battle through injury. I am not in here to win a wild card game next week. I want to win the Super Bowl this year. I'm thinking long term. I'm going to rest my guys. We'll try to win, but if we don't, we'll take our chances with the Vikings. And by the way, I'm not terrified of that matchup, especially after what I saw last night, especially that the Rams have already beaten the Vikings in that building in the commit a five game winning streak themselves.

We got wide receivers who battle through injury. I am not in here to win a wild card game next week. I want to win the Super Bowl this year. I'm thinking long term. I'm going to rest my guys. We'll try to win, but if we don't, we'll take our chances with the Vikings. And by the way, I'm not terrified of that matchup, especially after what I saw last night, especially that the Rams have already beaten the Vikings in that building in the commit a five game winning streak themselves.

I don't want Jaydon.

I don't want Jaydon.

Daniels coming in there like Mike Vic going into the Lambou and taking over the game.

Daniels coming in there like Mike Vic going into the Lambou and taking over the game.

Everybody.

Everybody.

I like that McVeigh. I know it's unconventional. You don't want to do that. Who want to play the Vikings. He knows his team, he knows his weaknesses, he knows what they need.

I like that McVeigh. I know it's unconventional. You don't want to do that. Who want to play the Vikings. He knows his team, he knows his weaknesses, he knows what they need.

And that is a.

And that is a.

Guy who has don't question me authority. He is a made guy. If it's a young coach, what are you doing? Mcveigh's like, I'm McVeagh, You're not. I'm resting them. I'm gonna play Jimmy. If we lose, we'll take our chances. I love the decision and I'm starting to feel like it's going to pay off for him. I look at who's got the most to lose this weekend as a player. There are twelve quarterbacks who are going to be starting this weekend. Ten of them are definitely starting Week one for the team next season and hopefully years to come. Two of them, I'm not sure if they're starting or not yet. One of them is Russell Wilson, and we talked about him a lot. You have to one of Sam Donald, and it's okay to bring this up. Sam Donald has developed this thing around me, has got this protective halo where he seems like a really good guy and a good teammate.

Guy who has don't question me authority. He is a made guy. If it's a young coach, what are you doing? Mcveigh's like, I'm McVeagh, You're not. I'm resting them. I'm gonna play Jimmy. If we lose, we'll take our chances. I love the decision and I'm starting to feel like it's going to pay off for him. I look at who's got the most to lose this weekend as a player. There are twelve quarterbacks who are going to be starting this weekend. Ten of them are definitely starting Week one for the team next season and hopefully years to come. Two of them, I'm not sure if they're starting or not yet. One of them is Russell Wilson, and we talked about him a lot. You have to one of Sam Donald, and it's okay to bring this up. Sam Donald has developed this thing around me, has got this protective halo where he seems like a really good guy and a good teammate.

And it's a great story.

And it's a great story.

So everyone just wants to say, this is incredible, this is so great, and it has been great. It was really rough in Detroit, really rough, just objectively, it was tense, it was tight. He made bad, froze, he didn't look the part. And frankly, when you have someone like Sam Donald's been in the league a long time, there's a lot of scar tissue that comes up immediately. The fact is, on Sam Donald, we have six years of average or poor or backup play, and we have three months of excellent play. Those six years count that you don't just throw them away. It's not a half a season on some team where he didn't play six years where for whatever reason, what was around him, what wasn't he didn't have it.

So everyone just wants to say, this is incredible, this is so great, and it has been great. It was really rough in Detroit, really rough, just objectively, it was tense, it was tight. He made bad, froze, he didn't look the part. And frankly, when you have someone like Sam Donald's been in the league a long time, there's a lot of scar tissue that comes up immediately. The fact is, on Sam Donald, we have six years of average or poor or backup play, and we have three months of excellent play. Those six years count that you don't just throw them away. It's not a half a season on some team where he didn't play six years where for whatever reason, what was around him, what wasn't he didn't have it.

There's a tension with Sam Donald.

There's a tension with Sam Donald.

This is not a made guy, okay, especially the circumstances of them losing. If they were to lose this weekend again in la and I will go to the tried and true relationship metaphor here, all right, you are with someone in Sam Donald, who let's just say, has a rocky passed or some baggage.

This is not a made guy, okay, especially the circumstances of them losing. If they were to lose this weekend again in la and I will go to the tried and true relationship metaphor here, all right, you are with someone in Sam Donald, who let's just say, has a rocky passed or some baggage.

But it's going great, everything's wonderful.

But it's going great, everything's wonderful.

You're in this beautiful montage mode and you're thinking about popping the question, and then there's just this terrible night out of nowhere where they're screaming at the waiter and just being rude and I'm couth and falling over themselves.

You're in this beautiful montage mode and you're thinking about popping the question, and then there's just this terrible night out of nowhere where they're screaming at the waiter and just being rude and I'm couth and falling over themselves.

Where did this come from? Who are you? Who? I don't even know you.

Where did this come from? Who are you? Who? I don't even know you.

In the meantime, there's this other person you've been talking with who's young and promising and really likes you and you have a future with him. Has got long hair and looks and you know, it's like youthful and like wow, I kind of like, are you sure you want to pledge everything to them? It's sat unfair to talk that Sam Donald has had a really hard time in this league up until this year, and had a really hard time in Detroit. If he comes out in this game and he throws an early pick or there's a misthrow to Justin Jefferson, it's gonna those six years come out. Those six years don't get to go away. You don't just make them all go away. I think he has a lot to prove. I think if he plays poorly in this game, if he loses, I don't think he's the Viking starting quarterback next year in my opinion. And maybe that's a rational decision. Maybe it's not what does he have to play for, never mind the win. He has to play for the rest of his career. Here there's our big, big time stakes with Sam Donald against the Rams. I look at all the games this weekend in terms of what's most to gain. I look at what would be the craziest outcome, the most shocking outcome. I don't think it's Pittsburgh beating Baltimore. I'd be mildly surprised, even though Pittsburgh's not playing well. It's definitely Denver in Buffalo. That's the one that would flip the table. Holy crap, the Bills lost at home to a rookie quarterback. So I think it's Sean Payton. I think it's the Broncos head coach by far, because we're in the playoffs now, guys, everybody's in. This is when the coaches show themselves in a good way or in a bad way. Sean Payn has won nine playoff games in his career. He's four and two in the wild Card. He'd been to the dance many times. Sean mcderm's five and six in the playoffs. All right, there's a mismatch already in terms of playoffs wins. The specifics of this game are very interesting to me. And here's a pivotal part of it. Josh Allen does not get sacked this year. The old line is amazing. It is one of the best things that they do is he does not get sacked. The Broncos lead the league in sacks number one. They have sixteen players with a sack, including three defensive backs. They sack you. The Bills don't get sacked. That's where this game is going to be won and lost. And I think Denver's coming for him. I really do. In terms of nothing to lose, the Bracos have zero to lose, and I'll.

In the meantime, there's this other person you've been talking with who's young and promising and really likes you and you have a future with him. Has got long hair and looks and you know, it's like youthful and like wow, I kind of like, are you sure you want to pledge everything to them? It's sat unfair to talk that Sam Donald has had a really hard time in this league up until this year, and had a really hard time in Detroit. If he comes out in this game and he throws an early pick or there's a misthrow to Justin Jefferson, it's gonna those six years come out. Those six years don't get to go away. You don't just make them all go away. I think he has a lot to prove. I think if he plays poorly in this game, if he loses, I don't think he's the Viking starting quarterback next year in my opinion. And maybe that's a rational decision. Maybe it's not what does he have to play for, never mind the win. He has to play for the rest of his career. Here there's our big, big time stakes with Sam Donald against the Rams. I look at all the games this weekend in terms of what's most to gain. I look at what would be the craziest outcome, the most shocking outcome. I don't think it's Pittsburgh beating Baltimore. I'd be mildly surprised, even though Pittsburgh's not playing well. It's definitely Denver in Buffalo. That's the one that would flip the table. Holy crap, the Bills lost at home to a rookie quarterback. So I think it's Sean Payton. I think it's the Broncos head coach by far, because we're in the playoffs now, guys, everybody's in. This is when the coaches show themselves in a good way or in a bad way. Sean Payn has won nine playoff games in his career. He's four and two in the wild Card. He'd been to the dance many times. Sean mcderm's five and six in the playoffs. All right, there's a mismatch already in terms of playoffs wins. The specifics of this game are very interesting to me. And here's a pivotal part of it. Josh Allen does not get sacked this year. The old line is amazing. It is one of the best things that they do is he does not get sacked. The Broncos lead the league in sacks number one. They have sixteen players with a sack, including three defensive backs. They sack you. The Bills don't get sacked. That's where this game is going to be won and lost. And I think Denver's coming for him. I really do. In terms of nothing to lose, the Bracos have zero to lose, and I'll.

Tell you why.

Tell you why.

If they go to Buffalo and lose thirty three to ten, every single person in their organization should enjoy their vacation.

If they go to Buffalo and lose thirty three to ten, every single person in their organization should enjoy their vacation.

They earned the hell out of it.

They earned the hell out of it.

We lost tough draw, we played at Buffalo, amazing season. Understand they're in the playoffs the last time they were in the playoffs. It's Peyton and Vaughn and Gary Kubiak. Peyton's been retired from early a decade. Vn, who they'll be seeing this weekend, has won a Super Bowl with another team. Gary Kubiak is now advising a team in Poland. I looked it up like a lot has changed since they've even been in the playoffs.

We lost tough draw, we played at Buffalo, amazing season. Understand they're in the playoffs the last time they were in the playoffs. It's Peyton and Vaughn and Gary Kubiak. Peyton's been retired from early a decade. Vn, who they'll be seeing this weekend, has won a Super Bowl with another team. Gary Kubiak is now advising a team in Poland. I looked it up like a lot has changed since they've even been in the playoffs.

The fact that they're there is awesome.

The fact that they're there is awesome.

But if they win this thing, then Sean Payton rockets back into the club exist the best coach in the NFL, A club that he was in for years, all of that mess with Russell Wilson, all that NA says, distant.

But if they win this thing, then Sean Payton rockets back into the club exist the best coach in the NFL, A club that he was in for years, all of that mess with Russell Wilson, all that NA says, distant.

Memory and bo Nix.

Memory and bo Nix.

If he wins this, he's then on the precipice of tying the rookie record for playoff wins, which is just two. He's not gonna win Rookie of the Year. This would be way bigger than Rookie of the Year, way more memory to go into Buffalo.

If he wins this, he's then on the precipice of tying the rookie record for playoff wins, which is just two. He's not gonna win Rookie of the Year. This would be way bigger than Rookie of the Year, way more memory to go into Buffalo.

It's gonna be a tough draw. It's really really tough.

It's gonna be a tough draw. It's really really tough.

But the most to gain by far, with nothing to lose, is everybody reps in the dever Broncos, everybody top to bottom. Is there any chance Josh Allen comes out tight.

But the most to gain by far, with nothing to lose, is everybody reps in the dever Broncos, everybody top to bottom. Is there any chance Josh Allen comes out tight.

In this game? And I said no, We've seen Josh Allen tight in a playoff game. It was his first one ever against Houston.

In this game? And I said no, We've seen Josh Allen tight in a playoff game. It was his first one ever against Houston.

It's the only time he's ever lost in the wildcard round and it was one of the strangest performances you'll ever see. He was a ball of nerves, not in this game. Do you know how good he's been in the wildcard over the years? Unbelievably good and productive. And I said it earlier in the show. He doesn't get sacked. The Denver Broncos sacked teams more than any other team in the league.

It's the only time he's ever lost in the wildcard round and it was one of the strangest performances you'll ever see. He was a ball of nerves, not in this game. Do you know how good he's been in the wildcard over the years? Unbelievably good and productive. And I said it earlier in the show. He doesn't get sacked. The Denver Broncos sacked teams more than any other team in the league.

It's the number one. He's gonna do.

It's the number one. He's gonna do.

This move where the defensive tackle gets through and he stiff arms him while holding the ball back. It's kind of his signature move. It's a crazy thing to do, but he totally gets off with it. The only way that Broncos win this game is they sack him four or five times. It's going to be a battle on the battle. My gosh, he loves that stuff.

This move where the defensive tackle gets through and he stiff arms him while holding the ball back. It's kind of his signature move. It's a crazy thing to do, but he totally gets off with it. The only way that Broncos win this game is they sack him four or five times. It's going to be a battle on the battle. My gosh, he loves that stuff.

Look at him.

Look at him.

He always wants the penalty and he got it. This is the guy I'm watching hundreds. I still think he and Lamar never mind how the two best. I think they're the most watchable play in the NFL. And they both go this week, and I'm in When coaches get fired this quickly, and we saw it with Gerard Mayo, there has to be two factors. In my opinion. You lose a whole bunch, but it's more than just losing. You embarrass the organization and you fumble things and you embarrass yourself. I think that's what happened to girod Mao is there was a lot of unsightly things in the meeting and they're like, we're losing.

He always wants the penalty and he got it. This is the guy I'm watching hundreds. I still think he and Lamar never mind how the two best. I think they're the most watchable play in the NFL. And they both go this week, and I'm in When coaches get fired this quickly, and we saw it with Gerard Mayo, there has to be two factors. In my opinion. You lose a whole bunch, but it's more than just losing. You embarrass the organization and you fumble things and you embarrass yourself. I think that's what happened to girod Mao is there was a lot of unsightly things in the meeting and they're like, we're losing.

And this is bad. You're gone.

And this is bad. You're gone.

I don't know if I see that for Pierce, and it's always like, how do we finish the season? Well, they won two games in a row, they won the last two out of three. They seem to play hard. It wasn't I didn't feel like the players were quitting on them. But you fired him? Why because he couldn't win a wild card with no quarterback. This was a strange one to me, and it's it shouldn't be because I look at that logo and I'm like, I don't know they're just kind of having a house party over there, and the owner is kind of this wild rock star and he does whatever he wants.

I don't know if I see that for Pierce, and it's always like, how do we finish the season? Well, they won two games in a row, they won the last two out of three. They seem to play hard. It wasn't I didn't feel like the players were quitting on them. But you fired him? Why because he couldn't win a wild card with no quarterback. This was a strange one to me, and it's it shouldn't be because I look at that logo and I'm like, I don't know they're just kind of having a house party over there, and the owner is kind of this wild rock star and he does whatever he wants.

And fire this and fire that.

And fire this and fire that.

Moving forward, I've never been more intrigued though about what they do, because we've never.

Moving forward, I've never been more intrigued though about what they do, because we've never.

Had a situation like this.

Had a situation like this.

Is it going to be something that's kind of matches that Maxie I just talk about. I mean, as Dan Sanders is gonna be the head coach of the race, as they say screw it, let's just have a party, or is it something wildly conventional like Rabel or Ben Johnson. But I go back to Peter's last point. You're Vrabel, You're Ben Johnson, You're the bells of the ball. You can pretty much pick your team. What is it that is picked making you pick the Raiders? Like, what is it like, I'm gonna stay there for a long time, We're gonna win, I'm gonna beat the Chiefs, We're gonna be in the playoffs. Like what makes you think looking there, that they're gonna do that? And if you don't do it, what makes you think they're not gonna immediately fire you. It's a tough gig right now, It's not that appealing not only the quarterback, but the fact that if you don't win with that one, out of here.

Is it going to be something that's kind of matches that Maxie I just talk about. I mean, as Dan Sanders is gonna be the head coach of the race, as they say screw it, let's just have a party, or is it something wildly conventional like Rabel or Ben Johnson. But I go back to Peter's last point. You're Vrabel, You're Ben Johnson, You're the bells of the ball. You can pretty much pick your team. What is it that is picked making you pick the Raiders? Like, what is it like, I'm gonna stay there for a long time, We're gonna win, I'm gonna beat the Chiefs, We're gonna be in the playoffs. Like what makes you think looking there, that they're gonna do that? And if you don't do it, what makes you think they're not gonna immediately fire you. It's a tough gig right now, It's not that appealing not only the quarterback, but the fact that if you don't win with that one, out of here.

Ten Takes is a production of the NFL in partnership with I heart Radio. For more iHeartRadio pods, go to the iHeartRadio app, go to Apple, go anywhere you like, it'll be there.

Ten Takes is a production of the NFL in partnership with I heart Radio. For more iHeartRadio pods, go to the iHeartRadio app, go to Apple, go anywhere you like, it'll be there.