Fox Sports RadioAlex Curry & Martin Weiss Preview The NFL Divisional Round, Could Deion Go To Dallas, The Dawn Of The Dodgers Empire, Give Their Playoff Picks, And Much More!
Alex Curry & Martin Weiss preview the NFL Divisional round with the Chiefs vs Texans starting the weekend off. Alex and Martin also ponder who will be the next head coach for the Dallas Cowboys, with Deion Sanders seen as an interesting development. Plus, Alex and Martin discuss more of what could be the dawn of the Dodgers Empire in the MLB, give their NFL playoff picks, do's and don'ts, and more!!
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Hey, welcome to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Martin Wise, who's in for Carmen today. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us. We are broadcasting live from the tire dot Com studios tyrek dot com. We'll help you get there an unmatched selection, fast free shipping, free road has a protection and over ten thousand recommended installers tirec dot com.
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Now, I want to give start out the show by giving a big shout out to all of our LA Sports figures and all of our LA Sports teams for really stepping up and helping all of those affected right now by these LA fires. Clipper's owner Steve Balmer donated fifteen million dollars you guys to those affected by the Eaton Finer. He's also hosting fire ad this insane concert that's coming up at the end of the month, Into It Dome Show. Hey O Tani donated five hundred thousand dollars. Freddy Freeman donated three hundred thousand dollars to both fire relief funds. Also, all the OLI Sports teams came together to donate eight million dollars to the Red Cross, LAFD Foundation and World Central Kitchen. And yesterday all the LI Sports teams held a huge donation drive for all those affected to just come and show up to the stadiums and pick up anything that they needed supplies wise, in a week of just it's hard to fully describe if you're not really here in LA, but this week of absolute heartbreak and devastation throughout LA, it's really made me smile to see our community come together and step up and help everybody.
Cause it's been weird.
I'm not gonna lie, it's been weird to talk about sports when like all this crazy stuff is going on. It really kind of puts life.
It does.
It does, and you know, obviously you know everybody likes to think first first responders and obviously, oh yeah they go without that goes with us saying, but also to like, like, I don't know the best way to put up like second responders, because this is going to like while the imminent danger may have passed for this exact moment right for or who knows, it could be a fire starting in at ten minutes. But you know, while that necessarily there's a lot of things that are going to have to occur for life to go back to what normal is here. So everybody who's like involved in you know, housing people buildings or providing those resources to be donated local newscasts, you know, you guys going out there and covering, you know, providing information at a time like this, you know, when when there's so few places to get information, and you know, when you're looking at something like the nation.
And everything, it's just it's crazy because it's literally just starting. You guys, like no one's going to be able to rebuild for a while. We're we're looking at like the trickle down effect of yeah, it's going to be so much people not only lost their homes, but their businesses and livelihood absolutely everything that they own, so a huge shout out. I'm also rocking Homage homagees T shirt they made City of Angels where one hundred percent of the proceeds are going to be donated to fire relief efforts. So we also saw the La Strong shirts that all the sports teams teamed up with fanatics to make.
All those proceeds are going towards it.
So any little bit helps, whether it's your time volunteering, donating. I just I love seeing everybody come together. That's the smile in the midst of all this crazy. But you guys, we have a great show for you today. We have Bill's reporter Matty Glab joining us in thirty minutes for what I think is the game of the weekend.
She's going to give us a whole breakdown there.
My co host and and afon Fox rider Carmen Vitali will be joining us in hour two. We have executive producer Patrick with us today technical producer Chris Perfett, who's already rocking it because we had a little bit of a fire drill right before we came on air. You guys, my my audio went out. My mic broke on the new spot, so twice yeah. This was like thirty seconds before we went live, and it's like, well, okay, am I gonna have to hold my mic? Maybe that's fine. That's what I do half the time anyway. So yeah, here we go.
Happy Divisional Round weekend, you guys.
And then there were eight and we're gonna go through the matchups today, starting with the AFC because we got the Texans at the Chiefs game, which is starting.
In about nine minutes. Do I have it on? Is it on one of my main TVs in front of me?
Can you?
Okay?
Yeah?
Put that? Put that up here, because you guys, this is the first time we're seeing Patrick Mahomes play since Christmas. He also had a baby during those three weeks, Golden Ray Mahomes, born on January twelfth. Congratulations. Also shout out to his wife, he said, for letting him watch games while she was in labor. That's a real one right there. But the Chiefs, you guys, they're rested, like all of their starters rested in week eighteen, so most of them haven't played since Christmas. But most importantly, they are healthy and that could be the best thing that happened to this team because there's zero concern if they're going to be ready. We're talking about Mahomes and Andy Reid here. They've been here more than any other coach quarterback duo in the league right now. Andy Reid is incredible coming off of buye is regular season record after a bye is twenty two to four, and they've had the first round by now in five seasons together.
This is the fifth and.
They've won in the Divisional round the last four times. Like this is our new dynasty. They've won three super Bowls in five years. They're looking for a three peat, which is the first. This would be the first time it's ever happened in the Super Bowl era. And they face the Texans in Week sixteen jeez one, twenty seven nineteen. Like good game for both the guys. Mahomes had two touchdowns, o interceptions.
C J.
Stroud two touchdowns, two interceptions.
But the thing that the Texans here, I mean, yes, they're coming off a proper beatdown of the Chargers last week, but they also kind of back their way into the postseason, losing two of their last three games, and that was to Kansas City and to Baltimore, two of the top teams that are gonna have to go through if they want to move on. Sure, and they're going into Arrowhead where mahomes playoff recgrand at home.
Is ten and two.
Those two losses, one was in the AFC Championship to Tom Brady and the other was in the AFC Championship to Joe Burrow. So it takes a top tier quarterback to be able to take on Mahomes and take him out of the playoffs. And c J Strown he's good, right, There's there's a lot of potential, but there was a little bit of a sophomore slump that we saw. And don't forget Travis Kelcey always seems to show up in the postseason. He has at least seventy receiving yards in thirteen straight playoff games. That's the longest streak in NFL history. And Mahomes and Kelsey have the most touchdowns than any duo in NFL playoff history of seventy plus. He's got a secret up in there. Taylor Swift's at the game.
I don't know how much of a secret it is.
Hey, it's gonna hate I don't know if it's because I think I'll probably see your after every after every game.
It'll be broadcasting. Yeah, I mean everything just let out is is correct. Obviously.
The concern that I have with Kansas City is one.
Now, let me start out, They're gonna win this game, so it's marginal level of concern. But you know we're talking about Kansas City. We're not talking about just winning this game. We're talking about can they win the entire thing?
Right?
Yeah?
And I know that we've in the years past has felt like they've flipped a switch in the postseason.
Well, you know, I'm just gonna have to see it. I've seen they've done in the last years.
Are you are you a hater?
No?
I think Kansas is gonna win this game. I'm picking Kansas City to win, but I am picking Houston to cover. I think it'll be a close game. I think Kansas City should win. They will win. I do want to see if they're gonna be able to because the flip that we've seen them switch and the other two postseasons last two years, well, the first Super Bowl year, they didn't really have to flip a switch.
They're kind of the all year offense going crazy.
But the Swiftland flipped from in this most recent the most recent Super Bowl run. Offensively, they just were able to move the ball felling more effectively as in the postseason. Yeah, I'm gonna need to see that here.
Now. I'm not saying it won't happen.
I just got to see it first because the seventeen games I watched the Kansas City of this season, yeah, I didn't see that. Now, seventeen games watched Kansas City last season, didn't see it in the same way saw it in the postseason.
I just gotta see it again.
Well, it's because Andy Reid has a completely different game plan come playoffs. Like, that's the craziest thing aunt Patrick Mahomes. He's talked about it before. He's like, I prefer not to run, but I will when I need to. And we see him run so much more once again. Once the postseason happens. Travis Kelse steps up in his numbers, go through the roof once they hit the postseason. It's just something about this Chiefs team. They're built for the postseason. And until someone can knock down Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, I just I cannot bet against them.
I made that mistake last year.
I thought it was finally going to be Lamar Josh Allen's year or two well to be thrown Mahomie and they couldn't do it.
When I say bet again something, I mean Texans plus eight and a half, I think they keep it close, ye moves by less than a touchdown or you know, right around there. But I think we're looking like if you look at the way this entire NFL, to me, it seems like there's a like very much like American society, the upper class in the lower class is spreading and the middle class is shrinking, right Like, yeah, there's more and more rich people, and there's more and more, but there's more like if you have a top tier quarterback in the upper class, like you look at like the Lions, the Chiefs, Ravens exactly Bills and if you don't, you're starting Mac Jones seven games of the year, then like you have no shot at all. I think there's two teams to me that fall squarely in the NFL's middle class. That's the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Texans. Interesting when I look at them, I don't like they are not like those are the teams that I feel like they're not as good as the top teams.
They're definitely not bad, but they can.
Compete and they've got talent at the quarterback position. But there's still a lot of development that needs to be done with those guys. But we've seen glimmers of greatness.
They have the opportunity for upward mobility. Yeah, I see it. I just don't see it happening today.
Okay, Yeah, I And if like that would one of the that would be one of the biggest upsets I think we've seen in the playoffs in the last five years, if that were to happen, sure since Mahomei's been in the playoffs.
Yeah, in the playoffs, Yeah.
I mean it'd be it'd be somebody knocking off Brady. Nick Fowles over Brady type thing.
Yeah, weird.
Okay, But let's get to what I think is the best matchup of the weekend.
Ravens at Bills.
This is a legacy game for both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Like both these guys are the top pick for Envy. They've had incredible seasons, but for both of them, they have yet to have that playoff success and that's kind of the knock on both of their careers To this point the games in Buffalo, but the Ravens are one and a half point favorite right now, which I think could actually help the Bills get in that little bit of a b Yeah yeah, yeah, And they played each other in Week four, but that was like right around when the Ravens like turn their season around because they had a little bit of a slow start and went on that five game winning streak. But let's let the stageure, right because they can both handle cold weather, and it's going to be cold. Lamar's three and one when it's thirty two degrees are below Allen Is twelve and two when it's thirty two degrees in blow but obviously, because most of those games are in Buffalo.
That's going to be the coldest.
They can both perform under pressure, and I think they know they both understand what's at stake if they don't win this game, Like whoever doesn't win this game is going to get tracked unless we go to like an ot buzzer beater kind of win lost scenario.
They both need this win for their legacies.
I think they both need to play well. Lamar Jackson needs to win. If Lamar Jackson is about to be if Lamar Jackson is about to win the third MVP, of which the odds suggested in a way that is primitive and it's predictive with the ap first team.
It's the same thing, but you're the.
Same people voting.
Yeah, that was kind of like a little like Okay, it's like the CLU because a lot of.
Time you can predict it out right.
So so if Lamar Jackson's gonna win his third MVP and he's gonna lose in the second playoff game, he plays again, and it's like we say, it's the second playoff game. But since they extended the playoffs with the seventh seed, it's just been murder that first weekend. Like the Steelers probably aren't a playoff team. It probably should have been Ravens versus the Chargers type of deal, and like, would you have loved to see that matchup because, like you know, if I'm like, I am worried because I think Lamar Jackson has a right now. Josh Allen to me, does not have a Hall of Fame case. I'm not saying he won't get there, but if you're retired tomorrow, he'd.
Be in the Hall of Area.
He doesn't he doesn't have the accolades exactly.
But Lamar Jackson he's got if he stopped playing football tomorrow, he's got a Hall of Fame case.
But every detractor will sit up and say, what happened in the playoffs?
Yeah, and I'll be like, well, you know, but that game with September was crazy.
Don't count man.
It's like everything comes down to can you win in the postseason?
Right?
And unfortunately for Lamar, he just it's it hasn't been the same kind of player that we've seen during the regular season, and now we're getting again. It's two guys that are like the top choices for MVP Neck and Neck all season, the two that I think are just below Patrick Mahomes, the next two top tier quarterbacks in the league. Is this gonna be fun? Like I hope it's a shootout, It's gonna be freezing. I mean one going for the Bills and hurt the Ravens. The Flowers is doubtful. I mean, your update, guys, anybody.
I will update you on that at the bottom of the ave.
Okay, okay, we'll wait on that one.
Thing interesting, you know, just keep an eye on this because this is a big social media thing as well. The entire panel of the pregame show picked the Chiefs to win.
Wait, okay, so we're going back.
To so I'm just I'm just the chief Texans. The entire panel, the game is about to start, the entire panel walking out right now, pick the Chiefs to win. So you know there's a million people in Houston who just screenshot it. Yeah, And so I was like, if in fact there's an upset, that's what we'll see going back and look at all the experts, uh, to the to the Bills and the Ravens, to your point about these two guys legacy games.
So on.
Even with Zame Flowers missing the game, we're not missing. The game is not going to have a big It's not going to be a big referendum on this.
No matter what happens, you're going to be exactly Yeah, you got to it's gonna be a Derrick Henry.
But if you're gonna lose in the player right here, right now.
Because I don't make the rules, I have worked in TV long enough to know them. Though, if you're gonna lose in the playoffs in the AFC, you need to lose to Pat.
Yeah, you can't look like that's Josh because it's like nobody.
Look, it's not like people hold it against guys like you know, the Carl Malone's and so on, because they couldn't beat Michael Jordan said.
Michael Jordan's great.
Sorry, sorry that you're living in the middle of the ninasty.
Nobody could beat Michael Jordan's So it's like nobody's like, oh, he couldn't get it done.
He couldn't get it done. He couldn't get it done.
He couldn't get because Jordan couldn't because it was just Jordan always got it.
Just unfortunately living in the time of greatness.
So right, what we're ending up here is, though, whoever doesn't advance that this game is gonna be like.
Oh, can he even get to Pat? Yeah, that's it, right bluff.
They haven't and they haven't yet, so I mean that's who I'm also excited to talk to Bill's reporter Matty glab in about twenty minutes here, get her kind of inside of the mood in Buffalo this whole week, eating up tomorrow's game. But we're gonna take a quick break here when we come back. Jerry's Cowboys are not in the playoffs, but of course he is still making headlines.
That's next on Fox Sports Radio.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.
Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Martin Wise and for Carmen. Today we are broadcasting live from the Tire dot Com studios in Los Angeles. Thank you for spending your Saturday after noon with us. It's talk some football, you guys. We got Chief Texans about to start, but we're not gonna talk about them right now because once again Jerry Jones his Cowboys. They're not in the playoffs, but he needs to be in the spotlights somehow during the playoffs. Announcing Monday, just before the Rams Vikings game that Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys were parting ways. Now am I surprised? I mean, reportedly McCarthy one of more years. Jerry wasn't willing to give and they couldn't agree on the length of the contract. And you know what, good for Mike McCarthy because you do not see that often a coach.
Really kind of knowing is worth and knowing that he's.
Going to be picked up it like swooped up by another team almost immediately kind of will probably have like his choice of where he wants to land, like oh yeah, thank you. Like he is one of the few Super Bowl winning coaches still in the league, along with McVay, Peyton, Tomlin, Harbaugh. And he's already like immediately interviewing teams. I think the Bears reached out Wall like before this decision was made and Jerry said no, and he's already gone in and interviewed with them. But it's just it's Jerry's way of doing things. He waits for the last minute. And it's what we saw with Ceedee, Lamb and Dad getting their contracts done like literally at the buzzer before the season started.
And but this it kind of isn't though, because if that's the case, then it would have been Mike cart you would be the coach of the Cowboys on a new like four and a half four year deal, making him like up there with the guys, Like I feel like maybe.
With Jerry, he's gonna make him. It's gonna make him. Wait, it's gonna do it right now.
But think about it, he had to wait all year, all year.
Yeah, you talk about this, this is on not unprecedented, but this is odd.
When do you see a coach contract expire?
Weird?
Not just you know.
It's either you get fired and you get paid out of the end of it or you get extended, but just to reach the end of terms and just say, oh, you know, thanks anyway, thanks for the memories and both sides split.
That's odd. That's odd from Jerry, it's odd in Jim.
It is.
I think the weird part too, is that the players like wanted him to stay. Like we heard from Dak and Mica this week. Dak had his MVP level season under McCarthy and said he was bummed he wasn't coming back, And then we heard Michael Parsons talk about it on his podcast saying he was devastated, like these are your.
Franchise guys, and he is a great coach.
He just didn't have a lot of didn't have a lot of weapons this year, and we saw like a complete like just cowboys meltdown. But moving forward, Jerry's gonna have to make a big splash and the flashy name roaming around this week was Dion Sanders.
They talked.
Apparently there is mutual interest. I think Dian is one of the few people that could deal with Jerry Jones. He's been in that building, he has star power, he creates a culture. We all watch what he did in Boulder. But again, like you have to think that's a college level. These are college athletes. Now you're going to the professional level. Will he be able to translate that to the NFL. I believe that he could, just because it is Dion and he's been there and he can back it up. It's just there's another like, Jerry's gonna have to pay and he's gonna have to buy him out of his Boulder contract because his current deal is twenty five mili over five years, and he has a ten million dollar contract buyout. And even though the Cowboys are the richest franchise in the world, we've also seen Jerry not dish out and pay for big names, like all the big running backs that were on the market this off season.
Oh, you mean the ones that will we'll see play today. Yes, and I'm sorry this weekend, both of those guys. Yes, And then Josh Jacobs behind that and played last week. Yeah, yeah, it could have been helpful.
Very extremely helpful, extremely helpful.
So I it's it's gonna be interesting to see what he does. And I just it's so on brand for him to.
I know this, What if I was Deon Sanders.
Yeah, so chance I'm leaving Colorado to go coach Cowboys.
First of all, I don't like in Colorado, I build my roster. Yeah you do in Dallas, I don't build my roster. And honestly, to be like when you look at I mean, Colorado almost kind of stuck into the playoffs this year. Obviously got Travis Hunter, who was a freak of nature Shad door Sanders. I mean he didn't really get shador because he gave birth. I mean he was like Patrick mahonmes.
The third thing too, he said he wants to coach his sons in the NFL, So, like, is that going to play in two somehow if they try to sign.
I don't see all the like, I just don't see how I would not leave, especially in this era of college football. I have the opportunity, think about it. He took a team that was one and eleven the year before he got there. In two years thirteen and twelve. That's incredible, but it's unheard of. But it's also not like the top of the sport right now. Yeah, you know, Like it's also not like there's a national championship game being played. Colorado's not in it. Yeah, there was a playoff being Colorado wasn't in it. I think he's got he has the potential to be a Saban like guy at Colorado if he starts to. I mean, he's got an ivy. The winning has to be commensurate. But college football is about the coaches. NFL is about the players. I'm staying in I'm staying at Colorado.
There is there's also how much more do NFL coaches make than college coaches? Is it a significant amount or is it pretty close if you're a big name in college compared to like.
A lower name.
I tell you this, I know that if Dion Sanders win seven games the next two years, he's not gonna be his job's not going to be a jeopardy. Yeah, So however much it makes, he gonna make longer because he's still gonna have a job at Colorado.
Yeah, it's gonna be interesting. I don't know what the right answer is and again it's gonna be like what Jerry's willing to spend and pay. But they're it's weird to say they're in a rebuild, but like they got DAK and they paid CD, but they they need a lot of help and they're gonna have to pay Micah. So there's a lot coming up. Martin working double duty. Tell us what's trending?
Uh, we were lied to nine minutes, clearly not kickoff of the game because it still hasn't kicked off yet.
It was.
Also I was like, remember when I said, like his like his secret weapon is in the sands, Travis Kelce with Taylor Swift like no, no, no, they're going to show her a bunch. They showed her I think twice already before during the end.
What I have gotten from this game so far is Chris Jones was crying during the anthem and Taylor Swift was enjoying it because I saw her more.
Than anybody else. Yep, uh yeah, still waiting for kickoff in that game.
Kansas City hosting Houston in the Divisional round of the playoffs. Later today, we'll see the Detroit Lyons host the Washington Commanders. That game will be on Fox TV. Reports said the Chicago Bears called the Pittsburgh Steelers tried to trade for Mike Tomlin. They were not able to do so. Creighton ended Yukon's twenty eight game home winning streak in men's basketball today, sixty eight to sixty three. And let's go back to the NFL page here we go, all right, and the NFL coaching carousel. You know, now we're on the interview portion of it. The Dallas Cowboys did not interview Dion Tanders. They interviewed New York Jet head coach former head coach Robert Sala for their position that's available Sayings interviewed Eagles off of the coordinator coming more. Virtually, the Jaguars interviewed Bill's officier coordinator Joe brad Brady. Virtually the Bears interviewed Minnesota Vikings. You've been a quarter of Brian Floor as in person for the head coach job. Joe Mixon and as these al Shair will play for the Texans if this game ever kicks off. Joe Mixon was questionable with a knee injury, al Shair with a chest injury.
But both of those guys good to go as soon as we get the game started.
Alex, back to us, Back to dear listening to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Martin Wise. We are broadcasting live from the tart dot Com studios in Los Angeles. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us. It is time for our first guest. She is covering the game of the weekend, Bill's reporter, friend of the show.
Soo, Maddi, glad, thanks for being here.
Hey, happy to be on with you guys. The game of the weekend. Everybody's been talking about it. I am still ready for Sunday night.
Oh it's insane.
I mean it is the biggest game of the weekend Tomorrow night. Ravens at Bills. You're there and with the team all week. What has the vibe been like in the locker room, on the field at practice heading into this game?
You know what? This team this season, the vibe has been different heading into the playoffs if you compare it to last year's teams. Last year, the Bills had to win five straight games to even be a part of the playoff conversation, and it came down to a week eighteen win and in games they were able to win, but then once you get in the playoffs, you're just gassed from having the pressure of winning every single game at the end of the season. This year, the build lock up the AFC East early on, they get the number two seed, and they're a healthier team this year. And I think because because all of that, the Buffalo Bills of this twenty twenty four season feel like there's an ease to them. There's a calmness to them, and they're ready to take on the Ravens in the Divisional round of the playoffs. There's certainly so much respect for this Baltimore Ravens team. I mean, in Week four when these two faced off, Buffalo faced the loss against them, and the Ravens put up quite a few points against the Bills, and the Bills only scored ten. Buffalo throughout the season scored at least thirty points twelve times, so it was unlikely for the Bills to score less than thirty points in a game during the regular season, and the Ravens tell them to just ten. So there's a lot of respect for the team coming into Orchard Park tomorrow to face the Buffalo Bills. But our group, I think they're ready and they're healthy and they're excited for another chance to showcase what makes them so great.
Maddie Martin wise here, thanks for joining us.
I wanted to ask you know, obviously, the off season story was step On Diggs leaving and some of the other big name Jordan Poyer guys leaving the locker room and being replaced with some of the more unknowns with the Keon Coleman, and then you even had trading for Amari Cooper in the offseason. And I feel like, I mean in the mid middle of the season rather, I feel like this has been kind of up and down for a pass catching like the new additions to Buffalo have been up and down, but it's been more of the guys who have been there the whole time in Shakira and Cook that have been the guys outside of Josh Allen obviously that have led the offense. Do you expect to see any of the newer guys step up this during this postseason run?
Are is going to be more of the same?
Definitely? I think it takes everybody to make a postseason run that the Bills are hoping to make. I think you have to lean on the guys that help get you there. And that's that's the players from the past who have been on the Bills for the last few years, but it's also the new players as well. I think this Bill team is a group in the playoffs who wants to be able to rely on their run game as well as their pass game. Buffalo is the only team in NFL history to finish off the regular season with at least thirty passing touchdowns and thirty rushing touchdowns, So that says that this group wants to be a balanced offense going into every single game. Now, different defenses are going to kind of shift how Buffalo's approach on offense works. The Ravens have the best run defense in the NFL, allowing just eighty rushing yards per game. But I think in this game you are going to see some targets to Kean Coleman and some targets to Amari Cooper based on which favorable matchups exist within this game. But James Cook has been on a seater and I would think that this offense and Joe Brady, our offensive coordinator, wants to rely on James Cook throughout this game as well. And then somebody who has been on this team for the last few years. He spoke of him, Khalil Shakir. I think we could see it. Colol Secure targeted quite a bit in this one because he had twenty three receptions on screen passes including the playoffs, with the second in the league. Baltimore's defense allows over six hundred and sixty receiving yards on throws behind the line of scrimmage. That's the seventh most in the league, so a little bit of a favorable matchup there. There's not a lot of inconsistencies that exist within Baltimore's defense, so you have to find the few that do exist, and you have to attack those throughout the game. And I think our offensive pointed know Joe Brady has soon doing that all week.
And with that being said, the Bills are one and a half point underdogs at home. I was a little surprised, but that lot by that line. But does a team pay attention to that or care that they're going into this one like as an underdog at home?
The team's heard it. I think all week this group has heard about how they're the underdog and how they're, you know, no expected to win this one on home. Kurf and all that does is motivate this group. Buffalo loves to be an underdog. They love to be counted out. It helps motivate them. So I think the group is a a little bit happy that they have some things within the matchup that they can lean on to be like, you know what, We're going to let this fuel us and watch what happens on Sunday night. So I think being underdogs on their home turf, we'll see how that works out for the Bills with the type of energy that they take the field with.
Well, speaking of motivation, the MVP is really going to come down to Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. The season, right, Lamar got the edge for the first team All Pro. How much do you think Josh was paying attention to that? Does he care and does that also add to the motivation of this game?
Josh Allen, when you asked him about awards that are just awards for himself and not for the team, he says he doesn't care about it. There have been certain footballs that have been a part of records that he has broken. I can't remember a certain one else the top of my head, but he earned some record this season during season and you would think, Okay, this is a touchdown ball, that's a record ball. You want to keep it. And after the game, Allan talked about giving the ball to a fan, and I'm thinking, why would you want to give away a football that you threw a touchdown pass with that earned you a new record. But that's just the type of player he is. Of course, I think when you look back on your accolades, you want an MVP under your belt if you're the type of quarterback who can contend with the best, and Josh Allen is exactly that. But when he's been asked about the MVP all season long, all Josh Allen has said, all I want to do is to win a Super Bowl and to get my team there. So I think that's priority number one for him. Obviously, playing up to a super high level and the caliber type of player that he is would hopefully earn you an MVP. I know the voting's already in, but it would be interesting if we lived in a world where the voting wasn't in yet, because this game would probably determine who win.
Yeah.
Maddie glad Bill's reporter joining us here a Fox Sports Football Saturday Mattie, I want to ask you. The NFL has tried to taper this down a little bit now now that the interviews are just virtual, but we still have coordinators interviewing for open head coaching positions who are preparing for the biggest games of their season. Joe Brady interviewed for a few spots earlier this week. Do you think Joe Brady will end up being in Buffalo next season or I think.
It will be a head coach going forward?
Gosh, I hope he's in Buffalo next season. We've just had one full year with him, and to potentially see him leave already, I think would be a bummer for a lot of people in the building. Of course, you want to see these offensive and defensive coordinators who have had success in the NFL be able to have opportunities to become head coaches. But Josh Allen was asked about hey man, what do you think about Joe Brady? And Josh Allen said he's terrible. Noo likes him, which I love a response like that. The team really loves Joe Brady as an offensive coordinator. He is the type of guy who can gel with anybody. He's younger, and you see that with a way that he interacts with his players. It just seems like everybody gets along really well and he really understands life from a player's aspect of things. And Sean McDermott, our head coach, was asked about the process of interviewing during the playoffs and McDermott said, look, it was different. It's gotten better. The NFL's done things to make it better and that's where we're at today. Doesn't mean it's perfect, and maybe we could see some changes over the next few years, but he did acknowledge like, hey, this used to be even worse than it is. So Brady did say, you know, I'm preparing for this matchup. That is the most important thing for me, And in these interviews, I'm just going to be myself and what I have to give is the type of operation I'm doing right now.
Interesting. I love that, Maddie. Have so much fun tomorrow. Thank you so much for joining us. It's gonna be a good one.
I cannot wait. Thank you so much. Guys, it's going to be a cold one.
Too, like, yeah, digit good luck, bundle up, yes, all right, thank you, Maddie. When we come back the dues and the don'ts in sports. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.
Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Martin Wise and Forcarman. We are broadcasting live from the Tarktalk Com studios in Los Angeles. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us. And it is time for the dues and the don'ts in sports.
Highlighting the dudes.
I love that putting us spotlight on the don't.
The subject brings me no joy.
That's insane.
It's time for the dues and the don'ts in sports.
I'm gonna start with the big do here and I mentioned this off the top of the show. Do give back to your community. In the wake of these devastating buyers in La, our sports teams and figures have stepped up incredibly for those affected. Clippers owner See Balmer donated fifteen million dollars to those affected by the Eton fire, also hosting the fire aid concert into a dome at the end of the month show, Hey Otani donated five hundred thousand dollars, Freddy Freeman donated three hundred thousand dollars both to fire relief funds, and then all the LA sports teams came together and also donated eight million. And then yesterday the Dodgers and a few of the other big I think it was also a couple other stadiums had these big donation drive drive throughs for anyone affected that could come pick up supplies, players, People from all the different franchises and organizations were handing things out. So just in a week of absolute heartbreak throughout LA that that's something that made me smile. Thank you LA for showing up.
Do rep The crib Booker right now is playing the Detroit Pistons Phoenix Suns in Detroit forty two to thirty seven of the score for.
Those interested, Phoenix in the lead.
Devin Booker is wearing exclusive Nike book ones with the Lions logo on the shoe. I like it when athletes don't pretend like all of a sudden they're fans of the every team that like, yeah, just because you got drafted the Phoenix doesn't mean all of a sudden you gotta be a Cardinals fan. O.
There you go.
Oh.
I love that.
We see it with Trout all the time. Huge, he's like after the season, he's he's in his field seats at Philly for equals. He'll probably be there tonight, So right. I love that I tell people that all the time I've being like a team reporter and having worked for other teams. It's like you have to remember, like just because you're working for a certain team, like you grew up, you grew up a fan of who.
You grew up a fan of. So I love that.
Okay, do equally pay women's sports. Cuba approved paying women's basketball tournament teams for the first time, you guys, So these women's teams will be played for playing games in the NCAA Tournament each March, just like the men have for years, under a plan approved on Wednesday at the NCUBA Convention. Honestly, it's like crazy to think that they weren't before, but then not surprised when you saw all the viral videos the last few years of them posting photos of what their gym looked like compared to the men's gyms, especially.
After last year when the women's championship game had.
Millions of more viewers than the men's It's about damn time everybody watches women's sports.
Do not go like that Eagles fan who was yelling at the Packers fan on Sunday in that game, Colin her ugly and down all types of names because he got.
Fired from his job. So you know, I always watch.
These games and you see the people dressed up with the face and all it is, and I always think they got work tomorrow, all.
Of them, because those tickets are expensive. Oh well, you know who doesn't have work tomorrow anymore? That guy don't be.
You know what?
That is karma at its finest, right, there be a good person, all right. I gotta dude, do have fun at your wedding. A Bills fan was getting married and during the vows, the husband's vows, he surprised his wife with Bill's ticket, saying, I promise to be honest and not hold secrets from you, but some secrets are actually good sometimes. And I had to hold onto the secret of a bonus gift to give you during our wedding, and it was these Bills tickets, and she like screamed so loud and freaked out like it looked like she was more excited about those bill tickets than her actual.
Wedding and getting married to this man.
It was.
It was beautiful.
I love when sports are intertwined in a relationship, and that was just beautiful.
Do be like Pat McAfee using that field goal kicking competition? Yeah, to raise money for charity. I appreciate that. I don't really watch the show too much. Well, I wasn't where it was happening until the last couple like pre playoff games.
This is kind of cool. Yeah, and then I found out that it happens all the time, so it's due to me. So do be like that, are like.
Because he'll he'll double it. He'll double it. Like if they miss, you get another shot, like, hey, double or nothing. Let me see if you make this one. Do you think you can make a field goal?
Absolutely not.
But I've tried before and I, yeah, there's the whole lead up is tough for me.
Oh yeah, no.
I I used to in high school because I was a soccer player and I took all I took the free kicks. I played in college and my buddy, who was also a soccer player, ended up I think making the USC team as a kurse. So it's like I used to, like after practice kind of kick around with him, which was.
Fun scene though basketball for me, and yeah I knew early it was over.
Yeah, No, I was a foot coordination, not the hand eye coordination.
One last one, do have fun.
On social media, this woman posted a photo of her giant six month old baby six months thirty one pounds, and the Detroit Lions commented immediately with just in all caps dibbs, which is incredible, said as a big old baby.
All right, when we come back.
NFL Divisional Round preview is next year. Listening to Fox Sports Radio, Welcome to hour two of Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Martin Weiss and for Carmen Vitali.
Today.
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us. We are broadcasting live from the tire dot Com studios. Tyrek dot com will help you get there, an unmatched selection, fast free shipping, free road has a protection and over ten thousand recommended installers. Tirerac dot com the way tire buying should be Now. I started the top of hour one with this and I want to do it again an hour two, I just want to I want to give a huge shout out to everyone who has been helping donate, volunteer their time, their money to everyone affected by these fires in LA, because it's it's really hard to wrap your head around the devastation and the heartbreak if you're not here and seeing it firsthand. And if you are, there are ways that you can help. Shout out to Homage. I am wearing their City of Angels shirts today where one hundred percent of their proceeds are going to be donated to those affected by the LA fires. We saw all the LA sports teams team up with fanatics for the LA Strong shirts. All of those proceeds will also be donated to the LAFD Foundation the Red Cross. There's also going to be an event at COSM next week for the Wrexham game where all of those proceeds are going to be going to the fire relief efforts. And we've seen just you know, our sports figures step up and teams to do amazing contributions and help with Steve Balmer, Clipper's owner of donating fifteen million dollars, show Hey Tani donating five hundred thousand dollars, Freddy Freeman donating three hundred thousand dollars, and all the LA sports teams coming together to donate millions of dollars and really just have these donation drives and helping anyway we can, because as we said, you know, it's just beginning.
This is just the beginning. There's going to be so much.
To rebuild, and so much in terms of not only rebuilding your life, but jobs and community around LA. So I thank you LA for showing up for one another because in the midst of all the heartbreak, that has definitely been a little bright light and smile to everyone. And if you're listening, it has been weird talking about sports in LA, but I hope this just gives you.
Something to smile about and maybe.
Lifts your spirits and your day, because that's what we're here to do, and we're gonna have some fun, happy divisional round weekend. We already went through the AFC games last hour, as Martin just updated everybody, it's been a field goal game in the first game with the Texans at the Chiefs.
Right now, it's.
Still six to three and I haven't fully been paying attention, but there were a couple miscatches by Chiefs receivers, Right, I saw it kind of out of the corner of my eyes.
Big defensive it's yeah.
My takeaway so far over the first nine minutes of this games, these boys.
These boys are here hitting. Yeah, they are hitting. It's a high level of regulated violince that's it.
Yeah.
I saw Patrick Mahomes get taken down.
Both quarterbacks have taken several shots so far.
Oh okay, Yeah, it's gonna okay.
It's like you don't think it's gonna be You.
Thought it was going to be a close game because you thought was like a touchdown game.
Texan should be able to compete here.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think the defense is real and we've seen it so far.
Yeah, yes, we have.
Okay, Well, now it's time for the NFC and we're going to start in Detroit. Lions coming off their number one seed by and the Lions.
Needed that by week.
They have been dealing with so many injuries like throughout the whole season, but they are getting running back David Montgomery back, which is a plus. But this is the first time, like in Lions franchise history, they have ever had that one seed. Remember, just last year was their first home playoff game in thirty years.
This is the most sustained success lines I've ever had.
Ever had ever.
The Lions know how big of a deal this is not only for them in the franchise, but they're fans in that city, and that city is a ride or die city. They want it so bad. The way Dan Campbell has turned this team into winners, it's crazy when you look at what he's done in four years, like in the four seasons season one, three thirteen in one, season two, nine and eight, last year twelve and five, made the playoffs. This year fifteen and two like that. That is incredible to be able to take a franchise and turn it around that quickly, really in three seasons, and they've gotten consistently better each year. They're prepared, they're ready for this moment. They're now rested, they're at home, and it kind of feels like this is their window to get to the super Bowl because there's a good chance we kind of talked about this you did with Matty glab with the Bills, but there's a good chance they're gonna lose some coordinators like their OC Ben Johnson has been interviewing DC Aaron Glenn.
They've both been interviewing a lot of places, it.
Seems like a safe bet both of those guys are gonna be gone.
That's a big difference.
That's a huge, just complete franchise change.
Well it can be. Here's the thing, dan Quinn, I'm not Dan Quinn. Dan Campbell didn't hire Ben Johnson, believe it or not. Matt Patricia did and he was a holdover on Dan Campbell's staff.
Interesting and end up getting promoted.
Yeah, I just think that's an interesting thing because one of the reasons why, in my opinion, the San Francisco forty nine ers were able to prior to this season consistently be in the NFC fight, if not the favorite, they were in the.
Fight the last four years. Uh rookie quarterback all of that. You know.
Part of the reason why, I think, is because Kyle Shanahan has a very underrated skill as a head coach, and that's hiring and firing coordinators, being.
Able to hire the right guy. I mean, think about it.
Think about if if Antonio appears hired Cliff Kingsbury as his offensive coordinator instead of letting him get to Washington.
How different I mean. I've sat to Antonio Pierce, I meant to say, here we go three two one.
If Matt eber Flus hired Antonio Pierce as his offensive coordinator instead of letting him go to Washington, could you have imagined how much different Caleb William's rookie year would have been, how different the feelings would have been, And we wouldn't even probably would not be seeing Washington in the postseason and damn near not definitely not in the divisional round. Right, So I think that hiring and firing is it's almost more important than what scheme you run in the NFL. To me, it's got to be the right fit. And so it's gonna that's that's something Dan Campbell's gonna have to now think he's gotten better at it, you see.
But he didn't hire Ben Johnson. He promoted him from with then, so we'll see.
Yeah.
But then also he had the eye, knew knew that it was, knew that he was the right guy, which is also like it takes that.
And and stuck with Aaron Glenn at a time when a lot of people were trying to grew writy for him to move off of Aaron Glenn stuck with him. And now Aaron Glenn's probably going to repay that with going on and getting his own head coaching.
Job, oh for sure. Yeah.
Uh So two things. First off, that Anthony like he I know, he already took some hell for like how quickly he moved off Anthony Lynn as the original head coach, I mean offensive coordinator that brought in Ben Johnson. But yeah, you talk about the desirability of Ben Johnson. I had seen stories covering the Lions that Zach Taylor like knew Ben Johnson very well.
I believe they both coached together.
Okay, I forget exactly where it was off the top of my head now, but like he made a big push multiple times to get Ben Johnson off the Lions coaching staff before they made him offensive.
Coordinator, to get him off like he wanted.
He wanted Ben Johnson his own offensive court multiple times in there. And I think he, like Zach Taylor, who's a very good offensive mine, knew exactly what Ben Johnson was and like how desirable all of this is. So it's just a matter of just kind of what could have been for the Bengals if they had Johnson.
Yeah, no, I mean there's a lot of what is but it's this feels like having this group together of coordinators and the team and what on where they are right now.
Also the way.
They the Lions went out last season in the NFC Championship game kind of falling apart. This just feels like their year to get to the big game and they are the favorite, Like they're still the super Bowl favorite to get there.
Yeah, and the first time in Line's history. This is for ever that they've been Super Bowl favorites.
That's also crazy, the first time ever.
So yeah, you only get a certain opportunity.
Like I'm a Saints fan, right, I remember when the Saints were abxactly terrible.
Yeah, then Drew Brees.
Games Champayton came, you had to win there and they got one. Yeah, but then you had a Minnesota miracle. Then the Rams benefit from Bill Vinovis not throwing the most obvious passing interference call ever and then go on to score thirteen from three points in the Super Bowl and win it.
Like you're like you, I mean, it's just things happen. Weird things happen along the way.
If you have a Hall of Fame coach, hall of Fame quarterback, so you got if you're knocking on the door, you better kick it there.
Yeah, you got to take advantage of your opportunities. Now, don't get me wrong. Commanders have had an incredible season.
You guys.
They were my team to watch and they prove that they're going to be a force for years to come. Jayden Daniels has had himself a Rookie of the Year season. He's proving that he's their quarterback of the future. But they're playing with house money right now. Right I don't think anyone expected anything. They had a great win in Tampa last weekend. Jade Daniel's big part of that. But the Lions are just the more complete team. They're the experienced team. Was so much more to lose, as we had just mentioned, But then also can go in the Commander's favor because we've seen that happen before. When you have nothing to lose and you us go everything you got.
It's sure, and I mean just because I mean Jayden Daniels is not experienced, but he's surrounded with a ton of experience. Bobby Wagners the team ZA hurts. On that team, there's guys who's won super Bowls on their roster. Dan Quinn has a ton of experience in big games, you know. So it's not now, don't be wrong. Jayde Dani's most important guy, yes, but there's a lot of experience around him and he's surrounded. And I think that Washington intentionally built that team out in a way, knowing that Jayden Daniels was going to be a rookie obviously and be a young player for the next few years.
They built that team out with a ton of veterans.
Yeah, smarte surround him with the experience. Now, Carmen will be joining us at the bottom of the hour with some more insight on that game. But let's go to the next Rams at Eagles, And for personal reasons, I am so excited for this game, and it's hard because I'm torn. I want the Rams to win for La obviously, and you can tell that they're playing with that added La emotion that we also saw on Monday with all the fires and destructions happening. They're carrying the weight and the pride of their city on their shoulders. You heard them talk about it before the game, during the game, after the game, and all week here at practice. But then you have Saquon Barkley having the season of his career, and I also want to see him win, but I don't want to see him do it through my rams and.
The rams gout.
You know, they they have some positive things going for them. Obviously after starting the season one and four like then, coming off the bye, they've been a completely different team. They went nine to three, winning five in a row before resting their starters in that final game and losing. But I believe they also have a better head coach and Sean McVay. I believe they have a better quarterback in Matthew Stafford. This is a duo that has won a Super Bowl together, the only Super Bowl winning duo in the NFC. And now they're gonna know how to defend Saquon and learn from their mistakes because Saquon went.
Off, yes, absolutely off.
In that Week twelve game two months ago, he had the best game of his career, set the Eagles rushing record with two hundred and fifty five yards and two touchdowns.
I just.
Can't.
It's hard because it's also there's a lot working in Phillies favor. Right, It's supposed to be in the low thirties, ninety five percent of precipitation which could be possible snow or slush or rain before kickoff depending on.
The weather or how low the thirties are.
Yeah, and Philly really has a home field advantage.
Like Philly fans.
They're nine and one at home this season, and they're like, Philly fans are next level. They're crazy. I personally, I love it. It's one of my favorite fan bases, like outside of la My mom's from Philly, so there's like that home connection. And I really got to know him during the World series, the Phillies World Series run, and I love them, I do, which is why it's like hard and I'm torn in that sense, but also like we had a Rams rookie make a rookie mistake. Jared Verse, he was he came out and said, I hate Eagles fans. They're so annoying. I hate Eagles fans. When I see that green and white, I hate it. I actually get upset. I actually genuinely get hot. No reason to give them added like bulletin board material here, Like Saquon responded to him, like, probably not the smartest thing to say when you're coming to Philly. I've been on the other side when I was with the Giants, and even if I felt some type of way, probably wouldn't give them any extra fuel. I'm pretty sure Philly fans have seen that. No, and he's just it's just gonna add it's just going to add to everything. It's it's going to be cold, it's going to be loud. There is going to be so much added emotion on both sides. I think everyone rallying behind Saquon and Philly and then obviously the Rams in La.
It's so Alex, I don't know how much of a gambler you are, if at all.
But oh you just like Fox Bet and Gambling Show.
Okay, so so yeah, right, okay, so you know then if the Chiefs are eight to nine point favorites, the Lions are eight to nine point favorites, and the Eagles are six five to seven point favorites, so we're gonna win.
You brought this line?
Yeah, every one in them, not everyone, but every you know what, the Jos will have that teaser, yes, right, they'll all have that seven point teacher. Though.
This is the game that's gonna blow it form.
The Rams are gonna win this game, Yes, yes, I think the are gonna win this game. Okay, so people concerns about the weather understood. They did beat the Jets though in a rainstorm just recently. It's not gonna know, the Jets aren't that great of a team, but I'm saying that's not It's not like they have played indoors every single game of the year. They just most recently played a wet game in that five game.
Cold.
Matthew Stafford, while in Los Angeles, he's been here what five years or so, four years or so the Pine prior, he spent that entirety in Detroit.
Yeah, but that like Detroit indoors, like he did have.
Exact game, you had to.
Go on the road to Chicago, had to go on the road to Green Bay late in the year. Matthew Stafford is not somebody who's afraid of playing in the elements.
In my opinion, if the Rams can keep him.
Up right, they will win this game, because, like you said, it's McVeigh and Stafford versus Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni in that regard, I'll take the West Coast side of that every single time, especially in late game.
Situations like That's the thing.
If this is a close game, if the Eagles go up, Like, if either team gets a ten point lead, which team would you expect to be able to come back easier?
The Rams with their passing game.
There's also like the team chemistry, right we saw towards the end of the year, the Eagles are beating themselves. There's turmoil within the locker room and they were starting their own internal drama. While you have the Rams on the other side, you have Pooka coming out saying that Cooper Cup has been like his big brother and best friends and they would do anything for each other. So this team not only has the chemistry in the Rams, but now they have that added emotion of carrying the city of Los Angeles during this devastation on their back to give them something to smile about. Sure, yeah, I yeah, I love hearing that. Okay, we're gonna take a quick break here when we come back. Another LA team, the Dodgers, have been putting in the work this offseason, both on and off the field. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Martin Wise and for Carmen Today. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with thoughts. We are coming to your life in the tart dot Com studios in Los Angeles, and shortly after the show, our podcast will be going up. Just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts.
Now you guys.
The Dodgers they have been putting in the work this offseason. First, huge shout out for what they did yesterday hosting a donation drive for anyone affected in the LA Fires, players and members of the team handing out supplies and anything that anyone needed. But they also announced yesterday yesterday it was a big day that they signed the hottest pitcher on the market. Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is now a Dodger. He was deciding between three teams Dodgers, Padres, Blue Jays.
He might have had a little help here teammate.
His now teammate, Tyler Glass, now has the same agent and happened to call his agent while he was with Sasaki and told Roki, if you want the best pitching development, come to the Dodgers. If you want the best contract any want to win, come.
To the Dodgers.
I think it also helped having two of his Team Japan teammates on the team as well. In Otani and Yamamoto. But man, that Dodgers starting rotate right now.
You guys just remember Blake Snell. They signed Blake Snell.
They have Tyler glassnow Showhyo Tani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
So this is okay. I was just double checking.
This is a ten year, fifty billion dollars with one hundred and eighty million.
It's like a minor league deal basically because he's coming over early. So basically when you come over early from Japan, you can't get as big as a deal.
I got it here, he says, when you're younger than twenty five, you're an amateur international free agent.
So so he could just.
If just just for clarification, he could have stayed in Japan for the two years and then signed a huge deal, yaga deal.
Yeah, he chose.
He decided, And you know, a lot of fans obviously that are not Dodger fans, are very upset with this move, saying it's not fair, the system's rigged, it's broken with the Dodgers just like basically putting together this super team. But I just would like to remind everybody the Dodgers are doing just what the Yankees used to do decades ago. We just pay their players and they win, and they're creating an environment where players want to come and play. And Roki Sasaki chose to come to the Dodgers. It was his choice.
This is the benefit or this is the the impact of very much not to be like, not to equate the two in terms of success. So I think Sho Tani is better at his job than Deon Sanders' is his right now.
But when you see like the prime effect, this.
Is a show effect.
You hire, you pay him a billion dollars, and you defer it all and all, all of that works with whatever, right they all of a sudden, Yamamoto's like, hey, wait a minute, I like that deal. I'll take it too. And then this kid is like, you know, wait, I see what these two guys who were probably were.
Legends legends in Japan in Japan.
Yeah right, I see what the Michael Jordan and the lebron are doing. If they're playing the team right exactly, I mean Japan. I'll go ahead and join that team. Yeah, and kudos to them, because this is the type of thing I can applaud this. Go ahead and scout, yes, because like he might not work out, but you know what, if he does, then boom you hit. And if he didn't, guess what, you still got the guy everybody else wanted.
He is absolutely insane.
I don't know if you remember watching him in the WBC when they were playing Team USA, Like rookie Sasaki is like an incredible talent. Incredible talent, like the fact that they have the three best pitchers coming out of Japan in Otani, Yamamoto and Sasaki is it's going to be really exciting, extremely exciting.
His agent said, here, one of the factors you have two typical ones, market sized location team success.
Right.
I didn't want to go to the Pittsburgh Pirates and waste the way for underseax to two games, no offense to Pittsburgh, spent some money.
But one of the.
There's only four here, Yeah, one of them is whether the team already had Japanese players.
Yes, it's huge.
You have to remember, like there's also like that that culture shock with not just like a player from Japan coming to US to the US, like the language barrier. Now he's going to have people that he knows that he's comfortable with who have already gone through this year's prior, but the game's also a little different.
The ball's a little different, the mounds a little different.
But if you have someone there that you are comfortable with, that you know that you can communicate with, that can walk you through what helped them get comfortable in a completely new league, new country.
New teamation stakes.
Yeah, all of it.
The right type of interpreters of people around you. I wouldn't even try to be funny, like a little.
Bit everything, Like, it's huge to be able to feel comfortable outside of like everything else with the game being different, a little different for a pitcher and the language completely different.
Like now you have.
Two people that you've played with, you've won with on Team Japan when you were here in the United States, some of these top players in that he's now going to be teammates with. Is just I'm really happy for him. I knew this was going to happen the moment Otani went to the Dodgers, I was like, this is now going to be Team Japan, and every player that's going to come over from Japan is now going to want to play with Shoho Toni because there is such mad respect not only for like who he is as a person, but the player that he is, and he is the biggest superstar in Japan.
There's a lot of.
Like a reverence. It feels like like like in America. In the United States, people see like there's some people out there who watch like Lebron's or whoever, or maybe maybe.
Basketball is or the wrong sport.
But in football, for example, like Lamar Jackson this week said, you know, no, I'm competing against Josh Allen, like it's no beef, but we're not also going out for dinner. Like maybe when we all hang him up and we're sitting in Canton, we could be pals then, But now I'm trying to whoop his ass on Sunday exactly. It doesn't seem like Yamamo. It wasn't like no, no no, I want to be the best picture on it, so I gotta go to the Giants. He's like, no, no, no, I want to join up with Matt. I want to play with That's like Japanese.
It's in Japanese culture too. It's just the respect factor.
Also quick note, they also signed Haisan Kim to a three year, twenty two million dollar deal. Korean infielder. He won KBO's Golden Glove the last three years at second base, also won it at shortstop, which ultimately led to Dodgers to trading away Gavin Lux since Mookie bats will be playing shortstop next season, they resigned Taoskar Hernandez. So this Dodgers team is just I not only champs, but getting better. They just keep getting better and I love it so much. Market Martin, work and double duty. Tell us what's trending.
We are knocking on the door of the first touchdown of this game.
If Kansas City can go ahead.
And thank you for he lookt and gold.
Let's see a handoffs, can't yeah, walk into the end zone. There we go, go'll make the score twelve to three. Right now, how did the city get down there? Well, a forty nine yard catch from Travis Kelcey, who's got two catches seventy two years.
We're talking about. He comes alive in the postseason.
And look, my man was rumbling, stumbling, trying to get down and for you, he got caught by that safety and went down. You know what he did, Yeah, he danced like it was a Tailor Swift concert.
Yeah, Oh you know, he shut it off.
There you go nice right now, extra point good from Harrison Bucker, thirteen to three. The score for thirty six remaining in the first half ce Jay Stroud's sixty seven yards passing, Joe Mixon thirty eight yards rushing c J. Stroud also thirty on the ground. Mahomes as one hundred and fourteen so far through the air. Like I said earlier, seventy two of those to Travis Kelcey yave, you're worthy, also chipping in in the first half thirty six yards receiving himself. Not much of a running game so far for Kansas City. Twenty yards rushing in total between four different players.
Patrick Mahomes has fifteen of them.
In the NBA right now, the Detroit Pistons have a sixty nine to sixty seven league over the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker leading all scores with twenty three for Phoenix, Tobias Harris leading Detroit with seventeen.
We're just let's see you.
The coaching searches. The Dallas Cowboys have interviewed former New York Jet head coach Robert Salad for their head coaching job to interview virtual interviews with the Saints doing Eagles office coordinator Kellen Moore and the Jaguars, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and the Bears interviewed Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Floredes for the head coaching job. That one in person Lions Commanders kicks off at eight o'clock. It'll be the first time the Lions host a home game in the NFL playoffs as the one seed. A lot of first for Detroit right now, but right now it's a first for me to be a fill in host about to interview the actual hosts of the show.
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You're listening to Fox Football Saturday at Alex Curry here with Martin wise In for Carmen. We are broadcasting live from the tart dot Com Studios in Los Angeles, and as you heard, it is time for our next guest, you know her, you love her, live from Chicago, my co host and NFL and Fox writer Carmen Vitally.
Hi, guys, yeahople transition, Martin right, excellent, done.
So, Karen, let's start in the NFC North.
The Lions secured the one seed in the NBC for the first time in franchise history.
They got a much needed rest.
During the bye. They're now getting running back David Montgomery back. Is this the window? Does it still feel like this is the window for the Lions to win it all?
Yeah? I don't think that the window ever closed. I mean, I know that they went through so many different injuries, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But you saw Aaron Glenn pull off miracles weekend week out with just how he adjusted his scheme. I mean, the Lions started blitzing a hell of a lot more as the season went on. When they lost you know, one secondary player after another, linebacker after a defensive tackle, and now again with getting David Montgomery back. I mean, Ben Johnson made up plenty of adjustments. Jamiir Gibbs can do it all in that offensive backfield, but having the tandem of him and Dave Montgomery back is going to give them so.
Much more to so.
But with that line's team to stick on them for a moment, how do you think, I mean, we're seeing both of these guys the offense of a defensive coordinators getting I mean, they are the hottest girls of school and promise next week, right, how are they managing both? Because last year they kind of came out of nowhere. I think to a lot of people right now, they are full steam ahead. Everybody sees you coming. How do you think they're managing both the pressure of expectation and also the pressure of interviewing for what could be your dream job while preparing for the biggest game of your season.
Yeah, well, I mean that bye week then really comes in handy, not only from the rest aspect of getting your guys healthy on the field, but then yeah, you have two coordinators that are going through head coaching interviews that now have a little bit extra time to take a breath. But I know from talking to people in that building, I mean there are nights that these guys are spending overnight in the office. A lot of these coaches have caught under their death and they have been tinkering with this scheme week in and week out. They are working so incredibly hard, and I expect to see some really fun stuff now that we're getting into the postseason with the Lions and just everything that Ben Johnson has set up with all the different packages, all of the different looks that he's shown throughout the season. He has so many different things that he can call on and evolve and really catch their opponents off guard with So I'm really excited to see how that works out. And that's the reason that you've been able to see them kind of stay ahead of everything despite the fact that they're not the underdogs. They've had a target on their back all season long, and yet still they got a franchise record fifteen wins out of the deal even with that target.
All right, let's switch gears to the Viking. Sam Darnold did not have a good performance in the wildcard round, and now the Vikings are out despite having a fourteen win season, and they are going to get a healthy JJ McCarthy back after.
His knee injury.
So do you think Minnesota will try to keep Sam Donald next year?
I think this might sound weird. I think they have more of a shot of keeping him now than they did before, because this is something where you're now going to get him at a little bit of a discount. I think given the recency of some of his struggles, the struggles in big games that you saw out of Sam Darnold, that doesn't by any stretch of the imagination, at least to me or race what he was able to do this year and the steps and the strides that he took forward. But I really don't think that Minnesota has ever deviated from their plan of Yeah, Jason McCarthy had to rehab instead of developed. He suffered a step back, and you know, has had issues with getting his knee healthy. But at the same time, he's still now going to get a big benefit of a full off season. He's going to be able to develop. With Kevin O'Connell. I could absolutely see the Vikings still kind of having a bridge quarterback or a very high end backup to back him up when the season starts, whether they start with JJ or whether they start with that person, which was the plan obviously this year, whether that's Sam Donald or Daniel Jones or someone else we haven't thought of yet. I'm not sure, but the fact that maybe there's question marks now. If Sam Donald is that starting caliber guy, then maybe you can actually bring him back on a two year deal worth like twelve million a year something like that, or maybe another team picks him up for that, gives him a Baker Mayfield type deal, gives him something like that. You know, guys like the Raiders or or would be one of these other the Giants or on one of these other quarterback maby teams if they're not able to get a quarterback in this draft. I think Sam Donald is a really good option because he is he a world beater. I don't know yet. I think that there's obviously that jury is still out seeing that he struggled in big time games, but that could be something he could get better at, especially with the strides he took this year overall to get him It's fourteen.
Wins, Carmen.
I want to talk about the other side of that Lion's Commander's game. The Washington Commanders kind of playing with found money, like they're not.
Really supposed to be a rookie quarterbacks don't normally win on the road. That's not that's supposed to go.
And I think they'll have a decent shot offensively here at least to be able to score points on.
A Lion's defense.
But do you look at the Commander's results this season, so many of them were like last literal last second with this. Well, if Tyreek Stevens is paying attention, who knows if the Commanders are even here right now? And I'm watching CJ. Stroud and I think a lot of people had them penciled as this would be a sophomore slump in a year they won the division and won a playoff game for him. So how do you, Jade and Daniels like deal with that expectations and like just kind of going forward because I think people I could see a similar thing happening.
What happened to CJ this year, happened to Jayden next year?
Yeah, I mean again, it's you coming out of the next year where people kind of know your mo They've paid more attention to you, they have more tape on you, they can be more prepared for you. There is so much though that really does rely on Jaden Daniels as far as this Washington offense goes. I mean, he's their leading rusher on top of the fact that he is the quarterback and he's making all of these throws and this is an aggressive, quote unquote aggressive offense. This is a team that has gone forward on fourth down, I believe the most of any team in the league. They have an eighty seven percent success rate on fourth down. That's by far and away the best in the league. And a lot of that has to do with Jaden Daniels himself. And you see him being the reason for this success in the offense. So I do think that, you know, you see, you might see a little bit of a slump now that people kind of have a little bit more tape on Jayden Daniels and they know what he can do and what he's capable of. He's not taking anybody by surprise. But at the same time, I think he's gotten more experience than even CJ. Stroud at his first year because he was solely responsible for so much of the offense. And this off season is going to be should be good for the Commanders. I mean, you have the coaching staff in place, the GM, you you're under new ownership, You're going to have cap space, You're going to have some you know, draft picks to play with. They are only going to get more weapons for him. So I really think that he's going to continue to ascent. I'm so impressed with what Jane Daniels has been able to do, despite what I said probably last week when he was playing the Buccaneers, because the Buccaneers still have my heart, but if it was any other team, I'm rooting my head off for Dane Daniels because I think he's such a special player.
Okay, so then what are you expecting in this game and who are you taking because you know this is also like a really big deal for the Lions and the fans, like their first one seed, like it at home, like everything around this.
Yeah, I mean, I've witnessed firsthand how loud Ford Field gets, especially now in the postseason, and how much Detroit as a city is behind the Lions, and how much momentum they have going in their favor, and again with the hell that they're getting back on defense and the way that they can make quarterbacks uncomfortable. That's something I'm looking towards to affect Jane Daniels, to try to rattle him. But he does. He can scramble, he can get rid of the ball quickly, he can throw it downfield. That's something you're You're just going to have to contain Jane Daniels as much as possible and then score points. I do think that the Lions have the edge just with their ability and their potency for scoring, with how many offensive weapons they have and Jared Goff, who at this point is an extremely experienced quarterback not only in the regular season but in the postseason as well, the Lions are going to have everything, you know, kind of going for them in this game. But I do think with how aggressive the Commanders have been all season long, I really don't put it past them to give the Lions a really true fight. Like if I was betting against the spread for this game, I would take to the Commanders to cover, because I think it's going to be closer than much people than many people.
Think it's gonna be a fun one. Later, Gary, thank you so much for jumping on even though you're out of town.
We appreciate you.
Of course. Of course that's fun.
Guys.
All right, we're gonna take one more break here, but when we come back, we're making our NFL and College Football Championship picks.
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Martin Wise. Thank you for hanging out with us today. We are broadcasting live from the Tar dot Com studios in Los Angeles, and it is time for our NFL and College Football Championship picks. Producer Patrick first of all, Yeah, it's been a couple of weeks.
We were last week. Yeah, give me a little give me a little update.
Our update time. So with our last week we did wasn't the wild card it was week eighteen.
Yeah, it was the last time we did picks. You did pretty good, Alex.
You went three and two.
However, yeah Morman went four and on. Wow. Okay, so she gained a little.
Bit on you.
All right, you're still in the lead. Fifty seven thirty two for you, fifty to thirty nine. Okay, she's in the same ballparking.
Yeah yeah.
But now now to time for divisional time. We have four right now, let's start with the first one. Oh, it's the matchup of all matchups. It's the Ravens at the Bills. Ravens are one and a half point favorites. Carmen chose the Bills on this one.
Alex, you go okay, So Ravens at Bills is the game of the week. And honestly, I was shocked that the Ravens are one and a half point favorites on the road in Buffalo.
This is the game of the week.
This is a legacy game for both Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. But I'm giving the Bills the edge at home. I just it feels like this is Josh Allen's year and a year where I don't think anybody had as high as expectations in years past, and he just blew everybody out of the water. I also think being underdogs at home is gonna have a little added motivation. Plus they were also the only team to like before they rested all their stars to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs this year, like they know how to show up. They both know. Both these quarterbacks are the MVP favorites right now. But I'm going to take the Bills. I'm feeling Bills Mark like chime in.
Yeah.
Well with Buffalo as well as for the show, I love that.
I kick it over.
I watched the Ravens loose to the Browns. I watched the Ravens loose to the Greaters.
Shit, I can't do it.
I can't get over.
Yeah, I'm sorry, traumatized. Can't pick them a.
Three for three.
Well, I'm gonna go four for from going with the Bills, We're going to go back to where the two and Martin that do count. Here we have the Commanders and Lions is our next game. Lions are eight and a half point favorites. Carmen, of course, shows the Lions. Yeah, question is what are we doing?
Alex?
Yeah, I mean this should be I believe this should be a big Lions win here. It's their first time in franchise history, they're the one seed, They're coming off a bye. I'm much needed rest week because they have just been plugged with injuries this season. They're getting players back. I just there's there's so much on, Like, there's so much high expectations and hope and having this core group together, especially their coordinator's offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator with this crew to make that Super Bowl run.
So I think it's a Lions.
Home with the Lions as well forward down the field. Yeah, I just think, and I think it kind of broke ourd for him. I'd like them Tampa and Jaden Daniel's lack of experience cause it strikes here.
Yeah.
All right, well that's the halfway there. We got one more nfilm than a surprise entrant. Yes, the last one, we're gonna go with the Rams at the Eagles. Eagles are in fact home and six point favorites. Carmon chose the Eagles on this one. Alex, I think I know who you go in here.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Oh Yeah, we talked about this earlier Top of the Hour Rams at Eagles.
Rams are coming into this game with.
The weight of LA and the heart and the emotion on their shoulders, as we saw last week with that Domini win over the Vikings.
I'm I'm going.
With my heart and I'm going with LA. They have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL the last few months. They have a better coach in Sean McVay. They have a better quarterback in Matthew Stafford. They are the only coach quarterback Super Bowl winning duo in the NFC. And if it comes down to what the last couple of minutes, I'm putting my money on Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. And I think after getting completely embarrassed and blown out two months ago by the Eagles and Saguon Barkley, they got to figure out how to stop them, and they will.
I do think also with that, you know that that's tough fifty fifty five's that's a good three game stretch. Yeah, you know, in four quarters. I like the Rams here. I think that the reasons why people have not liked the.
Rams, I think are overblown, Like the outside. Yeah, they just played outside. I'm good with it. Give me Matthew Stafford and me c J. Stroud. I mean, I'm sorry Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay. Yeah.
And last year's playoff rematch in the NFC Championship Rams at Lions.
All right, last one is the Notre Dame. Ohis the national title game. Carmen Show's Notre Dame, Alex, go for it.
I've been saying Ohio State is a team to beat, so I'm gonna stick with it. I'm going with oho Ohio State. I'm sorry, family, had so much family go to Notre Dame.
Thank you so much.
Go Irish.
We'll see you next Saturday afternoon.
