Colin reacts to the first two games of the NFL playoffs!
He starts with the Ravens humiliating the Steelers and why the Steelers need to make a major change to shake things up after a long playoff drought (2:45).
Then, he pivots to the Texans blowing out the Chargers and explains why the Chargers are seriously lacking when it comes to weapons for Justin Herbert (14:15). He also breaks down why the Patriots head coaching opening is the most attractive job available and why Mike Vrabel is the perfect fit (27:00).
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The volume instant reaction on the steelers humiliating loss to Baltimore twenty eight to fourteen. I thought they'd hang around in this game without Zay Flowers, but instead Baltimore decided to just run fifteen straight times against Pittsburgh over the course of the first half. And I think that's what's most humiliating, is I mean, you knew that. You know, the Steelers offense has been really lifeless since George Pickens got hurt. He came back and made some big catches. He's a tremendous talent. But it's time for the Steelers to change direction with their coaching staff. This is not good enough. In the last eight years, the Jaguars have three playoff wins. The Steelers have none. I mean, just let that sink in. You know, I was looking over the course of this game. I was just fishing around on stuff. The last seven years, the Steelers have either missed the playoffs or lost by at least double digits in the first round. They're just not a competitive team in the upper tier. And remember it is easy to say, well, well, you know, they don't. They don't have losing records. I mean, a third of the teams in this league are a disaster. I mean, look, who's at the top of the draft. Again, it's your Tennessee's and your Jacksonville's and the Raiders and the Jets and the Bears, And it's the same twelve teams at the top of this draft seemingly every year or every other year. So I mean to say, you're better than those teams. So what I mean if you look at the league right now, for the last five years, it's been the same teams at the top, Baltimore and Buffalo and Kansas City and Philadelphia. San Francisco pulled back, they're in a bit of a rebuild, but the Rams are good again, the Lions for the last couple of years, Green Bay. It's the same teams at the top, and Pittsburgh is in that group. I mean, they're Listen. I'll get to Baltimore in a second, because you know, once again Lamar Jackson is dominant and he's now won three playoff games. Uh, he's gonna go probably to Buffalo in the next round, which is tough. But this game was really not just about the Ravens. They were almost ten point favorites at home, and they were gonna win this football game. It's the dominance of it without Zay Flowers. I mean, if you're Pittsburgh, you know what they're gonna do. They're gonna run the football a Flowers. You have no downfield attack and still jumped out to a lead. Pittsburgh was never competitive in this football game. And you know, I was looking at the rushing yards throughout the course of the game. It ended with about three hundred rushing yards for the Ravens and twenty nine for the Steelers, so that Pittsburgh can't even run the ball anymore. They can't run it. They got pushed around. They're not innovative. What are they? I mean if I said to you, what are they, well, they're physical. Well they got pushed around that Ipi Baltimore. And let's be honest. If Cleveland in the draft lands cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes or Shador Sanders of Colorado, Pittsburgh will have the fourth best quarterback in this division. The answer is not Russ. He just you know, they's just limitations. He looks for the first guy, can't see over the line many times. He doesn't have the elusiveness justin fields. How many quarterbacks in the NFL history, whose first five years in the league, you know, had a low passer rating, low completion percentage, got hurt a lot popped and became superstars. It doesn't happen. You can see it very very quickly. You know, people can complain about Justin Herbert, but Justin Herbert has put up prodigious numbers this year. He had a terrible game today, but he had a very good year. Justin field isn't the answer. I don't think Mike Tomlin's the answer. They need to be innovative and creative. Just because of the structure and stability of the owner ship. They're a top half team in the league. They're already in the top sixteen. But you start looking around at the emergence of some of these young quarterbacks. I mean, we just had a draft where it looks like Michael Pennix can play, and Jayden Daniels can play, and Bo Knicks can play, and you know, I mean, Kayleb Williams has a ton of talent. I mean every year it feels like we're adding more and more good quarterbacks. And yet Tomlin, a defensive coach, has never really sensed the urgency on offense. He's stuck with offensive coordinators that couldn't engineer an offense. The offensive line always feels like it's kind of second class. The run games a little better this year, but I mean, at some point, what are your standards? I mean, when you can't compete in the last two times, you can't compete against Baltimore, another physical football team. I mean, you guys, this is like the thirty eighth time or thirty ninth time Harbaugh and tomlin A faced off. I mean, you know, it's it's like an anniversary. I mean, they these guys know each other back and forth, and and Baltimore's missing their only real home run hitter receiver, and it's still twenty one nothing at half. I just at this point, I don't, I don't get it. Like I don't. I don't get the arguments. I mean, three AFC teams haven't won in the last month. The Titans who are drafting number one, the Browns who are drafting number two, and the Steelers what are we doing? And I heard al Michaels he and Herb Street. You know, they've gotten some stinkers this year, but they're they do a really good job and They're obviously very prepared. And at the end of the broadcast, as I was walking in here to do this, they I think it was Al said, you know, we've got some big They got some big decisions to make, and I don't know if the Steelers are capable of making them. I think everybody in Pittsburgh. I don't listen to Pittsburgh sports talk radio, but I mean, I think the conversation over the last several years has been pretty one sided on Tomlin, which is he's clearly competent. You know, he is one of the great underdog coaches. In fact, I think he is the best underdog coach from a betting perspective in the league the last decade. But now he's not good at that either. I mean, tonight was really embarrassing. They didn't do anything particularly well. I mean, the offense has basically thrown at to George Pickens and cross your fingers, but they don't have the quarterback right. The protection wasn't good tonight. They didn't really get after Lamar Jackson. I mean Lamar Jackson in the first half was thirteen to fifteen, one hundred and forty four yards, two touchdowns and eleven rushes at six yards of pop Jesus. Now, I want to talk about Lamar Jackson, so you can vote whoever you want MVP, anybody that's listened to me. No, I don't care about awards. I do think it's it's strange that how good Josh Allen has been since he entered the league and he doesn't have an MVP, But if Lamar went another, he went another. I've said this before. I don't think there's a single player in the NFL that feels like his city and his organization like Lamar Jackson does to Baltimore. He's the identity of the team. It's just toughness, physicality, intensity. He just feels like Baltimore is the perfect place for him. He's just a tough kid. He keeps getting better. He cares so deeply. I find Lamar Jackson to be a fascinating player. I love watching him play. I've said this before. You know, with Mahomes he wins so automatically. There's a little less drama when you watch Lamar Jackson. I'm fascinated by him because he does disappoint people in big spots, but he is just an all time talent and he is now a very good pocket passer, and if they do play the Buffalo Bills, that is going to be one for the ages. That's just going to be. I mean, it's just great. The two top quarterbacks in terms of production this year and stats in the NFL. Love both. But Baltimore is such a raw, solid organization, and I think if you're a Steeter fan, this is what should really trouble you. You know, for years and years, the Steelers and the Ravens have been well run, They draft well, they develop winning coaches. I mean, they always felt like they were, you know, like like relatives that didn't get along, Like they kind of had the same toughness and psyche and intimidation. Baltimore has completely separated with Lamar Jackson from Pittsburgh. They've completely separated. They're more innovative, they're more creative, They're more willing to take big swings and take chances. I just love everything about the Baltimore Ravens. I find, you know, I don't even know if I've ever been to Baltimore. I just love the organization, the ownership, the way they draft. I mean, it's easy to like Kansas City. I mean, they're winning all the trophies, but it's if you really examine how the Baltimore Ravens run their business. I think they're the best run organization in the NFL top to bottom. I mean Kansas City's and Baltimore, so they separated from Pittsburgh. I mean, I mean it's just everything I think, coaching, innovation, risk taking, quarterback play. I mean, just that line by Lamar Jackson that's like thirteen of fifteen six yards of rush, knowing that Zay Flowers isn't there. That's humiliating for Pittsburgh. That's like taunting. You know. I don't think the Steelers quit on Tomlin, but I didn't see a lot of juice. I just did not see a lot of effort. I mean at Baltimore took over. I'm reading a couple other things sent to me. Here are some quarterbacks that have more recent playoff wins than the Steelers, John Wolford, Blake Bortles, case Keenum, Daniel Jones, and Marcus Mariota. Steelers had two first downs in the first half. I mean, did they practice this week? I mean, how can you defend the Steelers anymore? Like Mike Comin, You'll get a job somewhere else. But it's just there's just nothing here. There's nothing to defend. Thank god they have stability and ownership, or they would be a bottom tier team. It's time to stop settling NFL playoffs. We're talking about NFL playoffs. You bet we are. Get in on the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Scoring touchdowns is a key to winning in the NFL playoffs, and the key tou scoring big is betting on them at DraftKings, the number one place to bet touchdowns. If you're ready to place your first bet, make it really simple. A player scoring a touchdown, go to DraftKings Sportsbooks app, download it, make your pick. Here's another reason to watch your favorite players crush it on the playoffs. If you're a new customer, you bet five bucks. That's it, five bucks, get two hundred in bonus bets instantly by betting just five bucks, so score big. 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Okay, well, instant reaction. First, Let's start with the Chargers thirty two to twelve lost to the Texans. So it's interesting that it was the Texans who last year as Demiko Ryans and CJ. Stroud re build the Houston Texans. They were the Chargers. They faced the Baltimore Ravens, got crushed in the playoffs, only had ten first downs today in a Baby Steps league. The Chargers were last year's Texans, so Justin Herbert four picks didn't have a good day. But it was always about the big picture with this franchise. So it was a really good job. But it wasn't a really good locker room. It wasn't a good culture, and they had to let their best receiver go to the Chicago Bears. So we all knew as they were winning this year, and I predicted ten to eleven wins, I thought they would be really good immediately. But their defense is more set than their offense. They need a running back, they need another receiver or two, they need another tight end. They don't have enough playmakers, and so it forces Justin Herbert to make plays that in against good teams on the road are tough to make. You just have to remember about this. Young quarterbacks have bad playoff games. Older quarterbacks do. But Joe Montana years and years ago, it was a strike abbreviated season. I think the Niners went twelve and two, thirteen and two, and they were going to play a playoff game against Minnesota Vikings. Montana got benched. He was so bad in the playoff game. Joe Montana got benched the goat before Tom Brady was benched in a playoff game. Brett Farve, who could be wild and a bit reckless, once through six interceptions in a playoff game. Go look it up. It was against the Rams. I think it was the greatest show on turf Rams. It was early two thousands, two thousand and two thousand and one. You know, Brett was trying to make plays and to keep up with the Rams. Six picks in a playoff game. I remember when I was a kid. It's like a trivia question. Dan Fouts, who to me was like Drew Brees accurate. To me, he was the most accurate thrower of the football. I don't know what his career completion percentage was, but Dan Fouts was an incredibly accurate quarterback. Beautiful feathery touch. He had five his worst, probably worst day as a pro. I don't know all his days, but it had to have been his only five interception game in the playoffs. And one player had four of them. I mean Dan Fouts, Joe Montana, Brett Farv again, quarterbacks trying to make plays. Quarterbacks you know as big favorites. Joe Montana, it happens. I mean Lamar started zero and two in the playoffs. Peyton Manning Owen to Eli Manning Owen two, it's hard and this offense again, they're best receivers in Chicago. They need I mean, you know, they they needed a right tackle and they drafted Lad Maconkey. But it was just the beginning. This second draft, this second free agent period. They also had a bunch of you know, cap limitations. This year it was about steps. Just like last year when Houston took over, it was a mess as a franchise. The fact they got to the playoffs was remarkable. And like Herbert you know, very early last year, c J. Stroud's pretty good and he was also it should be noted that c J. Stroud, as a young quarterback, is a much better quarterback at home. So the Houston Texans this year were a hard team to figure out. I said this, well, I picked them to make the playoffs, I think, but a lot of people thought they would step back, and they did. But c J. Stroud was a little bit all over the map when he didn't have Von Diggs or he didn't have Joe Mixon. But at home, I said this Friday on TV, at home, he's very good at home. He's now twelve and five with a passer rating over one hundred, like a lot of quarterbacks. He is more comfortable when he's at home. He's got pretty decent protection. He was spinning it. So Houston had four hundred yards of offense the Chargers. And we saw this about a month ago with the Chargers when they got blown out by Tampa. When they get up against an offense that's humming or Herbert struggling to get time to throw and he starts forcing stuff. Remember they got Chargers got blown out at home by Tampa, Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers that gave up a forty spot. So I just think it's about this was a bad team, now it's a good team. This was a bad culture, Now it's a good culture. Last year I thought the Chargers with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams had more firepower. And Austin Eckler, well they're all gone, and so it's it's you know, I stayed away from this game. I did not make it part of my Blazing five. I'm like, it's a stay away game. I did think the Chargers were a team that matched up with some of the better teams in the AFC. I thought they matched up with Kansas City pretty well. You know a team that Again, Kansas City's got a lot of good players, good coach, good quarterback, good pass rush, but kind of you'd want him to have one or two more offensive pieces. I thought they matched up very well with Kansas City, but will never know as they go down to defeat. It's again, I just look at what Jim Harbaugh's future is going to be. Remember Jim Harbaugh and Michigan last the beginning of his career ten wins, first season. What happened to Jim Harbaugh first several years at Michigan. He made the team immediately good, couldn't win bowl games, couldn't be the Ohio State struggle to beat Michigan State. So it's just a process. One of the things that frustrates me is that I try to stay away from recency bias and confirmation bias, and I make mistakes all the time on that. But go back Jim Harbaugh. It was amazing to watch all these commentators in college football crushing Jim Harbaugh for years. Michigan with Brady Hoak was a mess. The Chargers with Brandon Staley were a mess. Your first year, first year, Nick Saban was at Alabama. He lost to Louisiana and Row at home. The first year is about building culture, changing the locker room, and Harbaugh did that. I didn't feel great about this game. I didn't make it one of my five picks. I didn't expect this. I thought they would win. I thought they had the better coach and the better quarterback. But it's a road game for a Charger team that's still trying to break through chargering, and even good plays, I mean they get the touchdown and the Pats blocked other way for two points. I mean, if you could have guessed a team that happened to in the playoffs, you'll be well, that would happen to the Chargers. It happened to the Chargers. Listen, Justin Herbert had more interceptions today four than he had all season three. And I think there's a mindset in the regular season, you live for another play, you live for another day. But in the playoffs, it's sudden death and you get into a game and you're on the road in trailing, you're gonna try to squeez stuff in. That's that is what has happened to even great quarterbacks in playoff games. You get on the road, you face a high octane offense, or you start to trail. There is no tomorrow. So I think a lot of times a quarterback can be a little bit more patient in the regular season. But there's a lot of great quarterbacks with a lot of bad playoff games. Carson Palmer, you can look it up, had one of these where the game starts rolling, it gets out of your hands. You gotta make place. What are you gonna sit back? You're gonna play it safe. And I thought Herbert tried to squeeze some balls in and again he had a big play to Lad mconk But I mean mconkey is not a number one in this league. He's a two, and he could be a very good two as a slot guy. But you know, you start squeezing stuff in, you try to force it and it happens. Herbert is a six to six, two hundred and forty pound smart, dependable, reliable, strong arm kid who can move a little bit. He's going to be fine. He's more athletic in my opinion, than c. J. Stroud, and they have some similarities. They're big, strong kids who can move a little. They can be very accurate throwers, and they have bad games. It happens. There's a reason Jim Harbaugh took this job. There's a reason the Chargers were the number one job last year. It wasn't because of their left tackle. It wasn't because of the owners or the overall roster. It was because of Justin Herbert. It's the same reason Mike Rabel is going to take the Patriot's job, because Drake May is a really, really good looking young quarterback with a bright future. I want to discussed this as well. So I had said this Thursday or Friday, I listed the jobs, the NFL job openings, the six NFL job openings, and I said, New England was the best job. And I said, I put myself into it. What would I look for? And I've said this forever. You can't chase just money in the world. Money matters, not saying that it absolutely matters, but to me, it's always been two to good management, always in my career, and I believe this. So the Bears management, the Jets management, the Raiders management, the Jags management. You start looking around Robert Kraft and your quarterback for the future, Drake May. That made New England the best job, and reportedly Jordan Schultz putting it out there. Mike Rabel is negotiating with New England, probably brings Josh McDaniel. You know, they say you can't go home again, but there are multiple examples for a lot of people going home again. I know a lot of people in my life, broadcasters who have started out and they had to travel around it two or three markets, and they end up going back to the place they grew up or the market they love, and they're so much happier. There's so much comfort. Mike Frable has comfort, you know, Ohio State guy. New England guy, he's got comfort in that cold weather and physical football, and the New England market loves it. And I've been saying this for years. Find me a lot of great long term dynasties in the NFL and warm weather. Find them. New England had one, Kansas City had one, the Pittsburgh Steelers had one. I mean, Miami was great with Don Shula. How many Super Bowls they get to, Dan Marino got to one. I think the lifestyle, the warm weather, the dome teams get you get comfortable. You look at the teams, the best teams in the NFL right now, it is Philadelphia, it is Baltimore, it is Buffalo, it is Kansas City. Tough, physical, cold weather. I can remember as a kid growing up and loving Big East basketball. Here I am, you know, growing up in the coast of Washington, and I loved Big East basketball where John Thompson and the late Louis Carniseca and Roley Massamino and PJ. Carlssimo. And the reason I loved that because it was tough, Big East fight and physical, and there is something to be said about that in football, cold weather, tougher players, tougher team, tougher identity. You know, the Seahawks and that crappy, windy, rainy cold weather in Seattle and November, December, January almost built a dynasty. So I think vrabel fits New England. I think stability at ownership. Robert Kraft has a reputation is frugal, most billionaires are, and I think Drake May looks really, really talented. And the other thing is you're entering an organization that you're familiar with, you're comfortable with, and that you trust. That's really an important thing. I've gone on and on about this. It's hard to trust coaches it's hard to trust owners now they're all billionaires, They're getting crazier. There's never been a time in my life we've had more crazy owners. Thankfully Dan Snyder's gone. We got rid of one that just kind of inappropriate and a bad pro sports owner. And the guys now that run Washington look to be on the up and up and really formidable people. But ownership it all starts were there and the crafts don't have a history. I mean, girod Mayo didn't work. It didn't work. It's okay again, the only perfect people are anonymous trolls on the internet. When you put yourself out there as an owner, as a mayor, you take swings, you miss. It's okay. People with high confidence and feel good about themselves put themselves out there. It's okay. You can swing in a coach and miss. I think Vrabel to New England. I think it's the best job. I think he's the best candidate. Last year I thought the best job and the best candidate was Harbaugh and the Chargers. And I also think because the Jets and Dolphins history of instability and chaos outside of Buffalo, you're going to be battling you know for the number two spot in that division for years. Josh Allen's probably gonna win it the next five years in his prime. But hill Age, they do. I like Frabel, Not even Brady could talk him into the Raiders. Mike Rable's too smart. Brady leaned on him. Brady met with him, Brady talked to him. Brady wanted to talk him into taking that Raiders. Gig Rabel's too smart. Can't do it. You can't trust Mark Davis not. At this point the volume