Here is the best of today's Lombardi Line.
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This is the Lombardy Line with former.
NFL executive Michael Lombardi on feesand the Sports Vetting Network.
Welcome to the Tuesday edition of the Lombardy Line. Dave Ross here at Circus Sports Fabulous, Las Vegas, Nevada. Michael Lombardi back in the East Coast joining us here on this Tuesday, and Michael got a great show today. I'm gonna have Matt Humans and JVT Jonathan von Tobel join us in this next two hours. But we have to open the show today Michael with a confession like Usher.
Usher profession or a funeral. A confession or a funeral? What are we doing here? Are we going?
I mean, this is obviously involving a mass. Are we having a funeral or are we going to the confession box?
What are we doing here?
I think a bit of both. I think it's a little fifty to fifty on this one.
Cowboys get blown out last night, as we all saw thirty four to ten. The overdes cash late with that touchdown by Houston, and they easily covered the seven. But right as we were leaving the show yesterday, you said to me, don't bet on the Cowboys, and I said I won't. I didn't bet, decide, Michael, But I did bet. I bet Brandon Aubrey over six and a half points, and I bet the team total Cowboys over sixteen and a half. Michael, I cannot believe those did not get home. The Aubrey one is the one that sticks in my craw this morning that I got to go over with you.
Now.
Of course, he slips in the plant foot right before halftime. It's would have made it a seventeen thirteen game, and he's gonna have my seven points at the break, and we don't have any sweat right this sing's over seventeen thirteen.
Oh good at half?
And then it was the decision in.
The third quarter, they kicked the sixty four yard field goal by Aubrey. Points are on the board, it's twenty to thirteen. You're in the game. It's midway through the third quarter. You get a personal foul against the Texans. The points come off the board, and they decide, let's go try to score this touchdown get down in the red zone.
Well, you got to take the penalty. You can't take the point, you gotta take it, right.
Totally agree with that.
But when you get the fourth and two inside the ten and you're down ten and it's fourmanis don't you still kick the field goal and make it a one score game? That was the deflation after they decide to go for it, don't get it?
And then I felt like the game.
Was over right, Like, I get the first initial try, but when that stalls, doesn't Mike McCarthy have to kick that field goal and make it a one score game?
I think he does because he knows his defense isn't going to hold him back there. The whole concept by going forward is, well, get it's like what happened in the Minnesota game. Right, Minnesota doesn't score, they have they they get the ball put down on the one yard line, not from a not from going for it, but just from a punt. They run two plays into the line. Minnesota is gonna get a field goal here at least because they're gonna punt it back. They're gonna have great And what happens they throw a ninety nine yard touchdown pass. They don't hold them back there, That's what happens. I mean, if if your defense isn't good enough to hold them, it's hard to sit there and justify going for it on four to down. And this Cowboy defense, let's be clear, that wasn't very good all night. I mean, they got a break on the first play of the game on the on the bubble screen who was playing it looked like they had nine men on the field on that play.
Right.
Look, this is just a very challenging time for the Cowboys because they're not a good team. I'm writing about it for today on the Visa Online. They're not a good team. They've been outscored at home since they lost to the Green Bay game one eight seven to sixty nine. That Green Bay game took a toll on them, and I think the whole point of my column today is going to be that it was such a disruptive loss, it was such a powerful loss, it was such an unexpected loss that when Jerry had that indecision to bring Mike back and to not bring Mike back, and he decided to bring Mike back but not extend him, this season ended at that point, that decision to make Mike Lamdak, that decision to make to bring in a new defense coordinator but really have a hard time with the contract. To me, that set off the off season planning that we're going to mail this year in. And I think that's the only way you could look at it. Whether if Dak were playing last night with the game had been more competitive, yes, no question right, there would have been more competitive because I'm here to tell you Dave Houston's not very good.
No, Houston's not good enough. And CJ.
Stroud has taken giant mother may I steps backwards. He really has. He hasn't been the same player, right, And I think this offense a lot of it is Bobby slow excitability to advance the offense further. It's the same day one Kyle Shanahan offense that we saw last year that took people off guard. But they haven't really improved in that area. And I think to me, you look at the numbers, Stroud's numbers have not been If you look at all the epas and all the advanced analytical numbers, Stroud is not having a good year, but they're good enough to beat a bad Dallas team.
We saw the exact same thing. That's exactly what we saw.
We saw two teams that were actually much closer than a thirty four to ten score would indicate.
And that's not to give the Cowboys into.
Credits really to say Texans weren't were not twenty four points better than any other NFL team out there. They just happened to be playing a team that couldn't get out of their own way in the Cowboys. You mentioned it's seven straight losses now at home for the Cowboys, dating back to that game against the Cowboys, longest active home ats losing streak in the NFL. This is just amazing, and the longest losing streak since twenty twelve at home. So we're talking about a decade long stuff with the Cowboys. Forget about winning. Can't even cover numbers here. And our friend, of course, Femi Bevfe did say this on.
X twitst no one better than Twitter. Now you have to really appreciate Twitter family because he's the nicest humanence. But he is the classic Twitter user. He'll hide behind that giant X and when you aggravate him, man, he's coming out like that bear in the woods.
You ready for this one? This is what he said about the Cowboys.
You think this is bad, wait until they lose to Tommy DeVito on Thanksgiving in front of fifty million viewers. That's what Femi had to say, Michael. And by the way I've been doing I was a text you with my family. They're so gracious to me, Michael, for for literally four decades, they've centered this football game on Thanksgiving around our family meal, right, so that we can make sure it's done. Because all I ever say is I just can't miss kickoff. I said, if we miss it this year, I'm okay, look at this is the year.
Yeah. I don't think you need to worry about it.
I don't need to watch this, right, Michael.
I mean, who needs to see this? If this is what we saw last night? Why do I see that?
I mean because it's what we do on Thanksgiving though, that's what I think people get lost in sight of as people say, well, who's going to watch this Green Bay? Who's going to watch this Dallas New York game?
Everybody?
It doesn't matter who's I mean, we've watched Detroit. Remember people were trying to get Detroit off the Thanksgiving day s night. Yes, I mean, it's just part of its tradition. You know, you watch it, you may not be as into it, but obviously there's going.
To be a betting number, right Ye's the book is going to put up a number.
Dallas is probably going to be what a two point favorite, a three point favorite, something like that, and we're going to bet.
It there and we're going to recommend it. Bill ad is going to give out.
The Besides, everybody's going to have a voice, and we're all going to sit around with our pants unbuckled and we're going to watch the game. I mean, that's what we're going to do. So I don't want to hear that no one's going to watch it. We're all going to watch it because there's going to be a vested interest. I mean, that's what it's all about. That's what that's what Thanksgiving, that's why we love Thanksgiving.
You're absolutely right.
I think I think it's really bad for the league when Dallas isn't good. I think it's really bad for the league when the Raiders aren't good. I think it's really really bad for the league when the two New York teams aren't good. And this is what we have this year. We have a lot of bad teams. And I think going back to the Cowboys, Jerry's decision to not make a decision, his decision to extend it out, was probably what cost him everything, because I think what he needed was some fresh eyes to come in because what I wrote last offseason was they overachieved, not underachieved. Everybody was upset about the Green Bay loss. They got there. When you get your butts handed tea like that, you're not good enough. And I think to me, they needed a reset, They needed to push a reset button that we're not as good as we think we are. And they you know, to think that you're going to go into the office, go in there with Ricodowdell is your main back, right, I mean, come on, it's seriously, this is the plan. That's not a plan, that's a hope. Remember, never confuse hope. That's right, you're hoping Dawdle will be a good player. You're hoping Douchewaughn would be a good player. You know you don't have And so don't tell me that it's cap implications because again, you decided to keep Brandon Cook on the team. You could have signed somebody else. You could have took Brandon Cook's money and give it to Barkley.
Unbelievable ten and a half.
By the way, the Cowboys now against the Commanders on Sunday after that blowout loss. But you know, Michael, I'm watching that game last night and a couple of things that you said really resonated with me when I'm watching it, which is one, Zach Martin, this might be the end of the line. He got hurt again last night and he couldn't really move. You've been on this point here. He's probably going the Hall of Fame. I think he should, but that might be the end. And then you saw that Tyler Smith goes down in that game as well. And the point here, Michael, is the offensive line Dak's injury. Notwithstanding refixing the defense, this looks like a long overhaul for the Cowboys for a team that won twelve wins, twelve wins, twelve wins in the last three years. Michael, you give away a fourth round pick for Trey Lance. You give away a four fourth round pick for Mingo kicking on the field for the Cowboys after the trade deadline. I mean, Michael, it's looking worse to me. If I'm trying to be optimistic, I don't see it for next year, Like this doesn't feel like a short term thing and oh, we'll be back to twelve wins. I mean, this team looks like they got to overhaul the offensive line and a lot of the skill players and a lot of the defense. I don't know how good and how quick it could take. The overhaul in Dallas.
Well, I think they're going to need to get the right coach.
Right.
I'm shocked here this morning. I looked at it. I thought watching the game last night, I knew it was. It opened to ten right the game this weekend in the Nation's Capital against Washington, and I thought it would move to twelve, twelve and a half. I think it's going to move right now, it's still at ten. I'm going to look online at some of the other shops because I can't imagine that it's not going to move. Dallas has, you know, going in there, you know, having a play. Ye, it's still it's ten and a half and they DraftKings is at ten and a half right now, so there's there's you know, it's moving a little bit. I thought it would move a little bit more based on that, based on how bad it was and knowing that Dallas can't cover. I mean, let's face it, you know they can't cover either, Dave. They can't stop the run and can't cover. I mean, think about it when you line them up. Can't play the run, can't run the ball, and can't cover. That's not a good recipe.
Now, I want to read you something that somebody wrote this on August nineteenth. So the Dallas Cowboys are frontrunners playing simple this year, they won't be running in front. My evaluation is knowing how hard it is for players and coaches to function well with lame duck status, especially when the team hasn't been able to overcome obstacles before.
You know who wrote that?
I think I wrote that.
You wrote that on August nineteenth, spot on my friend that's exactly who.
Yeah, Well, because to me, Jerry put him in the spot. When you're a lame due, when you're the substitute teacher, it don't work.
You nailed it, by the way, America is worse all for it today, by the way, on this Tuesday. So the funeral is tellis thirty four to tens the final Texas get the money.
It goes over.
Got a lot to get to get to some line moves that we see across the league.
That's next year.
I'm a Lombardi line.
This is the Littlembardy Line with former NFL executive Michael Lombardi.
On feasand the Sports Betty Network.
We continue our Tuesday edition of the Lombardy Line. Dave Ross and Michael Lombardi here with you. Always a pleasure on a Tuesday to catch up with our guy. Matt Humans, of course, does a great job across the network in the Friday Football Invitational. Let's bring him in here in the progressive guest line. You can follow me as I do on X at Matty Matt Humans rather two four seven, Matt do we have to take a look back at what we saw last night between the Cowboys and the Texas. I tried to have the therapy session with Michael off the top of the show, but I'm still not sure.
I'm quite over it.
Well, Dave, i'll tell you what. It's a lost season for the Cowgirls oh and five oh and five at home and outscored by one hundred and nineteen points in those games. Well, I didn't tweet about this because I didn't want to gloat make you feel bad. But I locked up another win total winner last time because I plaid the Cowboys under ten and a half. And if your Cowboys went out, think you get to ten and seven. So they're not going to get there. And then I don't know how many wins they're going to get down the stretch over under one and a half. I'm not sure, but I'll tell you what. At this point, I'm want to ask Michael this. So you trade for Trey Lance and you give up a fourth round pick, which that was too high of a pick to give up, probably should have been a fifth or sixth round pick for Trey Lance. Why would you not play him at this point? If you give up a fourth round pick and you're not winning with Cooper Rush, You're not even close, why would you not put Trey Lance out up there?
You did play him, You played him in every single preseason game this summer. I think he threw more passes than any quarterback in the preseason.
And he's not any good.
He's not any good, and they can't justify but everybody knows he's not any The fact he's on the roster is actually the more of the question. If he why is he on the roster? He's just not any good? Is our motion is horrible. Look, there's a lot of things that happened during COVID, and I think part of the COVID problem was a lot of this evaluations that were going on that weren't good, and this kid is one of them, and the media got behind him.
For some reason.
I mean, we have people on other shows that thought he was the best player of the draft, you know, And look, I thought Mac Jones was a better player, completely wrong on that. Mac Jones is a disaster too. But Mac Jones at least had one good year in the league. This kid can't He can't even get on the field.
Good news is gentlemen.
Yeah, they only gave up that fourth round Matt as you as you explained then the fourth rounder for Mingo.
Looks like he can't get on the field. So Jerry's Jerry's boy.
His GMing is really good. It's a quandary right now Thursday night, Matt. I'm looking at the Steelers number against the Browns and it just feels, you know, was four. I'm seeing three and a half this morning at DraftKings. Total of thirty six year to begin week twelve. You know, it's amazing to see what they've been able to do. Russell Wilson undefeated as a starting quarterback. Does this game feel trappy to you for Pittsburgh in the short week.
I do think it's a tricky spot here, Pittsburgh coming off the Bravens game, a physical game like that, and then on the road against the Browns. Now. I know some sharp bedders who loved the Browns against the Saints, and I couldn't see it. I just didn't know what they were seeing there. And I couldn't get on the Browns side with that. Can you play the Browns here? Maybe? But I can't play the Steelers. Look, I've been pro Steelers pretty much the whole season. I have bet or used the Steelers in contest picks in eight of their ten wow this season, and I was on against the Ravens on Sunday. So I've been on the Steelers pretty much every week. I am not going to play them Thursday night, playing three and a half or four in Cleveland. I don't think this is a good spot to play Pittsburgh coming off the Baltimore game. Michael, what do you think we're going to see Thursday night? And I just don't have enough faith in the Browns right now to say I want to play them. I'm not going to play the Steelers.
I can't play that.
I think you know these games are always going to be drag out, ugly. The teams get ready for them, but the Browns offense and their defense isn't to the same level. What I have to get away from is is this notion that the Browns defense is what they were last year. Now, they weren't good on the on the road. They were much better at home, but they're just not good enough. When the Saints and Derek Carr can look like mister Precision against you, you're probably not good enough.
And look, I think.
You always are worried about Winston and this offensive line for Cleveland doesn't really match up to the Steelers. But I agree it's a trap game. It's a hard game. This will be a back and forth field goal game all the way. If I leaned anywhere, it would be to take the Browns and the points. But I just to me, if this was on the Sunday slate, this would be a haul.
Notes, I can't go for this game at all. Play for me.
I look at it, Matt too, and I'm looking at this at AFC North number. Okay, the Steelers are now over a two dour betting favorite to win the division. I know they're eight and two and the Browns the Ravens rather a seven to format, but you can get plus money in the Ravens at plus an hour sixty, which is close to what they were all summer. We thought then the Bengals might be a part of that equation as well.
Is there anything that interesting that you there, like?
Do you think the Steers can still even if they possibly trip up Thursday night, or if they're going to win this division this is the type of game they have to win on Thursday Night.
Well, I think you said it best. If the Steelers can go to Cleveland and win, they're going to be a stronger bet to win the division. But I do think this is a tricky spot for him and the Ravens. Yeah, you can't count the Ravens out. Steelers still have to go to Baltimore, so they don't technically I think have the tiebreaker on them yet, So nothing there for me. I just before the season, I did say I thought the Browns going to be the worst team in the division, and I think that part right. Nobody was really picking the Steelers. The time to bet the Steelers win in the division is long gone. But now the Browns collapses, not to surprise me because I just had the zero faith and Deshaun Watson and what he was going to do and the Browns. The wheels are falling off that team. But that said, I think Thursday night they could show up and give the big effort, so it would be Browns for passed. As of right now, I'm going to pass, but we'll see. Maybe I'll end up playing the Browns by Thursday.
Yeah, I'm the three hand is the used win total for Cleveland, Michael, I mean that's three and a half.
Is where they are. The Wheels have come off to Matt's point, Yeah, I.
Mean they're just nark. I mean, I can't trust Jamis Winston. I know everybody to say that everybody was on them last week against the Saints.
I agree with Maddie.
I mean, to me, is hard to trust Jamis Winston and to trust a defense and a trust an offensive line that is you know, losing Bill Callahan for Cleveland probably was the biggest loss of anything, because that line played better last year. It's not and look, let's face it, nobody expected Nick Chubb to bounce back off of that gruesome injury he suffered in Week two of last year, and so he's not the same player he once was speaking of, not the same player that the forty nine ers are not the same team. I think it's fairly obvious, right they can't close out games in the fourth quarter, Matt. They've got the Packers who are really good at home. They're explosive. They only let Love throw the ball seventeen times last week against the Bears, they were able to pull out the win with only having the ball for twenty three minutes.
Who do you like in this game?
I was not impressed by the way the Packers played against the Bears, obviously, and I've not been very impressed with Jordan Love. The entire season. His play has been a little bit down, kind of like CJ. Stroud in the Texans betting public all over the Packers, all over the Texans in the summer, and I said the time, I'm going to stay away from those two teams because you're getting a little bit too trendy, and I think they've both been kind of disappointing. Now that said forty nine Ers, I just went back and double checked. I've got the forty nine Ers under eleven and a half wins. That's in. That's in too, And you're right about the Niners. That's a team that's so banged up right now. I don't want to play him in this game at Green Bay. Packers lay in less than two and a half if anything, would be the side of them on I was reading the forty nine ers practice report from Monday, and now Nick Bosa is questionable to play. Trent Williams did play the entire game against Seattle, but he's really banged up. They've got so many players and brock Perty's got shoulders for us now where he's going to be day to day. Kyle Shanahan said, so forty nine Ers are such a banged up team going on the road here to Green Bay. I think it's going to be Packers or passed for me, even though I have not been very impressed by the Packers.
Yeah, right there with you on that play.
Because of those injuries in that news today that brock fordy, we'll find out about it if he's able to go.
And certainly Nick Bosa.
As well, and Trent Williams is always on that injury report, that's for sure. I know you've got an impocket play here for Flyagles fly against the Rams going cross country for this one here? Do you like the home team even though it might not be a home crowd advantage?
Yeah? I do like the Rams plus three in this give us a Sunday night game, right you believe it is? Yep. And Matthew Stafford got back on track. So did that Rams offensive line against the Patriots, who had sacked Caleb Williams nine times. In that game against the Bears, Stafford passed for two ninety five after really so star four touchdowns, no picks, no sacks. Pokin Nakua Cooper Cup both got over one hundred yards and the Rams really got on track with a running game too. Kyron Williams and the Blake Krum I think combining for one oh seven on the ground to that game against the Patriots. You know, the Eagles are on a bit of a run here. I think one six in a row to get to eight and two, and I've got the Eagles to win the NFC East. I'll tell you what, It's not going to be tough, or it is going to be tough down the stretch Philadelphia to finish this off, because now is when their schedule is going to get a little bit more difficult to go into La after this, a trip to Baltimore. Still got games against the Steelers and the Commanders on the road, So there's a tough road to travel here for Philadelphia to still win the NFC East. And I actually think the Rams going to be a live in this game on Sunday.
Now.
I really like the way Jared Verse and this Rams defense is starting to play. And I really you know, even though the Eagles won six in a row, I've seen some flaws in Philadelphia. I think Saquon Barkley's great play has got covered up some of that.
Yeah, I think that's a smart assessment.
I love how even though you've got that future play on the Eagles certainly does not affect a week to week handicap, that this might be a time to hop on the Rams plus three Mattaways free shape the conversation, my friend enjoyed the rest of the day. We can't wait to see you for Friday Football Invitational as well.
You beat guys is Matt Humans.
Give a follow at Matt Humans two for seven. We'll get back to the NFL.
A meeting in Jacksonville delayed. Will explain next here in the Lombardy.
Line, This is the Lombardy Line before We're NFL executive Michael Lombardi on.
Fisand these Betty.
Network Tuesday edition of the Lombardi Line continues Dave Ross and Michael Lombardi. And for this next segment, I gotta know and Mike, you know, it's like when you work together, you learn about about each other as the show goes on. Is is The Godfather your favorite quote unquote gangster movie of all time?
Is it the number one on the board, because.
I think Sopranos is our favorite series of all time?
But where do you put Godfather for movies in that lexicon?
You know?
I think it is I think I gore between one and two. I think the casting in three was a disaster. I think Eli Wallach was horrendous. I think I wasn't really in love with Andy Garcia. I mean, everybody complains about Sophia Coppola in three. I didn't have a problem with her as much as I had a problem with George Hamilton being as the Concieri. I mean, I thought that was ridiculous. I thought the casting was incredibly bad in three more than anything, and it wasn't Sophia Coppola. But I think one is probably my favorite. I love when they go back. I love the young Clemenza.
I love that.
I love when they're still in New York and you know Clemenza's they're cooking for all the guys. You know, it's such a great movie. And when you read about Puso and how he wrote that, you talk about Mike McCarthy being at the edge of the edge of it, or Doug Peterson being at the edge, I mean Puso's, you know, ridiculously in debt to every family member, and he's sitting at home watching the va Chi papers on television because they broadcasted that from a Senate commission. It was the only thing that was on and he got the paperwork from that and the next thing, you know, he writes this incredible script that has been a bable to last for ever.
That is think it's fairly.
Remarkable, amazing story and kind of rags the riches, and it shows that just don't give up.
You never know when that brak's gonna come.
And let's try to make you, now, Michael, an offer you can't refuse, or maybe a bet that's doomed to lose. So, in that sense of the Godfather, I want to start with the Niners because it is our game of the week that we talked about in the last segment, and I was trying to find that number here it is to make the playoffs. They're going to offer you Michael plus two dollars. Is it an offer you can't refuse or a bet that's doomed to lose.
Well, my heart's in it because obviously my son's coaching there, so but I think to me, I would take it because I'm not sure the Rams are good enough. I'm not sure all the teams in the West have problems, including the forty nine ers, and I think the forty nine Ers still have a heart of a champion. If they can just get healthy. I think they'll play, They'll play everybody as well as they can. They'll coach as well as they can. I think this whole notion that the forty nine er fans are mad at Kyle Shanahan, they should think twice about that, because you could have you could have Zach Taylor coaching your team, and see how you enjoy that.
That'd be a quick yea.
He'd be would not be out of work for long if they really decided to go down that road. This is interesting, and I wonder if this is an offer you can't refuse, because again, Niners are.
Plus two dollars to make the playoffs.
The Colts, Elliott Bowman's Colts a smaller number at plus a dollar ninety and Anthony Richardson, we trust Michael is in an offer you can't refuse or a bet that's doomed to lose.
Well, he looked really good last week. I finally went to the NC two a offense that he needs to run. I worry about him staying healthy running all these quarterback sweeps. But they did run the single wing last week and they cleared out the middle of the field with the play action pass because the Jets were so focused on him as a main runner. You know, that's six pack offense. If you're not prepared for it, it can become a problem. And I think that's what the Colts need to do with Richardson. They finally did it. Instead of running Shane Steichen's offense, they ran the offense that fits Anthony Richardson, which I think was really important. Look, I'm not in sold on the Texans. I don't think the Texans are a good team. They're fortunate they got two wins against the Colts where the Colts kind of once again stike and help them. We'll get those victories with his poor in game decisions. So I think both those teams are I think the Texans are closer to the Colts than they are closer to the Chiefs or closer to the Bills.
So you got to run that horse. So for Michael, for the segment, We've got first Bet for you. Okay, so you sign up today. If you like the Ponies, you sign up at first Bet. That's first bet dot Com, the number one st bet dot Com US promo code vs. In two hundred you get to claim a twenty percent rebate for your first sixty days, So head over to first bet dot com and do so today. You knew when we talked about running in the Colts we had to get that in. Michael, What about this for an offer you can't refuse or a bet that's doomed to lose? And this would be the Buffalo Bills being the number one seed in the entire AFC. Obviously they got the big win in hand against the Chiefs, but that would mean that essentially the Bills have to kind of win out and one more loss or more obviously for the Chiefs somewhere down the road. Is that an offer you can't refuse?
I think it's not tempting enough. I can't find where the Chiefs are going to lose another game, and I think the Bills could stumble along the way, just sometimes they do. I don't know if I take this one at plus two hundred, I think I'd won a little bit more on this.
And the Bills have a tough schedule too.
To your point, Michael, like they got dates, you still have the Lions on that schedule down the road.
So I'm with you. I kind of look at it and go plus two dollars.
Doesn't feel like it's long enough to be that number one seed in the AFC. Conversely, in Philadelphia and get three to one, that they could be the number one seed in the NFC. But how do you get ahead of the Lions if you're two lost team and only a one lost Lions team.
Offer you can't refuse, or a bet that would be doomed to lose.
I think it's a bet doom to lose. I think the Eagles are going to lose again.
I think we had Matt newmans On and he likes the Rams against him this week, and I think when they have the Ravens, there's gonna be good. Look, I said this yesterday. I was talking to a coach in the league who's played both the Lions and played both the and the Eagles, and he said, there's no comparison. Like he thinks the Eagles are very fortunate to be able. They played a softer I mean they really have.
Who have they played?
I mean they had to struggle to beat Cleveland, right, I mean think about it. You know, I know they beat Washington, but I think Washington helped them a little bit in that game that was a nip and tuck game they ended up covering. So I'm not saying the Eagles are a good team. They are, They're a very good team. But I think the Lions are just uniquely different.
I'm looking at the NFC South, Michael, and the Buccaneers have lost four in a row. They're now four and six. The Falcons are still above a five hundred here at six and five, but they feel a little fugezy here for offer you can't refuse?
Can the Bucks still win this thing even though they have two losses in hand to the Falcons at plus two to seventy five.
I think they can. If you watch how the Falcons played yesterday. I mean the Falcons can't tackle on defense and their soft as heck. I mean, this is what happens to your team when you become so focused offensively. Look, I don't see how you can now. They have a bye this week, so they're going to get rested up. They had eight guys missing from their defense last week. You know, Matt Judon's offered them really nothing in terms of a pass rush. They can't get any None of their rookies Dave from their draft participate in their team this year they would oh for the draft and because they picked Penix the eighth pick of the ninth pick overall. So look, I'm not sold that this is going to work for them, you know. And I think it's going to go nip and talk, because I don't think you could pencil Atlanta in beating anybody nine and a half, right, I think this weekend, Look, the Bucks have to go to New York.
It's a huge game for them. They've got to get it.
That's the one you got.
You can't lose to Tommy Cutlet's which brings us to the next offer you can't refuse or a bet that's doom lose. You want to hop on the Tommy Cutlets express it's a New Giants Day. We'll give you a plus a dollar ninety five in the money line, Michael, Is that an offer you can't review? A bet doom to lose?
Yeah, No, I think it's a bet doom to Louz. I'm not taking no money line with Tommy DeVito. And look, you know, I think to me, he's gonna see a lot of pressure. Todd Bowles is going to come after him, right, Yeah, And you know it's gonna be a harder game, I think to me, you now have time to get ready for Tommy DeVito. Right, you know you're going to see a lot of quarterback runs like you saw with Daniel Jones. You know it's gonna be an interesting game to watch. It really will be. And this will be one of my if I can get it in the four box, it's gonna be one of the four I'm gonna watch on Sunday.
It's gonna be fascinating, maybe for many different reasons on Thursday night.
And I wonder about this offer. The books will give you a plus.
A dour sixty on the Browns to win this game, short week for the Steelers' emotional win against the Ravens. But can't you hear Mike Tomlin, Michael Katy hear Tomlin saying, Hey, you know when the USFA.
Beat Russia, that was for the silver. That wasn't the gold medal?
Right, you can't lose to Finland if you lose to the Browns. Isn't that like losing to Finland after beating the Russians?
Great point, Great point, David.
Yes, Look, I think the one thing about Mike Tomlin is what he talked about right after the game is work. We're going to go back to work, and he will make sure his team will go back to work. And I think they've done a marvelous job coaching offensive football. You know they've played it. They're not conservative. They played to the strengths of their offense, and I think they've done a really good job of handling the situations. And they win with their defense. I mean, they love to win ugly. I think it'll be another ugly game. But one thing about them, you don't have to worry about them panicking. They're not going to panic when it's ten to seven in the third quarter. They're not going to panic when it's thirteen to ten in the fourth quarter. That's what they love. They love those kind of games. And you know they're going to get ten days off between this game and the next game, so I'm sure Tom Lit'll have them ready to go.
Cowboys panicked in a one score game last night. To your point, the Steelers don't panic very quickly. Offer you can't refuse bet Om to lose.
Jim Harbaugh gets Coach of the Year at plus three dollars plus four to fifty.
Rather.
I know Tom was the favorite. But can Harbaugh win this award?
I think he should be in the conversation, I certainly would take it. I put pizza money on that, David.
And that is just if the Steelers did not win the division, right, if they don't win the North, then Harbaugh can win that even though they don't have to win the division for him to win that award, right.
Yeah, I agree with that, But I mean, looks Tom wins. Some of the best coaching jobs are when your team doesn't win the division, when you get him into the playoffs, like last year with Mason Rudolph ten wins.
Steelers won ten games last year, Mason Rudolph finished down the stretch. When we come back JBT, he's going to join the program and Michael, we can talk calves and some sixers and a lot of football.
That's next year in the Lombardy.
This is the.
Lombardi Line with former NFL executive Michael Lombardi.
On fisand the Sports Betty Network.
We continue the conversation here on the Tuesday edition of The Lombardy Line. Dave Ross and Michael Lombardi here with you. Always a pleasure to bring back the host of these prime Time does a great job across the network. Here, Jonathan von Tobo, you can follow JVT on X as I do at me. JVT joins us now in the progressive guest line Jonathan at the beginning of the show, Michael kind of gave me some therapy for the Cowboys and that disaster last night that we saw. What about what we're seeing in a night in, night out basis from the Philadelphia seventy six ers. Is there any hope because you can get what you gotta lay. You gotta lay over three dollars for the Sixers to make the playoffs?
Are we crazy? Is there any hope in the City of Brotherly Shove?
I mean, I think there's hope, Dave in the fact that look that I keep saying this about both them and Milwaukee, the bar is just so staggeringly low in the East that it's really hard to make a case that even in the hole that they're in at two and eleven, that they're not going to be able to make it out of it. I mean, at two and eleven, they're still just three games out of the ten seed right now. Agetting they put you into the play in doesn't put you in the playoff. But you one would think, if fully healthy, among play in teams, that they would be one of the best, if not the best. Although you might see a play in with both Milwaukee and Philly, which is absolutely incredible considering what we thought about them before the season started. But I do think that the bar is just so low in the Eastern Conference that I think they're fine. From that perspective. The problem becomes if you make it to the play in, and if you make it in, okay, congratulations, But because you've been messing around it, because your guys haven't been healthy, because they haven't been available, Here's the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road in a best of seven, Here's the Boston Celtics on the road in a best of seven. After you to make your way through a play in, it's just not I think in the grand scheme of things going to be fine. I think they're going to make it into the postseason. They still think they're going to have a shot at making it inside of the top six, But in terms of them competing for a championship, I become more and more worried by the day. And I'll take you back a couple of nights to go Friday night, they play Orlando. Right, Orlando doesn't have Pala, Big Caro, they don't have Wendell Carter. You have both your stars on the floor. This is before Embiid allegedly gets ill. Right, that was a game that you should have won. They were up by about eleven late I think it was like about the third quarter or so, and they end up losing the gate. Like, I texted Zach Cohen, one of our guys here at the network aveson dot Com, and I was like, that's that was kind of the loss that I'm like, I don't know, man, I think I'm gonna wash my hands of this team because I just I was so disgusted by that loss to Orlando in a game with which they look so discombobulated on offense and really the best performer was a rookie and Jared McCain that I don't know if I buy into this team in the big picture at all.
You can't have an offense with Embiid. I just I've been saying this for five years. The guy he plays all forward and he plays five, so it's hard to really run an offense around him, and he's so lazy. You can't run pick and roll, you can't do a normal thing because you're just gonna he's gonna take the ball and try to shoot threes or if he goes to shoot from the from the free throw line. I mean, it's almost Look, they couldn't do it in the Olympics. They couldn't run an offense with him on the court in the Olympics effectively, you know. And that's the best players in the world around them. That's what drove me crazy. But I want to talk about the Cavs, you know, I think this is a hell of a story. Fifteen wins. Kenny Atkinson has always been a very good coach. I know you realize that as well. But what has he done that has made this team so good to win fifteen in a row.
I mean, I think there's a couple of things. First off, it's just like the small stuff, right, Michael, Like they are playing with a little bit more pace this year. They are shooting more threes if you look at it from like a frequency standpoint. But I think for me, when you watch them, like it's a lot of their half court actions, like they just look a lot more complex. They're running multiple things in some of these half court sets that are really opening stuff up. And look like Atkins is just a really good coach, and you look at what he's done with this team and it's really unlocked a lot of these stuff. It's I think it is very similar to what we saw from Steve Kerr with Golden State, right Like Golden State was a team that was kind of like, kind of right there were particularly well coached, and then all of a sudden, you get a guy that can come in add little intricacies to the offense, and all of a sudden, boom, you are maximizing everything you have on that roster. And I think that's the same thing here with Kenny Atkinson. I really enjoyed it and I cannot wait for today. This is going to be pretty fascinating. Boston and both of these teams, and you know it's an NBA Cup game. Both of them have been sitting back and rested ready to go. Cavs Aro on one day of rest, Boston has been on for the last two days. So this is going to be pretty fascinating. Injury report wise, you're gonna want a little bit more health from the Cavaliers to match up here with Cleveland. Carrislovert and Isaac Corro are both questionable, So you're gonna want both of those guys out there to give you a pretty good shot. You would want LeVert off the bench, you want a Coro to come in as a wing defender, because this is a team with plenty of wings. But I can't wait to see what this is. I actually I like Boston here in the spot like four and a half with them the meinners up to five. We saw this over two and a half. I think that you are really going to get tested with your two big lineup right, both Mobile and Allen, and I think ultimately that'll make a difference here. But I think this Cavs team, in terms of what we're going to see in the regular season, is the real deal. And they are without a doubt the second best team in the Eastern Conference.
Right Yah.
It feels like this could be the point here where that winning streak comes to an end. As you mentioned, you got to lay two dollars here in the money line for the Celtics to get this home victory. Let's get to some college football plays, and you know we talk about this all the time the network. Sometimes you feel like you have the right side, wrong result. I think a lot of people that were on San Jose State last week against Boise feel that way. Right now, UNLV's going to San Jose State and the Revs are laying seven and a half on the road and it's a sleepy spot. What do you make of the Rebels in this situation come this weekend?
Yeah, that would be putting it mildly the way that I feel about that San Jose State result to somebody who was catching fourteen there, that was absolutely abysmal the way that they blew that thing. But how about this the ranked Rebels once again now on the road to take on San Jose State. Here's the thing you have to if you're UNLV, got to stay alive here and you got to maintain your perfect excuse me, your run because you have to be a one loss team and you need, of course San Jose State or be Colira out of state to lose. But for UNLV, I think this is a good spot for him taking on San Jose State. There's a couple of things here, but the first of which is the spot for San Jose State. Dave, you mentioned it. You had a college football playoff team on the ropes last week and you let go of the rope. You ended up not even covering in that game, a bismal performance in that second half against Boise State. You have achieved what you've wanted as a team. You are Bowl eligible, So there's not that much theoretically to fight for here. If you're the Spartans. Well, UNLV has to maintain this win streak, cannot lose another game, and we saw last week right forty one twenty, this is a UNLV team that can take care of business against lesser opponents. They were laying nineteen eighteen and a half at the open to that game close twenty one point favorites ended up covering. Depending on what number you got against the Aztecs, I think they're live here. Talked to a couple of people ranging from like nine and a half to eleven was the number. So I think when you look at this floating arounds seven right now and go back to last week, I think that the gap between Boise State and U ANDOV is tighter than with the market thinks. Market's telling you there's about a touchdown difference between those two. I don't think that's the case. I'll lay it here with you in ov.
Yeah, how about how about the Colorado The buffs there, Dion Stunn a remarkable job. A lot of people think he might be next to the line. In Dallas, they're playing Kansas, who had the upset last week. What's your what's your take on this one?
So this isn't a classic example, right of Michael, A team that is getting better as the season goes along. Since the last like four games for Kansas, they have been playing in a level of the power rating of a team that's like in the side of the top twenty five.
Right.
Jalen Daniels is finally healthy. He looks like a really solid quarterback, the defense is playing a little bit better. And you get on the other end, the Colorado team that is at the peak of its market rating at this point. Right now, they're eight and two against the spread. They've been taking care of business. You have a Heisman contender in Travis Hunter and a team that could win this conference after winning four straight. But you really dive into the four teams played here during this winning streak. Arizona one of the worst cover teams of the country, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, utah It hasn't been the greatest competition. To remember, they kind of florided with disaster in the last two games, right like the Texas Tech game. We got them in game money line on the live bet Saturday when we were watching that game Utah forty nine to twenty four. That was a little touch ago at the beginning of that contest before you pulled away and that fourth quarter scored twenty one points. I think that this Colorado State team, this is the time to finally go against them. The markets finally swung. They're laying three, we'll say, on the road. They're playing in Arrowhead, so it's not the most true road environment. But Kansas is playing at such a better level and at the level that many expected them to be at the beginning of the year that if I'm catching a full field goal here with the Jayhawks, it's the spot to back them. So give me Kansas for another week. I had them last week with everybody else against BYU. Let's keep this train rolling here against Colorado.
Yeah, great call last week, by the way, with Kansas on the road against undefeated BYU BYU undefeated.
No longer we knew that, Deshaun Foster said at the beginning of the year. They're going to play in LA.
They're going to play in La JVT against It's going to be UCLA and USC in this Battle of Los Angeles.
What do you make of this one? Here both teams, Maybe it would have been off the radar.
Yeah, so this is for me and I did try this angle last week. I had the Nebraska against USC right and part of the play and the reason was, I'm not a big Jade Mayava guy. Jade Mayava, former UNLV quarterback, led them to a bawl right last season, but was a big part of their meltdown. If you guys remember at the end of last year, they had lost three consecutive games. It was a game before the championship game, the championship game, and then their ball game. And in large part because Jade Mayava was is a guy that puts the ball in danger. And you saw last week, guys against Nebraska, Froz a pick six, throws two other interceptible passes and ultimately comes out with a decent stat line seventy one point four percent completion, two fifty nine seven point four yards attempt, three touchdowns to win interception. But to me it's about the dangerous throws, and I think you're going to be able to do that again here. If you're UCLA to be able to get the ball, to be able to force turnovers, you've been a very quality defensive team. And I think this USC team's just not in the spot here. We're on fancy and laying points in a rivalry spot like this. So this is a fate of Jade Mahava. It's a little bit of a fade of UFC. Did a USC did it last week with Nebraska. We're to do it one more time here with the Bruins.
JVT, great information as always, my friend. Thanks for hopping on the progressive guest line. We'll catch up at the end next week.
No time for Florida International Tennisawa State. Huh, I'm talking that.
We'll talk next.
Do you want to sneak it in? Do you want to sneak it in?
No? No, no, no, We got to talk about this Black Friday special It's great.
There you go.
We gotta sell, sell, sell, get out there everybody.
Black Friday Specialist JVT mentioned only sixty dollars through May first Here on the network, you get daily best bets, you get everything the network has to offer, as you know, but again goes all the way through the Super Bowl, March madness. So everything you need right now visa dot com slash subscribe sign up now sixty dollars, all the way through May first, Michael. When we come back, we'll get to news or noise, and I wonder if there's some some news to Baltimore we'll discuss next year.
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