Hell every want and welcome into the Monday morning quarterback. I'm at vert Ram alongside Joberto man Johna. Hopefully, hopefully you had a happy holiday, happy new year, enjoyed it wherever you are. Thank you for listening here as we ring in twenty twenty four. How we're getting the football stuff? And god knows there's a lot of that because you going to week eighteen. How is your New Year? Did you do anything? Were you awake for midnight? Where'd you fall in that?

Hell every want and welcome into the Monday morning quarterback. I'm at vert Ram alongside Joberto man Johna. Hopefully, hopefully you had a happy holiday, happy new year, enjoyed it wherever you are. Thank you for listening here as we ring in twenty twenty four. How we're getting the football stuff? And god knows there's a lot of that because you going to week eighteen. How is your New Year? Did you do anything? Were you awake for midnight? Where'd you fall in that?

I gotta say, Matt, it was a struggle struggle to get to midnight, you know, you know, I was hanging out with family and I kept checking my phone. I was like, oh, it's only nine thirty ten. Do we have to wait for this? Can we just go out for East Coast time? You know I'm in La so we're three hours behind, and yeah, you know, we got there. It was a good time though, but it was a struggle this time of year. And Matt, I'm gonna break my own rule here, I say, don't tell me happy New Year after January thirty, but I haven't seen you. So happy New Year?

I gotta say, Matt, it was a struggle struggle to get to midnight, you know, you know, I was hanging out with family and I kept checking my phone. I was like, oh, it's only nine thirty ten. Do we have to wait for this? Can we just go out for East Coast time? You know I'm in La so we're three hours behind, and yeah, you know, we got there. It was a good time though, but it was a struggle this time of year. And Matt, I'm gonna break my own rule here, I say, don't tell me happy New Year after January thirty, but I haven't seen you. So happy New Year?

Yeah? Happy? You know what? New Year always cracks me up in Chicago here in the Midwest, because I grew up on the East Coast, grew up in New York's where I was for the last couple of weeks. And it's always funny to me, Like when I first moved to Chicago twenty fifteen. So I went out with my girlfriend now my wife, and we went out to some bar back in the days where we had kids and responsibility, and they're watching the ball drop in Times Square and everybody's counting down and throwing all this crap, you know, confetti and everything. I'm like, you're the biggest bunch of frauds in the world. It's eleven o'clock, like I leegitimately bothered me as a New Yorker. I'm like, you guys are celebrating the wrong wrong time, Like get here we are in Chicago with a bunch of dalists celebrities having their own ball drop, which is just a disgrace. And everybody celebrated, and then an hour went by and it was actually midnight, and then everybody did it again. I was like, this is ridiculous, Like this, this is not the proper way to do this, Like put it on delay, do whatever you gotta do. But like to celebrate the ball dropping in New Year's at eleven Central. It was one of the most embarrassing things that have ever been a part of. It literally made me want to move back to New York. I was so ashamed for everybody involved, because my whole life when it was New Year's for me, it was New Year's that was it. You know, you had the ball drop everything else, And now you have these frauds in the Midwest. We're like, it's eleven o'clock. Yeah, Like, no, it's embarrassing. I'm a shamed for everybody involved.

Yeah? Happy? You know what? New Year always cracks me up in Chicago here in the Midwest, because I grew up on the East Coast, grew up in New York's where I was for the last couple of weeks. And it's always funny to me, Like when I first moved to Chicago twenty fifteen. So I went out with my girlfriend now my wife, and we went out to some bar back in the days where we had kids and responsibility, and they're watching the ball drop in Times Square and everybody's counting down and throwing all this crap, you know, confetti and everything. I'm like, you're the biggest bunch of frauds in the world. It's eleven o'clock, like I leegitimately bothered me as a New Yorker. I'm like, you guys are celebrating the wrong wrong time, Like get here we are in Chicago with a bunch of dalists celebrities having their own ball drop, which is just a disgrace. And everybody celebrated, and then an hour went by and it was actually midnight, and then everybody did it again. I was like, this is ridiculous, Like this, this is not the proper way to do this, Like put it on delay, do whatever you gotta do. But like to celebrate the ball dropping in New Year's at eleven Central. It was one of the most embarrassing things that have ever been a part of. It literally made me want to move back to New York. I was so ashamed for everybody involved, because my whole life when it was New Year's for me, it was New Year's that was it. You know, you had the ball drop everything else, And now you have these frauds in the Midwest. We're like, it's eleven o'clock. Yeah, Like, no, it's embarrassing. I'm a shamed for everybody involved.

And to do it twice too, that's a real commitment to this bit here of a pretending I.

And to do it twice too, that's a real commitment to this bit here of a pretending I.

Was die if you could find the cam footage of that place the second time they celebrated. I'm laughing so hard at my table, like it. It's such an embarrassment. It's already embarrassing enough you celebrated an hour early because you just wanted to be in on it, but then to double back and do it again. It's come on now, to stop it. Like I was completely caught off guard by this, considering I'd never been anywhere but New York for New year and so like it was. It was really like when they did it a eleven, I was like that, that's really weird. And then they did it again and I just busted out laughing. I was like, this is this is unbelievable. So I started thinking, like on the West Coast, you guys celebrate like three different times, like do you guys it's mountain time? Yeah, I just start throwing stuff around.

Was die if you could find the cam footage of that place the second time they celebrated. I'm laughing so hard at my table, like it. It's such an embarrassment. It's already embarrassing enough you celebrated an hour early because you just wanted to be in on it, but then to double back and do it again. It's come on now, to stop it. Like I was completely caught off guard by this, considering I'd never been anywhere but New York for New year and so like it was. It was really like when they did it a eleven, I was like that, that's really weird. And then they did it again and I just busted out laughing. I was like, this is this is unbelievable. So I started thinking, like on the West Coast, you guys celebrate like three different times, like do you guys it's mountain time? Yeah, I just start throwing stuff around.

It's always like a like a like a message. Somebody in the party says, hey, actually right now on East Coast is uh, it's midnight. So they celebrated, and it's like, who cares this? Keep doing our own thing for hours at nine o'clock. We can't do anything right now. But nice mentioned.

It's always like a like a like a message. Somebody in the party says, hey, actually right now on East Coast is uh, it's midnight. So they celebrated, and it's like, who cares this? Keep doing our own thing for hours at nine o'clock. We can't do anything right now. But nice mentioned.

It's just so weird to me. And then like it was the first couple of years when I moved out or I still like a lot of friends would text me Happy New Year at eleven o'clock out here, and there's so anti climactic now living here, Like this time, I guesaid, I was in New York's it was different. But like when I'm at home, my wife goes to bed at like nine o'clock at night. Those days of being up the party in a long time. So I'll be sitting there watching like ted Lasso, and all of a sudden, I look down at my phone. It's twelve sixteen. I'm like, oh, hey, cool, Happy New Year. It doesn't it doesn't register anymore. It doesn't have quite the impact that it once did. I remember being twenty and twenty one and get back Danny in college. I had my girlfriend in college. I'm like, let's go to Times Square, Let's go down there and let's party. Let's do it. And now I watch it and I'm thirty five. I'm like, man, you couldn't pay me enough to go to the top square freezing my ass off. People have been standing out of there on those bike rails for twenty hours trying to get as close as they can to the ball drop. And look, I'm not gonna go too far into this, but think about it, like, if you got to if you got to take a league, you got a problem, Like you're not getting back to that spot right, So you got to figure out the way to make that happen. And I'm guessing some people are still liquor it up that it's not a problem, but it I have family who used to be in the NYPD and they would always say, Matt, don't don't do it. I had to work those nights night of the year, don't go anywhere near watch it on TV. I took their advice.

It's just so weird to me. And then like it was the first couple of years when I moved out or I still like a lot of friends would text me Happy New Year at eleven o'clock out here, and there's so anti climactic now living here, Like this time, I guesaid, I was in New York's it was different. But like when I'm at home, my wife goes to bed at like nine o'clock at night. Those days of being up the party in a long time. So I'll be sitting there watching like ted Lasso, and all of a sudden, I look down at my phone. It's twelve sixteen. I'm like, oh, hey, cool, Happy New Year. It doesn't it doesn't register anymore. It doesn't have quite the impact that it once did. I remember being twenty and twenty one and get back Danny in college. I had my girlfriend in college. I'm like, let's go to Times Square, Let's go down there and let's party. Let's do it. And now I watch it and I'm thirty five. I'm like, man, you couldn't pay me enough to go to the top square freezing my ass off. People have been standing out of there on those bike rails for twenty hours trying to get as close as they can to the ball drop. And look, I'm not gonna go too far into this, but think about it, like, if you got to if you got to take a league, you got a problem, Like you're not getting back to that spot right, So you got to figure out the way to make that happen. And I'm guessing some people are still liquor it up that it's not a problem, but it I have family who used to be in the NYPD and they would always say, Matt, don't don't do it. I had to work those nights night of the year, don't go anywhere near watch it on TV. I took their advice.

Yeah, I'm glad I stayed at home for this or the last few New Year's Eve.

Yeah, I'm glad I stayed at home for this or the last few New Year's Eve.

Good for you, Good for you. All right, talking about staying home as like a sick like a pe here we got week eighteen story lines. By the end of this week, eighteen teams they will be staying home. Fourteen are going on. Now. With that being said, I'm not going to run down every single scenario because some of them are crazy and borderline impossible. But here's what we know about the playoffs right now. So in the AFC, the Ravens have clinched homefield. They're thirteen to three, best record in football, number one seed throughout the playoffs, home field all that. The Chiefs, they clinched the AFC West by beating Cincinnati last weekend. They're the three seed no matter what happens. And the Browns they are a wild card, they will be the best wildcard team. They are the five seed. So all those teams are gonna rest their start as they've already talked about that those teams are locked in. Now the Dolphins have clinched a playoff berth, they have not cleansed anything more than that they could be. In fact, they will be the two seed if they win against Buffalo. If they lose, they are the sixth seed. There are no other scenarios. They will go to Kansas City if they lose for Buffalo. If the Bills win, they are the two seed. But here's where it gets interesting to segue in here. If the Bills lose, there is a very very very real world where they miss the playoffs. Now what would have to happen is Pittsburgh would have to beat a basically a second hand Baltimore team because Baltimore is not playing anybody that game Saturday afternoon, and then Jacksonville would have to beat Tennessee. Tennessee of course five and eleven. Right now, Jacksonville might be getting Trevor Lawrence and Christian Kirk back this week. That game is in Nashville. But if Jacksonville and Pittsburgh win their games is their favorite to do. And Buffalo were to lose at Miami, Buffalo is out of the playoffs. So with all that as a backdrop here, let's dive right in. Who do you have getting into the playoffs? Both in the AFC, who do you think makes who clinches the last three spots? And then in the NFC. Where in the NFC? Quickly, Philly's in, Dallas is in. We don't know who's gonna win the East. Yet Dallas beats Washington, they win the East, they'd be the two seed, Philly'd be the five. Tampa can clinch by beating Carolina. The Niners are the one seed, the Rams are a wild card, uh, I think, and the Lions have won their division. So there's a couple of spots there. Who gets you in the A and the NFC?

Good for you, Good for you. All right, talking about staying home as like a sick like a pe here we got week eighteen story lines. By the end of this week, eighteen teams they will be staying home. Fourteen are going on. Now. With that being said, I'm not going to run down every single scenario because some of them are crazy and borderline impossible. But here's what we know about the playoffs right now. So in the AFC, the Ravens have clinched homefield. They're thirteen to three, best record in football, number one seed throughout the playoffs, home field all that. The Chiefs, they clinched the AFC West by beating Cincinnati last weekend. They're the three seed no matter what happens. And the Browns they are a wild card, they will be the best wildcard team. They are the five seed. So all those teams are gonna rest their start as they've already talked about that those teams are locked in. Now the Dolphins have clinched a playoff berth, they have not cleansed anything more than that they could be. In fact, they will be the two seed if they win against Buffalo. If they lose, they are the sixth seed. There are no other scenarios. They will go to Kansas City if they lose for Buffalo. If the Bills win, they are the two seed. But here's where it gets interesting to segue in here. If the Bills lose, there is a very very very real world where they miss the playoffs. Now what would have to happen is Pittsburgh would have to beat a basically a second hand Baltimore team because Baltimore is not playing anybody that game Saturday afternoon, and then Jacksonville would have to beat Tennessee. Tennessee of course five and eleven. Right now, Jacksonville might be getting Trevor Lawrence and Christian Kirk back this week. That game is in Nashville. But if Jacksonville and Pittsburgh win their games is their favorite to do. And Buffalo were to lose at Miami, Buffalo is out of the playoffs. So with all that as a backdrop here, let's dive right in. Who do you have getting into the playoffs? Both in the AFC, who do you think makes who clinches the last three spots? And then in the NFC. Where in the NFC? Quickly, Philly's in, Dallas is in. We don't know who's gonna win the East. Yet Dallas beats Washington, they win the East, they'd be the two seed, Philly'd be the five. Tampa can clinch by beating Carolina. The Niners are the one seed, the Rams are a wild card, uh, I think, and the Lions have won their division. So there's a couple of spots there. Who gets you in the A and the NFC?

Yeah, I'll start with the NFC and Buccaneers. Just handle business, Go beat the terrible Panthers and just beat them down handily and win the division. You had an opportunity last week and you had a stinker against the Saints there, you know, I know the Saints had like a ten days ten days arrest and they and they got to the Buccaneers. But handle business. Make that one easy. Uh. And then I'm kind of intrigued, but obviously the Rams already clinched, but I want to see them get that sixth seed to play the Lions number three, and that'll be Matthew Stafford going to Detroit. But they got they need Carson Wentz to beat out Sam Darnold. Kind of an intriguing little matchup there, so obviously they got the six there, and then you know what it's I will say. I will say that the Bears, even though I already already know I'm gonna do something terrible here, but uh mmqb staff picks. I went the Packers, but I'm changing my mind. I think the Bears could beat the Packers, Seahawks beat the car maybe the Sea. How's take that last spot right there and then over in the AFC. It's it's wild to me that that the Bills have been a fringe playoff team for so many weeks and they have a shot to get the number two seat or maybe not even make it at all. So I think that that's the chast at this new seven seed format I think created, and we got the kind of that weird quirkiness there, But I think the Bills will beat the Dolphins. Maybe I'm giving away some more picks later on, but uh that's number two right there, and then I obviously got the Browns number five, and then uh what we got?

Yeah, I'll start with the NFC and Buccaneers. Just handle business, Go beat the terrible Panthers and just beat them down handily and win the division. You had an opportunity last week and you had a stinker against the Saints there, you know, I know the Saints had like a ten days ten days arrest and they and they got to the Buccaneers. But handle business. Make that one easy. Uh. And then I'm kind of intrigued, but obviously the Rams already clinched, but I want to see them get that sixth seed to play the Lions number three, and that'll be Matthew Stafford going to Detroit. But they got they need Carson Wentz to beat out Sam Darnold. Kind of an intriguing little matchup there, so obviously they got the six there, and then you know what it's I will say. I will say that the Bears, even though I already already know I'm gonna do something terrible here, but uh mmqb staff picks. I went the Packers, but I'm changing my mind. I think the Bears could beat the Packers, Seahawks beat the car maybe the Sea. How's take that last spot right there and then over in the AFC. It's it's wild to me that that the Bills have been a fringe playoff team for so many weeks and they have a shot to get the number two seat or maybe not even make it at all. So I think that that's the chast at this new seven seed format I think created, and we got the kind of that weird quirkiness there, But I think the Bills will beat the Dolphins. Maybe I'm giving away some more picks later on, but uh that's number two right there, and then I obviously got the Browns number five, and then uh what we got?

Okay?

Okay?

You know what? I think CJ. Strid is going to shine on prime time to take one of those ball card spots there and then to jump the Colts, and then I think the Jaguars. I've been I've been very critical of the Jaguars. They did handle business as the Panthers with CJ bet third twenty six to zero. But I say Jaguars handle business win a division. Did I miss anybody from the open spots?

You know what? I think CJ. Strid is going to shine on prime time to take one of those ball card spots there and then to jump the Colts, and then I think the Jaguars. I've been I've been very critical of the Jaguars. They did handle business as the Panthers with CJ bet third twenty six to zero. But I say Jaguars handle business win a division. Did I miss anybody from the open spots?

You got it? Okay, well done? All right, So I'll try to be simple. So I think in the South, in both divisions, I think the teams that are currently first will win. I think Jacksonville will be Tennessee. I guess see Tennessee have a fight. By the way, you see Rabel's press conference with Rabeles like, oh it sucks to lose. I just teed offensive the table. Yeah, I'm like, hey, man, it is what it is. I think well, as much as I respect Mike Raybell, I do think they will lose this weekend. I think Jacksonville when I think they'll be the four seed, which would set up Jacksonville hosting Cleveland, and I guess I can't imagine Tampa's losing to Carolina, Like I just can't that that to me, that would be one of the worst losses in franchise history. Which are the Bucks is really saying something? So I think those two teams will win. They'll be their respect to four season their conferences. The Bears are a really, really, really intriguing team. This weekend, I think the Packers win. I think the Bears are going to cover the three and a half. Like I think it's going to be a death match basically up at Lambeau. The Packers will get in. And by the way, I am with you though, and I think it's a good point you brought up. If I'm the Rams, I would I would try to win that football game. Like I understand you don't want to get anybody hurt. I get it. I'd far rather go to Detroit with the way their defense is playing, and go to Dallas. I just would. And I get it. It's Dallas and it's Mike McCarthy in a playoff game, Like we all understand that they can win that game. But I'm with you, I'd rather go there and I'll tell you what, that is a really interesting second round game if they beat Detroit or Dallas and they go to San Francisco. We've talked about this on the pod before. That is one team. If I'm the Niners, I don't want to play them. They are a weird matchup for San Francisco for a lot of reasons. But in any event, we can get to that next week. So I've got I think that the Rams and the Packers, well, the Rams already in, but I think they'll both be wild cards along with I think Philly's gonna be a wildcard. I Thinkdallas canna win the division. In the AFC, have Jacksonville as the four. I'm gonna go the other way. I'll say Indy Beach Houston. I don't have a ton of conviction either way. I'm just taking Indie Deserve Home. I like their defense better. I just think they find a way. I gotta say. I actually think, oh yeah, let me say this first. I think Buffalo is gonna win as well. I'm with you. Miami's just Miami has the feel of a team right now with the defensive injuries, kind of feels like a dead team walking like that's just kind of feel like they lose to Buffalo and then they go to Arrowhead and it's like, you're really gonna win that game at Arrowhead when it's ten degrees out. I don't know. You know again, we'll get to that next week. But I'll tell you what how you feel about this. I am very confident in the Bills this week, and then I am extremely unconfident if they play Indianapolis or Houston. It's just like that's who they've been. Like I could see I could see Jonathan Taylor rushing for a buck fifty in that game, and it's just you're like, oh my god, is it really twenty seven to twenty three in the fourth quarter. Like I'm not even saying the lose. I just think it'd be a weird game that they could lose. All of all the games we just talked about, the games that involved these teams. You know, we think you're gonna make the playoffs. It always feels like there's one game that you look at the end of the day day and go, how the hell did that happen? Like what if you had to pick one of those games, which game would have been? Of being excited like one of these teams that are winning in that just fall apart this weekend fall apart.

You got it? Okay, well done? All right, So I'll try to be simple. So I think in the South, in both divisions, I think the teams that are currently first will win. I think Jacksonville will be Tennessee. I guess see Tennessee have a fight. By the way, you see Rabel's press conference with Rabeles like, oh it sucks to lose. I just teed offensive the table. Yeah, I'm like, hey, man, it is what it is. I think well, as much as I respect Mike Raybell, I do think they will lose this weekend. I think Jacksonville when I think they'll be the four seed, which would set up Jacksonville hosting Cleveland, and I guess I can't imagine Tampa's losing to Carolina, Like I just can't that that to me, that would be one of the worst losses in franchise history. Which are the Bucks is really saying something? So I think those two teams will win. They'll be their respect to four season their conferences. The Bears are a really, really, really intriguing team. This weekend, I think the Packers win. I think the Bears are going to cover the three and a half. Like I think it's going to be a death match basically up at Lambeau. The Packers will get in. And by the way, I am with you though, and I think it's a good point you brought up. If I'm the Rams, I would I would try to win that football game. Like I understand you don't want to get anybody hurt. I get it. I'd far rather go to Detroit with the way their defense is playing, and go to Dallas. I just would. And I get it. It's Dallas and it's Mike McCarthy in a playoff game, Like we all understand that they can win that game. But I'm with you, I'd rather go there and I'll tell you what, that is a really interesting second round game if they beat Detroit or Dallas and they go to San Francisco. We've talked about this on the pod before. That is one team. If I'm the Niners, I don't want to play them. They are a weird matchup for San Francisco for a lot of reasons. But in any event, we can get to that next week. So I've got I think that the Rams and the Packers, well, the Rams already in, but I think they'll both be wild cards along with I think Philly's gonna be a wildcard. I Thinkdallas canna win the division. In the AFC, have Jacksonville as the four. I'm gonna go the other way. I'll say Indy Beach Houston. I don't have a ton of conviction either way. I'm just taking Indie Deserve Home. I like their defense better. I just think they find a way. I gotta say. I actually think, oh yeah, let me say this first. I think Buffalo is gonna win as well. I'm with you. Miami's just Miami has the feel of a team right now with the defensive injuries, kind of feels like a dead team walking like that's just kind of feel like they lose to Buffalo and then they go to Arrowhead and it's like, you're really gonna win that game at Arrowhead when it's ten degrees out. I don't know. You know again, we'll get to that next week. But I'll tell you what how you feel about this. I am very confident in the Bills this week, and then I am extremely unconfident if they play Indianapolis or Houston. It's just like that's who they've been. Like I could see I could see Jonathan Taylor rushing for a buck fifty in that game, and it's just you're like, oh my god, is it really twenty seven to twenty three in the fourth quarter. Like I'm not even saying the lose. I just think it'd be a weird game that they could lose. All of all the games we just talked about, the games that involved these teams. You know, we think you're gonna make the playoffs. It always feels like there's one game that you look at the end of the day day and go, how the hell did that happen? Like what if you had to pick one of those games, which game would have been? Of being excited like one of these teams that are winning in that just fall apart this weekend fall apart.

It's tough man, because maybe I guess it could be Buffalo, but it just feels like it's all set up for them because of the injuries to the Dolphins, and hey, the Dolphins are at home, and maybe they figured something out, but I don't know. But Mike McDaniel, he's a great coach and when it comes to, you know, being an offensive play caller. But they can't adjust. And the one team that can't afford injuries is the Miami Dolphins because they can't adjust and they can't figure out different schemes or or just kind of like you know, it's a it's a zone running scheme and bombs away offensively and defensively.

It's tough man, because maybe I guess it could be Buffalo, but it just feels like it's all set up for them because of the injuries to the Dolphins, and hey, the Dolphins are at home, and maybe they figured something out, but I don't know. But Mike McDaniel, he's a great coach and when it comes to, you know, being an offensive play caller. But they can't adjust. And the one team that can't afford injuries is the Miami Dolphins because they can't adjust and they can't figure out different schemes or or just kind of like you know, it's a it's a zone running scheme and bombs away offensively and defensively.

They figure it out with.

They figure it out with.

Vig Fanjoe, but then now no Bradley Chubb, no Jalen Phillips, maybe no Xavion Howard, and we still got a monitor Raheem Moster and and Jalen Waddle. But I guess to give you an answer, it could be Buffalo because it's it's it could be a nice you know, like a summary of the season. It's just up and down. They're not consistent, and when you want to believe in them, they go laad maybe in Miami. So they barely survive against the Patriots, they barely survive against the Chargers. Uh, you know they someone got a little lucky at aarhead statum to get that win. But they get four straight in a row from go six and six to go to be in the bye week and having a sit for two weeks too, that Philly loss and overtime, like must have really tested you mentally, and it come out and win four straight. All credit to them, and then they're getting a little healthier defensively. You know, Sean mcdermay's had a nice job too from a rough patch. But I could see them maybe you know, laying a sinker and and why not because this season has been filled with upsets like it's never that easy, it's never that predictable. And I know we all, you know, kind of had a pencil did watch out for a Week eight team Miami and Buffalo, and we all someone got that one right. But how about just a weird ending where Miami, you know, proves people wrong with the narrative that they're soft and they can't be winning teams and they win that one.

Vig Fanjoe, but then now no Bradley Chubb, no Jalen Phillips, maybe no Xavion Howard, and we still got a monitor Raheem Moster and and Jalen Waddle. But I guess to give you an answer, it could be Buffalo because it's it's it could be a nice you know, like a summary of the season. It's just up and down. They're not consistent, and when you want to believe in them, they go laad maybe in Miami. So they barely survive against the Patriots, they barely survive against the Chargers. Uh, you know they someone got a little lucky at aarhead statum to get that win. But they get four straight in a row from go six and six to go to be in the bye week and having a sit for two weeks too, that Philly loss and overtime, like must have really tested you mentally, and it come out and win four straight. All credit to them, and then they're getting a little healthier defensively. You know, Sean mcdermay's had a nice job too from a rough patch. But I could see them maybe you know, laying a sinker and and why not because this season has been filled with upsets like it's never that easy, it's never that predictable. And I know we all, you know, kind of had a pencil did watch out for a Week eight team Miami and Buffalo, and we all someone got that one right. But how about just a weird ending where Miami, you know, proves people wrong with the narrative that they're soft and they can't be winning teams and they win that one.

You know, I think that has to be the game. I mean, yeah, sure, Like I almost picked Dallas in Washington. Wouldn't that be the most in the world for Alice to go down there and just get smoked Week eighteen by Sam Howell, Like it would be the most Jobeyre said, whatever the hell starting this week, haven't been enough attention to Washington. But that game has to be it because look, the Bills are capable of going to Miami and winning forty nine to seventeen. They are also capable of Alan throwing three interceptions and then just just imploding in that game. And you walk away from going what the hell? Like, how did they? Like? How do they manage that? A couple things about the Bills that worry me, and I do think they're gonna win this weekend, but they worry me in the playoffs, and I think are gonna frankly be the end of them at some point in the playoffs. You know that Sefon Diggs is not at one hundred yards is the beginning of October. I mean he's been brutal. And Tim Graham at the Athletic great guy and wrote a hell of the piece, he pointed out something adult was really interesting, like, not only are his numbers going down, he's barely playing compared to Shakur and Gabe Davis. Wow, Like that's I mean, he's seen less snaps than those guys over I believe it was the last three weeks. It's very odd, Like it's a very very odd thing, like why would that be the case? And yet here we are now look for the season, Diggs is still seeing plenty of snaps. Okay, he's still eighty one percent, but that's that's well below gave. Davis was at eighty seven. And if you go back last years for comparison's sake, then it was important Davis did again lead them last year because Diggs only played in sixteen to the games. But Diggs, even with he played seventy seven percent of snaps. It's like, okay, is it that far down? Does it does make a huge difference. I mean last year he played eight hundred and thirty six snaps total on offense. This year is at eight eighty So it's not like it's a crazy drop. But over the game by game this year, that's where it gets a little more interesting. So if you look at it, like early in the year, he's almost one hundred percent, like well over ninety over and over. Then right around when he starts dropping off statistically makes sense, he's like eighty seven, eighty six, eighty four. Then you go eighty seventy nine, seventy five, sixty six, sixty five, sixty and then forty five point six like so early early on in the year he was mostly well above eighty, like well above eighty and then the last like you know, in Week three and Week four, because they won by such hues margins, he was seventy six percent sixty six percent, his lowest snap counts of the year by percentage the last three weeks. Like that is significant right now. Gave Davis has also had many games this year he hasn't had a catch, so like does dig show up in this game or does Ramsey blanket digs and Gave Davis has one of these days where he has one catch for nine yards. I just don't trust to Miami. We've seen this over and over at the same point. This is the Miami team that almost beat him in Buffalo last year in a primetime game, in a meaningful game, and then almost meet him with Skylar Thompson in a playoff game, So anything's possible. Let's uh, let's keep going though. Look, so we already kind of touched on the second of our storylines and went pretty deep on it, which is the breakdown of this Bills Dolphins games. We won't have to go there, but I just want to talk big picture for a second. So if the Bills lose this game and let's say they don't make the playoffs, let's say that they don't get help and they miss do you think mcdermot's back. Do you think he should be back?

You know, I think that has to be the game. I mean, yeah, sure, Like I almost picked Dallas in Washington. Wouldn't that be the most in the world for Alice to go down there and just get smoked Week eighteen by Sam Howell, Like it would be the most Jobeyre said, whatever the hell starting this week, haven't been enough attention to Washington. But that game has to be it because look, the Bills are capable of going to Miami and winning forty nine to seventeen. They are also capable of Alan throwing three interceptions and then just just imploding in that game. And you walk away from going what the hell? Like, how did they? Like? How do they manage that? A couple things about the Bills that worry me, and I do think they're gonna win this weekend, but they worry me in the playoffs, and I think are gonna frankly be the end of them at some point in the playoffs. You know that Sefon Diggs is not at one hundred yards is the beginning of October. I mean he's been brutal. And Tim Graham at the Athletic great guy and wrote a hell of the piece, he pointed out something adult was really interesting, like, not only are his numbers going down, he's barely playing compared to Shakur and Gabe Davis. Wow, Like that's I mean, he's seen less snaps than those guys over I believe it was the last three weeks. It's very odd, Like it's a very very odd thing, like why would that be the case? And yet here we are now look for the season, Diggs is still seeing plenty of snaps. Okay, he's still eighty one percent, but that's that's well below gave. Davis was at eighty seven. And if you go back last years for comparison's sake, then it was important Davis did again lead them last year because Diggs only played in sixteen to the games. But Diggs, even with he played seventy seven percent of snaps. It's like, okay, is it that far down? Does it does make a huge difference. I mean last year he played eight hundred and thirty six snaps total on offense. This year is at eight eighty So it's not like it's a crazy drop. But over the game by game this year, that's where it gets a little more interesting. So if you look at it, like early in the year, he's almost one hundred percent, like well over ninety over and over. Then right around when he starts dropping off statistically makes sense, he's like eighty seven, eighty six, eighty four. Then you go eighty seventy nine, seventy five, sixty six, sixty five, sixty and then forty five point six like so early early on in the year he was mostly well above eighty, like well above eighty and then the last like you know, in Week three and Week four, because they won by such hues margins, he was seventy six percent sixty six percent, his lowest snap counts of the year by percentage the last three weeks. Like that is significant right now. Gave Davis has also had many games this year he hasn't had a catch, so like does dig show up in this game or does Ramsey blanket digs and Gave Davis has one of these days where he has one catch for nine yards. I just don't trust to Miami. We've seen this over and over at the same point. This is the Miami team that almost beat him in Buffalo last year in a primetime game, in a meaningful game, and then almost meet him with Skylar Thompson in a playoff game, So anything's possible. Let's uh, let's keep going though. Look, so we already kind of touched on the second of our storylines and went pretty deep on it, which is the breakdown of this Bills Dolphins games. We won't have to go there, but I just want to talk big picture for a second. So if the Bills lose this game and let's say they don't make the playoffs, let's say that they don't get help and they miss do you think mcdermot's back. Do you think he should be back?

Yeah? If if they don't win this game and they missed the playoff that I think you guess it is maybe strong and consider a change here. But you know, winning these four games in a row to get to this point to win a division, I'm sure you know goes a long way with ownership and the front office. But you've done this dance for a few years now, and you know you point out those numbers to Von Diggs. Maybe they're trying to prepare for like life it out digs they could be changes next year. So and they're looking this weird face too, you know, going off of the offensive side, like they don't figure, they don't want they don't know who they are, like either their bombs away with Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs, or they want to run the football heavily with James Cook, which you know Joe Brady is really you know, emphasized. But I was watching that charge the game pretty closely. It was that weird peacock. I don't know why I was watching closer, but it was on TV and you could tell that they were having these issues like who do you want to be here? And you know at this stage, you know you've been together. This core has been together for the longest. I get you went through a new OC, but you got to at some point figure it out. And they've been winning these games pretty ugly. Mcdermot's done a nice job, you know, with you know, all the injuries to have some good game plans. And that's why part of it too, why I feel like the Bills are going to beat the Dolphins. Like Week four when they won forty eight to twenty, mcdermamy had a great, great game plan to frustrate to a and say you're not going down the field here, I'm gonna blitz you. I'm gonna make you guess here, and it worked the perfection. So I think if you look at the fos Hampleside maybe gets another year. But imagine on Prime Time Football Week eighteen, game two seventy two, everybody's watching and it's right there, and you missed the playoffs because you know, the Steelers beat the backup team for the Ravens and the Jaguars beat the tight end. So it could definitely happen. And you know, I know for a while people were saying it could be eight to ten head coaching vacancies, not could be maybe like five or six. And I don't know, I don't know if I see mcdermoty being one of those guys.

Yeah? If if they don't win this game and they missed the playoff that I think you guess it is maybe strong and consider a change here. But you know, winning these four games in a row to get to this point to win a division, I'm sure you know goes a long way with ownership and the front office. But you've done this dance for a few years now, and you know you point out those numbers to Von Diggs. Maybe they're trying to prepare for like life it out digs they could be changes next year. So and they're looking this weird face too, you know, going off of the offensive side, like they don't figure, they don't want they don't know who they are, like either their bombs away with Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs, or they want to run the football heavily with James Cook, which you know Joe Brady is really you know, emphasized. But I was watching that charge the game pretty closely. It was that weird peacock. I don't know why I was watching closer, but it was on TV and you could tell that they were having these issues like who do you want to be here? And you know at this stage, you know you've been together. This core has been together for the longest. I get you went through a new OC, but you got to at some point figure it out. And they've been winning these games pretty ugly. Mcdermot's done a nice job, you know, with you know, all the injuries to have some good game plans. And that's why part of it too, why I feel like the Bills are going to beat the Dolphins. Like Week four when they won forty eight to twenty, mcdermamy had a great, great game plan to frustrate to a and say you're not going down the field here, I'm gonna blitz you. I'm gonna make you guess here, and it worked the perfection. So I think if you look at the fos Hampleside maybe gets another year. But imagine on Prime Time Football Week eighteen, game two seventy two, everybody's watching and it's right there, and you missed the playoffs because you know, the Steelers beat the backup team for the Ravens and the Jaguars beat the tight end. So it could definitely happen. And you know, I know for a while people were saying it could be eight to ten head coaching vacancies, not could be maybe like five or six. And I don't know, I don't know if I see mcdermoty being one of those guys.

I don't think he's gonna get fired. I think the only way he gets fired is if they just get absolutely like depantsed on national talp, like if they lost that game something like forty five to seventeen or something like, it's just really hate wire. Maybe I get why Bills fans are frustrated with Charl mc dermott. I get it. And the whole controversy around his pregame pregame actually he was a training camp. His training camp conversations training camp. You know, pep talk if you will. That involved nine to eleven. That wasn't great, Okay, but they've turned that franchise around him there. I mean, I think sometimes people have a short memory. The Bills suck for twenty straight years. I mean they were a complete dumpster fire. Okay. I went to college not far from Buffalo from six to nine, and I know it's new at the time, tons of Bills fans. That team was abominable back then. I mean they were you know, Ryan Edwards was the quarter trno Trnwards was a quarterback. I mean they were hideous. JP Losman, that team ugly, Jersey's ugly record and Tom Brady beating them was pretty much the three guaranteed things every year with that football team, Jimmy want with McDermott, they've won three straight AFC titles, trying to make it a fourth on Sunday. They went to the AFC title game in twenty twenty. They went to the divisional round each of the last years. Now, if you want to argue the other way, you could say, yeah, they're not making enough progress. Alan for all his gifts, he's not getting better, he's not making getting worse, but he's not getting better. He had that breakout year in twenty twenty, and then after that he's been good the last year's he didn't make the Pro Bowl yesterday. I mean, now the Pro Bowls are farce. Okay, I'm not trying to make the Pro Bowl out like it's the endal be all. But I also would argue that he probably didn't deserve to make the Pro Bowl. Like he hasn't been as good as some of these other guys. So that's the indictment if you want to go that route. And the other route is in the playoffs. They have had meltdowns the thirteen Seconds game, Cincinnati going in there and just beating the daylights out of them with half of an offensive line, almost losing to Skyler Thompson and Phillip Rivers in your own building like it's been. They've had some close calls, so you can make that call. I do not think he will be fired now. On the flip side of Miami big picture, I think if they lose this game, I mean, look, McDaniel's safe, like we're going to talk about that, but like if they lose this game and they get beat up in this football game and they go to Kansas City in the playoffs, which they will if they lose, I don't know how you feel. I am, by no means overly high in the Chiefs right now, who I think are great defensively offensively. It's like, what week do you get him on? I don't know how you are with this. I don't think they're beating Kansas City in a playoff game there, like if they got to go into that building and play them, I don't I don't think they're doing it. So if that happens and they flame out, let's say they lose the Chiefs, you know, twenty seven, don't know seventeen. If you're a Dolphins fan, you're looking at it going, all right, yeah, we're better now, we're good, But like, are we Are we good enough to really challenge Kansas City and Buffalo and Baltimore? And since you went they're right, I don't know how you could say yes, yeah.

I don't think he's gonna get fired. I think the only way he gets fired is if they just get absolutely like depantsed on national talp, like if they lost that game something like forty five to seventeen or something like, it's just really hate wire. Maybe I get why Bills fans are frustrated with Charl mc dermott. I get it. And the whole controversy around his pregame pregame actually he was a training camp. His training camp conversations training camp. You know, pep talk if you will. That involved nine to eleven. That wasn't great, Okay, but they've turned that franchise around him there. I mean, I think sometimes people have a short memory. The Bills suck for twenty straight years. I mean they were a complete dumpster fire. Okay. I went to college not far from Buffalo from six to nine, and I know it's new at the time, tons of Bills fans. That team was abominable back then. I mean they were you know, Ryan Edwards was the quarter trno Trnwards was a quarterback. I mean they were hideous. JP Losman, that team ugly, Jersey's ugly record and Tom Brady beating them was pretty much the three guaranteed things every year with that football team, Jimmy want with McDermott, they've won three straight AFC titles, trying to make it a fourth on Sunday. They went to the AFC title game in twenty twenty. They went to the divisional round each of the last years. Now, if you want to argue the other way, you could say, yeah, they're not making enough progress. Alan for all his gifts, he's not getting better, he's not making getting worse, but he's not getting better. He had that breakout year in twenty twenty, and then after that he's been good the last year's he didn't make the Pro Bowl yesterday. I mean, now the Pro Bowls are farce. Okay, I'm not trying to make the Pro Bowl out like it's the endal be all. But I also would argue that he probably didn't deserve to make the Pro Bowl. Like he hasn't been as good as some of these other guys. So that's the indictment if you want to go that route. And the other route is in the playoffs. They have had meltdowns the thirteen Seconds game, Cincinnati going in there and just beating the daylights out of them with half of an offensive line, almost losing to Skyler Thompson and Phillip Rivers in your own building like it's been. They've had some close calls, so you can make that call. I do not think he will be fired now. On the flip side of Miami big picture, I think if they lose this game, I mean, look, McDaniel's safe, like we're going to talk about that, but like if they lose this game and they get beat up in this football game and they go to Kansas City in the playoffs, which they will if they lose, I don't know how you feel. I am, by no means overly high in the Chiefs right now, who I think are great defensively offensively. It's like, what week do you get him on? I don't know how you are with this. I don't think they're beating Kansas City in a playoff game there, like if they got to go into that building and play them, I don't I don't think they're doing it. So if that happens and they flame out, let's say they lose the Chiefs, you know, twenty seven, don't know seventeen. If you're a Dolphins fan, you're looking at it going, all right, yeah, we're better now, we're good, But like, are we Are we good enough to really challenge Kansas City and Buffalo and Baltimore? And since you went they're right, I don't know how you could say yes, yeah.

The only thing I feel like the benefit if they win that game on Sunday night is I could see the Dolphins is a two seed beating you know, the Texans or the Colts. But then they get to the Steelers or or that maybe they would gets yeah, actually you're you're right, Yeah, it'd be a scenario there, but you know it'll be tough. But I think I feel like they could beat those three teams right there. Sure it was, oh yeah, but when you get to the division where I was kind of like, all right, I have I don't have no faith in you, Miami, and like, does that sound like a number two team? No, like they're not legit number two teams. Maybe in buffer to extent too. But you know, even if it is that that matchup you mentioned at the first round with Arrowhead, I don't have any faith in the Dolphins will win that on the road. We saw it in Germany like that. The Chiefs, you know, barely won that game because they had a scoop and score touchdown and the score just kind of held up at the end and they won that game. So they have injuries, they don't they don't know how to adjust in game. They don't they don't really know how to win on the road. And the only big time win they've had this year was you know, the Cowboys at home. So if we're starting on the road, that's a problem there too. Maybe you get to the division round, maybe one of the top four teams they have. See, I got no problem with that. After that, you're asking for a lot.

The only thing I feel like the benefit if they win that game on Sunday night is I could see the Dolphins is a two seed beating you know, the Texans or the Colts. But then they get to the Steelers or or that maybe they would gets yeah, actually you're you're right, Yeah, it'd be a scenario there, but you know it'll be tough. But I think I feel like they could beat those three teams right there. Sure it was, oh yeah, but when you get to the division where I was kind of like, all right, I have I don't have no faith in you, Miami, and like, does that sound like a number two team? No, like they're not legit number two teams. Maybe in buffer to extent too. But you know, even if it is that that matchup you mentioned at the first round with Arrowhead, I don't have any faith in the Dolphins will win that on the road. We saw it in Germany like that. The Chiefs, you know, barely won that game because they had a scoop and score touchdown and the score just kind of held up at the end and they won that game. So they have injuries, they don't they don't know how to adjust in game. They don't they don't really know how to win on the road. And the only big time win they've had this year was you know, the Cowboys at home. So if we're starting on the road, that's a problem there too. Maybe you get to the division round, maybe one of the top four teams they have. See, I got no problem with that. After that, you're asking for a lot.

I'll tell you, I'm not gonna lie to you. Just from the enjoyment and the competitive standpoint. Divisional Round Buffalo Hosts in Kansas City would be an insane football game Like that would be You've got Buffalo who's basically looked maybe frauted at the mouth of that football game, and then they have the Chiefs team going in there. It would be like, well, we beat you every time we have to play in the playoffs, so let's dance. That would be to me, the best division or the best weekend of football all years at Division Round, like I would love. Man, could you imagine, and there's a very real scenario this happens, Baltimore against Joe Flacco and the Browns, the Chiefs in Buffalo, the Rams at the Niners, and the Eagles at the Cowboys. I mean, that's that's a weekend of football that would be. I mean, you could talk about who's the favorite. Any of those teams could win those games, like it wouldn't be shocking to me anyway if the Rams beat the Niners, I wouldn't be shocked if Cleveland beat Baltimore. Wouldn't be shocked if Philadelphia went to Dallas or Kansas City went to Buffalo and won, Like those would be those would be great games.

I'll tell you, I'm not gonna lie to you. Just from the enjoyment and the competitive standpoint. Divisional Round Buffalo Hosts in Kansas City would be an insane football game Like that would be You've got Buffalo who's basically looked maybe frauted at the mouth of that football game, and then they have the Chiefs team going in there. It would be like, well, we beat you every time we have to play in the playoffs, so let's dance. That would be to me, the best division or the best weekend of football all years at Division Round, like I would love. Man, could you imagine, and there's a very real scenario this happens, Baltimore against Joe Flacco and the Browns, the Chiefs in Buffalo, the Rams at the Niners, and the Eagles at the Cowboys. I mean, that's that's a weekend of football that would be. I mean, you could talk about who's the favorite. Any of those teams could win those games, like it wouldn't be shocking to me anyway if the Rams beat the Niners, I wouldn't be shocked if Cleveland beat Baltimore. Wouldn't be shocked if Philadelphia went to Dallas or Kansas City went to Buffalo and won, Like those would be those would be great games.

How about the cow was getting a home playoff game in Division around to finally end the streakout I'm making to the NMC title game in three decades, Like that'd be right there for them.

How about the cow was getting a home playoff game in Division around to finally end the streakout I'm making to the NMC title game in three decades, Like that'd be right there for them.

Yeah, well again, you'd have this scenario maybe coming out of that, or would be like Dallas and San Francisco in the NFC title game. Old school will bring it back, and then you'd have like let's say Baltimore wins against whoever comes out of Buffalo Kansas City. I mean you would like you could have some great matchups in the divisional round. I might have to might have to cfs eyes, got all travel budgets, you go to those games.

Yeah, well again, you'd have this scenario maybe coming out of that, or would be like Dallas and San Francisco in the NFC title game. Old school will bring it back, and then you'd have like let's say Baltimore wins against whoever comes out of Buffalo Kansas City. I mean you would like you could have some great matchups in the divisional round. I might have to might have to cfs eyes, got all travel budgets, you go to those games.

Casey and Buffalo would be very intriguing too, is to see the kind of the tables that have turned, and it'd be one.

Casey and Buffalo would be very intriguing too, is to see the kind of the tables that have turned, and it'd be one.

It'd be a weird thing because if that game materializes, like all the pressure in the world's on Buffalo in that game, you've got to win. You're at a home you have won like the Chiefs would be in a very odd position of being like, hey, we got nothing to losing this game like it would be it would be very very I'd love to see that football game. Want to go to our bigger story section quickly, justin fields. He's played well recently, well and the Bears have played well recently. The Bears are seven and nine, which doesn't sound incredible, but then you factor in that last year they started out two and one and then proceed to when one more game. The rest of the one, three and fourteen they were awful. Obviously ended up finishing with the first overall pick the trader out of now there the first overall pick again, but it's because Carolina stinks and the Bears have two first rounders number one overall as well. Excuse me, if you look at fields here, he started awful, awful, awful this year. It's terrible first three games. Since his first three games, he has thrown and mind you, he was enacted for a month with a thumb injury. So fact that so since his first three games, played nine games, since he's thrown for thirteen touchdowns. He's only thrown five picks, and his completion percentage is not great on the year, sixty one percent. It's been up and down, even recently a little up and down. One game this year over three hundred yards pass and came against Denver in a game that actually blew, although it was no fault of fields in that game. So I ask you, what is the bigger story field has improved play over the last let's say six weeks, or do you think it's the number one draft picks sitting there for Chicago where obviously if they want to they can take Chakla Williams or Drake May. Which is the bigger story in which we what direction would you go?

It'd be a weird thing because if that game materializes, like all the pressure in the world's on Buffalo in that game, you've got to win. You're at a home you have won like the Chiefs would be in a very odd position of being like, hey, we got nothing to losing this game like it would be it would be very very I'd love to see that football game. Want to go to our bigger story section quickly, justin fields. He's played well recently, well and the Bears have played well recently. The Bears are seven and nine, which doesn't sound incredible, but then you factor in that last year they started out two and one and then proceed to when one more game. The rest of the one, three and fourteen they were awful. Obviously ended up finishing with the first overall pick the trader out of now there the first overall pick again, but it's because Carolina stinks and the Bears have two first rounders number one overall as well. Excuse me, if you look at fields here, he started awful, awful, awful this year. It's terrible first three games. Since his first three games, he has thrown and mind you, he was enacted for a month with a thumb injury. So fact that so since his first three games, played nine games, since he's thrown for thirteen touchdowns. He's only thrown five picks, and his completion percentage is not great on the year, sixty one percent. It's been up and down, even recently a little up and down. One game this year over three hundred yards pass and came against Denver in a game that actually blew, although it was no fault of fields in that game. So I ask you, what is the bigger story field has improved play over the last let's say six weeks, or do you think it's the number one draft picks sitting there for Chicago where obviously if they want to they can take Chakla Williams or Drake May. Which is the bigger story in which we what direction would you go?

I'll go with justin Fields. And when you mentioned that you got hurt, like if you stayed healthy the entire season, probably make a playoff May maybe a walk card. Yeah, so that really will go a long way. And you know, just to kind of, you know, make a point here because I'm not always right, you know, a surprise surprise, but one of the I don't if you remember this map for our both prediction at SI, I had a very specific prediction and I said the Bears are going to struggle early, but they're gonna have a twenty twenty two Detroit Lions like finish where they fall short of the playoffs. So if they beat the Packers and the nine, I'm eighty nine. I'm gonna take that back to your lap and say, see I called that when I got something there. But hey, Field has been an impressive That connection with DJ Moore has been pretty lethal against to against opposing defenses. And I don't know how much weight that carries, but dj More is out there vouching Justin Fields, a guy you got to keep Justin Field. I don't even get why people are talking about this. Well, djit Moore, they have the number one pick and they're don't have options that with Caleb Williams, Drake may maybe a Jaden Daniels, but you know, I think having Fields develop and show progress improvement that it's not just relying on running the football. You know, he's still very dangerous on that aspect, but to develop a djit More and become a little more positive passer, it just opens up opportunities for the bearers to Hey, you want to trade down maybe two spots to take a Marvin Harrison junior to pair with djit Moore and Justin Fields and get a first round pick out of it and get more picks, like you're just building up the franchise because this roster, maybe before that trade went down with the price to your young trade, they probably had the worst roster in the NFL. And now they've added pieces and pieces with these trades. So you make another one like that, you're really building it. And I just don't get this, this this thing where like you know, you get Caleb Williams or Trake Man or whatever it is, maybe you fire Matt Eberflus, Like why do you want to hit the reset button where you're finally seeing the progress, like you knew how long this probably was gonna be. And I'm actually surprised I'm talking like this because you would ask me on one thing, I would have said, take the quarterback all day. It's not working right now, but the results are out there. You're building, and I think with Fields doing the development and flourishing and you have the number one pick, it just crazs a bunch of options. Even if you go get the quarterback, you could flip Fields for a second round pick, maybe a first round pick. So he's a good quarterback right now, and I think that really opens up the window of opportunities with Chicago Bears great points.

I'll go with justin Fields. And when you mentioned that you got hurt, like if you stayed healthy the entire season, probably make a playoff May maybe a walk card. Yeah, so that really will go a long way. And you know, just to kind of, you know, make a point here because I'm not always right, you know, a surprise surprise, but one of the I don't if you remember this map for our both prediction at SI, I had a very specific prediction and I said the Bears are going to struggle early, but they're gonna have a twenty twenty two Detroit Lions like finish where they fall short of the playoffs. So if they beat the Packers and the nine, I'm eighty nine. I'm gonna take that back to your lap and say, see I called that when I got something there. But hey, Field has been an impressive That connection with DJ Moore has been pretty lethal against to against opposing defenses. And I don't know how much weight that carries, but dj More is out there vouching Justin Fields, a guy you got to keep Justin Field. I don't even get why people are talking about this. Well, djit Moore, they have the number one pick and they're don't have options that with Caleb Williams, Drake may maybe a Jaden Daniels, but you know, I think having Fields develop and show progress improvement that it's not just relying on running the football. You know, he's still very dangerous on that aspect, but to develop a djit More and become a little more positive passer, it just opens up opportunities for the bearers to Hey, you want to trade down maybe two spots to take a Marvin Harrison junior to pair with djit Moore and Justin Fields and get a first round pick out of it and get more picks, like you're just building up the franchise because this roster, maybe before that trade went down with the price to your young trade, they probably had the worst roster in the NFL. And now they've added pieces and pieces with these trades. So you make another one like that, you're really building it. And I just don't get this, this this thing where like you know, you get Caleb Williams or Trake Man or whatever it is, maybe you fire Matt Eberflus, Like why do you want to hit the reset button where you're finally seeing the progress, like you knew how long this probably was gonna be. And I'm actually surprised I'm talking like this because you would ask me on one thing, I would have said, take the quarterback all day. It's not working right now, but the results are out there. You're building, and I think with Fields doing the development and flourishing and you have the number one pick, it just crazs a bunch of options. Even if you go get the quarterback, you could flip Fields for a second round pick, maybe a first round pick. So he's a good quarterback right now, and I think that really opens up the window of opportunities with Chicago Bears great points.

I would take Kale Boys because you can flip Fields, which you mentioned, and get a pick. Also, Fields is eligible for an extension this offseason, and whether it's this year or next, if he becomes what you hope he becomes, you're talking about spending forty five to fifty million year. Now, look, that's not a bad problem to have. Like, then you got a good quarterback. And if he doesn't become that, well then you're kind of screwed because he didn't become a really good quarterback. My problem with Fields is this, I like him, but do I ever think he's going to be a top five, top eight guy in the NFL. I don't. I don't. I just don't think he's going to become that. I don't think he's consistent enough as a passer. And if you get Caleb Williams or Drake May, whoever you like, and that kid ends up being like an elite, elite player, your set and you got him cheap for years, and you still have the pick you get for Fields and another pick of your own pick. So that's what I would do. If I'm Chicago, I would keep Ebraflus. I think he's not a hell of a job quite honestly, that team and who the hell thought they'd be seven to nine right now after the way that season started, right, So I would I would definitely keep Everflus. I would go the route of Caleb Williams personally at the same point. If they don't, I get it, because look the point you makes fair like if they trade that number one overall pick, they're getting three first round picks. They're getting a fortune for that. So it's not a crazy decision like you could certainly do that. There's even a world like the other part of this is too what if you what if you make that trade and you trade back. Let's shadd I'm just throwing a number out there, like they've picked five. Maybe you do that trading to trade you get Jayden Daniels or Pennis. You just get a quarterback anyway, and he still have all these picks. So there's a lot of options on the on the table for Ryan Pouls, no question.

I would take Kale Boys because you can flip Fields, which you mentioned, and get a pick. Also, Fields is eligible for an extension this offseason, and whether it's this year or next, if he becomes what you hope he becomes, you're talking about spending forty five to fifty million year. Now, look, that's not a bad problem to have. Like, then you got a good quarterback. And if he doesn't become that, well then you're kind of screwed because he didn't become a really good quarterback. My problem with Fields is this, I like him, but do I ever think he's going to be a top five, top eight guy in the NFL. I don't. I don't. I just don't think he's going to become that. I don't think he's consistent enough as a passer. And if you get Caleb Williams or Drake May, whoever you like, and that kid ends up being like an elite, elite player, your set and you got him cheap for years, and you still have the pick you get for Fields and another pick of your own pick. So that's what I would do. If I'm Chicago, I would keep Ebraflus. I think he's not a hell of a job quite honestly, that team and who the hell thought they'd be seven to nine right now after the way that season started, right, So I would I would definitely keep Everflus. I would go the route of Caleb Williams personally at the same point. If they don't, I get it, because look the point you makes fair like if they trade that number one overall pick, they're getting three first round picks. They're getting a fortune for that. So it's not a crazy decision like you could certainly do that. There's even a world like the other part of this is too what if you what if you make that trade and you trade back. Let's shadd I'm just throwing a number out there, like they've picked five. Maybe you do that trading to trade you get Jayden Daniels or Pennis. You just get a quarterback anyway, and he still have all these picks. So there's a lot of options on the on the table for Ryan Pouls, no question.

Yeah, And it definitely starts with justin Field developing. And you know, I'll get some credit to Matt Eberflus too, because you know he was in the hot seat and to see him be number one run defense in the NFL. They're obviously they're they're these struggle in the past defense. But if they keep the cornerback at Johnson right, you know, maybe they'll they'll develop there and get some pieces to get the secondary. But they're they're showing progress both sides offensive defense, and I feel like, you know why I mess with that. But then again, if they really like Kelly Williams and they feel like he's a for sure guy, go ahead and do it. But we've seen these draft picks and I don't just feel as part of that twenty twenty one. But even like a guy with Trevor Lawrence, everybody says's gonna be the next Andrew Luck and he hasn't really been that guy. So really, it's gonna be something where you really trust your your skin department and you bet on the guy. But it's got to have options in Chicago's done something.

Yeah, And it definitely starts with justin Field developing. And you know, I'll get some credit to Matt Eberflus too, because you know he was in the hot seat and to see him be number one run defense in the NFL. They're obviously they're they're these struggle in the past defense. But if they keep the cornerback at Johnson right, you know, maybe they'll they'll develop there and get some pieces to get the secondary. But they're they're showing progress both sides offensive defense, and I feel like, you know why I mess with that. But then again, if they really like Kelly Williams and they feel like he's a for sure guy, go ahead and do it. But we've seen these draft picks and I don't just feel as part of that twenty twenty one. But even like a guy with Trevor Lawrence, everybody says's gonna be the next Andrew Luck and he hasn't really been that guy. So really, it's gonna be something where you really trust your your skin department and you bet on the guy. But it's got to have options in Chicago's done something.

Right, yeah, listen, no question, they deserve a lot of credit. They deserve a lot of credit for everything that they've been able to do here the last three months after what looked like a complete high fire early on. Oh it's nuts. It just goes Things change, man, Things change in a hurry, all right. So Week eighteens here, we're not going to run down the lines because we've already given you who we think are gonna win a lot of these games matter. I don't think anybody really gives a damn if you know the Chargers covering. If you do, you're sick. So instead, we're just gonna kind of run down some awards quick. We're not going to dwell on these. We're not gonna take forever something I think are pretty obvious Week eighteen going into it here, a lot of guys already sitting so I think the awards are kind of what they are at this point. Who do you have is your MVP?

Right, yeah, listen, no question, they deserve a lot of credit. They deserve a lot of credit for everything that they've been able to do here the last three months after what looked like a complete high fire early on. Oh it's nuts. It just goes Things change, man, Things change in a hurry, all right. So Week eighteens here, we're not going to run down the lines because we've already given you who we think are gonna win a lot of these games matter. I don't think anybody really gives a damn if you know the Chargers covering. If you do, you're sick. So instead, we're just gonna kind of run down some awards quick. We're not going to dwell on these. We're not gonna take forever something I think are pretty obvious Week eighteen going into it here, a lot of guys already sitting so I think the awards are kind of what they are at this point. Who do you have is your MVP?

Yeah, I think Lamar Jackson wrapped it up a week ago. And to put that beat down on the Dolphins in the same week you beat the forty nine or there was a Monday night football game, you're the one traveler, and then coming home in six days notice to beat Miami and yeah they were a little banged up. No, no Moster, no no, no Jaylen Waddle, but hey, you know, to do that, you know, and then also not let up to like fifty six points that's a lot put it on them. Yeah, so they were trying to you know, you know, make a statement, win the number one seed, win the division. Uh. And then yeah, you know, Lamar Jackson, I get that the numbers aren't as pretty as some of these other quarterbacks, but you got to count for everything, Like, you know, you got to keep that guy in the pocket. He's gonna extend play. He's going to frustrate opposing players. You know, every single week he still runs heavily what is the X, but not as much And that's that's the dangerous part. He's he keeps improving as a passer. When he won that first MVP, he was just a very accurate down down the field, you know quarterback. Now he's you know using all you know, all sides of the field. Uh. I think he might. I haven't checked, but I think he was a seventy percent uh completion percentage for a long time. Maybe's still there, maybe not. They're passing the ball a little more. But to me, Matt, when I saw that shootout against the Rams a few weeks back, I'm like, all right, they answered some questions for me because I felt like, you know, those modest numbers were saying, Okay, you might be the team that still likes to play with the lead. You'd like to run the football, but they could go total total with anybody and to do what they did to the forty and hours in Miami back in the same same week, back to back victories, I think to me, he said, Okay, you had the best record, You're the most dangerous opposite player in the NFL. You got good enough numbers. So for me that was good enough.

Yeah, I think Lamar Jackson wrapped it up a week ago. And to put that beat down on the Dolphins in the same week you beat the forty nine or there was a Monday night football game, you're the one traveler, and then coming home in six days notice to beat Miami and yeah they were a little banged up. No, no Moster, no no, no Jaylen Waddle, but hey, you know, to do that, you know, and then also not let up to like fifty six points that's a lot put it on them. Yeah, so they were trying to you know, you know, make a statement, win the number one seed, win the division. Uh. And then yeah, you know, Lamar Jackson, I get that the numbers aren't as pretty as some of these other quarterbacks, but you got to count for everything, Like, you know, you got to keep that guy in the pocket. He's gonna extend play. He's going to frustrate opposing players. You know, every single week he still runs heavily what is the X, but not as much And that's that's the dangerous part. He's he keeps improving as a passer. When he won that first MVP, he was just a very accurate down down the field, you know quarterback. Now he's you know using all you know, all sides of the field. Uh. I think he might. I haven't checked, but I think he was a seventy percent uh completion percentage for a long time. Maybe's still there, maybe not. They're passing the ball a little more. But to me, Matt, when I saw that shootout against the Rams a few weeks back, I'm like, all right, they answered some questions for me because I felt like, you know, those modest numbers were saying, Okay, you might be the team that still likes to play with the lead. You'd like to run the football, but they could go total total with anybody and to do what they did to the forty and hours in Miami back in the same same week, back to back victories, I think to me, he said, Okay, you had the best record, You're the most dangerous opposite player in the NFL. You got good enough numbers. So for me that was good enough.

I'm shortened freedom with you. By the way, he's completing sixty seven percent.

I'm shortened freedom with you. By the way, he's completing sixty seven percent.

Of his past Okay, it'll drop out.

Of his past Okay, it'll drop out.

I looked it up for you. So the one argument I have not understood the last couple of weeks, and I will just quickly in my opinion to spell it the I did like Lamar Jackson hasn't thrown for enough touchdowns. You guys thrown twenty four touchdown passes. And I've seen a lot of like people on Twitter, especially people who are fans of teams that have established quarterbacks built you know, Buffalo, Kansas City. What does doing enough touchdowns? He's throwing twenty four touchdowns this year against seven picks. Josh Allen's throwing twenty seven touchdowns to three more. He sold sixteen interceptions. I mean, it's not even close. And Mahomes, who look, I mean he's not been helped out of the fact that nobody on that team can catch. But like he's got twenty seven touchdown passage, he's got fourteen interceptions. I mean, Jackson that he's not doing for the yardage that those guys throw. Mahomes is at forty one eighty three, Allen's at thirty nine to forty seven. Okay. Lamar is well below that. He is at thirty six seventy eight. Okay, But Lamar also has run for much more than those guys have. And look, do I think Lamar Jackson's a better quarterback than Patrick Mahomes. No? Do I think he's an MVP this year? Yeah? I do. I mean those are two separate conversations, and the one thing I don't buy into, I'm sorry, I don't care how up said. This makes a few people out there like, look, I don't care that you ran for a touchdown from the one yard line. I don't care. Just stop like I don't care, Like I had people, you're not dming me tweeting at me like Allen scored two touchdowns against New England. He ran for one yard twice. I don't care. It doesn't matter, like have you run it in from the fifteen call me, which by the way, he does sometimes. But it's the same way I felt about when the argument with Jalen Hurts last year against Mahomes and people be like where he's rushed for fifteen touchdowns, he's got ten off the touch push. I mean, who cares? So I to me the total touchdown thing at times it can matter, but when like twelve of those are because like you fell over from three feet out, I don't really care. Like Lamar Jackson's degree of difficulty this year has been significant. He does not have Mark Andrews, Keith Mitchell's out for the year, Dobbins he's been out the whole year. Ronnie Stanley's been in and out of the lineup consistently for them. Like Zay Flowers is their best receiver. He's a rookie, I mean, and he's been good, by the way, But like his degree of difficulty has been harder in my opinion than what has been around the league. I mean, Dak has better weapons. Purty obviously has much better weapons. Lamar Jackson deserves me the MVP Issuason, So we agree and we can move on. Who you have your offensive Player of the.