Riverboat Ron Rivera STANDS UP to Big Cat | Pro Football Football Show Week 10

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00:00:00🎵

00:00:29The Pro Football Show is powered by the all-electric Chevy Silverado.

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00:00:44Week 10 of the NFL, we have a very special guest, Coach Ron Rivera.

00:00:48Yes.

00:00:48We're so excited.

00:00:50Good to be here.

00:00:51So excited.

00:00:51The boys were just buzzing knowing that you were coming in,

00:00:53so we're very happy to have you talking ball.

00:00:55He's got his computer.

00:00:57I know.

00:00:57He's got his first laptop we've had.

00:01:00He wouldn't stop about being prepared, so I said,

00:01:02well, OK, and I started doing stuff.

00:01:04I got notes, the whole thing.

00:01:05I love it.

00:01:05He was killing me.

00:01:06He was killing me.

00:01:07And I walk in and just find out you guys just shoot from the hip.

00:01:09Yeah.

00:01:10Yeah.

00:01:12So is it Analytical Ron today or Riverboat Ron?

00:01:14No, it's Riverboat.

00:01:15OK, all right.

00:01:16There we go.

00:01:16I got a question for you to start off.

00:01:18Go ahead.

00:01:18All right.

00:01:19So you're coaching a team.

00:01:23You're down 14.

00:01:24You score with about four minutes left.

00:01:26You go for two or one?

00:01:27No.

00:01:28You don't go for two.

00:01:29No, you go for one.

00:01:30Oh, that's true.

00:01:31Yeah.

00:01:32That's why you're not Analytical Ron.

00:01:33That's why you're not Analytical Ron.

00:01:36Let me show you.

00:01:37I got a bunch of notes.

00:01:38I got more notes.

00:01:39Believe it or not.

00:01:40More notes.

00:01:41He's pulling out the backpack.

00:01:42Right.

00:01:42Well, one of the things I had was I

00:01:43had one of the analytical guys that I'm working with.

00:01:45OK.

00:01:46I had him study it and find out for me.

00:01:48OK.

00:01:49How many times is that successful?

00:01:50Yeah.

00:01:51Yeah.

00:01:51If you go for two, get it, OK, and then kick the extra point

00:01:55towards me.

00:01:56Mike Drable did it and beat the Dolphins on Monday Night

00:01:58Football last year.

00:01:59How long ago was that?

00:02:00That was last year.

00:02:01Let's just hear him out.

00:02:02Let's just hear him out.

00:02:03Let's hear him out.

00:02:03No, no.

00:02:04I've got to find it, though.

00:02:05But I'm telling you.

00:02:06He's got the cards.

00:02:07It's funny.

00:02:08It's funny because the truth of the matter

00:02:10is it's only happened one time.

00:02:11OK.

00:02:12In the last couple of years.

00:02:13OK.

00:02:13And it worked.

00:02:14Yeah.

00:02:14It worked.

00:02:15Not for the Lions.

00:02:161-0.

00:02:16Right.

00:02:17No, the Lions were.

00:02:18That was a field goal.

00:02:19That was a field goal.

00:02:19No, but think about it, though.

00:02:20If it's only happened once, and it's been tried how many times?

00:02:23Well, I mean, a lot of times the team

00:02:25doesn't get the second chance at it.

00:02:26Right.

00:02:27But what happens when you don't get the first chance?

00:02:29You then get it the second time.

00:02:30No, you don't.

00:02:30Because the first time, what happens?

00:02:32You lose the momentum you just created.

00:02:33No.

00:02:34That's about how it is.

00:02:35Momentum.

00:02:35Yes, sir.

00:02:36Yes, sir.

00:02:37Momentum.

00:02:37Yes.

00:02:38Here we go.

00:02:38Analytics cannot measure his momentum.

00:02:42This backfired on me.

00:02:43It cannot.

00:02:44It cannot.

00:02:44Yeah.

00:02:45It can't.

00:02:45We're remote.

00:02:46But see, that's the problem with analytics is.

00:02:48Analytics is just a suggestion.

00:02:49OK.

00:02:51But the numbers don't tell you what

00:02:52happens when you don't do it.

00:02:53Right.

00:02:54They don't.

00:02:54That when you don't get it, the oh, shit that kind of happens

00:02:57subconsciously.

00:02:57Correct.

00:02:58And now your players, it gets in your players' heads.

00:03:00Momentum changes.

00:03:01And that's the truth.

00:03:02I got the nuclear option to get me out of this argument.

00:03:04I'm not going to hit it.

00:03:05No, you have to.

00:03:06No, I'm not.

00:03:06No, I'm waiting on it.

00:03:07Go ahead.

00:03:08No, you have to.

00:03:09No, no.

00:03:09Well, you don't like the analytics in that.

00:03:12You're sitting next to me right now.

00:03:13You're not on a sideline.

00:03:14Oh.

00:03:15Wow, that's a tough one.

00:03:17That's a tough one.

00:03:18And I'm going to tell you, it was probably a result of me

00:03:20trusting analytics too much.

00:03:22Yeah, true.

00:03:23Analytical Ron.

00:03:24Riverboat Ron is the one I love.

00:03:25Yes.

00:03:26Should we?

00:03:266% or 20%?

00:03:276%.

00:03:28Let's stay in the whole show.

00:03:29Oh, there it is.

00:03:30All right.

00:03:31Stay in the whole show.

00:03:32We're all standing.

00:03:33We're not going to stand.

00:03:34That was so good.

00:03:35Oh, that was great.

00:03:36That backfired.

00:03:37He brought out the backpack.

00:03:38But the truth of the matter is, I don't know.

00:03:40Analytics, it's great.

00:03:41And he's still standing.

00:03:42But it's a suggestion.

00:03:43This tells you that if you do this, and you complete it,

00:03:45and you do get it, you're going to win.

00:03:47Yeah.

00:03:48OK?

00:03:48We were at one point, when I had Cam Newton,

00:03:50we were like 97% on fourth downs.

00:03:54OK?

00:03:55So one time, I didn't have Cam in the game.

00:03:58I went with Kyle Allen.

00:03:59And we didn't get it.

00:04:00Yeah.

00:04:01And somebody said, what happened?

00:04:02I said, three more inches and about 55 pounds.

00:04:05Yeah, right.

00:04:06Right.

00:04:06That was the difference in size and weight of the two

00:04:08quarterbacks.

00:04:09Right.

00:04:09Yeah.

00:04:10So again, just because the analytics say it doesn't mean

00:04:12it's necessarily going to happen.

00:04:13And what if you're that one time?

00:04:14If it's one out of 10, you don't get it.

00:04:17And you're the one time.

00:04:18You never know when that's going to happen.

00:04:19You disagree, I guess.

00:04:20I feel like I have to stand up here.

00:04:22Yeah, I feel like he makes me want to run through a wall.

00:04:24Oh, man.

00:04:25The coach, he asks every coach this.

00:04:28He does.

00:04:28And you are the only one I feel like that might shut him down.

00:04:31Yeah, Bruce Arians got me, too.

00:04:32Yes.

00:04:32I'm on a cold streak.

00:04:33He's an old school.

00:04:34Yeah.

00:04:35Again, old school.

00:04:35Yeah.

00:04:36That's what happens.

00:04:36You get a few of the older guys show up.

00:04:38Yeah.

00:04:38We kind of tell you how we feel.

00:04:39I know.

00:04:40I love it.

00:04:40See, what I love is, he remembers.

00:04:42Yeah.

00:04:43Look at Will.

00:04:43Look at him.

00:04:44Yeah, no.

00:04:44Will.

00:04:45We've had these conversations.

00:04:46This couldn't have been any better.

00:04:48You're right.

00:04:49You're right.

00:04:49No, I get excited.

00:04:50I like that.

00:04:51I like that excitement.

00:04:52No, we want this.

00:04:53What's happened is that you've given Will a lot of confidence

00:04:55on because they argue about all of this.

00:04:57And the fact that you stood up, now he's going to stand up

00:04:59for you forever.

00:04:59Let's talk about who did better last week.

00:05:01OK.

00:05:01I will say, Dan is on a heat, like a little bit of a heater

00:05:07right now, a little bit.

00:05:08Will was 7'8".

00:05:09I'm back in first place.

00:05:10You are.

00:05:11You are.

00:05:12You're in my game.

00:05:13It's a big week this week.

00:05:14It's a big week this week.

00:05:15He's in first place by one game.

00:05:17He's 69, 65, and 3.

00:05:19You're 68, 65, and 3.

00:05:20I want your picks, by the way, next week,

00:05:22even though you're not going to be here

00:05:23because you're having a baby.

00:05:24OK.

00:05:25I want your picks.

00:05:25I got you.

00:05:26I want your picks.

00:05:26I got you.

00:05:27I'll get them to you.

00:05:27I'll give you my pass.

00:05:28OK.

00:05:29All right.

00:05:29Give them.

00:05:30And my I don't know pick of the week as well.

00:05:31All right.

00:05:32Who has a baby during football season?

00:05:33I know.

00:05:34Real self-planning.

00:05:35Real self-planning.

00:05:36Real self-planning.

00:05:37Really bad planning.

00:05:38Somewhere along the line, you're supposed to plan it out.

00:05:40You should know better.

00:05:41Yes.

00:05:42My two kids were born in May and June.

00:05:44My son was born on Super Bowl Sunday.

00:05:46And the best time to conceive is right after training camp.

00:05:48Yeah.

00:05:49There you go.

00:05:49During training camp.

00:05:50Right.

00:05:51So then you have the option of either getting out

00:05:53of training camp, but also, hey, sweetheart,

00:05:55I got to go play football.

00:05:57That's the sweet spot.

00:05:58Both my kids were born in May just

00:06:00before we went into training camp.

00:06:02So I was there for a month, and then I had to go to work.

00:06:04You should pray next time.

00:06:05I know.

00:06:06I tried.

00:06:07I tried.

00:06:08I tried.

00:06:09Sometimes you just can't plan it the way you want to.

00:06:11But you still have to give your picks, regardless.

00:06:13Yes, I will.

00:06:14I'll give my picks.

00:06:15Congratulations for the baby, but also give Dan your picks.

00:06:17Yes.

00:06:18All right.

00:06:18Let's get right into the storyline games of the week

00:06:19presented by the Chevy Silverado.

00:06:20We'll start with the 49ers at the Bucs.

00:06:22Will the 49ers minus six?

00:06:24They're coming off of a bye.

00:06:25The Bucs take the loss to the Chiefs

00:06:27in overtime on Monday Night Football.

00:06:29Who are you leaning with this week?

00:06:30Look, Coach Rivera was saying it.

00:06:32He realizes that we shoot from the hip.

00:06:34The 49ers, Trump won the election.

00:06:37I think you've got to look at 49ers minus six here.

00:06:40Because of Bosa?

00:06:41Because of Bosa.

00:06:42Maybe you look at a prop bet over one and a half sacks.

00:06:45I like the Niners here.

00:06:46I like them coming off a bye week.

00:06:48And I think they'll get rolling here later in the year.

00:06:50That's the big thing.

00:06:51And Coach, you can tell us how important it is.

00:06:54But the bye week, and a coaching staff like Kyle Shanahan,

00:06:57I'm always going to lean towards a team that is coached well

00:07:01off a bye week where they can self-scout,

00:07:04figure some things out, figure out their weaknesses,

00:07:06come out fresh.

00:07:07And the Bucs are playing.

00:07:10They've lost two in a row.

00:07:11It might even be more than that.

00:07:12But they're playing tough football.

00:07:14Like, Baker keeps them in every game.

00:07:16And I'm shocked with how competent their offense has looked

00:07:21without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

00:07:23That's a testament to Baker.

00:07:24That's a testament to Liam Cohen, their offensive coordinator.

00:07:26The big thing, though, is without Mike Evans,

00:07:29without Chris Godwin, you've seen K.Dotton kind of explode here

00:07:32and they're getting them open.

00:07:33Fred Warner is a really good linebacker.

00:07:34Oh, yeah.

00:07:35And McCaffrey is coming back.

00:07:37Yeah, McCaffrey might be coming back.

00:07:38So, Coach, off a bye, what's like the mindset where it's like,

00:07:43hey, we have a refresh?

00:07:44What happens during a bye week for a team from a coaching perspective?

00:07:47Well, from a coaching perspective, you get an option to go back

00:07:49and look at things that you've struggled with

00:07:51and get those things corrected.

00:07:53The things that you're doing really well,

00:07:54you're going to emphasize those things as a big part of your game planning

00:07:58going forward.

00:07:59I like the opportunity for these guys because, again,

00:08:02they're in a division, okay, that's very winnable.

00:08:05Nobody's pulled away.

00:08:06So he knows he's right in it.

00:08:07If they get to the one game at a time mentality and do look at it that way,

00:08:11I think Kyle Shanahan and his guys are ready to play.

00:08:13Yeah.

00:08:14How do bye weeks for you change, like, during your career?

00:08:16Like, say you're winning in the season and you have a bye week

00:08:19or you're losing in a season.

00:08:20I know.

00:08:21See, winning and going to bye sometimes, you love the momentum.

00:08:26You want to keep working.

00:08:27You want to keep playing.

00:08:28That's the way I look at it.

00:08:29Sometimes I think it's sometimes a little bit of a detriment.

00:08:33But, again, it is about keeping that momentum.

00:08:35And if you can do it while you're practicing, have a couple of good days,

00:08:38let the guys get away, come and then bring them back, start off fast,

00:08:42I think it could be a real good thing, especially for a team like the 49ers

00:08:45who need the bye because of the injuries.

00:08:47Yeah, they're so banged up.

00:08:48Yeah.

00:08:49But the one thing that I will say that you really saw was how important

00:08:53Christian McCaffrey was or is to the 49ers.

00:08:56Because, again, you don't have that back that can not only just run the football

00:09:00inside and outside, okay, but he's a threat when he's a receiver.

00:09:03Yeah.

00:09:04And that's one of the big things that hurt them because 49ers struggled

00:09:07in the red zone without Christian.

00:09:08And it is a great point because Jordan Mason has been playing great.

00:09:12But I think we forget, especially a Kyle Shanahan offense where, you know,

00:09:17that's the Shanahan motto is that you put in a running back

00:09:20and they're going to look good.

00:09:21You forget that Christian McCaffrey is that special, special talent

00:09:24where it's like Jordan Mason can have 100 yards,

00:09:27but what would Christian McCaffrey have done?

00:09:28Would it have been 150?

00:09:29You know what I mean?

00:09:30Right.

00:09:31He's just such a –

00:09:32And what the offense looks like.

00:09:33Right, right.

00:09:34He's such a next-level player.

00:09:35Like you're saying in the red zone too, like,

00:09:36the Niners have been shaking the red zone on Christian McCaffrey.

00:09:38Absolutely.

00:09:39Well, and the big thing too is you get a guy like that and you move him outside.

00:09:42Right.

00:09:43Now who's covering him?

00:09:44As soon as – oh, it's a backer.

00:09:45Hey, let's go.

00:09:46Yeah.

00:09:47And Cam Newton did that one year when he motioned him out

00:09:49and all of a sudden, you know, we're playing green bank.

00:09:51He goes, hey, watch the stick, watch the stick.

00:09:54No, you watch film.

00:09:55Yeah, that was the best.

00:09:56Remember that?

00:09:57Remember that?

00:09:58Yeah.

00:09:59He said you're not going to be able to stop it.

00:10:00No, you're not.

00:10:01And he's a special talent.

00:10:02Yeah.

00:10:03Dan, who are you taking?

00:10:04I'm taking the Niners.

00:10:05Taking the Niners.

00:10:06Yes.

00:10:07Okay.

00:10:08Let's move to Sunday night football.

00:10:09The Lions at the Texans.

00:10:10The Lions minus three and a half.

00:10:11They beat the Packers last week.

00:10:12The Texans coming off that tough loss to the Jets.

00:10:13Dan, what are you thinking about these Lions?

00:10:15The Lions are a juggernaut.

00:10:17The Lions cannot be stopped.

00:10:18They – every single week they answer the bell.

00:10:21Even, you know, they've had everything.

00:10:23They went to Minnesota.

00:10:24Division game.

00:10:25Beat the Vikings.

00:10:26Have a little letdown spot or what could have been a letdown spot with the Titans.

00:10:31Handle business easily.

00:10:33Then go on the road to Packers.

00:10:34Everyone's like, oh, Jared Goff outside.

00:10:36No problem again.

00:10:38They're just on a roll.

00:10:40And with all that said, I'm taking the Texans.

00:10:43There is a note here that, I mean, Tom did say.

00:10:46They covered this right in all seven of their wins.

00:10:48Why are you going Texans?

00:10:49I got to know because I do.

00:10:51I'm with you.

00:10:52Okay, so I think – I think Nico Collins is going to play.

00:10:55That is huge.

00:10:57You know, you saw what that offense looked like without Nico Collins,

00:11:00and it was – it fell off a cliff.

00:11:03I think, you know, they have a mini buy in the fact they played on Thursday night football.

00:11:07The Texans' defense is very, very good.

00:11:10I don't know if they can win this game.

00:11:11I think they're going to be able to keep it close.

00:11:14And this might just be stupid because I feel like I've picked against the Lions

00:11:18every single week against the spread and I just keep looking like –

00:11:20Yeah, they haven't.

00:11:21Yeah.

00:11:22The last seven games on the road, they are 7-0.

00:11:24They have everything.

00:11:25You can't stop them.

00:11:27I don't know.

00:11:28You know, maybe the Texans get into this game and they're like, hey,

00:11:31we're going to run the ball and try to play keep a little bit.

00:11:34But the one thing I'll say about the Lions is their defense isn't – it's not like –

00:11:40it's not crushing it.

00:11:42They've obviously been winning every single game.

00:11:44The Titans, they give up a lot of yards to the Titans.

00:11:47The Vikings had a decent game against them.

00:11:50The Packers, another one where it's like the Packers got a ton of yards.

00:11:53They had a lot of penalties.

00:11:55So I know that it's about keeping them – the score down and, you know,

00:11:59yards don't do anything for you when it comes to winning and losing.

00:12:01But I do think the Texans can stay in this game.

00:12:04And the Texans kind of need it.

00:12:06Like they look bad on Thursday night football.

00:12:08They got to kind of assert themselves as a real deal Super Bowl contender.

00:12:12A little extra rest too.

00:12:13Yep, yep.

00:12:14They are – their defense is solid, but they're not strong.

00:12:17Shout out to boy Tom, 30th in the red zone on red zone defense.

00:12:21Dude, the Lions are so good.

00:12:23You look at their last five games, 196 points.

00:12:26They're scoring about 40 points per game.

00:12:27Crazy.

00:12:28Only 95 points allowed.

00:12:30I don't know if you guys are familiar with the duck reproductive system,

00:12:33but this is like a bunch of – a pack of male ducks on top of a female,

00:12:36the way they treat teams.

00:12:37I think that they would beat the Chiefs by a couple touchdowns right now.

00:12:40We have the same face, Coach.

00:12:41They do.

00:12:42They bully teams.

00:12:43Yeah.

00:12:44They bully teams.

00:12:45And again, it's like you bring up the Titans.

00:12:4750 plus on the Titans.

00:12:48I know.

00:12:49The Vikings, that's a good defense.

00:12:50They're hanging 30 plus on the Vikings.

00:12:52I just don't think there's anybody that's stopping the Lions.

00:12:54So I'm going with the Lions.

00:12:55Okay.

00:12:56I'm going with the Lions.

00:12:57Smart.

00:12:58Smart.

00:12:59Coach, did you ever think you'd be talking football and duck reproductive?

00:13:00No.

00:13:01No.

00:13:02Coach.

00:13:03You've seen it.

00:13:04I mean, maybe the answer is you can't, but how do you stop the Lions offense?

00:13:06They have everything.

00:13:07I like what you said.

00:13:09You play possession football.

00:13:11You keep their offense off the field.

00:13:13You protect the football.

00:13:14You grind it out.

00:13:15Yeah.

00:13:16Okay.

00:13:17Take away their ability to run the football.

00:13:18Make them one dimensional.

00:13:19Put it all on Jared Goff.

00:13:20Now, Jared Goff has shown he's been a very complete quarterback this year.

00:13:23He's done a great job not just throwing the ball, handing the ball off,

00:13:27but heck, he goes out and catches a touchdown pass himself.

00:13:29That's right.

00:13:30But he's doing a hell of a job.

00:13:31He really is.

00:13:32The thing that I like about what they do is they're so multidimensional as a football team.

00:13:35They run it well.

00:13:36They throw it well.

00:13:37They use different people to run it.

00:13:39Receivers are part of that running game as well.

00:13:42I think you're starting to see that this offense is really difficult.

00:13:45So, to me, the key is keeping them off the field.

00:13:47Yeah.

00:13:48You've got to be able to grind it out.

00:13:50And if they can run the ball successfully, protect the football.

00:13:52Again, because the Lions are very opportunistic as well as the defense.

00:13:55Because of the takeaways.

00:13:56They've done a nice job creating takeaways

00:13:58and positive scoring position for their offense as well.

00:14:01Yeah.

00:14:02Yeah.

00:14:03It feels like the Lions, I mean, they're a complete team.

00:14:06Their special teams is great.

00:14:07Like that Titans game, they just had short field after short field.

00:14:11Yeah.

00:14:12I'm an idiot.

00:14:13I'm taking the text.

00:14:14Not to bring up the argument from the beginning of the show,

00:14:16but, Coach, we know Dan Campbell likes to take a lot of those risks.

00:14:18And we've seen it backfire a little bit.

00:14:20But what do you see from Dan Campbell in those situations?

00:14:22He's being true to form.

00:14:23Yes.

00:14:24And as long as he's true to form, as long as he does those things and shows his players.

00:14:27There you go, Dan.

00:14:28I'm back.

00:14:29And he shows his players.

00:14:30He believes in them.

00:14:31He'll do what he does.

00:14:32Yes.

00:14:33I mean, it's funny because you go back to the playoff game.

00:14:35Yes.

00:14:36He could have made it a three-score game.

00:14:37But he also could have put the dagger in.

00:14:39Yes.

00:14:40Turned it.

00:14:41Okay.

00:14:42And it didn't.

00:14:43It backfired.

00:14:44But that was my point.

00:14:45But that's what got them there.

00:14:46Yes.

00:14:48So I'm back because that was my whole point.

00:14:49We had this argument and I was like.

00:14:50That's the one pivotal moment that's created all of this.

00:14:52Yeah.

00:14:53If you're a coach like Dan Campbell, you know you have set the expectation with your team

00:14:57that we're going for it on four downs.

00:14:59You saw it against the Packers.

00:15:00They went for it on fourth and one twice, scored a touchdown on both plays.

00:15:03Going into the game, they know that, hey, when it's third and short,

00:15:08we're still going for it on fourth.

00:15:09So you set everything up.

00:15:11It never feels with Dan Campbell, it never feels like a rash decision where he's like,

00:15:15ah, shit, yeah, I guess we'll go for it.

00:15:17It's like, no, we're going for it.

00:15:19He's decisive.

00:15:20Right.

00:15:21The players look at that.

00:15:22The players go, if you hem and haw, you're screwed.

00:15:24Yeah.

00:15:25Okay?

00:15:26Because now all of a sudden it's like, oh, he's not sure.

00:15:27But you go right at it.

00:15:28Hey, guys, we're going.

00:15:29Let's go.

00:15:30Let's go.

00:15:31Let's go.

00:15:32I mean, you do those types of things.

00:15:33The players feed off of that.

00:15:34Yep.

00:15:35Okay?

00:15:36I've unfortunately let myself get talked out of it a couple of times.

00:15:39Yeah.

00:15:40And to me personally, it backfires.

00:15:42Yeah, yeah.

00:15:43Because the players feel it.

00:15:45They love the fact that you believe in them.

00:15:47You're so back, Dan.

00:15:48So back.

00:15:49And the key is, though, is, again, if it doesn't work, do like Dan did.

00:15:52Step up and say, well, that was my decision.

00:15:54Yeah, right, right.

00:15:55He took ownership.

00:15:56Exactly.

00:15:57As soon as he did that, his players bought in.

00:15:58Yeah.

00:15:59Okay?

00:16:00And I know it was the last game of the year.

00:16:01But you know what?

00:16:02Look at them now.

00:16:03Look at what they're doing.

00:16:04And he's staying true to form.

00:16:05I'm back.

00:16:06I'm back.

00:16:07I'm back.

00:16:08I'm back.

00:16:09I'm so back.

00:16:10All right.

00:16:11Let's go to Jerry's Picking Zoo presented by Stella Blue Coffee.

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00:16:37Very dear.

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00:16:39Yes.

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00:16:42Let's run the video.

00:16:43Jerry, who's picking today?

00:16:44Leia, every animal we had has gone 1-0.

00:16:47Oh, wow.

00:16:48Okay.

00:16:49Something to keep an eye on.

00:16:50All right.

00:16:51Welcome back.

00:16:52Pro Football Football Show Week 10.

00:16:55Jerry's Picking Zoo.

00:16:57And she's back.

00:16:58The queen has arrived.

00:17:00The queen is back.

00:17:01She won last week.

00:17:02She won last week.

00:17:03Leia is 1-0 undefeated, never lost.

00:17:07We got the Steelers.

00:17:08My Steelers.

00:17:09We got the Steelers and Russi traveling to Washington to take on Jaden Daniels and the

00:17:16Commanders.

00:17:17This is going to be electric.

00:17:18Kelsey, can you come over here for a second?

00:17:20I'm going to put these treats down.

00:17:22We've got to pick Leia up.

00:17:23She's so pretty today, my queen.

00:17:25We've got one on Washington.

00:17:27And look at this one.

00:17:28It's going to go on the Steelers, okay?

00:17:30It's going to go on the Steelers, right?

00:17:31Look at this.

00:17:32Okay.

00:17:33Get her down.

00:17:34Get her down.

00:17:35She's going to go.

00:17:36Go.

00:17:37Go.

00:17:38Boom.

00:17:39It's the Steelers.

00:17:41Boom.

00:17:42Leia, undefeated, never lost.

00:17:431-0.

00:17:44She probably will go 2-0.

00:17:46She picked the right team.

00:17:47It's always been the Steelers.

00:17:49Book it.

00:17:50We'll be back next week.

00:17:51Love it.

00:17:521-0.

00:17:53Love it.

00:17:54Yeah, 1-0.

00:17:55Okay.

00:17:56So the game of the week.

00:17:57Like we mentioned, the Steelers at the Commanders presented by the Chevy Silverado.

00:17:59The Commanders minus three.

00:18:00Jerry, I'll let you start.

00:18:01I know that the Steelers are coming off of a bye.

00:18:04How are you feeling?

00:18:05Tomlin, really good off the bye.

00:18:07This team is good.

00:18:08And I know people say they haven't played the best of teams yet.

00:18:11The Commanders haven't played the best of teams yet.

00:18:14Tomlin against rookie quarterbacks, I love the matchup.

00:18:17Listen, Jaden Daniels, he's really good.

00:18:20But this is his toughest test to date.

00:18:23And I think Mr. Rivera could attest to this.

00:18:26Tomlin knows how to disrupt rookie quarterbacks.

00:18:30And I think he's going to do a good job.

00:18:32The defense is playing really, really good.

00:18:34They give up some yards, but they give up like 14 points a game right now, 15 points a game.

00:18:40Commanders, if they want to win this game, they're going to have to put up 25.

00:18:44Coach, what do you think about the matchup?

00:18:46You know, the tough thing for the Commanders is their defense really hasn't played as well as it needs to.

00:18:51Okay, a lot of good things have happened to them, especially on the offensive side because of Jaden.

00:18:55Jaden's really controlled the pace and tempo of the game.

00:18:58He sets the pace and tempo for his entire team, defense included.

00:19:01If their defense can step up, can stop the run, and force Russell Wilson to make plays to win the game,

00:19:08they've got a good chance.

00:19:10But right now, I don't think that's something that they're capable of doing.

00:19:13But defensively, they rise to the occasion.

00:19:16This is going to be a really close game.

00:19:17If not, this game could be a walkaway in terms of time of possession, total rushing yards,

00:19:23total offensive yards for Pittsburgh.

00:19:25So, you know, I love Pittsburgh.

00:19:27I really do.

00:19:28I think Mike Tomlin's one of the really great coaches in this league.

00:19:30He's a mastermind, in my opinion, in sports psychology.

00:19:33I mean, the way he works his guys, gets his guys fired up, and get them ready to play,

00:19:38especially coming off a bye.

00:19:39This is kind of a tough game, I think, for Washington.

00:19:43Dan, the Commanders minus three.

00:19:44Yeah, so Jerry said it, but Mike Tomlin 26-6 straight up against rookie quarterbacks in his career.

00:19:50So it backs it up.

00:19:52He does well against a rookie quarterback.

00:19:55This is a fascinating game to me because it's kind of a, I don't want to say measuring stick,

00:20:00but it's we're going to figure out which unit is for real, for real.

00:20:04And I think both the Steelers' defense and the Commanders' offense are very good.

00:20:08But if you look, the Steelers' defense has not played the best of quarterbacks.

00:20:12You know, they played a rookie in Bo Nix.

00:20:15They played Kirk Cousins on his first game back, Anthony Richardson, Justin Herbert, who was banged up.

00:20:20And on the flip side, the Commanders have not played great defense.

00:20:22This is the best defense they're going to play.

00:20:25I'm going to go with Mike Tomlin off a bye against a rookie quarterback.

00:20:29But this is one of those games where, like, the winner of this game, I'm going to walk away from him

00:20:33and be like, that's, you know, like eye-opening.

00:20:36Like, now we're thinking Super Bowl.

00:20:37Yeah.

00:20:38I really think that.

00:20:39Like, if the Commanders come out and dominate the Steelers' defense,

00:20:42I'm going to be thinking of them as they can win the Super Bowl this year.

00:20:46But if the Steelers come out and dominate the Commanders' offense,

00:20:49that's a team that I'm now looking at being like, they are a threat in the AFC.

00:20:53So I love this game.

00:20:54It's going to be awesome.

00:20:55But the big thing you also got to say, though,

00:20:57to me, you always have to be careful right now for the Commanders

00:20:59just because the defense doesn't play as well as it needs to play.

00:21:02But they're starting to get a little bit more competent.

00:21:05They're raising the floor.

00:21:07But yeah, you're right.

00:21:08And then they obviously made a big pickup with Latimore,

00:21:10who might not play because he's got a hamstring.

00:21:12But that's big.

00:21:13But that's big for them because, again,

00:21:14that's one of the things that they do feel they do need to show up is the secondary.

00:21:17I do think that was a terrific move.

00:21:19They did a great job adding to their defense.

00:21:21Yep.

00:21:22To probably the one part of their team that needed to be improved, the secondary.

00:21:26I think Latimore is a legitimate guy.

00:21:28If he does play, that's going to be a big, big, big, I think, bonus for them.

00:21:32The players will feed off the energy that they get

00:21:34for having a guy like him on the field.

00:21:36Again, my big one concern is that.

00:21:38But I will say this, and somebody that deserves a lot of credit this year

00:21:41has been Cliff Kingsbury.

00:21:42Yes.

00:21:43Cliff has done a tremendous job.

00:21:45Again, you go back to the analytics.

00:21:46One of the things he's done very well is what you're supposed to do

00:21:49with a rookie quarterback.

00:21:50Get the ball out of his hands quickly.

00:21:52Yep.

00:21:53Use play-action pass.

00:21:54Create short throws so that he's not hit by the opponent pass rush.

00:21:57And the guys that's been hit the less are one of the guys has been Jaden all season.

00:22:0211 for 11 on fourth down in the Commanders this year.

00:22:04Wow.

00:22:05Yeah.

00:22:06Unbelievable.

00:22:07Yeah.

00:22:08No, I'm with you guys.

00:22:09I think the Steelers get this one.

00:22:10I think it's going to come down to the fourth quarter.

00:22:12I don't see as much Tomlin on rookie quarterbacks

00:22:14as it will be just this defense getting after him.

00:22:17Jayden's going to have to throw the ball because they're great at stopping the run.

00:22:19I think they will do that.

00:22:20The Ravens proved that their good run defense was able to do that.

00:22:24I think it comes down to the wire, and I like the Steelers here.

00:22:27I just – their defense is elite.

00:22:30A little sussy for Russie.

00:22:31Yeah.

00:22:32I think Art's going to call a great game.

00:22:33I think he's doing a great job with that offense.

00:22:35And, yeah, I like the Steelers here.

00:22:37Art is incredible.

00:22:40Oh, I agree.

00:22:41I'm a big fan of Arthur.

00:22:43I love the way he takes command of a game by running the ball downhill

00:22:46and then going play-action pass.

00:22:48Yeah.

00:22:49And one of the things that I really think Russell Wilson does very well

00:22:52is he is a good play-action passer.

00:22:54Yep.

00:22:55He doesn't mind turning his back to the defense.

00:22:57Some quarterbacks struggle when they have to fake that ball

00:23:00and then turn around and find the safeties.

00:23:03Russell, he does that very well.

00:23:05So, again, Arthur Smith has done a tremendous job, I think,

00:23:08with both the young quarterback and with Russell Wilson.

00:23:12Jerry's been very high on Russell Wilson from the very beginning, right?

00:23:15Yeah.

00:23:16I mean, I've been very high on him since he got picked up by the Steelers.

00:23:20And I'll say I really do like the way Mike Tomlin handled that whole situation.

00:23:25I really do.

00:23:26I think part of it was a little bit of messaging to Russell.

00:23:29Hey, dude, I'm in charge.

00:23:30When I'm ready and believe you're ready to go, you'll play.

00:23:33And Russell fell in line.

00:23:35He did exactly what he's supposed to.

00:23:37He prepared.

00:23:38He helped the young quarterback.

00:23:39He helped Justin grow a little bit.

00:23:41But at the same time, he stayed engaged.

00:23:43His teammates saw him staying engaged.

00:23:45That spoke volumes to his teammates.

00:23:47And I think, again, that was all because of what Coach Tomlin did.

00:23:51Yeah, he's an incredible coach.

00:23:53I should never doubt him ever again because I thought it was weird

00:23:56that they changed to Russell Wilson as a 4-2 team.

00:23:59He was right.

00:24:00That offense has looked a lot different.

00:24:01Right.

00:24:02Jerry, this has to give you a lot of confidence.

00:24:04It does.

00:24:05It does.

00:24:07He's got that real genuine Jerry style.

00:24:09You know what it is?

00:24:10I golfed with TJ Watt, who happens to be a friend, Ron.

00:24:14And we're golfing and we're playing, and he's playing great.

00:24:18I'm playing pretty good.

00:24:20And I looked over to him and I said, TJ, how real is this team?

00:24:25And he said, Jerry, this is the best team this year since he's got drafted.

00:24:33Wow.

00:24:34Really?

00:24:35This year is going to be our window is this year, next year.

00:24:38Because guys are getting older.

00:24:40Yeah.

00:24:41Cam Hayward, Minka's getting older.

00:24:42You know what I mean?

00:24:43So this two-year window is really big with Russ at quarterback.

00:24:46That's interesting.

00:24:47Very interesting.

00:24:48Just a little intel.

00:24:49Good intel.

00:24:50Good intel.

00:24:51He says, he says.

00:24:54Let's go to the playbook picks presented by DraftKings.

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00:25:22All right, Dan, as always, your playbook picks.

00:25:24Yeah.

00:25:25Chicago Bears.

00:25:26Yeah.

00:25:27Tough one last week for you, I know.

00:25:28Terrible.

00:25:29Playing the Patriots.

00:25:30The Bears minus six, though.

00:25:31All right, so I'm taking the Bears.

00:25:32They're better than the Patriots, but I have a question for Coach

00:25:35because you know this market.

00:25:38You know, you played here.

00:25:39You coached here.

00:25:41The seat is hot on Matt Iberflues right now,

00:25:44and it feels like the cracks have been showing for the last couple weeks.

00:25:48It started with the Hail Mary.

00:25:49Guys were talking afterwards, you know, the Tyreek Stevenson thing.

00:25:52And then against the Cardinals, there was a little bit of quit factor going on

00:25:56where it's like the defense got gashed, the end of the first half, that big run.

00:26:00How do you get off the mat when the seat gets that hot

00:26:04and everyone's like, you know, all the outside noise?

00:26:07How do you get off the mat and put together a winning game?

00:26:10Also, to add to that, but like one of your best receiver is real gray

00:26:16when comparing Justin Fields and Caleb Williams.

00:26:19Yeah, the DJ Moore stuff is new.

00:26:21Hey, has he lost a locker room?

00:26:22I wouldn't say that, but also comparing the two, like.

00:26:25Right.

00:26:26Well, you know, Will, I mean, to me the big thing,

00:26:29the biggest thing that has to happen is you've got to focus in on one thing at a time,

00:26:33the most important thing, not the interesting stuff.

00:26:35All the talk, all the noise outside, that's interesting, okay,

00:26:38but what's really important is the guys in the locker room.

00:26:41We've got to stay together.

00:26:42We've got to come together.

00:26:43We've got to circle the wagon.

00:26:44One of the things Mike Dicker used to do always was he would always come in

00:26:47and he would always create something that we could rally against, okay?

00:26:51One thing.

00:26:52It didn't matter who it was, but it was one thing.

00:26:55Guys, in three weeks, we play Green Bay.

00:26:57We're going to win the next two because I want all the momentum.

00:26:59We're going to kick their ass because we're going to have all this momentum,

00:27:02so let's roll.

00:27:03And now all of a sudden it's like, okay, we'll take them one at a time

00:27:05so that when we get to that third game, we're ready to go.

00:27:08So you create this thing for the guys that tells them,

00:27:11let's focus in on the one thing that we can control,

00:27:14and that's playing this game, playing to the best of ability

00:27:17and going out and winning this game, preparing for the next thing.

00:27:20So how would it work when Mike Dicker comes in and says,

00:27:23here's the one thing we've got to work for,

00:27:24and then you go into your position groups and Buddy Ryan's like, all right,

00:27:28we're playing to show Mike Dicker wrong?

00:27:31You know what?

00:27:34When it came to winning football games,

00:27:36I don't think there was anything about showing anybody anything wrong.

00:27:38That's the one thing they were always together,

00:27:41and that was about winning, playing winning football.

00:27:43The one thing I will say that Buddy always did was it was always about us,

00:27:47the defense, the defense, the defense, and the guys really rallied about that

00:27:51and it was, hey, we're going to take care of our business.

00:27:53We're going to do our thing.

00:27:54We're not going to be the reason.

00:27:55Right.

00:27:56And that's the one thing Coach and Buddy did not want was it to be the reason.

00:27:59Yeah.

00:28:00I'll tell you that right now.

00:28:01And it feels like the Bears need something like that,

00:28:02where it's like both sides need to say,

00:28:04because the defense played well for the start of the season.

00:28:07You saw the cracks this past week against Arizona,

00:28:10and it's like we've got to pick it back up.

00:28:13Right, and I think that was kind of Buddy's rallying cry for us,

00:28:16was that, guys, we are not going to be the reason.

00:28:19We're going to carry our end of the bargain.

00:28:20Let's go out and do our thing, and let's see what happens.

00:28:23Yeah.

00:28:24So, again, so that there is no division.

00:28:26It's always about, hey, it's about us, us, us.

00:28:28Let's take care of our business for all three phases,

00:28:31do the things we're supposed to.

00:28:32We win football games.

00:28:33Yeah.

00:28:34I'm going Patriots.

00:28:36I'm going Patriots with the points.

00:28:37I can see the Bears winning the game.

00:28:38I think it's a lot.

00:28:39I think Drake Mace played pretty well recently.

00:28:41This is one of those games where it's like if the Bears want to salvage this season,

00:28:46knowing what's coming up in the entire NFC North gauntlet,

00:28:49they have to come out and have a resounding win.

00:28:52Because if they play with their food at all here, the Patriots, you're right,

00:28:55Drake Mace played well.

00:28:56It's not a walk in the park.

00:28:58And the Patriots, they know where they're at.

00:29:00It's not like there's some hot seat dilemma going on.

00:29:02The Bears are kind of in it right now.

00:29:04I do think the Bears.

00:29:05And there's a lot of noise around the building.

00:29:06And you know it.

00:29:07As much as you want to make it about one thing,

00:29:09the noise can creep in in certain spots,

00:29:12especially in certain pockets of the locker room.

00:29:14Yeah.

00:29:15And then you raised a great point, strength of schedule.

00:29:18Yeah.

00:29:19From this point on, the Bears have the toughest strength of schedule.

00:29:220.632 winning percentage.

00:29:23Yeah.

00:29:24Of who they're playing.

00:29:25Yeah.

00:29:26We play every good team after this.

00:29:27So it's like you've got to win this game.

00:29:28This is it.

00:29:29And this is what you've been saying for the last few weeks too, Dan,

00:29:31is that you need these wins to give that momentum.

00:29:33And it hasn't worked out so far.

00:29:34It's not worked out.

00:29:35The Cardinals' one was tough.

00:29:36The Cardinals' game was worse for me as a fan than the Commanders' game.

00:29:40Really?

00:29:41Just because it was so ugly?

00:29:42The Commanders' game was a punch in the stomach.

00:29:44Like how did that happen?

00:29:45But you're like, okay,

00:29:46we were one play away from winning like a game that we never should have won.

00:29:50The Cardinals' game, it felt like there was, like I said, the quit factor.

00:29:53And that's like soul sucking.

00:29:54Right.

00:29:55Okay, Willie, your playbook pick.

00:29:57Now on the sheet it says that you're doing the Germany game,

00:29:59the Giants at the Panthers, but you told me that you're not.

00:30:01Yeah, I'm doing something a little different.

00:30:03My playbook pick this week is going to be Big Cat.

00:30:05I feel like this game right here is an absolute,

00:30:07as he would refer to, like a sicko game.

00:30:09Yeah.

00:30:10Thank God it's on international soil.

00:30:12Oh, okay.

00:30:13My playbook pick is just going to solely be Big Cat

00:30:15because I feel like he's going to have the answer for this game.

00:30:17Oh, okay.

00:30:18Because it's Giants 2-7, Panthers 2-7.

00:30:20This is a brutal game.

00:30:21It's a brutal game.

00:30:22So I'm going to lean on my playbook pick.

00:30:24Okay, so Dan Katz?

00:30:26Okay.

00:30:27Giants minus six and a half in Germany.

00:30:29I am going to take the Giants, and here's why.

00:30:32This game is gross.

00:30:35The Giants' defense is still good.

00:30:37They actually lead the league in sacks.

00:30:39I think they'll be able to get after Bryce Young.

00:30:42The one thing that I saw last week that was different for the Giants,

00:30:46I think the Giants are at a spot now where they know what they have.

00:30:50Daniel Jones is not going to be the quarterback of the future, okay?

00:30:53They've done the thing.

00:30:55It's just not going to work out.

00:30:57And what you saw last week was Brian D'Abel kind of went back

00:31:00to the Daniel Jones two years ago,

00:31:03where it was a lot more running Daniel Jones,

00:31:05running the football, QB options,

00:31:08where it's not having him pass a ton of times.

00:31:10And they went away from that a little bit

00:31:12because they were trying to protect him more.

00:31:14I think they're just like, you know what?

00:31:16Let's try to win a football game.

00:31:17Let's let Daniel Jones go out and run.

00:31:19And he's not going to be a long-term solution,

00:31:20but let's try to win a football game today.

00:31:22So I'm going to take the Giants.

00:31:23I think their defense is the best unit in this game.

00:31:26But, man, is it a gross game.

00:31:28There we go. There's my playbook pitch.

00:31:29That's my playbook pitch.

00:31:30Giants minus six and a half.

00:31:31I mean, it's a gross game.

00:31:32It's a gross game.

00:31:33Two and seven teams.

00:31:34How much did you hate having to go international for some of these games?

00:31:37I loved international.

00:31:38You did?

00:31:39Boys, now it's just us.

00:31:40Okay.

00:31:41We're traveling together.

00:31:42Let's do our thing.

00:31:43Let's go out and let's play together.

00:31:45I mean, because you get to rally around it.

00:31:47Yeah.

00:31:48And that's what I've always loved doing

00:31:49was rallying around something specific.

00:31:51And, hey, guys, we're going to foreign soil.

00:31:52Let's focus in on us.

00:31:53Let's take care of us.

00:31:54I think that's important.

00:31:55I do.

00:31:56I think it'll be a good one.

00:31:57This game, I don't disagree.

00:31:59It looks ugly on numbers because when you look at it,

00:32:02you're playing against one of the defenses that's almost 30-second everything.

00:32:0530-second total yardage, 30-second rushing,

00:32:0830-thirds allowed, 30-second on third downs.

00:32:10I mean, it's not a good look.

00:32:13I don't disagree with what you said about D'Abel doing exactly that.

00:32:16I really do think he's going back to that formula

00:32:18because that's when Daniel Jones, in my opinion, is at his best.

00:32:21When he's moving around, he's creating, he's making things happen.

00:32:24And if he protects the football, that's one of the little knocks on Daniel

00:32:27has always been he turns the football over at the most inopportune moment.

00:32:31But when he's moving in the pocket and extending plays,

00:32:34he's creating downfield.

00:32:35And if he doesn't have anything downfield, guess what he does?

00:32:37He just goes.

00:32:38He runs, and he runs very well.

00:32:39He runs well for a quarterback.

00:32:41I think this is probably the best thing for them

00:32:43is to do those types of offensive plays

00:32:45where you give your quarterback the option of running or throwing.

00:32:49Yeah, yeah.

00:32:50So, yeah, I mean, it's going to be a gross game.

00:32:52But I do think the Giants are like – I know it's crazy to say,

00:32:55but I think they're a little bit better than 2-7 in the record.

00:32:59And the Panthers, like even that game against the Saints,

00:33:01the Saints dominated that game in terms of yardage and all these things.

00:33:05They just – Saints are just snakebitten right now.

00:33:08Yeah, Saints are done.

00:33:09Let's move to the Fireball Rapid-Fire Picks of the week.

00:33:12We'll go ahead and take that shot.

00:33:13This Rapid-Fire Pick segment is presented by Fireball Whiskey.

00:33:16So many things make football great,

00:33:17but the best thing is kicking the living shit out of your rival,

00:33:20and there's absolutely no better feeling as an athlete or a fan or a coach.

00:33:23This week we've got the Bengals in Baltimore in an AFC North battle,

00:33:26and Fireball Whiskey is here to give you a spark

00:33:28to ignite that rivalry all season long.

00:33:30Grab your football buddy, buy a round, and reignite that rivalry flame.

00:33:33I love that Coach thought that was very funny that you were taking the shot.

00:33:36This is –

00:33:37I love that.

00:33:38Yeah, it's just a whole different world here at Barstool Sports.

00:33:41Okay, Coach, so what we do is we just rapid-fire through these.

00:33:43If you want to talk about a specific game, obviously you're more than welcome to.

00:33:46Will, we'll start with the Falcons at the Saints.

00:33:48The Falcons minus 3.5.

00:33:50Yeah, I think the Saints are done.

00:33:51They shipped off Lattimore.

00:33:53You don't think so.

00:33:54You don't think so.

00:33:55Kirk Cousins, I like it laying in this game to cover.

00:33:59Dan hates it.

00:34:00I know he does.

00:34:01Interim head coach.

00:34:03Aaron Rizzi.

00:34:04Been doing some searching on him.

00:34:06He sounds like the perfect guy to go win one football game.

00:34:09I don't think he's going to win two football games, but he might win one football game.

00:34:12Because, again, that's up and down.

00:34:14You can't fully buy into, hey, an interim head coach is in.

00:34:17They're going to win the football game.

00:34:18Yeah, no, no.

00:34:19So I looked into it.

00:34:20First thing he did was change the layout of the locker room.

00:34:23Love that.

00:34:24Love that.

00:34:25Just change out the layout of the locker room.

00:34:27I guess the position groups weren't sitting together.

00:34:29Correct me if I'm wrong.

00:34:30It's a special teams coordinator?

00:34:31It's a special teams coordinator.

00:34:32They do love him.

00:34:33They love him.

00:34:34Dan Campbell is a mentor of his.

00:34:36He talked to Dan Campbell on the phone.

00:34:38He said he had a long talk with Dan Campbell.

00:34:40And then Darren Rizzi, he said, I can't promise a lot.

00:34:45I can promise passion, and I can promise fight.

00:34:48I mean, that's—

00:34:49I think you can win a football game with passion and fight.

00:34:53Next week, probably not.

00:34:55So for one game?

00:34:56One game.

00:34:57One surge?

00:34:58Get behind this vision?

00:34:59Get behind this place?

00:35:00If you can sustain that for four quarters, you'll win the game.

00:35:02You really will.

00:35:03But somewhere along the lines, when you get hit in the mouth,

00:35:06and they don't come back, guess what happens?

00:35:09How does it come back?

00:35:10That's the key.

00:35:11So to me, if they can sustain it for four quarters, they can win.

00:35:14And they can build some momentum.

00:35:15They've got enough talent.

00:35:17They really do.

00:35:18Offensively, look at what they do.

00:35:19I mean, they have a chance to move the football.

00:35:21They showed you they have a chance to move,

00:35:23and they just didn't put it in the end zone.

00:35:25You've got to get the football in the end zone.

00:35:27That's probably one of the most important things that the Saints

00:35:29have to do as an offense.

00:35:30Yeah.

00:35:31Also, I have one other quote.

00:35:32Foster Moreau said, for those of you that know Darren Rizzi,

00:35:34he's an unbelievable leader of men.

00:35:36You've swayed me.

00:35:37Yeah.

00:35:38I mean, I feel like you've got him.

00:35:39Switch that up, Tom.

00:35:40I want the Saints.

00:35:41Give me the Saints.

00:35:42I couldn't figure out if he wrestled growing up.

00:35:45He's got fucked up ears.

00:35:46He might.

00:35:47He does.

00:35:48Who knows?

00:35:49He does.

00:35:50They're like weird.

00:35:51They're like low hanging.

00:35:52I don't know.

00:35:53Are they like the cauliflower ear?

00:35:54No.

00:35:55They're like, I'll show you.

00:35:56His ears are weird.

00:35:57That matters.

00:35:58That matters.

00:35:59Put that in your analytics file.

00:36:00He's got juice.

00:36:01We just talked about things that analysts can't measure.

00:36:02They don't measure the coach's ears.

00:36:03Look at that.

00:36:04Those are messed up ears.

00:36:05Those are messed up ears.

00:36:06But those are just his genetic ears.

00:36:07Something about his ears.

00:36:08Yeah.

00:36:09He got it from his mom.

00:36:10I don't want a pretty guy.

00:36:11I want a guy who's got messed up ears.

00:36:12Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:36:13Coach, these are things that really do come in.

00:36:14I mean, the betting, like with the interim head coach,

00:36:15I don't know if Dan's ever gone against an interim head coach.

00:36:16No, you can't.

00:36:17You can't.

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00:42:12I'm gonna go with the Bills.

00:42:13I think they start fast.

00:42:14I think they take away the running game of the Colts' and make it one-dimensional.

00:42:17I'm gonna go with Buffalo.

00:42:18OK, Dan, you mentioned this game, as well, the Broncos at the Chiefs, the Chiefs minus

00:42:227.5, the Chiefs 8-0.

00:42:23Just keep rolling.

00:42:24Yeah, I hate doing this.

00:42:26The Chiefs are 8-0, all credit to them undefeated.

00:42:28They have the lowest points differential for an undefeated team at this point in the season

00:42:32ever.

00:42:33So, it's like they're winning, but they're not winning, they're not blowing teams out.

00:42:38The Broncos looked terrible against the Ravens.

00:42:40That was never a doubt.

00:42:43I expected that.

00:42:45I think they have to rally here, and I think the Chiefs, similar situation.

00:42:49Overtime game, Monday night football, Bills on deck.

00:42:51I know this is a division game.

00:42:54I don't think the Broncos are going to win this game, but I think they might keep it

00:42:56close.

00:42:59Monday night football to then Sunday, you can feel that, right?

00:43:02If you play a Monday night football game and then you have to come back and play a noon

00:43:05game on Sunday, that matters, doesn't it?

00:43:09Especially in overtime.

00:43:10Ultimately, you'll just have that extra day.

00:43:15You don't feel it a whole lot, in my opinion.

00:43:19If there's one thing Andy Reid knows, it's his team.

00:43:22He knows his team.

00:43:23They played at home on Monday night, they're playing at home again, so that bodes very

00:43:27well for them.

00:43:28The guys are going to have to do a lot of traveling.

00:43:29They were able to go straight home, go to bed, get their rest, get themselves rejuvenated.

00:43:33Knowing Andy, he probably didn't have them come in at all, if anything, late in the afternoon

00:43:39on Tuesday.

00:43:41He's trying to get them rested up for it.

00:43:43If there's one guy that does concern me, as far as Denver is concerned, it's Sean Pate.

00:43:47He is a great tactician.

00:43:49I really think he does a great job with game planning.

00:43:53Then on the other side, you've got Steve Spagnuolo.

00:43:56Steve and I actually started together in the NFL.

00:43:58We were on Andy's original staff.

00:44:00We shared an office at first when we first got there to Philadelphia.

00:44:04He's another guy that deserves a lot of credit for what they've been able to do.

00:44:09Like you said, they've won, they're undefeated, but they're barely winning.

00:44:14That doesn't matter.

00:44:15I'll tell you right now, the big key to these guys is the way they've played as a team.

00:44:19All three elements are very complementary.

00:44:21When they need something to happen on special teams, it happens.

00:44:25Offense goes up, does their thing, gets the points.

00:44:28Defense gets the ball back.

00:44:29This team has really put together very, very well.

00:44:32It's scary just how good they are right now and how they've been able to plug guys in

00:44:36when they've lost guys.

00:44:38Their defense is good.

00:44:39I might be stupid for doing this, but it's obviously against a spread 7 1⁄2.

00:44:46The only thing I worry about is the Chiefs' defense versus a Bo Nix.

00:44:49Listen, you're never as bad as you think.

00:44:52No, I'm saying in the way that I can see.

00:44:54Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:44:55I'm my own Bo Nix, but I'm saying the Chiefs could cover here because their defense is

00:45:00so good.

00:45:01I just don't know if Bo Nix and that offense is really there yet.

00:45:03If you look at the last eight quarters against the Broncos, Mahomes has only had one touchdown.

00:45:08The Broncos' defense has done a great job.

00:45:09Last year, they were able to get pressure on Mahomes while dropping seven, eight guys

00:45:13in the coverage and taking away Kelsey.

00:45:15DeAndre's obviously added an extra element for Pat because he went with three touchdowns

00:45:21this last week, but that's the only thing that kind of concerns me with covering.

00:45:25It makes sense.

00:45:26Listen, I'm going off the theory that you're never as bad as you look the previous week,

00:45:29and that's kind of where I'm at with the Broncos.

00:45:32I don't think they're – they might not be a playoff team, but you're just never as bad

00:45:35as a 41-10 game.

00:45:37Yeah.

00:45:38Well, and again, that was a special team to play against.

00:45:40Yeah, right.

00:45:41The Ravens are doing stuff on offense that no one can stop.

00:45:45Just to make sure I get my pick in there, there is nobody that wants the Chiefs to slow

00:45:48down and fail as much as myself.

00:45:50I am going to the Broncos for points.

00:45:53Generational hater, but a Chiefs fan.

00:45:56And to add to your question on the Monday Night Football, Coach Rivera, I'm sure you're

00:46:00privy to this too.

00:46:01It's like when you're playing on Thursday, as a player, if you're not injured or too

00:46:05banged up, you're excited because you're doing walkthroughs all week long.

00:46:08You're not putting the pads on whatsoever.

00:46:10On a Monday night game going to Sunday, you know that physical part of practice on Wednesday

00:46:14that you would have is kind of out the window.

00:46:16So if anything, you're kind of in better spirits because you're not going to really have a

00:46:19massive workday that week.

00:46:21Yeah.

00:46:22Okay, well, the Titans at the Chargers.

00:46:24The Chargers minus 7.5.

00:46:25I'm taking the Titans.

00:46:26I thought they – you know, they got themselves a win in OT.

00:46:30Coach Callahan, he gets a little emotional in the presser afterwards.

00:46:33I like the Titans.

00:46:35I think the defense plays well in this game.

00:46:36Obviously, the Chargers, they have a quality defense as well, but I like the Titans here,

00:46:40especially with the points.

00:46:41I think it's a lot of points.

00:46:42I'm rolling with the Titans, man.

00:46:44Okay.

00:46:45Mason's looked pretty good.

00:46:46He has.

00:46:47I think the Chargers' defense is better than people are giving him credit for, and I just

00:46:51– I love Jim Harbaugh.

00:46:52What he's done is given them a culture, and he's given them a game plan every single

00:46:56week.

00:46:57It's like, if we do this, we win.

00:46:58The other big part of this game is the Titans.

00:47:01I don't think the Titans are as bad as two and six.

00:47:03The Titans have the second worst special teams unit of all time.

00:47:08What was the worst?

00:47:09Chargers.

00:47:10Yeah.

00:47:112010.

00:47:12Yeah.

00:47:13Not your fault.

00:47:14We were number one on offense, number one on defense.

00:47:16Wow.

00:47:17It's insane.

00:47:18They went nine and seven.

00:47:19Number one on offense, number one on defense.

00:47:20Yeah.

00:47:21I'm sorry.

00:47:22I didn't mean to bring it up.

00:47:23Damn.

00:47:24That was –

00:47:25I didn't mean to bring it up.

00:47:26He didn't mean to bring it up?

00:47:28Who's number one?

00:47:29Well, I forgot.

00:47:30I mean, I –

00:47:31Yeah, because you put it right in his face.

00:47:32All right, all right.

00:47:34Maybe I didn't mean to bring it –

00:47:35It's not his fault.

00:47:36He wasn't the special teams coordinator.

00:47:37But you were the number one defense.

00:47:38Yeah.

00:47:39I was doing my notes last night, and I saw that, and I was just like, oh, shit.

00:47:42That one remit.

00:47:43I was on that coaching staff.

00:47:44Yeah, right.

00:47:45You know what that was for?

00:47:46That was for you arguing off the top of the show.

00:47:49But that's something when you look at, like –

00:47:51No, it is.

00:47:52That matters a lot.

00:47:53You know, if you look at how that Chargers season went, they would have – they had

00:47:56games where they gave up two kick return touchdowns, a block punt, all this stuff.

00:48:01They were a really good team in 2010, that if a couple breaks go their way on special

00:48:06teams, they're in the playoffs, and they're making noise.

00:48:08And I think that's what the Titan team has – they've been stake-bitten, like, where

00:48:12it's –

00:48:13Yeah.

00:48:14Those are the type of plays, if a punt return happens, if a block punt, it changes the whole

00:48:18course of the game.

00:48:19And if you're a team like the Titans, you can't overcome those.

00:48:22You don't have enough to overcome those mistakes.

00:48:25So I'm going to take the Chargers.

00:48:26But the Titans, too, like, they've been finding more of an identity offensively.

00:48:30Like, I feel like DeAndre going to the Chiefs have helped them out, because obviously Calvin

00:48:33Ridley, they're feeding him a lot more.

00:48:35The run game is pretty good.

00:48:36I just think with 7.5, I think it stays close.

00:48:39I think the Chargers win.

00:48:40I do think the Titans cover.

00:48:41But I feel like the Titans have been figuring out some things.

00:48:44But to your point, you're absolutely right about the special teams unit.

00:48:49Because when something bad happens, it is very hard to overcome.

00:48:51Yeah.

00:48:52Coach.

00:48:53Brian Callahan reminds me of Dan Campbell.

00:48:54He really does.

00:48:55Yeah.

00:48:56He's an emotional guy.

00:48:57He's very open.

00:48:59He speaks his mind.

00:49:01And the thing that I'm starting to see, like you said, it looks like they are figuring

00:49:04things out.

00:49:05It looks like all of a sudden, oh, that's why coach wants us to do this.

00:49:07Oh, this is why we do these things.

00:49:09Man, this makes sense to us now.

00:49:10And you look at some of the things.

00:49:12They're 12th and rushing, okay?

00:49:14They're 11, stopping the run.

00:49:16Yeah, they're a good defense.

00:49:17To me, that's very important.

00:49:18Yeah, they're a very good defense.

00:49:19They're number one in total yards.

00:49:20Okay?

00:49:21That's one thing people don't understand.

00:49:23And it's because of the style of football they play.

00:49:25It's a very physical, downhill running game.

00:49:27It really is.

00:49:28Bill Callahan's the offensive line coach, one of the all-time great offensive line coaches

00:49:32in the NFL.

00:49:33So what they've done is they've put this style of football into play.

00:49:36Well, guess what?

00:49:37They're going to match it.

00:49:38Jim Harbaugh believes in what?

00:49:40Running the football as well.

00:49:42To me, the difference is going to come down to the quarterback, Justin Herbert.

00:49:45That's the difference.

00:49:46I mean.

00:49:47He's playing great.

00:49:48He is.

00:49:49He's playing great.

00:49:50And that, to me, is the difference maker.

00:49:51This game can go one way or the other.

00:49:53It really can.

00:49:54If it's a downhill physical and coach Harbaugh wants to play that way as well, you're going

00:49:57to have an old-fashioned smash-mouth football game.

00:50:02They're going to play downhill.

00:50:03They're going to play at each other.

00:50:04There's going to be a whole bunch of three and outs, or there's going to be a whole bunch

00:50:07of 10, 12, 14-play drives because they've run the ball so successfully against each

00:50:12other.

00:50:13Yeah.

00:50:14I mean, this game is going to be a really physical, tough game.

00:50:15Yeah.

00:50:16It is.

00:50:17I love how you said, excuse me, and then didn't curse.

00:50:18I know.

00:50:19That's why I was waiting.

00:50:20It's just a different word.

00:50:21We're just so desensitized.

00:50:22I'm like, where is that coming from?

00:50:25Okay, Dan, the Jets at the Cardinals.

00:50:28The Jets minus one.

00:50:29I like the Jets here.

00:50:31No disrespect to the Cardinals.

00:50:32They're a good football team.

00:50:34They are probably the one surprise, I would say, preseason where I didn't think they were

00:50:38going to be good, and they are sitting here now at the top of the NFC West.

00:50:42I think it's just a hungry dogs run faster kind of game where the Jets need this.

00:50:46The other thing is Aaron Rodgers has had moments where he's looked old, and it's under pressure,

00:50:51and he doesn't have the elusiveness that he used to have.

00:50:53He can't move around in the pocket like he used to.

00:50:56The Cardinals are not great rushing the passer.

00:50:58They were last week because the Bears are a joke.

00:51:00But overall, they have not rushed the passer at an elite level this year.

00:51:04So I think Aaron Rodgers will have more time, and I just think the Jets, they're at the

00:51:08part of the season where the way they started, every game is a must win.

00:51:13So you get that urgency that you need on the road.

00:51:17I like the Jets.

00:51:18Will?

00:51:19I like the Jets too.

00:51:20I think the only thing that makes me nervous is the way that the Cardinals were able to

00:51:25get after Caleb, but I do.

00:51:27I like the Jets here.

00:51:28Coach?

00:51:29You know, to me, Arizona is really about Kyler.

00:51:32How he's playing, what he's doing helps them.

00:51:35When he takes a lead, they get a nice lead, you see how much better Arizona's defense

00:51:40is because they're playing with a lead.

00:51:42Their ears are going back, and they're rushing, rushing, rushing.

00:51:44They're getting after the quarterback.

00:51:47Arizona also runs the ball very well.

00:51:48They do.

00:51:50That's an honor.

00:51:51Yes, and he's one of the elite backs in this game, but you know what else helps?

00:51:54Kyler Murray.

00:51:55Yeah.

00:51:56When Kyler Murray runs, and this is one of the things that I found through Adlon Illicks.

00:51:59Teams that run the ball well, and then the quarterback adds to that, they win a lot more

00:52:04games.

00:52:05Why?

00:52:06Because the quarterback is extending plays, downfield, getting big plays when they throw

00:52:10the ball, but also when they hold the ball and those DBs start to drift back and the

00:52:15linebackers drift back, the quarterback tucks and runs and picks up 8 to 15 yards on average.

00:52:20So again, these things are happening, and they're happening with Arizona.

00:52:23That's what makes them very dangerous because of the quarterback in my opinion.

00:52:27It's a great point how much a running quarterback can help the running back because all your

00:52:33linebackers are sitting there like, we've got two guys we've got to worry about running

00:52:36the football here.

00:52:37Especially when you're playing with a hot hand.

00:52:39Then you see them take off and you're thinking, oh shit.

00:52:42The Joe Flacco-Anthony Richardson switch, I understand it because Joe Flacco's a better

00:52:46quarterback than Anthony Richardson, but I think that does weirdly hurt Jonathan Taylor

00:52:50because Anthony Richardson was able to open up some holes for Jonathan Taylor where you

00:52:53have that dual threat.

00:52:54Especially the backside cutback.

00:52:55Yeah.

00:52:56Yeah.

00:52:57Okay, so the Eagles at the Cowboys, the Cowboys minus 7, but coach I want to start with you

00:53:01on this because we obviously saw Dak get hurt last week.

00:53:04He goes viral for being on the sidelines saying they suck, everybody's talking about the mess

00:53:08in Dallas.

00:53:09As a coach, when you know somebody like Dak Prescott who has that locker room, you see

00:53:12him go down, potentially going on the IR, what does that do in that locker room for

00:53:16this team?

00:53:17You know, it can be tough.

00:53:18It really can, but your approach as a coach has to be, this has got to be the next man

00:53:21up mentality.

00:53:22That's why you're here.

00:53:23You've got to go out Cooper and play football.

00:53:25You've got to play your best football.

00:53:26You did it for us before in the past, you can do it for us again.

00:53:28Let's focus in on everybody rallying around Cooper.

00:53:31It's not all just about what he can do in every play, it's what everybody does together.

00:53:35Let's rise each other, let's raise each other up, let's rise above this all.

00:53:39Let's go out and play some good football.

00:53:40So him saying, you know, we suck on the sidelines, like you think that was just like a camera

00:53:43just catching at the locker room, that won't matter?

00:53:45He's not wrong.

00:53:46Yeah, no, it's not wrong.

00:53:47Well, I don't think it matters.

00:53:48I really don't.

00:53:49I really don't.

00:53:50I think what it was an expression of where we are right now, we've got to turn this around.

00:53:53I mean, you can look at it two ways.

00:53:55If you're in that locker room and you want to be disparaging, yeah, you can bring it

00:53:58up.

00:53:59Or if you're in this locker room and you want to be supportive, hey, let's roll.

00:54:01I mean, right now they are in a very interesting situation.

00:54:05I mean, they can go out and they can lay an egg.

00:54:07And if they do, then you can really go, wow, they've quit.

00:54:11They go out and they rally around each other and look at the opportunity they have.

00:54:14And again, this to me is an opportunity to go out and win a football game, get some momentum

00:54:18and go forward.

00:54:19You have to have this type of mentality this time of year.

00:54:22This is where the teams that are content, they start to rise.

00:54:26The teams that aren't, they're going to start to kind of shrink and shrivel and disappear.

00:54:30This is a chance to rise up.

00:54:31These next four games are about as important any other games in this part of the year.

00:54:35People talk about you play each season per quarter.

00:54:37It used to be perfect.

00:54:39Yeah, Lovey's.

00:54:40Yeah, exactly.

00:54:41Lovey's say that and we bought in.

00:54:42We believed in it.

00:54:43We would go through and we could be 1-3 or 2-2 and Lovey goes, all right, hey, the tough

00:54:49part is done.

00:54:50Let's go.

00:54:51Let's roll.

00:54:52Next thing you know, we're 3-1 or 4-0 and we're going, all right, we're right where

00:54:53we need to be.

00:54:54Let's go out and let's win this one.

00:54:55You focus in on certain things.

00:54:57If you look at how far you have to go, you go, oh, God, that's a long way to go.

00:55:01If you shorten it and you make these little goals a little tighter, it's like, man, we

00:55:05can accomplish these one at a time.

00:55:07This is great.

00:55:08Let's roll.

00:55:09Yeah.

00:55:10Yeah.

00:55:11Dan, do you look at the spread, though?

00:55:12Does that?

00:55:13No.

00:55:14Yeah.

00:55:15I mean, everything Coach said there makes a lot of sense.

00:55:16It's basically, and he's right, this is a game where it's like, it's a fork in the road

00:55:21for the Cowboys.

00:55:22Quit or rally.

00:55:24I'm going to go there and quit.

00:55:26I don't know.

00:55:27It might be wrong.

00:55:28I am.

00:55:29I'm going to go there and quit.

00:55:30I just don't think the vibes are great there.

00:55:32The Eagles are starting to play like that roster should play, and the big thing in this

00:55:37game is the Cowboys have not been able to stop the run.

00:55:41The Eagles are just a manned football team when they want to be, and they'll pound the

00:55:44rock as many times as they want with Saquon Barkley, and I think that opens up everything

00:55:50where I just think it's a physical, physical game.

00:55:52The Eagles can almost push on the Cowboys, and that's where the quit comes in.

00:55:57No.

00:55:58I agree with Dan 1,000%.

00:56:00I feel like the way that the Eagles are really finding their stride in the run game, and

00:56:03Coach, you know, they have that kind of gap scheme, zone, quarterback.

00:56:09Why is he?

00:56:10Jalen Hurts.

00:56:11Yeah, Jalen Hurts.

00:56:12He's running the football well with Saquon.

00:56:13Obviously, they have the alien back there looking like a Ninja Turtle jumping over guys

00:56:15making plays, but the way that the outfit of the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line

00:56:21matches up against just kind of like, I mean, you got a lot of backups in, the guys that

00:56:26have been hurt on the year that are on IR with the Cowboys.

00:56:29They're going to see a lot of cover three with Coach Zimmer.

00:56:33I feel like the way that they're able to lean on you in those duo, those gap schemes, double

00:56:36you to the next level.

00:56:37They're going to push the pile.

00:56:38Obviously, being in the cover three, they're going to be pulling the trigger trying to

00:56:41get guys off, but I just think the Eagles are too good, and they're gaining a lot of

00:56:45steam and momentum in the run game to where I like the Eagles.

00:56:48I like the Eagles a lot.

00:56:49Okay, I'm going to throw some analytics at you.

00:56:51You're going to love them.

00:56:52Okay, right now, Dallas.

00:56:53Okay, as an offense, they're rushing.

00:56:56They only average about 75 yards of carry.

00:56:59I mean, a game.

00:57:00That's not, you're not going to win football games that way as an offense because your

00:57:04play action doesn't become realistic.

00:57:06Okay, that's tough.

00:57:07They got to go out and be successful running the ball.

00:57:09That means the offensive line has got to hunker in there, drive people off the ball, possess

00:57:14the ball, hold the ball, do those types of things to give yourself a chance to win a

00:57:18football game.

00:57:20Defensively, they're not very good stopping the rush.

00:57:23They're not very good, and that's one of the things that they've got to worry about.

00:57:26Again, top leading rushers in the league, okay?

00:57:30Four of the five are all on winning teams, okay?

00:57:33Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Jordan Mason, Josh Jacobs, Chubba Hubbard, okay?

00:57:39Top five leading rushing teams, okay?

00:57:41Ravens, Commanders, 49ers, Packers, Eagles.

00:57:44What do they all have also?

00:57:45What's the one thing you just mentioned they have?

00:57:48They have a quarterback that adds to that running game, and that's what makes them so

00:57:52dangerous.

00:57:53Hertz is a guy that makes them dangerous.

00:57:56They open up certain things.

00:57:58The threat of him possibly keeping the football and running outside slows that defensive end

00:58:02down, okay?

00:58:03Yeah.

00:58:04And what does Saquon have?

00:58:05Tremendous vision for that cutback, and when he squares those shoulders up and gets downhill,

00:58:09he is tough to bring down.

00:58:11He's either going through you, around you, or over you.

00:58:14Take your pick.

00:58:15Over you, backwards.

00:58:16Yeah.

00:58:17Yeah.

00:58:18I love that running the football is back in the NFL.

00:58:19It is.

00:58:20It's just the best teams.

00:58:21It's a great point.

00:58:22The best teams are running the football.

00:58:23You even see the Chiefs.

00:58:24The Chiefs, as you read notoriously, is a pass-first guy.

00:58:26They run the ball.

00:58:27Right.

00:58:28Yes, they do.

00:58:29And when you want to run the ball and you can run the ball, it's tough to beat.

00:58:33It's tough to beat.

00:58:34Run the damn ball.

00:58:35Yeah.

00:58:36All right.

00:58:37Monday night football, Dan.

00:58:38The Dolphins at the Rams.

00:58:39The Rams minus one.

00:58:40This game makes no sense to me in terms of a line.

00:58:41I'm talking Rams.

00:58:42Right?

00:58:43Yeah.

00:58:44I still can't figure it out.

00:58:45This one's weird to me.

00:58:46I think the Rams are better than the Dolphins.

00:58:47Two are coming back, obviously, has changed.

00:58:50The Dolphins are playing a lot better.

00:58:52He's been playing a lot better.

00:58:54They just have to find a way to make mistakes late in games.

00:58:57And Matthew Stafford, man, he is so good.

00:59:00What he did in that overtime against the Seahawks, I said five years ago, I was like, this guy's

00:59:04going to be a Hall of Famer.

00:59:05And now he's a Hall of Famer.

00:59:08And I think with all their weapons coming back, they have a young defense that's starting

00:59:12to round into form a little bit.

00:59:13I'm going to take the Rams.

00:59:15They have momentum, too, because the NFC West is wide open.

00:59:18You were saying it earlier with one of the teams.

00:59:19But it's one game at a time.

00:59:22The division is wide open for everybody.

00:59:23Miami, I mean, they're two and six.

00:59:25They're kind of fighting at the bottom with the Jets and the Patriots.

00:59:29But it's like, I just don't see—the line is confusing.

00:59:33Because in my head, I'm thinking, what makes people believe that they're going to fly across

00:59:37country and take on a motivated Rams team right now, ultimately with a pick-em game?

00:59:43So I'm going with the Rams.

00:59:44Coach, what do you think about the matchup?

00:59:45Well, what I like about the matchup is two is back.

00:59:49I mean, I'm concerned.

00:59:50Hopefully, he doesn't have another concussion.

00:59:52But he makes a big difference for that football team.

00:59:54He really does.

00:59:55And last week, his first week back, you saw him play.

00:59:57You saw some steady things happening.

00:59:59They had a chance.

01:00:00They had an opportunity at times.

01:00:02I think he's going to help the defense as well.

01:00:05They'll get better because he's on the football field.

01:00:07I think, again, they've got some opportunities.

01:00:10They've still run the ball very well.

01:00:11They really do.

01:00:12Defensively, they're very active.

01:00:14They make things happen.

01:00:15They're ranked very high as a defense as well.

01:00:17They're a good team.

01:00:18I think they have a chance.

01:00:20Now, having said that, I did the Rams game when Cooper and Puka were both back.

01:00:26And looked at the energy that was infused by those guys.

01:00:28Oh my God.

01:00:29The running game, you know, they're only averaging 97 yards rushing a game right now.

01:00:35But with those two guys back, this is a different football team.

01:00:38It really is.

01:00:39And what it's done is it's given Matthew Stafford some targets to throw the ball to.

01:00:43But also what it does is those two big wide receivers block.

01:00:47They get in and they mix it up.

01:00:49And the other thing that it does is, you've seen it in the last few games, when you have

01:00:52your two studs back, the third and fourth receiver, they're now playing a matchup that

01:00:58they can win.

01:00:59Correct.

01:01:00Like, did Marcus Robinson call it the game-winning touchdown, where it's like, he's got one-on-one

01:01:03against the third cornerback.

01:01:06That's now changed how you can play the game.

01:01:08It does.

01:01:09But one thing that was mentioned, and you brought it up, was their defense is playing

01:01:12better.

01:01:13They're very opportunistic.

01:01:15They're taking the ball away now.

01:01:17Early on, they weren't taking it away.

01:01:18Now they're taking it away.

01:01:19You're seeing two, three takeaways a game.

01:01:22This team, I think, is surging.

01:01:24This team is heading in the right direction.

01:01:25And they're young.

01:01:26You've got Fisk and Deverse.

01:01:28They're getting after it.

01:01:29They're getting after the quarterback as well.

01:01:31Yes.

01:01:32Okay, Dan, it's time for Hot Takes.

01:01:34Do you have a Week 10 Hot Take?

01:01:35I do.

01:01:36We alluded to it.

01:01:37I think Saquon Barkley.

01:01:39So Derrick Henry, obviously, has been the story.

01:01:41His season has been incredible.

01:01:42He's over 1,000 yards already.

01:01:44Saquon Barkley's not too far behind.

01:01:45He's at, like, 925.

01:01:47I think Saquon Barkley's going to go for 200 against the Cowboys.

01:01:51And we're going to start saying, Saquon Barkley, 2,000-yard watch.

01:01:55Okay.

01:01:56I like that.

01:01:57And no offense to Derrick Henry, but Derrick Henry's been the story in the running backs.

01:02:02Saquon's numbers are right there.

01:02:03Right.

01:02:04And I think the Eagles have already had a bye, and the Ravens haven't.

01:02:06So I think this is the week where we're like, ooh, Saquon, look at this.

01:02:10He might get 2,000 yards.

01:02:11Sneaky season.

01:02:12You got a silent wow from Coach when you said that.

01:02:15I mean, again, I know Dallas has struggled defensively, but at some point, pride's going

01:02:20to step in, too, as well.

01:02:21I mean, the coordinator's pride, the player's pride.

01:02:25You can't let a guy go for 200.

01:02:26You just can't.

01:02:27He might.

01:02:28He might.

01:02:29I'll tell you.

01:02:30I was on a defense.

01:02:31I was a coordinator of a defense at one time that gave up 200, and—

01:02:34Who did you give up 200 to?

01:02:36Peterson.

01:02:37Adrian Peterson.

01:02:38AP got us.

01:02:39That was rookie AP, right?

01:02:40No, no.

01:02:41That's when I was with the Chargers.

01:02:42Okay.

01:02:43And I went there and played them there.

01:02:45Angry AP.

01:02:46Yes.

01:02:47He went berserk.

01:02:48I mean, it was like, where'd he go?

01:02:49Over there.

01:02:50Yeah.

01:02:51Yeah, he had those games.

01:02:52Yeah.

01:02:53And there was nothing you could do to stop it.

01:02:54Nope.

01:02:55No.

01:02:56I mean, it was one of those things that, you know, no matter what we did, he caught us

01:03:00in the perfect defense for the cutback.

01:03:02Or what he did, he pressed the hole, linebackers overflowed.

01:03:07We got cut off in the front, and all of a sudden, there was this crease, and now he's

01:03:10on the corner, and the corner's got to make a tackle with a full head of steam.

01:03:13That wasn't happening.

01:03:14Yeah.

01:03:15It was tough.

01:03:16Willie got a hot take.

01:03:17I'm going to say the Broncos win by 10.

01:03:18Whoa.

01:03:19Oh, God.

01:03:20It's a lot.

01:03:21Well.

01:03:22It's a lot.

01:03:23Two-score game.

01:03:24That's why it's a hot take.

01:03:25Broncos shocked the world.

01:03:26Hot take.

01:03:27Broncos shocked the world.

01:03:28He did drink a fireball shot.

01:03:29Yeah.

01:03:30That is true.

01:03:31Broncos shocked the world.

01:03:32Win by 10.

01:03:33Forget he's a little bit under the influence, responsible.

01:03:34That's a crazy one.

01:03:35It's crazy.

01:03:36I mean, Saquon, 200 yards is kind of crazy.

01:03:37Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:03:38200 yards is part of the deal.

01:03:39Yeah.

01:03:40I mean, do you just give crazy takes?

01:03:42Not necessarily.

01:03:43I mean, I think—

01:03:44You're a rational guy.

01:03:45Yeah, I am.

01:03:46I mean, I look at it.

01:03:47I mean, 200's an awful lot.

01:03:48That's a lot.

01:03:49Somewhere along the line, you've got to draw the line in the sand as a defense.

01:03:55You're expecting Kansas City to have a letdown.

01:03:57You're expecting Denver to pick it up.

01:04:00Denver, at one point, was competitive in that first quarter against Baltimore.

01:04:05Can they play like that for four quarters against Kansas City?

01:04:07Yeah, yeah.

01:04:08That'll be interesting to see.

01:04:10I remember with the Chargers-Titans, let's say Herbert 300 yards in the air because the

01:04:15Titans would probably do a good job shutting down the run.

01:04:17Yeah.

01:04:18I like that.

01:04:19I like that as well.

01:04:20Lots of crazy takes, right?

01:04:21Yeah, a lot of crazy takes.

01:04:22Yeah, that's what we do.

01:04:23That's what we do.

01:04:24Okay, let's move to the Survivor pool picks.

01:04:25Dan, you were eliminated.

01:04:26You still have one point.

01:04:27So, Will, Jerry, and then I'll be picking for the guest chair.

01:04:30We're all in.

01:04:31Jerry, I'll let you go first.

01:04:32Casey, can you refresh my memory?

01:04:33What teams can I use?

01:04:34You cannot take the Vikings, the Chargers, the Bucs, the 49ers, the Jags, the Eagles,

01:04:39the Bills, or the Jets.

01:04:40This is where Will and the guest seat have an advantage.

01:04:43Wow, yeah, because I have so many.

01:04:50I'll take the Bears.

01:04:51Bears?

01:04:52Okay.

01:04:53You're going Bears?

01:04:54Yeah.

01:04:55Yeah, I mean, he doesn't have a whole lot left in comparison.

01:04:58Will, you can't take the Bengals, the Titans, or the Jets, or the Bills.

01:05:03I'll go Niners.

01:05:04You're going Niners?

01:05:05I'll be Niners.

01:05:06I like Niners.

01:05:07Okay.

01:05:08And then the guest chair can't take the Bengals, the 49ers, the Jets, or the Commanders.

01:05:12I'm going to take the Chargers.

01:05:13Okay.

01:05:14Okay.

01:05:15I'm going to take the Chargers.

01:05:16Good picks.

01:05:17Good picks.

01:05:18Okay.

01:05:19I've got a question for you.

01:05:20How did you guys, like Luke Keekly, legend, how were you guys monitoring everything concussion-wise

01:05:26when he was going through his stuff with the head injuries?

01:05:28You know, one of the things that we really tried to pay attention to was the way we practiced,

01:05:33okay, and really just kind of watching guys constantly.

01:05:37And then once you get into game time, you've got to be really observant.

01:05:40You've got to pay attention to those things.

01:05:42Some guys, you know, you'll see it right away, and hey, let's get them over here, let's check

01:05:46them.

01:05:47I mean, our doctors in Carolina, when I was there, I thought they did a really nice job

01:05:50trying to stay on top of things.

01:05:52Yeah.

01:05:53How often would you ultimately have to, like, save him from himself?

01:05:56I think there were a couple times where, you know, it was, hey, come on, we can't have

01:06:00you out there.

01:06:01I mean, he wanted to be out there so bad.

01:06:03He was, you know, and he was a team guy.

01:06:06It was all about him.

01:06:07And, you know, ultimately, I think there was a certain point also when he decided it was

01:06:10time to hang him up because, again, he's one of those guys that's very rational about it.

01:06:17And I think he understood at the end.

01:06:19Yeah.

01:06:20Yeah.

01:06:21Did you have, when you were in the league, did you have a Luke Keekly poster on your

01:06:23bedroom wall?

01:06:24No.

01:06:25I mean, I wish I would have.

01:06:26That's just because I didn't go out and buy one.

01:06:28But yeah, very much Luke was like, he was the standard.

01:06:31He was everything I wanted to be.

01:06:32I'll tell you a great little story about Luke and how committed he was to working.

01:06:36So Luke's parents were from Ohio.

01:06:39It was Christmas Eve.

01:06:41They weren't coming in until the next day.

01:06:44So it's Christmas Eve.

01:06:45Like I typically did as I was working, I would go downstairs, make sure everything's turned

01:06:48off.

01:06:49It was really just a chance for me to take a break.

01:06:50So I go down there, I'm going through the rooms and turning off projectors and stuff

01:06:54like that.

01:06:55And I hear this noise coming from the linebacker room.

01:06:56I walk in and there's Luke.

01:06:59He's watching tape.

01:07:00Christmas Eve.

01:07:01I said, what are you doing?

01:07:02He said, I'm watching tape.

01:07:03I said, well, go home with the family.

01:07:04He said, I got plenty of time.

01:07:05I said, what do you mean?

01:07:06I think I'll be here until tomorrow.

01:07:07I said, Luke, go home.

01:07:08Come on.

01:07:09He said, well, I got a little bit more to watch.

01:07:10I said, I'm coming back in an hour.

01:07:11Okay.

01:07:12So if you're still here, you and I are going to have trouble.

01:07:13So I went back upstairs.

01:07:14I set an alarm.

01:07:15The alarm goes off.

01:07:16I go downstairs and I'm going downstairs.

01:07:17As I opened the door to the hallway, I hear the door close on the other side.

01:07:18Oh, that's perfect.

01:07:19Okay.

01:07:20So I walk up.

01:07:21I hear the door close on the other side.

01:07:22Oh, that's perfect.

01:07:23Okay.

01:07:24So I walk up.

01:07:25I hear the door close on the other side.

01:07:26Oh, that's perfect.

01:07:27Okay.

01:07:28So I walk up.

01:07:29I hear the door close on the other side.

01:07:30Oh, that's perfect.

01:07:31Okay.

01:07:32So I walk up.

01:07:33I open the linebacker room and the projector's off.

01:07:36So I went up and put my finger on the lens and I burned my finger.

01:07:38Because he had just turned it off.

01:07:39Just turned it off.

01:07:40He set that same alarm that you did.

01:07:41Yeah.

01:07:42That was him.

01:07:43That's great.

01:07:44Legend.

01:07:45All right.

01:07:46Anything else?

01:07:47No.

01:07:48Great.

01:07:49You were phenomenal.

01:07:50That was awesome.

01:07:51That was so much fun.

01:07:52That was awesome.

01:07:53I mean, Coach, we've done this for many years.

01:07:54We've never had a coach just – I mean, you just bullied Dan.

01:07:56Popped right off.

01:07:57It was great.

01:07:58It was fantastic.

01:07:59Laptop, notebook, he pulls out his backpack, a bunch of cards.

01:08:02Yeah, got more notes for you.

01:08:03Hey, and as he's going through them, he's like –

01:08:04Yeah, yeah.

01:08:05No, I said this before.

01:08:06Like, Coach and I were talking before you guys got in here.

01:08:08Like, he went through a game that he played against A&M in 83

01:08:11and knew every single play and every single sequence.

01:08:13I love it.

01:08:14I was like, that is – like, that's a true football guy.

01:08:15True, true.

01:08:16Yeah.

01:08:17Thank you so much for being here.

01:08:18Thank you, guys.

01:08:19This was fun.

01:08:20I enjoyed myself.

01:08:21If you go to our Football Football Show handles,

01:08:22you'll get all the behind-the-scenes, all the great clips,

01:08:24and we will be back next week.

Riverboat Ron Rivera STANDS UP to Big Cat | Pro Football Football Show Week 10

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