ABC 7 Sports Director Scott Abraham joins The Sports Junkies to break down Washington's path to victory against the Falcons.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Join us right now to give us a little insight in his take is our pal Scott Abraham from ABC 7
00:07What's up, Scott?
00:09Happy holiday boy two-man show. I like it you recovering from Christmas. Did you have to do you have young kids?
00:15You have uh a daughter. I believe that's my daughter's age. You have to do some building when when the kids went to sleep
00:23dude, like
00:24It's like fort knox trying to break into these doll boxes and trying to snap them out of their
00:30Packaging and build the hot wheels set. It's it's it's been fun, but it's also very time consuming
00:36I've been up here in pittsburgh for the last week with my in-laws because we do christmas up here
00:41Uh every week and talk about getting uh getting spoiled, uh, but it's but that's the best part of the holidays
00:46You know you guys you guys have been through it
00:48Um haven't had any young kids and seeing the smiles and uh the christmas magic. That's what it's all about
00:54Hey, um before we get to the commander's falcons you're up in pittsburgh
00:58Not sure if your in-laws are steeler fans, but what are they saying up there?
01:02What are the what's the local media saying about the possibility? Do they want to stay with russell wilson?
01:08Yeah, I mean they they they're worried but they also look at the schedule and the gauntlet that they've just gone through
01:13I think they've gone through where they have philly raven and then the chiefs. I mean, that's that that's a heck of a stretch
01:20So I think they're taking
01:21Uh comfort in the fact that he went through just the hardest part of their schedule and um, they got they got to win these next
01:28next
01:29Next game next couple games, uh for them to get in the playoffs. Does they have one game left?
01:34I don't even know. No, no, they're already officially in the playoffs. Yeah. Okay, so
01:38The uh, the division the division. Yeah, uh, right with the ravens and uh, but there's no chance
01:43The ravers are losing to the browns if it comes down now, so the division is done
01:47But I was just wondering if fans are freaking out that that wilson's look so bad
01:52they I think it's funny because you know talking to
01:55um
01:56A lot of the cousins and the aunts and the uncles that you know christmas eve dinner
02:00um, they're kind of sick of mike tomlin and it's funny hearing them say that because from the outside perspective you just see a guy that
02:08been so consistent and
02:10winning seasons after winning seasons, but
02:14The people i've talked to in the family that they're kind of they're kind of sick of tomlin
02:17And they'd like to maybe get some new blood new energy, which I understand kind of a little bit from that perspective as well
02:22Yeah
02:23I don't know man
02:24It's hard to find a guy who just wins every season goes to the playoffs every year. Yeah
02:29Why don't you tell them about the coaches we've had here?
02:32Well, they they like to call themselves city of champions boys and they are they just would be they just wanted all those superbowls
02:37And they haven't had one in a while. So they're they're spoiled in that sense. Yeah
02:41all right, so, um
02:43your thoughts on this game, it's uh
02:45It's interesting because you know, I didn't think they were going to beat the eagles actually let's go back to the eagle game
02:50So let's let's talk about that result incredible performance by jd
02:55With the five touchdowns, um, you know, they caught some breaks obviously and we've touched on it a billion times losing hurts killed the eagles
03:02I thought and they only kicked four field goals in the second half devante smith dropping that ball
03:07Probably cost them the game, but whatever they still had to drive down the field and score a touchdown
03:11They did so great win for washington. They got their signature win
03:15Um, did that did that kind of surprise you the way they did that because it surprised me
03:20It did and it just shows you
03:23This team is never out of a football game
03:25Whatever the score whatever the time is left on the clock
03:29This team has a chance and a big reason why is obviously jayden daniels under center. He has that clutch gene
03:35You just can't coach. You just can't teach
03:37um, certainly he had that bad interception
03:40And they got a break with devante dropping the path
03:43and jayden
03:45Took the ball and made up for that mistake
03:48And that's what you want to see guy with a short memory
03:51unfazed
03:52And it was a it was a tremendous win. Yeah, certainly they got the breaks jaylen hurts being hurt
03:58But they made their adjustments of trying to slow down saquon in the run game in the second half
04:03um getting after kenny pickett making him uncomfortable
04:07and it was
04:08great to see
04:10again, just
04:11the stadium and to see the fan base
04:15How they've come alive and gotten behind this team and they're 10 and 5
04:19With two games left in the season and nobody would have thought they'd be 10 and 5
04:24With two games left in the season and here we are talking about a win and in situation
04:30Sunday night football coming to town in your home stadium against the atlanta falcons. It's been a fantastic season and
04:37That you got to consider this a success, I mean absolutely way ahead of schedule and it's been awesome
04:43So let's get into some particulars. So
04:45Yep, looks like jonathan allen could play on sunday. How big is that for the defense in particular stopping a running game?
04:53That's pretty strong there in atlanta led by bijan robinson
04:57Yeah, you need uh, I mean john allen. He's a pro bowler, you know, he's been there done that
05:03Um, and he's a he's a body and he's a really big and good body and he's going to have that extra burst an extra
05:10You know first step because he's been
05:13He's been missing, you know, he's been dealing with it with the pecs
05:16so certainly he's going to give some intensity and and just the
05:21The presence of him being on the line is a game changer because you can obviously have a guy to rotate
05:26Uh with with the bodies they have already in place and you know, what's going to happen on sunday night guys
05:31They're going to get the ball to bijan robinson and that's going to be the game plan
05:35He's going to touch the ball 25 times. I think last game against the giants
05:39He had two catches and then he also had 22 carries 24 times and then the game before that against the raiders
05:45He rushed the ball 22 times. Yeah, that's going to be their recipe. They are going to feed bijan robinson. So
05:52That's what washington's got to do. They got to somehow stop him slow him down
05:56And I think the key is to try to make the rookie michael pennex beat you with his arm, whatever you do
06:03Mission number one in my opinion is stop
06:06Bijan robinson let anybody else beat you especially that rookie quarterback under the bright light for the first time
06:13In an nfl stage and and see where it goes. I think that that's got to be the key to stop bijan
06:19Should um, should commander's fans be a little concerned with the marshall latimore situation?
06:25um
06:26You know
06:27They make the trade right after the deadline or right before the deadline and then he doesn't play after the deadline for a few weeks
06:32Finally plays in the same game certainly a factor in that game, but you know, it's not like the saints can throw it on anybody but
06:39um
06:40Had some issues in the eagle game, but re-injures the hamstring. So don't know if he's going to play maybe you've got
06:46Uh more information, but I don't think he's practiced all week
06:49So he hasn't practiced. Yeah, but she hasn't practiced the last two days
06:53Obviously, we'll we'll have a better understanding when dq talks earlier later today
06:58But I i'm concerned like, you know
07:00This is a guy you traded for
07:03And you went through all the medicals and you know hamstrings and soft tissues are are tricky things
07:07You know that you know the calf the hamstring the quad, um, you know, and it's very easy to re-injure them
07:14It's frustrating and I know the fan base is very frustrated. I chuckled because I saw somebody
07:19Tweet at me saying this is curtis. Samuel 2.0. If you remember when curtis. Samuel was here
07:24He was always had the injury bug. So
07:26Um, you'd love to have him out here, you know, he's an all pro pro bowl corner. She locked down a drake ludden
07:32Uh on one side of the field, but if he's not you're gonna have to do, you know, benjamin
07:39Yep, um, you're gonna have to do a combo of um, you know, no, it'd be not with me
07:44um guys are gonna have to step up and
07:46Uh, that's just unfortunate because you know, you trade for a guy a marsh on
07:51Give up a pretty good haul to new orleans to get marsh on and he hasn't really
07:56Let's be honest. He hasn't really made that big of an impact so far
08:00Um, but you gotta you gotta get him healthy
08:03You know if if the goal is to win a super bowl and make a run here
08:07You fit him because there's a darn good chance this team's going to the playoffs a very high probability. So
08:14um
08:15I would you know, if there's a question you fit him and you got you got to hope that he'll be ready
08:19uh for the wild card round or
08:21Somehow if they win the division
08:23Hmm. Yeah, I would just uh
08:25I i'd be concerned because you just mentioned it. I mean drake london. He can do some damage. Um, yep
08:30Now panics, we don't know what to expect from panics because yeah panics look good against a horrible team last week
08:35So it didn't have to do much. So, um, and then if you somehow lose to the falcons and then you play dallas
08:42Well, if cd plays you that's who he would be covering right? No cd cd's done for the year. Oh, he's done for the year
08:48Okay, i'm sorry. They shut him down. Uh yesterday. I think I read that
08:52um, but
08:54He's been what marshall's been in two games for washington
08:57So they yeah the the people that have been on the field the the saint juice the sandra stills
09:03Those they've been playing with each other all season. So it's not going to be like that big of a change, right?
09:07So, um, my thinking is
09:10if there's any question that he's going to re-injure it or he's going to be
09:13Um, you know, he's going to play and then get hurt again. Don't don't try it
09:17Just sit him, but you know have the trust in in saint juice have the trust in sandra still they've played, you know
09:2315 weeks together. Yes
09:25They've they've had some warts but you know
09:28You got to believe when the when the lights turn on they're going to rise the occasion of what's at stake?
09:33Um on sunday against the falcons and you got to hope marshall
09:37Uh heals up and and obviously he'd be a luxury and great to have if he's healthy for the playoffs
09:42But I think with hamstrings it takes time and if he re-injured it, uh, it's not great
09:47You know, I I dealt with a hamstring injury myself
09:49Uh playing tennis this summer and I I popped it twice in a matter of three weeks
09:54so
09:55Um, they're they're tricky. They're they're very tricky
09:59Talking to scott abraham from abc 7 so
10:02Let's kind of look ahead. We did a segment the other day like christmas wish list
10:06for the commanders realistic
10:09with two games left heading into the playoffs and
10:12You know, I mentioned austin eckler. How big will it be?
10:16If he returns
10:18And what are you hearing if anything about austin eckler's?
10:21status
10:24Huge and I think this offense misses
10:26Austin eckler tremendously. I mean he's such a weapon and swiss army knife in terms of
10:32You know catching the ball the backfield the return game and you know, dan quinn. I believe he spoke on on
10:40On tuesday, you know, he's not ruling it out. You know, there's a good chance that austin
10:44Uh will could could play again this season and what a boost that would be if he could come back for a playoff game
10:51And the offense can just open up so much more with with his skill set and
10:56The screen game and what he can do on the backfield and just being another body of putting his hands on the football
11:02Remember brian robinson jr. He fumbled twice
11:05Uh last week you never want to see that and that that's obviously an area of concern of protecting the football holding on to the football
11:12And um, you know, it'd be great to have austin. He's been out, you know recovering from his concussion. So
11:17Heal up, you know, it's a grind. This is a long nfl season and you want your best guys in those meaningful games
11:24December january
11:25And here we are two games left in the regular season, washington
11:29Um, maybe getting john allen back maybe getting austin eckler back in the next couple of weeks
11:34That's obviously
11:36Progress and and great to see if you're a commanders fan now
11:38Are you going to be back from pittsburgh to go to the game? Yep
11:42I'm, uh, i'm leaving sunday morning getting on the road at eight and i'll be at the stadium
11:48By three o'clock and have live shots at five and six. Awesome
11:51I'm excited for winning in and you know, there's a situation where if tampa loses somehow correct carolina that
11:57Washington is already in the playoffs when sunday night football kicks off, but I think tampa will be carolina and
12:04It'll be a great atmosphere. I think it's gonna be
12:06Mostly in my opinion probably commanders fans. I can't see felton fans invading
12:12Northwest stadium like cowboys or no, you know in eagles
12:16So I think it's going to be electric and I think this place is ready to explode if they if they win this football game
12:22Yeah, I was going to say I mean it's going to be a crazy atmosphere the flex game the island game sunday night football
12:28whether and jayden like I mean everybody if he's a national brand now guys, I mean he's
12:34He's everywhere and it's been awesome to see you know, so many kids
12:39Getting his jersey for christmas. Like I posted a little thing on my
12:45On that
12:46Yeah. Yeah. I mean I was I wasn't expecting that type of response
12:50But what really impressed me surprised me about that when I asked a semi-year christmas pictures holding a jayden jersey
12:56all the young kids
12:58All the young kids having number five jayden daniels jerseys I spoke to you guys numerous times
13:05On your program about how they got to somehow get this younger demo
13:09Back with this franchise supporting this franchise again be cool again
13:13Jayden daniels brings that cool factor like lamar does with baltimore and to see all those young kids smiling
13:20Having that jayden number five jersey under the christmas tree. That was really awesome to see
13:25You have some old people in there too. I mean, I think you got like 300 responses
13:29You put it out. It was awesome. It was I was not expecting that and to see you're right
13:34I mean I saw you know, a grandfather had to have the number five and um, you know
13:40dads and and brothers and uncles and and wives getting
13:44um their husbands number five jerseys
13:47Uh, this this team is all in on on jd5 and this team is all and these these
13:53These fans are all in on what this coaching staff and
13:57Adam peters and josh harris they've done in in year one. It's been phenomenal. So it's exciting to see the rebirth
14:04Of the fan base and the young fans. I think that's the key element here is getting that young demo
14:09Back to be like, you know what?
14:10This team is cool again. This team is it's okay to root for them and support for them scotty
14:15we kind of talked about this a couple days ago, but and there's so many unknowns because they still have to play a bunch of
14:19games here, but
14:21um
14:22If washington gets into the playoffs, let's just assume there they could be a six seed depending on what happens
14:27But if they're going to be a six or the seven seed so they could be playing detroit
14:31Who knows they could be playing the the uh, the eagles who knows outside shot at playing the rams
14:37What would be in your opinion the best matchup in the first round in that wildcard round for washington to go on the road?
14:44That's tough. That's tough
14:47People probably think i'm crazy, but I'd want philly again
14:50You played them. You played them twice
14:53You know each other they know you
14:56You you you should have won that game up there in the first meeting. You had the lead in the fourth quarter
15:02I I I I think I think philly. I I'd want philly I do I I think
15:09um
15:10I don't I don't necessarily want to go on a fast track
15:13um in minnesota fast track
15:16In la with the rams with those offenses and those receivers
15:21I I give me philly. I I know you maybe think i'm crazy, but I just think in terms of
15:26Knowing each other and in the familiarity
15:29I think that might be the best chance to pull off an upset and get a win
15:32I mean eagles have two pretty good receivers too. You're talking about the rams receivers. Yep. They do. Um
15:38and yeah, that's what i'm going with guys, I just think the familiarity and
15:42Knowing what they do and and how to defend them and they they you go back to their
15:48Last two games against them. They they they won this last one and they should have won the first one
15:52They know they they play philly close and they know how to be philly. Give me philly in the playoffs
15:57Look at that bravado. You want to face barkley again for the third time?
16:01The guy's got four touchdowns against washington. Well, okay. So then you got tyron. You got aaron jones
16:07You got justin jefferson. You got addison. You got puka. Nakua. You got cooper cup every game's tough
16:13There's no easy matchup in the playoff and that's the key if you're in the dance. You got a chance anything can happen
16:19Um, i'd love to play philly again. All right. So sunday night. What do you think happens? Does washington get their 11th win?
16:26I do I think um, I think jayden's really going to shine and I think he's going to just show you know
16:32This panic in the national spotlight
16:34This is not an easy situation for panic and I think if they somehow stop slow down beijan robinson
16:41He's going to touch the ball 25 times a game limit
16:44His his big playability and washington's going to get out of there with a win because I think jayden's going to shine again
16:50And uh, give me I think the over unders 47
16:54Uh, give me washington to win 28 to 17
16:59Yeah, all right, well
17:02Being under right 45, right?
17:04So, um, yeah, so all right. Have a good have a good trip back from uh, pittsburgh and uh,
17:09Have a great time on sunday night, bro
17:11Yeah, boys if I don't talk to you. Happy new year as well