After Hours with Amy Lawrence PODCAST: Hour 4

Humanity has been shaped by moments in which one person approached a crowd with something important to say. I'm Jon Meacham, and this is It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2. Listen and subscribe for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Humanity has been shaped by moments in which one person approached a crowd with something important to say. I'm Jon Meacham, and this is It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2.

Listen and subscribe for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. It was said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel.

It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. Oh, this would squash it, because I don't believe there's a QB controversy in Dallas. I don't believe there's a QB question in New England. It's so goofy what we come up with as sports fans, specifically as football fans, because we get over the top when it comes to our QBs. There's lots of misery and mortification to go around on this Monday morning, because we love to focus on the negative. We love to underscore the negative around here. Actually, that's just how we are as sports fans, right? Most of us, the majority of us, are going to end up being negative at any given point, and so that's what brings us all together. We're unified in our misery. Misery that loves company.

So we've got our new poll up for this Monday morning on our show Twitter after our CBS, and we've also tacked on a bonus question, because it just was so evident to me as I was watching football yesterday. The good, the bad, the ugly, it's everywhere. There are very few teams still through week six who are consistent, or even playing three quarters of good football, and just one bad blow-up quarter. It's still this wild ride, like some kind of roller coaster.

One second it makes you, well it gives you euphoria, makes you feel like you're on top of the world, and the next second it makes you want to throw up. That's what it's like being a football fan right now for the majority of these teams. Yeah, there are a couple of really good teams. We'll talk about the Bills. They lead the AFC now, but here's the thing. They're the only team in the AFC with five wins.

We're essentially through week six. I know we've got Chargers and Broncos to come. Broncos are not getting to five wins. So the only team, the Chargers could get to four, the only team in the AFC right now that has five wins is the Bills. There's only two teams in the NFC that have five wins. The Vikings and the Giants, oh yeah, you all thought those would be the ones, and of course the Eagles, who have six. So that's it you guys.

In the entire NFL, 32 teams, there's only four that have at least five wins. Everybody else is bunched together. And so yes, plenty of good, bad, and ugly to go around on this Monday morning. We're live from the Rocket Mortgage Studios.

When you need cash out of your home and a simple way to get it, Rocket can. So you can find us on Twitter or on Facebook. Answer the question, make funny comments, post jokes. I know many of you enjoy making jokes at your rival's expense. A lot of that happening with Padres and Dodgers fans right now, Phillies fans. And coming up in 30 minutes, we're going to head to Philadelphia where, hey, they keep telling us it's really good to be a Phillies sports fan.

Yeah, there's a lot that's happening and we'll smush it as much as we possibly can coming up this hour. But yes, Philadelphia raced out to a 20-0 lead. Cooper Rush with a pair of interceptions in the first half for the Cowboys. And those turnovers were leading to the extra points for the Eagles. Dallas was able to scratch their way back into this by using the run game. By focusing on Ezekiel Elliott, but by essentially not asking Cooper Rush to throw. The issue, of course, is that they use so much time on the clock for these drives.

At some point, you've got to be able to speed it up, speed it up. And Philly can obviously beat you at that game. They can play that ball control game as well. And so once the Cowboys had pulled within three points, the Eagles respond by an eight-minute drive, an eight-minute possession.

That's what they do as a response. And Devontae Smith is able to haul in a touchdown that puts them up by nine. Cowboys had opportunities. Cooper Rush was another interception. Brett Maher misses a field goal.

And here are the Eagles who are 6-0 for the first time since 2004. Chemistry is that concept in sports and really business, families, relationships, all that kind of stuff. That's so hard to define. You know it when you have it.

There's a lot of different ways to get to chemistry. It certainly does help when you're winning, but also helps when you like each other. This team's coming together, and they fight each week. And the motivation of not letting your teammate down, coach to player, player to coach, player to player, coach to coach, that's love, right? That's just the love that you have for your teammates, and there's no greater motivation.

You're able to come out and start fast on both sides of the bar. It always pays dividends in the end. I think we left a lot of money on the table.

There are some opportunities that we wanted to take advantage of, we could have taken advantage of, that we just didn't. Those are things that we can control. Who's toughest the longest? Who can control the things that they can the longest? Who can stay the course?

Who can truly stay the course? Like I said, I think this football team, the day we played together, circumstances in the game changed. We had momentum change in the game.

We had a lot of different things going in the game, but we didn't waver from what we wanted to accomplish. Jalen Hurts with a couple of TDs. He does get sacked four times, but ultimately the Eagles' ability to possess the football, and also the multiple turnovers, the three interceptions by Cooper Rush, allow Philly to dominate time of possession.

Miles Sanders critical in this one. Though, yeah, going into a bye, you're 6-0, that's amazing. You're the only undefeated team in the NFL, but Jalen makes it very clear that we still have a lot that we want to work on, a lot that we want to improve on, and yet that's the best team in the NFL.

And so maybe that's what Tom Brady meant when he said, I'm watching a lot of bad football. Yeah, no blaming the fact that the games are on Thursday night for why the offense is so horrid. Nah, there was plenty of that on Sunday as well.

It's after hours here on CBS Sports Radio. Would you have believed that the Bills and the Chiefs were scoreless after one quarter? Would you have believed that the Bills and the Chiefs were tied at 10 at the half?

I don't know what the line was for over-under. It just seemed like early on anybody who bet the under was feeling pretty good about the fact that there were only 20 points at halftime between these two offenses that can be so explosive and so dynamic. And it was a good back and forth, especially in the second half. We got to see what we love from these two quarterbacks and their offenses. So Patrick Mahomes wriggling out of defensive grasp and control, spinning around like he's doing pirouettes, eluding pressure, evading capture, and then blasting the ball down the field and finding these tight windows where he can thread the ball to his receivers. And then we got to see Josh Allen.

Truck people, hurdle people with the big arm, the explosive plays too. So it may not have been two complete halves of the offensive juggernauts, but it was a lot of fun to see these two quarterbacks and their offensive weapons go back and forth. Second and 12 from the 14-yard line. Josh ready to go. There's Singletary in the backfield with him.

Takes. Josh looks to throw. Looks in the end zone. Fires a strike into the end zone. It is caught for the touchdown! It is Dawson Knox two yards deep in the end zone. Touchdown Buffalo! An amazing strike thrown by Josh Allen to Dawson Knox for the score. 1.04 left on the clock. I mean, Josh Allen's unbelievable. Say a lot of people, right?

John Murphy and Eric Wood on Bill's radio. So yes, just over a minute to go. That's a lot more than 13 seconds.

And don't tell me it ever crossed your mind. Don't tell me you didn't text that joke to one of your buddies about how 13 seconds was enough or, wow, maybe this is way too much time left on the clock for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. First down for Kansas City at their own 30-yard line. Mahomes takes, has a pocket, gets away to the right a little bit. He fires downfield.

It is picked off. Picked off of the 20-yard line. Intercepted by the Bills. Picked off by Tarrant Johnson. He goes down right there and the Bills have the football.

They are celebrating. They're running down to the end zone for the celebration. They picked off Patrick Mahomes. Tarrant Johnson steps in front of that pass intended for Sky Moore and comes up with the interception.

Wow, Murph. Von Miller makes an inside pass rush move then gets up the field. And so he pressures Patrick Mahomes. Matt Milano is barreling down on Patrick Mahomes. He knows he's going to take a shot.

He tries to get it out to the flat. Tarrant Johnson jumps it perfectly. Once again on Bills radio. Under pressure, yes, Pat throws his second interception. This time it clinches the victory for the Bills. He also had one in the end zone in the first quarter.

So here's what I love about this for Buffalo. It wasn't just the offense. They didn't just beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead in a shootout. It wasn't just the last team with the football wins, right? So going back to their game in the playoffs, yeah, they were able to get a field goal on the board in 13 seconds. But they ultimately won the coin toss and you know everything that changed over the offseason because of that.

But they won the coin toss and they were able to end up with the football and so was who had the ball last. The defenses were gassed and really not doing a whole lot. Well in this case, it's a massive confidence boost for that Buffalo defense, which was already really damn good and flexing its muscles to be able to go into Arrowhead and not back into the win, but seal it themselves with an interception in the late stages.

443 Buffalo yards, two for four in the red zone. And certainly for Josh Allen, there were a lot of big throws and chunk plays, three touchdowns for him. But what he raved about after the game, his defense slowing down Pat. You can make an argue he's got the best start to any quarterback to ever play this game in the history of the league.

You know, he's a special player. So anytime he's got the ball in the hands, you never know what can happen. But again, credit to our defense for stepping up and making plays. The Chiefs are so comfortable in these situations, right? We're all hell is breaking loose where they get into a hole early, where they have to fight and scratch and claw their way back. We've seen that with the Chiefs. And what do they tell us over and over again? Double figure deficit. It's no big thing because they know they can erase it.

Why? Because they've done it over and over again. They're calm under pressure. In fact, I think they actually perform better under pressure, which is what you want, certainly. Well, the Bills are getting pretty comfortable in these pressure packed situations as well.

Stevon Diggs, 10 catches, 148 yards and a score. We've been here before. And in those moments, like it seems like not even deja vu. It seems like it's something brand new on the other side. Like we're prepared. We've been here before. We we've battled through the storm multiple times. Good and bad. And so it was that was a mixed bag. It started slow.

It ramped up. We saved the best for last, but ultimately this is offense and defense for Buffalo in moving to five and one, the only team in the AFC with five wins. Don't worry about the Chiefs.

Don't cry for me, Argentina. As Andy Reid points out, they're likely to see this team again. If we keep playing well and they play well, I'm sure they'll come back around. But we have to make sure we take care of our business and clean up a few things and make sure that we have an opportunity to continue to win games. As a great football team, I thought we played some good football. We just make too many mistakes at the end of the day. And when you play, when you make mistakes against another great football team, you lose football games.

And so it'll be good to learn from. But right now, I mean, it stinks. Somebody else, I can't remember who it was. Use the word stings at the end of the game. No, Patrick said it stinks. It stinks. It definitely does stink when you lose.

It's after hours here on CBS Sports Radio. So, yes, we've got one team with five wins in the AFC. And the Eagles, 6-0. Giants and Vikings also have five wins.

But that's the top tier right now in the NFL, almost through six weeks. Real quickly before we get to our break here, the Rams, the Super Bowl champions were fortunate enough, I suppose, to be able to work out some of the kinks in their offense against the Carolina Panthers. So at SoFi Stadium, they host the Panthers. First game with Steve Wilks, and it's P.J.

Walker who's running the show. But actually, believe it or not, the Panthers were up 10-7 at the half. You can only imagine. L.A. sports fans, because there are some, L.A. sports fans watch their Dodgers, bats, just go completely silent in two games over the weekend at San Diego. They see the Dodgers of 111 regular season wins lose three in a row to a team they dominated in their division all year. And the Dodgers are out in the NLDS. And then their Super Bowl champion Rams are trailing the Panthers.

I mean, yes, I'm saying it like that for a reason. They're trailing the Panthers 10-7 on their own field at the half because of a Matthew Stafford pick-six. However, the Rams defense pitches the shutout in the second half, and Matthew Stafford, the offense, able to rally. Big deal that they're over 100 yards rushing because they don't have Cam Akers. We're waiting for some word about him. He was away from the team for personal reasons, and there's been talk that he is not going to play with the Rams again. So not sure when we'll get more information, but potentially.

So yeah, they work out some kinks. They go 3-4 in the red zone, 50% on third down. The issues for the Panthers, if possible, going from bad to worse. At some point they'll get Baker Mayfield back or Sam Dardold.

They didn't ask P.J. Walker to do a whole lot. Christian McCaffrey's still a member of the Panthers. Maybe Robbie Anderson isn't going to be a member of the Panthers for long because not only is he hearing the trade rumors, but after a couple of shouting matches with his own coach, so his wide receivers coach, and after Steve Wilks sees him separating himself from the rest of the team. So at one point the entire offense is huddled up trying to, maybe at that point they're within striking distance still, trying to figure out how they can rally. Can we come up with a win?

What can we do to stay on the same page? And Robbie Anderson is off skulking. At one point he's on the bike with a hat on instead of wearing his helmet. So for Steve Wilks, he wasn't having it. He was done with it. He actually kicked him out.

And if you can read lips, I can read lips. You can see him. Even as some of his coaches try to talk him down, he says, no, get him out of here. He's out of here.

And ultimately Robbie had to leave the sidelines. I'm not going to focus and put a lot of tension on one individual. We can talk about the game. We can talk about situations within the game.

We can talk about the things we're going to do moving forward. But I'm not putting a lot of energy into one individual. I was honestly confused because I want to be in the game. You know, I've never been told in X amount of years to get out the game in the fourth quarter.

So I was honestly confused and, you know, upset by it as I should be. Like I said, going from bad to worse. And I don't know, do they trade Christian McCaffrey? Do they even bother to, I mean, they've got to figure out what to do about Baker, right? If they haven't seen enough, because he and Sam Darnold are both on expiring contracts, maybe they bring back neither one, except Matt Corral is not getting the reps that they were hoping he would as a rookie.

By now he would be starting. But instead they fall to one and five and the team is seemingly falling apart. And I know it's not fair to ask Steve Wilks to turn this around in a week.

So this is not on him. It's just a lot of players have checked out. They recognize now it's not going to get better this season and there's frustration all around. So, yeah, that was the welcome back to the coaching ranks for Steve Wilks.

Which team? We actually decided to take it easy on the Panthers this week, didn't we? We didn't put the Panthers in there, right? Not this week.

Not this week. Or the Dolphins, because we almost feel like it's piling on with all their quarterback issues. And I don't really get what's happening with their quarterbacks anyway. So we left the Panthers and the Dolphins out of our mortification poll.

But on this Monday, who's miserable and mortified the most? Packers. Buccaneers.

What happened to those offenses? Are they ever going to show up? I just, I don't understand. I keep waiting.

And I just, I don't understand why it's so awful sometimes. It's just not going to happen, man. Not yet, apparently. The Arizona Cardinals, who, again, can't score an offensive touchdown to save their lives. Or the Dodgers, whose bats disappear at the worst possible time. We're going to do our best to cram in a little bit of baseball here, but it may actually have to wait until our next show. And then, did you see the end of the Alabama-Tennessee game?

The one that sent a sea of orange into a tizzy. Love college football for that reason. Because it is just a lot of kids.

Well, and adults pretending to act like kids. It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio. You are listening to Humanity has been shaped by moments in which one person approached a crowd with something important to say. I'm Jon Meachum, and this is It Was Said, Season 2. A creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2. Listen and subscribe for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Humanity has been shaped by moments in which one person approached a crowd with something important to say. I'm Jon Meachum, and this is It Was Said, Season 2. A creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2. Listen and subscribe for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. A creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel.

It Was Said, Season 2. A creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. A creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel.

A creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio, in association with the History Channel. I know how much this has meant to the people of Tennessee and Ball Nation. I'm so excited that we're coming out with the win for everybody involved. It was a great night. Man, I think it just speaks to the mentality, the growth, and the progress of the individuals inside of our locker room and collectively as a team.

This is After Hours with Amy Lawrence. Head Coach Josh Heiple has helped to turn this Tennessee Volunteers program into a winner. Now 6-0 with the first victory over Alabama in 15 years. Before that, you hear the voice of Jalen Hyatt, the wide receiver who had over 200 yards receiving. Six passes, 207 yards.

Not a lot of defense in this game. 52-49 the final, and you hear the wobbly knuckleball is what they called it on Learfield IMG. The Chase McGrath field goal that upsets Bama. So Tennessee was ranked 6th, Bama was in the top 3.

The new poll obviously has changed a lot. But the fact that there were 100,000 orange-clad fans who stormed the field. You knew it was coming if McGrath made the kick and you just wanted to get out of the way. And there was going to be damage done and actually the SEC has already weighed in. But yes, when Jalen mentions the Vols fans, they showed up, they were loud, they were raucous, they were obnoxious, they were fireworks.

The whole area was glowing orange. It was a party as you can imagine. 15 years of futility out with this one huge game and really a statement victory as well in the SEC.

It's after hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio. For Nick Saban, he's used to everyone in the entire United States exulting whenever Alabama loses. First loss of the year for the Crimson Tide. Very disappointing loss.

We didn't answer the bell today. Obviously there's a lot of work to be done. Way too many penalties. Did too many things to help them. Gave up explosive plays. Had a major error on special teams that was totally unnecessary that led to a score on their part.

Got to give them a lot of credit. They did a nice job with their offense based on what we were trying to do on defense. But we didn't execute well enough.

So for those of you who were watching Bill's Chiefs on Sunday, which is many of you, 13 seconds, right? Well the volunteers drove the ball 45 yards in 13 seconds to set up the game winning field goal. So it's not the only time or the only team that we've ever seen do it.

Now we've seen it twice. Although in the volunteers case it was actually a win not to send the game into overtime. Of course this was a mob scene. So Nick Saban had to be escorted by police officers. It was a game that understandably gave the volunteers a ton of reasons, a ton of moments to cheer about.

Because there were chunk plays. There were huge moments where the volunteers were able to take advantage of that Bama defense. Alabama allowed more points and had more penalties than any other game under Nick Saban. And that goes back now to 2007. Incidentally 15 years ago, the last time that Tennessee got the best of Alabama. And I saw this.

I think you will appreciate this. First of all the SEC has already assessed fines for a bunch of the post game celebration. And the volunteers are asking for donations because both goal posts were carried away by the fans. So Tennessee football put out a tweet yesterday indicating that they're raising money that will go toward the purchase of new goal posts. Are you kidding me?

I'm just saying it's out there. So listen, there's an option for a $16 donation. The number of years it had been since the volunteers beat the tide. You can also donate $52.49 as a nod to the $52.49 final score or $1,019.15. Would you like to guess what that number represents? The last time they beat Alabama?

No. It's the sold out crowd. Same numbers. $101,915.

So $101,915. And in case you think I'm joking, as of midnight last night, more than $67,000 had been raised to buy new goal posts. So the fans carried them away somewhere. Now they got to buy new ones. And apparently volunteer nation is chipping in. Tennessee football team is broke. Yeah, right.

And they play in the SEC. They're definitely not broke. They could easily get new goal posts by tomorrow.

Yeah, nope. They're asking the fans to chip in. And I'm sure by now, I mean we're talking about another four and a half hours central time.

By now, it's probably a lot more than $67,000. I'm just wondering where the hell the other two are. Where'd they go? Where'd they hide them? I don't think they hide them.

It's just that they ripped them off the field. Where? Oh, actually, wait a minute. Hold on. Fans stormed the field, carried away both goal posts before dumping them in the Tennessee River. Oh, okay. So they're gone.

Oh my gosh. That, my friends, is why people love college football because it's crazy in some of these places. So yeah, upsets are the norm. And it was only a matter of time until it happened to Alabama. And I would say it's probably only a matter of time until it happens to Tennessee because it's just every single week. If you are in the top ten and there are fewer and fewer undefeateds now, you have got a major target on your back.

All right, straight ahead. The Phillies take out their arch rival in the NL East. The Atlanta Braves, the World Series champions, yeah, they weren't intimidated.

And the offense broke out in a big way over the weekend. Our guest was at both Phillies-Braves games. But we also want to ask him about the Eagles being the only undefeated, the only team with six wins in the NFL.

So our friend John Kincaid, a CBS Sports Radio veteran, will join us from Philadelphia straight ahead. It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence. You are listening. Humanity has been shaped by moments in which one person approached a crowd with something important to say. I'm Jon Meacham, and this is It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2. Listen and subscribe for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Humanity has been shaped by moments in which one person approached a crowd with something important to say. I'm Jon Meacham, and this is It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2. Listen and subscribe for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Humanity has been shaped by moments in which one person approached a crowd with something important to say. I'm Jon Meacham, and this is It Was Said, Season 2, a creation and production of C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio in association with the History Channel. It Was Said, Season 2.

Listen and subscribe for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. As they have taken out the world champs, an 8-3 win, the Phillies celebrate on the mound. First and goal at the 7th on first down. It goes into the end zone, touchdown Devontae Smith. Hurts faked inside, straightened up, threw it to Devontae Smith for a touchdown. This is After Hours with Amy Lawrence.

Oh, yes. Phillies in the NLCS, Eagles undefeated. Scott Fransky on Phillies radio and then on Eagles radio. Merrill Reese with the call of that late touchdown.

Even though the Cowboys rally and score 20 unanswered points, Eagles able to hold off their arch rivals on Sunday Night Football. It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio. Excited to have you with us, but even more than you, all listening out there in the radio stratosphere, really excited to welcome a longtime friend and of course an ageless radio host, John Kincaid from 97.5 The Fanatic, getting ready to host his morning show at the top of the hour.

Okay, John, semi-serious question. What's better than being a Philadelphia sports fan right now? Not much else and you didn't even mention the Philadelphia Union, the number one seed in the MLS. I did not.

Sorry about that. We'll get to that later, I'm sure. Amy, there's nothing better and there's nothing better than being home. And you and I have known each other for a long time and to get to come home to my hometown last year and to work here and to talk about my favorite teams and all this excitement going on, it is like the perfect storm right now. This city is on freaking fire.

Everybody is part of it. My wife, who has never been a full-time Philadelphian, you know, we were at the store the other day and I'm being talked to by the lady checking us out, the guy stocking the shelves and everything, and she's just like, it's different here. It's different.

And this city is absolutely different. I know that you were able to go to the games over the weekend between the Phillies and the Braves and take your beautiful daughter, I'm sure that was an awesome experience, and as you pointed out on social, special memories that were made. What was it like to be in the park as the Phillies were taking out the arch-rival Braves? Well, that's one of the things is that, especially with the ties, she grew up in Atlanta. You know, she grew up and was born in Atlanta and graduated high school there before coming up here to go to college. And I, Friday, just decided, you know what, I know I do my job for a living and I've got to seat the press box, but I said, you know what, I'll go to the press box Saturday. I wanted to take her, I wanted to sit in the stands, and I wanted to really indoctrinate her to be an affiliate fan, and she was losing her mind.

She was losing her mind. She said, Dad, the electricity in this building, Friday afternoon, Amy was one of the three best fan experiences I've ever had sitting in the stands. And it was so amazing and such energy.

And when you beat a class act organization like the Braves, and a great organization like the Braves, who, by the way, are going to be around for another 10 years with that roster they have, and you know, it could be just the beginning of just years of punch, counterpunch. That was so awesome. And then Saturday, I went to the press box. I got a chance to do my job like a professional, and then last night hosted pregame and then went in the stadium and sat in the box again. It was an amazing weekend. I just feel like I should have had a cot, though, and just slept in one of the parking lots. It would have made it easier than getting in and out of all that traffic all weekend. Yeah, I saw your tweets. How long did it take you to get out of that game on Saturday?

Two hours. Oh, man. It was crazy because honestly, people were on the hoods of cars. People were just, they hadn't opened up enough gates. There was a Flyers game that was in the third period as the celebration's going on, so everybody's like, oh, God, get out before the Flyers game gets out, and then they both get out at the same time. It was mayhem, but you know what? Everybody was having a good time, and I may run for mayor just to fix the traffic patterns around the stadium because it was crazy, and it was a great, great time, though. 97.5, the fanatic morning show host getting set to talk about all of this with his Philly listeners coming up at the top of the hour.

John Kincaid is with us here first after hours, CBS Sports Radio. Why now for the Phillies? They were literally the last team into the playoffs, so why now are they putting it all together?

Well, it's weird, Amy, and one of the things I'm going to talk about with my listeners this morning is, and I've talked to them about it before, two of the last three world champions were below.500 in late June, the 2019 Nationals and the 2021 Braves, and the Phillies were under.500 in late May when they fired Joe Girardi, and brought in Topper, as he's called here, Rob Thompson. He changed the mood, Amy. There was a cleansing. You know in a job when management changes and there's just a breath of fresh air and there's new communication, and everybody sort of comes to work feeling a little better?

It's sort of similar. The Phillies players started to have fun. They were a tense group.

They actually mirrored Joe Girardi's energy, and Joe Girardi's energy for a guy who had already won a World Series, had already managed in New York. I was so shocked that everything with him, I would have thought he couldn't get a sheet of two-ply between him because he was so tight. Everything was just unbelievable.

John Kincaid, this is a morning show where we have families listening. I know. It was just, it was really, he was very tight.

He walked around very stiff, and I think people fed off his energy of, he was tense. Rob Thompson comes in with a much different energy, and it just changed. And their best players are coming through at big times. And honestly, with Wheeler and Nola, they actually have a one-two punch that's as good as anybody left in the post. Well, I was just about to ask you, is there a hotter pitcher right now than Aaron Nola? Because not only at the end of the regular season, he was the one who was on the mound when they had the opportunity to clinch, but the way he's pitched so far in the playoffs, wow. And when you have Wheeler, Nola, and you got to set it up because you took out the Braves in four, you didn't have to go to Wheeler in any way in Game 5. And you get to set up your rotation, and you can go one-two Wheeler, Nola, and San Diego, and you know that you can bring them back in five-six. I really like their chances because of that. I feel really, really good about it. Plus, you've got Sir Anthony Dominguez and, you know, Jose Alvarado and Brad Hand that have all of a sudden just become unconscious in the bullpen.

And so you've got three guys that you're leaning on. You're like, oh my gosh, all of a sudden they've put it all together. And it's just fun.

It's just fun. And the energy in that building, it's going to be wild. Friday, Saturday, Sunday back here for games three, four, five if necessary. And it's going to be beautiful weather.

Yes. They've got a beautiful weekend for it. So this city's just going to be nuts. And the tickets, it was crazy, and my friends in Atlanta were getting on me.

My old listeners were getting on me. But you could get into the Braves' playoff games for $12 and $13. Wow. And here, well, for standing room. And here, people were paying for standing room $178, $185.

It was crazy. And this weekend is going to be even worse. People are going to be dipping into the college funds, Amy. Yes, well, I mean, the college can wait, right?

Plus, by the time they actually go to college, you know, the government may be paying for it. So whatever. Who knows.

So, okay, so John, all of the things that you, a lot of the things that you just said about Philly can also apply to San Diego. They're hot, obviously. Their pitching is locked in. Their bats right now seemingly relentless.

They were able to stymie. There are tribal in the Dodgers. So what is scary about the Padres?

Well, one thing I think is real scary about them is the fact that it is star quality. Anything the Phillies have, the Padres have. And that's the way I look at it. And that's why I really think this is going to be a brutal series. Because anything that the Phillies can say, well, they've got some star guys that are coming through right now. I think the Padres can actually outdo them as far as star quality, especially in the lineup. And so that's one of those things that the Phillies bats got to be ready for. Because I believe the Padres top to bottom have a more relentless approach in the lineup as far as guys who can get on base, create innings and do things.

And still have that power. The Phillies tend to be a little more hot and cold at times, even though it has been better in the postseason. That would be my biggest concern. Pitching wise, I think the Phillies can match them pitching for pitching. I'm not concerned about that in the least. I do believe the Phillies have the edge there.

Slight edge, but edge. Who is starting Game 1 for Philadelphia? Oh, it's going to be Wheeler. It's got to be Wheeler. And let Nola go on normal rest and Wheeler will go on normal. Wheeler is so pumped for this too.

And he's been an unsung hero. I think the Mets could have used him. I think it's really funny that Wheeler and Syndergaard both helping to pitch the Phillies into the NLCS.

Two guys that the Mets didn't want. And that's one thing I think plays into the Phillies' hands a little bit. For the Phillies, we hate the Mets more than anything. And the Braves have always been this godlike figure in the division where there's not the hatred of the Braves in the same way. Because I don't think in honesty the Phillies ever thought, hey, we've been in the same class as the Braves.

You know, where you can win five, six years in a row. They had that one period of time when they did. But for the Mets, they just hate the Mets. And they love seeing the Mets in agony.

And I think that's the one thing I'd wonder. Did San Diego win the World Series last weekend by beating the Dodgers? But they also went into New York and were able to win two of three at Citi Field. I just wonder that once you beat the Dodgers, I have a weird feeling that that was their Super Bowl.

And we'll check back on this and we can check back later on. I have a weird feeling that emotionally they won their Super Bowl beating the Dodgers. Whereas for the Phillies, it's more about the Mets. The Phillies are that Mets to what the Padres are with the Dodgers. Well, at least they're not running into their nemesis.

Because both 101-win teams from the NL East are out. Yeah, they're all out. John Kincaid is with us getting set for his morning show.

He's kind of warming up his pipes on us here. 97-5, the fanatic top of the hour. Lots to talk about.

Lots of good stories. So just a couple of minutes. I know when I hear Jalen Hurts talk about how he left a lot of money on the table, you can watch the game and recognize that they're not yet playing a full four quarters. What would you like them to work on over the bye, John? Second half of games.

Amy, they've set the record and there was a graphic on last night. They're the best scoring team in the second quarter in the history of the NFL since 1950. And so they are just crushing people. So what happens is they come out with their 15 scripted plays or whatever it is.

That does okay. Then they make adjustments and they dominate teams. Then they come out of halftime and whatever their offensive game plan is, it is tended to be stifled. And last night Mike McCarthy and his staff and Dan Quinn did a nice job, and congratulations to them, of shutting down what they were doing for around a quarter, quarter and a half until that final drive. But for the second week in a row, Jalen Hurts and the offense put it together in the fourth quarter with a huge drive, with the game having to be put away.

The kid is just money. And this team is young, talented, and they're getting more confidence as it goes along. And I think it's a great thing that they haven't played a four quarter game yet.

I think that's a great thing because they can keep everybody's focus. I mean, they're 6-0. And if you look at their schedule, it's not daunting.

I don't see any way that they don't waltz into 13 wins. Are you touching the money? Oh, yes, I'm touching it.

Yeah, I am. You're rolling in it right now. You're talking about how the Phillies are going to beat the Padres because the Padres have already peaked, and now how the Eagles are going to just roll off another 7-8 wins?

How about this? They're going to waltz to 13 wins. Oh, for heaven's sakes.

I am cowering for you. But here's the deal, Aime. That doesn't mean they're going to win in January. You see, that's what they're going to have to show.

They can do whatever. We've seen a lot of teams finish with the number one seed and then not get the job done. Just ask Aaron Rodgers. Well, just ask the Tennessee Titans last year or two.

It's one of those things where they've got to be better by the time that comes around. All right, so John Kekade, one of my favorite people in the world, certainly one of my favorite people in the industry. I doubt this morning there will be uncomfortable radio, but that's one of his specialties.

Not at all. Nothing's uncomfortable today. So find him on Twitter at John Kekade, K-I-N-C-A-D-E. Tell your family hello. It's wonderful to talk to you. I will, Aime. All right, take care.

Bye. Have a fun show. On 97.5, The Fanatic. Now, see, here's the thing about John. He is such an amazing talker. Now, he's also a radio professional, but an amazing talker, and I was a little bit worried that we were just going to have to cut him off and hang up on him, which would have been terrible radio. But it worked out perfectly, and we're done. And we'll talk to you tonight.

It's After Hours with Aimee Lawrence, CBS Sports Radio. Boom! Is there something really absurd that skeeves you out? Getting a paper cut on my eyeball. A fear you can't shake? I'm going to leak ocular fluid down my cheeks.

It's going to go into my mouth, and I will perish. Whatever scares you, I want to talk about it. Join me, Larry Mullins, on my new podcast, Your Weirdest Fears.

Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts from. Is there something really absurd that skeeves you out? Getting a paper cut on my eyeball. A fear you can't shake? I'm going to leak ocular fluid down my cheeks.

It's going to go into my mouth, and I will perish. Whatever scares you, I want to talk about it. Join me, Larry Mullins, on my new podcast, Your Weirdest Fears. Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts from.