After Hours with Amy Lawrence PODCAST: Hour 2

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Get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today. I'm sure it's just me, but Backstreet Boys seems to go so perfectly with a tailgate Thursday into a freaky football Friday the 13th. How about that? All of those different elements wrapped into this upcoming Friday. Now if only it was a payday.

It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio. It is to carry over with the Derek Carr, speaking of payday. If he's on the roster with the Raiders still, February 15th, or if he's traded by then, he still gets that $40 million. The other teams though certainly recognize that the Raiders want to trade Derek and may be willing to wait it out, in which case the Raiders have a choice. Will they wait it out then and see which potential quarterback-starved teams finally do step up? Will they kind of play that game of chicken and say, okay, well you think you're going to wait us out? We know there are teams out there that don't want to have to get into a bidding war, so we're going to step up and try to trade for them. So it's kind of a steering match, if you will, staring contest. And so will the Raiders wait to see what happens as opposed to pulling the trigger on releasing him and then getting nothing for him? So it actually is fascinating, a little bit like a chess match or a staring match, a game of chicken.

I can use all kinds of analogies and metaphors. It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio. We've got our polls up, the AFC game of the week, the NFC game of the week. And so make sure you take those polls on our Twitter account, After Hours CBS, or on our Facebook page. It's good to connect with you, lots of you weighing in to talk football over the last few days. And really, these next few weeks are prime time for our business. So much fun, you can feel the electricity even before we get on site in the stadiums.

Double header Saturday, triple header Sunday, and then another solo game with 17 networks that will be airing all the versions of the game coming up on Monday. It's going to be a lot of fun to talk about all of the games with you. We're going to do some extensive previews with audio, so quarterbacks and coaches and other key members of the locker rooms as we head through these next three hours. But first, we are starting with our friend Cynthia Freeland, who is the queen of data science for the NFL Network. And I'm not kidding, every single time I turn on the network, Cynthia is there in a variety of capacities because her knowledge is so critical and so unique. There's no one else like Cynthia.

So we're pleased to welcome her now from LA. And Cynthia, I got to tell you, even before we talk football, my favorite thing on your social media these days is the picture of your new dog. Oh my goodness, he's so handsome. Can you please introduce us to your new puppers?

Gordy, he's so handsome. It's funny, I did not plan on becoming a dog mom. I've had dogs in the past growing up, but he needed to be rescued.

My coworker found him and I felt like she couldn't take him because he is a big dog and she couldn't have a big dog. And she feels like he's got this personality, you're going to love him. And I met him and I just fell in love. And he is like, I'm looking at him right now. And I like, I don't know if I've ever been so in love with anything in my life. He is the best thing that's ever happened to me. He's like, truly like he's a sweetheart and he's like, just so like, he just, he's my whole heart. His story, he was abandoned in a mall parking lot in an entirely enclosed box and somehow ended up at a kill shelter, which I live in Los Angeles, which is unheard of. But he doesn't have any like weird, you know, he doesn't have any traumas really like I've been searching for it and trying to see like, okay, what do we got to work on? And so far so good.

He's really sweet and just, just happy. He didn't want to eat it first, but we got past that. Okay, good. So who named him Gordy? You?

I did. He's named after Gordy Howe. Oh, fantastic.

Oh, even more sports fans will love that. Any idea how old he is? Maybe he's like seven or eight months old. He actually has like a black saddle on his back. He's probably, maybe he's like a part Husky and a part probably like German Shepherd.

But he could be a Samoyed too. Like I just did his DNA. I'm waiting for the results, but because obviously, you know, like all weird pet moms, like you get this like Christmas email being like, oh, you get so many dollars off.

You're like, yes, I need this. Well, I'm a helicopter mom with my dog. So I totally understand.

Well, he is very handsome and I'm sure he's so happy. And I think the world was kind of introduced to him when he got a lion's Jersey for Christmas. Oh my goodness. Between Gordy and your lions. I know they didn't make the playoffs, but come on. This had to be one of your favorite holiday seasons ever.

Absolutely. No, it was great. Like the lines didn't make it, but it sounds stupid to be like, I'm so grateful for what a fun season we have. Listen, it's been some very rough seasons as a Lions fan.

And this one was one where it just, it filled you with hope. And it was a team that had a lot of heart and we want our teams to be teams that are, if you're going to lose, at least be a lovable loser. But you know, it wasn't terrible to see them not make it.

I mean, look, it's stunk. Obviously I would have preferred the opposite, but you know, they, they were in it, they were fighting, they beat the Packers twice. Like that, that never happened. So there's a lot to be positive about and a lot to build on. And it was just a lot of fun and really can't ask for more, much more than that. What stands out about the season, the way that they started one in six and then finished, what was it, eight of their last 10?

And what will you remember about this particular run? I think honestly, it sounds stupid, but you know, the offense was good kind of throughout. It was really the improvement in the defense that was really, like really interesting to me. I mean, Aidan Hutchinson, homegrown kid from, you know, went to the university of Michigan. It's kind of like this good like Midwesterners, just like everywhere else. We love our like stories about the Midwest, right?

So, you know, the lore of like, Oh, the, like the kid who's, you know, in his hometown playing for a team that means something to him. Like it's, it's just nice to see. It feels like we don't often get that story with Michigan. It's like people are like, you know, they're like unhappy to be drafted there. And that wasn't the case this time.

It was really great. And it, you know, he's put himself in position to be at least considered for defensive rookie of the year and we're stoked to see it. And the fact that there are so many guys that you hear speaking out, Jamal Williams comes to mind, he gets so emotional about being a member of the Lions. There are actual players on this team that cannot wait to be part of this, this Lion success because you can almost feel it coming.

I love that. They're owning the Lions. I mean, who knew? Who knew?

Fantastic. Although I need to know if you were really hiding under your covers, peeking out while the Lions were playing at Lambeau. I was like, I really, I couldn't watch it. I couldn't even watch the Seattle game over time.

Like the whole thing. I was just a total, it was just a total nightmare. I was, I was unhappy the whole time.

It was, it was very stressful. It's nice though, to be relevant and to have a pit. Whereas for years Lions fans didn't have to worry about the pit in their stomach.

So that's fantastic. I love Dan Campbell. I've been rooting for him since he got there because he is unique. There was no one quite like him in the NFL. Cynthia Freeland is with us from NFL network.

She's the data science queen. And we love to talk to her about some of the more unique aspects of football. It's after hours here on CBS sports radio, maybe a matchup or a team. We've got seven new teams back in the playoffs this year.

What jumps out, Cynthia? You know, I'm really excited for this Bills team. I want to see if Micah Hyde can come back. This has been quite the season for the Bills. I mean, truly a, like from start to finish, not even just the DeMar Hamlin stuff, but also like, you know, we saw so much this whole season. Remember there was a shooting there ahead of the season and then, you know, unfortunately Dawson Knox lost his brother. There's just been so much. I want to see, does Micah Hyde come back and join Jordan Poirier and can they just finish it off?

I mean, it seems like this improbable run. There's so much, but like they're a family team. I spent the preseason with them. And there's just something really like special about the way that whole team treats each other and the way that it feels so family-like.

So, I mean, in terms of just pure storyline, that's the one I'm looking for, for sure. I've just been really drawn to them as humans and feeling like we saw their hearts and their compassion and also their vulnerabilities over everything that's happened with DeMar Hamlin. And my goodness, what a miracle, home in nine days after a cardiac arrest. But we got to, you mentioned family, we got to see that aspect of this football team where I almost look at them differently now because of how much they were willing to sacrifice. They cared so much more about him than they did about football at that point on Monday and all throughout the last two weeks, really.

Yeah. I mean, this is a special team. They have special vibes going into the season.

It's hard to express. I've done preseason for two years now and at first they're like, what is this person doing? And then they realize that like, oh, you're a Midwesterner too. I know Buffalo is in New York, but it's not. It's Western New York, yes.

Exactly. And so long story short, it's every person that works there. It's not even just like the people you see on the field. It's the woman who, the kindest person ever, who when you walk into the facility is like, do you want to water?

What can I do for you? The nicest, kindest people and truly it's a family from start to finish, from top to bottom. So they are just salt of the earth.

I have nothing with the utmost respect for them. I mean, look, to be clear, there's a lot of people on a lot of teams who are like that. It just seems like there's something about this particular team in this particular season with all the adversity that they face, that you just kind of find yourself rooting for people like that to have something good come out of all this hardship. We've definitely seen their depth of character beyond the football field and yet they do have some incredible pieces on that team. Josh Allen being one and I was reading through some of your postseason prep and your probabilities and you were pointing to his ability to throw passes on the run.

Yeah. So I mean, he's thrown the most touchdowns on the run this season, which I guess if you watch the games, you're like, well, that doesn't seem surprising. But the interesting part there is it speaks a lot to the chemistry of the team.

Throwing touchdowns on the run is not something where a guy who hasn't played very often, you can do right. It just shows the dedication that he and Stephon Diggs and Gabe Davis and Dawson Knox and all the different receivers, Isaiah McKinsey have to working together and kind of having fun with it. And we, you know, I understand it's been a very dramatic season, but at the end of the day, it's also fun, right?

Like we watch football because we like love it and it's fun and it takes us away from things that are scarier and harder. So, you know, those touchdowns on the run just sort of embody and exemplify like exactly what we're talking about with this whole team. As you look at all of these games coming up Wild Card Weekend, their rematches. So as you were putting together probabilities and kind of checking out where they are now, do you expect any major upsets? Well, without Lamar and without Chua, it does put those teams at a disadvantage.

Obviously, that's very difficult, right? So, you know, when you saw Lamar tweeting what he tweeted, I guess I technically haven't seen him be totally ruled out, but it seems like that's what he was saying. But quarterback is just such an important position and the AFC in particular is just so difficult.

So while I think there'll be some upsets this weekend, I don't necessarily think it'll be like full chalk. I do think that, you know, it's unfortunate with those injuries that we won't see kind of the same thing we would see potentially if all the pieces were playing. But to be clear, I'm so glad Chua's not playing this. Let's just wait and see if he can come back next year and be fully healthy and we can watch him then.

Agreed. His health is far more important than what happens on the football field. Though it is disappointing but still amazing that the team made it considering everything the Dolphins went through this season. Cynthia Freeland of NFL Network with us after hours on CBS Sports Radio. I saw this stat yesterday. You sit on my show and was like, okay, I'm going to impress Cynthia with this number. This year, while we're talking quarterbacks, there were 65 different QBs that started games, which is the most ever in any NFL season outside of the strike year in 87. 65 of them.

So I have this running total on my phone. At some point, I just lost track of all of the substitutions because it was nonstop. And those are two examples. There are guys that came off the street and were starting within days of being pulled into a particular fold and definitely one of the qualities of this season that has changed what we saw on the field. Yeah, this season's been interesting because like in addition to that, key injuries to key positions, meaning positions where in the past, you know, there's high snap counts, right?

Like not like your backup guy, but like your main guy not playing this this year. We've seen more injuries to key positions than ever before. We've also seen more non like like they don't necessarily need to be young but inexperienced play callers like more people who have not, you know, you don't have as many of the time honored coaches Etc.

Who are up in calling plays on both offense and defense. So like the least experienced ever and we've seen like a lot of weird things happen. We've seen like games where comebacks that seemed improbable things of that nature to a lot of like anomalies this season. And I think part of that is to do with obviously new coaches calling new plays and some strange things. But also I think the that we're starting to see the effects of the preseason being shortened and you know, not playing as much together, you know, obviously players we now see in the preseason.

They don't they don't really play and I don't know it's going to be interesting to see where we go from here. Why Kansas City as the team in the AFC with the highest Super Bowl probability? Well, you're always going to have better opportunities if you've got the buy the buy is just so dramatically important.

Because one at me frankly, it gives you one less opportunity to have something go wrong, right? So that's that's part of it. The second is, you know between the top three teams in the AFC, which to me is a much stronger division just top to bottom you have Some key injuries that will be interesting to overcome and the keys are actually getting healthier kind of at the right time, right? So while some teams like the Chargers are kind of getting healthier. I don't know because Mike Williams.

I'm not sure what happens with that. You you still have some pretty significant. I mean obviously Novon Miller for the bills makes things dicey. And then you see the when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals their o-line the it's like we saw Lyall Collins is not put in the now like the right guard to like you've got a lot of missing pieces. They're also missing their starting corner and a number of other pieces. So at the end of the day, it's it's the Chiefs ability to one have the buy and to be a little bit more healthy at a time when it's really really crucial.

Part of that is just the luck of the draw so to speak and part of that obviously is training staffs and guys rehabbing and and having depth where you can fill in when you do lose players. And as you mentioned injuries so many injuries this year more than what we've seen forever. It seems like all right coming up. We're going to talk about the NFC with some big dogs at the top of the conference.

It's been that way all year. So Cynthia Freeland hang on with us through this quick break from the NFL Network in Los Angeles. We're excited to spend a few more minutes with Cynthia in advance of wild card weekend. It's at the NFL playoffs live on Odyssey touchdown as time expires unbelievable turn of events non-stop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free. Your playoffs your Odyssey get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today the NFL playoffs live on Odyssey touchdown as time expires unbelievable turn of events non-stop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL Touchdown as time expires unbelievable turn of events non-stop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free. Your playoffs your Odyssey get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today the NFL playoffs live on Odyssey touchdown as time expires unbelievable turn of events non-stop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free.

Your playoffs your Odyssey get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today after hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio you are listening to the after hours podcast. The Holmes hands it off to McKinnon trying to dart left 25-20 downfield block 10-5 touchdown Kansas City. Terrific run by Jerrick McKinnon to win the game in overtime on a 26 yard run and the Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West for a 7th consecutive year.

This is after hours with Amy Lawrence. Raise your hand if you knew the Kansas City Chiefs would have the best record in the NFL again 14-3 with the bye and we've talked about the AFC the playoff picture we now know by the way that if it's an AFC championship between the Chiefs and the Bills it will be held in Atlanta. Here's a crazy stat and I know Cynthia is all about these types of numbers Patrick Holmes at 27 years old is the oldest quarterback starting this weekend in the AFC that's wild.

It's after hours with Amy Lawrence CBS Sports Radio Cynthia Freeland of NFL Network is with us here for a couple more minutes so let's talk about the NFC. I mean we could have a couple of rookies who are under center in the AFC but it's a rookie in Brock Purdy who people are forgetting is in his first year because he's got these incredible six games under his belt. Cynthia what makes the Niners so strong around this young guy? You have a significant advantage if your defense is as good as their defenses and especially in the NFC where the NFC is not as strong I understand that the Eagles have a really good they have a really great record but the NFC in general the quality of play in the NFC has not been as strong top to bottom as the AFC. So that's the first part and then the second part when you look at what the potential changes are and what the problems are the two teams the Eagles and the Niners with their ability to have multiple different offensive options right like please try to stop AJ Brown or whatever the run game is etc.

And then please try to stop all the different weapons that you have for the Niners. The difference though is when I'm looking at and we hopefully see the O-line be fully healthy for the Eagles. The Eagles when they're fully healthy have the number one O-line but right now given that we've seen some issues with health there. Well right now the Niners have actually surpassed that so the ability to consistently run and have a defense that just crushes quarterback soul which obviously the Eagles do as well. That is a very big factor for success. Looking at your math and your models what jumped out at me is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some nice probabilities around them.

Why as you were going through these numbers Cynthia? I have the Bucks pulling off the upset this week and yes and in part it is actually we talk about getting healthy at the right time. I do have you know obviously I'm monitoring the injury report very very closely. But what I saw is that Ryan Jensen could be back and they do have two great tackles and then if they can get a little bit of help in that interior O-line it makes a huge difference. Because what we saw two games ago not last game because Mike Evans exited the game pretty early was the return of the connection the deep passing connection between Tom Brady and Mike Evans. You've got that down that is a huge difference that makes a gigantic change to what the opportunity is for that team. Because Chris Godwin it's easier when you only have one true threat when it comes to the wide receiver position.

Well now you've got two true threats and one being this deep threat and one being this like crazy slot master and it's going to be a lot harder. Yes can you feel that tension in your gut as we get ready to start the playoffs or is that just for the Lions? The funny part is is like I think being a Lions fan is like actually like quite an advantage to be also a data scientist because you know I it's all upside for me right. Like I don't feel like I don't have that like oh my team blah blah blah no because I'm not used to them being good there's no like heartbreak there right like it's all it's all goodness. You know it's all goodness but it really helps me and obviously I you know I actually to be honest like there's three teams in the AFC that I like and all of them are the three top teams. So it's it's really interesting it's really interesting to watch but you know every year I try to pick a team that I don't know as much about or it gets a new coach or whatever and I've been really fortunate because I've picked like the right teams right. Like I picked the Eagles and I picked the Jags and stuff because I wanted to see like what happens to really like pretend I'm a fan of and pay special attention to to to see because it it just helps me to be a better data scientist to kind of get into it and be like all right this year my team. I really like Travis Etienne I met that kid at the combine he's nice and you know to try to try to help me. I mean it doesn't bias me because everything's done blindly but it does help me to kind of keep looking at like different different things that happen each year.

So next year it's bears too which is that tells you how unbiased it is because you know I typically pick whoever's first in the draft is always one of them. Well I wish for you in 2023 in this playoff run that Gordy will desperately need your attention and need to go out at the exact moment that the game is hanging in the balance with 90 seconds to go or overtime because that is what my dog does. She picks her spots I swear she knows Cynthia I have no idea how but she knows. Gordy like I swear he watches I know that sounds crazy but I swear he like he watches like he he gets it like he I don't know I see him and I watch his little eyes and I'm like I think he understand. He was born to be your dog Cynthia. I mean now that I believe he's honestly I can't even get over it like he's the sweetest thing pure like love and sunshine and happiness and I just I know it sounds stupid but like rescue dog is you know I've grown up with dogs before obviously I've had like Goldens and you know all these beautiful dogs but there's something about this like little rescue who like needed me and I don't know he's not she's here he's not little he's big now too. 50 pounds already that's amazing what if he turns out to be a hundred pound Gordy. You know I'm gonna be honest with you that the vet was like he could be he could easily be 80 pounds or 90 pounds but I'm sorry what.

Oh now see a little saddle on him and ride him to work there you go now we have to have you back on the show when you figure out what he actually is from his little DNA test oh this is going to be fun every time you're on the show now we're going to also talk about dogs it's it's perfect. So find Cynthia on Twitter at C Freeland F R E L U N D does the data science the models the map the cool stuff for NFL Network and now she has Gordy to give her balance in her life fantastic Cynthia Happy New Year thank you so much. Happy New Year thanks so much for having me my friend and congratulations on your fantasy when you crushed it. Thank you.

Thank you. It means more coming from Cynthia Freeland when she's the commissioner of our league it seems to keep give our league legitimacy. Yes so she's talking about hiding under the covers when the Lions are playing the Packers and that's kind of what I was doing in that final weekend when we're having our championship because I knew my team was not performing well. I knew it and the fact that I won on a weekend when my team didn't even have 100 points when this is crazy. I've said this before but I have to say it out loud just to like legitimize it to there are 14 teams in our league on championship weekend. 10 of them had more points than I did 10 teams but not the person or not the team I was matched up against. Yeah so I suppose it was my 10th or 11th win in a row at that point 10th win in a row I think and all those other weekends that I had been just putting points up like nobody's business except for Aaron Rodgers except you Aaron Rodgers I won in spite of you.

The team pulled together and played some defense that weekend that's what it was. I like winning. I like winning. It's the most extensive betting if you can call it that that'll ever do gambling more than betting I guess because I did put money down on it.

But I made my investment back and then some and I'm pretty sure that I just made back all of the money I've ever spent on pools or fantasy football. So for that reason I kind of feel like I've come out even come out the wash. Marco Belletti is here in studio I one time was talking to a friend of mine who is a fairly extensive gambler so fancies himself a business gambler if you will supplements his income so he thinks and I said to him I just I don't understand I couldn't do it that money is my lunch money or it's my you know my dog's food money or it's gas money and he said this is why you will never be a good better gambler because you can't do it. You can't lose like you're a bad loser. You're not prepared to lose. And he said the best gamblers are the ones who are prepared to lose.

And he's so right about that. I can't lose. I'm not a good loser. I don't I beat myself up over losses like when I was on the basketball court when it came to academics anything like that even when it comes to mistakes on the show I I obsess over the things that I don't do well my failure so I could never be a gambler because I would I can't. It makes sense.

Keep me up at night. I'm not much of a gambler at all but I'm broke but I was going to say I'm in the broke category. It's that I can't lose simply because I really can't lose that money. So that's why I don't you know because you have to look gambling is is great. There is has there has to be that money though that you know you can lose.

You have to go into it knowing I mean we've all you know hit a casino at some point whatever you have to go in with certain number in your head if you go past that number that's when you get into a dangerous you know territory. So it's the same concept if you have money that you could put aside and you can gamble it's fun. I personally don't have that money to put aside to do it so that's why I don't do it. I mean I put money aside for vacations I put money aside for you know different items like that when I was wanting to buy a house I saved for five years. I can't imagine putting money aside to lose. Yeah again well you don't want to lose and there is the possibility of gaining money yeah but also keep in mind that you know there's a reason you know the old cliche there's a reason why they keep putting up more buildings in the desert. I mean that the house does win but so you have to be cognizant of that and you have to know and stay inside your limitations so you know it's fun.

Just make sure you're not losing money that you really truly need. I think fantasy football is as far as I'll go and the pools where I've never yet gotten past week six the survivor pools Survivor Island here on the show. Never made it past week six there I know my limitations don't put down too much money on a survivor pool because it's it's essentially you're feeding someone else's family. That's how it's going to go.

I hope you're not putting that much in a survivor pool because that's although I might want to get into that pool because that seems like it might be interesting. Yeah they're definitely not easy not in today's NFL. All right speaking of today's NFL we've got your NFC version of the game of the week and your AFC version and right now we've got the same number of votes in both so that's good. Go and find both polls on Twitter a law radio they're up on our Facebook page now as well.

We're going to dive into previews. And did you hear Sean Payton talking about how he would fix Russell Wilson. Huh.

I mean I wonder how Russ feels about that. It's after hours CBS Sports Radio. Here's our latest sports update.

So I'm a man. You are listening to the listening you love is on the free Odyssey app your trusted local radio stations coverage of your favorite teams live news from your hometown and millions of podcasts on demand. Best of all you can completely customize your listening experience follow topics you care about like leagues and teams pause or rewind your local sports and news and add shows to your queue to catch up later.

There's a lot to listen to so get started and download the free Odyssey app today. The NFL playoffs live on Odyssey. Touchdown as time expires unbelievable turn of events nonstop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free.

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Get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today after hours podcast. Under center use check pull back ahead of Mason they snap it they give it a JP Mason first down 49ers breaks it he will run it all the way in the game is over 20 15 10. He gets knocked out of bounds which is actually better than he did not score it is over the 49ers have won the NFC West 32. Can Myers win this one in overtime for the Seahawks there's the snap there's the spot the kick is away and the kick is gone the Seahawks win the game the final regular season game of the year they wanted it home against the Rams and now the playoff chances still live for the Seahawks.

This is after hours with Amy Lawrence that is the voice of Steve Rabel yes there was a Monday afternoon game in Seattle and then they had to stick around and wait to see what happened with the Lions and the Packers on Sunday night football. Ultimately the final team as in very last game of the year the final team to get into the postseason so the last wild card the number seven seed in the NFC taking on the big dogs the San Francisco 49ers. We just talked about a lot of the reasons why they are a favorite not just to win on Saturday but to win the NFC and to win the Super Bowl because they are a full team a full caliber full strength full depth full experience. I mean they right now embody all the qualities that you want and yes Brock Purdy is a rookie quarterback no rookie quarterback has ever engineered his team to a Super Bowl win.

We've had rookies that have started the playoffs before we've had rookies that have made it to the Super Bowl we've never had rookies a rookie win a Super Bowl game at the quarterback position so could this be the year. You can find our NFC game of the week poll and the AFC game of the week poll on Twitter after our CBS or also on our Facebook page. Really cool to talk to Cynthia Freeland and get her math and model and probability and percentages and what we did we didn't do a ton of numbers but based on her models it was fun to hear what she had to say. She did she does expect one upset she did predict one upset so if you missed it you can always go back and listen to our podcast but take our polls on either Twitter or Facebook.

It'll be interesting to see which games you all choose the majority of you choose for the game of the week. Talking though about the NFC the Seahawks and then of course the Niners with the 10 game win streak and that call there with the Greg Poppa on Niners radio. Greg Poppa and Tim Rice he's alongside for Brock Purdy he's got now five starts in the NFL and then a sixth almost full game.

So his first major appearance was when Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt in early December December 4th and Brock played most of the game then his first start was December 11th against Tom Brady. And in this stretch he has 13 touchdowns through the air one on the ground versus just four interceptions and he has got a locker room full of believers including his backfield mate Christian McCaffrey. I noticed right away that he was somebody who cared a lot not that you know that sounds a little bit weird as the NFL and everyone cares but there was another level of urgency that I saw in him that even though he was you know the third string quarterback coming into this year. He knew that he could play he had a confidence in himself he had a confidence in his ability to learn and understand and he gave me a lot of tips that you know I didn't know that were not written on the on the sheets that were kind of game plan specific tips and so. I was once again just appreciative of that and I saw saw greatness in him right there.

Did you really you saw greatness in him. Well there's a there's a way that a lot of rookies are and I think I was probably a little bit like that myself and I wanted to be great obviously but he doesn't act like a rookie he doesn't act like a rookie in the huddle. And he plays with a calm confidence that is rare especially in rookie quarterbacks. That's a conversation between Christian McCaffrey and NBC Sports insider Matt Mayoko who's been on the show before. He saw greatness he saw the poise he saw a different level of confidence next level confidence and to be fair a lot of rookies get into the NFL and they have that quality because they're they're groomed or they have played at high level college programs.

And this is what they've known this is what they've been taught this is how they've been trained but it also is something internal and Christian McCaffrey is not the only one who's seen it Fred Warner same thing. People keep asking me and man have you are you impressed like are you surprised about what Purdy is doing and all these other things and I'm really not I feel like he's doing exactly what what Kyle and the offense is asking of him and you know I mean it's it's amazing that a rookie is able to come in with such poise and confidence and lead that group. I mean that can't be I'm surprised people are talking about it more honestly it's something that is incredible for mystery relevant to lead the team that we have into the postseason now trying on our way to try to earn a Super Bowl. And knowing that we have full confidence in achieving that with him you know it's truly truly impressive.

I don't believe that he is the offensive rookie of the year simply because of the accrued time however he's one of those dark horses and he's at least being mentioned now in the conversation. I don't try to get wrapped up in any of that kind of stuff for me it's you know I gotta I gotta win you know for as good as a team that we have I got to just come in do my job and let everything else fall in place. Yeah I don't want to get wrapped up in all that kind of stuff it'll happen if it happens whoever wins it wins it great but you know I'm just trying to be where I'm at be where my feet are at. It shouldn't happen I don't I can't imagine that that would however it's an honor to be nominated it's after hours here on CBS Sports Radio so is Seahawks Niners your NFC game of the week. San Francisco is trying to take all three from Seattle and that's not easy to do though there's a lot of talk about the weapons that San Francisco has. Well what about the weather actually someone reached out to me on Facebook and said something about should this game be moved to SoFi if it's raining.

Not just raining but it's supposed to be real heavy rains California's experiencing some kind of heavy rain in on what is like a daily basis right now to the point where. There you know they're seeing flooding and all that kind of stuff but no the game shouldn't be moved these are football players they deal with the outdoors all the time but what is significant is that the. Passing game could be somewhat muted if and depending upon the actual conditions could be negated it's really difficult to pass the ball in nasty conditions so then it becomes a situation where you have to be able to run the ball and Pete Carroll knows that. The weather is the same for both of us and and you know it's it's it's fortunate you know I know on our end of it that we do feel good about the running game and that we can go to do it as as the rain can be a determining factor sometimes and you know how much you can handle the ball thrown and catch and why so we'll see what happens but.

I feel you know I know that we're both in in the right vein to be prepared for this. Certainly you're talking about two teams that can run the football nearly a hundred forty rushing yards per game for the Niners that's good for eighth in the NFL when it comes to the Seahawks Kenneth Walker junior what you want to talk about rookies I mean he should be in the conversation for offensive rookie of the year. But this is a team that has always wanted to run the ball I mean that's that's where Pete Carroll butters his bread and they are only a hundred twenty yards per game eighteenth in the NFL however when they get rolling it's really impressive and what about Gino Smith and the fact that this team is exceeding many expectations. I knew we had a chance way back in training camp you know really back in OTAs I think we're close to a hundred percent in attendance and guys were really working you know I felt like a college atmosphere in the weight room and you know on the field when we're just running sprints so much competition and everyone just fighting for a job and then you know obviously with the talent we have you know we can play with anybody but I think our camaraderie and everything like that was built. And you know during that time in OTAs and I think that's what allowed us to have a chance and so we just continue to build on that and we've been getting better each week. We've got a lot of young guys playing and they've been getting reps and becoming you know becoming vets overnight and so just you know having a chance with these guys and to compete with these guys always feel like we have a chance to be great. Never underestimate the power and the motivation not to mention the unifying force the rallying cry that is collective doubt. Inside a locker room for a team now football teams are large there's you know over a hundred players and coaches and members of the staff and so it's a lot of people to get on the same page however we've been hearing it from these Seahawks for quite a while now.

It was us against the world and that's a powerful theme in sports we know that to be true and he said we were competing we all had to compete for jobs and to be out there on the field and that also brought us together that common bond. It's after hours with Amy Lawrence CBS Sports Radio. The NFL playoffs live on Odyssey touchdown as time expires unbelievable turn of events nonstop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free. Your playoffs your Odyssey get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today I'm Larry Mullins host of the podcast your weirdest fears the show that explores the odd things that make your heart stop.

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