After Hours with Amy Lawrence PODCAST: Hour 3

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Yeah, Graybar does that. This is After Hours with Amy Lawrence. I had forgotten what it's like to drink coffee late at night. This is really strange. I know it's been my life for nearly 11 years, but after two weeks off and really being completely checked out for wedding and then for holidays, at least preliminarily the holidays.

I know it is Christmas wrapping up Christmas weekend now. It's strange to come back to it. And after nearly two weeks of sleeping at night, not as much as I'd like to, but sleeping at night in various places and various different homes, actually for wedding weekend. When I was at my mom's, my best friend and I, we took over the trailer. So their fifth wheel is parked in the side yard and that's where Stephanie and I slept. So we were out there with Penny and, you know, my mom's room and my mom's spare room, post wedding, being at the family home. Bob's former home is, well, I guess he didn't live there, but is in his former hometown, his mom's home and just the various places that we slept over the last couple of weeks and did not have to drink coffee at all this late at night. And yet it's all too familiar.

So thank goodness for coffee. Merry Christmas to you. I know that we haven't talked too much about Christmas.

It's been more football and just kind of getting reacquainted again. But I promise this our funniest Christmas gift that I really wasn't expecting and had no idea why my new husband was giving me this Christmas gift. He had to explain it to me.

Now, once I understand it. Yay. And it was cute. It was very cute and very thoughtful, but I was a little taken aback. Also, the Christmas gift that Bob gave my mom.

So his second mom, too, which is really cute. You guys will appreciate it if you've listened to me for any length of time. I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend, however you celebrate, wherever you celebrate or if you don't really celebrate. Maybe you're working like here I am on Christmas night. But it is a special holiday for a lot of people, family and friends. And I do know it can be painful, too. It can be bittersweet if it if it's coming after the loss of a loved one like Bob's family. He lost his father about a month ago and it can be really hard. Just miss that person, that personality, their smile, their presence.

It can absolutely be difficult. And I know around the holidays, sometimes mental health becomes a major challenge to loneliness can be that way as well. I hope the holidays were have been to this point exactly what you needed, whether family, friends, faith, food, football, maybe some fun, some laughter in there as well, whatever it is that you needed from your Christmas. I hope that's what you you got. You can find me on Twitter, a law radio are a few photos up, one in particular posted in the last couple hours. Many of you were stressing with me over the wedding flowers that were two weeks late going through the U.S.

Postal Service. Hyperventilation aside, they did arrive with a couple days to spare. So just in the nick of time and our friend who we had asked to arrange the flowers for us, she was brilliant. I actually have not seen I saw the flowers as I was walking down the aisle, but I have not seen the flowers at the reception without people in there.

So I really didn't see the centerpieces or much of the decor in the barn where we did our reception because there were people in there by the time we entered. But I have been promised some beautiful photos. And I took a few just now because the flowers are here in the after our super secret home base. I like this post that I saw on Facebook.

I have to read it to you. So the flowers are up on Twitter or on our Facebook page after hours with Amy Lawrence. And purple was our color, a deep purple. For those of you who are big into colors, it may be a grape, it may be a Tahiti. There's some other colors that are some other purple names that we saw over the course of kind of planning and matching the colors. But never at any point was this about football or a team's colors, except for Marshall says on Facebook, love the Ravens colored flowers. How appropriate you just got them as they establish their dominance in the NFL last night.

Well, just got them. I don't know about that, but I promise you this had nothing to do with a sports team or a sports logo. This was all about finding a color that was rich and elegant and beautiful and would fit with winter time, even though it wasn't winter weather necessarily the last couple of weeks. But I will say we had gorgeous weather on wedding day and wedding weekend. And we'll get to wedding stories sometime next week.

Probably. I can't tell all the stories without producer J. He's off the rest of the week. Marco's not around either that will be working with producer Manny and I are hanging out these next. Well, now couple of hours and then two more shows to go and then I will work on New Year's Eve going into January 1st, 2024. I love to bring in the new year with you and I will also be working on New Year's night because it's right after the college football playoff.

This was it. I'm ready to be back on the air and stay on the air for a while, especially after we move, which comes up this weekend. Our phone numbers 8 5 5 2 1 2 4 2 2 7 and again Twitter after our CBS.

If you want to use our show Twitter or on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel as well. I actually saw the numbers just in the last 12 hours or so. It was kind of blown away. I guess you all did miss me because many of you decided you would check out our YouTube channel as well. So we've got a lot to catch up on. There are pockets of week 15 that I did. Well, I didn't see any football week 15. I did go back and read so about the Raiders over the Chargers and Brandon Stanley getting fired. No, the Cowboys lost two games in a row now and we'll talk about the NFC East because while we did at Philadelphia and Dallas both clinch playoff spots. If Dallas is now hit a couple of tougher games tougher challenges and and maybe that's causing people to think. All right, this team can only go so far before it runs into a glass ceiling or brick wall, whichever you prefer.

But I would say look at the top of the NFC East. Now the last victory the Cowboys had was against the Eagles. I was around for that one. It was before I took off and the Cowboys really manhandled them. But then to come back and to have a couple of games in which whether there was a letdown.

It seems so strange to think about a letdown after you come off. What is a season defining win or a win that serves notice at least briefly that you were you're a force to be reckoned with and then to get pummeled by the Bills in Western York and then to lose against the Dolphins on a late field goal and a theme that we've seen from the Cowboys in the losses. They've had not the one against the Niners because that was a blowout. But the losses that we've seen a lot of times is about missed opportunities or wasted opportunities or not capitalizing on the chances they have.

And so a game hangs in the balance and they aren't able to take care of their business. And for that reason in the first game against the Eagles in Philadelphia, they end up with a loss same thing against the Dolphins this weekend. So the Cowboys maybe you were sold maybe you believe that they were for real. We asked that question before I took off for a couple of weeks and a lot of you were feeling like okay this Cowboys team can be trusted.

Well, here's the thing they can be trusted at home. They can be trusted at AT&T Stadium. We saw them with some big victories over the Seahawks and then over the Eagles in their own digs, but now they've dropped back-to-back games on the road. Coming up on New Year's weekend or December 30th, right?

So it's it's coming up next weekend week 17. They've got the Lions back at AT&T Stadium. Are they going to be this Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team that we seem to see from them on the road and just as importantly because they've lost back-to-back games. It's not impossible obviously, but they're not in the driver's seat anymore for the home field advantage at least in the first round of the playoffs, but not in the driver's seat for that overall number one seat in the NFC, which currently still belongs to the Niners, but man that would have been extremely valuable for the Cowboys. It actually would make a difference for Dallas where it maybe doesn't make a difference or isn't required for other teams like the Niners.

It's after hours here on CBS Sports Radio. Now the division is not locked up both Eagles and Cowboys still have a shot at it Giants and commanders they're talking about draft status now, but the Eagles still at times. And I don't think it's as prominent or as common as what we've seen from Kansas City. So their counterpart in the Super Bowl last year. But the the mistakes they make right, even though the Eagles snap their three-game losing streak just offensive side of the ball.

Don't look as crisp or as sharp. They still every week are talking about how they need to be better. They want to be better.

They want to be more buttoned up. There's no issues with their motivation. There's no issues with their desire there want to but they've not played excellent football and this comes on the heels of a players only meeting leading up to this game after they drop three in a row. With some guys including Devante Smith.

I think it was talked about how they they had some uncomfortable conversations trying to hold each other accountable. I mean, this is an uncomfortable place to be even though they're back on top of the NFC East. They want to get back to the Super Bowl to try to.

I guess after one year take care of the unfinished business. And they generated a lot of offense against the Giants. They chase the starting quarterback, right teen to hold Danny DeVito Tommy DeVito got benched at halftime for Tyra Taylor. But there's a pick six in the third quarter. Where you've got a receiver that kind of loses his footing stumbles a little bit.

And so the ball is picked off. There's a fumble and a gap on special teams. And here come the Giants down a division game.

You can't afford those kinds of mistakes. Yes, the Eagles are 11 and 4. And yes, they hold off a division opponent who really has not a whole lot to play with. Yes, they're still in the running for a top seed. And they yes have two games against opponents with a combined eight wins still on their schedule.

But I would say speaking of uncomfortable. There's got to be some uncomfortable Eagles fans where they're still just unsettled over the way the team is playing and the Giants definitely push them to the brink on on my Monday Monday. Shotgun snap for Hertz looking right all the way now down the middle Smith's got it 20 yard line to the 15. He turns on the Jets and he's into the end zone for a touchdown. 36 yards of Vontae Smith untouched.

And the Eagles extend their lead to 16 to 3. Smith in motion from the near side to the far. Handoff and Swift has room. Shaking his way down to the goal line. He's in for the touchdown. DeAndre Swift from five yards out. And the Eagles find their offensive mojo on the drive. As they stretch the lead it's 26 to 18 Giants ball at the Eagles 26. Taylor gets the snap clock down to zeros. Taylor's got to throw it. He's got to put it up toward the end zone.

Directing traffic now fires. The ball is intercepted in the end zone. Keely Ringo intercepts it for the Eagles and the ball game is over. 33 to 25 as the Eagles survive and beat the New York Giants here in Philly for the 11th straight time.

That's got Graham on Westwood one and yes the Eagles get a win. But the mistakes that makes it feel just meh not quite as good as it should after 500 yards of offense. After putting yourself on top of the NFC East again. Now the defense terrific. The Giants barely managed a field goal in the first half. Barely over 100 yards and Tommy DeVito gets benched at halftime bringing in Tyrod Taylor. You can think about the rest of the season these last couple of games. About the Giants needing to do a quarterback that debate will happen in the offseason for sure about Daniel Jones. For the Eagles though a win is a win is a win is a win except you can hear it in the voice of Nick Sirianni.

This is not one that they're going to be too fired up about. Yes you take the W and you get the heck out of Dodge right. Well in this case the game was in Philadelphia but you get the heck out of the stadium before they can take it away from you. It's like snapping the ball after a play in which you think maybe you got away with something.

You know a ball that hit the turf you trapped it upon review or if the opposing coach throws a flag you might see or you might see in a replay that it wasn't the positive moment that you thought it was and so you snap the ball as quickly as possible. So in this case the Eagles just want to get out just get out right. But you can hear it in Nick Sirianni's voice that as much as the win is what they were after they're still not satisfied. Feels good right.

You know obviously got some things to clean up you know but good energy to get back get back on the on the right side of things. Always always a better feeling correcting the tape after a win than after a loss that's for sure. So Devante Smith is one that's been pretty outspoken about their struggles and about the fact that they're not where they want to be. AJ Brown wouldn't talk to the media actually after the game. He gets real frustrated and maybe it's smart maybe it's smart that he doesn't put himself in front of a microphone but Devante knows that they still have a higher standard that they aspire to. Talent can only take you so far man it's all about the little details and things like that. We have to be better with the small details because when the small details are hidden it's gonna be looking good.

Yeah so talent can only take you so far. That's a really important they've got a lot of talented guys they've compiled a roster of guys who could be stars on other teams guys who could be number one on another roster and yet they're in Philadelphia they've got big dreams big plans big ideas. They've got a couple of weeks now to clean things up. Right now the Niners hold the tiebreaker over the Eagles so unless they win the NFC outright they're going to be on on the field wild card weekend as maybe the two seed right we don't know yet. We talked about that tiebreak with the Lions so they do have the tiebreak over Detroit based on strength of victory and right now of course they're in the driver's seat for the NFC East. That helps to be a two seeds that would be on the road like the Cowboys were again last year at that number five spot.

So they're not in a bad position as Sirianni says it's always better to fix stuff but it's been a season of fixing stuff it's been a season of knowing they got away with something or knowing they're still leaving their themselves vulnerable they're still leaving the door open they're not watching their six if you will. On Twitter a law radio on our Facebook page to the Christmas present I didn't see coming. Thank you for all of your kind words about my return to the radio I was definitely nervous when I was thinking about it and gosh what if I forgot how to do this and maybe it's not all that great tonight I don't know I just know that I'm happy to be back and I missed you and it's good to read all of your fun messages. Merry Christmas to you happy holidays we have a favorite Christmas Carol here on the show and I'm thinking it's not too late one more time so you'll hear that coming up but yeah find us on Twitter and Facebook there's a couple photos up on Twitter to be sure but one more recent of the flowers that arrived just in the nick of time it's After Hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio. Let's face it most people aren't making massive turkey feasts on the regular and after three hundred sixty four days of not thinking about it it can be hard to get that bird just right that's where Instacart the holiday rescue app comes in from getting all the ingredients to prep a full seasonal spread to getting last minute swaps in a turkey emergency Instacart has everything a holiday host needs to save face and save dinner and right now if you download Instacart you'll get free delivery on your first three orders and delivery in as fast as one hour offer valid for a limited time ten dollar minimum per order additional term supply says here that Graybar is a distributor yeah we support electrical and datacom projects all over the country so you can get me the products I need where and when I need them yeah thanks to our national logistics network any industry yeah construction industrial plants schools hospitals so you could say Graybar is much more than a distributor yeah you could say that when you need a hand powering connecting or maintaining your operations doing the thousands of professionals rely on Graybar to help keep them up and running yeah Graybar does that the most unique NBA podcast is out on Odyssey heat check with Trista Crick NBA fans listen up I'm Trista Crick host of the heat check podcast and if you love this league the storylines and want a funny digestible way to get all the news from around the association and someone to break down what's really going on straight up no chaser and make you laugh at the same time follow the heat check on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts I want a hippopotamus for Christmas only a hippopotamus will do don't this is after hours with Amy Lawrence I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy I want a hippopotamus for Christmas I don't think Santa Claus will mind you he won't have to use our dirty chimney blue just bring him through the front door that's the easy thing to do are you guys mad at me now it was going so well we were doing so well and now that song will be stuck in your head except there's a reason why I play it as we bid farewell to Christmas and we move into December 26 and now set our sights on whether the rest of this week being vacation for you I do love working holidays for that reason so many people are out of their typical routines whether you're driving you're up late you're up early you're on the way somewhere else goodness the number of miles that Bob and I have put on his truck unloading reloading unloading reloading from place to place to place to place we slept in four different beds in four different homes in five the last five nights well now he's sleeping which is really unfair and producer Manny and I are both very jealous he and the dogs are in another room in the house and I'm sure snoring anyway so we've been on the road a ton and I know many of you are out of your familiar routines as well during the holidays and so I love it when we hear from people who haven't caught the show in a long time or maybe it's the first time ever it's after hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio back and I hope in a groove before too long this is what happens when you take a bye week or you're on hiatus right you have to find that rhythm and flow again so you can find me on Twitter a law radio I did share a photo of the long lost wedding flowers they arrived on time or I should say they arrived just in the nick of time and they were perfect and now they're here in the after hours super secret home base still in Texas by the way we'll be back in CBS Sports Radio headquarters by New Year's Eve also on our Facebook page and I've promised you this well two stories the story is is really twofold from Christmas morning one gift that Bob gave to my mom that absolutely won over her heart and you all will appreciate his attention to detail and really our attention to detail because I gave him a clue because that's my favorite Christmas Carol I want a hippopotamus for Christmas Bob got a squish mellow that's a hippo a huggable hippo if you will her name is Hannah and apparently she writes poetry who knew anyway she was wrapped up in a box and presented to mom on Christmas morning cuz mom knows I love that Christmas Carol in the past she in fact if you watch our holiday video of ask Amy anything on our YouTube channel you know that mom gave me a Christmas ornament that is a purple hippo in a tutu and so she's very girly her name could be Hannah as well I suppose anyway so Bob knows that mom and I love the hippos and we love the hippopotamus song for Christmas and he gets her a squish mellow that's a purple hippo and the photo I took of my mom hugging this purple hippo the joy and delight on her face you would have no idea that mom is in her mid 70s because that hippo brought her so much joy and so mom in fact did get a hippopotamus for Christmas I did not and at some point maybe Bob will listen to this show I'm not sure if he will or he won't but I will just be honest and truthful when I opened up his Christmas gift to me my first thought was what in the world okay I'll give him credit for this it was creative and he gets brownie points for the fact that no one's ever given me this gift before and I'm not a kid obviously I opened up the box that he wrapped for me and it was a are you ready I mean even saying it sounds ridiculous a Barbie doll I think I might have just woken him and the pets up with that laugh it was a Barbie you guys he gave me a Barbie doll for Christmas but here's the catch it was a special Barbie and it was a clue to apparently the bigger gift that is coming except I didn't get it when I opened it up and saw that it was kayaking Barbie we went kayaking on our mini moon on Lake Conroe got some gorgeous photos maybe I'll share one of those from what was a beautiful evening on Lake Conroe as we're kayaking just a couple days after we got married I didn't realize that kayaking Barbie is a clue to he's going to get me a kayak for a belated Christmas present once we're back into New Jersey and the kayaks can be used so it's a brilliant creative strategy by Bob but when I opened up the box and saw Barbie I thought oh no did I marry a man who knows nothing at all about me alright producer Manny you're a dude last time I checked yeah yeah no well don't check right now please I'm thinking I'm thinking that I need a man's reaction to this so I open up a Barbie doll on Christmas morning and I don't really get it but what do you think of his creative strategy of giving me kayaking Barbie to indicate that there's a kayak coming as a present down the road yeah no it's smart it's smart what he did was very smart it's honestly among Hall of Fame levels of genius that this guy has pulled off I could never in my best dreams and in my girlfriend's best dreams could I have thought of something similar to that although I am a little disappointed in the hippopotamus if you if you're if he's real about this Amy you should have gotten your mother a real hippopotamus a real purple hippopotamus that sounds like a great idea he's not serious about this unfortunately I mean I hate to be the one to break it to you but he didn't get your mother a real purple hippopotamus he did not ergo cancel him stop it oh but yeah the Barbie the Barbie doll is a very smart it's a redemptive it's redemptive very much so very much so yeah I was really impressed once I understood but no joke I thought what in the world now our first Christmas together and he gives me a Barbie will this be did you catch the the motion film by the way the Barbie motion I actually have not yet I heard I like that I heard that we that it was really good and that we need to see it my nieces actually told me they loved the movie and so we will watch it we just and actually maybe want to do the shoot I forgot the nickname for Barbie and Oppenheimer because they came out in the same weekend Barbie Oppenheimer Barbie Oppenheimer yeah we I want to watch both of those films completely opposite obviously and once we move in we'll have more time the oh I mean we've watched maybe a couple episodes of Clone Wars which is the Star Wars animated series we're working our way through but also we did watch Home Alone on Christmas Eve Christmas Eve yeah that was fun yeah I haven't seen that in years but it's still just as funny I'm more of a Home Alone 2 guy myself it must be must be the New York City bias it must be that but very quickly back to the kayak yeah we know that do we know if it's a single or a double you guys gonna be doing a little double kayaking out there in Jersey or it's just gonna be hey this is this is Amy's time I'll stay back at the house and you know have two beers or whatever while Amy's you know kayaking yeah I'm thinking not a tandem kayak because that's not how I roll oh yeah no I'm sorry I like to I like to be solo and take off we actually had two different kayaks on Lake Conroe there was a tandem kayak there and I was like yeah I'm good I do really appreciate the workout that comes with being in a solo kayak and so no I don't think that we'll be going double dip on the kayak I guess if he wants his own he can have his own but yeah pretty ingenious gift and a way to let me know so honestly I had no idea he indulges though in the kayaking well this was his first time oh I taught him how to kayak well I guess there ain't too many kayaks out in Texas right too many uh too many places to kayak well no they've got lakes yeah they've got plenty of lakes I just don't he's a fisherman he hunts and fishes and so that's what he's normally doing around the water is fishing that was our first date going back to march yeah so anyway I love the creativity but I was yeah I was uh flabbergasted when I opened up a barbie all right coming up uh there's no way to transition from barbie back to sports so here we go uh dolphins clinch a playoff spot they do it at the expense of the Dallas Cowboys Mike McDaniel's group is in the postseason for the second consecutive year and we've got all kinds of possibilities with the dolphins right because of how they play however it was a first for them against the cowboys we'll explain here's our latest sports update and here's Peter Schwartz first and goal from just inside the four mustard in motion he's back out there they throw it to touchdown Miami his 21st touchdown of the year his third receiving and Miami has the lead again now you pick your best play Joe I don't care if it's a pass or a run here you need to pick up the first down if you do you're in great shape Hill in motion they give it to Wilson he's got the first down inside the 10-yard line Jeff Wilson with their magic number for the division title between them and the Buffalo Bills at one if he kicks this field goal burgers in the snap the hole down by Bailey the kicker's up it's good and the Miami Dolphins defeat the Dallas Cowboys 22 to 20 here at Hard Rock Stadium this is after hours with Amy Lawrence public he plays from the dolphins victory over the cowboys nipping them under the gun if you will Jason Sanders who was really the star of the show for the dolphins and he's not had a lot of work this year but a 57-yard field goal to start this game against the Cowboys in South Florida and then a 29 yarder significantly easier more of a chip shot if you will as time expires and they stunned the Cowboys even though you may not believe the Cowboys should be favored the Dolphins taking care of their business they now have a better record than does Dallas and they are seven and one at home but this game significant because they beat a team with a winning record and what have we seen from the Miami Dolphins over the course of the season one of the beefs that people have with the Dolphins or maybe the reservations they have with the Dolphins is that when they match up against a quality opponent an opponent with a winning record opponent with playoff aspirations they end up falling flat remember their first game opening month of the season so every team is different but on the road at Buffalo they get shellacked 48 to 20 it was never really a contest on the road at the Eagles they lose 31 17 on the road no I take that back the only home loss they had was against the Chiefs another quality Super Bowl aspiring team course the defending champions in Kansas City they lose by a touchdown and then against the Titans which is crazy they end up losing by a point they've been able to take care of their business against teams that are the ugly redheaded stepchild of the NFL this season but not as much against teams that have actual playoff hopes and dreams except the Dallas Cowboys and so I love what I saw from them it was gritty it wasn't a game that they you could look at that vaunted offense and say oh yeah look at that's what teams have to watch out for in the playoffs now they had five field goals for heaven's sakes and they they had plenty of missed opportunities they were really working that run game as much as possible but it's tough to do against the Dallas defense Tyree kill held under a hundred yards though barely into mostly I love that he didn't throw a pick he didn't make a ton of mistakes the the Miami defense was able to get to Dak Prescott and force him into some throws that he'd like back of course and and yes there were some moments where you go wow CD lamb right dazzling in stretches at times but the fact is that the Cowboys really weren't able to ever settle into a groove it was too little too late for them and they also came up short and were able or were unable I would say to capitalize on their opportunities going just one for three in the red zone it only being what was it four of 12 I think on third down though they did convert a couple of fourth downs is left points and yards and opportunities out there and so for them home is their comfort zone for the dolphins to be able to get this win to clinch a playoff spot is humongous and I love the way that Tua has to guide his team late right has to guide his team down the field using Jeff Wilson to get a critical first down and then working that clock so they can kick the game winner I don't think I watched when Jason kicked it I think I just walked onto the field with my hands up you know when we took that final knee that was really cool I just think of the amount of work that it takes you know to play a game week in and week out to prepare for a really good team on Sunday every team is good so to do that and then come out with a victory a hard fought victory that makes it all worth it Tua is so much more mature and I would say equipped to handle the rigors of an NFL season and I don't just mean the physical rigors I mean mental as well the way that he grew through the course of last year and this is a guy who came out of Alabama who had to go back and forth with Jalen Hurts had to earn the job only to have it be taken away again right it's a guy who was waiting for his opportunity in Alabama he had to wait behind Jalen and then to get into the NFL the first couple seasons of his career with the Dolphins what do we hear over and over oh they're looking for Tom Brady they want Tom Brady to take over could they trade Tua they can upgrade it to a blah blah blah blah blah and they bring in Mike McDaniel who tells Tua it's going to be the best day of his life when he got hired as their new head coach they bring in weapons like Tyreek Hill they obviously are able to bring in a Jalen Waddle who he's comfortable with they've got a new level of confidence but a lot of that comes from working their way through this adversity of last season when they had to use what was it four different quarterbacks and Tua spent a good portion of last year dealing with crippling and debilitating concussion concussions and yet they were determined this season to protect him and he was determined not to take as many hits not to take as many risks he was determined both physically and mentally to be prepared for the challenge of getting back out there on the field and I'm so impressed with him I'm impressed with his leadership certainly impressed with the way that he handles his business on the field but also he's a professional football player and has grown into that role and has matured so much because he had to he was sink or swim essentially he had to be prepared he had to learn how to survive and it's made him a better I don't want to say better person because he was always one that I admire the way he carried himself his commitment to family how much he loves football but he keeps it in perspective now though this is a guy that I trust I would trust moving forward into the postseason they didn't have him last year they've got him this year and they've done a really good job protecting him so congratulations to the Dolphins not only one of the best records in the AFC in fact the second best record behind the Ravens but having clinched a playoff spot they're in the driver's seat for that AFC East title about to wrench it away from the Buffalo Bills though they are playing much better football and Mike McDaniel as quirky and as off the wall as he can sound man he is calm in the middle of a storm and boy do they love to play for their coach this is a big win for this team because it's always big when you do something that internally you know that you're capable of and when it comes to fruition it's pretty satisfying I think that a lot of their training I think a lot of a lot of the season came out tonight that's really cool right the higher the expectations to me really indicates that there is a belief we knew we could do this it's nice to actually see it work out according to plan on the field we knew we could go toe-to-toe with a winning team it's nice to see it work out according to plan there's a lot still up for grabs in the final two weeks of the regular season in the NFL love love love the end of December into January the stakes seem higher now every game counts the same of course but the stakes seem so much higher there's a sense of urgency attention if you will and it's not just the NFL it's college too with the playoff and the bowl season of course being in full swing now it's after hours with Amy Lawrence CBS Sports Radio the defensive player of the week sponsored by the Navy Federal Credit Union who proudly serves the Armed Forces DoD veterans and their families their members are the mission learn more at Navy federal.org and our defensive player of the week for the NFL week 16 Bobby Wagner it's crazy to think about his career arc and yet he is so good he's so steady and can be such a force now back in Seattle the Seahawks linebacker with 11 tackles including a sack in their victory over the Titans. Seahawks still alive of course for a playoff spot in the NFC and if you look at the updated standings in that conference well the Niners they've clinched their division title in the West still hoping right now still have the lead for the top seed but the Seahawks will be the seventh seed the Rams were the sixth seed so we're talking about three teams coming out of the NFC West potentially again remember last year last year was the NFC East where we had three teams and thanks so much for hanging out with us as we more from Christmas night into December 26 and the rest of this week a lot of people on vacation a lot of people enjoying some time off we're happy to have you with us I'm happy to be back Bob wanted me to go to work go go go to work and get your football fix so on Twitter a law radio new picture up there on Facebook as well after hours with Amy Lawrence one hour to go on what is now a Tuesday morning I'm trying to get used to it again from the after hour super secret home base in Houston good to hear from you good morning it's after hours with Amy Lawrence CBS sports radio when the whole family comes together to watch the game nobody wants to miss a second of the action to run to the grocery store with instacart you can get all your weekly groceries in as fast as an hour less time shopping means more game time let's go visit instacart.com to get free delivery on your first three orders offer valid for a limited time $10 minimum per order additional term supply says here that Graybar is a distributor yeah we support electrical and datacom projects all over the country so you can get me the products I need where and when I need them yeah thanks to our national logistics network any industry yeah construction industrial plants schools hospitals so you could say Graybar is much more than a distributor yeah you could say that when you need a hand powering connecting or maintaining your operations doing the thousands of professionals rely on Graybar to help keep them up and running yeah Graybar does that ever heard a podcast that made you say wow they really said that risk is the show where people tell true stories they never thought they dare to share listeners say the show makes them burst out laughing and crying good crying some say it saved their lives surprising honesty the most jaw dropping moments that are stranger than fiction thank you for it at all wait till you hear risk available on the odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts is your wallet lighter than usual after a fun-filled summer a little cash can go a long way which is why the chime checking account has tons of benefits you'll love like fee-free overdraft up to $200 for eligible members no monthly fees and thousands of atms you can even get paid up to two days early with direct deposit sign up for chime today get started at chime.com slash fee-free chime is a financial technology company not a bank banking services and debit card provided by the bank court bank na or stride bank na members fdic spot me eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply access to direct deposits up to two days early depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the pair