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Now, on with the show. Good lord, do I love being right around here? This is the Rich Eisen Show. Touchdown, AJ Brown. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
Relax. And that's what the Eagles did. The pieces are still there. Today's guests. Fox Sports NFL analyst Mark Schlareth.
Comedian Frank Caliendo. Comedian Charlie Barrens. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Oh, baby, what a fun show we have in store for you today here on Disney Plus, the ESPN app and ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. Hello, SiriusXM Channel 80 audience.
We love being on the ESPN radio channel on satellite as well. We say hello to your podcast folk out there who listen to this show. Whenever you want, all three hours taking in our podcast. If you're a subscriber, thank you. Same thing on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/slash rich Eisen Show.
Nobody makes me laugh. Harder when he comes on this show than Frank Caliendo, and he's back in hour number two. Charlie Barron's a comedian that we have not had on. He's a Packer fan. We'll, I guess, let the umbrella be his smile after last week's loss against the Denver Broncos.
He's here in studio in hour number three. Mark Schlereth to talk about everything we just witnessed in week 15. He is calling Bucks. And Panthers on Fox later this weekend. One of the big week 16 games that does kick off on Thursday night on Prime Video with the Rams and the Seahawks rubbers beginning to meet the road as the Packers are also playing the Bears this weekend.
A lot to talk about with you at 844-204. Rich is always the number to dial to have a chat with us on this Overreaction Monday on a Tuesday program. The Overreaction Monday podcast is still out there for everybody to take in wherever you get your podcasts or certainly on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/slash RichEison Show. All the business of this show is handled. Good to see you over there, Christopher Brock.
Man, good rich. Good to meet you. TJ Mikey D is indeed nuts. Mike Del Tufo is here. TJ Jefferson.
Long enough time with me giving my spiel to start the program for you to light the candle. Good to see you, sir. What up, Go? What up, Dolly? Yeah, yeah, Detroit's got a big game or two or three over the final few weeks of this season.
I've got playoff-clinching scenarios in my right hand. We'll get to all of that. The NFL. Front office folks who are in charge of figuring out what needs to happen for people to clinch or maybe be eliminated. That's all done.
We'll hit that on this program: 844-204-Rich, as you know, is always the number to dial. If I'm going to tell the eastern part of Pennsylvania football fans to relax, and I've been doing that. to Philadelphia Eagles fans for weeks now. Um I guess I should turn attention to the team that's in the western side of the state that actually employs the quarterback who employed that phrase for Packers fans back in the day, Aaron Rodgers. Who told fans to RELAX?
And he was asked that question a couple of weeks ago when the Steelers. We're getting pounded by the Chargers on a... Sunday night, back in, let me get this correct, week 10. Then we saw what happened against Chicago when Rodgers couldn't answer the bell in a game that you know he wanted to answer the bell. with his left hand, left wrist having a fracture in it.
Then we saw what happened against the Buffalo Bills. Joey Bosa making him look like an You just come from Kevin's house and home alone. Like that's what was going down and Rogers was saying, I don't need to tell him to relax. We're good. And then they go into Baltimore and beat the Ravens.
And then they Follow that one up. With a win last night on Monday night football to wrap up week 15 against the Miami Dolphins and eliminate. The Miami Dolphins, who had won four games in a row from playoff competition. The dolphins are now out. And the Steelers are now one game above the Ravens, entering the final three games of this season.
And that's If I'm saying to the Eagles fans, hey, all you need to do is win your division and get a home playoff game and see what happens, I'll say the same thing to Steelers fans now. And I know they might not be sitting here saying, I'm less confident. Then you, Rich. You're always caping for Tomlin. We've seen this movie before.
They're looking at the Broncos who are above them in the standings and are on a. Tear. Since week four. As opposed to being on a tear since saying losing in week 14. Or winning, I guess, in week 14.
At Baltimore. You know. You'd rather be on a tear since week four than week 14, but again. You've got to catch fire at the right time. Once upon a time, Big Ben went from a sixth seed to a Super Bowl winner.
Mm-hmm. And what you can see out of Rogers In the same way that Shane Steichen said, Hey, this 44-year-old Phillip Rivers didn't forget how to throw the football, nor has this 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers. The ball still flies out of his hands, man. And certainly in the cold, which is what you need. Certainly in a way that it didn't with Tua.
Tua's interception last night, as soon as it left his hand, Cooper turned to me and said, That's intercepted. A 14-year-old sitting on his Los Angeles couch was saying that's going to be intercepted. Rogers is just not. Last night, Aaron Rodgers. Threw two touchdown passes in a game again this year.
He missed on only four of his 27 throws for 224 yards, a passer rating just south of 130. Man. And it was career Game 166 with two or more passing touchdowns. That's good for third all-time now broke a tie with Peyton Manning. He is seven games behind Drew Brees.
I don't want to even do the math because he's that far behind. Tom Brady's the only one above 200 such games. 204 for Tom. And you just get a little bit of running here from Jalen Warren, and get a little bit of running here from Kenneth Gainwell. Yeah, DK's picking it up.
And that's what you need and throw it to your wagon of a tight end. Man, Darnell Washington gets the football in his hands. And I sit up and I'm like, let's watch the act come in. Let's see this guy just tricky. How come they don't run the tush-push with him?
Well, I know they're doing it with Haywards.
Well, I and I. I'll answer, right? Cooper said the same thing to me. And I said, because I think Connor Hayward is closer to the ground to get the snap.
Okay. Yeah, taking the snapshot easy, right? No.
Well, when you're 6'9 or whatever, however big Washington is. And it's not as if Washington's not used in that formation. You can push. Because I will never forget Darnell Washington at the combine. He.
Picked up Fred the Sled, which is what. Daniel Jeremiah refers to that sledge. He just used it like a Tonka truck toy.
So you're using him to push, it's not a bad idea. And then, of course, Rogers stands back there with his hands in his pockets. First down. There it is. He's doing Leo.
He's doing Rick Talton. There it is. First down. You remember when Jay Cutler would go out to that wide receiver and he would just stand there? That's pretty much what Rogers is saying.
Roger, like, yeah, I have nothing to do here except, you know. I have nothing to add. Yeah, Aikman had some fun with that one last night. Guys, at one point, though, they're going to snap him the ball because everyone's just thinking he's standing. There's going to be a trick play with that.
So you are what you are, which is a first-place team having won two in a row. And by the way, winning without TJ Watt is not what the Steelers normally do. It's only their second win in 13 games with TJ Watt. Out due to injury. They're now 2 and 11.
since twenty seventeen, including the playoffs without TJ Watt.
So it's all working for The Steelers, right now, who are one in front of the Ravens, already having one in their back pocket. With three to go. And Mike Tomlin was asked. About winning back-to-back games for the first time in some time, and his answer is classic. I know you're always talking about stacking wins, but that was your first back-to-back since October.
It's that time of year. It doesn't need to be said. You know, see you next week. Keep watching. Hmm.
Straight out of tomb. Let's talk about the defense, Mike. What did you think about that defense that won without TJ Watt for only the second time in 13 tries? We're at less than full strength, but everybody is. You know, and we embrace That component of it.
We believe in the strength of the PAC, and a lot of guys stepped up, certainly, and made that a truism. Made that a truism. You know, it's also a truism is that Rogers is throwing and playing with a bunch of guys. That he's He has thrown two before in Marquez Valdez-Scantling, and others who are just joining the crew. in recent days like Thielen and MPS, I think, was signed yesterday morning.
And he scored a touchdown. And Rogers talked about that group, and he's kind of using it as a rallying cry now. about how they're coming together as a team when it matters the most. That's kind of what I said after the game. There's some cast offs if you look at our roster, which makes it really special.
You know, Kenny Gainwell signed a next to nothing contract. you know, Connor Hayward and Afterthought had a touchdown run. Um You know, Mark Quest has been on a couple teams. Adam Thielen got cut. Samuel was on the street for a long time, so it says a lot about the character of the guys we brought in.
Do you consider yourself one of those cast offs, too? No, I'm not a cast off. Great follow-up, by the way. That is a really good follow-up. Great follow-up.
I like his answer. Yeah, I'm not cast off. I'm a first battle in the Hall of Famer. I'm not a castoff.
Well, I mean, he cast him off. Cast him off. Yeah. And I thought That's where he was going. And a great follow-up.
I would have asked the same thing. Are you considering yourself in First Battle Hall of Famer? The Castoffs are the ones who are playing for the Jets and the Giants right now, not me. No.
He is playing Alan Lazar just got ready. I understand the matter. Alan Lazard just got released by the Jets. I wonder if guess what? Here, Coach, he's going to be in Pittsburgh.
I mean, people talk about them making moves, right? These aren't like sexy moves that they're making, but these are veteran receivers, man, who know how to ball. I know Bills fans will be like, well, let's, let's, why aren't we in the mix? They did get Brandon Cooks. We're waiting to see if he's going to, right now, at least they got a cook who's cooking.
Rogers Yeah. the offense and moving forward here. How much do we expect from this offense? You guys can expect whatever the hell you want. We haven't been the most dynamic explosive offense this season, but I feel like.
We've been good in the red zone. I don't know where we're at uh league wide, but we gotta be in the you know upper half at minimum I would assume. And we've had stretches where we've played good football. I think tonight was the first time we had complimentary football in all three phases. And that's the standard, so we're gonna try and uh Meet that next week in Detroit.
Well, this week in Detroit. Can confirm for Rogers. The Steelers are currently. Where are we right here? It looks like they're.
Todd for third in red zone. Offense.
So And then Detroit. Oh, baby. Rogers, one last shot at the NFC North in Detroit, where, you know, he reigns. Hail Mary's on that franchise, as you know. That's going to be an awesome week 16 game.
Absolutely monumental for the Lions having a chance to move forward. And the Steelers now, according to next-gen stats, have a 61% chance to make the playoffs. And oh, by the way, if Rodgers wins in Detroit. And the Steelers win this game. Hey, Steeler fans, guess what you get to say?
We just clinched a winning record. Once again. Get to say that. Yeah, I don't think so. But right back where they've always been, we're not going to apologize for winning.
9 and 8. But you know what? This offense isn't sexy, right? No, it's not. It's not.
I believe I saw Matthew Berry Called the fantasy results of last night's offense from the Steelers an Arthur Smith fantasy special. Because I've got a did you know? Mike, hit it, please. Hey. Both Connor Hayward and Jonu Smith scored a rushing touchdown in week 15.
Did you know it's the first time in NFL history, two different tight ends scored a rushing touchdown? In the same game, it's never happened before last night. But that doesn't reek of Arthur Smith. I don't know what does. I felt like we were watching history last night.
I didn't know we actually were, but that's what it felt like. That's it.
Something historical. Mike Tommy. That's what you felt? Mike Tommy. I felt other things wasn't that fine.
Mike Tommy has not lost a home game on Monday night football. That's now 23 straight Monday night football wins for the Steelers. That was the last time the Steelers lost a Monday night home game. Tomlins 12-0 in home games on Monday night football. They don't have one the rest of the way.
But the rest of the way, they do have, according to next-gen stats, the ninth easiest remaining strength of schedule. They're at Detroit, they're at Cleveland, and home for Baltimore. Steelers look like they're.
Well, let's put it this way: they're certainly in line to win, out, win enough, and they will win. The AFC North. That'd probably be the four seed. And Host a playoff game. Against whoever's the five-seed Chargers, Bills, Texans.
Are your candidates at present? Right now.
So there's that. This is dope. It sure is. Look at what's happening. Rodgers in a home playoff game again in the cold.
This time for the Pittsburgh Steelers, sign me up. And expect whatever the hell you want, as he basically just said.
So There's all of that. We'll talk about the Dolphins' ends of things on this program as we move along on this Overreaction Monday. On a Tuesday, we've got the playoff clinching scenarios. And we got Mark Schlereth coming up next, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. He's calling Bucks and Panthers.
We haven't spoken to him in a couple weeks. We have three weeks in the NFL season to go. And by the way, before we go to break, I'll say these words I've never said before. Mazzletuff to Sean McVeigh. He's got a bouncing baby boy.
Two of them now.
Well done. Christian McVay, congratulations to the McVay family. Um That's what he's got going on. Love it. There we go.
Delivered Rams transactions.
Well done. Delivered Christian Alexander McVeigh. And. And um That's all he's got to do is welcome in a second child. Um Veronica delivering.
And McVay having a game plan for the Seattle Seahawks in a short week. Is that what we got? Seemingly. What else is going on in the house? Huh?
I mean, set up for Christmas. Can Puka be a doula? Puka Nadoula. Puka Nadoula. What do you think?
Puka Nada 20. You like Puka Nadoula? I just came up with that. That's funny. Puka Nadoula.
I mean, the guy can do everything. The one thing you know he's not going to do is drop the child. That's true. No.
No.
He'll hold on to that child in traffic. Even if he gets run over by the dog? Oh, my goodness gracious.
So congratulations. To the McVeigh family, two. Two small kids, and he's just got to get 53 men, potentially Devontae Adams, with Sean McVay, when he said today. That Adams felt his hamstring on Sunday. You could see that, but not ruling him out for Thursday.
Woof.
Okay. Which is a great way for Seattle. Like, even if you give Seattle one extra second of game planning for 17. It seems irresponsible to play Devontae. But we'll say, I don't think you're going to see him until the playoffs.
How about that? I like that. I don't mean to be like old Dr. Jones, but I like that. Let's just, I'll put it this way.
I'm more what's more likely that we see Puka Nadulla. Or we see Devontae Adams playing on Thursday night. That's cool.
Okay, very good. Who's the moya on the ring? Is going to make sure every one of you are safe. I don't know what Haven't Steve. Hey, Havenstein?
I don't know. I'm trying to. I have no idea. Landman. Landman.
Landman might be here. Deep into the shade. We got to take a break. They're playing the music to play us out! We're gonna do our players live!
The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. As many of you know, supporting pediatric cancer research is something I care deeply about. That's why I'm proud to share what Hyundai is doing through Hyundai Hope on Wheels. For over 27 years, with every Hyundai sold, they've helped fund pediatric cancer research. Alongside over 850 dealers, they've raised more than $277 million, helping over 25,000 kids and supporting more than 1,400 research grants at 175 institutions nationwide.
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Or maybe you need some tech help. With Copilot Vision, Copilot sees what you see. Let Copilot talk you through step-by-step guidance so you can master new apps, games, and skills faster. Try now at windows.com slash Copilot. Mark Schlerith, NFL on Fox analyst here, and we were just talking in the television only segment about how you have to have quarterbacks in this league who can dissect a defense pre-snap.
Neck up is more important, maybe even than neck-down ability. And I'm assuming that's why Phillip Rivers can come off the couch at age 44 and almost win a football game, right? Mark? Dude, how crazy is that? And what statement does that make about the NFL?
The NFL in general, right now, I was talking to a defensive coordinator here recently, two weeks ago, the current coordinator in the league, and he said, never has there been a time in the NFL where there's more arm talent and less quarterbacks. And you know, and I was like, wow, that's really like, that's really good because it's true. And it's not the college's job. I understand it's not the college's job to, you know, to develop quarterbacks for the NFL. It's they're playing the style with which they play.
But, man, I'm telling you what, it says a lot when there's not one guy on somebody else's practice squad, not one guy in your own practice squad or your backup that you feel like gives you a better chance to win than 44-year-old Phillip Rivers. And, you know, I mean, he's shot, put, he did give me vibes of the hefty, lefty Jared Lorenzen, God rest his soul. But, you know, he came out there competitive. They did a great job from a game planning standpoint of getting the ball out of his hands quickly, lots of screens, a lot of quick game, you know, just moving the ball, you know, that classic Phillip Rivers shot put style. But he gave them a chance at the end of that game where they kick what was a 60-yard field goal from Groupie to go ahead in that game.
And, you know, Seattle drives it back down. And Matt, I'm. I'm sorry, Sam Darnold does a great job finding Rashid Shaheed and creating a couple of big throws to end that game with a 55-yard field goal. But just an amazing game, an amazing accomplishment. And I loved what Phillip had to say because I just believe in this.
Fear sets so many of us back. Fear keeps us from doing things that we want to do just because we're afraid of the outcome. And Philip said the easy decision would be to sit home. The easy decision would not be to do it. But I'm not going to let fear kind of capture me.
I'm going to go ahead and face that, you know, stare that fear down and go out there and give it my best. And I just, there's a very valuable lesson that Philip Rivers kind of taught us all in that moment. And I really appreciate what he said. And I really appreciate him, you know, putting it on the line and going out there and playing. Me too, brother.
Go for it, Dad Gummit. You know what I mean? Like that, that is a message that he said he wanted to deliver to the kids that he's coaching, to boys and girls all over America, if not the world. Dad Gummit, just go for it. And now he's going to take on the 49ers.
I mean, so many big games. You're calling one with the Panthers and the Bucs playing each other for the first of two times in the next three weeks to finish up the season. We'll talk about that in a moment. I've got Mark Schlereth here on the Rich Eisen show. Packers and Broncos viewed as a measuring stick game for both teams.
Now that we can observe the measuring stick and see where the viscosity landed, what do you got for me on the Broncos off of that game? Reading the measuring stick, Mark. You know, interestingly enough, Rich, if you go through the Broncos season, they really. Offensively, they led the league in three and outs. They were second in the league in three and outs going into the last weekend, but most of the season they led the league in three and outs.
They really had only put together a few quarters of really good offensive football, and they happened to be in the fourth quarter coming back from the Giants, coming back against the Philadelphia Eagles. They had one really good game against the Cowboys where they really orchestrated. But these last three or four weeks, man, they've been the picture of efficiency against the Raiders a couple weeks ago. They had two 14-play drives, one 19-play drive that lasts over 10 minutes. And then the one kind of criticism: well, Bo hasn't really been accurate down the football field.
Well, now you couple that last week against the Green Bay defense that's really good. Where not only were they able to possess the ball, be able to score in the red zone, but Bo made some big throws. That fourth down and three to Cortland Sutton down the sideline was a big time throw. He's really, really started to play well, less frenetic in the pocket. Really good about escaping, still getting the ball down the football field.
You know, the Broncos all of a sudden have become a complete football team in the last couple of weeks, where this offense is starting to match what that defense did early in the season, keeping them in games. And they're a dangerous football team in the AFC right now.
Well, what's the difference between Playing a game like that, and then the one that's coming up for them where they are. The measuring stick for another team, right? Jacksonville comes in. You've called some Jacksonville games. I called one.
They don't look anything like the team that I saw in London right now. They are balling out. They are feeling confident. They are, I think, an extension of the attitude of their head coach right now, which is what you know is a sign of a positive. Result in the NFL.
What do you make of Jacksonville? You also just saw Houston, too, brother. Yeah, yeah. You know, interestingly enough, Liam Cohen is that guy, you know, that very much like Sean Payton in that he doesn't really care what you think, Rich. He doesn't care what I think.
And he doesn't care what anybody else thinks either, man. He is going to do what he does, and he's not afraid to say something that, you know, can be misconstrued. He's not afraid to say something that might get under your skin. He's very honest with his guys. And I think one of the things, you know, this is a Sean Payton thing, but I think it goes to Liam Cohen.
It goes to some of the really good coaches in this league. Like I think I called a Saints game a couple of years ago, right after Sean Payton walked away and went to broadcasting for a year. And a long-term employee over at the Saints told me, hey, man, the issue with this football team is Sean Payton walked out of the building and the fear walked out with him. The fear the coaching staff had, the fear the players had. And it's not just fear like I'm scared.
There's a biblical sense to the word fear as well. The biblical sense of fear is awesome reverence or respect. Right. You've got to have that type of fear for your coach. Then there's also the fear of that guy will fire my ass if I don't get my block.
Right. Like that's that type of fear is also important. And I think the great coaches, you know, combine those things where they can really get after your butt, but they also demand respect and they also develop relationships. And I think Liam Cohen's that way. I think Sean Payton's that way.
You mentioned the Houston Texans. Their head coach is that way. D'Amico Rines is incredible that way.
So those guys really have a sense of how to get the best out of their players. And one thing Liam Cohen, and the reason he got the job talking to Tony Bisselli and talking to the principals of that organization is because he didn't sell them on, hey, man, I'm going to develop the quarterback and I'm going to, you know, we're going to throw the ball around the yard and we're going to do this. He sold himself on, we are going to run the football. Everything that we do is going to be based off our running game, and everything fits off the way we run the football. And that's what sold the Jacksonville Jaguars on Liam Cohen and why he's the head coach of the Jags right now.
Mark Schlera, three-time Super Bowl champ from Fox Sports here on the Rich Eisen Show. Crystal Ball, the NFC North for me. Mark, because we just saw the Packers lose and they lost Micah Parsons on top of it. Fox has got a big doubleheader coming up this weekend where the Packers and the Bears face each other again. The Bears are now in first place in the NFC North right now by a half game while the Detroit Lions take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Then Green Bay takes on Baltimore in week 17, while Chicago visits San Francisco on Sunday night football. And the Detroit Lions have the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day already in the books. And then the final weekend of the season when Green Bay takes on Minnesota and the Lions and the Bears play one another. The Bears finish either in first place. Wild card or even potentially out of the playoffs.
Walk me through who makes it and who doesn't, and where do you think, Mark Schlerith? Yeah, I think obviously the Michael Parsons thing is devastating. That guy plays.
So hard, he's so multiple in what he does. and where he lines up. And it's one of the things that I thought Dallas did wrong with him, he just lined up on the edge too often. And, you know, you break a huddle as an offensive lineman. That's the first guy you're going to find.
Like, where is that dude? And how are we going to deal with him? Right? That's the first thing. And when he's always on the edge, it's much easier either to slide to him, to get double teams to him, you know, with the tight end, whatever the case may be, chip with the back, all those things.
But when you start moving him around from one end to the other end off the ball as an off-the-ball linebacker, then it really messes with your communication and how you're going to block that dude.
So losing him is devastating for the Green Bay Packers. Even with that said, I still think the Green Bay Packers are the best team in the North right now. And it's not by a long way, but I think they're the best team. The Christian Watson news was big for them. Him not being, you know, him not going to miss, it doesn't look like he's going to miss time.
That's huge, or at least that's what I heard yesterday.
So that's that's. Big time because he's the one lift the top of coverage guy, take it deep that opens up all those underneath routes and some of the big plays they get on the crossers and all that stuff.
So I think that's big for them. But the Micah Parsons thing is devastating without question. I still think, even with that injury, I still think the Packers are slightly better than both Chicago and Detroit. To your point, I think Chicago makes it as a wild card team. And right now, I'm looking at the Detroit Lions as the team that's kind of odd man out in that division, which means they're the odd man out maybe in the conference as well.
That's Crystal Ball for Mark Schlareth. And the time I have with you left, I'd like to preview something and review something. Let's preview the game you got, man. This is it. What a contest you are in the booth for this coming Sunday.
It is the first of two times that the two teams tied at 7-7 atop the NFC North see each other. Tampa at Carolina, you have the floor. What happens, do you think? Yeah, that's going to be really interesting because Carolina is one of those teams that, like, what are they, 12 straight losses when they're favored? It's just unbelievable.
You know, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde nature of the Carolina Panthers is just really interesting to me. I thought where Tampa really screwed up against Atlanta, I thought they busted some coverage stuff. They weren't very good getting them back out of the backfield.
They busted some, just busted assignments. You saw Todd Bulls, my former teammate, just go off on them. But the biggest issue to me was, man, they could not block the front of the Atlanta Falcons. They were horrible. Baker Mayfield looks fed up because he's so used to.
To being pressured, so used to somebody in his face on a consistent basis. This is really tough. I still think the dynamic nature of the Tampa Buccaneers on the offense with Mike Evans back, with Chris Godwin, those players they have back, I still think they've got the chance to be in this ballgame, to make some big plays and win it. You know, after that, just. Ass chewing that Todd Bowles gave a post-game press conference.
I loved it. It sounded like a truck backing up, man. We counted 10 deeps. 10. I loved it because going back and studying the film last night, you know, gap assignment football was unsound.
Coverage was unsound. Tackling all the things that Tampa prides themselves on with the pressure they bring, especially in critical situations, like all the things that they do, their staple of things that they lean on and that they hang their hats on. They didn't do any of them well. And so I understand. Like, I understand how pissed off he was.
And, and good, like, you should be held accountable. And, um, and so I didn't have, I really didn't have any problem. We'll see how they respond to that. But I'm thinking that I'm thinking if they're made of what I think they're made of, they're going to respond to that and play well. All right.
Last one for you: looking back. Here lies the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs. I want Mark Schlerith to eulogize. The Kansas City Chiefs. Why are they out of the playoffs with three games to go, Mark?
Yeah. Uh, Kansas City Chiefs, it's like I never knew you. Um, Austin LaVista, good for you guys. Enjoy Cancun.
Now, I, you know, I feel bad about stomping on the graves of Kansas City Chiefs because of the Mahomes injury. Um, ultimately, the things that they have been so good at-um, the magic between Mahomes and Travis Kelsey just was not there. Their ability to get a key stop whenever they seemed to need it on the defensive side was not there. They were not being able to make the critical plays in critical moments. And you know, I'm just gonna say, and I'll chalk it up to they have played more football than anybody on the planet over the last seven years.
And it just feels to me like it finally caught up to them. Like they had no gas in the tank. They've been an unbelievable champion. They have put together an unreal dynasty. And um And, you know, as long as they have Mahomes and Mahomes comes back healthy, which I'm assuming he will, they're going to be okay.
They'll be back in the fight next year. Yeah, he had surgery apparently last night to repair an ACL and reportedly an LCL, maybe nine months if it can work out, which would put him in line to start next year or at least try and get things up to speed. And I was talking about it yesterday about all the mistake-prone football that they were playing, by the way, to back up. Your your opinion with numbers, 107 wins. For the Chiefs, including playoffs in the seven year span that Mahomes has been the starter.
That's the most of any seven year stretch of any team at any time in the history of the National Football League. But I'll go here with you to finish up. And I was saying, in my opinion yesterday, this is going to be fun. Um that um Everybody out there that is celebrating the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs will miss them. In the playoffs, we will miss them.
We will miss their buzz. We'll miss Mahomes versus fill-in-the-blank. We'll miss those final possessions. That opinion, Mark, you should know. Went over on the social media sphere, like a liquid wind in a house of worship.
Mark, yeah. I'm wondering, based on your look, you would agree with that. Yeah, I actually agree with you, man. Oh, okay. No, I actually agree with you.
All right. He likes it. Listen, I was told when I first retired and I got into the media business, just kind of stumbled into it. I had a wise friend of mine tell me, he said, Listen, this is what you want to accomplish. You want 50% of the people to love you and 50% of the people to hate your guts.
And he goes, if you can do that in this business, you're going to win. And, you know, 27 years later, or whatever it is, I'm still doing it.
So that's how I feel about the Chiefs. You know, the Chief fans love the Chiefs. The rest of us hate their guts, but I'm with you 100%. I think we'll miss them. We will miss them.
We will miss them on a Sunday, late. Sunday, Mahomes has the ball with two minutes to go versus, you know, let's go, Josh Allen. Yeah. You know, you know how much I hate these guys? Like, I'm just hate watch, Mark.
Absolutely. How about that? See, guys, he agrees with me.
Well done. He agrees with me. It's not really a 50-50 split, though, on the opinion back right now. That's what they hate that. It's much worse.
It's much worse. Rich, everybody else in the studio is entitled to be wrong. They can be wrong if they want to. You can be on the wrong side of history. It's not just the students.
Rich and I are on the right side. It's everybody else. I agree with you. Thank you. You do.
Yeah. Okay. I didn't get that sense yesterday. No, I told you I love greatness, so it was great to watch. We're never going to see this for another year.
This is like a once-in-a-generation run that they went over. We're going to miss him. Oh, really? Except the Patriots did it twice. Yep, this generation.
This guy over here. By the way, Mark, it's a good one. We're all going to. Second generation. And you know what I hate about Patriot fans?
Please. That's right there, right, Mark?
Okay. Patriot fans think the league started in 2000. You don't remember how ass you guys were for 40 years before that. You're terrible. Yeah.
Same thing with Eagles fans, Mark. They all of a sudden think that they were great for 55. No, you were awful until you went last year. Yeah, I love it. And by the way, as you know, how Jet fans feel about you, it's not 50-50.
It's more 99% and one. And it's not this finger either that's careful they are on Disney. All right. That's very good. Jet fans, you're welcome.
You're welcome. For what? I don't even know. Mark and Master. Hey, have a great call.
I'll be watching. We'll all be watching. Thanks, guys. Bucks and care. Look at Mark Schlurth, everybody.
Check out his podcast as well. I look forward to our talks with Mark. Always. Keeps it real. He does.
Does keep it real. You know what I'm referring to with the finger, with the Jets fans, right? Not the index fans. Two years ago, he was going back and forth with Jets fans. And he clapped back at him by putting a Super Bowl ring on his middle finger and held it up on a.
On a Zoom or whatever. Yeah, well, oh my gosh. He's got three of those things. He does. Yes, he does.
He just chose to put on one and on one particular thing. It's very weird. It is weird. Take a break, 844-204-Rich. Number to Dow, and we come back on the Rich Eisen Show.
The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. Back here on ESPN Radio, guys, presented by Progressive Insurance. Insurance for motorcycles, boats, and RVs for protection on the road and on the water. See how much you can save at 1-800-Progressive and Progressive.com. I was just backstage with Frank Caliendo.
Oh, nice. Franko. He's here. Uh, so I guess you were handling some of the business on Disney Plus. Yeah, it was a little pineapple, under the sea, SpongeBob.
Square pants. Except on the West Coast. He can't get any better. I mean, so we have, as always, planned a little bit of fun for him. Right, of course.
And we'll get, I'll tell you that story in a second. I do. We just finished talking with Mark Schlareth, and I had him give the eulogy, if you will, for the 2025 Chiefs. Ah here lies now The 2025 Miami Dolphins. Indeed.
And this is a team that started 1-6 and then went to 2-7 and fired their general manager and traded away Jalen Phillips. And then at the outset of the season, traded away Jalen Ramsey and John Woo Smith for Minka Fitzpatrick. And we saw, it's, I guess, what would you say, ironic, like rain on your wedding day, that it was the Steelers who eliminated the Dolphins officially from Playoff contention. Uh because after firing their general manager and Flipping Jalen Phillips to the Eagles for a three. I still can't believe other teams in the NFL didn't say we can do better than that.
At any rate, that's for another day. I mean, you could make a book. I know this is a. An overreaction Monday and a Tuesday, and I don't know what's more likely, but what's more likely? Jalen Phillips does nothing for the Eagles in their playoff run or in their first game.
Of the playoffs, which they will have. He'll be a factor. He'll come up with a sack, he'll do something. But at any rate, even though The Dolphins made all these changes. They go on a four-game winning streak.
Only to lose last night in Pittsburgh. And they started one and six. Um Tua threw tons of interceptions in the beginning of the season, absolute tons. His fifteen interceptions on the season after one more last night. The most in the NFL.
But it's a quarterback driven league, so that's obviously the first answer. you're going to get. But I'm just wondering if the Dolphins front office Um and management And ownership does, in fact, look at Mike McDaniel and say that is our guy moving forward because of what he does with Tua, because Tua. He's not going anywhere. He's not going anywhere.
You look at his contract and his dead cap number, and he is not going anywhere. That's too bad for the Dolphins. I don't know how too bad that is. But we'll hit a little bit more on it. This is what Mike McDaniel had to say after the loss.
My expectation is that our Our locker room fights for this team, and that's what they have been doing. I think it's a in Important that we weren't chasing anything but putting forth a Uh Football that we're proud of. It fits this team to put forth a valiant effort because we've just been focusing on one opponent at a time and shutting out the noise, and we're going to have to do that as challenging as may be. We have three opportunities with this team, and I think the The really the character of the locker room. Has been tested all year, so my expectation is that we're going to bounce back regardless of how much it hurts.
There's no question it's been tested, right? I mean, they lose Tyreek Hill. Yeah. And they go on a run. Because they have one of the best offensive players in the NFL.
A-chan is unbelievable. He is. He is unreal. Waller caught two touchdowns at the end of the game. I mean, Jalen Waddell, they did hold on to him, and the Dolphins do have.
important games left to play. Not maybe just for themselves, but if they do want to fight for their coach's job. That would be one way to go about it. But they They're going to have a say in who wins the NFC South and the AFC East, potentially. Home for Tampa and at New England to finish the season.
I see you got a Tua sound bite all queued up. I don't know if you not enough time to play it.
Well Two is not going anywhere. And I know we were kind of, you know, that I don't know what commercial it is where they bring in a backup quarterback to either back up a backup a car or take a family photograph or yeah, Teddy Bridgeboy is a better listener. We were saying, can the Dolphins have a back a quarterback that plays and starts in cold weather games? Yeah. I know that's not facetious.
It's a legit idea. But I mean, two is now 0-6 and Coldweather Hill. And I'm sure it pisses him off. I'm sure that makes him salty too. But that's the whole concept here: is you know, Miami teams, are you going to be able to run the ball and not turn it over and move the ball down the field in an offense that they run?
with a quarterback that is yet to win in the cold. That's a problem in the AFC East. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
