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Now, on with the show. I'm in Miami. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Whoever counted us out, they're never part of the equation.
Earlier on the show, actor and diehard Bears fan, Ashton Kutcher. Emmy-nominated actor, Dennis Leary. Coming up. Senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer. And now, it's Rich Eisen.
Fun Friday show so far. First two hours. Ashton Kutcher and Dennis Leary stop by in studio to chop things up in their world, sports world, and so much more. 844-204-Rich, number to dial. Every phone line is lit.
We love that. We're going to take your phone calls as much as we can before we get out of Dodge for Indiana and Oregon tonight to see who plays the U for the National Championship in a couple of Mondays. Obviously, there's a wildcard weekend to get to and a coaching carousel spinning off its axis. And on all of that, we welcome our buddy from Sports Illustrated, the MMQB, our friend Albert Breer is back on the program. Good to see you Albert.
How are you, sir? I'm good. How are we doing, Rich? I'm doing great, man. I don't know.
It's so fun watching these college football games, right? I mean, That game last night was something. Come on. That was not a reference to it. I was fine.
I had a couple rough days there after New Year's Eve. Thanks for your concern. And then I was fine. I was able to enjoy it last night. It was fun to watch.
I mean, seriously, these standalone games in the NFL and college football have been, for the most part, like games of the year. Got to watch it all the way down to the end. It's been pretty amazing. I guess let's start with the college world in relation to what we're seeing in the NFL. Are you thinking Fernando Mendoza who plays tonight?
Uh, is going to be the first overall pick. The Raiders are going to make him their next quarterback. You hearing that right now? I think the Raiders will take a quarterback first overall. I think that there are two quarterbacks that are playing tonight that would be in the running.
Now, I don't know for sure. Whether or not Dante Moore is even going to come out, right? Like, because there's obviously been quite a. A groundswell that Uncle Phil there up in Eugene could make it worth Dante Moore's while to spend another year there. I I also know, and I don't follow this stuff as closely, obviously, as NFL, but it does seem like Oregon's at least had their foot in the Um, and the recruitment of some quarterbacks through the portal, which might indicate that they know something.
So it'll be interesting to see the way that plays out. But the early indications I've gotten is that those two kids are both in the running for the first overall pick. It's way too early, as you know, Rich, like I make a million calls when it comes to this stuff, and I'm not close to knowing exactly how every NFL team views these two. But the early indications I've had are that both would have a shot at going first overall.
So this could be. Quarterback matchup tonight in Atlanta. The first two names off the board in Pittsburgh next. April is what you're saying. I certainly think that's in play.
You know, again, like, you don't, you don't know. I mean, I, I, the difference between one and ten, you know, one and fifteen, you know, where, where, where a kid is drafted. Um, A lot of times there can be circumstances that can be involved with that and everything else. And so, you know, until I make all the phone calls I need to make ahead of the draft, and we're talking on April 15th, you know, I don't know that I'd say I feel fully comfortable because I don't think either of these guys are like generational. Like the early indications I've gotten is like, Like if you plug these guys into the 24 class.
I don't know that either of them would be higher than the fourth quarterback taken. Really? That doesn't mean they can't go first overall, as we know. Sure. But I don't know that any of like, I don't think these kids, these two, rise to the level of.
Trevor Lawrence, Andrew Luck. Absolutely. No question about it. Going first overall, I think we knew on Joe Burrow, right, at this point in the calendar in 2020. I don't know that the NFL is that sure on either of these guys.
Now, again, like both these guys sort of came out of nowhere this year.
So I think there is a process of catching up on them too. Like where, you know, with Trevor Lawrence, You know, even if they hadn't studied him in depth yet, like they did have his freshman and sophomore years where Dante Moore was a backup last year at Oregon, and Fernando Mendoza was a Cal. And so, like, I do think that there's a process of even NFL people catching up and truly studying them, which is a lot different than watching them on TV or doing a school call. And then, of course, last night's quarterbacks, Carson Beck is out of eligibility, right, Albert? Like, he's got a.
He has to be. I saw he was in the same recruiting class as Bryce Young and C.C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson. That's how long he's been at it, man. And two of those three guys are starting playoff games this weekend for their respective teams.
Two of those three guys are coming up for their fifth-year option this year. Those teams have to make decisions on the fifth-year option.
Well, I guess if I'm not mistaken, while you were in the waiting room of our Zoom, Albert. I think Trinidad Chambliss was denied his sixth-year option. You know, so what are, I know, again. Are you We haven't studied this yet. And I have reached out to some of my colleagues in the talent evaluation world watching Chambliss play the last two weeks, saying, Wow, he's got some ability, but I guess he's going to be in the mix for next year, too.
He's been terrific. He've managed to get it. Yeah, he's been great. I mean, honestly, like, even Rich, like those last two throws he made to give them a chance at the end, you know, like to get them to the, I mean, what was it from like the 25 to the to the old miss 35 and two plays with one timeout, right? You know, I thought that was really impressive to at least give old miss like a fighting chance.
At you know, it's at somebody going up and making a miracle play in the end zone, you know.
So, I think the kids got Moxie, that's for sure. Um, I think we can say he's a winner, you know, he was a huge winner, you know, at Ferris State, which no one was paying, he wasn't even supposed to be the old miss starter, you know. Um, so like, I think there's the kids got a lot going for him. I'd say he probably also has a good head on his shoulders, knowing, like, hey, if I go back to old miss, I could do a little bit more in the way of development. And, you know, so I think even like the intention to go back for a year is maybe a check mark for maturity for him.
Um, and I'll be interested to see what happens, you know. Um, you know, I think this big, the biggest question is just looking at him play is probably size. Um, but as far as Moxie, mobility, um, accuracy, you see those things, you know, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. But, you know, these last two games, he's been absolutely electric, no question about it. Albert Breer here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Let's uh let's move to the pro game, sir, uh, in full. John Eric Sullivan, the Vice President to Player Personnel of the Green Bay Packers, is the name chosen by the new Circle of Trust of Stephen Ross' in Miami for the Dolphins' new general manager. How does that inform you? About John Harbaugh potentially going there or not. There doesn't seem to be much of a connection.
Yeah. Harbaugh's not coming, but it seems like they made a decision Based on what they think is best for the organization as a whole, long term, not about trying to get Harbaugh in the mix. This hiring cycle, Albert. Is that a fair reading of a TV here? What do you think?
I would just go through the timeline here.
Now, a couple weeks ago, I wrote that. The one way I could see Mike McDaniel being let go. Would be if Something changed on the coaching market, and someone like Mike Tomlin or John Harbaugh became available. I don't need to take you through the connections between Stephen Ross and the Harbaugh family. That's well established, right?
Like through Ross having his name on the business school at Michigan and obviously Harbaugh's history at Michigan, like that relationship's there. Steve Ross made a very spirited run at Jim Harbaugh in 2011 when he was still at Stanford. Harbaugh chose to go to the Niners. Um and had even like quietly discussed the idea. Of pursuing John Harbaugh in 2019 when the Ravens were in a contract negotiation with Harbaugh.
And obviously, that one worked out where he stayed in Baltimore. But this is something that's been on Steve Ross's mind for some time.
So. Then on Monday, they put out requests to six general manager candidates. All six of those, John Eric Sullivan included, had some sort of connection to Mike McDaniel.
Now, in Sullivan's case, it's that he worked for Matt LaFleur, who is one of Mike McDaniel's best friends, right? Like, so he has some familiarity with what Mike McDaniel was doing in Miami, all of that.
So they put those six requests out Monday. On Tuesday, the Chargers get the request for Chad Alexander, who, of course, works with Jim Harbaugh in LA and was in Baltimore for over a decade with John Harbaugh.
So, I think that got everybody's attention when later in the day, Baltimore winds up. Pulling the plug on John Harbaugh.
So I think it'd be foolish not to think that John Harbaugh's availability had some sort of effect. On Miami's week, and the fact that they let go of Mike McDaniel on Thursday rather than on Monday or Tuesday. Yeah, that said, I think they also recognize that there's going to be competition for John Harbaugh out there. And they recognize that there's no Assurance that they're going to wind up landing him, and because of the way the rules are. Like, you can't have candidates in in person until after the divisional round.
To satisfy the Rooney rule, you have to have, and this is candidates who work for a team, right?
So if it's somebody who doesn't work for a team, you can have them in now. But if they work for a team, you can't have them in until after the divisional round. And so you can't Like, unless you're really fl I mean, unless you're really running around the rooney rule, you can't really hire anybody until after the divisional round.
So, a lot has to happen between now and then, you know? And so I think the Dolphins You know, things changed in the way that they were looking at Mike McDaniel as the coaching market evolved, and Harbaugh is a part of that, and they see some more options out there for them.
So, okay, like we see better options than maybe we thought there were going to be a week ago. And so we feel better about going forward with that and going with a clean slate. Troy Aikman is part of this process, and Troy Aikman, I know, has preached them alignment. Troy Aikman did really like John Eric Sullivan for whatever it's worth. And now I think they go in, and John Harbaugh is 100% a part of their equation, but they know there's a chance they don't get him.
And so. we're going to go with the best general manager candidate. And I think for them, I think they liked some of the other guys. But John Eric Sullivan is somebody who has a lot of the same qualities that Brian Gudekund had when the Packers elevated him to succeed Ted Thompson. And what they were looking for.
In GM was a died in the wall scout. They have a guy named Brandon Shore, who they elevated from cap guy into a role like a, and I know you know Tony Pasteur is in LA, right, Rich? Mike Disner in Detroit, like this three-headed monster where you have a cap slash analytics/slash operations guy over here, a general manager as a scout, and a coach all reporting to the owner.
So Brandon Shore in that role, in the cap operations, analytics role. You have John Eric Sullivan as kind of the head scout, GM. And then you're going to have the coach reporting to the owner.
So that's the way the whole thing played out. And I know that was a little long-winded, but that's the whole story, as I know.
So then let's get to what John Harbaugh want? Has he, in your reporting, Albert Breer, communicated this? to anyone that has kicked a tire on him. Has he told people, beat it. I'm not interested when I do start talking the next week.
Like, what. Has he communicated? two franchises That can give a fan base a little bit of hope, if that's who they're looking for, or to move on to somebody else. Albert, what do you got? I'm not aware of any direct communication between John Harbaugh and any organization.
Doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Sure. Because back channeling happens all the time. But he's allowed to do it. I mean, he's gone.
You know what I mean? But he can do it. He can. He can. And here's the thing: if he says, like, I'll put it this way to you.
Let's say this guy named Brian Harlan. If If you're John Harbaugh and you tell Brian Harlan, okay, you know what? I was there 18 years. I want to take a few days and just decompress and think about things. Isn't it the agent's job at that point to kind of go check out the landscape and see what's out there?
I would want my agent to do that, you know, and I'd also tell my agent, you know, why I take a break. you know and the agent john you you know we have an opportunity Um to go here, but they have a general manager. Who do you have in mind? Or they already have talked about this and, you know, over dinner or whatever over the years that if I ever go somewhere else, this is the guy I'd want. I mean, that's the point.
You know what I mean? Like the. It's gone viral. You saw that, I'm sure, Jackson Dart, the lip readers, with him on the sideline prior or during the game last time. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Like, he's like, somebody asked him who's coming to the Giants to be your coach, and he says, Harbaugh, Stefansky, but I don't know. You could absolutely read those lips.
So, but they've got a GM there. Right. And I don't know if that would be a fit just because of that, unless he does love Joe Shane. I don't know. The question is: what does he want?
What does he want? Just knowing what I know about John, I'd say alignment. I think that that's really important to him. What does that mean? Like what he experienced in Baltimore and what Ozzie Newsom set up for him and what he had in an owner and Steve Bashati.
And we've both been around Steve, right? Like, I think Steve's a pretty good guy to work for. Like, he has standards. You know, he has. An idea of the way he wants his program to be.
But he also is going to let everybody do their jobs. He's not an overlord at all. I think having some level of certainty. And ownership is going to be important to him. Here's the other thing.
There's been a lot of talk about. There's been a lot of talk over the last few days, right, about what really happened in Baltimore. Here's what I would tell you that I know.
Okay.
Okay.
So John Harbaugh is a players coach. I would say that with 100% certainty. Because I've heard stories from his best players about how he listens to them, how he adjusts schemes for them. How he's an ideas guy. You talk to the guys who've been through there: Wink Martindale, Jesse Minter, Mike McDonald, on the offensive side, guys like Greg Roman and Todd Munkin.
Like he has his hands and everything. He's pushing everything forward. And like he just has an idea of what he wants things to look like. He wants everybody to innovate. He wants everybody to be working at his pace.
And I think the problem there, the last couple of years, may not have been so much like the players are out on him as like. Can I push this team to be what I need it to be to run my program the way I want to run it? And I think Jim's the same way, right? Like, I think Jim is a player's coach, too. I think Jim requires a certain type of player, though.
You know, like there's a type of player who can play for Jim Harbaugh. And I think when he got to the Chargers, he found it. Justin Herbert, Joe Ault. Rashawn Slater, Derwin James is like one of his favorite players ever. And those guys set the pace for him.
Yeah. So, I think having a place where he can look at it and say, I can line it up the way I want to run it. You know, and I think for him, that's not only going to include research about the general manager and the owner, I think it's going to include research on the players on hand. Like so does he look at the Giants and say I can get Malik Neighbors and Abdul Carter and Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence and Jackson Dart, the guys that are going to be there. Can I push them the way I need to push them?
And can I get them to be the torch bearers for what I'm trying to build? I think that's part of the equation for John.
Well, what happened in Baltimore where he wasn't able to push the same guys anymore? You know what I mean? That's a fair follow-up here, Albert. You know, where it's just not like all of us. There are some guys there that have been there for years, and the quarterback is clearly one of them.
Was there something going on between the two of those guys? He loves the quarterback. I mean, he says that to anybody who would listen. Hey, sure. Hey.
If he winds up in Miami. And all of a sudden Lamar Jackson is available for trade. I'm not going to do the Brian Windhorse thing here, but and I love Wendy, but I mean, I think he'd be interested. You know, like I don't think I Like, I think, would he have loved Lamar to have been there more in the offseason? Absolutely.
And that's part of what I'm talking about as far as torchbearers go, right? Like. I just, I think, like, for them to run the program they wanted to run. Yeah. You really do need a high level of buy-in.
And again, I just think for most of John Harbaugh's 18 years, he had that, you know, and like. And you can go through the names: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed. You know, more recently, guys like CJ Mosley, Eric Weddell. You know, like there were guys that were Aquan Bolden. Like, you knew what a Raven was, you know?
And so, like, I think he would be looking for that same type of player. And I. They have a really good roster. I don't know that they had that percentage of guys that were that way the same way they might have a couple of years ago. All right, before I let you go, Albert Breer, I throw open the wild card weekend.
Floor to you, what leaps out at you, storylines, headlines. Wide ass open, Rich. Yeah, it is, isn't it? I mean, no Lamar Jackson. No Joe Burrow, no Patrick Mahomes.
Yep. Right?
So I mean, and the AFC, like, this is the first time I can remember. where you could legitimately look at one conference's bracket. Would it surprise you if the three wildcard teams advanced? I was saying to Chris the other day on our Overreaction Monday pod that all six. Road teams could possibly win.
So the Panthers would be.
Well, no, the Panthers are home. You're right. You know that the Rams, Niners, Packers. Yeah, all six gold.
Now, that's entirely possible, which is what made having a bye week. this year may be more important than rest. Or getting one rung up the ladder ahead of everyone else. Like you are. avoiding this fray, Obviously, six road wins would be really off the charts.
But this season has been And in terms of what you just said of who's not in the AFC playoffs, that's why everybody's looking at Josh Allen and say, okay, you're now on the clock, but his hands are full. We had Liam Cohen on as our first guest of the week on Monday. He has absolutely dialed in this team. Over the last two months, where they are 100% a threat. to make it to Santa Clara and win it all.
They really are, Albert. You know, and I think like It's a good example of how we all Like, make early judgments and then become married to those judgments on quarterbacks, too? Because I think Trevor Lawrence has steadily gotten better. Over the course of the year, right? Like, so you look at them, opportunistic defense under Anthony Campanelli, they've taken the ball away at an incredible rate, right?
They're really solid on the lines of scrimmage. They've got skilled players now like Brian Thomas hasn't been what they thought they'd be. Travis Hunter's hurt. But like look at the amount of guys in that roster that are having career years. Josh Hines-Allen's having a great year.
Parker Washington has been huge down the stretch. Evan Lloyd, keep going. Evan Lloyd's had a career year. Travis Etienne looks like a real weapon. And then you have the quarterback.
And like, I think it's a great example of how we make these judgments on these guys and we become married to them and then we're not willing to move off of them. Like, a guy can't grow, you know? And I sort of look at it like, you know, Baker Mayfield, when he got in a better situation, Really took off, or Sam Darnold gets in better situations than we see you he can be. I think we're sort of seeing that with Trevor now. And the wild card with Trevor to me.
Is He actually does have a lot of big game experience. And we have seen him on big stages, and he's generally played really well, right? Like, now, a big piece of that was in college. But didn't like he came back from 27 down in his second year in the NFL and beat the Chargers in the wild card round. And then, correct me if I'm wrong, they put up a pretty good fight the next week against the Chiefs, too, right?
In the divisional round.
So I think Trevor and his big game experience makes them dangerous. I think, like. I mean, look, I could see the Chargers going into New England and winning. I could see the Bills going into Jacksonville winning. Like you said, I could see it the other way.
Like, it's just, there's so much. Like the whole thing is wide open. Exactly. And so, and that does, and you're right. Like, I think that's a great point you bring up.
Like, how much pressure is there on the bills people now? Because Josh Allen is now in a playoff bracket where there's no Mahomes hurdle that they have to clear. You know, it does put more pressure on those guys too, because it's kind of like one of those, if not now, then when, types of questions.
So, then let me finish up in the two minutes I have left with you. Anyone coaching for their jobs this weekend based on what we've seen this past week where the unpredictable happened so many times, Albert?
So there are two I would just kind of throw out there. Questions. I don't think either of these guys are getting fired. Right. But like You know, you heard some stuff.
Could Mike Tomlin go to TV for a year? Right. And I think, like, I've. Taking you through this before, older players, Rogers, Hayward, Watt, Ramsey, like they've got a bunch of guys where if those guys all walk away at once, and I don't think TJ will, but the other guys all could, right? If, like now, you're talking about going through a serious retooling, could Mike Tomlin look at that and say this is the natural point for me to step away?
I don't want to go through a three or four year rebuild, or maybe I can go into TV for a year and then a year from now walk into a situation that's more ready-made? I guess that's possible. I don't think it's likely, but I guess that would be possible still. And then there's Matt LaFleur, where There's a new team president there in Ed Policy who took over for Mark Murphy in the summer. He was internal, so he does know Matt LaFleur very well, but they've got a contract negotiation coming up.
And so. If that contract negotiation Isn't in a great place right after the season. If you're Matt Ryan in Atlanta, who by the way, Matt LaFleur was his position coach when they went to the Super Bowl. Do you pick up the phone and make a phone call and say, like, hey, Is he at all available? If you're John Eric Sullivan and you just got to Miami and you don't get John Harbaugh, do you pick up the phone and say, look, Like, we're willing to go a certain distance to get this guy.
Are you willing to listen? That's the other one where, just because of the contract situation, I don't think they're unhappy with him, but because of the contract situation, they could get some calls from some teams where it's like, is this guy available? And it'd be interesting to see what the result was. And of course, he could beat the Bears and go on a run. Which brings full circle that this is wide-ass open, as Albert Breer said right here on Disney Plus.
How dare you? All right, man. Oh, I'm sorry. Are there new rules now? It's okay.
Good to see you, bud. Thanks again, man. All right, thanks for asking. Albert Bru, everybody, follow him on every social you can, and of course, read his material in Sports Illustrated, the MMQB. Let's take a break.
844-204 Rich number to dial your phone calls, and we break down the wild card weekend, baby. Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it. And you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence.
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Call 1-800-GRANGER, clickgranger.com, or just stop by. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Back here on the Disney Plus ESPN app and ESPN Radio simulcast, all one big happy family. Derek in Missouri, one of our long times as well. Line one, Mikey.
What's up, Derek? How you been? I'm good, Rich. Just getting Adison ready for some playoff football this weekend and see who. We'll be coming down to Denver a week from this either Saturday or Sunday.
Really fascinating to see who comes out on top and see our team smack each other in the mouth. And if anything, I'm looking forward more to the AFC side of things just because not because of who Deborah might face, but These matchups work you got. On the SE of things, These are matches he didn't have in the regular season.
So Anything's possible, in my opinion. I mean, it could go either way, and yeah, I mean, you can look at it. All three road teams could potentially win. I mean, but for that to happen you know, Tosh Down's gonna be his one hundred percent healthy and uh you know, they might have rely more on James Cook to run the ball and on the charges and paychecks side of things, I could see maybe If Justin Herbert can't get hit by that O-line of his, they're done for. They can't stand a chance.
And protects it that Texas at the spheres on Monday night. it's going to depend on who makes the less mistakes more than anything, I think.
Well, greatly appreciate Derek in Missouri setting us up for a conversation about the wildcard weekend. It's Derek. Here on the Rich Eisen Show. And for you, Bronco fans, leave this up on the screen if you don't mind. Um will they'll have to wait till Sunday to begin to figure out.
Who might be coming to your building? uh for divisional playoff weekend The uh Seahawks fans might not have to wait too long. Um because Saturday The double header are both NFC. matchups Now the Rams and the Panthers will have at it first. If the Packers win Saturday night, then we already know.
Bust out the uh The video of what the Fail Mary for regular season contests or for the Playoff contest, the NFC Championship game where there was an on-side kick that didn't go. Green Bay's Way, speaking of which, right? The um The replay happened in a way for the Packers recently, and not getting an onside kick against the Bears, which is why they're visiting the Bears this weekend in many different ways. You have the Al Harris. Pick six of Matthew.
Right. We're going to get the ball. We're going to score. Get that all ready. Um obviously if the Rams And the Bears win.
Let's put it that way. Then the Seahawks fans will have to wait all the way till Sunday afternoon. to find out if the Niners are coming their way. And if the Eagles win that game, then it'll be the Rams or Panthers heading to Seattle. That's the way it's going to work out for the Seahawks fans to see how it all shakes out for them, for the Broncos fans.
They're going to have to, as I said, wait all the way till Sunday. And let's just say the Jaguars beat the Bills. Then they're going to wait till Sunday night football. If the Chargers beat the Patriots on the spot, we know we'll get part three of Broncos Chargers, or really part two. Because the charges didn't start Justin Herbert in week 18.
The Chargers did beat the Broncos early on in the season in week three. to uh send me or pardon me week two. No, week three. It was week three, because I remember the Chargers played the Chiefs. In um in uh Brazil, then went to Vegas on a Monday night.
And then came home to take on the Broncos. And they started the season 3-0, beating the Broncos, who had just lost. To the Colts on a leverage penalty that cost them the game because the Colts had lost on a kick and then. We all know what happened next. If the Bills win that game and the Patriots beat the Chargers on Sunday night, then the Bills are gonna head to Denver.
And I've been told this is why the league wants a 4-5 game on Monday night, is that a lot of. Um A lot of divisional playoff matchups could be laid out for you on Sunday night. And the 4-5 game is just one game going to one seed, as opposed to, well, if it's a 3-6, all sorts of. Stuff can happen. There's a lot of if-buts and candies and nuts that the league does not want to be announced.
on Sunday night football on on the uh end of wild card Sunday. And in terms of the Texans and the Steelers, last we saw Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs. Want to take a guess off the top of your head? He didn't make it with the Jets, and he didn't make it his last year with Green Bay either. Yeah, he was losing to Tom Brady, right?
Nope. That happened the year before. He lost. To San Francisco in the snow. Oh.
And if you remember, there was one throw, I think Rogers, I forget who he had open, but he had somebody open. Was it MVS? In that game, and everybody's pointing out that Rogers doesn't play as well in the snow, that the LaFleur offense isn't equipped for the cold weather. You sometimes forget the silly narratives when it's replaced by silly narratives.
Well, those teams weren't. Built for the cold weather. If they were true. No? That's the last time we've seen Rodgers in the playoffs.
And he's lost two in a row because the year before they lost to Brady in the NFC Championship game. Wasn't there a weird muff punt in that game? It was 13-10. Yes, there was a lot of weird stuff that happened in that game. Last time Rodgers won a playoff game is when he had the Rams.
um in in his house Leading up to that game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lufanga blocked a punt. And scored a touchdown to tie the game at 10. With four and a half minutes left. Rogers' last playoff went 32-18 against the Rams and Aaron Donald.
Then the next year, the Rams won the Super Bowl. Um So Rodgers is back in the playoffs, everybody, and it's a home game for him in Pittsburgh. He had this to say about being back in winter-go home time. At 6-6, there are a lot of people thinking we were going to be kind of stubbling to the finish, and then who knows what was going to happen. A lot of you probably in this.
group, either publicly or privately. We're talking about Mike Teigen next.
So it feels good to shut all those comments down. One thing I really love. And it's kind of the antithesis of where I was. There's not really any leaks in the boat. Every year you have difficulties.
and adversity, both on the field and off the field. And to go through a season like this and to be able to focus on football. And not have uh A lot of other little out there has been really nice.
So Rogers coming in with uh his edge. And it's a home night in cold Pittsburgh. And that Texans defense is no joke. Guys I saw it again with my own two eyes a couple of weeks ago. That's going to be a fun one.
So um it's possible that the Patriots win on Sunday night and the Jaguars win to start Sunday. And the winner of that game is who goes to Denver. We know Denver had a tough go of it against Houston, but did prevail. In one of those games where the offense was struggling all over the map and then they won it at the end. Um and obviously Aaron Rodgers going to Denver with the Pittsburgh Steelers would be just off the charts, man.
Off the charts. Looks like you have something on your mind over there. I don't know. I told Brock Manette this morning, and he told me I was crazy. That you think the Steelers are going to go on a run.
You really feel that way. The kid the kid who once upon a time got that gig at the the foot locker. You can't quit your roots is what you're saying right now. I think I and I'm struggling. Is it like is it that that's pulling me in that direction?
Is it just that? Or is it like, do I really look at these teams in the playoffs and can't pick one that I think is standing out and going to go to the Super Bowl. And they're my de facto. I'm still not sure yet.
Well, I think it could be a little bit of both, but it is the fact that there is nobody out there Okay, that is dominant. Yeah. And as I said, the one issue for Seattle at the end of the day is not the fact that, well, It's Sam Darnold's playoffs to win. Holding on to the football. If he doesn't turn it over, look out.
Mm-hmm. That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, you could say that about pretty much every other team. Trevor Lawrence fields on the football. Justin Herbert's got to not throw all those interceptions that he did against Houston last year.
Right. And those are just two off the top of my head. We could truly fill in the blank if Brock Purdy doesn't turn it over, if Jalen Hurts doesn't turn it over, but Hurts has at least gotten some. Run in the playoffs and had two of his greatest games in the biggest game. we can hold in the United States of America and export to the world.
Um Every team has a flaw. Of course. But what I'm saying is, you're not sitting here saying if Rogers holds onto the football, look out. That's not the question. That's not the question.
If Rodgers can be protected. Right. Because Rogers isn't going to be making the stupid mistake. Roger doesn't take chances.
Well, because he's smart. He knows exactly about how you don't go broke making a profit. And he also knows what the experience is that he has outside the lines, I mean, outside the numbers with his current roster. the the issues that he may have in pushing the ball down the field. And knowing how to actually get yourself in position and don't make the stupid mistake in the red zone, and then on top of it.
Um neck up. That part. They better, they better with that superb defense. come with their their T's crossed and I's dotted and everything buttoned up. Because he's sent I mean you're not And that's the thing: Houston doesn't have to fool you.
They'll just say, okay, we got our shutdown corners, and we got our edge rushers. And Good luck. Yeah. But honestly. You're not sitting here and saying about Rogers.
Um Just don't turn it over. He's a game manager in a different way. Normally, don't turn it over. You're saying you're a game manager, just manage the game. He manages the game neck up.
in a way that Better than anyone left. Truly head and shoulders above anyone left, with all due respect to everyone left. Good QB's in it. And obviously, Alan's got the neck down. On top of it.
So does Herbert.
So does Lawrence.
So does Nick's. That's what they have above Rogers. Rogers is not escaping the pocket. like he used to.
So, yeah, I think that's it, Rich. I'm just like, I'm looking at this. I don't blame you. This dude, man, there's just something about him right now that just makes me. And the next time we come on the air for a full three hours, we'll know everybody else who's in and what the Texans and the Steelers mean for the AFC playoffs because the NFC playoff divisional round will be set.
By uh by Sunday Night Football. First two games of wild card weekend are NFC. Last two are AFC. We'll take a break and get you set for Wild Card Weekend with more of your phone calls here on this fun Friday. Amen.
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Wild card weekend starts with Rams and Panthers. We saw this just a few weeks ago. Panthers took care of the Rams. And the Rams left licking their wounds.
Now here they come back. Part and parcel of them comin' back. Because they didn't win that game. Anybody here, Bueller, taking the Panthers? Anyone, Bueller?
Euler? No. Bueller? It's gonna be close, but no. Bueller?
No. That's a unit to know? No. Okay.
Great. I'm not either. The night game. No disrespect. Packers and the Bears.
I so want to choose the Packers here just because it's so possible. Oh, I am. You are. Yeah. You're taking the Packers.
For sure. You don't. You've been Mr. Bears all year long. I have been, but the Bears have a Chiefs element to them of a year ago where they won a lot of games probably they shouldn't have.
And I think that kind of evens out and comes home to roost. TJ?
Well, to piggyback off what he said, the the Chiefs rode that to a Super Bowl. I mean, they lost, but they still rode it. I I'm not a Packer fan, and I have too many Bears fans, so I gotta go with the Bears.
Well, I'm I'm I'm I think I'm gonna again, I'm I'm going to have to choose this tomorrow. Yeah. 'Cause I'm on game day morning for four and a half hours leading up to kickoff of Rams Panthers. You know, I'm leaning towards the Packers right now. I really am.
You know. They came they were up uh they were up 16 to 3, right? With a few minutes to go. Yeah. All right.
Sunday.
So, Rich, can I just reference? I did pick the pack to go to the Super Bowl at the beginning.
Okay.
No, you're off. I picked them to win. Jaguars, Bills. Chris? Oh, Jacksonville.
TJ?
I'm gonna go with the Jaguars. I am too. I'm sorry, Hoskins. Yeah, I'm sorry. I am too.
But that's certainly a coin toss for me. For Goldwyn, I don't know. Dude, that's an all-world quarterback and his great running back, and a defense that suddenly just shows up and. Stiffens up. I just think Trevor Lawrence might be the hottest QB right now.
The Jaguars are so good right now. I'm worried this game might not be close. That's why I chose it to be the opportunity for a blowout. There's no way it's a blowout, though. Eagles Niners, what do you got, Christopher?
I'm also worried this game's not going to be close. Fly, Eagles fly. What do you got, TJ? I hate them both, but I hate the Niners slightly less, so I'm picking the Niners. I think I've been on an Eagles train, and I know I chose the Niners as the number one seed, but that was when they were going to be at home.
They're gonna be at home. They're not now. And the Bang Bang Niners gang has been Great. in these games and recent past, but I think that This is now Robert Meeting the Road, and that's a defending Super Bowl champs. I do think the Eagles win this one.
Right. Night game. I know you're a patriot. What do you got over there? TJ.
Ah man, this is going to be a good one. I'm twitching in the direction, too. I'm going to have to go with Brockman on this one. I'll have to go with the Pennsylvania. I know.
I can't go home again if I choose the Chargers. But, Rich, I feel like. I'm twitching in the direction. When the Chargers get their linemen back and helps him, I'm concerned about Hampton. It's going to be a problem, though.
He says he's playing. I know that. He got a limited today. Uh stay tuned tomorrow on Sunday show. Um this is not a great matchup for your pats, Matt.
It just isn't.
Well, it's not a great matchup for Chargers either.
Okay.
And then we'll talk Monday's game on Monday. Oh, you don't want to pick it now? Go ahead. Go ahead. I'm worried about Houston's offensive line.
I'll just leave it at that. I've already said it's a Berg thing, so go Steelers.
Okay.
Stay tuned Monday. Ah. Stay tuned Monday. Because we're out of time. I mean, we're technically not, though.
We still have. I might have to choose this on Sunday show, too. Damn it. Great week, everybody, right here on ESPN Radio. We're wrapping up on Disney Plus in a sec.
Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
