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This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show. You're in luck. You can find us everywhere.
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Now, on with the show. Confident. This go is The Rich Eisen Show. See to the FO95. Five.
And Denver's going to the AFC Championship game. Tops down! Patriots! It's gone! The Rams win it!
Today's guests, NFL Network Insider Tom Pellisero, Fox Sports NFL Analyst Mark Schlarett, plus latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Ice End. Hmm. Welcome to the Rich Eisen Show. Yeah, right.
Anything going on? Wow. I don't know. I've just been sitting here. That's amazing.
It's Friday. That's phenomenal. What's going on? Anything? And I ate a whole wheel of cheese.
Welcome to this edition of The Rich Eisen Show here on Disney Plus, the ESPN app. ESPN Radio, SiriusXM, Channel 80. Holy crap, 844-204-Rich is the number for you to dial. There's so much to talk about. Chris Brockman and I have already handled our Overreaction Monday business.
It's sitting on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/slash Rich Eisen Show. If that's how you take in that show, we always appreciate you watching it there or listening to it on the ESPN Pod Network that helps with the Rich Eisen Podcast Network. Get everything that we do on that front at all three hours of this show. And of course, Overreaction Monday is probably sitting in your RSS feed right now. Chris Brockman, good to see you.
Rich, what's up, man? Jason Feller, good to see you. TJ Jefferson, candle is lit. Good to see the whole sports world is lit. Everything right now.
I know. I got a national champion game tonight as well. We'll talk about that on this program. Listen, I I'll be straight up with you. when that simultaneous catch that wasn't A catch, it was an interception, all that business that went down in overtime of that.
big time game between the uh the Bills and the And the uh the Broncos, when that happened Uh I I thought to myself, Oh my goodness, this is going to be something that is going to be leading our program. And that's going to be something everyone's going to be talking about regardless of what happened the rest of the playoff weekend. Uh kinda wrong about that because it's not even Uh in the top two things talked about coming out of The Bills and Broncos game itself. And I thought the Bonix broken ankle would be the number one thing being talked about coming out of that. Game since it resonates into the AFC Championship game that Jared Stidham's going to start.
First guy to start a championship game. without having thrown a single pass. In the regular season. That's That that's unbelievable. But then We wake up this morning.
And find out Sean McDermott has been fired as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills after nine seasons there. Yo.
So There's that. And I'll be straight up with you. I am. Surprised by it. I understand there's been rumblings, there's been this, there's been that.
If you live in the western New York area or you've got your feet firmly planted there. Uh despite Not living there like our coordinating producer, Mike Hoskins, saying that Sean McDermott. Talking about the roster. to others Who go on uh In the media, my old friend Vic Karucci talking about This in the western New York area doesn't sit well with ownership, doesn't sit well with the general manager, who obviously sits very well with ownership. And This loss Turns out to be Sean McDermott's final game on a sideline there.
And it's not just any nine seasons as head coach for the Buffalo Bills, a resurgent nine seasons. For the Buffalo Bills because they draft Josh Allen. And McDermott is there for Allen's Ascension. And his first playoff game of his career in Houston Were they Go into overtime and lose.
So his first playoff game as head coach. of the Buffalo Bills.
Okay. You know, with Josh Allen. Ends in an overtime loss. And his last one. Does as well.
And in between life moments that he was brilliant. in guiding this team through. Brilliant. From A massive snowstorm. in western New York.
That creates havoc for the people there to try and get through. And they have to, if you remember, play in Detroit, a home game in Detroit. Then they have to go play a Thanksgiving game in Detroit. Move the team through all of that, but nothing is more important than life and death issues and. The way Sean McDermott stewarded the ship when one of his players dropped dead on the field and needed to be Resuscitated.
The way Sean McDermott handled everything with that team with DeMar Hamlin. he deserves to always be lauded for his work. with the Buffalo Bills being their head coach. And, you know. Terry Pagula in his Message to the fans and his announcement.
About it. talked about How McDermott Will always be remembered for his work. An admirable job. of leading our football team for the past nine seasons. and how he changed the mindset of this organization, was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team.
That is all true. I respect all the work, loyalty and attention to detail he showed for this team and the community. I wish Sean, Jamie and his family all the best And he said he, however, it felt The team is in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players. and to Bills Mafia and Brandon Bean.
who has been the general manager. Has now been given the role of president of football operations, and he's going to oversee all facets of the football ops. including the oversight of our coaching staff, And how he then said how he has full faith in Brandon? Having witnessed outstanding leadership and style, and its confidence in his abilities to lead our organization and being has got class and style, there's no question about that. James Cook and Dawson Knox are the only Pro Bowlers that have been drafted by the team since Josh Allen.
And I know fans of Buffalo are going to have to Who feel that the roster is what's letting Josh down. might be disappointed to hear that the general manager is going to be still in charge. But That's for Western New York and the ownership and Brandon Bean to have to handle by hiring the next right guy. And I think personally I think this is part and parcel of. The landscape, the NFL.
is um undergoing right now. And By that I mean You see Ben Johnson doing what he's doing in Chicago, right? You get the right play-calling head coach who brings in a whole different set of eyes to a situation. with a young quarterback who needs guidance. Boom.
The Bears damn near make the NFC championship game. Just like that. And then you see two franchises in your own conference. in Baltimore Say Great 18-year run out of John Harbaugh. perennial Super Bowl contenders, perennial playoff contenders.
But We're not getting the results with our MVP quarterback that we want, which is the Super Bowl. Haven't made one yet with him. And even though we won one with John Harbaugh. Steve Bashoti's like, it's time. And then in Pittsburgh.
19 years. Mike Tomlin decides it's time. You heard Art Rooney II say, I would have given Tomlin a 20th season here. But The way it's been done. Just down the road from Buffalo.
Is no longer going to be the way it's done. And I think you put it all together in Terry Pagula with whatever else was going on there in Western New York. Says it's time. And now Sean McDermott is out. As being the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and I'm just wondering: will they go CEO, head coach?
Will they turn to Joe Brady and say, you're already in Alan's ear. Stay there. And see what you can do. Or do they say, well, he's already in Allen's ear and We lost another overtime game with him. We can't seem to put these things together.
So let's get a totally different new voice, a totally different new situation. Or do you go back to the guy who was previously in Alan's ear? And Brian Dayball, or is it a tough sell? To the Buffalo fan base, that we're going to take, yeah, a guy who was coach of the year one year, but the rest of the time. Couldn't get the Giants.
Out of the cellar. Forget about the Super Bowl. Or do you go to some other new Find the new Ben Johnson. I have no idea what the Pagula plan is because this morning I was stunned to learn that McDermott's out. And the one thing that I need to do If I'm the Pagula family, and I'm sure they already have, is personally tell Josh Allen what's up.
And say Please do not internalize this as it's your fault. as he did after the Loss to the Denver Broncos. And I understand Allen's turnovers. Mind-numbing like the one right before halftime that gifted the Broncos three points? And also An interception that was Seemingly thrown late over the middle.
That wound up just basically being a A de facto punt. And I understand Alan also has got to be maybe sitting there thinking: if I hit Dawson Knox. If I hit him right at the end of regulation. Man. We're in the AFC Championship game, and Sean McDermott's still the head coach.
But, yeah. To use a phrase of the aforementioned individual who's no longer in Pittsburgh, if If your aunt had male parts, she'd be your uncle. It's amazing how that phrase can actually fit many different situations. Yeah, it sure can. Josh Allen is a reason why this is going to be.
A job opening that is coveted. Right now. And um Miro. This was Alan after the game in Denver, just taking it all in. And um I think giving voice to the emotions of everybody in the Bills Mafia.
How hard is it to just been here again and had this approach? That's extremely difficult. I feel like I yeah, I feel like I let my let my teammates down tonight. Your emotions uh normally aren't this emotional for us is what what has brought this down system. Just missed opportunities throughout the game.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. It's been a long season. I hate how it ended. And that's uh Uh It's going to stick with me for a long time.
Kinda wonder if he had an inkling that McDermott might have a poor meeting with the uh owner. When they got back to Western New York, I don't know what else to read into that other than the fact that Josh Allen's empathy. And emotions are part of his superpower, and part of why he's one to root for, and why Bills fans love him. And hey, Josh, you're now 0-3 in your career playoff overtime career. You know who else is?
It's Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers. You know, is also one in three in those regards? Drew Brees and Brett Farf. You know what they're all going to have in common? Jackets.
Ohio. You know that at the end of the day. What Super Bowl rings? Yeah. And that's.
But Alan is in a very early part of his career still. Remarkably. They're only the third team all time to score 30 or more points with no punts and a playoff loss. Last time it happened was. the Patriots losing Super Bowl fifty two to the Eagles.
And then the Chiefs in the divisional round in 2003 and losing to the Colts. And I will just, again, give voice to a lot of Bills fans who are hearing this right now saying, what about the officiating? We'll talk about that later on in this program. but for the moment a new Bill's world. starting this weekend.
We're a similar result in terms of the playoffs winding up short, and I understand there is no Mahomes, Lamar, Burrow. This was the moment. And they had their moment. And just could not come away with a wind that was there for the taking.
Okay. What would have been an AFC championship game contest in New England? By the end of the weakened that would have been the result. Uh instead, now the Buffalo Bills family has been upended. And they're in a new coaching search.
And it earned Tom Pellisero an early morning text from me saying, You got to come on the show today. And he said, Okay. That's coming up an hour number. Two. Ravens, Steelers, Bills.
Yeah, Lamar, Josh Allen, and an organization that is an MVP of organizations that. Changes coaches once in a generation. These are all open jobs, which means if you're Tennessee or you're Cleveland or you're Arizona or Miami, you're like, damn it. You know. At least for Atlanta's sake and the Giants' sake they got their guys.
We'll talk about all this later on. But very rarely Very rarely do you see a playoff game. And where both fan bases are gutted. Yeah. Because as This is crazy.
You texted the group first, TJ, with an alert from ESPN that. Or a tweet or a post from ESPN. Yeah, it was in my group chat for my fantasy guys, my boy, who's always on top of stuff. He goes, Bone next broke his ankle. And I'm like, yeah, right.
And then you sent it. As a question. Right. Like, is this real? And you know, check marks mean nothing anymore.
Right. Okay. It could just mean somebody who's like, hey, I'm now an agent for somebody in the portal. Or it's like, I'm just somebody with a bio that says I I'm all about being a good person, but then I'll tweet about you being fat and awful and all that sort of stuff.
So that but I got it I paid for my blue check mark. But sure enough, dude, I just started texting people and I started going online and I'm like, is this real? Is Bonix really done? And then I looked in my. inbox for NFL network and sure enough it came from the news desk.
And I'm like, what? Are you talking about? Cause Bo Nix walked off the field. Look at him. I know.
That's a guy with a broken ankle. And then we find out the guy who flipped one to Marvin Mims for what turned out to be the. Final coup de grava, pass interference on Trey White, which I'm sorry, Bills fans. Was the proper call. That guy through that pass And then took the subsequent victory formation with a broken ankle that requires surgery Tuesday.
It wasn't one of those things where it's like, well, we're going to go on an MRI, we'll see what's up. See if but this paying threshold. And Sean Payton didn't even decide to play like... Cat and mouse with whoever was kind of coming to his house for the AFC Championship games. Just like, yeah.
It's getting out. Everyone's going to know about it. And so, Bo Nick, he came back to the podium to say this: hit it. Not good news. On the second to last play in overtime, Beau fractured.
a bone in his right ankle. Um He's scheduled to have surgery Tuesday of this week, which will put him out for the rest of the season. Um Steady's ready to go. I said this at the beginning of the season. I feel like I've got.
I've got a A two that's capable of starting for a handful of teams. And I know he feels the same way.
So Um Watch out, watch, watch, just watch. That's the 21st century version of We Will Rally Around Kurt Warner and We Will Win. Right. Where it's just like I'm telling everybody through. The media, I believe, And you, Jared said, and telling everyone through the media to my locker room: we're fine.
I got this. Stiddum's got this. And I've got a bunch of stats here. I'm just going to unload most of them for you. Stidham's going to be the first quarterback to make his first start of the season in the conference championship game or later since Roger Stauback in 1972.
He got hurt in the preseason. Craig Morton played well enough to keep the job, but then Tom Landry benched him in the divisional round. Stombach led the comeback. And then played in the NFC championship game starting his first start of the season. Which is remarkable, stat, and in and of itself.
Yeah, Roger Stomback was once benched by Tom Landry and couldn't get his job back until the playoffs. Oh, wow. That happened. Stidham's four career starts. Because don't forget his last starting stretch happened when Sean Payton told Russell Wilson: Yeah, we're done now.
Yeah. And we'll see about the offseason if we're willing to keep you, but we're benching you because the last thing we want is for you to get hurt, and now we're stuck with you. His four career starts are the fewest in NFL history by a quarterback before starting in the conference championship game. His last postseason start. And that's in quotes.
When Auburn pounded Purdue in the 2018 Music City Bowl 63-14, he had five touchdown passes. Hey. Stidden's backup quarterback was Malik Willis. And produced quarterback is Washington's newest offensive coordinator, David Blount. That's how long ago it was.
I've got one more, but that's going to be a did you know to end the hour? I'm going to keep one in my back pocket. One in the chamber. If you will.
So at that point in time, I should have just chosen the Patriots to make the AFC Championship game because this is the most Patriots thing ever. To make it and then play this guy. But, but, but, if anybody knows how good Stenham could be, it's the team that drafted him in the fourth round, right? See? Yeah.
Stidham Revenge Game. Stidham Revenge Game. Yes. Broncos fans are freaking out right now, and I don't blame you. I don't blame you, but if there's anybody who could pull it off, it's Sean Payton.
It really is. Everybody knows it. Everybody in New England knows it. 100%, it's going to be Vrabel's rallying cry all week long. Don't believe the hype.
Don't listen to the rat poison. Don't do any of that. We're going to have our hands full as well, they should, because. Drake May was wearing Either Will Anderson or Daniil Hunter on his lap much of the day yesterday. And Nick Benito is no slouch, neither is Zach Allen, neither is that defense.
Neither is that Rocky Mountainaire. Neither is... the fact that the Patriots have never won a playoff game in that building.
So You can't make it up. They say that all the time about the NFL. You can't make it up, but. Bo Nicks is done for the year. And Jared Stidham.
is going to be the guy to potentially be The first Bronco in Super Bowl. Six days for first Bronco to Start a Super Bowl for the For the team, since Peyton Manning did in Super Bowl 50, and he would do it in the same building in Super Bowl 60, can't make it up. That's just one game. There were three others. And we'll come back and talk about the Sunday nighter.
Holy crap. Of course, the Seahawks moving on and the Patriots moving on. We'll hit that and we'll hit the phone lines: 844-204-Rich, Mark Slareth, our three. Tom Pellicero and what went down in Buffalo, still to come. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
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Back here on the Rich Eisen Show on one big simulcast. Uh I have not been more shook But I don't know why I was. Obviously, I live here in Los Angeles and the Rams. Our team just full disclosure. One of my great friends, Tara Henderson Sneed.
Knew her back in the day at ESPN. She was helped launch NFL Network on the air and all that stuff. And Love McVeigh, love them all. Um but I was um I was emotionally just shook watching that Sunday night game. Were you just on the edge of your seat?
Were you watching with. Ashton? Were you with him? Nah, he's in Rome. Oh, okay.
But I was at his house. Oh, my God.
So he's in Italy? Yeah. And he must have been up in the middle of the night watching that. He definitely was. Oh, so I was.
I don't know if he could go to sleep after that one. I had trouble going to sleep myself, and I didn't have. You know the emotional skin that he has in the game. I was invested as a football fan. That was unbelievable.
Football, I mean, 'cause it was real hardcore hitting. Brisker was hitting. Landman was hitting, right? Grady Jarrett was hitting, like everyone was hitting. The visual of the glories and the closing ground, just everything.
As a football fan with no real skin in that game, And and again, I don't know how we're going to look back on this sort of thing. But I'm sitting there thinking to myself, at the end of the day, because I I know Stafford doesn't have like Mount Rushmore conversations around him. I, you know, believe he's a Hall of Famer and I thought this year would be the year that everyone will come to uh my realization of how terrific he is as a player. But will we look back on this like Stafford versus Caleb in a way that we're looking at Somebody Again, nobody's Brady, but you remember Brady and Mahomes back in the day? Mahomes lost at home to Brady and Yeah.
I'm just wondering. If we're going to look at a game like this with quarterbacks like this and play callers like this, McVay, who, by the way, now has 10 wins. As a head coach under the age of 40, which is double anybody else's, including John Madden. And McVay turns 40 Saturday.
So he'll be coaching in his first game as a 40-year-old. Will be the NFC Championship game in Seattle on Sunday night. And Ben Johnson, what a remarkable season he had. And but this wasn't like Nobody could play defense. This was a tight game.
Yeah, and then ten, ten, and then the then the the Rams take a late lead and then And then the Bears go for it again on fourth friggin' down and don't get it. And, um,. And the Rams, all they need to do is come up with two or three, three first downs, and all they come up with was one. Kyron Williams runs out of bounds after getting. The first down doesn't slide down.
He tries to get the first down and gets knocked out of bounds. And the Bears get the ball back at midfield. Midfield, so the king of the comebacks. Taylor Williams gets half the field. It's all good deal.
We don't even make you drive the full field. The football gods. Are basically setting us up for another Caleb Williams. He's already gotten seven of these. Seven.
I was convinced it was over at that point. Of these. Man. Come back wins. But he's down.
And you're thinking it's over. And he's down seven. I thought the story was already rigged. He's down seven, which for him is like a tie game. And all you need is one first down for a field goal to win.
That's how Kayla Williams has been so lights out. And The Rams force a fourth down. and not only force a fourth down. But they force Caleb on this fourth down To fade back. 20 something yards.
to get far enough away from the Rams defense, who are all over him.
So he could at least launch one in the end zone for a sort of Hail Mary. And he turns a fourteen, a forty-yard touchdown. Into Technically being a 14-yard touchdown, that's how far back he faded. Right. Look it up.
The Cole Komet grab is goes in the books as a 14-yard touchdown pass. Yeah. But in the air, it was 40. And I defy anybody. To tell me wherever you were watching, you did not curse.
Use some form of a four-letter word. I just screamed. I didn't curse.
Okay. There's no way. Even a Rams fan did not. Watch this wordlessly. That was one of the It really made his fourth and eighth throw against the Packers look like an out route.
He just hit somebody in the flat. And that pass was on. Believable. Yeah. Caleb Williams had this to say: like, just walk me through it, Caleb.
How the hell do you do it? I end up getting a little bit pressure and so try and break contain and just break angles and slow those guys down so that when I do turn around, I can have a little bit more time possibly to be able to find somebody. They did a good job containing me, and so I just gained a little bit more depth. Um I saw Cole one-on-one over there with everybody else on the other side, at least near the goalpost. And understanding that 14 was on him, he's a little bit smaller guy.
And Cole's obviously a six-foot tight end and things like that.
So I just wanted to give my best, you know, best ball and give him a shot. Understand it's fourth down and kind of gaming a lot, well, was gaming a lot. Yeah, so I just, you know, I just made one of the most incredible plays in the history of the National Football League. You know, I just decided he's so matter of fact.
So what's uh is that it's exactly right? Um man.
Now tell me, raise your hand. or verbally do it here since we're on the radio. Thought Ben Johnson was going for two. Anybody? Yeah, of course.
I went back and forth. Of course. Right? Because they had the momentum, right? But I was thinking with like five, six minutes left if they scored, he was going to do it.
He's a psycho. He did, and he kicked the extra point. Here was his explanation. Would you give uh much consideration to going retun? Thought about it.
Yeah. Thought about it. Um probably what played a little bit of a factor was You know, our goal to go situations hadn't gone very clean. Our Inside the Five plan. hadn't worked out quite like we had hoped and so just felt better about our taking our chances there and overtime.
Yeah. You know, I have to laugh. It's hard to argue. It's hard to argue. Okay, first of all, I thought it was wise to go for the extra point.
That's what I honestly thought. And go to overtime because this is such a stunning turn of events. And um but I the reason why I'm chuckling is Um a coach doesn't go for it For a two-point conversion to win it. Because he's already had enough of a body of work within the game going for it inside the other team's five-yard line twice, and it didn't work out. Yeah, to have the data to be like, you know, I don't know what you know, we've tried it already with less stakes in so.
We tried it twice and it didn't work out.
So we weren't going to go for the third time being the charm. Ooh, me three times. Really? Yeah. It's crazy.
It like what he says, right? But at the other point, Rich, let me ask you guys. You have Stafford and Adams and the Kua, and Kyron's been running. Are you really. Do you really want to risk giving them the ball?
I mean, you've held the ball. No, no, no.
Well, it's valid. It's valid. Um but I'm thinking it's so stunning. to the other team. And McVeigh, um After the game Gave voice about what he told the team after this stunner.
Hit them. Yeah, you know what? It was tough, but I thought what was great is: hey, we can't do anything about it. Go on to the next play. Here we are in overtime.
What happened then is done with. And we always talk about being in the moment, being totally and completely present. And I thought our guys did a great job of that. And, you know, I was really kicking myself because I felt like when we possessed the ball first, and I had mentioned it, I thought that possession was going to really cost us. And there's no excuse for that.
You know, I have to be better for our group. I will be better for our group. But man, I just can't say enough about the defense, what they did, and then for Cam Curl to be able to make that play. What a freaking catch. You know, and then offensively for those guys to do what they did to be able to go get in field goal position.
And, you know, and we had some chances. I thought we were going to be able to get a walk off there with Colby or Ferg, but it didn't work out. And then Mivis ended up making it true. And here we are, and excited to be able to get a chance to work again.
So, again, what he's referring to is he's got to be better for the team. He's referring to the possession. Three first downs game's over. They're out of Chicago and it's over. And they only got one.
And I think he's talking about his own play calling. Of course, he's referring to Curl making the play. He's talking about the. Interception and overtime that led to Mivis' thicker kicker making the game winner. And they do go.
back to Los Angeles as the winner. But The curl interception did not happen because the Bears possessed the ball first. That's the way I'm answering your question, TJ. is that The Bears decided to take the ball second in overtime. And the Bears got what they needed, which was a defensive out of the Rams.
And the Bears got the ball, needing just a field goal now to win it. And they were jamming the ball down the throats of the Rams. And they decide to throw it. And Cam Curl picks it off. And you also then got Stafford showing up.
after he gets the turnover and saying this. I looked right at Sean, he looked at me and was like, and I'm like, here we go. That's what it's all about. What an unbelievable job, again, like I said, by our defense today, getting us the ball over and over again. Whether it be fourth-down stops or turnovers, they were clutch and timely.
And that's what it takes to win in the playoffs.
Sometimes offense is going to go out and have a great day and find a way to win it.
Sometimes defense is going to go out there and have a day like they did today and keep us in it for as long as they did and then make the play at the end to get us the ball back.
So it's a team effort. We got a resilient group. Love being a part of it. Obviously, things we can do better. But we found a way to win the football game.
And in January and February, that's what matters.
So. Unbelievable. What a performance by the Rams. They get it done. They get what they need.
They somehow keep the Bears from their eighth comeback such win, even with the throw of the century, you know, which we'll be talking about for some time. Um and so much for the cold weather. They get it done in the cold weather.
Southern Californians going to the Midwest. Yeah, but in the cold weather. Yeah, but Stafford, not great. I got it. I understand.
20 of 42 doesn't matter. 67 passes. Survive in advance, and they survive the cold weather. And I will just say this about Southern Californians. Going in the cold weather.
A lot of Southern Californians are from other parts of the country. They can handle it.
So, stop with this nonsense that the Southern California people can't handle cold weather. That said, we will always leave early and show up late.
Okay? That's never going to change. All right? We're always going to beat the traffic. None of this.
Business about that will never change. Yeah. One last word on the bears. Bears friends, may I address you? I know you are hurting today.
But Wow. What a season And everything coming into this season was rife with is this guy in Ben Johnson the right guy to make the guy that we need to be the guy The guy. That box was most certainly checked. And I believe. with a big fat sharpie, indelible ink.
Holy crap. Just quickly, this exchange. Two of them between the coach in the media and the quarterback in the media. Um First up. Ben Johnson on the throw.
that we're referring to, Caleb Williams to force overtime. Ridiculous. That's that's ridiculous. I mean, you talk about that fourth and eight from last week. And how outstanding that was, and I think this one was probably even another level ahead of that.
Um There's some things that you just can't coach. He's got that about him. He's got a knack. He's clutch. He's...
He does so many good things. He's an eraser. I have plenty of bad calls each and every week, and he helps make it right for me. You know, I'm I know he's feeling it. Because You know, we we we didn't win and Have some turnovers mixed in there, and you know, he's feeling it.
But he's one of those guys I'm talking about. We'll remember this feeling, you know, and he's going to be stronger for it. I agree. Tell me you don't agree, right? Is there anybody here who thinks that you don't agree, that he's that good and he will get stronger for it?
Obviously, I know you wanted it this year. No doubt about it. Oh, man, that dude could win MVP next year. No question about it. Awesome.
I think they are going to be back. No doubt. No doubt about it. I have zero doubts about it. Because, Richard, Paris fans kind of like they say his accuracy isn't there, right?
No, that's only fixable. You can fix all that. You can't teach what he did on that throw. That's God-given. Bingo.
You can't teach that. Bingo. That's the USC stuff. Hit the target right there. And then this was Caleb on the interception.
Hit it. Yeah, I gotta go gotta go back and watch it. Obviously, don't haven't seen it and don't really know. Um Uh but from in the moment you know, saw the saw the front side safety down, the front side of the concept, you know, ended up getting hemmed up a little bit. And so moved on and had had DJ going over top over all of it.
Just a mismeca misme uh miscommunication between him and I. Uh tried to flatten him off under the safety and and uh he he uh kept it vertical from you know what I saw on on you know, obviously in the moment. Everybody in all twenty two world and everybody watching the game live. including Chris Collinsworth, Saying DJ Moore ran. A bad route.
Improper route. And Caleb was throwing it to where DJ Moore needed to be. And if that is in fact the case, Caleb's also an eraser of his teammates' mistakes. By not pinning it on his wide receiver. in the media which young quarterbacks are prone to do Because maybe that's in their DNA or They're not used to talking to the media.
This kid is 100% ready. for the spotlight in every way, shape, and form. Bears fans You are good. I know you're hurting. But honestly, Box checked.
Let's take a break. Back here in a moment, right here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-RICH. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back.
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Okay, Seahawks fans, I see ya. I see you twelve's. You know what? This is how good of a coach Mike MacDonald is.
Okay. When you've got a quarterback Who has an oblique problem. You're wondering, can he throw? He hasn't thrown in two days. He's warmed up.
Here's what you do. You return the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Great idea. Mike McDonald, you're a genius, man.
Okay. And then, of course, you know, hey, San Francisco, that's Rashid Shaheed back there. I don't know, man. Maybe just boot it through the end zone. I don't know what this whole new this is.
This is why the NFL wants this new kickoff rule, right? Stuff like this can happen. And sure enough, the 95-yard return for touchdown. Last time there was an opening kickoff return for touchdown in the playoffs. Niall Davis did it for the Chiefs against the Colts in 2015.
Before that, It was, in fact, The Great Super Bowl opening. of the Chicago Bears. From back in the day. That leads to a Hall of Famer. existing, right?
And so, hey, listen. The Seahawks wound up getting the amount of points they needed to win 13 seconds into the game because the defense is a wagon. It's not a unit, it's a wagon. It's a wagon. Seriously, the Rasheed Sheet touchdown.
Made it seven nothing. The Niners only scored six points. The Niners had an opportunity. to get home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs, scored only Three points against the Seahawks in the final game of the regular season, and then the Seahawks get their bye week, come back. And the Seahawks Allow them to double the points.
That's it. And with the Texans out, this is by far and away, with all due respect to Denver. The best defense in the playoffs remaining.
Sorry, due respect to the Rams, obviously, and the Patriots. 236 yards of offense. That's it. Holy crap. Seahawks can absolutely win the Super Bowl.
They can absolutely win the NFC Championship game. They can absolutely beat Jared Stidham and the Broncos or Drake May and the Patriots. Absolutely can do it. Certainly if they are just suffocating everybody and getting special teams touchdowns on top of it. And Sam Darnold, all he's got to do is just, you know, stay healthy, not turn it over.
Get the running game going. Get JSN or Cooper cup the ball every now and then. That's it. That's it. And I'm sorry, Seattle fans.
I know I led with this, that, the other thing. And you're going to, and by the way, use it. Use it that nobody's talking about us. It's an East Coast biased world unless it's college football and it's Southern South, it's the Southeast biased or a Midwest bias. I get it.
I understand it. You know, but Hey. When it comes down to it. At the end of the day. If we're talking about you the most at the end of the day.
That's all that matters. And everything else that happened in these playoffs from. what happened in Buffalo and Denver leading to a coach being fired and then a quarterback having their ankle broken. And then what happened last night with Caleb Williams' throw and the Rams coming back, preventing him from coming back and winning the game. you know, when you blow out the forty niners, Yeah.
It's not you, it's us in the media is basically what I'm saying. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
